Title says it all

I'd like to see guidelines for Occupations as opposed to Covers would be legitimate work we can do and income guidelines taking talent and even social qualities one has into account. Where they are desired by a player. I mean I might make more money publishing articles in martial arts magazines and doing books sold to kids in the back of comic books than being an 'Agent' paid by an agency being a Journalist. Plus it would give me a reason to travel around and unlike a cover wouldn't be at risk of if being blown since its a career known to be done with the paper trails one can check.

I think we can assume that if you have several skills that can be found in an occupation found in BTS2, and Dead Reign we can use that salary amount as a base, and the legitimate occupations can also double as your cover. But we have to keep in mind that BTS2 and Dead Reign are from the 2000's (N&SS is from the 1980's) so the salary amounts probably reflect that.

That's true and some won't be around at all computers are still pretty basic and there is no internet as it is so web page developer is likely not a good option.

Some skills should be in the game to perhaps acting you said is a communications skill so I did send you my idea for an Occupation Basic Program the GM would need to okay three skills and bonuses but would be for a narrow expertise like an automotive mechanic wouldn't need to many skills but three should cover a trade school diploma in that or an apprenticeship. If another program wouldn't fit.

I like options for non-spies since they won't tend to have Covers.

In reply to Ninja 1 (msg # 2):

Another option that we could do (but will require a buy in from the other players who posted in the GM wanted ad) is instead of being limited to the list of basic skill programs you could alternative select 5 of the skills from an occupation found in BTS2 or Dead Reign with the skill bonuses halved.

The occupations in Dead Reign and BTS2 have about 10 (or more) skills in them while each with a 10-20% skill bonus, while the Basic skill programs from N&SS have 5-6 skills in them each have on average a 5-10% skill bonus. So for game balance purposes we'd have to limit the alternative basic skill program option to 5 skills.

Well I don't know those other rules I figure it would simply cover apprenticing, going to a school for a trade or area of work or time in the military in one of many specialties not shooting. Example if one served in the British Army being a Chef is a legitimate specialty one can take. It would be good to offer s general occupation skill set first Occupations give reasons to travel that make sense and won't toss up major red flags and would give useful skills in many cases.

In reply to Ninja 1 (msg # 6):

From our PM convo, posting this here, will also post in the character creation thread

Basic Occupation Skill Program (age cost 1-4 years)

• Character can select 3-6 skills which combined together would equal a real world occupation (Occupations listed in BTS2 & Dead Reign can provide examples).
• Skill selection would have to be approved of by the GM. GM would also determine age cost.
• Skill bonus would be no more then 40% spread across the selected skill (when totaled skill % bonus would equal 40%).

The character sheet is missing under martial arts:

Holds/Locks:

Special Attacks:

Thanks! I’ll add them to the template

Okay Ive read everything. I'll get my poll answers posted asap.

Combat examples look good to me. I wouldn't have autokilled the guy who peeked the bullet hole but I have zero problem with a GM establishing that is the kind of game he's running (and it was a stupid move when he could have just RBFed the other side of the door) and sticking with that.

I would keep in mind that in N&SS there will be characters who have actual super powers. For example, some characters could conceivably clear a staircase before gunmen at the top could fire. Heck, some ninjas could just walk up the stairs and the guys at the top would have no clue they were even there.

In reply to Ninja 3 (msg # 11):

Yeah those invisibility powers are pretty nifty and very detailed as to how they work. Kinda odd given a lot of stuff Palladium has out there leaves it open to debate.

I wa thinking in game my character might be working on a new weapon not the usual but invent her own martial art weapon being its creator would give prestige and be something she would be known for.

I'm thinking of a big Steel Ring think a combat hoola hoop be good for phyicaal fitness and fighting.

But I don't the one roll for all parries either think about it say someone comes at me with five attacks  bad roll they all land, I'd rather roll a just in case set of rolls say twenty and you can use them up it would be fairer. And if the person is a expert in katana that could be five lethal strikes if I roll badly. It asking too much.

So why not do this every so often as needed we roll a bunch of unmodified 1d20 rolls say twenty and use those in order for saves and combat automatic parries. Then refresh them as needed. I don't mind rolling this way.

So something like this but hoola hoop sized? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_and_fire_wheels

Allowing a character to 'invent' a martial arts weapon is not somthing I would allow for the sake of game balance.

Here's why:

• The character would have to posses several skills, one of which would have to be blacksmith from PFRPG (it would have to be part of a skill program) in order to make the weapon, which after a quick glance at your character sheet you don't have.
• The character would have to then use skills to 'learn' the WP for the invented weapon.
• The GM would have to then figure out what type of bonuses the 'invented' weapon would have, to ensure there is no imbalance.
• Then getting to the 'prestige part' you would have to use the weapon in game (not in your backstory) in such a way that people would know about it. One way would be to enter a martial arts competition that allows weapons and do really well in the competition using your steel hoola hoop without getting killed/maimed.
• This would also open pandora's box and other player's would want to have their own character invent some new martial arts weapon.

Now conversely if a character wanted to custom forge a Katana (or go to Okinawa and see if Hattori Hanzō would forge a sword for you) using expensive materials then I would allow it (provided they had the skills, or could convince Hattori Hanzō to make the sword). The reason why because a Katana is a sword and uses WP large sword. We could also reference the PFRPG for weapons made of higher quality and materials to determine any unique bonuses.


So just to be clear it's roll one parry per melee action, not one parry roll for the whole melee. This one parry is not just your hand/arm/weapon knocking attacks away but your feet/legs too One guy punching you, and one guy kicking you).

The reasoning behind the parry rule is to reduce the number of die rolls the players have to make, and reduce confusion as to which parry roll was for which attack (the guy kicking you or the guy punching you?).

I do not like the idea of players making a bunch of pre-made rolls either for the same reason (confusion). These pre-made rolls would eventually be 'scrolled' off the die roller and there would really be no way to validate what the actual roll was.

Yeah I'm not crazy about the pre-rolling thing.

As for the death hula hoop,

Pro: Jim Bowie didn't invent, design, or build the Bowie Knife. His brother Rezin did. Jim just made it legendary by fighting with it and winning. Maybe Mei Xing Wen has a similar connection.

Pro: The simplest thing to do is to just pick a weapon that you think has similar stats and use those. In theory that would be a weapon that has mathematically been balanced to fit in the game (though I guarantee you Kevin Siembieda never thought to much about that kind of thing).

Con: It doesn't seem like a death hula hoop is a very good weapon for espionage work. It wouldn't even fit in a duffle bag or even the trunk(boot) of some cars.

No I'm thinking of the Hula Hoop well Steel Ring would be a martial arts weapon for impressing her peers and would look good on film, it would be a hoop with hand grips at every quarter of it around of fine leather and she could use it to strike, parry and help with holds and throws as a leveraging weapon. Maybe. Plus would look good with acrobatics and gymnastics and juggling during the artistic and athletic aspects of the weapon. Such as demonstrations at martial arts events and to show other masters a new weapon.

As for making test models there are weaponsmiths who make weapons including steel ones other than swords she just needs to describe it, draw some sketches and have them craft some designs until she finds one that works. Then spend time working on the fighting form that is why I wouldn't start with one but pick it up down the road when I got the basic moves down well enough to add the kata. I don't care about the damage it would be something new and fun for me to work on and add say at 11th level as a weapon kata for my martial art.

And its the 80's modern period save for the mythical Bloodsport Kumite which was BS most are shows of skill and a point system using non-lethal weapons a blunt sword 'hitting a vital spot' would be a point. Maiming and killing wouldn't be very likely even in full contact.

Well yeah, but this is Ninjas and Superspies, there's an Enter the Dragon style tournament in every large city, hidden valley, and private island on Earth.

I'm gonna say no to the hoola hoop thing to be used as a weapon. Movie prop is fine, but don't try to use it in actual combat.

My final say is that I really do not want players creating their own custom unique melee weapons such as a Bat'leth from Star Trek (which I'm sure we can find Palladium stats for it online somewhere) because then I then have to determine the weapons stats and bonus in such a way to make sure it isn't overpowering (odds are the player won't agree with me either).

Also as I said before, it opens Pandora's box of every player wanting their own custom designed unique melee weapon where we have to create stats for it.

---

As for martial arts tournaments and this being N&SS you can expect those tournaments run by underworld organizations to be full contact where serious injury, maiming and death can occur. Those tournaments known to the general public would have rules to protect participants from getting seriously injured, maimed or killed.

Well I don't have to fight grunts much one Kata I chose raises my MA over 30 with intimidation and well she just walks forward and her fierce force of warrior macho-ness will cause people to back down, flee or fight with a -4 on attacks even guns. She could walk up a stairwell and cause grunts to crap themselves. She isn't subtle sometimes.

Unless they roll OVER her modified MA of 33.

I'm shocked I missed that so swapped out an Atemi skill for that Special Kata. ^_^

Anyway I might go the commercial angle have booklets covering 'secret fighting arts', vhs instructional tapes and well make up a bunch of tournaments and accolades to sell her crap to gullible types. Advertising on the back of common martial arts magazines and comic books. Its the 80's checking this would be hard if not impossible. As long as I avoid real events and organizations and make it all sound legitimate. I will need some seed money so need good paying work and such.

Keep in mind that the attribute chart ends at 30 for a reason. In the case of a high MA that 'good reason' is that there is always a chance to succeed or fail a percentile based roll.

Don't forget that whatever the players can do, some of the bad guys can do too. As a GM I am not afraid to use the same debilitating attacks/actions the players have against them.

Last but not least is if you decide to spam a particular power to get past encounters easily you will build up a reputation as a 'scary bitch' which means the bad guys might attack you on site or alternatively try to take you out by some other means.

I don't plan to use it all the time but say twenty grunts are in a room clearing out a bunch of them so I can take on their boss is a good time or going up a flight of stairs and I must get to the top. I'm going to get to the top killing everyone I have to. Clearing some out without a fight would be nice.

Plus sure some grunts might be more afraid of their boss and fight Mei Xing, there is that -4 in combat to hit me if they do, so fine I'll take what advantage I can.

I don't have Invisibility Arts I have to use what I get for her in the game and the Big Staring Match at the right time each mission can make things go my way.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:40, Thu 22 Aug 2019.

I'm headed to NashCon in Nashville TN this weekend and won't be back home until late Sunday night.

Normally while traveling I can stay caught on RPOL but in this case I will be running two Bolt Action (28mm WW2 wargame) tournaments (Friday night and all day Saturday) and so my opportunities to post will be few and far between.

I'll get caught up as fast as possible when I return.

Thanks for the heads up. Curious as to what else you play in the miniature wargame world.

I intend to have a players wanted ad up on Saturday evening (PST).

Bolt Action, Flames of War, Team Yankee, Force on Force, Blood and Plunder, 40k, Rumbleslam, Six Gun Sound, Frostgrave, Carnivale, Kings of War, and a few others are what I currently own minis for.

I've played quite a few more.

The same as with RPGs it's easier to list the ones I haven't played.

Hello hello, I will be your typical female agent out to prove she belongs in a male dominated occupation. And prove it she will.

I look forward to playing with you all. Oh, Mr GM sir, can I get my character sheet made user editable please?

Hello, folks.  Veteran Grunt here.

Howdy new folks.

Think of James as a... Transportation specialist.

Oh, my. Greetings all. I'll be the reformed cad of the bunch. You may have heard my name, before, it's doubtful there's any relation.
https://youtu.be/MkZ_aJoAiL0?t=29
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

OK I got character sheet templates and character description templates loaded up.

With several players using the die roller, I suggest everyone copy and pasts their rolls tot he bottom of their character sheet.

Oh for the new people I'm playing the harmless Jujutsu expert and actress.

Hello, I am Ninja #4!

...Which puts me really low, tail-end of the cast really, when the credits roll at the end of this movie.  Probably just another "Red Shirt" who gets a one-liner and then dies in a horribly graphic manner.

Or something.  ;)


I'm a Rifts/HU/PFRPG veteran who's never played in a N&SS focused game and this seemed like it could be fun.  I have some questions about the setting since I have a few different ideas on what to play:

1. Are we allowing Cybernetic Characters? OR are we keeping it simple?

2. While the original game was written in 1988, what time frame are we planning on playing in?
EDIT:  Never mind.  Helps if I read threads on some sort of sensible order.  >_<
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

In reply to Ninja 4 (msg # 32):

You can use a Cybernetic character. But just the cybernetics in the book.

Oh, good. John St. John-Smythe could use a cyborg soldier to keep him from being devastated by the violent people he's surrounded with.

With everything be cybernetic if so he might be popular with the ladies? hee hee

EDIT: By the way I'm looking forward to gaming with you all and any debate and such was just that abut the game content to make the game better, not to be a problem for people.

And I wanted to note some goals for my character. One is to meet various martial arts masters to test my characters skill so is interested in traveling to do that. The second is to do her own variant of Jujutsu with weapons as part of the training so wants to learn a few more Weapon Katas to develop Wen Jujutsu. Third make money ripping off dumb people with 'learn deadly martial techniques' from cheap to produce books and maybe make up a fighting society they can join under her pen name and maybe sell some other things related to that. Last she wants to make her mark in the movie industry as a decent martial arts action actress as in does the martial arts and can actually act decently as well. Not sure how much she will actually do though.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Sat 24 Aug 2019.

St. John-Smythe's goal is to keep working for the nice organization so they don't ship him off to prison for hacking the phone system in the UN Cafeteria (free baklava for a month? He calls that 'WINNING').
He's a decent media operator, and would happily assist you in filming screen tests.

As this is really the first time as I have given a serious look at this book, I find it interesting that if you wish to make a proper Ninja or Muay Thai practitioner, you have to go Dedicated Martial Artist and will have minimal skills outside of those from your Martial Arts training.

When you have the word Ninja in the book title and you only get one type of ninja OCC
(or rather a single OOC that can choose to be a ninja) it's a little disheartening.  I expected a couple ninja specific OOC's, much like Rifts Japan.

Makes it feel like the book title should be 1 Ninja & 15 Superspies.  >_<

Every other OOC gets a fat stack of skills from their skill groups.  Or at least a few in the case of the Worldly Martial Artist.

While I get that the Dedicated Martial Artist is exactly that, and that is their profession, I'm not sure how well that balances out.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:10, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

Also Rifter 3 and 7 add some more Martial Arts Styles.  While I think most of the arts in 3 are fictitious, the arts in 7 are more modern real-world stuff.

Well in their defense Ninjas are a way of life they are born into a clan and learn nothing else but its a very in depth martial art and covers a lot and there were never any real Ninjas as they are in fiction. As for the martial arts fictional or not in the book they are cool.

And what can be more fun than saying: My Jujutsu is better than your Shao-lin Kung Fu trash and I will show you now - lets fight!

But its a choice one makes to play a Ninjitsu practitioner or Thai Kick Boxing practitioner.

I would do this pick a Ninja like martial art, rename it [Insert your name, Ninjitu] and run around as its master an founder of the ancient and deadly art taught but a master making them up. Just find and learn a weapon or two if needed and get some made up black ninja like outfit. You would be a fraud but in the game they are so rarely seen your system could be legitimate to dumb Westerners. Just think of the marketing in books, instructional vhs tapes and memberships in a secret ninja society you run. There you go Ninja light.

I really like the Martial Arts forms found in Rifter 7.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:22, Sun 25 Aug 2019.

In reply to Ninja 4 (msg # 37):

Yeah per the RAW you can’t even make Snake Eyes or Storm Shadow who are essentially Commando/Mercs who have H2H Ninjitsu.

If I did not start this game due to a GM wanted ad here are some changes you’d probably see:

• The dedicated Martial Artist could take an Exclusive and Non-Exclusive Martial Arts form. Or they could take three non-exclusive Martial Arts forms.
• The Worldly Martial Artist could take one exclusive Martial Arts form or two non-exclusive Martial arts forms. This would expand the ability of players to select the 'exclusive' arts forms.
• I'd allow the other OCC's to take a second Martial Arts from at the cost of a non-basic skill program.
• I’d make a version of Ninjitsu that costs one Martial Arts form. Rifter 7 does this with Kick Boxing so why not?
• The military skill programs from the book would be either replaced or improved by what is in Rifter 25.
• As in my other games here on RPOL, some physical skills would cost more then one skill selection because it take years to learn them. As a GM I hate to see players load up on these skills to focus on combat instead of taking skills that can actually be used in role play to solve problems.
• Since there is a wrestling (Rifter 3) boxing (Rifter 7), and kick boxing (Rifter 7) Martial Arts form I’d probably only allow those with one of the four ‘agent’ H2Hs to take those skills. Or remove the skills from the game all together on the basis that: ‘If you want to be a boxer then take the martial art form.’
• As in my other games here on RPOL, bullets and other piercing attacks would do half HP and half SDC damage. This actually makes players think twice before charging a machine gun, or jumping on a grenade because they have a lot of SDC. Trust me with this house rule of mine gone in this game we will probably see a player character charge a machine gun or jump on a grenade.

GM here is an idea let Ninjitsu people swap one or both of their non-Art of Invisibility powers to take one other group skill program such as Espionage to represent modern clan training. I would even trade off both powers for Cybernetics. The game has Ninja in the title so they should be special.

Yeah, it's all good.  I like that The Rifter #7 has more Martial Arts that I would potentially like to use.  I have personally trained in Eskrima (Silat as it's listed in the Rifter) and would like to maybe use that as an Art.
__________

Regarding Ninjutsu, most people know the 80's movie tropes and that it does not really exist as a modern art form (or so we are commonly told.)  I can see where in Feudal Japan being a ninja is your whole life and from that perspective it makes sense.  But I would expect true modern ninjas to evolve with the times and have more skills.  You can totally fudge it just to make things work with one of the other OCC's, but I'm a little disappointed with the design choice considering what I know to be the usual Palladium skill glut.

My original knee-jerk concept was to make a Miko, effectively a ninja witch, but I'm not sure I want to cobble it together because their isn't a Mystical Ninja OOC.
__________

I've met real Muay Thai fighters in Thailand and for many that is their entire livelihood, and I get that.  But the lack of skills kind of makes a really boring one dimensional character.
__________

Considering the current apparent racial balance of the game, I would like to add another non-white character.  But I have yet to settle on a concept that gets the creative juices flowing.

The concepts I am currently considering:
An Intelligence Officer using the Academy Officer OOC
A "Winter Soldier" style Cyborg Soldier, not a Man-Machine
Another Worldly Martial Artist to add to the whole Street Fighter, World Warrior vibe.
Or a Wandering Free Agent

I might have a mild case of character ADD.   :3

The book says that a martial arts power can be traded for a basic skill program. I would not be opposed to allow TWO martial arts powers to be traded for a non-basic skill program.

I like the Worldly Martial Artist since we could see another approach.

That wouldn't be a huge stretch since most Martial Arts here allow for swapping powers for "Basic Skill Programs (excluding physical)."

At the same time I kind of want to play this system/setting without fudging too much to see how it specifically works differently from other Palladium settings.  While skills are nice, the huge menu of Martial Arts is the selling point.

I'm kind of waffling on that point.

Unless I go Academy Officer to play a more skill/support role, I totally plan on having one of the "fancy" Martial Arts.

I got a post up regarding agency the players will be working for. There are a few things I'd like the players to decide upon.

• Name of the agency
• Cover industry of the agency (it makes a profit)
• Main HQ location
• Location of the other three field offices

Please also offer input and suggestions as well. I stayed away from the tier 5 and 6 options because I think they give the players too much. Basically as the GM I want the player to rely on their skills and abilities instead of having them shadowed by how much the agency provides in special gear, and weapons.

I want to see how much the martial arts powers change the dynamic of both H2H and fire arms combat.

K.I.S.S.  I approve of this approach

Most of them seem to be flat bonuses while some others are a little more mystical in nature.

Two characters are almost finished and I am going to shortly set up language groups.

On the subject of languages and Chinese dialects I am going the following route:

A character who has Language Chinese needs to also pick a dialect. When speaking in this dialect they have a +10% skill bonus.

EDIT: I went with this and is int he character creation thread.
Chinese and its various dialects: A character who has Language Chinese needs to also pick a dialect. The other Chinese dialects can be understood at -10% of the character skill level.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:52, Mon 26 Aug 2019.

Some good information for all of us.
Until Bruce Lee, trained in Wing Chun, Tai Chi Ch'uan, and Hung Ga Kung Fu, began teaching non-Chinese in martial arts, it simply was not done.  The official beginning of his martial art form, Jeet June Do did not happen until 1967, despite his hybridizing his martial arts skills over the years.  Ernie Reyes Sr, knowledgeable in Tang Su Do, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing/Pugilism, Eskrima, knife-fighting, and Kickboxing, did not co-found his West Coast Martial Arts with Tony Thompson until the late 1970's/early 1980's.  Chuck Norris won his martial arts championship in 1973, using Tang Su Do; he created Chun Kuk Do after studying Shōtōkan, Gōjū-ryū, Shitō-ryū, American Kenpo, Enshinkaikan, Kyokushin, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Arnis, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do and Hapkido.

Do we have a team medic yet?  Or someone planning to be?

Not among the player characters (there is no Gizmoteer either).

I am making an NPC who can serves as a Medic, and vehicle guy. I did give this NPC the Military: Field Medic/Surgeon Skill Program from Rifter 25, but I tweaked it by removing the medical doctor and 1st aid skill, and added NBC warfare & Sewing. Although if someone were to take this and wanted the medical doctor skill, the skill program would cost 4 years.

Anyhow with 7 people working on characters we will probably end up with two field teams. So a 2nd a medic will be helpful.

1980's also led martial arts frauds this is from the later 1980's but is the tip of the problem including tons of fraudulent activity in the martial arts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k_7l_SrcD8

Honestly, Bruce lee exaggerates this in his books. It was true to some degree in the US but there were any number of men who traveled to learn Chinese martial arts well before the 60s and 70s.

The Anglo members of The Peking Police Force were virtually all trained in "Chinese Boxing" just after the turn of the 20th century. Irishman Micky O'Neill went on to train US and Canadian servicemen in hand to hand combat techniques influenced by Chinese Boxing. The Devil's Brigade were among those taught the O'Neill Method.

Wallace M. Greene and Samuel B. Griffith learned Kung Fu techniques from Chinese American Marines in the years after WW1 and included them in the Marine Corps H2H system. This system also included Judo which despite what N&SS says is the same martial art as Jujutsu (and Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu as well though that system has evolved in it's own direction for decades)

Robert Smith and Christopher Casey both learned Chinese arts in Taiwan and wrote numerous books on the subject in the 60s and 70s.

What it boils down to is if people were willing to put in the effort they could learn but it was (and still is) more popular to take the easy route.

Yeah, I think I'm trying to get an angle on Medical Skills for my concept without being an Agent or Gizmoteer.  I'm already playing kind of a super nerd in 2 other RPoL games so I have no interest in Gizmoteer.

It's sort of killing me slowly as every concept I throw against the OOC's seems to only half work with the OOC in my head.  While I want help create and maintain a diverse group of PC operatives, part of me is just like, "dude, just make your ninja and let everyone else worry about the other stuff."

.....

PM to GM inc.

<= Is playing a Ninja.

Noted.

OK so if you look at the cast we have 8 player characters.

I have closed the requesting new players flag.

As players complete their character I'll get them into the game for role play purposes.

For the actual campaign I have written it is set up so the cast can split into 2 or 3 groups to investigate things.

Are we going to be an established cadre?  Or are we new to the agency?

It depends. One character just spent 20 years in a Chinese prison so for that character I’d like to role play his recruitment.

Decisions have been made and rolling has begun.  I'll be running an Asian Merc Commando with some medical skills.

Hello! If I take the oriental study skill program, may I take some temple/philosophy skills as part of the any 3 Oriental cultural skills?

Thanks

Thank you for asking. Yeah I don't think it'll be an issue.

---

BTW for all of those players who are simply being called 'Ninja #' when you come up with a name let me know in a PM.

Also just an FYI, I will be adding a pair of posts to the character creation thread. This is going to require me to re-order some of the posts.

One post will be tweaks to OCC's and will be a place holder for now.

One post will be tweaks to the Martial Arts Forms. For example Ninjitsu lists a bunch of Japanese named weapons as Weapon Proficiencies but of course Palladium in its infinite wisdom didn't bother to create a WP skill for these weapons.

---

I also edited the firearms rules

• Listed the penalty for wearing a gas mask when using a rifle.
• Had to cross out the ACOG scope, since the first ACOG model, known as the TA01, was released in 1987.
• Made notes about fore grips and lasers (they are probably not common in the early 180's)
• Added the tracer round rules
• Added how I prefer paired firearms to works. BTW I'm not a big fan of paired firearms since I've actually played around at the range with dual wielding pistols and found that it to be inaccurate as hell.

Considering laser sights in the 80's were about the same size as full size flashlights, yeah, not sure I'd want something that chunky on my guns anyhow.


Agreed.

A blast from the past on super advanced hones of the period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCB6gUrma2c

Just to remind people you can have a portable phone they just ere portable in a manner of speaking.

Would you allow Chemistry - Chinese Alchemical from Mystic China in order to reflect a background in Chinese Medicine? My cover is that of a traditional bath house owner.
Thanks

Holistic Medicine would cover that I would think.

Why not take Holistic Medicine?

And only sometimes more functional than a paper weight.  XD

I actually intend on each field team to be given a satellite phone.

Oh I didn't see that one!

Oh Ninja Weapons are specialized others knowing them might draw out Ninja hunters, in the game its real after all and BS versions might be around to, but Ninjas have specific skills in most of these weapons. Ninja-To is a W.P. of its own for example. I suggest keeping those as is.

If there were specific weapon proficiencies listed in the book for those odd ball ninja weapons then we'd be using them.

Okay, let me give everyone a bit of a run down on James DiAngelo.....
James (or Jimmy to those he considers family) is a Vietnam veteran, who started off in Armor/Cavalry, but got moved to Air Cavalry before being deployed to The Bush.  In 1967, his help was shot down and he and a few other soldiers were captured.  After three years in a POW camp, whose name and location he cannot remember, he and a handful of others escaped.  Unfortunately, the others were either recaptured or killed. After two years of trying to make his way back to US and allies territory, he came across a firefight.  As the evac chopper took heavy fire, he was able to come up behind the NVA and VC forces to cause enough of a distraction for the chopper to land and load.  He approached the chopper at a run, and was able to get aboard, and go home.
Once back in The World, after some time healing and eating fattening foods again, he bought a refurbished Huey (Bell UH-1 Iroquois), and became a charter pilot.  He stayed out of trouble over the years.  That is until a year ago.  Taking a charter to Alaska, he was flying a group of six business men on a hunting expedition.  Unfortunately, his passengers were drunk, and one thought it would be funny to throw a half-empty beer at the pilot.  This damaged the controls and forced Jim into an emergency landing, on what turned out to be an ice covered lake.  Able to get everyone, and most of the gear out and off the lake as the ice broke, James could only watch as his helicopter sank into the frigid water.  It took two weeks, but he was able to lead them all out of the snowy wilderness with only a few minor cases of frostbite.
With his pilot license suspended while he is fighting a lawsuit for breach of contract, incompetence, and endangerment, he has a job working as a skydiving instructor for one of his friends from military.  Then, someone from UNIT comes to recruit him.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

In reply to Darkside Trooper (msg # 76):

Nijutsu under Physical Skills core book page 100;

W.P.s include all the funky weapons.

But no rules (like what are the strike, parry, and throw bonuses for those WPs) for those skills are in the book.

Well you maybe shouldn't get any for some of them climbing tiger claws likely won't do much more than any martial art strike and well mouth darts its likely more of a surprise weapon with no modifiers save for trickery you can do. A sword is well a sword however. My point is being unique to Ninjas largely no one else could likely use them or should get them save Ninjas a Ninja-To maybe anyone with Short Sword could use if they got one. I would just use common sense.

As pointed out by Keiji Mutoh the issue is that unlike the other ancient WP's (Knife, Sword, Chain etc), there is no strike, parry, throw, and level advancement bonuses listed for those weapons anywhere in the game.


I did use common sense. I looked in the book where the weapons were described on pages 144-146 and from there I was able to use deductive reasoning to determine which ancient WP's listed in the book are required to fully use each ninja weapon. I then decided to give Ninjitsu the appropriate WP's.

The important thing to note is that only two of those weapons will get the form bonuses, the others will benefit only from W.P. and PP bonuses. This escalates the selection of weapon katas appreciably. Personally, I would think the staff and chain katas would be the ones pushed by the clan sensei as these would be the easiest weapons to obtain.

At least they didn't list the Kumade, which is a rake used as a weapon.  There is also an Improvised Weapon skill in Mystic China.

You could do what I did remove Ninjitsu from the list of martial arts with their weapons - you know they never existed in real life the ones in my game were posers.

Going that route would definitely be an issue for the player planning to be a Ninja.

I know they are cool and fun in fiction and I like them myself. Just saying it would solve some of the funky weapons. But Ninja is in the game title.

Ninjas were real in feudal Japan.

Anyhow if Palladium has actually done its research (not a big surprise that they didn’t) regarding Ninjas in feudal Japan then took the time and effort to create specific WPs for those Ninja weapons we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Would’ve been nice too if Palladium had created a Ninja OCC since per the RAW you can’t take any espionage programs, can’t take a physical skill program and poisons appear to be entirely left out of the game.

Since both the Thief and the Commando Mercenary are allowed to take an exclusive form, and Ninjutsu is a martial art that deals in stealth, I would allow either if those to take it.  I would also allow the Worldly Martial Artist at the cost of the three physical skills; that is, until they decided to allow the OCC to take Capoeira, which is an exclusive martial art form.  To me,the Worldly Martial Artist is perfect for ninja, since Ninjutsu is about blending in and adapting.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:34, Wed 28 Aug 2019.

Not sure what you mean by that

---

But here's some more inconstancy and/or bad editing on Palladium's parts that as the GM I gotta deal with.

The book says the Dedicated Martial Artist is the only OCC that can select an 'exclusive' Martial Arts form.

But yet....

• The Thief (Free Agent) OCC lists Akido, an exclusive Martial Arts form among the Martial Arts forms that can be selected at the cost of 4 secondary skills.
• The Commando Mercenary OCC lists the following 'exclusive martial arts forms as possible selections: Tien-Hsueh Touch Mastery, Wui Wing Chun, & Wu Shu T'Sung P.R.C. Kung Fu

The one player making a Thief asked to select a different Martial Arts form instead of those listed. I allowed it because what they asked for wasn't exclusive, and it was built into the character's background.

I think there is one person working on a Commando Merc, I do not not if they have selected one of those exclusive martial arts forms that are listed. I built a Commando Merc myself, but I went with Assassin H2H Commando (Agent).

---

Anyhow some players have already completed their characters, and other are at various points in the character creation process.

Because of this I do not want to make any drastic changes as it pertains to Martial Arts form selection for the Dedicated Martial Artist OCC and Worldly Martial Artist OCC.

Once everyone's characters are made then I can actually compare the different OCC's to one another, or variations of the same OCC based upon skill program and martial arts form selection.

Any changes I make would be applied to somebody's second character in the even they get killed or are written out of the game.

Technically, using the Commando Mercenary OCC and requiring allegiance to a clan would be as close to a "modern ninja" as you would be likely to get.

I think we can safely say those two errors are a result of the inferior revision (aka "the great martial artist nerf").

In the orginal book the thief didn't have access to martial arts and the commando merc didn't even exist yet.


And the ninja was very probably meant to be played as a worldly martial artist, as back then he was allowed to have an exclusive MA plus had access to two skill programms.

In reply to Darkside Trooper (msg # 89):

Autocorrect on my phone changed Thief to Third, and I didn't catch it before I posted it.  New phone and I haven't quite mastered it yet.

Yep


Yeah I've looked in my files hoping for a PDF of the original edition. I'm interested in seeing what some of those OCC's looked like.

Which explains why I thought that's how it was since almost all of my N&SS games were from before the revised edition.

Definitely all the Ninjas in the games I ran were Worldly Martial Artists.

I don't think there's ever been one (not even an "unofficial" one.)


Ah, the great old days, when Muay Thai was actually an MA to be feared and worth the "exclusive" tag. :D




[I'm so old that my paper copy is actually an original 1987 edition.]

Heidy ho!  I got mad chop socky skills.

Okay, time to figure out where I left off in character creation.

I live in Florida, Saint Petersburg, near Tampa and have a hurricane aiming at us so my internet access may be affected. Depending on what the hurricane does.

Thanks for the heads up, stay safe

Yeah, what boss said.  Keep your head down and be safe!

Holistic Medicine is not a secondary skill, how can I take it if it was not listed in a skill program?

Oh man, I didn't see my martial art style had an alignment requirement!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:54, Thu 29 Aug 2019.

Yeah sure you can’t take it as a secondary skill

In reply to Fu wei (msg # 101):

Which style?

Snake!

Use this option (from the character creation thread):



So, create a package that contains Holistic Medicine and other suitable skills for your character and submit it to the GM.

I was thinking of that, already collected some skills.

Just to cover bases, we do NOT have to take the Read/Write Language skills and waste character sheet space, yeah?  And we ARE just integrating that into the Language Skill like smart people as a house rule.

I believe the rules of he game incorporate Literacy in Language skils.

Yup you MUST be EVIL and not the good kind of EVIL, but EVIL EVIL.

Need advice picking one I would try Chin'na or Mantis Style the latter from the Mythical China supplement.

If your intent is a mystical focus, you could do worse than Tai Chi. There's plenty of ninjas and cyborgs (a script I'm still working on, thank you) in the mix already, which means a combat focus is unnecessary.

Mystic China offers options to but Tai Chi isn't bad if your interested in self-defense either and its with your holistic interests not a bad choice.

Did you consider the Occupation Basic Program and take for that Chinese Holistic Physician the GM will be able to help with that one.

Plissken!


I'm older, and the part of my frontal lobes that keeps me from doing inappropriate things is beginning to shrink.

Correct.

If you have language: Klingon you also have Literacy: Klingon

Thanks guys. It wasn't just for the Mystical component, it had a little to do with what I rolled on the secret background table. I am flexible and will find something else easily.

Are there any additional Cover identities or do we just pick something close?

Thanks!

James has no cover identity available.  He has no espionage programs.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Sat 31 Aug 2019.

I have a cover job as part of my Espionage package, but not an already established Cover ID.  But we are part of UNIT now.  If we need one it will probably happen.

UNIT? What's that? You don't get much in the way of news in a Chinese prison.

If you have an espionage program you probably have an option for several cover identities.


Pick something close to what you can select as part of that skill program.

---

I have thought of looking over everyone skill sets, and provide an extra cover from UNIT.

Native Language usually has a fixed starting percentage in Palladium Games, and I don't seem to be finding that information here in N&SS.  Help?

N&SS just has 'Language' at 55%+5% per level listed in the book.

Later books like RUE, BTS-2, Dead Reign, and Robotech 2E have the following for language
Language: Native Tongue (88%+1%)
Language: Other (50%+3%)

I prefer using a small part of another Palladium product.

Perhaps the international flavor, and time period, we're playing suggests the first two should be situational; the bonuses for native language seem reasonable.

And now It's time to transcribe what I have on paper to the electric character sheet.

Character Sheet says PS*5 for swim speed in meters per melee
Book says PS*3
And PS*10 for Swimming Advanced (assuming with flippers and other enhancing gear)

What numbers are we actually using?

The PS*5 is probably a typo on my part. It should say PS*3.

So Swimming Advanced/SCUBA has a "+3d4 Speed when Swimming" bonus, but it doesn't really fit with all of the other math regarding swimming speeds.  Scrap it as a weird fluke? Or what?

Yeah saw that too. Its in the 1st edition of Beyond the supernatural as well.

Just list it for now. We can always scrap it later if need be.

I looked through all my books (even the Justice Machine Sourcebook) and the swimming speed issue doesn't appear to be resolved in any of them. I did notice the information repeated in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, but otherwise no clarification appears to have been offered.

Yeah my annoyance is in the fact that Adv. Swimming isn't really clear on what to do with the 3d4.  My best guess is to add it to the normal swimming distance per melee.  You obviously don't add it to Speed.  And Speed isn't part of the math for Swimming speed.

When making my NPC I think I added the 3d4 to PS then did the multiplyer. Will need to check this though.

EDIT: Yep that’s what I did.

Maybe just include the +3d4 when swimming with flippers on? But then if your wearing a five belt, air tank, and all the others shit you need to SCUBA dive you’ll have more mass which in turn requires more energy to move.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:27, Sun 01 Sept 2019.

Except Adv Swimming give PS*10 per melee.

In reply to Hunter Tran (msg # 131):

I’m just gonna update the house rules to clarify this.

I have an idea from John Wick movies but maybe we can have their gold coins and a overseeing organization to value them as a currency in the game not for agents normally, but say we find a dude and fight him. He might have say twenty of these on them as payment to kill us and we could split them up. With hotels that are violence free normally and other benefits like access to a hint of the world of global super killers and the men who hire them.

And it would add an air of mystery like who would pay that much to kill us or find it on some guy who are they to have these after all Call Girls, taxi drivers and body cleanup men all take them.

I like the John wick movies, but I don't want to stealthe gold coin idea.

Besides I already know whose gonna try to assassinate you guys after you stick your collective noses into their business.

But don't worry there will be no invisible T-Rex's, Mystic Knights or fully kitted out commando's who are nega-psychics trying to kill you.

Please tell me you weren't using the word "invisible" to properly qualify the T-Rex that wouldn't be trying to kill us.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Mon 02 Sept 2019.

I was.

In a Rifts game I ran several years ago the PCs convoy was attacked by invisible T-Rec’s.

So, we only have to worry about a visible T-Rex, a mundane knight, or poorly equipped commandos that lack any psychic power? No problem, we got this.

No dinosaurs or knights in armor. No psychics.

Any ‘commandos’ you run into will probably be well equipped.

So I have a new job that maybe interfering with the brain power required to actually finish out my character sheet.  I think I just need to do a final pass on the TXT file I have and then cut and paste it into the character form here.

I would do that right now, but my brain is yogurt.

I am hoping to have more brain tomorrow.

G'night folks!

I know many players are still working on their characters.

I would like everyone to have completed their character by September 21st.

• I consider a character complete when the skill percentages have been totaled up, H2H bonuses listed, and character background filled out.
• Weapons and equipment is IMO not part of 'character' creation in this type of game because you may need specific equipment for where you may be going in game, and where your going might have strict weapons laws.
• If you don't get your character done by the 21st I am not going to immediately boot you from the game. But you may just have to play catch up in that you'll have posts to read. You might also have to wait until I can get your character into the game.

There have been some hurdles. Will be done well before then.

Noted and noted.  Finally getting into a work rythem so I'll likely wrap up the sheet this weekend.

I have him pretty much completed on paper, just gotta transfer him.

I believe the character to be done, personally I've got a few years left.

I have shelved the ninja concept (it's just really hard to make a ninja that useful to a spy organization as more than a killer) and will be play an Operative Agent.

Jack here is a swiss army knife of mayhem.

And my Internet is shot thanks to a lightning storm.  Character sheet will come when ever I get that back.

When can the rest of us get started?

Sept 21st I believe.

Good.

FYI your character is in a thread and can post

Just to let you all know a little nitpick of mine as a GM is players who load up on physical skills (Gymnastics, Acrobatics, Boxing, Wresting & Kick Boxing).

To be honest due to all the bonus you get from these skills, Boxing, Wresting & Kick Boxing should all count as two skill slots/selections, and Gymnastics, Acrobatics should all count as three skill slots/selections.

Anyhow if you could please avoid being loading up on those skills it would be much appreciated.....

I've always thought N&SS had the perfect foil for this physical skill glut. Rule that any character filling their Physical Skill Program with Boxing, Wrestling, Kick Boxing, and Acrobatics/Gymnastics instead receives the following minimalist martial art in place of those skills:
CHARACTER BONUSES:
Add 3+1D4 to P.S.
Add 1d4 to P.P.
Add 2 to P.E.
Add 8d6 to SDC

COMBAT SKILLS:
Escape Moves: Roll With Punch/Fall/Impact, Backflip
Attack Moves: None
Basic Defensive Moves: Dodge, Parry
Advanced Defenses: None
Hand Attacks: Jab (1d4), Cross (1d6), Uppercut (uses two attack actions - 1d8)
Basic Foot Attacks: Roundhouse Kick, Axe Kick, Knee Strike, Leap Kick
Special Attacks: Automatically Knockout opponents on a natural twenty for 1D6 melee rounds, Pin/Incapacitate on a roll of 18, 19, or 20, Crush/Squeeze does 1D4 damage, Body Block/Tackle does 1D4 damage and opponent must Dodge or Parry to avoid being knocked down.
Weapon Katas: None
Modifiers to Attacks: Pull Punch
Attacks per melee: two
Bonuses: +2 to Parry/Dodge,
+6 to Roll with Punch/Fall
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING:
60% + 5% per level — Sense of Balance.
60% + 5% per level — Walk Tightrope or High Wire.
80% + 2% per level — Climb Rope.
40% + 4% per level — Climbing (or adds a bonus of +15% to Climb skill).
60% + 5% per level — Back Flip.
30% + 5% per level — Prowl (or adds a bonus of +10% to Prowl skill).
SPECIAL ABILITIES INCLUDED IN TRAINING:
Leap four feet high and five feet long, plus 2 feet per level of experience.
Fearless of heights.
Why Study I WANNA BE BRUCE LEE?
Because the idea that if one trains hard enough one could be as cool as a movie star is a very attractive fantasy, and I've always been one to pursue attractive fantasies. Besides, it's the same as taking Boxing, Wrestling, Kick Boxing, and Acrobatics as a logical physical program (who does that, anyway?).

Of course, using one Secondary Skill to get Hand to Hand Basic, and two or three more on things like Weightlifting and Body Building or Running is arguably just as good, and possibly better as I Wanna Be Bruce Lee includes NO automatic parry. The point is, declaring this a minimalist form means the bonuses CAN'T be used with any other form.

To late should have brought this up earlier AND three physical skills are part of my OCC and one from her required Military Program I'm not going to waste these so what should I have taken, things without good benefits? It would be to me wasting valuable skill choices and I didn't take a Physical Skill Program since it would have just have been pointless.

I used my Physical Program to buy:
Swimming
Advanced Swimming/SCUBA
Gymnastics
Athletics (General)

I figured that was fair without cheesing all of the combat bonuses.

Okay, my character sheet is posted.

I brought this topic up in your private message thread. See message # 24 posted on Aug 20th.

Honestly if anyone should have all those skills it makes sense for the Kung Fu Movie star to have them.

A competitive fighter wouldn't have much use for Gymnastics and Acrobatics but a woman who has too do all (or most) of her own stunts (and wirework) would definitely train in them.

It may be necessary to view the Martial Artists differently since they are sort of supposed to have an advantage in H2H combat.

Ok so a player asked me to approve of their cover identities (thank you BTW) and it gave me an idea that RPOL supports.

My idea is that for every cover identity a character has, the player gets a ‘named NPC’ to post as when using that cover. While it won’t work for every character, the player could pick a different portrait of the same person/actor as their character. Or if they have the disguise skill a completely different portrait.

For example as the NPC I made, Earl Jenden has one cover identity. So I’d make up a short bio for the identity (BTW the player who inspired this idea did this), a name and find a different portrait of Mark Wahlberg to use.

OOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo,...

I like that idea.

I ask to do something like that for Facade and Morphus when I play in a Nightbane game.  Too bad none of them have lasted long enough to get to use it much.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Wed 11 Sept 2019.

I definitely like it.

Hunter Tran, Jack Random, and Rory Winters are all pretty much done. I might get a character interaction thread up for the three of you in the next few days.

I’m still busy with work until the 21st of September (FY end closing).

Given their backgrounds in Vietnam there is a good possibility Hunter and Jack have met. Hunter was trained by seals and there were only 100 or so SEALs in vietnam at any given time.

James is also a Vietnam vet, chopper pilot.
Hey, I actually served in Operations Desert Shield/Storm with one of those SEALS.  He was with Team 2, was on the retrieval teams for Apollo's 14 and 14.  He later transferred to Army Reserves, Special Forces, Intelligence, became a civilian police officer.  Then he transferred to Army National Guard as Military Police, where I had the honor to meet him.  He was still a police officer (40 years in various departments) when he died last year.  He had full military honors from three branches and a "Last Call" from the police.  Marine did a Twenty-One Gun Salute.  It was an impressive funeral.

The only SEAL I ever knew personally was a guy who ran a photo shop in town. Interesting cat. Medium sized. Grip like a vice. Sucked at paintball. Taught us how to make pipe bombs. He was iirc with Team 2 (east coast team) during Vietnam.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Fri 13 Sept 2019.

Earl bounces the red ball on his nose too.....

Watching an old movie I noticed another anagrammatic name for an intelligence service that tickled me. Who wouldn't want to join the Zonal Organization World Intelligence Espionage service?
Don't try to place it, the movies are very old.

Almost time.

Yep. Haven’t typed it out yet but I know what the mission briefing will be...

My sister, her wife and their two children were killed by a drunk truck driver who is alive so gaming is taking  back burner as I fight with DA to not plea bargain the bastard. I want a jury trial and that scum in prison for a long time and it was his second time DUI and he was plastered so am not feeling much mercy right now.

I am so sorry to read that.  My father was killed by a drunk driver before I was two year old.  However, the drunk driver need went to trial.  It was the drunk driver he saw in the mirror every day.  I think that I can, however, understand the rage you feel.  My deepest condolences.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Sat 21 Sept 2019.

Oh shit, I'm sorry to hear that.  I hope the asshole gets what he deserves.

Just be careful not to annoy the DA. It's likely he has several DUI's to process and will give the best deal to the murderer with the most annoying victim family. Unless there's an election coming up so that someone in the court system needs free publicity, a plea bargain is almost inevitable.
That's the way things are. We can't help it that it sucks so much you'd think the earth was surrounded by a hard vacuum.

I'm speaking for the family and want to make sure the fact its a same sex couple isn't a negative if the plea is seriously done and punishment is enough its something we might not fight. I'm thinking twenty years minimum might be okay. A trial could double that bur might not. I'm just trying to be strong for everyone.

Well the DA gave his terms for a plea to avoid trial 25 years in prison no parole or risk a trial and they will show no mercy with the charges on every felony and major lesser charge they can find. Before a jury. He faces well over the time offered if the jury comes through in prison. I agreed on my families side the plea is tolerable.

That's quite a plea bargain.

Depends on the state. If you have previous DUI convictions, in some states, additional drunk driving charges can be brought as felony charges. Felony murder is a legal rule that expands the definition of murder. It applies when someone commits a certain kind of felony and someone else dies in the course of it. In most states, felony murder is categorized as a first-degree murder and can result in sentencing from several years to a life imprisonment. In almost half of these states, felony murder is considered a capital offense, which means that the death penalty is available.
So, depending on the state, drunk drivers that cause a fatal accident can be executed.

I live an hour or two away from the scene of the Carrolton Bus Crash back in 1988, thirty one years ago.  That had a lot of influence on Kentucky's DUI laws.

I got the briefing post up for those who completed their characters. I'm letting the players decide who goes where.


For those who are still working on completing your characters, please do so. If not I will remove you from the game so as to make room for other potential players.

So no one wants to risk so freezing their balls off in Antarctica?

*Reluctantly raises hand....*

I'm actually good with the Clive Cussler-esque mission/plot.  And I think that Antarctica is an angle that needs to be checked out.  But if you're giving characters the choice, I don't see anyone wanting to go.  There is reasons assignments to remote stations in the north and south poles are the classic spy movie punishment trope.

I'm just asking if we have anyone with enough of the right skills to pass as a field scientist or similar science type because I think that would be helpful for that team.

Hunter is by design a special forces medic with electronic surveillance skills.  His survival and medical skills would be useful, but he really doesn't speak science nerd like the locals do.

In reply to Hunter Tran (msg # 182):

Yes I stole the idea of the obsidian figurine from a Clive Cussler book. But there is no 4th Reich bent on causing the great cataclysm.

I like to give players choices both places offer up different clues but will ultimately lead to the same result.

For the record I haven't read that Cussler novel, but I've read enough to appreciate the beginning of the mission.  Dirk Pitt is one of my modern fiction heroes.

Been awhile since I've Clive Cussler.  I did my most prolific amount of reading while running a radio in the Persian Gulf.  I could read a novel and a half in a twelve hours shift.

I read a handful of Cussler's novels when I was in the Navy.  I've been itching for a read and might have to find myself a list and start hunting used book stores.

When you compare the movie Sahara with the book it's a pretty good adaptation.  I'm a little upset they didn't make more Dirk Pitt movies.

That was because Cussler himself hated the movie Sahara and the casting of Dirk and Al in the film.

Damn, I thought it was pretty good.

I thought the movie adaptation of Sahara sucked because they didn’t the corpse of ‘somebody’ In the ship.

Anyhow i have every Dirk Pitt novel as a hard copy except the last one or two to be published.

I liked the movie and I like Cussler novels. I especially dig that the timeline is still running with Dirk's grandkids doing cool stuff for NUMA.

I was reading other things. Over half of the Dirk Pitt novels were published after I mustered out. I did manage to get through something like forty of The Destroyer (CPO collected the things and let me borrow them) on watch in the steering gear.

Actually it’s the kids he fathered in the first novel but never knew about until they grew up. That’s gotta be a crazy way to find out your a dad: Grown children just show up on your doors step.

Of course I may be in the same boat as I may have an Okinawan, or British, or Colombian kid I may not know about.

Well if I pick the Cussler books back up I may have to stop short of the newer "kids" books.  My brain has already taken it the "Spy Kids" route which makes me skeptical.

No it doesn’t go the spy kids route. It’s more like Clive’s son is writing the portions of the book the kids are in. You can see a difference in the writing. Plus timeline wise Dirk and Al are getting old. So instead of Dirk getting his ass beat to hell its his son getting beat to hell. The daughter doesn’t get her ass kicked too often.

Anyhow the later books are just as good as the older ones.

So is there anyone who is ready to go that has not posted in the Mission Briefing thread yet?

So far we have:

Jack
Sinjin
Hunter
James
and Wen

That it so far of the PC's. I was hoping more people would finish their characters.

Of course in most RPOL games you only get about 50% of the people who send an RTJ to a brand new game/setting to actually end up playing in that game.

I think I can.. I think I can!

Get 'r done!

Just an FYI. As the GM I try to give everyone a chance to post before posting again. I think with the posting frequency everyone has been doing I’ll go a week.

So I’ll get something up for sure tomorrow or Wednesday.

Yeah I try and keep the posting pretty round-robin myself.  I realize I owe James a response, but RL has been busy doing job hunting things.  I will try and get it in later today.

One If the things as a GM i don’t like is what I call ‘posting diehera’.

Basically 2 or more players are involved in a character interaction conversation and two of the players go back and forth without allowing the 3rd, 4th or 5th player to chime in. The reason this is a nitpick is this occurred to me as a player. I posted right before I left for work, where I did not have access to the internet or my cell phone. In the 16 hours I was away from home two players had gone back and forth for a while page and a half. When I asked them about it they didn’t give a fuck and the GM didn’t give a shit either so I left that game.

I've an issue with that from both sides. No, I can't be on 24/7, but that doesn't mean two characters in my game can spend a page and a half in a single conversation. It's only marginally better to have the conversation in PM and then post it in toto when the two are done.
As the GM, I'm the only one authorized to lay track for the story, and monopolizing the posting can easily develop into a choo choo

Of course the other side of it is when you get that player that won't post for a week and everyone is waiting on them and the game comes to a complete stoo.

Yeah well I’m not beyond murdering the character of a player who hasn’t posted and won’t respond to my PMs.

Glad that isn't me.....

Unless the murder is especially gruesome, morose, or affecting. Going out in a blaze of glory has been overdone, but there are so many other underrated ways to go out in a dramatic fashion that there should be something for everyone, there.

I hope I covered mostly everything in my last post.

Of course one thing I like about GMing is you never know what a player is going to ask for.

I have a new schtick my gal ill want to try and eat endangered animals so Emperor Penguin could be a good meal.

I hear penguin doesn’t taste that good.

Also do we want UNIT to have standard issued weapons and tactical gear? Basically instead of each player figuring out 5000 worth of weapons I’d just make a list of what you can pick. This way everyone would the same pistol/rifle/SMG/shotgun and ammo. Yes there can be variations of the rifle.

I thought Smythe might idiosyncratically use the same weapon, and no other, all the time. Nothing unusual, just always using a specific weapon.
That, and a tendency to avoid gunplay, those will be his two idiosyncrasies. Always using a Walther PPK, the tendency to avoid gunplay, and a passion for playing Go. John's THREE idiosyncrasies will be always using a Walther PPK, the tendency to avoid gunplay, a passion for playing Go, and an inability to finish a list. Among John's idiosyncrasies there will be always using a Walther PPK, the tendency to avoid gunplay, a passion for playing Go, and an inability to finish a list.

In reply to Darkside Trooper (msg # 209):

Certainly seems like having standard issue weapons would make sense for the troops.

Having more latitude to choose weapons also makes sense for the spies.

Maybe we could get weapons at a discount if we choose standard issue but have to pay full price if we choose individually?

For James, it's his trusty m1911 and an AK-47 that he picked up during his escape from the Hanoi Hilton.  And a knife.  Or three.

Ok so whatever I kit out Ralph Jenden with will be mostly standard for straight up combat.

I might start an equipment thread that will include the code to use so you can copy/paste into your equipment sheets.

I was talking about this game to a buddy of mine who used to be a Class 3 dealer and he put together a list of "Cool ass guns" that were available in our timeline (up to and including 1980) and I decided to share it here.

Tabuk Iraqi produced 7.62 x 39 AKM with a knockoff Dragonov style stock, 24-inch barrel, and rail for optics. Full auto capable, 30-round magazine, and often with a folding bipod. 1978

APS A Soviet underwater assault rifle firing a 5.66mm fin stabilized dart to 1200 fps out to about 30 yards underwater, 600 rounds per minute, with a 27-round magazine. 1975

Beretta M92 9mm 1975

Beretta M93r 9mm 1979 (essentially an M9/M92 capable of 3rd burst fire)

CZ 75 9mm 1976

SIG Sauer P220 1975

Steyr GB 9mm 1974

FN Barracuda .357 magnum revolver 1974

IMBEL M973 Brazilian knock-off M1911A1 in 9mm with a 9-roound magazine. 1973

SPP1 Russian 4.7 x 39 underwater firing pistol. 1971

HK P11 underwater pistol in 7.62 x 36mm. 1976

MAC 10 1970

MAC 11 1971

AK74 series 1978

Steyr AUG series 1978

Mossberg 590 12 gauge pump 1975

Winchester Model 1300 12 gauge pump 1978

Franchi SPAS 12 semi/pump 12 gauge combat shotgun 1979

Zastava M70 Yugoslavian AKM knock-off, not completely compatible with AKM. 1970

Valmet M76 series based on AKM. 1976

Zastava M76 Yugoslavian Dragonov knock-off, not completely compatible. 1976

Norinco M79 Red Chinese produced Dragonov knock off. 1979

Parker Hale M82 Sniper Rifle 7.62 NATO Britain 1972

PSL Romanian, Dragonov-like 7.62 x 54 rifle based on the RPK receiver. 1972

Ruger Mini 14 .223 Remington 1973 (weapon of choice for the A-Team)

Armalite AR 18 5.56mm 1969

M16 series 5.56mm 1963

Dragonov SVD 1963

FN FNC 5.56mm 1966

FN FAL 7.62N 1953 (The Brits call their semi-auto version the SLR. Officially the L1A1)

PM 63 Poland, 9mm Makarov, a heavy pistol sized SMG. 1965

M134 Miniugun 1963

HK 21 7.62 NATO LMG 1963

HK G3 series 7.62 NATO 1963

HK MP5 9mm 1965

HK MP5 SD3 integrally suppressed 1975

VZ 61 Scorpion .32 acp machine pistol 1961

China Lake 3 shot pump action 40mm grenade launcher 1968

PM 63 Romanian AKM knock-off with folding stock and vertical forward grip. 1963

M40 sniper rifle 7.62 NATO 1966

M21 Sniper Rifle version of the M14 1969

Stoner 63 multi-role weapon system 5.56mm 1963

S&W Model 76 9mm SMG 1967

Cool.  Especially the underwater weapons.

In reply to Jack Random (msg # 214):

Awesome list!

I was looking at the variants of the MP-5 that were available in 1980 (they are quite a few), after watching an episode of The Man in The High Castle where in one scene the Nazi's were armed with MP-5's (but soon got mowed down but a bunch of US freedom fighters using WWII era firearms).

I am kinda bummed the Milkor MGL isn't quite available in 1980 (designed but not produced until 1983), but completely forgot about the China Lake.

A lot of personal favorites there.  The Russian underwater rifle was known to have some serious feed issues, but the underwater pistols were pretty K.I.S.S.

If you leave out that the ammo doohickey could only be reloaded at the H&K factory. Once you run out of preloaded "clips" your done shooting until you visit Mr. Gerry.

I'll be at a small local gaming convention all weekend.

Life and work has kept me busy the past week and a half. Will try to get something up this weekend.

Sorry I haven’t been able to post.

RL both in and out of work has been pretty hectic. My wife travels out of state a lot for work and when she’s traveling I’m pretty much a single parent. It wasn’t hard with one kid. But two kids, a 5 year old and a 6 month old doesn’t give me much time to do anything on a weeknight. Weekends are pretty much family time.

I have kids ranging from nineteen to ten years old.  I getcha.  Even with two parents available, it can be nuts.

I do plan on running this game, but it might not be as fast going as I had originally intended.

I have two kids myself and I often warn my friends that it is the second child that makes you old.

I want to say my three sons didn't make me old, but I would say they added some velocity to my journey towards geriatrics.
Besides, I've been fortunate in having had no daughters.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Tue 05 Nov 2019.

So with traffic being completely crappy today I decided to stay at home instead of sitting in traffic for 3-4 hours.

So I'll be getting posts up.

I'm thinking of just having James use his true identity for this mission.  Have him claim to be an Army pilot on loan to the Air Force because of his Arctic survival training.

Still here, planning on life to get busy in a few weeks.

Hello?

The Hollow Men, specifically the last two lines.

Was in the hospital for two weeks and am recovering.

That sucks.  Good you're feeling better.

I apologize for being MIA these past two months but I had some things occur in RL that required me to step back from most of my hobbies.

Anyhow I’d like to know who is still willing to play in this game.

I'm still here. May be a few days before I could get back to full participation.

Aquí.

Where, really, would I go?
I'm always willing.

KIIIIAAAAA! Ready for action!

Still here.

Still here as well Mr GM. :)

So, which discipline does each scientist study?  What areas do the support personnel cover?

I knew someone was gonna ask those questions. I surprised nationality wasn’t included as well.

The egg heads are are archaeologists and/or historians

The support people....cook, mechanical fixer type, electrical fixer type and I dunno what the 4th would be.

I’ll update the in game list

Environmental systems, perhaps?  Or an archivist?

I’m always lurking about somewhere.

I'll be at The Siege of Augusta (HMGS wargaming convention) all this weekend and will not have time to check in here as often as usual.

LET CRY HAVOC LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR! Good gaming! May you defeat your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of the women!

It's the Antarctic.  Likely a survival specialist of some sort.

Sorry guys, I'll catch up and post after my doctors appointment today.  And then I will try to be more attentive.  Life is being a pain in the ass at the moment.

Just a heads up that as the GM I like to see a post from everyone before moving on. This way every player is 'in the loop' so to speak'.

Also in these kind of situations where players are investigating something you guys decide what to do and where to go. This is the time where me as the GM gets to react to the players actions/ideas.

---

EDIT: Also I do have two other active games running here on RPOL.

Robotech Re-imagined: The Macross Saga
link to another game
In this game the players are currently trying to survive the Battle of Pluto.

• Player Group One: A squadron of veritech pilots (Might have a few NPC’s characters you can barrow for a bit)
• Player Group Two: Civilians living in Macross City. This group is mostly freeform and role playing. But it is also where some players running veritech pilots have a replacement PC made in case their veritech pilot gets killed in action. So you would make a civilian character who will 'join up' and become a VT pilot after the battle. Or make a civilian character and just live in Macross city.

Dead Reign: The First Survivors
link to another game
This game is set a few weeks after the dead have risen. As such only the civilian occupations can be selected.

• Player Group One: Are currently at the player groups safe haven after transporting a wounded PC back from Hoover dam. They are in the process of getting ready to go back again and help those out at Hoover dam. I have two NPC’s in this group I can let people take over/barrow.
• Player Group Two: Are currently at Hoover Dam trying to kill Zombies and Death Cultists. I have two NPC’s in this group I can let people take over/barrow.

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:29, Sun 26 Jan 2020.

Remove me from the game please.

Robotech game could I run a business owner, curious, but it better be really pretty active.

Sorry to see you go, Mei.

So no players have posted I their respective threads for almost a month.

I hope no one or their family has gotten sick with COVID-19.

Anyhow I’m probably gonna shut this game down.

I posted last, so I wasn't going to post again.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Wed 22 Apr 2020.

OK so 3 or 4 player have logged in since my last OCC post.

If your still interested in this game please let me know....I do not mind doing a 'soft reset' of the game and run it with 3-4 player characters.

Still interested.  But, AI posted last in the thread, so....

I'm still interested in this game as well.

I was always interested. I've just had a lot of distractions due to the pandemic situation.

I'm still here.

I'm sorry everyone.  I don't really have the bandwidth anymore as the pandemic and day to day news have pretty much emotionally ground me down to a stump.

I really hope you can pick this up and get it moving again.  The premise is really cool.

It can be rough.  I've been tested and under quarantine twice.  Once because of exposure, once because of symptoms.  Luckily both were negative, but the last quarantine was ten days, separated from my family in my own home.  Talk about difficult.  My kids are used to getting hugs.

Yeah I have jusy a lot on my plate too with working from home, primary laptop/cpu dying, kids at home, one kid starting kindergarten etc etc etc.

That said yes I want to run this game, and will try to get it going again at one point.

OK so who is still around?

If there is at least two players, I'll do a semi 'soft reset'.

Here.

Yes, I'm still here.

Wow.  Just two of us.

I do not think I am going to be able to get back to this game and get it running again. None if it is the fault of the players but myself and life outside of RPOL.

So I will be 'deleting this game in a week.

I do have two active games for those who might be interested.

Dead Reign: The First Survivors
link to another game
This game is pretty slow going, players post once every few weeks.

Robotech Re-imagined: The Macross Saga (Palladium)
link to another game
This games has players posting 1-3 times a week.

That is a shame.  I like my character.  But, that's the way life goes.

It's true, this was one of my favorite characters. So I'll just have to re-purpose him and use him somewhere else. C'est la vie.