Operator creation

A thread for openly discussing creating the operator characters.

I want to play the recruiter.

How will fulton extractions be handled?

Question, I have the base SWADE book (which I'm reading right now), but not the supplements. How much of a problem would that be?

Not so much of an issue, in fact I’ll see what I can do to share with you some of the missing supplement from the ghost ops book

I think it may be best to assume this is a mechanic that will have to be left out of our game for the moment but I will give it some thought on what ways it can be implemented.

Imagine for now you guys are the soldiers sent on the dispatch missions menu from the game. So the rewards you bring mother base are the GMP and supplies.

After a quick scan, I think I'm interested in playing a sniper, taking into account the overwatch rule for them on page 48 of Ghost Ops and the core book's suppressive fire rules. I imagine them as low Vigor, relying on supporting the team at a distance.

Quick question, what does "Inactive" mean in the Ghost Edge's description?

Quick Q: I have a .pdf for the Ghost Ops SWADE book, but I'm pretty sure it isn't the 2nd Strike version... are there a lot of differences, or is it passable for use?

Shot you a link in pm

As a general heads up the main stay of characters and events will be happening separately to what you as Diamond Dog operators are doing in the other parts of the world. If you need an age, consider the year to be 1989, due to technology being a bit different in the Metal Gear universe this shouldn't really have any impact on the types of equipment you can have as an operator.

For you guys who are thinking about your callsign or nickname, a good rule of thumb is to keep your callsign limited to two, no more than three syllables.

Also a good thing to remember in terms of something you may all have in common is the Diamond Dogs indoctrination. While it's not really stated there's a lot to suggest in Phantom Pain that soldiers who are captured or actively join the soldiers at motherbase will go through some kind of indoctrination, which may include some kind of hypno-therapy via Ocelot, usually on a willing basis (this is not outright stated, and you can choose to see it another way for your character). The principle of Outer Heaven is that warriors of all nations are being abused, and to forge a breakaway pseudo state where the misused soldiers of the world can band together and shift the balance of power in the world to give representation to the common soldiers plight. It's a very common practice to try and spare the lives of as many soldiers as possible (that includes the enemy).

(The actual canon on this has gone through several iterations of what Outer Heaven's goals are but we're going with the Phantom Pain version on this one. You are the goodguys in this story unless you change that.)

I noticed that in Ghost Ops, it mentions Rappelling as a skill you can get from career choices, but I don't see a skill description for it in that book or the core book.

It appears to be an oversight on their part. They have rappelling rules in their standalone version of the game but didn't include it in the SWADE print of the Ghost Ops book. Here's what the other book has to say about Rappelling, we'll just adapt these rules to SWADE.

Rappelling

Either down the side of a building or cliff or from
a chopper, the operator will use their Agility attrib-
ute with the Airborne Assault specialisation if avail-
able. Operators can be shot whilst rappelling as well
as have the line cut. If shot, the player must roll the
operators Reflexes attribute Vs a DN of 4 or let go of
the rappel line, they then must make an Agility test
against a DN of 6 to grab hold of the line and right
themselves. If the line is cut, the operator will fall,
taking falling damage.

Ok, so we have a sniper. Joms, are you still going with a recruiter or what are you thinking?

I just want to minimize overlap.

I don't think there will really be a 'recruiter'.

If you're looking for some of the kinds of roles that would normally be filled out I have a list, and keep in mind some of these roles can overlap or be doubled up, etc. Many like these but not limited to:

- Radioman
- Hacker
- Intel
- Breacher
- CQB specialist
- Machine Gunner
- K9
- Driver
- Sniper (obviously)
- Heavy Weapons Specialist
- Medic
- Sapper/Engineer

I'm more just trying to make sure each PC has a unique role with minimal overlap. We don't need three heavy gunners.

All fire power to the front XD

Checked and Yep. I do have Savage World Adventure Edition. Will be reading soon.

Nice intro there. It does well to focus thoughts for a character.

I would have shared the book with you if you didn't have it.

I looked and can't seem to find that sharing spot. I thought you did too. Can you repost that for me. gesh.

That's because I'm sharing in private message only. ;)

Looking over the material given. Ah. It mentions something about agents and nationality. Is this an issue?

Not even a little bit ;)

Cool. Was thinking a flamethrower option with grenades and explosive. By looks the flamethrower option is nil. Grenades and explosive is good.

M203/M320 & lots of multi-purpose grenades. C4 and detonators are fun.

India
National Security Guard: Driving, Demolitions, Shooting, Survival

Now that sounds like fun.

So the demoman

I like the driving & demolition combo. :) Shooting and survival is nice too.

New Skills: Demolitions [Smarts]
The identification, disarming and setting off explosive devices, EOD training.

New Edges: Tactical Driving
Requirements: Seasoned, Agility D6+, Driving D6+
The Operator has learnt offensive and defensive driving techniques. They gain +2 when driving in either an offensive or defensive way.

Looks interesting.

Rather new at this. Only done one character before in this and it never got into play. LOL.

attributes
Agility (2 Points)
Smarts (2 Points)
Spirit (0 Points)
Strength (0 points)
Vigor (1 Point)

Athletics, Common Knowledge, Notice, Persuasion, and Stealth start at d4
Driving (Agility) 2 Points
Shooting (Agility) 4 Points
Stealth (Agility) 1 Point
Survival (Smarts) 1 Point
Demolitions (Smarts) 4 Points

ADAPTABLE: Humans begin play with any Novice Edge of their choosing. They must meet its Requirements as usual.


This sound like a good start?

I will play the sneaky pete then. Probably no guns to start with, pure intel guy. Like Miller.

Submitted my character. I have not written up their background yet, or gotten their equipment (not sure what the limiting factor on equipment is exactly), but I've put in some quick and dirty stats. By the way, are there any non-lethal weaponry like tranq darts or stun batons?

The limiting factor on equipment is basically encumbrance. But outside of the standard gear and such it’s mission by mission basis.

Tranquilizer darts I haven’t run across yet. But other non lethal means exist, stun guns, pepper spray, bean bag rounds, etc.

Just FYI, I'd be cautious talking too much about that.

When do you think you'll be finished up?

Probably tonight (I'm -8 gmt if I remember right). Unfortunately, this week's jobsite has no cellphone service so I can't work with it on lunch.

Yesterday was a 14 hour day, but today will be a short day (5 1/2 ish) so shouldn't be an issue to wrap it up.

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with.

Joe Regular the FNG is good to go, you will have to carry him, he is just one of Eli's child soldiers.

By all means, please check over my sheet and make sure I didn't miss, miscalculate, or overlook anything.

Removed skills we weren't using, added the new skills we were using, renamed the skills that had different names. Didn't pick any gear, assuming it's provided.

Former CIA operative.

Yeah most likely there’s no issues there. Gear is typically provided but non standard equipment will g have to be requisitioned for, And weight/encumbrance accounted for before mission start. I’d hold off on deciding equipment just before you know more details.

Your sheet is missing a lot of data on it.

To everyone else if you could make a summary of your character creation choices that’d be really helpful!

I annotated where most of the choices came from (i.e. the free novice edge for being human, where Hindrance Points were spent, etc.) but if you still want/need a more detailed breakdown let me know.

From Ghost Ops, it says you also get two advances in Operator Recruitment.

Woot: I ran up 4 skills up a point to match attributes. :) ... Thanx!

I am still deciding what I want to do. Always hard

No worries, you got all weekend to figure out if you want. Enjoy your weekend!

Been really busy in the studio this weekend. Laying the final touches on a death metal album. Will be busy tomorrow as well.

Thinking the Hindrance Heroic will be the reason this kid dies young
And maybe wanted as a minor hindrance for the edges Beast Master and Lucky

Reload pages...

Disappointment

Ok sorry for the delay.

I have decided "Snowman" will be a field chemist producing anaesthetics, psychedelics, and cathinones.

He will be everyone's friend

We're just gonna play it by ear.

With the drone and the doctors bag thats a lot of weight already. Hopefully we will find some medicinal plants or fungus along the way. So I think I will forgo a gun and just operate subsistence.

Make sure you guys post your lists in here.

James has 40 pounds to play with, so here's what I'm thinking...

I think it's cumulative. It's the armor rating +4 if the damage is caused by a bullet. So frag grenades, knives, etc. don't apply (though maybe they should). And yes, armor is dependent on hit location.

Functionally speaking, I'm not sure what the difference is between the weapons with the same statlines (ex. if there's a difference between a carbine and an assault rifle).

Anyways, this is full up (and assumes that Paolo is wearing his ghillie suit). The Soldier edge is really pulling its weight here (pun intended), especially if I don't take along a sniper rifle (seriously, why are all of them so heavy lol). I brought 5 extra ghillie suits so that all of the hostages can hide better, but I don't know if that's overkill or not. So, who's bringing the biometric scanner?

What do we need a biometric scanner for?

In phase 3 of the Ops, it says to confirm Vout's identity via biometrics. I don't know if there is other equipment that will be necessary for the mission that we have to take into account for encumbrance.

I can ditch the helmet and pack the scanner.

Hey is it me, but are suppressors not listed in either book?

Medic Kit 4lbs
Camo Fatigues 3lbs
Boots 2lbs
Handheld Computer 1lb

Don’t forget ammo weight.

There really isn't it. I could maybe come up with a narrative pro/con for the carbine over the assault rifles. In reality the difference should be that the full length rifles have better range, and the carbines have better maneuverability in closer situations, but it appears they left out nuance like this. For now, you can just assume the difference is flavor until we agree on hard rules for distinguishing between the two.

We shouldn't be moving slow enough to encounter much gunfighting. We ought to consider, moving faster to evade the enemy is much easier, and also much more likely to result in everyone coming home alive.

Regarding Drones, I took the beastmaster edge because drones in the metal gear series are much more than they are in our world. Diamond Dactyl is such a cool name anyway.

@Delta would you like to control the drone as your own kind of PC? And I will only use the drone operator skill as a sort of social skill to influence it? Or what?

I don't know how far Past Peacewalker or Sahelanthropus the tech has come. I could see diamond dactyl being a part of a targetting or aerial support system for metal gear Rex.

That is a sick name!
Sure I can control the drone. Reasonably could be a scaled down iteration of the Sahelanthropus drones.

Is that all you're taking?
I wasn't sure how much ammo weighed. I assumed I'm just taking along two pounds of bullets, however much that is. I think that's two magazines?
Can we use the drone as a mule to carry stuff? If so, I might offload some stuff onto it so I can take a sniper rifle.

I have $5 left if you have any idea how to spend it. Maybe a pack of cigarettes for barter.

I don't think we're limited by cost like that in this setting.

Correct

5.56 would be the ammo that weighs 1 pound, 7.62 in the two pounds, and .50bmg in the 15lbs (for 50 bullets respectively.)

The drone cannot be used to carry stuff.

Just as a general rule of thumb of the setting and for you to gauge how you want to build your character out into it; the soldier is meant to be superior to any sort of technology that humans can cook up. Drones, Metal Gear, Walkers, Battle Gear, etc.

A flechette gun would be my only desire for a ranged weapon.

A knife with doses of ketamine would be my choice for a melee weapon. Kill them with kindness.

Both are of course drug delivery systems that can either kill or incapacitate. Preferrably to keep them alive but unconscious to recruit them.

Other than that. Really don't know what else to take that wont just slow us down.

In general you don’t have to be too particular about the type of ammo, except as it pertains to resupply. As per my guide, ‘Tangoes’ or enemy mooks will generally fall to one penetrating hit, unless there are other factors at play to consider.

So as for choice of weapon, flechettes are usually launched from shotguns as an exotic type of shot. But consider they aren’t good at penetrating armor, and their main purpose is to inflict pain. Which is why they’re considered to be outlawed for warfare. I would argue that from an in-character standpoint they wouldn’t be considered to align well with Outer Heaven’s values in that regard. But it’s also perfectly fine to have a character contradict themselves too.

Also keep in mind as the "medic" of sorts. The IFAK can only be used on yourself. Its technical use is for someone else to open up and use to apply life saving care for when you incur an injury. It’s not a medical aid bag, the ifak just ensures that you don’t consume your own medical supplies providing stabilizing treatment to someone injured on the battlefield.

The medic kit from SWADE would be equivalent to a medics aid bag