D20 Modern military skills?

[Ghost2020]

Just curious, and I don't have my book in front of me, are there skills or a preferred setup for taking a soldier career in d20 Modern?

Does it simulate a soldier very well? Does it have a parachute skill? (if not, what's everyone doing for that?)
I think otherwise it should be fine, can simulate a medic, radio operator, field mechanics, heavy weapons, etc.

I am thinking of doing a short Twilight 2000-esque campaign using d20 modern and the Encyclopedia Vanguard: Modern Weapons book.

 

[DanMcS]

There is a military background occupation. There are advanced classes for soldier and doctor, and skills feats for various specialities (piloting, heavy weapon operation, etc). You can run a military character right out of the box.

I made up rules for parachuting for a game I ran. Basically, if your parachute opens correctly (and for game purposes, it does), you take damage as if you had fallen 40 feet. You can make a jump check, tumble check, and balance check, all DC 15. Each successfuly check reduces the effective distance fallen by 10'.

Then, as per d20 modern rules, you get to make a reflex save, DC 10 + (distance fallen, in 10s), for half damage. Best result, you make the three checks, and take damage as if you fell 10 feet, with a reflex save DC 11 for half damage- potentially zero. Worst case, you land wrong, taking 4d6 (reflex DC 14 for half), and could be hurt pretty badly. People are killed parachuting in training every year.

 

[C. Baize]

I HAVE to plug Blood and Guts: Modern Military, here. Accept no substitutes, it's the defining D20 Modern military book.

 

[aurance]

I HAVE to plug Blood and Guts: Modern Military, here. Accept no substitutes, it's the defining D20 Modern military book.

Blood and Guts is great! It's an inexpensive purchase, pdf download. It's a fun read even if you don't run a military game.

You can have a perfectly good military game with d20 Modern alone, using DanMcS's suggestions. d20 Modern = more abstractions, Blood and Guts = more detail. Both are good options, depends on your game style and preference.

If you want to stick to the more abstract approach this link will come in handy - the SpecOps and Sniper classes.

Urban Arcana WE (WotC)