Recruiting for Blood and Guts: Modern Military PbP (done recruiting for now)

[Ranger Rick]

Help...

Padraic H. Pearse
Born August 16, 1991

Grandson of irish immigrants, he was the son of a bar owner. Padraic, as a little boy fell in love with racing as soon as he could, he began working with engines. Before he was 16 he was driving and racing them around dirt tracks and the local interstate. Never excelling in school, he decided to learn how to be a mechanic under Uncle Sam’s Tutor ledge. He joined up and after school he was assigned a mechanized infantry unit fresh out of school. The unit was deployed to a small country as a relief mission. On deployment he was assigned to drive for visiting VIPs. One of these VIPs was impressed with the young mechanic. After this deployment he received orders to report to Iraq.


Fast Hero 3/Smart Hero 2 CR 5; Medium-size humanoid;
HD 2d6 3d8; HP 31; Init +3;
Spd 30 ft;
Defense 18, (+0 size, +3 Dex, +5 class, +0 equipment);
BAB +3; Grap +4; Atk +4 melee (1d3+1, Unarmed), or +6 ranged;
Reach 5 ft; SV Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +4; Rep +2;
Str 12, Dex 16 (+1 lvl), Con 10, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 8.

Occupation: Adventurer (Survival, Spot)

Skills: Balance 5 +8,
Craft (Electronic) 5 +7,
Craft (Mechanical) 5 +7,
Drive (Dex) 8 +14,
Knowledge (tactics) 5 +7,
Navigate (Int) 8 +10,
Profession (Wis)(Mechanic) 5 +6,
Read/Write Language +2 (Spanish/Latin),
Repair (Int) 5 +9,
Speak Language +2 (Spanish/Farsi),
Search 5 +7,
Spot 4 +5,
Survival 8 +9,
Tumble 8 +11

Feats: 1st level - Armor Proficiency (light), Vehicle Expert. 3rd lvl - Vehicle Dodge, Occupation feat - Personal Firearms Proficiency, Bonus Smart 2nd lvl - Weapon Focus (Rifle), Bonus Fast 2nd lvl Elusive Target

Talents (Fast Hero): Evasion, Uncanny Dodge 1
Talents (Smart Hero): Research Talent Tree – Repair,
Possessions: M4 Carbine assault rifle with AN/PEQ-2 laser (+1 to attack rolls within 30 feet), ACOG 4x scope (increase range increments by 1.5, must take attack action to acquire target), Surefire suppressor (Listen check at DC15 to locate source),
H&K USP 9mm pistol in tactical holster; 4 magazines
Clothing (ACU - pants, smock, sun hat (all desert camouflage pattern), t-shirt, skivvies, socks, plus extra socks and skivvies)
Desert (hiking) boots
-2 canteens
-K-Bar
-Camelback hydration system
PASGT helmet with mount
-sand goggles
-AN/PVS-7 NVG’s w/ extra batteries
Tactical vest
-2 Fragmentation grenades
-3 WP Smoke grenade
-25 zip ties
-Pro Walkie-talkie with headset
-entrenching tool
-Tactical Maps of area
-10 Chemical light sticks (5 IR/4 red/1 yellow)
-compass
MOLLE (backpack)
-First Aid kit
-2 days worth of MRE’s
-Flashlight w/ extra batteries
-ACU jacket




This is so rough I do not know were to begin. I am having this guy as a driver and meet the requirements of a SOCOM guy. Only having the SRD I am running way short. Any help is appreciated.

 

[The Shaman]

My concern when rolling him up was to not be pigeon-holed into a character that has no use in a campaign.

Somehow I don't think that's going to be an issue!

Since I have no idea what computers or electronics Chuck has in mind in Iraq, and knowing the extreme use (and effectiveness) of IED in Iraq, I thought to "multi-class" into explosive expert as well.

It's a great idea, and totally appropriate to a combat engineer.

You have 88 skill points to work with (assuming 15 Int) - even if you max Demolitions, Disable Device, Repair, Computer Use, and Search, that leaves you another 48 skill points unassigned. (This is one reason I really like Smart heroes!)

And when forced to use the basic scores, that includes an 8, Charisma sucks and I have to expend points in Gather Info just to break even. I would hope for a "Faceman" character to do the talking for us. Knowledge skills tells me what I learned before I got there. Gather info means I have to spend time asking around to a crowd that may not exist. In my opinion, of course... <grin>

Yeah, we HOPE we're not facing any large crowds...

I made Cha Doc's secondary stat and ended up with decent (though hardly stratospheric) scores in Diplomacy and Sense Motive - if Bobitron decides to make a change, then I'll adjust my points elsewhere, but at least for now we have that function covered. For Odie and his Cha 8, ranks in Knowledge (current events) or Research can functionally replace Gather Information.

I'll take your comments into mind and reconsider today...

This is all meant to be suggestions only - feel free to tell me to go pound sand.

 

[kingpaul]

Well, I see Ranger Rick's got his draft character in. What do folks think this party needs? I do see a lack of a 'leader' type. But, as has been mentioned, I don't think anyone's taken Teamwork.

 

[The Shaman]

This is so rough I do not know were to begin....Any help is appreciated.

Okay, I apologize right now for being "annoying gamer guy who tells everyone how to min/max their characters..."

...but since you asked...

First, I'm glad someone thought to take Farsi - when I changed characters, I lost my Linguist talent.... Good call!

Second, you might want to consider adding Personal Firearms Proficiency, since your character as of now takes -4 on all attacks with firearms and you wasted the Weapon Focus feat (it requires proficiency first).

In B&G1, characters were required to take the Military starting occupation to represent Basic - it looks like that may have been dropped in B&G2 (Vigilance, is that correct?), but it's still a good idea to use that SO to take PFP to avoid burning a feat slot somewhere else.

Third, I think Vigilance said no SOCOM to start, though he did outline a progression for Ranger that is reachable by level 5 - however, it won't work with anything other than a Strong hero, since you need full BAB (5+) to reach it by 5th level. It would also mean using your two initial feats and 3rd level bonus feat, plus your 1st and 3rd level talents to qualify. It would also mean no Vehicle Expert or Vehicle Dodge feats, both of which might be useful.

I hope some of this helps - after you makes some decisions about what you want your character to be, I can help you with suggestions from B&G2, if you like.

 

[The Shaman]

If you guys would rather, I can switch over to the Leader. But I think to make it work, everyone would have to take Teamwork (US Army).

I can't afford to take Teamwork - with Doc's poor Dex, I need my armor feats!

You'll just have to lead by example, Bobitron! Hooah!

 

[Ranger Rick]

Okay, I apologize right now for being "annoying gamer guy who tells everyone how to min/max their characters..."

...but since you asked...

First, I'm glad someone thought to take Farsi - when I changed characters, I lost my Linguist talent.... Good call!

Second, you might want to consider adding Personal Firearms Proficiency, since your character as of now takes -4 on all attacks with firearms and you wasted the Weapon Focus feat (it requires proficiency first).

In B&G1, characters were required to take the Military starting occupation to represent Basic - it looks like that may have been dropped in B&G2 (Vigilance, is that correct?), but it's still a good idea to use that SO to take PFP to avoid burning a feat slot somewhere else.

Third, I think Vigilance said no SOCOM to start, though he did outline a progression for Ranger that is reachable by level 5 - however, it won't work with anything other than a Strong hero, since you need full BAB (5+) to reach it by 5th level. It would also mean using your two initial feats and 3rd level bonus feat, plus your 1st and 3rd level talents to qualify. It would also mean no Vehicle Expert or Vehicle Dodge feats, both of which might be useful.

I hope some of this helps - after you makes some decisions about what you want your character to be, I can help you with suggestions from B&G2, if you like.

Give me a minute to figure out what feat to swap out for Personal Firearms Proficiency. I realize I can not get this guy in to SOCOM. I also remember that no one is allowed in. But I am trying to get him to fulfill as many pre reqs as possible.

My main goal is to make him a mechanic 1st/ driver 2nd/ SOCOM qualified 3rd.

Should I swap out some of the smart/fast hero classes with something else? Or is there a better feat I need to see about getting?

 

[The Shaman]

I realize I can not get this guy in to SOCOM.... But I am trying to get him to fulfill as many pre reqs as possible.

Got it.

I planned on doing the same with Doc (goal of joining 10th Mtn. Div.), but there was no way I could see to take the necessary feats without sacrificing the armor proficiencies - he's just too vulnerable without that flak vest.

Should I swap out some of the smart/fast hero classes with something else? Or is there a better feat I need to see about getting?

The Recon Training AdC offers Drive as a class skill, but very little else that would be of immediate benefit to your character - you may be better off with your existing classes.

In B&G2 there is the Combat Driving feat, which allows you to add your Dex bonus and your Defense bonus to the vehicle defense score - looks pretty good. There's also the MOS Maintenance and MOS Armor feats - either one allows you to select three new class skills such as Drive, Repair, Craft or Navigate, or take a +1 competence bonus on your existing class skills.

 

[The Shaman]

Vigilance, a quick comment about B&G2:MTM: Bookmarks would've been nice, as would a TOC and/or index.

 

[Masada]

Shaman, you must be looking at the Print version PDF. My Screen version has bookmarks.

 

[Masada]

I updated equipment in my original character post. I think I'm good to go.