So I've noticed a huge lack of RPGs with storylines. Or at least ones that unfold at a decent pace. So I've decided to make a two-parter (and possibly a subsequent sandbox sequel). But too much explaining, let's get to the story already!
Nearly 64 light years away from the Blue Planet is a mostly barren alien world, mostly inhabited by polymimetic crystalline formations, and the occasional fungus patch. The crystal itself is the future of human space technology, with it's self-replicative behavior. Unfortunately, the scientists that were studying the crystals were mimicked. With the jumpstart of having a living being in it's molecular memory, it began spawning a whole civilization. This attracted the attention of a race of ancient explorers, of whom we know little. But now, to harvest the crystal and put it to our own uses, we have to subdue the local fauna and transport them to processing plants. Sure, some naturalists had objections, but the war council made a tactical decision that they wouldn't complain after a few minutes in the cold vacuum of space.
12/4/AD2162/0630 Earth Time: Mankind is half an hour away from it's first interstellar invasion. You've got to gear up and get to your dropship. Outside the generation ship there are faint pops in the atmosphere, probably enemy fighters.
Character sheet:
Rank: Name: Type: Age: Gender: (only for officers and infantry) Size: (height, weight, build, pick your type before you do this) --------------- --------------- Conditions: HP: Vehicle: Group: Primary: Secondary: Sidearm: Melee: Augment: Backpack: --------------
Types: (basically race)
Officer: Human (male or female) Rank: 2nd Lt. HP: 60/60 Size: No specs Weapons: A41 Carbine, B12 Shotgun, Colt M911, combat knife Specialty: Access to vehicles, platoon-size groups Description: A cushy, well-paid job well behind your assigned cannonfodder. Or if you've got nothing to lose, at the very front of the onslaught.
NCO: Human Augment Rank: Corporal HP: 75/75 Size: Larger than regular human, no real restrictions Weapons: G60A SAW, 40mm rocket launcher, Razor Automatic pistol, KA-BAR Specialty: Access to augments and mech suits, team-size groups Description: NCOs are the liasons between the cannonfodder and the officers.
Warrant Officer: Human Augment Rank: Warrant Officer HP: 80/80 Size: Slightly larger than an NCO, consistently heavily built Weapons: M20 Assault Rifle, 40mm Rocket launcher, Colt M911, Trench knife Specialty: Access to heavy vehicles (e.g. tanks, fighters), mech suits, augments Description: Highly trained and specialized soldier capable of a dynamic addition to any fighting force.
Infantry: Human (male or female) Rank: Private HP: 50/50 Size: They take 'em all shapes and sizes Weapons: M20 Assault Rifle, P90C SMG, Colt M911, Combat Knife Specialty: Access to careers such as medic, driver, gunner, or grunt. Description: Cannonfodder.
More weapons will be available later on, and if the players ask, more vehicles. Choose your loadout, and I'll set the rest up. Your rank is basically your level, and with level comes larger teams and access to better quality equipment and weapons. Want to increase your HP? Equipment does that. Augments also do that.
Word to the wise for wannabe officers, managing a large group can be as challenging as it is rewarding. You can get promoted to the point where you control several tanks, aircraft, or even ships! But managing those resources is time-consuming.
Your objective: Establish a foothold on the alien homeworld, and push to what seems to be their capitol. Expect heavy resistance.
You are far stronger than the soldier, and easily lift him off his feet. The guards move to surround you, drawing their stun batons.
(You don't know yet, that's a chance you have to take. If you choose humans, you can go HAM on them at any time. If you pick Aliens you'll be able to go HAM on them anytime too. Not saying the other side will take you back and you won't be hunted)
You can do extended jumps and hover for short periods of time.
As you jump backwards, you send several piercing shots through a ship. It begins spraying the blue acid as it spins out of control and crashes 20 meters away. While in the air, you and hit by a ship running directly into you, smashing against your armor. The armor itself is hung on the ship, and you are stuck for now. Fortunately, the guns on the ship are forward-facing fixed-position weapons.
(Well are all the fighters defeated? You said there were six left.)
For now, going Prototype up in here and finding some answers may be for the best.
I use the guy I'm holding onto as a weapon, whipping him around to smash him into his comrades. I take down the two or three guys in between myself and the exit and make a break for it.
They must have underestimated your strength, because you tossed them around like rag dolls. The exit is locked. There is a cabinet filled with vials of what they injected you with. Two soldiers are still standing between you and the cabinet. They whirl their stun batons and move towards you.
You blow the whole front part of the ship off, knocking yourself to the ground. There you hover a few feet off the ground, well below where you were hit before.
Name: Bob "Tower" Light Type: NCO Kill Count: 8 Age: 32 Size: 7' 8", 357 lbs --------------- --------------- Conditions: Burned, piercing leg wound, stitch in side HP: 135/145 Vehicle: Squad: Fireteam (75/50), Scout team (75) Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), Combat Pants (5hp), Plate Leg guards (10hp), Ammo belt (2 saw clips, 3 rockets, or 6 pistol clips), Padded Jacket (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Combat Helmet (20hp) Primary: G60A SAW (300/100 rounds)(automatic) Secondary: 40mm rocket launcher (9/0 rockets)(semi-automatic) Sidearm: Razor Automatic pistol (80/20 rounds)(automatic) Melee: KA-BAR Augment: Domino (triples group size) Backpack: 4 MREs, Bottle of water, shovel, flashlight
You had a squad made up of three teams. Of your original 12 men, you have 3 left.
Squad Charlie: Support Bravo (100 Sergeant Ackles/75/50/50), Medical Charlie (100 Sergeant Stephans/45/50/50), Bravo Scouts (100 Sergeant Padelacki/75/70/75), Transport Alpha/Bravo (75 Corporal Jameson/A50//B50/50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), padded pants (5hp), padded jacket (5hp), Padded Gloves (5hp), Knee guards (5hp), elbow guards (5hp), shoulder guards (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Tactical Interface Helmet (40hp, allows platoon helmet cam access, mobile command interfacing with vehicles)
Primary: A41 Carbine (180/30 rounds) Secondary: B12 Shotgun (45/5 shells) Sidearm: Colt M911 (42/7) Melee: combat knife Augment: N/A Backpack: 2 flares, command radio (allows access to fire support, reinforcements), 2 smoke grenades, 4 MREs, 2 bottles of water, 2 power cubes, flashlight, 2 HE grenades --------------------
I re-load the 40mm and fire again, attempting to capture the unit rather then destroying it. "Men get back into the transports. New men fall into Rhino Alpha and then fall into the teams that lost men. Captain of the new team get your a** in here! Also, I need a technician in here. (I assume the engineers count or are there other men for that?)"
I rush towards the enemy between me and the vials, dodging their initial attacks and swiping them out of my way. If this plan is successful, I grab one vial but destroy the others.
Name: Bob "Tower" Light Type: NCO Kill Count: 8 Age: 32 Size: 7' 8", 357 lbs --------------- --------------- Conditions: Burned, piercing leg wound, stitch in side HP: 135/145 Vehicle: Squad: Fireteam (75/50), Scout team (75) Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), Combat Pants (5hp), Plate Leg guards (10hp), Ammo belt (2 saw clips, 3 rockets, or 6 pistol clips), Padded Jacket (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Combat Helmet (20hp) Primary: G60A SAW (300/100 rounds)(automatic) Secondary: 40mm rocket launcher (9/0 rockets)(semi-automatic) Sidearm: Razor Automatic pistol (80/20 rounds)(automatic) Melee: KA-BAR Augment: Domino (triples group size) Backpack: 4 MREs, Bottle of water, shovel, flashlight
You have three men under your command. Like I said, you started off with a squad of 12 men. Jack decided to be an officer and has a larger amount of men and vehicles. I'm not sure where the confusion is. The platoon around the officer load into their vehicles
As the other vials break, the blue liquid spills onto you skin. It feels pleasant and cool, and begins soaking into you. You feel vitalized. Unfortunately, only a little got on you.
The ones you initially bowled over are getting up now.
I charge headlong through them like a bull, using sheer body mass to blast through them like an Abrams tank. When I get to the locked door, I attempt to throw my weight into it with a good ol' shoulder-bash.
Squad Charlie: Support Bravo (100 Sergeant Ackles/75/50/50), Medical Charlie (100 Sergeant Stephans/45/50/50), Bravo Scouts (100 Sergeant Padelacki/75/70/75), Transport Alpha/Bravo (75 Corporal Jameson/A50//B50/50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), padded pants (5hp), padded jacket (5hp), Padded Gloves (5hp), Knee guards (5hp), elbow guards (5hp), shoulder guards (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Tactical Interface Helmet (40hp, allows platoon helmet cam access, mobile command interfacing with vehicles)
Primary: A41 Carbine (180/30 rounds) Secondary: B12 Shotgun (45/5 shells) Sidearm: Colt M911 (42/7) Melee: combat knife Augment: N/A Backpack: 2 flares, command radio (allows access to fire support, reinforcements), 2 smoke grenades, 4 MREs, 2 bottles of water, 2 power cubes, flashlight, 2 HE grenades --------------------
"Men move up to the crash site, weapons ready, there could be anything left in there." I contact command, "Command we have a downed enemy ship that has not exploded, I repeat, we have a ship that is intact. Moving to it now to search it and to send pictures back to you. You may want to get some people that know what their doing out here to scan it properly, this could be a good chance to analyze the enemy ships to look for a weakness." I turn it back to the platoon. "Would somebody grab whoever is in charge of those new men and get him in here! Support Alpha, Fire Team Alpha you get a new man each to replace your numbers, fill them in and what's what." I say as I get out of the rocket pod.
