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.
Your boots clink on the hard floor of the corridor in the small corvette you're in. You are dwarfed in size by the huge NCO next to you, nearly twice your height and far more muscular. As you lug your little assault rifle and the other 175 pounds of gear, you're already getting tired. The air in the ship is fresh and cool, and you can feel a slight crossbreeze ruffle your shortcut hair. The steady purr of the engines resonates throughout the deck. Outside the peaceful atmosphere of your home away from home, a battle rages. You can hear the guns going, but no hits have been sustained so far.
M90A3 Hoplite Alpha: Operator: 200/200 Specialist Bath HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (100/184 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Bravo: 200/200 Specialist Carn HP: 225/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (20/170 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Charlie: 200/200 Specialist Jackson HP: 325/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (50/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Delta: 200/200 Specialist Kane HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (80/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) Gear: Interface bodysuit (allows your mech to use your primary and melee weapons) Primary: .50cal LMG (1500/824 rounds) Secondary: N/A Sidearm: N/A Melee: Mechsaw Augment: Dread Maxx, Dread Hawk Backpack: N/A
"We're going to call back the other platoons and push forward with our own armor. You and your men will take the flank of the spearhead, keeping infantry off of us. Infantry will follow up closely, with indirect and support squads staying back with the retreating survivors to cover us with mortars and fix up the men." He says, cleanly.
Primary: A41 Carbine (180/30 rounds) Secondary: B12 Shotgun (45/5 shells) Sidearm: Colt M911 (21/0) Melee: combat knife Augment: N/A Backpack: 2 flares, command radio (allows access to fire support, reinforcements), 2 smoke grenades, 3 Officer MREs, 1 bottle of water, 2 power cubes, flashlight, 2 HE grenades --------------------
"Command, this is danger-close." I relay the co-ordinates of the enemy. "I repeat, this is danger-close. Fire at the front line of the enemy." I say calmly.
(Seems I thought I posted here. Thanks for NCPing me while I wasn't about. Don't like leaving others waiting.)
Rank: Corporal Name: Bob "Tower" Light Type: NCO Kill Count: 9 Bio: Age: 32 Size: 7' 8", 357 lbs --------------- --------------- Conditions: Completely fine except for: Sore Leg, gas burn, concussion, cracked rib, dislocated shoulder HP: 110/155 Vehicle: Group: Private Lazlo (35/50) Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), Combat Pants (5hp), Plate Leg guards (10hp), Ammo belt (30/30 5.56 rounds), Padded Jacket (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Combat Helmet (20hp), Gas mask (5hp) Primary: M20 Assault Rifle (240/30 rounds) Secondary: P90C (150/50 rounds) Sidearm: Razor Automatic pistol (80/20 rounds) Melee: KA-BAR Augment: Domino Backpack: 4 MREs, six bottles of water, shovel, flashlight
Craters, gas, smoke, sand and dirt, about 50 dead soldiers within 25 meters around you. Ahead, trenches full of alien marines are spraying death on the scattered allied landers. The slower transports with tanks are still pretty far out, getting pounded by artillery.
Primary: A41 Carbine (180/30 rounds) Secondary: B12 Shotgun (45/5 shells) Sidearm: Colt M911 (21/0) Melee: combat knife Augment: N/A Backpack: 2 flares, command radio (allows access to fire support, reinforcements), 2 smoke grenades, 3 Officer MREs, 1 bottle of water, 2 power cubes, flashlight, 2 HE grenades --------------------
"Copy that, we've got a wing coming in at a side-sweep. We'll strafe close, keep them off our tails. Three passes, alpha-targets priority?" They respond. (Alpha target is the main recepticle of their concentrated fire.)
M90A3 Hoplite Alpha: Operator: 200/200 Specialist Bath HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (100/184 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Bravo: 200/200 Specialist Carn HP: 225/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (20/170 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Charlie: 200/200 Specialist Jackson HP: 325/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (50/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Delta: 200/200 Specialist Kane HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (80/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) Gear: Interface bodysuit (allows your mech to use your primary and melee weapons) Primary: .50cal LMG (1500/824 rounds) Secondary: N/A Sidearm: N/A Melee: Mechsaw Augment: Dread Maxx, Dread Hawk Backpack: N/A
"Well okay. I'll 'try' to because no one can do anything with a 100% chance." I fly once again to check if there's any more aerial enemies. (Have i gave officer the pic of dark shape?)
Primary: A41 Carbine (180/30 rounds) Secondary: B12 Shotgun (45/5 shells) Sidearm: Colt M911 (21/0) Melee: combat knife Augment: N/A Backpack: 2 flares, command radio (allows access to fire support, reinforcements), 2 smoke grenades, 3 Officer MREs, 1 bottle of water, 2 power cubes, flashlight, 2 HE grenades --------------------
"Thunderstorm rolling in." They call back. In the distance you can hear them approaching, engines shrieking. There is the large shape in the sky approaching, as well.
M90A3 Hoplite Alpha: Operator: 200/200 Specialist Bath HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (100/184 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Bravo: 200/200 Specialist Carn HP: 225/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (20/170 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Charlie: 200/200 Specialist Jackson HP: 325/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (50/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) M90A3 Hoplite Delta: 200/200 Specialist Kane HP: 300/375 Weapons: 40mm autocannon (80/144 rounds), 20mm rocket pod (60/12 rockets) Gear: Interface bodysuit (allows your mech to use your primary and melee weapons) Primary: .50cal LMG (1500/824 rounds) Secondary: N/A Sidearm: N/A Melee: Mechsaw Augment: Dread Maxx, Dread Hawk Backpack: N/A
So far the skies are clear. And yes, you did a while ago.
Rank: Corporal Name: Bob "Tower" Light Type: NCO Kill Count: 9 Bio: Age: 32 Size: 7' 8", 357 lbs --------------- --------------- Conditions: Completely fine except for: Sore Leg, gas burn, concussion, cracked rib, dislocated shoulder HP: 110/155 Vehicle: Group: Private Lazlo (35/50) Gear: Padded Boots (5hp), Combat Pants (5hp), Plate Leg guards (10hp), Ammo belt (30/30 5.56 rounds), Padded Jacket (5hp), Plate Vest (25hp), Combat Helmet (20hp), Gas mask (5hp) Primary: M20 Assault Rifle (240/30 rounds) Secondary: P90C (150/50 rounds) Sidearm: Razor Automatic pistol (80/20 rounds) Melee: KA-BAR Augment: Domino Backpack: 4 MREs, six bottles of water, shovel, flashlight
25 meters up the beach there is a fairly large, still smoldering crater. This would get you within 40 meters of the trenches and 80 meters of the pillbox overlooking the beach.
