'Godlike' using GURPS?

[mearrin69]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Splendid! An additional subject that detaches Hitler from reality. It was in 1943 that the Allies concluded he was making life easier for them, and stopped thinking about assassination plans.

Yeah. They get some big surprises from it in the Warsaw Ghetto later on. :)

Originally Posted by johndallman

There's a case for saying Talents should be warrant officers, since they're specialists in something very strange and technical. But I can quite see armies deciding not to do that, given how weird they are.

I suspect that's the way I'd do it too...and then assign them temporarily to units by capability class according to expected need. In the Godlike setting, the TOC seems to be just getting its head around how to use their "new weapons". Bunching them up into squads of random ability seems like a less-than-optimal way to go...but it's perfect for a gaming situation when you have 5+ gamers who want to play supermen. :)

Thanks for the PH info...I wasn't aware of that possibility. Quick search on two that I had previously thought might be appropriate (from memory):

http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/arm...edal-p-13.html
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/bro...edal-p-16.html

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by mearrin69

Thanks for the PH info...I wasn't aware of that possibility. Quick search on two that I had previously thought might be appropriate (from memory)

Historically, neither of those existed as of Operation Torch. The Bronze Star was created in 1943, and the Army Commendation Medal in 1945, presumably because a need was felt for decorations at their level. As GM, you're free to have them happen earlier, of course, if you feel like it.

[mearrin69]

Wow. You're quite right, thanks for the correction. I thought I had seen they were introduced in December of 1941. Have to do a bit of research. My current player is certainly not a military history buff...but I'd like to be as accurate as possible.
M

[mearrin69]

Finally played another session tonight.

Cpl. Cusic managed to get his fire team up the trench while the BAR team turned their attention to the French machine gunner. They did an okay job of suppressing him but he did get off a few rounds unhindered and did a real number on Pfc. Alas' left leg [another crit, and we've taken to calling him "Lucky Luc"] just before Cusic's men got into position. Pvt. Monroe managed to cauterize the wound before turning his attention to the LMG in the bunker. In the meantime, Pvt. Gapinski and the others had noted the forward observer and had been taking potshots at him. Gapinski got lucky and holed him [another crit]. The LMG got off one last stream of fire before [almost getting Cusic, but he made a great dodge] he was taken down by a barrage of "Bolts of Zeus". Pvt. Harmon softened up the French in the trench, who were still pinned down, with a well-guided (by magnetic power) grenade throw before the Americans burst in to accept the surrender of the remaining two. The whole crew carefully made their way to the bunker and found the LMG operator smoking but barely alive and the forward observer slumped against the bloody concrete wall of the bunker with a gaping hole in his upper chest. The radio was squawking in French. Monroe picked up the handset and said, calmly, "It's over. Salute the Stars and Stripes."

Edit: BTW, both Alas and the soldier that was shot in the arm by the sniper have lasting injuries and will probably be sitting out the rest of the war.

So, that's it. We'll play another intro scenario with a couple of her "utility" characters where they go in just before the landing to take out a bridge to the south to prevent reinforcements from helping out against the landing. Assuming that goes well I think we'll advance the clock and see what happens next.

The plan is to play a few scenarios leading up to the final surrender of the Germans in Africa then we'll play the published scenario "Donar's Hammer", which is the opening of the invasion of Sicily. It'll be the first time we try an all-Talent squad and I might try to get some of our other players involved in the game.

I've just purchased a PDF of "Black Devils Brigade" and am reading it at the moment. It covers the campaign as it progresses up through Italy. Looks pretty good so far.
M

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by mearrin69

We'll play another intro scenario with a couple of her "utility" characters where they go in just before the landing to take out a bridge to the south to prevent reinforcements from helping out against the landing.

I suspect you'll find that invisibility - you mentioned one of the other characters had it - is a really good power in this setting. Being able to get surprise on opponents counts for a lot with so many powerful weapons available. Not getting hit also helps enormously, if you don't have a healing Talent available.

For this kind of organisation, the most effective use for the army of healing Talents is fixing wounds that would be lasting, either at a rear-area hospital, or no closer to the front line than regimental casualty stations. Putting them closer to the front line than that will let them save a few lives, but will cause put them at too much risk of getting killed or pinned down for long enough to lose valuable time.

[mearrin69]

I agree with that. The best place for healers is at an aid station. Not sure if she plans any healers...or if the Godlike setting inlcudes those. I remember some restrictions but would have to refresh my memory.

If she does want one I may still allow it. The governments are still trying to figure out how best to organize and use Talents and don't have it all sussed out yet. In addition, Black Devils Brigade introduces some interesting political ideas around the assignment and use of Talents. The FSSF, the unit detailed in that book, is to very much at odds with the TOC and is going to some unconventional methods of getting Talents assigned...down to straight up Shanghai'ng them from TOG units, which I how I plan to get her existing characters into the unit when we get to that point. "Hey, PFC! New orders just came down for you. Pack your gear."
M

[johndallman]

I looked up the FSSF in Wikipedia today, and found something that has to be used. It was a mixed US-Canadian unit, with individual battalions being either American or Canadian. The Canadians had bagpipers, who would sound reveille each morning. Canadian bagpipers were also supplied to the US battalions for the same purpose.

Consider the situation of people newly recruited into the FSSF. Nobody is going to tell them about this, are they? They'll find out the hard way, shocked by the noise at 06:30.

For those who've never heard them close up, proper Highland bagpipes are loud. They're best appreciated as a musical instrument at a range of at least a hundred yards. As an instrument of war, they're probably worth -1 to morale checks for opponents.

[mearrin69]

Roger that. Bagpipes are in.

There's actually a pretty entertaining movie about the unit. I saw it ages ago but didn't put it together that it was the same unit as the one in the campaign until I read the history. Here's the Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dev...Brigade_(film)

It features some nice little, apparently historical things (like the bagpipes, I believe). The Canadians sent their best spit-and-polish guys (complete with traditional regimental garb, such as kilts) and the Americans, mostly, sent their rejects and troublemakers. The knitted up as a close team over the course of the thing. I seem to recall a bit where the Americans were making fun of the kilts. Later on, the same guys got into a brawl with some locals who decided to do the same thing...defending their buddies skirts.

Anyway, yeah, there's lots of stuff to play with here!
M

Edit: On bagpipes. They're also soul-shredding when they play in memory of someone you know who has passed. When I was in the Army at language school one of my roommates played the pipes. One of the students in our school died (pneumonia, not shot or anything) and he ended up playing Amazing Grace at the service for her. Amazing the effect it had on people.

[mearrin69]

Originally Posted by johndallman

As an instrument of war, they're probably worth -1 to morale checks for opponents.

And...you've given me an idea for a Canadian Talent with a sonic attack!