Some questions about the Soldier skill

[Ubiquitous]

Someone's bound to have posted a thread on this before, but anyway;

What skills would Soldier cover? For setting' sake assume the TL is between 7-11; no swords or tourniquets but no need for military-grade disintegrator skill either.

I only ask because of niggling little skill-sets beyond 'Guns (Military Rifle)' is an obvious skill-use but Club (Butt-stock) wouldn't occur to me immediately.

Also, would a Mercenary skill be better represented;

As a skill like Solder.

As a Talent geared towards Merc-handy skills.

[David Johnston2]

I find the question you are asking inobvious. If you are actually asking about the Soldier skill, then it would not include any weapon skills. Soldier is about more basic elements of the martial life, like camp sanitation, the operation of military radios, gesturing "you go right, and I'll go left", the correct use of protective gear, digging foxholes, erecting crude fortifications, and the like.

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Ubiquitous

What skills would Soldier cover? For setting' sake assume the TL is between 7-11; no swords or tourniquets but no need for military-grade disintegrator skill either.

Soldier *does not* cover combat skills. It allows the use of *routine* non-combat skills, but without the bonus someone with the other skill would get for such routine use. So while someone with Engineer (Combat) might roll at +4 or more to dig a proper foxhole, someone with Soldier would just roll at his base Soldier skill without a bonus.

[chris1982]

Well, maybe I can get a warrior skill for my fighter hat covers all weapons as an IQ/Easy skill. Then I don't need him to have a high DX anymore... ;)

[Johnny Angel]

In the modern era it would probably cover things such as basic first aid, cleaning and maintaining a few of the more commonly used weapons, proper radio communication procedure, navigation, basic knowledge of squad level tactics, and a few other things.

I find the topic of what the skill means in other eras an interesting topic; it's something I've often pondered myself. In a setting where there are great variances among what different militaries are taught -say for example what elven infantry might learn compared to dwarven infantry- would it be reasonable for a GM to require some level of specialization? What are some of the non-combat skills a TL 2-3 conscript might learn (if anything)?

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

I find the topic of what the skill means in other eras an interesting topic; it's something I've often pondered myself. In a setting where there are great variances among what different militaries are taught -say for example what elven infantry might learn compared to dwarven infantry- would it be reasonable for a GM to require some level of specialization?

Realistically, it probably requires a specialization by nation, branch and era.

[davidtmoore]

Originally Posted by Johnny Angel

In the modern era it would probably cover things such as basic first aid, cleaning and maintaining a few of the more commonly used weapons, proper radio communication procedure, navigation, basic knowledge of squad level tactics, and a few other things.

I find the topic of what the skill means in other eras an interesting topic; it's something I've often pondered myself. In a setting where there are great variances among what different militaries are taught -say for example what elven infantry might learn compared to dwarven infantry- would it be reasonable for a GM to require some level of specialization? What are some of the non-combat skills a TL 2-3 conscript might learn (if anything)?

A lot of digging and simple construction, I suspect, for much of history. Soldier/TL1-3 almost certainly includes training in digging latrines, building earthworks, erecting forts, etc.

Weapon maintenance would be universal. As Soldier/TL8 covers routine Armoury (Rifles)/TL8 tasks, so Soldier/TL3 covers routine Armoury (Melee Weapons)/TL3 tasks, and so on.

Ditto tactics. A Roman legionnaire with Soldier/TL2 can take his position in a tortoise or phalanx in the most efficient manner, while a British rifleman with Soldier/TL5 is experienced with the three-lines-of-fire formation.

With fantasy, I guess you need to decide if the "Soldier" profession really exists. Dwarves may well have Soldier/TL3, covering formations in tunnels, axe maintenance, that kind of thing, but elves are individualistic, graceful, yadda yadda, ad nauseam, and might not operate as "soldiers" at all.

[sieurin]

Realistically, it probably requires a specialization by nation, branch and era.


Couldn't it be covered by Cultural Familiarity? So when the orc guy with Soldier works for a human employer, there is a chance he will miss that "cure them for rations" is not a valid human tactic for "how do we get rid of the fallen?"?

[jacobmuller]

I thought B221 gave a good description. Soldier Skill is the Common Sense Advantage for soldiers would be another one.
Or perhaps you meant something like
Wildcard Skills,eg Soldier! covering everything a soldier would reasonably be expected to know.
Or
Soldier (Optional specialty, Mercenary) IQ/E: stuff every merc takes for granted, but roll @-2 for things they do in the regular army, like saluting, not deserting, etc...

[The Colonel]

Soldier might also help in figuring out how to wear armour and load bearing equipment, how to pack kit, possibly some basic cooking skills, looking after your health whilst marching and how to navigate around a camp/citadel.
Soldier rolls might also help in identifying officers and SNCOs, knowing what to say to them and generally avoiding trouble. Especially if they're not your officers/SNCOs.

You might also use Soldier when the PCs want to sneak into a camp - knowing where the sentries might be, what will alter their alertness etc.
(e.g. 'Now there's usually one sentry per tower. They change guard every watch of the night - hence the name - and when the guard changes it will take him a while to get his night vision. Also the wind is blowing right at them, so they'll be back from the tower parapet to keep out of the rain. We move up at the end of the first watch when the guards are getting bored and restless and then go over the wall before the replacement gets his night eyes')