Ideas for a New long-term Campaign

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by newton

Regardless, the real measure of character power isn't really what they can't do but what they can do. Also that she has the ability to accomplish the plan I described isn't really unrealistic at all. There are probably characters built on far less points that could also manage to pull off the plan I described.

Maybe something like Russian Commando Frogmen + Alpha Group (Alfa) + Foreign Intelligence Service could give similar results.

These are the results I got, what I don't like are the wasted 8 points on Skiing, and the Tactics score of 14 (it seems that in the third edition, both Swimming and Skiing were based on Dexterity, not Health):

Acrobatics (H) DX [4]-14; Acting (A) IQ [2]-14; Administration (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Architecture (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Area Knowledge (Brazil) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Cameroon) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Central Federal District) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (China) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Moscow) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Russia) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Syria) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Ukraine) (E) IQ [1]-14; Area Knowledge (Venezuela) (E) IQ [1]-14; Armoury (Small Arms) (A) IQ+1 [4]-15; Axe/Mace (A) DX-1 (1)-13; Boating (Motorboat) (A) DX [2]-14; Boating (Unpowered) (A) DX [2]-14; Body Language (A) Per [2]-14; Brawling (E) DX+1 [2]-15; Breath Control (H) HT [4]-12; Camouflage (E) IQ [1]-14; Carousing (E) HT [1]-12; Cartography (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Chemistry (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Climbing (A) DX [2]-14; Computer Operation (E) IQ [1]-14; Criminology (A) IQ [2]-14; Cryptography (H) IQ [4]-14; Current Affairs (Moscow) (E) IQ [1]-14; Dancing (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Detect Lies (H) Per-2 [1]-12; Diplomacy (H) IQ-1 [2]-13; Disguise (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Diving Suit (A) DX [2]-14; Driving (Automobile) (A) DX [2]-14; Driving (Heavy Wheeled) (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Driving (Motorcycle) (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Electronics Operation (Communications) (A) IQ [2]-14; Electronics Operation (Security) (A) IQ [2]-14; Electronics Operation (Sensors) (A) IQ [2]-14; Electronics Operation (Surveillance) (A) IQ [2]-14; Electronics Repair (Communications) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Electronics Repair (Security) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Engineer (Combat) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Engineer (Ships) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Erotic Art (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Escape (H) DX-1 [2]-13; Explosives (Demolition) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Explosives (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Explosives (Underwater Demolition) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Fast-Draw (Long Arm) (E) DX+1 [1]-15*; Fast-Draw (Pistol) (E) DX+1 [1]-15*; Fast-Draw (Ammo) (E) DX+1 [1]-15*; Fast-Talk (A) IQ [2]-14; Filch (A) DX [2]-14; First Aid (E) IQ [1]-14; Forced Entry (E) DX [1]-14; Forensics (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Forgery (H) IQ [4]-14; Forward Observer (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Garrote (E) DX [1]-14 Gesture (E) IQ [1]-14; Gunner (Machine Gun) (E) DX+1 [2]-15; Gunner (Rockets) (E) DX [1]-14; Guns (Grenade Launcher) (E) DX+2 [4]-16; Guns (Light Anti-Armor Weapon) (E) DX+2 [4]-16; Guns (Light Machine Gun) (E) DX+2 [2]-16†; Guns (Pistol) (E) DX+3 [6]-17†; Guns (Rifle) (E) DX+3 [8]-17; Guns (Shotgun) (E) DX+2 [2]-16†; Guns (Submachine Gun) (E) DX+2 [2]-16†; Hiking (A) HT [2]-12; History (Russian) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Holdout (A) IQ [2]-14; Intelligence Analysis (H) IQ+1 [8]-15; Interrogation (A) IQ+1 [4]-15; Intimidation (A) Will [2]-14; Judo (H) DX+1 [8]-15; Jumping (E) DX [1]-14; Karate (H) DX+1 [8]-15; Knife (E) DX+2 [4]-16; Knot-Tying (E) DX [1]-14; Law (Russian Criminal) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Law (International) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Leadership (A) IQ [2]-14; Lip Reading (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Liquid Projector (Sprayer) (E) DX [1]-14; Lockpicking (A) IQ [2]-14; Main-Gauche (A) DX+2 [8]-16; Mathematics (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Mathematics (Cryptology) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Mechanic (Diesel Engine) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Meditation (H) Will-2 [1]-12; Navigation (Land) (A) IQ [2]-14; Navigation (Sea) (A) IQ [2]-14; NBC Suit (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Observation (A) Per+1 [4]-15; Parachuting (E) DX [1]-14; Philosophy (Buddhism) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Photography (A) IQ [2]-14; Politics (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Professional Skill (Law Enforcement) (A) IQ [2]-14; Psychology (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Public Speaking (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Research (A) IQ [2]-14; Running (A) HT [2]-12; Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ [1]-14; Savoir-Faire (Mafia) (E) IQ [1]-14; Savoir-Faire (Military) (E) IQ [1]-14; Savoir-Faire (Police) (E) IQ [1]-14; Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ [1]-14; Scrounging (E) Per [1]-14; Scuba (A) IQ [2]-14; Seamanship (E) IQ [1]-14; Search (A) Per [2]-14; Sex Appeal (A) HT [2]-12; Shadowing (A) IQ [2]-14; Shield (Shield) (E) DX [1]-14; Shortsword (A) DX [2]-14; Skiing (H) HT+1 [8]-13; Smallsword (A) DX [1]-14†; Smuggling (A) IQ [2]-14; Soldier (A) IQ [2]-14; Spear (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Staff (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Stealth (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Streetwise (A) IQ [2]-14; Submarine (Free-Flooding Sub) (A) DX [2]-14; Survival (Arctic) (A) Per [2]-14; Survival (Desert) (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Survival (Island/Beach) (A) Per [2]-14; Survival (Jungle) (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Survival (Mountain) (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Survival (Swampland) (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Survival (Woodlands) (A) Per [2]-14; Swimming (E) HT+2 [4]-14; Tactics (H) IQ [4]-14; Teaching (A) IQ [2]-14; Throwing (A) DX [2]-14; Thrown Weapon (Knife) (E) DX [1]-14; Tracking (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Traps (A) IQ [2]-14; Urban Survival (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Wrestling (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Writing (A) IQ-1 [1]-13

Overall, it seems like the character would make a better assassin (or at least a more stealthy and better knife fighter), foot soldier, riot police, and spy, but a worse bomber, commander, driver, gunner, and sniper:

• Armory (Small Arms) goes up from 14 to 15 (can reroll critical misses).
• Artillery (Guided Missile) disappears.
• Axe/Mace appears at 13 and can be used to hit with the butt of the rifle.
• Camouflage lowered from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Climbing lowered from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Diving Suit appears at 14 and can be used for deep diving.
• Driving (Automobile) lowered from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Driving (Heavy Wheeled and Motorcycle) drop from 14 to 13.
• Explosives (Demolition and Underwater Demolition) drop from 14 to 13.
• Gunner (Rockets) drops from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Guns (Grenade Launcher and Light Anti-Armor Weapon) increased from 15 to 16.
• Interrogation increased from 14 to 15 (can reroll critical misses).
• Knife and Main-Gauche go up from 14 to 16 (can reroll critical misses).
• Navigation (Land and Sea), Scuba, and Seamanship lowered from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Running and Hiking drop from 13 to 12.
• Shadowing goes up from 13 to 14.
• Smallsword and Shortsword go up from 13 to 14.
• Stealth increased from 14 to 15 (can reroll critical misses).
• Tactics lowered from 15 to 14 (critical misses cannot be rerolled anymore).
• Throwing goes up from 13 to 14.

[newton]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

I understand. So do you think it would be a good idea for her to be a Russian spy, infiltrating some government institution, and trying to carry out the same plan? Or that this might be a good concept for her "archenemy"?

Hmm... I think the thing about the plan I set out is that it hinges on her being, essentially, a big all American war-hero. It doesn't really require the person have a foreign allegiance, Just as easily it could be motivated by a desire for money or power which are pretty capitalist ideals. A Russian spy trying to accomplish this plan would want to find someone that could act as a face or middleman. Of course someone the prime target of such a scheme would be someone like... well someone like Major Kennedy probably. What they'd need of course is a hook...

Perhaps an interesting story could be told in trying to counter exactly that sort of thing happening. A few methods that I think could be either used individually on a target or chained together to sway someone like that would be:
- Alienate target from existing loyalties
- Form a close relationship with target
- Convince target of your own ideologies
- Utilize blackmail/Frame target
- Promises of some benefit in the future
It should also be noted that we have specific incidents of intelligence personnel being compromised by foreign actors you could look into.

Anyway, hopefully what I'm saying gets the wheels running.

edit: oh also something fun for what i suggested: being a double agent why say no when you can pretend to go along with the plan until you have a chance to expose them fully!

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

How? She is no better than any tier 1 spec op. Is she broad?

That's part of it. But mostly, it looks like your campaign pitch is 10% description and 90% Major Mary Sue (between the breadth of skills, the social traits, the description as a "deus ex machina NPC", that you pretty much stated that nobody is allowed to be better than her in a firefight, and the lack of any notable flaws or personality, that's the feel this character gives me). Red flags that, honestly, would make me hesitant to get involved in the campaign.

Again, might be a false impression I'm getting. But it makes me worried that I would be made to feel useless against this avatar of GM fiat, or even worse, spend the whole campaign walking on eggshells trying not to invoke the GM's wrath by showing her up.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

Actually, if she joined at seventeen, adding ten brings her to twenty-seven

As you mentioned earlier, you need to be 19 to get into OCS and then a minimum of 9 years to make Major, and that assumes no time lost in transferring branches and additional training etc. So she's at least 28 and likely nearly 29, at a minimum and more likely 29 going on 30. Yes, that's "late 20s" but only just. That's without CIA and FBI training. She ought to be early 30s and that's still extraordinary. And that ignores a number of skills that typically are learned as a degree or other tertiary education (whether it be through the FBI or CIA or civilian academia, and that takes time and can not be done whilst on active duty because of schedules). Add another year or two. IQ 14 and eidetic memory is helpful, but doesn't make you a genius or instant learner.

How did she get the MH? (i.e. what specifically did she do?).

No quirks? No secrets or enemies or codes of honour? Disads (quirks in particular) give character to characters, and motivations.

How did she learn Shaolin Kung Fu - if that's related to Philosophy (Buddhism) that takes time (and quite a story to have trained at the temple in China...).

When did she have time to develop area knowledge of places she wouldn't have been deployed?

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by newton

Hmm... I think the thing about the plan I set out is that it hinges on her being, essentially, a big all American war-hero. It doesn't really require the person have a foreign allegiance, Just as easily it could be motivated by a desire for money or power which are pretty capitalist ideals. A Russian spy trying to accomplish this plan would want to find someone that could act as a face or middleman. Of course someone the prime target of such a scheme would be someone like... well someone like Major Kennedy probably. What they'd need of course is a hook...

Perhaps an interesting story could be told in trying to counter exactly that sort of thing happening. A few methods that I think could be either used individually on a target or chained together to sway someone like that would be:
- Alienate target from existing loyalties
- Form a close relationship with target
- Convince target of your own ideologies
- Utilize blackmail/Frame target
- Promises of some benefit in the future
It should also be noted that we have specific incidents of intelligence personnel being compromised by foreign actors you could look into.

Anyway, hopefully what I'm saying gets the wheels running.

edit: oh also something fun for what i suggested: being a double agent why say no when you can pretend to go along with the plan until you have a chance to expose them fully!

It's a very good idea but don't you think that would give her too much prominence? I mean, I get the concept perfectly, she could act as a double agent, and even designate missions for both sides, even one of the game groups could be perfectly in charge of captivating her, but in the end she would have to position herself on one side or the other, as opposed to having two NPCs that are rivals to each other.

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by RyanW

Again, might be a false impression I'm getting. But it makes me worried that I would be made to feel useless against this avatar of GM fiat, or even worse, spend the whole campaign walking on eggshells trying not to invoke the GM's wrath by showing her up.

Oh now I see. You worry that the most mediocre player characters will have to face her, with fewer resources, and of course fewer skills... But don't you think that's precisely the point that players who design mediocre characters want? That their characters suffer, and yet persist? Being presented with challenges beyond their means?

I mean, not everyone will want the same thing, but you don't make a 19-year-old gang member with a gun stuffed in his fly that he hasn't even had a chance to use, intending to take on a SWAT team.

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by Farmer

As you mentioned earlier, you need to be 19 to get into OCS and then a minimum of 9 years to make Major, and that assumes no time lost in transferring branches and additional training etc. So she's at least 28 and likely nearly 29, at a minimum and more likely 29 going on 30. Yes, that's "late 20s" but only just. That's without CIA and FBI training. She ought to be early 30s and that's still extraordinary. And that ignores a number of skills that typically are learned as a degree or other tertiary education (whether it be through the FBI or CIA or civilian academia, and that takes time and can not be done whilst on active duty because of schedules). Add another year or two. IQ 14 and eidetic memory is helpful, but doesn't make you a genius or instant learner.

How did she get the MH? (i.e. what specifically did she do?).

Hello,

During a rescue mission, Kennedy walked with an allied platoon into a burning building where they were faced with intense gunfire from enemy fighters. Kennedy unlocked a door lock. An allied commando tried to open the other door but failed. Kennedy went back into the area again and opened that door, freeing 30 prisoners. As the building was collapsing, the order to evacuate was given. Kennedy stayed to get everyone out, being the last person to leave after re-entering twice to make sure no one was left behind.

The CIA training was provided during her active duty in the Delta Force. The FBI training lasted one semester.

Originally Posted by Farmer

No quirks? No secrets or enemies or codes of honour? Disads (quirks in particular) give character to characters, and motivations.

How did she learn Shaolin Kung Fu - if that's related to Philosophy (Buddhism) that takes time (and quite a story to have trained at the temple in China...).

When did she have time to develop area knowledge of places she wouldn't have been deployed?

You're right, I can add the Secret disadvantage to her. She has been deployed during her career to Chechnya, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, Niger, and Taiwan. The FBI assigned her to Los Angeles.

The Shaolin Kung Fu Temple in China has been receiving tourists for many years, and it's not exactly expensive, at about $800 a month. If we assume that she paid four times that price for her training, to be intensively trained, in just one month she was able to acquire the skills she has from there. Make it two months for the Perks included.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

Oh now I see. You worry that the most mediocre player characters will have to face her, with fewer resources, and of course fewer skills...

No, I worry that player characters the GM isn't in love with will have to share the stage with her. That is based not only on what's on the character sheet, but how the character is being presented. What turns me off the most is the appearance that the campaign pitch primarily consists of a GM pet.

[Varyon]

Just, uh, throwing this out there, but does this whole "campaign premise revolving around a strong female GMPC" thing remind anyone else of some previous threads?

[newton]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

It's a very good idea but don't you think that would give her too much prominence? I mean, I get the concept perfectly, she could act as a double agent, and even designate missions for both sides, even one of the game groups could be perfectly in charge of captivating her, but in the end she would have to position herself on one side or the other, as opposed to having two NPCs that are rivals to each other.

oh no, i’m suggesting she’d still have an “enemy” and that would be whoever is spearheading the operation. hell she might not even be in charge of either group of pc’s and instead have an senior counterintelligence agent be the one who gives missions.

on the prominence front, I think whilst she’d be a lot more important, having her loyalty put into question makes her less of a little less of a deus ex machina and more a piece in a larger game. plus the pcs could mess up the operation for either side forcing a change in tactics or target.