Monster Hunters: New information, leaks, and sample characters!

[PK]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I don't know what the setting Sunny is from is like, but I'd guess it's probably one where concealable armor is a good idea.

Absolutely correct. Monster hunters don't do the majority of their fighting in far-off caves or deep underground -- they root out nests in apartment buildings, church rafters, and school basements while school is in session! Discretion is crucial.

Pulling a gun out of a pack takes a few seconds -- easily done. The note on the ambushes is to make it clear what she has to use if she's attacked and has literally zero time to respond. If her machine pistols weren't enough, she could quick-detach the backpack and start pulling out the serious ordinance, even in second-by-second combat time. At the end of a combat, it again takes only seconds to stow the weapons and move out.

Pulling out body armor and putting it on takes much more effort. You have to set the pack down, remove the armor, unsling your long arms, remove your holsters, take off your load-bearing vest, put the armor on, replace your holsters and LBV, then put your slung weapons back into place. It's the kind of thing you can do if you have plenty of prep time in an area with no witnesses... but that's rare. And if you need to race away from the area because witnesses are on their way, you already have to stow your weapons, which means you're probably not going to have time to take off and stow your special body armor as well -- and believe me, running down the street with a rucksack and military-grade body armor is not a good way to stay low-key. :)

Discretion is the name of the game when hunting monsters in populated areas. It's intentionally one of the things that makes this job such a challenge. Fortunately, Gun! includes Acrobatics use while in combat (along with Crossbow, Liquid Projector, and anything else with a trigger, to answer another question), so even encumbered, Sunny has a great chance of dodging. (Also, her Gun! skill adds another aspect that regularly saves her bacon in a fight, but I'm not ready to spoil how "wildcard bonus points" work yet.)

[umbros]

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I think sir_pudding is referring to reports that the performance reports of the Dragon Armor have been greatly exaggerated.

I didn't think of that! rofl!
Truly, sir_pudding is a masterful and most subtly artful wielder of the smarty pants!

[Pragmatic]

I could be wrong.

I was impressed by Dragon Skin when it was on "Future Weapons." Then I started hearing reports that the video was staged, and that testing facilities were not getting the same level of protection.

[Kalzazz]

Ah. This also explains why she doesn't have grenades

[tg_ambro]

Originally Posted by Rev. Pee Kitty

FYI, I know that a few of you were able to peek at the other hunters' GCA files ahead of time due to a very silly mistake that I made when uploading the original page. (For the rest of you, no, you can't see them anymore -- I fixed it the second I realized what I did!)

If you got to do this, lucky you! But I'd like to ask you to please not spoil the other hunters yet. I went to some trouble to get these characters ready and to set them up as a gradual leak, so if you appreciate my taking the effort to do that, the best way you can thank me is to let me roll them out one at a time. So please, don't tell anyone what you saw, or even that you were one of the (very few) who got a sneak peek. It'll be a lot more fun this way. :)

So I can't mention the Vampiric Ben Franklin that was briefly posted?

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

What do you suggest instead? Most heavier modern body armor isn't concealable.

On the other hand, a lot of good concealable vests these days have the option of adding plates. And a vitals plate isn't all that heavy, either.

[Gizensha]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

Gentlefolk, check out the quirks that RPK has allotted. They are hilarious.

I particularly like the custom naming of Incompetence (Sex Appeal) XD

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Icelander

On the other hand, a lot of good concealable vests these days have the option of adding plates. And a vitals plate isn't all that heavy, either.

On the other hand, depending on what she's going to be facing, adding additional protection to specific areas may or may not be worth the added encumbrance. After all, vitals plates may be great against ballistic weapons, but if she's facing clawed monsters that are as likely to target her limbs, face, or throat as her torso, they might not help her much, nor will any of the body armor be of great help against superstrong monsters that manage to grapple her.

Unless of course vampires and the like frequently use guns in this setting, of course.

[PK]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

Well, sounds like this team is getting screwed hard by HSG. I'd be happy to refer Sunny to a friend of mine who's starting a job as a prison security guard, they make a lot more money than that. (The rest of the team, I can refer to a friend of mine who's a pizza delivery boy.)

I know you're just kidding around, but I wanted to clarify something: The reason "salaries" is in quotes is because what you're seeing is net income. That's how much is left over each month after paying all mundane bills -- taxes, housing, food, gassing up the car, etc. Assuming 22% tax, Sunny actually grosses about $80,000/year while the others gross around $20,000/year (and do get points back for their Wealth disadvantage).

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by vitruvian

On the other hand, depending on what she's going to be facing, adding additional protection to specific areas may or may not be worth the added encumbrance. After all, vitals plates may be great against ballistic weapons, but if she's facing clawed monsters that are as likely to target her limbs, face, or throat as her torso, they might not help her much, nor will any of the body armor be of great help against superstrong monsters that manage to grapple her.

Playing 'monster hunters' at home before the books were even announced, I've found that ceremic plates have twice saved PCs from having their ribs pulverised and their solar plexus crushed.

Vampires who aren't aware that they are wearing concealed vests with small plates try to punch or kick them in the Vitals to stun them before doing something double-plus-ungood to them. In both cases, I, as the GM, made the decision of where the vampires chose to attack before I had considered that the PCs had plates in their vests.

Result, some minor blunt trauma instead of 20+ points of damage.