Ideas for a New long-term Campaign

[Cheeseball]

I'm starting a new long-running campaign for my regular playgroup through Google Meets and WhatsApp. It will be set in the present day, in a pre-apocalyptic world in which various blocs are fighting each other in a kind of cold war or third world war, with political, economic, social, ideological, military, and information clashes.

The game sessions will be distributed between 5 and 10 participants, and several teams with conflicting objectives can play simultaneously. Each player will be able to have several characters, which will vary from patrol officers, to detectives, spies, mercenaries, terrorists, arms (or people) traffickers, etc., with a style similar to that of All Points Bulleting or Grand Theft Auto, but with elements of espionage and investigation.

The concept I have so far, for the deus ex machina NPC of one of the teams is:

Background

Major Anna M. Kennedy is a former member of BOTH the United States Navy SEALs and the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force). She was originally a Navy SEAL operator who turned Army and passed SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course) and made her way to serve in the elite counter-terrorism unit, Delta Force. Kennedy was awarded the Medal of Honor for her actions during a hostage rescue at an Islamic State prison compound in the north of the Kirkuk Province, Iraq.

After ten years of service in the armed forces, and counting on her service record six military deployments worldwide, she became a reservist and joined the FBI.

Personality
Anna M. Kennedy is fierce, rough, highly gifted, and tough, more than a match for any opposing force. She has a softer side as well, with an outgoing, optimistic personality, and her companions describe her as “psychotic”.

Appearance
Anna M. Kennedy is an athletic and tall woman (6 ft. and 190 lbs.) in her late-20s. She is strong and graceful, very beautiful, and has messy, black, chin-length hair that flows down on both sides of her face, with a fringe that reaches her eyebrows.

ST 12 [20]; DX 14 [80]; IQ 14 [80]; HT 12 [20]
Damage 1d/1d+2; BL 32 lbs.; HP 12 [0]; Will 14 [0]; Per 14 [0]; FP 12 [0].
Basic Speed 6.5 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10*; Parry 11*.

Social Background

TL: 8 [0].
CF: East Asian [1]; Eastern European [1]; Latin American [1]; Middle Eastern [1]; West African [1]; Western, Homeline [0].
Languages: Chechen (Native) [4]; English (Native) [0]; French (Native) [4]; Japanese (Native) [4]; Modern Standard Arabic (Native) [4]; Russian (Native) [4]; Spanish (Native) [4]; Standard Chinese (Native) [4].

Advantages
Ambidexterity [5]; Appearance (Beautiful) [12]; Charisma 2 [10]; Combat Reflexes [15]; Damage Resistance 1 (+1 DR to the full body except the eyes, Tough Skin) [3]; Eidetic Memory [5]; Fit [5]; Language Talent [10]; Legal Enforcement Powers [10]; Military Rank 4 [20]; Police Rank 0 [0]; Reputation (+4 Reaction among military personnel of the U.S. and allied nations, all the time) [6]; Status 2 (Free from Rank and Wealth) [0]; Wealth (Wealthy) [20].

Perks: Acrobatic Feints; Armor Familiarity (Judo; Karate); Ground Guard; Iron Body Parts (Arms; Legs; Neck); Old Salt; Special Exercises (DR 1 with Tough Skin); Style Familiarity (Assaulter; Brazilian Jiu-jitsu; Combat Wrestling; Defendu; Escrima; Fairbairn Close Combat Training; Fairbairn-Sykes Handgun Shooting; Judo; Kumango Silat; MCMAP; Modern Pistol; Sambo; Shaolin Kung Fu; Sharpshooter; Tae Kwon Do; Wushu); Sure-Footed (Ice; Naval Training; Sand; Slippery; Snow; Uneven; Water); Technique Mastery (Kicking); Unusual Training (Dual-Weapon Attack, Both attacks must target the same foe; “Split Kick”: Dual-Weapon Attack, Only to kick two adjacent foes); Upside-Down (Knife). [36]

Disadvantages

Duty (FBI; 15 or less) [-15]; Sense of Duty (Friends and Companions) [-5].
Quirks: None.

Skills
Acrobatics (H) DX [4]-14; Acting (A) IQ [2]-14; Administration (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Architecture (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Area Knowledge (California; Chechnya; City of Los Angeles; Colombia; Iraq; Japan; Niger; Taiwan; United States) (E) IQ [9]-14; Armoury (Small Arms) (A) IQ [2]-14; Artillery (Guided Missile) (A) IQ+1 [4]-15; Boating (Motorboat) (A) DX [2]-14; Boating (Unpowered) (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Body Language (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Brawling (E) DX+1 [2]-15; Breath Control (H) HT [4]-12; Camouflage (E) IQ+1 [2]-15; Carousing (E) HT [1]-12; Cartography (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Chemistry (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Climbing (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Computer Operation (E) IQ [1]-14; Criminology (A) IQ [2]-14; Cryptography (H) IQ [4]-14; Current Affairs (City of Los Angeles) (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; Driving (Automobile) (A) DX+1 [4]-15; Driving (Heavy Wheeled; Motorcycle) (A) DX [3]-14†; Electronics Operation (Communications; Security; Sensors; Surveillance) (A) IQ [8]-14; Electronics Operation (Sonar) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Electronics Repair (Communications; Security) (A) IQ-1 [2]-13; Engineer (Combat; Ships) (H) IQ-2 [2]-12; Erotic Art (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Escape (H) DX-1 [2]-13; Explosives (Demolition; Underwater Demolition) (A) IQ [4]-14; Explosives (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Fast-Draw (Long Arm; Pistol; Ammo) (E) DX+1 [3]-15*; Fast-Talk (A) IQ [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; Rockets) (E) DX+1 [4]-15; Guns (Grenade Launcher; Light Anti-Armor Weapon) (E) DX+1 [4]-15; Guns (Light Machine Gun; Shotgun; Submachine Gun) (E) DX+2 [6]-16†; Guns (Pistol; Rifle) (E) DX+3 [14]-17‡; Hiking (A) HT+1 [4]-13; History (American) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; Holdout (A) IQ [2]-14; Intelligence Analysis (H) IQ+1 [8]-15; Interrogation (A) IQ [2]-14; 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 [1]-14; Knot-Tying (E) DX [1]-14; Law (American Criminal; International) (H) IQ-2 [2]-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]-14; Mathematics (Applied; Cryptology) (H) IQ-2 [2]-12; Mechanic (Diesel Engine) (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Meditation (H) Will-2 [1]-12; Navigation (Land; Sea) (A) IQ+1 [7]-15‡; NBC Suit (A) DX-1 [A]-13; 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+1 [1]-13; Savoir-Faire (High Society; Mafia; Military; Police; Servant) (E) IQ [5]-14; Scrounging (E) Per [1]-14; Scuba (A) IQ+1 [4]-15; Seamanship (E) IQ+1 [2]-15; Search (A) Per-1 [1]-13; Sex Appeal (A) HT [2]-12; Shadowing (A) IQ-1 [1]-13; Shield (Shield) (E) DX [1]-14; Shortsword (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Skiing (H) HT [4]-12; Smallsword (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Soldier (A) IQ [2]-14; Spear (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Staff (A) DX-1 [1]-13; Stealth (A) DX [2]-14; Streetwise (A) IQ [2]-14; Survival (Arctic; Desert; Jungle; Swampland; Woodlands) (A) Per-1 [5]-13; Survival (Island/Beach; Mountain) (A) Per [4]-14; Swimming (E) HT+2 [4]-14; Tactics (H) IQ+1 [8]-15; Teaching (A) IQ [2]-14; Throwing (A) DX-1 [1]-13; 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

Techniques: Acrobatic Stand (A) [6]-14; Close-Quarters Battle (Pistol; Rifle) (A) [8]-21; Dual-Weapon Attack (Karate) (H) [5]-15; Fast-Firing (Pistol; Rifle) (H) [10]-17; Ground Fighting (Judo) (H) [5]-15; Immediate Action (Pistol; Rifle) (A) [4]-15; Kicking (H) [5]-17; Leg Throw (H) [3]-15; Low Fighting (Judo) (H) [3]-15; Masked Shooting (Pistol) (A) [3]-16; Masked Shooting (Rifle) (A) [2]-15; Neck Snap (H) [8]-15; Precision Aiming (A) [6]-17; Quick-Shot (Pistol; Rifle) (A) [12]-17; Rappelling (A) [1]-15; Retain Weapon (Pistol) (H) [2]-15; Rope Up (A) [2]-15; Targeted Attack (Knife/Neck) (H) [4]-12; Targeted Attack (Pistol; Rifle/Skull) (H) [10]-14; Targeted Attack (Judo/Skull) (H) [5]-12; Targeted Attack (Pistol; Rifle/Vitals) (H) [6]-16; Triangle Choke (Judo) (H) [5]-15; Trip (H) [2]-11.

* Includes +1 for Combat Reflexes.
† Defaults from other Skill.
‡ Defaults from each other.

Are the statistics reasonable, considering that she has received training from the Navy SEALs, the 1st SFOD-D, the CIA, and the FBI? Is anyone able to develop any criminal character concept for the other team that rivals this one, with the stats?

[RyanW]

Are you concerned about point effectiveness? Because unless I miscalculated, all those Guns skills could be streamlined by taking better advantage of the defaults.

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by RyanW

Are you concerned about point effectiveness? Because unless I miscalculated, all those Guns skills could be streamlined by taking better advantage of the defaults.

Of course, as long as it doesn't involve increasing any of them above 17, which relates to "someone good enough to stand out in his field, however rarefied (top commando, ace of aces, etc.)". Anything above would enter the territory of "best of a generation (e.g., the world’s best sniper)."

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

Of course, as long as it doesn't involve increasing any of them above 17, which relates to "someone good enough to stand out in his field, however rarefied (top commando, ace of aces, etc.)". Anything above would enter the territory of "best of a generation (e.g., the world’s best sniper)."

http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...57&postcount=6

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by Farmer

http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...57&postcount=6

I moved the table a bit because I didn't like that 14-16 were on the same level, so for me 14-15 can be considered "Exceptional (the most seasoned of ordinary folks)" and 16-17 would be "Heroic (extraordinary world-class experts)". I then added the following 18-19 "Larger-than-Normal (top experts from all of the world)" and 20-21 "Larger-than-Life (top experts from all of history)".

I chose the value of 17 not only because it coincides with the one assigned in the "Spec Ops" book for the Delta Force, but also because it is the level at which professional competence is acquired to perform the following combination without resorting to Accuracy: "Effective Skill = 17 + Target Attack (Gun/Skull)-3 + Quick-Shot (Gun)+0 + Speed/Range (5 yards)-2 = 12".

[Þorkell]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball

Of course, as long as it doesn't involve increasing any of them above 17, which relates to "someone good enough to stand out in his field, however rarefied (top commando, ace of aces, etc.)". Anything above would enter the territory of "best of a generation (e.g., the world’s best sniper)."

A person who served with and qualified for both Delta and SEALs isn't a "top commando" in your mind?

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by Þorkell

A person who served with and qualified for both Delta and SEALs isn't a "top commando" in your mind?

Yes it is, and "top commando" is related to Guns-17. Anything above would be "the world's best sniper" instead.

[Donny Brook]

By my reckoning, she's only 686 points. Why so chintzy?

Also, I would remove Overconfidence. It mars an otherwise perfect paragon.

[Anaraxes]

I don't understand the personality - description or traits. "Outgoing", "optimistic", and "psychotic"? Also "fierce" and "rough". I have trouble combining those in my head into a coherent picture. Of course, I don't have to, since I'm not playing the character. But it does seem like most of those words could have at least a Quirk-level mental trait.

Are cinematic heroes of that level common in the setting? That is, it seems hard to be Overconfident at 686 points unless you're going to stumble into some peers or a team of street-level supers. "Your ego's writing checks your body can't cash" only applies if you can't, in fact, cash those checks.

Are the PC young and naive (+2 reaction territory from Overconfident), or are they also experienced SF operators (so in the -2 territory). Not that PCs are compelled to make reaction rolls, but it's a guide -- and the same question applies to the actual NPCs. Do the SEALs and Delta dislike her due to past experience with her - however successful she might have been?

How many points will the PCs be built on?

[Cheeseball]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

By my reckoning, she's only 686 points. Why so chintzy?

Also, I would remove Overconfidence. It mars an otherwise perfect paragon.

I completely agree. I have proceeded to remove that handicap, and also reduce the Appearance to Beautiful (I want her to have scars), and add 2 levels of Charisma to represent her innate leadership skills. Can you think of how I can represent a bit of arrogance, as a kind of non-cinematic Rapier Wit?