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Kerenshara
post Jun 14 2009, 12:47 AM
Post #1


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It's sort of a cliche in my experience, the "ex-military" shadowrunner gunslinger, who might have (often) had some Special Forces experience. But how would such an individual really fit in with a group of individualistic, mercenary, greedy misanthropes like your average scratch shadowrunning team?

Let's look at what the bring to the table:

Tactical training, knowledge and experience.
Weapon and possibly demolition training and experience.
Self-discipline, certainly above what's common on the streeths of the 6th world.
A team oriented attitude, with possible leadership experience.
Whatever secondary skills the military handed them.
MilSpec bio- and cyberware.
(This list isn't meant to be exclusive, just to give an idea of some common bits.)

Working against them:

They are accustomed to a functional chain of command, knowing who their boss is.
They are accustomed to an orderly process.
They are accustomed to extensive logistical support, generally speaking.
They are accustomed to a clear deliniation of responsibilities.
They are accustomed to trusting their team mates with their lives, and vice versa.
They are accustomed to intensive team and personal training.
They are accustomed to everybody on their team being in peak physical shape.

See a problem here? The shadows are NOT the military, and don't operate like the military. Now, if they could get their team mates to see things their way, they could be highly effective and impart a great deal of strength and ability to a team. Their focus and attitude could easily build a group of individuals into a finely honed instrument... or the samurai could decide the drekker is pissing them off and frag the slot as soon as his back is turned.

My problem is that most of the military characters I have played with have NONE of those subtle signs that scream "military!" to the world around them. Worldwide, there is this odd ability of long-haul SF operators to spot each other in a crowd, never having spoken or even met; They acknowledge each other with a bare respectful nod and carry on. Recently, one of the most junior role-players I have gamed with recently was in the back of the StufferShackTM when it all came appart, and he was the last person to open fire, despite initiative advantages and all the bonuses you could imagine. When queried by the GM, he said "I don't know who the bad guys are here; these are civilians and I', not going to shoot until I know who to shoot at." After the fight, he (the player) felt like he hadn't been "useful", but the GM and I (and a couple other players) jumped right on him and told him he had done it EXACTLY right. Surrounded by civilians, a SF operator isn't going to open fire until either they are ABSOLUTELY positive of their target discrimination, or they are directly threatened, and they didn't move on him directly. He went away and thought about it, then came back and asked to talk more about that side of the mindset. He's turned into a VERY believable ex-military SF operator, and I am proud to brag on him to everybody. When I first met him (at age fifteen or so - gods! Has it been THAT long?), he was the worst power-gaming bigger-gun shoot-first roll-playing kid you ever met. We're quite proud of him in our group, for how he's matured as a gamer and a role player.

So here's my actual question, since I wound up rambling to illustrate a simple point: Do you think it's actually realistic to expect ex-military (especially ex-SF operators) to not only survive but to thrive and/or be in high demain in the world of the Shadows? I will weigh back in later with my own views, but have at it for now!
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Posts in this topic
- Kerenshara   Ex-military 'Runners   Jun 14 2009, 12:47 AM
- - Fix-it   They are accustomed to a functional chain of comma...   Jun 14 2009, 12:53 AM
- - Mirilion   My friend was a sniper. Let's just say his ter...   Jun 14 2009, 12:55 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Mirilion @ Jun 13 2009, 08:55 PM) ...   Jun 14 2009, 01:04 AM
- - Earlydawn   I generally see ex-military types as occupying the...   Jun 14 2009, 12:57 AM
- - the_real_elwood   There's a lot of different kinds of people in ...   Jun 14 2009, 12:57 AM
- - MJBurrage   Short answer The A-Team Longer answer, either pl...   Jun 14 2009, 12:57 AM
- - kzt   You can have a group that is a bunch of pros. A s...   Jun 14 2009, 01:00 AM
- - Strict9   What about the angle of the SF soldier being a car...   Jun 14 2009, 01:01 AM
- - Critias   Not everyone fits in terribly well in the military...   Jun 14 2009, 01:22 AM
|- - Method   QUOTE (Critias @ Jun 13 2009, 05:22 PM) T...   Jun 14 2009, 02:41 AM
|- - Fix-it   QUOTE (Critias @ Jun 13 2009, 07:22 PM) T...   Jun 14 2009, 03:32 AM
|- - Critias   QUOTE (Fix-it @ Jun 13 2009, 11:32 P...   Jun 14 2009, 04:26 AM
- - Angelone   All types of crime, not just gang related is a pro...   Jun 14 2009, 04:34 AM
- - Daishi   Normal people don't thrive in the Shadows rega...   Jun 14 2009, 05:11 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Daishi @ Jun 14 2009, 01:11 AM) No...   Jun 14 2009, 02:38 PM
|- - toturi   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 14 2009, 10:38 PM...   Jun 15 2009, 03:33 AM
- - PBI   First, you have to remember that the vast, vast ma...   Jun 15 2009, 02:04 AM
- - Method   You also have to consider a few things specific to...   Jun 15 2009, 04:39 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Method @ Jun 15 2009, 12:39 AM) Yo...   Jun 15 2009, 05:05 AM
|- - Method   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 14 2009, 10:05 PM...   Jun 15 2009, 06:59 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Method @ Jun 15 2009, 01:59 AM) So...   Jun 16 2009, 01:32 AM
- - Angelone   Bah, Method beat me to it. If I have an ex-militar...   Jun 15 2009, 02:42 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Angelone @ Jun 15 2009, 09:42 AM) ...   Jun 15 2009, 09:52 PM
- - Socinus   Completely depends on the person. Some people are...   Jun 15 2009, 07:19 PM
- - Stahlseele   Military Types are in demand, because everybody is...   Jun 15 2009, 10:39 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Stahlseele @ Jun 15 2009, 06:39 PM...   Jun 16 2009, 01:34 AM
||- - Stahlseele   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 16 2009, 03:34 AM...   Jun 16 2009, 06:11 AM
|- - Mirilion   QUOTE (Stahlseele @ Jun 15 2009, 11:39 PM...   Jun 16 2009, 10:46 AM
- - Kev   This topic is something my group and I were gettin...   Jun 15 2009, 11:55 PM
- - Method   Karenshara: I am always impressed with your volum...   Jun 16 2009, 03:29 AM
- - kzt   Two thoughts I have: Has anyone ever met a vietna...   Jun 16 2009, 04:36 AM
|- - Method   QUOTE (kzt @ Jun 15 2009, 09:36 PM) So ye...   Jun 16 2009, 04:45 AM
||- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Method @ Jun 16 2009, 12:45 AM) My...   Jun 16 2009, 03:18 PM
||- - the_real_elwood   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 16 2009, 09:18 AM...   Jun 16 2009, 05:57 PM
||- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (the_real_elwood @ Jun 16 2009, 12...   Jun 16 2009, 07:24 PM
||- - BullZeye   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 16 2009, 10:24 PM...   Jun 16 2009, 07:40 PM
||- - the_real_elwood   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 16 2009, 02:24 PM...   Jun 16 2009, 08:47 PM
|||- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (the_real_elwood @ Jun 16 2009, 03...   Jun 16 2009, 09:02 PM
||- - toturi   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 17 2009, 03:24 AM...   Jun 17 2009, 02:01 AM
|- - The Jake   QUOTE (kzt @ Jun 16 2009, 04:36 AM) Two t...   Jun 16 2009, 05:16 AM
|- - martindv   The fact that every time they get statted UCAS sol...   Jun 16 2009, 05:14 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (martindv @ Jun 16 2009, 12:14 PM) ...   Jun 16 2009, 06:54 PM
- - Cadmus   On the other hand, if would have to look at teh ch...   Jun 16 2009, 05:23 AM
- - Critias   Just remember that if you're setting the prece...   Jun 16 2009, 06:22 AM
- - Kliko   Your average security guard/rent-a-cop won't. ...   Jun 16 2009, 07:17 AM
|- - Critias   QUOTE (Kliko @ Jun 16 2009, 03:17 AM) You...   Jun 16 2009, 07:40 AM
- - Method   Kilko: I think you're missing his point. He...   Jun 16 2009, 07:27 AM
- - Angelone   I think you misunderstood me. I was going to bring...   Jun 16 2009, 07:53 AM
- - Kliko   In repect to the corporates bottom-line: risk mana...   Jun 16 2009, 09:30 AM
- - Critias   So in your world (as in most of them), large organ...   Jun 16 2009, 10:01 AM
- - Angelone   They do use them, the highly trained, highly cyber...   Jun 16 2009, 10:42 AM
|- - Critias   QUOTE (Angelone @ Jun 16 2009, 05:42 AM) ...   Jun 16 2009, 10:55 AM
- - Angelone   I'm a big fan of K.I.S.S so I tend to break th...   Jun 16 2009, 11:11 AM
- - Petrie_SMG   Only a couple of things to add. First, military...   Jun 16 2009, 12:13 PM
|- - kzt   QUOTE (Petrie_SMG @ Jun 16 2009, 05:13 AM...   Jun 16 2009, 05:51 PM
- - Inncubi   There was this file about SF in the world of Shado...   Jun 16 2009, 08:05 PM
- - Wounded Ronin   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 13 2009, 07:47 PM...   Jun 17 2009, 02:03 AM
- - Bob Lord of Evil   There was a period of time that I was an admin on ...   Jun 17 2009, 01:12 PM
- - Kliko   Blood out of a stone is easy... pick up the stone,...   Jun 17 2009, 02:09 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Kliko @ Jun 17 2009, 10:09 AM) Blo...   Jun 17 2009, 02:18 PM
- - Inncubi   Favourite moment like that was this: Gm arrives a...   Jun 17 2009, 02:34 PM
|- - Bob Lord of Evil   QUOTE (Inncubi @ Jun 17 2009, 03:34 PM) F...   Jun 17 2009, 02:43 PM
- - Stahlseele   You know the Sentence:"TAKE 1D20 DAMAGE!...   Jun 17 2009, 02:36 PM
- - BullZeye   Our group is still missing one D10 that flew out o...   Jun 17 2009, 07:39 PM
- - PBI   Rather than look at if ex-mil can survive in the s...   Jun 17 2009, 08:32 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (PBI @ Jun 17 2009, 03:32 PM) Rathe...   Jun 18 2009, 12:59 AM
- - Mercurian   Just as a point of reference, my table has/had a h...   Jun 17 2009, 09:09 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Mercurian @ Jun 17 2009, 04:09 PM)...   Jun 18 2009, 01:02 AM
- - Wounded Ronin   But it's really hard for me to just accept Ram...   Jun 18 2009, 02:16 AM
- - Method   I wet myself just seeing the poster.   Jun 18 2009, 05:25 AM
- - Method   I have one player who is Marine (note that I omitt...   Jun 18 2009, 05:44 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Method @ Jun 18 2009, 12:44 AM) I ...   Jun 18 2009, 01:18 PM
- - PBI   Something else I run in to as a GM (and player) is...   Jun 18 2009, 05:41 PM
- - Bob Lord of Evil   QUOTE (Wounded Ronin @ Jun 18 2009, 02:16...   Jun 21 2009, 11:25 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Bob Lord of Evil @ Jun 21 2009, 07...   Jun 22 2009, 02:34 AM
- - Regiment   Great topic, great read... and great thoughts. He...   Jun 22 2009, 05:44 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Regiment @ Jun 22 2009, 01:44 AM) ...   Jun 23 2009, 12:44 AM
- - Bob Lord of Evil   Kerenshara, As far as what makes a good ex-milita...   Jun 22 2009, 09:20 AM
|- - BullZeye   QUOTE (Bob Lord of Evil @ Jun 22 2009, 12...   Jun 22 2009, 11:38 AM
||- - Bob Lord of Evil   QUOTE (BullZeye @ Jun 22 2009, 12:38 PM) ...   Jun 22 2009, 12:21 PM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Bob Lord of Evil @ Jun 22 2009, 05...   Jun 23 2009, 12:21 AM
|- - Wounded Ronin   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 22 2009, 08:21 PM...   Jun 23 2009, 02:24 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Wounded Ronin @ Jun 22 2009, 10:24...   Jun 23 2009, 02:56 AM
||- - toturi   QUOTE (Kerenshara @ Jun 23 2009, 10:56 AM...   Jun 23 2009, 03:41 AM
|- - kzt   QUOTE (Wounded Ronin @ Jun 22 2009, 07:24...   Jun 23 2009, 03:54 AM
- - Fuchs   I agree with Toturi. I finished my mandatory milit...   Jun 22 2009, 12:24 PM
|- - toturi   QUOTE (Fuchs @ Jun 22 2009, 08:24 PM) I a...   Jun 22 2009, 12:49 PM
- - Critias   And don't forget the "Shadowrun-ized...   Jun 22 2009, 01:32 PM
|- - Critias   QUOTE The CAS and UCAS still have volunteer milita...   Jun 23 2009, 04:02 AM
- - Bob Lord of Evil   Wow, I guess it would be fair to say that my geo-c...   Jun 22 2009, 02:43 PM
- - BullZeye   Around here, we got a mandatory military service o...   Jun 22 2009, 03:10 PM
- - Fuchs   It does have an impact at times if all or the majo...   Jun 22 2009, 03:18 PM
|- - BullZeye   QUOTE (Fuchs @ Jun 22 2009, 06:18 PM) It ...   Jun 22 2009, 03:33 PM
- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Fuchs @ Jun 22 2009, 08:24 AM) I a...   Jun 23 2009, 01:15 AM
- - Regiment   My rambling prolly screwed things up.... the thoug...   Jun 23 2009, 01:18 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Regiment @ Jun 22 2009, 09:18 PM) ...   Jun 23 2009, 01:32 AM
- - Regiment   My thinking was: Mage in the army... down the ro...   Jun 23 2009, 02:38 AM
|- - Kerenshara   QUOTE (Regiment @ Jun 22 2009, 10:38 PM) ...   Jun 23 2009, 02:46 AM
- - CanadianWolverine   Hmm... I have no military experience but what abou...   Jun 23 2009, 06:07 AM
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