Basically, Rambo

[Zarm R'keeg]

One of my players is in a tight spot, and is preparing a new character just in case the old one dies early in the next section. His experiences in the Freedom For Edan campaign thus far have been largely guerilla warfare in the jungle; therefore, it's not entirely unsurprising he thought up this character. (There are a few extra skills than normal for a starting character, as we're playing with a rule that lets the PCs put as many CP into improving new characters as they put into the old one, to 'keep up' with the other higher-level legacy characters they'll be joining).

My narrator sense warns against this as unbalanced- but I can't put my finger on a definite objection. And, much as he's shortchanging himself in all matters technical, perhaps there is a balance- game-altering-superman on the ground, but useless on a starship. Still, I wanted to run it by the experienced GMs here for a second opinion.

Race: Male Devaronian

Dexterity: 4D
Dodge: 6D
Blaster: 5D
Blaster Specialization: Blaster Rifle: 6D
Melee: 5D
Running: 5D

Knowledge: 4D

Mechanical: 1D

Perception: 4D
Hide: 5D

Strength: 4D

Technical: 1D
First Aid: 4D



In addition, he wanted to add two more specializations...
Melee Specialization: Vibro-Knife: 6D
Hide Specialization: Vibro-Knife: 6D+2

I am on the fence about whether either of these is an acceptable specialization; specializing in concealing a specific object, perhaps. But Melee (or Melee combat, once we stop playing with simplified rules): Vibroknife seems to essentially be a specialization in knife-fighting... which seems perhaps a little too broad for a specialization.

Again, I wanted to get y'all's thoughts.
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Star Wars: Marvels, the audio drama: www.nolinecinemas.com

Hard core OT, all the way!

[Theodrim]

[Zarm R'keeg]

If I had to guess, the nature of the game keeping them pretty well supplied (raiding one convoy after another) has prevented the necessity; and with 4D Knowledge, it's already pretty decent. He was considering Tactics as a skill to improve, though I disparaged it- as any results would be largely-dependent on my poor grasp of tactics.

Also, the Rambo thing was pretty much my interpretation, not his stated intent. I'm just pop-psychology guessing the reasons for his stat-choices.
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Star Wars: Marvels, the audio drama: www.nolinecinemas.com

Hard core OT, all the way!

[CRMcNeill]

Grenades and Demolition are possibilities. Thrown Weapons could be handy too, since he wants to play with knives. Running, since jungle fighters tend to be leg infantry.

Also, you get the most bang for your buck on specializations if you define them as broadly as possible. I'd suggest he specialize in Knives instead, which will allow him to use vibro-knives, as well.
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Zarm R'keeg]

Hmmmm... I was looking more in the 'should I allow him to get away with this?' vein rather than suggestions for improving his power-base...

So, as a GM, you'd allow a specialization in knife-fighting, then?
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Star Wars: Marvels, the audio drama: www.nolinecinemas.com

Hard core OT, all the way!

[tetsuoh]

By raw he can specialize in a weapon type or model.

Knives includes the vibroknife because it is a knife, as well as the vibrodagger and vibroshiv it does not include the vibrosword or vibrorapier or vibroaxe - or he can go specifically vibroknife or even down to his favorite brand of vibroknife. Hell I have had people specialize in the Knifes they themselves make.

Melee Weapons: My Knives. Lmao

Technically with how vague the rules are he could specialize in vibroweapons in general, considering vibroweapons are by no means the main stable of melee weapons in star wars, I see it. But I would still view it with distaste. I tend to to stick to the classic weapon types.

Just as he could go by company for his knowledge on a technology, or by type of tech.

But ultimately it is up to you what you allow.

And there is no way he's Rambo.

Rambo knew how to fly a chopper good enough to outrun a huey, knew how to make explosive arrowheads (that is both demolitions AND build projectile weapon folks 8)), and not only did he have survival, he probably had points in numerous other skills as well, such as languages, firearms repair, vehicle repair, and the specializations hide: jungle and tactics: guerrilla warfare.

He is if anything, because of his blaster spec is rifle and his hide - a sniper.
And you definitely want to know how to hide your knife as a sniper.
If you get caught and taken prisoner, them not knowing you got a knife in your boot sole can lead to you getting out.

[Zarm R'keeg]

Fair point. My thread-title-to-get-attention has clearly backfired. Consider this retitled 'so basically, a sniper...'
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Star Wars: Marvels, the audio drama: www.nolinecinemas.com

Hard core OT, all the way!

[tetsuoh]

Makes you wonder though - does HE even realize that is what he created???

I'm betting not - most people don't truelly realize what they made unless someone else sees and says something.

Like when I went to make a survival expert and was informed I was spec force scout lmao.

[garhkal]

[garhkal]

It might also be helpful to see his 'expenditures', as to where they went.

Also i take it you allow them to assign their 18D as they see fit? Cause it looked like he deliberatly made a combat monkey.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Zarm R'keeg]

[Jedi Skyler]

I agree with garkhal that this is a TOTAL combat monkey. That said, it seems that the way you run your games allows your players to make very highly specialized characters; quite honestly, that's fine. You want your players to enjoy the characters they create.

I do agree that survival should receive some points, as well as some of the other skills listed as being particularly Rambo-esque; perhaps as the GM you might encourage this by spreading out the convoys more. For a while, perhaps all they come upon are small scouting parties, which takes away their steady stream of supplies. Add to that attacks by local predators, which will further drain their resources; in that set of circumstances, they'll need to start relying on their knowledge of how to survive in the wild, and of how to improvise, repair their gear, and innovate.

I know you came into this wondering if he was overpowered, and I think that's simply because his character is so very heavily skewed toward the combat arts. I do think you should encourage him to change the vibro-blade specialty to knives, which would give him more bang for his buck...plus he won't be left in a lurch when, after several weeks in the jungle, after his power cells are all gone, and all he's been able to scrounge are a couple knives he got from some scouts he took out.

Another way you could make him branch out, if you wish to do so, would be to introduce this drought of supply-laden convoys, then have the enemies they DO encounter be planted specifically to be looking for them, and arm them with silenced slugthrowers and have them lacing the terrain with booby traps and such. Sure, that might make you seem like the devil for a while, but it would be a way to expand the party's skill base.

Hopefully, anyway...

I do like that you allow new characters to be created on par with the existing characters in the party; being left behind always sucks.

[garhkal]

While that is true, being "left behind" sucks, it also doesn't make sense that everyone comes in at the same level all the time, as it almost is akin to them just 'rebooting from last save point' just with a different build.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Zarm R'keeg]

[Theodrim]