From: Jared Hilal <jlhilal@y...>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 15:42:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [SG2] Enhanced Troops
I have been working on rules for "enhanced" troops for various genres, and would like some feedback/constructive criticism. Enhanced troops fall into three categories: Enhanced, Plugged-in, and Enhanced+plugged-in. "Enhanced" troops are those that have either been genetically engineered/modified for superior combat abilities (40k marines, Manticore Project from "Dark Angel", scrags from Weber's Honorverse, Nietzscheans from Andromeda) or have had other physical enhancements such as the bio-enhanced Imperials/Terrans of Weber's Dahak series. In game terms I suggest having Enhanced troops roll their Quality Die as half their normal die type plus an integer equal to half their die type, e.g. Regular = D4+4, Veteran = D5+5, and Elite = D6+6. This allows them to consistently perform in the top half of their category, but does not make them unbeatable. They would roll normal quality die for Confidence and Reaction tests unless they also have special mental conditioning. "Plugged-in" troops are unenhanced troops that have a direct mental (physical or psychic) connection to their equipment. This would only count for power armor or vehicle crews. This allows them to get the best use from the synergy of their systems and themselves. Plugged-in troops roll 1/2 Quality Die +1/2 Quality integer (as above) for both troop/crew quality and system quality. Reaction and confidence roll normal quality dice unless there is some special condition. "Enhanced + Plugged-in" are enhanced troops who are also plugged into their power armor/vehicles. Roll 1/2 Quality Die + 1/2 Quality integer for systems die, and Quality Die + 1/2 Quality integer for troop/crew quality, e.g. Regular = D8+4, Veteran = D10+5, and Elite = D12+6. Range bands are figured based on this +50% modifier (so 12, 15, 18 respectively). As with Enhanced troops, they would roll normal quality die for Confidence and Reaction tests unless they also have special mental conditioning, in which case it would be D4+4, D5+5, or D6+6 as being plugged-in would not have additional benefit beyond the special conditioning for reaction/confidence. So a force of enhanced troops might roll as enhanced in some situations and enhanced+plugged-in in other situations depending on how they are equipped. Comments, modifications, other ideas? J