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Now, it's a given that FGU is one of my favorite game publishers as I am a big fan of Flashing Blades, Bushido, and Daredevils and own Swordbearer, Year of the Phoenix, Villains and Vigilantes, Privateers & Gentlemen, Space Opera...and Merc.

I was rolling up some characters in Merc the other day and either I am misunderstanding something in the character creation rules or else they managed to publish a game where you can roll up a character's attributes and end up with a set of numbers that doesn't qualify for ANY of the "specialties" (a.k.a. classes or occupations)! Am I mistaken? Any Merc players or "Corporations" (a.k.a. GMs) out there that can tell me if I am missing something?

I played a fuckton of Space Opera and Bushido, but never got to try Merc. How is the system? What's it like?

It just so happens I'm bringing the boxed set with me to work today so I will try to answer your inquiry when I take a break later.

Okay, so I have three different-colored dice in my box, which I assume I put there as they don't look like the cheap kind that used to come in boxed sets way back when (game is copyrighted 1981). The only dice needed are regular six-siders, but it's advantageous to have at least two different colored dice because a lot of the rolls are read as results from 11-16, 21-26, 31-36, etc. That's how you roll up your Merc PC. You can also toss three dice for random age, height, hair color, etc. Physical and mental attributes (Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Knowledge, Intuition, and Prior Military Service) are generated with 2d6 resulting in 11-16, 21-26, 31-36, 41-46, 51-56, and 61-66. Prior Military Service is kind of neat because it generates "why the character is in the mercenary business." Based on your attributes, you check the list of Specialties and see what you qualify for. It seems possible through bad rolls to qualify for none of them, in which case I'd either just roll up a new Merc or let the player raise an attribute to the minimum required for a Specialty.

Stress Tests, Dexterity Tests, and Command Control rolls are 2d6 (11-66 results) and you need to roll under 36. Attributes modify your rolls. Stress Tests are sort of checks on your Merc's "coolness under fire" or other stressful situations. If you fail, you roll 1d6 for your Merc's reaction. Dexterity Tests are for avoiding obstacles, dodging traps, and so on. You get a bonus from your Strength for a climbing Dex Test. You can also fail a Stress Test and then succeed in a resulting Dex Test, like getting tangled in a booby trap, freaking out and trying to run due to the failed Stress Test, but making the Dex Test and jumping out of the way or ducking the trap or whatever. Command Control is affected by your Intuition attribute and Prior Military Service attribute, and is what you use to see how well your underlings listen to you and follow your commands.

Skill Tests are also 2d6 rolls (2-12 results) where you want to roll under 6. These rolls are modified by your Specialist skills plus things like Camouflage gets a -4 bonus for heavy undergrowth or -4 at night, whereas the person looking for you would get a Recon roll and may get +3 for binoculars (infrared at night) or +4 for any movement in the position where you are hiding.

All in all it is a very simple system. Everything a player needs fits on a one-sided character sheet with plenty of blank space.

There are a bunch of tables for different things like which way a grenade will bounce and modifiers for hand-to-hand combat and hit locations, but I recommend photocopying them and just referring to them when the situation arises rather than trying to keep track of them all at once as in my experience you seldom use more than a few in a given session. The game is pretty much class-and-level with experience-point-based advancement. Most scenarios will be assignments given that your PC is a Merc but there are some random encounter tables and reaction tables to spice things up. After all, what fun is a job where everything plays out as planned? Much more fun when the situation gets FUBAR.

There's a sample mission and example of play in the GM section as well as a cool bibliography.

There are also two Supplements for Merc, but I only have Supplement 1, which is just additional Specialties and equipment you may or may not want to incorporate into your game. I've never seen Supplement 2 but I read somewhere that it is a module for a mercenary campaign in Africa or something. Sounds pretty cool, but I can't speak to it more than that.

Merc, being an older game, is relatively bare bones as it assumes the GM will make judgment calls as needed and generate most of his own scenarios and elaborate upon the game based on his and his players' preferences. Which is how I like games to be. The entire RPG is 36 pages long. And it is lots of fun.

I got it partly wrong, it's actually not Supplement 2 but rather Campaign Book 1: Rhodesia.
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Should've titled this thread "Merc: The Game No One Else Plays," eh?

I always wanted to try it but never managed to get a copy.  :(

I do like Mercenaries, Spies, and Private Eyes by FGU and liked Twilight 2000 e2.  But somehow, the gritty of Merc would have been cool.  It uses the overlays like Millenium's End right?

Quote from: David Johansen;967637I always wanted to try it but never managed to get a copy.  :(

I do like Mercenaries, Spies, and Private Eyes by FGU and liked Twilight 2000 e2.  But somehow, the gritty of Merc would have been cool.  It uses the overlays like Millenium's End right?

Last I checked, FGU was still selling Merc on their web site in hardcopy boxed sets (including the overlay) and PDF. I'm not familiar with Millennium's End (?) but Merc uses a clear crosshairs overlay that you place over an outline of a full human figure in head-on or profile for sniper and sharpshooting operations. You roll 2d6 and add or subtract modifiers based on your Specialty and range and other conditions and use the resulting number to determine your hit location.

I can't believe I forgot to mention the sharpshooting/sniping rules earlier. I think they're fun.

Edit: Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes wasn't FGU but rather was Flying Buffalo. I've never read or played it. Can you tell me about it? Would it be good for "Tales of the Gold Monkey," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Flying Freebooters" types of games?

I've not played Merc, but have run and played similar games in the past, like Recon. I'd love to play or run it again, but my players... well, with their tactics it would look like the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron;967859I've not played Merc, but have run and played similar games in the past, like Recon. I'd love to play or run it again, but my players... well, with their tactics it would look like the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Ha ha, yes, the body count tends to be high. I've said in other threads that most of the time our PCs' worst enemies are themselves and their cunning plans. Next time I play Merc, I'll probably have everyone roll up three characters so they have spares ready to roll.

I have original-flavor Recon and the Palladium versions: Revised Recon, Advanced Recon, and Deluxe Revised Recon...so yeah, that's another I'd love to play more of. I'm apparently in that small minority of RPG players who would really rather not play a fantasy game if there's an alternative.

LOL Imagine if somebody published a game today where you played white mercs in 70's Rhodesia.

The Purple Swamp would BURN DOWN.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;967874LOL Imagine if somebody published a game today where you played white mercs in 70's Rhodesia.

The Purple Swamp would BURN DOWN.

I'm sure it wouldn't matter what the campaign was as their mentality is man with gun = bad man and mercenary = bad man and other nuanced views of the real world.

Although burning down the purple swamp is by itself a good enough reason to write that game.

Edit: actually your mercenary wouldn't necessarily be white, he could be any background as long as he's doing the job and doesn't care who's writing the checks.

I'm thinking of running a game set in a fictional island dictatorship (shades of Cuba) with a Merc company paid by either corporate sponsors who want access to markets or materials or else a Western government or Western governments who want to overthrow the place due to ideology and to stick it to the Reds. Obviously all the money is laundered and the sponsors will have plausible deniability. All inspired by this book cover:[ATTACH=CONFIG]1049[/ATTACH]

Quote from: Dumarest;967639Last I checked, FGU was still selling Merc on their web site in hardcopy boxed sets (including the overlay) and PDF. I'm not familiar with Millennium's End (?) but Merc uses a clear crosshairs overlay that you place over an outline of a full human figure in head-on or profile for sniper and sharpshooting operations. You roll 2d6 and add or subtract modifiers based on your Specialty and range and other conditions and use the resulting number to determine your hit location.

I can't believe I forgot to mention the sharpshooting/sniping rules earlier. I think they're fun.

Edit: Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes wasn't FGU but rather was Flying Buffalo. I've never read or played it. Can you tell me about it? Would it be good for "Tales of the Gold Monkey," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and "Flying Freebooters" types of games?

Flying Buffalo doh!  Anyhow, MSPE is a modern port of Tunnels and Trolls which is serious, deadly and fast playing.  You get skill points equal to your Intelligence score to buy skills from a list that's gradiated by Intelligence requirements.  Saving Throws are still 15+5 x difficulty level on 2d6 + Attribute + Skill doubles add and roll over.  Ranged attacks are handled with two tables that break down factors like range and movement to provide a target number.  Autofire is handled by dividing the number of shots by six and rolling d6s to determine how many shots hit.  There's decent if thin advice on running mercenary, spy, and detective games.  It's a bit Spartan but it works, though it's really lethal, joe average has 10 - 11 hp and a rifle does 7d damage.  Pick your fights wisely.  There's a decent selection of guns but if you want more, R Talsorian's Edge of the Sword Volume 1 includes MSPE stats for hundreds of firearms.

To those interested in the "Mercs in a Third World warzone" genre I highly recommend the brutal and gritty 1968 flick Dark of the Sun. A tragically unsung classic. Just don't get the official WB Archives DVD, it's from a censored print and chopped all to fucking Hell.

Also, MS&PE is a cool little semi-forgotten game. Eccentric, but cool. The cover is also one of the coolest pieces of RPG art of all time.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;967880To those interested in the "Mercs in a Third World warzone" genre I highly recommend the brutal and gritty 1968 flick Dark of the Sun. A tragically unsung classic. Just don't get the official WB Archives DVD, it's from a censored print and chopped all to fucking Hell.

Also, MS&PE is a cool little semi-forgotten game. Eccentric, but cool. The cover is also one of the coolest pieces of RPG art of all time.

So what version of Dark of the Sun is the good one?

Quote from: Dumarest;968355So what version of Dark of the Sun is the good one?

Turner Classic Movies used to air a pristine, uncut version. Badger TCM for a re-airing or find someone who recorded off the air. The fact that this great movie never got a decent DVD/Blu Ray/Whatever release really annoys the fuck out of me.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;968360Turner Classic Movies used to air a pristine, uncut version. Badger TCM for a re-airing or find someone who recorded off the air. The fact that this great movie never got a decent DVD/Blu Ray/Whatever release really annoys the fuck out of me.

Good to know. I don't get TCM, though, so I'll have to see what else there is.

Quote from: Dumarest;967878I'm thinking of running a game set in a fictional island dictatorship (shades of Cuba) with a Merc company paid by either corporate sponsors who want access to markets or materials or else a Western government or Western governments who want to overthrow the place due to ideology and to stick it to the Reds. Obviously all the money is laundered and the sponsors will have plausible deniability.

I had a similar idea for a d20 Modern campaign years back, only the player characters would be UN peacekeepers, NGO workers and journalists caught in the middle of the agro-company supported junta and the revolucionarios .

I've wanted to run something merc-oriented for a long time. Back in the day I ran an Algerian War d20 M campaign that would've transitioned into the ex-legionnaire characters hired as mercs in Katanga in the early Sixties, and the still-born Top Secret pbp I started on this site a couple of years ago would've pulled the characters into Angola and Namibia circa 1980.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;972332I've wanted to run something merc-oriented for a long time. Back in the day I ran an Algerian War d20 M campaign that would've transitioned into the ex-legionnaire characters hired as mercs in Katanga in the early Sixties, and the still-born Top Secret pbp I started on this site a couple of years ago would've pulled the characters into Angola and Namibia circa 1980.

I'd be all over that. I'd also love to play a PC more and not get stuck as GM 95% of the time. :rolleyes:

This is one of the harder genres to get anyone interested in, at least it has been for me.

Quote from: Dumarest;972340I'd be all over that. I'd also love to play a PC more and not get stuck as GM 95% of the time. :rolleyes:

This is one of the harder genres to get anyone interested in, at least it has been for me.

These are my thoughts exactly. Players always seem to opt for fantasy settings. Black Vulmea, if you ever want to run something in this genre PBP/PBEM count me (and presumably Dumarest?) in. :)

Quote from: marksolino;972499These are my thoughts exactly. Players always seem to opt for fantasy settings. Black Vulmea, if you ever want to run something in this genre PBP/PBEM count me (and presumably Dumarest?) in. :)

Sure, as long as I have the time and access to post as needed. I'd give it a try.

Quote from: Dumarest;972577Sure, as long as I have the time and access to post as needed. I'd give it a try.

Cool! Let us know! :)

I don't think I'd personally be too interested in a straightforward (non-cinematic) modern mercenary war campaign.

Quote from: RPGPundit;972948I don't think I'd personally be too interested in a straightforward (non-cinematic) modern mercenary war campaign.

That's all right, I'm not interested in gonzo D&D so it evens out.

Quote from: Dumarest;967295I was rolling up some characters in Merc the other day and either I am misunderstanding something in the character creation rules or else they managed to publish a game where you can roll up a character's attributes and end up with a set of numbers that doesn't qualify for ANY of the "specialties" (a.k.a. classes or occupations)! Am I mistaken? Any Merc players or "Corporations" (a.k.a. GMs) out there that can tell me if I am missing something?

I recently created my first character for Merc. He has a highest score of 36, and doesn't have high enough attributes to have any specialities. He's English and has no previous military experience, so he seems ideal fodder to be recruited to go to Angola in 1976.

Quote from: condottierie;973259I recently created my first character for Merc. He has a highest score of 36, and doesn't have high enough attributes to have any specialities. He's English and has no previous military experience, so he seems ideal fodder to be recruited to go to Angola in 1976.

Welcome to theRPGsite, Condottierie!

I'd give it a shot. I have MSPE, Merc and Advanced Revised Recon. I never get enough chances to play any of them.

Quote from: condottierie;973259I recently created my first character for Merc. He has a highest score of 36, and doesn't have high enough attributes to have any specialities. He's English and has no previous military experience, so he seems ideal fodder to be recruited to go to Angola in 1976.

Are you playing a game or just rolling up some guys?

Quote from: Bunch;974128I'd give it a shot. I have MSPE, Merc and Advanced Revised Recon. I never get enough chances to play any of them.

Too bad the handful of guys who know of the game and have an interest in playing it are geographically scattered. :(

I'd love to play Recon, too, but I'm not sure about being a GM for it unless it's a mercenary campaign rather than Vietnam.

Quote from: Dumarest;974218Too bad the handful of guys who know of the game and have an interest in playing it are geographically scattered. :(

I'd love to play Recon, too, but I'm not sure about being a GM for it unless it's a mercenary campaign rather than Vietnam.

Such is our lot in life. Mercenary recon pbp is fine by me

Quote from: Dumarest;974217Are you playing a game or just rolling up some guys?

Only recently got Merc, so just trying to figure it all out at the moment. As for actually playing the game, well, that will depend on if I can persuade my brother to play it!

QuoteWelcome to theRPGsite, Condottierie!

Thanks, Pundit!

Quote from: condottierie;974300Only recently got Merc, so just trying to figure it all out at the moment. As for actually playing the game, well, that will depend on if I can persuade my brother to play it!

I love to hear about someone getting into a largely forgotten game. Where did you get it? Last I actually looked, FGU was still selling the boxed set on their web site.

Quote from: Bunch;974257Such is our lot in life. Mercenary recon pbp is fine by me

But who would run it? :)

Quote from: Dumarest;974315I love to hear about someone getting into a largely forgotten game. Where did you get it? Last I actually looked, FGU was still selling the boxed set on their web site.

 Got a new copy from Noble Knight. Nice to get one for about what it would have cost from Games of Liverpool back in the early 80s. Apart from the postage, that is!

FGU still have it listed, but it didn't seem the easiest place to order from from overseas.

Quote from: marksolino;974322But who would run it? :)

If I had the time and consistent internet access at a laptop, I'd consider trying. But I have neither right now.

Quote from: condottierie;974349Got a new copy from Noble Knight. Nice to get one for about what it would have cost from Games of Liverpool back in the early 80s. Apart from the postage, that is!

FGU still have it listed, but it didn't seem the easiest place to order from from overseas.

Cool. Fortunately for me FGU is just the next state over so shipping isn't bad and items arrive very quickly. I'm thinking about getting Psi World sometime if it's still in print; I can't imagine ever playing it, though, so maybe not.

Quote from: Dumarest;974429Cool. Fortunately for me FGU is just the next state over so shipping isn't bad and items arrive very quickly. I'm thinking about getting Psi World sometime if it's still in print; I can't imagine ever playing it, though, so maybe not.

I picked up an FGU lot off eBay a decade ago cheap. Psi world was in it so if you decide to run it I'd be up for trying it out.

I've rarely GMd anything but if everyone is up for tolerating me learning I'd be up for giving it a go for any of the following :Mercs, MSPE, Advanced Revised Recon.

Quote from: Bunch;974436I picked up an FGU lot off eBay a decade ago cheap. Psi world was in it so if you decide to run it I'd be up for trying it out.

I've rarely GMd anything but if everyone is up for tolerating me learning I'd be up for giving it a go for any of the following :Mercs, MSPE, Advanced Revised Recon.

I don't know Mercenaries Spies & Private Eyes. I'd like to learn it sometime and see how it is.

As for playing a game online, I have minimal internet  access on weekends and only consistent access while I'm at work and not taking someone's recorded statement. I tried running a couple of games that way back when I had the internet at home but they ended due to unreliable players screwing it up for everyone else. Haven't tried it as a player, though.

A dear friend of mine passed away this past weekend, very unexpectedly, and my next week or so is busy with all that entails, but if there's enough interest, roll up some characters for a Merc pbp game starting circa 1980 'somewhere in Africa.'

Quote from: Black Vulmea;974460A dear friend of mine passed away this past weekend, very unexpectedly, and my next week or so is busy with all that entails, but if there's enough interest, roll up some characters for a Merc pbp game starting circa 1980 'somewhere in Africa.'

I'm gone for a week but I will when I get home.

What's your expectations regarding posting frequency and what happens if someone takes too long to post?  
I have no strong preference here I just like to be one the same page.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;974460A dear friend of mine passed away this past weekend, very unexpectedly, and my next week or so is busy with all that entails, but if there's enough interest, roll up some characters for a Merc pbp game starting circa 1980 'somewhere in Africa.'

I just want to say I am very sorry for your loss.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;974460A dear friend of mine passed away this past weekend, very unexpectedly, and my next week or so is busy with all that entails, but if there's enough interest, roll up some characters for a Merc pbp game starting circa 1980 'somewhere in Africa.'

Sorry for your loss, Mr. Vulmea.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;974460A dear friend of mine passed away this past weekend, very unexpectedly, and my next week or so is busy with all that entails, but if there's enough interest, roll up some characters for a Merc pbp game starting circa 1980 'somewhere in Africa.'

Quote from: Bunch;974461I'm gone for a week but I will when I get home.

What's your expectations regarding posting frequency and what happens if someone takes too long to post?  
I have no strong preference here I just like to be one the same page.

I'll try to have one ready in a week, too. And, condolences. :(

I'll roll up a guy. Wonder what I'll get.

Starting to work on creating my merc...I know that you can choose a Primary Specialty and a Secondary Specialty (based on your randomly-rolled Attributes), but does anyone know if you can choose MORE than one Primary and/or Secondary Specialty?

Quote from: marksolino;975142Starting to work on creating my merc...I know that you can choose a Primary Specialty and a Secondary Specialty (based on your randomly-rolled Attributes), but does anyone know if you can choose MORE than one Primary and/or Secondary Specialty?

Pretty sure that's a no. Otherwise they wouldn't be "primary" and "secondary," right? They'd just be "here's my list of specialties in no particular order."

Quote from: Dumarest;975204Pretty sure that's a no. Otherwise they wouldn't be "primary" and "secondary," right? They'd just be "here's my list of specialties in no particular order."

Makes sense. :)

I'll have to try to remember to bring my copy of Merc to work with me tomorrow or next week so I can roll up a guy in peace. Home evenings and weekends is too chaotic with little kids running wild, especially with a birthday weekend.

Just in case anyone is interested in how characters are rolled up in Merc...I'm doing this intermittently at work so I'll post it in sections.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

A. Age: 3d6 + 20 = 14+20 = 34
B. Nationality: player choice, in this case South African
C. Name: player choice, in this case Janco van Apeldoorn (used http://www.momjunction.com/articles/afrikaans-baby-names-for-girls-and-boys_00424826/#gref and https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/dutch )
D. Height: 3d6, consult table = 14 = Average (5'7" to 5'10"), I choose 5'10"
E. Weight: based on Strength Capabilities, Frame, and Build, so I will update after we get to those
F. Hair Color: 3d6, consult table = 10 = Brown
G. Eye Color: 3d6, consult table = 10 = Hazel
H. Complexion: 3d6, consult table = 9 = Average
I. Voice: 3d6, consult table = 12 = Average (no effect on Command Control)
J: Handedness: 1d6, consult table = Left-handed

Next comes PHYSICAL/MENTAL ATTRIBUTES...

PHYSICAL/MENTAL ATTRIBUTES

There are six attributes: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Knowledge, Intuition, and Prior Military Service. Roll 2d6 six times for results from 11 to 66. You assign the rolls to the attributes based on what Specialty you want. You may not qualify for your preferred Specialty, so it's still a bit random what you end up with. I think I'd like a Recon or Sniper/Sharpshooter Specialist, but we shall see if I get the necessary attributes.

2d6, six times = 56, 35, 16, 32, 41, 51. Not bad at all.

Recon requires Agility of 61 and Intuition of 63 for Primary Specialty, so that's out, but for Secondary Specialty it only takes Agility of 52 and Intuition of 56. So it's still out as my highest rolls were 56 and 51. So near and yet not quite enough. What about Sniper/Sharpshooter?  Primary requires Agility 52 and Intelligence 56. Can't do it. Secondary requires Agility 46 and Intelligence 46, so I could take it as a Secondary Specialty if I assign my two best rolls to those attributes and still  qualify for another Primary. But first I need to find a Primary Specialty I qualify for. It's a little frustrating because a lot of the Specialties require at least one roll in the 60s. Looking at my options, I decide my guy is a Medic (Knowledge 56 is the only requirement) primarily, which mean:

Strength: ?
Agility: ?
Intelligence:
Knowledge: 56
Intuition: ?
Prior Military Service: ?

I still have 35, 16, 32, 41, and 51 to assign to attributes.

For a Secondary Specialty, let's make him a Camouflage Expert (Prior Service requirement 36, Intuition requirement 34). So now we have

Strength: 32 (normal, no test modifier)
Agility: 16 (average, no test modifier)
Intelligence: 51 (smart, +10 test modifier)
Knowledge: 56 (knowledgeable, +10 test modifier, it also says "capable of two specialized skills (Primary)," so I interpret that to mean I can choose another Primary Specialty if I meet the requirements)
Intuition: 35 (average, no test modifier)
Prior Military Service: 41 (extended service, served at least 2 hitches, +10 test modifier)

Do I meet the requirements for another Primary Specialty? Yes, I have the requirements for Communications Expert (Intelligence 46 and Knowledge 46) but no others, so I'll take that as well.

Next comes STRENGTH CAPABILITIES, where we determine Strength Capabilities, Frame, and Build and go back to E. way up above to fill that in as well...

STRENGTH CAPABILITIES

Frame is determined by your Nationality and a 2d6 roll (results 11 to 66). Some Nationalities are larger than others. South African counts as European, so I roll on that table and get 55, Large. Large frame combined with average Strength gives me "Above Average" carrying ability on the next table. The rules should have been proofed here because reading the next section you learn that your "carrying ability" is actually what they then call your Build, which you cross-check with your Height to determine how much you can carry. My guy is Average height, Average Strength, and Above Average carrying ability, so he can carry 125 lbs. At this point in the rules there is a "Weight Table," which states that my Merc of Average Height and Above Average Build weighs 170 lbs.

MAJOR TESTS

Stress Test: base 36 + 20 (from two +10 attribute modifiers for Intelligence and Knowledge) = 56
Dexterity Test = 36 (no modifiers from attributes)
Command Control = 36 + 10 for Prior Military Service (no modifier for Voice) = 46
Skill Tests = +1 Detection for Camouflage Secondary, +2 Intercept Messages for Communications Primary, +1 Concealment for Camouflage Secondary

The last step is to pick equipment, but that would be based on the mission. So, to sum up, here we have...

Janco van Apeldoorn

Age: 34
Nationality: South African
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hair Color:  Brown
Eye Color:  Hazel
Complexion:  Average
Voice: Average
Handedness: Left-handed

Primary Specialties: Medic and Communications Expert
Secondary Specialty: Camouflage Expert

Strength: 32
Agility: 16
Intelligence: 51
Knowledge: 56
Intuition: 35
Prior Military Service: 41

Stress Test: 56
Dexterity Test: 36
Command Control:  46
Skill Tests: +1 Detection, +2 Intercept Messages, +1 Concealment

Also note that a Primary Specialty Medic can Heal Light Wounds 6 and Heal Serious Wounds 8.

Thanks for your help with chargen, Dumarest. Here's the guy I came up with:

Steve Heron

Age: 28
Nationality: American
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Complexion: Average
Voice: Average
Handedness: Left-handed

Primary Specialties: Sniper/Sharpshooter
Secondary Specialty: Medic

Strength: 23
Agility: 63
Intelligence: 61
Knowledge: 45
Intuition: 63
Prior Military Service: 12

Stress Test: 51
Dexterity Test: 41
Command Control: 41
Skill Tests: none

Also note that a Secondary Specialty Medic can Heal Light Wounds 4 and Heal Serious Wounds 6.

Looking good so far.

Any objection to playing this on rpol (https://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500315998)?

Quote from: Black Vulmea;976223Looking good so far.

Any objection to playing this on rpol (https://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500315998)?

None from me. Never tried it but I'm not opposed to learning new things.

Started a character who was looking to be a sniper/grenadier due to stats.  I'll see if I can roll up another to keep from overlapping.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;976223Looking good so far.

Any objection to playing this on rpol (https://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500315998)?

Sounds good. Do you want us to Request Access over there?

Quote from: Black Vulmea;976223Looking good so far.

Any objection to playing this on rpol (https://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500315998)?

I've never used it but I'll see if they block it at work tomorrow. :D

(Off today for my daughter's birthday...lots of Chuck E. Cheese and Legos and Trolls...)

Quote from: Bunch;976265None from me. Never tried it but I'm not opposed to learning new things.

Started a character who was looking to be a sniper/grenadier due to stats.  I'll see if I can roll up another to keep from overlapping.

Overlapping with whom?

Quote from: Dumarest;976285Overlapping with whom?

Marksolino. He's got a sniper/medic.

Quote from: Bunch;976308Marksolino. He's got a sniper/medic.

Somehow I managed to miss his post.

Name: Cameron Salizar
Nationality:USA
Age : 33
Height: 5 ft 4 in
Hair:Black
Eye:Brown
Complexion: Average
Voice: Average
Handed:Left/Right

Rolls
53 21 56 13 52 26

Knowledge 56 Advanced +15
Intelligence 21 Average +0
Strength 13 Scrawny -5
Intuition 52 Primordial +5
Prior Service 53 Extended Service +10
Agility 26 Average +0

Primary: Map Expert, Camouflage Expert
Secondary: Medic

Build:
Frame: Large
Carry Ability:  Average 100lbs
Weight: 135lbs

Stress Test: 51
Dexterity Test: 31
Command Test: 51

Okay, I realise the fact that I'm in the UK might rule me out of playing, but if I can take part, here's my soldier of fortune.

Andy Wilson
English

Age 30
5 ft 9 in

Blonde hair
Grey eyes
Average complexion
Voice Average
Right handed (but can use either hand because nimble ?)

Strength 51 average 0
Agility 64 nimble +5
Intelligence 24 average +5
Knowledge 56 knowledgeable +10
Intuition 33 average 0
Prior Military Service 21 one hitch +5

PRIMARY Demolitions Expert + Medic
SECONDARY Sapper Engineer

Medium frame Weight 145 lbs
Average carrying ability 100 lbs

Stress Test +15 = 51
Dexterity Test +5 = 41
Command Control +5 = 41

Quote from: marksolino;976272Do you want us to Request Access over there?

Yes, please and thanks.

Signed up over on RPOL; just waiting for the e-mail so I can log in.

Quote from: Dumarest;976433Signed up over on RPOL; just waiting for the e-mail so I can log in.

Ditto.

I've signed up & requested access to the game.

Quote from: condottierie;976612I've signed up & requested access to the game.

How did you request access? I couldn't even find the game.

http://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500492286

Up in the right hand corner you should see a request access link when you are logged in.

Or on this page:
 http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=69983&date=1500492348

Quote from: condottierie;976690http://www.rpol.net/gameinfo.php?gi=69983&date=1500492286

Up in the right hand corner you should see a request access link when you are logged in.

Or on this page:
 http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=69983&date=1500492348

Thanks!

So I'm attempting to join in but my unfamiliarity may be getting in the way.

I've got Dumarest, condottierie, Bunch, and marksolino entered as players under your character names. Please move any additional discussion for Operation: Ikhawu over to rpol. I plan to have the first post up tomorrow - in the meantime, please read the ooc thread for some information.

I'm willing to accept up to two more players for a total of six.

You know you guys want to play, don't be shy. ;)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1275[/ATTACH]

Any of you guys have this one? Played it? Or know anything about it?

From circa 79/80, so predates the FGU game.

The description on BoardGameGeek says:

Quote"Mercenaries, Dogs of War, a role-playing or miniatures game of late 20th century mercenaries. Rules include complete weapons lists, character generation, scenarios, maps, floor plans, which are excellent with or without a GM."

Quote from: condottierie;983967[ATTACH=CONFIG]1275[/ATTACH]

Any of you guys have this one? Played it? Or know anything about it?

From circa 79/80, so predates the FGU game.

The description on BoardGameGeek says:

Never heard of it.

I hadn't heard of it before, nor Adversary Games as far as I can remember.

Same answer for me. Never seen it or knew it existed.

I love the crude simplicity of that cover.

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;984188I love the crude simplicity of that cover.

I did wonder if it was the game's authors in the photo!

Quote from: condottierie;984212I did wonder if it was the game's authors in the photo!

I always thought that comics and RPGs should have "About the author(s)" captions with photos in the back, just like "Real" books.

If the authors are brandishing guns and looking like members of the SLA... even better!

Quote from: Just Another Snake Cult;984316I always thought that comics and RPGs should have "About the author(s)" captions with photos in the back, just like "Real" books.

If the authors are brandishing guns and looking like members of the SLA... even better!

I think they saved that for the limited edition Patty Hearst cover...

Hi all.

I literally created an account so that I could add to this thread.

I would love to get involved in your game if you still have slots available and the fact I'm based in the UK doesn't automatically exclude me.

I've been trying to find a system to run modern day PMC campaign and The Company by D101 might be worth checking out if you are also interested.

That said, if you want inspiration for modern day PMC check out the graphic novel series: Black Powder Red Earth, truly awesome work.

Quote from: Storming86;987139Hi all.

I literally created an account so that I could add to this thread.

I would love to get involved in your game if you still have slots available and the fact I'm based in the UK doesn't automatically exclude me.

I've been trying to find a system to run modern day PMC campaign and The Company by D101 might be worth checking out if you are also interested.

That said, if you want inspiration for modern day PMC check out the graphic novel series: Black Powder Red Earth, truly awesome work.

You  should ask Black Vulmea if it's too late. Not much has happened so far but he's running the show.

Quote from: condottierie;984212I did wonder if it was the game's authors in the photo!

I suspect I was right...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1474[/ATTACH]

Turns out there was also a supplement (Code Name: Nova) & a scenario (The Omega File) published for Merc - D.O.W.

Quote from: Dumarest;987252You  should ask Black Vulmea if it's too late. Not much has happened so far but he's running the show.

Dumarest, you wouldn't happen to be at all tempted to run a game of Merc, would you?

Quote from: Storming86;987139Hi all.

Welcome, Storming86!

Quote from: condottierie;987758Dumarest, you wouldn't happen to be at all tempted to run a game of Merc, would you?

Maybe if I can find the time. What did you have in mind?

Quote from: Dumarest;987761Maybe if I can find the time. What did you have in mind?

I was just thinking such is my enthusiasm to play Merc that I could handle playing in two games at the same time on Rpol.

Thanks for the welcome condottierie!

Apologies for the double post.

I'm rolling up a character and after some abysmal rolling I am only able to qualify for a couple of Secondary Specialities and not any Primary Specialities.

It is ok to take a Secondary Speciality without having a Primary?

I think I'm going to be running a distinctly average Comm Expert!

Quote from: Storming86;988423Apologies for the double post.

I'm rolling up a character and after some abysmal rolling I am only able to qualify for a couple of Secondary Specialities and not any Primary Specialities.

It is ok to take a Secondary Speciality without having a Primary?

I think I'm going to be running a distinctly average Comm Expert!

Did you check with Black Vulmea? If I were the GM, I'd probably just have you roll a new Merc until you qualified for one Primary or another.

Dumarest, I've PM'd Black Vulmea to which I currently have had no response.

I've rerolled a character and got the below:

Name: Jack O' Sullivan
Nationality: UK (European)
Age :  28
Height: Average
Hair: Brown
Eye: Hazel
Complexion:  Average
Voice:  Average
Handed:  Left

Rolls
52, 25, 63, 45, 32, 43

Knowledge = 43 (+5)
Intelligence = 45 (+5)
Strength =32 – Average (+0)
Intuition = 52 (+0)
Prior Service = 63 (+20)
Agility = 25 (+0)

Primary: Camouflage Expert, Forward Observer
Secondary: Map Expert, Commo Expert

Build:
Frame:  Large
Carry Ability: Above Average (125lbs)
Weight: 170 lbs

Stress Test: 46
Dexterity Test: 36
Command Test: 56

Yeah, the game over on rpol.net hasn't had an update in something like three weeks. I just checked a minute ago. The only new posts have been me talking to another player about my trip to Disneyland the weekend before last. I hope ol' BV is all right.

I hope BV is ok too. I am really looking forward to being part of Mercs.