I'm prepping a Spycraft campaign (w00t!) and was toying around with the PCs chain of command. They work for a private institute that is controlled by a secret government agency whose charge is to perform jobs that have been or might be compromised by internal corruption in agencies that might normally be assigned to them.

Note that I'm more looking for characterization ideas than stats (Spycraft makes stats easy.)

I'm picturing the PC's chain of command like this:

Director: A former military intelligence hard-ass based on Colonel Nathan R. Jessup of A Few Good Men

Deputy Director: No particular actor or character that I am basing him on (possibly Bill Buchanan of "24"), but he's a straight shooter and moral compass who has variously been praised or panned through his career for putting ethics before politics.

Handler/Division Director: A lucious young woman with a tragic past that has embittered her and made her a bit heartless. Conceptually, I got the idea from the titular victim in "The General's Daughter", but I am a bit more open to other ideas here as that's lacking something.


Now, the main character I need ideas for here is the director. Nathan Jessup is the archtype for the sort of "do anything for my country, right or wrong" type of character I want in the director. But I don't want to borrow too strongly on the mannerisms and vernacular of the Nicholson character too obviously. Any ideas for mixing it up here but still come across as a hard-ass without making the homage to obvious.

Any ideas for the other two also appreciated, but the director is the tricky one.

Do you mean him to be the type of person that would knowingly and willingly break the laws of the U.S, or look the other way if his subordinates did? If he did, would he "protect" his subordinates by either pleading their case to the higher-ups or by glossing over their actions in his official reports? How would he react if HIS superiors asked him to break the laws of the country? Would he comply eagerly, with reservations, or refuse? You need to clarify these character issues, answer the questions in your own mind, and you'll find his character taking shape. As to mannerisms, I'd go for more of a President Logan feel, unless you want someone who blows up when backed into a corner. I always preferred the greasy, weasly types myself.

(Currently running a Spycraft 2.0 campaign myself, so feel free to ask if you think I can be of service.)

I'm not too sure how could make a clearer model of the mindset than I am looking for than offering up Nathan Jessup.

Quote from: WerekoalaDo you mean him to be the type of person that would knowingly and willingly break the laws of the U.S, or look the other way if his subordinates did? If he did, would he "protect" his subordinates by either pleading their case to the higher-ups or by glossing over their actions in his official reports?

If he thought said laws were ill conceived and his methods were the best way to ensure the security of the united states, yes. But he's not stupid. He wouldn't flout it and would try to find legal justification for it.

As for looking the other way... again, A Few Good men is a good model. Jessup made a public appearance in accordance with the law, but secretly did what he felt was right.

QuoteHow would he react if HIS superiors asked him to break the laws of the country? Would he comply eagerly, with reservations, or refuse?

That depends on whether they mesh with his philosophy and agenda. If he was asked by some hawk to perform some bit of military adventurism in the sake of national security, he'd do it. If it was something that he felt endangered security, he'd quote the regs in a heartbeat.

Did you see the reeeeallly bad movie made in the late 80's or early 90's, I think, from Robert Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters"? The Old Man who ran the secret organization (played by Donald Sutherland) might be what you're looking for. If you can get the book, read it - its short, and dated, but the characterization is a good one. If you can get the movie, even better. For that matter, Sutherland as the Speaker of the House in the failed TV series "Commander in Chief" was a pretty close approximation. A quiet, no-nonsense kinda guy that'll bend anyone over backwards that he has to in order to protect (as he sees it) the United States. Neither character was prone to outbursts, as long as things were going their way, but they weren't pushovers. Always very ameniable, almost chummy, a good smattering of glib talk and smarm when required, but always in a quiet, neighborly tone. And you always knew they were in charge.

I'm just throwing out some ideas here.

Quote from: Caesar SlaadDirector: A former military intelligence hard-ass based on Colonel Nathan R. Jessup of A Few Good Men

From what you've described so far, I've got two suggestions.

How about basing the character on Glenn Close's captain from the Sheild. You got a hard -ass superior right there. Somebody whose willing to wander of the reservation if need be.

Or you could base this character on Laurence Fishbourne from MI 3. The guy's not only got gravitas but a touch of larceny  

QuoteDeputy Director: No particular actor or character that I am basing him on (possibly Bill Buchanan of "24"), but he's a straight shooter and moral compass who has variously been praised or panned through his career for putting ethics before politics.

Here I base the guy on Ken Watanabe. Something about the "moral compass" seems so appropriate.

QuoteHandler/Division Director: A lucious young woman with a tragic past that has embittered her and made her a bit heartless. Conceptually, I got the idea from the titular victim in "The General's Daughter", but I am a bit more open to other ideas here as that's lacking something.

I'm old fashioned. For the type of character you mentioned - cold ,heartless,"I like my women like I like my coffee, bitter and murky" I'd base her on Greta Scacchi from Presumed Innocent

Regards,
David R

Quote from: Caesar SlaadDirector: A former military intelligence hard-ass based on Colonel Nathan R. Jessup of A Few Good Men

A good Catholic boy from Brockton.  Face polished to a mirror sheen from all the fists that cracked into it over the years.  Thick, dark hair peeling back from the forehead.  Face swollen from years of unrepentant boozing (furiously angry drunk, BTW).

Defining character moment from a film:  Marky Mark in The Depahted: "Are you calling us cunts?"  (2nd place:  Leo DiCaprio stuffing a pint glass into that drunk joker's face.)

A real caporegime type, always the man to get things done, never the man to smooth them over afterwards.  Won his position over the chorused howls of his (numerous) civilian and military enemies by sheer force of his performance and personality.  He'd be public enemy number one except he believes the hype.  God, country, Mom and apple fucking pie.  Can you believe it?

Here's the twist:  He knows he's on the losing end.  He's run roughshod over the letter and spirit of the law too many times.  His days, his hours at the top are numbered.  Soon some bean counter is going to kick over the right rock and find the thread that pulls apart his entire empire of fuzzy spending and "favors" won at the end of a knife.

How many more operations can he run before he's off to federal prison?  How much more can he do for his country now, at the pinnacle of his entire career, before it's all replaced by cement walls and bullshit movie deals?

He's gotten his way his entire life, with no thought as to how he got it.  Some people he could finesse, others he bulldozed.  Now he stares down something he can't defeat: his own mistakes.  It's killing him inside.

So he'll drain another bottle of J&B, snarl and snap in the face of some dipshit House Committee leader, draw up another op order and keep the game going.

What about Nick Fury? I'd say Ultimate version, only not so smart-ass, and a little older. You know, the kind of bloke who has done all kinds of dirty shit to save the prez not only ass but face also, but will throw it all to hell when he starts feeling the gov has got a bit too far from the "American Dream". He would kill boys for the what he thinks is the right reason, but won't move a finger if he doesn't. Has a cynical outlook about the gov and even about his old Army fellow soldiers, but will do anything in his hand for them, even risk his own position, but would never compromise his country for his mother. Maybe i'm just babbling, but I haven't read "A few good men". Or seen it, if it's a movie. Hope it helps.