I'm an old CT player (and new to the Forums) who picked up T20, and is starting a game with some younger players. Being old-school, stats are 3d6, play 'em as they land; so far that's worked out well enough.
I'm a little rusty on the background (although it's starting to come back) and my players know more about d20 than I ever likely will, but everything seems to be going smoothly.
The crux of the matter is someone rolled up a Marine Force Commander who does not have Battledress training or experience. My first thought is to suggest the player rework it to take the Battledress Feat (to quote, "dude! A Marine's raison d'etre is Battledress!"), but I thought I might get a little help in being creative first!
He's a full-blood Vilani from a real jerkwater low TL, with an average CHA and SOC. Reasonably smart, very fast and tough he never attended university (TL was too low). Although steadily promoted every term after commissioned in term 2, he was never decorated in the one Police action and two Fleet Troops assignments post-training. His one real signature skill is Demolitions, but has a good grounding in piloting and ship's weapons.
So, my thinking is that the Imperial Marines do the majority of their recruiting on med-high TL worlds, so he's not cut from the typical cloth. He served a 1-term hitch in the Army, then joined the Marines to further his career. While the classic Marine is the Battledress wearing Fusion Gun armed Heavy Striker, the Imperial Marines provide their own battlefield transport and support. For every Marine of the Line, there are more in vital support and service roles.
Our hero did not have the all-important social connections or personal charisma to positively affect his advancement. He never saw action in a hot war, and never got the chance for glory that looks good in his duty jacket. His lack of Battledress indicates a he was not really a ground-pounder, but experienced as a pilot. His high skill in demolitions might indicate he was an instructor for a period of time. Having worked his way up through the ranks from Lance, he did not share too much in common in terms of background and attitude with his fellow officers.
Respected by his men but not really liked or admired by them or his peers, he found that he could advance only so far on hard work and determination. Force Commander in some training or transport command was likely the farthest he would advance as a Marine, and so he decided to muster out instead of staying in for a 5th Term and qualifying for retire benfits.
Sounds good? Rock-solid as a Marine, he's a little bitter that he was never really given the chance to show his stuff. But he has a fairly wide selection of skills and abilities to serve him in his post-service career.
Tony
I'm a little rusty on the background (although it's starting to come back) and my players know more about d20 than I ever likely will, but everything seems to be going smoothly.
The crux of the matter is someone rolled up a Marine Force Commander who does not have Battledress training or experience. My first thought is to suggest the player rework it to take the Battledress Feat (to quote, "dude! A Marine's raison d'etre is Battledress!"), but I thought I might get a little help in being creative first!
He's a full-blood Vilani from a real jerkwater low TL, with an average CHA and SOC. Reasonably smart, very fast and tough he never attended university (TL was too low). Although steadily promoted every term after commissioned in term 2, he was never decorated in the one Police action and two Fleet Troops assignments post-training. His one real signature skill is Demolitions, but has a good grounding in piloting and ship's weapons.
So, my thinking is that the Imperial Marines do the majority of their recruiting on med-high TL worlds, so he's not cut from the typical cloth. He served a 1-term hitch in the Army, then joined the Marines to further his career. While the classic Marine is the Battledress wearing Fusion Gun armed Heavy Striker, the Imperial Marines provide their own battlefield transport and support. For every Marine of the Line, there are more in vital support and service roles.
Our hero did not have the all-important social connections or personal charisma to positively affect his advancement. He never saw action in a hot war, and never got the chance for glory that looks good in his duty jacket. His lack of Battledress indicates a he was not really a ground-pounder, but experienced as a pilot. His high skill in demolitions might indicate he was an instructor for a period of time. Having worked his way up through the ranks from Lance, he did not share too much in common in terms of background and attitude with his fellow officers.
Respected by his men but not really liked or admired by them or his peers, he found that he could advance only so far on hard work and determination. Force Commander in some training or transport command was likely the farthest he would advance as a Marine, and so he decided to muster out instead of staying in for a 5th Term and qualifying for retire benfits.
Sounds good? Rock-solid as a Marine, he's a little bitter that he was never really given the chance to show his stuff. But he has a fairly wide selection of skills and abilities to serve him in his post-service career.
Tony
, hoping my heat shield holds. Besides the bigger target you are the bigger bullets they shoot at you 
