New character type- Pro athlete

[JAFARR]

I have long considered doing a professional athlete character type. The basic idea is as follows:

Just like today's pro teams take the cream of the college athletes, the pro athletes on a galactic scale would take the cream of the regular pro athletes. They would travel from world to world in their team ship which would also contain the arena used for the event or maybe the equipment used. Skills would be heavy on physical charistic emprovements, but also the technical skills needed to mantain the equipment, operate the ship, etc. They might even get some admin or merchant type skills. Rolling a 12 for re-enlistment would signify making a championship tour.

Any other ideas for this? possible sports like Zero G basketball.

 

[Golan2072]

Would athletes in the Far Future cheat from time to time by replacing body parts with "better" (vat-grown bio-engineered) ones?

Also, remember that alot of big-leauge athletes (think soccer players in the UK) are probably going to get some serious Social Standing and/or social skills.

The sports would depend on the universe. Grav-Ball is one idea, but what about gladiatorial games (most likely using non-lethal weapons unless we're talking about TNE here) - Shadowrun, for example, had a game called "Urban Brawl" which was similar to a souped-up paintball war (with hand-to-hand being very real, but rarely lethal. Boxing might also be a possibility - thought it might reduce a character's INT from time to time (head blows=BAD to the brain). Zero-G wrestling is another idea (add Zero-G skill). On low-grav, big-atmosphere worlds, you could add Muscle-Powered Flight.

 

[Spiderfish]

Soccer players = Serious Social Standing? Well they are famous, don't know if that is the same thing as social standing...

Zero-G wrestling. That would probably be more boring than it sounds you know, still wrestling would probably still exist in some form.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Well, I am doing essentially the same thing with my homebrew rules (work in progress). A specialty within the Celebrity career is Athlete. Increases in Social Standing is one of the possible skill table results.

As far as sports, I remember grav-ball being a big deal in our games. IIRC, it was Team Handball in null-g, with a metal ball, and the players wore some serious pads.

 

[Plankowner]

Originally posted by Spiderfish:
Soccer players = Serious Social Standing? Well they are famous, don't know if that is the same thing as social standing...

Have you ever seen the way local politicos fawn over athletes the same as the rest of us slugs? Perhaps only SS 10, but even Dukes would be fawning over Lance Armstrong or Michael Jordan.

Here in KC, the local hero is George Brett (all-star baseball player from about 10-20 years ago) he rarely pays for meals and is always surrounded by a crowd.

I figure that it is possible to have high SS and NOT be part of the nobility. Rare, but given the right kind of person, quite possible.

 

[JAFARR]

Originally posted by Plankowner:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Spiderfish:
Soccer players = Serious Social Standing? Well they are famous, don't know if that is the same thing as social standing...

Have you ever seen the way local politicos fawn over athletes the same as the rest of us slugs? Perhaps only SS 10, but even Dukes would be fawning over Lance Armstrong or Michael Jordan.

Here in KC, the local hero is George Brett (all-star baseball player from about 10-20 years ago) he rarely pays for meals and is always surrounded by a crowd.

I figure that it is possible to have high SS and NOT be part of the nobility. Rare, but given the right kind of person, quite possible. </font>[/QUOTE]This is especially true if YTU considers social status as more a standard of living than actual level in society. Under this system, actual nobility members are recgonized as nobles by title while "high living" members of society are recgonized by the money they spend for that high style of life. MJ would likely have a higher SS than the current King of Spain.

Edit: Let me make it clear that I am not saying anything aginst the King of Spain, just saying that worldwide if he and MJ were standing side by side MJ would be getting more attention that he would be getting.

 

[Plankowner]

I have also seen SS played as "Breeding". You can be famous or rich, but still talk with the same broken english that you grew up with (Mike Tyson comes to mind). There are others who could give Emily Post lessons, speak with that blue-blood Boston accent, but don't have the money to buy a cup of coffee. (OK, my US heritage is showing in this post, I apologize to all the non-US readers)

Traveller, at least CT, seems to equate SS with Nobility. I don't know of any examples where rich automatically meant high SS. I guess, within the Imperium, if you are rich enough, you can (and will) buy your nobility.

Perhaps one of our British friends could explain how it used to work? You had rich merchants and such and Nobles. Did all/most rich merchants buy patents of Nobility?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[archhealer]

I think it's totally possibel to have a high SS and not be a noble. Also, it's entirely possible to be REALLY famous and still have a low social standing. Sort of like the new rich; they have money, influence, etc. but don't really know the ropes. it's obvious to anyone of 'breeding' that they are lower class, despite their wealth and fame. They spend money on the wrong things, etc.

Sort of like how MC Hammer was once really really rich, but now he's broke... I'd say his social standing never actually changed, and was fairly low all along.

 

[Spiderfish]

Originally posted by Plankowner:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Spiderfish:
Soccer players = Serious Social Standing? Well they are famous, don't know if that is the same thing as social standing...

Have you ever seen the way local politicos fawn over athletes the same as the rest of us slugs? Perhaps only SS 10, but even Dukes would be fawning over Lance Armstrong or Michael Jordan.

Here in KC, the local hero is George Brett (all-star baseball player from about 10-20 years ago) he rarely pays for meals and is always surrounded by a crowd.

I figure that it is possible to have high SS and NOT be part of the nobility. Rare, but given the right kind of person, quite possible. </font>[/QUOTE]Well a sector duke is not a local politico...

I was referring to "soccer stars" in my country in particular, they may have "loadsofmoney!" but there is a difference between VIP lounge and actual respect.

 

[Ran Targas]

^ Perhaps, such as occurs in the British Empire today, SS could represent accomplished artists, athletes, businessmen, and politicians being granted title (e.g. Sir Paul McCartney) by the crown?

Or, maybe the title isn't noble but that of a champion (first planetary champ, then sector wide, then Imperium wide).

Or a combination; maybe this could be a definitive way of determining the true star-power of an individual character. If your athlete PC has a high SS and is knighted, he can really be considered a truly recognized hall-of-famer or grand champion. If his SS was low when he was rolled up, maybe he never reached his peak or was a "best that never was" type.

That in itself could be a interesting character trait; he was injured before the big match and now is recognized by only hardcore fanatics of the sport who treat him like a true champion, despite never having a trophy or championship title.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

I am enjoying the discussion, but I was anxious to see the character generation data. Severe disappointment!

I did make a couple of attempts at generating an Athlete character (CT of course), and man...
They suck!
Of course, they are six years old...

I even did an extensive analysis to convert a TNE Athlese to CT type rules. I can't find it now...
My odds of finding something might be improved if I just took everything out of the drawers, threw it in the air, then filed it again after it hit the ground...

Working 12 hours a day does not leave much time for rumination...if no one else comes up with something, I'll post these botched attempts and try to find my source material on Saturday.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

Hey, I found it!
I literally had to take everything out of the file cabinets and sort them on the den floor. Luckily the family is out of town, though the cat and dog think it is a new play area...

This is my TNE translation, and it contains the one skill that I never thought of in my earlier incarnations...Instruction! How else can you have a coach?

Feel free to use and critique without penalty.


ATHLETE

Enlist: 10+
DM +1 if Intel 10+
DM +2 if Dext 10+

Survival 7+
DM +2 if Endur 9+

Position 8+
DM +1 if Stren 9+

Promotion 7+
DM+1 if Intel 8+

Return 7+


RANKS
0 - Rookie
1 - Special Team
2 - Minor Team
3 - Major Team
4 - Team Star
5 - All-Star
6 - Legendary

ACQUIRED SKILLS TABLE

Personal Development
1 - Acrobatics
2 - Acrobatics
3 - Medical
4 - Blade Cbt
5 - +1 Dext
6 - Melee Cbt

Service Skills
1 - +1 Dext
2 - +1 Dext
3 - +1 Dext
4 - +1 Endur
5 - +1 Endur
6 - +1 Stren

Education
1 - Stealth
2 - Leader
3 - Streetwise
4 - Blade Cbt
5 - Acrobatics
6 - Melee Cbt

Advanced Education (if Educ 8+)
1 - +1 Intel
2 - +1 Intel
3 - Admin
4 - Liaison
5 - Recruiting
6 - Instruction

AUTOMATIC SKILLS
Special Team - Melee Cbt-1
Team Star - Leader-1


MUSTERING OUT

Material Benifits
1 - Low Psg
2 - Weapon
3 - High Psg
4 - Award
5 - +1 Social
6 - Travellers'

Award: Presented by local Sports Federation. Allows an additional roll on the Cash Table, even if the 3 limit roll has been reached. Rank 5+ receives DM of +2.


Cash
1 - 1,000
2 - 10,000
3 - 50,000
4 - 50,000
5 - 100,000
6 - 200,000

Note: Athletes who gain a skill level of 3 or more in Instruction may add the title "Coach" to their name.


SKILL EXPLANATIONS

Acrobatics: Precise body positioning and control. Knowing one's physical position and relationship to others is vital to many activities. Give a +2 DM per skill level. Untrained DM -5. If more detail is required, use the DMs from the Zero-G-Cbt skill.


Enjoy!

 

[JAFARR]

Dominion Loyalty Officer, this is the type of feedback I was looking for. Some ideas I was playing with included making this an advanced CG model based on the idea that a team would carry their own advanced equipment. An assignment 1 year might be injured reserve and the character might gain medical, or admin, or some other skill for doing something that related to helping the team off the field of play (court, whatever the playing area is called in a particular sport). The same might apply to say an assignment of 3rd string.

Set up the assignment table like the merchant tables with high rolls resulting in 1st string say 9 through 12+, 2nd string as 6 through 8, 3rd string on a 5, pratice squad on a 4, injured reserve on a 3, and support crew on a 2. DM of +1 for each consecutive year on 1st string, +1 for every 2 consecutive years on 2nd string, -1 for every 2 consecutive years as less than 2nd string.

For failed survival rolls, there is a second roll to get the reason for failure. 2 - cut from team (end CG), 3 through 5 - traded to another team (start this year over with no DMs), 6 through 8 - major injury (go to IR), 9 or 10 - performance down (go to pratice squad), 11 or 12 - career ending injury [roll D6: 1 or 2 - retire (leave game), 3 or 4 - retire from game, but stay as support crew, 5 or 6 retire from game, but move to a coaching position]

4 consecutive years on 1st string earns recgonition as a star. Any star who fails re-enlistment may make 1 free re-enlistment roll and state that the failed roll was the result of a contract dispute which has been resolved. (Note: this is a once and only once benefit of being a star.) After a 2nd failure or after 10 years total on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string, a star may elect to move to coaching. If this move is not the result of a re-enlistment failure, status of playing coach may be also chosen. Playing coaches may ignore the first roll for any assignment of less than 2nd string, but must take the second roll reguardless of result. Any playing coach may retire as a player and remain as a coach. After 1 to 3 years as a coach, a comeback attempt may be made at a -3 DM to the assignment roll. Failure to earn at least a 3rd string assignment results in that year's assignment being the team's Press Agent with an automatic survival and choice of interview or liaison for a skill. Player may then revert to coaching or fully retire.

This also requires side charts for coaches to roll on. I will try to formulate those and post them later unless someone beats me to it.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

Andy, have you made any progress?

Enquiring minds are dying to know...

 

[Straybow]

0 - Rookie
1 - Special Team
2 - Minor Team
3 - Major Team
4 - Team Star
5 - All-Star
6 - Legendary

I'm not sure that "ranks" are the appropriate way to classify purely performance-based criteria. It takes far more than just a "promotion" to become a star, much less legendary. And there'd be far more levels in between.

Perhaps dividing minor league from major like enlisted from officer, except that you must begin in the minors (or college, or whatever).

Make every promotion roll one pt more difficult than the one before it.

Star, all-star, and legendary status would not be ranks but performance commendations (at least some mods for publicity thrown in).

 

[JAFARR]

Originally posted by Dominion Loyalty Officer:
Andy, have you made any progress?

Enquiring minds are dying to know...

Sorry, but no I haven't. Maybe soon, but I have been through a buzy time at work, then I upgraded my computer and lost a lot of material that I did not have a hard copy of in the process, then while trying to find some of the internet stuff I lose I ran into the concept of "abandonware" and got side tracked on some old games I used to play like "Wasteland", "Space Rogue" and the 2 MT games that I used to play.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

Andy, look for a freeware program called "restoration." it is outstanding, and will help you recover most of those lost files.

 

[JAFARR]

DLO, Not anymore it wouldn't. Hard drive has been re-formatted to NTSF (I think those are the correct initals.) and XP Pro installed. I accidently wiped out the C partion on my old main drive while trying to reformat my new main drive for the old machine.

My old machine PIII @600mhz lost it's HDD so I got a lovely 100 gig model on sale for $50. I had also upgraded the CD rom to a DVD burner when I added DVD to it as the burner version was only about $25 extra. I bought a PIV @ 1.8 ghz (used, but new to me) from the pawn shop where I work. It only had a 30 gig HDD and DVD reader. I tried a direct swap of hard drives, but couldn't get the PIII to operate from the 30 gig. I had 100 gig as secondary so I could then swap files. Somewhere in the process of reformatting the 30 gig to fat32 I wiped out C partition on the 100 gig. I did have some files backed up to the oldest computer on my home network (PI @ 200 mhz), but not the latest versions. Problem now is Office 97 isn't compatable to XP. I have something called ThinkFree Office which runs on both OS's, but it is very limited. Now I need a newer version of Office to work with XP.

Anyway the PIV now has a 100 gig HDD and a DVD burner while the PIII has 30 gig and DVD reader. The PI is retired.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Andy Fralix-hey dude! This PC class anything like this:

GDW-TNE Handbook page 43 (deadtree version)

Athlete
Prereq.s: CON 9+, or AGL 9+, or STR 9+, Homeworld Pop Mod+ (Pop 5+)

1st term Skills: Acrobatics 4, Medical 1, Melee 1
Subsequent terms skills: Acrobat, Determination, Melee, Personal Transport.
All terms:
Special Adventure 8+ for Economics, Charm, Vice, Perception (skill clusters)
Promotion: 6+, DM+1 if CHR 7+
Contacts: 1x Business, 1x Journalist, 1x Entertainment, 1x medical, OR 1x special per term. If Special Adventure is rolled under terms prior History, roll for second contact.
Other effects: For each term as an athlete, use the higher of STR, CON, AGL instead of SOC for starting money. During each term as athlete, PC may raise by 1pt either STR, CON, or AGL (maximum 2pts each total).

The T20 Players Guidebook which can be accessed off the Moot files, also has an Athlete career Core class, btw..pp 6-8 (character class, saves, skills & feats), and pp13-14 Career term history & mustering benefits & awards.

 

[JAFARR]

Well.......

I don't use TNE character gen & I don't use T20 at all. Having said that, it looks like a good starting place.