Am I reading correctly that the dummy has 18 Wounds and the Soldier does 1d12+8?

With average rolling, you'll need two crits then to kill the dummy, bringing your lethal swings up to 20 if you're simplifying the probabilities, which is worse than the subdual.

What am I missing?

Push comes to shove you can really have as much as you like, within reason. I mean, its not like you'll get to keep it... 

Ah, I was under the impression we'd be in the future for a while.

Updated Patches' description and equipment. I was under the impression we only get Wis number of other items, so I initially only took binoculars. I'd rather have the Medkit if I can't have both, and if I can have more stuff, a bag of tools and an explosive kit (x lbs of C4, 4 remote dets, 4 wire detonators) would be cool.

Check out this site:

http://headonastick.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=377&sid=4d34b559733d6fd4a13b6713c80da1f8

The stats look like what you find on the Transformers profiles on the packages.

Looks like Gatac (the person who recruited for the Shinobi game a while back) and his friends have done quite a bit of brainstorming. I haven't read much on the parent forum, but it looked like they had a campaign going for a while.

I'll take the medkit; I'm decent with patching up people, too.

Anyone have any recommendation on the armor? I think the helmet is a no-brainer, but the rest seems a bit heavy.

If we stay at 4 players, will we have enough muscle?

Right now it looks like we're a bit heavy on brains.

Wow, Soldiers can have 6 feats at level 3? Or is that a Martial Artist?

Is your character related to mine, or is the same last name a coincidence?

I like it so far. We may have quite a brainy team here...

Ack! You know what happens when you start clustering scientist, right? Committees, meetings, long discussions about details and... Powerpoint presentations!

How about before Judgement Day, he was a Cyberdyne employee who worked under Myles Bennett-Dyson?

That would be quite the feat, because John was only 12 years old when Miles got bumped off in Terminator 2...

One of John's relatives could have worked with/for Miles, maybe his dad or an uncle, and fostered early interest. You know, "Take your kid to work" Day and all of those Cyberdyne parties where the geeks get together and talk about neural net computing.

Potential subplots for John Leland:

1) as a fairly successful tech entrepreneur with prodigious skill with Computers, John is the kind of person who could be drawn in as a consultant or maybe even subcontractor for a project like Skynet. It is possible that John wrote an early version or an element of the code, that he met some of the people involved in development, etc. John very likely new or suspected something... or was it sheer luck that kept him away from a major city on Judgement Day?
While John did not dedicate his life to undo his mistakes and try to bring down Skynet, it might be that a more recent raid brought source code into his hands that he recognized.. and maybe made him believe that inroads into the Skynet system may be easier to achieve than previously envisioned. It is also possible that Skynet is perfectly aware of John's role in its creation... and wants him dead rather badly...

2) John never speaks of family, but the wedding band he still wears is evidence of a marriage. He was separated from his family in some tragedy, but he is not searching for them. Are they dead? Are they in one of the camps? In all likelihood, John either doesn't know where they are, or they are guarded so well that he cannot get them out by himself, and the Resistance has declared their liberation a low priority. Maybe John's reward for participating in this mission are sufficient Resistance resources to free them?

John “Patches” Leland (MikeS)

(click to show/hide)

XP 6,000
Gonzo Geek
Scientist 2/Intruder 1
Type: Medium biped folk, reach 1
Speed: 30 ft.

STR:   11
DEX:  14
CON:  14
INT:    16
WIS:   12
CHA:  11

Vitality: 23
Wounds: 15

Melee Attack: 1 = 1 + 0

Unarmed Attack: 1 = 1 + 0
• Punch +1 (1d3 subdual, threat 20)

Ranged Attack: 3 = 1 + 2
M18A2 Phased Plasma Rifle  +4 (forte) (dmg 4d4 fire [AP 28]; error 1-2/threat 19-20; 100M1; Recoil 1; 200 ft; S/2h; Qualities: Overheat)

Fortitude save: +2 = 0 + 2
Reflex save:      +4 = 2 + 2
Will save:         +4 = 3 + 1

Defense: 17 = 10 + 5 (class) + 2 (dex)
DR: 1/2
Resists: none

Initiative: 3 = 1 (class) + 2 (dex)

Action dice: 3d4


Talent/Specialty Abilities:
• +2 interest at level 0,2,6,10,..
• +1 wound at level 1, 4, 8,…
• 1 Electronics Request check/session w/o action dice
• +1 insight bonus to Search and Security (+1 at 4, 8,..)


Class Abilities:
• Professor (share 3 Basic Skill feats)
• Intense Study
• PhD
• Gear Prep

Skills: Total = Ranks + Attribute Modifier + Misc
• Analysis        +7/6 = 2 + 3/1 + 2 (19-20)
• Athletics           +3 = 3 + 0
• Bureaucracy    4/1 = 1 + 3/0
• Computers     +15 = 10 + 3 +2 (19-20)           (PhD)
• Cultures           +4 = 1 + 3                               (Northern America)
• Drive                +4 = 2 + 2                                (Standard Ground Vehicle)
• Electronics  +10/8 = 5 + 3/1 + 2 (19-20)
• Falsify           +4/2 = 1 + 3/1
• Mechanics     +8/6 = 5 + 3/1
• Medicine      +10/8 = 5 + 3/1 + 2 (19-20)
• Notice               +7 = 4 + 1 + 2 (19-20)
• Profession        +1 = 1 + 0                              (Entrepreneur)
• Resolve         +6/7 = 5 + 1/2
• Science             +8 = 5 + 3                             (Chemistry, Engineering, Pharmacology,
                                                                             Programming, Fabrication)
• Search            +10 = 4 + 3 + 2 (19-20) + 1 (Origin)
• Security            +8 = 4 + 3 +1 (Origin)
• Sneak            +6/4 = 4 + 2/0
• Tactics              +5 = 4 + 1
Total ranks: 74 = 15 (Int) + 40 (Scientist) + 8 (Intruder)


Feats: (1 Origin, 1 Class, 2 others)
• Techie
• Observer
• Examiner
• False Start (Techie)


Interests: 7
• Computers
• Famous scientists
• Judgement Day survivor locations
• Big cities of the world (pre-Judgement Day)
• Jogging
• Applied problem solving
• Cooking


Proficiencies: 3
• Rifle (forte)
• Handgun

Gear:
Encrypted Headset radio (PR2)
Laptop Computer (PR3, with PR3 Anti-Virus, Probe, Security and Virus software)
Modern Ballistic Helmet (DR 1/2; ACP -1; obvious; 2.5 lbs.)
M18A2 Phased Plasma Rifle
Blood red resistance armband
Double helix resistance patch
Binoculars w/ active and passive nightvision
Medkit

If anyone has a better idea for the 4th feat, I'd gladly hear it. Something that increases survivability when the shooting starts, preferably. I've removed any references to Wealth, etc. Let me know if there should be any. I'm also assuming that my Computers skill level makes me the person of choice as laptop carrier.

Lets see - would you like a T-800 Personal Lieutenant? 

If I take the feat twice, can I have two??

Can they do dishes as well?

Say, is the standard gun used by the Machines more like the Plasma Rifle or more like a modern day gun?

With an AP of 28, DR5/8 body armor seems kinda useless, unless I'm reading the statlines wrong, except for maybe against shrapnel.

[John "Patches" Leland]

under construction

John "Patches" Leland

Gonzo Geek Scientist
Scientist 2/Intruder 1

Born: 1983
Height: 5'11'
Weight: 165 lbs
Hair: dark brown, shot with gray at the temples
Eyes: brown-green

Appearance: a fairly tall, wiry man with short hair, the type to whom extra weight just doesn't stick. Lean face, with strong cheek bones and jaw, usually clean-shaven. Energetic.

Patches is a commanding officer's nightmare. Too bright and talented to be dispensable, but has extreme issues with the chain of command. Not a regular member of the Resistance fighting forces, he is known to argue vocally against plans or commands that he thinks are suboptimal or downright stupid, and will offer a counterproposal. Is also known to value preservation of human life far more than the average military mission goal. Typically is found with civilian groups, where he dedicates his talents to finding efficient solutions to the problem of the day, whether it be designing a mini-aqueduct for fresh water or developing a more efficient drug to combat the latest flu. What he doesn't know he will learn in short order, and he firmly believes that there are no unsolvable problems.  
Never talks about family. From bits and pieces one can puzzle together that he never finished a degree but founded one or maybe several tech start-ups. From his scrounging skills and constant alertness, as well as numerous scars, one can tell that he had a rough time around Judgement Day, with several near misses.
Patches is brave, but not foolhardy. He will take necessary risks, and always follows through.  

The Computers skill is really used for one of two things: optimizing your Computer or the Hacking Dramatic Conflict. Unless you are a Hacker, I'd go Electronics.

Yeah, I figured. But when you say 'Hacker', you mean 'someone who hacks', not 'someone with the Hacker class', yes? So the real question is: we're dealing with machines, and somewhere in there are control programs, communication protocols, etc. Is the software so far and above humans that taking Computers is pointless, or would it be actually useful? Or are we mainly dealing with physical security that will be bypassed with electronics?

I remember seeing level 3 somewhere, but can't find it.

Does the Intruder Level 1 ability do anything under Cash&Carry? The one that bumps up the caliber of a number of equipment picks)?

If I had to pick a single feat to improve combat efficiency, what would it be in Spycraft? I'm thinking of ranged weapons. CQ Basics? Autofire Basics? Something else?

Glim, which of the knowledge skills would you rate higher for this campaign: Computers or Electronics? The fact that we get a laptop means that we'll probably get to use it, so I'm leaning towards Computers right now.

Are we rolling for vitality or picking an average?