For this Classic Traveller character creation I'll be using Book 4 Mercenary to build a Marine character. With some house ruling. I'll assume success for the enlistment roll, since I want to build a Marine. We also used Book 4 to create 'regular' characters, not specifically 'mercenaries'. In our eyes, every character was a mercenary! Just not in the Book 4 terminology where you would be in a unit and work the tickets. Just a regular character with more skills! Missing the survival roll will be some level of injury just for background story - I don't have anything set up for loss of ability or anything like that. So other than that, let the dice fall where they may! :)
Characteristics:
STR - 9
DEX - 11
END - 9
INT - 11
EDU - 3
SOC - 6
Hmm. I started off so well! But not bad overall. Fit and smart guy, but no education, but also middle class background. Sounds like a drop out to me (like in the 6th grade!). Let's say his parents died when he was young, and his alcoholic uncle took him in and made him work in his quarry, basically as an indentured servant. At age 18 he escaped and enlisted in the Imperial Marines, pissed off at the universe for 'the rough life he's had'. He might be about to learn how rough life can actually be...
Let's name him Mortimer Fodan.
After successfully enlisting in the Marine Infantry, Mortimer completes Basic Training, earning a Rifle - 1 skill and the nickname MoFo. He then completes Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and is designated a support weapon operator, earning Level 1 in the Light Assault Gun.
His first assignment is with an active unit, but in Garrison. This is easy duty, and MoFo shows up on time everyday and keeps his nose clean, and is promoted to E2 Lance Corporal. But Garrison duty provides no opportunities for new skills. MoFo is already getting a bit discouraged.
His next assignment is with another active unit, but on internal security duty. This is only slightly more dangerous than Garrison duty, but MoFo has taken to Marine life and starts to show some leadership skills and is promoted to E3 Corporal - MoFo is now an NCO! But again, no opportunity for more skills. MoFo decides this final assignment in his first enlistment better be something better or he might be getting out.
His prayers are answered and he is assigned to an active unit conducting raids. He survived, and in ensuing actions earns a Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry (MCG) leading his fire team. He does not get promoted, but is trained in Zero-G Combat, which he found to be pretty damn cool. OK, he'll reenlist.
Corporal MoFo Fodan signs up for another 4 year hitch.
His first assignment is an active unit conducting Police Actions. MoFo enjoys this tour, continues to improve his leadership skills, and is promoted to E4 Lance Sergeant. He also improved his Rifle skill to Level 2.
His second assignment this term is as Ships Troops, another fun tour getting him promoted to E5 Sergeant, and earning a Shipboard Life skill in Vacc Suit.
His next assignment takes a pause with a Training tour, but he is promoted once again to E6 Gunnery Sergeant, and takes an NCO course in Leadership. Young (25) Gunny Sergeant Fodan is quite the rockstar Marine.
Gunny MoFo's last assignment this term is another Ship Troops tour. While not a dangerous tour, he earns another promotion to E7 Leading Sergeant (now in the Senior NCO ranks), and skill in the Light Machine Gun (LMG).
Now at 26, MoFo contemplates getting out, but this last four years have been satisfying in action, training new skills, and promotions. While his promotion path is limited unless he can get a commission (which is next to nil with his lack of formal education), the Marines have finally seen his value as a hard working dedicated tough as nails Marine. MoFo has lost a bit of that chip off his shoulder, now that he has found a new home and family in the Corps.
He decides to enlist for one more tour, and then get out at 30 while he still has some good years left to rampage about the sectors.
MoFo can't believe his first assignment - he's selected for Commando School. While not near the age limit, it's rare for a senior enlisted to go to Commando School. While he doesn't get the Wilderness Recon school he wanted, he is happy getting his Demolitions qualification, along with hand to hand (brawling) and Blade combat fighting training. And he surprises himself also earning his Instructor qualification.
His next assignment is back to the Ship Troops duty he is used to, serving as the senior NCO in a Platoon. His ship sees alot of action, and he is wounded. He cross trains with the ship's crew and earns a qual in Gunnery.
For his third assignment in his third term, MoFo stays with his Platoon in Ships Troops, and learns to handle an SMG on some interesting downside DV protection ops.
For his final assignment this term, he moves to a different active unit conducting raids. Just like in his first term, he earns another Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry (MCG). He is also promoted to First Seargeant (E8), and is schooled in Tactics, fitting for his senior NCO rank.
Now at 30, First Sergeant Fodan, was reconsidering his previous thought to muster out at this point. Having been to Commando School, he could now reenlist in the Commando Branch. That promised more action, but he knew it would take a toll on him physically. In the end, he could not turn down such an opportunity.
Reenlisting for a fourth term in the Commando Branch, First Sergeant Fodan's first term is with a Training unit, fitting for someone who transferred in so late in their career. He improved his Tactics knowledge, and is promoted to E9 Sergeant Major. He had now maxxed out his promotion possibilities on the Enlisted side.
His second assignment is another Training Unit, and he improves his Demolitions knowledge. He was starting to wonder what the Commando Branch had for him, after two back to back training units. But maybe that was the result of transferring in so senior.
His third assignment saw Sergeant Major Fodan get placed in a Counter Insurgency unit on short notice to fill a vacancy. He saw heavy action, and was wounded once again. The fast paced operations, while using all his skills, did not allow him to improve any as he was more focused on leading and directing units thanoperating.
His final assignment this term in the Commando branch was back in Garrison, driving a desk for the Battalion. Not fun at all.
While not an overly taxing 4 years except for the Counter Insurgency assignment, age and the hard life of the Corps began to take its toll on Mortimer, and he lost some strength and dexterity.
After 4 terms in the Marine Corps, despite all his promotions and decorations, Mofo only got 4 mustering out benefits. Choosing two for cash and two for benefits, he was rewarded with 15,000 credits and a High Passage ticket. All his training and schooling resulted in a plus two to his INT score as well.
So here's Ex-Marine Sergeant Major Mortimer 'MoFo' Fodan, two time Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry recipient. 34 years old, in a lot better place than he came into the Corps, and ready to tackle whatever comes his way in the Spinward Marches.
STR 8
DEX 10
END 9
INT 13
EDU 3
SOC 6
Rifle - 2
Demolitions - 2
Tactics - 2
Heavy Weapons - LAG - 1
Heavy Weapons - LMG -1
SMG - 1
Zero-G Combat -1
Vacc Suit - 1
Gunnery - 1
Brawling -1
Blade - 1
Leader - 1
Instruction - 1
15,000 credits
High Passage
#CharacterCreationChallenge
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