So I rolled up a character...

[tkdco2]

I rolled 2d6 in order and got these results: STR 7, DEX 7, END 7, INT 7, EDU 7, SOC 11.

Noble blood aside, this character is pretty much average; not inept, but not brilliant either. I haven't picked a path for him yet, but I was thinking of choosing the army. His survival chances seem better there, as would his chances of getting a commission and promotions. If his SOC had been lower, I would have picked the Other category.

If you got these rolls, how would you create the character?

[Finarvyn]

First of all, try to keep in mind that your character still might die in character generation. Once you pick your service, it becomes a "how long do I stay" issue. Staying longer gives more age, more skills, more chances at death. My advice is not to become too attached to the guy until he makes it out of the military.

Having said all that, army is a pretty good choice for reasons you mentioned.

An interesting set of dice rolls, that's for certain.

[tkdco2]

Thanks, Fin. Here are my results, just for fun.

Career choice: army, accepted.
Term 1: Character survived. Commission was not granted, but was promoted to Lance Corporal (I rolled for promotion to see how far he'd rise in the ranks). Reenlisted for a 2nd term.
Term 2: Character survived (barely - wounded?). Commissioned as a Lieutenant, but no further promotions this term. Reenlisted for a 3rd term.
Term 3: Character survived. Promoted to Captain. Mustered out after term ended.

Skills:
Term 1: Rifle-1 (automatic when joining the army), +1 STR, Forward Observer
Term 2: SMG-1 (automatic when commissioned), Blade Combat, Tactics
Term 3: +1 END, Vehicle

Mustering out benefits: 30,000 Cr, Gun, High Passage x1, Low Passage x1.

His STR and END are now 8, so that makes him somewhat above average. I'll add more details to his background later.

Feel free to roll this character's career path to see what you get.

[derv]

Here's a cool character generator someone pointed me to that you might enjoy. It's for Megatraveller, but I think it functions much the same as Classic.

Basic Character Generator

[tkdco2]

Thanks, derv. I bookmarked the site and wrote up a character with the generator.

UPP: 9E68AC
HomeWorld: StarPort=B, Size=Medium, Atmos=Vacuum, Hydro=Wet Population=Low, Law=Low, Tech=Average Stellar
Age: 30
Terms: 3
Career: Noble
Rank: Baron (Rank 2)
Skills: Carousing-2, Gambling-1, Intrusion-1, Jet-propelled Aircraft-1, Navigation-1, Submachinegun-1, Wheeled Vehicle-1, Computer-0, Grav Vehicle-0
Cash: 10000 Cr
Pension: 0 Cr/Year
Skills/Experience: 8 / 18
Benefits: Foil, Submachinegun, Yacht

Rolled UPP = 9C68AC
homeworld skill: Computer-0
homeworld skill: Grav Vehicle-0
Successfully enlisted in Noble (rolled 5, needed 2)
career skill: Submachinegun-0

TERM 1
Survival Roll = 6 (4 required); You survived the term without mishap (2 skills)
Commission Roll = 8 (4 required); You received a Commission to become a Baron (2 bonus skills)
Promotion Roll = 2 (12 required); You were not Promoted.
Special Duty Roll = 5 (6 required); You were not given Special Duties.
Reenlistment Roll = 9 (4 required); You have the option of serving another term.
4 skills to add:
Gambling-1
Carousing-1
Submachinegun-1
Wheeled Vehicle-1

TERM 2
Survival Roll = 8 (4 required); You survived the term without mishap (1 skill)
Promotion Roll = 10 (12 required); You were not Promoted.
Special Duty Roll = 10 (6 required); You were given Special Duties (2 bonus skills)
Reenlistment Roll = 8 (4 required); You have the option of serving another term.
3 skills to add:
Intrusion-1
Navigation-1
+1 Dexterity

TERM 3
Survival Roll = 7 (4 required); You survived the term without mishap (1 skill)
Promotion Roll = 10 (12 required); You were not Promoted.
Special Duty Roll = 11 (6 required); You were given Special Duties (2 bonus skills)
Reenlistment Roll = 7 (4 required); You have the option of serving another term.
3 skills to add:
Jet-propelled Aircraft-1
Carousing-2
+1 Dexterity

MUSTERING OUT (4 rolls)
cash roll of 2 - 10000 Cr.
benefits roll of 4 - Weapon
chose Submachinegun
benefits roll of 6 - Yacht
benefits roll of 3 - Weapon
chose Foil

[tkdco2]

Going back to the original character I rolled. Here's his write-up and background, as well as that of his henchman.


Willem Van Heuten

STR 8 (originally 7) DEX 7 END 8 (originally 7) INT 7 EDU 7 SOC B

Age: 30; Title: Knight

Service: Army; # of Terms: 3; Rank: 2 (Captain)

Skills: Rifle 1, SMG 1, Bayonet 1, Tactics 1, Ground Vehicle 1, Forward Observer 1

Benefits: High Passage, Low Passage, SMG

Cash: 30,000 Cr

Willem van Heuten was born to a noble but impoverished family. Not particularly noteworthy in any respect, the young van Heuten enlisted in the army. While he failed to get a commission in his first term, he was promoted to lance corporal.

Van Heuten earned a field promotion to lieutenant on his second term. He narrowly escaped death at the Battle of Regulus, being saved by a soldier named Jesper Blok. Van Heuten rewarded Blok by making the latter his batman (ie orderly).

Van Heuten was promoted to captain on his third term. After the Battle of Eta Carinae, his regiment was decommisssioned. At this time, van Heuten also inherited the noble title of Cavalier, which was mainly honorific. Van Heuten now travels the galaxy as a mercenary, although he likes to refer to himself as a "knight-errant" when he feels particularly pompous.


Jesper Blok

STR 9 DEX 9 END 9 INT 8 EDU 7 SOC 5

Age: 26; Title: None

Service: Army; # of Terms: 2; Rank: 0 (Private)

Skills: Rifle 2, Ground Vehicle 1, Gambling 1, Steward 0 (freebie as part of background)

Benefits: High Passage

Cash: 5,000 Cr

Jesper Blok came from the "bad part of town." He joined the army to escape poverty and became a skilled rifleman. He saved Willem van Heuten's life during the Battle of Regulus and was rewarded by becoming the latter's batman.

After the regiment was decommissioned, Blok remained in van Heuten's service as his valet and bodyguard. He calls himself a "squire" at times, but only when van Heuten mentions his status as a knight, and always with a smile and a wink.

[tkdco2]

I just rolled up another character, notable for his low scores. I came up with a background for him.

Name: Flerd Trantle (after a classic D&D character; I may change it)

STR 6 DEX 3 END 5 INT 6 EDU 4 SOC A
Age: 26
Service: Other (draft, not accepted into army), 2 terms
Skills: Brawling 1, Foil 1, Gambling 1
Money: 1,000 Cr

Background: Upper-class twit who gambled away his fortune.