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Shadowrun Army Troops

By Jason Carter, Nightstalker (carter@ups.edu)

Robert Watkins and Powerhouse have some of the closest to a realistic SR Military, but you guys are still thinking too cybered and too overladen with weapons and armor. And despite what Ben Jordan says, reality and finances do have a place in the equation. Here’s what I think the UCAS Military would arm its men with using CP2020’s Home of the Brave (Sourcebook for America in the Dark Future).

Standard Infantry Soldier

Attributes:

  • B: 4
  • Q: 4
  • S: 4
  • C: 3
  • I: 3
  • W: 3

Skills:

  • Armed Combat 3
  • Athletics 2
  • Biotech 2
  • Car 2
  • Firearms 4
  • Gunnery 2
  • Stealth 2
  • Unarmed Combat 2

Cyberware: Why? The gear covers everything.

Gear:

  • Standard Field Armor (4/2)
  • Helmet (1/1) [with built-in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light, and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.]
  • An assault rifle with smartgun adaptor
  • A one-shot rocket or an underbarrel grenade launcher
  • 4 hand grenades

Each squad would have a special weapons trooper with Gunnery 4 and either a light machine gun (no gyro-mount!), a real grenade launcher, or a combat shotgun with drum.

Attributes are slightly above average because the average Joe ends up behind the lines. Cyberware is not necessary since equipment covers most desired options, and if you really need a speed boost, combat drugs are cheaper than any cyber/bioware.

Standard Marine

Attributes:

  • B: 5
  • Q: 5
  • S: 5
  • C: 2
  • I: 3
  • W: 5

Skills:

  • Armed Combat 4
  • Athletics 3
  • Biotech 2
  • Firearms 5
  • Gunnery 3
  • Stealth 3
  • Unarmed Combat 5

Cyberware: Why? The gear covers everything.

Gear:

  • Standard Field Armor (4/2)
  • Helmet (1/1) [with built-in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light, and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.]
  • An assault rifle with smartgun adaptor
  • A one-shot rocket or an underbarrel grenade launcher
  • 4 hand grenades

Each squad would have a special weapons trooper with Gunnery 5 and either a light machine gun (no gyro-mount!), a real grenade launcher, or a combat shotgun with drum.

Marines only take the best of the best. These guys are tough and would give any shadowrun team a run for their money if they are played tactically smart.

Typical Sergant

Attributes:

  • B: 5
  • Q: 5
  • S: 5
  • C: 3
  • I: 4
  • W: 5

Skills:

  • Armed Combat 5
  • Athletics 3
  • Biotech 2
  • Firearms 6
  • Gunnery 4
  • Military Theory 2
  • Stealth 4
  • Unarmed Combat 5

Cyberware: Implanted Radio with scrambler.

Gear:

  • Standard Field Armor (4/2)
  • Helmet (1/1) [with built-in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light, and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.]
  • An assault rifle with smartgun adaptor
  • A one-shot rocket or an underbarrel grenade launcher
  • 4 hand grenades
  • Heavy Pistol

The sergant is a step above the other troops and is a career soldier. The radio was implanted to ensure that he can always be in contact with his troops and his commander.

Combat Specialist

Attributes:

  • B: 4
  • Q: 4
  • S: 4
  • C: 3
  • I: 3
  • W: 3

Skills:

  • Car 4 (or other vehicle skill)
  • Firearms 3
  • Ground Vehicle B/R 3
  • Gunnery 4

Cyberware: Datajack, VCR 1 (for Pilots only)

Gear:

  • Standard Field Armor (4/2)
  • Helmet (1/1) [with built-in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light, and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.]
  • An assault rifle or SMG with smartgun adaptor.

Special Forces Trooper

Attributes:

  • B: 6
  • Q: 6
  • S: 5
  • C: 4
  • I: 4
  • W: 6

Skills:

  • Armed Combat 4
  • Athletics 5
  • Biotech 3
  • Firearms 7
  • Gunnery 6
  • Military Theory 3
  • Stealth 5
  • Unarmed Combat 5

Cyberware: Cyberears (Amplified Hearing, Sound Filter) Cybereyes (Thermo, LL, FC), Radio w scrambler, Skillwires 3, Smartlink, Wired Reflexes 1.

Gear:

  • Standard Field Armor (4/2)
  • Helmet (1/1) [with built-in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light, and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.]
  • An assault rifle with smartgun adaptor
  • A one-shot rocket or an underbarrel grenade launcher
  • 4 hand grenades
  • Heavy Pistol

Gear: Standard Field Armor (4/2), Helmet (1/1) [with built in Smartgoggles, binoculars, radio, low light and flare comp. A few extra attachments make the Field armor/helmet/faceplate combo NBC capable.], An assault rifle intergal smartlink and underbarrel grenade launcher, one-shot rocket launcher, 4 hand grenades. May carry special weapons such as a light machine gun (no gyro- mount!), a real grenade launcher, or a combat shotgun with drum.

These guys are GODS and will give any shadowrunner a run for his money. They are cybered to hell and back because they go in to take out the things that regular infantry cannot handle. It would not uncommon for the cyberware to be adjusted allowing such things as wired reflexes 2 or tactical computers. SF are dedicated career soldiers who are not allowed to retire until they are way to old to use the cyber they have installed in their bodies.