Brandon replied to Mike: > Generally speaking, soldiers in penal battalions (or similar), will > have one or more Disadvantages normally considered inappropriate to > soldiers of that culture. These will usually be mental disadvantages > (Intolerance, Bad Temper, Sadism, etc) but might also include Social > Dsadvantages that make them appear inferior or unreliable, rather > than simply being criminals.
There are several possible scenarios. Not all are suitable for good gaming scenarios. If the players are supposed to be good guys, what are they doing in a prison unit? * A "holding" unit where criminals from the soldiers and draftees are kept instead of civilian prisons. Wouldn't do if a draft dodger gets a safe, cushy spot in a prison way behind the front lines. Not what we're talking about here, right? * A halfway decent society recruits special units from convicts who are considered unfit for normal life, but who can sort of "redeem themselves" by military service. The officers come from normal units, the NCOs are especially tough and experienced convicts. The penal battalions will be harsh places -- discipline might turn the convicts into sober citizens or better criminals. They get dangerous missions, but with regular gear. Social Stigma if the past is officially forgotten but not quite gone, otherwise a Secret. Plus disads with a reasonable Self-Control number. The troopers must be able to control themselves while the NCOs are watching or they will be drummed out of the unit. Good characters might be here because of a mistake, or because of a "honorable" crime like a duel over the good name of a lady. They survive boot camp with valuable lessons and perhaps a few friends in low places, and then they become heroes. * Convicts and other "undesirables" get put into special units which are then expended in human wave attacks or clearing minefields. They are not trusted to operate as a regular unit, since they'd frag the officers in the blink of an eye. Instead they are sent out with obsolete weapons, while the NKVD detachments behind them machinegun any who turn back. Social Stigma or a Reputation. Making use of that in a game could be difficult, since the life of the soldiers is nasty, brutish, and futile. Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
