Re: [HOE] [HoE] Sykers and Soldier Backgrounds

["Kai Tave" <kaitave@harborside.com>]

Just my personal take...

Most sykers shouldn't need to take the Soldier background, because most
sykers weren't used the same way normal soldiers were.  Brainburners states
that sykers were only thrown right into the thick of things in the Last War
when things nearly reached critical mass, so, training sykers as Soldiers
(capital letter denotes the edge) probably didn't happen on a large-enough
scale to worry about it.  Even the Banshee sykers weren't USUALLY thrown
right into the fray; regular U.N. troops soaked up the brunt of the losses,
with sykers coming in as mop-up or support (until the battle at Red River,
anyway).

Sykers put the "special" into special forces.  Because of this, I'd say that
sykers would (more-or-less) not learn any set skill package (other than high
levels of Blastin'), but rather learn whatever seemed appropriate.  Two
different syker assassins might have vastly different skills and/or powers,
so I'd say that sykers pretty much break the mold (although some skills,
like Shootin': Rifle might be pretty common among all syker vets).

And I still don't think the Soldier edge is the worst thing in the world.
But I guess I'm alone on that one...  *Sniffle*  All...alone...

*Sob*

--Kai Tave



>I think we can all agree that Sykers are soldiers.  However, I don't
>think it makes sense that a Syker player should have to now spend
>additional 5 points to reflect this.  Right now I'm leaning toward
>modifying the soldier background costs for Sykers.  What do you think?
>Two points (+3 for the arcane background)?  I wouldn't go higher than
>3.  Were Sykers primarily infantry, did they overlap into other areas or
>would "Syker" be it's own specialty within the soldier background?  If
>the latter, are they any opinions on which attributes to give perks to?
>Background in WW made it sound like Sykers constituted their own groups
>(pg. 8 makes reference to a Syker platoon for example), but I seem to
>remember reading in other areas that individual Sykers were also
>assigned to other units (perhaps it was in Brainburners - can't find it
>now).  By the tone of Brainburners, it sounds like Banshee Sykers were
>infantry - were earth ones as well?  Should/should not Sykers be
>required to take a soldier background (modified or no)?  I already know
>there are a few folks on here that don't like the soldier background at
>all - let's assume for the moment that, like it or not, I'm using it.
>Any one else care to input on this?  Again, I can always just make my
>own house rules, but I'd like to hear some ouside opinions.  As always,
>thanks in advance.
>
>Matt Steflik
>Gimme Shelter - http://www.geocities.com/grifflik
>
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