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In my pdf the operator is described as

Wheter these men are piloting a mighty Leman Russ into the heat of battle, operating a Vox to relay a commander's orders, or performing litanies on jammed lasguns in the trenches, these men are indespensable to the Imperial war machine.

So pretty much a general "operator of technology" as you described him.

I'm also considering making my dudes a Sergant for some party variety. Regarding that a small question: in my image a sergant as NCO is pretty much still a soldier, not a tactical genius or commander. So would it Match your image of a sergant if he was not that into commanding people around and more like the dude putting his hand on the whiteshield shoulder saying "I've been around the block a few years kid, let old Tambo show you around a bit and we'll make a soldier out of you in no time. "?

It's a bit of both. They have enough experience to help the newbs, yes, but they have to lead a section around, so the handholding is usually done by more senior Corporal. The Sgt has a mission to do, and he'll prepare his troops for it, which can include giving tips. They're definitely in the field themselves, but they're the one being put in charge of a section of 8 to 12 soldiers, and it's up to them to make sure they do what the section is supposed to do.

That helped a lot Pyro..... yeah Operator seems like a good fit then.

 Bobthehero wrote:
It's a bit of both. They have enough experience to help the newbs, yes, but they have to lead a section around, so the handholding is usually done by more senior Corporal. The Sgt has a mission to do, and he'll prepare his troops for it, which can include giving tips. They're definitely in the field themselves, but they're the one being put in charge of a section of 8 to 12 soldiers, and it's up to them to make sure they do what the section is supposed to do.

OK, good point. In that case I likely stay with the Weapon Specialist. I read up a bit on it thinking of my time with the German Bundeswehr and realized what I want him to be is what we call "Oberstabsgefreiter". It's a rank that does not really exist in the other Nato armies. Basically it's kind of a veteran private that is juuuust under a corporal, but can basically function as one. As they had 5 lines as insignia they were jokingly called "french fries general".
Fits the bill as he would be that kind of guy that has been enlisted soldier for years, but never quite made the cut to NCO.

But characterwise he will be the described dude trying to teach the newbies at least the basics.

As far as the party hooks in the background, Njal would be the kind of guy to get some contraband. Probably some cushioning or cover for his old squads seats to make it easier of a ride.

He may not be much for getting up close and fighting, but he is still a squad focused kind of guy and plenty loyal too.

 Pyroalchi wrote:

 Bobthehero wrote:
It's a bit of both. They have enough experience to help the newbs, yes, but they have to lead a section around, so the handholding is usually done by more senior Corporal. The Sgt has a mission to do, and he'll prepare his troops for it, which can include giving tips. They're definitely in the field themselves, but they're the one being put in charge of a section of 8 to 12 soldiers, and it's up to them to make sure they do what the section is supposed to do.

OK, good point. In that case I likely stay with the Weapon Specialist. I read up a bit on it thinking of my time with the German Bundeswehr and realized what I want him to be is what we call "Oberstabsgefreiter". It's a rank that does not really exist in the other Nato armies. Basically it's kind of a veteran private that is juuuust under a corporal, but can basically function as one. As they had 5 lines as insignia they were jokingly called "french fries general".
Fits the bill as he would be that kind of guy that has been enlisted soldier for years, but never quite made the cut to NCO.

But characterwise he will be the described dude trying to teach the newbies at least the basics.

In Canadian Forces term, that guy is a Corporal. The leadership starts when you get you Master Corporal qualification, though with shortage of personel, we might use more experienced Corporals. Weapon Spec with some fellowship talents to teach the newbs would work.

I'll probably make my Krieger a bit of a marksman, it's a build I ran often as a Stormtrooper, but you might as well go that route to fully benefit from the fact that you start with a Hotshot lasgun.

Righto...let's get this fething party started!

I'll write a starting post up soon.
@ XP: just checked, it's 600 starting XP for Guardsmen, 300 for support specialists.
=> pretty sure they will at the beginning not be able to do everything they should be able to do background wise (since that might only be enough for 2 or 3 skill points). Feel free to describe them doing it anyway, if it fails they just have a bad day. XP dir customization will come

@ Oldmate: haven't heard from you lately, mate. Are you still on board?

@ Easy E: regarding the contraband: if it's ok for you I will assume our dudes had been trading before

Present and accounred for. Sir!
😉

OK, I wrote up something, that I might add on later:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/807220.page#11440236

@ Dekskull: I'll get to your dude later, he is planetside wating with other defenders on the new arrivals.

@ everyone else: feel free to position your dudes wherever you like in the drop ship. Would be nice if everyone posts a small description of obvious features of his character in his first posts and updates them there, so that we can just look it up if we want to know "how did that guy look again?"
It is pretty loud in there, but I assume if you shout, the guy next to you or on the other side of the aisle should hear you.

Should we put some character details here for easy reference?

I would recommend to put character details in the first post you write in time and update it during the adventure. This way we should be able to find all characters on page one

Just going to ask where everyone stands on correcting their story section s after the fact. I made a small fix to my character's perception of Bobthe hero's Kreiger. It does not change anything narratively speaking but it makes more sense after reading his intro.

Sure, I also edited around a bit. Most notably I changed the time the battle rages already to just one year, makes more sense for Dekskulls Conscript to still be overwhelmed that way instead of the original 7 year battle.

Oh, and the Drop ship now also contains Chimeras and Horses.

Just as an info for you I rolled up my character sheet today and came to the point of equipment:
I have 3-5 points left and would chalk this up as general "amusement stuff for trading". So... chocolate, bubblegum, "recreational magazines", videogames... the typical stuff you would get to trade around.
I would also interpret "good quality lasgun" as something I imagine for my dudes: a kind of crude, ugly looking adapter that you can use in a pinch to fit different sized charge packs into your gun. There was a Gaunts Ghosts novel, where they ran into the problem of having lasguns needing size 3 but only getting size 5. Would be fitting for my dudes to also having experienced that a couple of time and fixed a solution. (Ruleswise it doesn't matter, but it would be a nice little personal touch)

I just mention that to highlight that you can feel free to include similar little customizations to your equipment if you like. Especially when you want to upgrade something to "good quality" and have a funnier idea than just "+ 10 to skill xy".

Yeah, I've decided to be a bit cheeky with Poncho's gasmask. He's going to wear it more often than not in battle, but off duty, those damned Catachans influenced him in the worst kind of ways.

The last post is the start for Dekskulls Character. I'll add something for the people on the dropship when I find the time.

Curious if everyone on this drop ship is a miscreant, and if our chain of command is Commissars or Officers on the outs?

Good question. I would say your dropship is exclusivly filled with your regiments miscreants. Or rather "those that got caught or were in the wrong place at the wrong time".

Regarding Command structure: I imagine there being a Commissar and a Junior Commissar in charge of each platoon, so four in total. For now you don't have to function on a platoon Level, so you are just roughly divided into squads depending on where you are sitting. I'm undecided if one of you is the squad leader or if I come up with an NPC one. Lets see

The people in the lander still have a couple of seconds before the craft hits the ground.
@ Easy E: don't know how hard of a guy Njall is, but lets put it that way: whatever you do, nobody will ever know of it.


Edit: and don't forget that due to how only war works, each of you has a comrade, a kind of buddy running around with him. He/she is just an NPC, but I think they deserve a name at least. If you specifically don't want one, I will not force you, but this way we would sum up to a squad of 2x 5 = 10 dudes which sounds good.

Yup, except the Stormtroopers. We don't get friends. And I suppose it helps for the story, in that regards, Poncho's alone

Edit: Here's a quick and dirty Poncho's/5-6-56-5's character sheet. I gave him 700 EXP as per the rulebooks, as Specialists start with less EXP

W: 18

BS 41

WS 34

S 31

T 47

AG 31

INT 26

PER 32

WP 39

FEL 24


Talent: Rapid Reload, Takedown, Wpn Training Las, Low-Tech, Mighty Shot, Nerves of Steel, Unshakable Faith

Skills Awareness (+10), Dodge, Intimidate, Scholastic Lore (Tac Imp), Stealth

Upgrades: +5 BS (100 EXP) Mighty Shot (400 EXP) +10 Awareness (200 EXP)


Edit edit: Be sure to check out Hammer of the Emperor, as well, there are more classes and talents there that are pretty juicy.

as my guy is a feudal worlder he gets universal lore: war
So i have explained this by making him a 10 year veteran of the campaigns of his kingdom.

It might be a completely different type of war, but it isn't his first rodeo.

He's also the charming mixture of a braggart and a slacker, which I think is a good demeanor for someone in a punishment unit.

Remember everyone, your regiment of origin may give you a few more wounds to start.

Poncho is shaping up to be fairly tanky, between nearly 50 Toughness, 18 wounds and carapace armor. It'll remain to be seen if that is enough.

We know who to hide behind then

Hey he might get the Stormtrooper talent that allows him to bodyblock a shot that would kill a friendly, if you play nicely!

@ All: yeah, thinking about it I would say we can start with 1000 XP for the normal dudes and 700 for the specialists (sorry for changing my mind back and forth).
@ Dekskull: this means you can give the char I send you a pip in Tech use and a second one in Medicae

@ my char (for if someone is interested:


He has 300 XP remaining where I'm still a bit torn as to what best rounds up the character: Commerce, Ears to the ground or surefoot wayfinder...




@ all: when we get out of the lander soon: remember that your equipment is stached under your seats. But bulky items like heavy weapons might have to be assembled.

@my character, his equipment is completely not of his class, as I just sorta homebrewed that up.

Oh I forgot:
A roll on Tech +10 reveals that cutting/shooting through the hydraulic I pointed out for Dekskulls character would drop the ramp, but permanently.
To do this, the mentioned blow torch, a power weapon or an aimed shot (Ballistic +/-0) of Ponchos Hot-Shot lasgun should suffice, as would continous fire (6 Lasgun or 2 Hotshot Lasgun hits at +30

An Operate roll +10 is needed to hit the correct runes to open the ramp enough to get through. If you do it that way you still have the option to close it again.

The door at the side can be opened with security +10 or as proposed by Bob: a hot shot round through the lock. If no one else has the talent, Tambo would try opening it (but he'll stand back if someone wants to give it a go first).

Njall knows how to open a Chimera hatch that is secured for transport, the others should do a simple operate roll (-10 for Simond as this looks really strange for him, +10 for the others). The turret bolter will quite likely also make short work of the jammed hydraulic.

I guess Simond will look around for something to lever it with. He does afterall have 2 horsepower that he might be able to harness.
He's not about to waste a blasting egg by rigging it to the hydrolic and then remotely detonation via lanyard (a length of waxed linnen leathernworking string from his sewing kit(or more likely Baldwin's sewing kit...). Those eggs are too valuable.
But that's what he thinks the options are.

I have a las-cutter or Krak grenade to do the job even quicker and the tech use to possibly back it up?

Also, I only spent 600xp, so did I read I should be using 1k? Will need to upgrade my character.

@ Easy E: yes, I reconsidered the XP, you can upgrade to 1000.
And if you have a lascutter: sure, that's exactly what could do the job


Edit: @ Easy E: the Chimeras are uncrewed, but as you too should have a Comrad, he can drive the thing while you do your stuff in the back. Even if none of you is a designated driver, getting it out of the transport bay should not be that hard.
I do assume though, that they are really bolted down to the floor with some heavy clamps screwed to the ground. Just the Job for the lascutter.