Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (
More info?)
"Douglas Berry" <penguin_boy@mindOBVIOUSspring.com> wrote in message
news:d7s2g05cjs8lvrnqe3mufk7qu9mvri4h6a@4ax.com...
> In our last thrilling episode, lewis@lwb.org (Lewis W Beard) was
> pushed over the cliffs of rec.games.frp.super-heroes on 23 Jul 2004
> 11:11:45 -0700 by Zoog, minion of Zathar. As he fell, he screamed:
> >All,
> >
> >I have a player new to Hero who wants to have been in the Army and to
> >have been a Sniper while there. I don't know anything about the
> >Military, or whether being a Sniper is an Army thing, or some other
> >branch, or what.
>
> All the branches have snipers.
>
> >So, assuming Army does have Snipers, what skills would someone in the
> >Army (or whichever service is appropriate if the Army doesn't have
> >Snipers) have, in Hero 5th Edition terms? What skills would they have
> >as a Sniper?
> >
> >I'm hoping some of you current- or ex- military folks could give me an
> >idea of the skills he should take. (My player doesn't know anything
> >about the military either).
>
> Oddly enough, I'm an ex-Army sniper. Even served as an instructor at
> the United States Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Ga.
>
> First of all, the hero will be an excellent shot (duh). He should be
> able to reliably hit a man-sized target with an accurate rifle at 800
> meters. Buying skill levels with a specific rifle (currently the M24
> Sniper Weapon System) along with a good DEX and general skill levels
> in Gun.
>
> Secondly, snipers are very stealthy. We have to crawl around behind
> enemy lines to get into position, and then get out after making our
> shots. Stealth, and skills related to camouflage are a must.
>
> Finally, snipers are good observers. In the USMC snipers are actually
> classified as Scout/Snipers, and used for recon. Skills relating to
> observation, or bonuses to perception should be bought up.
>
> Most snipers will be junior NCOs, (Corporal to Staff Sergeant), unless
> you are coming from an elite unit like a Ranger Battalion. Then
> you'll see some privates and specialists. They are in excellent shape
> (most of us ran marathons) and tend to be smart. We are also dead
> sexy. (Sorry, have to brag.)
>
> Psychologically speaking, we tend to be borderline sociopaths. It
> takes a special type of person to not only look through a scope at a
> living human and squeeze the trigger, but be able to do it over and
> over. Snipers suffer from PTSD in amazing numbers.
> --
In terms of abilities though the following is neccesary to be considered a
sniper:
High skill in chosen weapon (obviously), range Penalty Skill Levels (again,
well
duh!), possibly location PSLs for those tricky head shots, high stealth
skill
(snipers that are located tend to get dead real quick), at least moderate
tactics
skill so that he can figure out how to get the hell out of there when he's
done,
no pyschological limitations of the "impatient", "impetuous" or "lazy" type
and if he
has "code against killing" he got it since leaving the profession (or maybe
that's why he did), running speed (sprint) for when people don't like you
and you feel it polite to leave now, running speed (long distance) to cover
long distances without needing conspicuous transport or having to go by
roads, good distance vision to spot targets from a long way off note this
is distance vision _only_. if someone's a bit longsighted that's fine. In
fact
many longsighted people have excellent distance vision.
>
> Douglas E. Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
> Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5
>
> "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as
> when they do it from religious conviction."
> Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Pense'es, #894.
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