Background idea - thought I'd get it cleared first.

[Darkblade Bug]

Okay, I had this idea for a character, and I thought I'd put it past you guys before putting it into my application.

The idea is, long story short, he has been in the Corps for a few years - but not as a Marine, he's just outta boot and hasn't fired a Pulse Rifle in anger yet.

Originally, he was a member of the Royal Australian Colonial Marines (Aerospace Division), and worked as a Dropship Pilot for two years. (He spent another two in training, having signed up at 18)...then, during a joint British/American/Australian operation, his dropship was boarded by Xenomorphs, and though he killed the bug that did it (facehugger), the acid spray caused his ship to crash.

He evaded the bugs for a full week before he was captured and impregnated.

He expected to be left for dead - and the British were more than happy to comply, bugging out at first opportunity. It was, to his surprise, the US Marines that managed to cut their way to the centre of the Hive, and save him from a fate worse than death. They managed to remove the embryo just before it could 'hatch' from him.

The US Marines left a major impression on Sam's psyche. He immediately requested a transfer to the USCM - and got one.

He is still a qualified dropship pilot, and his insights on the Xenomorphs are quite startling, as is his will to survive no matter the odds. However, he recognizes that despite his expertise, he's still new to the USCM and to their style of combat, and acts with surprising humility.

[Obi]

Cool does this mean I am no longer the only Aussie?

[Darkblade Bug]

XD, this is exactly true - Though I would like it on record that I was the first Aussie here

Good to see a fellow countryman though - I think our charries will get along famously. Us as well.

[Quinn]

Crikey!

[Darkblade Bug]

So far, so good. No-one has issue. Won't know for sure till Max and Nick check the thread out though. Other than the backstory, I have my character finished.

[Obi]

Looking forward to swapping a few cold ones in game!

[Darkblade Bug]

Me too.

Okay...I got a character sheet uploaded - a test one, before I add description or backstory, so people can look at the stats. Anyone see anything I need to fix?

He's under 'Sam Jack Dunn'

Also - how quickly can I get into the action?

[Casey]

I.... wasn't aware that they could remove a embryo from a person's chest. I know they always talk about it but that actually just boils down to them sticking them in containment and letting the thing come out. Freaking monsters.

Well, I'm certainly not the authority on tech and so forth during the game, so if Max and Nick think that it can be done then welcome... back..? I just hope that he doesn't turn into a complete whack job when things get heavy. He might have passed his psyche test. But lets be honest, no one's normal after one of those tailed spiders have their way with your face. It's just disturbing on every level.

Something about it reminds me of that Russel Cay guy from Independence Day, always talking about being abducted, and then committing suicide for vengence or drowning his sorrows in liquor.

Just a thought.


Edited P.S.

:: I think it's kinda on purpose that you're a little encumbered with a smart gun, as both Drake and Vasquez were in the movie.. I think the things even have hydraulic aid to help assist steady the piece at their waist. Even still, a little extra strength might save your life if it means being able to keep your armor. Wouldn't leave home without it, especially knowing that the hostiles do more than just drag you off or eat you on spot. They like to shoot at you, and throw things that launch fragmentation.

In my opinion I'd raise the stat and pick-up medium, or at least light armor. Medium because the smart gunners seem to have a little more difficulty manuevering that piece around, it might be nice to actually be able to take a hit and live to see the medic, or something.

[Darkblade Bug]

Hmm...that's a good point you're raising there. I've already factored in a few psyche problems, but given Dunny's intense will to live and his loyalty to the people that saved his life, he shouldn't crack too badly.

I've actually got a fair bit of backstory on the impregnation scenario...let's just say it was a last-second, in-the-field operation, and the Corporates didn't get involved.

[Casey]

I gave another thought attached to the post before. It's also probably for the best the corporates didn't get involved. They -always- screw you.

[Darkblade Bug]

XD, agreed on both counts - I'll do some tweaking. I hope to hell I don't have to down my leadership value too much, I'm basing this charrie on me. I tend to have difficulty in blind obedience.

EDIT: I'd need strength 14 to be able to carry armour and my smartgun...That'd make it my 2nd highest stat. O_O
T'hell with that, I'll just make do with a flak jacket and an Akubra hat. Drake's a precedent, after all.

[Casey]

I wouldn't chalk blind obedience up to the leadership skill s'long as you have a decent head on your shoulders. I get the high will score on your character, what with the surviving what he has; but it only seems natural you make a few cuts in other regions (Like leadership). Maybe down to a 8-9 to balance strength some, or you could just lower some of your other scores by one or so to make way for it.

Was a nice read by the way, the fan fiction.

[Darkblade Bug]

Did that one a year ago back when this character was on alienvspredator2.com - back when I led the Weyland-Yutani & Alpha Draconis USCMC alliance. Good times.

XD, the leadership score's not from the fact that he's a survivor - it's the fact that in the Aerospace Corps, he was a fully qualified and talented officer. ^_^ He had to get busted down to private to join the CMC.

I tend to play leadership roles whenever possible, simply because it's what I'm good at. Inspiring people to go above and beyond what they thought was their best, to outwit the enemy with clever tactics and precise organization...it's the aspect of warfare that I love the best. It inspires me, y'know?

EDIT: However...after going through implantation, we can assume that it's affected a lot of his body - probably making him a little more susceptible to disease and damage, so his health can suffer a bit. I can also imagine some major psychological trauma...if he allows the mental barriers to crack, I can imagine catastrophic shit happening. Motivation can go down a bit, too.

PERFECT! Even with all this, he'll be two points over his combat load, but I can imagine him being a tad encumbered anyway.

[Casey]

But, I'm pretty sure there's more than just armor in your light load. It's alot of your gizmos and gadgets that's on your framepack and stuff too, I think. I'm pretty sure they'll ask that you have some armor at-least. I would say that...

Given a lookout over your stats, it seems like you're making a lot of the digits even, based perhaps on the above average/exceptional guidelines given in the guide.

Just an idea but.. I think.. That

STR - 14
INT - 10
WILL - 15
HEL - 10
AGI - 10
CHR - 10
LDR - 13
PER - 10
MOT - 8

Would maybe fit, given the weapon without taking too much of a cut to any one stat, or your top dogs. It's just an idea, of course.

[Darkblade Bug]

Given that the Gun itself weighs 23 (much more than the armour), I'd assume that the gizmos are included in the listed weight there. You're onto a good thing there, but it's possibly a bit too average, uneven stats tend to make for a more interesting character, in my personal experience. After all, no-one's perfect and with a backstory like his, Dunny's going to have some pretty glaring weaknesses.

STR - 14
INT - 12
WILL - 15
HEL - 8
AGI - 10
CHR - 10
LDR - 15
PER - 10
MOT - 6

Seems a little more like it. That way he gets to be more badass in bug knowledge, survival skills and leadership, but he's also pretty fragile as long as you can find what his weaknesses are. Still, that's drastically different from what he was at before - thanks for the help, I'm very grateful.

Now to wait to see what Nick and Dugan think of these shenanigans. I'm Sam, by the way. -=offers hand to shake=-

EDIT: Updated character sheet up - complete with description and history.