GI Joe?

[tkdguy]

I was wondering if anyone ever did a GI Joe campaign, or anything like that. I know a group of people have a campaign using d20 modern, but why play d20 when you can play HERO, right? ;)

I actually created a terrorist organization like COBRA. Except I called it BOA. Originally it stood for "Bastion of Anarchy," but I thought "Bastion of Autocracy" made more sense. It had a very unusaul method of recruiting troops. People would kidnap the homeless, brainwash them into believing society was to blame for all their woes, then turn them into shock troops. One of my players thought BOA should stand for "Bums Of America" instead.

Suggestions?

[SleepyDrug]

yojoe.com is a great resource for characters and command structure.

I've never run a campaign like this, but it could be a lot of fun. You might need to consider how to keep the major villains alive in a setting with so many killing attacks.

[JohnOSpencer]

If you want to run that type of campaign, I really suggest picking up the relativly new comic. It will give you plenty of ideas, and is enjoyable.

John Spencer

[Enforcer84]

And remember to apply negative modifiers to all weapon use. They couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

[tkdguy]

The main thing I'd change is reinforcing the command structure. In the comic and the cartoon, you'd have corporals giving orders to captains! That doesn't make sense in any army.

I am a fan of the new series. I never thought COBRA Commander was scary until this one came out. I'm glad he's being portrayed as a ruthless killer instead of comic relief.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

[MoonHunter]

We played a Danger International game with codeword named para-military agents dealing with terrorists. The GM was thinking Mission Impossible, he got GiJoe. All around it was fun playing an agent level game with all the tropes of a super hero one. It was a fun game.

PS: All the DI lethality was there... we could hit the broad side of the barn, and that litle space between your eyes too.

[JohnTaber]

Get Super Agents. It is the older suppliment that was geared for GI Joe sort of action. ;)

[BlackSword]

I was thinking about a GI Joe game recently as well. With the Viper source book coming out that would have plenty of ideas for an international organization. The Secret(Battle?) Files for the current comic series had a pretty good break down of the main characters and the command structure.

Just don't let anyone play Snakeeyes.

"Snake-eyes sneak into the base and unlock the door from the inside, then we'll come in a attack anyone we need to."
12 second later the door opens.
"Hey, why is everyone unconcious or dead already?"

[tkdguy]

I don't know if anyone is familiar with the Recon game published by Palladium. It's supposed to be a Vietnam War rpg, but my friend is trying to modernize it. I did state that it shouldn't become a GI Joe campaign. Maybe I'll convince him it should.

[Captain Obvious]

Super Agents would be good for a Joe campaign, but not 100% necessary. Most of their equipment was standard modern-day stuff (at least early on in the comics, the cartoon was always jacked up). The gadgets they'd use would be easy enough to do in 5th without all the translating from 3rd you'd need if you were using Super Agents.

Of course, anyone who wants to do a Joe game can post gadget ideas, and those of us gaming vicariously will generally be happy to come up with plausible write-ups....

[tkdguy]

I think a GI Joe campaign should be like the comic series, where people actually do get killed, including a few Joes and COBRA leaders. It is rare for a major charcter to die, but that goes for all TV shows. Maybe damage reduction and a point or two of Luck would help keep the PCs alive. But the nameless grunts are still canon fodder.

[ShelleyCM]

This is so shameless -- do forgive me!

How about taking a look at the PRIMUS Sourcebook? It's chock full of government-issued goodness.

-Shelley
(If I do say so myself!)

[Peregrine]

Forgiven. No shame in self-promotion when quality is in the product.

[tkdguy]

Oh wow! I didn't know PRIMUS has a base in San Francisco. And to think I would go through the street all the time without noticing it. Hey, maybe I'll apply for a job. ;)

Seriously, I'll check it out. The sourcebook I mean.