Organization: UNION

[Eodin]

Back in 1983ish, I was co-running "Espionage", and the organization for the spies was UNION. UNION stands for United Nations Intelligence Operatives Network. Started secretly by members of the UN Security Council, they started with ex-spies from trusted orgs (CIA, MI-5, etc.) and then recruited or blackmailed others into the organization. Of the six player agents, AJ Parker and Dr. Frank Garrison and Rene Baptiste LeClerc were recruited; Axamander Tobias Teach and Ivan Raverhaben were blackmailed.

 

Espionage was 50 Base plus up to 50 in Disads. I have converted the six characters to 5E, and kept them at the 50/50 level (but including their earned experience points).

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Axamander Tobias Teach

 

Val..Char...Cost

13...STR....3

18...DEX....24

10...CON....0

10...BODY...0

13...INT....3

10...EGO....0

13...PRE....3

14...COM....2

 

3....PD.....0

2....ED.....0

3....SPD....2

5....REC....0

20...END....0

22...STUN...0

 

6"..RUN....0

2"..SWIM...0

2 1/2"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 37

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

Aikido

4 1) Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort

5 2) Redirect: 1/2 Phase, +1 OCV, +3 DCV, Block, Abort

5 3) Strike: 1/2 Phase, +1 OCV, +3 DCV, 2 1/2d6 Strike

3 4) Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2 1/2d6 +v/5, Target Falls Martial Arts Cost: 17

 

Cost Skill

International Jewel Thief

3 1) Climbing 13-

3 2) Concealment 12-

3 3) Lockpicking 13-

3 4) Security Systems 12-

7 5) Stealth 15-

3 6) Streetwise 12-

3 7) Disguise 12-

3 8) Shadowing 12-

6 9) +2 with Lockpicking, Security Systems, Concealment

2 10) KS: Jewelry 11-

International Jetsetter

2 1) AK: France 11-

2 2) AK: West Germany 11-

1 3) AK: East Germany 8-

3 4) High Society 12-

3 5) Conversation 12-

3 6) Seduction 12-

Aikido Practitioner

3 1) Breakfall 13-

2 2) KS: Aikido 11-

3 3) +1 with Aikido

3 Combat Driving 13-

3 TF: Hanggliding, Parachuting, Basic, SCUBA, Small Wind-Powered Boats

1 CuK: East Germany 8-

2 KS: Linguistics (Bachelor of Arts degree) 11-

3 Linguist

0 1) Language: English (imitate dialects; literate) (6 Active Points)

1 2) Language: French (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)

1 3) Language: German (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)

1 4) Language: Italian (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

1 5) Language: Spanish (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

UNION Agent

2 1) WF: Small Arms

3 2) +1 with Pistols

3 3) PS: Jewelry Appraiser 12-

3 4) KS: UNION Organization 12-

3 5) KS: World Politics and Events 12-

1 6) Bureaucratics 8-

1 7) KS: KGB 8- Skills Cost: 90

 

Cost Perk

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent

2 Contact: Fence 11- Perks Cost: 6

 

 

Cost..Equipment..END

CR2 Blackjack: HA +2d6, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (15 Active Points); OAF (Blackjack; -1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2), Real Weapon (-1/4), STR Minimum 1-5 (-1/4) 0

CR250 Glock 17: (Total: 28 Active Cost, 9 Real Cost) RKA 1d6+1, 16 Charges (+0) (20 Active Points); OAF (-1), STR Minimum 6-14 (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -1), Beam (-1/4), Real Weapon (-1/4) (Real Cost: 6) plus +1 with Ranged Combat, Required Hands One-Handed (+0) (5 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (Real Cost: 2) plus Penalty Skill Levels: +1 vs. Range Modifier with All Attacks, Required Hands One-Handed (+0) (3 Active Points); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) (Real Cost: 1) [16]

CR200 Wrist Radio: Radio Perception/Transmission (Radio Group) (10 Active Points); IIF (-1/4) 0

CR500 Shoe Burglary Kit: +2 with all Burglary Skills (10 Active Points); IIF (-1/4)

CR2000 Acetylene Torch Pen: Multipower, 40-point reserve, (40 Active Points); all slots 1 Continuing Fuel Charge lasting 5 Minutes (-1/2), IAF (-1/2)

u 1) Acetylene Flame: RKA 1d6, Required Hands One-Handed (+0) (15 Active Points); OAF (-1), STR Minimum 1-5 (STR Min. Cannot Add/Subtract Damage; -3/4), No Range (-1/2), Real Weapon (-1/4) 0

u 2) Cut Hole: Tunneling 8" through 8 DEF material (40 Active Points); Extra Time (5 Minutes, To Cut Hole; -2), OAF (-1), Limited Power tunnels through thickness of safe wall only (-1) 0

Equipment costs shown above are for reference only, and are not included in Total Cost.

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To UNION Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

10 Hunted: French Underground Crime 8- (As Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, Capture)

10 Psychological Limitation: Likes To Mock/Fool/Annoy The Brass (Common, Moderate)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 50

Total Experience Available: 50

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 150

 

Height:1.75 m

Hair:Brown

Weight:73.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:Tobias is suave, sophisticated, and looks much like Robert Wagner in "It Takes A Thief."

Personality:Tobias is the classic, suave cat burglar. He doesn't much care for the spy biz, and doesn't mind giving UNION the short end when possible, although he won't let the bad guys win either.

Quote:"UNION - Where crooks keep the world safe from other crooks..."

Background:Axamander Tobias Teach, known to close friends as Tobias, was born in the United States. At age 18, he traveled to France and attended college in Paris, getting his degree in Linguistics. While there, he found his estranged father, and learned his father was a jewel thief. He spent time with his father, learning his father's craft. Unfortunately, the two were noticed by the French Underground, a criminal organization, who wanted their cut of the jobs. The two refused, and barely got away. Tobias' father has since passed away from natural causes, but the French Undergound wants Tobias for the "stolen profits" it feels it deserves.Tobias continued his trade and playboy and jewel thief, but he made the mistake of attempting to rob jewels that were part of a spy sting, and was caught. He was offered a deal - work for UNION as an operative, or go to jail. He chose working for UNION.

Powers/Tactics:Tobias' skill is combat is limited, so he provides support to those who are more combat oriented.

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

AJ Parker

 

Val..Char...Cost

10...STR....0

14...DEX....12

10...CON....0

10...BODY...0

18...INT....8

13...EGO....6

10...PRE....0

12...COM....1

 

4....PD.....2

2....ED.....0

3....SPD....6

4....REC....0

20...END....0

20...STUN...0

 

6"..RUN....0

2"..SWIM...0

2"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 35

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

4 Punch/Snap Kick: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 4d6 Strike

4 Block: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort

4 Knifehand Strike ("Chop"): 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, HKA 1d6 +1 Martial Arts Cost: 12

 

Cost Skill

1 Bugging 8-

1 Bureaucratics 8-

1 Combat Driving 8- [Notes: Cars and Trucks]

1 Combat Piloting 8- [Notes: Multi-Engine Aircraft]

3 Computer Programming 13-

1 Criminology 8-

5 Deduction 14-

3 Demolitions 13-

5 Electronics 14-

1 Forensic Medicine 8-

5 Inventor 14-

3 CK: Paris 12-

3 Scholar

1 1) KS: Karate (2 Active Points) 11-

1 2) KS: UNION Organization (2 Active Points) 11-

2 3) KS: World Politics and Events (3 Active Points) 12-

0 Language: English (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)

3 Language: French (idiomatic) (4 Active Points)

3 Lockpicking 12-

3 Paramedics 13-

4 PS: Engineer 14-

3 SS: Electrical Engineering 13-

1 SS: Mechanical Engineering 8-

3 Security Systems 13-

10 +2 with INT-Based Skills

2 WF: Small Arms

3 +1 with Pistols

2 Weaponsmith (Firearms) 13-

Skills Cost: 74

Cost Perk

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance Perks Cost: 4

 

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

10 Hunted: KGB 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

10 Psychological Limitation: Womanizer; Can't Resist A Pretty Face (Common, Moderate)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 25

Total Experience Available: 25

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 125

 

Height:1.84 m

Hair:Red

Weight:69.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:AJ looks a lot like McGyver, but with reddish hair.

Personality:AJ has two loves - women and technology. In his mind, their's usually a technological solution to ANY problem.

Quote:"McGyver was right on..."

Background:Born July 3, 1957. AJ grew up in Texas in the US, and attended UTAustin with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Shortly after college, he travelled overseas, and spent some time in Paris. While there, he tried to help a fellow traveller, and found himself at odds with the French Underground organized crime. He was able to get himself and the fellow traveller safely away, which brought him to the attention of UNION. (The traveller was a UNION contact.) AJ joined UNION, has been splitting his time between the UNION technical labs and covert missions.

Powers/Tactics:

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Dr. Frank Garrison

 

Val..Char...Cost

10...STR....0

13...DEX....9

10...CON....0

13...BODY...6

18...INT....8

13...EGO....6

10...PRE....0

10...COM....0

 

5....PD.....3

3....ED.....1

3....SPD....7

6....REC....4

20...END....0

23...STUN...0

 

7"..RUN....2

3"..SWIM...1

2"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 47

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

Army Commando Training

3 1) Martial Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2d6 +v/5, Target Falls

4 2) Martial Strike: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 4d6 Strike

4 3) Choke Hold: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, Grab One Limb; 2d6 NND Martial Arts Cost: 11

 

Cost Skill

Ex-Army

2 1) KS: The Military/Mercenary/Terrorist World 11-

2 2) KS: Army History And Customs 11-

2 3) PS: Soldier 11-

3 4) Tactics 13-

3 5) Climbing 12-

3 6) Stealth 12-

2 7) TF: Parachuting, Advanced, Parachuting, Basic

3 8) WF: Small Arms, Knives

4 9) +2 OCV with Army .45

9 10) Demolitions 16-

1 11) TF: SCUBA

3 12) SS: Civil Engineering 12-

Relief Effort Doctor

3 1) PS: Doctor 13-

5 2) Paramedics 14-

3 3) SS: Medicine 13-

2 4) SS: Chemistry 11-

3 5) SS: Immunology 12-

UNION Agent

1 1) Language: French (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

2 2) KS: UNION Organization 11-

3 3) KS: World Politics and Events 12-

1 4) Bureaucratics 8-

0 Language: English (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)

1 Language: Italian (basic conversation)

1 Language: German (basic conversation)

1 Language: Sudanese (basic conversation)

Skills Cost: 63

Cost Perk

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance Perks Cost: 4

 

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To UNION Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

5 Distinctive Features: Bald and Ex-Army (Easily Concealed)

5 Psychological Limitation: Enjoys Blowing Up Bad Guys (Uncommon, Moderate)

10 Hunted: US Military 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 25

Total Experience Available: 25

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 125

 

Height:1.82 m

Hair:Bald (normally brown)

Weight:70.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:Frank is bald, and looks like an army man.

Personality:Frank loves to help the needy, and he loves to blow bad things up.

Quote:"Time to bring in the surgeon..."

Background:Frank Garrison served in the army, blowing things up. When his hitch was over, he decided to become a doctor. As a doctor, he spent his time on relief efforts in 3rd world countries. On one such stint in Sudan, he had to choose between his calling as a doctor and his army training when a local warlord started taking relief goods for his own use and letting his people starve. When Frank made his choice, the warlord was no more, and in came UNION, who had been watching the warlord. Frank was recruited into UNION, and splits his time between relief efforts and covert missions.

Powers/Tactics:Frank is an expert at demolitions, and can be called on to provide an explosive solution to a problem.

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Friedrich Mueller

 

Val..Char...Cost

13...STR....3

20...DEX....30

13...CON....6

8...BODY...-4

13...INT....3

10...EGO....0

18...PRE....8

18...COM....4

 

3....PD.....0

3....ED.....0

3....SPD....0

6....REC....0

26...END....0

22...STUN...0

 

6"..RUN....0

2"..SWIM...0

2 1/2"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 50

 

 

Cost PowerEND

15 Luck 3d6 \n0Powers Cost: 15

 

 

Cost Skill

2 WF: Small Arms

6 +2 with Pistols

3 Linguist

0 1) Language: German (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)

1 2) Language: English (completely fluent) (3 Active Points)

1 3) Language: French (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

3 4) Language: Russian (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points)

0 5) Language: Yiddish (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

3 PS: UN Language Translator 12-

3 Traveler

1 1) AK: Eastern Europe (2 Active Points) 11-

1 2) AK: France (2 Active Points) 11-

1 3) AK: Germany (2 Active Points) 11-

1 4) AK: Russia (2 Active Points) 11-

1 5) AK: United States (2 Active Points) 11-

1 6) AK: Western Europe (2 Active Points) 11-

2 KS: UNION Organization 11-

3 KS: World Politics and Events 12-

3 Bureaucratics 13-

3 Conversation 13-

3 Persuasion 13-

3 Seduction 13-

3 High Society 13-

1 Combat Driving 8-

3 Electronics 12-

3 Mechanics 12-

Skills Cost: 55

Cost Perk

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance

1 Contact: Hans Detmer, UN Translator 8- Perks Cost: 5

 

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

10 Psychological Limitation: Overconfident (Common, Moderate)

5 Distinctive Features: Handsome (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

5 DNPC: Woman of the moment 8- (Slightly Less Powerful than the PC)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 25

Total Experience Available: 25

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 125

 

Height:1.73 m

Hair:Black

Weight:69.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:Think German version of Cary Grant.

Personality:Friedrich is a ladies man, and is skilled as a translator and contact man. (Think Cary Grant from North by Northwest.)

Quote:"We have a saying back in Germany..."

Background:Friedrich is a West German who came to the UN as a translator. He found himself swept in some espionage activities, but his amazing luck and skill saved the day. He was soon recruited into UNION.

Powers/Tactics:

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Ivan Raberhaven

 

Val..Char...Cost

20...STR....10

17...DEX....21

13...CON....6

15...BODY...10

18...INT....8

10...EGO....0

13...PRE....3

10...COM....0

 

5....PD.....1

3....ED.....0

3....SPD....3

7....REC....0

26...END....0

32...STUN...0

 

6"..RUN....0

2"..SWIM...0

4"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 62

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

Karate

4 1) Punch/Snap Kick: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 6d6 Strike

5 2) Spin Kick: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV, 8d6 Strike

4 3) Martial Block: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort Martial Arts Cost: 13

 

Cost Skill

European Race Car Driver

2 1) PS: Race Car Driver 11-

2 2) KS: European Race Car Circuit 11-

7 3) Combat Driving 14-

5 4) TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Parachuting, Basic, SCUBA, Small Motorized Boats, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles

3 5) Mechanics 13-

3 Traveler

1 1) AK: Austria (2 Active Points) 11-

1 2) AK: France (2 Active Points) 11-

1 3) AK: Germany (2 Active Points) 11-

1 4) AK: Italy (2 Active Points) 11-

1 5) AK: Spain (2 Active Points) 11-

UNION Agent

2 1) WF: Small Arms

3 2) PS: Racecar Mechanic 12-

2 3) KS: UNION Organization 11-

3 4) KS: World Politics and Events 12-

1 5) Bureaucratics 8-

1 6) WF: Blades

3 7) +1 with Pistols

3 8) Stealth 12-

3 9) Shadowing 13-

3 10) Concealment 13-

3 Linguist

1 1) Language: English (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

1 2) Language: French (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

0 3) Language: German (idiomatic; literate) (5 Active Points)

1 4) Language: Italian (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

1 5) Language: Russian (basic conversation; literate) (2 Active Points)

1 6) Language: Spanish (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

3 Disguise 13-

1 KS: East Germany 8-

1 KS: KGB 8-

1 KS: Photography 8-

3 Streetwise 12-

3 +1 with Karate

Skills Cost: 71

Cost Perk

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent Perks Cost: 4

 

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To UNION Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

10 Hunted: Italian Mafia 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

5 Psychological Limitation: Pyrophobia (Uncommon, Moderate)

5 Distinctive Features: Burn scars on arms and chest (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 50

Total Experience Available: 50

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 150

 

Height:1.78 m

Hair:Brown

Weight:84.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:

Personality:Ivan is a born race car driver, and that's his passion. Unfortunately, he's also deathly afraid of fire, as part of his experience in the burning car.

Quote:

Background:Ivan (ee-van') is a German race car driver who raced in the European Grand Prix circuit. One year he was approached by black suits to throw one of the races he was in. When he refused and won the race, his visitor told him he would regret that choice. In his next race, his car was boobytrapped (by the Italian Mafia), and it exploded while he was driving. Ivan survived, and was taken for treatment. He had suffered severe burns to his arms and chest, and he was in rehab for a while. When he returned to racing, his black suits reminded him the penalty for failure to work with them. Ivan decided to take a short break from racing, working on car engines and doing a little gambling at the casinos. His bill got too high for him to pay, and he tried some borderline-legal means to repay it. UNION got involved during an unrelated mission, and gave Ivan a choice. Come to work for them, and they'd also pay his bills, or be left to his own devices. After some grumbling, Ivan decided to join UNION.

Powers/Tactics:

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Rene Baptiste LeClerc

 

Val..Char...Cost

13...STR....3

14...DEX....12

13...CON....6

10...BODY...0

18...INT....8

10...EGO....0

13...PRE....3

10...COM....0

 

4....PD.....1

4....ED.....1

4....SPD....16

6....REC....0

26...END....0

20...STUN...-4

 

6"..RUN....0

2"..SWIM...0

2 1/2"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 46

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

3 Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2 1/2d6 +v/5, Target Falls

3 Hold: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, -1 DCV, Grab Two Limbs, 23 STR for holding on

4 Dodge: 1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort

5 Strike: 1/2 Phase, +1 OCV, +3 DCV, 2 1/2d6 Strike

Martial Arts Cost: 15

Cost Skill

2 WF: Small Arms

3 WF: General Purpose/Heavy Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers, Shoulder-Fired Weapons

3 Combat Driving 12-

2 TF: Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Small Motorized Boats

2 TF: Parachuting, Basic, Small Wind-Powered Boats

1 Breakfall 8-

3 Stealth 12-

1 Survival (Temperate/Subtropical) 8-

3 Shadowing 13-

3 Concealment 13-

3 Criminology 13-

3 Cryptography 13-

5 Deduction 14-

1 Bugging 8-

1 Security Systems 8-

3 KS: Law Enforcement 12-

2 KS: Aikido 11-

2 KS: Canada 11-

3 KS: Terrorist Organizations 12-

2 PS: Anti-Terrorist Consultant 11-

2 Navigation (Land, Marine) 8-

3 Interrogation 12-

3 Streetwise 12-

1 Language: French (imitate dialects; literate) (6 Active Points)

1 Language: English (fluent conversation) (2 Active Points)

2 Language: Arabic (basic conversation; literate)

Skills Cost: 60

Cost Perk

1 Fringe Benefit: UNION Agent

3 Fringe Benefit: Security Clearance

1 Fringe Benefit: Weapon Permit (where appropriate)

Perks Cost: 5

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

10 Hunted: UNION 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Watching)

20 Social Limitation: Subject To Orders (Very Frequently, Major)

10 Hunted: various Terrorist organizations 8- (As Pow, Harshly Punish)

5 Psychological Limitation: Hatred of Terrorist Organizations (Uncommon, Moderate)

5 Reputation: Rough Treatment of Terrorists, 11- (Known Only To A Small Group)

Disadvantage Points: 50

 

Base Points: 50

Experience Required: 26

Total Experience Available: 26

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 126

 

Height:1.93 m

Hair:Brown

Weight:89.00 kg

Eyes:Green

Appearance:

Personality:Rene HATES terrorist groups with a passion, for reasons he refuses to explain. In paramilitary circles, his reputation regarding his treatment of terrorists is less than sterling.

Quote:

Background:Rene (Re-nay') is a French Canadian who served his country in the army and as an Anti-Terrorist consultant. During one of his consultations, he and UNION joined forces. Seeing a means to continue his fight against terrorists, Rene eagerly joined UNION.

Powers/Tactics:

Campaign Use:

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

And I'm trying to figure out why the export from Hero Designer is running together...

 

In the meantime, I've rolled my own HDv2 export template for UBB format. Not as nice as HTML, but it's more legible that the faulty export I _was_ getting.

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

The UNION HQ is located close to the UN building in New York, but there are minor branches and safe houses across the world. (The entrance is through a clothing store, like "The Man From Uncle", and then a series of doors like "Get Smart".)

 

New Agents who are being called in for a mission receive notice one of two ways: either a colored (blue or purple) envelope from "Aunt Mildred" asking them to come for a visit, or a Business Card handed to them at their current location. (This was necessary for characters like Ivan, who was on the racing circuit rather than home.)

Once they've been in the biz and checked out, they are given a radio watch (like the Man From Uncle) for contact and mission purposes. The watches transmit encoded messages on a secure channel.

 

The published missions these agents went through included Border Crossing and Merchants of Terror from HERO, as well as conversions of TS002 RapidStrike, TS003 Lady In Distress (a favorite for all), TS004 Operation Fastpass, TS005 Orient Express (also a group favorite), and TS006 Ace of Clubs, and Dr. Yes from Dragon Magazine. Then there were the homegrown missions to Saudi Arabia to stop a weapons sale, to France to handle a problem "troubleshooter", and various others I dont' remember at the moment. Too bad we all graduated from college and had to go our separate ways.

The flavor of the campaign was a bit Man From Uncle and a bit James Bond. AJ Parker (my character) was a Q stand-in when I ran missions, and one mission he created a Looker Flashgun prototype for use in a mission. (If you've seen the movie "Looker" you know what I mean.)

Very few missions occurred inside the US. Most occurred in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

 

Agents not on a mission receive a standard pay. Agents on covert missions receive "hazard pay" and "success bonuses" as incentives. Those agents with a "day job" have to be able to drop what they're doing when called in by the agency.

[KA.]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Really cool organization, Eodin.

 

I don't mean to make fun, but when I first started reading, I starting thinking of more of a "Get Smart" vibe.

 

You know, things like:

 

1) Even when on Deep Cover assignments, UNION agents must receive a 1 hour Lunch Break, and a 15 minute break for each 4 hours worked.

 

2) Each Team must include 1 Assassination Specialist, 1 Espionage Specialist, 1 Surveillance Specialist, 1 Technical Specialist, and 1 Union Rep, whether they are actually needed for the mission or not.

 

3) No member of a UNION team can perform duties outside his area of expertise.

All locks must be picked by the Espionage Specialist.

All bugs must be monitored by the Surveillance Specialist.

All killing must be performed by the Assassination Specialist.

 

This last one means that, even in the middle of a fight, another member of the team may have to just Block against a badly wounded adversary until the Assassin is available to actually deliver the killing blow. Otherwise it would be a violation of UNION rules.

 

 

KA.

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Really cool organization' date=' Eodin.[/quote']It was fun, that's the important part. And it goes to show you don't have to have 350 point agents to have fun.

 

3) No member of a UNION team can perform duties outside his area of expertise.

All locks must be picked by the Espionage Specialist.

All bugs must be monitored by the Surveillance Specialist.

All killing must be performed by the Assassination Specialist.

 

This last one means that, even in the middle of a fight, another member of the team may have to just Block against a badly wounded adversary until the Assassin is available to actually deliver the killing blow. Otherwise it would be a violation of UNION rules.

 

 

KA.

Ah, so you're familiar with the "Top Secret" rule system

[KA.]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

It was fun, that's the important part. And it goes to show you don't have to have 350 point agents to have fun.

 

 

Ah, so you're familiar with the "Top Secret" rule system

 

Quite.

Actually I had a lot of fun playing a few sessions of Top Secret when it first came out.

We had no idea what we were supposed to be doing, and the GM was running a module.

We were looking around warehouses at night, down near the docks.

Every time we broke into one, we somehow managed to run into security guards, no matter how careful we were.

Either the random encounters were messed up or the GM was screwing us.

 

The situation played out like this.

Each night of game time, for three nights in a row, we broke into a warehouse, got caught, and were forced to shoot it out with guards.

(They would usually just open up on us as soon as they saw us, and we couldn't afford to get arrested, so we ended up killing them.)

 

After the third night we gave up on that strategy, so, desperate for ideas, my character decided to read the local paper, looking for anything suspicious.

 

The GM said: "Well, the headline is:

Police conducting massive manhunt for The Dockside Killers."

 

 

KA.

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Sounds like the infamous TS001 Sprechenhaltstelle module, and yes it sounds like he was messing with y'all. Man, that module made some of the Judges Guild D&D junk look good.

 

Thank goodness TS002 was better, and TS003 on through 6 were much better.

[KA.]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

Sounds like the infamous TS001 Sprechenhaltstelle module, and yes it sounds like he was messing with y'all. Man, that module made some of the Judges Guild D&D junk look good.

 

Thank goodness TS002 was better, and TS003 on through 6 were much better.

That's the one!

 

KA.

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

I remember playing Sprechenhaltestelle. I don't know if the module was severely flawed or if I was still in dungeon-crawl mode, but I do remember doing a lot of indiscriminate killing and looting.

[KA.]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

I remember playing Sprechenhaltestelle. I don't know if the module was severely flawed or if I was still in dungeon-crawl mode' date=' but I do remember doing a lot of indiscriminate killing and looting.[/quote']

 

Maybe that was the problem. I kept finding myself in situations where, every time I tried to do something "spylike", I ended up in a situation I had to shoot my way out of. I think that either Top Secret was intended to be a very lethal game, as opposed to something more stealthy and subtle, or there was just a lot of "genre leak" from D&D.

 

KA.

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

It (Sprechenhaltstelle) was stuck in dungeoncrawl mentality. Here's an excerpt:

 

Computing Experience

"At the conclusion of the mission, the surviving characters divide the value of the object targets gotten (with equal shares generally awarded...) and experience is computed.

Once enough points are accumulated, a character can rise to the next higher level of experience, and gain the benefits of the new level. Wealth obtained can be used to purchase equipment or supplies, defray everyday expenses, make payoffs, sponsor various enterprises, or can be spent in any manner."

 

Preparation

To start the adventure, the players must decide on an order of march for all characters in their group... One player in the group should be designated leader...The player or players mapping the explored area should use graph paper.

 

Sounds like a typical dungeoncrawl to me...

[Eodin]

Re: Organization: UNION

 

And I actually did run these UNION agents through Sprechenhaltstelle (TS001), BUT I took the base mission (discover the kidnappers of the Eastern defectors) and ignored the rest, which was written like a D&D "CityState of the ..." adventure. Handling it that way, it turned out pretty well.