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MILITARY RANK

A Variant form of the Membership Advantage

 

The character is a member of a military organization, such as the U.S. Armed Forces, Royal British Navy or the Colonial Space Marines. The exact name, nature and rank structure of the organization depends on the genre and setting. GMs and developers are encouraged to develop Military Rank tables specific to their own genre or setting.

The character has the perks and responsibilities commensurate with his rank in the organization. For example, a navy Captain has the run of his (or her) ship, can hold hearing for non-judicial punishment (known as "Captain's Mast"), and can issue orders to his crew, but they also must obey maritime laws and Navy regulations, answer to those of higher rank (such as Admirals), may be watched by the public and the media, etc.

Military Rank (MR) is rated 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest attainable rank within the group. When a character buys Military Rank in a group or organization, he pays 1 to 5 points for each level or "grade" within that group, depending on the importance or influence of the group in the campaign (see the table below).

 

Importance Cost/Lv Strata
Trivial 1 Enlisted ranks
Minor 2 Commissioned officer

 

The value of Military Rank may be adjusted based on the importance of the military organization within the campaign. If the military organization is the predominant feature of the campaign in which most if not all of the PCs are a part, then the suggested values below should be sufficient. If the organization is less accessible to most people in the setting but of an elevated importance within the setting, then the GM should consider increasing the importance of the Membership Rank by 1, 2 or even 3 points (see the example lists below).

Characters may substitute their Military Rank for a skill in appropriate situations, at the GM's discretion. The GM should impose penalties and bonuses to an NPCs' effect number to reflect special circumstances.

Likewise, GMs may also allow characters with Military Rank in a group with higher "importance" than the opposing character to receive a bonus to their effect number. For each level of difference of importance of each character's Military Rank, the character belonging to the group with the higher importance adds +5 to his effect number.

Lieutenant Fornier (who has a PRE of 5) is trying to order an MP corporal (E-4, or Rank 4) to let her into the custodial barracks so that she can talk to one of her soldiers, who was arrested for striking an MP the day before. The corporal (who has a WIL of 4) has orders to only allow his supervisor or higher ranking MPs into the custodial barracks, so the GM tells Christine to roll her character's PRE + Rank +5 (for being one level "higher" in importance than the corporal, who is enlisted) + 3d6. She rolls the dice and gets 10, making the total of her attempt 5 (PRE) +2 (Rank) +5 (bonus) +10 (the dice roll) = 22. The GM, meanwhile, rolls 3d6, and gets 7, making the corporal's total 4 (WIL) +4 (Rank) +7 (the dice roll) = 15. Because Lieutenant Fornier's roll was higher, the corporal backs down and lets the Lieutenant into the barracks.

If the same situation had occurred in the dead of night, when absolutely no visitors are allowed into the barracks, the GM could apply a bonus (of, say, +3 or even +6) to the corporal's roll, or simply not allow a roll at all.

This rule is intended to allow some flexibility in the use of skills and to allow players with Military Rank to use it instead of a normal skill to influence others, when appropriate. Players and GMs should note that, while making it easier to get other people to do things, using (or abusing) one's Military Rank may still have its consequences.

The opposite of this trait is the Outsider disadvantage.

 

Several suggested Military Rank tables are provided below. The GM is encouraged to create such a list for the campaign if none of the examples below are sufficient.

Notes:

* There is only one such position within the organization.

** These grades may correspond to two or more ranks; the rank depends on the duty/position of the individual.

  These grades correspond with Non-commissioned Officer ranks, as a rule.

 

 

U.S. Armed Forces -- 1775

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (Continental Army) Rank (Royal British Army)
10 E-9    
9 E-9**    
8 E-8**    
7 E-7 Sergeant  
6 E-6    
5 E-5    
4 E-4 Corporal  
3 E-3    
2 E-2    
1 E-1 Private (or Musician)  

 

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (Continental Army) Rank (Royal British Army)
20 O-10 Commander in Chief General*
18 O-9 Lieutenant General  
16 O-8 Major General Major General
14 O-7 Brigadier General Brigadier General
12 O-6 Colonel Colonel
10 O-5 Brigade Major Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major Major
    Aide-de-Camp  
6 O-3 Captain Captain
4 O-2 Lieutenant First Lieutenant
    Subaltern  
2 O-1 Ensign Second Lieutenant
    Cornet  

 

 

Armed Forces -- 1812

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (U.S. Army) Rank (Royal British Army)
10 E-9    
9 E-9** Sergeant Major  
    Teacher of Music  
8 E-8**    
7 E-7 Sergeant  
    Quartermaster Sergeant  
6 E-6    
5 E-5    
4 E-4 Corporal  
3 E-3    
2 E-2 Dragoon  
1 E-1 Private (or Musician, Driver, Farrier, Miner, Saddler, Sapper)  

 

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (Continental Army) Rank (Royal British Army)
20 O-10 General*  
18 O-9 Lieutenant General Lieutenant General
16 O-8 Major General Major General
14 O-7 Brigadier General Brigadier General
12 O-6 Colonel Colonel
    Aid-de-camp for General  
10 O-5 Brigade Major Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major Major
6 O-3 Captain Captain
4 O-2 First Lieutenant First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

 

 

Armed Forces -- 1861

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USA) Rank (CSA)
10 E-9    
9 E-9** Sergeant Major  
8 E-8    
7 E-7** Sergeant Major Hospital Steward
    Ordnance Sergeant  
6 E-6 First Sergeant Quartermaster Sergeant
    Regimental Qrtrmstr Sgt  
5 E-5 Quartermaster Sergeant First Sergeant
    Drum Major  
4 E-4 Sergeant Sergeant
    Company Quartermaster Sgt  
3 E-3 Corporal Corporal
    Farrier/Blacksmith  
2 E-2 Private Private
1 E-1 Musician  

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USA) Rank (CSA)
20 O-10 General (of the Army)* General (of the Army)*
18 O-9 Lieutenant General General
16 O-8 Major General General
14 O-7 Brigadier General General
12 O-6 Colonel Colonel
10 O-5 Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major Major
6 O-3 Captain Captain
4 O-2 First Lieutenant First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

 

 

Armed Forces -- 1918

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (US Army)
10 E-9  
9 E-9** Regimental Sergeant Major
8 E-8 Regimental Sergeant Major
7 E-7** Battalion Sergeant Major
    Battalion Supply Sergeant
6 E-6 First Sergeant
    Color Sergeant
5 E-5 Sergeant
    Mess Sergeant
4 E-4 Supply Sergeant
3 E-3 Corporal
2 E-2 Private First Class
1 E-1 Private

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (US Army)
20 O-10 General
18 O-9 Lieutenant General
16 O-8 Major General
14 O-7 Brigadier General
12 O-6 Colonel
10 O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major
6 O-3 Captain
4 O-2 First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Second Lieutenant

 

 

Armed Forces -- 1941

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (US Army)
10 E-9  
9 E-9**  
8 E-8  
7 E-7** First Sergeant
    Master Sergeant
6 E-6 Technical Sergeant
5 E-5 Staff Sergeant
4 E-4 Sergeant
    Technician 4th Grade
3 E-3 Corporal
    Technician 5th Grade
2 E-2 Private First Class
1 E-1 Private

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USA)
22 O-11 General of the Army*
20 O-10 General
18 O-9 Lieutenant General
16 O-8 Major General
14 O-7 Brigadier General
12 O-6 Colonel
10 O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major
6 O-3 Captain
4 O-2 First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Second Lieutenant

 

 

Armed Forces -- 1951

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (US Army)
10 E-9  
9 E-9**  
8 E-8  
7 E-7** Master Sergeant
    First Sergeant
6 E-6 Sergeant First Class
5 E-5 Sergeant
4 E-4 Corporal
3 E-3 Private First Class
2 E-2 Private Second Class
1 E-1 Recruit

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USA)
22 O-11 General of the Army*
20 O-10 General
18 O-9 Lieutenant General
16 O-8 Major General
14 O-7 Brigadier General
12 O-6 Colonel
10 O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Major
6 O-3 Captain
4 O-2 First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Second Lieutenant

 

 

U.S. Armed Forces -- 2002

 

Enlisted Grades (1 Point/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USA) Rank (USAF) Rank (USMC) Rank (USN)
10 E-9 CSM of the Army* CMSgt of the Air Force* SgtMaj of the Marine Corps* Master CPO of the Navy *
9 E-9** Command Sergeant Major Chief Master Sergeant Sergeant Major Master Chief Petty Officer
    Sergeant Major Master Gunnery Sergeant Fleet/Command Master Chief PO  
8 E-8** Master Sergeant Master Sergeant Master Sergeant Senior Chief Petty Officer
    First Sergeant First Sergeant First Sergeant  
7 E-7 Sergeant First Class Master Sergeant Gunnery Sergeant Chief Petty Officer
6 E-6 Staff Sergeant Technical Sergeant Staff Sergeant Petty Officer First Class
5 E-5 Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant Petty Officer Second Class
4 E-4 Corporal Senior Airman Corporal Petty Officer Third Class
    Specialist      
3 E-3 Private First Class Airman First Class Lance Corporal Seaman
2 E-2 Private E-2 Airman Private First Class Seaman Apprentice
1 E-1 Private Airman Basic Private Seaman Recruit

 

Commissioned Officers (2 Points/level)

Cost Grade Rank (USN) Rank (USA, USAF, USMC)
20 O-10 Admiral* General*
18 O-9 Vice Admiral Lieutenant General
16 O-8 Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Major General
14 O-7 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Brigadier General
12 O-6 Commander Colonel
10 O-5 Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Colonel
8 O-4 Captain Major
6 O-3 Lieutenant Captain
4 O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant
2 O-1 Ensign Second Lieutenant