Recreating a Space Marine in d20

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-10-13 07:49pm

Okay, so one of the guys in the group wanted to try out Besm d20. As I'm not using a traditional anime character concept, I took a look at the rules and decided that I was going to try and recreate a Space Marine from Warhammer 40,000. I won't be able to do it all at once at first level, of course, but I plan on getting there.

So I'm starting at first level, have 40 character points to spend, and access to the Besm core book and d20 Mecha, which I will use to create the power armor. The game is tonight, starting in about five hours. Anyone who's actually familiar with the Besm variant on d20: How do I do this? I have an idea, but I'd like the opinion of people who know the system better than I before I go forward, if anyone who does is around here.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2006-10-13 08:17pm

I've never even heard of Besm.

All I can say is, apply the same methodology toward a Marine as you might an old dragon in core D&D: They're bigger, better, smarter, faster, tougher, and stronger than you, end of story.

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2006-10-13 08:30pm

Unfortunatly I've only used BESM d6, so I'm not sure about d20.

Basically go for human, but better in every way.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2006-10-13 08:33pm

Oh, and don't forget to get some kind of acid/poison spit if you can.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-10-13 08:40pm

Brother-Captain Gaius wrote:Oh, and don't forget to get some kind of acid/poison spit if you can.

I can, but I'm thinking of making him an Imperial Fist so I don't have to waste the character points.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2006-10-13 08:46pm

Rogue 9 wrote:I can, but I'm thinking of making him an Imperial Fist so I don't have to waste the character points.

A wise choice.

(all my Marines are Imperial Fists successors ftw)

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-10-13 08:49pm

Speed-read the first few chapters of Space Marine for an idea of how to make an Imperial Fist.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2006-10-13 09:19pm

BESM is Big Weyes Small Mouth...the company that printed it, Guardians of Order , is now out of business. Basically an anime RPG much like Mekton Zeta only they have the Tri stat system, only three stats Mind, Body and Soul, and a d20 variant that uses those rules.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-10-13 09:21pm

Buh? The stats are standard d20, Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and so forth. Maybe one of the other editions uses tri-stat.

Neko_Oni · Post by **Neko_Oni** » 2006-10-13 10:09pm

BESM uses Tri-Stat (I have the second edition rulebook right next to me), BESM d20 uses d20 (obviously).

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-10-13 10:54pm

Oh, I should also say that after I've accumulated enough character and equipment points, I plan on having the character have a near-death experience so that he can be stuck in a Dreadnought.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2006-10-13 11:19pm

A space marine should have above human strength and toughness for certain. Saddly, this means that you are gonna have to spend a lot of precious points pumping up your abilities. If each +2 is a point, that means ten points are needed to bring your strength and Con up ten points. You've got a solid cage of bone around your lungs and hearts, so thats Armor and Damn Healthy! You are a combat fiend, and should spend some more points to reflect this. You live, eat and breathe battle remember. So ignore any skill that has no relation to combat in the 41st millenium. Space marines suffer from extreme ism defects, and can be considered marked as well.
So you're probably gonna spend a lot of points just making the Space Marine parts, and not have much left over for anything else you might want.
And the Dreadnaught plan is pretty cool. "I have returned. Do not feel saddened by my condition, for I have been awarded a greater honor than you shall ever know."

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2006-10-13 11:28pm

Yeah. For class, I'm thinking Mecha Pilot so that I can get the power armor without spending 8 of my character points on it.

Vehrec · Post by **Vehrec** » 2006-10-14 12:01am

Mecha Pilots don't get the Melee weapons attack and defense skills as class slkills. Chainsword lack makes me sad.
Acid spit would cost 8 points as a 2d8 burning short range special attack.
Regeneration 1 is a must have. Four more points.
Space marines only need to sleep rarely, see better than normal men, age slowly, are imune to disease, resistant to poison, and can breathe in low O2 enviroments. Those are five one slot immunities and one two slot imunity at one point per slot. Seven points.
Dexterity +6, Con+10, and Str+10 cost a total of 13 points.
+1 to all saving throws to represent the Space Marine's pure will to survive and toughness costs an extra 3 points.
Armor is two points. Damn Healthy sets you back 2 points for each bonus HD.
Thats a total of 37 points for the complete Space Marine, 29 for an Imperial Fist. I think you should start with somthing like a scout, or have your marine be 'poisoned' so he's less capable.

Coalition · Post by **Coalition** » 2006-10-14 12:53am

If you want to stretch canon a little, make the character a Space Marine reject (for some reason), but he could be later accepted (after proving himself in battle).

So the character has some of the Space Marine combat and stealth training, but none of the gene gifts yet.

The player's goal in life should be earning enough experience to be entered in the Space Marine path, where the character spends the next decade being upgraded to proper Space Marine capabilities (and the other characters go on as usual).

The other option is to load the character with various fanaticism options, and the lack of equipment to repair his power armor, so the armor slowly degrades over time. As the Space Marine does not have any other armor, he wll eventually have to choose when to give up the Space Marine armor.