In AD316 Gregor introduces Tokens (Accomplishments) as an additional way to level. In the Development phase the PC with the highest Kills and the one with the most Tokens roll to see which one levels. After that all the other PCs that didn’t level roll to see which one also gains a level. There is still the limit of 2 PCs levelling between Missions.

I want to introduce a more “organic” way of levelling. I was thinking of using Tokens as a kind of experience points. A PC levels after gaining a number of Tokens.

You can influence how many PCs level after a Mission by the number of Tokens necessary to level. If the GM rules that you need 10 Tokens to level than at the most 2 PCs can level in a 4-player game (24 Tokens). Which limits the number of Strengths available.

Killing things is still the easiest way to gain Tokens. But maybe the PC with the highest Kills at the and of a Mission gains an additional 2 Tokens, to “tempt” players to go for Big Fuckin Guns(tm) with limited killing ranges.

So here is my 15 minute hack of 3:16 for the CORPS:

The change the military setting into a fantasy heroic setting the 8 ranks are:

Rank – Gift
0. Adventurer – Force Weakness
1. Warrior (2nd highest FA) – none
2. Hero (Highest FA) – Retreat
3. Knight – Warhorse (free movement, NFA D3/1/1) + an extra 4-point weapon
4. Paladin – Barded Warhorse (horse armour) + an extra 5-point weapon
5. Chosen – One 6-point weapon
6. Champion – One 7-point weapon (Holy Avenger)
7. Lord – Campaign ending weapon (not sure yet)

NB The above ranks are for a martial PC. They should be modified for a magical or rogue-ish PC.

Other possible ranks:
1. Armsman
2. Warrior
3. Gallant/Ravager
4. Champion
5. Weaponmaster
6. Slayer
7. Guardian/Destroyer
8. Battlemaster
9. Warlord

or
1. Man-at-Arms
2. Warrior
3. Elite (eg Sparteatei)
4. Weapon Master (eg Swordmaster)
5. Local Hero (or Minor Hero)
6. Hero
7. Major Hero (eg Myrmidon)
8. Champion
9. Lord (or Legend

Freebooter/Adventurer:
1. Stripling
2. Vagabond
3. Skirmisher
4. Raider
5. Reaver
6. Warrior
7. Champion
8. Warlord
9. Hero

1. Humble
2. Worthy
3. Respected
4. Honored
5. Esteemed
6. Famous
7. Celebrated
8. Revered
9. Mighty
10. Renowned
11. Legendary

The 7 weapon ranks are:
pts roll
0 – 0
1 – 1
2 -  d4
3 – d6
4 – 2d4
5 -  2d6
6 – 3d6
7 – 2D20

PCs start with one 5-point weapon and one 4-point weapon. For example, a PC can start with a 5-point weapon that does D6/D4/x or D4/D4/1. And one 4-point weapon, for example x/2d4/x.

To simulate the “from zero to hero approach” the players can start of with a level lower than 10. Below is the number of Strengths and Weakness a PC starts with at each level.

Level (=FA+NFA) Strengths Weaknesses
19 – 0 1 or 1 0
18 – 1 1
17 – 2 1
16 – 2 2
15 – 3 2
14 – 3 3
13 – 4 3
12 – 4 4
11 – 5 4
10 – 5 5
09 – 6 5
08 – 6 6
07 – 7 6
06 – 7 7
05 – 8 7
04 – 8 8
03 – 9 8
02 – 9 9
01 – 10 9

* The final Weakness for a PC is always “I’m no Hero”. This is the realisation that real heroes don’t exist and the PC certainly isn’t one – there is nothing left to achieve and thus the PC retires.
* Alternatively, the final Strength is “Attain Godhood”. The martial prowess of the PC has opened up a position in the Pantheon of the Gods

KILL THEM!
Enemies come in three grades. Enemies take a number of successes to neutralize:

Henchmen - Single success necessary, removes one Threat Token and causes # “kills”,

Leaders/Named (N)PCs – Two successes necessary, removes one Threat Token and scores 1 kill

‘Endboss’ enemies - The number of PCs = the number of successes necessary, remove a Threat Token for each success, scores 1 kill

Epic Enemies - 2x the number of PCs = the number of successes necessary, remove a Threat Token for each success, score 1 kill. A Strength cannot instakill this threat, but removes 3 Threat Tokens from its pool.

Players can join up in killing Endbosses and Epic Enemies. The players that removes the last Threat Token earns the kill. Endbosses and Epic Enemies are always fought in seperate encounters. Endbosses and Epic Enemies can have Abilities.

AND TAKE THEIR STUFF
PCs earn money after succesfully completing quests and missions. Money is used to keep track of a character’s wealth, and to buy items of equipment. Money can be looted from dead enemies or earned from employers.

The currency is divided into gold, silver, and brass coins. When you have 100 brass coins equals 1 silver coin, and 100 silver = 1 gold.

1 gold is equal to 1 weapon rank. E.g. 4 gold coins (or 400 silver pieces or 40.000 brass coins) can be traded in for one 4-point weapon.

Alternative Loot rule: Loot/Treasure works as a free Leverage for the PC. After a succcesful Mission/Quest each PC earns 1 Treasure. The player decides if this Treasure is beneficial to FA or NFA. During the next Quest the player can “spend” his Treasure to gain a +1 bonus to an encounter. The player narrates how his acquired Treasure gives a benefit in the encounter. This Treasure bonus is stacked on top of a +1 Spotlight Leverage bonus.
Charts

Locations
City
Jungle
Mountain
River
Lake
Swamp
Ruined temple
Ruined city
Castle
Village
Tomb
Cave
Temple
Tower
Desert
Oasis
Forest
Hills
Island
Hyborian kingdoms
The Eastern kingdoms
The Black Kingdoms
Stygia

The North

Threat
Demon
Raiders
Bandits
Picts
Hillmen
Merchant
Sorcerer
King
Noble
Scholar
Priest
Army
Sea monster
Undead
Zombies
Vampire
Pirates
Elder race

Keyword
Trade Goods
Betrayal
Treachery
Message
Mistake
Hidden
Supernatural
Omen
Prophecy
Battle
Skirmish
War
Attack
Defend
Kidnapping
Slaves
Slave market
Weapon
Armour
Thievery
Escape
Captured
Scroll
Book
Civil war
Event
Monument
Magic item
Romantic
Story twist
Unforseen
Ambush
Jewel
Treasure
Wealth
Power
Shrine
Statue
Reputation
Honour
Allegiance
Child

This is what I have so far. Input is greatly appreciated.

Special Rules
[Sergeant or higher) Righteous Fury: Characters with this power hate all of the following enemies: all Chaos (Chaos Warriors, Beastmen, Daemons and Chaos Dwarfs), all Undead (Khemri and Vampire Counts), all Skaven.
They get +1FA when fighting their hated enemies. If the Warrior-Priest has the highest rank he may not use Retreat (e-vac) when fighting a hated enemy.

Warrior Priest of Sigmar
·Preferred Weapons: Warhammer (Hand Weapon) 1/D3/0, or double-handed Warhammer (0/D4/0)
·Armour: Armour and may also carry a shield.
·May ride a [Lieutenant or higher] Warhorse (kills D3/1/1) which can be [Captain or higher] barded (prevents one Kill but horse is Dead).

Special Rules:
Righteous Fury, Prayers of Sigmar

Prayers of Sigmar:
The Warrior-Priest starts with zero prayers. When he levels up or gets a promotion he can choose to spend his Development phase on learning a prayer, instead of upgrading another weapon (he gets the free upgrade) or requesting other items. If he succeeds in a NFA roll he can pick one of the prayers below.

(NFA, once per Encounter)
·Soulfire: The power of the Priest’s faith blasts all evil creatures around him. Kills D12/D6/D3. This prayer can only damage Undead and Daemons.
·Hammer of Sigmar: The priest, or any character in the same range band, can re-roll either a failed FA roll or a Kills roll.
·Armour of Righteousness: The Priest, or a character in the same range band, gains a free Armour check for that encounter only.
·Healing Hand: The priest, or any character in the same range band, is immediately healed of all the Kills it has suffered during the encounter up to that moment. A Priest can try to revive a dead character (only in the round immediately after the character has died) but it only restores the character to Crippled not fully healed.

The book was originally planned for Q4 2009 and then delayed to January 18th. But Cubicle 7 hasn’t (even) received the finished files from Gregor yet.

The good news is that maybe people that have pre-ordered the game will receive a pdf preview when Cubicle 7 has the book in its hands.

I have also heard no news about AD 316, the Roman version of 3:16. The release data was originally summer 2009, but it seems that game is also postponed indefinetely.

I hope everything is okay with Gregor and that the cause of the delays are work-related.

INITIAL EQUIPMENT ISSUE

Sarge you receive One M-23 Extended Range Radio.
You each receive the following;
One suit of MandelBrite combat armor.
One cartridge of combat drugs. Here is a copy of the health warning. Sign this release from liability form.

One M-1 Entrenching tool.
One K-Bar combat knife, titanium edged.
One box Flares.
One Personal Medipack.
One pack Trooper Ready Meals, commonly called TRMs.
One pack Hydration Tablets.
One Holo-Show emitter for personal use.
One pack inhalant Smoke Sticks. Today we have Maple Syrup or Blueberry, your choice. It is suggested that you read the health warning on the side of the pack.
One pack Radium Gun. It is suggested that you read the health warning on this also.
One leather Mitt or one Telescoping Bat, your choice, and one Polymer Ball.
One Playboy issue number 3,835. (he opens the fold out) “…ooooh miss Mars. Actually this is my copy ”
(rolls it up and puts it under his desk).
“A little supply humor… this is for yours”.
One Expeditionary Force Field Manual, EF 1 0 4 2 0 7 stroke 3 dash J.
“Sign here for the above items.”
Now report to the Armory to draw weapons.

KILL COUNTER EXPLANATION
(to explain why the kill counter stays the same no matter how many or what size enemy PC’s face)

The Kill Counters installed on the PC’s weapons utilize specialized sensors on the weapon and in the Mandelbrite suits. This information is then fed into a processor in the counter that uses a classified algorithm to award kills, which are then displayed on counter’s display screen. How the calculation is made is always a subject of conjecture and complaint by troopers but follows these general guidelines; killing a man sized alien is a kill, killing or even wounding larger aliens also awards “kills” although the actual individual alien may not be killed. Similarly against smaller aliens killing more than one may be necessary to actually be awarded a “kill”. In this way a trooper’s actual lethality can be scored competitively with his peers even if one trooper came up against a horde of small aliens and the other just one monstrous alien.

Alternate title: Forgive Me, Gregor, for I have Sinned.

Okay, so I love 3:16. I think it’s the bee’s knees, elbows, and spleen. But my players just aren’t getting into it with the same gusto. Fortunately, one of my players is also my wife, so I have plenty of opportunity to grill her for feedback.
We have determined, after much analysis, that the players don’t really know what they’re able to do (as in non-combat and out-of-combat actions). A large part of that problem is that the game is, in fact, too simple and easy.

Yes, yes, I know, I should have killed them and taken their stuff when I had the chance. But now, by jove, I find myself… agreeing. It just seems that two stats, while quick and easy, just aren’t enough to feel like a fleshed-out RPG to us. Fortunately, I had a nog-fueled epiphany a couple nights ago as I was drifting off to sleep, and have decided upon a hideous solution.

• *FA is divided up into three sub-stats: Gunnery (for all firearms), Explosives (for grenades, TPKs, and Paradise Bombs), and Melee (for all hand weapons).
• NFA is divided up into three sub-stats: Physical (changing range/weapon, any story event that requires lifting or climbing, etc.), Mental (the Dominance roll, any story event that requires spotting, thinking, fixing, etc.), and Social (the Development roll, any story event that requires shmoozing, ordering, bootlicking, etc.).
• FA and NFA are kept around because they are still used for stuff, including determining Level and the Aliens’ AA. Straight NFA is still used for special abilities (Force Weakness, Evac, Orbital Bombardment, etc.).

Characters are generated as normal, with 10 points to split between FA/NFA. Sub-stats are determined from a point pool of 2X the relevant stat. Example: Biffy gives his Trooper an FA of 6 and an NFA of 4. He now has 12 points to divide among Gunnery/Explosives/Melee, and 8 points to divide among Physical/Mental/Social.

One side effect of this mod is that even a 20th-level character will not be maxed in every ability. I consider it a feature, not a bug.

I plan on playtesting this within the next weekend or two. I think it will provide a better handle on PC customization and encourage my players to do stuff outside of combat more often, but the proof is in the pudding.

Comment from Gregor Hutton:

Hey, go for it. I’d be tempted to limit the derived stats to range +-3 from the main stat. Let me know how you get on, and try and see if the split of use between the 3 derived stats is even, or if one becomes a dump stat.

Comment from reptile2k1:

I would use the sub-stats as you suggested but handle initial point distribution differently:

• You start pith 10 points to distribute between FA and NFA.
• Each sub-stat starts with the same rating as the parent stat.
• You may lower any sub-stat by one point to increase another sub-stat of the same parent-stat by one point.
• No sub-stat may differ by more than +-3 from its parent-stat.

This makes character converison a little easier.

I think I won’t put any restrictions on point distribution in sub-stats; if a player really wants to overspecialize, it creates an opportunity for other players (or the GM!) to screw him over by pushing him into situations where he sucks. 

One idea I’m mulling over is to give players an additional +1 to the sub-stat of their choice when they use a flashback. If a player put them all in the same set of sub-stats, it would allow them to max them out (thus making those sub-stats irrelevant), but it would only occur at max level, which isn’t too bad. Perhaps only a +1 for using a Strength, which would still leave them 5 points short of perfection…

Resource Sampling:

Infiltration:
There is a powerful alien civilization on this planet, with space-faring capabilities. Your task is to go in as “embassadors” of Terra, and try to find out the extent of their empire so that a TEF-wide assault can be coordinated to take down this possibly legitimate threat to Terra. Conflicts will need to be kept small and covert, so as not to rouse the animosity of the civilization before their full power is gauged.

Beachhead:
You are the first unit to go in. Your mission is to locate and establish a suitable Landing Zone for the main effort of the assault. This could go many ways afterward, from the main body having a problem, to the PCs squad being put on LZ guard, or even being put at the point of the assault.

Rearguard:
The planet is too hot for 3:16 ground forces to cleanse, so they’re pulling out. You have been tasked with being the last ones off-planet, guarding the retreat and recovery of the rest of your unit. You’ll be pulled out, Troopers. Command values your expertise, and wouldn’t jeopardize you if it weren’t absolutely necessary. This is an opportunity for an iconic “fleeing the planet ahead of a nuclear explosion” scene.

Slash and Burn
The planet below is teeming with life- plants, insects, birds, a vast spectrum of non-threatening flora and fauna. Burn it all to the ground and salt the soil so that nothing ever thrives on the planet again.

Precise Instrument
Deploy your troopers for a surgical strike against a technologically advanced alien world. Orders dictate that the alien planetary infrastructure is the primary target- spaceports, industrial complexes, power generation facilities. Casualties are to be kept to a minimum- troopers are to engage only when directly attacked. Those returning to base with a minimum number (or no) kills are to be rewarded, while trigger-happy goons will come under scrutiny.

Code Name: AZATHOTH
Military Intelligence has discovered something unusual: a supermassive black hole that they believe to be intelligent. And hostile. The last two ships sent to destroy it indicated [CLASSIFIED] before they themselves were destroyed: so we’re going to try an experimental psychoactive counteragent on your Company’s troops when you’re sent to finish the job. Good luck!

(Run it as a Sentient Planet with Shadow Beast style minions (that may or may not just be psychic projections) and the Induce Weakness Special Ability, using emotional/mental attacks, and with a pretty high AA.)

((ETA: Just thought of an obvious alternative: “Corrupt” Trooper “minions” instead. Weirdly, this one is almost harsher if you use a low AA.))

Traitor
An officer seems to be conspiring with the aliens on the planets surface! Get down there and take her out before she sells out any secrets. Whoever brings her back alive gets a nice medal. Upon finding her with the aliens anyone can use their turn to roll FA to kill her instead of a threat token, she runs away after the first round. NFA to catch up to her and then NFA to capture her (she fights back, FA 5) or FA to kill her.

Operation Bookworms:

Operation Trident:
Players are assigned to locate and destroy a crashed scout vessel at the bottom of an ocean.
Takes place on a waterworld with large piranha like fish with a huge mouth and multiple rows of teeth and the ability to generate electricity once per encounter at any range which screws with the electronics in the PC’s suits causes a hit and knocks out their Fish Finder’s for the rest of the mission. The fish also have Rapid Movement.
Equipment Issues: The only weapons that will work under water are, Hand to Hand (knife), Power Claws, Power Blade, FlechetteGun (with the rate of fire (kills) dialed back one level to allow for the flechettes to clear the barrel due to the greater resistance of the water), RocketLauncher (with modified rocket torpedoes), Grenades (may fire from Far range if the PC set range the turn before and is considered above the target and dropping grenades down on them, depth charge style, after setting a longer delay on their timer, however the grenade goes off at the end of the round due to the time to drift down). Visibility is murky and ends at Near however PC’s are issued Sonar Detectors which attach to their helmet. They locate objects at Far range and are called Fish Finders by the troops. However on a Fish Finder a PC at Far cannot differentiate aliens from other PC’s who are at Close and if the PC at Far fires at the aliens one of his kills is assigned to each PC at Close.

Captured aliens escape containment on board the ship mid transport. PC’s wake up when the ship automatically thaws them out, groggy, naked, with sirens shrieking, and find a bloody crewman corpse in the adjacent corridor. “Which way was the weapons locker?” (NFA roll).

Piece Talks:
Players are part of honor guard for a truce to be signed with an alien species (after a mission goes bad (evac) versus the same intelligent aliens). The truce is a rouse to take out the Brigadier. Scenario starts as an ambush if the PC with the best NFA fails his roll. They must try and get the Brigadier and themselves off planet. First turn is an ambush and only PC’s that pass an NFA may act. Players may use their body to take a kill for the Brigadier.

Space…err…Large Drifting Ship:
Players’ unit is assigned to sweep out a derelict alien Hulk ship in space that has been infested with parasitic aliens but which contains new technology of the original owners. They may run into other high tech aliens who are after the same thing. Only the second encounter can be at far range (long corridor), the rest can only be at short or close.

Guarding your Rep…and Recreation:
Players’ are pulled out of the front line for R&R and to participate in training maneuvers. They meet up with another unit that they’ve animosity with from previous missions, the third army, seventh brigade, or the “Lucky” 3:7, who they’ve grown to dislike during previous missions for impetuously attacking and leaving PCs’ flank open, running away at a crucial moment, slow in advancing, etc. Unknown to the players the 3:7 actually has the same values as the PC’s. The first encounter is a bar room brawl (players are with others of their unit). The soldiers involved are called in to be chewed out by the Brigadier but it’s pretty clear by the end that he’s amused by the whole thing if they did well and that he’s most upset that they came out the worse if they lost.

The second encounter is Play “Z Ball” where they fin out that they’re playing the 3:7th. – Played in zero G with mercury filled balls that fly at odd angles. The players see one of the 3:7th with a black eye talking to one of the officers setting up the schedule and see the officer scoot the team names around in some way, but they don’t see how. Rolls vs FA will score against the opponents, Rolls vs NFA will avoid one score by the opponents. There are 2 halves (rounds) of play. The brigadier talk to you and tells you that this is for the pride of the Brigade, “Go Sixteen!”.
The third encounter is against an OpFor which they find out is the 3:7th, both side roll their best NFA at start and if one makes it and the other fails the encounter is at the failing team’s headquarters (a great embarrassment to have it overrun). For the scenario no permanent kills can be taken but rank can be gained through “kills” (miles type gear, a PC that takes a hit is “killed”).

With Friends Like These…
Battlefield Tech is a leading defense manufacturer. They’ve actually made some of the Expeditionary Force’s equipment in the past. Recently they bankrolled their company’s future on a new line of forty foot tall bipedal vehicles (Military Expeditionary Combat Harriers), bristling with weaponry which were to make all other military systems obsolete. The Expeditionary Force and the Terran Defense Force conducted tests but in the end turned them down. Analysts said the company was ruined, however they moved their headquarters off Terra out to the rim and somehow managed to do well for themselves. Now Intel says that they’re actually building these vehicles for alien races (note players may have seen one on an earlier mission that wasn’t powered up). The 3:16 is now planning a mission to the headquarters of Battlefield Tech. During the mission it should quickly become apparent that there is no easier target to spot than a forty foot tall machine walking around. The MECH’s will be taken out by fleet or heavy weapon fire support within seconds any time one appears in the distance (beyond FAR range) and is identified by one of the PC’s or NPC’s. This is a backdrop to the game. Then the PC’s will have in to move to complete the mission, occasionally coming across a smoldering pairs of twenty foot tall legs surrounded by slag and debris. The PC’s will then have to deal with the aliens protecting the headquarters. They could be body guards for the executives who are escaping or guarding evidence of alien dealings.

To Be or Not To Be
Terra Studios has sent some famous actors out to the 3:16 to get ideas for their new vid, “Expeditionary Force, the Vid”. The team is assigned to show them the ropes and watch over them. When loading on the drop ship the actors show up in costume with a film crew is along to make some promotional clips. It becomes apparent however that they’re actually shooting the vid (as well as blanks) during the current mission, using the live action/aliens as scenery and that the vid’s director is among the camera crew.

Kill Counter Explanation
(To explain why the kills are the same no matter how many or what size enemy PC’s face.)
The Kill Counters installed on the PC’s weapons utilize specialized sensors on the weapon and in the Mandelbrite suits. This information is then fed into a processor in the counter that uses a classified algorithm to award kills, which are then displayed on counter’s display screen. How the calculation is made is always a subject of conjecture and complaint by troopers but follows these general guidelines; killing a man sized alien is a kill, killing or even wounding larger aliens also awards “kills” although the actual individual alien may not be killed. Similarly against smaller aliens killing more than one may be necessary to actually be awarded a “kill”. In this way a trooper’s actual lethality can be scored competitively with his peers even if one trooper came up against a horde of small aliens and the other just one monstrous alien.