A few recurrent themes in military life, as seen through UA rules…
The below are a few of the oddities I’ve figured on adding to the UA rules of my gaming group; you’re welcome to take, alter or ignore what you want. It’s a big world.
Essentially, each of these behaviors, concepts, or actions provides a single percentile chance to surviving a negative fate, from a base of 19% — one ambush, sniper run, or bombing streak. Each trinket so altered adds one percent, plus one percent per person in the given unit, platoon, or command who is using the same thing. Essentially, you do well, you’ll survive. You don’t follow the actions given, your mileage may suck.
1.) Protective Literature — from the old tradition of writing curses, blessings, and popular phrases on military gear of all stripes, it’s got to mean something, right?
“We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won’t allow them to write ‘fuck’ on their airplanes because it’s obscene!” — Kurtz; Apocalypse Now
2.) Complaining about the food dates back to the history of the first forced march unit of armed combatants, and the meals they brought along. Anything not served by someone who loves you, or at least, knows your culinary interests, is going to result in less-than-stellar fare, as feeding goes. As such, by complaining about the food in question one is assured to clear at least until the next meal, on average — this is hit-or-miss thinking, admittedly, but it’s a better shot than you’d have.
“Oh man, if you can’t fry it, I won’t eat it!” — Washburn; Hamburger Hill
3.) Where the horse goes, victory follows. Any war fought without the aid of at least one horseman per hundred is giving it’s odds back to Fate and Fortune; neither knows a flag or nation. As such, the riders of calvary were blessed by being neither a mobile gun, nor footman; anyone suitably affiliated is granted a little leeway with survival and victory. It says something about mobility, admittedly, but it also lends creedence to the idea that to stay put is to die, and to move forever is to never take permanent shelter from the war. Those in between are blessed, but still have to take care of a horse.
“Private Cowboy: You know there’s not a single horse in the entire country of Vietnam? There’s definitely something wrong with that.” — Private Cowboy; Full Metal Jacket
4.) Prayers for the dead;
“T.H.E. Rock: You’re going home now.
Crazy Earl: Semper fi.
Donlon: We’re mean marines, sir.
Private Eightball: Go easy, bros.
Animal Mother: Better you than me. ” — Full Metal Jacket
That about summates the whole concept.
5.) Sweetheart Photo Death Syndrome — taking your sweetheart’s photo with you is a time-honored truth of warfare, of love, and passion. It will also give the fucking voodoo death curse upon any who meet his or her eyes, for the next twelve hours. Your survival chances are dropped to one half current value, rounded down. If the word ‘love’ appears on the front, it is at one-quarter, rounded down. If s/he is your ex-significant other, the chances are instead boosted by five percent, for twelve hours.
Just a few to add to the mix; any suggestions?
“Things have taken a turn for the surreal.” — Captain John Miller; Saving Private Ryan
I quite like that idea,but I think on the whole its better to go 1% chance from a base of 0, but for more than one event,rather than a 20% chance for a single encounter. Basically you’ll get a massivly toned down version of Bulletproof Chutzpah. I’d also cap it at 20%.
Finally I don’t like the “picture of your girl”rules. The “having a picture of your girl means you’re going to die”is a staple of movies, but this isn’t Feng Shui and a lot of people can,do and should carry pictures of their girls for good luck
I guess it’d depend on how far one was from one’s release date; within say, 30 days, it’s good luck. Prior to that, one is either considered new (cherry), whereas if one waits longer , one is ‘born-again-hard’. It’d vary, I suppose. Me, I’d give ’em a much worse chance if she’s a high school sweetheart, and less worse chance if it’s a spouse. It’s levels of commitment.
But, either way; I’d get it tattooed. Much more superstition behind the tattoo than the photograph.
Sailors in the early British navy would get the crucifix tattooed on their back, to save them the worst parts of being flogged or whipped; the wielder of the whip would be assumed to either strike less harshly or miss more often if it was an icon of the church.
Then again, different times, different modes of thinking.
I just love the “Sweetheart Photo Death Syndrome”.
Having it be a reoccuring theme in movies only enhances the perception, and therefore ( IMHO ) enhances it’s magical standing.
The protective item thing is pretty prevalent. I myself wear a St. Christopher’s medal, have a dog tag laced into one of my boots, and by blood type written on both…