It’s 2136 and the UN has created a System to forge a society that can overcome any challenge. It is a world of conspiracies and actions taken to profit one while repressing others.
The origin of the System in StrikeForce: 2136 is a very dark and closely guarded secret. It began with a visit by an emissary from the extremely powerful, extraterrestrial Salthari Empire. The emissary stated that the Empire had no interest in earth until humanity left the boundaries of the solar system. Only then would humanity be evaluated and told what their place would be in the Empire. At that time humanity must choose to join the Empire or be exterminated. It was then that blueprint for the System was created to allow humanity to grow to the point at which they could challenge the Salthari. The plan was based upon the premise that most technological advances have occurred during times of conflict. The plan was to allow humanity to excel to the point where the Salthari could be met as an equal. Then, if not given an equal place in their Empire, humanity could take them down. The System is constantly monitored by the UN to maximize the creation of new technologies and powers for the human race. The stated goal for the UN and the System it created is to perfect humanity and its technological foundations so no one can ever plunge us into darkness. Only a handful of corporations and nations know of the alien factor which has caused many to think they can run the System better; leading to the many conspiracies that surround the characters.
Another demand of the Salthari was that all the Paulson units must be destroyed in 10 years or the Salthari would destroy earth to eliminate that threat. Paulson units were DNA Artificial Intelligences based on the creator’s own brain neural patterns. Unfortunately the creator was a madman. In the beginning the Paulson units were a tremendous success, but over time they began using excessive force and eventually came to consider humans as lesser beings and began to plot the extinction of all humanity. Paulson units appeared human and only an extremely detailed scan could identify a unit. They were very subtle and because they were relatively few in number they used subterfuge and deception to pit government vs. government and faction against faction. The plan was simple genius. Let the human cattle kill themselves. The Paulson units were barely defeated and all units destroyed. At least that is the official version.
The world of 2136 is high tech to the extreme: exo-skeletons, glove suit DNA armor, instant heal drugs, artificial intelligences, are only the beginning of what is available to the characters.
The characters are members of highly skilled teams called StrikeForces who work for Corporations, Nations, Guilds, or can free lance. The races range from Sapiens to Superior and each race has its own unique bonus attributes. Characters also have a profession. Special Tactics Officer (STO, warrior), Corporate Spy (rogue/thief), Medical or Nanonic Tech (alchemist/healer), or Psionic Tech (psi/mage), but the development of the character is entirely up to the player.
Character generation starts with d100 rolls for base attributes of intelligence, prowess (strength and agility), endurance and emotion (a d10 roll). Secondary attributes are then figured and a profession is chosen. Each profession has stat minimums, but characters can try and cheat the system to get the profession they want. Characters then choose their rank in society, skills, and passions.
The hardest part of character generation is the equip phase. StrikeForce: 2136 is a completely configurable game that includes an abundance of technology. Armor is not only for protection, it also has systems such as stealth, optics, targeting, etc. Even beginning characters can get some of these systems for the lowest cost armor.
Plasma weapons and chemproject weapons inflict horrific damage to the body. An array of futuristic drugs can heal just about anything or can enhance a character’s ability, but beware of addiction. Chameleon virus systems, ionic bonding gloves and boots, jet packs, grenades; there is an entire manual devoted to amazing technology. Can’t find what you want? You have the ability to create your own. Tech allows the flexibility for a character to devise creative solutions to situations that arise when using a bigger gun may not be the best idea. Though you can always try.
Imagine you are a Corporate Spy using his glove suit’s ability to morph and change into the messenger the bad guys are expecting. Now rather than fighting his way in, he can bluff his way in and get the information he needs.
All technology is character driven. In order to use a piece of technology in a certain way the character must have the skill to do that action. In order to use the chameleon virus chip to sneak away the character needs to have the main skill of Stealth. Having the sub skill of Stalking would make the effectiveness of the tech even higher. Technology adds a powerful bonus to a character’s basic skill. This bonus is called Tech effectiveness (TEF). Even if you don’t roll very well, technology can be “tweaked” to try and make the roll more effective. Some technology even allows the character to influence other character and NPC rolls.
If your character is searching a room for a hidden door they would need the main skill Perception. There are four sub skills under Perception: Select Recall, Intuitions, Detail Search, and Long Range. Assume the following bonuses for each: Perception (10), Select Recall (40), Intuitions (35), Detail Search (30), and Long Range (25).
Your character wants his effectiveness to be as high as possible. The main skill bonus is only used if you have no sub skills that apply, so the Perception score (10) is not added. But your character would definitely use Intuitions (35) and Detail Search (30). Select Recall probably wouldn’t apply unless you had been in a similar situation before, and Long Range wouldn’t apply because your character is in a room.
Your character could also add the sub skill Building Layouts which falls under the main skill Engineering if they had it, and any other main or sub skill that would apply to the situation.
Your character also has a scanner which adds a tech effectiveness of (25) and an enhanced optics system in their helmet which adds (75).
Now add your character’s base skill (20) which is their innate ability to do anything and your total skill chance equals 185. Intuitions (35) + Detail Search (30) + Scanner (25) + Optics (75) + Base Skill (20).
Now roll d100 and subtract this number from your total skill chance and this is your total effectiveness of searching for the hidden door. If the target difficulty of seeing the door is 150, then you must roll a 35 or less to succeed in finding the door. If your character fails they may try to “tweak” their tech, which if successful can add a bonus and possibly make their attempt to find the door successful.
The flexibility of the game allows the character to combine multiple skills in any given situation and this really adds to the play experience. Just as in real life where one would draw upon all of one’s resources, skills, experiences and intuition to solve a problem, so it is in StrikeForce.
For example your character is trying to find the best way to secretly access a high security facility. Begin with Stealth skills such as Camouflage, Stalking and Terrain use. You could then add any technology bonuses your character may have to help avoid detection. Examples could be a chameleon virus chip or maybe a light bending invisibility DNA strand. These might allow your character to move undetected across the compound and throughout the facility.
Now consider the high tech door locks and security systems within the facility; how will you pass through those? Here is a situation where you can really combine your character’s skills. Depending on the type of lock your character encounters they could draw upon their Security System skills in Lockpick, Bypassing, Soft Code Programs and/or Hardwire. In addition your character may possess Computer skills in Software/Hardware Interface or Access Protocols that could be added to increase their chances of not setting off the alarm. If your character has skills in Electronics, maybe Bypass Design, Electrical Circuits or Low Power Sources Design might be added to aid the success of your attempt. A piece of technology such as a security decoder chip can definitely add to your chances of success.
The more skills your character can combine, the better their technology and the more creativity you can apply the more successful you will be in StrikeForce: 2136.
What truly drew me in and hooked me on StrikeForce is the infinite number of directions I can take my character and the limitless skill combinations my character can gain and utilize. The game, like the character development, is dynamic. It evolves and grows with your character. There is no point at which you know you must roll a 32 to be able to pick a lock. Every point counts in StrikeForce, and even the simplest situation becomes a role playing experience because you never truly know what you are up against.
The bottom line is that the game and System are about you creating a character you can identify with and one that is able to evolve and grow as you play and enjoy the world of 2136.
Hope this helps.
