Steel Brigade soldiers Strength Agility Intellect Willpower 6d * 4d * 3x * 5d * Hand Size: 2 (10) Edge: 0 Note: these are 'basic' ability codes that all Steel Brigade members will have, basically as a function of their enrollment in the United States military - no matter what branch they happen to be in. With their additional skill added, one of these will improve by one. Origin: The members of the GI Joe's reserve Steel Brigade unit are all normal humans. Though they excel in their field and are typically quite skilled, each member of the Steel Brigade is but a normal human, no matter how exceptional they seem to be. Powers: (none) Hindrances / Augmentations: (none) Equipment: Grenades (i): Steel Brigadiers usually go into combat with at least one grenade handy. They can fling these explosive devices to inflict intensity 10 damage to all targets within near missile range of their detonation point that are not currently under cover. Helmet (s): all members of the Steel Brigade wear a particularly distinctive chrome helmet, which include a mirrored visor (for intensity 8, or +2, Screened Senses / Sight). This gear offers Steel Brigade soldiers intensity 8, or +2, protection to physical attacks on their heads. Knife (s): a vital tool for any armed representative of the government, each Steel Brigade operative carries one of these. Made from m.s. 12 materials, this blade can be used to cut through items of up to like m.s. (with time), or to inflict their Strength +2 damage in melee. Machine Gun (a): the Steel Brigade mainly makes use of this rifle, which can be fired to inflict their Agility +4 damage in a single shot, +5 in a short burst, or +6 when fired continuously. It has a bayonet attached that does damage like a knife, as described above. Sidearm (a): a backup for their main weapon should it fail them somehow, Steel Brigade soldiers carry a spare handgun, usually in a convenient hip-holster. They can fire this weapon to inflict their Agility +4 damage in a single shot, +5 in a small burst. Skills: Bonus Skill: in addition to the below, 'standard' talents all members of the Steel Brigade also possess one additional skill of merit. This can be anything from Ranger training (survival) to flight school (piloting) to heavy weapons (marksman), depending on their background. Boxing (s): the Steel Brigade is big on self-defense, and can easily fight the forces of darkness without a weapon when necessary. They may divide their pre-card play action score between two unarmed fighting attacks each exchange, the last of which occurs as a contingent action. Guns (a): all members of the Steel Brigade are trained in the use of most modern firearms. Whether they're handling a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Steel Brigade operatives may do so at one difficulty level lower than is normally required. Military / United States (w): the source of all their talents, the Steel Brigade in their entirety have this skill as a general matter of course. They are well-versed in the SOP, and can seamlessly blend into, and function within, a military group of men and women. Contacts: As members of the GI Joe team, albeit reserve members, the Steel Brigade can rely upon the Joes - and each other - for assistance should they need it. In fact, that's part of the point of their unit, to spot emergencies and terrorist activity and call the Joes in. Calling: Soldier: while the various members of the Steel Brigade are allowed other callings of course, this one represents the vast majority of their number. It shows their desire to protect their country from its enemies, their willingness to work with others, and ability to follow orders. Costume: The first Steel Brigade uniform is the standard for all others. The first version includes a grass green vest under a blue turtleneck sweater, tan trousers, black leather boots, gloves, holsters, and sheathes, green knee pads, a silver belt, and a chrome, green, and black helmet. Notes: The purpose of the Steel Brigade is to have a ready reserve of local talent to assist GI Joe when they have to act anywhere on earth. These intrepid members of the military serve in a normal capacity until activated - or until they spot something the Joes should probably check out. They are not merely faceless ciphers, having their own code-names and specialties, and sometimes you don't know what you'll get in a Steel Brigadier until you arrive in their town. Though not as versatile or experienced as regular Joes, the Steel Brigade is definitely a boon to the unit. * 1988 VARIATIONS * Costume: The second Steel Brigade uniform is very close to the first. It includes a grass green vest under a blue turtleneck sweater, tan trousers, black leather boots and gloves, green knee pads, a silver belt, black holsters and bandoilers, and a chrome, green, and black helmet. The third Steel Brigade is also just like the first, featuring most of the components as the second. However, those Steel Brigade operatives using this version of the uniform lack a hip holster for their pistols, likely holding these weapons in one on their vest. * 1989 VARIATIONS * Costume: The fourth Steel Brigade uniform resembles the third, mostly. This one includes a grass green vest under a blue turtleneck sweater, tan trousers, black leather boots, gloves, holsters, bandoliers, and belts, green knee pads, and a chrome, green, and black helmet. The fifth hews more closely to the second. It consists of a grass green vest under a blue turtleneck sweater, tan trousers, black leather boots, gloves, holsters, and sheathes, green knee pads, a black leather bandoiler and belt, and a chrome, green, and black helmet. * 1992 VARIATIONS * Costume: The sixth Steel Brigade uniform is a departure from the others. It consists of a bright green vest under a deep blue turtleneck sweater, deep blue trousers, a black leather belt, bandolier, boots, gloves, and holsters, deep blue knee pads, and a brass, green, and black helmet. * 2011 VARIATIONS * Equipment: M-60 (a): when their M-16 just isn't enough, Steel Brigadiers haul out the big guns. They may fire a short burst of rounds from this hog to inflict their Agility +6 in damage to their foes, or instead fire them continuously to inflict their Agility +7 in damage. Rocket Launcher (i): when even their M-60 isn't enough to crack the armor of freedom's enemies, the Steel Brigade often make use of these rocket propelled grenades. These inflict damage per their ordinary grenades, per the above, but can hit anything within far missile distance. Costume: The seventh Steel Brigade uniform is similar to the others. It consists of a dark green vest under a light blue turtleneck sweater, khakis trousers, a black leather belt, bandolier, boots, gloves, and holsters, green or black knee pads, and a brass, green, and black helmet.