20JUL10 The RPG Tank...

Be very careful what you tell players, in fact, you might want to clarify depending on genre... After all, with a game system like GURPS (Generic Universal Role Playing System by Steve Jackson Games, www.sjgames.com) you certainly have to. After all, you never know what sourcebook a player might have picked up and what kind of character they slipped into your game world! Yes, I'm such a Munchkin...

Most references to various games are Copyright Steve Jackson Games. "Bolo" is reference to the giant cyber tanks which are the brain child of Keith Laumer (and an inspiration to S.J. and crew) along with "Gottlos" being the cyborg tank idea of Colin Kapp (Analog Collected works Number 8, picked up at a library book sale years ago!). Fans of "Ogre/GEV" will instantly recognize the references to the orignal ideas that inspired Ogre.

What can I say, I find the idea of giant self aware tanks that pack enough firepower to match an armored company pretty fun as a science fiction game concept. My roleplaying game experience is pretty limited, so when I first heard 'tank' in reference to Fantasy RPG's you can imagine the devious thoughts that went through my head. As I've been a GURPS book reader and Ogre player since the age of 12... The fact that I have some friends who might play a GURPS Fantasy module and I have GURPS Ogre on my shelf...

Science Fiction Ground Forces Echelons

Just a few thoughts, most of this chart is what is currently used by military organizations throughout the world. The Echelons above Theater/Region were created on this chart using diamonds as a simple symbol that can be put on military mapping graphics. Its free to use by anyone (just attribute the use of diamonds appropriately, but really I don't care). I came up with the idea sitting on TOC shift in Iraq a few years ago emailing science fiction ideas back and forth with my Dad in my off time. While it seems to fit cozy, I'm sure, like in reality, nothing fits perfectly! After all, a Planetary Forces command might only have a Brigade sized element at its command on a small moon orbiting some forsaken gas giant... And be listed as a Planetary Force Command much to the dismay of another PFC officer on some dirt ball with several Theater Commands under him (yeah, he'd be pretty pissed to have to address someone with fewer forces as an equal!).

So, go make some games or write some good roleplaying adventures using this structure! It could lead to some incredible fun (say, would a giant self aware cyber tank count as a Team or an entire Armored Battalion?)!

References:
Other than the numerous military publications available, an nice online article to read is Wikipedia's on Military Organization

David Drake

While not purely a board gaming subject, David Drake's military SF has had an incredible influence on the world of Science Fiction and Gaming in general. Once can look at the Ground Effects Vehicles in the Ogre/GEV universes and Grav Armor and see the influence of his work. Another way to gauge his influence on the world of gaming can be seen in the Ground Zero Games classics of Dirtside II and Stargrunt II! Both of which are miniature table top games that can be downloaded for free from Here. You can't argue with that price for a miniatures game... After all, you want some money left for the miniatures...

...which if you are like me and a big "Hammers Slammers" fan, here are some pictures of the Hammers Slammers miniatures!

As posted on my other blog:



One of my favorite Military Science Fiction authors interviewed by one of my favorite blogs! Yippie!

Part I.


Part II.


Part III. (edit: added 07OCT08)


Part IV. (edit: added 07OCT08)


Part V. (edit: added 08OCT08)


Part VI. (edit: added 09OCT08)


There is more to follow! Check it out at Black Five! David Drakes Website

Some of my fan art:
A Combat Car used by the "Hammers Slammers" Regiment in his ground breaking Military SF series


The daddy of all his creations, the Hover Tanks from "Hammers Slammers" Regiment!