Battle Master Hints

From SSDC, Inc.

• How to handle private messages between players: Pass notes on folded paper, or my favorite, pull the player into another room and hear the players left behind scream "Backstabber!"
• New players rarely have Ablative Liner, so punk them with lasers.
• Useful tip to separate in-game from out-game: Everything said at the gaming table is strictly 'in-game' if the acting player is not making a clear 'time-out' gesture (both hands form a 'T').
• The equipment of the enemy should always reflect the worth of whatever it is they are guarding. No one protects a crate of goods worth 1,000cr with an ultra armor. Likewise, no megacorp in its right mind protects the secret plan to rule the galaxy with some guys in AKMB armor.
• The PCs make excessive use of MegaGlue? Give the enemy MegaGlue, too!
• If the PCs of your group have too much equipment, let them travel to another planet and tell them their stuff was lost in transit ('Don't worry, we have luggage insurance for everything but illegal weapons and military-class armor. And of course I'll need to have all receipts and original documentation to verify your claims').
• Mines. 'Nuff said.
• Ultra-quiet spys are easily spotted by rattweiler equivalents with ultra-high hearing an smell modifiers.
• If you're in need of a basic format for After Action Reports for your corporate mercs, check out After Action Report
• If you need building, facility or space station plans, don't forget that we live in the 21st century: Go to Google picture search and enter queries like "floorplan", "by floor" or "map" and the type of location you're looking for "hotel", "space ship", "factory" or whatever. Good luck hunting!
• Make a player keep track of the initiative of everyone on the PC team. That will lower your workload, so you only have to ask "who goes next?"
• Secretly keep track of PCs ammo! Then, just say "click"
• If your PC group behaves like a bunch of psychopaths while on a civilized Alliance world, don't forget that the line between mercs and rebels may blur in the view of an incoming Space Marine group
• If your PCs leave a trail of bodies, have a Zen forensics expert "speak with the dead". There is no perfect crime.
• Use minis and small maps to help keep track of player locations in buildings and on the battlefield, this way it is obvious where people are and what their line of movement is.
• NPCs aren't dumb mindless paid workers, have an idea of how intelligent the opponents and coworkers of the players are.
• Hair brained ideas are great but if the character has an IQ two points over plant life then don't let him propose the plan, or make him roll an IQ check.
• Flavor Text - Prepare some small pieces of flavor text of key encounters.
• Expect the Unexpected - No matter how much prep work you do your players will do something else. Even if the choice is as obvious as can possibly be, don't be surprised when the players do something else. I find it best to prepare encounters that can be used piecemeal, so you can flow with your players irrational choices.