Cobra Troopers
| Strength 6d * |
Agility 3d * |
Intellect 3x |
Willpower 4d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
2 (10) 0 |
* Cobra Troopers will generally have either Boxing or Martial Arts as a skill, but not both unless they are exceptional fellows. If a trooper goes with Boxing, he will have a d code for both Strength and Agility; this is the standard Trooper choice for the most part. On the other hand, if he goes with Martial Arts, he will have an x code for Strength and a c code for Agility.
Powers:
(none)
Equipment:
AK-47 Assault Rifle (a): this Russian-built, semi or fully automatic rifle is built to last, being readily adapted for almost any duty imaginable. The gun itself fires a small burst of shells, acting as a +5 weapon when doing so, or a full-auto spread, acting as a +6 weapon in such a mode. The latter tends to burn clips, but Cobra Troopers carry several on hand...
Bazooka (i): one tool the new Cobra Trooper carries with him into the field is a bazooka! This implement allows them to inflict staggering damage to enemy armor (and personnel, if need be), mostly by firing a small rocket at their foes. This weapon can only hold one rocket at a time, which must be reloaded before it can be used again, but inflicts intensity 10 damage to all within near missile range of where it hits.
Grenades (i): in their second incarnation, Cobra soldiers have been equipped with two grenades apiece, in addition to their other hardware. They carry one incendiary and one fragmentary grenade, both of which inflict intensity 10 damage of the proper type (fiery or shrapnel) to everybody within striking distance of the grenade's detonation - nasty, no?
Helmet (s): all Cobra Troopers wear a helmet, in order to increase relative safety on the field and to protect from the ever-deadly head shot. Made of material strength 10 metals, this helmet offers its wearer +2 protection from any non-frontal head attacks. This may not be enough to deflect all damage in a given instance, but it nonetheless helps to save lives...
Knife (s): though they'd rather not do so, all Cobra Troopers are equipped to fight hand to hand in the event that they completely run out of ammunition (and they usually carry several spare clips to prevent this). These blades are of material strength 12, and in a Cobra Trooper's hands, they can be used as +2 weapons with each deadly strike.
Pistol (a): in the event that one's AK is disabled, a Cobra Trooper always has a spare handgun handy, stored in a convenient shoulder holster for quick access. These guns can be used to fire a single shot, acting as a +4 weapon, or a short burst which drains the entire clip, but increases their effectiveness to +5. The clip can presumably hold 8 rounds before it needs reloaded.
Hindrances:
(none)
Skills:
Boxing (s): all Cobra Troopers are trained in at least one form of unarmed combat once they hook up with the group, if they don't already have one under their belt. A majority learn the fine art of boxing, allowing them to divide their pre-cardplay action score between two unarmed melee attacks per exchange, the last of which will occur as a contingent action. *
Marksmanship (a): a given prerequisite, all Cobra operatives must have the ability to use a gun in combat; if they don't have it upon joining Cobra, they are trained - and quickly. Any Cobra Trooper can use a regular, semi-automatic, or fully automatic gun or rifle with proficiency, doing so at one difficulty level lower than is normally required.
Martial Arts (a): a rare few Cobra Troopers transform their unarmed fighting style into an art form. Those who have managed to do so will be able to resolve unarmed attacks with either their Strength or Agility score (whichever is most convenient), and may reduce the difficulty of actions intended to catch thrown objects or to lower falling damage. *
Military (w): a quasi-military organization, Cobra encourages an easily recognizable (to those within, at least) command structure. As such, those not bringing experience in such matters tend to pick it up quickly, in order to rise through the ranks; those who don't typically stay right here, on the bottom. This skill gives Cobra Troopers an edge concerning military protocols and regulations.
* Remember: Cobra Troopers will have either Boxing or Martial Arts, but not both. Were some to indeed have both they'd be quickly promoted out of this rank into something more flashy and/or better paying.
Calling:
Various Callings: the vast, vast majority of Cobra operatives have joined up for their own, evil purposes, so choose a villainous calling and go with it! Nominally, Cobra Troopers are motivated by Greed or aspirations of World Domination, but anything else can really apply. For instance, Storm Shadow hooked up with Cobra to gain Vengeance, etc...
Costume:
Years after their debut, this bottom-rung Trooper was given an all new uniform. The Cobra Trooper's second uniform included a blue padded jacket with a large red Cobra sigil on the lower left torso, padded blue trousers, gray and red leather boots, gray and red leather gloves, various gray belts, holsters and bandoilers for gear, a blue face mask, and of course the trademark blue Cobra Trooper helmet.
Personality:
The Cobra Trooper represents a highly trained and highly motivated terrorist, one who hooked up with the Cobra organization in order to further his own, personal agenda. While criminal minded, these folk still knew what they were doing, and though they might fail in their missions, they weren't necessarily bumbling fools. They were either ex-military or trained by Cobra to fight.
Notes:
The Trooper is the ground floor of the Cobra organization. Though there are several ranks below it, most are provisional (the Cobra Trooper 2 and Cobra Officer 2) and the rest are disciplinary in nature (the Toxo-Viper or the Desert Scorpion). Similarly, as the base level of Cobra, these guys basically have nowhere to go but up, in both pay scale and advanced training.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of the Cobra Trooper:
| 1982 | 2006 |