AD&D2e: Vietman Era Soldier

This character template was created for a Gen Con 2000 event, an AD&D 2nd edition update to the Caves of Chaos found in B1: Keep On The Borderlands. Most of the info was taken directly from Palladium Books’ Revised RECON RPG by Erick Wujcik, Kevin Siembieda, Matthew Balent and Maryann Siembieda.

Download PDF version of sheet: adnd-tl7-soldier.pdf

MODERN ARMY SOLDIER

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Squad
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Omnivorous
INTELLIGENCE: Average to Very (8-12)
TREASURE: Incidental
ALIGNMENT: Any

NO. APPEARING: 5-20 per squad
ARMOR CLASS: 10 or 6
MOVEMENT: 12 or 9
HIT DICE: 2+2
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 or by weapon type (see below)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type (see below)
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Move Silently, Hide in Shadows
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M
MORALE: Steady

WEAPON PROFICIENCIES: Rifle, Brawling, Pistol, Knife
NON-WEAPON PROFICIENCES: Area knowledge (11), Camouflage (11), Demolition (10), Driving (truck) (11), Scrounging (9), Swimming (10), Survival (pick one – forest, jungle, desert, etc.) (11), Tracking (9)
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Move Silently (as per thief) (20%), Hide in Shadows (as per thief) (20%), Climbing (as per thief) (80%)
SAVING THROWS: As 2nd-level warrior

EQUIPMENT

Clothing: camouflage fatigues (pants, shift-jacket, underwear, sun hat), rank insignia removed; metal helmet with cloth covering; rubber band around helmet holds toothbrush and paste; jungle boots, socks, sunglasses; dogtags.

Attached gear on first belt: first aid dressing case, compass case, canteen, bayonet, weapon cleaning kit, eight ammo pouches with eight M- 16 30-round clips, two smoke grenades and two fragmentation grenades.

Attached gear on second belt: .357 Colt backup revolver, 40 extra rounds of ammunition for revolver.

Rucksack: contains five extra ammo clips for rifle, extra canteen, an extra rifle bolt, a poncho, poncho liner, and five C-rations. On outside of rucksack dangle two smoke and two fragmentation grenades. Pocket items: lighter, a fork, wire cutters, P-38 can opener, extra shoelaces, wire, deck of playing cards, local paper money (if applicable), insect repellent, packets of powered drink mix, writing paper, pencil. Strapped on back or carried: M-16 assault rifle, belt of .50-caliber ammo.

This kit description is based on a Vietnam-era United States Army infantry soldier after six months of active duty in the field. These soldiers have learned speed, stealth and cover are much better than their standard issue flak jackets; however, if worn, change AC 10 and move 12 to AC 6 and move 9.

Each squad will have a leader (sergeant or lieutenant) equal to a 3rd-level fighter (THAC0 18, 3+3 HD). For green recruits fresh out of boot camp, treat them as 1st-level fighters (THAC0 20, 1+1 HD) and have them make the usual mistakes – they wear their ranks openly, they carry too much gear into the field, etc.

Note using the basic weapons and statistics described here, just one soldier can inflict an average of 45 hit points of damage per minute against lightly protected targets.

For AD&D2e notes about firearms, download the full PDF sheet.