M - Line Rifleman

"It doesn't matter if they can't hit the broadside of barn - there are two dozen of them. If they all close their eyes and aim in our general direction one of them is still bound to hit us."

The deployment of small arms in warfare increased tenfold during the heights of The Inheritance War, with the relentless aggression of Kaldari infantry keeping the Alvain Loyalist armies constantly scrambling to arm and train soldiers to replace the casualties from the war's devastating losses. As the demand for new levies exceeded the rate at which they could be trained, the  loyalist solution was the deployment of lightly armored and minimally trained Riflemen.


While a dependable archer or swordsman can take years to master their craft, a competent drill instructor can forge a common human into a reliable rifleman with as little as a few weeks of training. Less accurate than a rifle and less penetrating than a crossbow, the advantage of the rifleman is its ability to capitalize on an ever-growing human population. When a rifleman is killed, the rifle is easily recovered by another soldier who then, in turn, takes his place on the battlefield - ensuring a fresh supply of dependable front line firepower with the length training times required for more conventional warfare. All the same, a lone rifleman lacks the skill with the weapon to be a threat to a warrior themselves - and are typically deployed in battles where attrition and overwhelming numbers are the keys to victory.

(Minion) - Line Rifleman

BRN - 2 AGI - 2 INT - 2 CUN - 2 WIL - 2 PRE - 2

Silhouette - 1 DEF 1/0  Soak - 3 Wounds - 5
Weaknesses - N/A Resistances - N/A Immunities - N/A
Quick Initiative : 0.3 Prestige - 1 Identify: Warfare 1

Primary Checks

Rifle Bayonet: Melee - Heavy dd + Group Upgrade : Damage 5 (Piercing Critical 4; Range [Engaged]

Arquebus: Gunnery dd bb h + Group Upgrade : Damage 6 (Piercing Critical 3; Range [Medium]



Information

Skills (group only) : Discipline, Melee-Heavy, Gunnery, Athletics

Abilities

None.

Special Actions

None.

Equipment

Weapons
Rifle Bayonet  : Melee - Heavy; Damage 5 (Piercing Critical 4; Range [Engaged]; Defensive 1
Arquebus : Gunnery: Damage 5 (Piercing Critical 4; Range [Medium]; Inferior 1, Inaccurate 2, Loud 



Armour & Gear
Shabby Heavy Clothing : Medium Armor: Soak +1; Defense +0; Shabby 1
Potential Sundries
10 Silver Standards
Rations X 2
Ammunition - Rifle X 1

Roleplaying Suggestions

General Behaviors

Line Riflemen are typically green soldiers or levies with limited exposure to proper warfare. They are grunts, trained to aim, shoot, and then reload - and rarely expected to do more than that without a proper infantry line to reinforce them.


Typically deployed to the field with at least one officer capable of giving direction and instruction (and most importantly keep them from routing), Line Rifleman are typically a blunt instrument used as little more than a body holding a rifle - with their own lives often being considered as more expendable than the rifles they carry. Typically dutiful and obedient - most Line Riflemen serve their liege proudly and do their utmost to obey and perform their duties. When battle is actually engaged however they quickly buckle once the fighting turns against their favour.   

Combat Behaviors

Rarely - if never- deployed without an officer to instruct and reinforce them, a line rifleman's battle behaviour will be dictated primarily around the goals and objectives of which officer is in a position of leadership over them for this encounter. Given a lack of explicit instruction, however, the riflemen will favour grouping and taking cover before opening fire on the nearest enemy to their position. Tactical positioning and priority targeting are beyond their capabilities usually - unless a nearby officer is giving explicit instructions. These men and women should typically be described as young and panicky once the fighting breaks out. 


The rifles used by the Line Rifleman are mass-produced and are outclassed by nearly every other rifle and crossbow in Alwaus - limited in both ammo capacity. In the event, the rifles prove ineffective against their target an office will often call for a full infantry charge from Line Rifleman. Once engaged in melee combat the Line Rifleman uses the razor-sharp bayonets at the ends of their rifles in an attempt to impale their opponents. Switching from the rifle to the bayonet does not take a maneuver.  

Social Behaviors

Line Rifleman is often used as garrisons or even city guards if the situation calls for it. In these cases they typically aim to maintain the letter of law and keep order - however investigations and conflict resolution are typically beyond their peace keeping abilities. Commoners themselves, they are not beyond guile or bribery - provided their officers are not within earshot.