most if not all players have seen enough good and/or bad action movies to know a thing or two about tactics. (for gaming purposes at least)
Many have read alot about it and gotten tons of info from the net about it. In my mind the player who wishes to make a character with 20 years military experience but who has no clue in RL must take his chances and learn fast in game - or "die".
( Please note the clear distinction between RL & in game folks
)
Of course I will allow a few questions to help the man on his way - just as I wouldnt stop two players sitting at the gaming table starting discussing what end of the hydrospanners should be used to create maximum impact on the conductor grease dispenser in the main cortex - when one of their two characters is about to do a task roll based on a high level in computers to fix some software problem on a nuclear warhead - subjects I have rudimentary and superstitious knowledge about in RL myself.
But -
in game you have the advantage of being able to ponder the tactical map from your vantage point high above the beercan, far removed from the dust and grime,smell of fear and shockingly loud clash of arms - that your poor tin mini-grunts go through down there on the paper sheet in game. The player doesnt feel the stress and the fear and the choking panic of confusion that the miniatures that are actually in rpg combat go through. Thus he can cooly calculate and deploy as he sees fit. He doesnt get the taste of blood in his mouth from running till the blood pounds in your ears or scraping his knuckles and elbows bloody and raw when crawling over shingle and debris on the advance or the retreat-nor will he have to deal with the agonizing screams of pain and fear of the minis fighting and dying all around his own mini down there on the slightly nacho dip stained battle map. He will not soil his pants in fear as projectiles whizz overhead and death comes eye to eye - although a few beer stains might be in the future.
The player has got it good. So - he has chosen to play a character that he hasnt got a CHANCE to actually roleplay you say? Not even a sliver of a hope of pretending to be on top of the situation? Hasent seen a single war movie that has any hint of realistic firing and manouvering in it?
Well, he shouldnt have bloody well staked out a path to the mother of all skill points munchkin special forces character then should he?
But the gm must be merciful. And just. And justice should be swift - but not abrupt. So a session or two with a list of recommended reading and watching inbetween and some commitment from the player and he should be good to go - not the old salt that everyone depends on to get them home perhaps...
so - no- no tactics skill in our games, but any player may ask "in my PCs experience of 12 years as an NCO..." at least once or twice up to the second or third session since rolling up
. Assuming the PC lives that long.
I would like to add on a diplomatic note that - everyone knows what his own game needs better than the GM you discuss it with on line. A tactics skill you say ? Might be a good idea.