If your philosophy for surviving the void involves “shooting it until it stops moving,” then you belong in the Corps. Welcome to the second entry in our Mothership RPG character guide series. Today, we’re looking at the ultimate frontline survivor: The Marine.
The Heavy Hitter
In a universe where most characters are one bad roll away from a heart attack, the Marine is the anchor. When rolling your 6d10 for stats, the Marine receives a massive +10 to Combat and a +10 to Body Save. You aren’t just there to pull the trigger; you are physically built to withstand the infections and physical trauma that would liquefy a Scientist.
Furthermore, the Marine has a unique proximity bonus: whenever a friendly Marine is nearby, you gain an additional +5 to your Combat Stat. This encourages “fireteam” tactics, making a group of Marines the most lethal force on any derelict spacecraft.
The Panic Ripple Effect
Being the bravest person in the room comes with a heavy burden. While the Android unsettles people just by existing, the Marine’s influence is felt when things go wrong. According to the Player’s Survival Guide: Whenever a Marine Panics, every friendly player nearby must make a Fear Save.
Because the crew looks to you for stability, your breakdown becomes a psychological contagion. Consequently, managing your Stress (which starts at 2) isn’t just about your survival—it’s about preventing a total crew meltdown.
Starting Loadout: Extermination
There is really only one choice for a serious Marine: the Extermination Loadout. This package equips you with:
- SMG & Frag Grenades: For when “subtlety” is no longer an option.
- Standard Battle Dress: Grants a +10% Armor Save, pushing your survivability to the limit.
- HUD & Body Cam: Allows you to tap into the smart-link systems of your weapons, granting even further bonuses to Combat rolls.
Essential Skills
Every Marine starts preloaded with Military Training. This is arguably the best “Trained” skill in the game because it allows you to reload as a free action—essential when you’re facing a swarm of xenos with an empty magazine. In addition to this, your starting skill points should likely be funneled into Firearms or Close-Quarters Combat to ensure that when you roll that d%, the result is a confirmed kill.
👉 Claim your copy of the Mothership Player’s Survival Guide on DriveThruRPG
Disclosure: If you pick up this survival guide through my link, I’ll earn a few gold pieces to keep the lights on in the dungeon at no extra cost to you.