All along the Watchtower a Martian watches over us, his eyes to the stars. And should the inhabitants of these far-flung galaxies grow restless, S.W.O.R.D. strikes. As Earth’s first line of defense against intergalactic terrorism, it’s their job to get their hands dirty to keep everyone else clean.
Genre
To prevent terrorism on an interstellar level requires a wealth of skills and tactics. Not everything can be solved with might. It may require subterfuge, diplomacy, searching the stars for a new home, or throwing your lives before an unknown galactic terror to protect the planet of a new alliance. Players will explore the universe forging treaties and exerting influence. A S.W.O.R.D. campaign is Mass Effect meets cyberpunk Jason of the Argonauts.
Gameplay
Players should expect to fight war-thirsty aliens and greedy bandits, engage in political debate, curry favor for humanity, betray the trust of waning allies to make new ones, and even terraform new planets to develop outpost constellations. This is a game of choices, and understanding their impact on a galactic scale.
Commander
Martian Manhunter
Commander Trait
Peacekeepers: Members of S.W.O.R.D. gain the additional Trait Peacekeepers. They have Edge on all Ego or Logic checks used to maintain peace during a tense situation.
Team Maneuver
Extrasensory Scan: S.W.O.R.D. can telepathically contact Martian Manhunter on the Watchtower and request that he pulse the area for sentience. This pulse can scan a 100-space area around the team.
Commander Stronghold
The Watchtower: An orbital space stronghold positioned just beyond Earth. The party starts with access to Steel’s Workshop where he can take any technology or organics the team finds, and turn them into weapons, armor, or enhancements. They can also consult with Steel himself to secure requisitions.
Commander Connections
Aliens, Intergalactic Military, Investigators
Joining S.W.O.R.D.
Below are suggested guidelines for players who want to join the S.W.O.R.D. campaign, and can also set expectations for players. They are not requirements. Players do not need to have one from each list, or any at all.
Rank
The challenges players should expect to face would be best encountered by Rank 3-6 characters.
Traits
Abrasive
Audience
Beguiling
Clinician
Connections
Dealmaker
Debate Champ
Determination
Eidetic Memory
Famous
First Aid
Font of Information
Gearhead
Glibness
Inventor
Leverage
Public Speaking
Quick Learner
Scientific Expertise
Situational Awareness
Skeptical
Tech Reliance
Weird
Tags
AI
Alien Heritage
Authority
Backup
Gamma Mutate
Heroic
Immunity
Inhuman Genes
Lab Access
Obligation
Prescription Pad
Public Identity
Radioactive
Rich
X-Gene
Occupation
Educator
Engineer
Scientist
Origin
Alien
High Tech
Special Training
Weird Science
Character Pool
The characters below are meant to serve as thought starters and are not a required lineup.
Confirmed
Looking For
Spectrum
Agent Venom