It is the 27th of July, 1944. The 4th Armored Division prepares to take Coutances. You are an M4 Sherman tank and its crew, at the tip of the spearhead. Who are you?Tank Type: M4 Sherman (Early) (75mm)Tank Name: _____Commander: Sgt _____Gunner: Cpl _____Loader: Pvt _____Driver: Pvt _____Assistant Driver: Pvt _____>Write-In Names>>Write-In Backstory if it fancies you
>>6352027Tank: The Black DogCommander: Sgt Macheath aka Mack The Knife, big huge Scottish-American whose extended family back home suffered quite a lot before the U.S. finally waded into the war. He has been itching to fight for a long while, and sometimes frightens the crew with his brutality - he has a Sykes-Fairbairn combat dagger and (inexplicably) a large meat cleaver, and likes to fight with both of them whenever he has the chance to use blades instead of bullets. Gunner: Cpl Potter aka Pot-Shot, smokes like a chimney whenever he can get out of the tank long enough, loves to gamble also and will take every opportunity to talk someone into a game of cards to possibly win more cigarettes playing poker, spades, or even just 'War' Loader: Pvt Potter, aka Piss Pot, the Gunner's younger brother, drinks like his brother smokes, and got his name from an incident where he soiled himself, Macheath promised he would get a better nickname the day he killed a German with his own gun, and if he kills one with a knife he gets to call Mack 'Piss Pot' in perpetuity with no repercussionsDriver: Pvt Nelson, cool and collected, direly cynical, reads lots of poetry and can recite it with perfect, eidetic recollection, believes you're all going to die and that you probably deserve it Asst Driver: Pvt Cage, a greaser-type from NYC, comes from destitution, knows how to juggle, throw knives, and do trick shots because his parents were both circus performers and sometimes clowns, has a horrible phobia of rats
>>6352030Solid ideas, although I don't think two brothers would be allowed in the same unit, correct me if I'm wrong. Also it should be "MacHeath." Bummer that this is Sherman Qst instead of Tiger Qst but so be it.My replacement for the loader:PFC Krieger, a ranch-hand from out West. Gets asked to translate all the time but doesn't speak a lick of German. The campfire cook of the crew, in addition to being handy with all sorts of pistols & carrying a few tucked away on his person, whether he managed to sneak them across the Atlantic or looted them from the dead is unclear.
>>6352033Oh yeah, I like that! Also addendum: I think Mack should have visions(?)/hallucinations(?) of a black hound the size of a horse following your tank around, which he insists is a faerie omen that he is here to bring death to the Germans wherever he goes (hence the name of the tank), whereas Potter thinks he is mentally insane and Nelson believes it's a manifestation of Mack's many sins trailing behind you until it can drag him to hell, and Cage thinks it's a bunch of different stray dogs that just happen to be around because it's a warzone.
>>6352043If the QM is in favor I'll back that, with Krieger assuming it's just the alcohol addling his mind. Perhaps Nelson studied at a seminary but dropped out due to a lack of faith, until the war restored his convictions.
You are The Black Dog, currently ordered in France to mop up scattered enemy forces, reeling from the breakthrough of Operation Cobra. Sergeant MacHeath, a schizophrenic Scotsman, leads the crew. The gunner, Corporal Potter , helps keep a level head when need be, but can’t be bothered to do much else than shoot, smoke and gamble otherwise. Private Krieger is next in line, the most German he’s spoken and learned having been within the last few months. Private Nelson is the resident pessimist, mainly responsible for ensuring Private Cage doesn’t get up to no good.A fine tank, and crew for her![0730], 7/27/44The sun rose slowly on the French countryside. It was The Black Dog’s first assault, and all nerves were on edge. They were about a half hour into their advance when it happened. A friendly tank down the road burst into flames, a streak of light ripping through it. Small arms fire whipped around the tank, bringing everything to a halt. “It’s a damn Panther in cover! Ass to us! Looks like some infantry their way too!” Contacts:Enemy - Pz. V - Medium Range - Front Left - [TURRET REAR VISIBLE]Enemy - Infantry - Medium Range - Front Left Friendly Forces - Close Range - Rear LeftFriendly Forces - Close Range - RearFriendly Forces - Close Range - Rear RightThe Black Dog-Turret Facing - Front-Ready Round - AP-Ready Rack (8 Max) - 1 HCBI, 4 AP, 3 HE-Status - Stopped-Fuel - Needle Above ¾ Full-Smoke Grenades - 6-30 Cal - 27 Boxes-50 Cal - 6 Boxes-Shells: 2 HCBI, 52 HE, 29 AP, 8 WP-Commander - Unbuttoned-Gunner - NO HATCH-Loader - NO HATCH-Driver - Unbuttoned-Assistant Driver - UnbuttonedWhat will you do?>Pivot the tank with your armor facing the enemy and engage [INCREASED SURVIVAL]>Rotate the turret and engage. [GREATER KILL CHANCE]>Advance forward, try to secure a position. [CAN MOVE PAST, DANGEROUS]Additional, Extra Commands:>>Select one or multiple crewmembers to button their hatch up.>>Fire Bow, Coaxial, and Heavy Machine guns at your discretion>>Write-In
