How to Write Mercenaries Stories?

• Mercenaries are Versatile.
• They can appear in most Settings & Genres.
• They make for great Protagonists & Antagonists.
• How do you create Mercenaries with an attitude?

Summary – 6 steps to a Mercenary Story

1. Define the Character’s Origins.
2. From her Origins, define why she became a Mercenary.
3. Define the Type of Contract she will accept.
4. Define her Strengths & Attitude.
5. Define how she choose her Partners.
6. Give her 2 Unique pieces of Equipment.

• The Mercenary’s Story write from 3 Elements :
  • Her own Rules.
  • Her Contracts.
  • Her Partners.



Origins

• Location
• Where did the Character Start?
• You can include the Character’s Oldest memories.
• Even if they are not Essential.
• Always prefer to Suggest rather than to directly Answer.
• The Location modeled the Mercenary.
• Wherever it is the Lack of Resources.
• The Atmosphere.
• Or the Organization which rule this place.

• Education & Ethics
• In her Early age, the Character will be taught rules.
• They can be indicted directly through an Educative system.
• Or be the result of Influence from different figures.
• These Fundamental Rules will direct how the Character will :
  • Develop her Strengths.
  • Forms bonds.
  • Choose her Contracts.

• Why did she became a Mercenary?
• The 1st Crisis is quintessential in the decision of becoming a Mercenary.
• The Character must Lose something.
• This Loss will be transcribed directly.
• And the persistent Grief emerging from it will resurface if the Character is put in a similar position.
• The Perpetrator of the Crisis may survive.
• She may be tracked by the Mercenary.
• And she can be replaced.

If you want to know more about Origins.



Contracts

• Crimes
• Does the Character commit Crimes?
• Killing will be defined as Acceptable or Unacceptable early in the Story.
• The Character’s position can change.
• Explain this Change, through a Crisis.
• The Mercenary can be Stealing.
• She can be Destroying goods.
• And she can execute other Illegal acts.
• All acts should be justified through the Characters Origins or Relationships.

• Legitimate Authority
• Is the Mercenary Assisting the Legitimate Authority?
• If it is the case she may be given Specific Authorizations.
• Permits allowing to commit Crimes.
• It can be limited to her mission only.
• Or be a General permission.
• In the case of Fugitives recovery.
• She could also be authorized to arrest & detain the Fugitives only.
• Is she Opposing the Legitimate Authority?
• She may Directly oppose the State, Police, or Other Organization.
• Or she can only Refuse to ally with them.

• Customers
• How doe she choose her Customers?
• Does she refuse Contracts?
• The Mercenary should adapt to her Customer’s Needs.
• She can therefore limit her Clients.
• For example she can have a limited list of Regulars.
• She can work exclusively with Organizations.
• She can work exclusively with Individuals.

If you want to know more about Contracts.

Behavior & Partners

• 6 Profile
• In your Stories the Public will meet a Diversity of Mercenaries.
• 6 Profiles provide the proper Balance.
• They allow the Public to Choose their favorite.
• They make Interactions more Diverse.
• Each of them an will be defined by an Orientation.

• Strengths
• The Strengths & the Attitude of the Mercenary is likely to Attract allies.
• And attract Customers which could become Allies.
• As well as grant her enemies.
• Allies need the Mercenary’s Strength.
• A Mercenary needs to be Prepared & Focused.
• She could benefit from being Inclusive.

• Focus
• The Fundamental Strength of a Mercenary is her Focus.
• Once her Goal has been identified she will prioritize it.
• All missions follow a similar structure :
  1. Identify the Target
  2. Track the Target
  3. Catch the Target
  4. Recover the Target

• Partners & Reputation
• Finding Partners requires a certain Alignment.
• Alignments allow you to display which Characters are likely to join forces.
• Partners should have Similar Goals.
• If the Characters have divergent Goals their alliance should be justified.
  • For example, they can be long term relationships.
  • Is it a short term Alliance?
  • Were the Characters forced to ally?
• Partners should be Helpful.
• Partners should enhance the Character’s reputation.
• Wherever they fight, they plan, they track, they support, they promote or they sabotage.
• The Role of each Partner needs to be Clear.

Role	Trait 1	Trait 2	Trait 3	Orientation	Name	Goal	Main Skill	2nd Skill	Minor Skill	Quirk	Comfort	Crisis
Enticer	Entertaining	Confident	Generous	Adventurer/ Saboteur
Manager	Empathetic	Individualist	Providing	Promoter
Strategist	Competitive	Curious	Learning/Sharing	Detective
Reliable	Assertive	Relentless	Protective	Vigilante
Advisor	Pondering	Temperate	Self-Aware	Agent/Spy
Exemplar	Dedicated	Participative	Leading	Pirate

If you want to know more about Partners & Teams.



Identity & Items

• Adaptability
• The Mercenary needs an advanced knowledge of her Environment.
• Her Survival skills are tested in most mission.
• Her Camouflage skills.
• Her ability to blend in the enemy ranks.
• Her ability to find Food & Shelter in particularly hostile environments.

• Identity & Symbol
• The Mercenary as preferred Environments.
• Her accessories reflect her Identity.
• Through her Clothes.
• Through Souvenirs she holds.
• These Seemingly useless items are meant to become essential in late Storyline.
• They are bounded to her Goal.

• Weapons
• The Mercenary should have an Armor.
• Wherever it is a light, medium or heavy armor.
• It may be integrated to her body or be her body.
• Her Weapons & Tools are specific.
  • 1-2 individual weapon is ideal.
• She could use Autonomous Items.
• All these items should be Skill-related.
• They could be Items which only her can use.

Role	Orientation	Symbol (example)	Skills	Clothing	Armor (most likely)	Weapon	Tool	Survival	Shelter
Enticer	Adventurer/ Saboteur	Maps & Bag			Light/Medium
Manager	Promoter	Communication Device			Medium
Strategist	Detective	Lenses/Glasses & Toolbox/Belt			Light/Medium
Reliable	Vigilante	Shield			Heavy
Advisor	Agent/Spy	Notebook/Memory Stick			Light
Exemplar	Pirate	Sword			Medium/Heavy

If you want to know more about Unique Items.