News Reporters

Covering the War during the Twilight of Civilization

Introduction. News reporting careers for Twilight: 2000 4th edition,

containing both civilian and military careers with archetypes and life path
choices for each and special equipment and optional rules.

BY Robert Gates

Cover photo by Antonio Borriello from Pexels - free to use license

Cropped archetype photos - Creative Commons 2.0 license and Public Domain
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Civilian Careers
News reporters have a long history of
covering wars. Long before 24-hour news
channels and other modern styles of
reporting, brave men and women went into
the field and reported the news from the
frontlines. Some of these people worked for
large organizations, whether it’s a major
newspaper or a television network, and
others are independent, or “freelance”
reporters who sell their story to the highest
bidder.
NEWS REPORTER
News reporters work for various large
organizations, whether it’s for a major
newspaper or a television network, and are
told where to go by them. Usually they are
followed by a team of people to help them
capture the story.
“FREELANCE” REPORTER
Independent, or “Freelance” reporters
work for themselves, going where the story
leads them and selling it to the highest
bidder. Hoping in the back of their mind that
the next story might win them an award.
Freelance reporters have to be more versatile
than other reporters, because they only have
themselves to rely on to get the story.
Freelance Reporters and CUF
Because “Freelance” reporters spend much
of their time covering wars all over the
Optional Rules
world, they are cooler under fire than
regular reporters.
Every term that a freelance reporter gets
promoted they improve their Coolness Under
Fire (CUF) by 1/2 of a step, rounding down.
(ie. Even numbered promotions increase the CUF
by one step)
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Military Careers
Some members of the military are tasked
with covering stories for the military, these
include combat correspondents and public
affairs specialists.
COMBAT CORRESPONDENT
Combat correspondents are members of
the military who cover stories for the military,
during times of relative peace they cover
retirements, promotions and visits from
dignitaries. When the flag goes up they are
sent near the action to cover the conflict for
posterity. As members of the military they go
through the same basic training as their
brothers and sisters and can defend
themselves when needed.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALISTS
Public affairs specialists are tasked to
publish information for radio, television, and
print for worldwide distribution. Some of their
responsibilities including advising leadership,
developing and executing information
strategies, and community relations. Some
public affairs specialists are trained to operate
audio and video equipment in both tactical
and non-tactical environments. As members of
the military they go through the same basic
training as their brothers and sisters and can
defend themselves when needed.
Civilian News Reporters and the Draft
As part of their job reporters cover wars.
Because of this many reporters qualify for
protection from military drafts.
If your last term before the At War term is any
type of civilian reporter you can avoid the
draft on a successful PRESAUSION roll.
(If successful use the White Collar category to
determin your specility choice and starting gear.)
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Military Careers

Career Combat Correspondent Public Affairs Specialist

Requirements One term military, No D Attribute One Term Combat Correspondent, INT B+

Starting Rank PFC CPL

Skills TECH, RECON TECH, PERSUASION

Specialties (d6)

1 Psy Ops Communications

2 Interrogator Psy Ops

3 Investigator Linguist

4 Intelligence Historian

5 Computers Intelligence

6 Historian Computers

Starting Equipment ✓ Any pistol or submachinegun ✓ Any pistol

✓ D6 reloads ✓ D6 reloads
✓ Knife ✓ Audio cassette recorder
✓ Flak Jacket and helmet ✓ Radio, handheld
✓ Camera w/ a telephoto lens or audio cassette ✓ Flak jacket
recorder ✓ D6 Mini cassettes
✓ D6 Camera film or mini cassettes ✓ Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses)
✓ Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses) ✓ Backpack
✓ Backpack

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Civilian Reporter Careers†

Career News Reporter “Freelance” News Reporter‡

Requirements One term in Education (Liberal Arts), EMP C+ One term in Education (Liberal Arts), INT B+, EMP C+

Starting Rank - -

Skills TECH, PERSAUSION TECH, PERSAUSION, SURVIVAL

Specialties (d6)

1 Historian Communications

2 Linguist Linguist

3 Interrogator Psy Ops

4 Communications Intelligence

5 Investigator Investigator

6 Psy Ops Historian

Starting Equipment
✓ Any civilian pistol ✓ Any civilian pistol
✓ D3 reloads ✓ D3 reloads
✓ Navy Blue Flak jacket and helmet with PRESS ✓ Flak jacket with faded PRESS stenciling on it.
stenciling on them. ✓ Camera w/ a telephoto lens or audio cassette
✓ Camera w/ a telephoto lens or audio cassette recorder
recorder ✓ D6 Camera film or mini cassettes
✓ D6 Camera film or mini cassettes ✓ Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses)
✓ Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses) ✓ Backpack
✓ D3-1 rations
† If your last term before the At War term is any type of civilian reporter you can avoid the draft on a successful PRESAUSION roll. (If successful
use the White Collar category for specialty choice.) (See page 1)
‡ See Page 1 for Optional rule for “Freelance” news reporters and Coolness Under Fire (CUF) improvement.

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EQUIPMENT

Equipment
News reporters have specialized gear to Directional Microphone
help them in their jobs. When used with headphones, Allows
listening to conversations at a distance. Can
Camera w/ a telephoto lens
be salvaged for one electronic part. Weight:
When used as a viewing device the
1 Value: 20
camera w/ a telephoto lens gives a +1
modifier to Intelligence and Scout Checks. Printing Press, Small
Can be salvaged for one electronic part. Can When used with printing supplies can
make use of camera film. Weight: 1 Value: produce pamphlets and newspapers.
50 Requires paper and printing supplies and a
successful Tech or Communications check
Digital Camera w/ a telephoto lens
to operate. Provides a +1 modifier to
When used as a viewing device the
Communications rolls. Can be salvaged for
camera w/ a telephoto lens gives a +1
two general parts. Weight: 16 Value: 500
modifier to Intelligence and Scout Checks.
Can be salvaged for one electronic part. Printing Supplies
Does not require film to use. Weight: 1 Used with printing presses. Required for
Value: 150 operation of the press. 2d6 uses. Weight: 1/2
Value: 20
Film, Camera
When film is developed from a camera
w/ telephoto lens it gives a +2 modifier to
Intelligence and Scout Checks. Once
developed the film becomes useless and a
new roll must be used. Weight: 1/4 Value:
10
Notebook w/ pencil, Reporter’s
Can be used to record information. Has
a chance of giving a +1 modifier to a roll at
the GM’s discretion. 2d6+1 uses. Weight: 1/4
Value: 5
DEVELOPING FILM
Audio Cassette Recorder
While cameras can be used as viewing
Can be used to record information. Has devices in the field, their main purpose is
a chance of giving a +1 modifier to a roll at to take photos.
the GM’s discretion. Requires mini cassettes Developing photos requires special
and batteries, can be used with photographic supplies which can be found
headphones. Can be salvaged for one through scrounging.

electronic part. Weight: 1/4 Value: 20 If the scrounging character, or another

character aiding them, has the CHEMIST
Mini Cassettes speciality the scrounging roll gets a +1
modifer.
Used with audio cassette recorders.
In urban environments the scrounging
Weight: 0 Value: 2 character gets a –1 modifier and in rural
Headphones environments the modifier is –2, due to the
scarcity of the supplies.
Allows listening to audio equipment The development process takes one shift
without anyone else hearing it. Can be and uses one unit of photographic supplies.
salvaged for one electronic part. Weight: 1/4 On a successful TECH check the film is
Value: 20 developed and the resulting photos can be
used to aid in INTELLIGENCE and SCOUT

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EQUIPMENT
rolls for the area the photos where taken of.

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ARCHTYPES

Green Public Affairs Officer

When you got assigned to the Brigadier General’s
communications staff fresh out of college, you thought
you had it made, that is until he transferred his flag
to Western Poland. When the balloon went up and the
conflict went hot you suddenly found yourself
kilometers from the front, and then on it.
Three days ago your position got overrun and
now you are in the fight of your life, trying to get
back home.

APPEARANCE
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r New BDUs and well polished Jungle boots.

r “Boots and Utes” with Battalion PT shirt.

r Worn and unserviceable dress uniform.

SPECIALITY
Choose one specialty. Recommended options are:
r Intelligence

r Persuasion
r Psy Ops

YOUR MORAL CODE

Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Cover your ass, everyone for themselves.

r “Strength thru Truth”.

r Lead by example.

YOUR BIG DREAM HOW YOU MET THE GROUP

Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself. Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Get back to friendly lines. r Your helicopter was shot down, you survived and

r When this is all over, you’re going to write the “History of hooked up with stragglers from the destruction
the Twilight War”. around Kalisz, figuring there is safety in numbers.
r You where attached the HQ element of the 5th ID
r Make it home and see if the rest of the world fared any
better. when the Soviets attacked.
r Your convoy was hit by RPG fire while evacuating
West to friendly lines.

GEAR
You start the game with:
r Any pistol

r D6 reloads
r Audio cassette recorder
✓ BRANCHES: Army, Marine r Radio, handheld
✓ RANK: 2nd Lt r Flak jacket and helmet
r D6 Mini cassettes
✓ KEY ATTRIBUTE: EMP
r Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses)
✓ KEY SKILLS: Persuasion, Tech, Command
r Backpack
✓ COOLNESS UNDER FIRE: C r D3-2 MRE rations
✓ TYPICAL NICKNAMES: Butterbar, L-T,

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ARCHTYPES
F’ing New Guy

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ARCHTYPES

Grizzled News Reporter

You where in the right place at the wrong time, when
tensions started to rise you caught the next flight to
the action. Things went to shit faster than you
thought they would, but at least you’re here to cover
it all, You just hope someone will be around to read
the story when you make it home.

APPEARANCE
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Regular clothes that don’t make you stand out and
rugged combat boots.
r A baseball cap with your favorite team on it.
r “Outback” style hat and vest.
r Local style clothing.

SPECIALITY
Choose one specialty. Recommended options are:
r Intelligence

r Investigator
r Psy Ops

YOUR MORAL CODE

Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Somebody has to cover the end of civilization, may as well
be you.
r Life is precious, don’t waste it.
r Covering the war is your job.
YOUR BIG DREAM
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Win a Pulitzer Prize for your coverage of the war.
r When this is all over, you’re going to write the “History of
the Twilight War”.
r Get home and see if the rest of the world fared any better.
HOW YOU MET THE GROUP
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r You where covering the push into Poland when the
unit you where attached to got wiped out, you
hooked up with stragglers from the destruction
around Kalisz, figuring there is safety in numbers.
r You where following the HQ element of the 5th ID
when the Soviets attacked.
r You where traveling the Polish countryside covering
the war and got separated and are now behind
enemy lines.

GEAR
You start the game with:
r Any civilian pistol

r D3 reloads
✓ BRANCHES: News Reporter, White
r A camera w/ a telephoto lens or audio cassette
Collar recorder
✓ RANK: None r D6 camera film or mini cassettes
r Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses)
✓ KEY ATTRIBUTE: INT
r Backpack
✓ KEY SKILLS: Persuasion, Tech, Survival
r D3-1 rations
✓ COOLNESS UNDER FIRE: C

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ARCHTYPES
✓ TYPICAL NICKNAMES: Muckraker,
Scribbler, Walter Cronkite

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ARCHTYPES

Clandestine “Reporter”
Your assignment was to use your deep cover as a
“Freelance” reporter to get into NATO occupied
territory and report back on troop strengths and
dispositions, you where scheduled to be back home
weeks ago, but when the Americans launched
Operation: RESET, you have to get newer intel
before heading home, otherwise all your hard
earned information will likely be outdated and
useless.

APPEARANCE
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r Regular clothes that don’t make you stand out and
rugged combat boots.
r A baseball cap with your “favorite” American sports
team on it.
r “Outback” style hat and vest.

SPECIALITY
Choose one specialty. Recommended options are:
r Intelligence

r Interrogator
r Psy Ops

YOUR MORAL CODE

Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r You are loyal to your homeland and nothing will stop you
from defending it.
r Information is power.
r Weakness is exploitable.
YOUR BIG DREAM
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r You were sent here to win this war. You intend to do just
that, at any cost.
r When this is all over, you’re going to write “The True Histo-
ry of the War of American Aggression”.
r Get information that will allow mother Russia to drive
back NATO forever.
HOW YOU MET THE GROUP
Choose from the examples below or decide for yourself.
r You where monitoring military traffic around Kalisz
when the attacking Soviet unit got wiped out, you
hooked up with NATO stragglers from the
destruction around Kalisz, figuring you could bide
your time to get back home.
r You where following the HQ element of the 5th ID
when the Soviets attacked.
r You where traveling the Polish countryside covering
NATO activity and got lost and are now behind
enemy lines.

GEAR
You start the game with:
r Any pistol (Silenced)
✓ BRANCHES: Intelligence r D6 reloads
✓ RANK: None r A camera w/ a telephoto lens or audio cassette
recorder
✓ KEY ATTRIBUTE: INT
r D6 camera film or mini cassettes
✓ KEY SKILLS: Recon, Tech, Survival r Notepad and pencil (2d6 uses)
✓ COOLNESS UNDER FIRE: B r Radio, handheld
r Backpack
✓ TYPICAL NICKNAMES: Mr. Jones, John

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r D3-1 rations ARCHTYPES
Doe, Boris