Expendables: where are the space hirelings? 1d30

So older versions of D&D have hirelings--hired labor/meatshield minions who are the first line of fodder in any exploration or combat scenario. But what are the sci-fi equivelents? Red shirts, are surely at the top of that list. But it got me thinking, a few possibilities about some sci-fi versions of these para-PCs. Here's my d30 "chump chart":

"Put Johnson down and get back to work you lazy tribble-biters!"

1. Men-at-blaster-arms
2. Force screen operators
3. Pack beast wranglers
4. Computer bank switch expert
5. Load-lifter pilot
6. Ray rifle carrier (doesn't actually get to shoot it though)
7. Jefferiesweeps (guys with circular brooms who clean the jefferies tubes on starships)
8. Short order food replicator chef
9. Hoversled / moon buggy driver
10. Robot assembler
11. Sliding door repairman
12. Guys who pull bodies off the battlefield
13. Bulkhead repair crew
14. Boarding party welcoming committee
15. Teleporter repair guinea pig
16. Droid cleaner / enslaver
17. Sensor-corder knob turner
18. Jump gate / super laser lever puller
19. Zookatube rear-fueling technician
20. iPad holding cruise bureaucrat
21. All-purpose space-grease monkey
22. Space janitor
23. Scanning crew guy
24. Xenolinguistics intern
25. Space caddy
26. Laser sword inspector (other end, genius!)
27. Medical assistant
28. Door greeter
29. Galaxy's "most feared" bail bondsman
30. Anyone in engineering

Here's a list of gear for your laser fodder, give each crew member just one item. This is d30 as well, but this way you can roll the item and work-up your crew in reverse.

1. Sonic drill
2. Big magnet on a little crane
3. Laser or sonic rifle
4. Hoversled
5. Macroscope

   

   "Dad's home! I hear the garage door!"

6. Atomic reactor service pack (full radiation suit, radiation badge, multitool, graphing calculator)
7. Starfighter service pack (hydrospanner, plasma torch, face shield, cigar) 
8. Robot service pack (hydrospanner, oil can, data card, restriction bolt)
9. Rocket boots
10. Force screen groundstake emitter
11. Sensor-corder
12. Circular space broom
13. Blasting caps
14. Mop bucket
15. Dyson Vacuum of Space, Space Vacuum™
16. Medical wand
17. Hypo-stim packs (set of 2)
18. Portable energizer
19. Tripod with screw-on top
20. Hyperdrive fuel can
21. Load-lifter
22. Malfunctioning translator
23. Meal trays
24. Case of dueling ray pistols
25. Inflatable moon tent
26. Radar dish helmet
27. Beast saddle
28. Tranquilizers
29. Clipboard
30. Coffin

Anything else that should be on the list?

Exiled Jedi Vocational Readjustment (1d20)

I recently found some old notes I had on post-Jedi job opportunities--in other words, what do Jedi do when there's no proper temple or organization for the Order. If you've ever played the 2E version of West End Games' Star Wars RPG, they had a character template for a "failed Jedi". This was ostensibly any Jedi who survived The Purge and went on to choose a new line of work, be it paid or hobo.

So here's a list to get the ball rolling (literally, it's a random table of course!). Keep in mind, that any Jedi in hiding in plain view needs to remain so and if their powers come in to play they need to be able to explain their powers away as "tricks":

1. Psychic / Fortune Teller
2. Street Magician
3. Private Detective (a la Psych or The Mentalist, but with real powers)
4. Investigative Journalist
5. Gangsters / Smuggler / Street Informant
6. Physician / Veterinarian / Horticulturist (for those specializing in healing Force powers)
7. Archivist / Librarian
8. Alien Artifact Expert
9. Ghost Catcher / Exorcist
10. Homeless / Hermit
11. Beast Whisperer
12. Circus Freak
13. Psychiatrist / Svengali 
14. Gambler / Grifter / Stock Broker
15. Politician (after elective surgery to disguise oneself)
16. Sports Star (ditto)
17. University Professor
18. Combat Trainer
19. Ruler of a Primitive Society
20. Night Club Bouncer

Common sense dictates that many of these can be combined. And it should go without saying that they no longer need to stay completely on the light side of the Force. Once they're unemployed, their ethics are in a state of flux.

This also could just as easily work for any other RPG setting using psionicist, but I especially like the notion of a disbanded society of psionic ronin looking for purpose after The Fall.

Can you think of any others? I'll add them to the list.

Job Opening: Astronauts Wanted for Virgin Galactic!

Did somebody say "Astros Try Outs"?

ATTENTION SPACE JOCKEYS: It's totally legit! Brazillionaire Sir Richard Branson wants individuals with the "right stuff" (I'm going to regret that aren't I?) to join his Virgin Galactic spacefleet. The silver-maned one is looking for three space pilots to become VG flight crew for future missions. Awesomely spacey job responsibilities include:

In addition to flight duties with the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo, Pilot-Astronaut duties will also include flight planning activities, mission control co-ordination and ground-to-air support, record keeping and training obligations.

Flight planning activities will involve route planning and airspace coordination with personnel at Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, the local Federal Aviation Authority Air Traffic Control and Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Other responsibilities include manning mission control when not aboard a launch craft, training new pilots, blasting dangerous space junk and wooing hot space groupies. (Okay, some of those are really just "perks".)

Now for the important stuff--job requirements:

• Must be a US citizen – compliant with ITAR (22 CFR §120.15)
• A current FAA commercial (or equivalent) pilot license and FAA medical (you will be required to produce evidence of both at interview)
• Degree level qualification in a relevant technical field
• Graduate of a recognized test pilot school, with at least 2 ½ years post-graduate flight test experience (you will be required to produce evidence at interview)
• A diverse flying background with a minimum of 3,000 hours flying to include considerable experience of: large multi-engine aircraft and high performance fast jet aircraft and low lift-to-drag ratio glide experience (e.g. simulated flameout landings) in complex aircraft
• Operational experience of an aerospace aviation project or business
• Excellent, current knowledge on a diverse range of aerospace matters
• Ability to communicate aviation knowledge and safety related information simply, succinctly and clearly
• Previous responsibility for authorizing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and efficient operation
• Be a proven team player

You gotta be a US citizen? I thought he was from the UK? I suppose the spaceport is in US. Whatever, that seems arbitrary, and more importantly it doesn't exclude me. Though, that, and being a "proven team player" are about the only criteria for which I'm personally 100% qualified. I'm certain I could pick up the rest within a few weeks of on-the-job training. I'm a fast learner.

For the rest of you, what are you waiting for? Apply now!! http://careers.virgin.com/search/1921/

P.S. Yes, it's been far too long between actual game and/or comics-related posts. I hope to remedy that over the next few weeks. :)

UPDATE: Here's a helpful flowchart that may help you determine whether you've got what it takes to be an Bransonaut.