Name:
Nickname:(optional) It's stereotypical but many full time soldiers in the Battletech universe end up with some kind of nickname.
Sex:
Age: no teenagers, please make a character whose at least 21
Original Faction/Homeworld:
Squad Specialty: This is basic, I don't want too much overlap here but two people can definately do the same thing. Of course, you don't need a specialty. There is something to be said for being an infantrymen, plain, simple and flexible.

Description: A few sentences describing the physical characteristics of the character; picture optional, drawn is fine but no anime.

Background: A paragraph or two about the character's history. Not a novella.

Personality: Just a few sentences on the character's personality.

Equipment: For the most part everyone has similar equipment. Combat armour, Auto rifle, sidearm, a few grenades, other basic essentials, etc. But support weapons and equipment are also available. From Shoulder mounted SRM launchers to grenade launchers, to a field medic's kit, to equipment that may be granted to complete specific mission requirements (like explosive satchels)

Specialty Skills/qualifications: Any oddball talents or abilities the character has unrelated to their specialty. This can include things like jump pack training (note this does not mean you will start with a jump pack), or a license to operate a certain class of vehicle.

Q: Will I be able to pilot a mech?
A: No, This game is going to be focusing on the non mech related elements of war. You will be playing as grunt infantry trying to survive in a futurisitic battlefield. Mechs will still exist, but more as big stompy titans in the background that occasionally make your lives and jobs a living hell. The battalion does not own any mechs and is limited to infantry and light/medium vehicles.

Q: Can I start with battle armour or a Clan elemental
A: Short answer, no. I want to focus to be on the 'bottom rung'. Battle armour is neat and the battalion does own a few suits. But those will be granted to the squad as a whole for special assignments and the like. I don't want players stomping around in them permanently.

Q: Can I be a vehicle driver or Helicopter pilot
A: You can have training to operate such things. But I want to group to stick together and be a team. That's hard to do if everyone is off in different directions or one person can't go inside a building because they are busy flying a chopper around.

Q: What happens when we have to fight a mech?
A: Well that wont happen very often and when it does it will be a very hairy fight, as it should be. Any such confrontations will also be limited to light mechs that you have a (very slim) chance of killing if you play your cards right. Really, your main options are to either get creative or run like hell. Sometimes you just have to retreat, you can't win every fight.

For those curious. I've compiled a quick list of standard infantry kit, as issued by the Battalion. As well as common support weapons fielded by the Greenshields.

Greenshield Armour kit- Virtually identical to the 'Standard Cappellan Infantry kit'. This lightweight, plaststeel armour mesh provides effective protection against small arms fire and shrapnel while minimally constricting mobility, and remaining cost effective. While also incorporating inbuilt short range communicators within the helmet.

Primary Arms- Imperator 2894A1 SMG. Thanks to contacts made during the 4th succession war the Battalion continues to purchase these weapons and necessary munitions for a considerable bargain.

Sidearm- Serrek 7875D Auto-Pistol is standard issue, But individual soldiers have considerable leeway to purchase their own favoured sidearms.

Common squad support weapons include, LAW rocket launcher- a disposable single shot rocket tube that is lighter to carry than a standard 2-shot reloadable SRM.

"light' SRM launcher- Still weighing in at 10Kg with each missile weighing another 8Kg. This is still a difficult weapon to transport, often operated close to, or out of an APC transport for ease of resupply. If taken into the field, the weight of each reload often requires the entire squad to pitch in and carry 1-2 missiles apiece to ease the strain on the primary operator. That all being said, the infantry SRM launcher is without a doubt one of the most powerful man portable payloads on the modern battlefield, which may just make lugging it around worth the discomfort.

Man-Portable & 'Light' Machine guns- Even in the 31st century these venerable weapons are still a common sight on the battlefield. Variations exist that can be carried & fired by a single operator or by a team of two. In either case they are still a weapon that consumes large quantities of ammunition and endurance in the field requires an operator with fine trigger discipline.

MGL- Or the Multiple grenade launcher, is another venerable piece of military hardware that is one of the most common sights for infantry support in the field. Compact, durable and highly flexible thanks to a variety of munitions options made available.

In addition a soldier's basic kit can include a small detachable backpack, modular bedroll, survival blanket, electric lantern, utensils, collapsible cup, 10m of nylon cord, ground cloth, two (2) Armadyne AM-226 emergency Medical Field Kits, three (3) M849 frag grenades, One combat knife.