Soldiers of Fortune

In Soldiers of Fortune, player characters are elite ex-soldiers turned mercenaries. They take on dangerous jobs that demand guts and creativity, from storming cartel compounds to slipping through enemy lines to sabotage a weapons cache. The game draws from the spirit of 1980s action shows, especially The A-Team, where a band of fugitives dodges the law while aiding the desperate. Just as in the inspirational show, fights leave bruises and knockouts, blasts toss foes aside, and clever tricks scatter threats without bloodshed. Characters bounce back from hits, ready for the next chase or brawl.

Player characters have clear roles in Soldiers of Fortune: a leader who comes up with the plan, a pilot who gets them where they need to go, a mechanic who turns scrap into traps, a face who talks past guards and scrounges much-needed gear, a muscle who clears the way, and a scout who spots ambushes first. Missions might take them to small American towns, Mexican pueblos, or the Congo jungles, against varied foes such as corrupt sheriffs, mob enforcers, and guerrilla commanders. This is a full game that runs on MicroRed, a streamlined take on the Red system that strips away clutter for fast play: roll a d20, add skills and modifiers, and hit the target number. Adventures focus on high-stakes action, where a team pulls off the impossible, all while staying one step ahead of pursuit (82 pages).