4077 Characters
Below you will find more information on the different character types available in 4077. Each section contains a brief overview of the character, what kind of game you can expect, and what might be expected of you in that role.
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Character types are split into two categories - capped and uncapped.
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Uncapped roles are ones with no specific number limits, casting for uncapped roles will be lottery-based, with some tweaking to ensure an even spread
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Capped roles are ones with specific number limits, casting for capped roles is a combination of game runner discretion and lottery-based.
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Are there any gender restrictions?
No, any character can be played by any gender. However, we are maintaining some of the attitudes of the 1950s to allow people to explore sexism within the game. Female surgeons or women in positions of authority may find they have issues with this, similarly male nurses are likely to be met with surprise or judgement. Female soldiers in fighting roles (i.e. any walking wounded who happen to be female) may also face sexism.
The Corpsmen role is, within the world of the game, entirely unisex and it would be appropriate for any gender, so you wouldn't encounter any surprise as a female clerk, cook, supply sergeant etc
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How does Character Creation work?
Once casting is complete you will be sent a character creation form, which will allow you to flesh out details. This is the point where you will decide things like rank and whether they're drafted or regular army, and come up with other important information that will help the game runners to write plot for you.
There are no rules/numbers to character creation in 4077, it is entirely narrative driven.
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How does casting work?
At the beginning of a season, the game is cast fresh - all roles are available for the taking.
For subsequent games, returning players will have the opportunity to continue with the same character in the same role - even if they miss a game (if a returning player in a pivotal role such as base commander or company clerk is missing a game, other characters will have the opportunity to fulfil the role in a 'guest spot' - think Frank as acting commander, or Klinger covering for Radar)
New players, or returning players with new characters, will be cast as normal from remaining available roles.
If a character is removed from a role mid-season for plot reasons, or the player decides to no longer play the character, that role is then able to be cast as normal. Existing characters can also be put forward for casting, within reason (a corpsman with no previous medical skill cannot become a surgeon, for example)
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At the beginning of the next season, the casting opens again - though existing characters are welcome to request to retain their roles.
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Casting changes will be accompanied with specifically written plot reasons for the change - people no longer wishing to play their character will be appropriately written out, and those who wish to continue the same character will have a reason to lose the position they were in.
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The intent of doing it this way is to allow for a TV-like continuity of characters, while still having options for new players to not be disadvantaged.
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Capped Roles
Base Commander
Limit: 1
About the role: The head honcho, the base commander is the highest ranking permanent personnel on base and is in (theoretically) in charge of everything.
What you can expect: Stories about the stress of command, deciding how to deal with base shenanigans, making difficult choices and standing up for your unit in the face of outside pressures.
Things to be aware of: This is a role with a lot of responsibility, and you have to know how to balance when giving orders creates story, and when to turn a blind eye or similar to allow the story to continue. You will also be an avenue for plot getting to other players, so must be ready to share it out.
Recommended Rank(s): Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel
Examples: Henry Blake, Sherman Potter
Company Clerk
Limit: 1
About the role: The hardworking heart of the 4077, the company clerk is responsible for paperwork, requisitions, radio operation, mail delivery and functioning as PA to the Base Commander
What you can expect: Receiving radio transmissions, making deals, actual paperwork/administration (within reason, and designed to be interesting and fun, and not get in the way of other game)
Things to be aware of: This is usually one of the lower ranked positions, so you may get people giving you orders. This role is also an avenue for plot coming into the playerbase, so you must be ready to share it out.
Recommended Rank(s): Corporal, Sergeant at most
Examples: Radar O'Reilly, Maxwell Klinger
Chaplain
Limit: 1
About the role: The spiritual counsel of the 4077, the chaplain is the one to offer guidance and pastoral care to wounded and personnel alike - regardless of their personal religious affiliation. The chaplain themselves may be Catholic, Protestant (or a denomination thereof) or Jewish.
What you can expect: Close personal relationships with other characters and NPCs, exploring faith and religion - theirs and your own, being the person everybody else looks to for guidance, possible discussions of death and grief
Things to be aware of: This is a religious role, so you need to either know a little bit about religion or be able to fake it until you make it - and do so respectfully. MASH may be a comedy, but real people's religion should not be played for laughs. As chaplain you may also deal with heavy themes if other characters come to you for support.
Recommended Rank(s): Lieutenant, Captain
Examples: Father Mulcahy
Psychiatrist
Limit: 1
About the role: The resident head-shrinker. This is the person they call in when the problem isn't just physical. War drives us all a little mad, but the psychiatrist is here to try and rein that in a little - and, of course, to be the source of those magical Section 8s when you can't.
What you can expect: Helping people through trauma and grief, being a source of guidance, dealing with difficult cases, weeding out the scam artists.
Things to be aware of: This is a role that will likely deal with heavy themes from other characters, and may be called upon to sound knowledgeable about mental health issues. Remember, joking about going crazy is in keeping with tone of MASH, but the people dealing with the mental health issues shouldn't be the butt of that joke
Recommended Rank(s): Captain, Major
Examples: Sidney Freedman
Surgeons
Limit: 4
About the role: The doctors, the ones making life or death decisions on the operating table. Surgeons will likely be called to emergency operations when wounded are brought in, as well as having more regular duties like doing rounds in post-op and maybe even being Officer of the Day
What you can expect: A lot of medical game, making difficult decisions, the stress of surgery, the pressures of leadership
Things to be aware of: The medical game is one of the more rule-heavy areas of the game, and surgeons may find a lot of their time gets taken up with it, so you will need to be familiar with the rules and be aware you will have a likely very busy weekend. You may also occasionally need to talk at least semi-convincing medical babble.
Recommended Rank(s): Captain, Major
Examples: Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John McIntyre, BJ Hunnicutt, Frank Burns, Charles Winchester
Other
Limit: Variable
About the role: There are plenty of other roles that might be needed on base - helicopter pilots, visiting journalists, the unit dentist, local liaisons - so if you have something particular in mind, you're welcome to pitch it.
What you can expect: Variable - it very much depends on the role
Things to be aware of: You may find it harder to fit into the day-to-day operations of the unit, make sure you're playing a character who might have a reason to be around a lot.
Recommended Rank(s): Variable
Examples: Smilin' Jack Mitchell, Colonel Flagg, Aggie O'Shea
Uncapped Roles
Nurses
About the role: The ones passing instruments, soothing brows and doing day-to-day care of the wounded in post-op. They may not have the glory of surgeons, but they're saving just as many lives and working just as hard to do it.
This group also allows for one Head Nurse role, which will be decided with the input of the group.
What you can expect: Triage, the stress of surgery, difficult medical decisions, (possible) sexism, bonding with patients, bonding with each other
Things to be aware of: Nurses are surgical support, so you may be dealing with demanding surgeons, or handling busy or stressful situations.
Recommended Rank(s): Lieutenant (Captain or Major for head nurse)
Examples: Margaret Houlihan, Kellye Yamato, Lieutenant Baker, Nurse Able
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Walking Wounded
About the role: Those soldiers who are getting a bit of a break from the war to recover at the 4077th. Usually they're waiting to be shipped somewhere else - another hospital, home, or back to the war - but they'll spend a little time in post-op first
What you can expect: Dealing with trauma, the shame of going home or the fear of going back, coming to terms with injuries, processing the horrors of war
Things to be aware of: This has the potential to be quite a heavy role, as the war and its effects on you will likely feature quite heavily in your story. You may also find there isn't a lot to do (depending on the nature of your chosen injury), so this is a role for emotions and character exploration rather than action.
Recommended Rank(s): Variable
Corpsmen
About the role: The backbone of the unit, the enlisted men could be doing anything from acting as hospital porter to carry wounded, doing patrols, working in the mess or being in charge of supply
What you can expect: Being the bottom of the totem pole, doing the dirty work, being the overlooked - or wanting to be overlooked, banding together against the officers, having varied jobs
Things to be aware of: There are actual duties that the enlisted men are expected to do, though these are designed to be things that should be fun, or that can be handwaved without actually having to do. The enlisted men are the lowest ranked, so you may have people giving you orders.
Recommended Rank(s): Private, Corporal, Sergeant
Examples: Igor Straminsky, Zelmo Zale, Maxwell Klinger
MPs
About the role: There’s got to be someone around to deal with court martials and soldiers going AWOL, the military police are here to keep the 4077th in line... it’s not an easy job.
What you can expect: Playing the 'straight man', potentially antagonistic relationships, dealing with orders you might disagree with, deciding when - and when not - to do your job
Things to be aware of: This is a role for people who enjoy difficult relationships - or who enjoy circumventing expectations. This is the most likely antagonistic role, but it can also be played to support your fellow characters.
Recommended Rank(s): Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant