1. Diversity.
The foes you will face are of varied strengths and powers you may have never before seen. They come from unseen hells, supernatural spaces here on earth, or may simply be a construct of the mind.
Brute strength can be rendered useless. Quick smarts may leave you deceived of your reason. Those gifted with magical insight may find their mysterious methods are of no avail. It is ideal to share with your companions your strengths, weaknesses, fears, and motivations. Below is a basic list.
A. Fighting. As a Ripper you are at battle. Even I, as a pacifist, acknowledge that I must have a way to defend myself and innocents against monsters and men who attack us.
- Know what your fellow party members have in the way of weaponry. If at all possible, procure secondary guns that take the same caliber of ammunition as that is very efficient. But keep your weapons diverse. Establishing a group treasury of weapons and ammunition is ideal to supplement each person's preferred equipment.
- Should any of your party be gifted with arcane powers, know those same powers may affect you as well as the enemy.
- Observe and communicate any special traits of the enemy freely with your entire group.
- Be watchful of each other, aid each other when they are stricken or wounded, and leave no good man (or lady) behind! Be aware that the fierceness of battle may indeed have a negative effect on one's bearing, so take time to recuperate. It is very good for everyone to have some basic first aid skill and equipment. Seek out the services of a good doctor in advance of any mission-- better yet, know which of you can act as medics in the field.
- Be charitable to innocents, and wary of those who seek to work against you.
- While it may not be necessary to have a "Leader", it is better to take a moment and strategize your attack and defense. Watch out for "lone wolves" who may cause great harm to themselves if not the team.
B. Intelligence/Talent. You will be faced with an enormous amount of unusual situations. Book-smarts, training, and experience in all areas can be of use. Know your fellow members' abilities in the areas of languages, educational subjects such as history, medicine, biology, strategy, worldly matters, etc; and more practical matters such as deduction, observation, survival, current events, and prowess at social interaction. Do not discount even the strangest accounts given by witnesses or investigators.
C. Fears/Weaknesses. As mortals we are thus endowed with fears or irrational weaknesses. Better to confide in these straightway than find your fellow Ripper panicked in the heat of battle because he has an aversion to confined spaces! None of us is perfect, so be mindful of any foibles or disadvantages any of you may have. Encourage each other to be the best, and be respectful if not kind to one another. Few outsiders will ever understand what you have seen, or done, as they blithely go about their ordinary lives. Be grateful when you are rewarded or recognized for your actions, and be humble, for there's more to come.
D. Motivations. Rippers are chosen for a reason, but only we individually know why we answer the call. Be aware of your fellow members' comportment and character. Most likely they have experienced something of the preternatural or evil world in their past, and that will have an influence for better or for worse on their resolve. Protect the weaker allies, for they have a purpose too. Cooperation and trust is of utmost importance, even between different social classes or personal beliefs. Should your members be less fortunate, do not be stingy with finances or aid. It is good to establish a party treasury to split costs of ammunition, maintenance, lodge donations, food, equipment, animal care, medicine, experts, guides, etc.
Most importantly, be loyal to one another and to your benefactors. Evil thrives on us when it can divide us.
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