Don Pendleton's series of action-adventure books, featuring the adventures of the one-man army Mack Samuel Bolan (a. k. a. The Executioner) have been popular in America and overseas for twenty years. So popular, in fact, that Pendleton himself can no longer keep up with the burden of writing them. So Eagle Books, the publisher of the series, has been forced to recruit new writers to chronicle Bolan's escapades. Since Bolan #1, War against the Mafia, the Executioner series has not only contributed to the mass appeal of paperback books, but has given the literary world a hero that has been imitated many times (in countless violent "action-adventure" paperback books, referred to by some as "male romance novels") but never equalled. This article will demonstrate how to portray Bolan in two popular Role-Playing Games: Steve Jackson Games' GURPS, and Flying Buffalo/Blade's Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes. The character of Mack Bolan makes a good addition to any present-day campaign involving international espionage, international terrorism, or organized crime.

The GM can introduce him either as an NPC or a PC. (18 an NPC. Bolan could act as a highly experienced advisor or saviour to the PCs, pulling them out of a tight situation or telling them when they're in over their heads. A campaign with Mack Bolan as a PC would ideally require some familiarity with the Executioner books, especially on the part of the GM. Other players would portray Bolan's allies in his one-man war, characters whom also appear in the books.

CAPSULE BACKGROUND

Mack Samuel Bolan, eldest son of Sam and Elsa Bolan, entered miiitary service at an early age. At 17, he lied about his age in order to serve the U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict. Bolan came out of Korea a war hero, but earned his real reputation in Vietnam. The 'Nam earned him Sergeant '5 stripes, and two nicknames: The Executioner for his extraordinary record of kills as an Army sniper, and the seemingly-contradictory Sergeant Mercy, for his compassion towards the Vietnamese people and his fellow soldiers. Bolan's excellent military career was cut short when word came through from his hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts that both his parents and his younger sister, Cindy, had been killed.

His younger brother, Johnny Bolan, had evidently been wounded, and survived. After obtaining leave from the Army, Bolan retumed home to put the pieces of the mystery that had destroyed his family together. By interviewing his brother, Bolan discovered what had happened. It turned out that Bolan's father, Sam, had owed money to a loan shark, connected with the local Mob. When Sam had begun to lag behind in payments, the Mob turned up the heat on him, finally forcing his daughter Cindy into prostitution in order to pay back the loan. The pressure of the situation, coupled with the revelation about his daughter, caused something inside the elder Bolan to come unhinged. In one night of anger and rage, Sam Bolan used a shotgun on his family, finally turning the weapon on himself.

This was the beginning of Mack Bolan's personal war. Mustering all of the knowledge and connections gained in Vietnam, Bolan managed to single-handedly bring down the local Mafia in a violent blaze, while evading the police. As Bolan's war escalated to include the whole of American organized crime, the mere mention of his name brought fear from Mob bosses, and respect from law enforcement.

Finally, the government offered Bolan a deal. With the price on his head growing every day, and every Mafia goon in the country on his tail, they would allow Bolan to keep a protected low profile. He would be given a new identity, that of retired Colonel John Phoenix, and a new face, through the miracle of plastic surgery. The U.S. government only asked one thing In retum. Bolan would be putting his remarkabie talents to use in the service of Uncle Sam, embarking on chosen missions against the United States most pressing pain in the ass: international terrorists. Bolan took Uncle Sam up on the offer, and what was left of the American Mafia rejoiced, thinking Bolan dead. Bolan's base of Operations was known as Stony Man Farm, an innocent-looking ranch in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

Bolan gained many allies and friends in his New War, including the beautiful computer genius April Rose, the cigar-chomping Justice Department liaison Hal Brognola, Jack Grimaldi, the 'Nam flyboy who could pilot anything from a single-seat Jet fighter to a 747, and the multimember anti-terror squads, codenamed Able Team and Phoenix Force.

Mack Bolan performed over two dozen successful missions as Col. John Phoenk, until a government mole's infiltration of his operation resulted in a KGB-sponsored raid on Stony Man Farm. The bloody battle which ensued resulted in the death of Bolan's love, April Rose, and an effectve end to Bolan's service to the U.S. govemment. Bolan's search for the instigators of the Stony Man Farm raid resulted in his uncovering of a conspiracy involving the K.G.B. and the C.I.A.

Bolan tracked the mole through the highest levels of the government, and eventually killed him in the Oval Office itself. Subsequenlyy, Mack Bolan became a hunted man. The K.G.B. wanted him dead because ot his annoying opposition to many of their international plots, and the deaths of many of their agents. The C.I.A. started: "Operation Bad Apple," the elimination of a non-debriefed loose cannon with too much knowledge. The Mafia, tipped off to his real identity, began gunning for Bolan as well. Again under the name of Mack Bolan, he began to fight his old enemies all over again, with only the support of close friends and his own resourees. But that's another story.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Name: Mack Samuel Bolan (a.k.a. Col. John Phoenk, Sergeant Mercy, The Executioner, Stony Man One, The Big Man, Striker).
Age: Early 50s.
Eyes: Steel Blue.
Hair: Black; Some Grey.
Height: 6' +.
Weight: 200 lbs.+.
Race: American Caucasian.
Other Characteristics: Military Demeanor, Numerous Scars.

MACK BOLAN'S STATS IN GURPS

ST-14 DX-14 IQ-15 HT-14 Move-7
Point Total:155
Dodge-7 Parry-7(with knife) or 4(with gun) Block-0
Advantages:Toughness (+1), Attractive Appearance (+1 reaction). Comfortable Wealth, Absolute Direction, Absolute Timing, Alertness (+1). Ambidexterity, Charisma (+1). Combat Reflexes, Danger Sense, Strong Will (2). Patron (Johnny Bolan).

Disadvantages:Age (52). Sense of Duty, Enemy (Mafia), Enemy (K.G.B.), Enemy (C.I.A.). Enemy (F.B.I.). Enemy (National Security Agency), Enemy (Interpol).

Skills: Fast Draw (Pistol) 14, Fast Draw (Rifle) 14, Guns 15, Judo 14, Karate 14, Knife 14, KnifeThrowing 13,Armoury (Rifles. Handguns) 15, Climbing 14, Survival (Desert) 15, Survival (Woods) 15, Survivai (Jungle) 15, Survival (Arctic) 15, Tracking 15, Parachuting 13, Scuba 14, Swimming 14, Sports (Kyaking) 15, Leadership 15, Strategy 14, Tactics 16, Demolition 14, Shadowing 16, Stealth 15, Streetwise 15, Pilot (Ultralight) 14, Pilot (Military Jet) 14, Pilot (Small Helicopter) 14, Pilot (Large Helicopter) 14.

Weapons: .44 AutoMag pistol (nicknamed "Big Thunder") crush 2+1, 8 shots. Beretta 93-R 9mmP pistol (specially modified with silencer, flash suppressor, folding stock, folding handgrip, and 3-shot burst capability) crush 2, 15 or 20 shots. Uzi (crush 3-1, 30 shots) M-16 with GL attachment (crush 2+2, 30 shots) Small Knives (cut 1+1, imp 1-1)

Other Equipment: Black nighffighting suit, weapon harness.

MACK BOLAN'S STATS IN MSPE

ST-22 IQ-30 LK-21 CON-21 DEX-23 CHR-17 SP-17 Level-20 APs-16,000+ HTH Adds- +30 Missile Adds- +9

Skills: Knife Fighting 1, Knife Throwing 1. Assault Rifle 2, Machine Pistol/SMG 2, Clip Pistol 3, Garrote 1, Pugilism 1, R.S. (Kyaking) 3, Shuriken 1, Gliding/Hang Sliding 1, Tracking 2, Tailing 2, Sky Diving 2, Ambush/Silent Movement 3, Bureaucracy Master 2, Combat Shooting 4, Environmental Survival (Desert) 2, E.S. (Jungle) 3, E.S. (Urban) 2, Leadership 2, Tactical 3, Secret Identity/Double Agent 2, Language (Vietnamese) 1, Language (Korean) 1, Language (Spanish) 1, Gunsmithing 1, Pilot (Combat Jet) 1, Pilot (Helicopter) 1, Special Interest (American Mafia) 2, Martial Arts (Judo) 5.

Weapons: .44 AutoMag pistol (8 dice, 8 shots) Beretta 93-R 9mmP pistol (3 dice, 15 shots) M-16 (4 dice, 20 clip) Uzi (3+2, 25/32/40 clip) Commando Knife (2+2) Throwing Knife (2-1)

Other Equipment: Black nightfighting suit, weapon harness.

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

Mack Bolan's career can be broken down into three primary stages, and GMs should keep these in mind when introducing Bolan into a campaign. Simply put, these are: Mack Bolan vs. the Mafia, Mack Bolan vs. International Terrorists, and Mack Bolan vs. the K.G.B., et cetera.

Mack Bolan vs. the Mafia (books #1-38): Bolan's first adventures afler leaving Vietnam, beginning with his family's tragedy in Pittsfield, and growing into a one-man war against organized crime in America. Typical scenarios include a raid on a Mafia Don's well- guarded townhouse, or busting up a Mob-sponsored drug-smuggling operation.

Mack Bolan vs. International Terrorists (books #39-62): Begins with Bolan's acceptance of the government's offer of a total pardon of any criminal wrongdoing in exchange for Bolan's services. The period of Bolan's double identity as Colonel John Phoenix. During this time, Bolan's base of operations is Stony Man Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Ends with the raid on Stony Man Farm, and Bolan's killing of the government mole responsible for it. Typical scenarios include undercover infiltration of various terrorist organizations, or airborne raids on Middle Eastern terrorist training grounds.

Mack Bolan vs. the K.G.B.. etc. (books #63-??): Bolan's return to a ~lone woH" status, no longer working for the U.S. government, but, in fact, hunted by it. A greater emphasis on anti-K.G.B. adventures, as Bolan makes some dangerous Soviet enemies (at least one with a personal grudge against him). Renewed battles against the Mafia, as they recover from his earlier blitz. Bolan is occasionally willing to carry out "personal" missions in this stage of his career, for frlends, old allies, or as repayment for debts (never for money). Typical scenarios include rescuing kidnapped friends from various captors around the world, or dodging professional killers hired to off Bolan.

In addition to the three periods of time outlined above, other scenarios may be set during Bolan's tenure as "Sergeant Mercy" in Vietnam.

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

Below are details of several supporting characters that appear in the Mack Bolan books, some of whom the GM may wish to convert into PCs, if Mack Bolan is also portrayed as a PC. Although Bolan could be viewed as a "mega-character," he would most likely not be able to do what he does without the support of various friends and allies. Game stats have been deleted, but the descriptions should act as guidelines for GMs when assigning attributes to these characters.

Hal Brognola met Mack Bolan at the beginning of the Stony Man program and Bolan's war against international terrorism, and the two have been good friends ever since. Head of Justice Department's covert operations section, director of Sensitive Operations Group, Stony Man liaison with the Oval Office. Middle-aged, overweight, but tough as nails. Smokes an evil-smelling cigar.

Jack Grimaldi began as a flyboy for the Mafia, but was reformed by Bolan and became a friend during the Executioner's war on the Mafia. He has flown everything from Huey choppers in 'Nam to VTOL jets to Boeing 767s, so give him lots of pilot skills. An indispensable ally to Bolan, has pulled him out of more than one tight situation. Always good for a hair-raising flight and a good laugh.

April Rose appears only in the second phase of Bolan's career. Primary mission controller and overseer of Stony Man Farm. His closest ally and friend during that time, until she was killed in the raid on Stony Man Farm (book #62, Day of Mourning).

Johnny Bolan, Mack Bolan's younger brother, appears only occasionally, until after the raid on Stony Man Farm, when Johnny becomes a valuable ally. College student, computer genius, and occasional adventurer when his brother is around. He has given protection to Bolan on occasion, and has needed protection from Bolan on some other occasions.

Leo Turrin Started out as a prominent Mafia capo (Leo "The Pussy" Turrin) but won over by Bolan's threats, then his friendship, towards the beginnlng of the latter's war against the MobUndercover agent with the Justice Department's Orgcrime Division, later an officer of the Stony Man/Phoenix operation.

Aaron "The Bear" Kurtzman Computer expert, librarian of Stony Man's extensive electronic data bank. His appearance is imposing, but his nature is gentle. Kurtzman was shot in the spine during the Stony Man raid, and was subsequently bound to a wheelchair.

Andrzej Konzaki Vietnam vet and weapons genius. Stony Man Farm's master armorer. Expert on small arms. handguns, machine guns, knives and explosives. Legless since 'Nam, so also wheelchair-bound. Killed during the raid on Stony Man Farm.

Able Team (Rosario "Politician" Blancanales, Carl Lyons, Hermann "Gadgets" Schwarz) Highly-specialized sensitive operations team in the employ of the government. Part of the Stony Man program; may sometimes join Bolan on missions during the Stony Man period of his career. "Ironman" Lyons is an ex-LAPD cop and occasional berserker. "Pol" Blancanales is a street-smart chicano. "Gadgets" Schwarz is a Vietnam vet and an electronics wizard.

Phoenix Force Cakov "Katz" Katzenelenbogen, David McCarter, Rafael Encizo, Gary Manning, Keio Ohara) Similar to Able Team in all respects. May also team with Bolan during the Stony Man period, either individually or as a group. "Katz" is the one-handed Israeli leader of the Force. McCarter is a tormer member of the British SAS intelligence agency. Encizo is a veteran of the Cuban Bay of Pigs invasion, and an underwater combat specialist. Manning is a tough Canadian ballistics and explosives expert. Ohara is a lethal martial artist and electronics expert, bred in the Samurai tradition.

FINAL NOTES

A word or two on Mack Bolan's modus operandi are in order here. Although Bolan has a destructive effect on his enemies and on the battlegrounds on which he fights them (termed "The Bolan Effect") he is much more than a killing machine. The books stress Bolan's humanity above anything else, and although the series would end should he be killed, he is not immortal. Bolan does not possess battle-lust; he looks on what he does as a grim chore, not a sport. He is a thinking man's warrior; Bolan shoots when he has to, but he knows when a problem will take more than bullets to be solved. He is a fascinating character, and should make an interesting addition to any role-playing campaign set in modern times.

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