Marine

The UNN Marine is one of the three military classes in System Shock 2.

Individual classes do not limit the abilities or weapons a player can use, but rather determine the priorities of their usage. However, as the costs of the upgrades increase along with difficulty settings, players should carefully consider choosing their path on Hard or Impossible difficulties.

Lore

For the more combat-inclined characters, the Marines is the branch of choice. First on the ground in a fight, a Marine trainee learns either a lot about Standard Weapons or a little about more unusual weapons, as well as learns a Technical Skill, and bulks up on Statistics.

Tour of Duty

Upon selecting this class, you are first sent to Camp Lejeune for a half year long preliminary training, during which you gain +1 Standard Weapons. After that, a shuttle takes you to the Wake Island Space Station orbiting the Earth to begin your three-year training.

Year One

February 2111 − 12^th February 2112

You have one of three options to choose from:

Training Facility	Statistics Gained	Skills Gained
UNN Gallo Supply Ship Ordnance Master's Mate	+2 Strength	−
Io Survival Training School Survival Training	+2 Endurance	−
Guadalcanal Training Station Zero-Gravity Training	+2 Agility	−

Year Two

12^th February 2112 − 23^rd February 2113

You have one of three options to choose from:

Training Facility	Statistics Gained	Skills Gained
UNN Antigua Gunnery Mate	+1 Cybernetic Affinity	+1 Energy Weapons
JM-432 Asteroid Belt Automated Ore Facility Asteroid Pickets	+1 Cybernetic Affinity	+1 Heavy Weapons
Port MacArthur Training Facility Staff Assistant, Weapons Range	−	+2 Standard Weapons

Year Three

23^rd February 2113 − 9^th February 2114

You have one of three options to choose from:

Training Facility	Statistics Gained	Skills Gained
UNN Secretary-General's Home Office U.N.N. Honor Guard, Military Police	−	+1 Maintenance
Polidies Trading Station Quash Rebellion	−	+1 Modify
UNN Antigua Ship's Systems Consultant	−	+1 Repair

Strategies

• The Marine is generally a safe choice for new players, focusing on Weapon Skills, of which 2 out of 3 can be learned. It also offers most practical Statistics and some Technical Skills.
• On average, Marine's trainings are worth a similar amount of Cybernetic Modules as Navy Sailor's trainings, however with a smaller spread.
  • Choosing +2 Standard Weapons during the second Year (path 2.3) gives an equivalent of 1 Cyber Module (2 on Impossible difficulty) less than other Year 2 paths.
• The Marine can gain more Strength than all other classes (+2 instead of +1).
• It is also the best choice to use Energy or Heavy Weapons early on. Additionally, selecting these Weapon Skills outfits the player with either a Poor (2) condition, non-modified Laser Pistol charged with 20 energy units - or a Poor (2) condition, non-modified Grenade Launcher loaded with 5 Fragmentation Grenades, respectively.
  • Players focusing on Standard Weapons can choose between the Marine and the Navy Sailor.
• Training Maintenance skill gives the player one Disposable Maintenance Tool.

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