So you clicked the generator and now your ship is full of bugs. What to do? Who to call? If your ship is completely lost or there are no valuables aboard, then I highly recommend destroying the infestation from naval engagement distance using warp tempered ordinance to ensure the uncanny, roach-like resilience typical of void insectoid infestations doesn't come into play.
However
If there is something to be gladly purchased by raw red blood. Something calling out to you in the corners of your mind. That which refuses to be forgotten. You have only one option available to you.
Enter the ancient codes handed down from captain to captain, forever unused until now. Wind the arcane signal generators. Feed the hole-punched distress code into the signifiers. Press the dust-marked indicator. and wait.
ping...ping...ping...
Months pass, then a new star appears in the sky.
This is a hacklet of Orbiters Locale 519. Classes adapter from there and discussion on discord. Thanks to deus and semiurge for their contributions. Also, this game was created in tandem with CatDragon! Happy glogtober everybody.
BUGS AND BLASTERS
The shriek of metal against metal, the thunderous tread of your advance, and the death knells of Humanity’s enemies accompany the howling bark of your ordinance. You are Zeus’ lightning, Thor’s hammer, and G_d’s cup of wrath poured out on heretical alien filth.
Even though Suits’ stats are the same as an unarmored PC’s there is an order of magnitude difference between what those stats mean. A Hardsuit may test Brawn to crash through a wall, an unaugmented human cannot. A Suit’s hp are in the form of hit dice. Each dice of damage that would be done to a typical human instead deals 1 damage to a Suit. An attack which would utterly pulp a human instead deals normal damage to you (1d6 or whatever the value may be). All damage numbers here assume PCs wear hardsuits and face truly monstrous foes.
Character Creation
Roll 4d4 for each of your three stats: Brawn (BRN) Doctrine (DOC), and Faith (FTH)
Roll 1d6 for your starting Hit Points (hp)
Pick a Background.
Choose a Class.
Get briefed on your first mission
Resolve Inventory
Class Overview
Slayer: The fighter class, good at dealing damage and soaking it up.
Battle Witness: The cleric class, good at buffing and augmenting allies.
Metal Singer: The thief class, good at manipulating electronics and the environment.
Tome Keeper: The wizard class, has odd tools.
Class: Slayer
A: Combat Training, Scarred Soul
B: Uncanny Senses
C: No time to Bleed
D: Bringer of Death
Key Item: BFG
You possess a custom Ordinance you have somehow permanently secured from the armory. Decide what it is. It never leaves your side. It is the only thing that helps you sleep at night.
Combat Training
Since your first taste of combat your aim has improved. You may reroll 1s in combat.
Scarred Soul
After these 10 battles, death has become a part of you. You project a menacing aura that convinces most NPCs not to cross you. Only particularly brave people will meet your eyes, and every transport ship has a dark corner for you to sit and brood.
Uncanny Senses
After these 100 battles you feel the ebb and flow of the darkness. Cannot be surprised by hordes.
No Time to Bleed
After these 1,000 battles, your body is as hard as your soul. Wounds do not visibly hinder you until they kill you.
Bringer of Death
After these 10,000 battles, death is you. Take an entire extra turn in combat. If no enemies present have a name or reputation, take as many full turns as you have levels.
Class: Metal Singer
A: Servant Skull +1 Upgrade
B: +1 Upgrade, +1 Skull
C: +1 Upgrade, +1 Skull
D: +1 Upgrade, The Song
Key Item: Autonomous Arm
Mounted to your torso is an intelligent arm. It can hold one item and use it about as effectively as you can without your action.
Servant Skull
Floating skull sized drone. Has 1hp. Comes standard with a flashlight. Must be piloted and you cannot move or act while doing so.
Skull Upgrades
Sensory array - sound, radio, infrared, zoom capability now.
Limited autonomy - You can move while piloting Skulls.
Advanced autonomy - Skulls can act on simple commands.
Flash Bulb - if triggered in a dark area, all creatures in 30’ cone are blinded for 1 round and animal intelligence creatures save or flee.
Armament - Drones are armed with a Rifle.
Armored - Skulls have 1d6 hp.
Lure - Animal intelligence creatures are drawn to the Skull.
Self-Destruct - 50’ radius explosion. Deals 3d6 damage.
Articulating Hand - The Skull can hold and use an item as if with one weak hand.
The Song
You have completed the machine rites and learned the song of steel. You can speak to metal now. Most metal has intimate, but local knowledge of temperatures, pressures, tension, compression, and vibration.
Class: Battle Witness
A: +2 Songs, Heart of Joy
B: +1 Song, Bear Another’s Burden
C: +1 Song (your choice), +1d6 hp
D: Choir of One
Key Item: Exultation Casters
Shoulder mounted voice amplifiers project your joyous songs above even the din of battle. You can sing one song at a time.
Heart of Joy
Practiced exultation in the Augur’s will expands the heart and makes the soul resilient. Gain 1d6 hp.
Bear Another’s Burden
When a nearby ally rolls on the Injury Table you may decide to take the injury before seeing the result.
Choir of One
Reaching a fever pitch of faith and praise, shield your allies with impenetrable exaltation. No damage may be done to them while you belt out your songs at this intensity. This does not protect against superlative effects. You take 1d6 damage at the end of your turn each turn this effect is active.
Songs of Praise
Shared Suffering in Battle - All allies have +1 armor.
Heroic Account of Murdoc - All allies ignore the effect of 1 Injury
Song of Ascension - All allies roll initiative twice and take the better
Bring in the Harvest - All allies deal +1 damage
Lament for Fallen Brothers - Gain a bonus to all rolls equal to the number of marines fallen
Dirge for Escaped Judgment - Advantage to all rolls to track prey
Overture for Rousing Courage - Allies roll Morale twice and take the better
Turn Back the Tide, Watch the Waves Break - All allies gain +1 armor and damage against hordes
Class: Tome Keeper
A: +2 Abilities
B: +1 Ability, Attuned
C: +1 Ability (your choice),
D: The Scream
Key Item: Psychic Shroud
A hood of coils and cables stems from the base of your skull. The Shroud protects you from direct exposure to the energies of Deep Space and allows you to use your abilities safely… most of the time. Check FTH each time you use an ability. If you fail, roll 1d10 on the Psychic Disturbance Table +1 for each previous use, your ability works either way.
Psychic Abilities:
Precognition - describe a brief course of action. The DM will describe the immediate outcome.
Location - Choose a location you can see. You are now at that location.
Acceleration - Speed up time 2x in a 10’ diameter sphere within 20’ of you. Entering or leaving the active sphere would be unwise.
Deceleration - Slow down time 2x in a 10’ diameter sphere within 20’ of you. Entering or leaving the active sphere would be unwise.
Temporal Shift - Reroll a single dice just rolled by a player
Strings of Fate - Reroll a single dice just rolled by the DM
Banish - target unnamed demon must save or vanish.
Vaporize - roll on the psychic disturbance table. Target must save or vanish in a red mist.
Attuned
Roll twice when you roll a Psychic disturbance. Choose which result you like.
The Scream
Take 1d6 damage and +5 to future Psychic disturbance rolls as black energies sear and burst capillaries in your brain. All matter within 40’ is catastrophically molecularized.
Psychic Disturbance
A cool mist rolls in from nowhere.
Electrical components spark and fizz.
Deep in the derelict, something screams.
Little Death - unconscious for a round. Looks dead.
You are noticed by something in the darkness. +2 to future Psychic Disturbance rolls.
Edges of reality crack and spark, obscuring vision. +1 to How it appears
Lasting disturbance - +1 to What it is
Marked for Death - you’re picked for bad stuff
Temperature increases dramatically, flammables ignite.
Temperature decreases dramatically, check BRN or held equipment freezes
Time Lapse - stunned first round of combat
The Shakes - ranged attacks fail on even rolls, also fine motor skills diminished
A bout of heart palpitation seizes you. Stunned for 3 rounds.
Aggressive Necrosis - lose 1d4 to a random stat each exploration turn.
Gateway - check FTH or something comes out of the darkness.
Or higher. You are pulled into a black yawning portal with a slurp.
Exploring the Hulk
Encounter Roll
Roll a d6 in each column during encounter checks. If doubles, roll again and combine the effects. If the result is uninteresting or inappropriate, nothing happens instead.
| What it is | How it appears |
1 | Something out of place | Omen |
2 | Arcane technology | Omen |
3 | Deplete oxygen | Ready for it |
4 | Hulk deteriorates | Ready for it |
5 | Monster | Surprised! |
6 | Horde | Surprised! |
Hulk Deteriorates
The first result happens if the roll requires an omen. The second happens after a short delay or immediately based on if the players are Ready for it or Surprised!
A wall between two rooms caves in / The wall flakes and cracks
A pipeline in a random location shatters. Roll on Pipe Contents table to determine what was inside. / The pipe starts to leak, making the contents obvious.
Gravity activates or deactivates. / PCs are heavier or lighter or pulled in a different direction.
A wall to the void pulls open. / The wall cracks audibly. Air hisses at it is pulled into space.
The structure rotates on its axis. / The derelict rocks and shakes.
One room of the derelict snaps off the rest of the ship. / the entrances to that room bend and snap as supports begin to fail.
Pipe Contents
Freezing Coolant. Save or whatever you’re holding is frozen for an exploration turn. Creates a fog.
Air, high pressure. Those nearby are propelled 15ft away under normal gravity, until contact under microgravity.
Oxygen. Explodes if burst, highly flammable if leaking. Explosion knocks back as air and causes 1d6 damage to all in the area.
Inert gas, heavy. Pools at the bottom of the room. Displaces other gases.
Inert gas, light. Fills the room from top down. Displaces other gases.
Electricity. The wires spark wildly, requiring a save to navigate safely or take 1d6 damage.
Fuel. 3-in-6 chance it sparks off starting a fire. 1d4 damage per round. Oxygen sub breathable in a few rounds.
Metal Repair Foam. Creates a Thin Wall across the area.
Steam. 1d4 damage to unarmored individuals. Slows movement and obscures sight.
Void Stabilizer. Fluid used to transfer the ship into warp. Roll on the Psychic Disturbance table.
Toxic Gas, light. Fills the room from top down. If the vicinity will hold gas and PCs are exposed to the elements, save vs death.
Toxic Gas, heavy. Fills the room from bottom up. If the vicinity will hold gas and PCs are exposed to the elements, save vs death.
Fire Suppressant. Slows movement to a crawl. Save to power through at half speed. Fires are extinguished and fire based weapons are ineffective in the area.
Sewage. +1 to future encounter rolls.
Viscous Polymer. Requires an exploration turn to escape, otherwise move at quarter speed.
Thin Polymer. Sticky and flammable. Only ignites in the presence of flame. It’s covered everything by now. Takes an encounter turn to cleanse.
Data Cables. If properly equipped, can connect and parce to answer 1d3 questions about the ship or connect to a single onboard system.
Pheromone. +1 to future encounter rolls. A random monster is now “friendly” to you.
Multi-Conduit. Roll twice.
Monster. Occupied! Roll again plus add a monster.
Monsters!
The creatures aboard space detritus are wholly monstrous. Anything less has succumbed to the harsh environment and horrors of deep dark space. Monster stat blocks consist of: Hp, Damage done, and any abilities. They may also have armor in which case AOE weapons deal half damage.
A Horde!
A teeming mass of ululating chiton, dozens of buzzing drones, shrieking necroslaves. A pocket of raw mayhem has been encountered within the derelict confines of the hulk. They are coming for you.
When a swarm is first encountered, roll the duration which is the number of waves the horde will arrive in, then roll the number appearing in each wave. Generally, a new wave will arrive each round.
Duration: 1d4+2
No. Appearing: 3d4 each wave
If an Omen is rolled simultaneously, they are a few turns away and are possibly avoidable. If the players are Ready for it, then they have the initiative when the horde comes bursting in in a turn or two. If they are Surprised! by the horde, the enemies appear without warning.
Horde damage rules are different. Horde are weak enemies swarming in large numbers. 1 damage kills one member of the horde and at the end of the PC’s turn the number of the horde present determines the damage done to the PCs. 4 horde present at the end of a round means 4 damage the PCs have to distribute amongst themselves in a narratively acceptable manner.
Non-AOE weapons deal half damage to hordes.
If all enemies are killed before the arrival of the next wave, the party may try to lose the horde.
Combat
Damage is dealt automatically to enemies. Enemies do the same to you. Your hardsuit and your faith are the only things protecting you from a quick death. Those without a hardsuit have 0hp and roll on the Injury Table each time they take damage.
Single targets receive half damage from AOE attacks.
Horde enemies take half damage from nonAOE attacks. They also deal their hp in damage spread among the party at the end of each turn rather than attack. 3 horde damage may be allocated to a PC with 0hp. At the end of the round all PCs who took damage that round roll on the Injury Table.
Initiative
Make a Doctrine Check to go before enemies, those who fail goes after.
Death
If reduced to 0 hp, roll on the Injuries Table. If the same injury is taken twice, you die immediately.
Injury Table
Blood loss - max hp is 1, BRN checks fail
Broken Jaw - talking hard, cant eat, 50% fail spells
Eye Put Out - odd attacks miss
Ruined Leg - half speed
Ruined Arm - doesn’t work
Lost Hand - as above and held item destroyed
Cracked Ribs - no run, no lift heavy
Concussion - DOC checks fail
Opportunistic Infection - disease
Walk It Off - phew
Hazards
Hulks and derelicts are generally without light or atmosphere.
Vacuum
Exposure to Vacuum via a compromised hardsuit deals 1 damage per turn if conscious and knocks you unconscious at 0hp. If exposed without a hardsuit at all, you fall unconscious immediately. If not returned to pressurized atmosphere within the exploration turn you will die.
Low Oxygen
Exposure to low oxygen requires a BRN save to remain conscious every exploration turn. Due to extra organs you may remain unconscious in this way for a number of hours before dying.
Radiation
There is often no warning of radiation contaminated environments without proper equipment. The first sign may be signs of organ and cellular damage. Exposure to radiation causes 1d4 stat damage to a random stat per exploration turn. Extreme radiation causes noticeable skin burns after a round and deals 1d4 stat damage per round after that.
Microgravity
While in microgravity, you may move yourself along solid surfaces at half speed or push yourself in a straight line off of a surface. You can only use melee weapons while securely attached to a solid surface.
Electromagnetic Interference
While in areas of large electromagnetic interference, electrical equipment doesn’t work. Fortunately hardsuits themselves are shielded and remain generally operable.
Inventory
Each PC can carry 3 items, not including their class’s Key Equipment. In addition, each Marine is equipped with a Sidearm, 1d4 damage, 30’ range.
At the beginning of each Dive, roll X ordinance, 2X weapons and 3X equipment available to bring on the expedition, where X is the number of PCs. PCs equip themselves from this list. Ordinance cost 1 Renown to equip.
Oxygen and Ammo are team wide resources and must be carried with the party. A bottle of oxygen provides 3 Oxygen and a bullet box provides 3 Ammo.
1 Oxygen is depleted randomly during Encounter Checks or if expended by equipment use or other circumstance.
1 Ammo is automatically depleted at the end of a skirmish. Also test Doctrine for each Ordinance that was fired. On a failure an additional Ammo is depleted.
Basic Armaments
Roll a weapon base, ammunition, and modifier and combine.
Weapon Base
Rifle: 1d6 damage, pierces Thin walls, 100’ range.
Plasma Projector: 1d6 damage in a 50’ straight line. If you charge the gun as an action for 1 round, it does 1d10 damage in a 100’ straight line.
Shotgun - 1d8 damage in a 30' cone, pierces Thin walls
Warhammer - 1d10 damage in melee, pierces Thick walls
Fluid Thrower - 1d8 damage in a 60' line. Doesn't pierce walls.
Nade Launcher - 1d6 damage. Projectile bounces for 100', 10’ radius explosion. Pierces Thin walls.
Ammunition
Eavy Metal: ignores armor, increases wall pierce by one step
Glass: no longer pierces walls, reroll 1s and 2s on damage rolls against unarmored targets
Shotpack- deals maximum damage to drones and other fast-moving targets. No longer pierces walls
Incendiary - targets take 1d4 damage each round until the fire is put out
Blessed - demons Save or flee
Payload - delivers bullet size doses of cargo. Roll on Pipe Contents table to see what these are loaded with.
Modifier
Light - decrease damage die and wall-piercing by one step, always first initiative unless surprised.
Heavy - increase damage die and wall-piercing by one step, and always last initiative
Variable Scope - you can spend an action to precisely target, allowing you to reroll your damage die.
Snub Barrel - Range reduced one step (200' -> 100' -> 60' -> 30' -> melee -> grapple). Damage increased one step.
Mag-assist - Over-penetrates targets, and will go through any number of non-Armored walls and one Armored wall
Lasertag - all subsequent attacks against target are made at +1. Stacks.
Ordinance
Weapon Base
Rocket Rack: 3d4 damage, split the damage between as many hit targets as you want, pierces Thin walls, 200’ range. Takes a round to reload.
Limpet Launcher - 1d6 damage, 10' radius, pierces Thin walls when set off, rounds stick to metal and can be detonated later, 100' range
Claymore Array - 1d6 damage to everyone out of cover within 100'
Assault Cannon - 2d6 damage, pierces Thick walls, 100' range
Autocannon - 1d8 damage, 10' radius, pierces Thick walls, 100' range
G_d Fist - 2d8 damage in melee, pierces Armored walls. Always last in initiative.
Ammunition
Explosive - damage radius is increased by 20', wall pierce increased by one step
Blessed - demons Save or flee
Incendiary - targets take 1d4 damage each round until the fire is put out
Payload - delivers bullet size doses of cargo. Roll on Pipe Contents table to see what these are loaded with.
Pulse - targets must Save or be knocked down when hit
Eavy Metal - ignores armor, increases wall pierce by one step
Modifier
Rapid-fire: attack twice, expend 1 Ammo to do so.
Hardpoint-mounted: increase damage die and wall piercing by two steps. You cannot take any other actions when you use this weapon
Bombardment: you can choose to have the weapon deal its maximum damage on its attack, but it runs out of ammunition or charge and cannot be used again during this expedition
Backblast: When firing the weapon, everything within a semicircle behind you is tossed 30' away. If you lack 30' of rear clearance, you are tossed forward
Rail-assisted: magnetic rails accelerate the projectile down the barrel. Over-penetrates targets, and will go through any number of non-Armored walls and one Armored wall
Assisted Targeting: you can spend an action to precisely target, allowing you to reroll your damage die.
Equipment
(As Orbiter’s Local 519, hardsuit Utilities included)
If equipment causes Heat, it may reduce Oxygen or Ammo instead.
Also…
Mosquito - capture most pipe contents into an empty Oxygen Bottle. Comes with 1 bottle.
Oxygen Bottle - increase oxygen supply by 3.
Bullet Box - Increase Ammunition by 3.
Downtime
As Orbiters Local 519
Also…
Each named enemy slain
Each chapter relic recovered
Adversarium
(Orbiters Locale 519 as well as...)
Genecutters
# appearing: 1d6
Stalk and misdirect, trying to separate their prey. Pounce from shadows in an inopportune moment. Flee and strike again.
HP: 1d8
Damage: 1d6 flaying claws
1 random Biohazard
Biohazards:
Toxic claws, 1 damage a turn after being hit.
Leaping, close short distances instantly
Chitinous, absorb 3 damage before taking any
Scything limbs, +1 damage
Grasping tentacles, cannot easily escape melee
Pheromone cloud, Thropes show up soon
Corrupted, bring 1 random Psychic Disturbance.
Death adapted, fight to the last
Skittish, flee after first major casualties
Predatory, always attack from two sides.
Brain Brachia
# appearing: 1-2
Float behind front lines, manifesting random psychic disturbance each turn. ¼ chance to manifest psychic power. Nearby bugs act intelligently.
HP: 8
Damage: variable from psychic powers
Thropes
# appearing: 2d6
Leaping directly into battle.
HP: 4
Damage 1d4 oozing mouth
Sand Stalker
# appearing: 1
Burst from below, taking one target away into labyrinthine tunnels
HP:12
Damage: 2d6 piercing forearms once isolated, toxic cloud used to escape and dissuade pursuit. 1 random Biohazard
