 January 31, 2012 - 1:06pm | I didn't share my G+ post publicly so re-posting here. Question: How do you run large/huge/titan creatures in your SF games? --------------- Inspired by +Christopher Wood post "Marauders of Ig" I started crafting an article on titan creatures in Star Frontiers. Here's the rough draft, I'll probably submit it to the Star Frontiersman. ----- What happens on a world where the creatures are as large as vehicles and buildings? If you’re in a military vehicle it’s most likely equipped to handle the situation. But what happens when you’re on foot, or in a science explorer. This article addresses combat with titan creatures. The Right Tool Climbing gear is a must in situations with titans. This type of gear allows characters to scale creatures. Simply imagine the canyon wall is moving while you are trying to scale! Synthrope, hooks, picks, grapple guns, etc., all benefit the climber. Even some vehicles are equipped with grapples and winches. Causing Damage Blunt weapons are useless, weapons with edges cause half damage, piercing weapons such as spears cause full damage and can be thrust into soft areas between chitin. Ingenious characters can use such weapons to scale creatures. Stability When character scale creatures the GM may ask for a DEX. Failure may result in falling or losing height. Consider the following when titans are moving or shifting position: Asleep - make a DEX check just for fun. Critical failure results in waking the creature. Light - DEX check -10 or loose 1d10 meters in height. Medium - DEX check -20 or loose 2d10 meters in height. Heavy - DEX check -30 or fall taking 2d10 damage (interia screens halve damage). Out of Control - DEX check -40, fall taking 2d10 damage, second DEX check -20 to flee before being crushed by outraged titan! Stamina Creature stamina can be divided into sections. When an appendage is reduced to 0 STA it no longer functions and in some cases may be detached from the creature. When an appendage is detached a creature loses 5-20 STA each turn from bleeding depending on the severity. Each appendage has a number of STA equal to the following: Total STA / Number of appendages The creatures body STA is equal to the following Total STA - one appendage |
 February 7, 2012 - 3:38am | Taking on a Titan with standard weapons just brings forth images of the Japanese Army rolling in and trying to take out Godzilla with tanks and rifles. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 February 7, 2012 - 6:36am | Funny thing is that there is a lot of heavy ordinance on the AD equipment list. Every category of weapon has at least one heavy hitting weapon except archaic weapons. And it would be tedious to overcome a titans STA with just pistols but break out the recoiled rifle, grenade rifle, heavy machine gun and laser as well as the sonic devastator and rocket launcher and throw in some vehicles for greater mobility and a little extra protection for the PC's and a party will be well able to handle a titan. After wards we will hold a comment of silence for Johny Rico who tried to climb on the titan and got swatted with one hit for 15d10 damage. After the moment of silence we'll break for food will Johny's player rolls up a new character. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 7, 2012 - 1:04pm | Funny thing is that there is a lot of heavy ordinance on the AD equipment list. Every category of weapon has at least one heavy hitting weapon except archaic weapons.
Catapult - Damage:8d10 x up to six targets in a 5x5m area or 5d10 +1d10/turn for fire damage x3 turns to same area, rate:1/3 , defense: RS check range: --/150-200/201-250/251-300/-- ...and Johnny's next character will volunteer to be pitched toward the titan from the catapult with a gli-jet strapped to his back, thus negating the waste of fuel for take-off. |
 February 7, 2012 - 2:12pm | Funny thing is that there is a lot of heavy ordinance on the AD equipment list. Every category of weapon has at least one heavy hitting weapon except archaic weapons.
Catapult - Damage:8d10 x up to six targets in a 5x5m area or 5d10 +1d10/turn for fire damage x3 turns to same area, rate:1/3 , defense: RS check range: --/150-200/201-250/251-300/-- ...and Johnny's next character will volunteer to be pitched toward the titan from the catapult with a gli-jet strapped to his back, thus negating the waste of fuel for take-off. And don't forget arbalests, ballistas, springals, onagers, and the granddaddy archaic heavy weapon, the trebuchet. They're not in the equipment list but they could be.  Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
February 7, 2012 - 3:32pm | The ballista was the first thing that came to mind, after all it is "gun-like". And while nothing beats a trebuchet for distance, they're simply too gangly and take far too long to reload. In the end I just couldn't pass up the opportunity for Johnny Rico's wild catapult ride. It's my theme in this thread and I'm sticking with it: "What would Johnny do?"  |
February 7, 2012 - 6:38pm | Yes, with a trebuchet you need to get the creature to move into the target zone, you're not going to aim it at a moving target. Ballistas and arbalests would have rates of fire about about 1 per 3 to 5 turns and would be effective as well but the catapult would definitely give Johnny the best ride. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
 February 7, 2012 - 7:55pm | @Shadow, So what are Ultra Man's stats? |
February 7, 2012 - 8:41pm | Considering 45 is average, 70 is high, and 100 is super...I'd place "ultra" somewhere between "incredible" and "mega" so we're talking 400s here. Not just STR/STA either, mind you...but DEX/RS as well. Base 200 to hit for anything. The big issue is finding a skeinsuit in Ultra-large size |
 February 9, 2012 - 11:15am | Has anyone here ever played Planet Fall or Planet Fall 2, where they battle the massive behemoths? Or what about God of War? Did you see the Scorpions seen in the Clash of the Titans remake? These games provide interesting takes on how titanic creatures can be taken down. You really don't focus on the bodies of these creatures. You focus on weak points on their bodies or diseases that can attack their immune systems vigorously. If their only weak spot is inside their body, then you let yourself get swallowed, go in and tear them up on the inside. However, that's a problem for Star Frontiers, because Star Frontiers doesn't provide a mechanic for weak points, so a mechanic would have to be provided. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
February 9, 2012 - 11:27am | If you use some of the hit locations and alternate damage rules then you just scale up for a titan. Except players should be able to aim and hit a chosen location. If they come close to the number they meed to hit then you randomize hit location otherwise what they target gets hit. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 9, 2012 - 3:07pm | In the BRP system, which uses hit locations, you have the option to target a specific hit location with an attack. The mechanic is simple: to make an aimed blow, simply cut your skill in half. If you hit you hit the target location. If you miss, you miss completely. Or you could used the aimed shot rules from Knight Hawks that says if you want to target a specific system on a ship you have a -30 to hit and apply that to normal weapons as well. Of course in KH 30% is the bonus your level 6 gunner gets so maybe it should be a little higher (say -40 or -50) for normal weapons. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
February 9, 2012 - 3:57pm | If you use some of the hit locations and alternate damage rules then you just scale up for a titan. Except players should be able to aim and hit a chosen location. If they come close to the number they meed to hit then you randomize hit location otherwise what they target gets hit.
Consiudering their sheer size, there would need to be an applicable to-hit modifier factored in. The canon SF "giant" critters (air whale, cybodragon, etc) incur a +10 modifier, I would submit a titan earns a +20 bonus when being hit. Rocks at a barn, and all that.  |
February 10, 2012 - 1:53am | When something is that big hitting it may not be enough. Possibly going with the Battletech standard and allow them to just hit it OR go with standard rolls for hitting some locations like chest or leg and modified rolls for hitting head or a big modifier for hitting an eye or that one spot with no scale to penetrate the heart. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
February 10, 2012 - 1:39pm | Considering 45 is average, 70 is high, and 100 is super...I'd place "ultra" somewhere between "incredible" and "mega" so we're talking 400s here. Not just STR/STA either, mind you...but DEX/RS as well.
Base 200 to hit for anything. The big issue is finding a skeinsuit in Ultra-large size Even with a score of 200%, a roll of 96-00 is considered a failure.  ...Ultra Man made a lot of those in the TV series...  |
February 10, 2012 - 1:51pm | I would rule something like this for called shots, assuming the creature had arms, legs, eyes, mouth and ears. Assume the character is firing from a fixed position within long range of his weapon.
* For medium range add +10, for short range add +20, for point-blank add +40 |
February 10, 2012 - 6:01pm | I would disagree with any positive modifiers. For this reason. Say I'm a noob with a level 1 beam skill and a new laser pistol and I'm shooting at w00t. My dex of 50 gives me a total of 35% chance to hit a target at point blank range. If he's out at short range I have a -10% modifier so I have only a 25% chance to hit him anywhere. But wait, I employ these new ranged. I'm going to aim for his body. That gives me a +20 to hit. Plus he's at short range so that's another +20. Now I have a 65% chance to hit him in the body/torso where before, I only at a 25% chance to hit him anywhere at all. So by trying to hit a smaller target, I get a huge boost to my chance to hit. And if he were at point blank range my chance to hit would jump from 35% to 95%. Aimed shots should give only negatives as you are trying to be more accruate and that takes more skill and/or is harder. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
February 10, 2012 - 8:02pm | Terl got me thinking, burst fire is +20 to hit and the damage is against the target and not divided amongst standers-by since the titan is so big it is its own stander-by. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 10, 2012 - 9:38pm | Terl got me thinking, burst fire is +20 to hit and the damage is against the target and not divided amongst standers-by since the titan is so big it is its own stander-by.
If you were using hit locations, use limbs, head, etc, as the by-stander. -OR- What if other characters were on/near the creature, wouldn't they be by-standers? :-) |
 February 21, 2012 - 3:07pm | So how much is too much? God save us if it should reach Knight Hawk scale! NO! Its... Too... late...! |
February 21, 2012 - 7:53pm | It's headed for that bunny. That's no bunny, it's a RABBIT! Has anyone introduce space dwelling creatures in their SF universe? |
February 22, 2012 - 1:00pm | Speaking of space bunnies...I borrowed Jaxxon & Amaiza from the Marvel Star Wars series (they appeared shortly after the initial New Hope run): 
 |
February 22, 2012 - 2:53pm | Holly crap, this Bucky O'Hare before he joined the Righteous Indignation! |
February 22, 2012 - 2:57pm | Space Bunnies? Shame we don't have any SF race based on bunnies. Not hares though never liked hares. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
February 22, 2012 - 7:21pm | Space Bunnies? Shame we don't have any SF race based on bunnies. Not hares though never liked hares. I was about to gripe about more anthropomorphic animals but I guess my hypocracy knows no bounds as I've been spearheading a move to do something with the vimh. Sure bring on the space bunnies. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 23, 2012 - 6:32am | I prefer Stainless Steel Rats.... |
February 23, 2012 - 6:55am | I prefer Stainless Steel Rats....
I liked the concept of the stainless steel rat but after reading a few books decided that the execution was not really living up to the implied promise and stopped reading them.I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 23, 2012 - 1:00pm | Sure bring on the space bunnies. Dont mind if I do!  |
February 25, 2012 - 6:04am | Two hour wargames, which is more focused on table top wargames, however two of the rules that I read had elements for including role playing (but more in the vien of old school role playing than new school role playing), Anyhow Two Hour Wargames just released Motor City BC which is a suppliment for allowing vehicles to mix it up with dinosaurs. Whether you just took an Abrams tank back to the Jurassic period or cloned T-Rexes are suddenly running amok in downtown LA. They claim these rules are easily adaptable to other systems. http://www.twohourwargames.com/motorcitybc.html I own two sets of THW rules and have read two more that I dont own and they offer their old rules as a free download, when they come out with a revision. Their initiative system is different then anything you've seen and may not make sense at first blush but then it wasn't designed to be "fair" to role players but to try to simulate the ebb and flow of the battle field. All in all I like their stuff. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 25, 2012 - 11:24am | Shamelessly I must confess that I submitted a race of Space bunnies a while back to the SFman. Don't know when or if they'll ever see print, but psycho space bunnies do exist in the Star Frontiers universe, just waiting to be discovered. "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
February 25, 2012 - 1:17pm | Shamelessly I must confess that I submitted a race of Space bunnies a while back to the SFman. Don't know when or if they'll ever see print, but psycho space bunnies do exist in the Star Frontiers universe, just waiting to be discovered.
Actually I'm unaware of space bunnies submission I know that two of yours were catlike races and a third was ?wolf? As it is I've slotted race submissions into the next several issues at a rate of one per issue then allowed for an extra race to get snuck in as part of a system brief (happened once) or an adventure- the myxine race. I could be mistaken but I don't believe we have space bunnies unless they are new. And if the are new then don't expect them soon unless we decide to change the current ladders on the next 4-5 issues and just do a new race themed issue which I'd probably vote against until someone proposed a plan to have a series of articles on racial themes (creating a race, first contact, crafting culture and or running star wars styled games) them doing 3-4 race submissions all at once would flow better. NOTE to other submitters race submissions will find their way into the zine faster if part of a large submission ie planetary brief or creature update file as part of a module, its just the nature of the beast right now.
EDIT: providing artwork of your race is another sure way to make the jedion smile and move your submission to the top of the pile- always a huge bottleneck with artwork.
I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
