BOOK FOUR: CONQUEST Chapter Nine: Civilizations --------------------------------------------------------------------- The troop types listed in the last two chapters are a lot of fun and give rise to a whole lot of varied possibilities, but after awhile you're going to get tired of vanilla battles of one identical team of Troopers against another. You're going to wish each side had more identity, more 'personality.' And why not? With the huge variety of Civilizations that history has to offer, there are any number of military systems that differ greatly from the generic norms. There's plenty of room for you to make up your own Civilization, with its own specialties, limitations, quirks, and 'personality.' These should reflect the makeup of your PBB collection. (For instance, if you have a lot of blue motorcycles, then you might make your Blue Civilization specialize in motorized cavalrymen.) There are no hard and fast rules to the advantages and disadvantages you should give your Civilizations, but do your best to make them well-rounded - give them disadvantages to match all their advantages. This chapter includes a number of example TL5 StarShip Civilizations to show you the kind of thing we're talking about. These Civilizations are based on the kinds of pieces we have in each color in our PBB collection, and the playing styles of our usual gang of players. These examples should work well with most big PBB collections, but you might have to make your own modifications to fine-tune them to your particular sets. Each of these Civilizations is associated with a certain color. This makes their units, vehicles, and buildings easy to tell apart on the battlefield. Each one is designed to take advantage of the minifigs and special pieces that have been made in that general color over the course of the last twenty years or so. under each Civilization's section, you'll find: - a basic description of the Civilization, including its power, politics, and philosophy - a listing of its special units, weapons, vehicles, and abilities - the types of battles they're likely to get in and their fighting style when they get there I think you'll find that fighting as one of these Civilizations, with their sense of identity and purpose, will be a lot more satisfying than when you were just commanding anonymous divisions of Troopers. 9.1 Johar, the Yellow Raiders ----------------------------- The Johar StarShip Civilization had the unfortunate luck to begin its colonizing campaign in a resource-poor section of the galaxy. The dim suns in this sector shone on barren rockball planets, lacking in the minerals and metals the Joharites needed to maintain a serious war effort. What they did eventually find, however, was a pocket of super-rich organic planets, covered by impenetrable jungles, dense swamplands, and limitless steppes teeming with vast herds of grazing animals. With this nearly inexhaustible supply of biomass, the Joharites began cannibalizing their StarShip to get the metal and equipment they needed to set up some serious bio-engineering research facilities. While their weapons technology atrophied, they perfected new techniques of cloning and genetik engineering. Painted on the sides of Johari Bases and vehicles is the symbol of Four-Eyed Jack, an early Johari Genetik who made heroic advances in bioengineering, despite the fact that he had no one to experiment on except himself. To the victims of a Johari raid, the sight of this mutant clown-face bearing down on them at mach speed tends to induce a gibbering terror, as the defending soldiers instinctively give in to mankind's primal fear of smiley-faces. Now, two thousand years into the Galactic War, the cannibalization of the Johar StarShip has reduced it to about fifty mini-StarShips. This ragtag rebel fleet moves from hiding place to hiding place while huge Johari legions of cloned SpaceTroopers sweep the galaxy in search of the metals and supplies they need to rebuild their Civilization. Their primary concern is with obtaining industrial alloys and equipment. To accomplish this, they engage in hit-and-run raids on other Civilizations' factories and industrial bases, trying to take what they need and escape before an armed defense can be raised. In rare cases, they try to take over isolated or abandoned factories for their own use. However, they never stick around in one area for long, because they don't have the firepower to hold off a concentrated assault. They attack in great numbers on small, fast vehicles to quickly secure an area so that a dropship can arrive to steal and transport away raw material and finished products. If they have the chance, it is not uncommon for them to bring timed explosives to destroy the buildings after they have emptied them. 9.1.1 Johari Vehicles Because of their shortage of industrial resources, the Joharites may only have one weapon of Mk3 or above, or one chassis of Medium or above (not counting DropShips), for every 300 points they are allowed to spend on a battle. On an attack, all Joharites must be transported into battle in vehicles. Almost every individual Johari SpaceTrooper will have either a JetBoard or a RaidCycle. JetBoards are One-Piece Hover Flyers with no weapons, genetikally engineered from a flying manta-ray-like creature. Johari SpaceTroopers ride around on them like flying skateboards. They cost five points. They are represented by a 2x2 plank with pair of little 'wings.'. If a JetBoard is damaged, it is considered killed and destroyed. It cannot be repaired by Mechanix or Medix. RaidCycles are often transported into battle by Medium or Large Flyers, which carry them around as if they were Mk2 Bombs. They are normal One-Piece motorcycles with one or two hand weapons mounted on the sides. Most Johari raids involve at least one DropShip, which is a Hover Flyer built to transport stolen loot. Due to its extremely light construction, a DropShip is cheaper to build but has weaker stats. A DropShip's base cost is one half the base cost of a Normal Flyer of comparable size. Its Movement Rate is only 4" per turn, and it takes a full turn for it to get from orbit to the battlefield once it is summoned, and another full turn to get back into orbit once it decides that it's time to go. Its Armor Value is only 2d6+2. Most of the space on a DropShip is devoted to cargo space for stolen loot (maximum 5 Blox of weight times the Class of the vehicle). It gets one free crane or robot arm capable of lifting 5 Blox of weight (this means that if you want to steal larger objects, you're either going to have to get a couple of cranes working together, or some SpaceTroopers to help lift, or you're going to have to chop up the object somehow). Up to four hand weapons may be mounted on the ship. 9.1.2 Johari Marauders The Joharites depend heavily on overpowering numbers, which are readily available to them with their advanced cloning techniques. For all regular troops from the Regular Combatants list (any troop type without a ratio requirement), you get a 'two for one' deal: for every one you buy, you get his clone for free. The Johari Genetix Corps have also come up with an overadrenalized and cryogenikally enhanced SpaceTrooper design, specialized for rapid assault missions, called the SpaceManiak. Classification: Johari SpaceManiak (hyper-rapid assault infantry) Move: 20" Armor: 2d6+3 Skill: 1d6 Specialty: HyperActivity Ratio: 1 per 10 troops Cost: 17 CP SpaceManiax are hyperactive balls of energy, hopelessly addicted to sugar, caffeine, and adrenaline. Their inability to sleep or even sit still for more than half a second leads them to run around at full tilt for hours after the battle has ended, constantly scanning for snack pastries and six-packs of SpaceCola. Specialty: HyperActivity (+2 CP) SpaceManiax are much faster than normal SpaceTroopers. They often pace speeding vehicles and jump onto them (they jump twice as far as normal SpaceTroopers). They can run up and over a one-story wall. They always get two attack phases. They must move at least 10" every turn, or their hyperactivity peaks and their head bursts in a 1d10 explosion. Running in tight circles (turning more than 720 degrees in a single turn) makes them dizzy; their Skill decreases by four every turn that they do this, and recovers by two points every turn after they've stopped spinning. SpaceManiax almost never stop talking. A SpaceManiak is represented by a gray, blue, and yellow minifig with a yellow helmet and silver sunglasses. 9.1.3 Johari Raids Most Johari battles are hit-and-run raids on enemy factories and warehouses, although large cargo convoys are sometimes also targeted. Their primary objective is to steal high-quality weapon and vehicle components, or raw unprocessed industrial-grade material (represented by normal Blox). Their secondary objective is to raze enemy complexes to the ground following a raid. The defenders must spend at least 10% of their points on a factory or warehouse with class III walls, filled with valuable loot. Maybe some of the loot is being loaded onto trucks for transport, or a supply convoy is coming in. The factory is as large or small as seems appropriate for the size of the armies. Bases and defenses may be added outside or attached to this factory at normal cost. Defending troops and vehicles can be placed at normal cost as well. A wave of defensive support troops arrives six turns after the defenders first notice the Johari assault - these troops cost half price. More reinforcements come twelve turns later. The cost of these troops is reduced to one third, but the Joharites are fast enough that they can usually secure all vital positions by the twelfth turn. The Joharites must capture as much as they can before defensive reinforcements arrive. DropShips are slow and have weak armor, so Joharites should eliminate most of the enemy's defensive capability before summoning a DropShip. The Joharite troops can also grab bits of loot and fly off with them themselves. In smaller battles, the Joharites try to finish their business before the first defensive reinforcements arrive. In larger battles, they try to commandeer as much of the enemy defenses as they can - bases, vehicles, and weapons - to lay down cover fire for the DropShip when the reinforcements arrive. They will attack the gunners manning the turrets and the pilots driving the vehicles rather than the turrets and vehicles themselves, if they can. 9.2 Setvia, the Red Robot Socialist Republik -------------------------------------------- The first major Setvian colony was on the mineral-rich but hostile volcanic world Vesuvius. The Civilization dedicated most of its resources to mining, and over the years developed mighty robots and magnetic tools. Their enormous supply of mineral resources allowed them to expand quickly over the many similar worlds in their region of space, quickly making them one of the most powerful Civilizations in the galaxy, on par with the Meikon Civilization. The two symbols of the Setvian Republik are the Twin Volcanoes and the Fires of Vesuvius. In battle, the Setvians use large robots as weapons platforms and central command stations. Their strategy is to use their giant robots, defended by groups of smaller robots and vehicles, to destroy enemy bases and large vehicles as quickly as possible and then secure a command area from which to conduct mop-up operations on the smaller enemy units. 9.2.1 Setvian Robots Although they also use normal vehicles, Setvians prefer to go into battle backed up by enormous Robots. The construction of big fightin' Robots is covered in the Robotic Vehicles Rules Supplement; if you don't have the Supplement, use the following simplified rules. Simplified Robot Construction Rules for Players who Don't Have the Robots Supplement A Robot's base cost is the same as that of a Treaded Ground Vehicle of similar size, multiplied by how many levels tall they are. Its Cargo Capacity is also multiplied by this number. For instance, a three-story tall Large Robot would have 3 x 10" or 30" of weapon mounts. Thirdly, the number of levels multiplies the number of inches in a Robot's TurnRate, since these robots get to be pretty top-heavy! When the Robot is damaged by weapons fire, each level takes damage separately. Robots should always have enough extra stuff loaded on them to cut their Movement Rate in half. All Robots get one free ComputerBank, which serves as an artificially intelligent SpacePilot (with a Skill of 1d6+1) for the robot. Any damage to the Robot that would normally kill the SpacePilot now fry a ComputerBank instead. ComputerBanx in Robots work a lot like ComputerBanx in Bases, and are subject to the same kinds of security problems, so don't let your enemies get control of all of your Robots' ComputerBanx or they'll control the Robot! Like a SpacePilot, a single ComputerBank can only aim the Robot's weapons at one target per Attack Phase. Additional ComputerBanx, costing five points each, can each fire weapons at one additional target, and make one more ComputerBank your enemies will have to gain access to before they can take control of your Robot. Finally, if you spend one point to put a ComputerConsole on a weapon, then it will be able to target by itself. ComputerConsoles can't act without the approval of the ComputerBanx, so if an enemy tries to take control of a ComputerConsole, or the ComputerBanx are shut down or taken over by the enemy, the ComputerConsole and the weapon it controls shut down until the same team controls both the ComputerBanx and the ComputerConsole. 9.2.2 Setvian Troopers Setvians tend to use a lot more SpaceDroids than other Civilizations. They produce them for only 6 points, and there is no ratio limit of troops to SpaceDroids. WorkDroids cost 3 points and have the same stats as SpaceSlaves, except that like all droids they get confused without humans nearby to tell them what to do. Setvian SpaceDroids are represented by black and red robot minifigs with clear helmets. WorkDroids are built from scratch, with no minifig parts. Classification: Setvian Cybernetik (biomechanikal maintenance and repair specialist) Move: 5" Armor: 5 Skill: 1d6+1 Specialty: BioMechanikal Ability Ratio: 1 per 5 robots or droids Cost: 10 CP While the Setvians have Medix and Mechanix like all the other Civilizations, their extensive research into Robotix has allowed them to create a new type of battlefield technician that combines the skills of both: the Cybernetik. A Cybernetik might repair a damaged steering system by replacing it with the head of a fallen SpacePilot, or help a wounded SpaceHero by replacing his legs with a propeller. They take special pride in finding the most ridiculous and unlikely combinations possible. Specialty: BioMechanikal Ability (+4 CP) Cybernetix have all the abilities of normal Mechanix, except that when they are repairing or rebuilding vehicles, they can use minifig parts for spare parts. In addition to their single tool, they may be assisted by one or two WorkDroids, who each add 1d6 to all repair rolls. Also, when rolling to see if they can build a new device from debris, they roll 1d6+1 instead of 1d6. (If a Cybernetik uses enough biological parts when creating a new device, then the result is a Cyborg - see below.) When acting as Medix, Cybernetix make their roll to save the patient as usual but must replace at least one wounded limb with a robotic part. These will usually work just like the originals, but if a Cybernetik is strapped for spare parts he might use something totally inappropriate, like a 2x3 Brik to replace a SpaceTrooper's legs. Obviously, that SpaceTrooper is going to spend the rest of the battle in one place, unless other SpaceTroopers carry him around. Cybernetix can carry computers around with them in Cybernetik- Carts. Computers only cost one point each; they are so common on Setvia that they are used as doorstops and birdcage liners. If a Cybernetik needs to replace a SpaceTrooper's wounded head, he has to use a computer to do it. He may also build a computer into a vehicle. The minifig or vehicle will now have Skill 1d6-1, and need to have friendly humans within 5" to tell them what to do. Enemy minifig corpses can be turned into loyal android slaves in this manner. As usual, enemies gain control of the computers if they can gain access to them for a full turn. Occasionally, a Cybernetik's hard work produces something that is not really either a minifig or a vehicle. For instance, you might see a 2x4 Brik with two pairs of legs, a Mk2 Laser and a short column topped by a human head. This is a Cyborg (or "Giger" in Setvian). Cyborgs move 5" a turn, have an AV of 1d10, and a Skill of 1d6-1. These pathetic miscreants are usually scrapped for spare parts when the battle ends. A Cybernetik is represented by a red-and-white minifig with the symbol of the Twin Volcanoes on his chest. 9.2.3 Setvian Combat Setvian combat strategy is centered around a small number of large 'Capital Robots' which are surrounded by defensive clouds of lesser troops, vehicles, and Robots. These Capital Robots work as mobile command centers, using their impressive firepower to reduce large targets to rubble quickly, while their defensive clouds mop up attacking enemy units. Setvia's enemies envy its valuable mineral-rich planets, and the Setvians are often called on to defend their volcanic colony worlds. Streams and pools of molten lava are often arranged in defensive rings around Setvian bases. Terrain is barren and rough, and there are always plenty of rocks and boulders around. Setvian bases usually employ some form of Mass Driver to launch rocks all over the landscape. The ground is considered to have AV of 3d10; anything striking the ground with enough force to break the surface will cause a 3d10 fumarole explosion, sending molten lava everywhere. Molten lava is represented by red Brix that flow downhill at one inch per turn. Anything that touches molten lava takes 5d6 of Fire Damage, so watch out! 9.3 Meikon, the Blue Federation ------------------------------- Early in the Galactic War, three of the wussier StarShip Civilizations were paying the price for their pansyitude. They kept attempting to use diplomacy and promote the interests of culture and peace, and as a result they were repeatedly taken advantage of and stabbed in the back by the other Civilizations. Rather than learn from their inexcusable mistakes, they all withdrew to distant corners of the galaxy to nurse their wounds and reflect on the unfairness of it all. By a long coincidence, they all happened to retreat to the same area. After some quick negotiation, they decided that since they were all in the same situation, and since their coats of arms all happened to be the same shade of blue, they should team up and form a Federation. They named the Federation after the heroic martyr Meiko, who died trying to promote diplomacy and rule of law among the warring Civilizations. Since that day, the Meikon Civilization gained steadily in power and influence. Besides the resources of their three founding StarShips, they are frequently joined by colonies abandoned by or revolting against one of the other more oppressive Civilizations. The Meikons have repaired their original StarShips, and even built a fourth, in addition to numerous colonies and CityShips. In their area of the galaxy, the Setvians are the only Civilization that can compare with them in terms of power, resources, and territory. The Meikons' military expansion is frustrated by their desire to always behave fairly and in a culturally sophisticated manner. The Meikon House of Congress rarely authorizes hostile military action, and in any case the Meikon forces are usually bogged down in police actions, trying to maintain law and order throughout their section of the galaxy. In battle they rely heavily on well-established bases and medium- to large-sized vehicles. Their strategic emphasis is on maintaining defensible positions and drawing their enemies into the range of their defensive weapon emplacements. 9.3.1 Meikon Technology Although the Meikon Civilization has no special unique technologies, it has taken regular technologies to new and fantastic heights. Dozens of their SpaceShips have grown to the size of large cities, and they tend to use the most powerful and sophisticated weapons and vehicles available. Meikon Bases can built and mount Siege Weapons that normally would not be available until TL6. In offensive operations, Meikons can make one of their Class VI Enormous Treaded Vehicles into a mobile base. This mobile command center is used to transport troops and small vehicles, in addition to wielding TL6 Siege Weapons (other Meikon vehicles are limited to TL5). SickBays and Mechanix' Workshops can be added for 15 points and -5" Move. Like bases, they must have at least one computer bank (the first one is free). 9.3.2 Meikon Troopers Meikon generals prefer sending in a few SpaceHeroes and heavily-armed tanks to sending in a whole slew of normal SpaceTroopers and battle buggies. They sometimes choose to ignore troop ratios for special missions. They always try to capture enemy facilities and vehicles rather than destroy them. With that in mind, a special division of SpaceTroopers was developed: the Blue Berets. Classification: Meikon Commando or Blue Beret (infiltration specialist and one-man army) Move: 7" Armor: 1d6+3 Skill: 2d6-1 Specialties: Survival Training Stealth Ratio: 1 per 5 troops Cost: 14 CP The final training exercise of the Meikon Blue Berets involves being released in the hard vacuum of space with nothing but SpaceArmor, a Magnetic Parachute, and a special golden bowie knife. They are then expected to reach the nearest planet and survive for two months in its Green Thing-infested jungles, while making their way to an active volcano. (They aren't told that the volcano is patrolled by homicidal SpaceDroids.) They must get to the top of the volcano and wait up to a week for the automated rescue ship to arrive. Fatality rates are high, but the SpaceTroopers who manage to repair the rescue ship after it crashes into the lake of molten lava and use it to escape the planet are the most resourceful and battle-hardened veterans of any Civilization. Commandos are specially trained in base assault, stealth, first aid and field repair. They carry the Meikon Survival Knife, which is a small shiny gold knife that contains 5" of rope and a noiseproofed grappling hook, a first aid kit, a mini-Mechanik-toolset, an electronic scrambler, a silencer, three days of emergency rations, and a collapsible tent. The Commando's specialty is infiltration. If he has any cover whatsoever, he is invisible to his enemies. Ideally, a squad of Commandos can kill everyone in a base without any of them ever realizing they are under attack. They gain access to the base by climbing over the walls with their ropes, or using their electronic scrambler to open the door. Every turn that a Commando uses his scrambler on a door, roll 1d6. A 5 or above opens the door, while a 1 activates the base alarm. Additional Commandos add 1 to this roll, but a die roll of 1 still activates the alarm. Specialty: Survival Training (+3 CP) Commandos rarely have field support in their operations, so they are trained to take care of vehicle repair and first aid on their own. When attempting to do field vehicle repair, treat them like Mechanix except that instead of rolling 1d6 for every tool and adding 5, roll 1d6-1 for every Commando helping and add 4. (Commandos cannot build new vehicles from debris, but they can use mechanical debris to augment existing vehicles.) When using first aid, treat Commandos like Medix, except that instead of getting 5 or higher on a 1d10, they have to get 4 or higher on a 1d6. Additional Commandos add 1 to this roll. A Commando can attempt to give himself first aid on the first turn after he goes down, but he rolls 1d6-1. Commandos are normal SpaceTroopers with blue berets and little gold knives. They are often given Magnetic Parachutes and dropped into battle by Flyers or launched by Mass Drivers. They prefer to carry a Gyro Rifle, which they put a silencer on and use as a sniper weapon. 9.3.3 Meikon Combat Because the Meikon colonies and CityShips are major centers of interstellar commerce, it is very easy to smuggle spies, saboteurs, and paramilitary death squads into them. Most of the battles the Meikons get into involve defending a military installation in the middle of dense city terrain. Naturally, lots of Normal People and Normal Buildings get thrashed in the crossfire. Usually, the Meikon forces will be taken by surprise when they are attacked, and won't be at full defensive strength. They do have the option of calling in reinforcements. If the Meikon player wants to spend some of his points on reinforcements, they arrive six turns after any Meikon troop triggers an alarm, and they only cost half their normal point cost. If he wants a second wave that arrives twelve turns after the first alarm, they cost one-third their normal point cost. Reinforcements can enter from any edge of the battlefield. When Meikons attack other civilizations, they try to bring in one Mobile Command Center, an Enormous-class vehicle to serve as a command post. Squads of SpaceTroopers establish a defensive perimeter while Engineers and Supply Trucks with prefabricated parts are deployed to create defensive walls, bunkers, weapon turrets, watch towers, and a Mass Driver. (Prefabricated Base walls cost one-half as much as the base they are designed to build. Siege Weapons to mount on the new base cost normal price.) Once the base is complete, the Meikons use the Mass Driver to launch paratrooper Commandos behind enemy lines while the SpaceTrooper squads make a full frontal attack. Hopefully, the Commandos can capture enough enemy equipment to render the defending enemy troops ineffective. 9.4 Aennri, the Green Autocracy ------------------------------- The Aennri Civilization does not figure greatly in most interstellar wars. Their primary desire is to be left alone. Their StarShip has been either hidden or destroyed, and they hide their colonies on forest and jungle worlds, using an advanced stealth technology to hide themselves from enemy scanners. The Aennri have an almost supernatural ability to blend in with their natural surroundings. Their bases are indistinguishable from rocks and trees. In battle, they use BoobyTraps and hit-and-fade ambushes to divide enemy forces, cut them off from supplies and reinforcements, and whittle away at their numbers. 9.4.1 Aennri Encampments The Aennri do not tend to use large-scale advanced technology, because large energy signals cannot be hidden by their stealth devices. For the most part, their Bases are hidden caves tunneled into the sides of mountains or thick tree trunks, or web-like arrangements of ropes and bridges in the tops of trees. (Ropes, bridges, and ladders are free; treetop platforms are bought at normal building costs.) Occasionally they build bases in the bottoms of lakes. Enemy forces will not discover Aennri Bases unless they actually see an Aennri troop using one of the secret entrances. This is difficult: if the Aennrienne is not in an enemy's line of vision, not within 5", or has any sort of cover, the Aennrienne is effectively invisible. (The 5" rule does not apply in open terrain, so Aennriennes always place their bases in forests or jungles.) Aennri forests are littered with hiding places such as hollow trees and camouflaged foxholes. A designated Aennri hiding place costs three points. An Aennrienne hiding in such a spot is absolutely invisible to enemies. The hiding place is revealed if an enemy directly sees an Aennrienne entering or exiting it. Enemies can then attack the hiding spot, which usually has an AV of 1d10. Rather than large siege weapon emplacements, Aennriennes' main defenses consist of dozens of vicious BoobyTraps. Aennriennes are too smart to get caught by their own traps, except on purpose in extreme circumstances (such as setting off the volcano under their base when hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded). Aennri BoobyTraps are invisible until they activate. They are considered Exceptional Landscape Features (or ELFs), so their point costs vary wildly. The rules for creating custom Siege Close Combat weapons work well for designing BoobyTraps. For mechanical traps (like beartraps, covered pits, etc.) add one point to this cost. For traps that require energy sources (like explosives set off by laser tripwires), add 3 points for stealth coating. For traps that require computer control (like a computer-targeted sniper rifle turret hidden under a rock), add 5 points. Most traps will have 1d10 AV and 1d6 Skill. Very rarely, an Aennri base will have a large Siege Weapon mounted nearby. There is no way to hide such a large power source from enemy scanners, so you can be sure it will be surrounded by lots of BoobyTraps. It is always placed some distance from the Base, so as not to give away the Base location. 9.4.2 Aennri Troopers Aennri troops must take constant advantage of their stealth and cunning to survive in battle, because of the limits on their armament. All Aennri troops have -1 AV, which they have to sacrifice for their stealth devices. They have -1 skill for any post-medieval weapon (like Gyro Rifles and ChainSaws) but +1 close combat bonus. Consequently, Aennriennes spend most of their time ducking in and out of hiding spots and ambushes rather than engaging in head-on fighting. An Aennrienne's location is revealed if he discharges an energy weapon, or moves with a rifle or any weapon whose damage rating is measured in d10's. In some cases this may reveal the location of a base or hiding place. Aennriennes try to avoid that whenever possible. Troop ratio requirements are doubled for all Aennri troops. Aennri armies are often composed entirely of SpaceTroopers (who, like all Aennri troops, wear RobinHood hats) and Belligerent Medieval People. SpaceHeroes are rare, and Mechanix and SpaceDroids are unheard of. SpaceDrivers are unnecessary because Aennri vehicles don't get any larger than horse-drawn carts and almost never have any Siege Weapons. Their one special troop type is the SpaceTinker. Classification: Aennri SpaceTinker (sneaky underhanded anti-infantry mechanist) Move: 5" Armor: 4 Skill: 1d6 Specialty: Defensive Landscaping Ratio: 1 per 5 troops Cost: 6 CP The Aennri SpaceTinker is part special-effects technician, part sadistic landscaper. His deathtraps are not only carefully arranged to destroy enemy troop cohesion, but to create a beautiful aesthetic whole. He might create a fairytale scene by planting a vibrant bed of wildflowers beside a charming rustic stone bridge crossing a placid stream. The wildflowers hide a covered spiked pit, there is a computer-guided impact pistol mounted under the bridge, between the bridge foundations which are designed to collapse and detonate. The stream is lined with razor tripwires that set off a flash flood and release the SpaceAlligators. Specialty: Defensive Landscaping (+2 CP) SpaceTinkers must carry around one tool to build and repair their traps. They come equipped with pockets full of electronic eyes, pressure sensors, and tripwires. A SpaceTinker can automatically reset a trap that has gone off and is undamaged, but more complicated tasks require die rolls. If a SpaceTinker is trying to repair a trap that has been destroyed, he rolls 1d6. On a 5 or more, he can repair the trap completely, or salvage all the parts. On a 3 or more, he can salvage half the parts (his choice). A 1 or 2 means all the parts are broken and useless. A SpaceTinker can also create new traps in the heat of battle. This takes a whole turn. An attempt to create a new trap entirely out of available spare parts succeeds on a 3 or more on 1d6. He can include parts of the landscape with his traps, like rigging trees to fall or bridges to collapse. Common sense must be employed to decide whether or not a SpaceTinker is actually capable of creating a given trap. For instance, he might want to rig a cliffside to collapse, but he must have some reasonable method of loosening the solid rock. A SpaceTinker may attach Stealth Computers (2 points each) to his traps. The SCs are represented by 1x2 flats with computer consoles printed on them. A trap with an SC on it can be activated whenever the Aennri player wants. Otherwise, the SpaceTinker must create a 'trigger' to set off his trap. This might be a tripwire, pressure plate, or electronic eye. When an enemy unwittingly activates the trigger, a roll of 3 or more on a 1d6 means the trap has activated. Some traps don't require a die roll. For instance, a covered pit always activates when a SpaceTrooper steps on it. For most mechanical traps, it will be pretty easy to see whether the SpaceTrooper then takes damage. For instance, if you've built a big log with spikes sticking out that swings down from above, just swing the log down and see if it hits the minifig. Finally, SpaceTinkers have all the skills you'd expect of an all- purpose handyman. Due to the primitive nature of Aennri Bases and vehicles, SpaceTinkers can work on them as if he were a Technik or a Mechanik (usually all it requires is a little carpentry). He can't work with the more modern Bases and vehicles of other Civilizations. A SpaceTinker is represented by a green minifig with a hood, wearing a basket on his back to carry Stealth Computers and spare parts. 9.4.3 Aennri Skirmishes Running raids on Aennri bases is a lot of fun, but it can also be difficult to play. Both players must be able to agree quickly on point costs for random traps and vaguely-defined bases, and be willing to fudge on which Aennri troops are really "visible." The raiding player must be able to pretend that he really doesn't see all those traps and ambushes. This has the potential to raise a lot of arguments over nitpicking details. If you and your opponent find yourself in the occasional dispute, try settling it with a die roll. If you are arguing all the time, you should probably try playing a civilization other than Aennri. Armies that attack the Aennri are going to want to use a lot of Explosives, since the AreaEffect damage will often destroy the units and traps you can't detect. It's also a lot of fun to start setting trees on fire and watch the Aennriennes run around with FireExtinguishers trying to contain the fire while still staying hidden. Aennri battles work best if you can create a truly enormous forest landscape - the more complex, the better. Mountains, valleys, rivers, rockslides, castle ruins, and medieval cities all add to this scenario. Try to make the landscape as uneven as possible, with rocky cliffs and rolling hills, and remember to use lots and lots of trees and shrubs. 9.5 Kirsiti, the White Knights ------------------------------ Even before the beginning of the Galactic War, the Kirsiti Dictatorship was on the brink of collapse. Graft and corruption were ubiquitous in every level of the bureaucracy. When they were suddenly caught up in the first wave of rabid inter-Civilization hostility, the command administration fell apart completely. While the StarShip drifted out into the uncharted space between galactic arms, a spiritual revolution was underway within its hull. By the time the StarShip drifted back into inhabited space, all corruption had been replaced by an obsession with fairness and freindly, efficient service to one another. Under the new, pure-white Kirsiti banner, the citizenry begin training in earnest to better serve their fellow SpacePeople, putting on the white uniforms of doctors, cooks, and ResQ workers. When they arrived among the inhabited planets, the Kirsiti began sending out missionaries in vast numbers, determined to put their ideal of excellent service to use. Almost immediately, all the Civilizations in the area sent a vast cooperative assault to destroy the Kirsiti StarShip. This rare alliance was made by the quick consensus between the Civilizations that the Kirsitians were too irritating to tolerate. Despite their sordid past, almost all Kirsiti citizens are militantly self-righteous, manufacturing and deliberately misinterpreting situations to showcase their moral superiority. For this reason, only a very few of the Kirsiti citizens are humble enough to achieve the highest expression of excellent service. Those that do, begin to discover the amazing power that is the Farce - the mysterious energy that binds minifigs together. When one is ready to devote his or her life to the study of the Farce, he or she becomes a Kirsiti Knight, and wanders the galaxy rendering aid to all who need it. Because of their psychic powers granted by the Farce, and because their jet black eyes contrast so sharply against their crisp white uniforms, they are popularly known as the JetEye Knights. Because the Kirsiti StarShip has been destroyed and its people scattered across the galaxy, Kirsitians rarely raise large armies to run around rendering friendly military service. When they get involved in big battles, it's usually just a few of them who were in the wrong place when two other Civilizations started shooting at each other. The closest they get to military action is when a group of JetEye Knights band together to liberate a planet oppressed by the Kraan Lords, an infestation of Green Things, or the unbearable aggravation of a band of marauding Timmys. More frequently, a JetEye will go into battle alone to end some local injustice. 9.5.1 Kirsiti Citizens Citizens of Kirsiti have few possessions of any significant value, and as long as they keep their mouths shut, they have few enemies. As such, they have little use for combat-trained soldiers. They sometimes arrange rescue missions, sending detachments of Res-Q workers and Medix. Kirsiti Medix cost only five points and make all their Medikal rolls at +1. Classification: Kirsiti 'JetEye' Knight (hypermoral student of the Farce) Move: 8" Armor: 1d6+4 Skill: 2d6 Specialty: Use of the Farce 1 Stupendous Feat per turn Ratio: 1 per 10 troops Cost: 30 CP The JetEye Knights are shining pinnacles of virtue and efficient, friendly service. Their fanatic devotion to these ideals often causes them to place themselves in the way of danger, or to spend days redoing other people's shoddy work. They can never use their powers for unprovoked aggression or in anger. Fortunately, they spend many decades of physical and philosophical training under a JetEye Master to prepare them for these difficult goals, and the Farce is their ally. During their long years of study, meditation, and training, the JetEye initiate learns many things about the Farce: - The Farce binds the universe together. Without the Farce, everything would fall apart into its blocky component parts. - The Farce flows through every minifig. This is why they all have smiley faces. - Adventure? Excitement? A JetEye fears not these things, but wars do not make one funny. - We must unbuild what we have built. - Luminous beings are we, not this crude ABS plastic. - Construction, construction - you must learn construction. - What is in the cave? Only what you build yourself. - For the JetEye it is time to eat as well. - Your father he is. Built you, did he? ... and so forth; the JetEye trainee is expected to memorize all of these platitudes and dozens more like them. Some make sense; most don't. In any given situation, he will be able to think of a platitude that applies. A JetEye Knight can use any weapon or equipment, but prefers to rely on his LightSaber and the power of the Farce. The LightSaber is one of the most amazing weapons ever created. It should only be used by someone who is skilled in the Farce; amateurs usually get confused by the fact that it doesn't weigh anything and end up cutting off their own limbs. The LightSaber is powerful enough to cut through the armor of many vehicles and buildings; rather than causing the vehicle to explode or blowing off a chunk of the wall, the LightSaber will cut neat little slices and holes. Specialty: Use of the Farce (+17 CP) (If you are using the Supernatural Powers Rules Supplement, then your JetEye Knight has 3 points of Minor Aspect SP with the Philosophical Limitation that they can only be used in defense or in service to others, never in aggression or anger. A JetEye has an additional 2 points of SP which can only be used for Communicate/Know effects. If you are not using Supernatural Powers Rules, then just follow the guidelines below.) The Farce is supremely handy to the JetEye Knight. It makes him aware of everything that happens within 5": traps are made obvious, hidden doors exposed, spies in disguise are recognized, etc. Not even the most stealthy SpaceNinja could ever take a JetEye by surprise. Also, it makes him very difficult to hit. Any time an enemy successfully hits the Knight, the Knight has a chance to use the Farce to dodge or parry the blow. Remember how much the enemy made his ToHit roll by. If the JetEye can beat that number with a Skill Roll, he dodges it. If he wants to parry the attack, he rolls against his LightSaber's UR of 2. If he makes his ToHit Roll by as much or more as his opponent, he successfully parries the attack. If his opponent fired an energy weapon, and the Knight makes his ToHit Roll by twice as much as his opponent's attack roll, he can aim the ricochet with a skill of 1d6. If his opponent was attacking with a close combat weapon, parrying it with a LightSaber will usually cut it in two. Successive dodges and parries in the same round incur cumulative -2 Skill penalties to the Knight; ganging up on a JetEye is usually the only way to defeat him. There is no limit to how many enemies can attack a JetEye Knight in the same turn. A Knight can also use the Farce to telekinetikally move objects. This ability has a range of 5". Objects float around as if a normal SpaceTrooper were carrying them. Floating a zero-weight object, like most kinds of equipment, incurs a -1 Skill penalty, minus however many inches are in the object's MovePenalty. An object weighing 1 Blok, such as a SpaceTrooper, incurs a -1d6 Skill penalty. A 2-Blok object incurs a -2d6 Skill penalty, so it is the most a normal Knight can levitate. He can use the Farce to throw an object with a skill of 1d6. Finally, a Knight can perform one Ludicrous Feat per turn. These work just like Stupendous Feats, except that the Knight is using the Farce, so he can't perform a Ludicrous Feat in hostility or anger. Examples of Ludicrous Feats include: - Convincing a BlitzTrooper that these are not the SpaceDroids he is looking for. - JetEye-Jumping 20" straight up to escape the Plastic Freeze Chamber. - Seeing visions of the future. - Telepathically contacting friends and relatives. - Finding lost CarKeys. A JetEye Knight is usually represented by a loosely-dressed minifig in a brown cloak, or a white SpaceTrooper with a clear visor, but there is no real JetEye dress code. They can dress however they like, as long as their clothes are neat and clean. Every Knight comes equipped with a LightSaber. 9.5.2 Kirsiti Missions Kirsitians are suited more for campaign play than battle scenarios. It's hard to get the points to add up unless the Kirsitians are only there in support of another civilization or some Wolfen Rebels. When the Kirsitians are working by themselves, it's best to ignore point totals and troop ratios. You'll often be sending in one or two JetEye Knights against a 200 or 300 point army. Obviously, you'll have trouble taking out entire armies with one or two Knights. Instead, you'll be trying to accomplish specific missions, such as infiltrating the DoomPlanetoid and dodging BlitzTroopers until you can engage Kraan Lord BeRator in a LightSaber duel. 9.6 Kraan, the Black Empire --------------------------- Centuries ago, one of the most powerful of the JetEye Knights began to explore aspects of the Farce that had been avoided. He discovered a dark side to the Farce, called Sarcasm. Once he started down that dark path, he soon discovered that it would forever dominate his destiny. He didn't mind much, however, since his years of solitary study and reflection had made him bitter and weird. Since then, he has used Sarcasm and Derision to control the weak-minded and to unnaturally prolong his life, and has raised himself to the rulership of a vast and powerful Empire. The sarcastic Emperor works tirelessly to consolidate his hold of the entire galaxy, and unite it under his vision of the Grand Derision. He has led other JetEyes down the Dark Path to become Kraan Dark Lords, who ruthlessly conquer colonies and systems with armies of BlitzTroopers and sinister psychic powers. Placing little to no value in the lives of those they conquer, they enslave many of them by turning them into HED Thralls, implanting Head Explosion Devices in their craniums that transmit the Dark Lords' psychik commands and detonate the disobedient. In battle, the Dark Lords will begin by sending in an armored air transport full of BlitzTroopers to secure a landing site for the Dark Lords. Automated HeadHugger droids are released to enslave all the Normal People in the area, who are then used as human buffer zones between the Dark Lords and their enemies. If there are no Dark Lords present, battle proceeds in a more traditional manner. 9.6.1 The Kraan Legions Normal Kraan war technology is fairly standard. Kraan battle philosophy involves strict uniformity, absolute discipline, and overpowering numbers of low-level troops and vehicles. Their SpaceTroopers are called BlitzTroopers, and wear white SpaceArmor. Their SpaceDrivers are NavalTroopers, and wear black SpaceArmor. There are no Heroes or Champions or other troublemaking types, because the Dark Lords prefer that their soldiers be weak-minded and easy to control. Classification: Kraan Dark Lord (seething contemptuous vindictive badass) Move: 6" Armor: 1d6+4 Skill: 2d6 Specialty: DarkSide Power 1 Stupendous Feat per turn Ratio: 1 per battle Cost: 35 CP (+10 CP per additional 1d6 of Skill) Dark Lords are much more suited to battle than their JetEye counterparts, since their dark nature lends itself easily to aggression and deceit. However, a Dark Lord does not suffer the presence of other Dark Lords gladly, so there is usually only one per battle. In rare cases, a number of Dark Lords may be forced to work together if they are in the service of a single extremely powerful Dark Lord. A Dark Lord has the same abilities with the LightSaber and the Farce as a JetEye Knight (they sometimes choose to wield DarkSabers instead), but his Skill rating is often significantly higher. He does not suffer from the philosophical limitations of the JetEyes, and uses the Farce to mock and humiliate his enemies. Whenever a Dark Lord attempts to parry or dodge an enemy attack, and his skill roll is twice the number the enemy made his attack roll by, the Dark Lord mocks his opponent's strength by blocking the attack with his hand or butt or otherwise signifying his absolute lack of respect for the attack. Dark Lords also have the ability to perform one Dark Feat per turn, which are also mostly used for the purposes of humiliation. ('What's the matter? Have you forgotten how to breathe? Do you find your lack of respiration disturbing?') In addition to powers similar to the Knights', Dark Lords have the ability to send telepathic commands to anyone with a Head Explosion Device planted in their skull. If the HED Thralls refuse a command or if the Dark Lord gets tired of their incessant whining, he may opt to detonate selected HEDs. This causes the Thralls' heads to burst in a 1d10 explosion. Also, a Dark Lord may use the Farce to shoot lightning from his hands, up to 3" away. These lightning bolts use up Skill points, so shooting a lightning bolt that does 2d6 of damage will incur a -2d6 Skill penalty until the end of the Kraan player's next turn. Dark Lords use this skill very rarely, unless they somehow lose their LightSaber or need to jumpstart their DIE Fighter. Dark Lords are represented by black SpaceTroopers with LightSabers. Most wear opaque black visors to hide their smiley faces from others; some wear scary masks or makeup. Classification: Kraan HeadHugger Droid (biomechanikal HED implantation unit) Move: 6" Armor: 1d6-1 Skill: 1d6 Specialty: HED Implantation Ratio: 1 per 4 troops Cost: 4 CP HeadHugger Droids are frightening little biomechanikal spiders. Their only purpose in life is to scuttle around, chase Normal People down, and jump on their heads (head-jumping is an attack with a UR of 3 and a range of 3"). Once they have jumped onto a minifig's head, they grip it tightly (with a grip Power of 2). After they have remained attached to a minifig's head for one full turn, they violate the victim's cranial integrity and plant a HED in the brain. They never run out of HEDs. They have no other combat abilities. HeadHuggers can climb walls like spiders and make 4" leaps at no penalty. If doused or submerged in water, they short-circuit. Any motley collection of small black pieces will make a fine HeadHugger. A minifig with a HED installed is indicated by attaching a black cylinder to the top of his head. Normal People never resist the commands received through a HED; military troops may choose to resist at any time and let their heads be blown up. 9.6.2 Kraan Engagements Kraan tacticians make up for blowing a lot of points on the Dark Lords by buying lots of cheap Blitz Troopers and lightly armed Small Flyers (usually DIE fighters). Kraan soldiers do not have a lot of initiative. Squad cohesion is very tight; members of a squad always try to stay within an inch or two of another member of the squad. Squads whose number has been reduced to less than five must try to join with another squad and bring their number up. Every soldier in a squad is identically equipped, and they try to maintain good formation. Blitz Trooper squads never take risks or perform maverick operations. They always try to maintain high standards of tactical discipline, always laying down cover fire and waiting for reinforcements or finding other good tactical excuses to be cowardly. The Kraan have no allies, and will attack anyone, wherever they think they can exploit a weakness. 9.7 Rios, the Orange Conspiracy ------------------------------- What is now familiar to StarShip inhabitants as the most pervasive espionage franchise in the galaxy started as a typo in the Rios Civilization's HomePage on the Universal Unrestricted Uplink, (at "uuu.rios.civ", of course). This typo created a security hole in the Rios' computer network, and soon a disparate band of hackers, degenerates, punks, and losers had used the hole to carve out a secret private space for themselves on the Rios server. Calling themselves the Riotian Underground, they began using the Rios networks to store and trade pirated SpaceSoftWare, classified information, hacking techniques, conspiracy theories, and pictures of naked minifigs. It was almost two hundred years before one of them figured out the Rios Civilization had introduced the security leak on purpose and had been monitoring and cultivating their little group since the very beginning. By now, they had grown into a huge online community of juvenile delinquents that was unwittingly supplying the Rios Civilization with all kinds of classified information. When the Rios leaders realized the jig was up, they recruited the whole group into their intelligence organization. The new group's maverick and unconventional methods gained them surprising successes, and as time progressed their tattoos, neon-colored hair, multiple body piercings, and garishly mismatched clothes became the unlikely hallmarks of the Riotian secret agent. They were extremely popular with SpaceChildren ages eight to twelve, and somehow managed to continue their clandestine operations despite the publicity of their line of action figures, cartoon series, movies, and other licensing deals. Then one day, the Riotian Chairman of Intelligence and Marketing had the idea to turn the operation into a franchise. Today, there is an Espionage "M" Us in almost every major colony. Besides Rios action figures, comic books, toy garrotes, and Do-It-Yourself SpyKit Juniors, customers can order any kind of classified information or any type of custom espionage against any target, and put the whole package on their charge card. The Rios espionage agents are divided into two groups: the SpaceSpies, who dress in suits of clashing black, blue, and red, with sickly green visors, and the SpaceCouriers, who dress in black, blue, and white, with orange visors. SpaceCouriers are well liked and not usually involved in battles, but if they are, they bring enough firepower to guarantee that the package arrives on time. SpaceSpies are popular with the kids, but by authority figures they are not well liked at all. Rather than raw firepower, they depend on an array of gadgets carefully selected for the mission at hand to accomplish their objectives. SpaceSpies and SpaceCouriers often have to work together to accomplish more difficult missions and deliveries. Riotians very rarely engage in open firefights. Their battle philosophy is "cut and run" - they always have an escape route prepared. Ideally, they try to get their agents away before the enemy knows that anything has gone wrong. When push comes to shove, their agents rely on misdirection and an array of gadgets and booby traps to buy themselves enough time to complete their mission and escape. 9.7.1 Riotian Gadgetry Riotians have no special ability in base or vehicle construction, but their personal equipment is among the most advanced in the galaxy. It is rumored that the special gadgets are all developed by a mysterious and reclusive genius known only as "F." These gadgets are the lifeblood of the Riotian espionage industry. Riotian Gadgets Holographic Disguise (Robot Claw) - 5 CP Disguises the bearer to look like any other minifig, as long as the bearer does not interact with any objects (except to walk on them) or make any attacks. Holographic Decoy (Black Cylinder with Green Gem) - 5 CP Creates a holographic duplicate of the bearer, or any other minifig in sight, that in artificially intelligent and can walk or run around and talk to people, but can't interact with objects. AntiGrav Pack (Brown BackPack) - 3 CP The wearer can hover around silently at 5" per turn, both horizontally and vertically. Electronic ToolKit (1x2 'Computer' Flat) - 5 CP On a roll of 4 or more on 1d6, the user can disable an alarm unit, unlock a security door, tap a communication line, or otherwise override security devices. A roll of 1 sets off an alarm. Grappling Hook Gun (Modified Pistol) - 3 CP Fires a powerful grappling claw and 10" of rope, allowing the bearer to climb tall buildings and swing across ravines. It has a UR of 2, and can winch the rope in or out in at 5" per turn. High-Power Transponder (SuitCase) - 3 CP With one turn of setup, this suitcase can be converted into a transmitter, which can send encrypted messages light-years away. Digital photographs, secret documents, and other type of top secret information are smuggled out with this device. Laser Sensor (Black Gem) - 1 CP This device will activate anything it is attached to when any minifig comes within 3". It is often used on Holographic Decoys, specialized Grenades, and early-warning devices. Silenced Stun Modification (Green Gem) - 1 CP Any weapon modified with this gadget becomes a silenced Stun weapon doing the same amount of damage. Rather than killing or destroying its target, the weapon now suppresses neural and electrical activity. Use it on minifigs, vehicles, SpaceDroids, ComputerBanx, etc. Miniature LaserTorch (SprayCan Top) - 4 CP This torch is used to cut through walls and panels. It takes a full turn to use, and does 1d10 per turn. This damage is cumulative over any number of turns, so if you stand around long enough you can cut through anything. Its range is 1", and it makes a 1" cut per turn. If used as a Close Combat weapon, its UR is 6. There are lots of other underhanded gadgets you can make up, of course, like acid earrings, exploding cufflinks, and chainsaw shoes. These can be assigned point values however you like. Grenade modifications are usually free. Riotians love to use modified grenades like OilSlick Grenades, Neutron Grenades, Enormous Blok of Gelatin Grenades, Acid Grenades, Caltrop Shrapnel Grenades, Green Thing Grenades, etc. Gadgets are often mounted on their vehicles as well, like SmokeScreens, ColorChanging Paint, Amphibious Conversion, and so on. Riotian Gadgets look like other, more innocent objects, so they don't raise much suspicion. However, if someone sees a minifig using the object for its illicit purposes, his cover is blown and he is identified as a Riotian Spy. Sometimes this means that he has to make a run for it before the SpacePolice arrive, and sometimes it means he'll be mobbed by drunken FratGuys who want to tell him how cool he is. Whatever it is, it's going to be bad, so don't let anyone see your units using their Gadgets. 9.7.2 Riotian Espionage The Rios Intelligence Agency has all normal troop types, except that each one must be either a SpaceCourier or a SpaceSpy, or else the accounting programs get confused and they don't get their PayChex. Riotians are often the third player in a BrikWars battle, using the confusion of open conflict to send SpaceSpies to infiltrate and steal secret documents, or sending SpaceCouriers to break through enemy lines and deliver a vital package. Two-player games with the Riotian SpaceSpies are sometimes more like one-player games, because if the SpaceSpies do their job right then the enemy will never know that they're there. When defending against SpaceSpies, almost any security device costs 2 points, such as security cameras, infrared detection beams, door locks, handprint identification, etc. Any security device that can do damage costs an additional 1 CP per 2 points of damage, and 1 CP per 2 points of Skill. SpaceSpy missions are most entertaining in very large bases. Lots of stairs and elevators, and random rooms like laundry rooms, bathrooms, meat lockers, cubicle spaces, etc. give opportunities for tremendously entertaining espionage situations. Ideally, you should build some kind of mechanized processing plant, such as a DogFood packaging center or trash compactor / incinerator, with lots of conveyor belts and automated robot devices. SpaceSpy franchises exist in most major cities, so no alarms go off if a uniformed SpaceSpy is walking around in broad daylight minding his own business. He only has to be careful and not get caught when he sneaks into a restricted area. Most importantly, SpaceSpies must have an exit plan, whether that means a specially hidden escape vehicle, packaging themselves up and having themselves delivered out by SpaceCouriers, or eating a SpaceCyanide tablet and seeing to it that their bodies are never found. 9.8 Pantus, the Grey Threat --------------------------- The Pantus Civilization developed in an unsettling manner in its millennia of isolation from the rest of humankind. They fanatically follow the directives of Lord Pantus, a Blokhead with a strange ability to animate and control large Crawling Stones and Ominous Grey Pairs of Pants. Lord Pantus rarely engages in battle personally, instead sending a subordinate Pants Lord to control the battle. The controller finds a defensible corner from which to direct his minions to victory. His safety always comes first, and so his Crawling Stones and Ominous Pants are often called upon to block enemy bullets with their bodies. Fortunately, they are nearly indestructible. 9.8.1 Pantlings The citizens of Pantus are a spooky bunch, mechanistically going about their daily business without conversation or emotion. Their daily business consists mostly of quarrying stone and sewing pants. Pantus Normal People attack outsiders on sight, even if they have no weapons and no chance of doing any damage whatsoever. The only time they display any emotion is during their yearly dance production of Lord of the Pants, which always induces wild screaming ovations and dozens of encores. Pantling SpaceTroopers have stony dispositions and like to volunteer for suicide missions. There will only be one or two squads of Pantling SpaceTroopers in any given battle - most of the fighting will be done by Crawling Stones and Ominous Pants. Pantling vehicles are very rare, because Lord Pantus dislikes anything that moves faster than 5" per turn. Classification: Pantling Pants Lord (creepy psychic battlefield coordinator) Move: 5" Armor: 2d6+2 Skill: 1d6 Specialty: Pants Power Ratio: 1 per 10 Stones or pairs of Pants Cost: 10 CP Pants Lords are the most exalted of Lord Pantus' underlings. He has given them the ability to control legions of Pants and Stones, in addition to their battle training. A Pants Lord is necessary to animate Crawling Stones and Ominous Pants. If all the Pants Lords in a battle are killed, all the Stones and Pants cease animation and become normal stones and pants. They can control as many Stones and Pants as they like, at whatever range. A Pants Lord is represented by a gray minifig with a clear visor the funny helmet with air tubes. Often, they will stick black or white plumage on one or both sides of their helmet. Classification: Pantling Crawling Stone (creepy animated rock) Move: 2" Armor: 2d10+10 Skill: 1d6 Specialties: Inability to Manipulate Objects Ability to Animate Normal Stones Spider Ability Ratio: (troop) Cost: 3 CP The Pantus Crawling Stones are frightening gray Blox that creep around the battlefield crushing things and animating lesser stones. They are very difficult to destroy, and often stack themselves into walls to defend more important Pantling troopers or installations. They can climb up and down walls and ceilings at normal speed. Crawling Stones attack by falling off embankments onto their enemies or shoving them for 3d10 damage. Normally, if this beats the target's AV roll, all this does is push the target around, but the Stones try to eventually crush them against walls and rock formations, or other Stones. Whenever a Stone pushes its target into something, roll the 3d10 for damage. Next, roll the Stone's AV, the target's AV, and the AV of whatever the target is getting shoved into (if anything). If all AV rolls are higher than the damage roll, nothing happens. If not, the lowest roll falls victim to the push. This may mean it gets shoved around for 2", or it may be crushed for 3d10 damage. If the Stone is the loser, it means it pushed so hard that it crumbled itself. Because they move so slowly, Crawling Stones have a hard time catching their enemies. Occasionally an overconfident enemy will try to escape by stepping on a Crawling Stone, but the Stone just adheres itself to them (with a grip of 2 Power), incurring a -1" Move penalty or stopping them altogether. To catch opponents, Stones usually have to gang up on them. Fortunately, they have the ability to increase their numbers. An original gray Crawling Stone (one that was brought into battle by a Pants Lord) can crawl onto any size normal Brik. After remaining in contact with that Brik for one full turn, the normal Brik is also animated, and has the same stats and abilities as the original Crawling Stone, except that it cannot animate other Brix. A Brik can be animated right out of a mortared wall or vehicle that it is a part of. A Crawling Stone is represented by a gray Blok turned on its side or upside-down. Classification: Pantling Ominous Gray Pair of Pants (creepy homicidal hosiery) Move: 4" Armor: 1d10+5 Skill: 1d6 Specialties: Inability to Manipulate Objects PostMortem Detonation Ratio: (troop) Cost: 3 CP Pantling Ominous Grey Pairs of Pants strike terror in the hearts of all who behold them. Normal People scare their Normal Children with bedtime stories about the Ominous Grey Pants With Nobody Inside Them. These mysterious Pants could only have been forged in the darkest pits of evil. Obsessed with destruction, they stagger around battlefields kicking everything they see. But most terrifyingly, nothing but the will of a Pants Lord can move them. Even if a planetoid crashes into them, killing them, they stand in the same place unmoved. Ominous Pants march around kicking everything they see: trees, vehicles, mountains, bases, cats, senior citizens, and so on. Their kick does 1d6 damage and has a UR of 2. They are very useful in battle as barricades, because of their powers of immobility. A dead pair of pants is just as immobile and indestructible as a live one. Pantus Prime would be buried in Pants corpses if the Pants Lords hadn't discovered a way to command dead pairs of Pants to detonate in a 2d10 explosion. (Don't walk too close to a dead pair of pants!) Pairs of Pants can also be used to carry things. They have no ability to pick things up or put things down, but they are strong enough to carry anything someone else puts on top of them. A pair of Ominous Pants is represented by a gray pair of pants with a black or gray 1x2 Brik on top. The Brik is removed when the Pants are killed. 9.8.2 Pantus Combat The point of most Pantus battles are unclear to non-Pantlings. Not interested in mundane objectives like conquering new lands or destroying enemies, their goals are uncanny and strange. The Massacre of Raupill V came to an abrupt end when the Pantus forces found the frying pan they were looking for. The Pantlings fought the Three Battles of Anteron II in order to kill a certain brown horse. While their objectives are usually fairly innocuous, their methods are deadly. They will destroy anyone and anything that come between them and their target. Once they have achieved their mission, they fall back to protect the commanding Pants Lord's escape.