The AMAZING ENGINE universe book BUGHUNTERS used as a DANGEROUS JOURNEYS PRIME genre module, part one: The Player Information (character creation, combat)
The background information is per the BUGHUNTERS worldbook for the AMAZING ENGINE system. The general mechanics for handling combat (unless otherwise noted) are per Mythus Prime, as are all K/S rolls and the like. Only those sections that are changed are described below.
SEC Class Possible Occupations
2 Middle Lower Class Unemployed, Sales Clerk, Factory Worker
3 Upper Lower Class Sales Clerk, Factory Worker, Office Clerk
Enlisted Military
4 Lower Middle Class Enlisted Military, Teacher, Specialist
5 Middle Middle Class Specialist, Military Officer, Lower Executive
6 Upper Middle Class Executive, Military Officer, Shop Owner
7 Lower Upper Class Corporate Executive, Small Business Owner,
High Military Officer, Politician
Engineer: (Mental) Grunt: (Physical) ------------------ ----------------- Engineering, Electrical 30 M Weapons, Small Arms 30 P Engineering, Mechanical 25 M Weapons, Heavy Arms 25 P Computer Systems 25 S Maneuvering, High-G 25 P Computer Programming 20 M Weapons, Special Skills 20 P Maneuvering, High-G 20 P Sports 20 P Maneuvering, Low-G 20 P Street-Wise 20 S Sciences, Physics 20 M Jury-Rigging 20 S Weapons, Small Arms 15 P Military Science 15 M Jury-Rigging 15 S Crim Activ, Physical 15 P Sciences, Chemistry 10 M Computer Systems 10 S Gunner: (Mental) Medic: (Mental) ---------------- --------------- Weapons, Mil, All Other 30 M First Aid 30 P Computer Systems 25 S Sciences, Biology 25 M Computer Programming 25 M Sciences, Chemistry 25 M Navigation, Interstellar 20 M Medicine, General 20 M Engineering, Electrical 20 M Jury-Rigging 20 S Sciences, Physics 20 M Computer Systems 20 S Weapons, Heavy Arms 20 P Xenological Theory 20 M Weapons, Small Arms 15 P Weapons, Small Arms 15 P Weapons, Special Skills 15 P Foreign Language, Latin 15 P Engineering, Mechanical 10 M Weapons, Heavy Arms 10 P Pilot: (Mental) Protocol Officer: (Spiritual) --------------- ----------------------------- Piloting 30 M Leadership 30 S Navigation, Interstellar 25 M Military Science 25 M Computer Systems 25 S Charismaticism 25 S Computer Programming 20 M Law 20 M Maneuvering, Low-G 20 P Weapons, Small Arms 20 P Leadership 20 S Navigation, Interstellar 20 M Sciences, Physics 20 M Jury-Rigging 20 S Engineering, Electrical 15 M Philosophy 15 S Weapons, Small Arms 15 P Maneuvering, Low-G 15 P Weapons, Mil, All Other 10 M Weapons, Mil, All Other 10 M
Scout: (Physical) ----------------- Criminal Act, Physical 30 P Weapons, Small Arms 25 P Combat, Hand Weapons 25 P Combat, Hnd Wpn, Missile 20 P Weapons, Heavy Arms 20 P First Aid 20 P Sciences, Biology 20 M Maneuvering (*) 15 P Jury-Rigging 15 S Sciences, Chemistry 10 M
The following are the general K/S Areas:
Combat, Hand-to-Hand, Lethal P 20
Perception (Mental) M 20
Native Tongue (English) M SECx5
MENTAL: PHYSICAL: SPIRITUAL: Comm Gear Combat, Hnd Wpns Art Computer Programming Combat, Hnd Wpns, Missile Charismaticism Criminal Activities, Mental Combat, HTH, Lethal Computer Systems Engineering, Electrical Combat, HTH, Non-Lethal Impersonation Engineering, Environmental Criminal Activities, Phys Jury-Rigging Engineering, Mechanical Disguise Leadership Foreign Language First Aid Philosophy Law Maneuvering, High-G Religion Linguistics Maneuvering, Low-G Street-wise Medicine, General Perception (Physical) Thespianism Military Science Sports Native Tongue (English) Swimming Navigation, Interstellar Weapons, Heavy Arms Perception (Mental) Weapons, Small Arms Piloting Weapons, Special Skills Sciences (choose) Weapons, Mil, All Other Xenological Theory
MSO is determined by two things: (1) Vocation and (2) where you want to start. For creation, ignore the percentages in BUGHUNTERS (but if you switch MSO's later, you will need to follow their procedure, using SEC 7 = B, SEC 6 = C, etc to determine bonus). You must have the required skill / K/S in order to take the MSO! If the skill listed in BUGHUNTERS does not agree with the K/S title, refer to the K/S area list (chapter 2) to see which map to which. Use common sense, and ask your JM if you have questions.
Computer Programming:
This Area covers the ability to convince a computer to do something, whether it is navigate to a planet or set up a front-end program to make the user's life easier. In Advanced rules, this would be broken up into Systems Programming, Program Use, Compiler Construction, Operating System Programming, etc.
Criminal Activities, Mental:
As per Mythus Prime (doesn't map to specific BUGHUNTERS skills, but seemed appropriate complementary area to Criminal Activities, Physical)
Engineering, Electrical:
This covers the same stuff as Engineering, Electrical (BUGHUNTERS, pp. 31 and 32).
Engineering, Environmental:
This covers the same stuff as Engineering, Environmental (BUGHUNTERS, pp. 32-33).
Engineering, Mechanical:
This covers the same stuff as Engineering, Mechanical (BUGHUNTERS, p. 32).
Foreign Language:
As per Mythus Prime (foreign languages would be chosen from Earth normal)
Law:
As per BUGHUNTERS, except: for every 10 STEEP possessed, in addition to general United Terra law, the HP gains one specific area of knowledge (for instance, United States national law, or Sony corporate law, or New York City Law -- as wide or narrow as the player wishes, subject to JM approval).
Linguistics:
As per BUGHUNTERS (altered mechanics: given time to study a new language (up to JM on exact time), can make temporary STEEP in the language of 5 or 10, depending on exposure and practice, which fades as the HP stops using it; also, using old language in new situation, will quickly pick up the dialect (e.g. going from Southern American to Cockney)).
Medicine, General:
This covers the areas mentioned in BUGHUNTERS
Military Science:
As per BUGHUNTERS (ignore the suggested die modifiers)
Native Tongue (English):
As per Mythus Prime (note that English is the language of UTRPF)
Navigation, Interstellar:
This allows three distinct levels of navigation capability, depending on STEEP:
1 -25: Planetary (how to get from place A to place B on a planet) 26-50: Space (from planet to planet, or planet to vessel, etc) 51+: Hyperspace (how to navigate through hyperspace from system to system)Obviously, all Navigators and those who aspire to that occupation need this K/S Area.
Perception (Mental):
As per Mythus Prime
Piloting:
Like Navigation, this comes in three levels, based on STEEP:
1-25: Surface (any planetary surface vehicle, hovercraft, motorcycle, etc) 26-50: Aerospace (any airplane/spaceship) 51+: Hyperspace (handling any ship through hyperspace)Anyone aspiring to be a Pilot of any sort should take this K/S.
Sciences (choose):
The four major disciplines are: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology. Each acts as per BUGHUNTERS.
Weapons, Military, All Others:
This includes gunnery from spaceships and vehicles, and stationary cannon (huge cannon that actually have seats for the soldier to sit in when firing). When jury-rigged, this can also include more primitive weapons, such as catapults (and variants) and ballista. (This is equivalent to BUGHUNTERS' Gunnery skill.)
Xenological Theory:
As per BUGHUNTERS
Combat, Hand Weapons, Missile:
As per Mythus Prime
Combat, Hand-to-Hand, Lethal:
As per Mythus Prime
Combat, Hand-to-Hand, Non-Lethal:
As per Mythus Prime
Criminal Activities, Physical:
As per Mythus Prime (note: a lot of the Covert Actions are included here: Camouflage, Lockpicking (Mechanical), Security Systems, Stealth; the others have their own skills)
Disguise:
As per Mythus Prime & BUGHUNTERS
Maneuvering, High-G:
As per BUGHUNTERS High-G Maneuver in theory, but in practice: before attempting any moderately strenuous action in High-G environment (i.e. aiming a weapon, anything requiring a K/S check), this must be made first, and if it fails, the HP is Dazed and takes 1D6 points of Physical damage from the strain until the HP has a chance to rest for at least fifteen minutes (the damage would be healed normally).
Maneuvering, Low-G:
As per BUGHUNTERS Low-G Maneuver in theory, but in practice: in order to do any Physical K/S action that requires a roll in a Low-G situation, the HP must roll against the lower of this and the other K/S. (If this K/S is not possessed, then the HP has an effective STEEP of half their normal STEEP)
Perception (Physical):
As per Mythus Prime (and BUGHUNTER's 'Searching' skill)
Sports:
This includes knowledge of most sports, and some of the stuff covered by Athletics (BUGHUNTERS), although it does not allow the multiple rolls described there. (Since this is Prime, it would also cover anything in the Games, Physical K/S)
Swimming:
As per Mythus Prime's mechanics
Weapons, Heavy Arms:
This includes larger/assault weapons, and allows attacks using this K/S Area's STEEP on the rolls. Typical weapon types are: Anti-armor weapons, Grenade Launchers, and Mortars (see chart under combat for damage).
Weapons, Small Arms:
This includes mainly sidearms and longarms. Sidearms are pretty much pistol-sized, and can be handled with one hand, while longarms are rifles, shotguns and the like.
Weapons, Special Skills:
There are two areas covered by this K/S: Autofire and Burst. Note: an HP with 25 or less STEEP in this K/S can choose only one, otherwise the HP gets both sub-areas.
Autofire acts much like Autofire in the BUGHUNTERS game. Any attacks are made against this K/S if using Autofire to suppress. All characters aware of Autofire (i.e. all Marines and such, who can hear) will have to make a check against their Spiritual TRAIT at half in order to avoid immediately going prone (regardless of whether or not they have already done something this CT) when under Autofire.
Burst allows the HP to attack with a 'burst' rather than a single shot from certain projectile weapons, increasing damage but decreasing chance of hitting.
Charismaticism:
As per Mythus Prime, but for purposes of BUGHUNTERS, Protocol is subsumed into Charismaticm, as it does not really warrant its own K/S in a bare-bones system like BUGHUNTERS PRIME
Computer Systems:
This Area complements Computer Programming by allowing a user to sit down at an unfamiliar system and use it with no or minimal instruction (thus being under Spiritual rather than Mental). It has no real programming, but is simply an intuitive means of using an unfamiliar system (much like a Unix guru sitting down at a DOS machine). Note: computers are as described in BUGHUNTERS, p.29. See there for full explanation.
Impersonation:
As per Mythus Prime
Jury-Rigging:
As per Mythus Prime (adapted for BUGHUNTER's technology, of course)
Leadership:
As per Mythus Prime
Philosophy:
As per BUGHUNTERS
Religion:
As per BUGHUNTERS and Mythus Prime, but without generating Heka.
Street-wise:
As per Mythus Prime (similar to BUGHUNTER's Street Smarts)
Thespianism:
As per Mythus Prime
(Note: attacks by weapons marked WSA use Weapons, Small Arms, and those marked by WHA use Weapons, Heavy Arms, and those marked by HW/M use Combat, Hand Weapons, Missile, and those marked MAO use Weapons, Military, All Other for the attack rolls.)
Missile/Projectile Weapon Attacks Table:
Attacks
Weapon: Mag: Damage: per CT: K/S: Range:
Knife/Dagger -- 2D6 2 HW/M P TRAIT in feet Spear -- 3D6 1 HW/M P TRAIT in feet Flamethrower 10 2D6(1)/CT 1(10) WHA 10 yards Grenade Launcher 15 see Grenades 1 WHA Direct 200 yards Indirect 400 yards Flechette 2D6(1) 70 yards Laser, Repeating 5000 4D6(1) 2(3) MAO 500 yards Laser, Sniper 20 3D6(1) 2 WSA 250 yards Machine Gun/Howler 2000 4(4) WHA Standard/Tracer 1D6 50 yards Splatter 2D6 50 yards HEJA 3D6(1) 70 yards HEAP 3D6(2,5) 50 yards HEAT 4D6(2) 50 yards UHDUG 5D6(2) 50 yards Machine Pistol 150 1D6 5(6) WSA 80 yards Missile Launcher* 10 20D6(2) 1 WHA 500 yards Mortar, Small -- see grenades 2 MAO 400 yards Pistol, Heavy 3 WSA Standard/Tracer 13 1D6 40 yards Splatter 12 2D6(1) 40 yards HEJA 7 3D6(1) 60 yards Pistol, Large 3 WSA Standard 13 1D6 35 yards JA 10 2D6 50 yards Pistol, Small 4 1D6 4 WSA 20 yards Pistol, Stun 13 3 WSA 30 yards Small setting 1D6(2) Human setting 2D6(2) Large setting 4D6(2) Rifle, Assault 200 2D6 5(7) WSA 150 yards Rifle, Civilian 6 1D6 2 WSA 150 yards Rifle, Tranquilizer 30 trank 5 WSA 100 yards
Shotgun, Automatic 30 1(8) WSA 60 yards Flechette 2D6(1) Explosive 3D6(2) AP 3D6(2,5) Shotgun, Civilian 1-5 2D6(2) 2 WSA 50 yards Shotgun, Spec Forces 15 1(9) WSA 60 yards Flechette 2D6(1) Explosive 3D6(2) AP 3D6(2,5)
* The damage for the missile launcher seems impressive, but they are military-held (only), and will rarely be used because of the probable backlash and fairly large area of effect (figure the explosion causes full damage within 10 yards, half damage for the next 10 yards, quarter damage for the next ten yards), as well as the expense of the rounds.
Grenade table: (thrown using Combat, Hand Weapons, Missile)
Type Damage (1) Blast radius
Smoke Grenade obscures vision
Stun Grenade 16 (2) 20 yards
Frag Grenade 16/6D6* 20 yards
Incendiary Grenade 16/4D6* 20 yards
HE Mortar Round 24/8D6* 20 yards
Satchel Charge
Shapeless 80/12D6* 30 yards
Shaped, front 200/24D6* 35 yards
Shaped, sides&rear 60/6D6* 25 yards
(1) The number before the blast is concussive damage done by the explosion, it is applied as per BUGHUNTERS p.53. The blast radius for each grenade was determined using these rules. Any grenade marked by * receives a 1D6 exposure roll if within half the blast radius, and a 1D3 exposure roll if more than half the distance from the blast, but within the radius. Damage is multiplied by this. (note that for this, a yard and a meter are fairly close in size)Special note (Burst fire):
Anyone with Weapons, Special Skills (Burst) can fire at -20% to hit (the damage assumes single rounds, aimed carefully). The advantage, however, is that if they hit, they cause double damage (for instance, a Machine gun using HEAP rounds would cause 3D6 times 1D6 points of damage, doubled, but expend 50 rounds). The Rate of Fire does not change, but each shot expends the Burst number of rounds, rather than a single round.
Special note (Autofire):
As mentioned above under Weapons, Special Skills, whenever Autofire is within hearing, all UTRPF forces in the area (who can hear it) must make a roll against half their Spiritual TRAIT in order to not automatically drop prone (probably forfeiting any action not taken, but done even if action already taken).
In addition, a similar check must be made any time the HP needs to enter an area covered by Autofire, otherwise the HP cannot enter the area (although they can otherwise act normally).
Type: Damage restored: Duration: Cost in M&S:
Light 5 points 1 hr 5
Medium 10 points 2 hrs 10
Heavy 30 points 3 hrs 15
[Don't forget that each MSO has typical gear assigned to it, so the party will not be a bunch of grunts wandering around with missile launchers. I recommend enforcing this rule religiously!]
Helmet and Flak vest: as described, average armor of 3
Body Armor: average armor: 6 (ranged attacks only), initiative penalty of -1
E-Suit: Average armor: 4 (but after absorbing that amount, it punctures the suit!); additional armor plates increase this to 10 (and removes the capability of being punctured) & initiative penalty of -1 (armor plated only)
High-G Exoskeleton: Average armor: 10 & initiative penalty of -1; adding armor plating to this increases protection to 20, and the initiative penalty to -2
Reflective Armor: imposes a -10 penalty to attacks using lasers, and average armor of 6 against lasers only (no protection against anything else)
Targeting Visor: as described