BUGHUNTERS as a DJ/PRIME module:
(c) 1994 Michael S. Phillips, [m s phil] at [birds.wm.edu]
Legalese/Fine Print: This document may be freely re-distributed
electronically provided that there is no charge for the document beyond
normal connection/transmission charges. It may be printed out for personal
or group use, but may not be sold as a product or part of a product.
BUGHUNTERS, AMAZING ENGINE, Dangerous Journeys, Mythus, and Mythus Prime
are (c) TSR, Inc. This document makes use of the rules found in BUGHUNTERS
and Mythus Prime, and cannot accurately convey the feeling of either
without possessing BUGHUNTERS and Mythus Prime. A deliberate attempt has
been made to avoid duplicating non-mechanics sections.
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.
CHAPTER 1: CHARACTER GENERATION:
Background and look of characters as per BUGHUNTERS.
I: Generate TRAITS
The HP receives 150 points (30 more than in MYTHUS PRIME) to distribute
among the Mental, Physical, and Spiritual TRAITS. No TRAIT can receive
more than 75 nor less than 25. In addition, 1D6+1 determines SEC, as per
MYTHUS PRIME. (Synners are above-average, genetically engineered clones,
as per BUGHUNTERS.)
II: Calculate Stamina and Body Points
Damage is accrued against the Physical TRAIT, as per normal. Wound
level is determined as per MYTHUS PRIME.
III: Determine Background Occupation
Synners are modified clones, so SEC has little bearing on Vocation
(unlike MYTHUS PRIME), but it does determine the HP's background and
memories. Cross-reference the following chart for suggested backgrounds:
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
IV - VIII: Use the following replacement sections:
IV: Basic K/S and Vocation
Note: The Vocations simply reflect training, although they obviously
mesh with certain MSO's. By picking up other K/S Areas, the HP's would be
able to gain ranks and switch MSO's as time progresses. Like the Vocations
in Prime, these reflect the training that all UTRPF troops have undergone,
modified by which MSO was chosen to begin with.
Vocations:
Aerospace:
Protocol Officer (Spiritual)
Pilot (Mental)
Engineer (Mental)
Gunner (Mental)
Marines:
Scout (Physical)
Grunt (Physical)
Medic (Mental)
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 Scout should choose whether he was trained in High-G or Low-G.
Of course, the other K/S can always be taken as a bonus area
V: Choose Bonus K/S
Bonus K/S Areas are selected as per Mythus Prime.
The following are the general K/S Areas:
Combat, Hand-to-Hand, Lethal P 20
Perception (Mental) M 20
Native Tongue (English) M SECx5
Everyone gets the above, due to basic training and such. It is highly
recommended that First Aid be taken by most (if not all) HP's. The base
STEEP is slightly lower than in Mythus Prime to prevent people from
starting with absurdly high STEEP.
VI: K/S Table
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
VII: Determining Rank and Current MSO/Position
Rank should be initially handed out by the JM (ignore all the stuff
about points and such in BUGHUNTERS), based on how the campaign is
starting, and what the long-term goals may be.
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.
VIII: Finances
Finances can be run as per BUGHUNTERS, but that doesn't yield much.
Assume that, for each rank attained, the HP will receive twice the minimum
rank points (chart p.26 of BUGHUNTERS) in BUCs to use as DMI, and all other
expenses (including medical care, housing, food, etc) are taken care of as
appropriate to the HP's rank.
IX: Improving your HP
As per MYTHUS PRIME, AP's can be spent in three ways:
(1) 1:1 for improved STEEP in an existing K/S Area
(2) 3:1 for improving a TRAIT
(3) 5 to buy new K/S Area at 5 STEEP
A K/S Area can be improved no more than 5 STEEP per game month.
CHAPTER 2: SKILLS (K/S AREAS)
[These are notes on which skills map to which, and what is different from
Mythus Prime -- they are NOT intended to be complete descriptions, that
might violate too many copyrights]
Mental K/S Areas:
Comm Gear:
As per BUGHUNTERS, assume both sub-areas (Commm Procedure, Isler Radio)
are covered.
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
Physical K/S Areas:
Combat, Hand Weapons:
As per Mythus Prime
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.
Spiritual K/S Areas:
Art:
As per BUGHUNTERS
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
CHAPTER 3: PLAYING THE ROLE
[This chapter in BUGHUNTERS gives the basic information on what life in the
UTRPF is like. Read it. It has no game mechanics, so there is no
adaptation here]
CHAPTER 4: COMBAT & REPAIR
For combat, use the Mythus Prime rules, and, where needed, use the
Mythus Prime damages as well (for instance, a bayonet should be treated as
a spear in terms of damage). Additional weapons and UTRPF armor is listed
below:
(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)
Notes:
(1) These weapons gain a half-Exposure roll when calculating damage (roll
1D3, multiply the damage by this number)
(2) These weapons gain an Exposure roll when calculating damage (roll 1D6,
multiply the damage by this number)
(3) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 100 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 6 rounds per attack.
(4) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 500 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 50 rounds per attack.
(5) AP (Armor-Piercing) and HEAP rounds (High Explosive, Armor-Piercing)
ignore armor protection. In Advanced terms, they are IMPACT damage,
and thus go through almost all armor *unless the description specifies
otherwise*
(6) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 150 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 12 rounds per attack.
(7) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 25 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 8 rounds per attack.
(8) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 15 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 8 rounds per attack.
(9) In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 12 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 4 rounds per attack.
(10)In Autofire, the ammo is expended at 10 per CT, and when using Burst,
it fires 5 rounds per attack.
* 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)
(2) The stun grenade causes *only* concussive damage, which should be
applied to all three TRAITs (Physical, Mental, Spiritual). Only the
Physical damage can be absorbed by armor protection.
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).
Repair: (this should really be called healing, but it was called repair
in BUGHUNTERS)
Personas heal at the rate of 1 point of damage per day, 2 if they are
careful, resting, and under the care of someone with First Aid or Medicine,
General. If in a controlled environment (sick bay), double this. If
especially cared for in a sick bay (and confined, pumped up with drugs and
such), an HP can heal as much as 5 points of Physical damage per day. Even
under dedicated care, an HP can never regain more than 2 points of Mental
or Spiritual damage per day. All three TRAITS can be healing at the same
time.
In addition, there are stimulants which will 'fake' healing, at a cost.
Note that the damage restored is effectively taken again when the stimulant
wears off, potentially resulting in death, and the stimulant will never
bring the HP to a higher Physical TRAIT than 110% of the HP's full Physical
TRAIT (i.e. a P TRAIT of 70 could be raised as high as 77 for the
duration). Also, the stimulant has a cost in effective Mental and
Spiritual TRAITS, as it taxes the mind as well as the body, and that is
taken immediately upon using the stimulant. It can only be 'healed' by
rest, and effects of going below 80% are as per Dazing (Mythus Prime
rules). Continual use of stimulants will eventually daze, and force to
pass out, and potentially kill an HP!
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
CHAPTER 5: EQUIPMENT
[use the descriptions as per BUGHUNTERS, but ignore most mechanics; those
which need to be adapted are mentioned below, or are corrected on the
charts in the Combat chapter]
[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
CHAPTER 6: SHIPS
CHAPTER 7: L-5 (Stargate)
[Both of these chapters can be left alone, just replace any of their checks
with the nearest K/S or TRAIT. The space combat system is intended to be
cinematic in feel, without allowing complete destruction of any ships.
Replacing Gunnery checks with Weapons, Military, All Other K/S checks will
allow the system to be used as written.]