RE: DS2:Alien vegetation (x-list)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Tan [SMTP:David.Tan@colesmyer.com.au]
> Sent: Sunday, November 28, 1999 5:32 PM
> To:	'gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU'
> Subject:	DS2:Alien vegetation
> 
> 
> I am putting together some bases of alien vegetation using large tree
> seeds
> that I have found in my local park.  They resemble giant pods at 1/300
> scale
> and should look suitably alien as well provide cover for troops.  Has
> anyone
> put together some house rules for alien plants.  Am thinking on lines
of
> these being exotic ancient pods that take hundreds of years to grow
(hence
> the massive size). They also on occasion emit noxious gases that while
not
> deadly to PA or vehicles, could be fatal to un-armoured troops.  Maybe
if
> any infantty base comes to within an inch of the pods, you have to
throw
> to
> see if they are emitting such toxins (on D6 if you throw a 1, then you
> have
> been unlucky enough to enter a cloud of the stuff).  Then you draw one
or
> two chits.  Troops would probably have some kind of gas mask equipment
so
> you would have to be unlucky to throw a 1.  While the remote risk
remains,
> the pods will provide excellent cover and cover LOS.	Blasting them
with a
> heavy weapon would not help release the gas as it comes from deep
below in
> the root system.  Just an idea.
> 
> dave t
---------End Message--------------

You could use the Bio-Chemical Rules in DS2 (I don't have the rule book
at
hand), but set the range as 1 or 2 inches from the plants. 

Other things plants could do is to entangle troops or vehicles. Moss,
small
vines, etc. work well for this. Infantry passing through it roll a d4.
On a
1, they are entangled and receive a suppression marker (cannot act until
untangled). Vehicles going through the patch roll a d4. On a 1 they
receive
a immobile marker. This mechanic also works for swamps.

Other plants could produce spore clouds when approached. If a plant is
approached within X inches, the cloud produces a spore cloud. This cloud
has
no detrimental effect on the units, but treat the spore cloud as smoke
with
an X+1 inch radius. Fire into an area with the plant could also produce
the
spore cloud (i.e. the plant is hit and releases the cloud). Give each
plant
3 smoke markers.

Some other fun effects could be made. If a plant changes color when
approached, it could help with spotting for artillery, finding snipers
(if
you use home rules for snipers), fining dug-in units, etc.

Also, if using "mobile plants" or small animals, it is extremely funny
to
secretly mark a herd of small animals (rabbits, mice, bats, etc.) in
hiding
on the board. When the first fire takes place, place the heard on the
board
and have them move directly away from the first shot (at 15"/turn). Any
unit
they run into is suppressed for the turn (out of shock). I have used
some
toy ants (1 gross for $1us) that I picked up. It was very funny.

-----
Brian Bell
bkb@beol.net
http://members.xoom.com/rlyehable/ds2/	
-----