RE: [OT] Alien Figures [off-list]

Greetings!

Thank you for your response.

First I have added a link from the Xenology center
(http://www.ftsr.org/xeno/) to your web site. Could you give me your
full
name and that of Toby? I would like to provide credit with the link. [I
just
noticed that I had misread your name and will correct it when I get home
tonight].

I was in the process of writing up Alien rules for DS2 when I saw the
message posted on your site. Here were my ideas:

Xenomorph (from Aliens):
Adults:
1. Move 6" (as Power Armor)
2. Xenomorphs draw 3 chits in CA (all colors valid). They may not attack
except in close assault. No test is necessary for close assault (either
to
attack or to stand against the attack). Xenomorphs have NO ranged combat
ability. If close assaulting from hiding, the xenomorph will get to draw
3
chits against the unit regardless as to whether the attacked unit
withdraws.
3. It takes 4 valid damage points to destroy a xenomorph squad.
4. When one is killed in CA, draw 2 chits (all colors valid) against the
squad that killed it (acid splash).
5. Attacks vehicles in CA with 2 chits (rips open hatches, breaks
windows,
etc. then enters vehicle and kills crew), all colors valid.
6. Aliens can go into hiding in ANY cover (any terrain but clear). They
have
a natural stealth and they match the heat of thier environment. While
hidden, they may not be attacked from range (except for area effect
weapons
such as artillery or SLAM), it may only be close assaulted.  At night,
they
may go into hiding in ANY terrain (Thier caprice absorbs light and they
are
the same temprature as the environment, so light amplification and
inferred
are ineffective).
7. AFPCs do not work against xenomorphs attacking from hiding (see
above).
8. Hidden movement. Xenomorphs may move while hidden. Hidden movement is
at
3". Two methods can be used for this: A) Write down the movement from
the
original marker. B) Move 2 dummy markers at the same time as the real
marker. Dummy markers must remain within 18" of each other and the real
marker.
9. Acid Splash. If an alien squad is killed within 1" of another unit
that
unit may take damage from the acid splash. Splash damage is 2 chits with
all
chits valid.
10. Terror. Xenomorphs elicit terror in close assault. When in close
assault, treat them as having soft cover (i.e. only Red and Yellow chits
are
valid).
11. Confidence/Reaction tests. Xenomorphs subtract -2 from the threat
level
for confidence and reaction tests.
12. Treat xenomorph units as vehicles for under fire markers. Unless a
unit
is killed, no under fire marker is placed.
13. Xenomorphs are immune to the effects of hostile environments (heat,
cold, humid, dry, low oxygen, high oxygen, etc.) including biochemical
attacks. They also are treated as having an environmental suit on when
encountering radiation.

--- 
Brian Bell 
bbell1@insight.rr.com 
ICQ: 12848051 
AIM: Rlyehable 
YIM: Rlyehable 
The Full Thrust Ship Registry: 
http://www.ftsr.org 
--- 
  
-----Original Message-----
From: NobJobz@aol.com [mailto:NobJobz@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 07:48
To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: [OT] Alien Figures

In a message dated 11/09/01 9:15:15 PM E. Australia Standard Time,
Brian.Bell@dscc.dla.mil writes: 

Hi Brian, 

I do have a question about your suppression rules for 
the aliens.

Well, they aren't really my rules.  In our gaming group we divided up
the
work.  I wrote the Predator rules, my friend Toby wrote the Alien rules
and
Owen (not of this list) wrote part of the Marines until we decided to
simply
use Stuart Murray's excellent rules for the Marines (Hi Stuart!). 

It appears as if they can never be 
pinned by suppression.

Well, not exactly. 

Selected sections:

<Deleted quotes from rules> 

So, if I read it correctly... 
The 1st suppression is ignored (no counter placed).

Correct. 

The aliens are hit by suppresion twice more placing 2 
suppression markers. The aliens recieve a 4th suppression 
result, but no marker is placed (as 2 is the max).

Correct. 

On 
the next round the aliens automatically remove the 1st 
suppression

Correct. 

then use thier 1st action to remove the 2nd.  
They now have a minimum of 1 action left.

Not necessarily.  The Aliens still have to roll to try and remove the
suppression counter as per the normal rules, its not automatic.  As we
recommend using them as Veteran 2, this means you have a chance of
failing.
And I can't count the number of times I have!  So if you pass, yes you
still
have one action left to use.  Remember that to charge into Close Assault
you
need to use both actions and can't do it if suppressed, then the bugs
can't
charge you that turn (much to the relief of the Marines, I'm sure).  So
the
bugs can use it to advance a little further, to run away, to hiss
menacingly
at the Marines, etc. 

Did I get this wrong? 

No.  You just looked and said the exact same thing I did when I first
read
Toby's rules, that they can't be pinned by suppression.  Well I can tell
you
from experience that they can be (I've done it and had it done to me),
but
its just very, very hard to do.  Tobe wanted to represent the fact that
the
Aliens will tend to just keep coming at you in the face of your gunfire,
but
that they aren't suicidal.  They'll keep their heads down, it just won't
hold them up for long.	The rules play a little better than they read.
Recently we have been talking about ways to improve the suppression
rules
with the Aliens and welcome any input you or other can give.