Starship Troopers (the movie, not the book...)in Legions of Steel / Planetstorm
Disclaimer: Legions of Steel and Planetstorm are owned by Global Games, Starship Troopers is copyright 1997 TriStar Pictures.
Written by Justin Crough
Brief intro: I personally find it ironic that this system is being written about non-powered infantry, when the classic novel by Robert Heinlen first introduced the general public to the concept of powered armor. Despite this, the movie conjures up a lot of images of what Operation Planetstorm might look like (albeit without PBA). The following is an attempt to render the Mobile Infantry of the movie into Legions/Planetstorm format. Why? Because they are cool.
Background: While it is totally possible to dispense with an explanation, and just throw the MI into the mix, some like to make things fit into the world view. Here is just one plausible explanation of many...
The Federation
The planet of origin for the Starship Troopers is not Earth. It is another Earth-type planet. The humans who inhabit it are, (like the inhabitants of earth) descendants of the wandering Tzoren (Black Empire). A 'feral' world as it would be termed. Their history is quite similar to Earth's, except that under military fascist leadership their armed forces were given the highest priority, and subsequently their technology out distanced earth's, at least before the LOA gave earth technological upgrading.
Their culture is an aggressive expansionist one, it has grown into contact with other alien races, the Arachnids being the most notorious of these. It is likely that the League of Aliens has never approached this government, due to its relatively remote location, and their obvious penchant for violence. Only now, the Machines have begun to spread into the zones claimed by this Federation.
It may be that these distant relatives of the UNE and Black Empire will be battling a common foe. But will this domineering society accept the LOA, or eventually try to dominate its neighbors? And how will the Black Empire react to this newly rediscovered feral world which has developed its own interstellar war machine, not to mention its own military psychic program.
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System: (Planetstorm)
The Mobile Infantry Trooper. UPV: 87
Fire team senior UPV:123
FCL:
M3 Tactical armor. (Non Powered Armor)
Morita Battle Rifle
Incl. Under barrel scattergun
2 Thermal grenades.
Combat knife
Move GM Kills Hero HP cost Lead Cmd
4 -2 1 1(2) 36 0 0
SPECIAL:
FCL for Squad Leader, and Corporal are the same.
The MI Trooper is a tough, well conditioned soldier, who has been trained to kill in defense of himself and his political agenda. He is willing to give his life in service as a proud citizen, but wants to take as many enemy with him as he can. The Trooper doesn't want to live forever...
The fire team senior is in charge of a 4 man team, though he doesn't actually lead in a conventional sense. If a decision has to be made at that level, its his responsibility. (He has experience though...2 Hero points instead of 1.)
Mobile Infantry Squad Leader.UPV:159
Move GM Kills Hero HP cost Lead Cmd
4 -2 1 2 36 1 0
The Squad leader is chosen out of his peers primarily by merit. He leads by example. Thus his 1 leadership.
Mobile Infantry Corporal UPV: 195
Move GM Kills Hero Hp cost Lead Cmd
4 -2 1 2 36 2 0
The Corporal is as well trained as a UNE sergeant, and has the benefit of his extreme sense of duty to the body politic.
Mobile Infantry Sergeant UPV: 215
FCL
M3 Tactical Armor (NPA)
Morita Carbine
Combat knife
Move GM Kills Hero Hp cost Lead Cmd
4 2 1 3 36 1 1
SPECIAL:
MI Lieutenant has same FCL
The Sergeant is in command in the absence of the Lt. He is the equivalent of a UNE WO.
Mobile Infantry Lieutenant 200
Move GM Kills Hero Hp cost Lead Cmd
4 -2 1 2 36 1 2
The Mobile Infantry trains its field commanders from the ranks of the enlisted, thus the most junior MI officer has more combat experience than most UNE officers. MI Platoon commanders lead their men and women from the front.
Mobile Infantry Missile Trooper UPV 152
FCL:
M3 Tactical Armor (NPA)
Sub Tactical Guided Nuclear Warhead Launcher
Combat knife
Move GM Kills Hero Hp cost Lead Cmd
4 -2 1 1 36 0 0
SPECIAL:
Limited deployment
Never used at less than Enlisted PL level.
This trooper carries 4 missiles on his person. The Tac Nuke is not a standard platoon weapon, but may be assigned to a platoon for support fire. He relies on his fellow MI for close defense, and to load the rounds.
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MI weaponry and Equipment:
Morita Battle Rifle
The Morita is a bullpup rifle that fires large caliber cased rounds at a very high cyclic rate. Theses rounds are designed to defeat light armor through a combination miniature shaped charge, and kinetic penetrator. The Morita has an under barrel sub weapon, a 12 gauge scattergun for close up assault and defense. It is a weapon with high damage potential, though limited in range and armor penetration. The Morita can fire single rounds, though it is usually employed in its fully automatic mode. It's ROF reflects this.
Morita BR
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8 PI LV CC A
2 N N N 20 30 50 70 0 +3 +2 o
Scattergun:
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8 PI LV CC A
3 N N N 10 20 30 40 0 +2 +2 o
Morita Carbine
Designed for commanders and dropship crew, the Carbine makes up in rate of fire what it sacrifices in range. It has a shorter overall length, and doesn't mount the scattergun.
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8+ PI LV CC A
3 N N N N 10 25 35 0 +2 +1 o
Sub Tactical Nuclear Warhead Launcher aka "Nuke"
The Tac Nuke is a MI support weapon. It is designed to incinerate enemy troop concentrations, and take out hardened bunkers. It is not on a platoon scale of issue, unless specifically required.
It can be targeted at an enemy, or on a spot on the playing table. Its guidance system allows it to be fired indirect, and even into an underground tunnel. Must be stationary , and one other figure must be adjacent and spend a stationary fire action to load a missile before it can be fired.
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8 PI LV CC A
1 N N N N N N 60 n/a n/a +3 4o
The weapon inflicts 5 kill dice at 6+ (GM apply) to all figures within 6" of it's detonation.
The weapon inflicts 4 kill dice at 7+ (GM apply) to all figures between 7" and 12" of it's detonation.
The weapon inflicts 2 kill dice at 8+ (GM apply) to all figures between 13" and 18" of it's detonation.
This weapon may be quite difficult to employ without endangering fellow MI. The blast has a +1 modifier against LV, because of their shelter from the heat and blast.
EMP effect. Being a nuclear explosion, there is an EMP effect. Assume that this is taken into account with the standard blast resolution. Optionally one could have all surviving PBA and machines be subjected to a ROF 1 EMP effect at kill number 6+ within the area of effect.
When used indoors (ie Legions of Steel) it travels it's full range down any corridor available to it. If a figure blocks it's path, it detonates on that square. If it hits a door, it detonates on that square. If it comes to a corner, there is a 3 in 6 chance it will turn the corner, and continue it's flight, if there is no path open straight ahead. If it has 2 possible ways, such as a T junction, it has an equal chance to fly either way. If it flies into a room, there is a 2 in 6 chance it will exit if there is an opening on the other side of the room from where it came in. If it does not, then it detonates half way into the room. If the missile travels it's entire range allowance it detonates.
When the nuke detonates inside an enclosed space, the tunnels will channel the explosive. The area of effect will fill all tunnels around it, until it has filled at 20 squares of space in each direction. For example: if it detonates at a T-junction, the blast will go 20 squares down each of the 3 joining corridors. If it has traveled 10 squares down one, and there is another T junction, the blast is split, traveling 5 squares down one and 5 down the other.
Anyone caught in a tunnel blast takes damage as if they were at range of 7" outdoors. (3 at 7+).If the blast encounters doors, make a roll to break them down. If not, the blast is contained there. In a room, the blast fills 20 squares in each of the four directions. When all the squares are filled, any remaining blast is channeled down any available corridors until a full 20 squares have been filled for each directional arc. (North, south, east and west).
(Suicidal note: It is possible to arm the Tac Nuke warhead, and use it as a hand grenade. As a figure cannot throw it greater than the weapon's area of effect, it is going to get very warm for that figure. It requires the expenditure of 2 hero points to do such a blatant stunt)
Rico-"You tryin' to be a hero Watkins?!"
'Sugar' Watkins- "Just trying to kill some bugs sir..."
Thermal Grenade
This is a pineapple style hand grenade. It inflicts damage through blast concussion, and intense incendiary flash. It has thrown range just as any other hand grenade. It inflicts 4 kill dice at a range of one inch from the detonation spot, losing one die per additional inch of distance.
The kill number is set at 7+. GM apply.
Combat Knife
Seemingly useless at first glance, this HTH weapon can be used as a limited range missile weapon. While it's chances of killing are remote, it gives the Trooper some extra versatility when the odds are grim. All MI are equipped with the Combat Knife. All can switch to it without losing any fire actions. If used as a ranged weapon, it can only be used once. If held, it functions as a standard HTH weapon.
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8+ PI LV CC A
1 N N N N N 2 4 +1 +2 0 1o
(how can it POSSIBLY inflict a kill on PBA...or a machine? Well.....it could disable a vital system rendering the armor less useful. I recommend that if a hit is scored on a PBA or a machine, a roll on the Wounding table {LoS Advanced rules} be made instead of an outright kill.)
Morita Scope
This system can be added to any Morita Battle Rifle (not Carbine) at the cost of 25 UPV. It allows the user to act as a platoon sharpshooter. The Morita may still fire as normal, or use the following single shot mode:
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8+ PI LV CC A
1 N N N 45 55 60 75
Twin-50 Guns :
UPV+ 66 (can be manned by standard figure) If the figure manning a Twin-50 is killed, the guns are rendered destroyed as well.
This is a non-mobile defensive weapon, capable of sustained suppression fire.
It is only employable if the MI are in a previously fortified location. (If the scenario warrants)
Each is manned by a standard Trooper with FCL. The two guns always fire linked. The table below accounts for this. (The listed ROF is firing linked) A Trooper manning a Twin 50 has a GM of 0 for attacks from his front arc due to a defensive shield.
ROF 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+ 7+ 8 PI LV CC A
4 N N N 40 50 60 75 0 0 n/a o
The Tactical Communications Pack add 36 UPV to figure.
A figure may be outfitted with a TCP. This is a Communications link with orbiting fleet ships, or other higher MI field commanders. It gives the figure 1 Command point. This point is used by the leader of the unit, as long as the leader has line of sight with the Trooper equipped with the TCP. If the Trooper is killed, the bonus Command point is lost. If the leader is killed, the Command point is transferred to the next in command, as long as the TCP is in his line of sight. If the only remaining Troopers are the same rank as the figure equipped with the TCP, consider that figure the leader. It is standard practice to equip the Platoon's sergeant with a TCP.
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Organization of the MI Platoon
The smallest fighting unit in the MI is the Fire Team it is comprised of 3 Troopers and a Team Senior. (1 extra HP).
Two Fire Teams plus a Squad Leader make a Squad. (9 figures)
Two Squads plus a Corporal make an Enlisted Platoon (19 figures)
One Squad plus a Sergeant and Lieutenant make a Command Group (11 figures)
One Enlisted Platoon plus a Command Group make a Combat Platoon (30 figures)
Fire Team UPV 345
Team Senior
3 MI Troopers
Squad UPV 764
Squad Leader
2 Fire Teams
Enlisted PL UPV 1550
Corporal
2 Squads
Command Group UPV 1061
1 Squad
Sergeant
Lieutenant
Combat Platoon UPV 2350
Enlisted PL
Command Group
Mobile Infantry Tactics
The MI are taught to fight using a Phalanx doctrine. This is a fire team standing in a rank, side by side with a spacing of 1-4" They take up a stationary position, and lay down a wall of suppression, as the enemy attempts to close into HTH range. Against enemies with ranged attacks, they adopt a more conventional one fire team suppresses, another runs, while another walks while looking for opportunity shots. Once the runners get to where they were going, they remain stationary to suppress, while the walkers continue to walk and fire, and the former suppressors get up to run.
Of course this is general theory. Once the enemy is engaged, all hell can break loose. And it always does
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Optional: (and suggested)
Limited ammo (With acknowledgment to Tony Lin, Ref Colonial Marines 2.3)
With a high rate of fire weapon, the danger of running out of ammunition is ever-present.
The weapons are listed with a number. When the weapon uses the auto fire option, roll a die. If the result is equal or greater than the number, the weapon is empty. For each turn the weapon suppresses, roll the die, and add a +2 modifier to the roll.
Reload: It takes a stationary fire action to reload. Twin 50 guns cannot be re-loaded.
Morita: 6
Morita Carbine: 5
Twin 50: 7
Under-barrel shot gun: 4
All MI carry 2 reloads for the Morita. (Except the missile trooper)
All MI with the Shot gun, carry one reload for it.
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