What should we populate the ruins of old ships with?

So far I have Robots=Undead (and they have some servants like Cybershells and Cyberwolves that stand in for zombies and werewolves)

I've got Augs (Degenerate Augments of past civilizations for war--Orcs)

What else do I need?

Some others:

Argus (Eyebeasts), Bearbats, Bladewings, Blastworms, Dreadbots, Giant Insects, Magmen, Troids (silicon people),

What does a D&D like Sci Fi game absolutely need?

Why not an Illithid/psychic attack types (unless you've covered this already)?

Star Vampires with which to stalk shiny lycra clad women (lookin' at you Col. Wilma Deering)?

Large populations of mutated refugees on the run from intolerant societies?

I've added: Giant Amoeba's! Silicon Eaters (who turn their prey into silicon), Brutes, Blastworms, Thoughtrenders, and many many more

Venus Fly Trap Plants that stalk (no pun, really) their prey.

Black Armored Menacing Bad Guys that dual wield force swords.

Eye Zapping humanoids (Scott from X-men).

Sexy Aliens (preferably blue or green sirens) that seduce the characters.

Multi-headed Space Hydra that attacks ships and eats 'em whole.

Grab the MM and go entry by entry and "space" them out.  

Redbook Basic starts with Acolyte, Ape (White), Bandit, Bat, Bear (4 kinds), Beetles (Fire, Oil, Tiger)...

Acolytes = Space Cultists? - damned bastards are always poking around ruins looking for forbidden alien artifacts and new ways to wake up Things That Should Not Be...

Ape (White) = Gorilla Supremacists? - uplifted albino gorillas rebel against their human parents and now have planets of with their One True Monkey Race.

I love Bugs as monsters.  Space Cockroaches, Flame-throwing Beetles, everything from Starship Troopers - especially those fast moving ones with the scythe claws are great.   And yes, I play Tyranids.

But what does D&D in Space absolutely need?

An easy method for GMs to modify existing beasties and create their own.   If you haven't picked up the Random Esoteric Creature Generator, I highly recommend it.   It's like the DMG 1e Demon Generator, but on steroids.   I think its in print from Goodman Games now.

Space Cultusts are good. Make them evil espers and we have something.

Monstrous Apes! (White with horns and tusks!)

I've got Space Krakens instead of Hydra.  BEMS! Will be coming soon too..

Parasitic symbiotics that adapt their hosts in order to survive - roll 1d4:
1: +1 to armour as skin becomes leathery with bony plates
2: move at 1.5x usual speed when fleeing
3: +2 to all saving throws
4: +1 to chance to spot traps/ambushes

They enter the host through ...(roll on 'Orifice' table)

Cool stuff Sean!


Amoebic Marauder
Population Appearing: 1
Defense: 20 DR:6
Attacks: 2 (Surround and Devour, 1d10+Ignite)
Morale: Absolute
Sapient: Marginal (0)

An Amoebic Marauder is a protomorphic lifeform. Essentially it appears as single celled organism grown to enormous size. The thing moves in an undulating pattern and is intelligent and can speak, but it does so by vibrating the cells in the body of those who it wishes to communicate with at the time. It has an unnerving coldness, and a simple absolute focus to find food, grow, and reproduce by fission.


Argus (Eyebeasts)
Population Appearing: 1
Defense: 25 DR: 8
Attacks: 2 (Surround and Devour, 1d10+Ignite)
Morale: 30
Sapience: High (+3)


An argus is a creature from an unknown region of nebulas and blackholes, it is a terrible monstrosity that has a serpent like body, and lacks a head. Instead one end terminates in writhing mass, of one hundred stalk each topped with eyes. The Argus cannot be surprised by any means. Each round it can direct 1/4th of its eyes to unleash a concentrated eyebolt that can do terrible damage. Argus were often used as guardians by the ancients, some believe they were even engineered to do so. They never leave their post until it is destroyed. Argus can speak and even hold intelligent conversations.


An Argus can attack with a sequenced pattern of eyebolts that disrupt the cellular structure of its foes. It can do this once every five rounds  this does a mere 1d10+5 damage, but also adds ignite. Once every 3 rounds it can fire a blinding flash that does not damage, but all those who fail a Dex save D#20 to cover their eyes are blinded. Also an Argus can fire a bolt that merely stuns, a save vs Con vs D#22 or be unable to act for 1d4 rounds.

Quote from: Sean !;318008Parasitic symbiotics that adapt their hosts in order to survive - roll 1d4:
1: +1 to armour as skin becomes leathery with bony plates
2: move at 1.5x usual speed when fleeing
3: +2 to all saving throws
4: +1 to chance to spot traps/ambushes

They enter the host through ...(roll on 'Orifice' table)

More generally, ancient technology or radiation that has random effects.

Quote from: Sean !;318008roll on 'Orifice' table

1 - Eye Sockets
2 - Nasal Cavity
3 - Ear Canal
4 - Mouth
5 - Anal Cavity
6 - Genital Openings (Urethra / Vagina)

Oi, that's just worse than Energy Drain!

Quote from: Spinachcat;3201111 - Eye Sockets
\
Oi, that's just worse than Energy Drain!

I'm not sure about that. I can justify energy drain in SF We'll speak no more of cavity violations.

I do have Apes (with optional pan-species modifications including horned, flying, etc..)

Quote from: Silverlion;320119We'll speak no more of cavity violations.

I think Sci-Fi has more cavity violations than Fantasy.   The Alien series, Wrath of Khan, the Hidden and even the Blob have a fascination with stuff violating the human anatomy.  

BTW, I like how the Ameobic Marauder can be spoken to.  Explain (Surround and Devour, 1d10+Ignite) - also is there some notation in the Monster Entry that tells us how tough they will be to encounter.

Quote from: Spinachcat;321323I think Sci-Fi has more cavity violations than Fantasy.   The Alien series, Wrath of Khan, the Hidden and even the Blob have a fascination with stuff violating the human anatomy.  

BTW, I like how the Ameobic Marauder can be spoken to.  Explain (Surround and Devour, 1d10+Ignite) - also is there some notation in the Monster Entry that tells us how tough they will be to encounter.

Surround and Devour among other attack types will be explained in the book. It means essentially once a to hit roll is made it doesn't have to make one again UNTIL the person escapes. (Saving throw of sorts.) damage is 1d10 and Ignite is the term used for all sorts of continuing damage. Fire, acid, radiation and so on. Essentially you take X damage from the roll and each round you don't make the save to end the damage you continue taking damage. Continuing damage is always -1 each round, cumulative. So first round you might take 8, next round 7 and this continues until it zeroes out.  the Amoebic Marauder is a bit of a special case. It keeps doing the same damage UNTIL you escape, then your hero suffers the ignite as the dissolution acids continue dissolving you.

Believe me, explaining this game is more complex than actually running it because I'm trying to be consistent and yet still be old school.

quick thoughts:

purple worms that live in wormholes/wyrmholes - or better still - using them to traverse wormholes.

starborn - a form of elemental (light/heat)

antimatter pudding - young, confused, lonely and curious, wants to play with shiny starships

SL,
  You can make a space lich. An ancient being whose power is indistinguishable from magic. Who feeds on lone travelers to sustain themselves. Call them Depsycates or something...

  Also, you need a mimic/doppelganger, no? How about they take the shape of the last thing they killed and feed off of fear.

  Also, space gelatinous cubes that feed off of the ejected garbage from space ships.


  Just some idea.