Earth Is Under Attack! The Martians descended upon Earth without warning. Saucers filled the skies. Blaster-wielding soldiers, giant insects, and unstoppable robots slaughtered the human defenders on the ground. It could have been the end of humanity – ifthe not for ones the brave scientists of the Novas Vira, only who saw the invasion coming! Now the fate of Earth hangs in the balance as both sides turn to science, desperately inventing new weapons and defenses in the hope of finding the one that wins the war.
GURPS Mars Attacks contains everything you need to join the fight and make a difference:
I Choose your side. Are you among the conquerors here to grant Earth the honor of being added to the Martian Empire? Or are you fighting to save your planet – either on your own or as part of the Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, or United Earth Alliance?
I Set the scope. Play unprepared civilians stepping up to face Martian raiders, bold saucer pilots defending troops from waves of human jets, high-level officers making decisions that impact the entire war, or anyone else you can imagine!
I Lock and load. It’ll take spirit to win this war, sure, but also technology. Learn about the weapons, defenses, vehicles, and strange inventions of both sides – and take advantage of streamlined rules to make new ones.
GURPS Mars Attacks requires the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. The detailed setting and descriptions of Martian society and technology can be used withany game system. Written by Jason “PK” Levine Edited by Nikola Vrtis Cover Design by Alex Fernandez Illustrations by The Topps Company, Inc.
Mars Attacks is a trademark of The Topps Company, Inc. Ofcially licensed by ®
TM & © 2015 Topps.
1ST EDITION, 1ST PRINTING PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2016 ISBN 978-1-55634-807-5
$24.95
Printed in
SJG 01-2510 Hong Kong
®
Written by JASON “PK” LEVINE Edited by NIKOLA VRTIS Cover Design by ALEX FERNANDEZ Illustrations courtesy THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC.
STEVE JACKSON GAMES ISBN 978-1-55634-807-5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
® ®
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.....................4
Collect Them All! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Recommended Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Science Unleashed! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Earth in the Balance .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
1. INVASION! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 EARLY MISSIONS ............................7
Historical Abductions . . . .1940s . . . . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .7 .7 Potential Threat: 1930s. and Setting Dates ..................................7 Escalated Action: 1950s and 1960s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Mars Needs . . . What, Exactly? ......... .......... 8 ATTACK FROM SPACE .........................
8
Governments in Disarray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 The Front Line. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .9 A Monumental Attack ...........................9 Battling Bugs.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .9 The Novas Vira Rises .... .... .... .... .... .... .. 10 AirForceA ttack. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . ..1 0 Defense on the High Seas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 STRUGGLE
FOR
SUPREMACY .....
.....
.....
....
10
Taking Red Square. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Stonehenge Setup .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 The Jungle Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Frozen Desert................................11 Frozen by Fate? .......... .......... ........... 11 Downtown Demolition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Double Trouble . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . ..1 2 AFTER
THE
APOCALYPSE .....
.....
......
......
12
Suburban Nightmares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Weapons of Martian Destruction ... .... .... .... .. 13 Subterranean Catacombs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Enter the Tiger Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Alliance Assembled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2. THE FACE
OF
INVASION.. .. .. .. .. .. 20
Beyond Our System ..........
...........
......
MARTIAN DOMINION ........................
21 21
The Supreme Regent and the Empire . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Imperial Command .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 The Generals ........... ........... ........... 22 What’s in a Name? .......... .......... ........ 24 Science Division..............................24 The Martian Mind ........... .......... ........ 28 SOLDIERS
OF
SCIENCE .......................
28
Small .. .. .. ........... .. .. .. .. .. ............ .. .. .. .. .......... .. .. ..2 30 9 Do NotArms Submerge Personal Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Anatomy of a Martian .... .... .... .... .... .... .. 31 NuclearDamper. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. ..3 2 Martian Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Arming Your Spaceships .... .... .... .... .... .... 32
GURPS System Design STEVE JACKSON Page Design PHIL REED & President/Editor-in-Chief STEVE JACKSON GURPS Line Editor SEAN PUNCH JUSTIN DE WITT Chief Executive Officer PHILIP REED Assistant GURPS Line Editor Production Artist and Indexer Chief Operating Officer SAMUEL MITSCHKE JASON “PK” LEVINE NIKOLA VRTIS Managing Editor MIRANDA HORNER GURPS Project Manager STEVEN MARSH Production Assistants Marketing Director BRIAN ENGARD GABBY RUENES & BRIDGET WESTERMAN Director of Sales ROSS JEPSON GURPS FAQ Maintainer VICKY “MOLOKH” KOLENKO Prepress Checker MIRANDA HORNER Licensing Manager ELISABETH ZAKES Production Administrator DARRYLL SILVA Print Buyer MARYLAND FALKENBERG Special Thanks: Adam Levine Playtesters: Douglas H. Cole, Peter Dell’Orto, Steven Marsh, Phil Masters, Elizabeth McCoy, David L. Pulver, Christopher R. Rice, Matt Riggsby, and William H. Stoddard Mars Attacks is © The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mars Attacks and Topps are registered trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc. Mars Attacks and Topps related logos, characters, names are the intellectual property of T he Topps Company Inc. and used herein under license with Steve Jackson Games Incorporated.GURPS, Pyramid, Warehouse 23, the pyramid logo, and the names of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are trademarks or registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license. GURPS Mars Attacks is copyright © 2016 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in Hong Kong. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this material via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
2
C ONTENTS
TWISTED EXPERIMENTS ......................
33
Bugs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...3 4 Point Defense ........... ........... .......... 35 Insect Armageddon ........... ........... ...... 36 Robots... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 36 Monster Men .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 7 Mutations ........... .......... ........... ... 37 3. THE WILL DEFENDERS
OF
OF
MAN .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 38
EARTH .......................
39
The Novas Vira. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .40 The Astro Mata .......... ........... .......... 42 The Tiger Corps .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .43 Tigers in the Night .......... ........... ........ 44 The United Earth Alliance. . ........... . . . . . . . . . . . .......... . . . . . . . . .44 Other Militaries .......... 46 The Resistance. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .46 PROMETHEUS UNBOUND ......................
47
Weaponry.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .48 Armor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 49 Cybernetics..................................49 Catalogs ........... ........... .......... ..... 49 Other Useful Gear .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 HumanV ehicles.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 4. JOIN
THE
FIGHT...........
It’s Not Paranoia . . . .......... ........... ...... 75 Destroy the Human Menace!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 ATOMIC-AGE ALIENS ........................
PLOTS
AND
.......... Fight Fight Actingthe at Good Random .......... VICTORY
82
AT
.......... ...........
....... ........
HAND ..........................
INDEX. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 94
ABOUT GURPS Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of GURPS players. Our address is SJ Games, P.O. Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) any time you write us! We can also be reached by e-mail:
[email protected]. Resources include:
59
New supplements and adventures. GURPS continues to
Martian.... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .60 The Game-Changer .... .... .... .... .... 60 Undercover Agent Martian . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Elorian .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .61 OtherA liens.. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .61
grow – see what’s new at gurps.sjgames.com. Warehouse 23. Our online store offers GURPS adventures, play aids, and support in PDF form . . . digital copies of our books, plus exclusive material available only on Warehouse 23! Just head over to warehouse23.com. Pyramid (pyramid.sjgames.com). Our monthly PDF magazine includes new rules and articles for GURPS, systemless locations, adventures, and much more. Look for each themed issue from Warehouse 23! Internet. Visit us on the World Wide Web at sjgames.com for errata, updates, Q&A, and much more. To discuss GURPS with our staff and your fellow gamers, visit our forums at forums.sjgames.com. The GURPS Mars Attacks web page is gurps.sjgames.com/marsattacks. Bibliographies. Many of our books have extensive bibliographies, and we’re putting them online – with links to let you buy the resources that interest you! Go to each book’s web page and look for the “Bibliography” link. Errata. Everyone makes mistakes, including us – but we do our best to fix our errors. Up-to-date errata pages for all GURPS releases, including this book, are available on our website – see above.
RACIAL TEMPLATES ..................
CHARACTER TEMPLATES .....
.....
.....
61
Human Civilian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Heroes and Hunters ..... .... .... .... .. 62 Human Combatant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Cryo-Specimens .... .... .... .... .... .. 64 Human Tech.........................64 Tiger Corps Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Martian Trooper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 MartianO fficer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Martian General......................67 5. OPERATION: EARTH ........ FROM MARS
WITH
LOVE ..........
68 ....
69
Two-Fisted Tales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Mars Needs Women ..... .... .... .... .. 70 Through a Bubble-Helmet Lens . . . . . . . . .71 Science Marches On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Range Bands .... .... .... .... .... .... .72 Keep the Cameras Rolling. . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 MODERN-DAY MASSACRE......
......
.. 73
91 92 93
Earth Victorious! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Mars Victorious!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Or .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .93
53
TechL evel.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .53 Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Meta-Traits..........................57 Disadvantages........................57 Skills.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .58 WildcardS kills.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
PLACES .........................
Moversa ndS hakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Take Me to Your Leader.... .... .... .... .... .... .84 Measuring Time ........... ........... ........ 85 World on Fire.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8 7 Cutting Power ........... ........... .......... 87 The Plot Thickens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
52
CHARACTER TRAITS ..................
80
Tampering with Time .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Theme and Flavor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Early Adventures ........... ........... ........ 81 Cutting-Edge Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Rules and statistics in this book are specifically for the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. Page references that begin with B refer to that book, not this one.
Barbarians at the Gate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
C ONTENTS
3
INTRODUCTION The once-distant crashes of thunder were getting closer . . . and louder. Bob finally put down his laptop and walked to the window – only to see massive saucers filling the sky! Beams of fiery death rained down, warbling loudly as they cut burning swaths through businesses, schools, and homes – carving the city into pieces. He fumbled to turn the television on: “ . . . no idea where they came from or
At the end of the forest line, Bob skidded to a halt. The street in front of him was chaos, with drivers on the sidewalks, jumping curbs, cutting through yards . . . everyone was trying to get away, but no one seemed to agree on which way that was. Suddenly, one of the hovering saucers landed in the large corner parking lot, crushing cars both parked and moving. A ramp dropped, and hideous, alien soldiers
what they want. All we know is that this is taking place in cities not just across our nation, but also around the world. Citizens are asked to stay inside and remain calm. This is nothing that –” Coinciding with the largest explosion yet, his power suddenly went out. One of the saucers was immediately overhead now, lashing out at the homes below with its heat ray; this close, the oscillating noise was almost deafening. Bob ran out the door and into the nearby woods for cover, just moments before the beam reached his home, causing it to explode behind him! Panting and panicked, he raced down the hill, ducking around trees while branches whipped him in the face.
began marching out, rank and file. Once on the ground, they spread out, fir ing their ray guns indiscriminately. Through their bubble helmets, Bob could see a wicked grin on each lipless mouth. Hate burned in their eyes as they gleefully slaughtered pedestrians, drivers, and even stray animals. Bob ran from them, dashing to look for cover in the trailer park across the road. Too late, he saw the 25’-tall robot that had just slashed one of the mobile homes in half. As it turned and pointed some sort of beam cannon his way, Bob froze in sheer terror, aware that these were his last moments on Earth. Then the blast came . . . but from behind Bob, blowing the robot to pieces! Turning, he saw three people in a jeep. One of the women operated the weird mounted weapon – it was like a jet engine with a satellite dish on the end – that had just obliterated the robot. The man in the passenger seat yelled, “We’ve got room! Get in!” Bob didn’t hesitate, jumping into the back of the vehicle as the woman driving peeled out. His savior continued, “I’m Ben, that’s Janet driving, and Connie on the disruptor.” “Bob, and thanks for saving my life! Who are you and wait, wait, why are we going back toward them?!” Connie shouted over the wind, “Bob, calm down. You’re safer with us than you’d be on your own! We’re from the Novas Vira, and we’re heading back to blast that saucer before the Martians can take off again.” Ben turned and handed Bob something that looked like the parts from an assault rifle and police flashlight had been scrambled together. “You ever play video games, Bob? Shooters?” When Bob nodded, overwhelmed, Ben explained, “Good, we need another person on point defense. Laser carbine. No recoil. Just point and pull the trigger. Don’t try to shoot anything big; that’s Connie’s job.” Finally finding his voice again, Bob sputtered, “So, what, the four of us are going to go up against the entire Martian invasion fleet?” “This isn’t the whole fleet,” Janet said with grim determination. “This is just the first of them. And we’re going to do everything possible to convince them to not send any more.” As she whipped the jeep around the corner, Bob saw dozens of Martians blocking the street. “Open fire, guys!”
4
I NTRODUCTION
The Martians have been watching Earth for decades, planning and scheming against humanity. And now, when the time is right . . . Mars Attacks! From orbit, the terrifying aliens descend in their saucers, destroying with burning rays of death everything and everyone they see. On the ground, Martian soldiers storm our cities, flanked by giant insects and unstoppable robots. The same scene plays out all over the nation – no, all over the world! Is this the end of humanity? Not if the Novas Vira has anything to say about it! This organization of scientific geniuses are the only ones who saw this attack coming, and now they’re our best hope to drive off the alien invaders. Their advanced technology may just give Earth the edge that it needs to vanquish these monsters once and for all – while their spacebased allies, the Tiger Corps, take the fight directly to the Martian ships. GURPS Mars Attacks details a world – our world – under siege. The initial Martian attack took Earth by surprise, with devastating results, but humanity is learning to use their own weapons against them. It isn’t long before the Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, and newly formed United Earth Alliance are bringing the fight back to the invaders! This is a game of scientific boldness in the face of horror – one where new inventions mesh with the bravery of the human spirit to stand up to a seemingly unstoppable enemy. Winning the battle for Earth will require learning the Martians’ weaknesses and coming up with the technology and tactics to take advantage of them. Or you could fight for the other side, destroying cities and defeating the humans for the glory of the Martian Empire! GURPS Mars Attacks supports this fully, with details on Martian society, psychology, and technology. Create new monstrous creations to bring humanity under your being stabbed in the back by hateful rivals.heel. WorkAvoid to bring civilization to these primitive creatures, whether they like it or not. Or discard any pretense of seriousness and just blast everything you see in a catharsis of destruction! Whether you prefer being human or alien, the world of GURPS Mars Attacks is full of action, discovery, and amazing leaps of science. Use the advice on campaign tone to maintain a perfect blend of camp, darkness, and gore – while crafting an exciting game based on the doz ens of included campaign seeds, adventure ideas, and interesting places. The fate of the Earth is in your hands.
COLLECT THEM ALL!
Invasion inspired several adaptations, including a Mars Attacks comic book series by IDW Publishing; Munchkin Apocalypse: Mars Attacks!, Mars Attacks: The Dice Game, and Mars Attacks: Ten-Minute Takedown by Steve Jackson Games; Mars Attacks: The Miniatures Game by Mantic Games; and this very book.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS This is a standalone supplement; only the GURPS Basic Set is required to play. As this game focuses heavily on futuristic technology, GURPS Ultra-Techis strongly recommended (though not required) as a source of inspiration for new devices.
ABOUT
THE
AUTHOR
Mars Attacks began as a series of trading cards release d in 1962 by Topps. The cards’ bold “sci-fi horror” imagery made them an instant hit. The set was reprinted in 1988 (along with a comic book series from Pocket Comics) and then reprinted and expanded with new cards in 1994.
Jason “PK” Levine works for Steve Jackson Games as the Assistant GURPS Line Editor. He is the creator of the GURPS Monster Hunters series, the author of several GURPS books including GURPS Psionic Powers, a frequent contributor to the online magazine Pyramid, and the webmaster of the fansite mygurps.com. As a reverend in the Church of the Subgenius, he holds a special affinity for
Mars BurtonAttacks in 1996.was adapted into a feature film by Tim In 2012, Topps celebrated the series’ 50th anniversary by reprinting the srcinal set as Mars Attacks: Heritage. This was followed in 2013 by a new series, Mars Attacks: Invasion, which remained true to the feel of the srcinal series while taking the story in exciting new directions.
alien invaders, and he sometimes found himself rooting for the Martians while writing this book. He would like to thank his beautiful wife, Samjo, for her limitless love and support, his gaming group for always finding new ways to be awesome, and Adam Levine (no relation) from Topps for being amazing to work with and for all of his horrific details about Anon Teed.
I NTRODUCTION
5
CHAPTER ONE
INVASION! “Fall back! That is an order! Back to the tank!” Lt. Laura Frech knew when she was being flanked, and there was no way these Martian freaks were getting the better of her team. The Leopard tank had been crippled by the saucers, but it was still useful as cover, even against the powerful ray guns the enemy troops were using. She did a head count as they filed in – all present except Gantner and Burk, who she’d seen get zapped by those terrifying beams. But she couldn’t afford to be afraid. Deep breath. Focus. “Listen! We don’t know what these things are, but I can tell you three things right now: They obviously know urban warfare, but they’re reckless, and they’re not bulletproof.” Her team nodded; they’d managed to leave a few alien bodies lying on the Zürich streets. “So here’s the plan: We swing north, fight our way to the hospital. That’s where the injured are heading, so that’s what we need to protect. Questions? Good. Now move out!” Keeping low to the ground, they bounded up the alley and stopped at the corner. If the Martians were smart, they’d expect this and guard the exit. Frech nodded at Kim, who risked a quick, low peek – then gritted his teeth, stepped out of cover, and started firing! Frech made the snap decision to lean around the corner and back him up, and then she saw what he had seen. The aliens had left guards here, but all three were gathered around an elderly man, where it looked like they were taking turns blasting off his extremities and laughing. Before they could react, Kim, Frech, and then the rest of her team unloaded on them, dropping all three. The civilian was screaming in pain. It was a lose-lose situation, but Frech made the call. “Kim, Rais, grab the victim. If we can get him to the hospital, he might survive. Bring up the rear; we’ll try to clear the way.” They raced toward the side street that led to the hospital, but they had lost too many seconds; Martian grunts were converging on their location. When they saw their fallen comrades in the street, they screamed – a terrible, almost mechanical screech – and took cover behind the corner and a car. Blaster fire filled the air, striking Kim and the older civilian. It was like their skin and muscle just disintegrated right off of them, in a burst of blinding light. Frech knew that grenade shrapnel hadn’t been effective against the aliens, but she didn’t need to wound them, just shock them, so she fired
6
an offensive round their way. They ducked behind cover as it exploded, which gave her team a chance to break for the corner shop. There it was, like a gift from God: an SUV, keys in, engine running. She had a wash of horrible thoughts about what must have happened to its owner, but then pushed those feelings aside. “Everyone in! Head for the hospital.” Mosher got behind the wheel and drove around and out, where the Martians were waiting – but expecting pedestrians! The soldiers sideswiped the two nearest aliens, after which their unexpected speed and suppressive fire bought them the chance to break for the hospital. “Good job, team. I think we took a few out. Head for the emergency room –” At the last second, she saw one of the saucers swing around to target them with its ray gun. They must have escaped notice on foot, but the vehicle was a threat! “Bail out! Bail out!” Frech screamed as she tucked and rolled out of the door. An instant later, a beam hit the SUV and it . . . shrunk? Amazingly, it had become just a few inches tall. Frech looked to Rais, apparently the only other one to make it out, “Am I losing my mind?” Rais shook his head, his eyes as wide as saucers. Frech ran over and picked up the SUV, peeking inside. Her team was in there, screaming with barely audible, highpitched voices. “Uh, don’t worry, guys. I’ll fix this. Somehow.” “We have to keep moving,” Rais urged. “Right. Over there, let’s use the storefronts as cover. Then we can . . . see if anyone knows what to do about this.” At a loss for better storage, she tucked the SUV into her largest pocket and then ran. It was the worst-case scenario – Earth was under attack! In cities all around the world, the Martians appeared without warning to annihilate humanity. Without warning to most, at least . . . A rare few knew that the aliens had been visiting Earth for centuries – studying, abducting, and experimenting on its people. Their warnings ignored and their beliefs mocked, these men and women of the Novas Vira worked behind the scenes to prepare Earth for this day. But their efforts only slowed the Martians, who had committed the bulk of their resources to one purpose: the complete and utter defeat of humanity.
I NVASION !
This chapter details the “default” timeline of the invasion, from early encounters to the threat of a Martian victory. However, once the game begins, events are likely to
diverge significantly (see Frozen by Fate? on p. 11). The Martians start off holding all of the cards, but with the PCs on their side, mankind has a fighting chance!
EARLY MISSIONS Martians developed spaceflight centuries ago, which allowed them to explore much of the solar system – and beyond (see Beyond Our System, p. 21). However, it was Earth that truly grabbed their attention. At first, they didn’t recognize humanity as a sapient species. But once the strange fleshy apes began developing things recogniz-
Martians who could masquerade as humans to infiltrate our society. One of the first, Beloss Bel (pp. 86-87) was an invaluable source of intelligence . . . for a while. Through him, the Martians learned that humans were developing nuclear warheads. By dropping their own bombs on the “safe zone” of an early testing ground, Martians made
able as technology, the aliens’ attitude one of detached interest. Unfortunately for thechanged humans,toMartian “detached interest” generally involves abduction, dissection, and experimentation.
nukes even more uncontrollable than they were, settingappear development back years. The existence of national security agencies like the FBI and NKVD let certain humans gradually put the pieces together. First, they realized that someone was abducting people, and then they connected these occurrences to reports of strange sightings and stories. Many began questing for proof of alien life; sadly, the few who came across intact saucers (here on missions) were wiped out by either the passengers or the self-destruct system. Nonetheless, some individuals recovered bits of Martian technology or other evidence (burned-out power cells, saucer armor chipped off from a hard landing, etc.), though never enough proof to convince the world. It was from this small group – those who knew the truth! – that the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) would eventually form.
HISTORICAL ABDUCTIONS Earth was the first planet explored by the Martians, and it remains the one they’ve visited most often. Despite the significant effort required for interplanetary spaceflight, Martian scientists would typically come to our planet several times per century to observe us and abduct a few human specimens. See Project: Deep Freeze (p. 27) and Cryo-Specimens (p. 64) for more details. For most of human history, Martian visitors had it easy. They could survey the populace from their chameleon-screened ships, which appeared as clouds to the naked eye, and wait for a human to separate from the herd. Even if they were spotted, they could easily blast any witnesses; the few times that one survived, the tale rarely spread further than a single town before it quickly faded into legend or joke. This would soon change . . .
POTENTIAL THREAT: 1930S AND 1940S
Setting Dates
Unless changed by the GM (see Atomic-Age Aliens, pp. 8082), the Martian invasion takes place now. However, the timeline in this chapter intentionally uses relative dates (e.g., “three months after the invasion”) rather than specific, absolute ones, to accommodate the widest range of campaigns. This way, the exact date of the invasion can be set anywhere from tomorrow to a few years back, depending on what stage of the invasion the campaign will focus on (see Modern-Day Massacre, pp. 73-80, for suggestions).
The Martians’ first visit of the 20th century was a shock. Humans were finally able to communicate near-instantly via radio, and their optics had improved dramatically. By the time the Martian scientists realized the potential threat of a world at the brink of a technological war, human planes were already en route to investigate the “unidentified flying object.” The Martians chose to abort their mission, return home, and report that the misshapen ape-things were ready for cultivation, dissection, enslavement, or extermination. The next generation of reconnaissance saucers was larger but stealthier, with emergency self-destruct systems.
As well, pilots learned to land in remote areas and avoid the radar stations that started to sprout in major human cities and military bases. The days of indefinite observation from the sky were over; Martians scientists had to bring Stealth Force (pp. 23-24) soldiers to do the dirty work on foot. Meanwhile, back on the home world, Imperial Forces initiated the Undercover Agents (p. 24) program, creating
ESCALATED ACTION: 1950S AND 1960S The end of WWII, particularly the U.S. demonstration of atomic power, convinced the Martians that the humans were a potential threat. Imperial Command sent further Stealth Forces in to surreptitiously weaken Earth’s defenses, and it ordered pilots to sink several naval vessels (including the Soviet destroyer Spirenkov) in the hopes of turning the Cold War into World War III. Fortunately for Earth, that spark didn’t ignite. Instead, the chatter among the intelligence communities (and within projects like America’s Operation Paperclip, which imported German rocket scientists) allowed believers from different countries to share information about “the alien menace.”
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For the Martians, the final straw was the discovery that humanity was reaching for the stars. Undercover agents attempted to sabotage early space launches, with mixed results. Though some mistakes were chalked up to mere human error, the Martians undoubtedly set Earth’s space race back by decades. However, there was a small silver lining: Brigadier General Buck Spencer (pp. 82-83), an Army liaison to NASA, discovered evidence of alien tampering, including traces of technology that he knew the Soviets
lacked. In the future, this would lead Spencer to become one of the Novas Vira’s most important allies. With Earth’s space programs crippled but still moving forward, Imperial Command ordered a complete withdrawal. The only teams to be sent to Earth would be additional Undercover Agents and small scout crews, who would land in remote areas and bury caches of weapons. The remainder of Mars would spend the next few decades preparing . . . for invasion!
MARS NEEDS . . . WHAT, EXACTLY? realizedthe that the system Martians cannotHumanity stand the quickly idea of sharing solar equally with another sapient species, and the aliens want to neutralize Earth as a threat. What we don’t know is why they are sending in troops to conquer the planet rather than bombing us to rubble from high orbit. Not even the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) has the answer. Attempting to interrogate Martian grunts and marines – a difficult if not impossible task in itself (see Languages, pp. 55-56) – just leads to frustration, as Imperial Command doesn’t share such strategic information with low-level soldiers. The specific reason (or mix of reasons) is up to the GM. It isn’t necessary to determine this before starting the game. In fact, the GM may prefer to leave this in the air until the players have had a chance to deduce their own reasons for the invasion, and then he rewards them by declaring that they were right all along!
Possible Reasons
(p. doMartians the dirty seeking work back Mars, or as plex37) astothe theon next stage of comtheir own evolution. See Mars Needs Women (p. 70) for further implications and issues. Living Space: Mars will soon be uninhabitable, due to ecological catastrophe . . . or worse! (In the 1962 set of Mars Attacks cards, Mars was on the verge of exploding from “internal atomic pressure.”) “Terraforming” Earth will take a considerable amount of time, so the Martians need to wipe out or enslave humanity first. Planetary Resources: There are countless resources that can be found only on Earth: specific ores, bacteria, vegetation, and so on. The Martians need one or more of these, and blowing up the planet would destroy any reserves. Pride or Sadism: The Martians want to do the job right, enjoy killing for its own sake, or both – which is why getting so up close and personal is best. Progress: The Martians have observed how quickly human science advanced during their World Wars,
Entertainment: The war is being recorded and beamed back to Mars for popular enjoyment. Genetic Material: Some Martian project requires a vast selection of DNA from another sentient species. This may be as simple as wanting more “monsters”
and the aliens want to improve their race the same way, using this latest war as the catalyst. Slaves: They want us alive because, once broken and trained, humans can do the jobs that Martians consider beneath them.
ATTACK FROM SPACE The initial strike was sudden and almost completely unexpected. Earth’s first alert was the loss of signal from space telescopes as they were destroyed. The astronomers’ warnings didn’t race through the chain of command in time. Before those in power truly realized what was happening, saucers were descending from the sky and attacking Earth’s key cities and military bases! The Martians believed in overwhelming surprise and power for planetary invasion – “shock and awe” on a planetary scale. This included both overt and covert operations, a side effect of having multiple and often conflicting generals overseeing any particular project (see Imperial Command, pp. 22-24). For more on Martian adventures set in this time, see Devastation Begins (p. 78). Humans caught up in the initial wave of attacks might be ordinary civilians
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(Sitting Down to Dinner, pp. 73-74) or people slightly more prepared for this sort of destruction, such as police, EMTs, or soldiers (First Responders, p. 74).
GOVERNMENTS
IN
DISARRAY
Perhaps the governments would have been able to react in time had the Martians not executed another deadly plan. For years, their Undercover Agents (p. 24) had been working their way up the political ladders of the world’s most powerful nations. In areas where the Agents hadn’t found success, they sent scout ships loaded with Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24) to take a less subtle approach. As the Martian invasion force approached Earth, the coded message was sent out: Assassinate all world leaders!
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Undercover Agents attempted to get close before pulling out weapons disguised as common items (and fitted with Martian tech A Monumental Attack to fool security systems). If this failed, each The Martians began their invasion of New York by swoopwas wearing clothing woven from explosive ing into New York Harbor and blasting the Statue of Liberty fibers and was willing to sacrifice his life for to pieces! Only after this was done did the saucers swing over the cause. Where that wasn’t possible, Stealth to Fort Hamilton to cripple the military vehicles. This pattern Forces used long-range blasters, set up at a would repeat wherever a national monument was; the Mardistance from their target; they had no qualms tians would almost always make that their first target. “Human about slaughtering bystanders to achieve their experts” among the Martians were convinced that the psychogoal. Sometimes they worked together, such logical impact of these attacks was worth using this tactic as as in the United States, where Stealth Forces their opening move. While the results were debatable, there’s attacked the White House as a distraction for no question that it scared some into surrendering immediately. an Undercover Agent to switch places with a Secret Service gua rd and get close t o the Pres ident. That plan would have been successful if and zones to secure. The Martians’ strategy was thus to not for Senator Buck Spencer (pp. 82-83), who realized send waves of Planetary Forces (pp. 22-23) into the streets, what was happening and was able to kill the assassin backed up by weapons fire from the saucers as needed. (In and get the President to safety. The Novas Vira saved or Tokyo, they first softened up the city by dropping explosives attempted to save other leaders; PCs in this time frame into the nearby ocean, sending tsunamis crashing into the may be able to intervene (see The Untold Tales, p. 73). Or shore.) Even mere grunts armed with blaster pistols were they may be Martian Undercover Agents ( Under Cover, able to easily dominate the police and cow the public. A pp. 77-78) or Stealth Forces (Forefront of Invasion, p. 77), few battles turned briefly in favor of humanity (such as here to carry out the assassinations! when quick-thinking New Yorkers pitted Martians against Across the world, the result was a qualified success, lions at the Bronx Zoo), but sadly, the Martian technology as several leaders still survived – but even the assassinasimply outclassed anything that the city-dwellers had. tions that failed ma naged to throw t he governments into Military bases were instead assaulted by waves of a state of confusion. Their shifted focus meant they were fighters, which used their heat rays to destroy most of less likely to pay attention to esoteric warnings about the vehicles while they were still immobile. Th e Martia ns “weird images from space,” which is exactly what the focused on crippling the bases more than taking and Martians wanted. keeping them, a strategy that left many soldiers alive, but without any tanks, artillery, etc., to join the fight. Most a ir bases were an exception, however; see Air Force Attack (p. 10).
BATTLING BUGS
THE FRONT LINE The Martians knew not to spread their forces too thin. Instead, they concentrated their initial attack on important cities and military bases. Their definition of “important” was an alien one, though, and many human s trategists were confused by their choices (see The Martian Mind, p. 28). The first wave of cities attacked directly included Philadelphia and New York (United States), London (England), Tokyo (Japan), and Penza (Russia). Compared to military targets, cities had weaker defenses but far more buildings
The Martians knew that a multipronged assault on Earth would require more troops than they had, which is why many secondary targets were invaded not by Martians but by giant mutated insects! Science Division (pp. 24-28) had been working for decades to turn normal Earth bugs into monstrous weapons of war – already adapted to Earth’s environment and thus with no inherent weaknesses. See Project: Bug (p. 25) for more information. Thus, places such as Cyprus, Las Vegas, Munich, Bermuda, Los Angeles, and Savannah were invaded by only a few saucers . . . which then opened to disgorge hundreds of insectoid monsters into the streets! After dropping this payload from a low altitude, the saucers moved on to the next city, as the bugs (and the Martian handlers who directed them) stayed behind to slaughter civilians and destroy buildings. The wide range of insects meant that nowhere was completely safe; people who sought the high ground had to contend with climbing insects, while those who went low faced tunneling ones.
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AIR FORCE ATTACK
THE NOVAS VIRA RISES Once the Martians began letting evidence slip in the 1930s and 1940s (p. 7), a human cabal gradually began taking shape: the Novas Vira. By the 2010s, it spanned the world, comprising administrators, scientists, military officers, a nd many others who knew the secret. Working together, they’d managed to decode Martian transmissions and the rudiments of Martian language, though they still cursed how little they actually knew. When the Martians gave the signal for their Earthside forces to put assassination and airfield-destruction plans into action, the Novas Vira intercepted it. After a brief debate, they decided to focus on saving the airbases directly (see Air Force Attack) while alerting guards to the assassination attempts (Governments in Disarray, pp. 8-9). The former worked out better than the latter, though a handful of Novas Vira members (like Buck Spencer) who were high-ranking government officials got close enough to thwart a few assassinations directly. The Novas Vira scientists had been working on prototype weaponry (see Disruptor, p. 48) to face the Martians. When the invasion began, they jury-rigged any remaining technical issues and brought the devices into the field. The first clash between the Novas Vira and Martians took place in upstate New York, resulting in a resounding defeat for the alien scout team. Across the world, Novas Vira teams helped humanity fight off the Martian menace . . . but could turn the tide on only a small scale due to being so few in number. For more detail on the Novas Vira, see pp. 40-43.
The Martians had known that the greatest threat would come from military airbases, where the humans’ fighter jets could engage the saucers in a fair fight by attacking the saucers from above (where the armor was thinner). Thus, they had a handful of Stealth Forces already in place outside of key airfields. Their plan was simple: when the signa l was given, move in on the ground, cripple every plane (one well-placed shot to the landing gear would be enough), and then take out the radar. Fortunately for Earth, the Novas Vira realized what was happening (see The Novas Vira Rises ) and quickly came to a decision to save the airfields. Novas Vira members with military pull alerted the bases to the incoming threat, while others raced to the nearest base to engage the Stealth Forces d irectly. Because of this, many airbases not only survived, but also were able to mobilize in time to engage and damage many Martian fighters.
DEFENSE ON THE HIGH SEAS Rather than send saucers to engage naval forces directly, the Martians took a less orthodox tactic. Countless Planetary Forces outfitted with aquatic armor (p. 31) were airdropped into water near (but not in direct sight of) small naval vessels. Wielding blasters and energized spears, these grunts would swim to a ship, climb its sides, and take it over with little to no damage to the vehicle itself. They could then use the captured craft to attack other ships and submarines, often by approaching as a friendly vessel and then opening fire at the last minute.
STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY Where the first wave of attack (The Front Line, p. 9) managed to cripple most of Earth’s forces and throw society into chaos, the second wave focused on the Martians’ true strategic goals – the areas that needed to be captured intact. Taking such targets whole required ground forces and human-to-alien fighting. Although saucers and fighters supported the troops (taking out barricades, SWAT vehicles, etc.), the violence was more personal than that seen in the initial invasion. Many of the cities cleared out or taken over were used as ground bases, an important part of the Martian invasion strategy. Taking over Earth required securing the planet,
made sense only in hindsight or not at all. The GM should feel free to add new areas to the list below and to change the reasoning behind the existing ones.
which meant forces on the ground. Some troops were camped aboard the motherships, ready to be dropped from orbit wherever needed – but holding land required establishing Martian bases, where troops and vehicles could be concentrated and used to defend against any resistance. To the human mind, some of these bases were established in places with obvious strategic value, while others
The invaders had invited the conflict and chaos at Penza, having chosen it as a target that the humans would defend, yet that could be decimated without hurting the Martians’ long-term goals. After Penza, alien ground troops began moving west toward Moscow while their aerial support swept north and south, dealing with any large clusters of military forces.
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TAKING RED SQUARE For the Martians, Penza ( The Front Line, p. 9) was just the best gateway to Moscow, their true goal. According to earlier scouts, the infrastructure there was perfect for their plans. With an acceptable amount of effort, Imperial Command believed that Moscow could be turned into the Martians’ primary ground base on Earth.
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Moscow was heavily defended, by both conventional forces and the few military units upgraded by the Novas Vira. The battle raged on for days, until the defenders were shocked when dozens of reinforcement fighters showed up, seemingly from out of nowhere! The Martian General Tor (p. 85) had decided that Moscow was too important to lose, and he ordered these ships to be dropped from orbit. Once they arrived, the tide turned in favor of the Martians, and the Russian military was soon on the run.
became caught up in a long, protracted fight, one to determine who would control the cities themselves. These were distractions. While the local military was busy fighting the Martians, and the civilians were running for the hills, teams of Martian scientists and engineers were heading into Mexico’s Lacandon Jungle and into the Peruvian Amazon. It would take them weeks to find what they sought, but eventually, the Martian teams determined a pair of perfectly synchronous locations for tapping into Earth’s geothermal energy. Each team set up beacons, so saucers could drop from orbit with the gear needed to begin drilling into the planet’s crust using massive digging machines (p. 33) while setting up a base around the site. Once the bases were built, weeks later, one of the motherships shifted into geosynchronous orbit over a point between Mexico and Peru, forming a triangle that could tap into this nearly infinite power, replenishing the Martians’ blasters, robots, and other gear without limit! See Project: Underground (pp. 26-27) for more.
FROZEN DESERT STONEHENGE SETUP London suffered greatly during the initial invasion, as the Martians destroyed everything and everyone they could. After a couple of days, however, nearly half of the alien forces there pulled out and rendezvoused with reinforcements to head west. British forces expected an attack on the cities or military bases of the South Midlands and West Country, and they reinforced those areas as fully as they could. Thus, everyone was shocked when the Martians took Stonehenge instead. In what may have been a serious miscalculation, the invaders brought far more force than was necessary, as though they were expecting it to be defended more heavily. This gave some of the Earth military a chance to move from the other garrisoned cities to London, making for a fairer fight there. Over the next several weeks, the Martians would set up Stonehenge as one of their terrestrial command centers. It would eventually become their secondary base of operations (after Moscow) in the Eastern Hemisphere. But humanity would always wonder . . . why there? The truth might surprise them. It simply reminded the Martians of their own ancient temples. When the Supreme Regent (pp. 21-22) saw a scout’s picture of the site, he declared it a sign of good fortune and insisted that a base be established there. Even coldblooded aliens can be sentimental apparently.
THE JUNGLE MISSION The army bases of Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Mexico) and Iquitos (Peru) were among the countless military targets assaulted during the Martian invasion. However, rather than just cripple those two and move on, alien forces
Based on initial intelligence, the Martians expected the Middle East to be an easy target. At worst, they would face a collection of disparate armed forces, stretched thin from years of dealing with insurgency and war – and at their luckiest, maybe those armies would take the opportunity to attack each other! Obviously, they could assign excess troops elsewhere and take this area with skeletal forces. They couldn’t have been more wrong. In a moral victory the forces putdid their differences to face for thishumanity, common foe; not only countries fightaside alongside each other, but insurgents and rebels fought next to national soldiers. The Martians – who had attempted a simple two-pronged attack, from the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas – were forced to retreat and regroup. The united armies retained their own allegiances, but they quickly became known collectively as the Levant Army.
FROZEN BY FATE? It is important to realize that nothing in this chapter is predestined. Everything on this timeline should be thought of as “the default assumption of what will happen, unless the PCs do something to change it.” That said, the GM may always declare some specific thing to be “fixed.” For example, in games set before the invasion, it would be reasonable to assume that thedo attack to happen matter what the is going heroes to scare it away – afternoall, the Martians have spent nearly half a century preparing for this! However, that still leaves so much for the adventurers to do: warn the governments, mobilize defenses, thwart Martian pre-invasion plans, and so on.
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Responsibility for this fiasco was shared among Martian Imperial Command. General Zar (pp. 85-86) demanded that he be allowed to organize an immediate renewed offensive, Anon Teed (p. 86), the head of Science Division (pp. 24-28), convinced the majority to let him take command. Zar was forced to grudgingly allow it. (Many Martians would later reference this as foreshadowing for the change in leadership discussed in Science Unleashed! on pp. 16-18.) Teed’s approach was to ponder a simple question: In which environment are these Ea rth forces completely unused to fighting? Within weeks, Science Division unveiled the freeze ray (p. 34). The generals and Anon Teed grudgingly worked together to plan the reinvasion, but this time, each assault began with the Martians turning the desert into an icy wasteland! The desert-adapted military was taken by surprise and could not adjust quickly enough. Soon, the Martians had taken most of the Middle East.
This push included Victoria (Canada), Hisar (India), Sana’a (Yemen), and a forked Chicago/Indianapolis attack in the United States. Martian saucers would descend from the sky and focus on eliminating any military defense, particularly air defense (Air Force Attack, p. 10). If successful, or if no such defense was present, the saucers would disgorge Planetary Forces (pp. 22-23) onto the ground. A quarter to a third of the saucers would remain on the ground, providing grunts with a defensive “safe zone”; the rest remained airborne to support the troops from above. With Martian air support destroying incoming military vehicles, Earth’s armed forces presence was limited mostly to soldiers sneaking into the area on foot. Thus, local police and citizens played a large part in the defense of these cities, attempting to drive off the invaders using what weaponry they had available. Unfortunately for humanity, most of the invasions that made it to this point were eventually successful, though some cities (Chicago in particular) exacted a high toll in Martian lives.
DOUBLE TROUBLE The Martians’ strategy could be summed up roughly as “cripple the cities and bases that will most disrupt humanity, then take over the cities we consider strategically important.” In a few cases, such as New York and Tokyo, a city counted as both. These had the rare distinction of being assaulted in the first wave of invasion ( The Front Line, p. 9) and then occupied by the Martians to be taken and held. Other cities, certainly London at a minimum, should have received the same treatment – but as mentioned in Stonehenge Setup, p. 11, the Martian view of “strategic importance” often varied significantly from ours. The people living in these cities would see the worst of
OWNTOWN DEMOLITION DWhile a large portion of the Martian forces were driving toward Moscow and Stonehenge, other divisions were targeting secondary cities – less heavily defended places that could be taken in a single attack and then turned into terrestrial bases.
the invasion, startingGuard with the their monuments and National (or destruction equivalent),offollowed by a full-blown ground invasion . . . all while also serving as a test bed for crazy new Martian experiments! In particular, when New York and Tokyo proved stubborn later in the war, they’d be the first places to see the Martians’ powerful robot army (pp. 25-26) . . .
AFTER THE APOCALYPSE Several months after the invasion, the Martians had established ground bases on every continent, with Moscow as their central terrestrial command and Stonehenge as their flight coordination center. Worse, their geothermal projection stations in the Mexican and Peruvian jungles (p. 11) were feeding effectively unlimited power to their primary mothership in space! Orbital saucers began air-dropping huge containers of charged energy cells to the Martian bases on the ground, ensuring that their blasters never ran dry. With all of these things in the Martians’ favor, it had become their war to lose. But humanity had not yet given up. The Novas Vira, now organized into a cohesive group under Director Quentin (p. 83), worked feverishly with any remaining military forces, upgrading their firepower
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and giving them the tools needed to find and destroy the Martians. Unfortunately, they were spread incredibly thin, but they would soon receive help from a completely unexpected source . . .
SUBURBAN NIGHTMARES The Martians finally had the time to consolidate their spoils, which included sending scouting parties out into other cities and the countryside, searching for further resources and pockets of resistance. Humans who had not yet had to face the menace directly now found their cities and towns invaded! See Fury on the Farm (p. 74) for adventure advice – or Alien Abduction (p. 75) if the Martians are here for experimental subjects.
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WEAPONS OF MARTIAN DESTRUCTION “Why don’t we just nuke them?” was a common question at first, among both world leaders and the general populace . . . but that was easier said than done. A few countries fired nuclear ICBMs at the motherships, but in every instance, the ship’s point defense system (p. 35) was able to vaporize any missile before it got close. Some were desperate enough to fire nukes at their own cities as the Martians were invading, but those were taken out just as easily by saucer point defense. And a city without saucers present was a city that the Martians had already moved on from – no point in blowing that up! That left shorter-range solutions, such as trucklaunched or even man-portable (“suitcase”) nukes. Neither were the kinds of thing that governments had just laying around (nuclear bombs are best used from a distance), but they were easily jury-rigged. However, the few times such attacks were tested, they failed as well – the bomb destroyed itself, but did not produce a nuclear explosion! Were the Martians simply i nvincible? It didn’t take Novas Vira members long to realize that the strange energy readings they picked up at most battlegrounds were from Martian nuclear damper field s (p. 32). With a complex-but-feasible retrofit to existing nukes, the Novas Vira could sneak the bombs in, but using them successfully required the Martians to stay in the area – and the Novas Vira to stay rooted to one specific spot – for a considerable length of time. At worst, they would waste a rare and valuable weapon; at best, they’d destroy one of their own cities, along with every human within. Given this lose-lose situation , nuclear weapons qu ickly fell out of favor.
Martian scouting parties usually comprised a dozen soldiers and a tech or two, transported within a single saucer. The saucer would land on the outskirts of an inhabited area and then remain there (with the pilot) as a base while the others ventured forth on foot with blasters and portable sensors. Some scouting teams were thoroughly professional, quickly moving from area to area and reporting back every hour . . . but many Martians saw this as the chance to relax, particularly near small towns. They would destroy or capture every human they easily found, then shack up for a few days in the nicest house, often breaking things and executing prisoners just for fun, until they were eventually recalled to the saucer.
Civilian Resistance The Martians did their best to keep humanity on the run. As people escaped the cities, the aliens stepped up their scouting patrols, always looking for large gatherings
This timeline does not include any instances of cities being successfully nuked, but the GM should feel free to change that if it better fits the campaign.
The Other Perspective The Martians were terrified of nukes! Humanity’s development of nuclear weapons was one of the main reasons the Martians stepped up their invasion plans (see Potential Threat: 1930s and 1940s, p. 7). This was one of the few “primitive” weapons that could seriously hurt them, even their motherships. Martian scientists and commanders were aware that their nuclear dampers could be bypassed, which is one of the reasons they usually moved quickly from target to target. The longer they stayed in one place, the greater the chance that the humans might decide to nuke them and pull it off! Thus, each city became a question of how willing the Martians were to press their luck, balancing commitment against risk. (For a way to simulate this gamble in a Martian-based game, consider using Mars Attacks: The Dice Game to determine whether the humans decide to use nukes before the Martians finish conquering a location.) In the few cases where the Martians had to settle in for a long campaign (Double Trouble, p. 12), they counted on the high human-to-alien ratio to protect them; if there were 100 humans for every Martian, Earth forces would be unlikely to destroy the city. True Martian strongholds, such as Moscow (p. 87) and Stonehenge (p. 88), were the best possible targets – yet, because the aliens held these cities completely, they were also the hardest for a group of humans to sneak into and remain in one location for the necessary setup time (a full day or more).
of people. The invaders couldn’t be everywhere, though. In particular, they rarely checked the same town twice; those who realized this began holding meetings in ransacked towns. Scattered soldiers and determined civilians alike would gather in basements to avoid Martian sensors. The core of a resistance was forming. The Novas Vira was an integral part of this movement. Knowing that communications satellites were crucial to keeping humanity united, the Novas Vira built and launched micro-satellites into low Earth orbit. These rarely lasted more than a day or so before the Martians located and destroyed them, but the Novas Vira launched them by the dozen. The tiny satellites were open, so that any Internet provider or satellite phone could connect to them. The devices weren’t able to reestablish true global communications, but they served three important goals: First and most important, they reassured humanity that people were still out there fighting. Second, they contained a wealth of information on how to fight the Martians.
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Finally, they were a way to gradually pass information from one part of the world to another (e.g., a cell in Russia could leave a file that a cell in Canada could later read); however, because the Martians could access these as well, such messages had to be coded, often using literary metaphors to confuse the Martians. Gradually, this communication allowed resistance cells to meet and share resources. Where possible, the Novas Vira sent members to aid the resistance directly by showing them how to improve their technology, teaching them about the Martians’ weaknesses and psychology, and providing instruction in using captured Martian gear. A few resistance cells attempted direct action, trying to take back a captured city. Unfortunately, these initiatives rarely ended well. Groups that harassed the Martians – sneaking up and sabotaging their gear, planting explosives in the path of patrols, etc. – had better luck. See The Resistance (pp. 46-47) for more details.
crawling with monstrous giant centipedes, ants, beetles, and worse! Most armed forces (like the PLA) were able to hold out, as they’d found superior tactical positions and had enough firepower to take down the insects. But countless regular citizens were quickly slaughtered in the places they’d finally thought themselves safe.
ENTER
THE
TIGER CORPS
As the resistance was attempting a bold mission to free a group of human prisoners in downtown Chicago, they were shocked and dismayed to see an unfamiliar spaceship flying in. This soon turned to jubilation as the ship began blasting the Martians’ ground turrets and fortifications! As the shipand landed, alien forces – but not Martians! embarked joined the resistance fighters in battle.– disSuccessful, the humans and their new allies ran into the ship and took off before Martian reinforcements could come. Professor Walters, the leader of the local resistance, thanked the group, as he marveled at the diversity of alien races in this crew. But he was more amazed when the last “alien” removed his helmet and turned out to be a human! Smiling at Walters’ confusion, the man introduced himself as General Jaret (p. 84) and explained that his team, the Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44), was here to act as the new strike force for the Novas Vira.
Renegade Rescue
SUBTERRANEAN CATACOMBS In mountainous regions, many people retreated to the hills, often surviving in natural caves. This was most successful in China, where PLA troops in the western half of the country were able to escape into the Hengduan and Qinling mountains. This strategic retreat would pay off for them later, as they would eventually reform and find allies ( Alliance Assembled, pp. 15-16). Unfortunately, scouting parties (see Suburban Nightmares, pp. 12-14) soon discovered these holdouts, and word quickly spread throughout the Martian forces. Initially, Martian generals sent grunts up into the mountains and down into the caves, but this proved to be a misstep. Many of the caves ran miles deep into the mountains, allowing even unarmed civilians to keep up a harass-and-fall-back pattern until, the tight and confines of thethe cave, they were able to spot aninadvantage overpower invaders! It was here that Science Division’s Anon Teed (p. 86) stepped up yet again to offer a solution. He ordered Project: Bug (p. 25) to ship their new batches – with a particular focus on the creepy-crawly ones – down to the terrestrial Planetary Forces. Within weeks, mountains of refuge were
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With the Tiger Corps here to help, the resistance freed Chicago, due as much to the culmination of a year-long guerrilla campaign as to assistance from their new allies. More important, they were able to hold the city against reinforcements sent from Martian-dominated Indianapolis. The Tiger Corps then began coordinating with the Novas Vira, offering help wherever it was needed. Thanks in part to their efforts, humans took back several cities, including Chattanooga (U.S.), Cairo (Egypt), and Edmonton (Canada). Unfortunately, for every battle won, at least one was lost, and the Tiger Corps crew roster was gradually whittled down from dozens to just over 10. After a crushing defeat in Nagasaki, General Jaret and Director Quentin (p. 83) decided to pull the Tiger Corps off the front line, so they could focus on aerospace harassment (see below and Race to Space, p. 76).
Hit and Run Between ground campaigns, the Tiger Corps would use their starship, The Venture, to attack Martian transports. The Venture wasn’t as nimble as the typical Martian ships, but it was tough, with powerful weaponry; those moments when it caught a lone saucer by surprise were quick, decisive fights. As time went on, and the Novas Vira connected with further military resistance groups, the Tiger Corps began making team-based strikes with military fighter jets.
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This campaign didn’t destroy nearly as many Martian ships as the Novas Vira or Tiger Corps would have liked, but the true victory was that, for once, the Martians had to go on the defensive. Martian patrols that would formerly have been a single ship now comprised several, and motherships started sending multiple saucers down for even basic airdrops. While this was worse news for the areas that now had to deal with three to four times the number of saucers, it took a lot of pressure off other parts of the world . . . in particular, Asia.
nationality and culture, to reflect humanity’s finest hour standing against the alien menace. It was then that the United Earth Alliance (pp. 44-46) was born.
ALLIANCE ASSEMBLED mentioned Subterranean Catacombs (p. As 14), many PLAintroops stationed in western China retreated into the mountains when the eastern third of the country fell to the Martians. At first, these were fragmented forces – a platoon here, a platoon there. But the elevated mountain peaks gave their radios tremendous range, and within a month after the invasion, they had collectively worked out scheduled “chats” every eight hours. At first, the radio transmissions incurred the wrath of the Martians, but after losing too many grunts to PLA cave tactics, the invaders gave up on direct action and instead seeded the mountains with dangerous-but-mindless giant bugs! While this was a serious threat, it was also the PLA’s first clue that Martian Imperial Command was no longer paying attention to them. Emboldened, the PLA decided to regroup. Forces near the western border set up permanent radio repeaters, in an attempt to reach out to nearby nations. As the Chinese army began in the basin,(see theyFrozen made contact withassembling members of the Sichuan Levant Army Desert, pp. 11-12), who had been driven out of their native lands and into Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India. Each side needed the others’ help to liberate their homes, but eventually the Levant Army agreed to enter China and help the PLA. (Rumor has it that it came down to a game of verbal rock-paper-scissors held via delayed radio.) A mere four months after being driven into retreat, the PLA and Levant Army blitzed the Martian-held eastern coast of China, taking back city after city. Novas Vira members within both militaries advised them on what Martian communications towers looked like, and the humans consistently targeted those first. Without clear orders, and suddenly besieged on all sides, the Martians retreated en masse, first filling every available saucer (several of which the PLA crippled before they went airborne) and then piling into captured naval vessels. News of this victory spread quickly, primarily over Novas Vira temporary satellites (see Civilian Resistance, pp. 13-14). States naval vessels – to carrying a mixPacific-based of Army andUnited Marine forces in addition Navy – contacted PLA/Levant forces and worked together to hunt down those Martians who had escaped by sea. After sending every seaborne alien to the bottom of the ocean, the American forces made it to the Chinese coast and proposed an alliance – one that crossed barriers of
Turning the Tide While both American and Middle-Eastern lands had been laid to waste by invading aliens, the new United Earth Alliance (UEA) knew that their next target had to be Moscow, the center of the Martians’ organization on Earth. It was the most risky and well-defended location they could possibly attack, but UEA leaders figured that, given the situation and relative disadvantage faced by humanity against Martian technology, any major target was risky and likely suicidal – so it made sense to focus on the one with the most strategic value. The counteroffensive began six months to the day of the Martian invasion, with UEA forces rolling out of their staging ground in Kazakhstan and heading toward Moscow at full speed. Russian civilians were eager to help, sharing hidden gasoline rations and making contact with the scattered remnants of the Russian military. By the time the UEA reached Moscow, they had actually grown by 20%! The Martians critically misunderstood the situation, assuming that Moscow was a distraction – that the humans would be diverting at the last minute to attack their true objective. After all, there’s no way the pathetic, weak humans would dare to attack the Martians in a fortified base! But attack they did, and it was the bloodiest battle of the invasion yet. Novas Vira members brought down the Martian defense grids, and the Tiger Corps joined in to prevent orbital reinforcements from safely landing. That was all just barely enough to give the UEA a fighting shot. The fight went on for a week, ending with the Alliance losing half its forces . . . but victorious. Moscow – including a wealth of military equipment captured by the Martians – was back in human hands. Over the next several weeks, the UEA consolidated control and swelled their ranks with new Russian members – some soldiers, but mostly civilians who were willing to put their lives on the line to save the Earth. Rather than attempt to “untransform” Moscow, the UEA set up a sister base in Kiev to process all of these new recruits.
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With China and Russia freed, the obvious next move was south, to the Middle East. Af ter the losses in Moscow, however, the Alliance couldn’t afford an all-or-nothing strike, so they focused on intelligence-gathering. This patience paid off greatly when civilian resistance in Yemen passed along information about a major Science Division facility in Sa na’a. Back in China, Alliance forces had been bolstering their numbers with soldiers from India. The leaders in Moscow proposed a surgical strike from across the Arabian Sea. UEA naval vessels carried troops and what small vehicles they had. As before, civilians were more than willing to lend assistance: vehicles, gasoline, manpower, and more. This allowed a sneak attack to catch the Sana’a laboratory unaware (and, by a stroke of luck, when Anon Teed was not present). The fight was brief and decisive, and the bounty was significant. Over the next month, the UEA distributed countless ready-to-use Martian weapons from Sana’a to its troops. More important, Novas Vira members and other scientists within the UEA figured out how to reverse-engineer a great deal of the captured technology, equipping the Alliance with advanced weapons and equipment almost the equal of the Martians! This marked a second turning point in the war, where the UEA went from “just barely able to hold their ground” to “a true threat, if still disadvantaged.”
would argue that it was the natural evolution of this war. The specific reason cited was that Science Division had been the only one to consistently meet the challenges assigned to it. Anon Teed was promoted to High General Teed, a rank that made him “first among equals” in relation to the other generals. Wasting no time, Teed began funneling resources into various projects (see pp. 25-28) and moving those with high energy demands (see The Robot Army,pp. 17-18) onto the energy-focusing mothership for rapid charging and deployment. The orders went out: Pilots on the ground were to bring needed rare Earth resources up to orbit, while ground forces were to conserve their blasters, as “power cell” drops would be delayed for some time. Techsavvy soldiers from Planetary Forces were conscripted into a new division created by Teed: the Science Infantry. The UEA and other humans welcomed this respite. Some openly hoped that this was a sign that the Mar tians were about to give up. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
Tipping the Scales These Science Division changes have the potential to tip the war heavily in the Martians’ favor. If nothing is done to stop them, Alliance Annihilated (p. 18) is almost a certainty. Because of that, each section is followed by notes on what the forces of Earth can do to counter the project, or at least mitigate the advantage gained by the Martians.
Martian Monster Men
SCIENCE UNLEASHED! High in the orbital motherships, representatives of Imperial Command were screaming at the array of generals as they sat around the communications table. This situation was u nacceptable; the Mar tians’ plan h ad never accounted for this degree of successful resistance. The generals tried to placate their superiors, but it was an impossible act. What happened next was a shock to many. The Supreme Regent drastically restructured the command of the invasion, putting all military forces under the control of Science Division! Later, some would say that it was the result of Anon Teed (p. 86) convincing allies back on Mars to get a message to the Supreme Regent, while others
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The one advantage the Martians didn’t have was superior numbers. What if that could change? Project: Human Upgrade (p. 26) had been working for some time on converting humans into willing troops, but with limited results. Teed decided that those limits were acceptable, and began having Interstellar Forces (p. 23) transport human prisoners up to the mothership by the hundreds . . . where they were mutated into hideous “monster men” (p. 37). The result of genetic tinkering, these monster men were nearly mindless, good for little more than shock troops. Fortunately, that’s exactly what the Martians needed. Implanted with technology to keep them controlled, and pumped full of bizarre concoctions to enhance their strength, these poor, twisted souls were put on the front line of every fight. Many humans hesitated, or even refused to attack them – after all, these used to be people! But they were people no longer, and even if they were relatively ineffective in a fight against trained military, every bullet or blaster charge they took was one that a Martian didn’t have to. Away from the front lines, where civilians were just trying to avoid Martian raiders and live their lives, the monster men were a much greater menace. Science Division rarely sent them into the countryside intentionally, but their control over these brainless beasts was incomplete.
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Some would simply wander away from fights, only to pop up in a town many miles away, where they’d slaughter any humans that they found. In several cases of terrifying irony, a monster man made it back to his home town – out of a subconscious desire to return to his old life – where his former friends and family saw what he’d been turned into before becoming his next victims.
Tipping the Scales: Monster men are conditioned to attack humans; changing their target to Ma rtians would effectively scuttle the program. This could be done via infiltration of the project lab (on one of the motherships) or possibly in the field via a memetic broadcaster, specialized aerosol virus, etc.; field-
insects into occupied buildings and down subway tunnels, while blasting any humans they saw. When things got too bad, the Martians signaled for pickup and got out safely, leaving the enraged, uncontrolled mutant bugs to ensure death and destruction to the hated humans.
Tipping the Scales: Sufficiently powerful weaponry can take down even a giant mutated bug, but the greatest threat here was against the civilian population; by terrorizing them, the Martians could keep Earth’s fighting forces distracted protecting others. If the heroes can get preventative measures spread throughout the populace ahead of time, this will be far less of an issue. These measures may range from sub-
expedient results should be much more difficult to create (Complex TL11-12 inventions). The monster men are more of a psy-ops tool than a normal weapon; leaders could thus focus on conditioning and preparing their troops (successful Leadership, Public Speaking, and Psychology rolls could each provide +1 to the Fright Check upon seeing them). More tech-focused heroes may find a way to simply mask or alter their appearance so that they are no longer a reminder of lost humanity (removing or giving a bonus on the Fright Check).
stances more harmful to insects than humans (e.g., diatomaceous earth) to indirect “attacks” that confuse the bugs (such as a chemical that nullifies their ability to communicate and follow trails via pheromones). For non-mutated giant bugs, the ability to override the control collar (p. 36) would be almost as potent; this could remove the Animal Handling bonus and drive the insects Berserk (preferably when only Martians are nearby).
The Robot Army Production of robots had
It was no Insecticide secret among the Counter Martians that the giant bugs (Battling Bugs, p. 9) were less effective than they wanted. So, Science Division had been working to mutate them further and ma ke them stronger, bigger , faster, and meaner! Unfortunately, this significantly decreased their lifespan and caused them to be almost impossible to control. (See Giant Mutant Bug, p. 35, for the differences.) High General Teed made an executive decision to cut the program, diverting more resources to studying how to create (and control) the human-based monster men. Keeping 10% of the insects for further study, he ordered the remaining 90% to be dispersed across the Earth. Some saucers flew at low altitudes, essentially “sprinkling” random areas with the terrifying bugs. Small, rural communities who had been spared the worst of the invasion were suddenly infested with as many as a dozen giant insects; most towns and villages, unprepared for
been sidelined the need for saucersdue andtoblasters – both of which used similar materials and required a great deal of energy. Under Teed, that changed. Existing robots were powered up while factories within the motherships built new ones. Within days, ships began airdropping 25’ Martian-piloted robots (p. 36) to Planetary Forces on all continents, with a special focus on areas held by the UEA! The effect on the war was significant and immediate. The Martian robots could maneuver quickly and react faster than ground vehicles, and they had enough weaponry to shoot down any air support. The Alliance had become well-skilled in stealth-strike tactics: moving in, taking out the objective, and getting out quickly. Now that they were running into a “wall of robots” at every key facility, things became far more difficult. The turning point was the Battle of Burma. Martian soldiers had established a major base near Hakha – an
this, quickly wiped cleanresistance of life. Many fromwere the military to civilian cells,human had toforces, put aside their campaign against the Martians to hunt down these deadly bugs. Other Martians dropped payloads of terrifying critters into major cities, including New York, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. There, insect handlers did their best to drive the
obvious jumping-off point for a reinvasion of China. mountains made a ground approach unfeasible, so The the UEA decided to send in what air support they had to simply bomb the base. As the PLA bombers and fighter jets approached, 200’-tall monstrous robots (pp. 36-37) rose from where they had been lying beneath tarps, and leaped into the air to swat the planes out of the sky!
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Tipping the Scales: As with the monster men, the most straightforward way to solve this problem is to sabotage the production aboard the mothership. Failing that, the development of weapons that can target the operators directly (e.g., psychotronics) would be devastating, as the robots are not autonomous. Robots are vulnerable to EMPs, but so is most Earth technology as well; humans can look for ways to make this more one-sided (e.g., by luring the robots into an area where all the humans are using decoy or expendable gear). It may be more feasible to avoid the robots instead; engineers able to analyze their schematics may be able to build devices to detect where the robots are (the larger monstrosities, at least), allowing forces to attack the Martians’ less defended areas.
away at the United Earth Alliance. The final straw was the Martian counteroffensive against Moscow and Kiev. The aliens led with a wave of disposable monster men along with a few remaining swarms of mutant bugs. Once the humans had used most of their ammunition and blaster energy fighting these seemingly endless shock troops, the Martians moved in, with their gigantic robots in the lead. It took less than a day of fighting to bring both cities to their knees. Moscow was deemed important enough to turn back into a (better fortified) terrestrial base. But Kiev was made an example of: The entire population – every man, woman, and child – was burned to a crisp, along with every building in the city. The Martians recorded the events and put their own satellites into orbit, copying the “open broadcast” frequencies that the Novas Vira had been using. This would ensure that everyone on Earth learned the final result of opposing the new Martian rulers.
The Occupation Begins With the United Earth Alliance defeated and scattered, the Novas Vira in similar disarray, and the Tiger Corps missing in action . . . the Martians had finally won dominion over the Earth. Science Infantry and Planetary Forces continued to patrol, particularly in large cities, looking for pockets of resistance or military hardware – but at this point, Imperial Command had shifted focus from “taking the Earth” to “occupying the Earth.” The Martians began turning more and more cities into terrestrial bases, rounding up (and branding) humans for use as forced
EARTH
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With the United Earth Alliance rapidly gaining momentum (and new weapons in Yemen) while High General Anon Teed drastically overhauls Martian warfare, this is the point of time most likely to determine the outcome of the invasion. It is not the only such point – as explained in Frozen by Fate? (p. 11), this entire chapter is subject to change once the PCs get involved – but it reflects both sides at their peak. A game focused on the Mars vs. UEA conflict may be most interesting if it takes place at this time. What will the outcome be? For simplicity, the myriad of possible results is simplified here into two paths: Alliance Annihilated (good for the Martians, and the result assumed by the Mars Attacks trading cards) or A United Front (good for humanity). These are not discrete, mutually opposed possibilities, however! A game at this stage will likely include a mix of events from both; e.g., the Martians retake Moscow but much of the UEA escapes to unite with European forces. times The balance power can swing and forth several until theofwar finally ends; for back that, see Victory at Hand (p. 93).
Alliance Annihilated The decimation of their air support and the inability to overcome the newly upgraded Martian forces quickly wore
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labor.inSome of humans these bases support the standard forces; those, werewould “merely” worked to death. Other metropolises were earmarked for Science Division needs; the prisoners in those places were . . . not so lucky. The influence of the Martian reign was not limited to the bases. With the largest sources of resistance defeated, the overconfident aliens would send scouting parties comprising just two to three Martians. On the rare occasions when a scouting party was attacked, the reprisals from the nearest Martian military force were so swift and terrifying that word quickly spread: “Just leave them alone.” Most of the world had come to realize that this was their new fate, and they adjusted slowly. Meanwhile, unknown to humanity, the Martians were working on the final phase of their dominion: preparing the landing sites, connections, and support needed to set down their motherships. These massive vessels would form the bases that would act as centerpieces for the Martians’ final stage of conquest . . . (Only the GM knows what that is for sure; see Mars Needs . . . What, Exactly? on p. 8 for suggestions.) Even now, however, this is not the end of the war! Instead, it’s an opportunity for a human resistance campaign. With the overconfident Martians assured that Earth is under their control, the populace has a final chance to rise up; see Unbroken Spirits (pp. 76-77) for ideas.
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A United Front The United Earth Alliance discovered Anon Teed’s plans and took steps against them, fortifying their own defenses and supporting the Novas Vira with every available resource to discover and invent countermeasures. This let the humans stay one step ahead of the Martians’ Science Division – though just barely – for long enough to drive west, into Europe. There, they swelled their numbers with surviving militaries from local countries and forces from northern Africa who had crossed over the Mediterranean. Many of these forces were battered and beaten, but those from countries with dense mountains, such as Switzerland, had held out in a manner similar to the PLA ( Alliance Assembled, pp. 15-16) and were in decent shape. With the American, Canadian, and Mexican militaries also (finally) joining the Alliance officially, their presence had become truly global. The Martians did not sit idle throughout this, of course! With the UEA spread over a greater area than ever before, the aliens had a surfeit of targets. The science-minded Anon Teed took a straightforward, logical approach to tactics – first determine the humans’ weakest points, then attack those points. Reconnaissance saucers sped through the sky, their crisscross movements blanketing the planet as they trained their sensors on the ground. Teed analyzed the results via his custom computers (not trusting the task to the generals or any other Martians), identifying the most weakly defended points; within hours, Martian forces would arrive there to decimate the enemy while suffering nearly zero casualties.
The cold precision of this approach did not go unnoticed by Alliance generals and admirals. Despite lingering moral reservations, they tested it by dangling “bait” in the form of unsupported troops; without exception, those were the first to be attacked. Not wanting to overplay their hand, UEA commanders used this baiting rarely, waiting for an important enough strike. This came with the Novas Vira’s realization that the “triangle of power” created in The Jungle Mission (p. 11) could be weaponized via overloading. Over the course of several weeks, Asian UEA forces traveled across the Pacific to bolster those in North America – carefully, drawing as little attention as possible. When all was ready, Alliance commanders initiated movement throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, spreading their forces more thinly than ever before. Anon Teed, seeing this as his chance to cripple the United Earth Alliance conclusively, sent nearly all saucers and troops to mop them up – and they did. Countless Alli ance soldiers died, though they gave as good as they got. As this was happening, the North American militaries moved into southern Mexico and Peru, directly assaulting the Martian garrisons protecting the power generators. The Alliance prevailed despite heavy losses, and the Novas Vira raced to each generator, overloading them simultaneously and detonating the mothership that had been receiving the power!
A Fairer Fight The loss of the mothership was a huge blow. Though it was “only” one mothership out of five, its position as the central repository of free energy had elevated its importance greatly. Over a third of the remaining Martians were on board, and nearly half of their equipment (from vehicles weapons to scientific projects) was destroyed. This to included several members of the command structure, though it’s the GM’s decision as to whom. (Killing Anon Teed might give the humans a further edge – though leaving Teed alive, but not the generals keeping him in check, would certainly make for an interesting game!) Many of the Martian commanders, having grown so used to “free energy,” weren’t ready to abandon their tactics, leading to their troops running out of blaster fire in the middle of engagements. Others reacted dramatically, demanding that their soldiers hold fire until they had guaranteed shots, with drastic punishment for those who missed. It was a long period of adjustment, during which the United Earth Alliance made several gains, consolidating a foothold on every continent (even Antarctica, as the Novas Vira worked on cryogenic weapons). Now, though the world remains at war and under siege, humanity has a true fighting chance. The Martians have technological superiority on their side, but bystill a margin that shrinks every day. With the recent loss of so many Martians, the numerical superiority of humanity has become a key factor. There’s no guarantee of either side winning, but compared to the way the invasion began, that’s a marked improvement from Earth’s perspective.
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CHAPTER TWO
THE FACE OF INVASION Scientist Xikahn watched the endless expanse of water beneath them, as the fighter sped over the ocean. “All this fuel,” he mused to his pilot, “and they’re still stuck here on this planet. That really sums it up, doesn’t it?” Qerfu just shrugged and adjusted their altitude. Xikahn sighed; he shouldn’t have expected more from this shortsighted idiot. Anyone with half a brain (or an amazing brain, like him!) ended up in Science Division. It didn’t take actual intelligence to fly a craft. As the island came into view, Qerfu finally spoke. “Let
As Xikahn removed the last of the gear, Qerfu looked around, “I’m heading up to give local air cover. Signal me if you need me.” “What? Your orders are to protect me while I set this up!” “Yes. I’m a pilot. I can protect you best from the air, while also covering the handlers.” It frustrated Xikahn that he didn’t even add “Sir.” He didn’t have to, as Interstellar Forces were not subordinate to Science Division, but still. “The handlers are expendable, Qerfu. I am not. You will stay where you are, keep your blaster ready, and guard me.”
me Xikahn know when you locate buildingtheir suitable for youreagerly. gear.” nodded as he awatched approach Saucers had already dropped off plenty of bugs and handlers, and the results showed. The white sands of this “Bermuda” were stained red with human blood, and it was clear where the insects had knocked down the large stalk-vegetation as they rampaged through the area. “Follow those tracks to the left,” he ordered. “This will work best if the majority of the bugs are close.” Further inland, nature gave way to paved roads and large buildings, each with one or more pools of water at its base. Why were those even there? Xikahn could only attribute it to human laziness – being unwilling to walk a few extra steps to reach the ocean. He perked up as he heard blaster fire. He spotted two of the insect handlers easily eradicating a group of armed humans. One had the humans pinned down with pistol fire, which gave the other a chance to order a massive ant to devour them from behind. Blood sprayed as two of the humans were sliced in half; as the others ran, the first handler disintegrated them with ease. Xikahn smiled; it was
Without and beganwaiting settingfor up confirmation, the equipment.Xikahn turned his back The nerve of some people. It’s not like Xikahn was even asking him to lend a hand with the equipment – not that he would have trusted the pilot to not break it. This antenna was carefully designed to amplify the signals sent to the insect control collars. Once it was in place, a single handler could easily control several dozen bugs, rather than the few he could keep tabs on manually. It needed to be handled properly, not thrown together slapdash by some air jockey. That reminded him – he’d have to file a report or do something so that Qerfu would learn his place. Wait, what was that noise? Xikahn turned around to see a human airship, propelled by a large top rotor, rise from next to the building until it was level with them. Qerfu saw it, too, and began firing his rifle, but the human passengers were doing the same. Before the pilot could do more than superficial damage, he was perforated by their slugthrowers! Xikahn didn’t know if he could make it to the fighter in time. How long did one take to warm up? Would he even be
important to appreciate the little joys in life. Wait . . . there. “Pilot Qerfu, observe that building with the three towers. Put us on the highest one.” The pilot grunted and obeyed. As the canopy opened, Xikahn noticed that the lazy ingrate didn’t offer to help unload the gear. Not that Xikahn needed help – it was incredibly light, just a computer and antenna, really – but it was the principle.
able to fly one? As the primitive vehicle swung around to put the scientist in their sights, he looked over the side of the building. Over there! A massive mosquito was about to fly by. This might just get him killed a different way, but as long as the bug was under proper control . . . As he leaped from the roof, he just hoped that this insect’s handler was paying attention.
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Humanity never believed that there was intelligent life on Mars . . . at least, not until it dropped out of the sky to attack! This was no coincidence, however. The Martians had always been very protective of their privacy, under the assumption that if our races ever did face each other, they would have the best advantage with a surprise attack. It helps that Martian society is subterranean. Tunnels riddle the interior of the planet, while the hatches that allow egress onto the planet’s surface are well-camouflaged. A manned expedition to Mars would stand a good chance of discovering the truth (one of the reasons why
Mars worked so hard to cripple our space program in the 1960s; see p. 8), but crude rovers and distant observation via telescope were easily fooled. So it was that, deep within Mars, the Supreme Regent of the Martian Empire had been secretly watching Earth for some time . . . watching the humans grow stronger, more capable, more advanced. It was an affront, an insult! When he heard that their moon landing was a precursor to an expedition to Mars, there was no longer any doubt in his mind that Mars would beat Earth to the punch when it came to a planetary invasion.
BEYOND OURin these SYSTEM other systems. In particular, they took over a
The Martians have been exploring space for centuries. They’ve established small bases on solar system moons and major asteroids – often beneath the surface, for natural protection and camouflage. They also discovered – out at the very edge of our system, near the Oort cloud – a wormhole network leading to a collection of systems in other galaxies! While Martians were taking a “wait and see” approach with Earth, due to its immediate proximity to their own world, they saw no need for such restraint
small planet known as Josam, turning it into a Martian colony; the Tiger Corps would later liberate it from their base on Eloria Prime (itself in a third system). See The History of the Tiger Corps (p. 43) for more on this. Human scientists have theorized about how these wormholes would work. The Novas Vira is even aware that this specific wormhole network exists. However, no human is known to have traveled through the wormholes . . . except for General Jaret (p. 84).
MARTIAN DOMINION society regimented and stratified. Everyone hasMartian a rank (p. 6) inisthe Martian Empire, from the lowliest grunt or service worker all the way up to the Supreme Regent himself. It is not a caste system; a Martian can be promoted to a higher position. In fact, the Martians consider their society a meritocracy . . . though they include cronyism, nepotism, blackmail, and more in the list of “meritorious” achievements. (Blackmail usually means proof of disobeying a direct order or otherwise acting against a superior; everyone does it, but the smart ones don’t get caught.) Bribery is harder, as Martians lack wealth and instead assign resources according to a complex mesh of rank, current project, and perceived need. Thus, any bribes usually involve favors, either immediate or promised in the future. Martians are incredibly status-conscious. A higherranking Martian expects not just respect and obedience, but a certain degree of fawning a nd obsequiousn ess from a lesser one. Any perceived slight is typically met with swift retribution, though a smart Martian ta kes care not
their place. Their place, of course, is beneath the heel of Martian society. For the Martian racial template, see p. 60.
to gofavorite too far of without firsthigherensuring thatsuperior. his victim the an even ranked It’sisn’t this obsession with hierarchy that informs the psychology of a Martian dealing with humans – in most cases, it’s not so much that the Martian hates the humans (though a few do exhibit total Intolerance, p. 57), but more that the Martian needs to make sure that all humans know
to thethe Martian Empire beingthose run as an unofficial with members dreading times when theoligarchy, Supreme Regent decides to “get involved” in whatever their current project or responsibility is. The Supreme Regent must also take care not to make too many waves with his pronouncements, lest the Imperial Council rise up and install a new Supreme Regent by force!
TH E F A C E
THE SUPREME REGENT AND THE EMPIRE The Supreme Regent is the head of the Martian Empire. He presides over a large array of generals and lesser regents known as the Imperial Council. In theory, all chains of command lead to the Supreme Regent; he has total authority over all decisions, administrative, military, religious, or otherwise. He usually will appoint a successor to fill the role after his death; at that time, this successor gives up his own name, to be known only as the Supreme Regent. In practice, things aren’t quite that cut and dried. The Imperial Council has a great deal of actual power, in part because it would overwhelm the Supreme Regent to make judgment calls over every aspect of Martian life! This leads
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The current Supreme Regent has ruled for the past four decades. He is by no means the wisest leader the Martians have had, but he is savvy enough to play his underlings against each other, fostering an environment of paranoia and distrust. Though he inherited this Earth invasion plan
Command has nearly 100 generals, all competing for glory and either trying to capture the attention of the Supreme Regent or trying like mad to keep him from noticing them and stopping by for a visit. This Earth invasion is the most ambitious operation that Imperial Command has undertaken in centuries, requiring over half of the generals and command staff, and nearly 90% of the Martian troops, vehicles, and equipment. The generals’ abilities to carry out the Supreme Regent’s pronouncements are complicated by the way that Imperial Command is structured. Each general is assigned to multiple units or arenas, each of which has at least two generals put over it. For example, in this invasion, one general might be tasked simultaneously with operations in Central America (along with two other generals), with refueling operations for Saucer Fleet Five (along with one other general), and with the defensive cordons for the orbital motherships (along with three other generals). Thus, most major operations require a consensus among generals, which may be achieved by any means from earnest debate to assassination. This notion of “necessary redundancy” continues down the chain of command, to the high commanders and then the field commanders. In times of true crisis (like the Earth invasion), this usually results in a modest delay in orders as the generals butt heads. Outside of a crisis, such as the day-to-day policing of Martian society handled by the military, orders can be delayed for days if not weeks. In addition, troops may get orders that directly or indirectly contradict each other. If so, it’s up to the captain (the officer responsible for actually leading troops into a situation) to puzzle out what to do, based on both the best way to fix the current issue and the decision that will offend the fewest of his superiors.
from his predecessor, he co-opted it with gusto, quickly ImperialHowever, Command organized into below the following branches. this isdivision happens the level taking credit for all of the popular decisions while blaming of the generals, whose responsibilities can (and often do) “plans put in place by the previous Supreme Regent” for cross boundaries between branches. all failings. The generals and lesser regents are responsible for keeping Martian life moving forward and prospering. Different regents will be put The Generals on “project teams” to maintain uniformity Although dozens of generals are assigned to this invasion, this over specific aspects of society. Attitudes book focuses on two bitter rivals: General Tor (p. 85) and Genwithin these teams range from grudging eral Zar (pp. 85-86). This gives the GM two strong-willed leadcooperation through petty backbiting (the ers to choose from on the rare occasion when a Martian general norm) to outright violent hostility! A similar needs to be involved in a scene. Use the template on p. 67 to cresituation exists throughout the Martian miliate new generals, keeping in mind that only the most determined tary (see Imperial Command, below). and ruthless Martians make it this high up the ladder. For details on Martian Rank (which equates to Status), see p. 56.
IMPERIAL COMMAND
Planetary Forces
Martian Imperial Command is the military force of Mars; it is also responsible for internal policing. The concept of “soldier” and “police officer” are the same to Martians, roughly translating as “warrior who shoots annoyances in the face.” As a rule, the Supreme Regent makes bold, broad decrees involving military force, but the generals are the ones who decide specifically how to enforce them. Imperial
Planetary Forces make up the bulk of Imperial Command – nearly 90% of it, if measured by manpower (alienpower?). Planetary Forces are trained for ground operations. On Mars, this meant mostly internal policing and fighting in the civil “micro-wars” that popped up on a regular basis. On Earth, Planetary Forces are deployed to take over strategic targets – used when “just bomb the place to rubble” isn’t a viable strategy.
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These ground troops are divided into grunts, marines, and officers. Martian grunts comprise the majority of Planetary Forces. These front-line soldiers are usually clad in body armor (p. 31) and armed with a blaster pistol or rifle (p. 29). All are trained for urban combat, as that’s the majority of action seen on Mars. Several have also fought in the caves and tunnels of Mars, but none are particularly used to the flora of Earth. Due to the rarity of water on Mars, the translation for “marine” isn’t quite the same as it is in most human languages. A Martian marine is more of a special-ops soldier, trained to deal with a wider range of situations. He is thus given better technology and support with which to do so. The average marine wears heavy armor (p. 31) – or specialty gear, like aquatic armor (p. 31) – and may be packing any of the Martian small arms (pp. 29-20) appropriate to his current mission. While on Earth, marines spend what little downtime they have training in the new environment: operating within forests, lakes, etc. The ranks for Planetary Forces officers range from captain up to high commander; see Rank (p. 56) for details. In practice, commanders stay out of the field, giving midto high-level direction from a nearby base or ship, while captains are deployed with the other troops to lead in the field. Captains must be careful not to push their authority too far; under most circumstances, a squad whose captain was “accidentally” disintegrated would be the subject of an in-depth investigation . . . but with the chaos of the Earth invasion, a team of grunts who took the time to cover things up and then stuck to their story could get away with a discreet fragging. In all cases, troops are given far more leeway to indulge in a bit of creative mayhem and bloodshed than compa-
of Earth, along with approximately 2,000 saucers and 10,000 fighters. See Martian Vehicles (pp. 32-33) for details. On Mars, fuel is a concern; most spaceships use carbon dioxide for reaction mass, which is easily available but performs poorly. To optimize for long-distance travel, the invasion ships were designed to run on hydrogen, which the Martians can obtain with some difficulty from cracking Mars’ limited reserves of water. On Earth, however, their ships can be fueled with water, which “burns” more quickly but is also available in great abundance!
rable human troops get. Even the nicest Martian is a bit of a sadist, andwould the officers obviously know this; the thought of telling the grunts to not linger for the purpose of tormenting a victim, for example, wouldn’t even cross their minds. Any losses of efficiency in the invasion are arguably offset by the terror driven into the hearts of their foes.
Planetary Forces for focus on open warfare, theWhere Stealththe Forces are trained covert activity. Field operatives, known as infiltrators, are trained to work solo or in teams to accomplish objectives discreetly. The second-smallest Imperial Command branch (after Undercover Agents), Stealth Forces are typically reserved for specific surgical strikes, including the following areas.
Interstellar Forces If it flies, it’s part of Interstellar Forces. This branch is the considered cushiest of all the Imperial Command assignments, as pilots are rarely ordered to leave their ships. This causes some friction between Interstellar Forces and the rest of the troops; the former see the latter as expendable muscle, while the latter see the former as weak and frail. In this branch, the high commanders and field commanders give orders and focus on high-level strategy. Actual ship operations are left to captains (for vehicles of utmost importance, like the motherships) and pilots (for all other craft). While some pilots are trained for both combat flight and scouting, most specialize in one or the other. Interstellar Forces scouts were the first to travel to Earth and the first to land, though the scientists on board did the analysis (and the “walking around” bits, once landing was necessary); see Early Missions (pp. 7-8) for more. Interstellar Forces commands a total of six motherships, five of which are currently committed to the invasion
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Stealth Forces
Assassination: Many Martians have used assassination as a means of revenge or advancing the social ladder, but as a military branch, Stealth Forces target those who represent a threat to the Empire, to Martian life in general, or both. At least, that’s the party line; it’s an open “secret” that generals and Stealth Forces commanders often find ways to justify having infiltrators do their dirty work. Sabotage: Infiltrators are trained in the art of disabling technology and blowing things up. They have access to the equivalent of octanitrocubane (p. B415) and advanced fire-projection weapons (Flamers, p. 29), but they are capable of greater discretion, such as carefully weakening a pylon to cause a “natural” collapse at the right time. Theft: Stealth Forces are often sent to retrieve items or data with strategic value. On Mars, this is typically accomplished by establishing a false identity to get close to the target, then using stealth and counter-security tactics to take it. On Earth, this role has been all but usurped by the Undercover Agents, as a Stealth Forces infiltrator has no way to fit in among a group of humans!
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Nearly 100 Stealth Forces troops were transported to Earth in advance of the invasion. Mere hours before it began, Stealth Forces teams carried out assassination attempts on world leaders (Governments in Disarray, pp. 8-9). After that, Stealth Forces were tasked with a variety of infiltration missions that focused on shutting down military complexes and power stations. The loss of Moscow to the United Earth Alliance (pp. 44-46) changed this, as most Stealth Forces were pulled from other missions to focus on sabotaging UEA bases and assassinating A lliance heads. Stealth Forces is organized along the same lines as other Imperial Command branches, with commanders issuing orders to captains, who then coordinate with teams of infiltrators or individual operatives.
of Imperial Command, marginalizing the scientists’ control over things. After a few years of internecine fighting, a compromise was reached by making the Undercover Agents a separate branch, officially part of Imperial Command, but also an official project of Science Division. As might be expected, this makes tracing the chains of command a nightmare. Agents in play frequently don’t know who’s sending them new orders, and they must trust that they’re coming from the correct authority. Shortly after this compromise, Beloss Bel went silent. Other Martians on Earth searched for him, but he had disappeared. Then another Undercover Agent began sending warnings that the humans had the ability to turn invisible, but only when no Martian was watching. Another blew up an empty parking garage for no reason. After further study of local subjects, the branch heads back on Mars realized that long-term use was slowly driving the agents insane. The Undercover Agent program today is HAT S IN A AME thus used sparingly. Rumors have gotten To quickly create names for Martians, put together name out about the long-term effects, which make fragments using this chart, by rolling 1d to determine the row it hard to find willing subjects, but there are and then 1d to determine the column. Stop when it sounds right. always a few – a mix of the curious, the nihilistic, and the fanatic. Dozens of agents were sent Roll 1 2 3 4 5 6 to Earth in advance of the invasion, with the 1 Abi Jil Vud Aun Miz Bel dual goal of obtaining sensitive information 2 Yuxa Gez Kal Tol Sen Wot and getting as close to individual world leadRem Lif Zon Vey Zek 3 Sol ers as possible (see Governments in Disarray, 4 Ek Rel Wen Tak Lar Dao pp. 8-9). After the invasion, Undercover Agents 5 Udi Dus Bai Zyn Kir Prok focused on getting Martians into the com6 Gin Cay Xen Ephi Har Kan mand structure of opposing militaries; sometimes having one insider in the right place is better than having an entire fleet of saucers bearing down on your enemy!
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Undercover Agents
By far the newest and smallest branch, the Undercover Agents are the result of Imperial Command fina lly admitting that the Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24) had one critical flaw: no way to blend in during Earth operations. The Supreme Regent ordered the generals to work with Science Division (below) to solve this problem. After decades of human kidnapping and genetic experiments on humans and Martians (all “traitors to the state”), scientists came up with a radical combination of genetic therapy and powerful serums that altered the app earance of a Martian to the point of allowing him to look human! Short-term and medium-term testing were very positive. With effort, the process could even be reversed, restoring the Martian’s srcinal appearance. Based on the encouraging results, the overconfident Martians began modifying and training new Undercover Agents to infiltrate human society and send back valuable intelligence. Beloss Bel (pp. 86-87), one of the first Undercover Agents sent to Earth, provided more details about the world’s
SCIENCE DIVISION
defenses, political structure, in to a few years than previous scouting teams and had secrets been able ascertain over the course of a century! Once the new program had proven its worth, the infighting began. Imperial Command considered this a clear extension (subbranch) of the Stealth Forces. Science Division, on the other hand, did not agree – primarily because that would place things squarely into the hands
(unofficially) set over Imperialfor Command. paradigm war has remained unresolved countlessThis centuries. The cur rent division hea d is Anon Teed (p. 86), a brilliant and terrifying scientist who many say intimidated his way into leading Science Division. His subordinates fear him as much as respect him, but the one thing they all agree on is that Teed cares about results, not who was behind them or how they were achieved.
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Mars has always had a great deal of respect for its scientists; the Empire funnels as many resources toward scientific study and invention as it does toward Imperial Command. Where the two overlap is known as Science Division. Officially, Science Division is a large branch of the Applied Sciences regency. However, in practice, Science Division exists to weaponize all of the theoretical research discovered by other research groups. They thus liaise so closely with Imperial Command (pp. 22-24) that most people – including the Command generals – consider Science Division to be effectively another military branch (a peer of Planetary Forces, Stealth Forces, etc.). That suggestion infuriates most of the high-ranking scientists, particularly the division head! Science Division personnel tend to think of the military as brainless thugs, and they believe that the liaison relationship reflects Science Division’s status as
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Under Teed, no avenue of scientific experimentation goes too far for Science Division; he would be willing to mutate the entire Martian race into monsters (from their perspective) if some measurable goal could be obtained from it. This fear may be one of the reasons the Imperial Council insisted that Anon Teed accompany the invasion fleet bound for Earth, along with the majority of Science Division. Every project that was deemed potentially useful in an invasion scenario was loaded onto the motherships along with all of the personnel who worked on it. Unfortunately for their status, the Council also decreed that during this time of war, Science Division was to be officially considered a military branch, under the umbrella of Imperial Command. This made Teed and many other scientists furious, but they grudgingly accepted it as the price to perform mass human experimentation in this new world. Internally, Science Division is organized into projects. Most scientists are dedicated to a specific venture, but some “floaters” move between undertakings as needed. What follows are some of the most important projects among those that came to Earth; the GM (and players of Martian scientists) shouldn’t hesitate to come up with new ones! See Other Projects (pp. 27-28) for suggestions.
Project: Bug On the earliest visits to Earth, the primitive humans didn’t seem particularly “special” to the Martians. Instead, the scientists had the scout pilots obtain samples of several different plants and animals. Once back on Mars, it was the insect collection that drew the most attention. Mars lacked anything like these “bugs,” leaving scientists eager to find a use for them. Unfortunately, they died from asphyxiation . . . but they died last! Hopeful scientists started dissecting them – while also setting up oxygen chambers and requesting more insect subjects from the next scouting mission. By the time a new sample had come in, they were ready to begin experimenting. Unlike the higher life forms from Earth, bugs could be adapted to breathing carbon dioxide with some (well, a lot of) genetic tweaking. Within a few years, the scientists had grown them into 10’-long monstrosities that Martians began putting to work for carrying loads, moving rocks, and so on. When talk of invading Earth began, Science Division formerly started Project: Bug with the goal of turning these creatures into powerful weapons. The great news was that breathing was no longer an issue; the insects
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from Earth would be deployed on Earth. Freed from the need for carbon-dioxide adaptation, the scientists could push the envelope further when it came to size, speed, and ferocity. Chitin became armor, mandibles became razorsharp, and control collars kept them firmly under the command of Science Division insect handlers. When the invasion started, the giant insects were invaluable assets; see Battling Bugs (pp. 9-10) and Subterranean Catacombs (p. 14) for details. As the invasion continued, the low-ranking techs of Project: Bug continued to churn out new insects (easily obtaining new srcinal specimens to play with), while the project heads attempted to up the ante. Building on the lessons they’d learned, they combined the existing genetic adjustment program with heavy mutation and crustacean genes, hoping to produce even deadlier monsters. They achieved results, though they may have done too well – these new insects were resistant to the control collars, and ate most of the insect handlers who tried to corral them! Science Division tried simply dropping them into occupied areas with no handlers, with mixed results; the mutant bugs were fearsome in battle, but with no direction, they were likely to charge after a single human, leaving the rest of the community free to escape. In the end, Project: Bug was canceled, with its creations used in one glorious last push against the humans (Counter Insecticide, p. 17). The end of the project didn’t mean the end of the insects, of course; they continued to roam the countryside, attacking people and devouring anything they came across. See Bugs (pp. 34-36) for details and statistics.
Project: Robot Science Division was responsible for Martian wa lkers: 25’-tall metal humanoids topped with a transparent dome that allowed the operator to see in all directions. In civilian life, these robots were primarily used for construction, but they were best known as military weapons. With a powerful beam weapon (heat ray, freeze ray, etc.) installed in one arm, and a razor-sharp claw in the other, a walker was deployed when overwhelming force became necessary. When the invasion fleet launched, it was no surprise that they included Martian walkers – and the Science Division techs who kept them operational. When Project: Robot engineers first put the walkers through controlled tests, several brief robot attacks were made against smaller towns, out in the countryside. In many cases, a farmer’s first warning was seeing his herd stampede toward him, spooked by the terrifying metal man!
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However, the robots were considered a significant drain on energy (every minute of operation was like a thousand blaster shots), so they were deployed only in the areas that saw the greatest ground resistance, including large cities like Tokyo and New York. It wasn’t until Anon Teed was put in charge of the invasion (see Science Unleashed! on pp. 16-18) that the robot army realized its full potential. First, he reversed the priorities of the Imperial Command generals, focusing resources on the walkers rather than arming the grunts. Second, he allowed the Project: Robot heads to reveal the three massive automatons they had brought along. These 200’-tall monstrosities, gleaming silver with one giant red eye, each required a team of 12 skilled operators; Teed ordered them piloted by his newly formed “Science Infantry” tech soldiers. While sending the first three into the field, Teed authorized more made, until eventually dozens of these massive automatons were deployed around the world.
Project: Human Upgrade The sadistic scientists knew that one of the cruelest forms of psychological warfare would be using the humans as weapons against their own people. Project: Human Upgrade began before the invasion, with experiments on many of the subjects captured from earlier scouting trips. However, it was not until after the invasion was underway – when Science Division was given access to thousands of genetically diverse prisoners, and Martian biologists were able to attempt countless combinations of genetic therapy and surgery – that it bore fruit in the form of monster men (p. 37).
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Captured prisoners underwent radical genetic therapy, altering their DNA on a fundamental level. (Many of the Martian scientists were genetic experts borrowed from the Undercover Agents project, p. 24.) Once “reborn” in pod-like tanks full of retroviral goo, the former humans became hideously mutated versions of their old selves, nearly mindless and full of pain and rage. As the second stage of the project, skilled Martian surgeons would boil away the flesh protecting their victims’ vulnerable organs, layer compounds that were hard as metal onto any exposed bones, and replace the skin with a foul-smelling plasticine substance that was resistant to heat, corrosion, and more. While this was happening, the scientists would insert additional, vat-grown adrenal glands into the monsters, enhancing their strength to unbelievable levels while feeding their anger and confusion. Finally, an implant at the base of the skull gave the Martians a form of limited control; it dulled the victim’s pain of existence, but only when actively pursuing and attacking normal (nonmonstrous) humans! This avoided the need for control boxes, cattle prods, etc., as the Martians could simply point the monsters at the nearest squad of soldiers and be assured that they would launch headfirst into an attack. Each subject was tagged with location data showing where the abduction had taken place. This data was tracked and used to deploy the monster men by area. For example, if Planetary Forces needed 50 monster men for an operation in Atlanta, the Project: Human Upgrade techs would sort the database by “abduction distance from Atlanta” and give them the 50 closest matches. This was a deliberate choice in the hopes of having soldiers faced with former family, friends, or teammates. Obviously, the odds were against this happening often – but when it did work, the psychological damage dramatic! Most was monster men didn’t survive their first fight. This was fine by Martian standards; they were relatively easy to make (more prisoners were always ready to transform), so if they made any difference in the battle, it was worth it. They sometimes caused troops to hesitate, and at the very least, every bullet taken by a monster man was one not used on Martians or their equipment. Those who did survive were gathered up once the battle was won . . . sometimes. Many wandered off in pursuit of a fleeing human, were knocked unconscious beneath rubble, or otherwise “escaped.” These former humans still retained a faint memory of who they were, and many could recognize the area well enough to make it back to their homes. Far too many people were awakened by the sound of their former loved ones breaking in, who had had a brief moment of recognition before being overwhelmed by the urge to just make the pain stop by tearing their family apart limb from limb!
Project: Underground Most industry on Mars is powered
by geothermal energy. This was an obvious decision by the Martians, considering that their society lives within the planet rather than on its surface. Thus, to them, the humans seemed like claustrophobic fools. Obtaining energy by burning things? What madness!
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Science Division thus brought several diggers (p. 33) on the invasion motherships. Previous surveys suggested that the best locations to drill deep into the planet would be in south Mexico and central Peru. Unfortunately, further detail would require on-site analysis. Thus, after the initial invasion attack, Planetary Forces strategically battled Mexican and Peruvian forces as a cover for Science Division to explore the jungle and locate the best drilling sites (see The Jungle Mission, p. 11). Once each project team identified the right site, they set up a beacon so that saucers from the mothership could deliver supplies, one load at a time. Great care was taken to fly in the saucers as surreptitiously as possible, avoiding military bases and other radar installations. Early drops included a digger (p. 33) and a few civilian robot walkers (p. 36) with fully functioning hands instead of weapons, to serve as exoskeletons for rapid construction. With Imperial Command pressing the fights at both Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Iquitos, causing them to drag on for weeks, the humans never realized the true danger. After nearly a month of work, the Science Division team had set up a geothermal node in each location, each connected to machinery installed seven miles beneath Earth’s surface. For maximum efficiency, the energy could not be tapped directly at each node. Instead, one of the motherships, specially equipped for the task, moved into geosynchronous orbitThis over a point Mexican betweenofthe and Peruvian nodes. formed a triangle power, with energy beaming up from both nodes, supplying the ship with a nonstop supply of over 30 terawatts of free energy! The Martians knew the nodes would eventually draw the attention of the humans, though the disrupting influence of the invasion certainly made it harder for most to compare notes. Each node was reinforced with a division of Imperial Command forces – everything from saucers to robots to marines. They were aware that this supply would make a decisive difference in the war, combining Earth’s “unlimited saucer fuel” (water) with unlimited weapon energy!
Project: Deep Freeze Science Division had been abducting humans for centuries (Early Missions, pp. 7-8). After each trip, most of the humans would be studied fully (that is, dissected) so that the Martians could learn more about the species. However, at least one sample in each batch would be kept alive, cryogenically preserved at near absolute zero, so that the scientists had an intact specimen available. Among other applications, having a “museum” of actual humans, kidnapped centuries apart, taught the Martians much about how humans were changing over time. When preparing for the invasion, Science Division brought all of the cryo-specimens along – the better to
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actively compare the old humans to the bounty of new ones they’d be abducting! These were stored in deep-freeze on one of the motherships for the first few months of the invasion. However, once Science Division had set up a major facility in Sana’a (Yemen), the head of this Project: Deep Freeze requested that the cryo-specimens be flown down to the new facility. The freeze vats were loaded onto two separate saucers, which flew toward Yemen . . . but were suddenly attacked by the Tiger Corps! One saucer got away, but the second ship had a hole blown open in its cargo hold. The Venture chased it halfway around the world before the damaged transport was finally shot out of the sky. The result of that chase was cryo-specimens scattered all over the world. The systems were sturdy enough to survive the landing (since all components were literally frozen solid) and initiate emergency thawing procedures. The vats that fell into the ocean didn’t always register the impact, however; carried by the currents, their payload remained frozen until discovered by someone after washing up on the shore. In all cases, the cryo-specimens who survived are now trying to find their place in this new world and do what they can to protect it from the Martian invaders. See Cryo-Specimens (p. 64) for a list of known subjects and advice on creating them.
Other Projects If Science Division had a motto, it would be, “If we can do it, why aren’t we?” Any project that could theoretically advance science makes sense for them to initiate. The GM should be very liberal in his decisions about what crazy invention the Martians will try next, and ers in new a Martian-focused game should similarly haveplayfun coming up with new ideas for Science Division projects. The sky’s the limit – use your creativity! See Science Marches On (pp. 71-72) for more on this. If that well of creativity is running a bit dry, consider flipping through different GURPS books for inspiration.
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Pick a random advantage from pp. B32-101 and come up with a way to “technify” it! Shadow Form (p. B83) might inspire finding a way to make Martians two-dimensional, to slip through cracks. Legal Immunity (p. B65) could suggest a psychotronic ray that convinces the humans that the Martians are their rightful leaders. Or grab one of the catalogs (p. 49), such as GURPS Ultra-Tech. Simply browsing through the TL10 gear may suggest something that the Martians don’t have . . . yet! Perhaps more fun, check out the TL11 or TL12 equipment and think of a way to hamper or hobble it to justify its existence as a “cutting-edge Martian invention.”
Catalogs of lower-tech gear may produce devices that are even more interesting. Look through GURPS LowTech or GURPS Fantasy-Tech 1: The Edge of Reality and ask, “How would Science Division invent this right now, assuming they never had one in Mars’ past?” For example, what would Science Division do if they were asked to create a crossbow? They’d probably end up with some sort of tension-propelled rocket – halfway between a crossbow and a gyroc! Even if Science Division is kept in the background of a game, troops being assigned experimental new gear are part of the fun, whether you’re playing Martians stuck with the new gear or fighting them.
THE MARTIAN MIND failing to capitalize on unexpected short-term advan-
The values, goals, and methods of the Martians differ greatly from those of humans. Broadly, this gives the GM license to set them on almost any goal (“We must drain all the water out of their Great Lakes!”) without having to explain the logic behind it. However, when attempting to rationalize Martian behavior, here are some guidelines.
Chauvinism: The Martians know how to do things – their way. They dismiss potential innovations from other cultures and dismiss their enemies as simple-minded buffoons, often underestimating them. On a smaller scale, an individual Martian will assume that his way of doing something is better than his peers’ unless confronted with undeniable proof to the contrary. Complexity: The Martians have a tendency to overcomplicate things, as exemplified by the hierarchy 22-24). Moscow they is a Imperialrather Command goodofexample; than (pp. attacking it directly, launched a multi-pronged pincer movement starting in Penza that eventually secured them Moscow. (If you asked a Martian general why, he would explain that they were “just being thorough,” then probably have you executed for questioning his judgment.) Gridlock: The Martians take their hierarchy very seriously, with superiors expecting their underlings to come to them with important decisions rather than taking initiative on their own. For example, if ordered to raze a town, a Martian captain may hesitate to pursue humans who escape into the wild if doing so wasn’t part of his orders. Yet, he’d also hesitate to ask his four commanders, as he’d be likely to get four different objectives! This often leads to Martian forces
tages, because they’re terrified of being reprimanded for doing so. Compromise: As a side effect of this gridlock, the Martian concept of a compromise could be roughly thought of as “fine then, neither side gets what they want!” To a Martian, it’s more important that the other side lost than that they partially won. A good example was the argument before the initial invasion about whether to take the Research Triangle in North Carolina (which would have provided valuable data used to find human weaknesses) or the Florida Caverns (which felt like home); with only enough forces free to assault one, the two groups compromised on Savannah, Georgia, which was equidistant between the two.
Martians and Players The above may scare players of Martian PCs, who would prefer a bit more sanity in their character portrayals. However, it’s important to note that a large part of the mindset above comes from two Martian disadvantages: Sadism (which destroys any empathy for the lives or viewpoints of others) and Selfish (which paints everyone as a rival and encourages slavish adherence to the hierarchy). Because the Humane meta-trait (p. 57) removes both of these things, it’s reasonable to portray Humane Martians as having values somewhat closer to human standards.
SOLDIERS OF SCIENCE
In GURPS terms, Martians are TL10 with a few notes:
I They have ray guns that would normally be considered TL9 to TL11^; simply treat these all as TL10, just like all Martian gear.
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I They rely heavily on bio-tech – as likely to bioengineer a solution as to engineer one. I They have not created sapient AI, only “weak AI” that allows them to crew complex vehicles with fewer techs.
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I Their nanotechnology is limited to “safe” things like living plastics. Most important is the feel of Martian tech, which hearkens back to science-fiction B-movies. The Martians come to Earth equipped with ray guns, flying saucers, cold-storage chambers, and bubble-helmeted body armor. If the GM is ever in doubt as to whether the Martians have access to a specific piece of gear not listed here, that is the best yardstick by which to judge. See From Mars with Love (pp. 69-72) for more on maintaining the feel of a Mars Attacks game.
The flamer allows a special combat maneuver: All-Out Attack (Jet). This uses the standard rules for an All-Out Attack, but instead of the normal benefits of that maneuver, the wielder can play the flamer over a two-yard area, doing half damage to each target, or over a three-yard area, doing 1/3 damage to each target; round up either way. This requires a separate roll to hit each target. A hand flamer resembles a small hairdryer; it takes the same power cells that the blasters (above) use, inserted into the long grip. A heavy flamer requires a small, energized backpack, the same one the Gatling gun (below) uses, which is connected to the two-handed projector with heavy tubing. Martians on flamer squads usually wear heavy armor (p. 31) – though this is for protection against their comrades’ blasts, as (unlike flamethrowers) flamers will not explode violently if shot.
Gatling Gun This weapon fires powerful bursts of “hard light.” It has worse armor penetration than standard blasters, but a much higher range and rate of fire! Because of this, the Gatling gun excels at mowing down lightly armored troops and eating through ablative DR (see the note under HP and DR of Structures, pp. B558-559). The Gatling gun is held by two handles mounted atop the gun and fired from the hip. Its thick, cylindrical body ends in 10 rotating barrels. It requires a small, energized backpack to use, which is interchangeable with that of the heavy flamer (above).
SMALL ARMS While Science Division is constantly inventing new ways for Martian troops to kill the enemy, a few weapons have stood the test of time to become standard-issue. That said, Planetary Forces may be armed with any TL9-11^ beam weapons.
Blaster Pistol and Rifle The blaster pistol is a simple ray gun with a fat, rounded body and thin barrel. The blaster rifle is longer, with dual grips and a holographic scope. They fire blasts of powerful energy that resembles a lightning bolt. These blasts are particularly good at getting through armor, since the rays’ “quasidimensional energy” can simply ignore most of it! Both weapons take the same 1-lb. power cartridge, which is inserted into a niche in the middle of the gun.
Flamers These are like a human flamethrower, but instead of spraying flammable liquid, they spray “energized hyperplasma,” which is far deadlier. This is a poor weapon against foes in sealed armor, but those are rare. Use the rules for Large-Area Injury (p. B400); in brief, the target’s effective DR is the average of his torso DR and leastarmored hit location.
TH E F A C E
Mind-Control Beamer Although not standard issue, this weapon represents the kind of new, weird device that Science Division occasionally hands out to the Martian troops. In this case, the mind-control beamer is almost exclusively given to Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24) or, more rarely, Undercover Agents (p. 24). The only ones that exist are rare, experimental prototypes. The beamer resembles a parabolic listening device but comes with small discs that the wielder must place on his own skull to direct the effect properly. Every second of use consumes one “shot” of power. The invisible ray of a mind-control beamer must be focused on the target for a full minute before any effect is achieved. This requires a single Beam Weapons (Projector) roll at normal speed/range penalties, followed by maintaining line of sight. If the target is aware (and can move), he may attempt aforcing Dodgethe rolloperator every second; success interrupts the process, to start over. Thus, in practice, this weapon is only useful when it can be used surreptitiously. After a minute, the target enters a hypnagogic state in which he becomes highly suggestible. The wielder then concentrates while “thinking” commands into the beamer.
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Martian Small Arms Table Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.
TL
Weapon
Damage
Acc
Range
Weight
RoF
Shots
ST
Bulk
Rcl
6
-3
1
BEAM WEAPONS (PISTOL) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, Guns (Pistol)-4, or DX-based Games (First-Person Shooter)-4) 10
Blaster Pistol
4d(5) burn sur
5
500/1,500
3.3/1
3
33(3)
BEAM WEAPONS (PROJECTOR) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, or DX-based Games (FPS)-4) 10 Hand Flamer 10 Heavy Flamer 10 Mind-Control Beamer
4d burn 8d burn spec.
Jet Jet 0
30/90 130/390 10
3.3/1 20/5p 15
1 1 1
56(3) 35(5) 200
6 10† 8†
-2 -5 -5
1 1 1
BEAM WEAPONS (RIFLE) (DX-4, other Beam Weapons-4, Guns (Rifle)-4, or DX-based Games (First-Person Shooter)-4) 10 10
Blaster Rifle Gatling Gun
6d(5) burn sur 10+2 700/2,100 6d(3) burn 12 2,000/6,000
Roll a Quick Contest of the wielder’s IQ (or Hypnotism, if better) vs. the subject’s Will-5. This assumes Native fluency (spoken or written) in a shared language; roll at -2 for Accented, -6 for Broken, or -10 for no language in common. Victory means that the subject will obey any nonsuicidal commands given to him for hours equal to his margin of loss squared. Loss means that the subject resisted; the wielder may keep the beamer focused for another minute and then try again, at a cumulative -2 per attempt. The beamer must be left on while the commands are being thought, and the GM should adjudicate how long the command takes to spell out (or just assume 1d seconds for a typical one and 2d for a very complex one). The mind-control beamer has two bugs that aren’t common knowledge. If the subject critically succeeds at his resistance roll, he not only avoids the hypnotism, but he also learns some crucial bit of information from the mind of the wielder! However, if he critically fails, he is subject to the commands but will interpret them with such additional passion and gusto – embellishing t hem in
10/1 8/5p
3 10
10(3) 83(5)
7† 7†
-4 -4
1 1
ways that he thinks m ight make “the voices” happy – that he’s likely to run off the rails of what the wielder actually intended. For example, a soldier ordered to plant a bomb in his base might decide that it’s more efficient to just launch a nuclear strike, and head for his country’s capitol instead with the intent of commandeering the nuclear arsenal!
Energized Melee Weapons These are charged with a unique energy that can overload the nervous system of any living being, much like electricity does. For close combat, Martian marines
always carry a backup melee weapon, usually an ener gized knife. Those assigned to aquatic missions were given energized spears, since none of their ranged beam weapons worked underwater. An energized melee weapon is a very fine (p. B274) weapon that shocks anyone successfully attacked with it for 2d of follow-up burning damage with the Surge modifier. Anyone injured by this follow-up damage must roll against HT, at -1 per two points of injury, or be stunned (make a HT roll at the same penalty each turn to recover). The weapon has enough power to enhance 20 attacks. If the MarO OT UBMERGE tian wants to conserve power, he can turn the folThe Martian ray guns (p. 29) work fine in air or space but low-up damage on or off as a free action. not underwater. The sudden energy dump flashes the water around it to superheated steam. Each shot does explosive damage equal to (weapon damage)¥(the higher of 2 or the ERSONAL EFENSE armor divisor), centered on the gun! For example: Martian weapon technology focuses on armor Blaster Pistol: 20d per shot. penetration. Because of this, they consider hardBlaster Rifle: 30d per shot. ened (p.B47) armor an absolute necessity. As such, most Martian body armor is TL9 by GURPS Gatling Gun: 18d per shot. Hand Flamer: 8d per shot. standards, but with Hardened 2, shifting armor Heavy Flamer: 16d per shot. divisors down by two “steps.” All Martian armor is fully sealed, allowing This can be useful for traps, but for combat, aquatic them to act on Earth despite its nitrogen/oxygen troops use energized melee weapons (above). environment; this requires a small (1-lb.) power cell, which must be changed every 24 hours.
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Attacks that penetrate the armor ruin the seal but still allow the Martian to breathe. To fully expose the alien to the atmosphere requires shattering the helmet completely, which is difficult. The large helmet is -4 to hit and has its normal DR (see the individual descriptions for the HP necessary to shatter a specific version). Its unique construction gives it a variant of Diffuse: It takes full injury from non-area crushing attacks, but all other attacks (area-effect or not) are limited to 2 HP injury, or 1 HP vs. impaling or piercing attacks. Thus in practice, crushing attacks or extremely high rates of fire are necessary to shatter the helmet. Foes able to grapple a Martian have an alternative – if they can pin the invader, they can yank him out of his own armor. This takes about 15 seconds (plus the time required to establish a pin), which makes it suicidal on the battlefield but a valid strategy in a one-on-one fight. No special knowledge is required to do this; in fact, several Martians in wilderness areas (and zoos) were lost to animal attacks as the surprisingly strong beasts held the aliens down and ripped their armor off via tooth and claw!
ANATOMY OF A MARTIAN In games with human heroes, is all of this detail really necessary? Martians are the enemy, right? Let’s fight them! Games subscribing to this philosophy just need the Martians boiled down to simple “monster stats,” the same as all of the other threats in this chapter. Here’s a typical Martian grunt, with lenses at the end to cover the other kinds. Be aware that Move and Dodge take encumbrance into account. For important rules on shattering helmets, see Personal Defense (pp. 30-32).
ST: 11 DX: 12
HP: 11 Will: 11
Speed: 6.00 Move: 4
IQ: HT:11 11
Per:11 11 FP:
Weight: SM: 0 150 lbs.
Dodge: 8
Parry: 10
DR: 20/10 (see Notes)
Blaster (14): 4d(5) burning surge; see p. 30 for more specifics. Energized Knife (12):1d-1 cutting (Reach C, 1) or 1d-1 impaling (Reach C), plus follow-up 2d burning surge (see p. 30). Punch (14): 1d-1 crushing; Reach C.
Traits:Doesn’t Breathe; Peripheral Vision; Rapid Healing; Sealed. Skills: Beam Weapons (Pistol)-14; Brawling-14; Forward Observer-1 0; Knife-12; Wrestli ng-12. Notes: Higher DR is only against cutting and piercing. Doesn’t Breathe and Sealed are from armor, not innate.
Body Armor This easily made, relatively lightweight suit of full-body armor is standard-issue for most Martian troops. Unless one of the other armor types is called for, this is what a Martian will be wearing. It provides DR 20 against cutting and piercing damage and DR 10 against all other damage types. This DR has Hardened 2 and is flexible except for the transparent “bubble” helmet (which takes 13 HP to shatter). 30 lbs.
Heavy Armor This clamshell armor is issued when speed and comfort must take a back seat to protection. Because it is not available in the abundance of standard body armor, in practice it is usually reserved for Martian marines. It provides DR 50 against all attacks to the torso and DR 30 for all other hit locations (including the helmet, which takes 15 HP to shatter).
Lenses Armored*: DR becomes 50/30 (torso/all other locations). Infiltrator*†: Raise IQ by 1. Add Camouflage-12, Climbing-12, Stealth-13, and Tactics-10. Armor can give another +8 to Stealth for two hours. Animal Handling (Bugs)-14. Insect Handler: Marine†: Raise Add all attributes, defenses, and skills by 1. Add Combat Reflexes and Tactics-11. Usually accompanied by RifleWielder, below. Pilot: Add Gunner (Beams)-14 and P iloting (Aerospace)-14. Rifle-Wielder: Blaster damage becomes 6d(5). * Armored and Infiltrator should not be combined. † Infiltrator and Marine should not be combined.
Treat it exactly like body armor (above), except that it includes a jet-pack system that converts water directly into propulsion, allowing the Martian to swim at Move 6/12 indefinitely. 45 lbs.
Stealth Armor Overall, this armor is exceedingly rare, but because it is assigned exclusively to Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24), it is fairly common among that branch. Treat it exactly like body armor (above) except that it is covered with a multispectral chameleon surface and inverted noise generator that give +8 to Stealth against Hearing or Vision rolls.
This DR has Hardened 2. 45 lbs.
Aquatic Armor Martians assigned to naval missions (see Defense on the High Seas, p. 10) will often be equipped with this armor.
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This “stealth mode” requires a standard small (1-lb.) Martian power cell, which lasts for up to two hours; troops on an extended mission will carry extra power cells! 36 lbs.
NUCLEAR DAMPER The Martians began work on this countermeasure immediately after the humans’ first successful nuclear test. From orbit, a mothership can project up to five “damper fields” onto the surface of the planet, up to 500 miles away from the ship’s location. A damper field prevents nuclear explosions from taking place within a 50-mile radius. This is a difficult, complex thing to set up, however, requiring explicit target coordinates and a full 10 hours of prepara-
vehicles, they would not have been able to pull off the invasion of an entire planet! See the Martian Vehicular Weaponry Table(p. 34) for the armaments discussed in each vehicle’s description.
Motherships A massive rectangle, nearly 300 yards long and over 100 yards wide and tall. These five ships transported the Martians and nearly the entire invasion fleet (all but the advance scouts), carried both within the ship and tethered to its exterior. The motherships are too large to safely navigate atmosphere or land without special preparation. Unlike the smaller ships, the mothership statistics assume hydrogen, as they were fueled with long-
tion; if the field is over moved even an inch, the configuration distance travel in mind. If loaded with water (a difficult process must start again. and lengthy process!), their Hnd/SR becomes -3/5 and Within the damper field, any conventional nuclear their Move becomes 1.5G/20 mps. weapon simply destroys itself when used, imploding rather Each mothership has 10 large weapons, point defense than exploding. (Nukes detonated outside of the field still (p. 35) with a base roll of 14, and the ability to launch work and may damage anything within the field; the waves of saucers and fighters at a moment’s notice. These area does not provide a shield against blast or radiation.) three facts, and the ships’ position in orbit, make them parHowever, the Novas Vira soon figured out how to create ticularly difficult targets for humanity to strike. quantum-detonated nuclear weapons (treat this as a Complex TL10 invention), which can be aligned with the resonant frequency of the damper field, giving the nuke a chance to detRMING OUR PACESHIPS onate properly. If you’re using GURPS Spaceships, you may find the following weapon A quantum-detonated nuclear conversions helpful. weapon (QDNW) must be brought into the damper field, then tuned I Small rays are 3MJ (major batteries for SM +4), medium are 30MJ carefully by someone with Physics or (secondary batteries for SM +7), and large are 3GJ (tertiary batteries for Physics (Nuclear) at 14+ and ExploSM +13). Use the Range and dDamage values from p. 67 of Spaceships. sives (Demolition or NOD) at 12+; I Bombs use the cargo space made by removing weapons, with 40%
A
Y
S
this canasbelong shared between of this tonnage devoted to to explosive bomb baymass. mechanisms, casing, etc.,0.25 and ton the tipleduty people as each meetsmulthe remaining 60% devoted Small bombs weigh prerequisites. While being tuned, the (0.15-ton yield) and medium weigh 0.5 ton (0.3-ton yield). QDNW cannot be moved at all – not I The targeting systems enable superior point defense (p. 35) instead even a millimeter – as it’s aligning of the usual +9 to hit. with this particular combination of Remember to divide ship ST/HP and DR by 10 to get dST/HP and dDR. field and location. Refer to the Size and Speed/Range Table (p. B550), reading the “Linear Measurement” column as the number of hours spent tuning the QDNW, and the “Size” column as the chance Saucers (on 3d) of successful detonation. The tuner must roll The workhorses of the Martian fleet, each of these against his best prerequisite skill after the first two hours 60’-diameter saucers is capable of transporting up to 80 of tuning, then again at every step on the table (so after the troops along with 30 tons of cargo. There are several varithird hour, fifth hour, seventh hour, etc.); failure means ants of saucers, however, such as a cargo hauler (can only this last interval did not count. The chance of detonation fit 20 troops but 75 tons of cargo) and a fighter carrier can never rise above 12 or less (after 200 hours), due to the (transports four fighters, though with only 20 troops and unpredictability of quantum fluctuations. 15 tons of cargo). They refuel using Earth’s water.
ARTIAN have been exploring the depths of space lonMMartians VEHICLES
ger than humans have even had vehicles; spaceships are an important part of their culture and technology. The construction of additional motherships, saucers, and fighters delayed their invasion plans by over four decades, but in retrospect, it was worth it. Without these advanced
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TH E F A C E
Each saucer has stea lth (-8 to be detected by sensors) and a cha meleon surface (-4 to Vision rolls to spot it). It comes equipped with one medium weapon, which can be swapped out for a bay holding 10 medium bombs. In addition to a decent vehicular Dodge, a saucer uses point defense (p. 35) with a base roll of 12. Ground-based weapons must contend with the saucer ’s superior underbelly DR; aerial attacks are almost a necessity to take down a saucer.
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Martian Vehicle Table Terms and notation are as defined in Vehicle Statistics (pp. B462-463).
TL Vehicle
ST/HP
Hnd/SR
HT
Move
LWt.
Load
SM
Occ.
DR
Locations
Notes
DRIVING (CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT) (DX-5, IQ-5, or other Driving-5) 10
Digger
295
-4/5
11
2/2
200
3
+8
4+1
12
C
DRIVING (MECHA) (DX-5, IQ-5, Battlesuit-3, or other Driving-5) 10 Automaton 10 Walker
600 70
0/4 +2/3
11 11
14/56 9/18
1,800 3.5
3.6 0.24
+9 +4
12 1
600 70
2A2L 2AG2L
[1] [1]
PILOTING (AEROSPACE) (IQ-6, Piloting (High-Performance Airplane)-2, or other Piloting-4) 10
Fighter
150
+5/5
12
60/3,050
10
0.7
+4
– in space – 0/4 – 6G/20 mps – – – Saucer 500 +1/5 12 30/2,150 300 38.3 +7 – in space – -1/5 – 3G/20 mps – –
10
1+1SV – 3+80SV – –
30
g
– 30/340
–
[2]
g
[2, 3]
–
–
PILOTING (HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPACECRAFT) (IQ-6, Piloting (Aerospace)-4, or Piloting (LPS)-2) 10
Mothership
5,000
-4/5
13
0.5G/60 mps
300,000
Notes [1] DR has Hardened 2. For the Martian walker (only), this does not apply to the transparent dome over the driver’s compartment (location G).
69,000
+13 20,000ASV
1,500
–
[2]
[2] DR has Hardened 5 (ignoring all armor divisors) against kinetic attacks – projectiles, explosives, etc. – and Hardened 2 against energy beams. [3] Higher DR applies to attacks from below.
For a pure reconnaissance saucer used from the 20th century onward – large enough to carry soldiers and scientists, and with enough endurance to travel from Mars on its own – add a self-destruct system and change Move to 10/1,250 (air) and 1G/60 mps (space).
Diggers
Fighters
tice the scientists on Project: Underground (pp. 26-27) had to stop them frequently to ensure that the descent angle was perfect. Once the “triangle of power” is established, the Martians have no pressing uses for these machines – but PC Martians will certainly think of some entertaining applications! Martian diggers have no weapons, though anyone caught at the front of the digger is attacked with the equivalent of a medium heat ray. They run on a special fuel blend (the Martian equivalent of diesel), of which there’s plenty stored on the motherships.
These relatively small (25’ wingspan) craft appear to be wide trapezoids, winged to take advantage of the atmosphere. They are not built for tra nsport, only for combat; each can hold one Interstellar Forces pilot and one passenger, and it comes equipped with a single small weapon. (This can be traded out for a bay with two small bombs.) They refuel using Ea rth’s water. Fighters have no point defense. Instead, they rely on their high vehicular Dodge and their defensive ECM, which gives all ranged attacks (whether beam or projectile) -6 to hit the fighter. In a game set before the 20th century (see Early Missions, pp. 7-8), the fighter statistics can represent an early reconnaissance ship. Add the stealth and chameleon features of the saucer along with a self-destruct system, and change Move to 20/1,750 (air) and 2G/60 mps (space).
These 150’-long machines use focused heat rays to melt the dirt and rock as they tunnel toward Earth’s core. They “dig” a 12’-diameter tunnel at the rate of approximately 7.5 yards per minute, though in prac-
Automatons and Walkers See Robots (pp. 36-37). If the GM prefers to treat the Martian mechs as vehicles, use the statistics in the Martian Vehicle Table (above).
TWISTED EXPERIMENTS Science Division unleashed these monsters onto an unsuspecting Earth! Everything that can move on its own is given statistics here, the better for human heroes to fight it, or for Martian warriors to use it. While the robots
TH E F A C E
(pp. 36-37) are technically vehicles, they’re included in this section because it’s just easier to treat an attacking robot as a monster that happens to have one or more Martians inside of it.
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Martian Vehicular Weaponry Table Bombs are octanitrocubane (p. B415) equivalent; “Shots” shows how many the saucer can carry in place of an equivalent-sized weapon bay. There are no “large” bombs. Heat Rays do burning damage. When fired as a cone, these do large-area injury (p. B400). Freeze Rays paradoxically also do burning damage, but with no incendiary effect; however, they can be used to coat a target or area in ice. Living targets frozen in ice are affected normally by the cold (p. B430). Shrink Rays are rare; each one can affect targets only up to the size shown on the table. A successful hit reduces the target’s SM by 10 – dividing each dimension by 50 and weight by 125,000 – for the next 3d+14 hours. They are commonly used to allow ground troops to capture and collect human vehicles and weapons. All weapon ranges are in miles , not yards, and assume atmosphere; multiply by 1,000 in the vacuum of space. Other terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.
TL
Weapon
Damage
Acc
10 ARTILLERY Bomb, Small(BOMBS) (IQ-5) 6d¥70 cr ex 10 Bomb, Medium 6d¥100 cr ex
Range
0 0
RoF
Shots
Rcl
1 1
2 10
1 1
– –
Notes
GUNNER (BEAMS) (DX-4 or other Gunner-4) 10
Freeze Ray, Small 6d¥5(5) burn ni ice coat Binding 150 Freeze Ray, Medium 6d¥10(5) burn ni – ice coat Binding 500 Freeze Ray, Large 6d¥50(5) burn ni – ice coat Binding 1,500 Heat Ray, Small 6d¥5(10) burn – wide beam 6d¥5(2) burn Heat Ray, Medium 6d¥10(10) burn – wide beam 6dx10(2) burn Heat Ray, Large 6d¥50(10) burn – wide beam 6d¥50(2) burn Shrink Ray, Small SM +2 Shrink Ray, Medium SM +4 Shrink Ray, Large SM +8 –
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
18 –
1/3 –
18 –
–
–
–
–
– – 18
–
–
–
–
[1] 1
– –
– 1 1 1
[1] 1
–
1
1/3 3/10 10/30
–
–
–
[1] 1
–
1
10/30 –
18 18 18
–
–
3/10
1
–
1 –
18 –
–
–
[1]
–
1
1/3
1 –
1
10/30
18
– –
3/10
18 –
1 –
[1] 1
– – – –
[1] 1 1 1
[1] [1] [1]
Note [1] Can be widened into a cone (p. B103) with radius up to 3 yards (Small), 5 yards (Medium), or 20 yards (Large).
A few creatures have disadvantages with a self-control number of “(N/A).” That’s a shorthand way to say don’t bother rolling; just assume that it’s always in effect.
BUGS The Martian scientists delighted in turning virtually every insect they could find into a monstrous threat. Rather than try to delineate each one individually, the statistics below cover whether it’s “just” a giant bug or one of the heavily mutated, uncontrollable bugs from late in the invasion (Project: Bug, p. 25). Once you’ve chosen that, add the options in Insect Armageddon (p. 36) that seem appropriate to the type of insect in question. Note that the attack listed as “Bite” may represent mandibles, a stabbing proboscis, fangs, etc. Remember, the Science Division is nothing if not creative. Sure, humans will run into giant ants, beetles, and spiders (no one told the Martians that spiders weren’t insects), but don’t forget the giant butterflies, walking sticks, scorpion flies, and mosquitoes. If you don’t find a package in Insect Armageddon that fits, make up your own!
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No Escape A bug’s bite also counts as a grapple as long as the bug’s SM exceeds its victim’s by 3+ (which is always the case with a normal human). Treat this as a one-handed grapple for all purposes. On subsequent turns, the bug can “worry,” which counts as an attack but hits automatically – simply roll biting damage! Alternatively, it can attack with its claws or other means, in which case the grappled victim is at -1 Dodge, -2 Parry or Block, and cannot retreat or make an acrobatic dodge.
Giant Bug This creepy monster has a body the size of a large van. Those that crawl stand about 20’ tall, while the fliers have an 80’ wingspan.
ST: 50 DX: 14 IQ: 2 HT: 10
HP: 50 Will: 12 Per: 12 FP: 10
Speed: 6.00 Move: 6 Weight: 8 tons SM: +4
Dodge: 10
Parry: –
DR: 25
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POINT DEFENSE Ships with point defense systems have dedicated beam weapons, with low power but a high rate of fire, held in reserve to shoot down incoming projectiles. Point defense can do nothing against beam attacks. It is most effective against incoming missiles, but it can target shells fired from vehicular machine guns and autocannons as well. (The bullets from small arms, such as pistols or rifles, are too small for point defense to stop.) For attacks fired from close enough that they’ll hit on the same turn they’re fired (usually anything shot from less than a quarter-mile away), first roll against the attacker’s skill to determine how many projectiles are successfully put on target. Then roll 3d against the target number given for the point defense system, at -4 against shells, no modifier for air-to-air missiles, or +4 vs. larger surface-to-air missiles (full-sized nuclear ICBMs may be as high as +8). Success destroys one projectile, plus additional projectiles equal to the margin of success. If any remain, the spaceship may still make the usual vehicular dodge to avoid them. For convenience, the point-defense scores for each ship against each type of attack are summarized in this table.
the saucer’s score of 12 and succeeds by 3, more than enough to wipe out both missiles. Orxi still has to deal with a stream of 27 autocannon shells, so he rolls a vehicular dodge; it succeeds by 3 (avoiding four rounds), so 23 shells hit the saucer. Each point-defense system can handle up to 25 attacks per turn. This is 25 attacks, not projectiles; in the example, Orxi’s saucer was targeted by two attacks (one stream of bullets and one pair of missiles), and it could have faced 23 more if necessary. Motherships are anattacks exception; to 50 eachtheir turn.larger systems can deal with up
Long-Distance Attacks Air combat often takes place at distances of several miles, where an attack can take several seconds to strike its target. When this is the case, the point defense system can attempt to destroy incoming projectiles each turn (roll at the end of the attacker’s action), but at a penalty equal to the number of full seconds until it hits.
Ship Shells ATA Missiles STA Missiles Martian 8 12 16 Saucer Martian 10 14 18 Mothership The Venture 9 13 17
Example: A different jet fires a missile at Orxi from far enough away that it will take three seconds to hit. The point defense system rolls immediately at -3 to destroy it, but fails. Next turn, the missile is two seconds away, so the system rolls at -2 and fails. The next turn is the turn it will hit, so the GM rolls at no penalty – and if that roll fails, Orxi gets the usual vehicular dodge against it.
Example: Orxi’s saucer is taking close-range fire from a jet’s autocannon and air-to-air missiles. The human pilot puts 30 shells on target; the GM rolls against the point-defense score of 8 and succeeds by 2, destroying three projectiles. The jet’s gunner succeeds at launching two missiles; the GM rolls against
Some ultra-tech missiles travel at incredible speeds and can be launched from much farther away. If a missile has a base speed (the Range value before the slash) of 1,000+, double the penalty for early destruction. If the example had been against such a missile, the rolls would have been at -6, -4, and then no penalty.
Bite (14): 5d+1 impaling; Reach C. Also grapples ( No Escape, p. 34). Claw (14): 5d+1 cutting; Reach C-3.
Traits: Bad Temper (9); Combat Reflexes; Hexapod*; Peripheral Vision; Short Lifespan 3; Wild Animal. Notes: Ideally wearing a control collar (p. 36) and controlled by an insect handler. * As Quadruped (p. B263), but with Extra Legs (Six legs); see pp. B54-55. Arachnids have a similar meta-trait, Octopod, with Eight Legs. For hit locations, see p. B553.
Giant Mutant Bug Part-insect, part-crustacean, this overpowered bug is 50% larger (in each dimension) than the standard Giant Bug – but is nearly impossible for the Martians to control. It doesn’t need prompting to go after humans, though, as its temper is as uncontrollable as the rest of it!
TH E F A C E
ST: 75 DX: 12 IQ: 2 HT: 12
HP: 75 Will: 18 Per: 12 FP: 12
Speed: 6.00 Move: 6 Weight: 27 tons SM: +5
Dodge: 10
Parry: –
DR: 40
Bite (12): 8d+1 impaling; Reach C. Also grapples ( No Escape, p. 34). Claw (12): 8d+1 cutting; Reach C-5.
Traits: Bad Temper (N/A); Combat Reflexes; Hexapod*; High Pain Threshold; Self-Destruct; Short Attention Span Peripheral (12); ShortVision; Lifespan 4; Unfazeable; Wild Animal. Notes: Ignores the effects of the control collar, and attempts to handle it are at -5! * See Giant Bug footnote (above).
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INSECT ARMAGEDDON Because there are millions of species of insects on Earth, and the Martians were willing to splice genes together, the GM should feel free to put together any combination of these lenses. Each one modifies the base statistics of the bugs on pp. 34-35. All attacks use DX to hit. To quickly generate random bugs, roll 1d-3 (minimum 0) to see how many lenses to add, then roll 2d to determine which ones, rerolling repeats.
2-3 – Stinger. Damage as bite but with Armor Divisor (2) and follow-up poison (roll HT or agony for minutes equal to margin of failure). 4 – Acid Spit/Spray. 3d (5d for mutant) corrosion attack; Jet with Range 10. 5 – Long-Legged. Ground Move 6/18, +2 to claw Reach, and stands twice as high. 6 – Carapace. DR gains Hardened 1. 7 – Sharp Mandibles. Change bite damage to cutting but at +1/die and +1 to Reach. 8 – Flier. Air Move 12/24. 9 – Spinnerets (or Gluey Spit).Binding 25 (40 for mutant); Acc 0; Range 10. 10 – Pheromones (“Fear-omones”).Terror (Aura; Area Effect, 8 yards; Smell-Based). 11-12 – Vampiric. After bite, can drain 3 HP from victim and heal 5 HP (7 for mutant), per turn.
Sample Insects Giant Ant: Acid Spit. Giant Beetle: Carapace; Sharp Mandibles. (Add Acid Spit for a bombardier beetle.) Giant Butterfly: Flier; Pheromones. Giant Mosquito: Flier; Vampiric. Giant Scorpion Fly: Flier; Stinger. Giant Spider: Long-Legged; Spinnerets; Vampiric. Giant Walking Stick: Long-Legged.
Insect Control Collar This is a two-part device: a large collar attached (often surgically) to the giant bug, and a remote control used by the handler. It gives +4 on all Animal Handling (Bug) rolls and allows the handler to inflict any degree of pain or agony (p. B428) on the insect – just in case it turns on its masters. It is used only on giant bugs, not
Cut the Collar Off: The flexible collar is SM -2, DR 5, HP 22. It is treated as Diffuse against crushing damage, Homogenous otherwise. Target the Receiver: The smaller receiver box is SM -5, DR 10, HP 8. It is Unliving.
ROBOTS Martians have two types of “robots” (actually mecha): a one-man walker and a 12-person automaton. See Project: Robot (pp. 25-26) for more information. The GM can treat these as standard vehicles (p. 33) or use the following “monster”-style statistics – which assume an operator (or crew) with DX 12, Driving (Mecha)-14, and Gunner (Beams)-13, as per (pp. 65-66). Martian Trooper If controlled by someone with different skills, adjust all DX-based rolls based on the new Driving, except for beam attacks, which use the new Gunner (Beams). Note that the listed IQ, Will, Per, and Basic Speed are the operator’s; the robot has no mental traits.
Martian Walker This 25’-tall humanoid robot requires one driver, who sits where the robot’s “head” would be, surrounded by a transparent dome allowing an unrestricted field of vision. With a half-ton BL, the walker can fling most cars and can overturn up to a six-ton truck. (Its No Fine Manipulators trait doesn’t prevent it from flipping stationary vehicles.) One arm ends in a sharp claw designed for slicing things in two, the other in a powerful weapon; choose any small weapon from the Martian Vehicular Weaponry Table (p. 34).
ST: 70 DX: 16
HP: 70 Will: 11
Speed: 5.50 Move: 9/18
IQ: HT: 11 11
Per:–11 FP:
Weight: SM: +4 3.5 tons
Dodge: 9
Parry: 11
DR: 70 (see Notes)
Blast (13): Based on weapon. Slice (16): 8d cutting; Reach C-3.
Traits: Enhanced Move 1 (Ground); High Pain Threshold; Machine; Maintenance (Five People, Weekly); No Fine Manipulators; Payload 5; Peripheral Vision; Protected Senses (All); Radiation Tolerance 5; Sealed. Notes: DR has Hardened 2 except for the transparent dome over the driver (net -1 to hit). Peripheral Vision assumes the operator has this trait (as all Martians do).
Massive Automaton
giant mutant ones. 32 lbs. (collar), 0.5 lb. (remote). Anyone attacking the collar has two ways to do it. Bringing either to 0 HP will nullify the effect of the collar.
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This 200’-tall monstrosity requires a team of 12 to operate; use their average attributes and skills (rounded down) for applicable rolls.
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It is surprisingly nimble and fast for its size; its legs and arms were designed for dexterity as much as strength, and its multiple joints allow for quick motion and reactions. It can “rocket-jump” 36 yards high or 145 yards forward (double that with a running start). It has fully formed hands, and its BL of 36 tons allows it to use things like telephone poles and construction pylons as improvised weapons. It has a single ray mounted in its head; choose any medium weapon from the Martian Vehicular Weaponry Table (p. 34).
ST: 600 DX: 14 IQ: 11 HT: 11
HP: 600 Will: 11 Per: 11 FP: –
Speed: 5.50 Move: 14/56 Weight: 1,800 tons SM: +9
Dodge: 7
Parry: 10
DR: 600 (Hardened 2)
family member; -8 for a best friend or close family member; and -12 for a spouse, child, or parent. There’s room for a lot of variety with these creatures, as they are the result of genetic tinkering and radical surgery. See Mutations (below) for some suggestions, and don’t hesitate to come up with new ideas.
ST: 25 DX: 11 IQ: 6 HT: 13
HP: 25 Will: 12 Per: 10 FP: 14
Speed: 6.00 Move: 8 Weight: 200 lbs. SM: 0
Dodge: 9
Parry: 8
DR: 8
Bite or Punch (11):2d+1 crushing; Reach C. Often made as All-Out Attack (Strong) for +2Reach damage. Board or Pipe (6):5d-1 crushing; 1. Often made as All-Out Attack (Determined) for +4 to hit.
Blast (13): Based on weapon. Punch (14): 6d¥10 crushing; Reach C-20. Weapon, Typical Improvised (12): 6d¥14 crushing; Reach 5-25.
Traits: Enhanced Move 2 (Ground); High Pain Threshold; Hyperspectral Vision; Machine; Maintenance (Five People, Daily); Payload 1; Protected Senses (All); Radiation Tolerance 10; Sealed; Super Jump 2. Notes: Crew’s sensory traits (e.g., Peripheral Vision) have no effect.
Traits: Appearance (Monstrous); Bad Smell; Bad Temper (6); Berserk (6); Bestial; Compulsive Attacking Humans (N/A); Hidebound; High Pain Threshold; Indomitable; Injury Tolerance (Unliving); Low Empathy; No Sense of Humor; Social Stigma (Monster); Unfazeable. Skills: May retain some of its former skills (GM’s discretion). Notes: Usually causes Fright Checks.
MUTATIONS
MONSTER MEN These former humans (see Project: Human Upgrade, p. 26) have been given numerous physical upgrades and mental downgrades. Their
Martian biologists are always trying out new things. Apply any of these lenses to make individual monster men more interesting! Choose, or roll 3d to select one randomly.
organs have been made redundant, giving them Injury Tolerance (Unliving) despite being technically alive. Their high HT makes them hard to put down in a fight, as they can easily succeed at most checks to stay conscious and alive. They are in constant agony except when pursuing and attacking normal humans. This is treated as High Pain Threshold along with Compulsive Behavior with no self-control roll. Being in agony is their normal state, which lets them ignore most externally caused pain, so the temporary cessation of that when they attack humans is like a euphoric “high” by comparison. The primary benefit of using monster men in battle is psychological; it is clear to anyone facing them that these were once normal humans, now twisted into terrible monstrosities. A human facing monster men must make a Fright Check, modified as follows.
3 – Special Experiment. Roll again twice. This result is cumulative! 4 – Amphibious. Add Amphibious and Doesn’t Breathe (Gills). 5 – Hard Shell. +12 DR but -1 DX. 6 – Eyes on Stalks. Add 360° Vision (Easy to Hit). 7 – Solid Black Eyes.Add Infravision. 8-13 – No Mutation. 14 – Spindly Legs. Add Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground). 15 – Bioelectrical Organ.All attacks gain a 1d burning follow-up with the Surge modifier. 16 – Tentacle Arms.Arms become Extra-Flexible; add Constriction Attack. 17 – Biclops. Add Extra Head 1. If an onlooker knows both people, combine the penalties to the Fright Check! 18 – Aerial. Add Flight (Winged).
Check modifiers,Modifiers: including All the normal usual +5Fright if combat is already underway. -1 the first time the victim faces monster men, 0 the next two times, and then +1 every subsequent encounter. A further -1 if faced with a person he barely knew (e.g., a cashier from his local store); -2 for an acquaintance (a co-worker or friend-of-a-friend); -4 for a friend or distant
effectively living zombies. As such, manypp. of the neware abilities from Zombie Traits (GURPS Zombies, 49-70) especially fitting. Monster men with Horde Intelligence could work together frighteningly well, The Glow can simulate those created via radiation, and Injury Tolerance (Independent Body Parts) fits their pulp-horror vibe perfectly!
Zombified Upgrades As mindless shells of humanity, the monster men are
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CHAPTER THREE
THE WILL OF MAN The door opened once the elevator reached the bottom. The Novas Vira’s underground base went deeper, of course, but the “entrance” elevator stopped here. Director Quentin and his three aides stood ready as the VIPs stepped out. “Ah, welcome to our headquarters, Mr. Vice President.” The VP wore a practiced smile as he shook the director’s hand. “It is an honor to be here, Mr. Quentin. The President wishes he could have come himself, so he could thank you and your people in person for all you’ve done – but he’s completely swamped, as I’m sure you can imagine.” Director Quentin nodded at the white lie. It had taken
point to be made here. I am asking you and the President to declare a side. The United States needs to join the United Earth Alliance.” The Vice President seemed genuinely surprised. “You’d have the U.S. subsumed into this . . . alliance?” “National borders don’t matter anymore! We are being exterminated as a species, not as Americans. Half of our military has already declared for it. I’m saying that you – that we – need to make it official, give them all of our intel, support, everything.” There was a long moment of silence, as everyone absorbed
Buck a great deal of effort to convince the President to send out a physical delegation at all. Quentin didn’t blame the man for being a little paranoid. He continued to nod and shake hands as the VP introduced the mix of Cabinet members and Secret Service agents. Such pointless pleasantries. “I do appreciate you coming in person, Mr. Vice President. We need to discuss some things that none of us want overheard by Martian ears. Please, follow me.” Quentin led them into a cramped conference room and shut the door. There was no table, but there were plastic chairs and a whiteboard with a global map on it. Quentin pointed at the map as he spoke, “As I’m sure you’re aware, American forces in the Pacific have joined with their counterparts from several other countries. They’re calling themselves the United Earth Alliance.” The VP nodded, so Quentin continued. “Many of my people are with them now, outfitting and training them to face the Martian forces . . . when they make a drive to retake Moscow.” Everyone sat up a little straighter. The VP cleared his throat, “We had intelligence to that effect, but weren’t sure how accurate it was. Are you certain?” “Very. And I need you to believe me when I say that the United Earth Alliance is our best hope for saving this planet.” The VP paused, thinking. “You really think they can free Russia?” “I believe that it is completely possible, sir, but only if we throw our full support behind them. And that is the real
what had been said. Finally, the VP nodded. “I want to say this is an extreme call, but my bar for ‘extreme’ has been set pretty high in the past few months. I’ll talk to him.” Director Quentin nodded. “Good. I’m sure you can understand why I didn’t want this conversation getting back to the Martians. And that’s exactly why I need you to trust me just one more time. Christine?” The door opened, and a Novas Vira stepped into the room, laser rifle in hand, to let off a rapid-fire round of zaps into the torso of a Secret Service agent! The politicians tried to find cover as the two remaining Secret Service drew their weapons, but Christine had already dropped her rifle and had her hands in the air. “Ladies and gentlemen!” Quentin boomed, commanding attention before the situation could deteriorate. “This glove on my right hand is wired to a DNA sensor. T his is not a conference room; it is our bioscanner. And that,” he said as he jerked his head toward the body that was already reverting back to its natural alien state, “was a Martian. You’re welcome.”
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Earth has always been a politically fractured planet. There has never been a moment in our history when the world was completely at peace, when people weren’t at war somewhere. Even when the Martians appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere, humanity fought them as nations, not as a truly unified force.
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The timeline in Chapter 1 details how this attitude shifted, gradually, as humanity realized that they had to work together to defeat this new, common enemy. The most important change came when national militaries (or remnants thereof) embraced the wisdom of the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) rather than ridiculing them, and began eagerly learning from them and adopting their technology. At the same time, the unification of disparate forces in the Middle East into the Levant Army (Frozen Desert, pp. 11-12) was a wake-up call to the rest of the world. It would be the spark that later allowed the United Earth Alliance (pp. 44-46) to form. As borders blurred, this fight would become one of
humanity vs. the enemy . . . or, as many people believed, good vs. evil. Of course, not all of the forces on humanity’s side are human. The Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44) brought alien aid – though a human leads them, oddly enough. Just as important, people have not hesitated to steal or reverse-engineer Martian technology to use against them! At first, doing so was the exclusive domain of the Novas Vira. As the war raged on, the spoils of defeated Martians began showing up in the strangest places – to the point where it wouldn’t be a shock to come across a small village where the sheriff kept a pair of recovered Martian blasters locked up for when things got bad. The world had truly changed.
DEFENDERS OF EARTH While countries and borders would become less important later in the conflict, national military forces met the first wave of Martian invaders. Ground vehicles were easy targets for the Martians’ long-range beam weapons, but air forces could attack the saucers and fighters in their own element. Meanwhile, platoons of soldiers fought to defend those cities that the aliens attempted to occupy via ground troops. Initially, these human troops followed orders given by the highest-ranking officer on the scene. Depending on that commander’s tactical skill and ability to adapt quickly to a new and unforeseen foe, this resulted in anything from a partial victory (“we held them off!”) to total annihilation. Generals and commanders-in-chief tried to analyze the aliens’ tactics and predict their next moves, but the humans didn’t have the resources with which to successfully do so. Assassination attempts against world leaders (see Governments in Disarray, pp. 8-9) complicated matters. Where they were successful, the loss of leadership coming in the middle of this crisis threw the government into a state of confusion and panic. Most nations had a succession plan, but the successor was not always immediately available and in possession of the codes and knowledge needed to take over. Countries without a succession plan (typically dictatorships) often erupted into internal bloodshed as administrators fought over the best way to save their nation. Some assassination attempts failed, such as the United States attack thwarted by Senator Buck Spencer (pp. 82-83). Others succeeded, but the government transitioned to a successor seamlessly. These leaders were rushed to safety in a secret underground bunker or similarly secluded location. From there, the leaders coordinated with their generals, staff, and (where possible) the
media – focusing on keeping the populace safe while getting any intelligence possible on the Martians.
The Novas Vira Steps In In countries with a large Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) network – including China, Egy pt, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States – the members had been trying to warn their government abou t the danger (see I’m Not Crazy! on p. 41) and had redoubled their efforts right before the invasion (after the space telescopes “mysteriously stopped working”). Eventually – in some cases within hours, in others within weeks – leaders and admin istrators heard the stories about “the weirdos who saw this coming” and began making an effort to reach out to the Novas Vira, which would eventually lead to the underground scientists working hand in hand with the military. In countries lacking leadership, or without enough Novas Vira to have successfully drawn the attention of their government, the members sought out military leaders directly – often by hacking into military communications to plead their case. This produced mixed results; some generals listened and were eager for any help, while others distrusted the Novas Vira or even accused them of being in league with the Martians! Those armed forces that ended up working with the Novas Vira combined their resources with the knowledge and ingenuity of the scientists. The Novasdisruptors Vira upgraded vehicles, attaching (p. 48) or powerful Martian beam weapons (p. 34) recovered from downed ships. The generals then used their tactical knowledge and experience to defend cities from the invaders’ attacks while trying to cripple them as much as possible.
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Military leaders knew that air support was key to this war. They set up secret airfields where planes could be camouflaged while being repaired and refueled. They launched attacks as a distraction while the remainder of their forces recovered experimental aerospace fighters from hidden bunkers. When the planes ran out of missiles, engineers often would improvise new ones, sometimes testing out one of the Novas Vira’s new ideas to see if it was just crazy enough to work. A few months into the fighting, the Martians began establishing bases. While this was disheartening, it did give the armed forces another way to attack. Once the Novas Vira learned ways to spoof the Martian sensors (see vignette, p. 68), commandos could sneak into the bases, avoid Martian sentries, and sabotage their equipment – hopefully with explosive results! If the military had Novas Vira members attached, they would usually communicate with the commandos via secure “quantum” communicators, advising them on the best way to sow discord. A favorite trick early on was to wire a charge to the bay doors of a Martian bomber, which would (with luck) trigger a chained explosion. The overconfident Martians were not in the habit of double-checking their gear, but they eventually learned the necessity of doing so.
The Tiger Corps Shows Up The arrival of the Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44) was the next “game-changer” in the war. When The Venture touched down and General Jaret met with the Novas Vira, it raised many questions: How did they know about the Novas Vira? How did a human become the leader of a group of aliens? Perhaps most important was whether we could trust them. It didn’t help that General Jaret and his right-hand “man” Shadow were particularly tight-lipped, only answering the most general questions. In the end, the Novas Vira decided that they couldn’t afford to reject this assistance, and the group persuaded their national allies to agree. With the help of techs from The Venture, the Novas Vira and military engineers improved their aerospace fighters (p. 51) enough to let them act as escorts on highaltitude Tiger Corps missions. Unfortunately, General Jaret was adamant that a direct assault of any sort against
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the Martian motherships would be suicidal; they were simply too well armored and defended. Up to this point, the governments and their militaries were fragmented, as were the various civilian resistance groups. However, all of these groups had been growing more closely knit due to the common glue of Novas Vira members communicating and sharing information. A scientist working with a group of Brazilian Air Force staff would discover a new weakness in the latest model of saucers, and within a few days, resistance fighters in Mexico, infantry in China, and National Guardsmen in the United States had learned this via their own Novas Vira members. For many people, the formation of the United Earth Alliance (pp. 44-46) was the catalyst that changed their paradigm from nationalism to globalism. No longer were they fighting to free their country – they were fighting to save the Earth! If spirit and heart were all it took to win a war, it might have ended right then, but it would unfortunately be an uphill battle.
THE NOVAS VIRA Though the Novas Vira didn’t gather under one banner until 1962, the group’s srcins go much further back. Some would say back to 150, when Hermas (an early Christian writer and the brother of Pope Pius I) wrote about a large flying saucer that shot “fiery rays” before landing so that a figure clad in white could emerge. However, most members credit the beginning of the Novas Vira to the late 1930s, when improved sensors allowed humanity to better detect Martian ships, and communication had become global enough – particularly via radio – to permit a sufficiently dedicated person to spot patterns that suggested Earth was being alien life. figure or event brought No visited single by galvanizing the Novas Vira together. Instead, the process was gradual, starting with small groups of believers, which sprouted up independently of any other group. This was most common a mong astronomers (who caught blurry glimpses of Mar tian ships), lawenforcement agents (who found common incidences among unsolvable missing cases), intellige nce agents (who spotted strange patterns in events that couldn’t be attributed to foreign powers), and in a few cases, local communities who had had the misfortune of deal ing with the Martians directly! As each group was essentially investigating the same rumors, it was inevitable that they would make contact with each other. Over the 1940s and 1950s, a nameless network began to form, comprising believers from North America to Central America, and throughout most of Western Europe and the United Kingdom. (In practice, this was more like two networks connected via short wave In began 1962, lobbying one of the active members, Dr. Gilradio.) Quentin, for most the collective to rally around a common name a nd set up some guidelines and goals. His suggested name, the simple “Space Defense,” was passed a round from one country to another – but by the time the others got back to him with their approval, it had been horribly mistranslated as “Novas Vira.”
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Quentin, not a man to stand on minor points, simply began using it, and the others followed.
I’m Not Crazy! The Novas Vira’s first goal was to figure out why the Martians had been visiting Earth. Now that so many of them were actively working together, they could collate data from half the world. Quentin, who worked in a large observatory, converted one of the unused offices into the first “Novas Vira HQ.” There was enough room for a pegboard relationship diagram, with events connected via strings; he sent out pictures via radiofax every time it was updated with more information. Methods like this allowed the Novas Vira to work together on a single problem despite being thousands of miles apart. The group puzzled out that Martians existed and had been kidnapping humans for centuries, but the members couldn’t agree on their motives: Were they benign caretakers? Capitalists selling us to other aliens? Just bored? It was a frustrating challenge. The first real breakthrough happened when Professor David Walters was let go by his university after self-publishing an exposé on one of the first nuclear bomb tests, conducted in secret on the Marshall Islands (see Potential Threat: 1930s and 1940s, p. 7). Walters alleged that his father, nuclear engineer Dr. Ed Walters, had been part of that test. David was just eight years old when his father called the house to give a final message to his wife and son (David) – a warning that an alien ship had detonated its own bomb over the test facility, causing the underground bunker to collapse! The call cut off there. Growing up, David couldn’t get anyone to believe him; even his mother rationalized that her husband was probably succumbing to radiation poisoning. As an adult, he wrote the exposé. When no journal would touch it, he published it himself. Walters lost his professional standing in the process, but he was contacted by Quentin shortly thereafter for recruitment into the Novas Vira. Walters’ story was a sobering look at how far the Martians would go to achieve their goals, and it was t he push that eventually drove the Novas Vira to reach out to the other half of the world. Members who worked for the CIA, SIS, etc. asked their assets behind the Iron Curtain – in East Germa ny, Russia, and Chin a – to gather intelligence on anyone trying to “expose alien life.” Countless false leads eventually bore fruit, and over the next decade, the mission of the Novas Vira would spread across the planet. The debate about the Martians’ motives ended with two events, which occurred back to back in time, though across the world in distance. First, a Chinese Novas Vira agent, who happened to be a low-ranking guard in the Central Security Bureau, reported that a high-ranking party leader had been assassinated by the woman he was dating. The assassin was wounded before escaping, but when forensics went to type the blood,
it came back with nonsense data. The Bureau blamed the forensic equipment, but the agent was certain that this was Martian blood, and that Martians could somehow blend in with humans (see Undercover Agents, p. 24). Second, two early, unmanned U.S. space missions had gone awry (see Escalated Action: 1950s and 1960s, pp. 7-8). These missions were a classified secret, and some technical problems had been anticipated, so no one realized that foul play was afoot except for Brigadier General Buck Spencer (pp. 82-83), the Army liaison to NASA who found remnants of technology that did not appear to be from Earth. No one in his own chain of command would listen, so using his own resources, he tracked down the Novas Vira and came to them with this information! It was obvious that the Martians had terrible plans for Earth. The Novas Vira began working feverishly on radio telescopes that could be aimed at Mars, with the goal of detecting and understanding their (delayed) transmissions. Detection was the easy part; translation took years. Even then, they could pick up only little snippets here and there. When those snippets translated roughly to “build more ships,” “invade humans,” and “bring most of the military,” the cold truth set in. For the better part of the 1980s, every Novas Vir a member with government orofmedia contacts tried Unfortuto warn the world, or its leaders, the Martian threat. nately, these warnings were completely ignored. Anyone who pressed the issue too far was made a laughingstock, and no media outside of the tabloi ds was interested. The Novas Vira clearly would have to save the world themselves.
Early Warning As the Digital Age led to a technological revolution, the Novas Vira took full advantage of computing power to set up underground bulletin boards linked to databases of their research; these allowed scientists and engineers to begin developing powerful new technology. They decided that it needed to be kept secret to prevent the Martians from learning about it, since there was some evidence that the aliens were still visiting Earth, just less frequently. The self-destruct systems built into Martian reconnaissance saucers meant that recovering full weapons – or even proof of alien visits! – was futile, but the Novas Vira tracked down enough fragmentary samples of Martian hulls to identify their composition. One of the most important shared projects was coming up with a weapon that could target the specific weaknesses of this Martian composite material: the disruptor (p. 48). However, they had no way to know when the invasion was coming other than to listen, plan, and wait.
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Three Weeks Before the Invasion The chatter from Mars suddenly increased by an order of magnitude. The Novas Vira took it as a sign that the invasion was probably underway. (They were right, though the specific reason for the jump in signal was that messages between the motherships weren’t blocked by Mars’ crust as all signals to date had been.) The members put their plan into action, spreading out across their nations, in groups of two or three, staying near (but not in) major cities and military bases. Each group set up a safe house with a high-powered radio, to maintain contact with the others, and had a vehicle with a mounted disruptor.
minimal loss of human life. The Novas Vira teams would then reveal themselves and explain. With the proof right in front of them, officers didn’t ask questions; they began preparing every jet for takeoff. Meanwhile, every free member with government ties contacted security at the capitols to warn them of a potential assassination attempt. Some were taken seriously, but many were not, as they had to improvise details while trying to give enough valid warning. (It’s hard to prepare bodyguards for an attack from a ray gun-wielding assassin who can impersonate humans without telling them that that’s what they’re facing!) A few Novas Vira members (like Buck Spencer, now a senator) were already stationed close to a world leader and interceded directly.
During the Invasion
THE ASTRO MATA
The invasion itself was chaotic and terrible. Teams that were near initial target cities were stunned by the carnage and violence. As military reinforcements showed up, the Novas Vira teams moved in and began targeting saucers – with success! The team in upstate New York was the first to bring down a saucer. Yes, the disruptor worked wonders, but it also ran the risk of painting a virtual target on the team’s vehicle, so they would “shoot, duck, and run,” blending in with the military vehicles. Teams who weren’t seeing action redoubled efforts to communicate with their national leaders. For once, it started to work, now that the politicians realized the Novas Vira members weren’t crazy! See Defenders of Earth (pp. 39-47) for more on the liaison between the Novas Vira and government/military forces. As the Martians pulled some forces back from the initial invasion and prepared to move on their sec-
Once the Novas Vira began recruitment after the invasion, it was perhaps inevitable that factions would develop. The “Astro Mata” is a secret subgroup of the Novas Vira whose members are willing to do anything necessary to kill Martians – even if it means directly causing the deaths of human beings. To be clear, most Novas Vira fighters would (for example) blow up a factory containing hundreds of Martians and a few humans, if there were no better option. But in contrast, the Astro Mata would blow up a school full of children if there were even one Martian inside. They’re sane enough to realize that this is “a minority viewpoint,” and they thus temper their Fanaticism when working with “regular” Novas Vira members. However, most of the time, it’s not too hard for them to arrange things so that the entire team is Astro Mata. Director Quentin has not mentioned the Astro Mata in any of his directives; it’s quite possible that he is completely unaware of this subfaction. If it were brought to his attention, he’d have to deal with it carefully . . . the Astro Mata may make questionable allies, but they’d make far more dangerous enemies.
One Day Before the Invasion The Novas Vira’s radio telescopes picked up the clearest Martian transmission to date – obviously aimed directly at Earth! Frantic decoding revealed orders, telling agents in place to assassinate world leaders and cripple airbases. The members immediately began to debate what they should do, but time was of the essence; calling it “close enough to a consensus,” Quentin designated the airfields the first priority and the leaders the second. He asked every team near an airbase to stop the Martian attacks by whatever means necessary. For those places with no team nearby, Novas Vira members with military pull contacted them directly and warned them of an incoming “terrorist ground attack.” Teams mounted conventional weapons and headed for the nearest base. They easily spotted the overconfident Martians, who were planning on a “shock and awe” approach rather than a stealthy one. Gunfire drew the attention of the personnel, who joined in. In nearly every case, the Martians were gunned down with
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ondary targets pp. 10-12), Struggle for the Novas Vira(see discovered anSupremacy, underground fallout shelter in Greenville, West Virginia – built off-thebooks and in complete secrecy so government officials could use it in an emergency. (The President and staff had instead traveled to a much closer secret shelter, outside of Leesburg, Virginia.) Quentin and a dozen other members convened in the tiny town, to begin setting up a proper headquarters that would ensure that the Novas Vira remained in contact.
Far and Wide Before the invasion, the Novas Vira claimed fewer than a thousand members, and the first few months of fighting nearly halved that. However, once they began working with official forces and spreading word of the truth, they found enough intelligent, well-trained recruits to replenish their losses and more. Post-invasion, the group is almost completely decentralized. They’re found wherever military forces or civilian resistance are, doing whatever they can to help. This usually means repairing and upgrading weapons and defenses, and training their fellow humans in Martian language, psychology, physiology, and more. A few all-Novas Vira strike teams do exist – primarily comprising members with combat and engineering experience – who use hightech weaponry to assault the Martians directly.
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Being decentralized does not mean they are without direction, of course. From Novas Vira HQ, Director Quentin uses a camouflaged shortwave radio tower (built into the nearby mountain itself) to broadcast coded updates to members around the world. They use special network satellites (p. 50) to disseminate as much of this as they safely can to the public. However, they go to great lengths to keep the location of their headquarters a secret and to avoid spreading details on where resistance groups can be found; the Novas Vira’s worst fear is of accidentally leading a squad of Martians right to their (or someone else’s) doorstep. Throughout all of this, the Novas Vira continues to work on new inventions, both reverse-engineering Martian technology and creating entirely new devices. Recently, the research group at headquarters came up with a breakthrough involving cybernetic interfaces, which has led to cyber-enhancement being all the rage. See Cybernetics (pp. 49-50) for details. Although rarely used to augment whole members, if someone is badly injured and his team can get him to Greenville (or to another location where Novas Vira doctors have the training and equipment to perform the surgery), they’re likely to fix him by making him part metal.
and destroyed outposts and colonies, and captured ships and individuals for research and their beloved sadistic experimentation. Through a combination of Martian cunning and excessive caution and mutual suspicion on the part of alien governments, the interlopers never provoked either a full-scale war of retaliation or the sort of defensive alliance that might have caused them real trouble. Even the Martian conquest of Josam was not enough to provoke outright war; the tiny planet had no strong allies and was not seen as strategically important. However, individual aliens of several species, many of whom had seen their friends killed or communities destroyed, put aside their differences to form an unofficial alliance against the Martians (and other, lesser threats). A handful of guerrilla fighters might never have amounted to much, but they were backed by a mysterious figure with ties to several governments who saw this new group as a way to oppose the Martian threat indirectly, without provoking vicious Martian retaliation.
THE TIGER CORPS Soon after the Tiger Corps arrived to liberate Chicago (see Enter the Tiger Corps, pp. 14-15), word spread about this strange new addition to the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43). But despite knowing of them, the people of Earth knew very little about them. The general public’s knowledge of these new allies was limited to:
I They came from outer space to help us. I Their name translates as “Tiger Corps” – or something similar in other languages. I They have their own spaceship (The Venture) with which they fight Martians. I They’re aliens but led by a human named General Jaret (p. 84). The last point caused occasional concern. For understandable reasons, most people on Earth were rather antialien after the invasion began! When they were told that more aliens had arrived but were here to help . . . some folks didn’t buy it. But wherever the Tiger Corps had acted, saving lives and making a difference, they left true believers in the wake. The Novas Vira knew more, of course – their knowledge growing as they worked closely with the Tiger Corps after their arrival. However, even they didn’t have all of the answers, as General Jaret and his crew played their cards close to their chests; see Tigers in the Night (p. 44) for more on this.
The History of the Tiger Corps When the Martians first erupted into the wormhole network (Beyond Our System, p. 21), they rapidly became a lethal nuisance to several other technological races that were already using the network or lived near wormholes. The Martians launched raids on homeworlds, attacked
From their secret base on Eloria Prime, this new Tiger Corps liberated Josam from the Martians. Shortly after this event, Jaret and his ally Shadow (p. 84) joined the Tiger Corps. He rose in the ranks quickly due to his boundless courage and inspiring leadership, and he was eventually promoted to general. His bold demeanor and confidence helped him recruit many new members – people who wanted to do the right thing but who needed the encouragement to do something about it. One of Jaret’s proudest moments was dealing with a rogue bounty hunter, an Elorian named Corus (p. 84), by convincing him and his crew to join the Tiger Corps instead; a potential fight was turned into over a dozen new recruits!
Hide and Seek The loss of their colony on Josam was a huge blow to the pride of the Martians. The Supreme Regent himself demanded that the Tiger Corps pay for their insolence, and he put Anon Teed (p. 86) in charge of hunting them down. As he had staffed the colony with several Science Division officers (the better to conduct experiments on the planet . . . and its people), Teed took this personally and dived into his new assignment with gusto.
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He freed up as many Science Division resources personnel as possible and devoted them all to vengeance upon the Tiger Corps. The Corps was not expecting this degree of retaliation; Martian fighters a nd saucers methodically explored every world in every single system that the wormhole network could reach! The vigilantes tried spreading their network more thinly, hiding in dif ferent systems so they could ambush the Martian patrols while hopefully tricking them into thinking the Corps was based there – but Teed was no fool and saw thr ough this str ategy. Eventually, a Martian patrol scanned Eloria Prime and realized that a base was there, camouflaged with holographic technology! The Martians mobilized a full assault, determined to wipe out the Tiger Corps for good. The Corps knew that they couldn’t win against such a large force, and they fled the planet. The Martians, arriving too late to stop the exodus, only shot down a few of the Tiger Corps ships. After the last rebel had escaped, the Martians turned back toward Eloria Prime and bombed it into powder.
The Venture hoped to beat the invasion fleet to Earth, but the ship arrived too late for that. Fighting through the Martian forces that guarded the wormhole, Jaret and crew escaped into the vastness of space, then headed for the Earth. As they traveled, they picked up radio broadcasts painting the picture of what was happening on Earth – of the Martians attacking and the Novas Vira rising up against them. Where the Martians saw the Novas Vira as just another human military force, Jaret deduced its true importance, and he resolved that the moment the Tiger Corps reached Earth, they’d be the strike force that the Novas Vira needed. While traveling through the systems that comprise the wormhole network, Jaret spread the word about the Martian invasion to many worlds. His hope is that, if he can hold off the Martians long enough, he’ll eventually receive backup from the rest of the Tiger Corps. The Corps have been scattered ever since the assault on Eloria Prime; perhaps Earth will be where they finally reunite!
THE UNITED EARTH ALLIANCE
TIGERS IN THE NIGHT The Tiger Corps are somewhat secretive. This is for good reason – they’ve already had to abandon Eloria Prime due to Martian discovery, and they don’t want the same to happen at their backup bases! This doesn’t mean that players can’t read The Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44), or that a Hidden Lore (Tiger Corps) skill exists – just that even Novas Vira members shouldn’t be roleplayed as knowing all of this. More important, the GM should feel free to change any of these details to better fit the campaign and keep the players on their toes. He can even change much more than mere details (e.g., deciding that the Tiger Corps secretly work for the Martians), but keeping that a secret will require him to do one of the following. I Run a game with all Tiger Corps PCs. (In this case, the secret is being kept from the rest of the world, not the players.) I Forbid Tiger Corps PCs. I Find a reason why any Tiger Corps PCs wouldn’t know the truth. I Convince the players of Tiger Corps members to keep the secret and play along, hiding the truth from the others. (Warning! Some groups love inter-party secrets, but some hate it. Make sure this won’t upset the players.)
A Dire Warning Though scattered and without an intact command structure, the Tiger Corps continued to oppose the Martians, attacking assets and gathering intelligence while planning a grand scheme to take down the entire Empire. As the Martian menace spread throughout space, more worlds who were formerly cold toward the Tiger Corps began supporting them covertly. Eventually, the Corps leveraged this intelligence and support to gain patchy access to the Martian communications network. It was from this that General Jaret learned that the Martians were planning a full-scale invasion of Earth! Jaret and his team headed for Earth immediately; not only was it his home, this was their chance to stop an invasion before it began.
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While the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) is arguably the most efficient group at fighting the Martians, they lack the numbers to take on the invaders directly. For that, the armed forces are needed, and – starting from the events in Alliance Assembled (pp. 15-16) – the United Earth Alliance (UEA) is the most powerful military that humanity has. Perhaps just as important, the Alliance also serves as a reminder that no matter how beaten and scattered humankind becomes, they can always regroup and continue to fight.
Membership
After Turning the Tide (pp. 15-16), the bulk of the UEA comprises four militaries – China, the Levant, the United States, and Russia – plus a significant minority from over a dozen other nations. They act as a unified force in the grand scheme, but language barriers and nationally ingrained approaches to warfare require unofficial national divisions within the UEA. For example, if Alliance generals send Chinese and Russian troops on an assault operation, the Russian forces will naturally group together with their own commanders and the Chinese forces will do the same, though the officers will work together as much as possible to coordinate every action. Each national military has a unique history and outlook, as explained below.
The People’s Liberation Army of China The first wave of Martian forces focused on destroying every PLA vehicle they saw. Some airfields were warned by the Novas Vira, but many weren’t. The result was a strong military with no mobility; when the Martians came back to occupy the east coast, it was a one-sided battle.
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The PLA stationed there realized this, and they radioed a warning to their fellow soldiers to the west: we cannot defeat them in open battle; regroup for guerrilla tactics. The remaining PLA was thus one of the few forces given the luxury of a careful, tactical retreat into the mountains. They set up communication among themselves, which also put them into contact with local Novas Vira members. The deep caves and harsh terrain gave them an edge against the Martians and giant insects that hunted them. When they eventually regrouped, they found reinforcemen ts in the Levant Army and then could back their own nation. This has led to the PLA being one of the most optimistic of all the UEA members. They’re not fools who think this will be an easy fight, but they definitely believe that anything is possible. Characters who are part of the Chinese UEA – whether as PLA members, attached Novas Vira, or civilians – are likely to have a positive, “can do” attitude, leading to advantages like Charisma, Luck, and Serendipity, or to disadvantages like Chummy, Gregarious, and Overconfidence.
The Levant Army Even the Martians were surprised when the armies and militias of the Middle East stood together in defense. This underestimation cost the Martians; the Middle East was the only case of the first invasion wave having to retreat. Unfortunately for the soldiers there, the aliens returned with massive freeze rays and reinforcements, slaughtering most of the human forces and driving the rest east, across Iran and into hiding in the mountains. The remaining forces – comprised of soldiers and resistance fighters from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey –
to drown some Martians. The U.S. troops have a strong streak of independence – most of them still think of the situation as “the UEA plus America” – but still fit in, thanks to a large amount of experience working with forces from other countries. Many of the Pacific-based soldiers had more experience fighting giant bugs than Martians, as the aliens had seeded the West Coast of the United States with monstrous insects so that their troops could focus on the eastern half of the country. It had been terrifying, but those who kept their head overcame the bugs with the right combination of weapons and ammunition. It helped that the Novas Vira had integrated into the American military quickly, thanks to official words of support from the President and certain generals. It would therefore be fair to call the Americans the most tech-savvy of all the UEA members. They’re used to being backed by state-of-the-art equipment and improvising when that isn’t the case. For the most part, they trust the Novas Vira and can work with them, often helping significantly. Even a soldier or civilian who isn’t Novas Vira might have Artificer, Circuit Sense (p. 57), or Gadgeteer (though probably not at the Quick level), but frustration at losing his support structure might be expressed as Bad Temper, Low Self-Image, or Post-Combat Shakes.
became as the While is Army. a slight known misnomer (theLevant Levant is only the the partname of the Middle East by the Mediterranean), it was catchy and it stuck. Once temporarily safe from the Martians, it took the Levant Army some time just to come to a consensus on how to proceed: who should lead, what the next goal was, and so on. They ironed out a surprisingly fair chain of command, and then almost immediately afterward were contacted by the PLA. The Levant Army is perhaps the most open-minded of all the UEA members. They tend to be versatile and excellent at “thinking outside of the box” – perhaps best reflected by the fact that several members now have Survival (Arctic) and Survival (Desert). They have become adept at working with a wide range of people and finding out what their strengths are. A UEA character from the Levant could reflect this positively with Common Sense, Intuition, or Versatile – or as a weakness with Gullibility, Indecisive, or Truthfulness.
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation The United States Armed Forces joined the UEA at Not all of the United States military first; back in the United States, particularly on the East Coast, many troops only fought threats to America. But nearly two-thirds of the surviving Navy, along with any soldiers they could pick up while in the Pacific, headed west to China when they heard about the opportunity
Russia was hit hard in the initial invasion and then attacked via air and ground as the Martians made their way toward Moscow. The aliens meant to hold western Russia, so they went out of their way to decimate the country’s forces. After the UEA liberated Moscow, the remaining Russian soldiers gathered there, and hardened citizens stepped forward to become new recruits.
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The Novas Vira had a strong presence in Russia, but they were all but wiped out. As such, Russian equipment is the least “upgraded” among all the militaries. However, the influx of new soldiers includes many people with technological backgrounds, which is helping them catch up. Russian soldiers are arguably the most determined of the UEA branches. They face challenges stoically and accept new complications and problems as something to be overcome, not obsessed over. When everything is falling apart, they shrug and persevere. Russians, or those working closely with them, may have traits such as High Pain Threshold, Single-Minded, and Unfazeable, but also those like Nightmares, Stubbornness, and Unluckiness.
Other Nations While not as prominent as the four above, the armed forces and civilians of over a dozen other countries can be found in the UEA. This includes such countries from Asia as Afghanistan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam – as well as Australia, Canada, and Mexico, who accompanied or joined the U.S. naval vessels en route to the rendezvous in China. The GM shouldn’t hesitate to have a particular national group show up as part of the UEA, particularly if the PCs manage to buy the Alliance time to spread to Europe (see A United Front, p. 19).
Just as important, while the UEA has put a lot of effort into keeping their air support active, and even enhancing it via new aerospace fighters (p. 51), the Martians maintain air superiority, simply due to their massive saucer a nd fighter armada.
THE RESISTANCE In some areas, there is no military . . . not anymore. There are just regular folks trying to survive in a world destroyed by sadistic aliens. Eventually, once enough of them get together, they start to talk about how to do more than sur vive – how to fight back. As discussed in Civilian Resistance (pp. 13-14), the Novas the various resistance organizations aVira waysatellites to stay ingave contact and share information. In some cases, particularly with large groups, one or more Novas Vira members would join to teach them about the Martians and help them improve their technology – either temporarily or permanently. Novas Vira members or not, many of these resistance groups could make a big difference by harassing and sabotaging the Martians at every opportunity – and occasionally taking out a Martian scout or two who let their guard down. Each action was a sma ll win, but when multiplied by countless groups, resistance effort quickly became one of the biggest problems the Martians faced.
OTHER MILITARIES
Viva La Resistance
A typical resistance group numbers between 10 and 60 people. Any fewer, and they’re lucky just to survive; much more, and it quickly gets hard to hide from the Martians. Someone must be the leader, at least in times of emerI How badly beaten was the military during the initial invasion? gency; when the saucers are closing in, I Does the military still have air support? there’s no time for a vote! In some cases, What role did the Novas Vira play in the initial attack? I of course, an underhanded leader can What did the Martians do? (In some places, they devastated the I convince the others that this absolute major cities and then moved on; in others, they stuck around to occupy power is needed all the time – after all, some or all of them.) the world is in a constant state of emerTo what degree is the military working with the Novas Vira now? I gency, right? The group needs a place to live, Obviously, the GM can tailor the answers to achieve a desired setthough this is likely to change as they ting . . . and should even feel free to change these answers for UEA keep one step ahead of the invaders. militaries if he wants to adjust what those countries went through. Because the Martians are often too busy to check the same place twice, towns that have already been torn apart by alien scouts are a good bet. To avoid being spotStrengths and Weaknesses ted by saucers, it’s important to stay inside – underEven after suffering heavy losses at every step of the ground if possible (in basements, tunnels, etc.). Survival way, the United Earth Alliance has the advantage of numhas to be the first priority: shelter, food, water, medicine, bers. Man-for-Martian, the UEA fields a larger force than and avoiding Martia ns. the invaders do. In addition, they’re fighting from their Once the group’s most basic needs are taken care of, home field – in the sense that humans know this planet most will want to find a way to strike at the enemy! A direct better than the Martians but also in that the soldiers assault, even with a full cache of weapons and a brilliant know the specific areas and can often take advantage of Novas Vira agent on the team, is suicidal. Instead, guerrilla this tactically. tactics are the most effective. The best options depend on Unfortunately, even with the Novas Vira frantically what type of Martian encounter is involved. upgrading gear, the Martians have the Alliance outgunned. The armed forces in the United Earth Alliance are by no means the only ones fighting! This chapter just focuses on them as an example – one that can be applied to national militaries anywhere else in the world. This leaves the GM open to set the scene anywhere else, particularly in European and African countries, by deciding:
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Permanent Base: This is a major installation, heavily guarded, so learn the patrol routes from a distance. Don’t sneak in without a clear objective: Is there a saucer you can sabotage? A factory you can set on fire? Barracks where you can stealth-kill sleeping Martians? Time is of the essence; you can’t afford to wander. Decide in advance whether you’ll run or try to complete the mission if you’re spotted; do this for each stage (“If we’re spotted before we get to the arms factory or after we’re done, we run. But if we’re spotted inside, we finish the job, even if that means we don’t make it out. Agreed?”). Temporary Base: The Martians frequently take over a town or landmark as an impromptu base. This will be no less heavily guarded, but the boundaries of the area are typically fuzzier, so avoiding the guard is probably your
only challenge. They took over this area for a reason; figure out what that is, and then make it harder. For example, if they’ve turned a lake resort into a temporary saucer fueling station, try to sabotage the pumps by connecting them to a natural gas line instead of the lake . . . boom. Scouting Party: Don’t try to sneak up on the Martians as they wal k into the town; they’re going to be looking for trouble! Use this to your advantage by luri ng them into a trap; e.g., a house rigged to collapse on them. Riskier is having one person act as a distraction while the others set up an attack; this usually works best against a single foe. If you can find the saucer they came in, there’s likely just one pilot inside guarding it; the hard part is getting him to come out or at least open the hatch – use your ingenuity.
PROMETHEUS UNBOUND In theory (and for the purpose of Wealth), Earth is midto late-TL8 during the Martian invasion. However, the Novas Vira have been working behind the scenes, creating TL9, TL10, and in a few rare cases even TL11 technology! Once Martian weapons can be found as spoils of the battlefield, anyone with sufficient technological skill may figure out how to repair or recreate them. Because of this, the GM should be liberal in allowing high-tech gear – whether taken from the Basic Set or other GURPS catalogs (p. 49), or invented whole-cloth. Use the following guidelines when deciding whether to allow a particular piece of gear, based on its listed TL and the current stage of the invasion. TL8: Everything listed as TL8 exists on Earth. If the GM wants to disallow something, that’s trickier, as players likely will complain that it exists in the real world; someone may even own one! However, he has two options. If it’s something that depends on a certain degree of technological support to work, the Martians may wipe out that support; canonically, this is why Internet and most cellular service are unavailable shortly after the invasion. Or he can explain to the players why this tech interferes with his planned adventures and resolve this before the game begins, as a minor tweak to reality. Technically, this setting is an alternate universe to our own (at least, we certainly hope so!), so it’s conceivable that no one on Earth ever ovens, got around to inventing whatever that tech is: microwave ground-penetrating radar, etc. TL9: While nothing listed as TL9 should be ubiquitous, it’s important to remember that even the most mundane engineer can invent something this advanced. Thus, if the GM is on the fence about whether to introduce something (e.g., in an NPC’s possession), he should allow it. Players
who want their humans to start the game with TL9 gear should ask the GM what it would take. The three most common answers should be, “Just double the price,” “Take Unusual Background (Invention) from p. B477,” or, “You can’t start with that, sorry.” The further into the invasion, the more common TL9 gear will be; in a pre-invasion game, starting with an electrolaser might be unbalanced, but in an occupation game (set after a Martian victory), it’s almost a quaint, old-timey weapon!
TL10: This is the Martian baseline (see Soldiers of Science, pp. 28-33), and as such, the most important questions when deciding whether to include gear listed as TL10 are, “Do the Martians have this?” and if so, “Is it ubiquitous enough to find on most battlefields?” If the answer to both is affirmative, then it’s likely to pop up in the game – and the GM may even let PCs start with it for quadruple the given price. If not, this type of gear may still exist, but it probably will be restricted to the Novas Vira, exist as uncommon Martian tech, or have been made by a lone oddball inventor, requiring Unusual Background (Invention) to have it before the game begins.
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TL11: With the exception of Martian beam weapons (which the GM might extend to other TL11 beam weapons), all gear listed as TL11 should be exceedingly rare. Such things make excellent plot devices when combined with built-in flaws that limit their use. The GM may allow a player to start with Unusual Background (Invention) and have created such a thing. In this case, the GM is within his rights to consider it a more complex creation than a strict reading of the rules would suggest. TL12: As for TL11, but more so – a TL12 device can add some excitement to the campaign, but it is likely to wreak havoc in the hands of PCs. Gadgets at this level have the potential to thoroughly break the game, so the GM must carefully vet each inclusion! TL^: Obviously, anything available for the Martians (particularly their beam weapons) can exist; thus, there’s no question that an inventor can create a flamer or similar device. What other superscience technology exists (force fields, psychotronics, etc.) is up to the GM, who may permit specific usages while denying others (e.g., ruling that force technolo gy exists for defenses, but cannot be weaponized). Also, see Tech Level (pp. 53-54) for more on technological skills, including inventing and gadgeteering.
WEAPONRY The military has access to all of the TL6-8 weapons in Hand Grenade and Incendiaries (p. B277), Firearms (pp. B278-279), and Heavy Weapons (p. B281). Depending
on location, civilians may be able to start with some of these or acquire them in-game; in most cases, this is possible only for weapons with LC 3+, and several countries are more restrictive. As a general rule, the Novas Vira and Tiger Corps also have access to the TL9-10 weapons from those tables (including the gyroc on p. B278) as well as everything on the Ultra-Tech Firearm Table (p. B280). Before the invasion, the Novas Vira’s gear comprises prototypes, often with bugs or other problems (see pp. B476-479); after the invasion, they’re either captured or reverse-engineered Martian weapons, with no bugs. See Catalogs (p. 49) for more on weapons from other GURPS books.
Disruptor This vehicle-mounted beam weapon was developed by the Novas Vira before the Martian invasion as a defense against the Martian saucers (see Early Warning, pp. 41-42). It requires a separate power source; pre-invasion, they hooked it to a 100-lb. prototype power cell, but once they began reverse-engineering the Martian tech, this shrunk to a 20-lb. cell. The impact of the beam does good crushing damage to anything it hits, but it gets an armor divisor of (3) against Martian vehicles and robots. (More specifically, its armor divisor is (10) against Martian vehicular armor, but that armor’s inherent Hardened 2 reduces this to (3).) Once the Martians understand how the disruptor works, they can add a thin layer to the outside of their saucers that reduces its effectiveness, dropping the divisor from (3) to (2). Eliminating the divisor would require rebuilding every vehicle from scratch – a nearly impossible task.
Z-Frequency Generator This small sphere is designed to be fired from a 40mm grenade launcher (p. B281) or mortar. It is a unique weapon, created by a lone scientist who died after testing it in the field; the Novas Vira later recovered its scraps. One second after being fired, it detonates, producing an unusual combination of frequencies that no sensor below TL12 can make comprehensible. These affect everyone within hearing radius (about 64 yards).
Disruptor Table Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.
TL
Weapon
Damage
Acc
Range
Weight
RoF
Shots
ST
Bulk
Rcl
Cost
Notes
1
25
18M
-8
1
$500,000
[1]
GUNNER (BEAMS) (DX-4 or other Gunner-4) 10
Disruptor
6d¥7 cr
9
800/2,000
70
Note [1] Damage is effectively 6d¥7(3) cr against Martian vehicles and robots.
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Humans hearing the noise must roll against HT (at -4 YBERNETICS for Low Pain Threshold, +3 for High Pain Threshold, and As mentioned in Far and Wide (pp. 42-43), Novas Vira +5 for Deafness or Protected Hearing). Success means no doctors have access to cybernetics, and they often use the effect, while failure means a minor headache (-1 to IQ-, devices to restore agents who’ve lost a limb, eye, etc. In Will-, and Per-based rolls) for the next (25-HT) minutes. addition, a few Tiger Corps members have bionic limbs or Every Martian within range, however, is at far greater organs – buy them a drink and they might tell you the story! risk! He must roll at HT-8, at +5 for Deafness or Protected Hearing (pain threshold is not a factor). Success means just a headache, as for humans. Failure by 0-4 causes severe pain. Failure by 5+ inflicts agony. Critical failure results in an immediate ATALOGS heart attack! (See pp. B428-429 for all afflicOne of GURPS’ strengths is its extensive library, including tions.) Pain effects last for (25-HT) minutes. catalog-style books full of useful gear. While none of these The Novas Vira would love to remake this are required to run a fun Mars Attacks game, here are a few weapon! Unfortunately, not enough of it sur-
C
C
vived to give any gadgeteering bonus, and it’s TL12 technology with a nominal value of $25,000.
to consider perusing, along with suggestions on what to use from each. These are presented in order, from most recommended to least.
Note: The Z-Frequency Generator is a good example of a TL12 plot device – something that has the potential to change the balance of the war, but that exists only as a one-shot device. Human PCs may be entrusted with a buggy prototype that may work great, not work at all, or have the reverse effect and hurt humans instead of Martians! Martian PCs may have to face such a prototype.
GURPS Ultra-Tech: Nearly everything in here could be a Novas Vira or Science Division invention. The entire book is useful, though the GM should always decide which specific devices to introduce, on a case-by-case basis. (Be warned, a lot of the TL12 stuff is potentially game-breaking!) GURPS Bio-Tech: Full of sca ry “wetware” inventions that are right up the Martians’ alley. As a bonus, several of the racial templates make great aliens (see Other Aliens, p. 61). Some of the chapters are far too realistic for a Mars Attacks game, but use Chapter 2 for upgrades to monster men (p. 37), Chapters 3 and 4 for new Martian weapons, Chapter 6 for drugs to keep both sides alive, and Chapter 7 (Anon Teed’s favorite chapter!) for an alternative to cybernetics. GURPS High-Tech: Greatly expands the modern gear list from that found in the Basic Set, and adds some military vehicles. Players who like lots of detail will appreciate the variety,
ARMOR All of the TL6-8 armor from pp. B284-285 is available to military troops and to similarly equipped groups such as SWAT and Secret Service and their equivalents. While most civilians lack access to armor, frag vests or even tactical vests can be purchased in some countries (on the gray market if not legally), making it reasonable for a player to declare that his character owned such armor before the invasion. The Novas Vira and Tiger Corps have access to TL9 protection. However, weight is a serious concern for any of the members who are more geek than gunman; the TL9 ballistic suit is by far the most popular outerwear among Novas Vira scientists who’ll be heading into the field. See Catalogs (below) for more on armor from other GURPS books.
Battlesuits The ultra-tech protection mentioned above does include battlesuits! Both the Novas Vira a nd Tiger Corps have several TL9 models, sized to fit a modest range of members. Some people (especially the Astro Mata, p. 42) would like to make these standard issue for every situation, but the downside of doing so is a rather serious loss of subtlety. Still, in a straight-up, open fight – where registering as 350 lbs. of metal-covered person isn’t a drawback – one of these will go a long way toward keeping the wearer alive.
particularly in firearms. (If your group is more.) really into guns, the various High-Tech expansions offer even GURPS Psi-Tech: While much of this focuses on technology to enhance natural psi, Chapter 2 offers plenty of creepy devices that have a similar feel to the mind-control beamer (pp. 29-30). If you plan on adding actual psi to your Mars Attacks game, consider this more highly recommended. GURPS Spaceships: Has simple rules for creating your own spaceships and aerospace fighters – and for having them fight. Its expansions offer further rules and a vast catalog of ready-to-use ships. If you plan on taking your game into space and/or want to easily create more ships, consider this more highly recommended. GURPS Low-Tech: If your group wants a much bigger selection of melee weapons, or you plan on having the Martians bomb everything back to the Stone Age, this has you covered. In all cases, these books are best used as inspiration, not as the end-all, be-all of what’s possible. The worst thing the GM can do is respond to an out-of-the-box idea with, “Sorry, but that’s not in any of the books, so come up with something that is.” For things that aren’t even close to any existing tech, it’s the GM’s job to assign a TL, a complexity (Simple, Average, etc.), and to make up the statistics; see Inventing and Gadgeteering (pp. 53-54) for advice.
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Full rules for cybernetics are found on pp. 207-218 of GURPS Ultra-Tech; the following information is a simplification. Cybernetics restore any missing parts and often improve them in some significant way. However, they have a few drawbacks.
one hand or two (again, due to the problems if both short out). 1 point. Bionic Leg (One): That leg has DR 3. 3 points. Bionic Leg (Two): Gain Basic Move +1 and Super Jump 1. Both legs have DR 3. 15 points.
I If you are hit by an electrical attack that does over 1/3 your HP in injury, you must roll against HT. Failure shorts out the cyberware for seconds equal to the margin of failure; critical failure shorts it out until repaired. If the attack roll was a critical success, don’t bother with the HT roll – the cyberware shorts out automatically! I Unless stated otherwise, each piece needs weekly maintenance performed by one person with the Electron-
OTHER USEFUL GEAR
ics Repair (Medical) or Mechanic (Robotics) skill. This includes realigning servos, recharging integral power cells, etc. You may be able to do this yourself (GM’s decision). If you go more than a week without doing this, you must roll against HT, at -1 per full week since the last maintenance. Failure causes problems with the cyberware (GM’s decision); critical failure shuts it down completely until repaired. I Damage to the cyberware does not heal on its own; it must be repaired.
Novas Vira member knows how to create these. Thus, no Concept roll is needed, and rolls to make them get the full +5 for copying an existing design. Once assembled, launching it requires a successful Electronics Operation (Comm, EW, Scientific, Sensors, or Surveillance) roll. The low Earth orbit is weak and won’t last longer than a few days, but the Martians t ypically will shoot it down before then anyway. $8,000, 5 lbs. (rocket and satellite), 35 lbs. (disposable launcher).
The following cybernetic replacements are commonly available. All of them are Complex TL9 inventions that require a Surgery roll to install.
Martian Vocoder (TL9)
Bionic Arm (One): That arm has ST +2 and DR 2. 5 points. Bionic Arm (Two): As above, for both. 7 points. Bionic Ears (Both): Gain Discriminatory Hearing and Protected Hearing. No maintenance required. 11 points. Bionic Eye (One): Gain a video display, Night Vision 2, and Telescopic Vision 1, but with No Depth Perception while using any of those. Eye has DR 2. No maintenance required. 4 points. Bionic Eye (Two): Gain a video display, Night Vision 2, Protected Vision, and Telescopic Vision 1. No maintenance required. This is actually a disadvantage, due to the situation you end up in if they short out! -1 point. Bionic Hand(s): That arm has ST +1 and the hand (only) has DR 2. The character-point cost is the same for
There’s no limit to the miscellaneous pieces of technology that humans have come up with. These are only a few of the important ones.
Low-Orbit Satellite (TL9) See Civilian Resistance (pp. 13-14) for details. Every
Allows a human to speak the Martian language (p. 55), at whatever fluency level he has. $100, 0.5 lb.
Stealth Field Generator (TL10) The Novas Vira uses this technology to hide its bases from Martian saucers. It consists of an array of slim antennas placed in a grid pattern, about 100’ apart from each other. They must be connected to external power and to a powerful computer running the holographic mapping software. Once set up, a holographic projection is placed over the entire area; it can look like something else is there, or just appear completely empty. This fools eyesight unless a Vision roll succeeds by 5. When sensors of the same TL or less probe the field, they must win a Quick Contest of Electronics Operation (Sensors) vs. Electronics Operation (EW or Media) to penetrate it. Per antenna: $10,000, 1,000 lbs. – one is needed per 10,000 square feet.
HUMAN VEHICLES In addition to the Earth transportation on pp. B464-465, the following are particularly important in a Mars Attacks game.
Air Force Jet A TL8 fighter jet, of the type commonly used in most modern military air forces. These are the planes that battled the Martians during the initial invasion. It is normally loaded with six air-to-air missiles but can hold as many as double that if deemed necessary. It also has a Vulcan autocannon in the nose. See Human Vehicular Weaponry Table (p. 51) for statistics on both.
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Aerospace Fighter A fast TL9 fighter (cutting-edge technology), designed to maneuver all the way up to high Earth orbit and capable (in theory) of going beyond that. These were brought out later in the invasion. It holds the same weapons as the air force jet, above.
The Venture As it’s commanded by General Jaret, this is technically a human vehicle . . . though it’s armed with better weapons: three medium heat rays (from the Martian Vehicular Weaponry Table, p. 34) and a point defense system (p. 35) with a base score of 13. The Venture is not as fast as the Martian saucers, but it’s larger and tougher with three times the weaponry, often winning fights by brute force.
Human Vehicle Table Terms and notation are as defined in Vehicle Statistics (pp. B462-463).
TL Vehicle
ST/HP Hnd/SR
HT
Move
LWt.
Load
SM
Occ.
DR
Range
Loc.
Stall Notes
PILOTING (AEROSPACE) (IQ-6, Piloting (High-Performance Airplane)-2, or other Piloting-4) 9
Aerospace 150 Fighter – in space – 10 The Venture 700
in space
–
–
+4/3
12f
-2/3 +1/5
13/800 –
12 -1/5
20
7.2
+4
1SV
1G/10 mps – – 15/1,500 1,000 73.6 +8
–
1.5G/36 mps
–
5
1,000
– – – 36ASV 300
–
–
–
G3WrWi –
–
– g
–
140
–
[1] –
– –
[2] –
PILOTING (HIGH-PERFORMANCE AIRPLANE) (IQ-6, Piloting (Aerospace, Heavy Airplane, or Light Airplane)-2, or other Piloting-4) 8
Air Force Jet 110
+3/3
12f
10/700
18.5
7.2
+4
1S
5
1,250
G3WrWi
120
[1]
Notes [1] Some models have Occ. 1+1, allowing for a gunner or passenger. [2] DR has Hardened 5 (ignoring all armor divisors) against kinetic attacks – projectiles, explosives, etc. – and Hardened 2 against energy beams.
Human Vehicular Weaponry Table Ranges here are given in miles, not yards. Terms and notation are as defined on pp. B268-271.
TL
Weapon
Damage
Acc
Range
Weight
RoF
Shots
188
1
1(20)
66!
1,000
ST
Bulk
Rcl
-13
1
Cost
Notes
ARTILLERY (GUIDED MISSILE) (IQ-5) 7
7
Air-to-Air Missile
6d¥8 [6d+1] cr ex
4
0.5/18.2
GUNNER (MACHINE GUN) (DX-4 or other Gunner-4) Vulcan Autocannon
6d¥3 pi++
5
0.7/3
251
22M
29M
-11
2
$50,000
[1]
$40,000
Note [1] Infrared-homing; see Guided and Homing Weapons (pp. B412-413) for rules. In Range, the number before the slash is missile speed (0.5 miles per second).
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CHAPTER FOUR
JOIN THE FIGHT Thousands of miles above the Earth, in one of hundreds of laboratories within a massive mothership, a lone Martian waited as his three supervisors entered. As the highest ranking officer, Field Commander Vilxo spoke first. “Tech Avren, you claim to have a weapon worthy of becoming a full project?” Avren bowed slightly, “Yes, Field Commander. I have found a way to accelerate the effects of our blaster energy on a living body.” After a few moments of murmuring among the supervisors, Engineer Nilbelb spoke. “Speaking as the most knowledgeable here about energy projection, I’ve read Tech Avren’s report, and it appears that this lensing does decrease intra-tissue spread time.” “And?” Vixlo prompted. Avren answered, “According to Planetary Forces reports, an enemy killed by a blaster can take up to one full second to die. This sometimes allows the foe to get off a final shot. It’s estimated that this happens approximately 5% of the time. If we assume an accuracy rate of 10% for a dying human, my change will reduce Martian wounds by approximately 0.5%. That will result in one fewer injured Martian for every 200 human soldiers.” Scientist Edev looked up with a frown, from where he had been reviewing video of the various tests. “Tech Avren, have you watched these videos? The ones where you tested it on actual human subjects?” “Yes, Scientist, of course I have.” “Mind your tone, Tech. I’ve just watched 20 of your subjects get shot, and not one of them reacts.” “Reacts, sir?” Avren was confused. “No screams. No convulsing. No reaction whatsoever. They just die.” At that, the field commander and engineer slid their seats over to watch this footage, while Avren searched for words. “Sirs? They don’t have a chance to react. It happens so quickly. That’s . . . that’s my whole point!” Field Commander Vilx o stood up angrily. “Your poin t is that they should die comfortably? Not even realizing who killed them? Maybe not even realizing that they’re being killed?!” Scientist Edev shook his head sadly. “A small reduction in our wounded is not worth offering aid and comfort to the
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enemy, Tech. I think we all assumed you knew that. Perhaps we were wrong.” As Avren stood, at a loss for words, the three supervisors shuffled out of the lab, murmuring among themselves. The silence lingered as the tech processed what had just happened. No way was he going to have this hurt his caree r. He just had to prove that the upgrade was worth using. Avren opened a communication to Captain Rettie. Martians didn’t use the word “friend,” but Avren considered Rettie a tentative ally. “Avren? I wasn’t expecting you. What’s going on?” “Rettie, if I told you I could help your grunts get shot less by burning the humans more quickly – so quickly that they didn’t even feel it – what would you say?” “I’d say that’s amazing! Why?” “Meet me in Hangar Four and I’ll show you.” Avren ended the call. Maybe his supervisors were shortsighted, but if he could prove real results, he might be able to go right over their heads. If not, this was still the right thing to do – even if he sometimes felt like the only Martian who could see that.
Mars Attacks can handle a wide range of protagonists and opposition; “an eclectic group of townies fights off giant bugs” is just as valid a premise as “elite Martian scientists steal resources from human civilians and soldiers.” This book thus supports many different types of heroes, both human and alien, from almost any background. The character templates on pp. 61-67 streamline this process, paring the hundreds of possible choices down to just a few simple decisions. But wait! Before you charge boldly ahead to create your character, make sure everyone is on the same page. The GM and players need to decide a few things: I The power level for the game. Consider using 100 points for “average people” like civilians and Martian grunts, or 175 points for “action heroes” like scientists and officers. These recommendations are a little higher than those on p. B487, but in a war this dangerous, the extra points will help ensure survivability – and more important, it fits the setting for “normal folks” to have hidden talents and the potential to do great things!
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I What races are allowed. In most games, the answer will be either “humans and maybe Tiger Corps aliens” or “Martians.” Mixed human/Martian parties aren’t normally found in a Mars Attacks game, but if you can find a way to justify it, go for it! I The initial campaign setting. Specifically, when in the timeline (pp. 7-19) will the game start, and where will it
take place? While this is more of a campaign-level question than a character-creation one, it affects traits such as languages (p. 55) and skills (pp. 58-59); the timing limits the availability of certain training while the location informs the best choices. For other, broader choices about the campaign as a whole, see Modern-Day Massacre (pp. 73-80).
CHARACTER TRAITS The GM has final say on which abilities are allowed in the campaign. As a general rule, most supernatural traits (Exorcism, Medium, etc.) don’t fit the feel and should be disallowed, while exotic abilities (like Hyperspectral Vision or Innate Attack) are best restricted to alien racial templates (pp. 59-61). If a player really wants a set of inappropriate traits, the GM can work with him to create a new alien race; see Other Aliens (p. 61) for more on this, including important cautions. Cinematic traits, however, fit just fine! Gadgeteer is nearly ubiquitous among Novas Vira members, sharpshooters probably have Gunslinger, and anyone might have Enhanced Defenses or Extra Attack. The only limit is whatever the GM considers “supernatural”; e.g., a martial artist with Flying Leap and Power Blow might fit, as long as those abilities were explicitly rationalized as “the result of intense physical training,” not “projected chi.”
to use a Martian mind-control beamer (pp. 29-30) starts at -5 and cannot be improved better than -2. This should be reserved for gear that is meant to feel especially “alien” (whether to humans or to Martians). The above applies exclusively to the rules to use gear. Attempts to repair gear take the standard TL-based penalties, while creating new gear uses the rules below.
TAECH LEVEL Mars Attacks game lacks a true baseline TL; at best, it could be described as “a mash-up of TL8 through TL10, with a splash of TL11^, but the feel of TL(6+4)^.” On top of this, fundamental to the setting is the idea that scientists are constantly inventing new, impossible creations, while everyday people are making use of Martian technology to stay alive in a wartorn world. Because of this, the rules for technological skills (p. B168) are relaxed significantly. Rather than impose the standard skill penalty, each attempt to use new alien gear (whether humans using Martian tech or vice-versa) should be subject to a familiarity penalty (p. B169) ranging from -2 (for devices that are “point and shoot” or otherwise fairly intuitive) to -5 (for technology that requires careful configuration before use). Every four hours of practice eliminates -1 of this penalty; e.g., a Martian using a human assault rifle would -2 until he’d had then four hours to shoot with it, then -1 be forat another four hours, no penalty afterward. If the GM doesn’t want to track time, as an optional rule, he can replace “every four hours of practice” with “every eight successful rolls.” The GM may always rule that the penalty cannot drop below a certain level; e.g., that the penalty for a human
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Inventing and Gadgeteering Science Division engineers and Novas Vira scientists are infamous for coming up with crazy new technology; sometimes it even works the first time! In general, this uses the rules from pp. B473-477, but modified as follows.
I For technology without a price tag, including all Martian gear, ignore price and focus on the meaning of each complexity level. Simple inventions make day-to-day life a little easier, Average ones solve problems or make important tasks less difficult, Complex creations change lives in some specific way, and Amazing inventions have a profound impact on the game world. For rules that require a specific cost, assume that a Simple invention has a base cost of $50; Average, $5,000; Complex, $500,000; and Amazing, $5,000,000. I Existing Martian beam weapons are treated as TL10. When inventing new beam weapons, the GM can use the TL listed in other books or stick with TL10 for simplicity.
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I Ignore “Required Skill Level” – anyone who can overcome the skill penalties may succeed through a stroke of genius! Luck is thus extremely useful for inventors. I Ignore the -5 for “technology totally new to the campaign.” Instead, inventors and gadgeteers are both subject to a new penalty: from -5 to -10 for technology that the GM doesn’t want to be common in the setting. This penalty reflects an unusually difficult application of science – one that justifies the rarity of such devices. I The GM should be generous with the +2 for “device already exists” and +5 for “working model.” In particular, having the remains of a broken piece of gear should give the +5, and a human creating Martian tech, even rare Martian tech, should get the +2.
destroyed, rebuilt, etc., by anyone; it is not particular to the character. If the GM feels that a proposed invention is too powerful to be available as general gear, use Unusual Background (Invention) (p. B477) to balance the cost.
the facilities listed facilities to build athat prototype I Lacking imposes -2 if working in proper simply don’t meet the minimum costs listed, -5 if working out of a well-stocked garage lab, or -10 fo r try ing to create electronics in a tool shed. I A new option, Shortcuts, is available. See below.
ate it; others will take familiarity penalties to use or fix it and full invention penalties to reverse-engineer it.
Example: A player wants her Martian, Varkark, to start with a “jet pack” that lets him safely fly at 200 mph. The GM decides that this is not common Martian technology, but he agrees to allow it as a Complex invention (a 30-point Unusual Background). The player can’t afford that, so she suggests adding some bugs. Eventually, the two compromise on a 50 mph jet pack, with a random side effect (p. B479) each time it’s used, as an Average invention for 15 points. Because Varkark invented it, he’s the only one who takes no penalties to use, repair, or recre-
Cybernetics see pp. 49-50 Science Division and the Novas Vira both have the ability to install cybernetics, and anyone in the Tiger Corps may have had them installed at some point in the past.
Shortcuts: You may take a bonus of your choice (up to +10) to your Concept and Prototype rolls. However, if this bears fruit, the GM will secretly roll 2d, add the bonus that you took, and then subtract the sum of your Concept and Prototype margins of success. If the result is positive, halve it and round up – that’s how many weird problems it has! The GM will alternate between the Gadget Bugs Table (p. B476) and the Random Side Effects Table (p. B479) until he fills this quota. You can try to fix these as a separate project, but as always, you will be immediately aware only of the visible issues; testing will be required to find the rest. These are in addition to the usual 1d-3 side effects if you use Weird Science (see p. B479).
Gadgeteer see p. B56 This advantage is the defining trait of techies. Both levels shouldand be available to humans Martians in even the most “realistic” campaign. For important changes to the usual rules for gadgeteering, see pp. 53-54.
Special Limitation
Example: Dr. J.R. Dobbs, a TL9 Novas Vira gadgeteer, is trying to create a handheld radscanner (GURPS UltraTech, p. 63) – an Average TL10 invention (net -7). He is working out of a garage lab (-5). The GM rules that this technology exists elsewhere (+2). His skill rolls are at a net -10 and he cannot afford to take extra time, so he offsets this with the full +10 for taking shortcuts. His Concept roll succeeds by 5, and 2d days later his Prototype roll succeeds by 8. The GM rolls 2d + 10 - 13 and gets a 3. Halving this means two problems; the GM will roll first for a bug, and then for a side effect.
ADVANTAGES Resist the temptation to build special, futuristic gear as advantages with gadget limitations. In Mars Attacks, technology is just that: technology. It can be copied, stolen,
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Specialized: Your Gadgeteer applies only to a limited set of technologies. Outside of that narrow range, you are a realistic engineer. You must choose what to specialize in. Valid options include but are not limited to those suggested below. -50%. Armaments: Anything involving melee weapons, firearms, beam weapons, explosives, etc. Biology: Anything involving diseases, mutations, physiology, medicine, etc. Computers: Anything involving computers, robots, programs, etc. Electronics: Anything involving circuits, relays, batteries, etc. – but not computers. Mechanics: Anything involving gears, springs, wheels, etc. – but nothing powered by electricity. Nuclear: Anything involving nuclear radiation, fusion, fission, etc.
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Vehicles: All forms of transpor tation, though no t their accessories or weaponry. This overlaps significantly with Electronics and Mechanics, but only where vehicles are concerned.
Gunslinger see p. B58 In this setting, Gunslinger gives these additional benefits.
I While you can’t add your gun’s Acc bonus when you Move and Attack, you can ignore its Bulk penalty and any extra penalties the GM assesses for jumping or acrobatics on foot. You even ignore Bulk while diving through windows and tumbling between foes! I Also ignore the rules for Bulk in close combat (p. B391). You don’t get your Acc bonus this close, but you never suffer a Bulk penalty. I When firing a gun with RoF 2-4, you can spread your shots between targets without using Spraying Fire (p. B409). Each attack is at -3 against two targets, -6 against three, or -9 against four. I Halve all Fast-Draw (Ammo) penalties. You can easily reload while moving, crouching behind cover, etc. I If the GM permits the cinematic skill Zen A rchery (p. B228) – and see the introduction to Character Traits (p. 53) for why he might – you may learn the gun version, Zen Marksmanship. It works identically, except you must specialize by shooting skill (and specialty) and the prerequisite becomes that skill at 18+ and Meditation .
Special Limitation Accessibility: Gunslinger normally applies to all weapons used with Beam Weapons, Guns, or Liquid Projector. If you’re trained only for certain types of guns, this is an Accessibility limitation with the value given below.
Limited by hands (e.g., “Accessibility, One-Handed Weapons Only”): -20%
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Limited by skill (e.g., “Accessibility, Beam Weapons Only”): -20% Limited by hands and skill (e.g., “Accessibility, TwoHanded Guns Only”): -40% Limited by specialty (e.g., “Accessibility, Beam Weapons (Pistol) Only”): -40% Limited by specialty and class (e.g., “Accessibility, Blaster Pistols Only”): -60%
High TL see p. B23 Due to the simplified approach to tech levels (pp. 53-54), this advantage is only an attractive option for techs: those who will be repairing or inventing new gear. Novas Vira members may take one level (to TL9), Tiger Corps should take two (to TL10), and Martians have two levels as part of their racial template (pp. 59-61). With GM permission, normal techies and Novas Vira members may be allowed to add a second level (to TL9 and TL10 respectively) a few months after the Martian invasion.
Languages see p. B23 “Martian” is a single language, reflecting the unified culture of Mars. It comprises harsh, nasal sounds, generally delivered in a staccato, piercing tone. Humans can learn to read, write, and understand the Martian language, though speaking it requires a special Martian vocoder (p. 50). However, unless the campaign takes place years after the initial invasion, very few humans will have had a chance to learn the Martian language. The Tiger Corps can provide up to Native training while the Novas Vira can teach up to Accented (rising to Native a few months after the invasion). Humans unaffiliated with either group will need a 5-point Unusual Background (“Former Abductee,” “Conspiracy Theorist,” etc.) to justify knowing the Martian language at all before the invasion, or to learn it at better than Accented on their own afterward. Once play begins, humans may spend earned character points on the Martian language, to the limits listed above (that is, only up to Accented without help from the Novas Vira or Tiger Corps). Martians may start off knowing any Earth language, as they have had centuries to study humanity. This allows them to read, write, and understand the language, though they cannot speak it without aid. Martians have equivalent gear to the human vocoder, though many consider using it embarrassing – ashamed of hearing their beautifully piercing screeches turned into indistinct and meaningless murmurs. Because of this, “translation work” is often left to low-ranking assistants from Science Division and those training to become Undercover Agents (p. 24). Martian PCs may spend earned character points in play to learn human languages up to Accented; Native fluency requires active training with a trained linguist – or a human tutor!
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The inability for humans and Martians to speak in the other’s language(s) is a 0-point feature, as it can be easily overcome via inexpensive technology. “Elorian” is its own language as well, but General Jaret has trained the Tiger Corps in English. Only a Tiger Corps member (or someone trained by one) would know Elorian at any level. Both humans and Martians can speak it with only modest difficulty, and Elorians can learn to speak the languages of those races as well.
you for some reason. Any frequency of appearance up to 12 or less is possible, but they are not Highly Accessible, so you’ll need to catch them when they’re nearby. Having both Patrons provides no discount. In practice, they overlap little.
Rank see p. B29
range of languages! a Martianvast focused game, the GM In may wish to simplify these somewhat, by declaring that the campaign will feature only certain human languages. For example, players of Martians being deployed to China could be told, “If you’re learning human languages, focus on Mandarin and Cantonese; the other Chinese languages do exist, but to keep things simple, I promise that anyone you interact with will speak at least one of those two languages.” Alternatively, as an optional rule, the GM may allow “wildcard languages” (analogous with wildcard skills, pp. 59 and B175). These are purchased at triple cost and cover broad swaths of linguistic familiarity; e.g., Chinese! would cover every dialect of Chinese and closely related languages like Burmese and Tibetan, as well as ignore any issues involved
Mars has a highly stratified culture in which Status, Administrative Rank, and Military Rank are indelibly tied together. To represent this, use Martian Rank at 10 points/level; for Martians, this advantage also replaces Status for all purposes. Martian Rank also indirectly replaces Wealth (p. 57) as a measure of what sort of resources the individual can command. Each rank lists a base “assistance roll” (AR). When a Martian makes a request of his superiors, roll against AR as modified below. Success produces results, failure by 1-9 does not, and failure by 10+ (or critical failure) may trigger disciplinary action depending on the circumstances. For a more thorough treatment of this, use the more detailed rules in GURPS Social Engineering: Pulling Rank.
in speaking say, a cryo-specimen 64) from tury China. to, Language Talent has its(p. usual effect10th-cenon wildcard languages, improving the fluency for the entire group by one step, to a maximum of Native.
Modifiers: -1 per AR after the first during the current adventure; from -10 to +5 depending on the appropriateness and difficulty of the request; any applicable Reputation possessed by the asker.
Simplifying Language Contrasted with Mars, Earth has a
Longevity see p. B66 Thanks to a breakthrough in cell-rejuvenating technology, this trait is very common among Novas Vira members. Before the invasion, many members wanted to release the formula to the general public, but Director Quentin feared the attention that would draw.
Patrons see p. B72 The Novas Vira is a 20-point Patron with Special Abilities at the +50% level. Frequency of appearance is usually 6 or less, though 9 or less can reflect a “ high-ranking” scientific adventurer. Patron (Novas Vira) includes the Tiger Corps . . . in theory. Specifically requesting the Tiger Corps’ intervention is likely to get whatever help the Novas Vira thinks you actually need – which, to be fair, sometimes is the Tiger Corps! The Tiger Corps is available as a separate 10-point Patron with Special Abilities at the +50% level. This reflects a bond with the team itself – or a duty they owe to
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Rank 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
AR 3 5 7 9 10 11 12 13 14
Typical Position(s) Grunt or Insect Handler Marine, Infiltrator, or Robot Op Saucer/Fighter Pilot or Tech Captain or Surgeon Engineer or Scientist Field Commander or Project Head High Commander or Division Head General or Regent Supreme Regent
Status see p. B28 Martians are extremely conscious of status, but their Status trait is subsumed into Rank (above).
Talent see p. B89 The following Talents fit the setting particularly well. Craftiness is part of the training that Undercover Agent Martians (p. 24) receive but is also generally available.
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Circuit Sense: Electrician, Electronics Operation, Electronics Repair, and Engineer (Electrical and Electronics). Reaction bonus: anyone you use your skills for. 5 points/level. Craftiness: Acting, Camouflage, Disguise, Holdout, Shadowing, and Stealth. Note: Instead of a reaction bonus, Craftiness adds its level to any roll to oppose any of these skills. 5 points/level.
Wealth see p. B25 Martians cannot take Wealth as an advantage or disadvantage; they do not use money. Resources are assigned to each Martian based on his Rank (p. 56), current projects, and favor in the eyes of the Empire. In theory, humans may have any level of Wealth. However, the initial Martian invasion targeted the currency centers of the world – in particular, the New York, London, and Tokyo Stock Exchanges – after which anyone with significant monetary reserves effectively lost everything. Thus, the GM should feel free to limit Wealth to a certain level (such as Comfortable) unless the player can satisfactorily explain why his assets happened to all be in useful (“liquid”) forms.
means that you are free to make logical decisions; you do not have to make a self-control roll when given the opportunity to advance your social position in a dangerous, ill-informed way. I Because of the two changes above, humans who get to know you will react to you at no penalty, avoiding the -3 from Sadism and -3 from Selfish. In most Martian-based games, the PCs will be expected to take this trait – unless everyone is okay with being “evil”! It often accompanies Xenophilia (p. 58), but does not have to. For more on the mindset that this trait helps you avoid, see The Martian Mind (p. 28).
Statistics: No Sadism [7]; No Selfish [10]; Social Stigma (Humane) [-15]; two quirks [-2]. 0 points.
DISADVANTAGES The Martian mind is similar enough to the human one that standard GURPS mental disadvantages are applicable to both sides of this war.
Intolerance see p. B140 When two sides are at war, a certain degree of mutual hatred is a given, not a special case! Thus, Intolerance of the other species should be reserved for characters who take it personally. A typical human with Intolerance (Martians) will
META-TRAITS The following meta-trait is only available to Martians – those with the Martian (p. 60) or Undercover Agent Martian (p. 60) racial template.
Humane 0 points You’re almost kind-hearted . . . for a Martian. You don’t see the point in tormenting those less fortunate than you, though you’ll still do it if you have a reason. Furthermore, while you certainly care about status and social advancement (who wouldn’t?), you’re not as obsessed with it as most of your compatriots. This has a mix of benefits and drawbacks:
I Your racial Sadism (15) is replaced by the quirk “Sadistic toward anyone who genuinely wrongs me.” This frees you from having to make self-control rolls when presented with a chance to hurt a victim. For example, in a fight, you don’t have to linger and hurt a victim – you can move on to face new threats or get to safety. I Your racial Selfish (6) is replaced with Social Stigma (Humane) and the quirk “Concerned with status and social advancement.” This replaces the occasional -3 reaction penalty for lashing out at others with a permanent -3 for being perceived as weak by your peers. However, it
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go out of way toraiders, make attacks on his Martian sabotage Martian gear, etc., even if doing so is particularly risky or may expose his resistance group. A Martian saucer pilot with Intolerance (Humans) will delay attacking his specified strategic target, first detouring to wipe out crowds of humans running on the ground. When such an opportunity comes up, the bigot must succeed at a Will roll to stave off these impulses. Alternatively, as an optional rule, the GM may give Intolerance (Humans or Martians) a self-control number, as per p. B121.
Low TL see p. B22 This disadvantage is not generally available, due to the simplified approach to tech level (pp. 53-54). If the GM makes an exception, he should impose the standard rules for technological skills (p. B168) on that character,to make this fair.
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Xenophilia see p. B162 You sympathize with the other side. You’ll go out of your way to avoid taking alien lives and will do your best to encourage others to do so. When your own people see you doing this, it earns you a reaction penalty (as a “sympathizer”) equal to the reverse of the listed Fright Check bonus; e.g., -3 with Xenophilia (9). You are not foolish enough to trust your enemy or think that they have your best intentions at heart! A human with Xenophilia would still grab a weapon and hide if a group of Martians landed in his town.
Special Enhancement Trusting: Deep inside, you believe that your alien enemies are actually good people. If they don’t appear obviously aggressive (armed, bloody, etc.), you must make a self-control roll to consider them a threat. If the human above had Xenophilia (Trusting) and the Martians were unarmed, his first instinct would be to approach them and ask what they wanted. +50%.
Wealth see p. 57 See p. 57 for special considerations about Wealth in this setting.
SKILLS All skills that take physiology modifiers (p. B181) must be specialized in either Human or Martian. These mandatory specialties default to each other at -6. See Tech Level (pp. 53-54) for important changes to /TL skills.
Earth: In theory, any Martian might have this skill . . . but in practice, there’s a stigma among those who want to learn more about humanity. Thus, in practice, this skill is not widespread; it tends to be restricted to scientists, generals, etc. This is not a prohibition against PCs learn ing Expert Skill (Earth), however – PCs are supposed to be special. Mars: To most humans, the Martians seem a terrifying enigma, here to destroy our way of life strictly for the thrill of it. It’s only through the coordinated efforts of the Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, and other human xenologists that Earth is starting to understand more about its alien invaders. Before the invasion, ties to such a group are required to know this skill at all; after the invasion, anyone might have 1 or 2 points in it, or more if they’ve had an opportunity to learn from an expert.
Psychology see p. B216
Beam Weapons see p. B179 In a Mars Attacks game, all three specialties also default to DX-based Games (First-Person Shooter) at -4.
Biology see p. B180 Biology (Rock Worlds) cannot be used to answer questions about Martian biology. Instead, use the unique specialty Biology (Mars) for that; this specialty has no default for humans.
This skill is available as two different mandatory specialties: Human and Martian. The two default to each other at -4. A human may put only 1 point into Psychology (Martian) – unless he also knows Expert Skill (Mars), in which case his Psychology (Martian) may be up to two levels higher than his Expert Skill. The same is true for Martians, as regards Psychology (Human) and Expert Skill (Earth).
Example: A Martian with IQ 13 and no Expert Skill can learn Psychology (Martian) with no upper bound, but is limited to Psychology (Human)-11 [1]. If he took the time to learn Expert Skill (Earth)-13 [4], he could raise the skill as high as Psychology (Human)-15 [12].
Weird Science
Expert Skill see p. B193 The two new specialties below represent knowledge of the enemy. Humans should not learn Expert Skill (Earth) just as Martians should not take Expert Skill (Mars); to
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answer general questions about your own race and planet, make an IQ roll, at a bonus for common knowledge. Either skill can stand in for Anthropology, Biology, Geography (Political), History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, or Theology for answering general questions about the planet and its sapient race. The GM should be particularly strict regarding Psychology; e.g., Expert Skill (Mars) allows broad generalities about the Martian psyche, but not a detailed psychoanalysis of one particular Martian!
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see p. B228
This skill is almost mandatory for any inventor (see Inventing and Gadgeteering, pp. 53-54) or anyone who will be investigating strange, alien technology. With the +5 from a successful Weird Science roll, even nongadgeteers have a solid chance of inventing crazy new tech!
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However, remember the additional side effects when Weird Science is used to create new inventions (see p. B479).
WILDCARD SKILLS The GM may allow wildcard skills (p. B175) in a Mars Attacks game. If so, players have the option of replacing any of the skills and advantages in a template with a wildcard skill that effectively subsumes them. Because Talents never add to wildcard skills, they should be one of the advantages on the chopping block if the wildcard will replace skills formerly boosted by a Talent. The biggest benefit of wildcard skills is that, in addition to substituting for several normal skills, they assume familiarity anything covered by the skill’s concept. In other words,with wildcard skills never take a familiarity penalty, even for the purposes discussed in Tech Level (pp. 53-54). A wildcard skill that includes Piloting would allow a human to jump into the cockpit of a Martian fighter and begin flying it like a pro! The penalties for repairing and inventing new tech are not familiarity penalties, however, and are thus not mitigated by a wildcard skill. See GURPS Power-Ups 7: Wildcard Skills for more tips, rules, and sample skills. The following wildcard skills are only suggestions, to go with Detective!, Gun!, Science!, and Sword! from the Basic Set. Players are encouraged to think of new ones, though the GM will have to vet the specific effects, as always. Each
skill listed begins by noting its default attribute, but also calls out when a specific use of that skill requires using it with another attribute (p. B172); for example, Animals! is usually IQ-based, but “floats” to Per when fishing or to DX for the purpose of riding a mount. For simplicity, the wildcard skills below replace all specialties of the listed skills (e.g., Fix-It! can repair just about anything, and Doctor! can be used on humans, Martians, and all other aliens).
Animals! (IQ): Replaces Animal Handling, Falconry, Fishing (Per), Packing, Riding (DX), Teamster, Veterinary, and any Influence Skill used on an animal. Burglar! (DX): Replaces Climbing, Escape, Filch, Forced Entry, Holdout (IQ), Lockpicking (IQ), Pickpocket, Stealth, Streetwise (IQ), and Traps (IQ). Commander! (IQ): Replaces Administration, Intelli gence Analysis, Leadership, Public Speaking, Soldier, Tactics, and Strategy. Cop! (IQ): Replaces Criminology, Detect Lies (Per), Forensics, Intelligence Analysis, Interrogation, Law, Observation (Per), Search (Per), and Streetwise. Doctor! (IQ): Replaces Biology, Diagnosis, First Aid, Pharmacy, Physician, Physiology, Poisons, Surgery, and Veterinary. Gamer! (DX): Replaces Battlesuit, Beam Weapons, Driving, Games (IQ), Piloting, and Tactics (IQ). Fix-It! (IQ): Replaces Armoury, Electrician, Electronics Repair, Machinist, and Mechanic. Inventor! (IQ): Replaces Bioengineering, Engineer, and any skill roll required for inventing or gadgeteering. Space Cadet! (IQ): Replaces Beam Weapons (DX), Gunner (DX), Piloting (DX), Shiphandling, Spacer, and any roll to operate or repair spacesh ip equipment. Socialite! (IQ): Replaces Acting, Detect Lies (Per), Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Leadership, Public Speaking, Savoir-Faire, and Sex Appeal (HT). Survivor! (IQ): Replaces Camouflage, Fishing (Per), Hiking (HT), Mimicry, Naturalist, Navigation, Survival (Per), Swimming (HT), Tracking (Per), and Weather Sense. Ten-Hut! (IQ): Replaces Camouflage, Explosives, First Aid, Forward Observer, Gesture, Hiking (HT), Parachuting (DX), Running (HT), Scuba, Soldier, Stealth (DX), and Tactics.
RACIAL TEMPLATES Most campaigns will be fairly simple – either everyone is human (Barbarians at the Gate, pp. 73-77) or everyone is a Martian (Destroy the Human Menace, pp. 77-80) – which should make this a short section! However, if the GM allows Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44) PCs, that opens the door for other races. The templates below intentionally ignore racial Appearance. Humans, Martians, and Elorians all find each other disconcerting, but the hatred between the races is far more
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than skin-deep. Optionally, the GM can include the following package on everyone’s character sheet – human or alien, PC or NPC – lowering the power level of the campaign commensurately. (Treat the Undercover Agent Martian as human, since virtually no one knows otherwise.)
Disadvantages: Appearance (Monstrous; Racial) [-20]; Reputation -4 (The Enemy; Humans or Martians; Always) [-10]. -30 points.
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MARTIAN The Game-Changer
0 points Martians are humanoids from Mars. Their bodies are proportioned similarly to humans; most stand between 5’ and 6’ tall. Their faces lack skin – they have a mouth, nasal cavity, and eyes, but no lips, nose, or eyelids. This also allows their eyes to turn further, dramatically increasing their field of vision. Their brains are fully exposed, representing a significant weak spot, which is one of the reasons they use fully enclosed helmets rather than simple respirators to breathe. They are no harder to hurt than a human (advanced armor
In a human-based campaign that’s intended to have a clear endpoint, the GM may want to add some form of Susceptible, Vulnerability, or Weakness to the two Martian templates. This represents an Achilles’ heel for the humans to discover. Once they do, eradicating the Martians becomes much easier – possibly even trivial. The specifics can range from the believable (Susceptible 7 (Prions) [-7]) to the ridiculous (Weakness (Country music; 1d per minute) [-40]).
† See Humane (p. 57) for a simple way to reduce these
notwithstanding), butThey they live tendtotoberecover much faster they survive the fight. about 200 years old.if Martians do not appear to have sexes; when speaking human languages, they universally refer to each other using masculine pronouns. Their details of reproduction are unknown to humans and shouldn’t come up in a Martian-based game, so we’re just going to leave that topic untouched, thank you very much. (Though see Mars Needs Women, p. 70, for a different take.)
Advantages: Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; G-Experience (Earth and Mars) [1]; High TL 2 [10]; Peripheral Vision [15]; Rapid Healing [5]. Disadvantages: Chauvinistic [-1]; Gluttony (12) [-5]; Overconfidence (9) [-7]; No Skull [-3]*; Sadism (15) [-7]†; Selfish (6) [-10]†. Features: Breathes Carbon Dioxide; Low-Pressure Lungs. * Martian brains are not protected by the usual DR 2.
traits.
UNDERCOVER AGENT MARTIAN 0 points A few Martians have gene sequences that make them eligible to undergo radical genetic therapy, augmented by powerful serums, as part of the Undercover Agent (p. 24) program. Once complete, the Martian is physically indistinguishable from a normal human being – though intense psychological training is needed to maintain the act! The Agent’s skin becomes pliable and adjustable (net +8 to Disguise from Craftiness and Elastic Skin), and his voice can be modulated, allowing him to impersonate specific people. Unfortunately, this process invariably causes serious mental instability in the subject. Every month, the Agent must roll against unmodified Will; success staves off further insanity, while failure accumulates negative character points equal to half the margin of failure (round for the worse), or the full margin of a critical failure. The GM will first turn these into quirks, then upgrade those quirks to full-fledged disadvantages as sthings get worse; for PCs, the player will not know about these changes until they come up in play!
Advantages: Bivocal [1]*; Craftiness 4 (p. 57) [20]; Elastic Skin [20]; Extended Lifespan 1 [2]; G-Experience (Earth and Mars) [1]; High TL 2 [10]; Language (One human language at Native) [6]†; Mimicry [10]; Rapid Healing [5]. Disadvantages: Chauvinistic [-1]; Gluttony (12) [-5]; Overconfidence (9) [-7]; Sadism‡ (15) [-7]; Secret (Martian Agent) [-30]; Selfish‡ (6) [-10]; Weird-Science Curse§ (Will gradually go insane) [-15]. Features: Breaths Nitrogen/Oxygen. * Can speak Martian and human languages without assistance, due to altered larynx; functionally equivalent to Accessory (Vocoder). † If the Martian has Language Talent, change this cost to [4] and add another language at Accented [2]. ‡ See Humane (p. 57) for a simple way to remove these traits. § What Divine Curse (p. B132) becomes when it’s unnatural, not supernatural.
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ELORIAN 0 points Several of the aliens in the Tiger Corps, including Corus and his bounty hunters, are from Eloria Prime. These Elorians are humanoid, with tan skin and bald heads dominated by bumpy ridges that arc from the Elorian’s forehead to the back of his head (“mohawk style”). These ridges are actually secondary ocular sensors, enhancing the Elorian’s sight to perceive infrared radiation; a welcome side effect is that the Elorian becomes much harder to surprise. Elorians have two sexes; both males and females can be found among the Tiger Corps. Their average lifespan is 90 years. They speak their own language (p. 56), but General Jaret has taught them all English as well. Advantages: Combat Reflexes [15]; English (Native) [6]; Infravision [10]; Sanitized Metabolism [1]. Disadvantages: Bad Temper (12) [-10]; Curious (9) [-7]; Impulsiveness (12) [-10]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]. Features: Breathes Nitrogen/Argon.
OTHER ALIENS Mars Attacks is, of course, focused on the war between the Martians and humans. The existence of the Tiger Corps justifies bringing in other types of aliens, but be cautious when doing so. As new alien races are added to the
campaign, it becomes easy to lose sight of the basic “Earth vs. Mars” theme that helps to define this setting. That said, the GM and players can mine existing GURPS books for further alien templates, including the Basic Set (Felinoid, p. B261), and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol. Many of the bioroids, chimeras, and parahumans from GURPS Bio -Tech and Transhuman Space: Bioroid Bazaar also make excellent alien races, though the GM may want to make minor adjustments to maintain the “pulp” sci-fi feel of Mars Attacks rather than the “hard science fiction” presumed by those supplements. Perhaps none of these pregenerated templates will scratch the player’s itch (or do what a GM wants for an NPC), and you’ll want to design one from scratch. Full rules for doing so can be found on pp. B450-454. It’s important to remember that the GM has the right to design all racial templates – and that even if he delegates this to a player, he retains the final say about what goes in. If a player’s proposed “transdimensional warper” race with Insubstantiality and Invisibility would throw off the balance of the campaign, the GM shouldn’t hesitate to say so. However, rather than a flat veto, try to find a compromise that satisfies the player’s wants while still working within the structure of the game. Finally, note that no rule states that alien racial templates must be 0 points! The fact that those in this chapter are is simply a convenience (one fewer value to add) that also emphasizes how no race is objectively “better” than the others.
CHARACTER TEMPLATES The simplest and most balanced way to create a character is to choose a character template. To use one, simply pay its point cost, select any options it leaves open, and write down the abilities it gives you. If you chose a template that costs less than the campaign’s power level (p. B487), spend the additional points to further customize the character. Furthermore, you may always take up to five quirks and spend those points however you’d like. See How to Use Character Templates (p. B258) for further guidelines. To keep things simple, each template covers a wide range of appropriate character types for a given power level. When you take the template, it will usually ask you to pick a single lens that adds appropriate advantages and skills. (Be sure not to choose a trait from the general list of choices that duplicates one included in your lens, unless it comes in levels.) This way, it’s easy for the GM to add new character types; rather than having to create an entirely new template for each one, he can just come up with a lens!
if this is a far cry from the kind of situation you’re used to, you’ll be damned if you’ll just roll over and surrender. You’re probably not going to fight them directly – you’re
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really not trained for that kind of thing! – but you’ll do what you can to mess up their plans, all while trying to stay alive, of course.
100 points You are a competent, self-sufficient person, capable of handling almost anything that life could throw at you . . . but aliens?! You really weren’t expecting that. Still, even
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Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 11 [20]; HT 10 [0]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 11 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5.25 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0].
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HEROES AND HUNTERS As an alternative to using the templates here, the GM may allow players to choose from those in GURPS Action (in a cinematic game) or GURPS Monster Hunters(in a very cinematic game!). The man-vs.-alien theme of Mars Attacks can fit either genre; aliens in pulp novels have always faced off against square-jawed action heroes, and monster-hunting champions are built for taking on inhuman threats!
GURPS Action 250-point templates areany a natural fit with Action oneThe exception: The heroes don’t have knowledge of aliens! That’s easily fixed as long as at least one PC takes this new lens:
Novas Vira (20 points): You’re either part of or trained by the Novas Vira – armed with knowledge of your Martian enemy. The Martian language is technically an advantage, but it’s included in the skill list here for simplicity.
Skills: Expert Skill (Mars) (H) IQ-1 [2]. I Another 18 points chosen from Martian Language (Broken or Accented) [2 or 4]; Beam Weapons (any) (E) DX+1 [2]; Computer Programming, Engineer (any), or Psychology (Martian), all (H) IQ-1 [2]; Scrounging (E) Per+1 [2]; Urban Survival (A) Per [2]; or spend 2 or 6 points to raise any lens skill by one or two levels. Social Traits: You may have Duty (Novas Vira) and can spend some of your advantage points on Patron (Novas Vira) – see Patrons (p. 56) for details.
GURPS Monster Hunters If the GM uses Monster Hunters, he should either make sure he’s comfortable bringing supernatural forces (magic, gods, etc.) into the game, or take steps to excise them completely (banning the crusader, witch, and so on). As GURPS Monster Hunters 5: Applied Xenology addresses this issue and alien threats, it is a must-have for such a game. In addition, the GM will need this small addition to the Know Thy Enemy list:
I Martians: Biology (Mars) (VH) IQ-2 [2]; Expert Skill (Mars) (H) IQ-1 [2]; Psychology (Martian)* (H) IQ-1 [2]. * Requires Expert Skill (Mars).
Alien Action Heroes? Up for an interesting twist? There’s no reason you can’t use the Action or Monster Hunters templates with Martian characters! A scouting consisting a blaster-wielding shooter, Science party Division wire rat,of and sadistic cleaner is a viable (if arguably weird) combination. The templates will need a bit more tweaking for the skills to fit the Martians (at least changing certain specialties), but it could definitely be worth the effort.
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Advantages: One of DX +1 [20], IQ +1 [20], or both ST +1 [10] and HT +1 [10]. I Another 25 points chosen from Will or Per +1 to +3 [5/level], Absolute Direction [5], Acute Sense (any) [2/level], Animal Empathy [5], Appearance [Varies], Charisma [5/level], Common Sense [10], Danger Sense [15], Fit [5], Luck [15], Pitiable [5], Sensitive [5] or Empathy [15], or Talent [Varies]. Disadvantages: -40 points chosen from reduced Basic Speed [Varies], Absent-Mindedness [-15], Appearance [Varies], Bad Back [-15 or -25], Bad Sight [-25] or (Mitigator, Glasses, -60%) [-10], Charitable [-15*], Chummy [-5] or Gregarious [-10], Cowardice [-10*], Delusion (e.g., “Aliens aren’t real!”) [-5 to -15], Easy to Read [-10], Guilt Complex [-5], Honesty [-10*], Klutz [-5], Laziness [-10], Lecherousness [-15*], Low Pain Threshold [-10], Low Self Image [-10], Odious Personal Habits [-5 to -15], Pacifism [Varies], Phobia [Varies], Shyness [-5 to -20], Stubbornness [-5], Unluckiness [-10], Xenophilia [-10*] or Xenophilia (Trusting, +50%) [-15*], or Weirdness Magnet [-15]. Primary Skills: Five of Brawling, Bicycling, Guns (Pistol, Shotgun, or Rifle)†, or Jumping, all (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Climbing, Driving (any), Filch, Stealth, or Wrestling, all (A) DX [2]-11; Area Knowledge (any), Computer Operation, First Aid, Games (any), or Housekeeping, all (E) IQ+1 [2]-12; Acting, Connoisseur (any), Fast-Talk, Leadership, or Merchant, all (A) IQ [2]-11; Artist (any), Diplomacy, or Naturalist, all (H) IQ-1 [2]-10; Carousing or Swimming, both (E) HT+1 [2]-11; Hiking or Running, both (A) HT [2]-10; Intimidation (A) Will [2]-11; Scrounging (E) Per+1 [2]-12; or Body Language (A) Per [2]-11. Spend point on Secondary and unchosen Background Skills:skills, each of five primary at1one level lower. Lens: 40 points spent on one of the lenses below. * Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120. † If it fits the setting; civilian gun laws vary from country to country.
Lenses Gamer: DX +1 [20]; Games (First-Person Shooter) (E) IQ+4 [12]-15; and Tactics (H) IQ+1 [8]-12. Notes: You’ve got fast reflexes and experience fighting virtual aliens. Your default Beam Weapons (any) skill is 12; see Beam Weapons (p. 58) for why. Lucky Shmuck: Extraordinary Luck [30]. I Another 10 points chosen from Hard to Kill 1-5 [2/level] or up to five additional primary skills. Notes: You don’t bring anything obvious to the group, but you often end up saving the day almost accidentally! Artificer 3 [30];(H) Electrician (A) MathIQ+2 Mechanic: [1]-13; Engineer (Electronics) IQ+3 [4]-14; ematics (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; and Mechanic (Automobile) (A) IQ+4 [4]-15. Notes: Electrician, Engineer, and Mechanic include +3 from Artificer. For you, all Electronics Repair and Mechanic skills default to IQ, and Armoury (any) defaults to IQ-2.
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Socialite: Charisma 1 [5]; Empathy [15]; Voice [10]; Detect Lies (H) Per+2 [2]-13; Diplomacy (H) IQ+1 [2]-12; Fast-Talk (A) IQ+2 [2]-13; Leadership (A) IQ+1 [2]-12;and Sex Appeal (A) HT+2 [2]-12.Notes: Detect Lies includes +3 from Empathy, Leadership includes +1 from Charisma, and all other skills include +2 from Voice. Zoo Employee: Ally (Powerful animal; Built on 100%; Constantly) [20]; Animal Empathy [5]; Animal Handling (as appropriate for Ally) (A) IQ+3 [12]-14; Naturalist (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; and Veterinary (H) IQ-1 [2]-10. Notes: Decide on an appropriate animal ally with the GM; find some ideas at pp. B455-461.
HUMAN COMBATANT 175 points You’re tough and you know how to fight, whether because you fight for a cause or you’ve led a rough life. When aliens dropped out of the sky, you knew there was no way you could let them just roll over the human race! These Martians are tough, but a well-placed shot with a decent gun will drop them just like any threat. If you’re a member of the United Earth Alliance, see Membership (pp. 44- 46) for advantages a nd disadvantages appropriate to soldiers from specific nations. If you defeat the enemy with your genius, not with your brawn and quick reaction time, use Human Tech (p. 64) instead of this template.
Attributes: ST 11 [10]; DX 13 [60]; IQ 12 [40]; HT 12 [20]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+1; BL 24 lbs.; HP 11 [0]; Will 12 [0]; Per 12 [0]; FP 12 [0]; Basic Speed 6.25 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0]. Advantages: Combat Reflexes [15]. I Another 35 points chosen from ST or HT +1 to +3 [10/level], DX or IQ +1 [20], Will or Per +1 to +4 [5/level], increased Basic Speed [Varies], Absolute Direction [5], Acute Senses (any) [2/level], Ambidexterity [5], Charisma [5/level], Danger Sense [15], Daredevil [15], Eidetic Memory [5], Enhanced Dodge 1 [15], Extra Attack 1 [25], Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5], Gunslinger [25], Hard to Kill [2/level], Hard to Subdue [2/level], High Pain Threshold [10], Intuition [15], Language (Martian)† [2-6], Luck [15] or Extraordinary Luck [30], Night Vision [1/level], Outdoorsman 1-3 [10/level], Patron (Novas Vira or Tiger Corps, p. 56)† [Varies], Penetrating Voice [1], Peripheral Vision [15], Rapid Healing [5], Serendipity [15/level], or Signature Gear [Varies].
Code of Honor [-5 to -15], Curious [-5*], Duty (Military, Novas Vira, etc.) [Varies], Fanaticism [-15], Flashbacks [-5 to -20], Guilt Complex [-5], Hard of Hearing [-10], Impulsiveness [-10*], Intolerance (Martians)† [-5], Intolerance (other) [-5 or -10], Jealousy [-10], Lecherousness [-15*], Nightmares [-5*], Oblivious [-5], Odious Personal Habits [-5 to -15], On the Edge [-15*], Overconfidence [-5*], Paranoia [-10], Post-Combat Shakes [-5*], Sense of Duty [Varies], Short Attention Span [-10*], Shyness [-5 to -20], Skinny [-5], Stubbornness [-5], Trickster [-15*], Truthfulness [-5*], or Wounded [-5]. Primary Skills: Two of Beam Weapons (any)† or Guns (any), both (E) DX+2 [4]-15; or take just one at (E) DX+3 [8]-16. I Two of Brawling or Knife, both (E) DX [1]-13; or Fast-Draw (Ammo, Knife, Long Arm, or Pistol) (E) DX+1 [1]-14‡. Secondary Skills: Five of Forced Entry, Gunner (any), Jumping, or Liquid Projector (any), all (E) DX+1 [2]-14; Battlesuit†, Boxing, Climbing, Driving (any), Riding (any), Throwing, Stealth, or Wrestling, all (A) DX [2]-13; Acrobatics (H) DX-1 [2]-12; Area Knowledge (any), Camouflage, or First Aid, all (E) IQ+1 [2]-13; Animal Handling (e.g., Dogs), Armoury (Heavy Weapons or Small Arms), or Holdout, all (A) IQ [2]-12; Expert Skill (Mars)† or Tactics, both (H) IQ-1 [2]-11; Carousing (E) HT+1 [2]-13; Running (A) HT [2]-12; or Body Language, Observation, or Tracking, all (A) Per [2]-12. Background Skills: Spend 1 point on each of five unchosen secondary skills, at one level lower. Lens: 10 points spent on one of the lenses below. * Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120. † Depending on the campaign premise, this may be inappropriate for starting characters. ‡ Includes +1 from Combat Reflexes.
Lenses Cop: Intelligence Analysis (H) IQ [4]-12; Interrogation (A) IQ [2]-12; Observation (A) Per [2]-12; and Search (A) Per [2]-12.
points chosen Disadvantages: from reduced -40 Basic Speed [Varies], Absent-Mindedness [-15], Alcoholism [-15], Appearance [Varies], Bad Temper [-10*], Bloodlust [-10*], Bully [-10*], Charitable [-15*], Clueless [-10],
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Criminal: Escape (H) DX-1 [2]-12; Lockpicking (A) IQ+1 [4]-13; and Streetwise (A) IQ+1 [4]-13. Soldier: Fit [5]; First Aid (E) IQ [1]-12; and Soldier (A) IQ+1 [4]-13. Survivalist: Camouflage (E) IQ [1]-12; Naturalist (H) IQ [4]-12; Navigation (Land) (A) IQ-1 [1]-11; Survival (any) (A) Per [2]-12; and Tracking (A) Per [2]-12.
[15] or Extraordinary Luck [30], Patron (Novas Vira or Tiger Corps, p. 56)‡ [Varies], Signature Gear [Varies], Single-Minded [5], or Unusual Background (Invention) [5, 15, or 30]. Disadvantages: -40 points chosen from ST -1 [-10], Will or Per -1 to -3 [-5/level], reduced Basic Speed [Varies], Absent-Mindedness [-15], Appearance [Varies], Bad Sight [-25] or (Mitigator, Glasses, -60%) [-10], Charitable [-15*], Chummy [-5] or Gregarious [-10] or Loner [-5*], Clueless [-10], Compulsive Gadgeteering [-5*], Curious [-5*], Delusion RYO PECIMENS (“Technology is always safe and fixes all probScience Division’s Project: Deep Freeze (p. 27) essenlems!”) [Varies], Easy to Read [-10], Gullibility tially consisted of Martians visiting Earth repeatedly [-10], Impulsiveness [-10*], Intolerance (Marover the past seve ral centuries, taking humans ( Historical tians)‡ [-5], Low Self-Image [-10], Oblivious [-5], Abductions, p. 7) and freezing them for later experimenShort Attention Span [-10*], Stubbornness [-5], tation and study. Truthfulness [-5*], or Xenophilia [-10*]. Early in the invasion, sau cers carr ying several of these Primary Skills: Scrounging (E) Per [1]-14 and cryo-specimens crashed. Assuming the “corpsicles” surWeird Science (VH) IQ-1 [4]-13. vived the crash, the automated thawing systems would Secondary Skills: Five of Beam Weapons (any)‡, have revived them. The end result is that at least the folGunner (any), or Guns (any), all (E) DX+2 [4]-12; lowing are likely running a round on Earth right now: Battlesuit‡ or Driving (any), both (A) DX+1 [4]-11; First Aid (E) IQ+2 [4]-16; Armoury (any§), ArtilI A 12th-century Japanese samurai. lery (any§), Electrician, Electronics Operation I A 15th-century English knight. (any§), Electronics Repair (any§), Explosives I A 17th-century Aztec warrior. (any), Machinist, Mechanic (any§), Research, or I An 18th-century French musketeer. Traps, all (A) IQ+1 [4]-15; Bioengineering (any§), I A 19th-century American cowboy. Chemistry, Computer Programming, EngiI A 19th-century Native American. neer (any§), Expert Skill (Mars)‡, Mathematics I A 1930s American gangster. (Applied), Pharmacy (Synthetic), or Psychology This list only scratches the possibilities – break out (Human or Martian‡), all (H) IQ [4]-14; or Biolyour classic GURPS supplements for further ideas! If a ogy (any§) or Physics, both (VH) IQ-1 [4]-13. player wants to be an American Revolutionary rifleman Background Skills: Spend 1 point on each of five who happened to bump into the Novas Vira and join up, unchosen secondary skills, at two levels lower. Project: Deep Freeze justifies it, while the relaxed TL rules (pp. 53-54) allow him to be a viable part of the team. See Lens: 10 points spent on one of the lenses below. * Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120. Of Made Men and Martians (pp. 75-76) for a sample cam† Only available after a few months post-invasion. paign frame based on this. ‡ Depending on the campaign premise, this may be inappropriate for starting characters. § Subject to GM approval.
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175 points You are one of the great geniuses of your time, engineering amazing technology to win this war! You may be a member of the Novas Vira (pp. 40-43) or an unaffiliated genius, but either way, you can bend the laws of science to your will and figure out just what those weird Martian gadgets are actually supposed to do.
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 14 [80]; HT 11 [10]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 14 [0]; Per 14 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.25 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0]. Gadgeteer Versatile [5]. Advantages: 30 points chosen [50] from and DX or IQ +1 [20], I AnotherQuick Absolute Timing [2], Artificer 1-3 [10/level], Circuit Sense 1-4 (p. 57) [5/level], Eidetic Memory [5] or Photographic Memory [10], Gizmos [5/gizmo], High TL 1† [5], Intuition [15], Lightning Calculator [2] or Intuitive Mathematician [5], Language (Martian)‡ [2-6], Luck
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Lenses Novas Vira: High TL 1 [5]; Area Knowledge (Novas Vira Installations) (E) IQ [1]-14; and Expert Skill (Mars) (H) IQ [4]-14. Unaffiliated: Either Artificer 1 [10] or Circuit Sense 2 [10].
TIGER CORPS MEMBER 175 points You’re part of the Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44), the elite aerospace strike team for the Novas Vira! You’re probably Elorian (p. 61), but you might be a human recruited later on or even another alien race altogether (see Other Aliens, p. 61). If your racia l template is 0 points, just make a note of it; if it’s more than that, use your advantage points to buy it; or if it’s a negative cost, treat it as one of your disadvantages.
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Attributes: ST 11 [10]; DX 13 [60]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 11 [10]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+1; BL 24 lbs.; HP 11 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 13 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 6.00 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0]. Advantages: High TL 2 [10]. I Another 30 points chosen from ST or HT +1 to +3 [10/level], DX or IQ +1 [20], Will or Per +1 to +4 [5/level], increased Basic Speed [Varies], Absolute Direction [5], Acute Senses (any) [2/level], Ambidexterity [5], Charisma [5/level], Combat Reflexes† [15], Danger Sense [15], Daredevil [15], Eidetic Memory [5], Extra Attack 1 [25], Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5], Gunslinger [25], Hard to Kill [2/level], Hard to Subdue [2/level], High Pain Threshold [10], Intuition [15], Language (Elorian†, Martian, or any human) [2-6/language], Luck [15] or Extraordinary Luck [30], Night Vision [1/level], Outdoorsman 1-3 [10/level], Penetrating Voice [1], Peripheral Vision [15], Rapid Healing [5], Serendipity [15/level], or Signature Gear [Varies]. Disadvantages: Duty (Tiger Corps; 15 or less) [-15]. I Another -25 points chosen from reduced Basic Speed [Varies], Absent-Mindedness [-15], Alcoholism [-15], Appearance [Varies], Bad Temper† [-10*], Bloodlust [-10*], Bully [-10*], Charitable [-15*], Clueless [-10], Code of Honor [-5 to -15], Curious† [-5*], Fanaticism [-15], Flashbacks [-5 to -20], Guilt Complex [-5], Hard of Hearing [-10], Impulsiveness† [-10*], Intolerance (Martians) [-5], Intolerance (other) [-5 or -10], Jealousy [-10], Lecherousness [-15*], Nightmares [-5*], Oblivious [-5], Odious Personal
[1]-13; Carousing (E) HT [1]-11; Running (A) HT-1 [1]-10; or Body Language, Observation, or Tracking, all (A) Per-1 [1]-12. * Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120. † If you’re an Elorian, don’t take this – you already have it! ‡ Requires Leadership and Navigation (Space).
MARTIAN TROOPER 100 points You may be a low-ranking member of the Martian Empire, but you’re well-trained in your area of expertise. More important, you are ready, willing, and eager to prove yourself! This planet belongs to your people, and you won’t let some smelly primitive fools keep you from it.
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 11 [20]; HT 10 [0]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 11 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Basic Speed 5.25 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0]. Advantages: Martian (p. 60) [0]. I One of DX +1 [20], IQ +1 [20], or both ST +1 [10] and HT +1 [10]. I Another 25 points chosen from Will or Per +1 to +3 [5/level], increased Basic Speed [Varies], Absolute Direction [5] or 3D Spatial Sense [10], Acute Sense (any) [2/level], Combat Reflexes [15], Danger Sense [15], Daredevil [15], Eidetic Memory [5], Extra Attack 1 [25],
Habits to -15], On the [-5*], Edge [-15*], [-5 Overconfidence Paranoia [-10], Post-Combat Shakes [-5*], Sense of Duty [Varies], Short Attention Span [-10*], Shyness [-5 to -20], Skinny [-5], Stubbornness [-5], Trickster [-15*], Truthfulness [-5*], or Wounded [-5]. Primary Skills: Expert Skill (Mars) (H) IQ [4]-13; Beam Weapons (Pistol or Rifle) (E) DX+2 [4]-15; and Spacer (E) IQ+2 [4]-15.I One of Gunner (Beams) (E) DX+3 [8]-16; Piloting (Aerospace) (A) DX+2 [8]-15; Armoury (Heavy Weapons or Vehicular Armor), Electrician, Electronics Operation (Comm or Sensors), Leadership, Mechanic (Aerospace), or Navigation (Space), all (A) IQ+2 [8]-15; or Shiphandling (Spaceship)‡ orSkills: Tactics, both2(H) IQ+1 Secondary Spend points on[8]-14. each of five unchosen primary skills, at two levels lower. Background Skills: Five of Forced Entry or Jumping, both (E) DX [1]-13; Battlesuit, Boxing, Climbing, Throwing, Stealth, or Wrestling, all (A) DX-1 [1]-12; Acrobatics (H) DX-2 [1]-11; Camouflage or First Aid, both (E) IQ
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Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5], Gunslinger [25], High Pain Threshold [10], Humane (p. 57) [0], Language (any human) [2-6/language], Luck [15], Night Vision [1/level], Single-Minded [5], or Talent [Varies]. Disadvantages: Duty (Empire; 15 or less) [-15]. I Another -25 points chosen from reduced Basic Speed [Varies], Absent-Mindedness [-15], Bad Temper [-10*], Bloodlust [-10*], Bully [-10*], Clueless [-10], Code of Honor [-5 to -15], Curious [-5*], Fanaticism [-15], Flashbacks [-5 to -20], Hard of Hearing [-10], Impulsiveness [-10*], Intolerance (Humans) [-5], Jealousy [-10], Oblivious [-5] or Low Empathy [-20], Odious Personal Habits [-5 to -15], On the Edge [-15*], Paranoia [-10], Post-Combat Shakes [-5*], Short Attention Span [-10*], Shyness [-5 to -20], Skinny [-5], Stubbornness [-5], Trickster [-15*], Truthfulness [-5*], Wounded [-5], or change Duty to D uty (Empire; 15 or less; Extremely Ha zardous) [-20], for a net -5 points, if the trooper will be consistently facing the Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, etc.
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Primary Skill: Soldier (A) IQ+1 [4]-12. Secondary Skills: Four of Brawling, Fast-Draw (Ammo, Pistol, or Long Arm), Jumping, or Knife, all (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Climbing, Filch, Piloting (Aerospace), Spear, Stealth, or Wrestling, all (A) DX [2]-11; Camouflage, Computer Operation, First Aid, Savoir-Faire (Martian), or Spacer, all (E) IQ+1 [2]-12; Armoury (any), Electronics Operation (Comm, EW, Security, or Sensors), Forward Observer, or Traps, all (A) IQ [2]-11; Expert Skill (Earth) (H) IQ-1 [2]-10; Carousing or Swimming, both (E) HT+1 [2]-11; Hiking or Running, both (A) HT [2]-10; Intimidation (A) Will [2]-11; Scrounging (E) Per+1 [2]-12; or Body Language (A) Per [2]-11. Background Skills: Spend 1 point on each of three unchosen secondary skills, at one level lower. Lens: 40 points spent on one of the lenses below. * Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120.
Lenses Grunt†: DX +1 [20]; Luck [15]; Beam Weapons (Pistol) (E) DX+2 [4]-14; and Forward Observer (A) IQ-1 [1]-10. Infiltrator: DX +1 [20]; Martian Rank (p. 56) 1 [10]; Beam Weapons (Rifle) (E) DX+1 [2]-13; and Stealth (A) DX+2 [8]-14. Insect Handler†: IQ +1 [20]; Animal Handling (Bugs) (A) IQ+3 [12]-15; Beam Weapons (Pistol) (E) DX+2 [4]-13; and Tactics (H) IQ [4]-12. Marine: IQ +1 [20]; Martian Rank 1 [10]; Beam Weapons (Rifle) (E) DX+3 [8]-14; and Tactics (H) IQ-1 [2]-11. Pilot: Martian Rank 2 [20]; Gunner (Beams) (E) DX+2 [4]-13; Mechanic (Aerospace) IQ+1 [4]-12; Navigation (Air) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; and Piloting (Aerospace) DX+2 [8]-13. Robot Operator: DX +1 [20]; Martian Rank 1 [10]; Driving (Mecha) DX+1 [2]-13. (A) DX+2 [8]-14; and Gunner (Beams) (E) Tech: Martian Rank 2 [20]; Electronics Operations (Scientific) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; Research (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; and Weird Science (VH) IQ-1 [4]-10. I One scientific skill
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relevant to your current project, at (H) IQ+1 [8]-13 or (VH) IQ [8]-12. † Artificially inflated to allow balanced groups of PCs. For NPC grunts, drop the DX bonus and Luck; they are 65-point characters. For NPC insect handlers, drop the IQ bonus; they are 80-point characters.
MARTIAN OFFICER 175 points You are not common rabble; you are a high-ranking officer or administrator in the Martian Empire. Unfortunately, this means you must watch your back, as your peers and subordinates are always trying to usurp your position. Of course, you wouldn’t have it any other way; if your position wasn’t worth fighting for, it wouldn’t be worth having!
Attributes: ST 10 [0]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 13 [60]; HT 11 [10]. Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10 [0]; Will 13 [0]; Per 13 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 5.50 [0]; Basic Move 5 [0]. Advantages: Martian (p. 60) [0]. I Another 35 points chosen from ST or HT +1 to +3 [10/level], DX or IQ +1 [20], Will or Per +1 to +3 [5/level], increased Basic Speed [Varies], Absolute Direction [5] or 3D Spatial Sense [10], Acute Sense (any) [2/level], Charisma [5/level], Combat Reflexes [15], Common Sense [10], Danger Sense [15], Daredevil [15], Eidetic Memory [5] or Photographic Memory [10], Extra Attack 1 [25], Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5], Gadgeteer [25] or Quick Gadgeteer (Specialized, pp. 54-55, -50%) [25], Gunslinger [25], High Pain Threshold [10], Humane (p. 57) [0], Intuition [15], Language (any human) [2-6/language], Lightning Calculator [2] or Intuitive Mathematician [5], Luck [15] or Extraordinary Luck [30], Night Vision [1/level], Single-Minded [5], Social Chameleon [5], Talent [Varies], or Versatile [5]. Disadvantages: Duty (Empire; 15 or less) [-15]and Enemies (Equal power; Rivals; 9 or less) [-5]. I Another -20 points chosen from reduced Basic Speed [Varies], Absent- Mindedness [-15], Bad Temper [-10*], Bloodlust [-10*], Bully [-10*], Clueless [-10], Code of Honor [-5 to -15], Curious [-5*], Fanaticism [-15], Flashbacks [-5 to -20], Hard of Hearing [-10], Impulsiveness [-10*], Intolerance (Humans) [-5], Jealousy [-10], Oblivious [-5] or Low Empathy [-20], Odious Personal Habits [-5 to -15], On the Edge [-15*], Paranoia [-10], Post-Combat Shakes [-5*], Short Attention Span [-10*], Skinny [-5], Stubbornness [-5], Trickster [-15*], Truthfulness [-5*], or Wounded [-5]. Primary Skills: Administration (A) IQ-1 [1]-12; Leadership (A) IQ [2]-13; and Expert Skill (Earth) (H) IQ [4]-13.
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Secondary Skills: Four of Beam Weapons (any), Brawling, Fast-Draw (Ammo, Pistol, or Long Arm), Gunner (Beams), Jumping, or Knife, all (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Climbing, Filch, Piloting (Aerospace), Stealth, or Wrestling, all (A) DX [2]-11; Camouflage, Computer Operation, First Aid, Savoir-Faire (Martian), or Spacer, all (E) IQ+1 [2]-14; Armoury (any), Electrician, Electronics Operations (any), Mechanic (any), Navigation (Space), or Traps, all (A) IQ [2]-13; Shiphandling (Spaceship)† or Tactics, both (H) IQ-1 [2]-12; Intimidation (A) Will [2]-13; Scrounging (E) Per+1 [2]-14; Body Language (A) Per [2]-13; or Detect Lies (H) Per-1 [2]-12. Background Skills: Spend 1 point on each of five unchosen secondary skills, at one level lower. Alternatively, spend 1 point on any of the skills from the lenses other than yours (see p. B170 to determine skill level). Lens: 70 points spent on one of the lenses below.
Surgeon: Healer 2 [20]; Martian Rank 3 [30]; Diagnosis (Martian) (H) IQ+1 [2]-14; Physician (Human) (H) IQ [1]-13; Physician (Martian) (H) IQ+1 [2]-14; Physiology (Human) (H) IQ [1]-13; Physiology (Martian) (H) IQ+1 [2]-14; Surgery (Human) (VH) IQ+1 [4]-14; and Surgery (Martian) (VH) IQ+2 [8]-15. Note: All skills include +2 from Healer. † To create a High Commander or Division Head, add IQ +1 [20], HT +1 [10], Martian Rank +1 [10], and another 10 points of advantages. These are 225-point characters.
* Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120. † Requires Leadership and Navigation (Space).
Lenses Captain: DX +1 [20]; Martian Rank (p. 56) 3 [30]; Beam Weapons (Rifle) (E) DX+2 [4]-14; Observation (A) Per+1 [4]-14; Soldier (A) IQ [2]-13; Tactics (H) IQ+1 [8]-14; and Traps (A) IQ [2]-13. Engineer: Martian Rank 4 [40]; Versatile [5]; Engineer (any) (H) IQ+4 [20]-17; and Mathematics (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-11. I One of Armoury (any), Electronics Repair (any), or Mechanic (any), all (A) IQ+1 [4]-14. Note: You must take Quick Gadgeteer (Specialized) as one of your advantages, and then choose specialties (for your lens skills) that match it. Field Commander†: Martian Rank 5 [50]; Beam Weapons (Rifle) (E) DX+2 [4]-13; Intelligence Analysis (H) IQ [4]-13; Strategy (Land) (H) IQ+1 [8]-14; and Tactics (H) IQ [4]-13. Project Head†: Martian Rank 5 [50]. I Spend 20 points on skills directly related to the project (pp. 25-28). For example, Project: Bug and Project: Human Upgrade both require Bioengineering (Genetic Engineering) (H) IQ+2 [12]-15 and Biology (Earthlike) (VH) IQ [8]-13. Scientist: IQ +1 [20]; Martian Rank 4 [40]; Biology (Earthlike) (VH) IQ-1 [4]-13; Biology (Mars) (VH) IQ-3 [1]-11; Chemistry (H) IQ-1 [2]-13; Mathematics (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-12; and Physics (VH) IQ-2 [2]-12.
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MARTIAN GENERAL 275 points You are one of the true elite – one of the generals in charge of the entire Earth invasion. On the battlefield, no one outranks you, though you do have to make allowances for the consensus of your fellow generals. Power struggles happen frequently. In theory, the Supreme Regent is just a quick communiqué away . . . but there is an unofficial agreement that the less involved he is, the more smoothly things go. To build a Martian general, start with the template for the Martian Officer (pp. 66-67). Then, instead of including one of the 70-point lenses, add the following 170-point lens: DX7 +1 [20]; IQ +1 [20]; HT +1 [10]; Martian General: Martian Rank (p. 56) [70]; Beam Weapons (Rifle) (E) DX+1 [2]-13; Detect Lies (H) Per [4]-14; Intelligence Analysis (H) IQ [4]-14; Intimidation (A) Will+1 [4]-15; Propaganda (A) IQ [2]-14; Public Speaking (A) IQ [2]-14; Strategy (Land) (H) IQ+1 [8]-15; and Tactics (H) IQ [4]-14. I Choose another 20 points of advantages.
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CHAPTER FIVE
OPERATION: EARTH The three Novas Vira agents, all wearing ghillie suits tailor-matched to the grassy plain, crept stealthily toward their objective. After a long while, Jo broke the silence. “Shouldn’t it be colder?” Dr. Watson turned, nonplussed. “Seriously? This isn’t cold enough for you? Get me out of Iceland and back to Saint-Tropez and I’ll be a happy woman.” Hal shushed them. “We’re close,” he whispered. The antenna-festooned meter in his hand was giving a mix of readings. It was definitely a Martian security field. Maybe trekking a dozen miles out of Grímsstaðir would be worth it after all.
As she handed it back, he couldn’t help being nervous. “Is this really going to work?” “Unless I screwed up,” she said, her smile full of bravado. “It’s dead simple, in theory. We know what kind of signal their sensor field is sending out. So the control rig sends the countering signals through the wires running through our ghillies. And then, poof!” “We’re invisible.” “Yep . . . as long as my counter-signal is right, their sen sors can’t see us.” Dr. Watson adjusted her pack. “But the Martians can. So
Jo leaned over. “Those are . . . considerably more complex than we had expected.” “Can you decode it?” the doctor asked, with just a hint of impatience showing through. Hal remembered her pushing for a less rugged and remote location – or at least one less cold – but Director Quentin thought that the isolated nature of this temporary base was exactly why it would be more weakly defended. “Yes? Maybe. Can we get closer? These are spotty; I really need a clear signal.” The scientists inched closer, Jo watching the readings while Hal and the doctor looked for Martian patrols. In theory, they should be able to pick up the emissions from the Martian sensor field long before the fiel d itself was able to detect them. But the Novas Vira was learning new things about Martian technology every day, including that sometimes it defi ed physics as they knew it. “Stop,” Jo whispered. “That’ll do. Cover me.” She sat cross-legged, almost meditatively, pulled out a notepad, and stared intently at the numbers. Hal knew that her mind could crunch numbers and untangle matrices better than any computer they had, but still, he wasn’t sure whether she was up to this. Almost an hour later, Jo looked up. The paper in front of her held a deceptively simple-looking set of matrix equations. Without a word, Hal handed her the control rig and she began programming it.
be careful.” Hal swallowed his fear, put on his goggles, and sneaked forward on point. The Martians were easy to spot on thermo. He watched for patrols obsessively as they moved closer . . . and closer . . . until it seemed that no alarm would be raised. He turned his head and mouthed a silent “Thank You” to Jo, who was in the rear, sweeping away their tracks. The base itself was a grounded saucer with some sort of metal mesh hanging down to form a ramshackle struc ture. The Martians obviously trusted their security sensors completely; there was no fence. Weirdly, Hal was starting to agree with Jo’s comment earlier; it was almost warm here. After listening at the mesh and hearing nothing, Hal crouched and risked a quick peek under it. There was a small pond of some sort, and three Martians on the far side. They seeme d busy arguing, so he motioned for the others to peek as well. Below her breath, Dr. Watson muttered, “What on Earth . . . what do they hope to accomplish?” “What’s going on, doc?” “Look at the color of the rocks; smell the steam. That’s a mineral spring. Why do they need one of those?” As if to answer her question, the Martian argument ended, with the apparent loser reluctantly opening a nearby box and dragging out a huge beam projector. As he turned it on and focused it on the spring, the water began to change . . .
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At heart, running a Mars Attacks game is about trying to capture the feel of the cards, comics, etc., while giving the PCs a chance to show off. There’s more to it than that,
of course – which is why this entire chapter is devoted to tips and tricks to help the GM and players – but if all you remember is that first sentence, you’ll do fine.
FROM MARS WITH LOVE Mars Attacks is a loving homage to mid-20th century B movies about alien invaders – to that sweet spot where “pulp heroism,” “the limitless possibilities of science,” and “terrifying monsters from space” come together. It’s part-horror, part-sci-fi, and part-technothriller . . . but what really matters is making sure that it’s fun. feel of Mars is about Attacks ingCapturing that fun. the Excitement, drama, and shock canprioritizcoexist with realistic characters and plots – but if they ever are in conflict, realism loses every time! Whenever the GM is unsure of what happens next, he should answer the following questions:
I What would be the most exciting thing to happen right now? What would introduce some action – a fight, a chase, a bomb to defuse, etc.? I What would be the most dramatic thing to happen right now? What would invoke an emotional response – a friend in danger, a betrayal, sudden bad news, etc.? I What would be the most shocking thing to happen right now? What would remind the players that terrible surprises can happen in this game – a gory scene, the enemy unveiling a powerful new invention, a terrible death, etc?
reactions and being conscious of these three dials, the GM can achieve a specific feel, giving him a great deal of control over the mood of the game.
Example: Jessica is the GM for a group playing Martian Stealth Forces. They’re approaching the end of the current adventure – a confrontation with a Novas Vira squad! Jessica slowly dials up “darkness” as they move toward this climax; the ominous mood adds to the tension. As the final fight scene looms, she leaves “darkness” up while adding “gore,” describing the violence on both sides in grisly detail, highlighting the horrors of war. After the heroes win, she lowers “darkness” but keeps “gore” up as they mop up the remaining enemies; the cathartic violence is a sort of emotional reward for getting through the adventure. Once they’re done, she lowers both and raises “camp” for the interaction with their annoying Planetary Forces liaisons, because it seems right to Jessica to end this session on a lighter note.
After answering those, the GM should pick the one that fits the scene best and r un with it! Even if it isn’t obvious why this is happening now, by the time the players are done resolving the situation, the GM will probably have a good idea of how it actually does fit the plot. (If not, listen to the players – sometimes their speculation about “what’s really going on” makes sense!)
TWO-FISTED TALES There are multiple ways to treat the “pulp action/horror/sci-fi” genre-blend of Mars Attacks. The most common approaches are camp, darkness, and gore. These are not mutually exclusive by any means! In fact, most GMs will use all three, treating them as tools to adjust the feel of the setting as the game goes on. The best analogy may be to think of these as “setting dials” on the campaign itself. Every Mars Attacks game is going to feature some camp, some darkness, and some gore, after all! But by paying attention to the players’
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Camp Camp is a feeling of ridiculous exaggeration and oversimplification. It is seriousness taken so far that it can no longer be taken seriously. It frequently goes hand-in-hand with a postmodern approach to the game, where something is happening because it’s in-genre, but it’s obvious to the players that this kind of thing would never happen outside of the genre. Camp doesn’t worry about whether the style of a genre makes sense – it celebrates the style, playing it up and elevating it.
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To dial up camp, play your NPCs as though they were characters in a play, rather than real people – with dramatic lines, exaggerated emotions, and so on. Describe things in a way that’s gleefully over the top: the scientist doesn’t “fly in on a jet pack,” he “whips over the hill in a blast of sound and fury, a large gleaming jet pack strapped to his back, and a sneer on his face as he glares down at you with disdain!” Where possible, highlight the retro feel of inventions and devices. Focus on why things are happening as much as the specific events, even to the point of revealing internal monologues: “As his gaze flicks between your team and his blaster, the look in his eye makes it clear that he understands why you’re really here. In an instant, he makes his decision . . . and vaults over the catwalk, leaving you to face his soldiers while he escapes!” Perhaps the most important thing to remember about camp is that it is not a synonym for “comedy.” Campy scenes can be played for laughs, and they tend toward the lighter side, but even the most terrifying or dark situation can be campy. Camp is a caricature of reality, and caricatures can be horrible and disturbing. In fact, adding camp to a sufficiently dark scene can tip it over the top into psychological horror; for a good example, see the film Brazil, which features countless people, from government cubical workers to torturers, staying in (stylized) character while knowingly destroying the lives of everyone around them.
Darkness To add darkness is to add tragedy and the sense that terrible things can happen to people who don’t deserve it, because karma is a lie. Darkness is an oppressive but subtle force; the feeling of “you might lose this battle” is not very dark, but the feeling of “this never-ending fighting will eventually turn you into an emotional wreck . . . or uncaring shell” is. Darkness reminds you that even when you succeed, you couldn’t (and can’t) save everyone. Raise the darkness level by having bad things happen to NPCs or have the heroes come across the bodies of innocent victims. (Having bad things happen to the PCs is actually not dark, as even the worst tortures are really
just exciting challenges for them to overcome.) In battle, track the effects of missed shots and have them cause havoc. This doesn’t have to kill anyone off; for humans, just watching a schoolhouse or church collapse can be poignant. For Humane (p. 57) Martian PCs, emphasize the terrible, sadistic experiments or war crimes being carried out by their fellow aliens, but do so in a way that makes it clear that this is just an ordinary day for those NPCs. (If the game features Martian PCs with full Sadism, this dial may not be under the GM’s control, as they’re likely to keep the game dark nonstop.)
Gore The simplest mode, gore is completely independent of the camp/sincerity and dark/light dials. Gore is violence and blood, but more than that, gore is an ode to violence a nd blood – a pure and hone st love for it. Adding gore doesn’t necessarily add horror or action; rather, it increases the intensity of whatever is already there. A fight scene is exciting and chaotic; a gory fight scene, with heads exploding and bodies being thrown through the air from explosive blasts, is even more so. A meeting with a biohacker as he turns victims into monsters is disturbing and dark; a gory meeting, with detailed descriptions of what he does to each body part and how the victims scream, is even more so. The level of gore is the level of detail that the GM puts into describing anything violent or icky, whether due to action taken in the current scene or just in general as the heroes come across it. A room full of torture victims, now long dead, can be described simply – “You see the bodies of a dozen teens and small children, vivisected and with their skin stretched out and pinned to the tables. They’ve been dead for a while now.” – or in gory detail – “The stench of organs and blood hits you first, then you see the bodies of children, their skin sliced down the middle with jagged cuts and pinned to the tables. The floor is covered in congealed blood, and hearts, livers, intestines are spilling out of their bodies and onto the ground.” Either way, this example would be a dark scene (above) as well.
MARS NEEDS WOMEN Places within Mars Attacks canon hints that the Martians have an unhealthy fascination with human women. (This was more pronounced in the 1962 set of cards.) If the group agrees, add this to the Martian racial template (p. 60) as a defining trait, whether as a quirk (“Fascinated by human women”) or full Lecherousness (with “applies to humans” as a special effect). Alternatively, this may not be a racial trait, but simply a common disadvantage. Their pursuit of women doesn’t have to be motivated psychologically, though. One of the many suggestions in Mars Needs . . . What, Exactly? (p. 8) is that Martians may require human genetic material to propagate or “evolve” their species. This could explain
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a preference for abducting human women; it has nothing to do with attraction, but with harvesting. In theory, these two concepts can intersect, but before doing so, consider the implications. It is possible to take a very light-hearted and goofy approach to this, just adding the occasional scene of Martians ineffectually pursuing females, only to be easily outwitted or led into a trap. However, the more serious and dark this becomes, the further it moves from a B-movie homage to sexual assault – and even as pure fiction, that crosses the “un-fun” line for most people. Before adding this to your game, be certain to talk to the entire group and figure out what boundaries need to be set and adhered to.
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THROUGH A BUBBLE-HELMET LENS One of the time-honored traditions of science fiction, from the most austere and serious novel to the campiest B movie, is that of acting as a mirror to be held up to current social issues. Alien wars become metaphors for racism, robot factories are allusions to politics, and so on. At heart, Mars Attack s is about straightforward, twofisted pulp fun. But that doesn’t mean the GM shouldn’t add social commentary! It just means that the action and thril ls should never be shoved aside in order to get a “serious” message across. Treating the game as a social mirror is really just a matter of the GM coming up with a correspondence between something in the campaign and an issue that matters today, and being sure to think about that for a bit before each game session. That’s all. Just having this connection in the back of his mind while running the game will lead to it coming out in play naturally. If, after doing this for a while, he thinks the metaphor is getting lost, having an NPC deliver a stilted, ham-handed homily on the subject can be a way to add camp (pp. 69-70) to a scene. For a human-focused game, the big question is what the Martians represent. Colonial aggression? The inevitability of Nature, expressed in a cosmic sense? The ravages of drug use, where Earth is the user’s body? Or, they may simply be a dark mirror representing humanity at its worst – racist, hateful, and driven by power above all else. In a game of Martians, where humanity is the enemy, it’s a good opportunity to explore the flaws that hold humans back – the things that we really need to overcome. For example, portraying human foes as putting more effort into saving their possessions than their families is a way to shine a light on consumerism. This can be overbearing if done with a heavy hand, but having it come up occasionally and subtly (e.g., as the Martians catch up to the escaping humans, they notice that the car is heavily laden with electronic gear and other valuables) can add depth to the campaign. Of course, of all of the advice in this chapter, this is the one section that it won’t hurt to skip. If your group wants only a straightforward fight, where a Martian is just a Martian and they need to be shot, there is nothing wrong with that!
SCIENCE MARCHES ON The Martian invasion of Earth is, in many ways, a battle of scientific ability. The Martians aren’t winning because they’re stronger, faster, or nobler than us, but
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because they have flying saucers with heat rays and well-armored troops with blaster pistols! Likewise, the defense of Earth doesn’t really kick into gear until the Novas Vira steps forth with impossible new weapons, for themselves and to arm the military and resistance groups. No Mars Attacks game is complete without a never-ending parade of new technology. The rules under Tech Level (pp. 53-54) and High TL (p. 55) help ensure that this can be the case for techie PCs; a TL10 Quick Gadgeteer can easily invent basic devices in hours, with incredibly complex technology simply taking longer. It is thus up to the GM to ensure that the NPCs keep up! The GM should try to introduce an average of one new device per session, by having either friendly or hostile NPCs show up with it. This is a goal, not a requirement; sometimes it won’t make sense! Nonetheless, it’s a good benchmark for the pace of a typical Mars Attacks game. Not everything introduced has to be a game-changer. Something like this would be fine:
Dr. Abigail smiles as she shakes your hand. You notice that her hat has water condensers and a micro-fan built into the brim, spraying her forehead with a fine mist on this dry, hot day. She smiles, “When you get to my age, you’ll go that extra step for comfort, too, child,” and invites you in.
The GM is expressly permitted to brush off questions about the realism of the distribution and development of such technology. (If players take issue with it, just point them to this paragraph.) If graser cannons are invented in one session, they probably shouldn’t be in widespread use by the next one – but if they pop up on a different continent three sessions from now, that’s obviously just the result of Novas Vira in that country getting the plans via low-orbit satellite (p. 50) or shortwave radio and building their own! It may not be realistic that a handful of scientists, besieged and working in isolated, ragtag groups could fill the Earth with TL9-11 gear over the course of less than a year, but this is no normal group. This is . . . the Novas Vira!
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The Arms Race So what should the GM do when one side invents a “war-winning” weapon? Maybe the humans invent antimatter-warhead missiles, which should be capable of taking out a saucer in one shot. Or the Martians invent ground-penetrating radscanners that (in theory) will let them find every major Novas Vira base, no matter how well-hidden. In general, the GM could handle this situation in any of three ways. Assuming that the GM wants to keep the campaign going for a while, the simplest option is to disallow something “that good.” The feasibility of new tech is up to the GM, regardless of whether it appears in one of the GURPS catalogs. The GM decides which superscience to allow, on a case-by-case basis (he could permit gravity-ripple communicators while disallowing gravscanners). Furthermore, he may override the statistics suggested for ultra-tech gear with something that better fits the campaign (“Yes, you can invent universal translator software, but it has a 10-second delay when translating between alien languages, so all interaction skills are at -4.”). To be fair, he should warn the inventors of these rulings after a successful Concept roll but before they build a prototype. As an alternative to the above – or if the GM allowed something and only later realized how game-breaking it was – assume that when the other side is exposed to this new technology, they will immediately begin inventing a counter for it. The new tech should be a huge advantage once or twice, but then it will become yet another thing the enemy has to plan for.
coordination becomes a weeks- or months-long effort, during which spies for the other side should have plenty of chances to find out what’s really going on. “The enemy has a new ultimate weapon and will be using it within days! We have to find a counter – and fast!” That is the sort of story that fits perfectly into a Mars Attacks game. Finally, perhaps the most radical approach is to do nothing and assume that this is the weapon that will end the war. If it seems time for the campaign to wind down, and the players and their characters have been putting a lot of thought and effort into coming up with a genuinely brilliant idea, the GM can always simply sit back and let it work. The creation should be something truly unique and out-of-the-box, however , otherwise this may be an anticlimactic ending to the campaign: “We just kept inventing new missi les. The first six t imes, the Martians invented counters, but then the seventh time they couldn’t, so we won.”
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The goal here is fast and fun gaming, and nothing kills that mood quicker than pausing the game for five minutes to hunt down an obscure rule – or worse, getting into a lengthy rules debate! Therefore, the following meta-rule is absolutely mandatory in a Mars Attacks game:
If it takes longer than 30 seconds to find the “proper” rule, the GM is to simply eyeball the modifier, target number, damage, etc., and worry about the details later.
Example: The Novas Vira invents a new entangled-quantum missile that can take out any saucer in one shot! After the Martians lose a few saucers to this new missile, Sci-
The only exception is when the life of someone important is on the line; e.g., the group is unsure whether a PC is supposed to roll unmodified HT or penalized HT to see if he survives or dies.
ence creates a “quantum-detangler field” that preventsDivision its detonation.
In addition to Tech (pp.moving. 53-54), the following Level guidelines can help keep the game
It’s natural for either side to try avoiding this arms race, by inventing the new technology in secret, distributing it across the globe quietly, and then having everyone start using it simultaneously. However, this distribution and
Combat: Reserve tactical combat for tense situations involving close fighting. Most fights in Mars Atta cks are ranged, which is more easily handled by basic combat. In fact, consider taking this a step further, by using Range Bands. Fatigue: Unless the current story arc is about trekking long distances through ANGE ANDS the wilderness, it’s easiest When using basic combat, it’s often easier for the GM to estimate the disto ignore fatigue. Only track tance rather than calculating it down to the yard as expected by the Size and it for extra effort in combat (p. B357) – and for a ny attack Speed/Range Table(p. B550). If so, consider using these descriptive “range bands” instead for personal combat (vehicular combat will have different definitions of that inflicts fatigue damage, “short range,” etc.). of course. Optional Rules: Skip those Range Band Distance Range Penalty Description that require additional Close 0-5 yards 0* Can touch or strike foe. record-keeping, including Short 6-20 yards -3 Can talk to foe. Changing Posture in Armor Medium 21-100 yards -7 Can only shout to foe. (p. B395), Optional Rules for Long 101-500 yards -11 Foe out of earshot. Injury (p. B420), and Time Use Extreme 501+ yards -15 Difficult to even see foe. Sheets (p. B499). Only apply the rules for Breakdow ns * In melee combat, ranged attacks suffer a penalty equal to Bulk; Gunslinger (p. B485) to fragile experi negates this. mental technology.
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MODERN-DAY MASSACRE A Mars Attacks game can be played one of two basic ways: as humans fighting back against hostile alien invaders, or as Martians boldly conquering a new land for the glory of the Empire. Either way, the attack takes place in the present, on 21st-century Earth. With the invasion covering a lot of time and literally spanning the world (see Chapter 1), numerous “jumping-on points” make for a fun game. Read on for suggestions.
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AT THE
would make excellent short adventures. Immediately after that, the Novas Vira must help defend the world from the alien invasion.
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It’s easy to imagine life on Earth before the Martian invasion – you’re living it now! Just like most of the humans in these scenarios, when you look out the window, you aren’t expecting to see hundreds of saucers surrounding your town and burning it to the ground. But for these people, it happened. These suggested campaign or adventure seeds cover human resistance in different locations and at different points in the invasion. This is only a small sampling of possibilities, of course – set your game when and where you think it’ll be the most fun!
The Untold Tales Melissa jogged into the clearing, holding her hands clearly above her head: “Don’t shoot! I’m on your side!” The soldiers quickly surrounded her and yelled over each other, demanding to know what was going on. “People, please look down at the thing that we just killed together. A, that is a Martian. B, he was attacking you. C, I am on your side.” She paused while that sank in. “Now, may I assume that I have your attention?” The Novas Vira couldn’t convince the government that this threat was real, and the members must thus spread out and make preparations for the invasion. The game may focus on the days leading up to the Martians’ arrival, or it could start several weeks (or months) previous, “time-skipping” forward between crucial actions to culminate in the invasion itself. The Novas Vira had been making preparations for years – installing heat shields on buildings in the name of “earthquake preparedness,” funding research into more powerful telescopes and aerospace vehicles, and so on. The campaign could start by playing out one or two of these “early prep” efforts, then fast-forward to . . . The day the first alert came in (see Early Warning, pp. 41-42), the Novas Vira immediately began to spread across the country, setting up bases, ensuring their disruptor was ready, and seeing if there was any way to reinforce the local area. be a or time to recruit allies,oftrya to convince theThis localcould governor base commander threat, and so on. About three weeks later, the day before the invasion, new orders went out: Anyone near an airbase was to protect it from sabotage, while anyone near national leaders were to protect them from assassination. Both of these
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Sitting Down to Dinner Clem looked up from his plate and made a face at his ma. “Hush, you. That’s salmon, not tuna. I know what you kids like.” Before he could reply, there was a crash and flash of light outside. “What in the blessed name–?” Ma wondered, before Chloe flung open the door and ran outside to see what was happening. Nothing strange at first . . . and then a saucer-shaped shadow covered the house, and Chloe disappeared in a beam of fiery death. Normal humans are caught up in the initial Martian invasion, with no forewarning whatsoever! These are ordinary folks dealing with the unexpected appearance of aliens over their city – or (in some areas) giant insects charging through it. The power level doesn’t have to be low for this concept; off-duty soldiers, engineers, etc. are just as viable an option. What makes this a challenge is the lack of preparation. Without special equipment, the PCs will have to take advantage of what they can – perhaps dodging heat rays and staying low as they race toward the local hunting club to grab weapons, or to the local hospital to protect the people there from Martian ground troops.
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If played with a low power level and merciless Martians, this may make a better “teaser” than a full campaign itself. The players can experience the terror of trying to hold off this implacable foe, until finally falling under a hail of blaster fire. Then they can create their real characters and pick up at a later point in the story. Alternatively, start with the assumption that the civilians survive, meet, and form a team. In times of total war, even the most mundane talents can find a use. Archaeologists may know of ancient tunnels to hide people (or rumored weapons of the ancient gods), forest rangers might use controlled burns to save towns from bugs, utility workers can sabotage the infrastructure of Martian bases, and so on. Create a team of veterans-turned-criminals who pull “heists” on the aliens’ terrestrial bases, and you’ve got a Martians Eleven game! Build characters collectively to ensure that the team will work well together, of course.
head into the fight. At the moment, there is a complete lack of a command structure past the base; whether chaos reigns or the soldiers are able to form an organized assault depends heavily upon the quality of the highest ranking officer present. For an alternative, the PCs may be the highest ranking officers, trying to resolve this fight; this may call for Mass Combat (pp. 92-93) to see how well they do.
Fury on the Farm Misty ran as fast as her legs would carry her, but the ants were right behind her – well over twice her height and clacking their mandibles as they gave chase. She stumbled for a moment, but caught herself just in time to feel the red one bite through her dress! Thanking the Lord that it had missed her leg, she raced into the barn ahead and leaped onto the vehicle her daddy was driving. “Good job, girl!” he hollered, as he barreled out the door toward the ants on the massive wheat thresher. “Now let’s see how you like these apples!” Far from the big cities and the military bases, the people in rural areas are spared the worst of the initial fighting. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the Martians to make it out that way. Raiding parties terrorize small towns, while in some areas, giant bugs have been let loose to mop up the humans who the Martians don’t have time to target directly. This more measured campaign trades the utter chaos and overwhelming action of the direct invasion for the day-to-day challenges of insect hordes and/or smaller Martian raiding parties trying to wipe out everyone in town. While the locals have fewer resources, they’re also dealingfrom withThe far more manageable threats. The advice Resistance (pp. 46-47) will prove useful.
Action in the East
First Responders “I want these people off the streets, do you hear me? Get them inside or into the subway – just get them safe now!” Sergeant Conrad was screaming. Officers were trying to comply, but the civilians were stampeding like panicked animals, trampling each other as they tried in vain to outrun the small fighter ships that were sweeping the streets. “Do not use tear gas. Do not use rubber bullets! This situation needs to be deescalated, not –” Everything turned into stars for a moment as the SWAT van exploded.
As the saucer’s contragrav finally gave out, it began a nose-dive toward the ground, crashing into the shopping mall. “That’s the last one!” Tan shouted to his team, and a cheer went up. He had to admit, using the Martians’ own weapons against them was a good strategy. As the Kazan locals began poking their heads out hopefully, Tan smiled and waved. “Benzin? Yes, you’re welcome! Benzin?” It was the only Russian word for which he had mastered the accent, but that’s because gasoline was crucial if they were going to make it to Moscow in time.
In between the well-prepared Novas Vira and the completely unprepared typical citizen lie the folks who must be prepared for everything, even the completely unexpected. In cities, the police, firemen, and EMTs were the first on
From China to Moscow and then down the Middle East, soldiers in the new United Earth Alliance (pp. 44-46) are fighting to liberate the East. At early stages in the life of the UEA, when first reclaiming the eastern half of China, the
the scene to try handling (or at least helping) the situation. Some cities had military assistance (a nearby base, the National Guard, etc.) that joined as a second wave. Alternatively, the PCs may be soldiers, either reacting when their military base is attacked, or – if they’re an airbase warned by the Novas Vira or simply not important enough to be an initial target – mobilizing voluntarily to
PCs may be from China or the Middle East. After China is taken, the United States joins the fight, and the bulk of the Alliance moves up through Kazakhstan and Russia, to take Moscow. From that point forward, Russia is part of the UEA, and the new focus is on the Middle East – though at this point, they proceed more slowly as they recover from their heavy losses.
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This option is probably the best choice for players hoping for a military campaign – a fairly straightforward setup of the most powerful military left on Earth moving against the Martians and reclaiming land. Those who don’t wish to play soldiers could have other roles, from civilian support of any kind to Novas Vira scientists and warriors working with the UEA. Even the Tiger Corps can get involved, though they’re more likely to come and go as needed than to stick around for the entire campaign.
Alien Abduction Robert watched the new arr ival intently and impatiently – a middle-aged man, wearing a football jersey, didn’t appear to be injured. A civilian, definitely. Eventually, the man’s unconscious form began to twitch, then shift, and then he jumped up instinctively into a practiced crouch. Interesting. “What . . . where am I?” the newcomer demanded. From the next cell, Robert motioned for quiet. “Not so loud,” he whispered. “Listen, we don’t have long until they’re back. And when they do return, that’s when I need you to distract them. I have a plan . . .” At every stage of the invasion, the Martians are kidnapping humans, for study, for interrogation, and (later) for “upgrading” (p. 26). But the captives have been planning, and now they’re going to break free and make it back to Earth, no matter what! To avoid the game stalling right at the beginning, it’s best if the GM and players work out (in advance) a reasonable plan for the captives to escape their cells. Alternatively, the overconfident aliens may not even use cells, instead trusting that these foolish, unarmed humans couldn’t possibly if they did, where would fight they back go on– aand shipeven floating in orbit? Once the PCs are free, the GM’s obligation ends, as they must figure out where exactly they are (a saucer? a mothership?) and how to get out in one piece. This may be a standalone adventure that ends once they get back to Earth, or that could just mark the beginning of a new campaign. For extra “spice,” some or all of the PCs may be cryo-specimens (p. 64) rather than contemporary abductees. Not all cryo-specimens are kept on ice, particularly now that the invasion has begun; some are defrosted so the Martians can interrogate them and observe them in action. If these relics from the past do make it down to Earth, they face the challenges described in Of Made Men and Martians (below).
Of Made Men and Martians “Halt!” Sir Spee demanded, his sword extended and ready to strike. The man froze in his tracks, clearly not expecting to see a knight as he turned the corner. “Who art thou, and what strange place be this?” The man swallowed and glanced past Sir Spee to the motley crew behind him – what appeared
to be an Aztec warrior, a samurai, and a . . . caveman? “Uh, hey, calm down, pal, okay? This is just Taco Hut. No need to get violent!” Sir Spee lowered his sword. “My apologies then. Prithee, take me to the ruler of this kingdom of Tahkohutt.” The Martians kidnapped a wide range of human subjects from various time periods (Cryo-Specimens, p. 64) . . . and then lost most of them on Earth ( Project: Deep Freeze, p. 27). The assumption is that most were scattered across a wide area, but if several fell together, they would wake up in a strange new world, where modern humanity is almost as alien as the Martians . . . Not all of the PCs need be cryo-specimens; it would make sense for one or two to be “guides” – the modern folk who first encountered these unwilling time travel ers and who can now explain how things actually work. Ideally, the balance between the guides’ modern skills and the wide array of unique traits known by the others will give them a n edge in sur viving – possibly even defeat ing! – the Martians.
IT’S NOT PARANOIA . . . . . . if it’s true. No one wants to th ink that his fellow human may be a traitor, but it’s an ever-present possibility. The GM should decide how much paranoia he wants to foster in the game by dropping hints that any of the following may be true – and then give the PCs cause for genuine concern by making some of it happen!
Undercover Agents (p. 24): These perfectly disguised Martians can blend in with humanity, quietly gathering information and getting closer and closer the leadership – until the day they finally strike, cripple thetogroup via carefully chosen assassination, and then report all of the intel back to their masters on the motherships. Insane Undercover Agents: It deserves special mention that many of the Agents assigned to Earth eventually go completely mad, like Beloss Bel (pp. 86-87). These Agents are still likely to infiltrate human organizations, but for their own twisted means. Some genuinely want to help – in their own way – while others want to sow chaos and destruction, but none are actually allies in the long run. Collaborators: Sadly, there will always be people willing to throw their fellow humans under the bus for personal gain. The Martians are always reaching out to people with no morality, offering to spare their lives and even set them up in comfort if they work with the aliens. Sometimes, they’re even telling the truth. A collaborator is less likely to hurt everyone around him unnecessarily, but he may do a lot of damage before finally sneaking away. “He Just Snapped!”: Every once in a while, someone will succumb to theorpressures of war andbut lose it. Some break into catatonia internal madness, a few decide to diedown and take everyone with them. A Psychology (Human) roll may be able to detect when a person is about to “run amok.” Once it happens, the only real options are talking them down (which requires a Very Good reaction roll first) or taking them out.
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Language is an issue, of course. The GM has a few different options.
Ignore it: Everyone speaks whatever the campaign language is, for the same reason that most foreigners on TV shows just speak English with an accent. (See the vignette above for an example!) Just accept it. Justify it: As above, but there’s a reason. Maybe the Martians wanted to be able to interrogate them, so they used sleep-teaching methods to give them all a common, modern human language (since that’s what the Martian linguists have been studying as well). Quick-learn it: They all start off speaking their own languages, but they can spend earned character points on languages at the end of each session, with everyone assuming that “training time” happens off-screen.
A superior officer may decide missions, but it’s usually more fun to get the players’ input into their next move. Attack a ground base? Gather intel to know which saucers are carrying important cargo? Risk a few shots at one of the motherships? There are infinite options, all of them delightfully dangerous.
Unbroken Spirits Lincoln moved into line before the Martian overseer had to use his cattle prod. The humans shuffled slowly out of the processing station and toward the factory, where they were expected to spend the rest of their short, unhappy lives, churning out supplies for the Martians. As they entered, Lincoln’s trained eyes spotted the man who most here would call “leader.” While passing by, he murmured quietly, “I’m from Eastern Saints. I have a plan to get everyone out of here. Talk to me when you think it’s safe.” Never even making eye contact, Lincoln continued to shuffle along. The worst has happened. The Martians won. Humanity has been subjugated beneath their spacesuit-clad heel. But wherever people still roam free, they’ve sworn to rise up and overthrow their wicked alien dictators. No matter the cost, the family of man will be independent again, one day. While this starts with a depressing premise, it also sets up a scenario where the Martians have more bases and supplies down here on Earth. This gives regular folks a way to hurt them where it counts, without needing the vehicular power necessary to face down saucers or get onto a mothership. Plus, victory is far more gratifying when it comes from an underdog, right?
Race to Space Captain Stanley jinked left, narrowly avoiding being shot out of the sky by the saucer’s freeze ray. “Corus, coming up on your position in 20, 19, 18.” She stopped short to dodge another beam. Couldn’t afford to lose concentration now; they’d started as a two-jet team, but Lieutenant Jones had to bail out after getting tagged. “That’s 3, 2, 1, now!” she yelled as she climbed rapidly. The saucer moved to follow, but a heat ray from below sent it wobbling. As The Venture broke through the cloud bank, Captain Stanley saluted, then prepared to come around to finish the aliens off. Sure, the Martians may have the air advantage in this war, but humanity is starting to take that back. The Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44) have dedicated themselves to harassing and destroying the Martian saucers and fighters, while human militaries continue to deploy their own jets. It’s high-flying adventure across the skies! The PCs may be Tiger Corps, human pilots, or even a mixed team of military liaisons work-
Rememberofthat any Martiansuperiority victory willand result from a combination technological a willingness to throw everything they have at the current problem (Earth). Their constant infighting, squabbling, and power plays were tempered by the war; now that they’ve won, the Martian leaders are already turning on each other, fighting over the spoils. The human resistance is dealing with alien overlords who, despite being firmly entrenched and dominant, are internally fractured and exhausted from their final, frantic push to victory. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, humanity still has a chance to throw off the Martian yoke.
ing with the Tiger Corps to flank the Martians. If dogfighting will feature prominently in the game, consider using the space combat and dogfight rules from the GURPS Spaceships series. If those supplements aren’t available, the Basic Set’s rules for vehicular combat (pp. B467-470) and hit location (pp. B554-555) will suffice.
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This campaign should follow the advice under The Resistance (pp. 46-47) and works best if the GM sets up a local map with an array of Martian assets to go after. Ideally, the resistance will also craft a long-term plan that may take a lot of work and resources to get off the ground, but that has the potential to swing things back into humanity’s favor.
DESTROY THE HUMAN MENACE! A Martian campaign is not nice. Even if the PCs are all Humane (p. 57) and avoid committing atrocities, their fellow Martians are not going to do the same. Far from invalidating the concept, however, “doing good when all around you is evil” may be the definition of nobility. For an illustration of this contrast, see the Chapter 4 vignette (p. 52). Another way to mitigate any moral issues with Martians vs. humans is to treat humanity as the bad guys. The GM can play humanity as irresponsible, dangerous capitalists in contrast to the saner Martians. It’s a stretch, but metaphors are meant to be stretched. (See Through a Bubble-Helmet Lens, p. 71, for more.) All that sa id, there’s no reason Martian PCs have to be nice. Sometimes it’s fun to be bad guys! A Martian game gives the players a chance to blow up buildings, pick up and throw cars via robotic claws, and zap-zap-zap all of the humans they see. This approach may not be engaging enough to support a long campaign, but it can be fun for an adventure or story arc. If you’re going for catharsis, consider setting the game in your home town, and let the players virtually tra sh all of the people, places, and things that stress them out on a daily basis. No matter how you treat the Martians, the following suggestions can make fun adventures or entire campaigns for their alien antics.
Forefront of Invasion As Private Chuubo shoveled dirt over the cache, his mind wandered to what it would be like coming back to this planet, only with thousands of his fellow soldiers. He then returned to the task at hand, covering up this pile of
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emergency weapons and four human skeletons. A shame those hikers had to stumble upon him – not because their deaths mattered, but because now it was four skeletons of extra work for him to cover up. “Hey, what the hell are you?!” Chuubo turned, unloaded hot blaster death, and then sighed. Five skeletons. How unfair. In the decades leading up to the invasion, Mars sent Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24) to Earth on clandestine missions. These brave, sneaky soldiers must do what they can to sabotage Earth’s defenses, bury hidden weapon caches, assassinate individuals who know too much, bring back intel about humanity, and otherwise lay down the groundwork for the upcoming invasion. This is dangerous work, done solo or in small teams with no backup or support. The upside is anonymity – hardly anyone on Earth is aware that Martians even exist. This is a good choice for a campaign or adventure intended to focus on stealth and careful tactical choices instead of “zap the humans” (though there will still be some of that, of course). The Novas Vira, and the few unaffiliated humans who know the truth, will be on the look out for Martian incursions. In a worst-case scenario, where their ship is detected and has to self-destruct, the Stealth Forces may be trapped on Earth, hiding from natives, until another ship can rescue them! This may take weeks, months, or even years, shifting the focus of the campaign significa ntly.
Under Cover Gerhard always hummed a happy tune on the way home – and why not? He had an amazing life: a minister position on the Cabinet of Germany, the ear of the Chancellor herself, and a beautiful girlfriend who always wanted to hear about his day. She never seemed to burden him with her problems, and she was fascinated by everything about him and his work. Women love a man in power, right? Yeah, this was living. He walked through the door as she ran up to hug him. “Girl, you are out of this world.” For some reason, that silly line always gave her the biggest smile. The Undercover Agents (p. 24) are the Martians’ secret weapon – their own people, disguised to look like those hideous humans! The intelligence they gather is invaluable, and they can get close enough to eliminate targets who hole up in well-guarded fortresses. Sure, there’s the issue of their sanity, but the commanders always pull them out in time to fix them, right?
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An Undercover Agent campaign is unique in that it plays out as more of a “spy” or “covert ops” game than an “alien invasion” one. The only real difference between a human double agent and an Undercover Agent is the true face beneath; both have to lie, do terrible things, and then lie some more. This is a good campaign choice for groups who like political technothrillers in the vein of James Bond but enjoy the added twist of Martian technology and motives. Of course, most fictional spies aren’t slowly becoming demented. The biggest flaw of the Undercover Agent program is the risk of gradual insanity, and many players will take issue with their character slowly going crazy. There are a few ways to mitigate this. First, a strong Will is almost a requirement for an Agent. Second, the GM can work with the player when deciding what new disadvantages to hand out; e.g., if a player’s main issue is that she really doesn’t want Delusions on her character sheet, that’s easy enough for the GM to work around. Finally, the GM can be especially generous with earned character points, giving the Agents a chance to buy off the crazy. Alternatively, the GM could remove the Weird-Science Curse from their racial templates, raising the cost by 15 points. However, doing so is a huge game-changer for the Undercover Agents program as a whole. It’s better to come up with a rationale as to why the PCs are the only ones like this.
the top. “You’re welcome,” he messaged them sarcastically. “Now make yourself useful and avenge the robot while I see if any more of these armored vehicles are around.” The invasion of Earth is Imperial Command’s finest hour. Martian armed forces storm the human cities and military bases, crippling the planet’s def enses and throwing its nations into chaos. Even so, Earth still resists, sending wave after wave of ill-equipped but desperate soldiers to stop the brav e Martia n troops. This fight is fa r from over! Playing Martian invasion forces offers many options. Choose one to focus on, or start the PCs with enough extra points to be good at everything listed and have them shift from duty to duty as the fighting rages on!
Planetary Forces (pp. 22-23): The ground troops have a thankless, but an incredibly important job. Anywhere that a city must be held (not just destroyed), and anyplace where resistance is likely to hunker down inside of structures that are too strong to just blast with a saucer, requires boots on the ground. Grunts and marines must work together in squads to clear buildings and identify threats too subtle for aerial recon to spot. Interstellar Forces (p. 23): Saucers get troops onto the ground while backing them up with powerful weapons. A saucer’s heat ray is one of the few attacks powerful enough to open up most armored vehicles, making saucers indispensable for air support in cities. Fighters are used in cities as well, but their primary duty is to neutralize the humans’ air support. For some reason, the plan to cripple Earth’s airbases didn’t go off as planned, and fighter jets are an ever-present threat! Project: Bug (p. 25): In areas not under direct assault, insect handlers must guide their giant bugs into areas,them working with commanders in thepopulated air who direct to new threats. To keep this exciting, the GM should let the group “play the bugs” as well as their Martians, rolling attacks and tracking injury as they rampage through the city. Project: Robot (pp. 25-26): The Martians don’t have a limitless supply of these, so they use them where it counts – typically in cities where they expect heavy resistance. For simplicity, consider treating a PC driving a robot as the robot for most purposes, using the simplified “monster” stats on p. 36. A robot’s best strength is its ability to demolish large targets, particularly bridges, so that’s where a driver is likely to be assigned.
Devastation Begins Zadra Proog was speeding down the street – focusing heat-ray fire on the humans’ strange, boxy vehicles – when the call came in. A robot down in Sector D? Impossible! Whipping his nimble fighter around a corner, he quickly spotted the cause: a large, armored vehicle with a primitive cannon on top. He fired at it, but his ray only scorched it. Spotting nearby grunts, he reluctantly decided that a shared victory was better than nothing, and he blasted the hatch off
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The GM can have fun playing up the unfamiliarity of the terrain and world, deliberately obscuring things that would be obvious to humans, but not aliens; e.g., the first time Martians face a fire truck, they’re likely to think that it’s a military vehicle firing some sort of beam weapon! In addition, it’s easy to simply get lost when traveling between two battlefields, whether on the ground or in the sky. A saucer of PCs separated from the main battle may run into a smaller group of National Guards (or equivalent), allowing for a more personal fight in the middle of this grand, large-scale invasion. Or, for a touch of comedy, they may need to kidnap some locals to ask – no, demand! – directions.
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The Novas Vira Strikes Commander Khrelan loomed over the prisoner with a wicked smile. He held the vocoder to his mouth, having long since gotten over any embarrassment about using it. “This is your last chance, human scum. Where is your base? Where are the other Novas Vira?” Dr. Brant Cooper looked up defiantly and spat on Khrelan’s jumpsuit. “Good,” the commander replied, “I like it when we do this the hard way. Bring in . . . the mind worm!” Once the Martians realized who the Novas Vira (pp. 4043) was and the threat the group represented, they assembled teams of high-ranking specialists to go after them. With access to cutting-edge resources and a wide range of skills and knowledge, these noble Martians are the best hope the force has of stopping the terrible Novas Vira before they can do even more damage! This is best su ited to a high-powered, cinematic campaign. The gr oup should have variety; e.g., a biologist, an electronics expert, a gunslinger, an ace pilot, and a sneak. The Novas Vira is a very dangerous enemy, though the Martians have the advantage of a sub stantial pre-existing technological base. Of course, acquiring these resources can involve assistance rolls and navigating the bureaucracy – shading briefly into the themes of Watch Your Back (below).
assassination, and sabotage is the rule, not the exception. The GM and players should understand the rules for Rank (p. 56), particularly assistance rolls, and may even wish to use GURPS Social Engineering: Pulling Rank. It’s possible to run this as deadly serious, but it can easily take on shades of a black comedy, with military officers trying to rack up more human kills than their peers (they may even use an actual scoreboard) while taking “selfies” in front of the ruins of human cities to flaunt their success. Meanwhile, scientists throw monkey wrenches into each other’s projects, trying to assassinate their peers indirectly by having their work (literally) blow up in their faces. If this tone isn’t what the group is aiming for, everyone will have keep that in mind and ensure that things don’t gradually and accidentally slip into such a mold. This sort of game can be a stretch from a typical Mars Attacks campaign, but trying it as an adventure or short story arc can make for a fun diversion. Shifting focus from individual attacks to broad planning and strategy can add a new perspective on the invasion. One way to mix things up is “troupe-style play,” where each player makes a normal PC and an officer up on the ships. The main adventures take place on Earth, but between adventures, the group can run a quick “intermission game” of officers high in orbit, possibly directing the attacks in which the Earthbound PCs will be participating (see Mass Combat, pp. 92-93).
Watch Your Back The clack of footsteps coming down the metal corridor could mean only one thing. Zeer waited until they stopped, then he spoke without turning around. “Greetings, Commander Challav. To what do I owe the . . . pleasure of your company?” Clearly out of patience, High Commander Challav dispensed with any pleasantries and began with a scream, “This is the last straw, Zeer, do you hear me? I need every bit of that composite for our saucers, and if you think you’re getting any of it for your stupid ‘razor-suit’ project, you –“ The officer stopped mid-rant as he finally looked over and saw the blackmail shots that Zeer had been projecting onto the far wall. His tone changed quickly “I . . . may have been a bit hasty . . .” While the obvious action is taking place on Earth, the important decisions are being made on the motherships. Science officers and military officers argue over resources, commanders jockey for position, and everyone attempts to curry favor with those above them. The invasion is fore-
Unconventional Crisis
most in everyone’s mind, but each officer has different ideas about how to carry it out, and each one wants to be credited as the one whose brilliant plan saved the day. This is “office intrigue” writ large. While humans like to joke that their co-workers and bosses are sadistic, selfish creatures, for Martians this is literally true! Debates can turn into physical fights, backbiting can lead to
the Novas Vira nor enemy military knew of it, nor of the potential power of its crystals. As members of the primitive valley tribe rounded the bend, Eldal laughed at his own momentary worry. “Kill them!” The volley of blaster fire arced toward the humans – only to be reflected harmlessly by their shields . . . which Eldal now saw were made of the crystal . . . as were their spears. Not good.
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Hearing a noise in the tunnel ahead, Gal Eldal raised a hand. His lackeys stopped immediately and readied their blasters. The likelihood of finding anyone else in this hidden cavern was almost zero. All intelligence showed that neither
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No longer needing to lurk about in the shadows, settling for capturing a specimen here and there, Science Division can now search Earth for exciting new finds. Every fresh specimen of animal may turn out to be the Martians’ next super-weapon. Exotic crystals and minerals mined from remote caverns may provide a breakthrough in power-storage or beam-weapon technology. Anything is possible! This is a chance for scientists of all stripes to explore the planet, venturing into new and interesting locations to learn about Earth’s secrets. Enemies include the locals (who
could be police and reserve military, not just civilians), the Novas Vira (who may be pursuing them or just there coincidentally for the same reason), and rival Martians from a different project in search of the same advantage. Not every journey needs to be into remote locales. Anywhere that humans have discovered something that Martians haven’t is fair game, including cutting-edge laboratories and tech start-up companies. When such a lab exists in a city that’s about to be blasted to pieces by Imperial Command, this becomes a race against time to retrieve samples before the whole place is gone!
ATOMIC-AGE ALIENS
As discussed in From Mars with Love (pp. 69-73), a Mars Attacks game draws on the unique feel of 1950s and 1960s B movies as much as on the modern world. It’s possible to take that even further, with a game set in that era. The Martians themselves will fit right in, and while the game will need a few adjustments, it can be worth the work. After all, what’s more modern than going retro?
TAMPERING
WITH
TIME
Shifting a Mars Attacks game into the Atomic Age means deciding what exactly to do about the events described in Chapter 1. Leaving them as-is doesn’t preclude running an earlier game; it will just be a game set back when the Martians were still exploring Earth and deciding what kind of intervention would be necessary. Shifting thepast, datesis drastically, so that invasion takes place in the a bit more work butthe allows most of the campaign suggestions in this chapter to work as presented.
Early Encounters This campaign frame assumes that the timeline remains unchanged, but the game will take place in the era
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described in Escalated Action: 1950s and 1960s (pp. 7-8) rather than the modern day. The invasion is purely theoretical at this point, though the Imperial Council is beginning to debate it intensely. Most Martians being sent to Earth are gathering intelligence and reconnoitering to discover its weaknesses and defenses, abducting humans and gathering other samples, or sabotaging human technological efforts in order to slow down their scientific advancement. At this point, the Novas Vira (pp. 4043) has solidified into a true organization, though they may not yet be using that name. They are aware that Martians exist and know what to look for; any saucer that enters Earth’s atmosphere runs the risk of being detected. Members are trying to gather further information and would love to get their hands on definitive proof (not just pictures) that they can take to their government to convince everyone that aliens are a threat. Humans unaffiliated with the Novas Vira are probably in the dark, though there are definitely individuals who know the truth – from genius whiz kids who’ve built radio telescopes in their room that pick up Martian signals to rural farmers who’ve encountered Martians disemboweling their cattle. It’s definitely possible to bring together a group of PCs who know about Martians without being full Novas Vira.
Fun with Fast-Forwarding To explore the full range of what’s possible, the group can always start the campaign with these early encounters, and play through until the first story arc there is resolved – or just until everyone feels like this era has been explored adequately. Then, jump forward in time to the invasion (or just before it), and continue the campaign from there! The players can decide whether to keep the same characters (just 50-60 years older) or create new ones. For humans, keeping the same PCs makes the most sense if they were no older than teenagers in the “early” games, though Longevity (p. 56) can justify exceptions.
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Those who design new characters should find a way to tie them back to the old one. The simplest choice is to make the new person a child of the previous one, but it could also be something less obvious, like a younger student who saw the older person as a mentor.
Rewriting History This campaign frame changes the timeline, roleplaying in an alternate history where the invasion takes place 50-60 years ea rlier. In this case, the Martians began to think of the humans as a threat as the 20th century bega n, due to the invention of the automobile and then the airplane. (Arming such powered vehicles was the first stage of what the Martians consider “real” war technology.) They continued to sabotage our technology throughout the 1930s and 1940s, all while building up a huge invasion fleet back on Mars. Meanwhile, the terrible waste of lives that was WWI had a small positive aspect: It brought high-ranking government agents and military officers together from all around the world. While meetings among the Allies and the Central Powers were focused on the war, for obvious reasons, they also provided the chance to talk about other things, like aliens. It was here that the Novas Vira network would begin to form. A second war would later bring different countries together, and for the Novas Vira, new allies were added to the old ones. By the time WWII ended, the Novas Vira was a unified force. The group should decide if the invasion will happen in the 1950s or 1960s, primarily based on how the setting should feel (see Theme and Flavor, below). Either way, it’s worth noting that – as a consequence of the recent WWII and Communist revolution in China, and early side effects of the burgeoning Cold War – an ample supply of veterans lives all over the world, and they are still in fighting shape. Any civilian resistance (pp. 13-4) is likely to include these welltrained former solders and intelligence agents.
THEME
AND
EARLY ADVENTURES Since many of the seeds from Modern-Day Massacre (pp. 73-80) won’t work in an Early Encounters (pp. 80-81) game, try these suggestions. They’re phrased for humanbased games, but they can work with Martians by simply flipping the assumptions.
Gang War: Criminals stumble across a Martian burying a weapons cache and manage to gun him down before he can do the same. Now they have a locker full of blasters and body armor – surely this will make them unstoppable! However, when that scout didn’t report back in, the pilot figured out what happened, and now the Martians are after the crooks. Either side works as PCs, but they could also be a rival gang dealing with their foe’s new firepower, or task-force officers trying to stop the three-way violence that has just erupted in their streets. The M-Team: A team of intelligence agents captures a Martian on a recon mission. Before they can do anything with him, he escapes! They pursue him and learn about what a threat the Martians are, but their agency doesn’t believe them and threatens to pull them from the field. They go rogue, dedicated to hunting down Martians even though their government has disavowed them. Monkey Wrench from Mars: A team of techies and their assistants are all working on a major project – e.g., an early unmanned rocket launch or the testing of a new weapons system. When things go horribly wrong, a bit of investigation reveals sabotage, but using methods that no human should have access to. (Alternatively, they spot the Martians themselves escaping.) Now that they realize what’s happening, can they adapt their technology to combat this new menace?
FLAVOR
In a way, the entire point of changing the campaign date is to revel in the feel of the earlier setting. Since the GM will be playing all of the NPCs, he should weigh in on which decade to use based on whether he feels more comfortable roleplaying conservative men with suits and martinis or freelove hippies with silly glasses and drugs. While that is an oversimplification, realize that the GM isn’t expected to ensure a 100% realistic and accurate portrayal of the era in question. In a fast-and-loose game like Mars Attacks, era-based stereotyping fits!
The Fabulous Fifties The 1950s were a time of optimism in most countries. In particular, science was seen as a powerful
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and benevolent force – particularly since it had been the deciding factor in WWII. The world had just gotten over the war, and those on the winning side were seeing an economic boom from it, clearly proving the inherent superiority of a capitalist society. This optimism led to a prevailing conservative attitude: The current social structure had been proven right, and everything was perfect the way it was. That was a lie, of course, and rebels and counterculture adherents were fairly prevalent, but everyone with any social standing was quick to demonize them. The thought of minorities (whether racial, religious, or sexual) attaining any degree of power was simply absurd. The war had forced society to accept women working out ofafterward their home, and they kept hold of that right – though most people expected them to take “girl jobs,” like secretary or nurse. Despite being marginalized, there was an understanding that “behind every great man is a woman”; in other words, if a woman wanted something done, her man would do it if he knew what was best for him.
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Television shows like Mad Men are inspirational for gaming in this period, as is GURPS Atomic Horror (for Third Edition).
There’s plenty of inspirational viewing for this era; start with the films Woodstock and Easy Rider to see its bright and dark sides.
The Swinging Sixties
CUTTING-EDGE GEAR
In many ways, the 1960s were a reaction to the conservatism of the 1950s. The civil rights and women’s liberation movements demanded an end to the social oppression that had typified that decade. More and more people embraced counterculture and rebellion where previously they had looked down upon it. Protests were common, whether over big issues or small; in the United States, the biggest issue was the Vietnam War, which sparked protests that brought entire towns to a standstill. The police reaction to protesters was usually measured, but sometimes erupted into deadly violence. Society was divided. To many younger people, “the Man” was in charge and “the Establishment” needed to be overhauled, particularly so we could “make love, not war” and spend that money to improve our country instead. To the older generation, these “hippies and slackers” clearly hated the country that raised them and took care of them; they should “love it or leave it” and stop bringing down society with their promiscuity and drug use.
In GURPS terms, everything from 1940-1980 is the Nuclear Age (TL7). Humanity has access to some fairly powerful weapons, particularly military tanks and jets, but hasn’t yet broken the digital barrier that allows for serious computing. In addition, communication is fairly restricted; telephones are hard-wired only and communications satellites (allowing for true international calls) weren’t in use until the mid-1960s. most who treatment somehow of gettech theirlevel hands MartianFor gear, thepeople simplified (pp.on53-54) makes the specific TL a non-issue. Characters designed to repair or invent high-tech gear are not so lucky, however. For game balance alone, the GM should be generous about allowing PCs to take High TL (p. 55): Any scientist might have High TL 1 (though probably expressed as TL(7+1) rather than TL8), while the Novas Vira starts with High TL 2. Both of these ceilings go up by a level some time after the invasion, as the Tiger Corps (pp. 43-44) arrives and as the world gets used to Martian technology.
PLOTS AND PLACES The stage for a Mars Attacks game is literally the entire world – and even a bit beyond it! To prevent that from becoming overwhelming, it helps to look at some of the more interesting people, places, and missions that m ay come up. If something isn’t covered in this section, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important – it means that, because the cards, comics, etc. haven’t yet touched on it, it’ s still an open ca nvas for the GM.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS The most important people in the setting are the PCs, of course! However, the following NPCs have had a significant impact on the setting, as shown by their names coming up throughout this book. This doesn’t include presidents, kings, etc.; see Take Me to Your Leader (p. 84) for that. All statistics are for the person at the very beginning of the invasion. They are presented in an “abbreviated” format, listing only the important traits for each person. If the GM thinks that someone should have an advantage, disadvantage, or skill not listed (“Why, a man nicknamed Buck just has to be a hunter! Why doesn’t he have Tracking?”), he shouldn’t hesitate to add it.
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Senator Buck Spencer “Buck” Spencer,aware then of a Martian brigadierinfluence general on in theCharles U.S. Army, first became Earth in 1968, when they sabotaged the space mission he was overseeing with NASA. (It was chalked up to “technical difficulties.”) He had heard rumors about a group dedicated to Martian-hunting, and he used his own resources and wits to track down Director Quentin himself.
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Since then, he’s been an important member in the Novas Vira, though he’s been careful to keep that connection out of the public eye. While others were trying to convince the government to acknowledge the existence of aliens, Spencer retired and ran for public office. Today, he’s one of the longest-serving members of the U.S. Senate, a position from which he introduces and supports legislation that he thinks will help the Novas Vira and the Earth overall. Spencer is in his late 70s, though anyone looking at him would swear he wasn’t a day over 50. He continues to work out every morning and hit the firing range at least once a week. Spencer neve r lost his militar y bearing and won’t hesitate to get physically involved if a situation calls for it. During the invasion, he saved the President’s life and parlayed the goodwill from that into official support for the Novas Vira. Since then, he’s been working with Director Quentin and often leads Novas Vira teams on combat missions.
Intolerance (Martians); Language (Martian at Native); Longevity; No Sense of Humor; Quick Gadgeteer; Skinny. Skills: Armoury (most*)-14; Astronomy-16; Computer Operation-15; Computer Programming-14; Electrician-18; Electronics Operation (most*)-20; Electronics Repair (most*)-20; Engineer (Electrical and Electronics)-20; Engineer (most others*)-16; Expert Skill (Mars)-16; Explosives (Demolition)-14; Mechanic (most*)-14; Pharmacy (Synthetic)-13; Psychology (Martian)-13; Weird Science-15. * If the technology exists in the setting, he probably has a specialty for it. Some specialties may be up to three levels higher.
ST 12; DX 12; IQ 13; HT 12. Damage 1d-1/1d+2; BL 29 lbs.; HP 12; Will 13; Per 14; FP 14. Basic Speed 6.00; Basic Move 6; Dodge 10; Parry 11. 6’1”; 200 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Combat Reflexes; Common Sense; Courtesy Rank 7 (Military); Danger Sense; Gunslinger; Language (Martian at Accented); Longevity; Status 4. Skills: Administration-13; Expert Skill (Mars)-12; Guns (Pistol and Rifle)-14; Intelligence Analysis-14; Judo-14; Leadership-13; Observation-14; Soldier-12; Strategy (Land and Space)-14; Tactics-13.
Director Gil Quentin Dr. Gil Quentin rose to leadership of the Novas Vira in the early 1960s. Since then, he has molded it into a potent weapon against the Martians. He has always focused most heavily on communications. He perfected radiofax technology to allow Novas Vira members to share detailed blueprints back when shortwave radio was the only global communications available, and he foresaw the need for low-orbit satellites decades before the invasion. After the invasion, he moved the Novas Vira HQ to a secret underground bunker in Greenville, West Virginia. From there, he coordinates Novas Vira activities full-time. Quentin is willing to do whatever is necessary to save the Earth from the Martians. He draws the line at any plans that involve significant human deaths, but he will sacrifice the few to save the many. Those who’ve known him longest admit that the stress has slowly changed him; the lighthearted, fun astronomer has been replaced by a humorless, angry director. While he remains healthy, he looks every bit of his 74 years: bald, spindly, and perpetually frowning.
ST 9; DX 11; IQ 15; HT 11. Damage 1d-2/1d-1; BL 16 lbs.; HP 9; Will 15; Per 15; FP 11. Basic Speed 5.50; Basic Move 5; Dodge 8; Parry 8. 5’10”; 100 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Bad Temper (15); Circuit Sense 4 (p. 57); Fanaticism (Saving Earth); High TL 1;
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Professor David Walters David Walters has k nown the truth since he was eight years old, when aliens killed his father. Since that day, he dedicated his life to learning more about the solar system and why this happened. He became a professor of neuroscience, but he was “let go” after publishing a paper about what happened to his father. The Novas Vira recruited him, and since then, he has become their greatest expert on Martian physiology and psychology. He is 80 years old, with unkempt salt-and-pepper hair and thick-rimmed glasses.
ST 10; DX 10; IQ 14; HT 12. Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 14; Per 14; FP 12. Basic Speed 5.50; Basic Move 5; Dodge 8; Parry 8. 5’6”; 150 lbs. (SM 0).
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Advantages/Disadvantages: Bad Sight (Nearsighted; Glasses); High TL 1; Language (Martian at Native); Longevity. Skills: Astronomy-14; Biology (Earthlike)-15; Biology (Mars)-15;ExpertSkill(Mars)-16;Physician(Human)-13; Physiology (Martian)-14; Psychology (Human)-16; Psychology (Martian)-15; Surgery (Human)-12.
features, and though he understands several languages, he never speaks. He seems to be of an unknown alien race, with excellent senses and fast reaction time. He is unquestioningly loyal to General Jaret and protective of innocents; on several occasions, he has taken enemy fire to save the lives of others.
Take Me to Your Leader It’s up to the GM whether to use existing world leaders or to make up new, fictional ones. Using real people has the advantage of familiarity; the players will recognize the name without the GM it. having to append “Prime Minister Canada”Players every time he says However, that familiarity has a of downside: are as likely to hold strong political views as anyone, and any reference to an existing politician may invite unnecessary political commentary. Using a leader created from scratch also gives the GM a blank canvas on which to build an interesting personality and history. Neither decision is inherently better; the GM should decide based on what feels right for the game.
ST 10; DX 13; IQ 8; HT 12. Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 10; Per 13; FP 12. Basic Speed 6.25; Basic Move 6; Dodge 10; Parry 11. 5’5”; 100 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Charitable (15); Cannot Combat Reflexes; Discriminatory Speak*; Smell; Empathy; Enhanced Move 0.5 (Ground); Languages (Elorian, English, and Martian at Native); Sense of Duty (Jaret); Ultrahearing. Skills: Beam Weapons (Rifle)-15; Piloting (Aerospace)-13; Running-12; Spacer-11; Stealth-15; Wrestling-14. * Or possibly Vow (Silence); it’s unclear if this is a voluntary decision on his part.
General Jaret
Corus
The leader of the Tiger Corps is famously tight-lipped about personal things. In particular, he refuses to answer questions about how a man from Earth ended up with the Tiger Corps on Eloria Prime, or details about his ally Shadow. Jaret’s commitment to Shadow is obvious, however; the two are rarely seen apart and he seems to regard Shadow as one would a son or younger brother. See The (pp. 43-44) for what little information there is Tiger Corps on Jaret’s past. In person, Jaret is an inspiring commander. He puts his crew before himself and leads from the front in battle. He has a particular bone to pick with the Martians and always assumes the worst about their actions; he’s usually right. Physically, Jaret is in his 30s, strong and broad-shouldered, with short, wavy brown hair.
ST 13; DX 13; IQ 12; HT 12. Damage 1d/2d-1; BL 34 lbs.; HP 13; Will 13; Per 11; FP 12. Basic Speed 6.25; Basic Move 6; Dodge 10; Parry 12. 5’11”; 190 lbs. (SM 0).
Corus is a loud, aggressive bounty-hunter from Eloria Prime. He commanded a crew of a dozen before General Jaret talked them all into joining the Tiger Corps, and several of them came along with him to Earth. Like most Elorians, Corus has tan skin with darker, bumpy ridges running from the back of his head to the front. He tends to be incredibly physical – grabbing people by the shoulder as he talks to them, slapping them on the back when he compliments them, and so on. He usually flies The Venture.
ST 12; DX 13; IQ 11; HT 11. Damage 1d-1/1d+2; BL 29 lbs.; HP 12; Will 11; Per 14; FP 11. Basic Speed 6.00; Basic Move 6; Dodge 10; Parry 11. 6’0”; 170 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Danger Sense; Elorian; Languages (English and Martian at Native). Skills: Beam Weapons (Pistol)-15; Brawling-14; Gunner (Beams)-15; Leadership-10; Navigation (Space)-11; Piloting (Aerospace)-15; Shiphandling-15; Tracking-16.
Advantages/Disadvantages: Charisma 4; Combat Reflexes; Intolerance (Martians); Languages (Elorian and Martian at Native); Secret (Past); Sense of Duty (Tiger Corps). Skills: Beam Weapons (Pistol and Rifle)-14; Brawling-15; Gunner (Beams)-14; Leadership-18; Navigation (Space)-11; Piloting (Aerospace)-14; Public Speaking-14; Spacer-12; Strategy (Land)-12;Shiphandling-14; Strategy (Space)-14; Tactics-14; Wrestling-14.
Shadow Shadow is an enigma. He has never been seen without his helmet, which completely obscures his
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General Tor General Tor comes from a long line of ImpeMeasuring Time rial Command officers. He rose through the ranks For the convenience of any humans who happen to be of Planetary Forces rapidly, and he was promoted reading this book, all Martian ages and spans of time are to general at the relatively young age of 64. Now given here in Earth years. Mars years are about twice as 127, he is one of the generals spearheading the long, but rather than convert, just assume that a Martian invasion; his responsibilities include mothership talking to a human will phrase things “in your Earth years” defense, Western Asia, supplying the geothermal to avoid confusing the inferior flesh-being. dig teams, taking the eastern coast of North America, and whatever else the GM wishes. Like most Martians, Tor considers himself slashed his face with a trowel. He still bears the scar as a better than his subordinates, but in his mind, reminder of his time there. anyone who isn’t in Imperial Command is automatically When Zar got back to Mars, he began aggressively workhis subordinate. This includes Science Division, which has caused no end of friction, particularly as Tor’s first approach when he needs something (data, resources, etc.) from Science Division is to go directly to the scientist who has access to it and begin demanding, moving to threats if he doesn’t get results within about three seconds. Generals Tor and Zar are bitter rivals. In Tor’s mind, Zar is incompetent and a fool. He knows the stories of Zar being captured by humans as a younger Martian and cannot abide that level of weakness in a supposed “equal.” In addition, Tor witnessed Zar’s climb through the ranks and was unimpressed with the level of blackmail, intrigue, threats, and more – frankly, Zar was just trying too hard. While General Tor’s physical appearance is nothing noteworthy,
ing his way up the ranks. He traded favors, blackmailed, extorted, and did whatever it took to ensure that he would be a general before the invasion of Earth and thus free to enact true revenge. He owes dozens of favors and has a huge target on its back, but it was worth it. At the ripe age of 133, he is finally a general. Zar doesn’t have many friends, but General Tor is at the top of his current list of rivals. As Zar sees it, he had to fight tooth and nail to get where he is today, while Tor was practically handed it due to his family connections. The fact that Zar comes from a Science Division background doesn’t help things either.
ST 13; DX 13; IQBL 12;34 HT 13.HP Damage 1d/2d-1; lbs.; 13; Will 14; Per 12; FP 13. Basic Speed 6.50; Basic Move 6; Dodge 9; Parry 10. 5’9”; 130 lbs. (SM 0).
he carries himself with a dignified and superior bearing. It’s obvious that he’s used to being in charge.
ST 10; DX 12; IQ 14; HT 12. Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 16; Per 14; FP 12. Basic Speed 6.00; Basic Move 6; Dodge 10; Parry 10. 5’7”; 120 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Bully (9); Combat Reflexes; Intolerance (Science Division); Languages (various human at Broken); Martian; Martian Rank 7. Skills: Administration-15; Beam Weapons (Rifle)-12; Detect Lies-14; Expert Skill (Earth)-14; Gunner (Beams)-12; Intelligence Analysis-14; Intimidation-18; Propaganda-13; Public Speaking-13; Strategy (all)-15; Tactics-13.
General Zar to convey the level of hatred that GenIt is impossible eral Zar has for humanity. Several decades ago, as a Science Division member of a scouting team to Earth, he was the lone survivor when the ship crashed in Iowa. As he hid, he was encountered by the locals; he killed them all armed with only an energized knife, but not before one of them
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Adva ntages /D isadva ntages : High Pain Threshold; Intolerance (Humans); Martian; Martian Rank 7; Sadism (9); Single-Minded. Skills: Acting-12; Beam Weapons (Pistol and Rifle)-15; Brawling-15; Detect Lies-10; Engineer (Artillery, Electronics, and Robotics)-13; Expert Skill (Earth)-11; Explosives (Demolition and EOD)-14; Intimidation-15; Knife-16; Tactics-13; Wrestling-14.
General Zar’s Revenge Unknown to anyone, Zar stole an experimental doomsday device from one of the Science Division bunkers on Mars before leaving for the invasion. The surprisingly small weapon (it’s the size of a softball) works by folding space around itself, forcefully. The scientists who accidentally created it realized that it had the potential to tear space, taking out half of the solar system . . . maybe. Not suicidal, they locked it up and flagged it for restricted access.
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Of course, generals have access to “restricted” weaponry, so Zar secretly took it, leaving a duplicate in its place. Obviously, this is untested, so it’s up to the GM whether to bring this into play and whether it will work. When Zar decides that a Pyrrhic victory is worth it, stopping him is the kind of thing for which Martians would actually team up with humans.
Anon Teed Anon Teed is the twisted, psychotic leader of Science Division. More feared than respected, many whisper that the only way he ended up the division head was by intimidating the Imperial Council into promoting him. Under Teed, Science Division has achieved greater autonomy, simply because no one knows how to deal with him and his madness. Teed is a brilliant bioengineer who personally conceived many of Science Division’s biological experiments, including Project: Bug and Project: Human Upgrade. He has been known to test bioenhancements on himself, which has given him a monstrous, mutated appearance. Most of the left side of his body has been subjected to multiple genetic augmentations and mutations; he uses his right half as “the control group.” As a result of these, he has sprouted multiple segmented insect eyes on his head and his left arm is a lobster-like claw. His neck is ringed in bubbles of flesh. For obvious reasons, he suffers from a variety of biochemical imbalances, which he treats with a custom invention: a left shoulder guard housing two injection cylinders that continually pump drugs into his system to keep his mutations under control.
ST 15; DX 11; IQ 15; HT 13. Damage 2d-1/3d+1; BL 45 lbs.; HP 15; Will 15; Per 15; FP 13. Basic Speed 6.00; Basic Move 6; Dodge 9; Parry 9. 5’9”; 170 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Appearance (Hideous); High Pain Threshold*; Hyperspectral Vision*; Martian; Martian Rank 6†; Obsession (SCIENCE!) (6); One Fine Manipulator; Striker (Claw; 2d+3 cutting); Striking ST 4*; Unusual Biochemistry. Skills: Beam Weapons (Pistol)-12; Bioengineering (all)-25; Biology (Mars)-21; Biology (Earthlike)-17; Brawling-13; Computer Operation-16; Electronic Operation (Medical and Scientific)-18; Expert Skill (Earth)-14; Pharmacy (Synthetic)-16; Weird Science-20. * If the drug injectors on his shoulder (DR 30, HP 8) are smashed, he loses these advantages and gains Bad Sight (Farsighted), Epilepsy, Low Pain Threshold, and Total Klutz. Damage becomes 1d+1/2d+1 and his claw does 1d+3 cutting. † Once Teed is promoted to High General, this becomes Martian Rank 7 and Courtesy Rank 1, the latter representing his “first among equals” position.
Beloss Bel Beloss Bel was one of the first Undercover Agents, sent to Earth in the 1940s to infiltrate the government and scientific community and send intelligence back to Mars. Beloss Bel also has the distinction of being the Agent who has been undercover for the longest continuous time of any Martian. This is not a good thing. Beloss Bel has long since gone completely insane. Beloss Bel remembers that his name is Beloss Bel, but Beloss Bel is not an alien. Why, just look at Beloss Bel. He is obviously human. But Beloss Bel has gifts. Beloss Bel can become other people. Who gave Beloss Bel these gifts? The great and powerful trickster gods, of course! Watch as Beloss Bel demonstrates these gifts. Now bow down and worship the gods. Some would say that Beloss Bel now commands a huge underground cult, leading them as their high priest. Beloss Bel does not see it that way. Beloss Bel just knows that the trickster gods are speaking to Beloss Bel. When the aliens arrived, it was clearly a sign that the gods wanted Beloss Bel and his people to act. (What they do is completely up to the GM; Beloss Bel is the ultimate wildcard.)
ST 10; DX 12; IQ 14; HT 13. Damage 1d-2/1d; BL 20 lbs.; HP 10; Will 16; Per 14; FP 13. Basic Speed 6.25; Basic Move 6; Dodge 9; Parry 9. 5’7”; 150 lbs. (SM 0).
Advantages/Disadvantages: Charisma 3; Delusion (“I am not a Martian!”); Delusion (“I am the high priest of the trickster gods!”); Impulsiveness (6); Language Talent; Languages (Various human at Native); Megalomania; Obsession (Further the cult) (6); Undercover Agent Martian; Voice. The GM should feel free to add further mental disadvantages!
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Skills: Acting-18; Camouflage-18; Diplomacy-14; Disguise-23; Expert Skill (Earth)-15; Fast-Talk-16; Holdout-18; Leadership-17; Public Speaking-20; Sex Appeal-15; Shadowing-18; Stealth-16; Theology (Cult)-14.
WORLD
ON
Once captured, Moscow became a Martian town, with the humans there imprisoned or used for slave labor – making it a good setting for a human resistance (pp. 46-47) game. For Martians, this Moscow is more of a “home away from home” than a place to set adventures, unless they involve something like rooting out local saboteurs. The United Earth Alliance’s drive to retake the city (see Turning the Tide, pp. 15-16) seems at first to play out like the reverse of the Martian invasion – good for humans, not so good for Martians. However, the UEA does not have an overwhelming edge in terms of numbers; their greatest advantage is that the overconfident Martians were not quick enough to call back their forces to defend the city. Thus, Martian PCs could possibly turn the tide in their favor here, blunting the momentum of the UEA. After it was retaken, Moscow, and then its sister city Kiev, became the center of the UEA’s operations in Russia. Not only can an Alliance-based game be based out of the city, opportunities also abound for adventure within: hunting Martian spies, delving into strange tunnels that the aliens dug while they were there, sea rching for former resistance leaders that the Martians imprisoned, and so on.
FIRE
The war for Earth has raged across the entire planet, the impact of the invasion felt in every country and nearly every city. But some places are arguably a bit more interesting to play a game in. Specifically, places that lie between the two extremes of:
Completely Untouched: If it’s so far from anything important that the Martians never bothered assaulting it, then it’s probably going to stay that way – not a lot to do there! Completely Destroyed: Some cities were wiped from the face of the Earth. These make good backdrops for illustrating the horrors of war, but there’s not much you can do at this point. For humans, it’s gone and there’s no point in rebuilding until the Martian menace has been driven from the planet. For Martians, their work there is done! So, if you’re trying to decide where to set a game, consider running it in or near any of the following places. Because locations change over time, the term “setting” is used here to refer specifically to the intersection of time and place; e.g., “Moscow, early in the invasion” is a completely different setting from “Moscow, after the UEA liberated it.”
Martian Strongholds Many human cities had tactical value to the Martians. Rather than doing as much damage as possible, they attempted to carefully cripple human defenses and then send in ground troops to seize and hold these places. The result is a city that’s been badly damaged (since no city went down without a fight) but still intact. A few cities lost and became full Martian strongholds – though the PCs can always change that (see Frozen by Fate? on p. 11). Most are still fighting, however, with the battle of man vs. alien continuing to rage in the streets.
CUTTING POWER In the second wave of the invasion, the Martians didn’t just target cities – they went after Earth’s power – crippling oil platforms, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric dams, and more! They knew that if they could cripple the Earth’s energy production, while tapping into energy of their own (see The Jungle Mission, p. 11), it would give them edge that they needed to maintain a long-term holdthe over Earth. Thematically, this gives the GM options besides just the standard “cities and bases” when deciding where to set an adventure. But don’t just add this option to the list (“Cities and bases and power plants! Oh my!”); instead, consider the wide variety of resources that humanity taps into on a regular basis. Any of these could be the site of a Martian attack, and the jumping-off point for a new adventure.
Moscow The Martians targeted Moscow to make it their central terrestrial base. The layout of the city appealed to their alien minds – for them, it would be easy to convert this into a Martian stronghold. Early in the invasion, Moscow was the site of some of the most intense fighting the invasion would see. Because the Martians were willing to send countless reinforcements
New York City
to ensure the city never chance. See Takingtheir Red victory, Square (pp. 10-11) forreally more.stood This asetting is excellent for Martian troops; while the Empire has a strategic advantage, individual squads saw dangerous action and had to accomplish difficult objectives. Humans PCs will see exciting action, but will eventually lose – unless the GM is willing to rethink how much effort the generals are willing to expend on capturing Moscow.
used here: a combination of saucers, fighters, troops, robots, and even some giant bugs. If the ground players don’t mind being overwhelmed, it can certainly accommodate humans, too. There’s no question that the Martians have the advantage and are consistently winning, but on a fight-by-fight basis, plenty of “small wins” can happen for the humans, too.
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New York wasn’t the first city hit (that was Philadelphia), but it was one of three, along with Tokyo and London, that saw the most carnage on Day One. The Martians opened up by blasting up the Statue of Liberty and then rained death onto the stunned populace. This is a great setting for Martians on the front lines, as virtually everything was
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Unlike some cities, New York never got a reprieve; Imperial Command did not move on after the initial assault. Instead, they sent in more Planetary Forces to slowly clear the city, zone by zone, building by building. This is a closer, tenser game for either side; the chaos of open war has been replaced by the hunt. In the tight confines of urban warfare, the humans definitely have a chance to turn things around and hunt the hunters! The human military attempted to retake New York on multiple occasions; the PCs may be involved in any of those. The greatest issue they’ll face is the combination of saucers, fighters, and robots guarding the city. Each of these has a significant advantage in one form of battle or another (e.g., robot armor isn’t very thick, but they’re nimble and can catch vehicles and rip them open at their weakest points). Martian forces in this setting could defend the city; it would play similarly to the initial invasion, but less “busy,” as the human armed forces can afford to come in only on one or two fronts.
Stonehenge. This gives the British military a chance to come in and reinforce London, making it much closer to a fair fight. With the intervention of the PCs, access to Novas Vira disruptors, and some brilliant heroics, they might even be able to drive the aliens out completely! This same situation makes London a good setting for Martian adventures. Lacking a firm upper hand means that this battle will be more challenging. With the commanders stretched to their limit, lower-ranking heroes have a chance to stand out. When only a few dozen saucers remain in the city, the actions of a single saucer pilot can make all the difference. Stonehenge itself is probably not the best setting for either side except as a footnote. It was taken with virtually no resistance; military forces were nearby that put up a fight, but the Martians had committed many (most would say too many) forces to taking the site, which made their victory a forgone conclusion.
Tokyo The time table for Tokyo was very similar to that of New York (above), but not identical. Rather than send forces directly into the city immediately, Interstellar Forces dropped explosives into the ocean, miles from the city, creating a powerful tsunami that traveled far inland, devastating the populace. This actually gave the Japanese military more time to prepare, as their installations were proof against this sort of thing, but the injury inflicted to so many that ground forcescivilians saw farmeant less resistance when they first moved in. Obviously, human PCs in Tokyo will need to be off the streets when the invasion happens (unless the GM wants the entire campaign to be a brief series of Swimming rolls), but that leaves a few options, including soldiers and normal civilians who happened to be safe in a reinforced building at the moment. Otherwise, this will be much like New York, except with uneven footing for the first several days, due to residual water in the streets (-2 to most physical actions, -1 to defenses).
Chicago
London was one of the primary targets at the very beginning of the Martian invasion, making it a good setting for surprised human PCs. The interesting thing about the London invasion (as opposed to New York, Tokyo,
For the Martians, Chicago was intended to be the Western equivalent to Moscow – a centrally located base with nearby access to plenty of fuel (water). Because of that, they did not target it during the initial invasion. Instead, they targeted the military around it (heavily) and then landed forces outside of the city before heading in to conquer it whole. However, because General Tor committed so many ships to the Battle of Moscow, few were left to safely send into Chicago. Thus, ground forces almost entirely fought this battle. Planetary Forces – grunts, marines, and robot-drivers –
etc.) is that the Martians did move on. This has a few specific repercussions. Humans in this setting will have to deal with the same chaotic overkill discussed for New York City (pp. 87-88): saucers, fighters, robots, and blaster-wielding aliens. However, if they can hold out for a few days, nearly half of the Martian forces will withdraw and head west, toward
faced military andfrom the occasional receiving theirground own airforces support only a fewairstrike, saucers and fighters. In the Chapter 1 timeline, the Martians conquered the city within a week, primarily because the regular civilians (and some of the military!), having seen the carnage in places like New York, were terrified of facing the aliens. In many ways, it was a victory of propaganda.
London and Stonehenge
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If human PCs could convince enough people to stand and fight, even knowing that it would mean the death of many of them, there were enough citizens to swarm the ground forces, take their blasters, and turn the tide. (Obviously, in a Martian-based game, the GM could make that a threat that the PCs have to deal with!)
Sana’a Anon Teed (p. 86) chose the capital of Yemen for Science Division’s primary base on Earth. Some experiments require gravity,from after all,access and others would benefit easy to the planet’s resources. Teed may have had other reasons, but if so, he didn’t share, and no one was about to ask him. The battle to take Sana’a played out much like New York (pp. 87-88). Keeping the city in one piece was deemed “a plus, but not strictly necessary.” Instead, Sana’a’s true importance (as a setting) comes afterward, when Science Division begins building a huge facility there. Martian PCs of any kind may be drafted, from engineers told of a technical problem that needs fixing to military having to defend the construction from locals trying to reclaim their town. Humans have a stake in ensuring that this new base does not come to exist – a perfect opportunity for sabotage. After the laboratory is built, Sana’a becomes an excellent backdrop for any missions involving Science Division. Many speculated that Teed created this earthbound facility that he had this a door hewas could Unlike thehelabs on lock.his theso motherships, base 100% , where could work on things without fear of others seeing. That should terrify any Martian PCs who are summoned there, and give human PCs a motivation to do whatever it takes to shut it down. The final blow in Sana’a came from the United Earth Alliance striking out of India and into Sana’a. For the UEA, it was a combination of excellent planning and lucky timing; Teed and several of his staff were away from the base for a mandatory strategic meeting on the mothership. Having characters encounter him after learning what happened there would be . . . interesting.
is willing to say that the Novas Vira detected the drilling and showed up, which is certainly possible, though not the default assumption.) Once the “triangle of power” was complete, things began to really heat up. The Novas Vira realized what had happened and wanted to shut it down. Complicating things was the loss of the military in Mexico, Peru, and the surrounding areas; the Martians took them out completely to protect their resources. A mission to shut down the jungle sites will likely pit the Novas Vira (and possibly the Tiger Corps) and any allies the scientists can convince to come along against a small fleet of saucers and fighters in the air and countless ground troops surrounding the site. For human-based games, this would be a huge challenge with a huge reward. The situation may be too passive to run a Martian-based adventure there, though, unless they discover a hidden plot to destroy the power taps and set off to foil it.
Infestations
Amid the insanity of the invasion, the work of Project: Underground (pp. 26-27) went relatively unnoticed – which was, of course, the whole idea. A few days of exploration, followed by a few weeks of work, and the Martians began receiving virtually unlimited power. The initial exploration
The Martians couldn’t be everywhere. Earth had too many strategic targets to attack to be able to invade them all! So they did the next best thing: Where possible, they airdropped dozens to hundreds of massive bugs (pp. 34-36), along with trained insect handlers to ensure that they stayed on task. A captain would usually hover above the area in a fighter ship, directing the attack on a grand scale. This scene played out in dozens of places: Bermuda, Las Vegas, Munich, Los Angeles, and more. Any could be a fun backdrop for an insect-handler game – or, if that’s too one-note, a mixed group in which grunts protect the
is an excellent setting for either side; humans have a huge stake in trying to stop this, while the Martians are under the gun to pull this off without being caught. It’s extremely unlikely that the Mexican or Peruvian militaries will be able to break away from the fighting for long enough to stumble across the Martians in the jungle, however, so any human PCs will probably be civilians. (Unless the GM
handlers while fighter pilots handle the sparse military resistance available. Humans will be busy fighting bugs, though it’s also possible to assume that others are doing the fighting (especially in cities with nearby militaries, like Munich or L.A.) while the science-minded PCs figure out how the Martians created these creatures and work on a way to defeat them.
The Jungles
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Holdouts In some places, the military realized that they were outmatched and decided to make a tactical retreat. On an open battlefield, that would have been suicidal, but a nearby mountain range or dense forest would often provide the cover needed for the armed forces to scatter into the wilds. In China, this was done so successfully that the PLA was later regrouped and took their country back! This sets up an uneasy situation, in which the Martians take the city or base, but know that the humans are out there, waiting for an opportunity to reclaim what’s theirs. Normally, once the Martians have taken a city, they don’t need to leave as much of a force behind; it takes fewer troops to hold a city than it does to take it. But a standoff like this changes the situation, with the Martians having to guess at how many “extra” units they need to keep nearby. This tension works well for games on either side. The humans need to send scouts into the city to track what forces the Martians have in reserve there, as well as to sabotage, spread propaganda, and so on. The Martians must do much the same – send parties out into the forests, mountains, etc., hunting the humans. Too big a search party, and the city is less defended; too small, and the humans may be able to openly attack them. No one should ever be 100% certain of who has the upper hand.
When it comes to adventure ideas, a few “old standbys” fit the genre particularly well. However, when using plots this well-tried, it’s important to find ways to keep them unique and interesting.
The Fury of Battle With the Martians invading, Earth has become a battlefield where humans and aliens fight to the death! Combat is going to be an integral part of most Mars Attacks games, whether it’s a huge clash of armed forces (see Mass Combat, pp. 92-93) or just a handful of farmers defending themselves against a pair of Martian scouts. Key to any fight, however, is making sure that it’s interesting and entertaining, not “just another shootout.” The GM needs to take care to set up fights so that at least one thing will always stand out in everyone’s mind later – something they’ll want to talk about when describing the game. No one remembers “the fight we had in that corridor,” but they won’t forget “the fight where the giant robot had exploded, and we had to stop the Novas Vira from getting their hands on its head.” When in doubt, try one of these tricks:
I Have bystanders get in the way (as targets, trying to help, etc.). I Set it in a unique location (or have something happen in the current spot that turns it into one). I Find a way in which the environment interacts with a commonly used attack (e.g., heat rays used near a petroleum refinery). I Make the fight about a specific goal, not “last man standing.” I Give the enemy a never-before-seen weapon. Introduce or force of nature, oneIthat’s hostile atothird both party groups. I Use one of the situations discussed in more detail below (Let’s You and Him Fight or Stealth Strike). If the GM can’t think of something about this fight that makes it a unique experience compared to every previous fight, it usually means that this isn’t the place for a combat! Consider adding a different action scene, like a chase or a rescue. See Fight the Good Fight (p. 91) for more advice on combats and pacing.
Let’s You and Him Fight
THE PLOT THICKENS A Mars Attacks game should be an excuse to cut loose with over-the-top plots, entertaining characters, and a constant backdrop of thrilling action. Thinking of it as a roller-coaster ride is a good start: The GM wants to build tension, get the adventure started, then unleash a torrent of unexpected challenges while still giving the players a chance to come up with crazy ways to deal with it. There’s nothing wrong with reacting to something with, “That doesn’t seem to make sense . . . but it’s awesome. Sure, you can try it!”
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One of the ways ordinary civilians could defeat the better-armed Martians was by turning powerful creatures against them. These is a common theme in Mars Attacks, from soldiers shooting the control collars off of giant bugs to normal folks opening lion cages at the zoo and letting the cats pin the Martians and rip their armor off to get to the tasty treat within. The reverse is less common. The Martians usually can attack from a position of power and don’t have to get help elsewhere. However, they have the ability to do so, often by using technology to agitate powerful animals. In many ways, Project: Bug and Project: Human Upgrade are just this concept writ large.
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Stealth Strike A precise, surgical strike is sometimes a welcome alternative to a knock-down, drag-out fight. The team must sneak into a place, attack the specific target, and then get out again. Both sides have countless reasons to make these – they’re the entire point of the Stealth Forces (pp. 23-24) and such an attack is how the UEA managed to take Sana’a (p. 89). This type of mission also happens to perfectly suit most PC groups; as a group of experts, sent in to destroy or retrieve a high-value target, they can use their personal abilities to make a huge difference in the war (on either side). The big change from a normal attack to a stealth strike is the rarely whether the team can beatquestion the target. Theybecomes either send in enough people to guarantee victory, or they make sure it’s less “fight” and more “assassination” (e.g., by doing it when the person is asleep). Instead, the real question is, “Can we achieve our goal before anyone raises an alarm?” Stealth and speed are both crucial, and a long fight becomes a de facto loss. Thus, this sort of engagement both breaks up the action (by sandwiching the fight between infiltration and exfiltration) and encourages a quick battle – a win-win!
The MacGuffin A “MacGuffin” is any object that is important because everyone wants it – regardless of what it actually does. As that describes almost any unique prototype that Science Division or the Novas Vira might come up with, MacGuffin-based plots are a natural fit with Mars Attacks. The beauty of sending the heroes after a MacGuffin is that everyone else wants it, too. The next thing they know, they’re competing with three groups of their own people and two squads of the enemy just to get to it! As a variant, the team may be trying to destroy the MacGuffin rather than obtain it. Or one of the rival groups is. (This should raise questions in the players’ minds if their characters aren’t.) Or rather than take it, they’re trying to “activate” it, at which point it doesn’t matter whose hands it’s in. When deciding on a MacGuffin, it’s important to remember that it’s not really about how useful it is, but about how badly it’s wanted . A new blaster that does double damage and ig nores DR is not really a MacGuffi n; it’s a new weapo n that will change the war! A new blaster that “treats energy in a never-before-seen way – I don’t even know what it does” is a MacGuffin. The ca mpaign should never be thrown into disarray if the PCs mana ge to get it and hold onto it. Of course, the definition of “useful” certainly varies. Zar’s doomsday weapon (see General Zar’s Revenge, pp. 85-86) is an excellent MacGuffin if it gets into the field. Zar will send a team to activate it, anyone who knows how badly Zar seeks it but not why will want to obtain it, and those who know the truth (and who aren’t completely insane) will prefer to destroy it . . . no pressure, of course.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT Games need action, and combat is one of the simplest ways to introduce it. Nothing gets the blood pumping like fighting for your life! And the fight for Earth’s future is the theme of Mars Attacks. Nonetheless, in-game combat has to feel like action to the people playing. Few things are worse than a fight that feels like it’s dragging out and removing everyone from immersion in the story. This happens most often when a fight that started as an exciting action scene slowly transitions into a series of rolls: “He makes his attack by 4, so two blasts hit.” “I dodgethe both.” “Okay, other guy shoots, misses.” “Cool. I do the same as last turn: two shots to the face. Hit . . . and hit.” “He dodges the first one, but the second one hits. Roll damage.” “29.” “You definitely injured him, but he’s still standing. Okay, his turn now . . .” It happens to the best of us – especially the GM, who often has to juggle a dozen different NPCs’ actions while keeping track of their overall goal! However, combat that slows the story down instead of making it feel frantic and rushed is pointless. When this seems to happen on a regular basis, the GM can try a few simple ways to avoid it.
I Give your players a reason to keep their descriptions of the fight lively and active by giving them a modest bonus for doing so: +1, or +2 if you’re blown away. The bonus will keep them invested in staying entertaining, and when the players are going out of their way to do that, it helps keep the GM doing the same. I Use optional rules that speed up combat, such as Buying Successes (p. B347) and Cannon Fodder (p. B417). You can even allow the former to obtain critical successes in combat, despite the normal prohibition against this. I When the game seems to be one fight after another, and the group seems to easily handle what you’re throwing at them, consider simply skipping ahead to the next part of the adventure. “Okay, you’ve beaten the last two squads pretty handily, so everyone mark off 10 shots as you fight your way to the generator.” After all, it’s normal to fast-forward past the “boring parts” of a game, like sleeping and travel, so if a series of combats are beginning to drag on (and they aren’t the main point of the adventure), skip ’em!
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Saved! Players tend to take it for granted that their characters’ lives exist in constant jeopardy; it comes with being protagonists. That’s why it often adds more excitement to put someone else’s lives at risk. The heroes see that their allies are pinned down by enemy fire; they have to find a way to either get them to safety or shut down those blaster turrets!
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Or innocent bystanders have gotten trapped beneath the rubble and the only way to get them out is to hijack that Martian robot! For this to matter, the PCs need a tie to the victims. That’s usually easy with humans, who are all shared victims throughout most of the Martian invasion. With Martian PCs, it can be harder, as players don’t have an instinctive empathy toward other Martians, and characters are likely to just shrug and hope that this makes room for their next promotion. There, it may help to make the reason more pragmatic than emotional; e.g., “That team has the access codes to the saucer, without which you have to walk 180 miles through human territory to get back to base.” The key in all cases is to keep it short. Someone needs rescuing, the heroes save that person, and the adventure moves on. With rare exceptions, “escort quests” (where the adventurers have to keep a fragile NPC safe in a dangerous situation) get old quickly. For a related effect on the theme, when allies’ lives go past “at risk” and into “ruined,” see Darkness (p. 70).
information packet. Or see You’re Coming with Me (below) for another option. Finally, who else wants this information? See The MacGuffin (p. 91) for suggestions on the fun that ensues when a simple job becomes a five-sided scramble.
You’re Coming with Me When “data” requires a long interrogation rather than a quick info-dump, it’s often necessary to bring the target in. Kidnapping a victim is a scenario much like a stealth strike (p. 91), except that even if the victim doesn’t raise an alarm, getting out is much harder than getting in because an abductee is being dragged along. Once out, the group still has to watch over the prisoner, who likely to try sort escaping, finding wayIntosome signal his allies,isleaving some of trail, and soa on. cases, knocking him out is a safe option, but then that means carrying around 100+ lbs. of dead weight (hope someone bought high ST!) and doing so without attracting attention.
Marshal the Troops As a final note, consider that all of the fighting down on the battlefield is being directed by high-ranking officers, off in a bunker or high in a mothership. Once in a while, it can be enlightening to “pull back the focus,” getting a high-level view by sitting in on the generals’ and directors’ strategy sessions. This doesn’t require playing an all-officer game. If the PCs have a chance to interact with their superiors, and have impressed them greatly, the generals may very well ask them for their input on the next phase of the invasion. Or the focus can be pulled back to “midlevel” rather than high-level by putting the heroes in charge of local units and letting them work out the tactical details. See Watch Your Back (p. 79) as well, for a troupestyle play suggestion that focuses on the rank-and-file while taking occasional trips up the chain of command.
ACTING AT RANDOM When the GM is at a loss for the next mission, or when deciding what the enemy is doing at the moment, considering using this table for inspiration. First, roll 1d to determine the row, then roll another 1d and use Column A on 1-3 or Column B on 4-6.
Roll 1 2 3
Column A Specimen capture Attack/offensive Scientific testing
Column B Infiltration Scouting Assassination
4 Reconnaissance Disinformation Kidnapping 5 Theft 6 Exfiltration Aerial bombardment
Mass Combat
Know Thy Enemy Knowledge is power: In modern terms, that could be phrased, “Intel is everything.” In Mars Attacks, a little bit of data can go a long way, which means that missions to gather that data will come up often. The first question is, what intel are they obtaining? Examples include:
I Enemy movement and troop location. I Specs for a new invention. I Juicy blackmail on a Martian officer (see Martian Dominion, pp. 21-28, for suggestions). I Orders for an upcoming attack. I Secret information that casts a situation or ally in a new light. I A scientific breakthrough. The next thing to decide is whether the heroes will be obtaining this information directly (e.g., spying on the troops, talking to the inventor, filming the Martian) or indirectly, such as on a flash drive or printed
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Most battle scenes will feature the PCs in the thick of things, fighting to survive at least long enough to accomplish some goal – whether that be obtaining something, driving off the enemy, or waiting for reinforcements. Because roleplaying games are centered on the PCs, their results will usually serve as a microcosm of the greater results; e.g., if they successfully hold the bridge until reinforcements arrive, their side will prevail in this encounter, otherwise the bridge falls and this location is lost. However, when the players and their characters are directing the troops, it can be fun to break out GURPS Mass Combat to determine the results of a battle. Use the following guidelines if you do.
Tech Level: Most Earth forces at the beginning of the invasion are TL8 while the Novas Vira’s odd mix of modern equipment with ultra-tech improvements makes them TL9. By the time the United Earth Alliance is created, the Novas Vira’s gear is prevalent enough that all forces can be considered TL9, with a few well-upgraded units acting as TL10. The Martians are consistently TL10, of course.
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All military units have the Night feature, though many civilian resistance forces lack it. Human Forces: Use the standard elements, adjusting the TL as noted above. The Venture: This is a Flying Tank with Very Finequality equipment and Elite-quality troops. Martian Soldiers: Martian grunts are Riflemen with Fine-quality equipment and Average or Good troop quality. Marines are Riflemen with Very Fine-quality equipment and Elite troop quality. Aquatic armor gives Coastal mobility. Stealth Armor counts as Very Fine quality. All Martians troops have the Sealed feature. Martian Vehicles: Treat fighters as Jet Fighters and saucers as Flying Tanks. The motherships are huge versions of Flying Battleships; add Super-Soldier and quadruple
the TS. All equipment quality is Fine; troops quality varies between Average and Elite. Martian Inventions: Treat small robots as Battlesuits and huge ones as Super Tanks. A bug is a Giant Monster or Giant Flying Monster; the mutant versions add Super-Soldier (quadruple TS) and Impetuous. Monster men are Stone-Age Warriors with Super-Soldier (quadruple TS) and Impetuous; they also harm enemy morale, as explained below. Facing Monster Men: Estimate which human units will be facing the monster men directly, then figure their total TS as a percentage of the human forces as a whole (e.g., if five TS 20 units will face them, out of a total human force of TS 800, that’s 12.5%). As long as this percentage is 5% or higher, the commander suffers -1 to Strategy rolls for every 20% or fraction thereof.
VICTORY AT HAND Some wars are fought forever, both sides gaining and losing the advantage, but never winning the war. That is not the case in Mars Attacks. When the fate of the world is on the line, the story can end only two ways.
EARTH VICTORIOUS! Humanity did it! They beat back the Martians, driving them off of Earth and reclaiming the planet once more. This may happen early in the Chapter 1 timeline, due to some deus ex machina such as The Game-Changer (p. 60). Or it may progress natura lly via A United Front (p. 19) and the UEA being able to move into Europe. The game may even swing in favor of the Martians, reaching The Occupation Begins (p. 18) before, somehow, humanity finds the strength to rise up and vanquish its hated alien foes. The only remaining question is: Once they beat the Martians here on Earth, do the humans build a fleet of spaceships, head to Mars, and finish the job?
MARS VICTORIOUS! No one was surprised when the Martians enslaved humanity and turned Earth into a giant work camp. But when the motherships landed and began the process of changing Earth forever (don’t ask how – you’ll see when it happens), even the most die-hard resistance fighter knew that the end was here. Once all military and paramilitary forces have been wiped out (Alliance Annihilated, p. 18), and the Martians can realize their final goal (see Mars Needs . . . What, Exactly? on p. 8), continuing the fight is pointless. The time has come for humanity to admit that they had a good run, but now Earth belongs to its new masters.
OR . . . Did we say “only two ways”? That may be an overstatement. If the GM comes up with some creative, crazy idea,
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he certainly has the right to roll with it! Maybe a third alien force enters the picture (the Josam are back and want vengeance?), maybe someone invents time travel and the PCs can head back to stave off this entire war, or maybe someone just gets their hands on Zar’s little bomb (pp. 85-86) and presses the pretty button. The key to using a twist ending is to make sure it’s an ending – or at least a potential one. Because wars that last forever are just a little too real, and Mars Attacks is a chance to trade in “real” for “fun.”
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INDEX Abductions, 7, 12; campaign ideas, 75-76; cryo-specimens, 64; monster men, 16-17, 26, 37; projects, 26, 27. Accessibility limitation, 55. Advantages, 54-57. Adventures, see Campaigns. Aerospace fighters, 51. Aliens, 61; see also Elorians, Martians, Tiger Corps. Appearance disadvantage, 59. Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, 45-46; characteristics, 46; see also Human Military, Moscow. Armor, human, 49; Martian aquatic, 31; Martian body, 31; Martian heavy, 31; Martian stealth, 31-32; shattering helmets, 31. Astro Mata, 42; see also Human Resistance, Novas Vira. Automatons, massive, 33, 36-37; see also Robots. Battlesuits, 49. Beam Weapons skill, 58. Beloss Bel, 7, 24, 86-87. Biology skill, 58. Bionic replacements, 49-50. Blaster, pistols, 29, 30; rifles, 29, 30. Bombs, Martian, 34. Bugs, attacking control collars, 36; biting, 34; campaign ideas, 89; control collars, 17, 36; game stats, 34-36; handler, 9, 25,
Cybernetics, 43, 49-50; advantage, 54. Diggers, 33. Disadvantages, 57-58. Disruptors, 48. Doomsday weapon, 85-86. Elorians, Corus, 43, 61, 84; language, 56; template, 61; see also Tiger Corps. Energized melee weapons, 30. Enhancement, new, 58. Equipment, see Armor, Gadgeteering, Human Technology, Martian Technology, Vehicles, Weapons. Expert Skill, new, 58. Fighters (Martian ships), 33. Flamers, 29, 30. Freeze rays, 34. Gadgeteer advantage, 54-55. Gadgeteering, 53-54; relevant traits, 54-55, 58, 59; see also Novas Vira . Gatling guns, 29. Gunslinger advantage, 55. GURPS, 27, 28, 30, 47, 48, 49, 57, 61, 64, 72, 82; Action, 62; Atomic Horror, 82; Basic Set, 5, 47, 49, 59, 61, 76; Bio-Tech, 49, 61; Fantasy-Tech 1: The Edge of Reality,28; High-Tech, 49; Low-Tech, 28, 49; Mass Combat, 92; Monster Hunters, 62; Monster Hunters 5: Applied Xenology, 62; Power-Ups 7: Wildcard Skills,59; Psi-
spoofing Martian sensors, 40; see also Gadgeteering, Novas Vira. Humane meta-trait, 57. Humans, campaign examples, 73-77; civilian template, 61-63; combatant template, 63-64; government leaders, 8-10, 39, 41, 42, 84; holdouts, 90; important, 82-84; Martian strongholds, 87-89; power plants and resources, 87; tech template, 64; templates, 61-65; vehicles, 50-51; victory, 93; weaponry, 48-49; see also Abductions, Martian Invasion, Novas Vira, United Earth Alliance. Imperial Command, generals, 22; grunt example, 31; structure, 22-24; see also Interstellar Forces, Martian Invasion, Planetary Forces, Undercover Agents, Stealth Forces. Imperial Council, 21, 22; see also Imperial Command, Martian Invasion. Insects, see Bugs. Interstellar Forces, campaign ideas, 78; lenses, 66, 67; structure, 23; vehicles, 32-33; see also Imperial Command, Martian Invasion. Intolerance disadvantage, 57. Inventing, see Gadgeteering, Novas Vira . Japan, see Tokyo. Jaret, General, 14, 40, 43, 84; see also Tiger Corps.
66; 14, 17, 25;number, invasion, project,34; 25; in samples, 36; 9, self-control variations, 36. Campaigns, Atomic Age, 80-82; bugs, 89; camp, 69-70; changing timeline, 80-81; cinematic traits in, 53; combat scenes, 72, 90-91; darkness, 70; decisions about, 52-53, 70; features, 69-72; fixed events, 11; game-mechanic tips, 72, 91; genres, 69; gore, 70; locations, 87-90; mass combat, 92-93; measuring time, 85; meta-rule, 72; modern examples, 73-80; paranoia, 75; power level, 52; questions about, 52-53; random scenes, 92; randomly generated monsters, 36, 37; resources as targets, 87; scene tips, 69, 81-82; social commentary, 71; supernatural traits in, 53; technology in, 71-72, 82; victory, 93. Character creation, campaign decisions, 52-53; cinematic traits, 53; general traits, 53-59; power level, 52; supernatural traits, 53; see also Templates . Chicago, 12, 14, 88-89. China, see People’s Liberation Army of China. Circuit Sense Talent, 57. Corus, 43, 61, 84. Craftiness Talent, 57. Cryo-specimens, see Abductions.
Tech, Engineering: Pulling 56,Social 79; Spaceships, 32, 49, 76; Rank,49; Tales of the Solar Patrol,61; UltraTech, 5, 28, 49, 50, 54; Zombies, 37; see also Transhuman Space. Heat rays, 34. Helmets, Martian, 30-32; shattering, 31. High TL advantage, 55. Human military, airbase attacks, 10; armor, 49; campaign ideas, 74-76, 90; combatant template, 63-64; defeated, 18, 93; initial response, 39, 40; invasion considerations, 46; holdouts, 90; Martian strongholds, 88-89; Mass Combat, 92-93; naval attacks, 10; technology upgrades, 12, 16, 46, 92; vehicles, 50-51; weaponry, 48; see also Martian Invasion, Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, United Earth Alliance. Human resistance, Astro Mata, 42; campaign ideas, 73-77; Chicago, 12, 14, 88-89; communication, 13-14, 46, 50; defeated, 18, 93, 76-77; Mass Combat, 92-93; Moscow, 87; overview of civilian, 13-14, 46-47; typical group, 46; typical objectives, 47; see also Martian Invasion, Novas Vira, Tiger Corps, United Earth Alliance. Human technology, by tech level, 47-48; GURPS catalogs, 49; key equipment, 48-51; reverse-engineered Martian, 16;
Jets, air force, 50, 51. Languages (trait), 55-56; simplifying, 56, 76. Levant Army, 11-12, 15, 45; characteristics, 45; see also Human Military. Limitation, new, 54, 55. London, 9, 11, 12, 88. Longevity advantage, 56. Low TL disadvantage, 57. Mars Attacks products, 5. Martian invasion, 1930s and 1940s, 7; 1950s and 1960s, 7-8; after the invasion, 12, 18-19; Atomic-Age campaign ideas, 80-82; bugs, 9, 14, 17, 25; command restructured, 16; early missions, 7-8; first wave, 8-10; fixed events, 11; geothermal power source, 11, 12, 19, 27; government assassinations, 8-9, 39, 42; important people, 8287; modern campaign ideas, 73-80; monument attacks, 9; occupation of Earth, 18; other solar systems, 21; plot ideas, 90-93; reasons for, 8; robots, 1718, 25-26; second wave, 10-12; setting dates, 7; strongholds, 87-89; timeline, 7-19; tipping the scales, 16-18; victory, 18, 93, 76-77; see also Abductions, Bugs, Monster Men, Robots.
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Martian Rank advantage, 56. Martian technology, 28-33; GURPS catalogs, 49; overview, 28-29; geothermal power source, 11, 12, 19, 27; see also Gadgeteering . Martian vehicles, 32; point defense, 35; weapons, 34. Martian weapons, small arms, 29-30; under water, 30; vehicle, 34, 35. Martians, Achilles’ heel, 60; blackmail, 21; bribery, 21; campaign ideas, 77-80; character templates, 65-67; fascination with women, 8, 70; general (military) template, 67; generals, 22, 85-86; government structure, 21-22; High TL, 55; Humane, 57; language, 55; military structure, 22-24; officer template, 66; PCs as, 28; personal defense gear, 30-32; personality, 21, 28; racial templates, 60; rank, 21, 23, 56; sample grunt, 31; shattering helmets, 31; society, 21-28; space exploration, 21; status, 21; trooper template, 65-66; wealth, 21, 57; see also Imperial Command, Undercover Agents, Science Division. Meta-trait, new, 57. Mexico, 11, 19, 27, 89. Middle East, 11-12; campaign idea, 74-75; Levant Army, 11-12, 15, 45. Mind-control beamers, 29-30. Monster men, 16-17, 26, 37; self-control number, 34; variations, 37; zombified upgrades, 37. Moscow, 45, 87; Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, 45-46; initial invasion, 10-11, 28; humans retaking, 15-16; Martians retaking, 18. Motherships, 32, 33; arming, 32; point defense system, 35.
Peru, 11, 19, 27, 89. Planetary Forces, campaign idea, 78; structure, 22-23; templates, 65-67; weapons, 29; see also Imperial Command, Martian Invasion. Point defense systems, 35. Project: Bug, 25; campaign idea, 78, 90; in invasion, 9, 14, 17; see also Bugs . Project: Deep Freeze, 7, 27, 64; campaign idea, 75-76; see also Abductions. Project: Human Upgrade, 26; in invasion, 16-17; plot idea, 90; see also Abductions, Monster Men. Project: Robot, 25-26; in invasion, 17-18; see also Robots. Project: Underground, 11, 26-27, 89. Psychology skill, 58. Quentin, Director Gil, 40-41, 83; Astro Mata and, 42; communication, 43; invasion and, 14, 42; see also Novas Vira . Range bands (combat), 72. Rank advantage, 56. Recommended books, 5. Robots, 33, 36-37; campaign idea, 78; in invasion, 17-18, 25-26, 87-88; Mass Combat, 93; operator, 36, 66; project, 25-26. Russia, see Moscow. Sana’a, 12, 89; retaking, 116. Satellite, low-orbit, 13-14, 43, 46, 50. Saucers, 32-33; arming, 32; point defense system, 35. Science Division, 24-28; campaign idea, 79-80; cybernetics, 54; lenses, 66, 67; major projects,25-27; new projects,
Technology, see Armor, Gadgeteering, Human Technology, Martian Technology, Vehicles, Weapons. Teed, Anon, 86; as Science Division head, 24-25; invasion efforts,12, 14, 16-17; promotion, 16; robots and, 26; tactics, 19; Tiger Corps and,43-44. Templates, Action, 62; human character, 61-65; Martian character,65-67; Monster Hunters, 62; other alien character, 64-65; overview, 61; racial, 59-61. Tiger Corps, 43-44; armor, 48; as Patron, 56; assistance by, 14-15, 40, 43; Atomic Age, 82; campaign ideas, 75, 76; cybernetics, 49-50, 54; General Jaret, 14, 40, 43, 84; general knowledge, 43; High TL and, 55; history, 43-44; languages, 55, 56; member template, 64-65; PCs as members, 44, 53; racial templates, 61; weaponry, 48; see also Human Military, Human Resistance, Novas Vira, United Earth Alliance, Venture. Timeline, see Martian Invasion. Tokyo, 9, 12, 88; bugs, 17; robots, 26. Tor, General, 11, 85. Transhuman Space: Bioroid Bazaar, 61; see also GURPS. Undercover Agents, Beloss Bel, 7, 24, 86-87; campaign ideas, 75, 77-78; early missions, 7-8; mind-control beamers, 29; structure, 24; Talent, 56-57; template, 60; see also Imperial Command, Martian Invasion. United Earth Alliance (UEA), annihilated, 18; beginnings, 15-16; campaign idea, 74-75; membership, 44-46; mission, 44; prevailing, 19, 93; strengths and weaknesses, 46; see also Human
New York City, 87-88; bugs, 17; initial invasion, 9, 12; robots, 26. Novas Vira, after the invasion, 12, 14-15, 19, 42-43; armor, 49; as Patron, 56; Astro Mata and, 42; Atomic Age, 80-82; before the invasion, 6, 7, 3942; campaign ideas, 73, 75, 79, 89; character template, 64; communication, 13-14, 43, 50; current mission, 43; current structure, 42-43; cybernetics, 49-50, 54; defeated, 18; during the invasion, 9, 15, 19, 39, 40, 42, 44-45; headquarters, 42, 43; High TL and, 55; history, 40-41; in resistance groups, 46-47; inventions, 32, 47-48, 50, 71-72; languages, 55; lenses, 62, 64; longevity formula, 56; Mass Combat, 92; other militaries and, 46; PLA and, 44-45; United States Armed Forces and, 45; upgrading military,12, 16, 46, 92; weaponry, 48-49; see also Gadgeteering, Human Military, Human Resistance,
27-28; see also Teed . Science Infantry, 16, 26; see also Project: Robots, Robots. Shadow (Tiger Corp member), 84. Shrink rays, 34. Skills, 58-59; information, 62; tech level and, 53. Spaceships, 32-33, 35, 51; arming, 32. Specialized limitation, 54-55. Spencer, Senator Buck, 8, 41, 82-83; thwarting assassination, 9, 10, 39, 42. Status trait, 56. Stealth field generators, 50. Stealth Forces, armor, 31-32; early missions, 7; campaign ideas, 77, 91; lens, 66; structure, 23-24; mind-control beamers, 29-30; see also Imperial Command, Martian Invasion. Stonehenge, 11, 12, 88. Supreme Regent, 21-22; see also Imperial Command, Imperial Council, Martian Invasion.
Military, Human Resistance, Moscow, Novas Vira. United Kingdom, see London, Stonehenge. United States Armed Forces, 45; characteristics, 45; see also Human Military. Vehicles, human, 50-51; Martian, 32-33; point defense, 35. Venture (spaceship), 14, 27, 40; Mass Combat, 93; campaign idea, 76; Corus, 84; point defense system, 35; game stats, 51; see also Tiger Corps. Vocoders, Martian, 50. Walkers, Martian, 33, 36; see also Robots. Walters, Professor David, 14, 41, 83-84. Wealth trait, 57, 58. Weapons, humans, 35, 48-49, 51; Martians, 29-30, 34, 35.
Human Technology, Spencer, Tiger Corps, United Quentin, Earth Alliance, Walters. Nuclear weapons, 13, 32; damper, 13, 32. Patrons advantage, 56. People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA), 44-45; characteristics, 45; in invasion, 14, 15, 17, 90; see also Human Military .
Tables, human vehicle, 51; vehicular weaponry, 51; human Martian small arms, 30; Martian vehicle, 33; Martian vehicular weaponry, 34; random monsters, 36, 37; random scenes, 92. Talent advantage, 56-57. Tech level (TL), 53-54; of equipment, 28-29, 47-48; traits, 55, 57.
Weird Science skill, 58-59. Wildcard skills, 59. Wormhole network, 21, 43. Xenophilia disadvantage, 58. Z-frequency generators, 48-49. Zar, General, 85-86; doomsday weapon, 85-86, 91; Middle East invasion, 12.
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Two Great Ways to
Destroy the Humans!
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