(SM___.0) SPACE SPIDERS
While searching for a missing vessel you come upon a creature in a web. Your science officer informs you that the creature is ready to metamorphose into a larger and more dangerous form.
(SM___.1) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2; ship and spider.
(SM___.2) INITIAL SETUP:
SHIP: (SC-5 or larger) 0101, facing 2215, any speed, WS-1.
SPIDER: In 2217, any facing, speed 0. See (SM___.441).
WEB: The Spider has 3 circular webs surrounding hex 2215 constructed as follows:
Inner: 6 hex, strength 25 (150 reinforcement).
Middle: 18 hex, strength 30 (540 reinforcement).
Outer: 30 hex, strength 35 (1050 reinforcement).
(SM___.3) SCENARIO LENGTH: Until the Spider is destroyed or until the ship disengages or is destroyed.
(SM___.4) SPECIAL RULES
(SM___.41) MAP: Use a fixed map.
(SM___.42) SHUTTLES AND PF: Shuttles, fighters, and PFs are not used.
(SM___.43) COMMANDER’S OPTIONS
(SM___.431) The Spider cannot use Commander’s Options.
(SM___.432) The ship player may purchase any Commander’s Options available within the rules.
(SM___.433) All drones are the appropriate type-I or type-VI for the year chosen. Better drone types and speeds may be purchased as commanders option items.
(SM___.44) SPIDER
(SM___.441) There are 5 sizes of Spiders. Select a Spider with a BPV slightly higher than your force’s BPV using the chart (SM___.49). Use the difference to purchase Commander’s Options.
(SM___.442) Spiders operate as a ship unless otherwise noted in these rules. Spiders fill out an allotment form and pay for all functions. The number of legs remaining is the amount of power available at the beginning of each turn. Spiders have the number of legs listed on the Spider Chart (SM___.49).
(SM___.443) Spiders move as ships and can HET, TAC, and use EM if they pay the cost. They may HET once each turn and cannot break down. They cannot be docked to or dock to another unit.
(SM___.444) Spiders may spend up to 6 points each for ECM and ECCM.
(SM___.445) Spiders can use Tactical Intelligence (D17.0) as listed on the Spider Chart (SM___.49).
(SM___.446) Spiders can move through web.
(SM___.447) Spiders have MCIDS (E6.0).
(SM___.448) Spiders can be tractored, displaced, and placed into stasis. They cannot be boarded or subjected to hit-and-run raids.
(SM___.449) Roll 2 dice for each damage point a Spider receives and use the result to distribute damage as follows: 2 or 12 hits the bite; 3 or 11 hits a web device; 4, 7 or 10 hits a leg; Any other result or any hit on a destroyed system is a body hit. When all systems are destroyed the Spider is destroyed.
(SM___.45) WEB
(SM___.451) The Spider has a number of Web Devices (E12.0) as listed on the Spider Chart (SM___.49).
(SM___.452) The Spider lays and casts web as a ship would. Spiders use the values in the Spider Chart (SM___.49) when laying and maintaining web. If a web is not maintained it loses strength using the values in the Spider Chart (SM___.49).
(SM___.453) Spiders may use Web devices as web fists, but cannot fire a web fist at any unit bitten in the last 32 impulses.
(SM___.454) Each Web Device, if not used for any other purpose (lay web, cast web, web fist, or reinforce/maintain web) that turn, may create one web anchor (G26.0). This is treated as a web anchor for all purposes. No shuttle is required (it is a small, stabilized ball of web). The cost to construct a web anchor is 6 energy points (in 1 turn). The anchor must be used on the turn it is created.
(SM___.455) Wandering Spiders are attracted to any web within Tactical Intelligence Level-A.
(SM___.46) BITES
(SM___.461) Units entering or moving within a Spider’s web are detected by the Spider. The Spider immediately moves toward that hex as a seeking weapon (within its movement rules). Tholian ships may move through the web, but are detected if they do. Items transported or displaced into the web do not attract the Spider.
(SM___.462) When another unit enters the web the fastest unit becomes the Spider’s target (it jiggled the web). If two units in the web are moving the same speed the Spider will target the closer, then the larger unit (by SC then MC, if a tie - roll to determine).
(SM___.463) The Spider remains with a unit until a faster unit enters the web or the unit becomes inactive (SM___.464). It will then seek out any moving unit in the web. If more than one unit meets this criteria use (SM___.462).
(SM___.464) Spiders bite units on entering the hex containing a unit. If a unit is SC-5 the or lower spider will use MCIDS. Each bite absorbs the number of warp energy points shown in the chart (SM___.49). Absorbed energy may only be used to reinforce or maintain webs, or to repair the Spider (SM___.47).
(SM___.465) The Spider may bite a unit once each impulse.
(SM___.466) Use Deceleration Due To Damage (D22.0) to account for absorbed energy. When the energy remaining in (D22.2) reaches zero that unit cannot move, fire, or use any other functions for the rest of that turn. It is then considered inactive.
(SM___.467) Units receive 1 point of warp engine damage at the end of any turn in which they are bitten by a Spider.
(SM___.47) REPAIR
(SM___.471) A Spider may repair itself. The maximum amount of energy allowed for repair is listed in the spider chart (SM___.49). Spiders may allot absorbed energy for repair as it is received.
(SM___.472) Spiders pay 2 energy points for each repair point. Energy for repair must come from allotted or absorbed energy.
(SM___.473) The cost of repairing each system is as follows: Bite - 20; Web Device - 15; Legs - 10; Body - 5.
(SM___.48) METAMORPHOSIS
(SM___.481) After a period of time a spider may metamorphose. The minimum number of turns required between each stage of life is shown in the Spider chart (SM___.49) as growth rate.
(SM___.482) Damaged Spiders cannot metamorphose until repaired.
(SM___.483) If an active unit is trapped in any of the Spider’s web, the Spider cannot begin to metamorphose.
(SM___.484) A Spider must have a central hex surrounded by 3 layers of strength 35 web to begin metamorphosis.
(SM___.485) When the Spider has met the conditions for metamorphosis it must enter the central hex and remain there for 30 turns. Once metamorphosis has started it cannot be interrupted except by damage to the Spider.
(SM___.486) After metamorphosis the spider will be the next larger size. It will abandon the web and wander until ready to undergo metamorphosis again.
(SM___.487) If a wandering Spider is damaged it may construct web to protect itself while repairing damage.
(SM___.488) Type-A Spiders do not undergo metamorphosis. When due to metamorphose they construct web (SM___.484). Any spider coming within 900 hexes of the type-A spider is drawn to it. Both spiders enter the central hex and breed for 32 impulses. The type-A spider dies. The attracted spider remains to guard the egg case and maintain the web.
(SM___.489) After 60 turns elapse the guard Spider opens the egg case and is eaten by the escaping type-E Spiders. Roll 2 dice to determine the number of type-E Spiders hatched. If the guard spider is destroyed before 60 turns elapse the egg case cannot open. Ten points of damage destroys egg cases.
(SM___.49) SPIDER CHART
SIZE
FACTORS TYPE-A TYPE-B TYPE-C TYPE-D TYPE-E
BPV 800 400 200 100 50
SIZE CLASS 2 3 4 5 6
LEGS 250 200 150 100 50
BODY 900 720 540 360 180
BITE 5 4 3 2 1
WEB CASTERS 6 5 4 3 2
MOVE COST 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5
TURN MODE D C B A AA
ACCELERATION 15 10 5 4 3
T.I. CHART Scout Ship MRS PF Shuttle
WEB MULTIPLIER 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 2.0
WEB LOSES/TURN 1 0.75 0.75 0.5 0.5
REPAIR/TURN 30.00 24.00 18.00 12.00 6.00
GROWTH RATE 1200 960 720 480 240
(SM___.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS: The ship player wins if he destroys the spider.
(SM___.6) VARIATIONS
(SM___.61) Use terrain features (worst case is asteroids).
(SM___.62) Use larger or smaller forces or Spiders.
(SM___.63) Use more than 1 Spider.
(SM___.64) Use more than one race.
(SM___.65) Start the scenario with no web built. The spider must build the web.
(SM___.66) Use a roaming spider. It will use all means to defend itself.

By Jim Ryan (Jrr) on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 03:02 am: Edit

(ISM003.49) SPIDER CHART

	SIZE
FACTORS	TYPE-A	TYPE-B	TYPE-C	TYPE-D	TYPE-E
BPV	800	400	200	100	50
SIZE CLASS	2	3	4	5	6
LEGS	250	200	150	100	50
BODY	900	720	540	360	180
BITE	5	4	3	2	1
WEB CASTERS	6	5	4	3	2
MOVE COST	2.5	2	1.5	1	0.5
TURN MODE	D	C	B	A	AA
ACCELERATION	15	10	5	4	3
T.I. CHART	Scout	Ship	MRS	PF	Shuttle
WEB MULTIPLIER	1	1	1.5	1.5	2
WEB LOSES/TURN	1	0.75	0.75	0.5	0.5
REPAIR/TURN	30	24	18	12	6
GROWTH RATE	1200	960	720	480	240