THE HERMIT
Pagurus Titanicus is known for grabbing bits of debris to build itself a tough outer shell, and there's plenty of debris among the dead stars. There's loot too, and rumour has it this monster is carrying treasure on its back.
SET-UP
Place terrain as normal. Multi-level terrain is handy for jumping down on the Hermit in dramatic action movie style.
Each player places one loot token according to the normal rules, rolling for type as usual.
Place a large crab-like monster in the dead centre of the table. This is the Hermit, and it has the third loot token on its back. Determine whether this is data or physical loot as normal.
SPECIAL RULES
The Hermit: The Hermit starts in the centre of the table and makes a single random move in the Creature Phase. It is so large and strong that it can never be pinned in combat.
If an attack beats the Hermit's Armour, or if it is the target of a successful psychic power, it panics, and immediately -- yes, out of sequence -- makes two moves in random directions.
If the Hermit's move would take it off the table edge, it moves along the edge instead.
The Hermit never attacks but if it panics and moves through a figure then that figure suffers a normal Fight attack as the Hermit tramples over it. If that figure wins the "combat" they take no damage but also do no damage in return.
If the Hermit is killed leave the model where it is; crew must still climb its corpse to get at the loot.
Climbing the Hermit: To access the loot token a figure must climb up -- half movement -- or jump to it as per the normal movement rules.
When the Hermit moves any figure "riding" the beast should roll 1d20; if the result is higher than the inches moved by the Hermit then the figure has held on. Otherwise they fall -- at the end of the move -- and take damage as per the normal falling rules.
The loot token is embedded in the Hermit's shell and never falls.
(If may be safer to mark which figures are on the Hermit's back rather than try to balance figures, especially when it starts moving. Perhaps you can use counters, or even have a little off-table "map" of the creature's back on which you place the figures. I leave it up to you.)
Option 1 - Interested Parties: Each crew should -- secretly -- roll a dice to determine if they have been employed by:
Odd: Friends of the Planets: 100Cr if the Hermit survives the scenario.
Even: Galactic Hunting Club: 100Cr if the Hermit is killed.
Option 2 - Seeing Double: Place two Hermits! It is impossible to know which of the beasts has the loot token until a crew member is on top. Roll a dice: if even the loot token is on this Hermit, on an odd result it's on the other.
LOOT AND EXPERIENCE
Loot and experience are scored as normal, with the following additions:
+10xp whenever a crew member falls off the Hermit (up to 30xp).
+10xp whenever a crew member is trampled by a panicked Hermit (up to 30xp).
+30xp for killing the Hermit (unless Option 1 is in play).
The Hermit loot token is worth two rolls on the relevant table.
| THE HERMIT | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV | FT | SH | AR | WL | HL | Notes |
| 6 | +4 | +0 | 14 | +1 | 16 | Amphibious, Animal, Immune to Control Animal (sorry!), Large, Strong |
