Homebrew Rules Collection

BUG HUNT
by Stephen A. Gilbert
http://tabletoptitans.com/rules/0002.php
 Introduction
“Is this going to be a stand-up fight, sir, or another bug hunt?”
- Hudson
These rules are based around the Alien(s) cinematic hack fests; and includes as an optional extra a few
guidelines for adding the Aliens Versus Predator movies into the mix. The rules work just as fine when
played as a solo game i.e. with a single player pitting his or her wits against a randomly generated,
dice controlled decision making Alien A.I. Bug Hunt is also ideal for one or more players (depends
how many squads of Marines you use) versus a Bug Master (BM) playing the Alien Hive or Predator
team.

The default game premise is that an elite unit of Colonial Marines have been sent to investigate a
missing ‘shake and bake’colony of Terra-Formers - all Civilians. Recently, ‘The Company’has lost all
contact with the colonists on LV-426, and the marines have been sent to check what has happened to
them... really similar to the 2nd Aliens movie.

Alternatively, you can invent scenarios of your own devising using the films as a springboard for your
imagination. I use the Pendraken 10mm range in my games... at current prices, an army pack will cost
you about £16, and will contain literally dozens of Marines, Civilians, Infected Humans (Hosts for the
Alien babies), Face-Huggers, Chest Thumper victims, Alien Eggs, various Alien Warriors, and a few
Alien Queens. If you wish to add a packet of 10 Predators to your games, this will set you back an ad-
ditional £1.35.

The game boards (or floor plans) can all be made by hand, either by drawing with a water based felt
tip pen onto a generic pre-gridded plastic map sheet (purchasable easily in games stores), or by hand
designing the colony complex using stiff card or foam board, fine pencils, a ruler, and a steady hand...
much like the early style role playing games of the late seventies. You will need a few six sided dice
to conduct most of the game action; and measurements are calculated in squares. If you wish to play
without using a squared grid, simply measure everything in centimetres or inches instead.

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 Marine Squads
“These Colonial Marines are some pretty tough hombres. They’re
practically state-of-the-art firepower. There’s nothing they can’t
handle”- Carter J. Burke
Each Marine squad consists of about six men. Each man is equipped with a standard pulse rifle - and
for aesthetic value is assumed to be equipped with video and audio link, body armour, and a motion
sensor. In addition each squad can equip 1 or 2 marines with either a smart-gun, grenades, or even an
incinerator flame thrower.

One android may be included in the game. He may operate certain equipment. Civilians can only be
armed with pistols or equivalent weapons (i.e. count all ranged weapons carried by Civilians as pis-
tols). Androids can never be armed.

Auto Sentries may be encountered. These are machine guns fitted to auto guidance seekers, they track
movement and fire upon anything they see indiscriminately.

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 ALIENS (Xenomorphs)
“They ain’t paying us enough for this, man”
- Drake
There are several different types of Aliens:

Eggs: These are laid by the Queen and contain Face-Huggers. They activate when a non-alien life
form passes close by.

Face-Huggers: These are spawned from the eggs laid by the Queen, when they hatch they make for
the nearest non-alien creature they can find and attach to the face. An attached Face-Hugger leaves
a Chest-Burster inside its host. When the Chest-Burster is ready it breaks out the host and the victim
invariably dies from the experience. Thus a young Alien is born.

Chest-Burster: The youngest of the bug creatures, they are recently hatched from their hosts.

Alien: Chest-Bursters mature very quickly, and soon become fully grown Aliens.

Queen: - She breeds all the eggs and is usually confined to the brood chamber (special scenario
conditions may alter this rule if the game host decides to liven things up a bit). Aliens always move
towards the nearest human figure that is not in combat, they will also ignore Androids. They do not
take cover.

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 GAMEPLAY
Sequence of Play
“Another glorious days in the Corps. A day in the Marine
Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal is a banquet, ev-
ery pay-check a fortune, every formation is a parade. Say! I
love the Corps” - Apone
Roll for the layout (if playing a base or ship scenario).
Aliens move.
Aliens adjacent to non-aliens make Close Combat attacks
Marines* expend action points to move, shoot, or/and use equipment.
The four phases above completes a turn.

*Substitute Predators for Marines in a Predator versus Aliens game.

The Marine’s activation phase is slightly different in that the Alien’s move phase and may be
interrupted to allow Marines to shoot at them every time an Alien moves a square.

Activation Points
“We’re in an express elevator to Hell... Going down!” - Hudson
Each figure has to spend Activation Points (APs) to carry out actions including firing and
moving. A figure may carry out multiple activations providing it has the APs to spend. Each
Marine squad rolls a six sided die at the start of each turn. This gives him a number of APs.
A squad leader may spend these how he sees fit amongst the men in his squad. These are
in addition to the APs each figures already owns by default each turn. If the squad leader is
killed, the remaining squad members lose current remaining APs, and do not receive any
more for the remainder of the game. However, a main character like Ripley may act as a
squad leader for any squad in play if the actual squad leader is killed during a game.

Each figure takes it turn expending APs. Any points not used are lost and do not carry over
to the next turn. When the owning player has finished using APs for a figure, move on to the
next figure - you cannot return to a previous figure once you have finished activating him.

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 Aliens have 6 intrinsic APs per turn:

1 AP to move forward 1 square.

1 AP to move sideways 1 square (diagonal movement is allowed).
1 AP to move rearward 1 square (or rear diagonally).
1 AP to open or close a door (Face-Huggers cannot open doors).
Close Combat is free.

Marines (and Civilians) have 4 APs per turn:

1 AP to move forward 1 square.

1 AP to move sideways 1 square (diagonal movement is not allowed).
1 AP to move rearwards 1 square.
1 AP to open or close a door.
1 AP to fire a pulse rifle, or pistol.
2 AP to fire a smart-gun, flame thrower or a grenade.
2 AP to go into over-watch mode.
6 AP to weld a door shut.

Welded doors cannot then be opened by weapons. To un-weld a door takes 2 turns expend-
ing 6 AP per turn. To open or close a door that has not been welded shut requires the figure
to be in a square adjacent.

Xeno Activation
Movement .. can’t locate it .. uh multiple signals, they’re clos-
ing .. I got readings in front and behind .. Look I’m telling you
something’s moving and it ain’t us” - Hudson
Each turn directly after the Marine player phase, roll 1 six sided die (and consult the table
below) to see if there is any new alien activity that turn. Roll a die and check once for each
Marine squad in play.

If the Marines moved during the phase: a 5 or 6 activates the Aliens.

If the Marines fired in the previous phase: a 4-6 activates the Aliens.
If the squad moved, but is in a secure position ... i.e. have no Aliens in line of sight: a 6 acti-
vates the Aliens. But if the Marines fired during their phase, this number increases by +2.
If a squad is resting in a room: a 6 activates the aliens.

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If the Aliens are activated roll a six sided die (1D6):

1-4: All Aliens approach the Marine squad from the same direction.
5-6: All Aliens approach the Marine squad from as many different directions as possible.

The Aliens start 3D6 squares away from the squad (unless that distance is within view, in
which case they are placed at the nearest point out of direct view). Aliens that are placed this
turn cannot move, only Aliens placed in previous turns may move.

Roll for which type of Alien is approaching:

1 = 1 Face-hugger
2 = 1D3 Small (dog) Aliens
3 = 1D6 Small (dog) Aliens
4 = 1D3 Aliens
5 = 1D6 Aliens
6 = followed by a 4 or less: 1D6 Aliens
6 = followed by a 5 or 6: 1 Queen

If the scenario calls for it, somewhere in the layout there should be a Brood Chamber. This
contains an egg laying Queen, 1D6+2 egg caches, and 2D6 Aliens. Not a friendly place!
One way to check where a Brood Chamber is placed is to roll a six sided die every time the
Marines enter a new room (only after at least three previous rooms have been entered. This
prevents the possibility of the game ending too quickly). If the roll yields a 5, or 6: the Brood
Chamber has been found. If the Queen is killed whilst in her Brood Chamber the game is
over and the Aliens immediately lose the game.

Egg Cache’s

These are activated by human movement, for every figure within 3 squares of a cache, roll a
1D6: 1-3 and the egg cache opens and a Face-Hugger will emerge.

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 Firing
“We come here and we gonna conquer and we gonna kick
some.”
- Apone

A Queen has 6 Life Points (LPs). Each time a hit is scored on a Queen, reduce the mod-
el’s LP by 1. When it is reduced to 0 the Queen dies.
An optional rule is that Ripley starts the game with 4 LPs.
All other figures are killed if a hit is scored.

Normal firing can be carried out by any marine, a marine can fire as many times as he has
AP to expend. A hit by a weapon automatically kills the target or inflicts a hit on a Queen.

Smart-Guns: These weapons have heavy firepower and roll 4 dice. If more than 1 hit is
scored the other hits may be used against any other targets within line of sight, range, and
field of fire... field of fire: i.e. within 3 squares of a previously hit target.

Flame Thrower/Grenades: The firer nominates the square he wishes the round to hit. On
a roll of a 5-6 the flame thrower burst hits it’s intended target area and kills the target on the
square it is aiming at. For each adjacent square roll two dice and a 4, 5 or 6 kills the figure
on that square whether an Alien or another Marine. A Flame thrower either hits its target
square or the burst misses entirely and causes no damage anywhere.

If the firer is using a grenade, and the throw misses its target square, roll another 1D6:

1-2 = overshoots
3 = left
4 = right
5-6 = undershoots

The round travels 1D3 squares in the relevant direction (roll a D6: 1,2 = 1, 3,4 = 2, 5,6 = 3).
Roll for result of hits on the squares around the target square (anything in the square the
grenade hits is killed). An automatic hit on a target square containing a Queen inflicts a hit
not necessarily a kill. Warning if you fire at a close target and the round undershoots the firer
may be hit - you have been warned.

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Over-Watch
“Hey, listen. We’re all in strung out shape. But stay frosty and
alert.” - Hicks
A Marine can be placed in Over-Watch fire mode, this is very handy for protecting (watching)
a squad’s rear or flanks. This means the Over-Watch can fire in the Alien player’s movement
phase (this is the only time a Marine can fire in the Alien players phase). He may fire every
time the Alien player expends 1 AP. An Alien Close Combat attack breaks Over-Watch mode.
Once a player moves or expends AP in his own phase he loses his Over-Watch.

Acid Splashes
“That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over.” - Hudson
Any non-alien figure in an adjacent square to an Alien which is hit has a chance of being
splashed with acid. Roll a dice a 1-2 means the figure is splashed. If the figure is a Marine
(wearing body armour) the figure is removed from play on a second roll of 1, 2 or 3. If the
figure is a civilian, the figure is automatically removed as a casualty. There is no acid splash
from a flame thrower hit.

Close Combat
“Hey maybe you haven’t been keeping up on current events,
but we just got our asses kicked, pal!” - Hudson
Each figure in Close Combat rolls the appropriate number of six sided dice:

Marines: 1 dice
Dreadnaught Tactical Armour (Marines): 1 and adds +1 to the throw
Power Loader (All): 3 dice
Face-Huggers: 1 dice
Small (Dog) Aliens: 2 dice
Aliens: 3 dice
The Queen: 4 dice she attacks with her claws and tail!
Predator: 3 dice

The dice are rolled and the highest number rolled is used. If scores are tied the Close Com-
bat continues. Highest number wins a Close Combat and kills/inflicts a wound.
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 Alien Wins
A difference of 1 or 2 and the human is grabbed alive by the Alien does not apply with face-
huggers. A difference of 3 or more and the human is killed.

The Marines have a chance to free a captured comrade if grabbed in this way. If they win
the scenario - or level, at the end of the game, it can be assumed the Marine(s) locate their
captured buddies. Here comes the tricky part! Throw a six sided die for each captured figure:

1-4 = Marine is rescued before the Face-Huggers had a chance to implant a Chest-Burst-
er. The figure is shaken up, but otherwise fine.
5-6 = Marines find their friend too late and the figure is classed as killed.

If a Face-Hugger wins a Close Combat it attaches itself to the victims face. If it wins the
close combat round next turn the victim becomes unconscious and cannot be revived for the
rest of the game (check for embryo implant at the end of the game, same as with captured
Marines, but with a 1, 2 or 3 chance of survival). Any attack on the Face-Hugger other than
close combat will cause an acid splash to the victim it is attached to.

A win in Close Combat on the Face-Hugger is required to remove it before the victim is un-
conscious (it can then be thrown 1D6 squares away).

Using Equipment
“Lets rock” - Vasquez
Only Androids and 1 nominated figure per squad may operate equipment (place a splash
of paint under the base to indicate which one). What equipment there is and how it may be
used are at the discretion of the players or game host provided it is agreed at the start of the
game. For example: picking electronic locks; re-activating auto sentries; using satellite com-
munications equipment etc.

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 Scenarios
“Looks like some sort of secreted resin.” - Dietrich
The floor plans are lengths of corridors and rooms as seen from an over head angle. These
are divided into squares; corridors are usually two squares wide and either 5 or 10 squares
long. You will also need crossroads sections; T junctions; corridor bends, and just about any
other type of floor sections your vivid imagination can devise. You require rooms which are of
various sizes (see the layouts section). You will require markers for doors, debris and equip-
ment. Small painted washers with appropriate symbols are also useful for Over-Watch mark-
ers, Queen and Ripley wound tokens, and flame thrower/grenade blast target counters, etc.

Layout
“Looks like somebody bagged them one of Ripley’s bad guys here.” -
Hicks

Each turn, throw dice for the random layout of the board to be placed next to the last piece of
terrain previously laid. You only have to lay what the Marines can see. (You can even keep a
map of areas you have previously been so that you may re-use floor plans where the squads
have already passed).

1-2 = Straight corridor

3 = Straight corridor with a door (1-3: on left, 4-6: on right)
4 = Corridor with door at end straight ahead
5 = Junction (1-3: T junction, 4-6: crossroads)
6 = Corridor with corner bend (1-3: left, 4-6: right)

Doors are open on a 1-3 and closed on a 4-6.

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 What is beyond the door Room Cooridor Contents
1-3 = Room 1-3 = Empty
1-2 = Small cabin (4 x 4 squares) 4 = Acid holes on floor; 2 APs to enter and
3-4 = Large cabin (7 x 7) move through
5 = Large room (10 x 10) 5 = Debris (e.g. crates, equipment) 2 APs to
6 = Special (12 x 12): enter and move through
1 = Service area 6 = Special:
2 = Medical centre 1-3 = Egg cache (1-4: already hatched, 5-6:
3 = Storage area intact)
4 = Communications centre 4-6 = Other:
5 = Galley 1-2 = Burst human
6 = Brood chamber! 3 = Impregnated human
4-6 = Corridor 4 = Crates with concealed Eggs inside
5 = Auto sentry (inactive)
6 = Auto sentry (active)

Optional Rules
“We should get back inside, it’ll be dark soon. They mostly
come at night... mostly” - Newt
Auto sentries can also be used for protection within the base, they lock on anything that
moves in its path and cannot distinguish Aliens from humans. These are stationery firing
pods that fire as machine guns.

Predators
Count each Predator as you would an Alien Warrior. APs: 6; Close Combat: 3; Combi-Weap-
on Range:12; To Hit: 5 (auto for Eggs or Face-Huggers); Attack Dice: 2.

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 Aliens - The Film
"Not bad for a human" - Bishop

Standard Weapons of the Colonial Space

Marines
M4A3 Pistol
This powerful 9 mm pistol is the standard sidearm of all Civilians in the game.

M41A Pulse Rifle

The most prominent weapon used by the USCM. It functions as the standard assault rifle with an
under slung grenade launcher. Each Marine squad has a communal pool of 6 grenades. Communal
pool.... i.e. the same Marine could fire all six grenades if the player wanted him to; but once all six
rounds are fired, the whole squad is out of grenade ammo.

M240 Incinerator
A lightweight carbine flamethrower, the M240 is used primarily to clear small areas like rooms or
bunkers. It is also particularly useful against the Aliens as it can harm them without spilling their noto-
riously corrosive blood.

M56 Smart Gun

A machine gun used by the USCM, this weapon is not so much carried as it is worn. It comes com-
plete with an operating harness which can be used to help distribute its weight, compensate for recoil
and increase the speed with which it can be manoeuvred. The M56 has a built in infra-red scanner
which it can use to auto-track targets.

M3 Cargo Power Lifter

Practically indestructible; hits go on passenger, not the machine. Movement: 4 (no diagonal); Attack
Dice: 3; -1 from all enemy Close Combat attack dice.

M4 Military Power Loader

Movement: 4 (no diagonal); Attack Dice: 3; -1 from all enemy Close Combat attack dice. Some mili-
tary models have all round armour and weapons as indicated below.

Weapon Range The to hit number required on a D6

Alien Face hugger Egg Attack Dice
(Twin) Light Midi-Guns 20 3 2 2 4

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 (Twin) Light Midi-Guns: out of ammo if two 1's or 2's are rolled. Any remaining dice that score hits
- still count the hits on the actual turn the Loader runs out of ammo. Hits scored on passengers from
shooting or Close Combat have a saving roll: On a separate roll, if the passenger can roll 1, 2, 3, or 4:
the hit is negated by the Loader's armour.

M12 Armoured Personal Carrier

Work on the assumption that this baby is indestructible. It can carry a full squad of Marines, and enter-
ing and leaving an MPC costs 1 AP just like moving to or from a normal square. No enemy can Close
Combat an MPC, and for the sake of argument, also assume anyone inside the vehicle is safe from
harm.

Weapon Range The to hit number required on a D6

Alien Face hugger Egg Attack Dice
Multiple Midi-Guns 18 4 2 2 5

During a game, the APC usually contains Lieutenant Gorman, Carter J Burke, Newt, and possibly
even Ripley. The Twin Midi-Gun is automated and can be fired manually or programmed to respond
to enemy presence by the onboard computer. You'll have to 'fudge'maneuver a bit with the APC as it
has a Movement of 10, but it can add a bit of fun to the game. Besides, you get the model in the Pen-
draken Miniatures Sci-Fi army pack, so why not use it?

"Ripley, ease down... ease down, you've blown the Trans-Axle,

you're just grinding metal." - Hicks

The Cast
Here is a list of all the characters from the film Aliens:

Lieutenant Gorman, Master Sergeant Apone (Unit Leader), Corporal Hicks (B-Team Leader), Corpo-
ral Dietrich (Med-Tech), PFC Hudson (Com-Tech), PFC Vasquez (Midi-gun operator), Private Drake
(Midi-gun operator), Private Frost (Trooper), Private Crowe (Trooper), Private Wierbowski (Trooper),
Corporal Ferro (Drop-ship Pilot), PFC Spunkmeyer (Drop-ship Crew Chief), Bishop (Synthetic),
Carter J. Burke (Company Representative), Ellen Ripley (Civilian Advisor), Rebecca "Newt " Jorden
(sole survivor from LV-426).

Credit for these rules should also go to Pete Jones http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/ for the origi-
nal game concept, a lot of which I used as a model to inspire me to write my own Aliens style game
(and in places I borrowed mercilessly... with his permission). His friendly replies to my emails are
always helpful and generous.

© 2008, Stephen A Gilbert.

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