DS2:Alien vegetation (x-list)

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> -----Original Message-----

You could use the Bio-Chemical Rules in DS2 (I don't have the rule book
at hand), but set the range as 1 or 2 inches from the plants.

Other things plants could do is to entangle troops or vehicles. Moss, small
vines, etc. work well for this. Infantry passing through it roll a d4. On a 1,
they are entangled and receive a suppression marker (cannot act until
untangled). Vehicles going through the patch roll a d4. On a 1 they receive a
immobile marker. This mechanic also works for swamps.

Other plants could produce spore clouds when approached. If a plant is
approached within X inches, the cloud produces a spore cloud. This cloud has
no detrimental effect on the units, but treat the spore cloud as smoke with
an X+1 inch radius. Fire into an area with the plant could also produce
the spore cloud (i.e. the plant is hit and releases the cloud). Give each
plant 3 smoke markers.

Some other fun effects could be made. If a plant changes color when
approached, it could help with spotting for artillery, finding snipers (if
you use home rules for snipers), fining dug-in units, etc.

Also, if using "mobile plants" or small animals, it is extremely funny to
secretly mark a herd of small animals (rabbits, mice, bats, etc.) in hiding on
the board. When the first fire takes place, place the heard on the board
and have them move directly away from the first shot (at 15"/turn). Any
unit they run into is suppressed for the turn (out of shock). I have used some
toy ants (1 gross for $1us) that I picked up. It was very funny.

> put together some house rules for alien plants.

You should read Redliners by David Drake for some very hostile plant life,
poison, projectiles, vine attacks
, spores - its all there and its a decent MSF story too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671877895/ref=rm_item

The other references I remember for hostile plants and biospheres are 'Surface
Action' by the same Mr D and the Deathworld series of books by Harry Harrison
(sadly both out of print)

> Tim Jones wrote:

> You should read Redliners by David Drake for some very

Or you could just look up a book about Australia's lesser-known flora
and fauna.

This is best summed up by a quote from Terry Pratchet's "The Last Continent"

Death held out a hand. I WANT he said, A BOOK ABOUT THE DANGEROUS
CREATURES OF FOURECKS--
Albert looked up and dived for cover,receiving only mild bruising because he
had the foresight to curl into a ball. After a while Death, his voice slightly
muffled, said ALBERT, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A HAND HERE.
Albert scrambled up and pulled at some of the huge volumes, finally dislodging
enough of them to allow his master to clamber free.

> You could use the Bio-Chemical Rules in DS2 (I don't have the rule

This is an interesting effect. I'd also put in rules to the effect that you
can make reaction fire (maybe artillery fire) targeted on the spore
cloud. After all, when a plant suddenly releases a 2-300 meter diameter
cloud of spores, you'll notice it. Artillery (especially on-board
artillery) could (house rule) target the spore cloud even WITHOUT a
spotter being used. (PSB- the cloud is probably fairly high, the spores
may float, they may even be radar-reflecting (REALLY-PSB)).