I GM a game for 2 of my friends whose characters are not far out of Character Generation. Let me give you some info on their abilities before I ask my question:

One has a basic lightsaber (no mods as yet) and rolls YG for her saber skill. She is a "Shien Expert" though she's only so far bought Conditioned. She has Enhance, Seek and Sense (all Basic power only).

My other player has a double-bladed saber (again, no mods yet) and rolls YGG for his saber skill. He is a Makashi Duelist who has so far bought 1 grit, 1 Parry, Resist Disarm and Makashi Technique. He has Move (basic only) and Enhance with the Coordination and Horizontal Force Leap add-ons.

As you can see, they are very early characters.

They've just crash-landed on a remote planet they know nothing about. It's going to be an alien flora/fauna planet, but (as we're all total sci-fi nuts) I want to surprise them by having them hunted by either a Nemesis-level Predator (yes, the one from the Arnie movie), or 2 Rival-level Predators. So i was after a brain-storming session to collect some ideas together so I can make these suckers. Any suggestions are welcome, and I'll start.

I'm thinking Brawn 4 or 5. Agility 3, Intellect 2, Cunning 3, Willpower 3, Presence 3 if I go Rival or maybe a couple points distributed extra for a Nemesis. Rival wounds could be 18 (they'll have no armor, not that it matters due to the PC's lightsabers anyway)? Nemesis could perhaps be 25 wounds?

Melee 3 or 4. Ranged (Any) 3, Cool 3, Vigilance 2, among other less important skills (remember it's just a one-shot so skills like Astrogation and various Knowledge skills aren't so important)?

Retractable Claws could use Knife stats?

Telescopic Spear could use Force Pike stats but without Stun?

Shoulder Cannon could use Blaster Rifle stats which reduce Difficulty to hit by 1 due to the laser targeting. Maybe allow the target a Perception check to see the triple red laser on him. Success negates the range advantage (or even makes it worse)?

Throwing Disc could use Vibro-knife stats in Melee, and Heavy blaster Pistol stats for Ranged (maybe including Vicious 1, Auto-Fire 1 and the ability to return to the users hand)?

Stealth field could upgrade Stealth twice if stationary, once if moving, and be useless in water?

Helmet could provide a respirator, and also Cybernetic Eyes when worn, but upgrade Perception and Vigilance difficulties by 2 if taken off / damaged / destroyed?

He'd carry a couple stim-packs.

Not sure if I'm missing anything but what do you think so far? What would you do differently? I'm not interested in "I'd not use a Predator in the first place" answers thanks. If you don't want to contribute then don't feel you need to, m'kay? It's purely for fun (and one session of my game!).

Ooooh, you've piqued my Predator fanboy interest...(its prolly my favorite movie ever)

Other than that I'd def go Brawn 5, gives a bit more soak and damage when it does close to melee. Don't forget to include Perception as a Skill as well as Coercion (Thing was scary as hell!)

I'd definitely say go Nemesis with at least 2 Ranks of the Advantage.

Unless those claws or other melee weapons have some kind of Cortosis-like quality then those Force-users, even at basic levels, will clean his clock in melee Combat.

Don't forget that the Spear could be thrown as well and pierced a concrete wall pretty readily in P2, so maybe add some Pierce to it?

I'd say treat the shoulder cannon like a Disruptor Rifle (Crit 2, Visocus 4+) but maybe with longer range, it leaves a VERY large hole in it's victims...

Throwing Disk should Def have at least Pierce if not Sunder (Cut through what 10+ meat-slabs? And of course returning...

For the Stealth Field maybe throw some setback on top of it that could be cancelled if they have anything to reduce Setback.

I don't think Mask-stats are really needed as it doesn't really affect the Predator and it can survive without the mask...otherwise what you have works fine.

Instead of a Stimpack-equivalent give him the Medpack, so if he gets away he can come back later fully healed while they are still injured. And make sure it's smart enough to realize it's screwed in Melee and retreat to fight another day.

Maybe throw in a team of Mercenaries/Hunt-Targets for them to run into, they can choose to ally with them or have them as an additional threat, at the very least gives you some bodies for them to run across...and maybe a ship they can use to escape when all is said and done...also a good chance to introduce another character if needed...8)

Thanks for the reply, GandofGand. Good to find another Predator fanboy!

Ok, Brawn 5 it is! I was wondering about the Soak thing as he doesn't really wear armor, but even using a few ranks of Enduring won't stand up to their Breach 1 Lightsabers so not sure what to do there. Perception is good, but rather than Coersion what do you think about a few ranks of Fearsome? It's passive and could give them some Conflict due to Fear, which is always fun.

Adversary 2 sounds good. I don't want to cause a TPK but I also don't want them to wipe the floor with the beastie.

Doesn't Sunder only apply if the player activates it with Advantages? I know my players and they'd probably rather Crit (or regain Strain if they only get 1) so I'm not too worried about Sunder for the time being.

Pierce 2 on most of the Preds weapons could be a handy thing to have. After all, most of his weapons seemed very capable.

I'm not too familiar with Disruptor weapons so I'll need to read up on those. Thanks for the pointer!

I do like the idea of the merc team they stumble on. Gives me something to start killing off in gruesome ways to make them realize things are not what they seem. "Get to da speeda!!"

Thanks for the tips GoG!

There are bunches of different kinds of Predators (with Careers and Specs like EotE PCs!?), many wear heavy armoring.

Heck, the Predator in the original movie was probably just carrying a lower-threat-level kit in the field cuz they're all into that "sporting good fun" aspect. His Cortosis Weave plate was in his ship, and that went nuclear.

Plus don't just wave away his mask, that has targeting HUD enhancements (Boost die to Ranged?), vision enhancements (upgrade Perception, Vigilance checks?), biofeedback/monitoring controls (+4 Strain threshold), including an interface that can activate Stimpaks as an Incidental cuz they're plumbed into his bio-support system.

Action economy is the bane of everyone GMs grand vision of his glorious solo BBEG. Better make sure he has a buddy.

This was where my idea of perhaps 2 Rivals would come in as opposed to one Nemesis. That way they each get one to deal with when the climax of the adventure arrives I'll take all these suggestions and see what I come up with. Hopefully my players will have a bit of fun and a nice surprise.

Thanks again!

All the Predator gear can be handled using existing book items.

Stealth Field Generator is a Pred Cloak.

Plasma Caster/Cannon/Gatling Cannon/Pistol can be various different weapons with the "Hands Free" Attachment to an Armor. Biggest issue there is the Enc. 4 Rating for weapons (unless you can reduce the Encumbrance Rating down with a Talent or other Attachments...) Disruptor Rifle feels good here though.

Claws, use the Vambrace Blades, could even do the paired version to make Dark Clan Predator (AvP 2010 game).

Vibro-Spear for Spear. There was another I seen for the Glaive, but can't remember it.

The Disc and Net Launcher are the only oddball weapons. Could use the Kyuzo's Hat for a basis, but that's just a start for the Disc. The Netgun could be a Bola Launcher, but then needs the damaging net parts.

Thermal Detonator for the Self Destruct Device.....

Best Specializations seem to be Bounty Hunter ones (minus Martial Artist) , Scout, Trailblazer, Vanguard, anything geared toward combat really.