The green bug swarm, as described in Beyond The Rim, isn't a threat to any characters... even brand new ones. What have you done, or think to do, to make players care about hundreds of crawling stinging insects?

The bug swarm is described as a rival, with a brawn of 1 and a mêlée of 2. It does 1 damage. Critical of 5 (so, only a triumph). There is stinger poison, with an effect on a successful hit, which I assume means to have actually damaged the PC to trigger. The GM can also pay two advantages to cause 3 strain (yet again only triggers when damage is done above the target's soak). (Unless I'm reading it wrong, weapon qualities only trigger when damage is done, like crits, right?... although I'm beginning to doubt myself.)

So, how does this swarm hurt a PC?

It rolls two dice to attack. It's max damage is 3. All of my players soak values are 4, and that's just wearing a "leather jacket".

The encounter description specifically states that the player should be wearing fully enclosed protective gear or endure the stings, but the stats of the critter don't really allow me to play as written. I just don't see it mechanically?

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Would you ignore armour?

The bug swarm has agility 4 and coordination 2, so maybe make an average check for the bugs to swarm in under the armour? And then attack without adding armour to soak. Might even give the bugs a bonus to their attack.

Would you have multiple swarms? One for each player? Two for each player?

Doesn't really solve the soak issue.

Would you make them a minion and give them more dice, the larger the swarm?

That way you could be rolling 6 dice and hope for damage above soak.

Would you read "on a successful hit, trigger stinger poison" to mean the swarm needs only to his, and not to damage, for the poison to be effective.

Would you treat the swarm like an environment effect, like fire or cloud of acid? Just being in the swarm is harmful and the player gets damage. (I don't think soak applies to environmental damage).

If you want your players to get hit, the simplest solution is to increase the base damage. If your goal is only to provide a marginal threat (or perhaps just the threat of the poison), increase it so that you've got an X% chance (which you can suss out using dice probabilities) of hitting.

It's worth mentioning that sometimes it can be nice to have a simple non-threat just to get players to react, too. I use a small critter in one of my adventures (a small animal that has virtually no chance of doing damage) just to see if it can provoke the players into a reaction.

I would have that if the swarm are" engaged range" to a character it can ignore it's targets soak. Unless they are in fully protective gear. basically finding soft spots.

Honestly the encounter is more roleplay then being a challange. Have them make fear checks when the bug are crawling over them. have them take strain, or even setback dice. No one wants to be covered in poisonous bugs.

For most weapon qualities as long as the attack was a success you c a m activate a weapon's quality. Crits it spefically has that you have to do damage. Blast says it works even if the attack misses, and guided works ONLY on a miss.

So in the case of this bug swarm it looks like the threat isnt so much the sting (which more than likely won't ever deal wounds) but is in the poison dealing strain amd knocking the party unconscious.

Which makes sense when you think about it. How many bugs do damage from a bit its the venom and neurotoxins they inject that kill.

Not having the module, I can't comment upon what is in the book, but knowing that not all qualities requires a successful hit, the strain damage could be activated, unless it states specifically otherwise. For instance, a quality that does not require a successful hit is Sunder - at least that's how I've come to understand it. I'd also say that this green bug swarm should be able to cause strain, even if Soak has not been overcome. One could also, perhaps, give the swarm a conditional pierce #, to signify them coming in everywhere, like suggested above.

One of the more recent Order66 podcasts talked about activating weapon qualities even without a hit, it's worth a listen.

So in the case of this bug swarm it looks like the threat isnt so much the sting (which more than likely won't ever deal wounds) but is in the poison dealing strain amd knocking the party unconscious.

Nailed it.

Thanks guys. That helps a lot. The not having to cause damage above soak for the weapon quality to trigger was the missing piece of the puzzle. Excellent.

The Stun quality, by the core rulebook, requires neither damage dealt nor a successful hit. Just two Advantage for 3 strain, that's not stun damage, that's just straight "Strain suffered."

Also remember fear checks. Having a swarm of alien bugs fly in your face and clothing will freak most people out.

Now if cholgana is hot and humid wearing a leather jacket will give a setback die for discomfort.

Also remember fear checks. Having a swarm of alien bugs fly in your face and clothing will freak most people out.

Now if cholgana is hot and humid wearing a leather jacket will give a setback die for discomfort.

I was just about to say the same thing: Fear Check! Heck, even in full enviro-gear, it'd still be unnerving to see all them bugs crawling around!

-EF

Also remember fear checks. Having a swarm of alien bugs fly in your face and clothing will freak most people out.

Now if cholgana is hot and humid wearing a leather jacket will give a setback die for discomfort.

I didn't have access to my copy. But if its cool, fair enough.

I didn't have access to my copy. But if its cool, fair enough.

You better not try and make it hot!!!!

<-- or this guy will come after you...