 NPCs
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| Using NPCs | NPCs Creating an Encounter |
| Stock NPCs | NPC Archetypes NPC Templates |
One of the biggest advantages which a force can enjoy is the element of surprise, and lurkers specialize in surprising foes. A lurker is meant to appear suddenly and strike for devastating damage, striking where the enemy is weak. Lurkers are usually less armored than most archetypes, so they usually need to be used with greater care than others. Further, they're very reliant on hitting unprepared foes in order to achieve their full damage: against foes who are aware of their presence, they are far less capable NPCs, both offensively and defensively.
In a battle, lurkers can serve as priority targets for the enemy: they strike for impressive damage, but can be eliminated relatively easily once struck with a solid blow. Out of their element, lurkers are weak and vulnerable, but when they have the advantage, lurkers can be quite dangerous, especially with their ranks in Sneak Attack.
And lurkers are quite capable of putting that sneak attack to good use. With ranks in Infiltration, lurkers excel at stealth and getting into secure areas, so they're able to strike from angles which might otherwise not be predicted by the enemy. Especially when in an environment which compliments stealth (such as a night-fight or combat in heavy cover or overgrowth), lurkers can be extremely dangerous foes. However, perceptive enemies are likely to expose and quickly eliminate lurkers and their dangerous damage potential.
Lurkers are excellent support, but once exposed, they lose much of their bite. Without their sneak attack, the damage output lurkers are capable of drops off dramatically. Further, if a solid blow connects, lurkers just lack the toughness, fortitude, and will defenses to stay in the fight for long. They really shine when covered by tougher allies, or at least more numerous and obvious allies. On their own, lurkers are poor at holding the line or providing a defensive front, but especially if paired with the likes of the flanker, lurkers can be especially terrifying and potent to an unprepared group. Expect heroes to target lurkers as targets of opportunity early on, but further realize that attacks which destroy these potentially dangerous NPCs are not ones which are striking more consistently dangerous troops, such as artillery, the hoser, and the boss.
Lurker Table[]
| Lurker (+2 Defense / -2 Toughness) DEX | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL | Attack | Effect | Defense | Toughness | Fortitude | Will | Might | Reflex | Perception | Special |
| 1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +0 | +1 | +1 | - |
| 2 | +2 | +2 | +4 | +0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +1 | Infiltration +1 |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +5 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Infiltration +1 |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +6 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +4 | +2 | Infiltration +2 |
| 5 | +5 | +5 | +7 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Infiltration +2, Sneak Attack 1 |
| 6 | +6 | +6 | +8 | +4 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +6 | +3 | Infiltration +3, Sneak Attack 1 |
| 7 | +7 | +7 | +9 | +5 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Infiltration +3, Sneak Attack 1 |
| 8 | +8 | +8 | +10 | +6 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +8 | +4 | Infiltration +4, Sneak Attack 1 |
| 9 | +9 | +9 | +11 | +7 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +9 | +4 | Infiltration +4, Sneak Attack 2 |
| 10 | +10 | +10 | +12 | +8 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +10 | +5 | Infiltration +5, Sneak Attack 2 |
| 11 | +11 | +11 | +13 | +9 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +11 | +5 | Infiltration +5, Sneak Attack 2 |
| 12 | +12 | +12 | +14 | +10 | +6 | +6 | +6 | +12 | +6 | Infiltration +6, Sneak Attack 2 |
| 13 | +13 | +13 | +15 | +11 | +6 | +6 | +6 | +13 | +6 | Infiltration +6, Sneak Attack 3 |
| 14 | +14 | +14 | +16 | +12 | +7 | +7 | +7 | +14 | +7 | Infiltration +7, Sneak Attack 3 |
| 15 | +15 | +15 | +17 | +13 | +7 | +7 | +7 | +15 | +7 | Infiltration +7, Sneak Attack 3 |
| 16 | +16 | +16 | +18 | +14 | +8 | +8 | +8 | +16 | +8 | Infiltration +8, Sneak Attack 3 |
| 17 | +17 | +17 | +19 | +15 | +8 | +8 | +8 | +17 | +8 | Infiltration +8, Sneak Attack 4 |
| 18 | +18 | +18 | +20 | +16 | +9 | +9 | +9 | +18 | +9 | Infiltration +9, Sneak Attack 4 |
| 19 | +19 | +19 | +21 | +17 | +9 | +9 | +9 | +19 | +9 | Infiltration +9, Sneak Attack 4 |
| 20 | +20 | +20 | +22 | +18 | +10 | +10 | +10 | +20 | +10 | Infiltration +10, Sneak Attack 4 |
Common FX/Gear[]
Damage (PL x ¾) (FX Feats: Mighty) (¾ x PL + 1 cp)
Sample Flankers[]
- A stealthy ninja assassin who strikes from the shadows
- A deadly marine sniper with a light rifle
- Savage orc archers and hunters
- Alien shadowdwellers capable of seeing even in pitch black
- Ruthless cut-throats who rely on the ambush to succeed
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