The Book of Alien Drone

[Hellfire]

The Book of Alien Drone

C3G DARK HORSE WAVE 24
THEY CAME FROM BEYOND!

Comic PDF


Mini PDF

The figure used for this unit is a Horroclix figure from the AVP: Aliens Collector set.
Its model number and name are #006 / Wall-Leaping Alien.

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Character Bio - Drones are very dangerous, especially when working together with other Drones or the rest of their hive. It took only one Drone to infiltrate the cargo spaceship, USCSS Nostromo, and kill nearly an entire crew before being ejected from the ship and incinerated by Ellen Ripley.

The Alien Drone is also referred to as a Scout, Stalker, or Worker and is classified as the most basic caste of the Xenomorph species. Loyally committed to the Xenomorph Queen, Drones are often responsible for the collection of living hosts. Each host is then impregnated allowing for the birth of future Xenomorphs and the expansion of the hive.

While Drones are dangerous hunters one must also be careful when attacking them. Each Xenomorph has an aggressive biological defense against would be aggressors. If their skin is penetrated, enemies run the risk of being splattered by the Drone's acidic blood that is seemingly capable of burning through almost any thick metal or armor.
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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• N/A

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Incoming Synergy:

• Alien Drones may be activated and have their Attack boosted by Alien Queen with her Xenomorph Mind Link special power.

Outgoing Synergy:

• N/A

Immunities, Benefits, and Weaknesses:

• As a Xenomorph, an Alien Drone cannot be affected by a Xenomorph's Acidic Blood special power.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• Xenomorph Faction Strategy Guide

-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

• Initial playtest: (ZettianJuggernaut)
• Second playtest: (Viegon)
• Third playtest: (Heroscaper Guy)
• Third playtest: (Fret_gurglo)
• Fourth playtest: (Smithy Winfred)
• Art: Comic, Figure, Background
• Art by Flame Gryphon & japes
• Aliens created by Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett, Carlo Rambaldi, and H. R. Giger
• Comic art by Liam Sharp

[Hellfire]

NAME = ALIEN DRONE


SPECIES = XENOMORPH
UNIQUENESS = UNCOMMON HERO
CLASS = STALKER
PERSONALITY = MENACING

SIZE/HEIGHT = MEDIUM 5

LIFE = 2

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 4
DEFENSE = 5

POINTS = 120

STEALTH CLIMBING
While this Alien Drone is under an overhang or adjacent to an obstacle, destructible object, or space higher than its height, it cannot be targeted for any non-adjacent attacks. When moving up levels of height to move onto a space with this Alien Drone, do not count spaces for the first two levels and only count one space for each two levels after the first two. You may ignore this Alien Drone's height of 5 when climbing. This Alien Drone never takes falling damage or major falling damage and is never attacked when leaving an engagement.

XENOMORPH TAIL STRIKE
This Alien Drone may add 1 to its range when attacking a figure whose base is no more than 4 levels higher than its height or 4 levels lower than its base. If this Alien Drone occupies a shadow space, add one automatic skull to its attack.

ACIDIC BLOOD
Whenever this Alien Drone receives one or more wounds, before placing Wound Markers, you must immediately choose an adjacent figure that is not a Xenomorph for each wound received. Roll 1 unblockable attack die against each chosen figure. You cannot choose the same figure more than once.

Updates:

Spoiler Alert!

• Change Life from 3 to 2
• Special power updates
• Points start at 110
• changed class from Endoparasitoid to Stalker; and personality from Stalker to Menacing
• rewording on Acidic Blood
• Acidic Blood does not affect Xenomorph
• Points bumped to 130 for public playtesting
• points dropped to 120 after public playtesting

Starting Design:

Spoiler Alert!

NAME = ALIEN WARRIOR

SECRET IDENTITY = N/A

SPECIES = Xenomorph
UNIQUENESS = Uncommon
CLASS = Endoparasitoid
PERSONALITY = Relentless

SIZE/HEIGHT = Medium 5

LIFE = 5

MOVE = 6
RANGE = 1
ATTACK = 2
DEFENSE = 2

POINTS = ???

SHEDDING SKIN
After moving and before attacking you may add one Wound Marker to this card. For each Wound Marker on this card, add one to Alien Warrior's attack and defense.

STEALTH TAIL STRIKE SPECIAL ATTACK
Range 2. Attack 4.
If Alien Warrior occupies a shadow space add one skull to whatever is rolled.

ACIDIC BLOOD
If Alien Warrior receives at least one wound, choose 1 adjacent figure for each wound received and roll one unblockable attack die against each chosen figure.

[Hellfire]

Alright, we're live ... one immediate item that came up while I was thinking about these Aliens designs is that Warriors are more numerous than Drones ... would it be a good idea to make this design an Alien Drone and make the Drone squad Alien Warriors?

[Hellfire]

Comic Art:

Spoiler Alert!

Background:

Spoiler Alert!

It's a start ... I'll be looking for more. The key to identifying the difference between a a Warrior and a Drone is the head ... Warriors have ridges in their head; Drones have a smooth dome head.

[A3n]

I don't get the theme behind Shedding Skin . Plus I think the way that it reads could be interpreted that it gets the +1 per wound every turn but you may add an extra wound anytime you want .

The SA is a bit bleh.

You need to replace [figure] in Acidic Blood.

[johnny139]

I'm thinking, yeah, this should be a Drone and the common variant should be warriors.

Where does Shedding Skin come from? Not something I remember from the movies.

[Hellfire]

As Aliens grow they shed skin and grow bigger and stronger the further along they are in the life cycle.

[A3n]

Originally Posted by Hellfire

As Aliens grow they shed skin and grow bigger and stronger the further along they are in the life cycle.

That's not the theme conveyed in your power. It's like they are getting Hulk rage the more they are wounded.

[Hellfire]

Originally Posted by A3n

That's not the theme conveyed in your power. It's like they are getting Hulk rage the more they are wounded.

I see what you are saying ... we could use other markers to convey the aging process: Start the game w/ X Skin marker on this card. For each skin marker on this card subtract X from this Alien's Attack and Defense. After taking a turn w/ this Alien you may remove a Skin Marker from this card. ... maybe something like that.

[Hellfire]

Originally Posted by johnny139

I'm thinking, yeah, this should be a Drone and the common variant should be warriors.

It's a point of debate among Alien fans but some would say they are actually the same caste .. and that Warriors are just a more mature version of the Drones ... using the Skin Markers idea it'd probably be best to simply combine the two into one design. ... it's an idea.

[Karat]

I don't think the Skin Shedding aspect is really needed here.

[Hellfire]

Originally Posted by Karat

I don't think the Skin Shedding aspect is really needed here.

Understandable. The theme is lost and I don't really like the idea of having additional markers on the card (it over complicates a design that should be kept fairly simple overall) However, if the thematic aspects of the Alien Warrior/Drone life cycle aren't needed/desired then I personally would feel inclined to take this Warrior design and merge it w/ the Drone design:

Originally Posted by Drone Design for Reference

Coordinated Assault Special Attack
Range 1. Attack 0 + Special.
After moving, if no Alien Drones you control attack normally this turn, you may use this special attack. Choose an opponent's figure to attack that is engaged with at least 3 Alien Drones you control. Add 1 to your attack number for this attack for each Alien Drone you control adjacent to the chosen figure.

Acidic Blood
If [Figure] receives at least one wound, choose 1 adjacent figure for each wound received. One at a time, roll 1 unblockable attack die against each chosen figure.

Expert Climbing
When counting spaces for Alien Drones' movement, elevation changes up to 2 levels count as one space. you may ignore Alien Drones' height of 5 when climbing. Alien Drones never take falling damage or major falling damage.

...and just call them Aliens. Cuz really that is the only thing that was really separating the two (Aside: Additionally many Alien fans would argue that Drones/Warriors are the same...just at different stages of maturation; Added to the fact that the difference is lost to most casual fans)... Instead they could be a 3 or 4 figure common squad w/ the following power set:

COORDINATED ASSAULT SPECIAL ATTACK

ACIDIC BLOOD

EXPERT CLIMBING

However, we would be losing the thematic aspect of having some kind of Alien Tail strike. Perhaps this could be satisfactorily addressed by upping the movement of the Aliens, dropping Expert Climbing, and, per Viegon's idea, insert something akin to the following:

XENOMORPH TAIL STRIKE

An Alien may add 1 to its range when attacking a figure whose base is no more than 4 levels higher than its height or 4 levels lower than its base.

By combining the two designs we'd have a nice subtle dose of thematic strategic movement (Coordinated Assault and Acidic Blood) for both players and the Tail Strike, which would make for a nice simple design that will easily blend in with the long-term outlook for the Xenomorph faction.

Thoughts?