The Brief Savage Battlestar Back Story The Battlestar Universe is a great system to play in, great concept, great everything. But if you

play it as if you are in the latest series, it is very linear. So, although it would be fun to play games with NPCs like Starbuck or Apollo, a GM may find it challenging to explore the setting if you want to be play that particular aspect of the setting. (At least I do anyways)

I wanted to play in the same time frame as the series, but away from Galactica. So like others I designed my own little step off point where players can jump into the action. Yes, Galactica got away, saving 50,000 + people that day. Pegasus also fled, found survivors and eventually found Galactica. But there were millions, if not billions of people in the system. There had to be more survivors, resistance, maybe even some great last stand. Where, when and how that happens is up to you, the GM.

My setting takes place on Day 1 of the Cylon attack on the twelve colonies. The story begins with the Rapid Interdiction Cruiser “Cestus”. The RIC class cruisers were being designed to be a rapid response/strike craft to be used in response to any immediate warfare needs. Cetus is complemented with roughly 500 crew, the Cestus can also handle one Company of Marines (130), 1 squadron of MK VII Vipers (20), 2 Raptors, and 1 Gunship Raptor.

The Cestus, still in the development/testing stage was performing space trials with an under strength crew with only 250 Crew, 1 ship security platoon of Marines (32), 12 Mk VII Vipers and 1 Raptor during the time of the attack.

The space trials were for testing all of the “off the net” systems, in case the CNP was ever lost during a conflict. The testing required that all CNP systems to be hard shut down and use secondary systems. It was mere chance; the Cestus did not suffer the same fate as the rest of the colonial fleet. With the CNP systems offline and hard shut, the Cylon virus activated but could not interact with the main system controls as designed. This allowed ship techs to react quick enough to stop the virus from affecting the rest of the ship. After knowing what the virus could do, the techs kept the CNP systems turned off on their current compliment of fighters. Allowing them to perform as needed. *Game note* until the crew can find a more efficient way of keeping the CNP offline, all missile lock rolls/DRADIS rolls/Astrogation rolls are (-1)

Even while still understrength, the Cestus regrouped and immediately jumped to its closet military port, The Shipyards of Scorpio. When the FTL jump was completed, they found themselves in a hellish situation. Their jump into the system was masked by the sudden and unsuspected blind jump by the Pegasus which just that moment departed! This allowed Commander Tobias Whitney to witness the destruction of the remainder of the Scorpio shipyards. Then the Cylons noticed the Cestus.. This is where your story begins!

I have loads of my own notes, NPCs, back stories. But I save that for my games. At least for now, you have the Cestus, her Crew, Pilots, Fighter Craft, and Marines for your players to become a part of.

Welcome to my vision of Savage Battlestar.

Setting Special Rules: Savage Worlds Deluxe Core Book Savage Worlds Sci Fi Compendium Reference Material: http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page Jokers Wild

Character Creation: Follow the normal creation rules for Savage Worlds when creating a human player. 15 Points for skills, 5 points for attributes and 1 free edge. Characters may then choose to have a colonial MOC class they would like to focus on. Each class must have the required skills purchased out of your starting skill points. Anything not an MOC would be a civilian, and would be up to the discretion of the GM to allow in that point of the campaign. MOC's Viper Pilots Raptor Pilots Marine Bridge Officer Deck/Tech Crew Viper Pilots Stats: Agility D6 Skills: Piloting D6, Shooting D6, Knowledge Space Tactics D4, Knowledge Dradis D4. Edges: Officer (low rank min) Raptor Pilots Stats: Smarts D6 Skills: Piloting D6, Astrogation D6, Electronic Warfare D4, Knowledge Dradis D4. Edges: Officer (Rank) Marine Stats: N/A Skills: Shooting D4, Fighting D4, Throwing D4, Knowledge Tactics D6, Driving D4. Edges: None

Bridge Officer Stats: Smarts D6, Spirit D6 Skills: Knowledge Dradis D6, Knowledge Tactics D6, Pilot - Capital Ships D4, Astrogation D4. Edges: Officer (Rank) Deck/Tech Crew Stats: Vigor D6, Smarts D6 Skills: Knowledge Repairs D6, Connections D4 Edges: None

Setting Skill/Edge/Rules Skills: Black Market (Smarts): This person is able to wheel and deal with looking for hard to find items when dealing with other departments/ships in the fleet. Dradis (Smarts): Is a skill that allows you to be able to read and understand your onboard ship sensors. Electronic Warfare (Smarts): This is a skill which will allow you to engage in spoofing, jamming and counter jamming enemy signals/missiles etc. Pilot - Capital Ships (Smarts): Same as piloting, but for larger ships which involves crews larger than 10. Astrogation (Smarts): Want to do a FTL jump into the middle of a sun? No? Than have this skill! Edges: Evasion: Novice, Agility D6, Pilot D8 Like going full defense during a melee combat, this edge allows a pilot to attempt to make a piloting roll of a star ship to add +1 to his To hit number to avoid being hit. On a raise you get +2. This counts as his action and lasts until his next turn. Also, this +1(+2 with a raise) bonus is added to your total piloting roll to avoid a missile lock Evasion, Enhanced: Seasoned. Evasion. Pilot D10 As Evasion, but adds +2 to his To hit number to avoid being hit. A raise gives you +3 total. Wingman: Pilot D8 Make a piloting roll (-2) to attempt to share a 1 bennie with a fellow pilot being damaged. If you succeed, you may spend 1 bennie to attempt to soak his damage. If you succeed with a raise, you can attempt to soak his damage twice. If you roll a 1 on the skill die, you take the damage instead.

Officer Rank: (Novice)To be a pilot, you need to have an officer rank. Starting rank for Pilots and Bridge Officers are Ensign

Cylon Special Rules Cylon Raiders: (Optional) Raiders often fly in groups. For game purpose when Cylon Raiders are in a combat they can be grouped together to receive special benefits while in groups of 2 or 4 (max). While in groups of 4, only 1 Cylon in the group attacks, but gets a +2 to hit and +1d6 damage (which can ace) . When there is either 2 or 3 in a group, that bonus is then reduced to +1 to hit and +2 damage. This rule is for the intent of speeding up space combat. Cylon Sleeper Agent: (Optional) When a new character is introduced into a campaign, that character rolls 1d10 secretly into the tower. On a roll of 0, that character is secretly designated by the GM as a sleeper agent. At the start of every game session, the GM publicly draws a card, if the card is a joker, the GM may inform, any or all of the sleeper agents of their activation. The GM can assign special mission or objectives for them to complete until they are ultimately caught. (This rule is intended for serious role playing groups.) This is also to add tension to the group.

The Twelve Colonies I really liked the idea of getting special free bonus from being a member of a particular colony (Inspired by John Brown and Rick Petersen in their version of Savage Battlestar) So I have adopted a similar approach. When you select a colony, you get the free listed bonus, If you pick one with a Hindrance, you may add the value of that hindrance as a bonus to character creation for free. Caprica: Stat - Smarts start at D6, Skill - Pilot or Pilot Capital Ships D4 Canceron: Skill - Scrounger D4, Skill - Persuasion D4 Scorpia: Stat - Vigor Starts at D6, Skill - Knowledge Tactics D4 Libris: Hindrance - Quirk Minor - Carouser Edge - Charismatic Picon: Edge - Combat Reflexes Aquaria: Edge - Level Headed Geminon: Skill - Healer D4, Hindrance Pacifist. (Minor) Tauron: Edge - Brawny, Hindrance - Stubborn (Minor) Aerelon: Edge - Fearless Sagittaron: Stat - Spirit start at D6, Hindrance - Outsider (Minor) Virgon: Edge - Common Bond Leonis: Edge - Brave, Stat - Strength starts at D6

Viper Mk VII

Size: 6 Acceleration: 70 Climb: 3 Top Speed: 900 Toughness: 22(7) Crew: 1 Remaining Mods: 8 Cost: $5,220,000

Mods: Armor Atmospheric Missile Launcher Targeting System Speed x4

Standard Weapons: Optional: Missiles/Torpedos, Missile, Heavy/AT x4 (Designed for 8 missiles per Sci Fi Companion)

Fixed-Linked Weapons: Auto Cannons, Medium x2

Raptor

Size: 8 Acceleration: 55 Climb: 2 Top Speed: 700 Toughness: 25(6) Crew: 3 Remaining Mods: 5 Cost: $23,660,000

Mods: AMCM Atmospheric FTL Drive Missile Launcher x2 Sensor Suite, Planetary Targeting System Passenger Pod Electromagnetic Shielding Speed x2

Standard Weapons: Optional: Missile, Light x24

Cylon Raider

Size: 6 Acceleration: 75 Climb: 3 Top Speed: 950 Toughness: 20(5) Crew: Integrated Cylon Pilot - D10 AI Skills Remaining Mods: 4 Cost: $17,740,000

Mods: Artificial Intelligence Atmospheric Missile Launcher Sloped Armor Speed x5 FTL Drive Standard Weapons: Optional: Missile, Light x12

Fixed-Linked Weapons: Auto Cannons, Medium x2

Heavy Cylon Raider

Size: 8 Acceleration: 55 Climb: 2 Top Speed: 700 Toughness: 25(6) Crew: Integrated Cylon Pilot D10 Remaining Mods: 9 Cost: $24,430,000

Mods: Artificial Intelligence Atmospheric Passenger Pod Missile Launcher x2 FTL Drive Speed x2

Standard Weapons: Missile, Heavy/AT x8x2 Linked Weapons: Cannons, Small x2

Cylon Centurion

Robot Type: Cylon Size: 1 Armor: 8 Remaining Mods: 0 Cost: $38, 000

Derived Stats Parry: 6 Pace: 4 Toughness: 13(8) Charisma: 0

Attributes: Agility: d6 Spirit: d6 Vigor: d6 Smarts: d4 Strength: d8 Skills: Fighting: d8 Shooting: d8 Tracking: d6 Notice: d6 Throwing: d6 Mods: Armor x4 Size Increase (+1) Construct Environmental Weakness (Electricity) Weapons: Claws Str+D6 AP 1 Integrated Forearm Assault Rifles x2 Range: 24/48/96, dmg: 2d8+1, ROF 3, Shots 60, AP3, Auto, 3RB,

Colonial Blackbird

Size: 6 Acceleration: 80 Climb: 3 Top Speed: 1000 Toughness: 22(7) Crew: 1 Remaining Mods: 0 Cost: $18,070,000

Mods: AMCM Armor Electromagnetic Shielding FTL Drive Sensor Suite, Planetary Speed x6 Stealth System

Viper Mk II

Size: 6 Acceleration: 65 Climb: 3 Top Speed: 850 Toughness: 20(5) Crew: 1 Remaining Mods: 9 Cost: $4,510,000

Mods: Atmospheric Speed x3 Targeting System Missile Launcher Standard Weapons: Missile, Light x12

Fixed Weapons: Auto Cannons, Medium x2

Raptor Gunship

Size: 8 Acceleration: 45 Climb: 2 Top Speed: 600 Toughness: 25(6) Crew: 5 Remaining Mods:6 Cost: $22,180,000

Mods: AMCM Atmospheric Electromagnetic Shielding Missile Launcher x2 Targeting System FTL Drive

Standard Weapons: Auto Cannon, Medium x2 Linked (Nose gun) Missiles, Heavy/AT x8 Missile, Light x12

Linked Weapons: Slug throwers, Minigun x2 Linked (Tail Gun)

Colonial Weapons

Model 380 12/24/48 ROF 1 2d6+1 Shots 10 AP1, Semi, Under barrel AP round. Caseless rounds.

Model 350 12/24/48 ROF 1 2d6+1 Shots 12 AP1, Semi, Under barrel AP round

Armor Piercing Round 8/16/32 ROF 1 2d8+1 AP4 Heavy Weapon

CAL-USG 12/24/48 ROF 3 2d6 Rounds 30 Full Auto only Red Dot Sight

IWS 24/48/96 ROF 3 2d8+1 Shots 30 AP2, Auto, 3rd Burst, Red Dot Sight UBGL(40mm) Attachment - 1 Shot UBRL (20mm) Attachment - 5 Shots

40mm Rifle Launcher 24/48/96 ROF 1 4d8 Shots 6 AP4, MBT, HW, Snap Fire

20mm Rifle Launcher 24/48/96 ROF 1 2d8 Shots 10 AP 6, HW, SBT, Snap Fire

Tauran "Bull" Shotgun 12/24/48 1-3d6 (Scatter Shot) 2d6 (Penetration Round) ROF 1 Shots 8 Semi Auto, Double tap, Scatter Shot, AP 0 Penetration Round AP 4 Semi Auto, Double Tap. Integrated UBRL 20mm Launcher 24/48/96 ROF 1 Shots 3 AP 6, HW, SBT, Snap Fire

Strike Interdiction Class “Cestus”

SIC "Cestus" Size: 20 (Giant) Acceleration: 30 Climb: -1 Top Speed: 300 Toughness: 64(25) Crew: 600 Remaining Mods: 0 Cost: $255,500,000

Mods: AMCM Armor x7 Electromagnetic Shielding FTL Drive Missile Launcher x4 Targeting System Torpedo Tubes x2 Crew reduction X2 Sensor Suite (Planetary)

Standard Weapons: Missile, Light x12 (x4) Missile, Heavy/AT x8 (x2) Torpedo, Heavy x4 (x2) Torpedo, Light x8 (x2)

Linked Weapons: Mass Driver/Rail Gun Level 6 x2 Cannons, Medium x2 (3 sets) Cannons, Heavy x2 (1 Set) Auto Cannons, Light x2 (6 Sets)

Cylon Base Star

Cylon Base Star Size: 32 (Leviathan) Acceleration: 20 Climb: -4 Top Speed: 200 Toughness: 70(20) Crew: 20000 Remaining Mods: 6 Cost: $10,092,650,000

Mods: Artificial Intelligence (Skills D10) Electromagnetic Shielding FTL Drive Missile Launcher x10 Torpedo Tubes x10 Targeting System Sensor Suite (Planetary)

Standard Weapons: Missile, Heavy/AT x8 x10 Missile, Light x12 x10 Torpedo, Heavy x4 x5 Torpedo, Light x8 x5

Linked Weapons: 6 Quad Linked Auto Cannons, Light 4 Quad Linked Auto Cannons, Medium 4 Duel Linked Heavy Cannons

Game Note: Ship Construction.

It didn’t take me very long to realize that any ship over “Large” the design system starts to go kinda wonky. So, when it came to adding “superstructures” like hangers, medical bays, etc. So I just said Frack it. It’s got a hanger big enough for this, it’s all built in etc. Otherwise I would have massive giant ships that would have barely enough space to house a single squadron of fighters. So there is a little bit of GM FUDGE added to this.

Vehicle Weapon Damages: (For Rules on duel and quad linked weapons, see Sci-Fi Companion)

Auto Cannons: Light: Range 50/100/200; Damage 2d12; ROF 4; Shots 100, AP 8; HW. Reactive fire

Medium: Range 50/100/200; Damage 3d8; ROF 3 Shots 100, AP 8; HW

Cannons: Medium: Range 75/150/300; Damage 8d10; ROF 1; Shots 30; AP 20; MBT; HW Heavy: Range 100/200/400; Damage 5d10; ROF 1; Shots 30; AP 30; LBT; HW

RailGun/Mass Driver: Level 6: Range 100/200/400; Damage 6d12; ROF 1; Shots 15; HW

Missiles/Torpedoes:

Light Missile: 200/400/800; Damage 6d6; AP 8; HW; SBT Heavy/AT Missile: 200/400/800; Damage 8d6; AP 15; HW ; MBT

Light Torpedo; 300/600/1200; Damage 8d12; AP 40; HW, LBT Heavy Torpedo; 300/600/1200; Damage 10d12; AP 80; HW, LBT

Photo Credits by Google Search

Colonial Destroyer (Cestus) https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjm6N_AwqLNAhULIsAKHfOSAeMQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shipschematics.net%2Fbsg%2Fbsg_data.php%3Ffilter%3DColAll&psig=AFQjCNFIWWxgfeXGP2qCzzJVOdNkuftrDA&ust=1465821901611310

Viper MkII: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiV55-1vqLNAhXlI8AKHVhjAl0QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelmaking.guru%2Fguru-blog%2Fmoebius-models-132-mk-ii-colonial-viperbuild&psig=AFQjCNHELi-Wt09KaQfrr7bERVhVJZJdWg&ust=1465820789494754

Viper Mk VII: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwifmarcvqLNAhXnIcAKHaauCXAQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationstates.net%2Fpage%3Ddispatch%2Fid%3D292810&psig=AFQjCNEKeQql2v52oH6Z9vnN4DUlZyzY6A&ust=1465820920616384

Raptor Gun Ship: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj129fFwaLNAhVIJMAKHZSQDGAQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fjasonamanucci%2Fbattlestar-galactica%2F&psig=AFQjCNFXEQX7MM8jfZl7OJpe2aFr0mzang&ust=1465821534715468

Raptor https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiex_P1waLNAhWmJsAKHVGyALoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2F3dportfolio.deviantart.com%2Fart%2FBSG-Raptor-remake-2-update-145967192&psig=AFQjCNFXEQX7MM8jfZl7OJpe2aFr0mzang&ust=1465821534715468

Cylon Base Star https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjvnpSJv6LNAhUmB8AKHf17CgoQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shipschematics.net%2Fbsg%2Fbsg_data.php%3Ffilter%3DCylAll&psig=AFQjCNGaEGmHBhnQBEBj2Dv3hd5u0ANU5w&ust=1465821030485617

Cylon Raider https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiwuL2pv6LNAhUmLMAKHQodBCAQjhwIBQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F542120873871515704%2F&psig=AFQjCNGEpWvdDKBZJnBUDXcUMuwIL8Ex8w&ust=1465821082578134

Cylon Heavy Raider https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjyn4zsv6LNAhUkKMAKHbDcCncQjhwIBQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstoriesbywilliams.com%2Ftag%2Fcylon-raider%2F&psig=AFQjCNENXBmG9LD6l96S1Zv_BFZVvSr52A&ust=1465821160926079

Cylon https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjd4aS0wKLNAhXiDsAKHQhhAggQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blastr.com%2F2013-2-26%2Fguy-creates-frakkin-awesome-cylon-engagement-ring&psig=AFQjCNGfTVKonHdrgzEtgCAyY56BwJoEFA&ust=1465821331189517