Anomalous Zone
When Pilots are in an Anomalous Zone, roll on the Anomaly Table below for each journey or each hour spent in the area as appropriate.
ROLL THE DIE:
| Roll | Result |
|---|---|
20 | MELD BEHEMOTH: A Meld Behemoth rises from the ground. The anomaly is strewn with rotting, kelp-covered carcasses of broken mechs. It infects Mechs, Vehicles, Pilots, Creatures, and pools of water. |
19 | RED DEATH: This anomaly rapidly rusts metallic objects, visible as numerous objects in varying states of extreme rusting. Each hour, Mechs or Vehicles take 3 SP damage, and a random System becomes damaged. Exposed metallic Pilot Equipment is destroyed. |
18 | TRANSMOGRIFICATION: This anomaly transforms the molecular structure of mechanical and electronic entities. When a Mech or Vehicle enters, a random System or Module transforms into another random System or Module of its Tech Level or lower over the next hour. If this exceeds System Slots, it destroys the previous system, damages the mech, and potentially harms the pilot. It's identifiable by distorted or shifting Mech Systems, Modules, and scrap. |
17 | TIME DILATION: This anomaly slows down time in the area. Every hour spent there counts as 24 hours of normal time. For example, 3 hours spent equals 3 days outside. Contracts and other time-critical events progress, and the Union Crawler requires additional Upkeep per week. |
16 | GROUNDSWELL: This anomaly causes black veins to criss-cross and split the earth, creating dangerous fissures that creatures can fall into and Mechs can get stuck in. |
15 | MELD SPLITTER: A Meld Splitter emerges from pools of Meld, seeking to convert Mechs into Behemoths or creatures into drones. |
14 | IRRADIATED ANOMALY: This anomaly causes radiation to spike to dangerous levels, making the area count as Irradiated (per Salvage Union Core Rules p.323). Anything Meld-infected in the area also becomes irradiated. |
13 | NANITE SPORE: A bulbous, spore-like black mushroom grows from fertile earth. Anything within Medium Range causes it to disperse a Meld Dust Swarm, which acts like a regular Dust Swarm but deals 3 SP damage and causes Meld Infection. |
12 | VORTEX: This anomaly creates a gravitational field around large metallic objects (mech chassis, scrap piles, metal rebars), drawing other objects into a vortex-like pattern. Pilots drawn in take 2 HP damage and suffer a Major Injury from being slammed. Mechs can usually avoid the force, but passing through it risks a random Scrap, System, or Module in their cargo bay being sucked in and damaged. Retrieving it risks 1 SP damage from debris. |
11 | LAUNCH PAD: This anomaly creates a sudden gravitational thrust, propelling a Mech, Vehicle, or Pilot into the air in a random direction, allowing them to clear terrain or obstacles. Landing deals 3 SP damage to Mechs or Vehicles, and 2 HP damage to Pilots (unless a smoother landing method is found). |
10 | MELD NANOID: Groups of d20 Meld Nanoids emerge from the ground or small pools, forming creatures that target anything with a Reactor source before attacking. |
9 | SLIMER: This anomaly causes highly corrosive, clear slime to coat the area, which is difficult to spot. It wells up from the earth and accumulates in holes and ditches. Anything caught in it takes 2 SP damage per turn (1 minute) until removed or it deals 6 SP total damage. Water worsens the slime (2 SP additional damage), while fire and freezing can remove it. |
8 | HEAT HAZE: This anomaly superheats the area. Each hour, a Mech's Heat increases by 2, forcing a Heat Check. Heat-generating effects (like pushing) generate twice as much heat. Exposed creatures suffer a Major Injury each hour. Meld-infected entities in the area become permanently heated, suffering these effects hourly in any area. |
7 | ZAPPER: This anomaly generates a field of dangerously charged electricity. Movement through it causes 4 SP damage. Mechs or Vehicles regain 2 Energy Points and become statically charged. The next time they use an Energy Point ability, they deal 2 SP damage to a random Mech or Vehicle (including themselves), and the target gains 1 EP. The anomaly then discharges harmlessly. |
6 | FLITTER: A relatively harmless anomaly that causes objects and creatures to float a few inches off the ground, making it visible. Anything in motion when entering continues at half speed, and the area counts as Difficult Terrain. |
5 | MELD DRONE SWARM: These swarms are composed of fallen and infected corpses, rising zombie-like from the ground. They seek to crush and infect biological and mechanical entities. A d20 roll determines the number of active Meld Drones, which can be run individually or as one squad per multiple of 5. |
4 | GRAVITY MUSHER: An invisible anomaly that drastically increases gravity, crushing Mechs and biological creatures. It can be detected by scanners, probing, or careful searching, and by throwing small items. It can usually be pushed through with one Mech movement, but some are larger. Exposed Pilots are reduced to 0 HP, must roll on the Critical Injury Table, and die if they remain for over a minute. Mechs must roll on the Critical Damage Table each turn spent in the anomaly. |
3 | SLUDGER: Sludge from the Nanite Sea coats wide areas and is dangerous due to Active Meld Nanites. Biological or mechanical entities entering it become infected. Harvesting and refining a spill yields Active Meld Nanites, but requires specific tools or a clever approach to avoid infection. |
2 | PIERCER: These creatures create horrendous echoes. Any creature within their Far Range suffers a Minor Injury and is deaf for an hour, including Pilots in Mechs. Piercers are often found emanating from hollow scrap, pipes, barrels, empty cockpits, or cargo holds. |
1 | MELD DUST SWARM: Inert Meld dust swarms are carried by the wind. They are harmless. Harvesting a swarm yields 10 Inert Meld. There is a 1 in 20 chance for an 'Active' swarm containing 10 Active Meld Nanites, which can infect Mechs, Vehicles, Creatures, and water. |
Roll Table
False FlagPage 10
When Pilots are in an Anomalous Zone, roll on the Anomaly Table below for each journey or each hour spent in the area as appropriate.
Source: False Flag, p. 10