Characteristics
CharTotalRollCostNotes
STR1011-0Damage 2d6, Lift 100.0kg
DEX1011-0OCV 3 DCV 3
CON610--8
BODY610--8
INT19--9PER Roll 9-
EGO1011-0ECV: 3
PRE1011-0PRE Attack: 2d6
COM510--2
PD202 PD (0 rPD)
ED101 ED (0 rED)
SPD20Phases: 6, 12
REC30
END120
STUN140
Movement
0"Running
0"Swimming
0"Leaping0" Horizontal, 0" Vertical
20"Flight320" Non-combat Flight
Combat Information
OCV: 3DCV: 3ECV: 3
DEFENSES PD: 2 (2) rPD: 0/0 Mental Def: 0
ED: 1 (1) rED: 0/0 Power Def: 0

Energy Leech

Background

Not native to the hyperspace dimensions (no life-form is, after all), these creatures are occasionally carried there attached to the hulls of starships. In real space they present little danger, since they get all the nourishment they need and more by surfing the solar wind in the inner circles of a solar system. In hyperspace, that abundant energy source is no longer available, and they gravitate towards the only useable energy sources there -- ships and beacon stations. In small numbers they pose no great threat, though even a small group can drain enough power to noticeably degrade a ship's performance. On rare occasions though, a swarm of hundreds or even thousands can form and then they can consume enough of a ship's power to effectively shut it down. The dangers inherent in this event are obvious; without power the ship (or station) will have no life support, no communications, and no propulsion.

Appearance

These creatures look like scintillating protoplasmic starfish, or giant tentacled amoeba. As they feed on energy, lights of all colours ripple through their translucent bodies creating a beautiful display.

Powers & Tactics

The Energy Leech's tactics are simplicity itself; it moves directly towards the most abundant nearby power source and drains energy from it. It is capable of self-powered movement in zero-G, using a biological process very similar to that of the reactionless drive commonly used in most space craft. Their rate of acceleration is quite low compared with most spacecraft; they are capable of only 0.15G. Given time however they are capable of quite a respectable velocity (38,400,000 km/h in 75 days, 9 hours, 21 minutes and 12 seconds)

By the very nature of the leech, energy weapons are useless against them -- in fact, they positively enjoy being subjected to the tingling caresses of lasers or plasma weapons. Furthermore, the concentrated energy used in most weapon attacks can force them into a process of reproductive fission; as they absorb energy from the attack they appear to swell, and eventually split into two identical entities. They are, however, almost defenceless against physical attacks.

The leech is blind except for its energy detection sense, and stone deaf. They communicate amongst themselves in a limited fashion by radio waves; they can both send and perceive in the radio spectrum.

Personality & Motivation

Mindless animal motivations. The Energy Leech's only purpose is to find and absorb energy from the nearest and most abundant source.

Campaign Use

These creatures are not designed as a threat individually; one guy with a pair of brass knuckles could take them out one-on-one without any trouble whatever. To be a meaningful threat they should appear in a swarm.

Total Points: 177

Base Pts: 100, Disads: 55
Characteristics: -41, Abilities: 219
XP earned: 22, XP spent: 22, xp remaining: 0

Disadvantages

Cost Disadvantage

20 Physical Limitation: Instinctive intelligence (All the Time, Greatly Impairing)

10 Physical Limitation: Deaf and Blind (Infrequently, Greatly Impairing)

25 Psychological Limitation: Irresistably drawn towards most powerful energy source (Very Common, Total)

Total Disadvantages Cost: 55

Abilities

36 Energy Invulnerability: Desolidification (affected by Physical Attacks), Inherent (+¼), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½), Persistent (+½) (90 Active Points); Only To Protect Against Energy Attacks (-1), Cannot Pass Through Solid Objects (-½)

30 Energy Leech: Drain END 2d6 (standard effect: 6 points), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½) (30 Active Points)

46 Space Flight: Flight 20", x16 Noncombat, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½), Increased Cumulative Inches (x 100,000; +1) (137 Active Points); Only in Zero-G (-2)

13 Limpet Grip: Clinging (20 STR)

18 Space Dweller: Life Support (Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing)

39 Energy Sense: Detect Energy Sources 9- (Radio Group), Targeting, Inherent (+¼), MegaScale (1" = 1 million km; +1 ¾) (39 Active Points)

10 Leech Speech: Radio Perception/Transmission (Radio Group)

9 Reproduction: Duplication (creates 177-point form), Cannot Recombine (+0) (36 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2), Duplicates must be paid for individually (-1)

17 Forced Reproduction: Absorption 7d6 (standard effect: 21 points) (energy, to Duplication), Inherent (+¼), Persistent (+½) (61 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2), Always On (-½)