The Orkosystem (2) - Spotta Squigs

Here at last, thanks largely to C'nor's reminders, is the second entry in the Orkosystem series, the Spotta Squig. The first, the Snotling Sabbatur, can be found at Roll With It.

The Orkosystem is a very occasional series of unofficial homebrew upgrades for the Orks in Warhammer 40,000. It focuses on the smaller elements in the Ork ecosystem, the snotlings, squigs and fungi, imagining possible new kinds for gaming or modelling. It also hopes to encourage Ork players to experiment with units they might not ordinarily. 


Spotta Squigs

The smaller Orkanisms come in all shapes and sizes, and new varieties appear over time as the needs of a given society change. One of the later developing is the Spotta Squig, which seems to arrive when Ork ranged weapons reach a given complexity.

The Spotta is most notable for its broad leathery wings, which allow it to glide on the thermals high above the the encampments and shanty towns, feeding on the smaller flying creatures which in turn living on the clouds of drifting spores. Sadly, the Spotta does not long enjoy this serene existence before the green bipeds below turn heads upward to ponder its flitting silhouette. It is soon lured down to be netted and clubbed.

For the Spotta is named for its ability to carry a Snotling or tellykam high up above a battlefield, to seek out the enemy and relay the location back. While these smaller greenskins are less than fond of their bestial kin, especially the ones with big teeth, and get queasy at heights, they do want to be useful. The Spottas, for their part, are none too fond of being ridden, or bioniks. But an agreement is eventually hammered out.

This fusion of know-whats is very much in demand, and can be nabbed for the Big Gunz of the Warboss, snapped up by the Flash Gitz, or kept back by the Meks and remote controlled by Grots. It is a valuable addition to a nascent Waaagh! and a great help in the Ork conquest of the cosmos. It would help more if not for that lingering resentment...


Spotta Squig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 points

Any number of units of Big Gunz or Flash Gitz may include one Spotta Squig, as may any unit accompanied by one or more Meks. The Spotta will ideally be represented by a converted model, to function as a marker, but a suitable counter will also work fine.

'Igh in the Sky: In the Ork player's shooting phase each Spotta Squig may be used to pick out one enemy unit anywhere on the table; for each such unit, roll a D6.

On a roll of 1-3, things run more or less like clockwork. The unit picked out has any cover save reduced for the rest of the phase, by two points when being shot at by the Spotta's own unit, and by one point when being shot at by other Ork units.

On a roll of 4-5, there is some confusion. The Spotta unexpectedly circles back to its own unit, generating a panicked ruckus and attracting a great deal of attention. This unit has any cover save reduced by one point in the opponent's next shooting phase.

On a roll of 6, something goes wrong. Perhaps the Spotta is itself spotted and shot down, or the elektroniks go haywire, or the pilot is thrown off as the creature makes a break for freedom. At any rate, the Spotta is lost and may not be used again.

 

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As ever, the points value is the thing, as it's always tricky set a reasonable level with so many factors to consider. I was initially thinking 10 points, but I've gone with 15 just to be on the safe side. If you have any thoughts on that, I'd be happy to hear them.

If you want to homebrew something yourself, you could try Rules Manufactorum's hints series, Lantz's Adeptus Mechanicus Fan Codex or Big Jim's Codex Soul Reapers for ideas on how to go about it, and The Codex Project for support in balancing it.

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