SW5E - NPC Starship combat & stunts

NPC ships do not follow the same rules as Player ships do, the overwhelming turns a DM has to deal with on larger ships or when running a squad or fleet just isn't viable. Thus, this is my attempt to make streamlined “action oriented” NPC ships, on NPC ships turn they get a Move Action, an Attack Action (Where they fire all available weapons up to their ships Weapon Attack Limit), and a certain amount of Maneuver Actions each Ship turn.

The number of Maneuvers a Ship knows and can take on their turn is based on its size category, to simulate the larger crew aboard the ship without (hopefully) overwhelming the DM.

• (O) Offensive
• (D) Defensive

Buzz Droid Cloud (O)

Use 1/tier

You Eject a canister that releases in a 200-foot radius sphere centered on a point within 2500 feet. The canister releases Buzz Droids that tear apart the hull of any ship that encounters them. When a ship moves into or within the area, it takes 2d4 Kinetic damage directly to the hull for every 50 feet it travels. *The effect lasts an equal number of turns as your Tier.

Carbonite Shot (O)

Use 1/tier

You fire a Cryogenic missile to a point within 1800 feet. Each ship in a 50-foot radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed throw, the ship takes 3d6 Cold damage, and gains 1 level of Slowed until the start of your next turn, on a success they take half damage and are not slowed.

Carbonite Launcher (O)

Use 1/tier

You launch a ball of Cryogenic energy that encompasses space in a 300-foot radius sphere centered on a point within 2000 feet. Each ship in the sphere makes a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed throw, the ship takes 2d8 Kinetic and 4d6 Cold damage, on a success they take half damage instead. The area is difficult terrain until the end of your next turn.

EMP Pulse (O)

Use 1/tier

You can activate an EMP device, all ships within 300 feet must make a Constitution Saving throw. On a failed save, a ship is Stunned for 1 minute. As an action a crew member can reroll the save each turn. Your ship has Advantage on these saves.

Electrical Dischargers (O)

Use 1/tier

You cause your ship to emit a burst of electricity. Each ship within 450 feet, other than your own, must make a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed throw, the ship takes 2d6 Lightning damage and is Shocked until the start of your next turn, on a success the ship takes half damage and is not shocked.

Interdiction Drive (O)

Use 1/tier

You engage an Interdiction drive and all ships within 600 feet must make a Strength Saving throw. On a failed throw, the ships gain 1 level of Slow and are unable to engage their Hyperdrive. The ships have Advantage on the save if they are two or more sizes larger than yours or Disadvantage if they are two or more sizes smaller than yours. *Lasts an equal number of turns to your Tier.

Junk Disposal (O)

Use 1/tier

You jettison a clump of refuse or junk that expands to fill a 100-foot radius sphere centered on a point within 300 feet, each ship within the sphere must make a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed throw, the ship takes 2d6 Kinetic damage and is Shocked until the end of its next turn. The area filled with Junk is difficult terrain. *This does an additional 1d6 damage for each Tier above 1st your ship is.

Shield Disruptor (O)

Use 1/tier

You activate a shield disruptor and choose a ship you can see within 2000 feet. You make an Interfere (Cha) Check against the opponents Regulate (Con) Check. On a failed save, the ship’s shield regeneration rate is reduced by half for 1 minute. Additionally, they take damage to their shields equal to two of their shield dice. As an action a crew member can reroll the save each turn. The ships have Advantage on the save if they are larger than yours or Disadvantage if they are smaller.

Ship Slicer (O)

Use 1/tier

You may choose a ship smaller than yours that you can see within 2400 feet. The target must make an Intelligence Saving throw. On a failed save, it is disabled until the start of your next turn. Each time the ship takes damage or is the target of a hostile power or ability while disabled in this way, it can repeat this saving throw, ending the effect on a success.

Ship Sabotage (O)

Use 1/tier

You hack into the opponent’s ship and can dictate a one-word command they must follow, to a ship you can see within 1200 feet. The target must succeed on an Intelligence Saving throw or follow the command on its next turn. If the ship is directly piloted by a humanoid that is not incapacitated, it gains a bonus to the saving throw equal to that crewmember’s Intelligence modifier.

• Approach. The target moves toward you by the shortest and most direct route, ending its turn if it moves within 5 feet of you.
• Deactivate. The target becomes disabled and then ends its turn.
• Flee. The target spends its turn moving away from you by the fastest available means.
• Halt. The target doesn’t move and takes no action.

Tibanna Gas Projector (O)

Use 1/tier

You can dump a load of Tibanna gas in a 100-foot cube within 1800 feet. For up to a number of rounds equal to your ship’s tier, it is difficult terrain and lightly obscures the area. When the gas appears, each ship in its area must succeed on a Dexterity Saving throw or become ionized. A ship that enters the area or ends its turn there must also succeed on a Dexterity Saving throw. The gas is flammable. Any 50-foot cube of the gas exposed to fire or energy weapons burns away in one round. Each ship that enters the fire or starts its turn there must make a Dexterity Saving throw, taking 3d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.

Tibanna Gas Wall Projector (O)

Use 1/tier

You can create a wall of fire within 2400 feet. You can make the wall up to 300 feet on a side and 50 feet thick, or a spherical shell up to 150 feet in diameter, and 50 feet thick. The wall is opaque and lasts for up to a number of rounds equal to your ship’s tier. Each ship that enters the fire or starts its turn there must make a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed save, a ship takes 5d8 fire damage, or half as much damage on a successful save. The fire ignites any flammable objects in the area. This feature lasts until the beginning of your next turn unless you use a bonus action to maintain it.

Tibanna Firestorm Projector (O)

Use 1/tier

You can launch Tibanna firestorm canisters, creating a firestorm in a location they choose within 3000 feet. The area of the storm consists of up to ten 100-foot cubes, which you can arrange as you wish. Each cube must have at least one face adjacent to the face of another cube. Each ship in the area must make a Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed save it takes 7d10 fire damage, or half as much damage on a successful one. A ship in the area of more than one cube is affected only once. The fire ignites any flammable objects in the area.

Defensive stunts

Patch it Up (D)

Use 1/tier

You make a Patch (Con) Check DC 15, if you succeed you roll 2 hull dice and add the ships Constitution modifier to your ships current hull total.

Electronic Baffle (D)

Use 1/tier

Use a Reaction when your ship becomes Ionized, Shocked, or Stunned. You roll 1 hull die and suffer that much damage to your hull and are able to ignore the condition.

Emergency Generator (D)

Use 1/refit

The first time your shields would be reduced to 0 the Generator kicks in and instead the shields drop to 1.