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THE WASTE DIGGER
YOUR BEST FRIEND IN THE NEW WORLD
Introduction
All manner of wildlife prowl the wastelands, most of it hostile, poisonous or both. A few
creatures can be trained to be useful however and have found their value in the rebuilding
societies of the post-collapse world.
A particular type that has become valuable to those of a martial bent is the Waste Digger: A
number of related animals possibly developed from canines, badgers or similar species. These
creatures are tough and aggressive, but tend to take to training relatively well which makes
them useful for field operations.
The creatures are relatively easy to find, though they have to be acquired at a very young age
to be sufficiently trainable. An adult Waste Digger will tend to be too headstrong to be much
use, though exceptions do occur.
While omnivorous and able to subsist on almost anything organic, they often hunt various rats
and other vermin, making even wild Waste Diggers a welcome addition near a settlement.
Some breeds have some degree of fur, with colors ranging from a sandy brown to mustardy
yellow. Spots or streaks of coloration are common as well. Others have leathery hides or scale
coats in almost any imaginable color.
Guilty parties
All design by Ivan Sorensen.
You can send feedback, suggestions, questions and corrections to
nordicweaselgames@icloud.com
Please consider supporting this and future content on https://www.patreon.com/nordicweasel
How to find a Waste Digger
To locate a suitable Waste Digger is a two-step process:
First, you must locate a pack or colony, then you must lure a specific Digger so you can
capture it.
You can attempt to locate a group every campaign turn.
Roll 2D6, adding +1 if settlement
Security is 3 or higher. You can expend one Trade Point
(only) to gain a +1 bonus. Pay before rolling.
A modified roll of 8+ finds a pack. A modified roll of 11+ finds a colony.
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If you find a pack, you may continue looking in future turns to try and find a colony. Ignore any
roll below an 11+.
Once located, the pack or colony remains known to you for the rest of the campaign.
To actually find a suitable critter, select a member of your squad and make a
Survival Skill
check (5+). Add +1 to the roll if you have found a colony.
One attempt can be made every campaign turn, but you may try the same turn you discover
the pack.
On an unmodified 1, the character got chewed up for their trouble and becomes
Worn.
On a success (modified 5+), you have acquired a Waste Digger and can add it to your
character list.
Waste Digger profile
Size 1
Bounding run -
When making a
Dash move, increase the move by +1”.
When taking a
Dash move, any enemy shots later the same turn do not
add
Combat Skill to the attack roll.
Keen senses -
If a Digger is present in the squad, any character making a
Survival
Skill check may add +1 to the roll. On the battle field, the animal must be
within 6” of the character to grant the bonus.
Claws and fangs -
As a
Damage 0, Penetration 1 Melee weapon.
On the battle field
During battles, the Waste Digger moves and acts just like any other character, including
Initiative rolls.
Needless to say they cannot use any weapons or items though a character within 1” could use
an item on the Digger.
They cannot generally take the
Interact or Use Equipment Non Combat Actions. They may
Rally and Scan normally.
If they are injured, they roll for recovery just like any other character.
Creature
Initiative
Speed
Combat
Toughness
Armor
Nerve
Waste
Digger
3
6”
0
3
0
2
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In the campaign
Waste Diggers cannot generally attempt a task that requires the
Speech, Repair or Medical
Skills. Use common sense here. If a Skill test is required for some reason roll with a +0
modifier.
They count as a squad member for the purpose of the 8 character limit when exploring.
They can benefit from the Train the squad and Visit the doc
Settlement actions normally.
Waste Diggers tend to be territorial and a squad can have no more than two on their roster.
Only one can be brought into a battle.
Leveling up
Waste Diggers receive
XP normally but cannot be selected as the MVP.
They cannot level up
Skills other than Survival.
Waste Digger miniatures
Finding a suitable miniature for your squads new best friend can be a fun exercise. A wide
range of animal figures can be used as a base, with dogs and wolves typically being the
easiest to find. You may want to modify the figure a bit to make it look a bit more distinctive,
though an imaginative paint job can go a long way as well. A visit to the local toy store will
often reward you with cheap bags of plastic lizards which make fantastic repainting and
conversion fodder.
You may also wish to look at animal figures for larger scales as well as assorted toy ranges,
which can be repurposed to look suitably bizarre on the tabletop.
If you are painting up several, don’t be afraid to paint them in completely different color
patterns. They are likely to be mutants after all.
Change log
1.00 Release version.