Hive Scum
Some campaign formats include Hive Scum.
Hive Scum are hivers who will fight for anyone who offers them coin, but are too independent to join up for the long haul. They hire out their services as they feel like it. Unreliable dregs, loners, losers, outcasts, or worse, Hive Scum can nevertheless be useful to bolster the ranks of a gang, particularly if a large battle is anticipated.
Most gangs may hire up to five Hive Scum at a time to fight in a single battle. Hive Scum each cost D6 x 5 credits to hire and will fight for one battle, but increase Gang Rating by 100 points each for that battle. Hive Scum are not added to a gang's roster as they are not "in" the gang, and are not affected by the standard Gang Composition restriction regarding total number of Gangers vs total number of non-Gangers.
Hive Scum come with some free equipment, never get any better, and don't suffer from Lasting Injury. If they go Out of Action a D6 is rolled; they die on a roll of a 6 and are otherwise unharmed. The leave after the battle they were hired for, even if they end up not participating in the battle. They are not to be depended upon.
Hive Scum Fighter Profile
Hive Scum
Cost & Rating: 0
Crew Rating Increase: This Hive Scum increases the Crew Rating of the gang they are fighting for by 100 points, rather than by their hiring cost in credits.
Unadvanceable: This Hive Scum cannot gain XP and cannot gain Advancements. Any XP they would gain is lost.
No Lasting Injury: This Hive Scum does not suffer Lasting Injury. If they are put Out of Action by injury, roll a D6; on the roll of a 6 they are dead otherwise they are removed from play and take no further part in the battle. If they die and were put Out of Action by an attack, the attacker gains 1 XP immediately.
Equipment: This Hive Scum may be equipped from the Trading Post with Common items and up to 1 Rare item of Rarity 9 or less, with a total cost of 50 credits or less. They may be armed with up to three weapons. Only one weapon may have the Unwieldy Weapon Trait, and this counts as two weapons choices. Any Limited or one-use equipment a Hive Scum has resets and is available for each battle.