DM Nex's Dead Suns (Inactive)

Game Master NeoEvaX

Yeah I think it would include a new teammate. With Iridar's name missing from the card.

Going to assume P-1107's name is on it, but need to verify they want to join the game first.

Reporting in for duty! Glad to be here. I'll try and get my Profile updated with stats and information tomorrow.

Thanks for the selection, I'm super excited to join you all.

Is there anything mechanically I can do to better help out the party before I finalize everything? I'll also take some time to read through the past several pages of things just to get up to speed.

Welcome, DinosaursOnIce/P-1107. We were chatting earlier that a Mechanic was still a strong need, and I had suggested maybe one with a drone rather than a cortex so it could give us some interesting additional roleplay potential with a robot as part of the crew. Also, someone with a strong Engineering skillset is a must-have. We've kind of got everything else covered with the current group, but it's always useful to have some cross-training to fill in as a backup for certain roles, as well.

Just so you know, Dee is our outlaw android technomancer, so she's magic and hacking skills all rolled into one. I'm not sure if it's better to have another android in the group or if a different species might widen our cultural diversity. Either way is probably fine. Just be aware that there's another android in the group to interact with if you stick with P-1107. Meanwhile, Sybil is our halfling star shaman mystic, so she's our healer and potential pilot (though you may want to back her up as a co-pilot). Zam is our telepathic lashunta envoy, so we've kind of pseudo-appointed her as our captain and all-around diplomat. And I'm playing Tylur, a human spacefaring soldier with the Starfinder forerunner archetype, so I'm covering all of our major combat and survival skills with a little bit of geological/environmental science knowledge. From a combat perspective, I've focused Tylur on the hit-and-run fighting technique, so he's more of a pistol-in-one-hand, melee-weapon-in-the-other kind of fighter. As a result, he tends to get up-close and personal as quickly as he can. The rest of the team has handled more of the long-range firefight positions.

Hope that gives you the basic rundown.

Welcome aboard!

It sounds like we're about ready to cash in on unclaimed items?

I looked back across the Loot list and the unclaimed items. I had asked for the assault hammer for Tylur as a hand-to-hand weapon he can use in melee (in addition to the auto-rifle). Also, I think we need to hold onto the 2 serums of healing and the azimuth artillery laser (w/ 2 batteries). The UPBs could also be useful as either extra currency off-world or as a stop-gap, on-the-spot item we can use to craft whatever tool we might need in the field. No need to sell them just yet.

Outside of that, I think we cash in the troop ceremonial armor (unless someone wants it) and the estex suit (likewise). I think we already turned over the datapad to station security when we gave them Ferani (i.e., it had the evidence on it to prove her guilt in Duravor's death). So, at 10% cash-in value, we can get 41 credits for the estex suit and another 11 for the armor. Add that to the 1900 credits on the assorted cred sticks plus the extra 317 loose credits from the bar at the Fusion Queen, and that'll give us 2269 to divvy up among us. Are we splitting it 4 ways?

Reporting in for duty!

Greetings! Using what you learned from Neil/Tylur, you are welcome to tweak your character. You can also leave it how it is. Up to you.

In terms of story, I am not sure what you have been up to right before you jump in, but for some reason Gevalarsk Nor sent you an invite as well. You unlikely know the other names on the card, but you can meet up with the rest of the group at the Embassy. Feel free to write up your own "receiving" of the card/invite.

If you have ANY questions, feel free to message here, or DM me directly if you want to keep it secret.

In terms of items, the group has not gotten anything too special you would be missing out on. You will have options in the future to get more soon.

Thanks for joining us!

Hey Yon! Welcome aboard. Looking forward to interacting with you in game!

Greetings! My designation is DeeV8, but my friends call me Dee. I am the Android that Tylur has indicated in great detail. The Technomancer of the team, I use tech magic to manipulate the battlefield when needed.

Dee is basically the typical android learning how to have social interaction and the correct emotion.

Add that to the 1900 credits on the assorted cred sticks plus the extra 317 loose credits from the bar at the Fusion Queen, and that'll give us 2269 to divvy up among us. Are we splitting it 4 ways?

Where's the 317 loose credits coming from? I remember Tylur talking about the bar register, but I've missed the post with the amount.

So I think that's everything, then. At this point, some games would split the proceeds evenly, others would maintain a group pool of funds. I'm actually okay with the latter in this game. I know that Tylur, for instance, is very gear dependent, and equipment isn't cheap. What do you guys think?

Where's the 317 loose credits coming from? I remember Tylur talking about the bar register, but I've missed the post with the amount.

Should be here.

So I think that's everything, then. At this point, some games would split the proceeds evenly, others would maintain a group pool of funds. I'm actually okay with the latter in this game. I know that Tylur, for instance, is very gear dependent, and equipment isn't cheap. What do you guys think?

I'll cope either way. If we pool our funds, I imagine it'll make it easier to kit out one another when we've got a specific need that arises in the adventure, but I don't want Tylur's gear-heavy use to hold back anyone else's advancement.

Alright then. I think I have all of the mechanics worked out. Since it was mentioned Sybil being a Pilot, I decided to focus less on that and have switched my Theme to Mercenary, which fits in pretty well with the original backstory. I could serve as a variety of other roles for a ship anyways, I have all of the standard Tech skills. DeeV8, will you be terribly offended if I join in on the Robo fun? I don't want to encroach too much. If you don't mind, then I shall stay as I am. Trying not to step too hard here.

I will also change my SKill Focus to Athletics, that'll help cancel my Armor Check Penalty for the time being. Which brings me back to the AI for mechanics. I thought about it a lot today, I think I'm still going to run with the Exo. Partially because it's simply more interesting to me, character-wise the drone doesn't really do a whole lot, I really enjoy the whole cybernetic upgrade theme. Plus, I've done companions on PbP before and it often seems like it can add an additional layer to everything with you do (not that that is inherently a bad thing, by any means), and for now I was hoping for a little more simplicity.

Things sound fine on the money, I just spent the standard 1000. I used Verces as an effective homeworld. I'll stick with Overcharge and Spellbane as my Mechanic Trick and Feat, respectively. I tossed a few skills around.

I was work to expand my backstory a bit right before Joining the Starfinder Society, I'm not super happy with it at the moment and the Mercenary Theme might offer up some new ideas. Though that will be a secondary concern to getting into gameplay, something I will think on later with perhaps some Roleplay to inspire me.

I've read through the discussion. I was assuming that Yon would likely have been a recent member of the Starfinders as well? Perhaps he just recently got to the station within a day or so.

I've only read the past couple pages of Gameplay thread so the early details aren't clear to me yet in terms of the sort of hooks that might have been thrown.

All that sounds good to me. I am sure its ok for everyone else too.

In terms of joining up, lets just say you came to the attention of the Eoxian people too. You likely where doing something else for the Starfinders, at the same time as our group was solving a murder of another Starfinder. Something involving the Acreon and the Drift Rock as well.

That all sound good to me, I didn't see your post till now or I might have incorporated it more.

I forgot to say hit thanks for all the ideas and info.

Okay guys I moved everything that Zam claimed over to her individual tab in the loot sheet. Now's the time to note for yourselves what you've claimed, either in your tabs, on your profile pages, or wherever you're keeping track of your stuff. Soon I'll wipe the sheet clean as we set out for the next phase of adventuring.

Our pooled fund is at 2,269 credits. Feel free to propose how to spend it.

Tylur, I wouldn't worry too much about using the group funds to buy upgrades. I think we ALL want to see our soldier tricked out in the best we can afford. After all, it's usually you standing between the rest of us and the enemy!

I've updated my profile (and the Loot sheet) with the gear Tylur is specifically adding to his kit. However, I left the UPBs and the azimuth artillery laser as "Group" items for the time being. We'll probably only carry out the artillery laser for planned assaults on hardened targets sometime later in the adventure (and hopefully after one of us gains proficiency with Heavy Weapons).

The only future purchase I have in mind is some better armor. The graphite carbon skin armor could raise my KAC by 2 and EAC by 1 while also providing an upgrade slot with no additional hit to Dex bonus, speed, or bulk. It costs 1220 credits, but I could reduce that by 45 credits if I sold my kasatha microcord armor (realistically speaking, however, I think I should pass that down to one of you to improve your ACs instead). If I bought the graphite carbon skin, I'd like to add infrared sensors as an upgrade (for 200 credits) so Tylur can still fight in the dark.

Thoughts?

Hey Neil/Tylur. You mentioned no one has Heavy Weapon Proficiency, but as far as I can tell Soldiers start with it.

Proficiencies: Armor-light and heavy; Weapons-basic and advanced melee weapons, small arms, longarms, heavy weapons, sniper weapons, and grenades

So you should be able to use the heavy weapon. Or am I missing something, I don't think your archetype takes away proficiency.

Pity the ambassador is such a tight wad! On the bright side, I Just got my pdf copy of Pact Worlds! Looking forward to learning more about the station and my home planet.

Yeah I got mine too, I have been going through it slowly (only so much time to sit and read with 7 month old). Loving the new options too.

So.... question for you all... Starship combat..

I am not sure how it will work on in PbP format. I am a bit worried it will be very boring to some and rely on others for all the info. It might just boil down to rolls over and over, with very little other input. At the table it is pretty fun, because we can all talk about things as they happen.

Starship combat can last awhile too. In my experience (which is limited and with younger players), a single combat can last all session. And not even a particularly complicated one.

So what are your thoughts? How many of you want to really give it a shot? And how many want to just roll play through it a bit?

I have been worried about it for awhile, but (spoilers) there is a likely combat coming up, and decisions need to be made.

I haven't taken a lot of time to read the rules on that yet. Just enough to look at how skills played into it. My vote would be to see how it goes once and then go from there.

But I'm not by any means stuck on having it and am okay just Roleplaying our way through it if that is what everyone else wants.

I participated in one in Pbp (SFS). I was a gunner. Maybe because I was so new to the rules, but it was pretty dry. I'm willing to give it a go here, though, if everyone is game. You could always handwave the final rounds if it looks like the fight is clearly going one way.

Hey Neil/Tylur. You mentioned no one has Heavy Weapon Proficiency, but as far as I can tell Soldiers start with it.

I'll be darned. You're right. Not sure how I missed that. I've got it on my character sheet and everything. And, originally, I thought it was odd that soldiers didn't get it, and now it's clear that they do. So, party on...Tylur might wind up using that artillery laser at some point after all.

So.... question for you all... Starship combat... How many of you want to really give it a shot?

Part of the reason I sought out a PbP game here on the Paizo messageboards was to play through some of the new rules for Starfinder. So, if possible, I'd like to see how a starship combat runs...even if it's a little different via PbP than at the table.

Sounds good. We will give it a go. Just be patient with me as we go through it :)

Hopefully it works out great.

I've listened to some podcasts that had some combat in it. You have Phases, and when you roll initiative, lowest roll goes first. I believe that's all in the pilot's hands. That's about it for me...

Just want to verify.. Everyone has posted, has everyone signed the document? Or is Zam still holding out signing?

I believe we've all signed the Devil's contract...er, I mean...Nor's contract. :)

So I am assuming that I have the jump jets now or do you want me to roleplay that out?

Apologies for being a bit short, lots of rain recently had lead to a basement flood that I am trying to deal with!

So sorry for the lack of posts. I went on a mini (surprise) vacation and I am home and ready to really start up again!

Expect a good response tomorrow morning!

Hope you had fun!

To all of my games: I've come down with something that might or might not be serious. I don't know yet, but I might even need surgery. I'll try to keep you all updated as I learn more. Please forgive any unannounced absences from the game in the coming days.

Sorry to hear that! I hope everything goes ok!

I hope only the best for you. And if you disapear for awhile, I will bot you. Give you a bit more leyway if you have to go away for awhile.

Take care! And I hope it gets better.

Working on my response!

Apologies for the delay... I meant to reply today but totally forgot. I will do it first thing in the morning.

I want to thank everyone for your very thought out detailed responses. It is extremely pleasant to read. I am happy to GM this group!

My style is very short, but I am trying to use this opportunity (when time is available) to flesh out my posts a bit more. I just wanted to thank you all for dealing with my more clipped responses. All of your writing shocks me (in a good way) every time.

You all are writing the story more than I ever could.

Thank you! And Hopefully I am not disappointing. I was never an English Major. My Computer Science background tends to prefer bullet points vs long form prose.

I'm kind of shocked to hear that you don't like to write. For a style of play so dependent on the written word, your presentation of the material has been really, really good. One of the best play-by-post GM's I've ever played with. So, good on you!

I'm kind of shocked to hear that you don't like to write. For a style of play so dependent on the written word, your presentation of the material has been really, really good. One of the best play-by-post GM's I've ever played with. So, good on you!

It's not that I don't like writing. I have always just not been amazing at it. I think of myself as one of those people who can world build, and has story ideas, but always unable to get it down in a cohesive format.

I was always in remedial English but honors math. Computer Science Degree who avoided any and all writing :).

This is such a great outlet to help me flex those muscles.

No thank you for providing us with a great outlet. I've enjoyed everything from everyone ;) I've been using some different styles for Dee trying to mesh them together into her own thing. Next Gen, DS9 and The Orville have all been huge inspirations for my little elf-droid ;)

Zamasea De wrote:

I'm kind of shocked to hear that you don't like to write. For a style of play so dependent on the written word, your presentation of the material has been really, really good. One of the best play-by-post GM's I've ever played with. So, good on you!

It's not that I don't like writing. I have always just not been amazing at it. I think of myself as one of those people who can world build, and has story ideas, but always unable to get it down in a cohesive format.

I was always in remedial English but honors math. Computer Science Degree who avoided any and all writing :).

This is such a great outlet to help me flex those muscles.

No disagreements on the quality of the content that I've experienced here either.

But I wanted to add that I am in a similar boat with you Nex. I like writing but I am slow at it, and it's certainly not something that comes easily to me. Outside of a desire to play in more games, forcing myself to write on a daily basis is part of the reason I decided to start participating in the PbP format.

How ironic. I have a degree in Computer Science, as well...but, also a minor in English. I took every creative writing class they offered in college. So, I've always kind of straddled both worlds. And, I'm living proof that it's possible! :)

As for the game, you're doing fine. Full speed ahead, Captain!

Thank you all for the confidence. I am enjoying this game more than many other I have played and DMed.

I played through this AP with my cousins and family. They are 11 and 13. They play VERY different. SO thank you for this experience! I feel so much more comfortable explaining Tech than Fantasy sometimes.

Neil, do you use the CS degree still?

Neil, do you use the CS degree still?

Kind of. Not in terms of programming languages anymore. That has long passed me by. But I still work in IT. I've done stints in QA/Testing, Helpdesk Supervisor, IT Vendor Management, etc.

Anyone heard from Nex? It's been several days since the last update in the game.

Beep bloop boop.

No, I hope everything is okay and he's just been busy.

So sorry everyone! Last Thursday was my birthday and I ended up taking Wednesday-Sunday off from work. I was just kept so busy I didn't even really look at my computer for more than 20 minutes that whole time.

I normally post while at work, so I will be posting a bit later when I get settled. Going to attempt to ride my bike there today. Hopefully that goes well.

I didn't abandon you, just a weird few days! But now I am 33 years old, so I am sure everything will be better. :-)

A small side note. The Glass Cannon Podcast is going to start releasing another podcast of them actually playing through Dead Suns. I love those guys, and they are one of the best produced podcasts out there, and I would say the best for Pathfinder.

They will likely catch up with us pretty fast. Not sure if any of you are listeners of their main podcast (Giantslayer and they are in book 4), but I would request you avoid the new one for risk of spoilers.

Can't control you at all, but I thought I would throw it out there.

Again, sorry for the delay last week!

What is impressive is that I had just started a new episode of their Giant SlayerCampaign on my phone before I came on here to check the boards and see your post. I just started listening to them a few weeks ago. I promise to stay spoiler free. ^_^

What other podcasts (liveplay or discussion) do people listen to?

I tried the Glass Cannon a while back but made the mistake of trying to start Midway through and stopped. But I listened to the the 2nd edition previews they've aired and decided I'd give them another chance from the beginning.

Anyways, I've also listened to Drunks and Dragons along with the Adventure Zone. Both of which I've enjoyed (I made it about 40-50 episodes with each before needing a break).

Yeah you really need to start at the beginning, luckily their production quality is pretty good from the start. With an AP you kinda want to start from the beginning. Worth listening to.

I am one of their Patreons so I also get their Ruins of Azlant Podcast, but they are only so far in that one.

I tried to listen to Adventure Zone, but for some reason I just could not keep going. They are pretty funny, but I am not sure their style is what i like.

My wife and I watch Critical Role every week. Bonding time. Our 8 month old totally knows Matt Mercer's voice now :)

I am trying to listen to Know Direction's new Actual Play of War for the Crown. Though it is one of those where they all skype into each other and the quality is lacking a bit.

Didn't realize how snobbish I am with production quality :)

I started listening to GCP when they released their Pathfinder 2 preview, and I've switched over to the Giantslayer podcast (they're toward the end of Book 1). I do enjoy them, but I'll definitely avoid the Dead Suns podcast. I hate spoilers.

Also, ultra busy day today, please bot me as needed, thank you!

Sorry for the delay today. Today got super busy very fast, have only just gotten a second in front of the computer. Been dwelling on Starship combat stuff.

Should get really started again tomorrow morning.

Thank you for your patience. Wednesdays are my day off, and in my ideal life I would spend a lot of that chilling on a computer for fun, but today turned into hand mowing my whole yard which had grown over a foot long. Followed by building a shed, then driving all around town!

Anyway, get ready everyone for some starship combat :)