GM Tyranius Dead Suns AP (Starfinder) (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

I just bought Herolab. I'll export as soon as I can.

Back in the States for a couple of weeks so my posting may be a bit sporadic. Though I should still have no problem posting a couple of times a day, but fair warning.

@ GM - No problem! This game is actually moving at a great pace.

@ Dash- you actually have another Mystic roll to do. There's a gem at the top of the watchtower.

@ GM - I just wanted to write that while I posted that Zane was bored with the science stuff, the player (Me) loved and read all the technical 12 star religion entries. Very interesting how they used to believe in a traditional Goddess like desna and then speaking to an entity that is/isn't a god was really opening up the story. Keep up the good work. I try to read the posts 2 or 3 times to make certain I properly absorb the storyline.

@Abe- thank you for keeping good track of the treasure items. Really good work keeping the insanity of all those items straight.

@ GM- I really liked that combat! Nice spells that they have for Starfinder. You used them well, and I can easily see that the guy could have unloaded far more "whoop-ass" on us if the cultists were able to get in between him and us and hold us up for a few rounds.

He tore Zane a new one. Great combat and I especially like the fact that the temple had a huge explosion because we messed up and didn't disarm those things.
Hopefully no one is dead because of it.
Keep rocking GM!

@Dash- Don't forget you also get a Feat at level 5 as well.

@Vetch- After inputting your info in Herolab there are a few things.
1. You have 6 more languages you can know as each rank of culture also gets you a new language you know.
2. You have 1 more 1st level and 2nd level spell you can know.
3. You have 3 more skill points to spend due to you increasing intelligence.

Mobility feat selected.

That is the end of Book 2. Anyone interested in a chronicle. Level range 3-4

No chronicle for me.

@Vetch- After inputting your info in Herolab there are a few things.

1. You have 6 more languages you can know as each rank of culture also gets you a new language you know.
2. You have 1 more 1st level and 2nd level spell you can know.
3. You have 3 more skill points to spend due to you increasing intelligence.

Uh. Wow. Thanks for doing this. I would have never realized all the mistakes. :)

Languages, huh? 6, huh? Didn't know Vetch had such an ear for languages. Sure...

Aklo (Aucturn)
Castrovelian, also called Lashunta (Castrovel, lashuntas)
Eoxian (undead)
Kasatha
Shirren
Triaxian

And if any of those don't work, how about Elven or Sarcesian as a backup?

Spells? Meh.
1: Remove Condition, Lesser
2: See Invisibility

Skills? Sweet!
+2 Mysticism
+1 Sense Motive

Thank you!

Emailed your way Vetch so that the BB Code stays in tact. Let me know if any equipment is not on there that you picked up and I can get it added.

I am headed abroad (UK) starting tomorrow and will be gone for a week. Travel days not withstanding I should be able to post more or less as usual (though from a very different timezone). However if there is a lag in my posting, that's why.

Please bot me as needed.

@GM - I put Zane in the spoiler area, plus I think I placed his info in the profile section. Please advise if I need to update him elsewhere so you have access to his stats and info. I'm new(ish) to PBP and so there's stuff I don't know about.

As we just leveled up, our ship improves too while in dry-dock.

UPGRADE 5th level (20/20BP)
ICM Mk 2 trinode (+10BP, +5PCU)
Light Weapon Mount, turret (5BP)
Move flak to turret (0BP)
Light plasma torpedo launcher (speed 14, 3d8, limited fire 5)(5BP, 5PCU)

This gets our flak defense on the turret (it can also be used to attack if we're close enough) so we don't have to worry as much about torpedoes and facing. It also gives us a torpedo to launch back. Finally, it improves our computer a bit so we have more bonuses in combat to play with (3 of us get +2 to our rolls as needed).

Does this sound OK to everyone? If so, I'll apply it to the ship.

Does this sound OK to everyone? If so, I'll apply it to the ship.

+1. Top Gun Pilot Vetch is gearing to take that s+#& out for a spin.

+1 - Abe, I can't thank you enough for taking charge of this. Those are great upgrades and I can't wait to get Zane out into space. I sure hope there's enough roof clearance to fit his big fat head into those hallways and turrets.

@Abe- Have a great trip.

@Zane- Looks good!

..2144 CR
+..800 CR disbursement
-..300 CR Special Visa
-....5 CR Misc foods/bad sammich
----------
..2639 CR to spend

..2639 CR to spend

..2639 CR to spend

+.1000 CR University Gift
===========
..3639 CR to spend

..3639 CR to spend

Poking my head in to say hello :D

Welcome Draka!

@ GM - New System so I am trying to get used to it. Here's my questions: Can I use my contact with the Police Inspector to trade in the Lashunta Wingwear II for Vesk Overplate I and pay the 1000 credit difference. I mention trade, as I read that selling items only gets 10% value.
Option #2: I'd like to upgrade Bubba (My Azimuth Artillery Laser) and keep Bubba as a character prop while leveling. Do you (or the other PC's) see a way to "upgrade a heavy laser"?

option #3: If the above two just don't work in the mechanics, he'll just buy a Mk1 Synergizing symbiote-for Dex or Con.

Zane has 1845 credits left after buying:
Serum of healing MK2 - 425
Manacles - 350 credits
Sold swords at 10%.
Respiration Compounder- 250

BTW, I think I bought the same value items that ABE bought. Thanks ABE for seeing these things.

Shopping
Previous Balance: 739 cr
+Party Divvy: 1519 cr
+University bonus: 1000 cr
-Purchase: vocal modulator 125 cr
-Purchase: spell gem (1st - comprehend languages) 140
-Purchase: spell gem (2nd - make whole) 450 cr
-Purchase: spell gem (2nd - command undead) 450 cr
New Balance: 2218 cr

Some general rants:
Starfinder is chintzy.
200 weapons! But you can only afford 10 of them...
Selling items at 10% is cruel.
At what level do we actually start getting equipment worth a damn? It feels like we’re still running around with 1st level newbie gear.

Yea, I am seeing that as well. And it seems like once in awhile they will toss in a random weapon like the one that Vetch just got.

The 10% sell back is odd, but I get it. Though now they created a system where you have to hope for something to drop as well, while keeping several other weapons on hold as I have had several table now where everyone had laser based weapons (Fire) and fought solar elementals. Immune to fire. Went rough for them.

Not only that but now you are dependent on finding straight credsticks and have to choose on pumping up weapon or armor, which is insanely difficult to keep towards your current level it seems.

I think the writers started to notice this as well as skimming through this book it does toss out a few pieces of your level armor and weapons to upgrade.

For as much equipment as there is it sure feels roughly all the same, except that it is separated out by kinetic and elements. The damage increases by weapon level isn't significant until later levels outside of special out of the book weapons like Vetch has. Which the rifle version has a base damage die from 1d20 all the way to 5d20 damage.

I really think it would help if they at least had a bunch of named magical weapons and armor similar to Pathfinder that had some sort of special once a day ability attached to it. Something to strive for.

Those are just my thoughts though from the little bit I have seen. Let's see where on Book 3 puts us and we may adjust the sell back a bit more. But, I think Book 3 will put you a lot closer just by the bit I looked over.

@Zane- Some items you can upgrade, such as the MK 1 Synthesizing Symbiote Personal Upgrade you just bought, but when it comes to weapons and armor you would have to sell at the 10% and purchase new. The buyers on the new planets can prove whether the items have been stolen and are being hocked.

I don't think you will be disappointed either with Book 3 Zane as there are a lot of nice drops compared to the last 2 books.

Welcome Draka!! I look forward to gaming with you.

I actually kind of like the 10% sell-back. It means that, generally, we don't care as much about lesser item drops. Frankly we likely couldn't carry all the stuff we did in our last foray, and if it weren't for my anal record-keeping we'd only each be a hundred or so worse off for it.

That said, we're well ahead of Wealth by Level and it does feel as if we're scraping by. I've read a few things that talked about buying items in a sort of leap-frong manner. Generally waiting a few levels to upgrade to current gear, buying something, and waiting again.

So it becomes a strategic part of the game. Do I want armor or a new weapon? How do I make it all fit together? It's harder on the Mechanic as I have to maintain weapons for two, plus a backup weapon or two...

Still, it feels like we're doing OK overall, and I like the way ships upgrade without spending wealth. It also means we care about the items that drop, rather than in Pathfinder where everything is really measured against the sale-value rather than the intrinsic-value.

..3639 CR to spend

+.1519 CR latest distrib
-.1400 CR Ability crystal (Wisdom +2)
-------
..3758 CR to spend

In retrospect (and it pains me to write this), can anyone see a reason why Vetch would want a wisdom upgrade as opposed to a dex upgrade here?

It hurts because, in theory, you'd want your caster to be better at casting and have spells and abilities that matter and needed more wisdom...but Starfinder doesn't work that way. The spells are just meh and there are no abilities that rely on wisdom (just skills).

Seems like the right choice is to bump dexterity (especially if we are going into space combat) for all the obvious reasons.

Am I missing something? Any reason at all to care about high wisdom? Some skill increases but only Perception really matters. We probably won't have need of survival in space, and mysticism is mostly meh.

Yeah, I suspect dex is the place to be... but Abe would suggest you focus on technical implements, not those magical ones you're suggesting...

Wisdom is a waste of a stat. After 3rd level Starfinder is basically a dex game.

Welcome aboard Draka!! All insults and offenses are intentional and unavoidable, and made in the spirit of committed role-playing!

OOC apologies in advance.

On another note, one more purchase for Dash.
-1000 cr for jump jets installed in his android upgrade slot

!!!! @ Dash: I too like immersive role play and Portugal. The Man. ;D (Have you heard of Neon Trees? They are one of my top favs.) I'm excited to read the various insults and offenses. No worries - I'm separate from my characters.

I didn’t recognize the name Neon Trees, but a short search reveals that I’m aware of their music (Animal and Everybody Talks were pretty popular I think). I like their style. Lots of 80’s influence in their music videos, and one of their songs is actually called 1983, so I’m pretty much sold. Thanks for sharing!

Draka started with 4K.

It's really none of my business, but WBL should be 9,000cr at level 5. Further, though we've had to recycle some of our gear already, we are averaging about 19,000cr just now. Some of that is UPBs for the ship's repair, some in group health items, but still - we're pretty far ahead of Draka.

Hey all, definitely moving to dex implant instead of wisdom. Also, with the extra 2k from the Starfinders, might just go to +4 dex.

I should have a final shopping list this weekend (because there is a LOT in the book that I need to read up upon) but that shouldn't stop us from pushing forward.

Sorry for the delays.

I thought we weren't getting the extra 2k now. I thought that was when we get back? A carrot as it were for the job ahead.

@ GM - Just so you know, Zane really liked Book 2. He got all sorts of good stuff:

#1: He gained a "Cheers" like Lashunta neighborhood bar where everybody knows his name!
#2: He probably has 3 zero level henchmen/sycophants. He doesn't know their names, but we also didn't learn the interpretor's name and he survived 7-10 pages of postings.
#3:He got a huge 250 foot elven statue that he calls his own.
#4: and lastly, 3 years of being BMoC (Big Man on Campus) at the University.
Those are ALL drop items of value from Book 2(ABE even added the Uni scholarship to the treasure list)...... I am just STILL wondering when the Zane's Warden Elven Plague statue will show up as an entry. ABE, you are such a slacker.

It sounds like Draka has several inside jokes to catch up on

@Vetch- Putting into wisdom will really only just increase the Dc of your spells, skills and give bonus spells. Being at 18 you already have bonus spells through 4th level spell slots so really all you are doing is increasing your spell DC. so yea after all that Str, Dex or Con is probably the way to go with the upgrades.

@Abe- Correct the 2k credits is for after locating the Cultist base in the Diospara.

@Zane- Haha, that is quite true.

It's really none of my business, but WBL should be 9,000cr at level 5. Further, though we've had to recycle some of our gear already, we are averaging about 19,000cr just now. Some of that is UPBs for the ship's repair, some in group health items, but still - we're pretty far ahead of Draka.

That is true. You all were initially level 4 when started the spending and I didn't want to put Draka's gear too far ahead of your own, though after looking at the spending and what you truly have it may not have been enough.

@Draka- Go ahead and spend 5k more credits on gear and essentials.

I have searched all throughout the book for stealthing a ship. It doesn't appear to be any skill towards that. There is a page on the passive sensors constantly pinging out. Sensors function as a starship’s eyes and ears, allowing a crew to see what’s in the space around the ship, whether planetary bodies, other ships, a dangerous asteroid field, or some monstrosity from the depths of space. Sensors are a combination of video cameras, multispectrum scanners, radar arrays, signal interceptors, and optical telescopes. Not sure there is much way to hide from all of that.

Passive sensors detect visible or unhidden objects in a 360-degree field around the ship at a range of up to twice the sensors’ range category while in space or in the Drift (no skill check required), though local conditions may affect their range. To me this sounds as if they might add a way to go invisible later.

All of that being said I am willing to incorporate some house rules for stealth on a ship. Sort of like a submarine.

A ship must have its transponder turned off to attempt stealth (otherwise, the ship automatically broadcasts its identity, thus defeating the purpose). A ship must also have its shields down and not be using active sensors in order to attempt to hide.

The DC for using active scanning to detect a (hidden) passive scanning, transponderless ship is calculated using its Target Lock AC. A ship attempting to detect a hidden vessel using only passive scans is assumed to roll a 10 on this check. (So passive scanning to find hidden ship is 10 + Computer mod and active scan would require an actual roll.)

A ship rigged for "Silent running," that is with all nonessential systems powered down (as if the power core were disabled, and running on batteries), receives a +5 to its TL for the purpose of detection. (So turn everything off including the thrusters and basically just float in space)

Thoughts?

GM Tyranius, that certainly seems reasonable. I never liked the 'they're hiding on the other side of the planet' stuff. How would they know you were there, and how to match your trajectory if they didn't sense you? Being outside sensor range is the only way to truly hide.

+1 at GM. Great research and thought about the rule.

Sounds good to me! Can you repost these ship stealth home rules to the Campaign info page? Also, I think it might be interesting to consider some sort of cloaking technology for the future. Something simple that affects the stealth Target Lock DC for the purposes of stealth only.

Done and done Dash.

@Zane- Thanks. It helps when it is what I do for a living. Work with Commo, Radar, jam signals, and transponders.

Laughing! Perfect post ABE. He was trying to help, but wasn't really answering Zane's true internal question.... your answer actually confuses him even more! Laugh! Brilliant. I love roleplaying just for times like this.

Anyway, I used Dex Symbiot so his stats have changed in a lot of ways. Here's his new charactersheet.

@Zane: just a note regarding gunnery. You use your pilot rank plus dex only (not your adjusted skill bonus). Pretty much nothing else you can personally do to improve it, though the ship’s computer can halo and the Captain can “encourage” better accuracy.

So if you want to be a good ship gunner, max out your pilot skill.

@GM and Dash- Help me out here.
I read the following in the Herolab section.
"you can use either your ranks in Piloting or your base attack bonus to calculate the attack roll."
Being a Soldier, I'd certainly pick my BAB as that is +5. When I originally, read it I thought it was the Piloting skill (+10) but Dash brings up a good point that it's +3 (Ranks) and dex.
Or, is my gunnery attack (and defense) bonus actually BAB +5 + 4 for dex (=+9)?
Or, should I adjust my character to instead shift to 5 ranks of Piloting to keep this simple?