TROUBLE IN AKITON (Inactive)

Game Master Vrog Skyreaver

I'm sure you know this, but it takes 3 rounds to make yourself fully attuned to either mode.

"When you're ready then," Deneth replies. He calls up the timer from the list and Hastes the crew once more.

"Until then that cruiser there is getting annoying. Be so good as to shoot its pilot, would you Rax?"

Right....Well, I'll keep charaging, and the wormholes might come in handy.

I missed the passenger count in the above breakdown of the vehicles, so I need to revise it:

The Lead car has Haarlock, a Human Pilot, and a Vesk in it. The trail car has a human pilot, a Vesk, and a human with a longarm.

"Do you want to deal with the second car now? I can probably break free and go after the lead car if you want."

Loram feels Deneth's magic take hold, and the kasathas fires his rifle at the vesk!

Tactical Reaction Cannon Attack DRR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 vs KAC
Tactical Reaction Cannon Damage DRR: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (6, 1) + 10 = 17 piercing
Above modifiers include the -3 for attacking from the moving ship

This round will use Opening Volley to maybe gain a bonus to next round's melee attack against the vesk (I'll be using that Adaptive Fighting feat to use Lunge and get the reach needed to attack the vesk with a melee attack (and maybe Cleave into the human with the longarm as well). If I'm reading the rules right, my penalty is -3 no matter what speed we are going, since vehicle to vehicle combat somewhat nullifies the penalties as both craft are traveling at roughly the same speed? Also, I didn't realize how Haste kinda stinks in Starfinder!
No extra attack, no bonus to AC or attack rolls? Really? :(

"Affirmative... and with pleasure," says Rax, his exocortex faintly whirrring as it fires up his combat analysis on both pilots. He opens fire at the pilot of the engaging vehicle.

Attack, Combat Rifle: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 3 = 17
Damage: 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 8, 4) + 10 = 26

Again, you can only make melee attacks into vehicles you are engaged with, but you don't need lunge to do so. Which Vesk are you shooting at Loram? the one in the lead vehicle or the one in the trail vehicle?

If it comes to boarding another vehicle I think haste will still be useful here.

"If you can get us free of this harrassing cruiser and free to pursue our true quarry, that would be most appreciated Xera."

No extra attack, no bonus to AC or attack rolls? Really? :([/ooc]

In Starfinder, almost nothing grants bonuses to attacks or AC.

You can get an extra attack in the sense that if you full attack, you can still move, including in between the attacks of your full attack.

The trail vehicle, as that's the one we are engaged with, correct? I intend to engage him in melee combat next round with that +2 to my attack roll because of the Opening Volley feat.

Also, this was in the Campaign Info:
Anyone in a vehicle can make melee attacks against those on an enemy vehicle with which their own vehicle is engaged. You can make melee attacks against those in an enemy vehicle only with reach weapons, and such targets typically have some cover provided by their vehicle. Even when your vehicles are engaged and you’re using a reach weapon, you do not threaten any squares of the other vehicle.

From that rule, it appeared to me that if you want to use melee attacks against opponents in an 'engaged' vehicle, you need a reach weapon (though presumably having reach as through the Lunge feat would be sufficient), and that in order to engage in melee without reach you would need to use the boarding action. Or am I incorrect in this? Vehicle combat is a new one for me, I was just looking over the rules and saw that little tidbit.

Loram, you are correct and I was wrong; You do indeed need reach (I misread that part). Xera, you still have a standard action should you want to take it to attack, and Deneth still needs to post an action.

Can I cast a spell while I am at the wheel? If so:

Xera looks over at the driver of the other vehicle. "Hold still, you mongrel cur!"

Xera's eyes narrow, and for a moment the circuit lines on her body brighten. Her eyes flash, and a ripple of thought passes between her and the other driver.

Casting hold person. Will DC 18 negates.

That's an interesting question. I can't find anything that would say you can't. If we find the rule later, we'll use it going forward, but for now: Which driver are you targeting?

I cast Haste near the top of this page.

...but for now: Which driver are you targeting?

Sorry... the closer one.

Definitely just burst into evil laughter at that choice, Xera. Well played!

That's an interesting question. I can't find anything that would say you can't. If we find the rule later, we'll use it going forward, but for now: Which driver are you targeting?

I'd think that so long as the pilot has a standard action available, if he can use it to attack (pg 284), he could cast a spell - so long as it requires a standard action and not a full-round action

Initiative Order:
Haarlock
Deneth
Loram
Raxsortun
Xera
Human Pilots
Kibbens
Human
Vesk

Haarlock gives his command, and you can see the crew in his vehicle's eyes widen and then focus on the group's vehicle.

Deneth uses the power of digitized magic to increase everyone's speed and reaction time. BTW, since haste gives an extra move action, it's flipping awesome in chases for the pilot.

Loram fires his tactical cannon at the Vesk in the trailing vehicle, who takes it on the chest, but is still going.

Raxsortun discovers that it is hard to hit a person in a moving vehicle, especially while riding a moving vehicle.

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

The pilot of the trail ship just manages to shake off Xera's mental assault and keep focused on the chase.

The Human pilot in the lead vehicle is unable to attack back, having focused completely on driving, but the one in the trail vehicle draws a pistol and fires at Xera, apparently having he same idea to take out the pilot of the enemy ship.

Attack Roll w/Ship penalty and Deadly Aim vs. EAC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Damage Roll: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11So

Kibbens will focus on Defense while meditating on the cycle. Near him, the color dims as he begins pulling in darkness from the surrounding area.

The Human with the sniper rifle in the rear vehicle will fire at your vehicle.

Attack Roll vs KAC (minus Deadly Aim and Vehicle): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Damage Roll: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 8) + 7 = 21p

The Vesk on the trail ship will try to leap onto the group's ship..

Athletics DC 21: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

and sticks the landing. He discovers, however, that your ship is a bit rockier than the one he left. He then swings his Flame Doshko at Loram.

Attack Roll vs. EAC: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Damage Roll: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) + 8 = 15

Meanwhile, the Vesk in the lead vehicle will lean out and shoot his Thunderstrike Screamer at the Vehicle itself.

Attack Roll (w/penalty for ship vs EAC 13: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
Damage Roll: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 6) + 8 = 19So

Damage Report:
Trail Ship Vesk -17
The group ship: -26
Loram -15
Trail Ship -27

As the melee continues, the vehicles begin to move over what appears to be a field of giant molehills. This idea is quickly disproven, however, as steaming hot liquid water explodes out of them at irregular intervals.

Going to handle this slightly different, just cause the attack bonus for hazards is really high: I'm going to roll an attack and damage, and any ship that can't beat my attack result will take the listed damage. That way players have more agency in their vehicle's destruction or salvation.

Hazard: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Damage Roll: 5d8 ⇒ (3, 7, 8, 6, 8) = 32

Go ahead and pick your maneuvers after you resolve the swerve piloting roll and we'll roll the results for the round.

Lead Vehicle Dodge roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Trail Ship Dodge Roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

"Dammit! What the hell are we driving through?" Xera shouts.

Piloting - to avoid geysers: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28

She begins to swerve madly while ducking below the dash as the other driver shoots at her. But when her eyes leave the terrain for a moment, the vehicle is hit with the spray of a geyser!

We have hardness 8 so that's 24 more damage. Out of 90. We could be in trouble already.

"Deneth! This crate is falling apart! Can you do something?"

Xera tries to keep some of the spouting geysers between her and the enemy weapons.

Piloting - to Evade: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29

She looks over at the driver of the nearby vehicle. She shouts "Flee!" at him, and the circuit lines on her skin brighten again.

Casting command to make the driver flee for 1 round. Will DC 17 to negate.

Loram barely feels the blow, then turns his body to meet the enemy vesk while trying to keep his own footing - although judging by the damage they're taking, a general boarding action on their own part might be wise in the near future. The kasathas slashes at his foe with his plasma sword while warding off any shots that might come his way with the taclash.

Tactical Plasma Sword Attack DRR: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21 vs KAC
Tactical Plasma Sword Damage DRR: 2d8 + 19 ⇒ (1, 2) + 19 = 22 piercing
Above modifiers includes +2 to attack roll for Opening Volley feat, no penalty for moving ship (I think?)

WOW! My post must have killed the board, because after I posted my action above, the board went down for a long while and this is what I'm left with! Well, here goes again...

Loram turns to face the vesk that has jumped aboard their own vehicle, shrugging off the blow as he maintains his footing as they continue to take damage from the geysers. "Is anyone driving this thing?" The kasathas growls over his shoulder as he slashes with his plasma sword at his opponent. If things go from bad to worse, Loram might lead a boarding action to take the other vehicle in order to continue the chase.

Tactical Plasma Sword Attack DRR: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31 vs EAC
Tactical Plasma Sword Damage DRR: 2d8 + 19 ⇒ (1, 7) + 19 = 27 Energy & Fire
Above modifiers include the +2 bonus to attack roll for Opening Volley and no penalty for the moving vehicle (as I didn't see the vesk take one?)

If someone takes a shot at me, I'll try and deflect it with my taclash in my next posted action. Let's keep a close eye on this vehicle's HP situation.

Raxsortun looks at the vesk leaping into the fray. He growls at him in Vesk.

Shifting his gun to his off hand, he punches the other vesk twice.

Full attack on the vesk in our vehicle.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (4, 5) + 20 = 29

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (2, 5) + 20 = 27

As the rocking of the ship causes both attacks to miss, he turns to the front. "Xera! What in the name of-"

He catches sight of the geyser, and says something in Vesk again.

It does not sound pleasant.

24 hours for Kibbens.

Silently meditating, Kibbens can't help but react when the to and fro of the vehicles begin to throw him from one side to the next.

"All right...meditation through battle then!"
Still focusing on gathering the darkness, Kibbens will throw his melee weapon with the accuracy of a guided missile.

If the target is farther than 50 ft, then I'm out of ranged capability.
Thrown Starknife Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26 Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 4) = 11

After the attack, the Starknife circles and returns to his hand.

If the target is farther than 50 ft, then I'm out of ranged capability.

FYI 50 feet is the range increment. So from 51-100 feet you have a -2 to hit; 101-150 feet is a -4 to hit, and so on. The maximum range is 250 feet (5 range increments).

"If I had ten minutes I could turn this moving junkyard into a piece of art... discouraging these fools is the best I can do for now, Xera.

He injects a virus into the lead vehicle to trigger every collision-avoidance alarm and protection in the cruiser, but the occupants are used to those after crossing the field of jetting water in any case.

Computers (amplified glitch): 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (2) + 27 = 29
DC 15 + (1.5*highest CR) + number of targets. i.e. failure.

Did you want to target the lead or trail car Deneth? Before you make your decision, I'll note that you know Haarlock is likely a dangerous and powerful opponent.

I had intended to target the lead car (& said so!), but with that roll I know very well that I won't succeed. It's honestly not likely to succeed anyway, but if I can target the trailing vehicle I might as well.

Sorry about the delay. I'll get a post up this evening.

As the group of vehicles begin to weave through the field of Geysers, the Trail vehicle attempts to gain an advantage and shove the Group's vehicle into the path of one of the Geysers.

This, ultimately, leads to their downfall.

A Geyser erupts directly underneath their vehicle, and when it falls away, the Trail vehicle is...gone.

While Xera chooses to focus her piloting on evading the enemy, the Lead vehicle uses the moment to pull ahead.

Meanwhile on the ship:

Initiative Order:
Haarlock
Deneth
Loram
Raxsortun
Xera
Human Pilot
Kibbens
Vesk

Haarlock turned and fired at Xera, hoping to disable pursuit.

Attack Roll (+2 for lead, -2 for motion, +2 for Get EM!): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Damage Roll: 5d4 + 14 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 4, 3) + 14 = 25

Deneth attempts to disable the Lead vehicle, but is not successful.

Loram swings on the Vesk, but misses I did indeed take the vehicle moving penalty on his attack roll, I just forgot to put it in my attack line. I'll do my best to do so going forward.

as Raxsortun speaks in his native language, the Vesk invader speaks in kind with a smirk

The violent motion of the vehicle does indeed cause Raxsortun's attacks to miss.

Xera attempts to use mind magic on the lead vehicle's pilot...

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

but he resists her manipulation.

Kibbens throws his Starknife at the Lead vehicle itself, landing a solid hit and dealing it damage, but not enough damage to disable it. He then recalls his blade.

Finally, the Vesk invader attempts to crash his Doshko down on Raxsortun's head.

Attack Roll (-3 for shaky cam) vs. EAC: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage Roll: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) + 8 = 14

Damage Report:
Vesk Invader: -17
The Group vehicle: -26
Loram -15
The Lead vehicle: -11
Raxsortun: -14

Go ahead and post your attacks, but it'll wait on resolution of the piloting round.

The two remaining vehicles fly out of the area of geysers and into a flat area littered with furrows, as if something massive had been burrowing under the earth. The ground is criss-crossed with them, yet no creature appears to threaten the travelers.

Loram is only vaguely aware that the trailing vehicle has disappeared, victim of the geysers. "Your friends are gone. You'll be following them soon." The kasathas growls as he shifts his grip on the sword, trying to slip past the formidable defenses of the vesk. If he can maneuver around the foe to flank him, then Loram will do so in order to take any advantage possible.

Tactical Plasma Sword Attack DRR: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 vs EAC
Tactical Plasma Sword Damage DRR: 2d8 + 19 ⇒ (8, 4) + 19 = 31 Energy & Fire
Above modifiers include the -3 bonus to attack roll for the penalty for the moving vehicle; if Loram can take a flanking position with a Guarded Step, please add +2 to the attack roll.

"You don't have time to play with that vesk Loram, we have serious business here," snaps Deneth as he calls forth a bubble of force on top of the ATV.

Resilient Sphere, reflex save DC 22 or the vesk on our ATV gets to spend the next 10 minutes inside a spherical wall of force. The sphere's immobile - probably that means relative to the ATV, but if it means relative to the planet I don't object to his experiencing the bug-on-a-windshield effect.

Ha! Even if the sphere does move along with us, can Loram just kick it off the vehicle on his next turn? That'd be too funny...
Oh damn, never mind - I just saw Deneth's comment that the sphere is immovable.

I should be at 3 gravitons next round, right?

Kibbens launches another throw

Starknife Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28 Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 4) = 12

Is Haarlock in the same chase zone as us? Or do I need to speed up to catch him?

You did an Evade action last round and they did an Evade a speed Up actions last round Xera.

Xera steps on the accelerator. "He's getting away! Hang On!"

Piloting Speed Up (DC 24): 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25

She calls across to the other vehicle's pilot. "HALT! That's far enough!"

Casting command again. Will DC 17 or the pilot does nothing for 1 round.

Rax pauses for a brief second as the tailing ship... vanishes. His analytics blip, the targeted pilot no longer registering as a threat, so he quickly rescans the vesk in front of him.

He lays a crushing blow at the other vesk's chest.

Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (6, 1) + 20 = 27

I'll have a post up this evening.

Piloting Phase Round 3:
The pilot of Haarlock's vehicle also picks up speed, but in addition tries to weave in a defensive pattern.

Piloting: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Movement Phase:

Both ships advance, leaving each in roughly the same situation.

Combat Phase:

Initiative Order:
Haarlock
Deneth
Loram
Raxsortun
Xera
Human Pilot
Kibbens
Vesk

Haarlock again gives an order, this time to specifically target Xera. The Vexk on the Group's vehicle nods his ascent, and then...

Ref Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Nothing seems to happen. At first.

It is when Loram swings his blade at the Vesk that the truth is revealed: He stands surrounded in a bubble, unable to move, but more or less cargo.

Adapting, Raxsortun draws his combat rifle and takes aim on Haarlock's vehicle and then fires.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage Roll: 3d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 6, 4) + 10 = 28

Xera again attempts to influence the pilot's mind...

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

But he remains strong.

Kibbens again throws his starknife, which lands a hit on the vehicle then returns to his hand.

The Vesk on Haarlock's ship opens fire with his screamer on Xera:

Attack Roll vs. EAC: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Damage Roll: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15

Damage Report:
Vesk Invader: -17 Someone has become a Pokémon!
The Group vehicle: -26
Loram -15
Haarlock's vehicle: -11
Raxsortun: -14[/ooc]

PCs are up!

Xera continued to try to catch up to Haarlock's vehicle.

Piloting (speed up): 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28

"Dammit, I'm getting sick of this."

Xera concentrates and fires a bolt of mental energy at the pilot of the lead vehicle.

Mind Thrust IV Will DC 20 for 1/2 damage: 10d10 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 6, 4, 4, 2, 3, 9, 7) = 42

Seeing the enemy in front of him neutralized for the moment, Loram focuses on the enemy ship, firing at the vehicle with his rifle.

Tactical Reaction Cannon Attack DRR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 vs KAC
Tactical Reaction Cannon Damage DRR: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5) + 10 = 21 piercing
Above modifiers include the -3 for attacking from the moving ship;
Reaction cannon has the Penetrating ability, ignoring Hardness up to 7

Tactical Reaction Cannon Attack DRR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 vs KAC
Tactical Reaction Cannon Damage DR: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (3, 6) + 10 = 19 piercing
Above modifiers include the -3 for attacking from the moving ship;
Reaction cannon has the Penetrating ability, ignoring Hardness up to 7

Didn't see that I got an attack last round, though I did have my reaction cannon in hand (my second pair!), so I'll include a retroactive attack for last round and for this round - if the GM allows it. I'm fine either way - not that it really matters, looks like both shots probably missed. :(

A timer buzzes and reminded, Deneth glances at the ysoki. "Kibbens, you're ready to send us on to Haarlock's cruiser now?" He waits for the answer.

Delay until after Kibbens.

Should be at full attunement to Gravitons.

Kibbens, a swirling mass of dark energy that looks as if you were staring at the night sky with small stars twinkling in the distance, nods. His inky form seems bob and blob and a large glob of darkness seems to slip off his body to the space adjacent to him, draining all the darkness off his stellar armor and into the air. A similar blob appears with no warning on the enemy cruiser.

"The gate is open! Head on through! I can hold it for 30 seconds, so move fast!"
We have 5 rounds before it disperses.

Kibbens will charge through, begin attuning to Photon, and Attack the nearest person.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28 Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 6) = 16

Piloting Phase (Round 4):

As the vehicles continue to speed, they reach the edge of the city and then pass through. Though not one of the larger cities on Akiton, this is still a bustling city, even during this time of day. As your vehicles fly through the streets, people hustle to get out of the way. Not everyone, however, is fast enough, and the crew of each vehicle finds itself about to collide with one or more of the citizens.

This is an Altered Movement Hazard. It imposes a -4 penalty to all piloting checks, with the option that if you don't mind hitting pedestrians, then you can take some damage to your vehicle to ignore the penalty.

The Lead vehicle begins swerving through traffic to avoid hitting the pedestrians, while simultaneously attempting to Speed Up and Evade.

Speed Up: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Evade: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Movement Phase:

Pending to on Xera's decision to avoid people or hit them.

Initiative Order:
Haarlock
Deneth
Loram
Raxsortun
Xera
Human Pilot
Kibbens
Vesk

Piloting Phase (Round 4):

Don't forget the enemy driver gets to save for 1/2 damage against mind thrust IV.

"Besmara's Knickers!" Xera shouts. "Get out of the way!" she shouts at the pedestrians on the street.

Going to try to avoid pedestrians. Using Speed Up to keep up with the enemy.

Piloting (Speed Up) -4 for avoiding pedestrians: 1d20 + 24 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 24 - 4 = 37

Then with a flick of her wrist, she hurls two star-like bolts towards the enemy vehicle.

Casting shooting stars (magic missile) at the enemy pilot.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Deneth crosses the darkness between the stars to the enemy cruiser and opens fire on the vehicle rather than its contents. "Dodge this!" - unfortunately the bullets skip off the hardened exterior of the cruiser.

full attack 1/2, allowed by haste: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 4 = 18
full attack 2/2: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 4 = 12

damage 1/2: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 6) + 5 = 16
damage 2/2: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2) + 5 = 12

I'd meant to do this last round after Kibbens.

Loram moves through the wormhole after Deneth, and after spotting the Vesk he opens fire on the reptilian creature wielding the dangerous Screamer rifle. If the enemy isn't spotted, the kasathas follows Deneth's example and fires on the ship itself to bring it down.

Tactical Reaction Cannon Attack DRR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 vs KAC
Tactical Reaction Cannon Damage DRR: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (1, 6) + 10 = 17 piercing
Above modifiers include the -3 for attacking from the moving ship

If I can't shoot at the Vesk (Opening Volley) for whatever reason, he'll shoot at the ship itself.

Rax gives an excited roar as the wormhole opens. "Got a present for you, Haarlock! Forgot to wrap it!" the vesk yells as he runs through the wormhole and leaps at the driver, laying a heavy punch at the driver's head.

Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (4, 3) + 20 = 27