Contributor. Goblin Squad Member. Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Accessories, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber. Venture-Lieutenant, Conventions—Gen Con 147 posts (845 including aliases). No reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 92 Organized Play characters. 11 aliases.
This is the only reason I would return to Starfinder. It’s been hard to find a RPG Mecha vs Kaiju game out there. Mecha & Monsters is an easy system but lacks luster for the character side. And that other company that has Pacific Rim is just ok. I hope there are addition expansions to Mechageddon, maybe even hybrid Mechakaiju with pilots.
Evil Genius Games, they publish Everyday Heroes. They have Pacifc Rim and Kong IPs.
If it helps, I have it on good authority that one of the Mechageddon! authors was also an author on the upcoming Pacific Rim AP that was part of Evil Genius' Legendary kickstarter with the Kong AP.
GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND GHOUL ISLAND
NG Human Male Nanocyte 1 SP: 8/8 |HP: 10/10 |RP: 2/3 | EAC: 12 KAC: 14 | F: +4, R: +1, W: +0 | Perc: +4| Speed: 30 ft. | Active Conditions: none
Neco pulls his purloined pacification rifle up to bear and orders his nanites to prepare for combat as they check out the storehouse, taking in the obvious Abadar iconography. Not wholly unexpected considering who is footing the bill for this colony.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
"Aren't you a little short for an aeontrooper?" he remarks in common, rifle at the ready but not threateningly.
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
"You've left me little choice, my monstrous friend," the priest grumbles as he struggle to earn his release from the pseudopod grasping him.
(1 action to try to escape) Unarmed:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
probably not even close
"I suppose I'll be forced to draw her grace from you." At the priests words, a chill darkness begins to form on the ooze's limb as the Dawnflower's grace is drawn away from the creature.
(The Demi-God) HP: 29/36 | AC 18 | Init: +1 | Saves: Str: +5; Dex: +1; Con: +4; Int: +2; Wis: +1; Cha: +2 | PP 13 | PI 11
Lysander does not blink at his father's tirade. "I dare, Father. Because you would not." Slowly he unbuckles the strap to his breastplate. "I know nothing, Father, except that Ophea mourned you every day of my life as if you'd died because you abandoned her the day I was born." He unbuckles the other strap revealing a long, old scar on the centurion's chest. "I know nothing, Father because when the dragon took away your great love and slaughtered a cohort of your devout centurions trying to save her, it left an eight year old boy alone alive among them with this" he gestures to the scar, "to remember the loss of his only parent for the rest of his days."
Lysander tosses one of his normal spears on the ground. "I know nothing Father, because I was raised to fight your battles for you- slaughtering your enemies and those of Mytros by the scores while the God of Battle doesn't wage war against the creature that took it's great love, instead allowing it to take another. So yes, I know nothing Father. Nothing of why my divine blood was enough that great men wouldn't let me die in service to them, but instead sacrificed their lives around me. I know nothing, Father. Just as you know nothing of me."
"So I dare, Father. And I will continue to dare. I will save my sister, because it must be so. And I will help my comrades achieve their labors as the Oracle has ordained. And then I will do what the God of Battle is too small to do: I will slaughter Hexia in its lair. And I will help someone I consider a friend slaughter another dragon to have her revenge on the Kathandrax. And I will continue. I will make a sport of killing dragons because the God of Battle would not make war."
Lysander looks the god straight in the eyes. "I will fight the wars for the God of Battle because you no longer inspire that in me. You only make me want to drink. If your wrath is so great, then you take up that spear and become the God of Battle again. Until then, I will not be a doting son. Because I have no father."
Lysander turns on his heel leaving his father and the spear behind. "Come my friends, we've my sister to save." as he walks from the great hall.
Wow, I did not expect to create the character flaw of dragon genocide, but here we are... interesting.
So this isn't a terrible question. Zelrai would have had to get the swarm from Suskillon early in the war (which had been ongoing for months before Attack of the Swarm starts). Later in that AP, Suskillon is too infested and shut down by the SDF to make it feasible for the Stoic Refuge to get in and out easily as is her modus operandi.
So, a year ago for getting the creatures on Suskillon makes sense, putting it squarely in 319 AG. Since this is a one shot, and not tied to the rest of the season's meta plot, that could work right? Theoretically, this scenario could easily act as an Attack of the Swarm GM's chance for a neat little side adventure showing the repercussions of the war on Absalom Station or maybe give low level PCs a reason to leave the Pact Worlds to join the SDF after their call for help... This season technically started in 319 AG. And maybe Zelrai had them in stasis for a long while looking for a buyer? Yes? WELLL ABOUT THAT...
2-16 A Scoured Home ruins this theory. As the Starfinders are leaving for Izalraan, the see the Stoic Refuge leaving for Suskillon. it even sends a message: "The ship only replies to hails with a prerecorded messaging touting an upcoming sale of audacious and wild creatures from Impressium’s Humble Menagerie, coming to the Pact Worlds in only a few months." A Scoured Home requires that the adventure take place AFTER the Scoured Stars Invasion- mostly in reference to the izalguun.. so that window is small.
In my best estimation, 2-16 A Scoured Home happens around Erastus or Arodus of 319 with 2-21 Illegal Shipment in Neth or Kuthona of the same year.
So the map... When I first drew the map, I had it in profile with the front of house at the bottom. this meant that north was the back of the building. That's what got sent to the cartographer. I left out most directionals in the description, but that was likely added during an editing pass. During the editing pass, the assumption would have been that the map was in landscape and North was up, so that's why the directions are off.
TLDR: I should remember to draw half page maps in landscape rather than profile.
Enzyme Sacs:
The digestive enzyme sacs are the bright green with the more olive green in the back representing the egg sacs.
The idea is that with the rubble on either side of it, and the programmers passing through without a problem, the enzyme sacs seem a viable entry point to that egg chamber. Of course they're not...
Wandering Swarm:
The wandering patrol is really your chance to put monsters where you like in the quiet office area (I usually put them in the cafeteria or one of the front storage areas to keep the players on their guard). Yes, it's a small warehouse so theoretically it could inform other swarm- but programmers are self involved unless defending the egg chamber, the curator of the egg chamber doesn't leave the eggs, and the swarm in the loading dock are otherwise occupied. BUT- if you think it will help suspension of disbelief, make the old generator loud and sputtering smoke on its last legs. Even though swarm KNOW what's going on with others of their hive, it gives players the fallacy of being sneaky here no matter what they do.
The Great Debate:
Okay, Ziggy's side in this argument is obvious. But Fitch is more nuanced. To Zelrai's credit, she has been able to contain and move creatures far scarier than Swarm- often for Fitch and the Society. Had one of her crew not planned on making a fast buck behind her back, it would have been fine since her stasis pods were more than up to the task. Illegal? Oh yes. But a threat? Not to her point of view. Fitch has two motives here. 1) Zelrai is a friend, and the matronly Fitch will often make exceptions for those under her care. Is it wise? No, but it speaks volumes about her and why it's good to be close to her. But more importantly, 2) The Society very often has to do things under the station's radar. They are good guys, sure, but often have to stoop to nefarious methods away from the prying eyes of station security and the Stewards. If this gets out it will further impinge on the Society's reputation, and cause a lockdown of station docking procedures that will make it VERY difficult for the Society to do it's normal activities.
I find less than optimal characters far more rewarding to play and GM for. Having to find inventive ways to overcome real or perceived inadequacies makes for some of the most interesting types of rp I've seen.
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
"You won't sit still," Sinan deadpans.
In my headcancon, Pepper grows a small branch from like her shoulder, then plucks the berry from it and shoves it at whichever human needs it every time she casts Goodberry. It's both terrifying and sweet and maybe a little gross. But nothing anyone ever says will convince me otherwise.
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
I was watching you all deal with the bear with bated breath. I was convinced it would get a lot more bloody
Sinan nods his head. "Yes, you're right. We can peruse the ledgers after we return to the taproom. Since Phinick lives in the stables near the inn, we can speak with him on the way."
He turns to Trin and Marny. "Thank you for your hospitality. I am only sad we could not slay the boar, as he would have made several good meals for you both."
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
In my head, I've pictured it as retrieving material components like you said, but for a holy symbol it was something more of a pose, so my clerics usually needed to have it in hand (which I usually do anyway).
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
So, on the plus side: They just shut down all schools in my state til April, so I'll be working from home for a while starting Monday. Makes it so I can respond real quick.
I'm the VL in our town, and I just cancelled all events for a bit too. If only to keep those in our community from having the added stress of making games when they're already worried about child care and stuff. It also means more of our players are considering going to some online games..
NG Qadiran Male Cleric 2 | AC 19 | HP -4/24 | F: +6, R: +7, W +9;| Perc +7 | Focus: 0 | Hero Points: 0 | Spell DC: 17 | Active Conditions: Dying 1 |
Woohoo! Thanks for choosing me!
Glad to be playing with all of you!
Pretty sure I got everything in there tagline wise. For my background, I chose Missionary. Arguably my favorite thing about the backgrounds is how they tie you into the story so well (or at least they do in Age of Ashes, I assume that's a line-wide decision).
Here is Sinan's Backstory:
Sinan was little more than a petty thief and pickpocket in his youth. Roaming the streets of Katheer, he was as quick on his feet as he was with his wit. He dreamed of becoming a horselord or some kind of great warrior, but the poverty he and his mother lived in created a barrier the boy could never overcome.
When Razima finally passed to Pharasma's embrace, a half-orc priest named Brillek took the young orphan into his trust. Brillek's church- tiny compared to Katheer's legendary holy halls dedicated to the Dawnflower- housed the lion's share of the city's orphan population- And Brillek dedicated himself to helping them all. Brillek, a child of two worlds himself, knew what it meant to be unwelcome. He knew how it could wear on a child. And swore he would do everything in his power to help the least welcome to be cared for.
Unlike most of the kids under Brillek's patronage, Sinan had dreams- hopes for a better life, and the willingness to learn how to make them happen. In Sinan, Brillek found a boy that craved nothing more than to learn. Brillek taught him to speak Taldane, Elvish, and his own native Orcish. Brillek taught Sinan to write, to math, and to copy maps and handle a blade. Brillek taught Sinan how to act in high society, and how to take them at face value. But most importantly, Brillek taught Sinan about Sarenrae- how she teaches to help those in need, to redeem them of their mistakes and how no one is without potential. It was only as an adult that Sinan understood how Brillek- a former slave and adventurer- had emulated the goddess.
Sinan dedicated his life to the Dawnflower and tended to Brillek's church and the children he cared for until the elderly priest had passed. With Brillek gone, Sinan expected to leave Katheer to spread Sarenrae's grace wherever he could. He no longer dreamed of rising to the ranks of the great heroes of myth. He only hoped to act as his teacher would have wanted, for a greater hero Sinan could never expect to know.
Also, GM Dendeve, since Paizo's Avatars are down, do you want me to crop down the face from his background image for you to use on maps and the like?
Originally, the Drakecats were Large, and therefore incrementally more powerful. There was some more that you could do with K-BLD that could turn them off to help balance it, but it wasn't really necessary or obvious so it would have made the encounter MUCH more difficult.
In the end they were made smaller to balance the encounter as a whole, and K-BLD removed as a tactic, which was the better plan. In the editing pass, their reach should have been removed.
NG Human Male Operative 1 | Init: +3 |SP: 0/9 | HP: 1/10 | RP: 3 |EAC: 13 (14)| KAC: 15 (16)| Perc: +5 (7)| Speed: 30 ft. | Saves: F: +2, R: +4, W: +2 | Active Conditions: Shaken, Boosted (2 rounds of +1 to AC; +2 to skill checks; +10' speed)
"Welcome to the party, Leech. The water's warm," Ryder coughs as he dives to his right hoping for a better vantage point to shoot the Dredger without hitting his squadmate.
Trick Attack (Adjusted for Shaken) Acrobatics:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 SA Tac Pistol vs. KAC:1d20 ⇒ 10 Damage (B):1d6 ⇒ 5
I love the idea of an APG just for starships. Starfinder has long since become my favorite game, and every release since Armory seems like a missing link I didn't realize I'd been looking for.
NG Human Male Operative 1 | Init: +3 |SP: 0/9 | HP: 1/10 | RP: 3 |EAC: 13 (14)| KAC: 15 (16)| Perc: +5 (7)| Speed: 30 ft. | Saves: F: +2, R: +4, W: +2 | Active Conditions: Shaken, Boosted (2 rounds of +1 to AC; +2 to skill checks; +10' speed)
"Hmm. Good point, Leech," Ryder nods. "If it comes down to it, and you see something, you let Trooper Kadesh and I jump front and stay far behind us, if you can."
For a moment, Ryder takes in the squad while trying, less than successfully, to get his eyes to acclimate. "I'm from Brinnoa. Been in the SDF for long enough that had the bugs not come to Suskillon, I'd be home by now, trying to figure out what to do now that my tour's over. But hey, at least I get to try to save the world, instead of flying useless sorties and shuttle runs to the outer planets. But my unit got bloodied and beaten before Stone Sea. Pretty sure I'm the last of the 82nd, and considering the amount of recruitment, the 5th didn't fare much better."
Ryder gives Leech a long look. "We're not in the 82nd, and the Major didn't put me in command of Midnight." He glances at Brundus. "You don't have to call me Sarge. You can call me Ryder. If the Major changes things, or we're around the brass, Sarge or Sgt. Davan is probably best. But otherwise..." Ryder just shakes his head and waves the idea away.
"I don't want you to think I'm giving you orders. I'm just a grunt in the 5th, like you guys."
As a Sgt, Ryder is familiar with being in a leadership role, but never really strove for it in the military (he hopes for finding that role in civilian life). As a pilot, he was simply a small craft (fighter or shuttle) pilot flying under a CAG's orders. While he can fit the role of Captain, I think both Aygavan and Jerry will fit that role better. (+3's social skills)
Ryder's likely best used as a pilot or engineer (+7 Piloting, +6 Engineering) and I'm not against dropping one of my feats to take a skill focus to bolster one of them (likely piloting)
He'd also make a fair gunner at +2, but will likely be backup or second gunner at best compared to Brundus.
Has anyone else been in the military long and want to play the "Oh I know him." to my "Oh yeah, that guy." That could also work with Jerry if he's been a war correspondent for any length of time.
Aaaand finally, anyone know an easy way to add background info to an alias instead of making a Society character for it? I really like having the relevant info in the runner by my name when I make an alias for Ryder.
So, thinking about how I'd like to build, I'm going to go operative first. I can follow up with Vanguard at level 2 and make better use of the vanguard weapon's operative tag. Plus that gives me time for the ops guide to release.
Name: Ryder Davan
Race: Human
Theme: Career Trooper
Class: Operative (daredevil)
Starship Role: with positive modifiers in Attacks, Engineering, Piloting, and Social skills, Ryder can fit pretty much any role except Science Officer. Unless we get an envoy, he might be best used as Captain.
Background: The day he was of age, Ryder volunteered for the SDF. He'd planned to do his tour, save some credits, and build for the future. He built the kind of friendships that could last lifetimes, and built the well-rounded skillset expected of today's SDF soldiers. Like many Suskillon's born in the larger megaplexes, Ryder dreamed of leveraging his military work to one day help elect him to office- perhaps as a mayor or governor, or even a role in Brinnoa. He'd even accepted the odd promotion to help pad his file when the Swarm came. Prior to the Swarm, Sgt. Dravan had bounced between roles- from burner roles in atmo and space, to foot slogging with other dusters. Eventually, he was posted to the 82nd, an elite unit used to scouting far ahead of the SDF lines. In the days leading up to the Battle of Stone Sea, the 82nd was among the worst casualties. In the end, Ryder Dravan figured out fairly quickly that his tour had just begun.
Psychological Assessment: Sgt. Ryder Dravan has a bit of a reputation. As a pilot, he'd been known to take risks, and like the best in Suskillon's skies, leverage those risks to great successes. It's not to say this has made him reckless, just prone to take chances. But in the wake of the Swarm's invasion, something different has taken hold. Dravan's tour was up months ago, and he'd been winding down to a civilian life. But too many of those he'd help train and mold had died. Too many lives were lost. When the 82nd Forced Recon was decimated in the push to Stone Sea, Dravan found he was among the few from the 82nd left whole. But without the brothers he'd lost to the Swarm, Dravan is far from whole himself. -Lt. Ch'trselkit
Appearance: Ryder Dravan is nothing spectacular to look at. He's tallish with mousy brown hair that is perpetually tousled and fair skin that seems like he's had too much sun. Depending on the attention he pays to his hygiene, he varies from regulation beard to merely unshaven. His eyes seem tired, but not haunted, and his smile never seems to reach them.
CG Ulfen Male Monk 1 HP: 20/20 | AC: 16 | F: +6(5), R: +6 (5), W: +7 (6) | Perc: +5 | Speed: 25 ft. | Active Conditions: Fatigued | Active Stance: none
"Truly lassie, that was just for a getting to know you drink!" Degbie removes his shirt and stashes it in his rucksack while tying leather straps to his hands and arms for better purchase in the climb ahead. "Would'a been a bad move tae pull out the harder stock or tap the mead barrel I've stashed in the lodge fer after we're done 'ere."
The tall ulfen twists his head to each side until the bones in his neck let out a loud pop and works the kinks out of his shoulders and arms. "Besides, He teaches to never let out the good stock too early in the night. Save it for the ones whose tab you'd be willin' tae pay."
Degbie's athletics is pretty solid, but nothing for the set up.
Please please please find a way for this to be a new beginning for Pathfinder fiction again. I love me some web fiction, but I still need more novels set in Golarion (and the Pact Worlds too, to be fair).
Since the set peices are theoretically supposed to represent furniture in the Rusty Dragon Inn, I'd love to see a good mini scale flip map of the Sandpoint fixture to put them on. I know, i can always make my own, but it's not the same.
