The Drift... new info!


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Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Check out this exclusive info on the Drift!

There's so much gaming potential in the Drift.

Scarab Sages

Looks like the perfect place to put Quest style mini-adventures and seed plot hooks!


Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Also of note - starship scale confirmed!


Villain Idea: an armada of Space Pirates whose main base is on a fortress that got sucked into the Drift, and who randomly emerge to raid various places near Drift beacons before disappearing in the Drift again.


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Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps Subscriber

Gummi Ships, anyone? No? Just me? ... okay...


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

:o

Holy crap I'm shaking in my space-boots! Ship stats!

Geek Dad wrote:

IDARAN VOIDRUNNER TIER 1/3

Tiny racer
Speed 12; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 15; TL 14
HP 20; DT—; CT 4
Shields basic 10 (forward 3, port 2, starboard 2, aft 3)
Attack (Forward) gyrolaser (1d8)
Power Core Micron Heavy (70 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems basic computer, basic mid-range sensors, mk 2 armor, mk 1 defenses; Expansion Bays none
Modifiers +2 Computers, +1 Piloting; Complement 1
CREW
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

OKokok does anyone know what TL, DT or CT are? What's the significance of the PCU rating? How is power consumed? How are the "Modifiers" applied? What do the "CREW" stats (and X ranks) mean? Does "perfect (turn 0)" mean the ship can turn with every hex it moves through?

IS IT AUGUST YET?!

How 'bout now?...


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

How 'bout that Triune origin?


Coooooool

Silver Crusade

Gummi ships!

Dark Archive

That is the coolest written up lore I've read so far. the fact that each Drift jump rips out part of the plane is fantastic will this cause problems someday? I think so...


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Jason Mosher wrote:
OKokok does anyone know what TL, DT or CT are?

TL is normally Tech Level, but since it is right next to AC it might be something else.

CT is likely to be Critical Threshold, I think that was how much damage had to happen in a single roll before something goes sproing in your ship.

DT is right there with HP... Damage Threshold? Tolerance?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

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Davor Firetusk wrote:
That is the coolest written up lore I've read so far. the fact that each Drift jump rips out part of the plane is fantastic will this cause problems someday? I think so...

Nah. I mean, how could something like that possibly go badly?


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
GeekDad Exclusive wrote:
For a starship to engage its Drift engines to either enter or exit the Drift, it must remain stationary with its conventional thrusters turned off for 1 minute.

I really hope there is a way around this. Probably something the engineer can roll for. A panicked attempt to jump out of a system is too classic to miss out on.


No drift engine? That's ironic.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Wow, nice little info on the formation of Triune.

So three deities are now merged/linked? Do they still have their own avatars or are they fully subsumed.

Also, interesting those ship stats.
Good question about what TL, DT and CT stand for.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Quote:
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

It looks like skill ranks are rather similar to Pathfinder, if not the same. Possibly breaks down as...

Computers +7 (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +2 ship bonus, +1 INT)

Piloting (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +1 ship bonus, +4 DEX (maybe a touch generous here), +2 Skill Focus? )

But Gunnery +5 with no ranks? Curious.


DT may be something to do with the Drift.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

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Stone Dog wrote:
Quote:
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

It looks like skill ranks are rather similar to Pathfinder, if not the same. Possibly breaks down as...

Computers +7 (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +2 ship bonus, +1 INT)

Piloting (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +1 ship bonus, +4 DEX (maybe a touch generous here), +2 Skill Focus? )

But Gunnery +5 with no ranks? Curious.

I'm thinking these skill listings might be minimums that each crewmember might need to avoid needing to make skill checks constantly or something, or even minimums to fill their roles in the ship at all. So that means that you need gunnery bonuses of at least 5 but don't need to necessarily have a skill rank in that skill, but for piloting and computers, you need to have at least one skill rank to be a pilot at all?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
cartmanbeck wrote:
Stone Dog wrote:
Quote:
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

It looks like skill ranks are rather similar to Pathfinder, if not the same. Possibly breaks down as...

Computers +7 (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +2 ship bonus, +1 INT)

Piloting (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +1 ship bonus, +4 DEX (maybe a touch generous here), +2 Skill Focus? )

But Gunnery +5 with no ranks? Curious.

I'm thinking these skill listings might be minimums that each crewmember might need to avoid needing to make skill checks constantly or something, or even minimums to fill their roles in the ship at all. So that means that you need gunnery bonuses of at least 5 but don't need to necessarily have a skill rank in that skill, but for piloting and computers, you need to have at least one skill rank to be a pilot at all?

I read that as if the ship is an encounter... it currently has "Generic Pilot Jane Doe" with those skills.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

RyanH wrote:
cartmanbeck wrote:
Stone Dog wrote:
Quote:
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

It looks like skill ranks are rather similar to Pathfinder, if not the same. Possibly breaks down as...

Computers +7 (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +2 ship bonus, +1 INT)

Piloting (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +1 ship bonus, +4 DEX (maybe a touch generous here), +2 Skill Focus? )

But Gunnery +5 with no ranks? Curious.

I'm thinking these skill listings might be minimums that each crewmember might need to avoid needing to make skill checks constantly or something, or even minimums to fill their roles in the ship at all. So that means that you need gunnery bonuses of at least 5 but don't need to necessarily have a skill rank in that skill, but for piloting and computers, you need to have at least one skill rank to be a pilot at all?
I read that as if the ship is an encounter... it currently has "Generic Pilot Jane Doe" with those skills.

Ah, that is a totally reasonable option as well. :)

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

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Stone Dog wrote:
GeekDad Exclusive wrote:
For a starship to engage its Drift engines to either enter or exit the Drift, it must remain stationary with its conventional thrusters turned off for 1 minute.
I really hope there is a way around this. Probably something the engineer can roll for. A panicked attempt to jump out of a system is too classic to miss out on.

Not saying whether there is or isn't (because frankly, I don't know) but isn't that situation just that much more dramatic when there's a countdown clock?

Scarab Sages

I may have missed it before now, but Absalom Station still contains the Starstone? That's pretty cool, and I guess still gives opportunity for someone to use its power to ascend to a god. I wonder if the Cathedral and the Test are still 'there'.


Stone Dog wrote:
GeekDad Exclusive wrote:
For a starship to engage its Drift engines to either enter or exit the Drift, it must remain stationary with its conventional thrusters turned off for 1 minute.
I really hope there is a way around this. Probably something the engineer can roll for. A panicked attempt to jump out of a system is too classic to miss out on.

***Casts Tokyo Drift***

Problem solved! ;)


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
Not saying whether there is or isn't (because frankly, I don't know) but isn't that situation just that much more dramatic when there's a countdown clock?

It could be, but I think there is a marked flavor difference between "Can we withstand an assault for 10 turns" and "Can I overcharge the Drift engine and force a jump in time."

Also, what is the in world term for moving from the Material to the Drift? "Jump" is traditional, sure. "Shift" from "Plane Shift" would be fine, except for that the rhyme sounds silly. "Drift Shift." Jaunt? Maybe some pilots say the ship is about to "step Outside?" Perhaps the term comes from the ripping away of other planes. "Brace for Drift Tear!"

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
Stone Dog wrote:
GeekDad Exclusive wrote:
For a starship to engage its Drift engines to either enter or exit the Drift, it must remain stationary with its conventional thrusters turned off for 1 minute.
I really hope there is a way around this. Probably something the engineer can roll for. A panicked attempt to jump out of a system is too classic to miss out on.
Not saying whether there is or isn't (because frankly, I don't know) but isn't that situation just that much more dramatic when there's a countdown clock?

I read this as thrusters off... no change in speed or direction. (Because in space, "stationary relative to WHAT?!") So, you're being chased and want to make a jump through the drift... you shut down your thrusters, hurtling through space with no flight control as you power up and engage the Drift engine while your gunners are blasting away at the pursuers.


yeah, i think that was new


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Stone Dog wrote:
Also, what is the in world term for moving from the Material to the Drift? "Jump" is traditional, sure. "Shift" from "Plane Shift" would be fine, except for that the rhyme sounds silly. "Drift Shift." Jaunt? Maybe some pilots say the ship is about to "step Outside?" Perhaps the term comes from the ripping away of other planes. "Brace for Drift Tear!"

I have nothing to do with formal Starfinder worldbuilding, but...

My space cowboy is gonna call it "Drifting."

The Drift is a place, Drifting is the act of using it for travel.

Liberty's Edge

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"All hands, prepare for Material transition, t-minus 1 minute from... mark."


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Lemartes wrote:

***Casts Tokyo Drift***

Problem solved! ;)

A Technomancer spell/ritual would be good, yes! You might need purely physical processes to GET to the Drift, but a magical way to BOOST those processes might not be out of line. Especially if the spell is random.

making things up wrote:

Hasten Drift Jaunt

With applied principles of technomancy, a ship may be induced into the Drift space early. This process is not without dangers of its own!

School: Transmutation (to directly affect the engine)
Level: Technomancer X
Casting Time: Full Round
Components: V,S,M (Something that has been in the Drift for more than a year)
Range: Touch
Target: Drift Engine touched
Duration: Concentration

On each round following the casting of the spell, there is a cumulative 5% chance that the ship makes the transition to the Drift early.
The percentage chance on the round when the transition occurs is added to both the Drift Engine rating when calculating travel time and the chance for a random encounter.


cartmanbeck wrote:
RyanH wrote:
cartmanbeck wrote:
Stone Dog wrote:
Quote:
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

It looks like skill ranks are rather similar to Pathfinder, if not the same. Possibly breaks down as...

Computers +7 (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +2 ship bonus, +1 INT)

Piloting (+1 rank, +3 class skill, +1 ship bonus, +4 DEX (maybe a touch generous here), +2 Skill Focus? )

But Gunnery +5 with no ranks? Curious.

I'm thinking these skill listings might be minimums that each crewmember might need to avoid needing to make skill checks constantly or something, or even minimums to fill their roles in the ship at all. So that means that you need gunnery bonuses of at least 5 but don't need to necessarily have a skill rank in that skill, but for piloting and computers, you need to have at least one skill rank to be a pilot at all?
I read that as if the ship is an encounter... it currently has "Generic Pilot Jane Doe" with those skills.
Ah, that is a totally reasonable option as well. :)

It could also be the skill ranks of the autopilot.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Shisumo wrote:
"All hands, prepare for Material transition, t-minus 1 minute from... mark."

Transition is likely the jargon that military, Science or Government ships use.

Cole Deschain wrote:

My space cowboy is gonna call it "Drifting."

The Drift is a place, Drifting is the act of using it for travel.

I can see that as a way to talk about something that happens while you are in the Drift. "We were Drifting for about three days when we came across the derelict ship."


Starfinder Charter Superscriber

TL is target lock, they mentioned it in the GAMA demo. It's your AC against 'lock-on' type weapons, I think.

Scarab Sages

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Cole Deschain wrote:

How 'bout that Triune origin?

Right? Answered my Iron Gods tie in question.

Liberty's Edge

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I wonder when you roll for the travel time. Before you enter the Drift? Immediately afterward? And who rolls - is it GM-only info or are the PCs assumed to know it as well?

"Drift transition complete, Captain."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Ensign Barclay, scan for our exit point."
"Yes sir! Scanning... exit point located. Beacon 127 at 134-mark-29, Beacon 722 at 32-mark-171, Beacon 410 at 98-mark-114. Looks like 88 hours, Captain."
"Very good, Ensign. Plot the course. Main thrusters to full when ready."


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Stone Dog wrote:
Cole Deschain wrote:

My space cowboy is gonna call it "Drifting."

The Drift is a place, Drifting is the act of using it for travel.

I can see that as a way to talk about something that happens while you are in the Drift. "We were Drifting for about three days when we came across the derelict ship."

Space Cowboy would say, "We'd been on the Drift for about a week when people started to get sick."

An homage to one of my favorite Ken Kesey-employed expressions from Sometimes a Great Notion, "on the bounce."

Scarab Sages

So...

"entering the Drift causes pieces of other planes of existence to be torn off and drawn in"

Does... this seems like a pretty big problem for good characters to anyone else? I mean, since every use of the drift turns into apparently irreversible damage to the multiverse.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
Magicdealer wrote:

So...

"entering the Drift causes pieces of other planes of existence to be torn off and drawn in"

Does... this seems like a pretty big problem for good characters to anyone else? I mean, since every use of the drift turns into apparently irreversible damage to the multiverse.

Do no good people drive gas powered cars?


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Magicdealer wrote:

So...

"entering the Drift causes pieces of other planes of existence to be torn off and drawn in"

Does... this seems like a pretty big problem for good characters to anyone else? I mean, since every use of the drift turns into apparently irreversible damage to the multiverse.

It's not really irreversible, since the multiverse is already continually getting broken down by the Maelstrom and regenerates itself from the souls of mortals (whether directly as they become one with the plane or indirectly as they become outsiders that eventually are killed and become one with the plane).

Scarab Sages

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I dunno... It just seems kind of evil to, you know, use an engine that slices up existence... Like, that next shred might be part of someone's liver, or a unique piece of art, or part of an engine that's keeping a star from exploding.

It's like driving a car that fires a bullet in a random direction every time you get on the highway.


Jason Mosher wrote:

:o

Holy crap I'm shaking in my space-boots! Ship stats!

Geek Dad wrote:

IDARAN VOIDRUNNER TIER 1/3

Tiny racer
Speed 12; Maneuverability perfect (turn 0)
AC 15; TL 14
HP 20; DT—; CT 4
Shields basic 10 (forward 3, port 2, starboard 2, aft 3)
Attack (Forward) gyrolaser (1d8)
Power Core Micron Heavy (70 PCU); Drift Engine none;
Systems basic computer, basic mid-range sensors, mk 2 armor, mk 1 defenses; Expansion Bays none
Modifiers +2 Computers, +1 Piloting; Complement 1
CREW
Pilot Computers +7 (1 rank), gunnery +5, Piloting +11 (1 rank)

OKokok does anyone know what TL, DT or CT are? What's the significance of the PCU rating? How is power consumed? How are the "Modifiers" applied? What do the "CREW" stats (and X ranks) mean? Does "perfect (turn 0)" mean the ship can turn with every hex it moves through?

IS IT AUGUST YET?!

How 'bout now?...

Well, from my long experience with the Traveller RPG, I can make a couple educated guesses. First off, PCU means Power Core Units. These are probably the same as Energy Points. Each ship system must be powered in order to function. TL probably means Tech Level, which is an abstract representation of the ship's technical sophistication. The modifiers are likely bonuses provided by the software the vessel's computer is running. DT and CT, I don't know. Turn 0 means that the ship can turn in the same hex, turn 1 means that the ship must travel one hex before the turn is completed. Think of the Starfighters from Babylon 5. Hope this helps.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Magicdealer wrote:

I dunno... It just seems kind of evil to, you know, use an engine that slices up existence... Like, that next shred might be part of someone's liver, or a unique piece of art, or part of an engine that's keeping a star from exploding.

It's like driving a car that fires a bullet in a random direction every time you get on the highway.

Honestly, sounds more like refusing to drive a car because you might get in an accident and injure someone. Sure, some of that might happen, but it also might not. I can imagine most people deciding it's an acceptable chance, given the possible advantages and chances to do good. Because if you decide the odds aren't acceptable...you're giving up the ability to influence anything outside of your home system.

Scarab Sages

Except that you're guaranteed to at LEAST tear up a bit of the universe every time you start it up.


Magicdealer wrote:
Except that you're guaranteed to at LEAST tear up a bit of the universe every time you start it up.

That's why there are several mystics near drift beacons whose full-time job is to repair the frayed threads of space and time caused by interstellar traffic.

Or at least, I imagine there could be.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Magicdealer wrote:
Except that you're guaranteed to at LEAST tear up a bit of the universe every time you start it up.

But the universe is tearing itself up constantly, so why is this additional tearing - presumably quite minor in comparison to the constant devouring by the Maestrom - worth worrying about? Can we prove it's actually doing any harm, that it's tipping the balance? That would require experimentation. I mean, it might be, but they've had the tech this long, and the planes haven't unraveled...so I'm betting a lot of people just accept it.

Edited.


Just read it.

Although my campaigns won't use the drift.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Magicdealer wrote:

I dunno... It just seems kind of evil to, you know, use an engine that slices up existence... Like, that next shred might be part of someone's liver, or a unique piece of art, or part of an engine that's keeping a star from exploding.

It's like driving a car that fires a bullet in a random direction every time you get on the highway.

Globally, Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day.

An additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled.

This is apparently socially acceptable in our society. (ASIRT)

The Drift seems similar in this way..


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Well, you tear up a bit of the planet every time you start up. Between mining for ores, drilling for oil, refining oil into gas, shipping, construction, road building and maintenance, and actually running the engine, that all takes a toll. Then there are all the deaths and injuries that are caused both in these processes and operation of the cars.

Some people are more concerned than others, but the Great Beyond is HUGE. For all you know the latest chunk to fall into the Drift was about to be gulped by the Maelstrom anyway.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I wonder... if two or more ships are traveling in the same area and enter the drift.

1. Do they enter at the same place in the Drift regardless of destination?
2. If not do they enter at the same place in the Drift if they are heading to the same destination?
3. When traveling from point A to Point B in the Material Plane is the path through the Drift always the same?

Really, all the same question. What kind of atmosphere exists in the Drift... if the Emerald Spire for instance is floating through the drift, does it have gravity? Atmosphere?


Aren't at least some of the planes that are having bits torn off, ya know, infinite? You tear a little bit off of infinity, who's going to notice? ;)


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Ripping a scrap off of the Abyss... as if the qlippoths didn't already despise mortal life enough...

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