Starfinder Society #1-00 encounter clarification request

[Gajavi]

First I would like to preface this with that I am new to organised play GMing (running first scenario this coming Tuesday). I have a few questions regarding a few encounters in Starfinder Society Scenario #1-00: Claim to Salvation.

Heat & Armour:

The Fort save required to resist the heat has a -4 penalty if the player is wearing heavy clothes or armour. However, if a player opts to seal their suit would it negate the environmental hazard completely?

Encounter B1:

The text on page 12 states "Lighting throughout the structure is currently off, shrouding most of the goblin settlement in darkness.". Am I correct that since room B1 is in darkness that players would have the Blinded condition (50% miss chance, athletics or fall prone, etc.) unless they have a form of light emission like a torch or a form of Dark Vision? This combined with the range they have to shoot against the goblins on the walkway 40 feet up could make it a nightmare to hit anything.

Encounter B4:

In the tactic mentioned on page 17, it says they prefer doing an attack and a spell when possible. Would it make sense to do this while they have someone in melee as the AoO would have a good chance of wasting the spell each time. The problem remains with the alternate strategy given with the ranged attack provoking the AoO, so they would get shredded if engaged in melee. Additionally, it does not state how high the walkway is that the players enter on, so I am assuming it is 40 feet high with an 80 foot roof like the floor above?

[Jhaeman]

Gajavi wrote:

First I would like to preface this with that I am new to organised play GMing (running first scenario this coming Tuesday). I have a few questions regarding a few encounters in Starfinder Society Scenario #1-00: Claim to Salvation.

answers:

a) Yes. All the Iconics have armor or clothes with environmental protection (I think), so this shouldn't actually be an issue.

b) Potentially. I did enforce the darkness rules, but the PCs had various forms of light (have them check their equipment lists carefully for flashlights, etc.) so it didn't become much of an issue.

c) I read the tactics section as saying that BorgoBago's preference would be to fight at ranged and cast spells, but if someone closes, then he'll happily fight at melee and cast spells. Attacks of opportunity could disrupt a spell if they hit, but some creatures are willing to take that chance. If an intelligent creature has a problem happen repeatedly though, you have the discretion as GM to have that creature change its tactics accordingly.

d) You're right that the heights of the walkways weren't provided. I ran it that they were about the same height as the top of the stacked cubes and had the ettin standing on a stack so he could shoot as soon as the PCs exited. There were some mildly confusing bits because games like this just don't handle three-dimensional battles well when it comes to range and cover.

[Gajavi]

Thanks Jhaeman, your answers A, B and C were what I was guessing the answers would be and it's great to know I was on the right track. I like your answer D and may steal that for my own game to help with simplicity.