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"That's funny... I don't remember running up my credit card buying everything I need to make a life-sized android double of myself..."
Remind me how much we know about the origin of this malware? Did it come embedded in a video intended for Vi? Do we know who sent it to us?
Ok, everyone got between 4 and 5 experience for the kitty fight.
It was fairly short, but dangerous, so higher XP award than you might have expected.
Next up I need to know what you want to do from here, you have several options (Note that events in the world will continue, and your choices may get short circuited by events as they unfold).
1) Try to track down Uncle and find out what happened (IE : Investigate the trap you didn't walk into earlier with the video, and it's malware)
2) Try to track down more information about The Magician and Cerberus, in an attempt to keep them from continuing to feed on people.
3) Try to investigate the explosion on the military base, and what happened around that.
4) Something else entirely that piqued your interest that came up, but the GM didn't mention in 1 to 3.
18 Dex = 24 pts
23 Int = 13 pts
4 Speed = 12 pts
49 pts base
Psychic Bond = 10 Point Mind Link
Clair Sentience (Pulse Only -1) = 20 pts sight + 10 pts radio + 5 pts hearing = 35 pts/2 = 17
Mental Images (Only to Mindlinked - 2) = 5 (Non-Targeting) / 3 = 2
Eidetic Memory = 5 CP
Speed Reading = 4 CP
Total Powers = 38 CP (87 CP current)
Skills
Video Codecs 14- = 3 CP
Audio Codecs 14- = 3 CP
Things On the Internet 14- = 3CP
Programs
Video Editing Software = 1 CP
Audio Editing Software = 1 CP
Chrome = 1 CP
Total = 99 PC
That's what I've got so far, is there anything you guys think I did wrong, or should pick up, or should drop?
Once Violet gets over the "I've doomed us all" anxiety, her vote is for option 1 - track down what's going on with Uncle Bill and the video forgery.
As far as the Hotaru 9000, it looks good to me, but Clairsentience is one word. ;)
I separated it as foreshadowing. :)
Also! Should I sell back her RealPC?
Does head-PC get DEX, or EGO? (Since it's only capable of mental actions)
Computers always have DEX, it determines how fast they are responding to input, and to things around them. It also factors into their speed (just like a person).
Only AI's get Ego.
Oh! Fair enough.
I haven't looked into the computer building rules so can't comment there (except to say I love you're building A COMPUTER IN YOUR MIND!)
Next adventure: Rocket wants to look into the Uncle Bill trap.
Adding OBS (Video/Audio recording software) to Taru's PC brings it to 100 CP (5 real points).
Then...
Sold for +5 Con = -1 ED, -6 End, -3 Stun, -1 Rec -1 CP
Gained from +5 Con = +1 ED, +10 End, +2.5 Stun, +1 Rec
Total = +4 End, -.5 Stun, -1 CP
Force Field lower end cost = 9 CP
9 CP = 18 End. Force Field End/Turn = -3 = 6 turns to refill what was lost.
Total Results: +5 Con, + 2 End/phase forcefield, 86 End, Same Stun. Lose 1 CP.
Any issues with me boosting Pulse's Con so much in such a short time frame? It's really, really hard to balance it out if I buy it in less than chunks of 5.
3 and 8 are actually a lot more efficient than 5 in most things, stats especially. While I personally love multiples of 5, try experimenting with 3's and 8's and see what you get, maybe?
Violet's stat increases were explained by way of her training hard all through the winter and becoming a four-foot-eleven fitness freak. With Pulse's SFX, you could easily explain the CON increase as "her nerves channel electricity more efficiently, keeping her conscious more easily," or what-have-you.
Also, I'm pretty sure you can only sell back one figured characteristic, so if I'm reading your math right, there might be an issue hidden in the numbers.
She can 'sell back' points she spent on the figured characteristic. She can't take the characteristic into negatives (other than one). I'd have to check each figured characteristic to see if it's got enough points spent into it to negate what she's taking out of it.
IE: If she had 10 CON and bought 50 stun for 50 pts, she could raise her CON by 10 (Costing 20 points) and take out 10 of the 50 pts she put into CON to help pay for it (meaning she'd keep the stun at the same level, but have only spent 40 pts to get it there, and having spent 10 new pts and moved 10 pts from STUN to CON to get there)
Ah, see, I didn't realize she was removing expended points, as I haven't really looked at her sheet (as I try not to do so). Yeah, if the points are expended and not from the Figuring itself, that's no issue.
Carry on!
Hey mdt, as I realized during that last combat:
We've been extrapolating the multiple move-by rules to other martial move-by-like maneuvers, and it looks like that might not be RAW.
Before I think about how to spend XP, I should think about if we need to rebuild some. I'd happily keep playing this way, but if you prefer we change I'm sure we can figure something out. Worst-comes-to-worst, I'll move back from martial maneuvers to using move-bys, and just buy some levels to help with those, or something like that.
What do you think?
Hmm. The way I see it, I've got three XP options now that I have a bit saved up:
1) Boost CON to superhuman levels, possibly throw some STUN in there too.
2) Increase my multipower
3) (possibly with one of the above) turn the police contact/enforcement into something useful, like a job at the local branch of the FBI; if I pick up LS: less sleep, I can work a day job and still have downtime with the party.
Yup. Taru has like... 20 more Con worth of points that can be gained from spending like 1 XP per 5 Con without losing anything (and instead gaining a little, if I did my math right, especially in the ED department, which is fitting).
It's a pretty steep investment for small gains, but... not getting constunned by every attack ever and losing her forcefield and becoming a liability is nice.
As an aside, it's actually really easy to work out how her Con/Force Field stuff works.
Just imagine that a small portion of her force field is hardwired now, always diverting some of her energy, but like an LED bulb, ultimately using up far less energy. I believe it also makes sense when applied as a 'Current Source', if I understood the article correctly. I very likely didn't, though. :)
So, basically covered by 'used force field a lot, until she figured out how to do it better.
Likewise, constant use of extremely draining powers would likely build up constitution. She's a literal power conversion device, regardless. :)
Does anyone else have anything in-character to try to apply to the current situations to track things down? I don't like just leaving the Cerberus thing hanging, but I doubt they'll stay in our neck of the woods.
My take on Cerberus is that we probably won't see her again for at least another 12 issues. I suspect she's going to be one of our Annual Villains, the one the writers roll out every time there's a change in the art-staff or something.
But seriously, I think we're done seeing her for a while. Or at least I hope we are.
Violet's kind of a wash on the tech-back-end thing, really. She was the one who delivered the USB key to the foreign dignitary's computer, not the one who actually did the hacking, so she's pretty much useless on that front.
Now, if you need her to walk into a crowd of people and tell you what each one's saying in their native language, she's your gal.
Unrelated Side Note = Odd. I'll never understand not respecting an artist's (or anyone's really) right to say no.
As my own aside, I've been looking around the rulebook and have found something suitably awesome for Pulse.
X CP - Badass Theme Music / Get Hyped - Increased Presence; Only to Protect against Presence attacks (-1), Only to Mindlinked (-2), Usable Simultaneously by up to 8 people Simultaneously (+1)
X = 1 CP per 2 Defense-only Presence.
Possibly with other cool things I haven't thought of, like other limitations/advantages that would apply! But this seems ridiculously cool. Thoughts? Would this break Violet? :P
Running theme music through Violet's head would probably end up with the offender getting muted, at least temporarily.
I'd liken it to someone on your fireteam whistling "Yankee Doodle Dandy" into your headset. Repeatedly.
*Points* But it says on the tin that it's good for morale!
"Important Oxytocin Purposes" is going to either go on a shirt, or be the name of my next Rock Band group. Not sure which.
Okay, I'll bite... wut?
Also, how much is 'Side Effect: Makes Violet want to Murder Me' worth?
Violet told Uncle Bill she needs Rocket for "important oxytocin purposes."
And that's at least a 60 point side effect that happens every time you use the power, so probably a -1. Maybe even a -2.
Murdered with Mind Bullets.
As a side note... this game didn't update for me at all since mdt gave me the spoiler. Strange...
If anyone's interested, I figured out how to use the emissive light shaders in iRay, for the most part.
This is a big thing, because in order to get internally illuminated objects prior to these shaders, you had to essentially hide lights in things, or use special reflective/refractive shaders that would pick up other lights and use them to make their own. These just... light up.
No time to post but Zach goes shopping. Feel free to post assuming he did so.
One build note for folks:
mdt has shown us in this fight and our training fight how potent the Teamwork skill can be. (In a nutshell, it lets us time out attacks together on one foe, to get through tough defenses and make it harder for them to avoid getting hit.)
What do yall think about having everyone add it to their builds? (I think for now all mdt is allowing is an 8- familiarity for 1 pt...but mdt if we've been practicing together long enough to buy the full 3 pt skill, let us know.)
I recommend it, and think it may be very hard for us to deal with bosses without it (and likely hard for any of us other than Aegis and Mud to deal with high-def foes period, without it).
Every 3 combats or full on training sessions you do, you can add 1pt to the skill, until it's at 3 points. After that, every 3 fights/sessions you can make a teamwork check. If you fail it, you can add a point to the skill. This simulates the learning curve where you pick it up fast, then level off and it takes more and more work to increase the skill.
Mdt. When will you have time to spend Mud's xp?
Cheers
This weekend
Every 3 combats or full on training sessions you do, you can add 1pt to the skill, until it's at 3 points. After that, every 3 fights/sessions you can make a teamwork check. If you fail it, you can add a point to the skill. This simulates the learning curve where you pick it up fast, then level off and it takes more and more work to increase the skill.
Cool, so I can spend one of my current 9 XP to bring my familiarity to 2pts? Does 2pts have a mechanical effect? (I know 1 = 8- and 3 equals 9+(DEX/5)- ...so maybe 2 pts averages between those two?)
And can folks who *didn't* put a point into familiarity be assumed to be able to get to 2pts now as well, or does it have to be added 1 pt / session?
And while I'm asking Qs about spending XP, you set certain limits (e.g. 60 AP max for pools and powers) at creation. Do you have a sense of when that changes, and by how much?
e.g., I don't know if I want to invest in running faster yet, but if I *did*, would I want to add, say, 3 pts to that pool (e.g. +1" speed) per adventure? Or is saving up and increasing pools and stats in larger chunks OK?
No, 2 pts has no mechanical effect. It just goes toward the 3 pointer. And no, it's 1 pt at a time.
Once the game starts, limits are kind of elastic with the GM. Basically, I"m not going to allow any one person to gain an overwhelming attack. I would prefer people to branch out into other powers rather than upping their existing powers.
Cool, sounds good to me.
Have we been in enough fights to buy the second point?
Just realized, something we've been forgetting:
Violet has the Rapid Healing Talent, and always has.
Whoops.
I'm purchasing:
1pt Familiarity Teamwork
3pt Skill: Seduction (4 points total)
1 pt increase to Contact (raises to 11-) (5 points total)
4 pt increase Mind Scan slot from Ultra to Multi (9 points total)
4 pt increase Mental Illusions slot from Ultra to Multi (13 points total)
That leaves me with 1 XP unspent.
MDT lemme know if you want the new .hdc file, or I can just update the PDF on my own. :)
I'm thinking maybe each time Janice gets "killed" (or close to it), another part of her body regrows tougher. Given the many slashes across her torso, I figure this time it makes sense to grow a new respiratory system.
I've got a breakdown on my profile, but the new stuff is
-CON to 23 (3 XP with -1 buyoff to ED and REC, keeping those two constant), as she finally achieves superhuman resistance to systemic shock
-Life Support (3 XP in Extended Breathing, 1 XP in Diminished Sleep) as she gets better at altering her metabolism
This should leave me with 1 XP remaining to boost teamwork to 2 points *if* that's allowed.
FWIW, it's fun to play Confident Violet for a while. She'll be back to her usual self after Bill leaves town. ;)
1. Altering his focus from earth to solids. Such that, he started with Earth, because of the event when his powers emerged, i.e. being dragged into the earth. As he practices his powers, he begins to use them through solids, effectively temporarily liquefying them. This can translate into reducing the -1/2 limitation on his two powers to a -1/4.
2. Tapping into the magic element of Earth. Considering the campaign was metas, I thought that we would avoid "magic" as a source. The character that Mud emulates Monolith is the champion of Mother Earth. Maybe he develops growth and teleport...
3. His powers platueau and he starts getting mad skills
I'm actually ambivalent between the choices and want the one that fits best for your campaign. However, I would like to spend some XP.
Please advise. Cheers
Sorry, been busy. So...
Within the world, 'magic' is just Metas having awoken in old times. However, there's a large psychological component to how powers work. That is why Pixie was ok as a character, her psychology guide her power manifestation.
So if he went 'magic' it wouldn't be 'magic' it would be his own psyche limiting him. However, I think honestly a combination of 1 and 3 might be more beneficial to you and the character.
MDT. Thanks. I look forward to spending some XP.
cheers
Ok, I may have time later today to do XP expenditure, so those who want to spend XP, please put in spoilers and I'll try to do them today.
+1 : add to my Teamwork familiarity
+5 : mental defense, after my practice with Vi (I think you said 5 pts was the minimum you allow?)
I have some other possibilities I'm considering, but I don't think I can make suggestions until I find out if I need to rebuild my attacks.
That said, I know you said you'll get to it. If you don't have time to audit/decide yet, no worries!
Quoted below, with emphasis on something we've been forgetting:
Just realized, something we've been forgetting:
Violet has the Rapid Healing Talent, and always has.
Whoops.
I'm purchasing:
1pt Familiarity Teamwork
3pt Skill: Seduction (4 points total)
1 pt increase to Contact (raises to 11-) (5 points total)
4 pt increase Mind Scan slot from Ultra to Multi (9 points total)
4 pt increase Mental Illusions slot from Ultra to Multi (13 points total)
That leaves me with 1 XP unspent.
MDT lemme know if you want the new .hdc file, or I can just update the PDF on my own. :)
Actually, I did respond to it, but it appears the forums ate it. I said I was good with all those, and you could just update the PDF yourself, but send me a copy of the HDC file anyway so I have a local copy.
-4 XP Base
-1 XP Codec Familiarity
(-7)
* * *
-2 XP Video Codecs 13-
-3 XP Research 13-
* * *
-1 ED, -6 End, -3 Stun, -1 Rec, -1 XP = +5 Con
-18 End = add (+1/4) Half Endurance to forcefield.
-1 XP = Teamwork Familiarity
-5 XP= Taru Headputer
* * *
1 XP Remaining
18 Dex = 24 pts
23 Int = 13 pts
4 Speed = 12 pts
49 pts base
Psychic Bond = 10 Point Mind Link
Clair Sentience (Pulse Only -1) = 20 pts sight + 10 pts radio + 5 pts hearing = 35 pts/2 = 17
Mental Images (Only to Mindlinked - 2) = 5 (Non-Targeting) / 3 = 2
Eidetic Memory = 5 CP
Speed Reading = 4 CP
Total Powers = 38 CP (87 CP current)
Skills
Video Codecs 14- = 3 CP
Audio Codecs 14- = 3 CP
Things On the Internet 14- = 3CP
Programs
Video Editing Software = 1 CP
Audio Editing Software = 1 CP
Chrome = 1 CP
OBS = 1 CP
Total = 100 CP PC
Think I'm going to save my xp for now, Aegis stats are pretty good and I'm not sure what 'cool things' I want
-Breakfall (3 XP)
-Base Contribution (4 XP)
-CON +5 (10 XP)(buy-off ED -1, REC -1) (7 XP total)
-Teamwork familiarity (1 XP)
-Life Support: Diminished Sleep (1 XP)
-Life Support: Extended Breathing (3 XP)
Going for the "replace one lung with durable plant parts" upgrade
** spoiler omitted **
The forums appear to be hungry, lately, and I'm honestly worried about the number of posts they appear to be eating.
Hopefully it's fixed soon.
I'll get you the .hdc shortly.
As a side note, the only person on the entire team who saw Violet's initial reaction to her Uncle was Rocket - and Violet then vouched for him completely.
I'm curious to know why so many of the PC's are running with this "He could be a villain in disguise! We can't trust him!" line.
I'm cool with the suspicion and all - not a one of the other PC's know the guy and we've had our run of bad luck with newcomers and strange people coming in out of the rain - but the constant references to him potentially being someone else make me curious, because in character, not a one of you except for Rocket saw that initial interchange.
Color me curious, is all.