Castamir's Flaxseed Station

Game Master Chris Marsh

Yep, mending can only target a construct once per day. If it didn't have that limitation, well it probably wouldn't be a cantrip, but technomanctic dabbler mechanics would be far happier with drones.

I have a hard time with 'pet'/'companion' characters. This is due to both a distraction factor and the few times I've played one, the pet was targeted 100% of the time 'because it's not a PC' (in other games/campaigns).

So if I want to play an engineer in Starfinder, it needs to be exocortex.

That sounds like a frustrating GM. The pet is a class feature, and thus part of your PC.

I've never had a GM particularly go after my companions unless the companions were the ones actively attacking. My ape, eidolon and phantom get hit pretty often but they're also usually doing the hitting. But I think my Sha'ir Occultist's air elemental has only been attacked once (because he stays out of the way) and my wolf mount has only been attacked a couple of times (on the assumption that downing the rider eliminates the mount but not necessarily vice versa, I assume.)

"Buster my trusty quad-bike drone hasn't let me down yet, that little guy and his corona laser rifle sure has been a huge bonus in a tight corner, a great assistant on the maintenance and fix it show 'Jims Jams', and on our publicity events the kids sure do love going for a ride around Absalom station on him. But remember kids, when riding around on strange machinery, always make sure you get the ok from a parent or guardian, and always use any fitted safety harness or restraint - Remember kids SAFTEY FIRST!"

I have a drone mechanic as my secondary character. He's a ryphorian, and his drone is the consciousness of his dragonkin partner who died during an operation with the Skyfire Legion. As such, I've set him up to start using heavy weapons from level 1 onwards, because if I'm going to have a dragon drone, she needs a breath weapon!

My SFS 701 is a Ysoki Drone Mechanic (early build was a Combat drone, but I transitioned to a Hover drone as soon it could carry a Longarm). When both her and the drone are able to stand still and shoot with overcharge it's a higher damage throughput than either an Exocortex Mechanic or a Ranged Soldier. When she's forced to move her damage output drops more than either an Exocortex Mechanic or Longarm Soldier would.

Looking for some PbP GM advice, recommendations on a good module for a first time. Any suggestions or favorites?

I've got a one or two bits I want to set up, and I think I'll give it shot.

I just finished running 1-10 The Half-Alive Streets, and that's a pretty great one if you're looking for something basic. A good amount of roleplay opportunities, diverse skill checks, no crazy subsystems or overly complicated encounters, plus you can really play up the spooks!

Plus, it's just an interesting scenario! Can't go wrong with that one in my opinion.

Looking for some PbP GM advice, recommendations on a good module for a first time. Any suggestions or favorites?

I've got a one or two bits I want to set up, and I think I'll give it shot.

I like 1-02 Fugitive on the Red Planet as a nice, straightforward scenario for a start

@Anxa: I'd push you to choosing a non-Starship Combat scenario for your first GMing run on PbP (both 1-02 & 1-10 mentioned here are devoid of space combat).

But after you go without Starship Combat in that scenario... Try it in your second one. I and others would be happy to help you learn how to run it and be awesome!

Hi all was pointed here by GM Numbat, new to pbp and only been able to run starfinder a few times never play it. And the sfs seems best way to play and develop a charater but still be flexable for real life.

Currently im reading over the pbp guide here and re reading, The Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide. My plan is to take next few days to come up with character and the write it up, but would like to know if there are any common mistakes new comers to pbp or sfs play make that I should keep in mind? Thanks

...but would like to know if there are any common mistakes new comers to pbp or sfs play make that I should keep in mind? Thanks

#1 Over-committing - Every long-term GM has had people that had to drop out of a game because they over-committed. Sometimes it's just RL coming into play, but often it is just that you only had time for 1 games and you signed up for 6. So, my first bit of advice is to take it slow. Ease into it with one game and see what the time requirements are going to be like before you sign up for any more.

#2 Treating PbP like a Face2Face game - Let's face it (see what I did there? ;-) ), PbP is a great way to get your game fix in, but it is NOT like a F2F game. There are more opportunities for RolePlaying (RP), because you have the tie to formulate your responses, get into character, and really make your gameplay shine. But, there is also the temptation to just throw a skill check roll out there and maybe 3 ooc words and go. For everyone's benefit, choose to be the former player, not the latter. Take your time and flesh out a finely crafted post, with lots of in-character detail. Your fellow players and GM will love you for it, and you'll get lots of invites when new games spring up.

Also, make definitive actions that require (or at least encourage) responses from other players or the GM. This is often known as the "Always be Pushing" principle and it helps keep PBP games from stalling. In the PBP realm, stalling is like when your F2F game gets derailed by some meme and the next thign you know, it's time to go and you haven't accomplished anything. in PBP, this happens when the players (or GM) don't make definitive posts that encourage interaction. Think of it this way. Which of these two posts encourages the game to continue moving on more?

Bigrin wondered if the creature they were following had doubled back."

Bigrin looked at the ground and scratched his head. He had lost the trail. I wonder if it doubled back. Maybe someone else saw signs?

'Hey guys, did any of you see signs of the creature doubling back on its trail? I think I've lost it.'

He continued to scan back and forth, even dropping to his knees to see if there were signs of disturbance on the ground."

survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

#3 Worrying about effectiveness - Look, no one wants to feel that their character can't contribute in any situation, but let's face it, in SFS there are as many opportunities for "soft" skills to shine as there are for combat skills, or "hard" skills (sciences, computers, engineering, etc.). Maybe more so. Having a combat ineffective character that you really enjoy playing is MUCH more enjoyable than having a min-maxing combat specialist that can drop foes in 1 shot, but who is basically useless any time you aren't in initiative. If you play a character you are happy with and enjoy playing, then your games are more fun, you post better posts (see #2), and everyone enjoys it more.

#4 We were all newbies once - True story. Don't worry about making mistakes or forgetting a key skill. We've all done it (I did it last game). It's no big deal> And, if you let your GM know that your are a newcomer, they'll look out for you and remind you of that bonus you might have missed, or a key ability you have that you may have forgotten about.

Welcome Karde58!

If you make a post within the Gameplay section of this thread you will find that this will show up in your Campaigns. Doing that will allow you to keep an eye on the recruitment thread for games a bit easier.

As you have already noticed by Bilgrin's great post this place has no shortage of answers so if you have any questions about getting going in PbP don't be afraid to ask.

Welcome Karde58!

but would like to know if there are any common mistakes new comers to pbp or sfs play make
The first mistake would be listening to anything DM Birgin says <--just joking

If you click the PbP Info links above my avatar, you will find some info' (namely put together by GM Tyranius).

Hope you enjoy the games.

Well said DM Bigrin. Excellent post.

Also, make definitive actions that require (or at least encourage) responses from other players or the GM. This is often known as the "Always be Pushing" principle and it helps keep PBP games from stalling.

This is a massively good piece of advice. However, I refer to it as "always be progressing".

bigboom flashes a big grin. (see what I did there? ;-) )

Were we suppose to get boons for Dming Outpost II? Unless it is in my buried email.

Were we suppose to get boons for Dming Outpost II? Unless it is in my buried email.

Double (see what I did there) check your email. It may be in junk folder possibly. If you can’t find it let me know Doublegold.

Is it safe to assume they're still being processed (.e.g, those that reported nearer to the finish date of the con)?

Is it safe to assume they're still being processed (.e.g, those that reported nearer to the finish date of the con)?

Everything that has been sent in has been reported. I am only awaiting roughly 4 games and PM’s have been sent to those GMs.

Boons have been emailed out so check through your emails. If you are unable to find the boon in your email toss me a PM and I can resend it to you.

Wayfinder 19 is out, and it's focused on Starfinder. I spotted a number of friends from Castamirs Flaxseed Station in that issue!

GM Poblano is one of the editors. I saw writing from Chris and Nick Wasko, Meloriel and both her kids. There's some fun content in there, and most of the art was fantastic. I and GM Bret have an article on GMing Starship Combat, as well as a couple of other things in there.

Can we still create characters using the operations manual playtest?

Nope. Playtest is over. We have to wait for COM to come out in November!

Nope. Playtest is over. We have to wait for COM to come out in November!

Thanks for the quick response!

Please be aware of maintenance scheduled for Monday morning. To quote this post,
"On Monday, June 3, starting at 9:00 AM Pacific time, paizo.com be undergoing planned maintenance. Our team estimates paizo.com downtime will last between approximately 2-4 hours."

If you have an active or planned game running it may be worth having alternative methods of contact established to ward off or deal with a worst-case scenario.

Just used the Pre Gen character coding (for Skittermanders) that was done.

THANKS SO MUCH for the hard work put into that project.

It is very useful, and I am very grateful!

Just used the Pre Gen character coding (for Skittermanders) that was done.

THANKS SO MUCH for the hard work put into that project.

It is very useful, and I am very grateful!

PreGen?

The sheets with bb code to copy paste into your character sheet for the pre generated PCs

Found here if looking. They are located in the Kit for new PbP Gm's over in Flaxseed Lodge. Should probably get a folder like that for SFS or at least the link up in the header here (and in Cottonseed) too.

Playing through 'it rests beneath' and had the best moment ever.

SPOILERS!

SPOILERS!

Don't look Ethel!

There is nothing to see in the above post, and certainly nothing that pertains to our game of It Rests Beneath which I am sure is much different and much better than anything someone else may have played.

Found here if looking. They are located in the Kit for new PbP Gm's over in Flaxseed Lodge. Should probably get a folder like that for SFS or at least the link up in the header here (and in Cottonseed) too.

We could ask our host, Chris Marsh, if he can add that to Castamir's header. I think that the folder as is works for both campaigns for the moment... That said, if you have new content to add, we'll be happy to look at it.

Hmm

Done and done.

Thanks for being awesome, Chris!

Sorry, didn't mean to spoil

Hello Awesome GMs!

We're starting to recruit for PBP Gameday VIII. August 26-November 3rd, 2019
We will be running PFS1, PFS2, SFS and ACG.

Our specials will include 10-00 Hao Jin Cataclysm and 2-00 Fate of the Scoured God.

If you are interested in running a special for the Gameday, please respond to the Recruiting Form by June 10th. Thanks!

Hmm

Hello Awesome GMs!

We're starting to recruit for PBP Gameday VIII. August 26-November 3rd, 2019
We will be running PFS1, PFS2, SFS and ACG.

Our specials will include 10-00 Hao Jin Cataclysm and 2-00 Fate of the Scoured God.

If you are interested in running a special for the Gameday, please respond to the Recruiting Form by June 10th. Thanks!

Hmm

Done and Done!

I had a question about OSP specifically how public recruiting needs to be to qualify to report my game under it.

For one of my recent games, I was asking people before I posted the game and I ended up with 4-5 people already signed up before I even posted the game for recruitment. So there are, at best, two people that were publicly recruited. Is it correct for me still to report under OSP or would it be better to report under my own event?

I'm fine either way but rather feel comfortable with my reporting than that I'm doing something wrong.

You asked publicly on here, right? Were those 4-5 people from here when you did your interest check? If so, that serves enough as a recruitment to me.

On the other hand, if you privately PMed 4-5 friends and then listed your recruitment... that's a private game.

Does this make sense?

Hmm

That makes perfect sense. Thanks for the clarification!

From the way it played out this game is definitely under the latter.

What about followup games? publicly recruited, and then most of the table want to stick around for a second go with the GM? Is that public?

I am willing to let that be, especially if it is for a multiple part series like Aeon Throne or Signal of Screams. But after 2-3 games, you'll need to open up again. Fair?

Hmm

That sounds good to me. Especially for the series, some of which run the three or four scenarios.

Generally you get a drop out or two from scenario to scenario anyway.

Actually, thinking about it, this is pretty much a requirement for EotT :-) Not seen that advertised recently.

To those of you who were participants in a game from which I disappeared several weeks ago, I want to apologize. I had a major medical problem come up, involving several weeks in the hospital and then a long recovery at home. I asked someone to post briefly in my campaigns so that I wasn't just gone with no warning, but I realize that I still inconvenienced many of you. Most of those games have been marked inactive since then, and so I can't post my apology to them, and sending a PM to each person involved would be more work than I am up to now, so this public apology is the best I can do.

Sorry to hear about the ordeal but happy to hear you're on the mend! Really good to see you on the boards again. Hope your recovery continues positively and looking forward to seeing you in-game again when you're able!

To those of you who were participants in a game from which I disappeared several weeks ago, I want to apologize. I had a major medical problem come up, involving several weeks in the hospital and then a long recovery at home. I asked someone to post briefly in my campaigns so that I wasn't just gone with no warning, but I realize that I still inconvenienced many of you. Most of those games have been marked inactive since then, and so I can't post my apology to them, and sending a PM to each person involved would be more work than I am up to now, so this public apology is the best I can do.

Welcome back, Redelia! Sorry to hear that you had a rough time of it. I hope things continue to get better for you.

Gameday VIII
When making requests to change something on the signup sheet, please include the game system plus scenario number and name for the line you are referring to. This will make it much easier for us to find the relevant place on the ever-changing spreadsheet, especially with multiple people maintaining it.

Thank you