GM Valen's SFS Quests - Into the Unknown (PbP) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

"Tell me if you have suggestions for my next move!"

{"Do your best to keep us at long range (> 10 hexes away), Harqen! I think we have a slight advantage at that distance. We'll know more once Neon stops watching cat videos!"}

Ozei pulls up the forward cannon controls and fires at the Threnody.

{"Nice shot, Ozei. That's a difficult target for a laser cannon at this range. Let's take 'em apart."}

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer to aid his shot. Depending on the Endless Threnody's final position this round, he'll target the first accessible arc in this order: Forward > Rear > Port > Starboard.

Attack with Turret Coilgun (+ mk 1 computer): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Damage with Turret Coilgun: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 3) = 13

Apparently not realizing that the comm channel is still open following the Nameless Man’s taunt, the undead captain can be heard saying, "Spooky, we need more power to the Eye-Beam™!”
Undead Demand (DC 15+1.5x2=18): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

”I’m givin’ ‘er all sheeze got, cahptin!” chimes the response. ”But, she cannah take no mohr!”
Undead Engineer (Divert Power to Weapons w/Demand)(DC 10+1.5x2=13): 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 4 = 20

The deadly Eye-Beam™ begins to pulse with power!

”I suspect that that vessel is not piloted by our operative, Exegara Long-Tongue.” Again, the voice of the undead captain can be heard. “Yet, it would seem that someone has, nevertheless, come to deliver the skulls we need for our repairs! Bwahahahaha…whuh? Is that the comm signal light? Why is it still on?! The channels still open, isn’t it! You boneheads! I don't know why we even opened it in the first place. Shut that thing off before the captain of that other ship starts to yod-“. The comm channel goes dead.

Though having just suffered a respectable amount of damage, the Endless Threnody thrums along towards you, powered by necromantic energy.
Undead Pilot to Evade (DC 10+1.5x2=13): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

So eager to obtain the skulls he so desperately needs to leave the Drift and return to the undead friends and family that he is undying to see, the pilot of the Endless Threnody fails to execute any evasive maneuvers and instead heads straight towards the Loreseeker to line up a shot from the dreaded Eye-Beam™!

Enemy ship moved on map. Converted colors of PCs ship movement to yellow to distinguish the two.

The rest of you are up!

{"We'll know more once Neon stops watching cat videos!"}

”Don’t hate, boss man - cat videos make the universe go ‘round!” He tries another scan, putting off more defensive actions until they can get a read on the enemy ship’s armaments.

Computers (Scan): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

”There we go! Let’s see what kind of heat these guys are packing.”

Ozei sees the Threnody line up in her sights again and fires.

Taking the other Duonode bonus.

Light Laser Cannon, Duonode: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

The Threnody's pilot jig-jogs just as Ozei fires, and the shot goes wide.

But, just then, the scanning results begin to stream back from Neon Punk’s scan, relaying the following information:

Endless Threnody
Large heavy freighter
Speed 6; Maneuverability average (turn 2); Drift -
AC 11; TL 11
HP 100 (presently 80)
Shields incapacitated
Power Core 150 PCU;
Living crew complement N/A
Undead crew complement 10 (currently 6)

As the incoming scanning beam intercepts the outgoing laser beam, Ozei's wide shot suddenly jog-jigs, negating the undead pilot's earlier jig-jog, and comes around to strike the hull of the undead ship!

I am just putting this note here to remind me that the PCs had earlier earned the Lawblight Barrage clue on their chronicles.

Intimidate to Demand, DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Come on Vchk, show them who's boss! Over them, that would be you, and by extension me!" Zapp tries to "aggresively persuade" the shirren, but as usual ends up being hurtful.

Botting Watdems as it has been 24+ hours since last post
Watdems gives the panel a second good whacking with her staff and more power diverts over to the weapons systems. Nothing else to do an ineffective due to gunnery damage rolls, which is probably why no post.
Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Engineering Phase
The undead engineer diverts power to the dreaded, red Eye-Beam™ of the Endless Threnody at the command of his undead captain.
Before anyone fires, Watdems gives the panel a second good whacking with her staff and more power diverts over to the weapons systems.

Helm Phase
The pilots of both ships try to evade without success. Tarqen tries to put some distance between the two ship before turning, while, the undead freighter keeps plodding along before turning to place the Loreseeker well within its forward firing arc. The two ships face each other head on!

Neon Punk scans the undead freighter.

The skeletal science officer attempts to target the Loreseeker’s life support systems. Computers (DC 5+1.5x2+2=10): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Gunnery Phase
Vchk fires the turret-mounted coilgun, but fails to hit the undead ship despite, or perhaps because of, the urging of the Nameless Man.

Ozei, however, ignores the man in the captain’s chair (just barely) and manages to hit the undead ship (just barely), piercing its hull. Sparks fly as the laser shot inflicts critical damage.
Critical Damage Effect: 1d100 ⇒ 80
Barely missing the power core, the shot instead strikes the necromantic engines.

Meanwhile, the undead unleash the power of their Eye-Beam™.Gunnery, Eye-Beam™: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Eye-Beam™ with diverted power: 4d8 ⇒ (3, 8, 3, 2) = 16
Impacting against the Loreseeker's forward shields! The forward shields drop completely and the red, pulsing energy begins to burn through the hull of the Loreseeker!

Starship Status at End of Round 2
Endless Threnody -27 HP; engine glitching
Loreseeker -3 HP; shields 30 (forward 0, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10)

Round Three
Harqen - Piloting initiative: 28
Undead Pilot– Piloting Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Undead move first

Undead captain tells his pilot to take evasive maneuvers for “realsies this time”.
Demand, Pilot: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Undead pilot takes evasive maneuvers for “realsies this time”.
Undead Pilot – Piloting, Evade(DC 10+1.5x2=13): 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 4 = 27

Enemy move updated on map in red. You guys are up!

Sorry, had a long drive and sick kid today.

Watdems pushes a lever up with her beating stick, just as if she was changing a channel on the tube.

Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

She ends up hitting the wrong lever as her sweaty arm doesn't quite have the reach. "Zapp! Come push me closer..." She smacks teh console.

Fail so no shields restored this round.

"I have to prevent a hit to our forward arc so I am moving around! Get the shields up!"

piloting evade: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11

piloting initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30

"I have to prevent a hit to our forward arc so I am moving around! Get the shields up!"

{"Looks like these undead creeps had the same idea. Ozei, let's focus our fire on the rear arc - hopefully the shields are weaker there!"}

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer to aid his shot and firing on the rear arc.

Attack with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc (+ mk 1 computer): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 = 25
Hey look! It's Vchk's first crit!

Damage with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 4) = 9

"Oh, boy. Time for a balancing act." Neon flips some switches, bingles some bongles, and reticulates some splines.

Computers (Balance): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

As expected, it doesn't quite go as planned, and triumphant classical music starts blaring throughout the ship. "Uh... go, team?"

Right, V, I'm on it.

Ozei pulls up the controls for the starboard cannon and fires.

Using the other Duonode bonus.

LLC, Duonode bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Diplomacy to Encourage: 1d20 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + (4) + 7 = 15

Zapp hurries over to the engineering room and barely encourages himself to touch Wat's chair.

That'll bring it up to a success! 7 points back to forward shields.

Round 3!

Engineering Phase
Watdems restores much of the forward shields with some encouragement from the Nameless Man.
The undead engineer repairs the glitching engine.
Undead, Engineering (DC 13=10+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Helm Phase
Undead captain tells his pilot to take evasive maneuvers for “realsies this time”, which the undead pilot does, but he cannot keep ahead of the Starfinder vessel. This is because Harqen turns the Loreseeker wide, bringing the ship almost, but not entirely, within the rear arc of the undead ship.

Neon Punk attempts to balance the shields and fails, but does manage to choose a nice selection of rousing music. However, the selection makes one wonder for what reason the Valkyries now ride, for if the opponents are already dead, then they have only the Starfinders souls to carry away…

The skeletal science officer again attempts to target the Loreseeker’s life support systems. Computers (DC 5+1.5x2+2=10): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Gunnery Phase
Vchk fires the turret coilgun, which pierces the hull of the undead ship. Critical Damage Effect: 1d100 ⇒ 53
The damage causes the starboard weapons array to glitch. Arc: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Ozei fires the laser cannon, which also hits, despite the undead’s attempts to evade. Critical Damage Effect: 1d100 ⇒ 21
The additional damage she inflicts causes the sensors to glitch.

Unable to bring the forward mounted Eye-Beam™ to bear against the Starfinder’s ship (at least not without inflicting Eye-Strain™, the undead gunner has to settle for a volley from the light laser cannon mounted on the undead ship’s starboard side.
Undead Gunnery, LLC with glitch: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16
Damage, LLC: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Impacting against the Loreseeker's starboard shields, which easily hold.

Starship Status at End of Round 3
Endless Threnody -42 HP; starboard weapons and sensors glitching
Loreseeker -3 HP; shields 37 (forward 7, port 10, starboard 6, aft 10)

Round Four
Harqen - Piloting initiative: 30
Undead Pilot can’t beat that.

Undead move first

The undead engineer attempts to repair the glitching weapon array.
Undead, Engineering (DC 13=10+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

The undead pilot attempts to flip and burn.
Undead, Pilot (DC 18=15=1.5x2): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Enemy move updated on map in red. You guys are up!

Harqen again tries to evade the undead ships shots and get some distance between the two ships. It is clear that he is quite stressed.

"Guys, I ... I have to admit. This is ... is my first space combat. Please shoot these guys to bits fast!"

evade: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30

initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13

"Guys, I ... I have to admit. This is ... is my first space combat. Please shoot these guys to bits fast!"

And you are doing quite well, especially with evade rolls like that!

"Please shoot these guys to bits fast!"

{"That's an order I can comply with!"}

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer to aid his shot and firing on the forward arc.

Attack with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc (+ mk 1 computer): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15

Damage with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 2) = 9

Oh, why didn't you say so earlier?, Ozei banters.

Ozei fires the forward cannon, using a Duonode bonus.

LLC, Duonode bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 1 = 23 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Seems that Zapp pushed her just close enough to have a few more levers within whacking range of her staff.

+7 shields. 3 to fwd and 4 to starboard.

Though with each swat her chair rolls further back.

"Keep it up, Harqen! This is some fancy flyin' at its finest." At a loss for what he should do - community college-level computer courses only carry one so far, after all - he spins around in his seat, pondering his next move.

Computers (Balance): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Neon manages to stop spinning in his chair long enough to let the cosmos speak to him. This one. Just like that, he finds the right sequence to rebalance the shields, allocating them as needed across all sides.

”Botting” Zapp as it has been almost 24 hours (normally would give the full day, but since the other PCs were all successful, it would have no effect), which may well be the reason for no post. Besides, the gunners all took orders from Tarqen this round!

Round 4!

Engineering Phase
Watdems rocks back and forth in her chair, somehow resulting in the shields being restored to full.

The undead engineer repairs the glitching weapon array.

Helm Phase
The undead pilot flips and burns in an attempt to keep the Loreseeker within the firing arc of the dread Eye-Beam™. By the Eye does not have it! For, instead, Harqen deftly maneuvers the Starfinder vessel out of the weapon’s reach!

Neon Punk maintains his balance while spinning in his chair,
Somehow managing the shields balancee while spinning in the air
(I realize the Drift is actually a void, bereft of air, but I didn’t want to lose an opportunity at a rhyming couplet!)

@ My More Knowledgeable GM Player s- With shields at full, was there any balancing to do? It appears to me that no single arc can have shields above "full", which on the Loreseeker would be 10 in one arc. If I am incorrect, then we can adjust the shields accordingly and Neon Punk can retroactively place more in the front arc.

With his job made all the more difficult by the damage to the ship’s sensors, the skeletal science officer again attempts to target the Loreseeker’s life support systems, hoping that a lucky, critical hit will secure a suitable replacement for him in the Corpse Fleet and he can hopefully retired from his “deadend” job (Get it? Dead end? ‘Cause he’s, you know, not actually alive, but dead?)
Computers (DC 5+1.5x2+2=10): 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 2 = 18

Gunnery Phase
Complying with Tarqen’s orders, Vchk fires the turret coilgun, which pierces the hull of the undead ship.
Likewise, Ozei, also confirming order from the pilot, blazes the forward cannon through more of the Endless Threnody’s hull.
Thankful that the undead engineer fixed the undead weapon’s array, the undead gunner fires the undead laser cannon, ironically making it go “live”.

Undead Gunnery, LLC without glitch, beyond short range: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 2 = 13
LLC Damage, LLC: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
As it is between two arcs, the undead target the forward arc.
Impacting against the Loreseeker's forward shields, which hold.

Botting Zapp
Observing the rest of the crew working like a well-oiled machine, Zapp Brannigan, Nameless, Man, leans back in the captain’s chair and prompts up his feet, waiting for SOMEONE to come and take his shoes. Suddenly, the Loreseeker receives an incoming transmission, ”*Sigh*… I’m on my way…”, is all it conveys.

Starship Status at End of Round 4
Endless Threnody -42 HP; starboard weapons and sensors glitching
Loreseeker -3 HP; shields 34 (forward 4, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10)

Round Five Begins
Harqen - Piloting initiative: 13
Undead, Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
The Move is now yours!

Harqen is a little relieved that the undead could not shoot at the Loreseeker again "I will try to keep our distance but their pilot is really good!"

Harqen will try to back off and move half speed without changing the Loreseeker's facing.

back off: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27
initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 = 23

@GM Valen: I cannot manipulate the slides at the moment. Could you please move the Loreseeker backward 5 hexes, please. Thanks

@Harqen - PC ship moved. Undead ship moved. Also, since the Drift is infinite, I moved both ships "up" to keep them on the map.

The undead ship plods slowly towards the Loreseeker, laying the sights of its great big, Eye-Beam on the Starfinder ship.

Undead, Evade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

You guys are up. Just a heads up, the undead captain will attempt to Taunt the gunners in the event that he hasn't already done so. I'll figure it out when I have more time to write a scathing remark to PCs or else when I post the Round wrap-up.

It appears to me that no single arc can have shields above "full"

Rebalance looks to me like you can pump up one shield above maximum, as long as "after rebalancing, every shield must have at least 10% of the total current SP". So we could, given enough successful Rebalance efforts, pump up one shield so we have 28/4/4/4. Am I reading that wrong?

Thanks, Harqen. Got 'em right in my sights.

Ozei continues firing the forward cannon, using a Duonode bonus.

LLC, Duonode bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Eat lasers, dead things.

"We'll give them no quarter, and you're the...being to do it!" Zapp tries galvanizing Vchk to greater heights, with heart rather than rudeness this time. At least, that's what he's hoping for.

Diplomacy to Encourage: 1d20 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (18) + (4) + 7 = 29

You cannot boost shields above their max value. The FAQ is simply stating that you can rebalance the total however you want for the most part, up to their value as long as you leave at least 10% in each zone.

Wats begins to push more power into the weapons systems. The entire ship hums with the surge of power as she falls asleep on the job.

Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

“We got ‘em on the ropes now!” Neon punches more keys and tries to line up a shot on the enemy’s power core.

Computers (Target System: Core): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Instead, an error message appears: “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“Who the hell is Dave, and what did he do to my computer?!”

"We'll give them no quarter, and you're the...being to do it!"

{"Err, thanks, Captain. You... inspire... me."}

Shaking his head slightly under his targeting helment, Vchk lines up his shot and sends another electromagnetically propelled slug sailing into the void of the Drift.

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer (as well as Zapp's 'encouragement') to aid his shot.

Attack with Turret Coilgun vs. Forward Arc (+ mk 1 computer, encourage): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 19

Damage with Turret Coilgun vs. Forward Arc: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 2) = 10

Round Five Begins

CORRECTION to Starship Status at End of Round 4: Only undead sensors were still glitching as the undead engineer had patched the array earlier in the round and no further critical damage was inflicted during the round).

Round Five

Engineering Phase
Wats begins to push more power into the weapons systems.
Tired of the science officer complaining about his job, the engineer tries to repair the glitching sensor array.
Undead, Engineering Patch (DC 13=10+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
The undead engineer succeeds.

Helm Phase
Harqen backs the Loreseeker off from the undead vessel, keeping the enemy within the Starfinder’s forward arc.

The undead pilot manages evasive maneuvers and leaves the firing arc of the dreaded Eye-Beam™ wide open!
Undead ship gains +2 to AC this round for successful evade!

Despite Neon’s mind seeming to wonder off on some odyssey (What? You didn’t think that his mind went here did you? ‘Cause that you would be bananas!), he nevertheless manages to target the power core of the enemy ship.

Meanwhile, aboard the Endless Threnody, the skeletal science officer decides to once again target the life support of the Starfinder vessel. In response, he gets a message that cryptically says, ” I’m sorry, Punk. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Computers without glitch (DC 5+1.5x2+2=10): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Gunnery
Realizing that the Loreseeker plans to fire on his ship, the undead captain of the Endless Threnody opens a comm channel, "My ship's complement may be predominantly skeletons, but YOU fools are the one's whose heads are TRULY HOLLOW! Bwahahahahaha!"
Undead Intimidate to Taunt Starfinder Gunners (DC 18=15+1.5x2): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Starfinder gunners are at -2 as the effect continues for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds.

Ozei continues firing the forward cannon, but misses due to the undead’s evasive maneuvers.

Vchk easily places a projectile from the coil gun into the undead ship, apparently ignoring the words coming from both the blithering, brainless captain with the vacant stare and the undead. The shot strikes deep into the undead vessel’s hull. Critical System: 1d100 ⇒ 12

The weapons cut through the recent patch to the sensor arrays of the Endless Threnody, causing the undead's sensors to begin malfunctioning.

The skeletal science officer dies just a little bit more.

The undead vessel returns fire with its awful Eye-Beam™!
Gunnery, Eye-Beam™: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

But the weapon fails to hit the ship directly in front of it.

Starship Status at End of Round 5
Endless Threnody -52 HP; sensors malfunctioning
Loreseeker -3 HP; shields 34 (forward 4, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10)

Round Six Begins
Harqen - Piloting initiative: 23
Undead, Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Undead go first.
Undead, Pilot (Back Off)(DC 13=10+1.5x2): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Map Updated. The Move is now yours!

"You guys are pros! Respect!! Everyone of you! I will try to evade but you guys at the turret will surely finish them, now!"

piloting evade: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28

piloting initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17

Right back atcha, Ace Pilot!

Ozei fires the forward cannon, using a Duonode bonus.

LLC, Duonode bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

"My ship's complement may be predominantly skeletons, but YOU fools are the one's whose heads are TRULY HOLLOW! Bwahahahahaha!"

Don't listen to him, Vchk. Remember that Ma says you have a great personality!

{"If I were so hollow, could I do this?!?"}

Vchk spins the turret rapidly, releasing the shot at just the precise moment...

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer to aid his shot; however, the undead captain's taunt (-2) has hurt him to the core.

Attack with Turret Coilgun vs. Forward Arc (+ mk 1 computer, - taunt): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 23

Damage with Turret Coilgun vs. Forward Arc: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4) = 13

...and the shot plunges deep into the forward arc of the Threnody.

{"BOOM! Now that's what Grandhost called a 360 no-scope!"}

My digital dice are red hot right now!

Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Wats hits the breaks on her wheelchair as sparks fly out of her console. Using her wooden staff she cracks the old circuit card hard on the top and it falls back into the slot, working again. "Gah!" She laughs a toothless smile as the weapons surge.

"Skelebro, you raise some interesting points, to which I respond..." Neon waits for Vchk's shot to hit home. "...that you're just an idiot." With that, he logs more keystrokes and shifts the target parameters to the enemy's weapon systems.

Computers (Target System: Weapons): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

This paltry fight does not seem to require the true power of the Nameless Man. He thusly tries to aid Harqen by encouraging the ysoki right back. "You deserve respect too, Darqen, you're doing great!" This manages to help out, despite the fact Zapp is using his brother's name.

Using Encourage to boost initiative.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (8) + (3) + 7 = 18

Using Encourage to boost initiative.

This action can't occur until the beginning of the next round and that is how I will apply it. Unfortunately for Zapp, his crew is TOO COMPETENT, which renders his actions ineffective.

Will try to get the round summary up later tonight, but it may be morning. At first blush it certainly looks like still more critical damage.

Ah yes, that's true. Not much to be done when the rest of the crew's dice are hot. Stop rolling so good and doing your jobs as intended!

Round Six!

Engineering Phase
Wats not so gently coaxes more power out of the weapons systems.

The undead engineer tries to fix the malfunctioning sensors.
Undead, Engineering Hold It Together (DC 18=15+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
The undead engineer succeeds, at least in part. Hold It Together requires two actions; 1 of 2 successfully completed.

Helm Phase
The undead pilot backs the Endless Threnody away to line up a shot, but Harqen flies the Loreseeker in an evasive pattern, keeping the ship out of the sites of the dreaded Eye-Beam™.

Neon targets the weapon systems of the Endless Threnody.

Meanwhile, aboard the Endless Threnody, the skeletal science officer decides to once again target the life support of the Starfinder vessel.
Undead, Computers with malfunction (DC 5+1.5x2+2=10): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 4 = 4
A light sniffle can be heard emanating from the skeletal officer's undead nose as a dry, dusty tear falls from his skeletal eye sockets.

Gunnery
Having seen the Starfinder vessel remove itself from the direct gaze of the Eye-Beam™, the undead directs the skeletal gunner with his own bony finger, ”There! There! Get the worms out of your eye sockets and shoot there!”
Undead, Gunnery to encourage-ish (DC 10): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
So encouraged, the undead gunnery does, indeed, remove a few worms from his eye sockets and brings the port laser canon to shoot "there", where the Loreseeker is flying by.
Undead Gunnery, light laser cannon with encouragishment: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Bringing down the forward shields of the Loreseeker and striking the ship's hull!

Barely phased the taunts from the undead captain of the Endless Threnody and fed precise targeting coordinates by Neon Punk, Vchk hones directly in on the weapon systems of the undead ship with the coil-gun and punches a hole straight through the hull of the enemy ship, disrupting the weapons array. Arc: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The impact knocks loose the power cabling to the port firing arc of the undead ship. The captain and gunnery give each other a sheepish look as the weapon they just fired fizzles out.

But the projectile unleashed by the Vchk continues to veer further into the hull of the ship, ripping through additional systems. Critical damage: 1d100 ⇒ 92 The Endless Threnody's power core is damaged.

Ozei continues firing the forward laser cannon, despite the undead’s taunts, and also scores a direct hit into the hull of the undead ship. Critical damage: 1d100 ⇒ 95
The power core of the undead ship suffers still more damaged as the beam slices through it!

Starship Status at End of Round 6
Endless Threnody -62 HP; sensors malfunctioning, port weapons array glitching, power core malfunctioning
Loreseeker -6 HP; shields 30 (forward 0, port 10, starboard 10, aft 10)

Round 7 Initiative
Harquen = 17+2(for encourage)=19

The undead captain likewise has words for the pilot of the Endless Threnody, "We want the Eye-Beam™ facing toward the enemy, Mister Skullu! Move! Move! Move!"
Undead, Piloting to kind-of encourage with malfunctioning power core(DC 10): 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18
Undead, Piloting Initiative with malfunctioning power core: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18

Due to the damage to the power core, the undead are not nearly as quick as well, the quick!

Undead ship moved on Map
Undead, Piloting to Evade with malfunctioning power core: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 2 = 22

All PCs may now take their actions!

Engineering DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Watdems begins to drain the power from the weapons and convert if back into the shields. The display shows the forward shields powering back up as her short, plump fingers slip and mar up the controls. Grabbing her second sausage she bought earlier she begins to eat, squirting grease across the screen.

+7 to Forward shields.

Harqen is astounded that the battle is going so well. The undead nonetheless are formidable. "I will try to move behind them and not expose or forward arc."

evade: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30

As well as the battle is currently going, Neon is only halfway paying attention to the monitors.

Computers (Balance): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

He hits the macro he created earlier to rebalance the shields and turns toward his comm unit. “I think now would be a great time for some questions from our wonderful viewers!”

Borrowing from rear shields to recharge the front to max.

A nearby Drift beacon makes communication to and from the Loreseeker possible in real time.

Still salty about the undead captain's comments, Vchk fires off the turret before properly aiming.

Vchk will again take the Shoot action with the turret-mounted coilgun, using one of the +1 bonuses from the mk 1 duonode computer to aid his shot (2nd of 3 rounds w/ -2 taunt penalty).

Attack with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc (+ mk 1 computer, - taunt): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 10

Damage with Turret Coilgun vs. Rear Arc: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 3) = 13

Mister Skullu

I don't often literally LOL, but you got me here.

Ozei pulls up the port cannon.

Nice piloting, Harqen! I've got a clear shot right up his...err..."aft quarter".

LLC, Duonode bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

"Come on now V, don't let him get you down! Listen: There is no one else quite like you, no one can take that away. And that is beautiful."

Encourage: 1d20 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (10) + (1) + 7 = 18

Zapp's voice sounds strange over the comm, especially when he says 'V'. He hopes no one notices that he has turned on a personalizing self-help holovid and put it up to the speaker.

CORRECTION: The undead engineer last Round was attempting a Patch action (thus the taking two turns) to the malfunctioning sensors, not the Hold It Together action.

Round Seven!

Engineering Phase
Watdems manages to squeeze additional oils out of her sausage causing the grease to congeal and form a barrier of fat around the front of her screensaver. Simultaneously, she manages to squeeze additional energy out of the shield generators the power to congeal and form a barrier of energy around the front of the Loreseeker.

Determining the malfunctioning power core to be of greater concern than the malfunctioning sensors, the undead engineer abandons his prior efforts and
Undead, Engineering Hold It Together on power core (DC 18=15+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
The undead engineer succeeds by the skinlessness of his teeth.

Helm Phase
The undead pilot of the Endless Threnody tries to bring the vessel to face the Loreseeker, Harqen, urged on by the Nameless Man, defty flies the ship past the undead vessel, placing the bony rear of the undead ship within the sites of the Starfinder gunners.

Neon Punk balances the shields to that the Loreseekers forward shields are now at full!

The undead science officer finds his ghostly spirits raised as he only has he can now draw from the power core to use the targeting computer, only to look out the viewing portal and see that his ship does not have a shot. His lipless skull-like face hides his frown that is on the inside.

Gunnery
Both Vchk and Ozei fire the available weapons, but miss their marks.
The undead gunner just looks at the damaged firing mechanism for the rear weapons system and sighs.

Starship Status at End of Round 7
Endless Threnody -62 HP; sensors malfunctioning, port weapons array glitching, power core malfunctioning
Loreseeker -6 HP; shields 37 (forward 10, port 10, starboard 10, aft 7)

Round 8 Begins
Harqen, Initiative = 30 (can't be beat!}

Undead go first!

The undead engineer again tries to keep the necromantic power core from failing completely.
Undead, Engineering Hold It Together on power core (DC 18=15+1.5x2): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
He succeeds!

Undead, Piloting to Evade with held together power core (DC 13=10+1.5x2): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Another success for the undead.

Map Updated with Undead Ship Movement. All PCs may go!

"Now we are going to finish this - prepare to shoot at close range!"

Harqen will try to make a flyby maneuver to pass the enemy ships hex and fire at close range.

flyby: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18
initiative: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18

"Now we are going to finish this - prepare to shoot at close range!"

Harqen will try to make a flyby maneuver to pass the enemy ships hex and fire at close range.

Success!

@ Harqen - I believe that you get to pick the firing arc on the Loreseeker that you want to do the firing and the arc on the undead ship that you want to do the blowing up. (Unless you post otherwise before the wrap up, I will assume the front arc firing, though I am not sure it makes a difference, and also the front arc for blowing up, again--not sure much difference in this battle.)

@ All - I should also point out that prior to the beginning of the next turn (or in the case of the modified rules we are using, at the time you post) you can switch positions. Let's say, just for an example, that the Starfinders wanted to be able to bring more than just two gunners to bear in a round, particularly if a piloting maneuver allows for another firing arc to be used in that round, that could--in theory--do that. See CRB, pg. 322.

Cool! So to be honest I would just let the first gunner posting decide which arc to fire from and which arc to hit.