Discussion thread is open for those already in the campaign.
Alright, a few notes as we get things underway.
- First off, if you haven't noticed, I'm based in the central US. If I ever leave an offhand comment as to what time or day I'll be posting something, I always mean on my local time (I'm assuming most if not all of you are US-based, but ya never know).
- I'll be doin' my best to post twice a day during the week and once or twice during the weekends (I'm a bit of an outdoors enthusiast, so don't be surprised if I drop off the grid between Friday and Monday every now and again).
- I expect y'all to post at least once a weekday and once a weekend, and I'll bot anyone who hasn't posted within that time frame to keep the story moving (I encourage all of you to toss some botting instructions in a spoiler at the bottom of your profile).
- I'll be running Dead Suns decently close to the book, with a few exceptions (primarily adjusting for a party of six). I will, however, be fleshing out the non-linear sections of the story with lots of fun goodies from Pact Worlds, character backstories, and more, so I encourage you to interact with the world, with each other, and poke things to see what happens.
A word on class lines - many GMs have expectations on what you should be including so that they don't need to go mucking through your profile every time they make an attack roll. I'm another kind of GM - one with an obsessively complex OneNote library of every encounter, statblock, and ability, all cross-linked and collated, sitting on a second monitor. I've nearly finished writing up the party's stats in a convenient little table, so I don't need every little thing in your class line. What I do want, however, is a running record of all your limited resources - SP, HP, RP, Spells/Day, and any other pools your characters have. The rest I will leave up to you (I see that several of you have well-established preferences in place already).
Thanks for having me onboard! Looking forward to trying out a martial caster... this should be cool!
Hello, everyone!
I like to put tons of stuff in my stat line because then I don't need to open my character sheet to see what my rolls are. My main resources are just SP/HP/RP.
Hey there everybody.
I can't wait to see how everyone's stories get twisted together.
Just to riff on GM Jimbles note, I'm located on the west coast (PST) zone. I'm a desk jockey so I can usually post throughout the day.
Hey y'all, happy to be here!
I live in EST but I do most of my posting when I am at work, and I work nights. So my posting times tend to seem a bit weird.
Looking forward to this! I am on the east coast (EDT). My work schedule shifts every five weeks. At the moment and for the next six weeks, I'll be teaching a class from 8 to 1 PM, Mondays through Thursday, so on those days my posts will either be first thing in the early morning or after around 1 PM EDT. Fridays and weekends are open unless my wife and I take a day trip. I have an iPad so as long as I have wifi I can generally post even when we are traveling around.
Some terms I teach in the evening, Monday through Thursday. I'll alert you when that happens. Every so often, I teach an odd schedule that may involve day classes on MW and night classes on T Th or vice versa. But I should be able to post every day.
I am GM for a game where everyone is expected to post using the past tense, which I think reads better than present tense. That means that sometimes I slip into past tense when posting in other games that use present tense. I usually catch it during the preview and proofreading stage, but sometimes I slip up.
Miraj has a background that is different than his official interview and things that he might share with others. I expect people will begin to suspect something sooner or later. His Take 10 result on Bluff checks is 16, so if your Take 10 result on Sense Motive beats that, you'll probably pick up some clue when he is lying. Once he's out in the Pact Worlds, he may loosen up and come clean about his real background. Feel free to role play that element as you choose.
Most likely you'll not suspect evil intent behind his cover story, so have no fears he is going to engage in any backstabbing behavior.
I happen to live in the central US as well. I will likely be able to post for most of the day, but typically not at night (7:30pm-8am).
@ Miraj Pavana Entiren has a +7 Sense Motive, making his take 10 a 17. I figure that he will eventually suspect something, but won't push to much on the subject. (at least until someone else notices!)
@ Entiren: Given that Entiren has a +0 bluff and Miraj a +8 sense motive, Miraj will probably be able to tell the Entirin sees through some of his facade. That will probably draw a private conversation at some point to explain some of his past.
I know that you know. But do you know that I know that you know?
And with that, the campaign is underway! Looking forward to learning a bit about your characters before we dive into the hustle and bustle that is Absalom Station.
If you have any questions about your characters, Starfinder rules, or anything else, now would be a great time to ask. Just let me know!
If you are using windows, you can either copy it from the character map, or hold down the ALT button and using your number pad type 0153.
Looks like our enigmatic starfinder applicants have had no difficulty in finding the most interesting people on the ship - each other! Thank you guys for a robust roleplay start - we're just waiting on Orodolwa to complete the set.
Paging Orodolwa...
Ayw! Sorry, things got started much faster than I expected... gimme a sec to catch up and I'll be rolling!
Behind the Screen
As a GM, I like to keep most of my rolls behind the screen, as it were. You'll often see a spoiler like this:
As you might be able to tell, these spoilers are for me to roll dice secretly and preserve the verisimilitude and challenge of encounters. Why don't I roll off-screen? Well, I like to have an easy record on hand, for one, and I think there's some value in tracking back and looking at old encounters. At some point during the campaign, there will be a statute of limitations on the GM screen and you can look back to see if that one baddie was super deadly or just super lucky.
This might be a good time to review the tactical rules for cover. As a GM, I typically use the rules for partial cover in lieu of those for low obstacles for simplicity's sake.
Cover does not necessarily block precise senses, but it does make it more difficult for enemies to hit you. To determine whether your target has cover from your attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this corner to any corner of the target’s square passes through a square or border that blocks line of effect or provides cover, or through a square occupied by a creature, the target has cover. Cover grants you a +4 bonus to AC and a +2 bonus to Reflex saves against attacks that originate from a point on the other side of the cover from you. Note that spread effects can extend around corners and negate these bonuses.
Cover and Attacks of Opportunity
If you have cover relative to an enemy, it can’t make an attack of opportunity against you.Low Obstacles and Cover
A low obstacle (i.e., a wall half your height) provides cover, but only to creatures within 30 feet (six squares). The attacker ignores the cover if he’s closer to the obstacle than his target is.Soft Cover
Creatures, even enemies, between you and the source of an effect provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, soft cover provides no bonus to Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to attempt a Stealth check.Partial Cover
If more than half of you is visible, your bonuses from cover are reduced to +2 to AC and +1 to Reflex saving throws.Improved Cover
In some cases, such as when a target is hiding behind a gun port in a defensive wall, cover provides greater bonuses to AC and Reflex saves. In such situations, the normal bonuses to AC and Reflex saves are doubled (to +8 and +4, respectively).Total Cover
If an enemy doesn’t have line of effect to you, you have total cover from the enemy. A creature can’t make an attack against a target that has total cover.
Maps
And there's our first tactical map! As you can see, I prefer to use Google Drawings for my maps. It should be editable (if you're viewing on a device with a mouse and keyboard, that is), but please let me know if you have any troubles.
If you go to move your token on the map, please leave an arrow indicating which spaces you moved through. Now, it's unlikely that Docking Bay 94 is trapped, but it's a good habit to have.
If it's inconvenient for you to move your token (touch screens can be a pain), feel free to describe your tactical movement and ask me to move it instead.
Also, a free tip for you - by default, Google Drawings uses 'guidelines' as the default snapping feature. If you choose View > Snap To > Grid, you'll find that tokens now snap to the map grid instead!
@ Aureum: Since we are both playing operatives, I was comparing our abilities to see how similar we are. I noticed that you only give yourself +4 for perception, but with perception being a class skill and with skill focus (perception), Aureum should have perception +7, I think.
I think you also forgot to add your skill focus insight bonus for sleight of hand.
Finally, you get a +1 insight bonus on all skills (except the skill focus ones). I would add those into the skill bonus so you don't forget to include it when you make skill checks.
It looks like we are going in significantly different directions in terms of skills we are developing.
@ Aureum: Since we are both playing operatives, I was comparing our abilities to see how similar we are. I noticed that you only give yourself +4 for perception, but with perception being a class skill and with skill focus (perception), Aureum should have perception +7, I think.
I think you also forgot to add your skill focus insight bonus for sleight of hand.
Finally, you get a +1 insight bonus on all skills (except the skill focus ones). I would add those into the skill bonus so you don't forget to include it when you make skill checks.
Fixed, thanks for pointing that out
It looks like we are going in significantly different directions in terms of skills we are developing.
Looks like it! Definitely going heavily stealth on my end.
Not so much stealth for Miraj. Miraj will be heavy on perception, sense motive, intimidate, and some diplomacy--detective stuff. I'll try to bolster his fighting skills as much as possible as well.
Sorry about that. My intent was a move action and an attack. From what I could count she would have been able to reach 'L1' with just 30' of movement. 'Charging' was just flavor text.
It looks like I didn't draw the arrow very well.
Just double checking: If an attack that does fire damage gets past Miraj's AC but is blocked by his fire resistance, this does not reduce his stamina, correct?
...I totally forgot Surge gives that bonus! Thanks for reminding me! Gotta keep that in mind for the future.
Sorry about that. My intent was a move action and an attack. From what I could count she would have been able to reach 'L1' with just 30' of movement. 'Charging' was just flavor text.
It looks like I didn't draw the arrow very well.
Ah, my bad. I thought you might have intended a regular movement, but you moved 40' to close with the baddie (there was no way to get within range with just 30'). Instead of pausing the game to hash it out, I made an executive decision instead of retconning you to some other, non-melee position.
Just double checking: If an attack that does fire damage gets past Miraj's AC but is blocked by his fire resistance, this does not reduce his stamina, correct?
That's correct - energy resistance, like damage reduction, kicks in after AC but before damage is taken. These laser pistol blasts may sting, but Miraj takes no damage.
...I totally forgot Surge gives that bonus! Thanks for reminding me! Gotta keep that in mind for the future.
I just looked up jolting surge, and it has a bit I totally forgot about.
You touch a target with a device you’re holding that uses electricity, requiring a melee attack against the target’s EAC. Alternatively, you can instead touch an electrical device a target is wearing (or a target that is an electrical device, such as a robot) with your hand, gaining a +2 bonus to your attack roll. Either way, if your attack hits, the electrical device surges out of control, dealing 4d6 electricity damage to your target.
Casting this spell doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity.
Emphasis mine. In order to cast jolting surge, you need to be holding something to surge. It doesn't need to be anything big (it could be a battery, or a comm unit, or a tier-1 datapad custom-fit as a glove), but you can't just use your bare hands. We'll deal with this after this encounter, however, so don't worry about it right now.
As for that +2 bonus to hit, you need to be able to see a piece of tech in order to target it. Armor works, but you need to be able to touch it and to know it's actually there. These goons you're currently dealing with aren't obviously wearing armor.
Emphasis mine. In order to cast jolting surge, you need to be holding something to surge. It doesn't need to be anything big (it could be a battery, or a comm unit, or a tier-1 datapad custom-fit as a glove), but you can't just use your bare hands.
I hadn't noticed that bit either. :)
For the record, the spell cache is usually described as an electronic item and if it is on your forearm or in your hand I would think that would do the trick.
Or you could just hold a laser pistol in your hand. I assume the spell doesn't harm the item you're holding.
Behind the Screen
As a GM, I like to keep most of my rolls behind the screen, as it were. You'll often see a spoiler like this:
** spoiler omitted **
As you might be able to tell, these spoilers are for me to roll dice secretly and preserve the verisimilitude and challenge of encounters. Why don't I roll off-screen? Well, I like to have an easy record on hand, for one, and I think there's some value in tracking back and looking at old encounters. At some point during the campaign, there will be a statute of limitations on the GM screen and you can look back to see if that one baddie was super deadly or just super lucky.
When I make rolls in the games I GM, I do something similar, however, I use two kinds of spoilers depending on the rolls. If I'm making rolls for things like attacks or rolls that 'bot for a PC, I label the spoiler "On the Table." If the rolls are for things the enemies are doing that would give information away to the players, I label the spoiler "Behind the Screen." This lets players who are curious about the die roll results to see the rolls that give nothing significant away and simulates a game around a table.
In this battle, I've occasionally needed to look at the spoilers for your dice rolls just to determine which direction the enemies were shooting to help me decide who Miraj would target.
If you don't want us looking at the dice, then please explain which target each NPC is shooting at in the description of the outcomes. Thanks.
Sorry for the delay, everyone. RL kinda pulled me away for a good while there.
I... never noticed that detail! ...so darn, looks like I'll need to carry around a Battle Gauntlet or something! Though I suppose I could do what Jehir recommended and make my cache something I can wear on my arm, if possible.
In this battle, I've occasionally needed to look at the spoilers for your dice rolls just to determine which direction the enemies were shooting to help me decide who Miraj would target.
If you don't want us looking at the dice, then please explain which target each NPC is shooting at in the description of the outcomes. Thanks.
Yeah, I've forgotten to mention this from time to time; thank you (however, I should note here that I don't always consider "who's shooting who" to always be on-the-table information - in a hectic Mexican standoff such as this, trying to gauge the complete picture might require a Perception or Sense Motive check).
I... never noticed that detail! ...so darn, looks like I'll need to carry around a Battle Gauntlet or something! Though I suppose I could do what Jehir recommended and make my cache something I can wear on my arm, if possible.
Its... a small niggle, really, but if I'm one thing, I'm a GM of small niggles. We'll work it out, no problem.
Is the battle still going?
I ask because I don't want to get up and put out my fire and ask about Kreel with a gunman still standing next to me. :P
We are, at the moment, still in combat, although it certainly seems to be winding down. I'll be pretty explicit when we're out of initiative order, no worries.
I meant to get a bigger, story-moving post up today, but ran outta time (stupid job, getting in the way). I'm posting this so that none of you stare at the gameplay thread with mild paranoia, wondering if I'm waiting for you to say the magic words or something.
Hocus-pocus?
I’ve been working a ton this past week, I’ll have time to post when I get home tonight though.
Sorry for the delay, folks! I meant to mention that I'd be out of town for a performance by my sisters, and would be more stable today. Things moved a bit faster than I expected, but I should be back in action!
If the GM allows it, I wonder if you would consider changing your build a little bit. If not, don't worry; it is just a suggestion.
Right now you have the Clever Feint improvisation, which is half-decent, especially when dealing with a boss creature. It potentially grants all your allies a +2 to hit someone if you make a feint roll, which you are pretty good at. But since you have to give up your standard action to do it, it is debatable whether giving the rest of us a +2 to hit one enemy is better than everyone including you taking a shot.
It is worth saying that hitting enemies in Starfinder is a lot easier in Starfinder than it is in Pathfinder. Enemies have their AC adjusted down and their attack bonus adjusted up.
But:
An improvisation that most envoys get at some point is Inspiring Boost, because this is the only way that stamina can be healed in the Starfinder game outside a 10-minute rest. And because you always lose stamina before HP, things like mystic cure and serums of healing only really help you if you are on the brink of death.
If you were keen on Clever Feint then normally I would suggest that you pick up Inspiring Boost at 2nd level or maybe 4th level. But since your Phrenic Adept archetype takes away your improvisations at 2nd, 4th, and 6th levels, this means that you cannot get Inspiring Boost until 8th level.
So:
My suggestion to you (assuming the GM is okay with it) would be to swap out Clever Feint for Inspiring Boost.
I don't want to pressure you so if you are uncomfortable with that then go ahead and say no. I won't be offended.
I'm not crazy about changing character builds after-the-fact, but if that's going to be our only in-combat healing and if GM Jimbles is ok with it, then I'm amenable to it.
I would like to limit retroactive build changes to situations where a player discovers that abilities, synergies, or game restrictions work differently than they anticipated.
Besides, Inspiring Boost is not quite as useful as it seems. I actually think that Clever Feint is more useful in keeping party members conscious, but that's a whole different conversation.
Ok, Clever Feint it is then. :)
I was wondering if Miraj could use his profession (Detective) skill in situations such as gathering information, in place of diplomacy. If there are other tasks he could use the skill for, let me know, since it's not formally defined.
That's a good question. I would say that you could use Profession checks when gathering information (in lieu of Diplomacy) at the very least. As the game continues to roll on, we'll find more uses, although as a general rule of thumb, I would say you can make a Profession (detective) check whenever MYSTERY is involved.
Hey guys, just wanted to say that I'm really having fun with all this dialog, character investigations, and such. Keep it up.
Speaking of, has anyone seen an oversized lizard with a penchant for the melodramatic? Orodolwa, are you still with us?
Hey all, just a couple notes -
I've been loving your investigatory tactics and roleplaying; it's been so fun to read your posts. I apologise for the sluggish posting rate as of late - things are happening IRL, but they're temporary, and I'll get back on a more regular schedule soon.
On another note, I received word from Orodolwa, and he's unable to continue playing with us. It's a bit of a bummer, but I over-recruited for just this situation, so I think you guys will be just fine.
FYI I'm going out to the country for the weekend (for my brother's wedding) and probably won't have net access. I should be back on track Monday.
I've been constantly busy the last few days, I'll be able to post tomorrow though!
I'll be out of town (likely without internet) for the next few days, so just hang tight and I'll be back on Wednesday to continue this adventure. I hope you're enjoying this creative investigatory section as much as I am, even if it's been a bit slow at times.