Nevynxxx's SFS PbP

Game Master Nevynxxx

Do you guys want the captain to do 'captainy' stuff (encourage someone for a +2 to their roll, or maybe taunt the enemy), or should I jump on the guns?

"Mister Magnus, fire at will! Oh and ... do you want someone on another weapon there?"

We've got to talk to Threnody, not just blast it into vacuum bits, but we need bargaining leverage. A couple rounds of multiple weapons fire might not go amiss. Korskal hasn't posted as the science officer in this round. Options for Korskal include 'rebalancing' the shields (moving shield points from one shield to another) ; another scanning pass of Threnody ; target a system on Threnody (crit on rolls of 19 or 20) ; lock on and counter measures require higher computer skill ranks and aren't available yet.

Could someone take Magnus' action please? Aubs is still busy...

"Yeeear," Magnus growls as he flips switches to rearm the coilgun and zeroes the targeting pip on the Eoxian vessel.

"Die, you ghoulish freaks!"

Coil gun v Threnody: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 ... coil gun: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 2, 2) = 9

Korskal attempts to disable the Threnody from within. I'm assuming this is another Computers check?

Computers with Loreseeker sensor bonus: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23

Did you say crit on 19? Does that require a confirmation roll?

Confirmation?: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14

Tofana registers the effective fire, but offers no congratulations because she is focused on anticipating the freighter's next move.

It is a computers check. More details in the OOC thread.

I don't think we need to confirm crits in ship combat. The crit happens if we score hull damage and the attack roll is a natural 20, or 19-20 with a successful target system check beforehand.

Which System do you want the crit to apply to?

core, engines, life support, sensors, or weapons

Back to the top.

Wayf, what are you going to do?

"I believe we have demonstrated combat superiority. Our position for negotiations is strong. Maybe we should begin that course."

That could change if I lose the initiative roll. To save time, I'll spoiler my roll and my move if we have to go first.

Sensors - render them blind

"Don't worry, Tofana. I've got this. Just need to reconfigure this transponder, re-route the energy flow...... oh, it's that model. You know normally they have this sort of plasma chamber fixed up to a larger power core. But it makes sense if they've set it up with a binary transition modulator. Of course they have...."

Engineering to divert auxiliary power to sensors: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"... but the connection is loose. That explains why the sensor power isn't scaling up." *loud clunk and burst of static*

"That should help you, Korskal. If you need any more give me a ping."

"Have you reversed the polarity of the neutron flow?"

"I can only do that at the exact moment our guns fire. That strops the electron shells to escalate polarisation sufficiently. Of course, that does run the risk of initiating a positron feedback loop that could result in a rapid escalation.... Oh you might want use this auxiliary power soon. And don't be worried if there is some disruption of our life support systems.... Of the phasic coupling when recombining neutron flow streams. "

The physicist inside me is screaming blue murder now....

You are miviung first this turn... still happy with that placement?

You've got to just let it wash over you, like warm waves on a tropical beach at sunset.

Yes, but not as happy as I'd be if they moved first.

Korskal, if you want to rebalance shields, our right arc is the one to beef up. I don't think he can get to a firing position in another arc.

Based off the map you posted, the Threnody will go TL,BL,B,B,B,B which puts it's front arc on your right arc as you guessed.

The hulking ship follows your move and begins to turn, slowly swinging round to face you and come flying forward.

Weapons phase.....

"I spoke too soon. I did not anticipate this maneuver."

Tofana swings Loreseeker through an S turn that opens the range between them, but still leaves the Eoxian ship bearing down on the smaller Pathfinder vessel.

Map ROund 3 after moves, subject to our VC's approval

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 to hit, damage 4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 2) = 10

"Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run. But here comes the farmer with his gun, gun, gun," mutters Magnus as the enemy ship swings about. He glares into the targeting display, then thumbs the firing toggle again.

"Right between the eyes! Burn, baby, burn!" he whoops with glee as the coilgun's report booms through the ship.

Magnus's shot impact the side of the large craft, throwing bits of bone off into space.

Even as it does so though, the craft returns fire. A massive blast from it's front cannon slams into your shields, reducing them to nothing and hammering your hull....

12 points of damage, so I make that 2 HP lost?

Sounds right to me. I've got to get us around into their rear arc again.

Sparks fly inside the ship as the systems shunt the overload from the explosion. "Wayf! Korskal! Shields!"

Not sure about that, really. Maybe all out offense would be better. Best plan would be to keep out of their forward arc, but I can't do that if we go first. I can make sure they're in our aft or left arc next firing phase.

Can the captain give us a bonus to the initiative/piloting roll?

Wayf temporarily switches off the gravity in engineering and kicking against a sparking panel, is propelled over to the powercore.

Interfacing with the controls via the ecocortex, the android manipulates the energy flow to recharge the failing shields.

Going defensive in engineering but hope we outfly them and get a good hit in.

Engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Can the captain give us a bonus to the initiative/piloting roll?

The captain can do that – apologies for my absence.

Latheera seems somewhat out of her depth with all the tech speak – she definitely doesn’t seem to understand starship systems to any great degree. As the battle progresses she gazes somewhat helplessly at the display screen, her star mote brightening and dimming intermittently.

Abruptly she shakes her head and sits up straight in the captain’s chair, shaking herself out of her fugue. “Right! Helm, evasive action! C’mon Tofana, you can do it!”

Suggest we take an ‘evade’ stunt – piloting check DC is 14, and we get +2 to our AC and TL until next turn. Unless our pilot has something else in mind. Latheera will make a Diplomacy check (DC 17) to try to encourage Tofana, giving them a +2 bonus on next piloting check. Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

I'll assume you do that before Tofana's check above.

If possible.

So +2 to my earlier init roll brings it to 23. Who goes first?

Evade's a good idea. It should almost be standard procedure. I should have used it last turn.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

It would seem you go first again....

"Throw as much as you can to the left shields."

Tofana yanks the ship into a hard left to bring a fresh shield around to the enemy.

Evade stunt, DC 14: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 Adds 2 to our AC and TL.

ROund 4 after we move.

The Endless continues to pursue you, seeming to know where you are going even before you do.

Forward two, then bottom right for 4 (it's remaining movement) It's moving on an intercept course... sort of.

Guns!

As the enemy ship manoeuvres Magnus growls to no one in particular, "Excellent, they are falling into our trap!" Once more he takes a bead at the turning freighter, selects the coilgun turret, and presses the firing button.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 to hit, damage 4d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 2) = 10

Woohoo! A crit! Magnus is having a very good battle.

Magnus whoops and yells, "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!"

OK, just checked the rules online. Assuming the above damage goes through to the hull, I get to roll as to which system is damage on d100. Here goes: 100 = 100 - Power Core. So the power core may now have the Glitching condition, giving them -2 on Engineering checks.

Magnus is doing well indeed.

Did Wayf's engineering roll get us more shield?

I think we'd be better off not to rebalance shields at this point. The 10% minimum for our right shield would drain off more than any additional points we'd put into the facing shield. After they drop our left shield this round, I can either get us behind them or make sure they're in our aft arc.

GMA, I make our current hulls points 49, not 51, but I might be looking at an outdated page for Loreseeker stats.

Mangnus' shot fires true through the void. The initial explosion is followed by a few smaller eruptions from the engines.

The huge ship's equally huge cannon returns fire, slamming into your little ship, causing it to buck and roll.[/ooc]

As your damage has passed your Critical Threshold, you also take critical damage to a system 1d100 ⇒ 8 - Life support is now glitching.

Wayf's roll was a couple short I'm afraid. Lorefinder page now updated....

Down in engineering, consoles are sparking and warning lights flashing as the life support systems intermittently switch off. At first the changes in air supply escape Wayf's notice but as a plasma wrench floats away and then clangs to the floor with the return of gravity, Wayf hurridly starts to deal with the glitch.

Engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Successful roll to patch up the glitching life support system.

"Anybody still needing to breathe might want to make sure they have their suits on. That last hit sent a power surge through the life support system that's overloaded a couple of monitoring systems. Nothing to worry about; any atmospheric lapses will be temporary. ...... How often do you need to breathe, Captain?"

Magnus coughs as he wafts away the smoke coming out of the vents. "We need to finish them off!"

"Often enough that it's habit forming Wayf," answers Latheera with grim humour. "Does everyone's armour include environmental systems? I have confidence we won't need them but ... it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Korskal, do we still have that channel open to the enemy ship? Perhaps I can distract their gunners..."

Technically the answer to both questions is an affirmative.... How about a poileting check for the next round?

"We need to find out where the lost ship is."

Pilot Initiative Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Sorry no time for plot a provisional move now.

Provisional Move if we go first

Guys, if we go first, based on previous rounds, we will lose the aft shield, and then we've only got 7 shield points left on the forward shield. All the other shields will be down. We need either a diplomatic resolution, or more guns, or to run away.

I can try negotiating. Earlier we were told (in character, by the Venture Captain I believe) that the Corpse Fleet ship / crew will not negotiate, but I don't know how hard and fast that is in the context of the adventure as written.

Otherwise I intend to try to taunt their gunner crew to apply a penalty to their next weapons roll.

If preferred I could change role this round to a secondary gunner. And / or maybe our Science Officer or Engineering Officer could jump onto guns?

All of those actions might help. Another gun was what I was going to suggest.

Latheera is not a fantastic gunner however.

Top of the round is the time to swap roles if that is what you want to do.

It's not too obvious in character, but you *are* hurting it more than it's hurting you. Bear in mind that it has not had *any* shields for the whole fight.....

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Ouch, you will be going first....

Latheera is not a fantastic gunner however.

At our level it won't make much different - it's either BAB or Pilot skill, plus your DEX mod. Basically, a difference between 0 and +1 plus DEX.

I guess we'll be using the move plotted here.

Loreseeker Hey! Our aft shields aren't zero til they shoot!

I say let's hit them as hard as we can.

Korskal's skill as a gunner would be +3, then. If you want him pulling a trigger, it's kind of against his thinking, but for a ship full of undead, I think he would make an exception.

but for a ship full of undead, I think he would make an exception.

They aren't exactly going to be harmed by floating in the void.... maybe a bit bored but.... They have also ignored repeated hail attempts so far, and fired on you first....

KILL THEM!