PbP GameDay VI: GM S's "Claim to Salvation" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Luwazi Elsebo opens communications right after the Pegasus leaves the Sauna. The First Seeker congratulates you on the gathered intelligence before authorizing you to enter the Drift and travel to Salvation’s End.

Ready to go, you enter the kaleidoscopic space of the Drift for your journey. The next 5d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 4, 1) = 15 days pass by peacefully before you come out and prepare to close...

In the distance, a great metallic structure breaks the bleak monotony of space. Massive in size, the grandeur of this planetoid is hard to take in all at once. Before the scale of the moon sets in, a shrill song pierces through the ship’s communications system. As the first notes of the song shriek out, a trio of vessels blink on the sensor screens, followed swiftly by a warning alarm klaxon

Whatever you expected, it wasn't this. Almost immediately your comm system opens and is nearly overloaded with feedback. A chorus of voices comes over:

"Jam your sensors, you be blind,
All our targets we will find.
Sitting duck depleted shield,
You go BOOM in our starfield!

...Space Goblins!

I'll set up the field and distance. It's time to pick and choose your jobs. I've been in ship combat at a table, but this is my first time in PbP. Figuring out some best practices now can help us all, so don't be shy about offering suggestions.

Queequiq's whiskers droop when Livewire mentions her "hairless monkey" realizing any hope he may have entertained is dashed by that single phrase. Shrugging, he turns and follows the party out and returns to the ship.

After moping around for the first few days of the trip, Quig quickly busys himself with his examinations of the ship's systems.

Once out of the Drift, the Ysoki scrambles to the helm to view the floating moon/wreck, then flips on his comm unit. "We're here, what's the plan? Should we run a scan with the sensors before closi...?"

Ninja'd, GM added to last post while I was typing up this one.

"....F%*k! Scratch that! Looks like we've got company!"

Queequig pauses for an instant hiks mind racing, then scurried off to his position....

Not sure where Quig fits best, guns?

Tactical Map is updated. It's hard to show facing.
I'll have to make better sprites.

Starfinder Jobs:
Pilot:
Captain:
Science:
Engineering:
Gunner 1:
Gunner 2:

Feel free to report to your stations Tell me what job you're taking.

"Hmm, it seem that we are in a bit of a predicament. I have not found myself on many ships that have been attacked, so I may not be very useful."

@ Quig: I would think you'd want to take the Engineering role, you should easily have the highest skill modifier.

So Keskodai is really not made with any ship combat in mind it seems. He has OK Computers, but I'm sure others have much higher. He's probably best used as a gunner, and probably not on the turret.

Despite his initial impressions, the android finds himself pitying the poor creature's plight. It seems unlikely the First Seeker could do anything for Livewire, considering that they were never here at all...

As the Pegasus comes out of the Drift, Iseph hears the alarm klaxons go off and he slips easily into the pilot's chair. "Best we scan those goblin ships, I think. I would highly suggest we use the computer to provide extra capacity to navigation and to the weapon turret."

Iseph will take the Pilot position. I'd suggest that we use those floating two points for the Pilot checks and the Turret Gunner checks.

Yeah Keskodai isn't the best for space. A reasonable captain, and likely second gunner.

Starfinder Jobs:
Pilot: Iseph
Captain:
Science:
Engineering:
Gunner 1:
Gunner 2:

Making up his mind, Queequig thumbs his comm unit and screams into it, "Queequig here, I'm heading down to the engine room! Good luck everyone!..... The Gods know we're gonna need it....

Sliding down the access ladder, Quig releases before the bottom and lightly lands on the pads of his feet. Racing over to the engine room control panel, his bring up the controls and quickly begins scanning through the ship's systems.

Reactor Temperature- check
Reactor Output- check
Electromagnetic Field Stabilty- check
Quantum Flux Stabilty- check
Generator Output- check
Generator Temperature- check
Shield Generator Online- check......

Still to pick: Keskodai, Raia, Navasi, Altronus

Starfinder Jobs:
Pilot: Iseph
Captain:
Science:
Engineering: Queequig
Gunner 1:
Gunner 2:

"I'm better at patching people up than shooting them dead, but Pharasma needs some goblin souls today." Keskodai hops on the controls for the forward facing particle beam.

oh crap, just realized I don't have Altronus's sheet on my phone. Bump the thread and I'll post my role sometime tonight

nice posts, Queequig

-Posted with Wayfinder

Raia immediately hops on to the science station, Scanning their vessels now captain! not sure what roll I take but, the little I read about star-ship combat seems I should take a computer roll; if that's not the case please just use my naked 20 roll and add it to whatever skill that applies thx.. computers scan: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 if I've not made it clear I'm scanning for weapons and defenses.

Will handle phases and initiative once we have jobs. Going forward, the smart play would have been to pick these while mustering.

Starfinder Jobs:
Pilot: Iseph
Captain:
Science: Raia
Engineering: Queequig
Gunner 1:
Gunner 2: Keskodai

Still to pick: Altronus, Navasi

Altronus makes his way through various hatches and ladders to a Gunner's seat. "Bring it on, space pirates." he mutters under his breath into the comm.

with a +8 Diplomacy*, Altronus should be pretty good as a Captain, but so should Navasi. With a +4 BAB, he may be the better Gunner of the two of them

*just realized I was reading the wrong number before; sorry everyone

-Posted with Wayfinder

Pilot: Iseph
Captain:
Science: Raia
Engineering: Queequig
Gunner 1: Altronus
Gunner 2: Keskodai
Gunner 3:

Once Navasi picks, we're good to go.

gm if Navasi doesn't pick captain I will instead of science

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

Queequig begins cautiously manipulating the ship's systems, gauging where he safely siphon power to boost the craft's performance.

"Queequig here. I'm going to try to route the ship's surplus power to the guns for our initial pass. Let's make these first shots count people!"

Iseph nods in response to Queequig's statement. "I'll try and get us into position to take one of them out with our forward and turret weapons." With that, the android pilot maneuvers the nimble ship, trying to get the advantage over the goblin scows...

Piloting: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 For Initiative (includes +1 from the ship, and 'floating' +2 from the computers)

Happily taking Captain.

Scanning the scanner output, Navasi sighs. "Best to work to limit how many of them can shoot at us until we trim them back a little. Iseph, time to make a difference and get us moving to the edge of the trap instead of through it. You've been telling us all what a great pilot you are, and now it is time to make this little ship dance. Giver her a twirl!"

Diplomacy to Encourage the Pilot: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Prepared to fire the forward weapons when within range, just get me a clear shot!"

Catching up on the posts already made:

HELM / ENGINEERING
Captain Navasi: routes the duonode computers to aid the pilot. She also gives a rousing speech to spur him on.
Engineer Quig: Boosts the ship's guns to try and seize the advantage quickly.
Science Officer Raia:
Pilot Iseph: Hit it! Initiative = 20
Goblin Pilot Initiative Check!: Initiative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Gunners Altronus & Keskodai: FIRE!

Starfinder team is up to move and fire.

not sure what modifiers apply here? I'll make a roll and you tell me if I got it right

Altronus squeezes the triggers when the goblin ship comes in range.

gunning, BAB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

-Posted with Wayfinder

So it's BAB or RANKS in piloting + DEX mod + any computer bonuses (here it's +2) + any captain bonus (not this round) - range increment.
So add that up, tell me which gun and which target, and fire. :-)

Gunnery Check = 1d20 + the gunner’s base attack bonus or the gunner’s ranks in the Piloting skill + the gunner’s Dexterity modifier + bonuses from computer systems + bonuses from the captain and science officers + range penalty

So the gunners need to wait for the pilot's actions before they can fire, correct? Since facing matters in ship combat. And is our ship blue or white on the map?

init losing ship moves, init winning ship moves, then (iirc) init winning ship fires and init losing ship fires. The rest of the actions tend to be internal, so order isn't important.

Yes, all movement is completed, then guns fire. I changed the color of the ships. You guys are white.

The android grins, an oddly human reaction to Navasi's words. "Hang on, then. Let's take this one on the edge, and see if we can put some distance between us and the others." Iseph engages the thrusters and slews the ship forward and to the starboard (Evade Maneuver: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 vs DC 18), lining up the goblin ship on the far side with the turret and powerful forward guns. "It's all up to you now." He murmurs to the gunners waiting at their positions.

Enemy ship in our forward arc and made the Evade roll (Sheesh, just barely!) so we get that bonus 2 to AC and TL for this round.

With the help of Iseph's expert maneuvering, Keskodai sights in the ship with the green markings and fires off the forward particle beam. "Keep it lined up like that and we'll make quick work of this one!"

Particle beam vs green: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6

I didn't include it because I'm not sure if the +1 to Piloting that the ship provides applies to Piloting when using it for gunnery.

Altronus lines up his shot and squeezes the trigger.

using my roll from earlier
particle beam: 14 + 4 + 1 + 2 = 21 for damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) = 6

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'll include it for now, but we'll check on that.

The particle beam hits the goblin junker in just the right spot! Some of the damage punches through the forward shield!

The goblins fire!
Red Light Laser Canon: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 = 17 for DMG: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 to the forward arc!
Blue Red Light Laser Canon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Miss!
Green Red Light Laser Canon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Miss!

Cheering and laughter comes over the comm as the farthest ship scores a hit!

Then something REALLY odd happens. A tractor beam from the Salvation's end shoots out into the combat, aimed at the Pegasus! Tractor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 it spins your ship a bit, knocking you off course.

HELM / ENGINEERING
Captain Navasi: Go
Engineer Quig: Go
Science Officer Raia: Go
Pilot Iseph: Go
Goblin Pilot Initiative Check!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 if you lose, go ahead and move.
Gunners Altronus & Keskodai: TBD

Starfinder team is up to move and fire.

Iseph smiles calmly as two of the goblin ships miss their shots, and he ignores the jeering calls of the creatures on the comms. Their sole hit only took a bit off the forward shields. Focusing his mind, the android pilot tries to maneuver around the three ships. "Raia, do we have any idea of the capabilities of these ships we're facing?" Iseph calls out over the ship's frequency. "We're in range of that tractor beam. Doesn't have us yet, but I'd like to take advantage while we can still maneuver."

Piloting: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Nice! Bad guys go first.

Queequig grabs for something stable to arrest his stumble as the ship abruptly swings about. "WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS WAS THAT?!" He squeals over the comm system. Righting himself, the Ysoki begins stabbing at the control panel trying to reroute power.

Engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

A toothy grin spreads across his face as the ship responds to his coaxing. "Quig here. Diverting power to ship's engines! Let's get the f@!k away from whatever jerked us around like a ragdoll!"

It looks like Raia did scan a ship in the first round but either didn't make the check or we never got the info.

Lets say she made the basic check. Each ship has a speed of 12 and perfect maneuverability.

Engineering/Helm
Captain Navasi: Go
Engineer Quig: Masterwork on the engines
Science Officer Raia: Go
Pilot Iseph: WIN! Move
Goblin Pilot Initiative Check!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 if you lose, go ahead and move.
Gunners Altronus & Keskodai: Go

Captain what are your orders? whatever her orders are she saysAye Aye Captain! and performs her duty. computer check: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 4 = 33

presuming we're able to line up a shot again...

Altronus squeezes the trigger again, taking aim at the same ship it possible. Focus. Success in battle is a balance of calm and excitement.

particle Cannon: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 8 for damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) = 10

-Posted with Wayfinder

"For now, do what you think is best. We may need to start shoring up the shields next, though, Engineering. Then Science might want to balance them out."

She waits until it seems the enemy ships are preparing to fire, and chooses to taunt the closest enemy ship's gunnery team. "You couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with the blast from an engine siting next to the barn, let alone a moving ship with such small pop guns."

Yeah, not very inventive. It is late.

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Up to a rating 4 opponent vessel. Cool.

Assuming he ends up with a ship to target in his sector.

Keskodai lines up his next shot, but the shaking of the ship from the tractor beam seems to throw his concentration off a bit.

Particle beam: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4) = 15

Engineering/Helm
Captain Navasi: Intimidates the cloest goblin vessel
Engineer Quig: Masterwork on the engines
Science Officer Raia: Surely a success, but what goal?
Pilot Iseph: WIN! Move
Goblin Pilot Initiative Check!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 if you lose, go ahead and move.
Gunners Altronus & Keskodai: Will mmiss

Pilot Iseph: WIN! Move
Goblin Pilot Initiative Check!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 if you lose, go ahead and move.

Looking at the tactical map, I think those goblins are in the same spots they were last round - since they go first and I go last I'll wait to move our ship until you've moved them. Or am I overlooking something?

(seeing how we've taken no damage yet..I think?) I'll scan the green ship..(we're white correct?) Let's see what we're facing!

Attempting to re=scan enemy vessels captain!

We've taken a LITTLE shield damage (4, IIRC). Engineering can restore 5% of our engine rating in shield points as an action, but they distribute evenly around the vessel. Science can redistribute the shield points however they choose. So, there are survival-chance-improving actions available at this point. Whether or not they are needed, yet is another question.

The error is mine. I forgot that I actually have to move first. (old habits and decades of gaming :-) Ill have the time to make a proper post by 0945 EST.

Yes, you guys are white. Raia comes back with a quick and complete report on Green: AC and TL 14, HP 19/20, Forward shields destroyed, all other shields holding at 5.

Movement done. Go ahead and move and fire.

As the goblin ships move to surround the Pegasus, Iseph smiles grimly as he maneuvers out of their trap. He slews the nimble ship around in a 180 degree arc over a short distance, and then the cluster of enemy vessels is looming directly ahead of them. "Fire all guns at forward angle, target that vessel with its shields down." He calmly suggests to the gunners.

Piloting: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 vs DC 18 to Evade (Stunt)

OK, moved forward one, right turn, forward 2, left turn, forward 4, left turn, forward one, left turn, forward one, left turn, forward one (10 hexes movement) to wind up in current spot. We are again at a bonus 2 to AC and TL. Let 'em have it in those non-existent forward shields!

I think learning that they had no forward shields may have been worth it. Captain Navasi, if you want science to balance the shields you only need order it and Raia will do it. ( your previous order was ambiguous, starting with, "do what you think is best." Both orders are fulfilled with a computer check so it's very easy for me to pre-roll and acknowledge your order...

I think learning that they had no forward shields may have been worth it. Captain Navasi, if you want science to balance the shields you only need order it and Raia will do it. ( your previous order was ambiguous, starting with, "do what you think is best." Both orders are fulfilled with a computer check so it's very easy for me to pre-roll and acknowledge your order...

I agree on both counts. Lets boost our forward shield as much as possible, as I think those ships will be targeting the forward arc of our own.

Raia looks back to the captain, what are your orders captain? After receiving her orders Raia sets to work on the computer council to, fulfill those orders. If Raia receives no orders from the captain or the pilot she does nothing but desperately repeat her request for new orders. The computer check is a generic check for balancing the shields or another scan. Raia first waits for the captain's orders but if captain doesn't give an order she take's any advice the pilot gives her (in character) computer check: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 4 = 36

Seeing Raia's distress, Iseph turns to the Lashunta. "Forward shields to full, Raia - drain power from the aft quadrant to do it, as I doubt the enemy is going to get behind us very quickly. If those goblin ships are going to hit us, the front is where it's going to be." The android pilot states with calm confidence.

Unless the captain belays that, let's boost our forward shields at the expense of the aft shields to give us the extra protection to our forward arc. With Raia's roll, I think we can re-balance shields to:

Forward 24
Port 15
Starboard 15
Aft 6

I'm uncertain if the red ship with its aft toward us can even bring any guns to bear, but in case it can and we wind up taking three hits, we'll be able to absorb 8 damage from each enemy without taking damage to our hull since they are all three in our forward arc. That's my thought, anyway.

This being Raia's first battle she's a little flustered..However, she soon calms as Iseph4's confident orders re-assure her. Yes Capt...yer pilot Iseph! It will be as you say! Raia with speed and precision runs her fingers quickly across the panel and makes the necessary adjustments to balance the shields as the seemingly talented pilot suggest.