Rando's Starfinder 2018 - Zothune (Inactive)

Game Master rando1000

Rando,
Is artificial gravity common throughout settled space?
Does our ship have it?

Yes.

I was asking bc I wanted to skin my amped out Acrobatics skill as what my character used to get around her asteroid home in zero G. But if artificial gravity is ubiquitous I don't know.

I was asking bc I wanted to skin my amped out Acrobatics skill as what my character used to get around her asteroid home in zero G. But if artificial gravity is ubiquitous I don't know.

I don't think it's unreasonable to assume a person who "grew up" (however androids do that) in an asteroid field to have significant zero-G experience. Especially someone who's now an operative. I'm sure there were any number of occasions you were outside artificial gravity. Just because spaceships and stations have artificial gravity doesn't mean every little hovel in space does.

Speaking of "growing up", how old am I? (with this soul anyway) With my amount of skills it could make sense that I've seen a couple centuries.

@Captain Quinn,
I also slotted Outlaw for lack of anything else. Did you want to abscond together?

@Captain Quinn,

I also slotted Outlaw for lack of anything else. Did you want to abscond together?

Won't work, she's from another galaxy.

SerpentViolet wrote:

@Captain Quinn,

I also slotted Outlaw for lack of anything else. Did you want to abscond together?

Won't work, she's from another galaxy.

Alpha Centauri system in the Milky Way Galaxy.

Also, I fixed her bio (Though later I might write it better... sounds kinda clunky.)

Also, I fixed her bio (Though later I might write it better... sounds kinda clunky.)

You mentioned "halfling mother" and "halfling father." Is that a typo? Seems odd to call out both parents as halfling separately and not just say "halfling parents."

Captain Olivia Quinn wrote:

Also, I fixed her bio (Though later I might write it better... sounds kinda clunky.)

You mentioned "halfling mother" and "halfling father." Is that a typo? Seems odd to call out both parents as halfling separately and not just say "halfling parents."

Ah, yeah that was kinda intended, though it could be worded better. She's really short (4'11", though she usually wears 6-inch high-heel boots so she's around 5'5") but she's not actually 'small' sized and so I separated them out because (maybe I should add this) due to her not being a halfling, but an aasimar, he didn't believe she could be his daughter.

Ah, okay, makes sense.

Oh also as Quinn will be Captain, I wanted to be sure of how she'll be doing it is okay with everyone.

The ship is actually a Democracy, each person including her gets one vote. There are only two times when she'll pull her 'weight' as Captain.

1. To break a tie.
2. If she absolutely thinks the majority decision is bonkers and will get us all killed (unlikely, cause she's pretty daring herself)

Also, sent you a PM Rando.

Does anyone besides SerpentViolet have a 2nd level character workup yet?

Also, probably time we start setting down some concretes on the team's ship. Although the ship is "owned" by Quinn, she will have put her hand in with the Gardathir at the beginning of the campaign, so from a meta-game standpoint, I want everyone who's interested to have a hand in designing it.

Here's my plan: Quinn puts down her ship concept (Step 1 in ship design, page 294). The crew size should be able to be filled by the PCs and a very few NPCs.

Quinn can find and post a picture based on her concept of the ship.

The ship will be Tier 3.

I'll roll dice for everyone else. The player who gets the highest result will be able to select a frame based on Quinn's picture and description.

From here, I'll move down the steps until we have the ship constructed, starting at the top of the order as necessary.

Okay, so her ship was fast and maneuverable, but also good cargo space for piracy/smuggling. It's also rather luxurious inside.

The Revenge of Vera Gemini

Furthermore, while the 'connection' is broken in another galaxy, the ship also contains the mind and personality of her best friend and first mate, Vera Gemini. (Talked to Rando about it in PM, basically it's no mechanical benefit we don't pay for, but flavor wise the ship has an AI.)

Are we entirely sure that ship is space worthy? ;p

Haha yea I think so, I mean I wanted a kind of Steampunkish looking ship.

Also, since I'm not originally from the Golarion system, how should I do languages? I do plan to know Aklo which is one language that would be common between the galaxies (as Aklo is kinda as I understand it the language of the Old Gods...) but would she have had time to learn Common? I'll probably give her English as her 'native' though, as that just makes sense, then maybe Chinese and Spanish, unless you want me to just ditch all languages from her galaxy (though would be cool to teach to the other players for secret communication hehe and/or have them for Share Language, same reasoning.)

I'd say stat common as a language, but role play it as halting common at first to reflect your situation. Having a captain who can't efficiently give commands or inspire the crew is not particularly effective.

Okay, sounds good.

So, other than equipment, I'm pretty much done... you did say level 2, not 1 right? What about our equipment again?

... you did say level 2, not 1 right? What about our equipment again?

Yes, level 2. And I'm giving you a pretty generous 4000 cr for equipment, max level 5.

So how did you want to do the ship computer? I think I can pay for it myself with part of my 4000 cr, looking over the computer rules.

So how did you want to do the ship computer? I think I can pay for it myself with part of my 4000 cr, looking over the computer rules.

I had assumed you would just pick a relevant model MK 1 or 2 ship's computer on page 297 and purchase it with the ship's BP. That way the computer's functionality is determined by normal rules for ship's computer.

Captain Olivia Quinn wrote:

So how did you want to do the ship computer? I think I can pay for it myself with part of my 4000 cr, looking over the computer rules.

I had assumed you would just pick a relevant model MK 1 or 2 ship's computer on page 297 and purchase it with the ship's BP. That way the computer's functionality is determined by normal rules for ship's computer.

Ahh, okay! Yea, just was wondering because I know that without the 'connection' to the real Vera the ship will just be a very very convincing copy of her (and I'm sure that 'copy' knows that too) and so wanted to make sure everything was working within the rules for ships having intelligent or semi-intelligent computers. Hadn't read the actual ship computer rules if they were different.

They're flavored as IA, but they don't really do much aside from add some bonuses, depending on the model you get. I'd rather not get more complex than that, at least not until I get more used to running with the rules.

Esh loves computers, so he rolls to seduce the computer IA.

Esh loves computers, so he rolls to seduce the computer IA.

Well, I AM an exotic dancer... Although, not having a body any more kind of presents a problem with that now.

As to what Rando said, yeah. Looking over it, looks like mostly it just lets you do simple commands without actually having to use a keyboard, at least if it works the way the computers section says.

Are you allowing anything of that level range we can afford? Cause... I seriously want to buy a Wyrmling Dragon Gland and be able to breathe acid... and it's only level 2 and 750cr.

Assuming that is cool (if it's not, I'll remove it and reupload her) here she is Captain Olivia Quinn

Yeah, that's fine. That would be allowed even if you were starting at level 1, so I see no problems with it at all. I'll check out the whole character later and message you if I have any questions.

Okay! I'm all updated too, spent most his cash on his REALLY pricey computer and some cybernetics.

Okay! I'm all updated too, spent most his cash on his REALLY pricey computer and some cybernetics.

I'm wondering why the prosthetic limbs. Are they thematic to your concept (your descriptive text mentions the right arm, which adds something, but then it seems like your equipment lists both arms and legs)?

Oh whoops, that would be because there were several months between me writing that and having the money to buy the cybernetics. I think I'll go ahead and remove those ones, but he likely wouldn't hesitate to get them if he thought them useful either.

If he's looking for functionality waiting until he can get better limbs (rather than just prosthesis that are basically the same as is normal limbs) is probably the way to go. That will give you a little while to save up.

I was thinking of your character more like a standard elf, but then I read your description and I can see where you're going with him as a person, so I can get why he'd want to "upgrade."

So as of right now, we have:

Captain Quinn: Captain
Esh: Science officer
Isis: Gunner
Irina: Engineer (NPC)

I haven't heard back from Atlas since I messaged him Saturday, so I'm assuming he's out at this point. Phylotus may or may not be out. I'll fill in the pilot role with another NPC if necessary.

Well, I do have piloting skills. So I could easily do both if Atlas or another 'pilot' player doesn't join us.

Well, I do have piloting skills. So I could easily do both if Atlas or another 'pilot' player doesn't join us.

You could, but you can't take both piloting actions and captain actions in a round, by the rules. It would hamper your ship a bit. Remember you can only change roles at the start of a round, before the Engineering phase. My recommendation would be you consider Quinn the backup pilot.

aaaah okay, yea makes sense then.

If phylotus decides he's out for sure (since he's our default pilot), maybe it would makes sense to make computer Vera the pilot, like she's got enough control of the vessel to do that in addition to doing the normal computer stuff. I'd basically give her the default 1 rank per level plus a decent ability score bonus.

Does this even make sense as something Vera would have been able to do? Or would you prefer a straight out new NPC in the spot?

Everyone's opinion is welcome, of course.

Oh no that would be cool, I actually had that in my game, it was possible for the ship's computer to "fly itself" due to the AI upgrades that Vera did when she uploaded her mind. (Even Quinn isn't sure exactly what Vera did to the ship.) So, 'Vera' being the pilot would be great. :) I could RP her and you could make the ship rolls still, or either would work.

Okay, so if we're sans a PC pilot, we'll do that. My plan is to give her 2 ranks Pilot +4 Dex +3 Class Skill = +9, and then rank her in that (only) every level, plus assume stat bonuses go into Dex for purposes of piloting. Basically it's a totally separate mechanic from what the ship's computer stats represent, but fluff wise, we're calling it the same entity.

And of course if a problem ever arises that keeps "her" from performing that function, Quinn or one of the other PCs can fill in.

Characters:
Eshenvral: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Isis: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Given Captain Quinn's description and picture of "The Revenge", SerpentViolet gets to choose the ship's frame. Keep in mind you have a total of 95 Build Points to use.

The ship as described could fit into either the Small or Medium category, so that limits you to the following Base Frame choices:

Shuttle (Small)
Light Freighter (Small)
Explorer (Medium)
Transport (Medium)

Look at the costs, as well as weapon arcs and other factors when making your decision.

Okay, we have 95 points to spend on
frame
power core
thrusters
armor
defensive countermeasures
shields
weapons
Drift engine
computer.

I figure we budget 10 on any given one and invest extra points as redress. I'm also sure that we'll need points for miscellaneous bits like luxurious crew quarters if we want to go that way.

That said, I'm going to go over budget by 2 and purchase the Explorer frame for 12 build points. It's the biggest ship to have turn 1 and its standard weapon mounts include a turret. While I don't know how it works with my cursory acquaintance with the rules, its 4 expansion bays should allow for decent cargo space, perhaps some hidden.

For my successor, the frame is Medium, so the minimum Power Core size and our budget mean choosing between Pulse Grey and Arcus Heavy (p.296). Arcus Heavy is slightly over budget.

@Rando, that's kind of a boring choice. You might want to give the player after me choice over something else as well.

I take it back; I would see Pulse Green as a viable Power Core option, if slightly expensive.

I wonder if we should ignore Defensive Countermeasures to save points.

We will gain Build Points as we level.

Also, I've got a pilot skill of +10 if needed.

Also, I've got a pilot skill of +10 if needed.

But you'll be busy shooting things.

Okay, I could have sworn I posted this yesterday:

Eshenvral, please choose a power core and one weapon emplacement. You have 83 BP remaining.

Fyi Eshenvral, an Explorer may mount light weapons fore, port, starboard, and turret. I have a recommendation I will keep to myself unless you want to hear it.

Hope that helps!

P.S. I forgot about Sensors. One more thing to adjudicate the cost of.

While we're waiting, Quinn can pick the computer and one weapon.

Sorry, holiday season and all that.

Sure, you can recommend. Pythos is a lot more in depth with this system then I am, so guidance is apriciated

Thanks! I would recommend Gyrolaser on the front mount b/c it can fire in 3 arcs and Light Particle Beam for the turret b/c it has good range and good damage. They're 3 and 10 build points respectively.

Now that I think about it, Coilgun is better than Light Particle Beam. It's got long range instead of medium. And it's cheaper. (6 build points)
I'd also recommend Light Torpedo Launcher. It's got Long range, high speed, good damage, only uses 5 PCU, and only costs 4 build points.

@Rando, how many gunners do we have?

Thinking about it, and taking advice from both Serpent and Pyhthos(I chat with him on Discord), I think the Coilgun would be a good pick. Also- I recommend that we save the generator for last and buy one that'll suit our needs. We can adjust other systems if there's still too much power expenditure in comparison to the model we can buy.

I think the Coilgun would be a good pick. Also- I recommend that we save the generator for last and buy one that'll suit our needs. We can adjust other systems if there's still too much power expenditure in comparison to the model we can buy.

Sounds like a good idea.

@Rando, IIRC that brings us to 77 build points.
How many gunners do we have? Can a pilot fire a forward arc weapon while flying the ship? What do you make of "Fire at Will", p.324?