[SFS] 1-01 The Commencement - GM bigboom (Inactive)

Game Master bigboom

I'm a brand new GM, so please bear with me if I hit a few bumps along the way. If you see any issues or have any suggestions, please definitely let me know - it would be much appreciated!

The expected posting frequency is a minimum of once per day, ideally. Of course real life intervenes and our availability to post may get hampered once in a while, which is fine. If you know you'll be absent for a few days or more, please let us know in the discussion thread along with any instructions regarding how you'd like your character to be handled in your absence. If I know I'll be absent, I'll be sure to inform the group as well.

In combat, the goal is to have at least one round of combat finish every 24 hours. Therefore, if a player does not post within a 24 hour period, I will bot the character. If you have any specific instructions with how you'd like your character botted (especially with respect to spell or consumables usage), please list them in your character sheet. Otherwise, I'll bot your character using my best judgement.

With starship combat, the goal of completing at least one round every 24 hours remains the same. To keep things moving along, I'll execute the piloting 'initiative' rolls before each round. Over the next 24 hours, each player should declare their crew action and take their rolls. Once that's done, I'll string together and list the outcomes of the engineering, helm, and gunnery phases, as well as provide the piloting 'initiative' rolls for the next round. Again, if a player does not post within a 24 hour period, I'll bot the character per character sheet instructions or using my best judgement.

Out of combat, if a player has not posted within a 24 hour period, I'll assume their character remained silent and took no action, then I'll try to move things along as best I can depending on the situation. In some cases, if it helps move things along, I'll roll perception or other 'mandatory' rolls for the group (such as saves). When taking any action, if you believe a roll may be relevant, go ahead and include it in your post. If it applies, I'll definitely take it into account!

By the way, just out of curiosity, has anyone here not yet played The Commencement?

I haven't played yet. I ran Claim to Salvation.

I took a shot at arranging the party marching order to start out, but anyone else feel free to override me.

I've both played and run The Commencement already, but will be holding back on advance knowledge as best as I can.

Day Job Roll (Private Eye): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

I have not yet run The Commencement yet!

I have played it once also.

I know that they author might have going for a Death Race kind of vibe, but more than anything this encounter reminds me of Mario Cart.

Haha, right. Get in the lead, shells to the face!

Actually, I'm glad we don't have mario kart blue shells and bullet bills and all the rest. This race would be a lot harder if the goal was to stay in second place to avoid all the hate until the last stretch! :>

"I shall take the carbon graphite gift unless there are others who would challenge my claim on it. We can go where you all see fit. I doubt it can be any less worthy than that garbage heap."

and by challenge I don't mean fight it out hehe just speaking in character for Sovo

Sovokolok-Asnari:

I could also use this armor...

Actually, since your DEX is 2 points higher and you have the Vesk ability, your AC with the second skin armor is the same as my AC would be with the Carbon Skin.

You have more HP and SP too.

Though... if you are planning on playing the tank and deliberately drawing enemy fire, then it would make more sense for you to keep it.

"Good idea Telwyn. I'll lean on the boy out front and see what he knows."

Hirix returns to the front of the building and spends minute leaning against an adjacent cement cube and watching the boy.

I see what you did there! :-)

You can wear it Aazanar. Ill stick to secind dkin since your ac is low.

I'm pretty new to XFS play, but I think money we find in scenario is funky. If Telwyn buys a Serum of Healing for 50 credits with some of the credits we've found, I believe I still have to subtract the 50 credits at the end of the scenario as "credits spent".

It does seem like when playing SFS the credits earned in scenario are largely useless in the long run, only giving you a short boost of spending power before the end of scenario.

I could be very wrong but that's what I gather from this thread:

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2uktu?Credits-and-items-found-during-scenario

You got it Telwyn. You can use items and consumables you find during the scenario, but credits you spend get deducted from the end-of-scenario reward. This makes finding credits rather meaningless, but they tend to be included to allow the scenario to used used in home games where the PFS end-of-scenario wealth reward rules aren't followed.

Once the scenario is over, any equipment or credits you acquired goes away. You then get the credits as outlined in the chronicle and you use those credits to buy equipment that stays with your character permanently.

However, if you receive credits during the scenario, I will allow you to use those credits while in game to shop for equipment, pay bribes, bridge tolls, etc. Just note that any equipment bought will again go away at the end of the scenario.

Its true that credits found during a scenario is generally useless because you're usually 'in the field' and don't have access to stores or have time to shop. In this scenario though, you're on Absalom station and the way I interpret the missions, you have time to take overnight rests in between...giving you ample access to stores and time to shop, if you wish.

If any of that didn't make sense, let me know and I'll elaborate more later. Don't have much time at the moment, so am writing this on the run!

I'm having a little trouble manipulating this recent map. Brezaki would like to go down (south?) so that she could be in a good position to scan as much of the room as possible with detect magic.

Same issue, can't move tokens or the arrows. Looks like the previous map with the bridge is also locked and I can't move tokens there either. Maybe since they are now set to "View Only" permissions, I'm not sure what the old map was set to before.

Hmmm... Can you give it another try now?

Yup all fine now

Hey all, sorry on my lack of posting. I unexpectedly came down with bronchitis Tuesday. Spent the past two days off trying to take care of myself and a toddler that is starting to get stir-crazy from the awful weather! On my way to get caught up!

I've moved Brez to where I believe you wanted to be. I've also moved Sovokolok-Asnari to the end of the arrow you've drawn.

Myr'iad, no worries. Hope you're feeling better!!

GM: My next move I plan to move up to cover that is closer and throw again. But I am not sure what some of the things on the map are. Will the objects marked with an orange X provide cover if I am behind them?

Also: Can I see any way up to the scaffold the creature is on?

The small one will not provide cover but the black square will. I've left the orange x on the item that will provide cover.

The scaffolding is 10 feet high and you can climb up while both hands are free, with a DC 10 athletics check, and moving at half your land speed (using 20 feet of movement total to get to the top). If you have a climb speed, then you can climb at that speed without an athletics check.

As far as your character knows, climbing while next to it will provoke an AoO.

It doesn't look like anyone else wears heavy armor. Any objections to Brezaki putting on the iridshell armor for now? She doesn't want any grenades, though.

nope go for it

Aazanar's DEX is not that good so I'll pass on the grenades. They should go to characters with good ranged combat modifiers.

Or do you use STR for grenades because they are thrown?

Thrown weapons use strength rather than dexterity for the attack. Also, note that grenades are an AOE weapon, so you don't target an enemy but rather you target an intersection on the map grid which means you're always looking to hit AC 5. See the CRB pg. 245.

The downside is the range is not far so range increment penalties will stack up quick if you're far from the spot you want to hit. And grenades have their own proficiency requirement (-4 penalty if not proficient).

... And grenades have their own proficiency requirement (-4 penalty if not proficient).

Good point! Only Soldiers, Mechanics, and Envoys are proficient.

Comm units have real flashlight (15 foot cone), not just a bright cell phone screen :)

They do also have farm games.

CRB p218
A personal comm unit also includes a calculator, a flashlight
(increases the light level one step in a 15-foot cone), and several
entertainment options (including games and access to any local
infospheres).

Haha! You're right! I stand corrected! Thanks for that!

@Telwyn And all suits of armor of level 1 or higher automatically have a comm unit built into them. That little gem is buried on page 430, under the section on planetary communication. Which means that since there's no reason not to have armor, everyone should have at least a 15 foot flashlight on them at all times. IMO, it's still worth getting a lantern or flashlight because they produce more light overall and they only cost 1 credit.

@Telwyn And all suits of armor of level 1 or higher automatically have a comm unit built into them. That little gem is buried on page 430, under the section on planetary communication. Which means that since there's no reason not to have armor, everyone should have at least a 15 foot flashlight on them at all times. IMO, it's still worth getting a lantern or flashlight because they produce more light overall and they only cost 1 credit.

Thanks Brez I never knew this! Great piece of information. This really should be under the armor section as well.

Agreed. Good to know... Thanks!!

I think the more important lesson here is that every suit of armor is capable of connecting to FaceSpacebook and the internet at large. I can only imagine the intrusive advertising!

*bing* Would you like to leave a review for your shuttle to the Armada experience?

*bing* We've located hot singles in your near vicinity! Swipe right to feel a faint warmth from your armor's heating unit!

*bing* You just passed Iguana Bob's Grilled Iguana Skewers! Blink once to accept a complimentary skewer and your armor's assistive leg servos will navigate you right back to our stand!

I most DEFINITELY see all that happening in Shadowrun!

And here Telwyn is carrying around a cell phone instead of using this newfangled wearable tech. Maybe those kids were right, she is an old lady.

Sovokolov, yes, I definitely agree that it should be in the armor section. Someone else told me about it; I never would have found that out on my own. Originally, I had searched the PDF for comm unit until it popped up.

The idea of having your armor loaded up with bloatware that slows down its basic functions and require constant updates and advertisements popping up in your helmet's display at inconvenient times sounds nightmarish.

This leads me to a funny thought that I can't help sharing. If this offends anyone's sensibilities, I apologize and let me know so that I won't step over the line again....

there's no reason not to have armor

Additionally, all armor acts as a spacesuit, so yes, there's no reason not to have armor...

Unless you're playing a star shaman mystic (see 'Walk the Void' ability) who wants to flaunt his/her immunity to the ravages of outer space by floating around in the void buck nekkid!

Surely there must be a cult of nudist star shaman mystics (probably mostly ysoki) zipping around in the vast reaches of space somewhere...no?

I don't think the comm unit included in armor was intended to have the full capabilities of a normal personal comm unit, and in a home game that's how I would play it. I expect it is mainly supposed to be a radio that you can talk to others when in a vacuum.

But in society play it is RAW only so a full comm unit it is.

Just to verify, according to my notes, everyone purchased a copy of the Star Sugar Heartlove album.

Also, Telwyn and Hirix did not accept the Starfinder insignia implant but everyone else did.

Please let me know if what I've stated above is incorrect.

Additionally, please make sure your character details on slide 2 is correct. These details will be used for your chronicle. Thanks!

Also, just FYI, the credit reward printed in the chronicle is incorrect. Per this scenario's errata, the correct credit reward is actually a couple hundred credits more. I will have the correct amount noted on your chronicle as well as the url to the errata stating the correct amount.

Sounds right for my part.

Thanks for running this, was a great time

Just to verify, according to my notes, everyone purchased a copy of the Star Sugar Heartlove album.

Also, Telwyn and Hirix did not accept the Starfinder insignia implant but everyone else did.

Yep, looks right to me. Hirix's details on sheet 2 are correct.

Slide 2 looks correct for Myr'iad!

slide 2 check. just a reminder I have Wayfinders Champion slotted as a boon.

Thks

Everyone, your chronicles are located here: CLICK

Let me know if you see any errors or have any questions! If nothing comes up, I'll report this game and set it to inactive in a few days.

Hope you all had a good time!! As I mentioned, I'm a brand new GM - in fact, this is the first SFS and PbP game I've ever finished GMing. So if anyone has comments or suggestions, do let me know!

And shameless plug for my tables at the Outpost PbP Con...

I'll be GMing 1-02 Fugitive on the Red Planet and 1-04 Cries From The Drift. Both tables currently still have plenty of seats open so if you're available and interested, please sign up!

Everything looks good. Thank you for GMing!

Thanks a lot, great game. Telwyn is already signed up for another session at outpost, otherwise I definitely would.

Oh! Almost forgot - primary and secondary success conditions!

The primary success condition was successfully completing at least three of the four missions. You guys completed all four.

The second condition was recruiting Ceren to assist the Starfinders in the future, which you guys were able to do.

So the chronicles reflect that you've earned the full 2 points of reputation. Congratulations!

I signed up for Cries I believe GM BB. So get ready for more Sovok'tude'.

Excellent job GMing

Woot! Hooray us! Thanks, everyone!

I wonder if I can get a game of Into the Unknown finished before Outpost... :)