SFS #1-04 Table 2 (Level 2's) (Inactive)

Game Master James Martin

No worries. This game is so new, I figured it was entirely possible you were using a rule I didn't know. No harm done!

Raatchet, I believe that when you restore shields it is evenly distributed across all 4 quadrants, with the remainder on the fore shields. Once they're restored, I can rebalance the shields, which I'll do this round. I believe after restoring 7 shields that puts us at F=4, S=1, P=11, A=11.

"NO ADDITIONAL HULL DAMAGE, REBALANCING SHIELDS."

Computers: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17

I think that's a success. That should put us at F=9, S/P/A=6.

That was the rule as written in the core rulebook. But it has since been revised in the FAQ. Check out the engineer divert power question here: FAQ. Nevertheless, you can still proceed with the re-balancing to even it all out, in which case I no longer have to decide how to allocate restored shield points between starboard and fore shields. Therefore, my action is done this round!

"Nice! Let's see if I can get our strongest shields up against their weapons this time, they've got some skilled gunners on that ship."

Piloting (Initiative) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 = Enemy moves first!

Again, the cocky human is able to out-maneuver the clumsier vesk ship, aiming to fire another broadside and avoid its forward-facing guns.

Piloting (Stunt - Evade) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 vs DC 14 = Success! [+2 to AC/TL]

Yep, I liked that rule change myself! We sure we don't want to boost our port or starboard side, depending on how I position our ship relative to theirs? Since movement and re-balancing shields all comes in the Helm phase we can figure out where we are moving, and then boost our shields to that side, right? Or do we have to balance the shields first and actually move after? In any case, let me know how our shields are balanced before I move the ship after the enemy goes.

Delea sends encouraging thought to Grinds.

dipl. to encourage: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

The Honorbound comes around! Your turn!

As The Honorbound cruises up behind their own ship, Stiehle brings The Butterball around to the port this time, swinging around an asteroid and headed toward another pair of them dead ahead. But for a few moments, Grinder has a shot at the port arc of the enemy ship off their own port side.

OK, we are at a range of 4 with our port arc facing their port arc. If we can balance our shields to give our port quadrant some extra points I think that'd be a very fine idea! Those extra points in the forward arc aren't doing us any good at the moment.

As best as I can tell, I have no control over how the shields are redistributed when I take the rebalance action, otherwise I'd put the remainder to port instead of fore.

Max, you can either spread all points out evenly, in which case you're right extras go in front, or move from one place to one other place. Does the second possibility get closer to what you want?

I'd rather be a point or 2 under on our port side than risk having no shields on our fore. I'll stick with what we've got.

Their turrets fire at your Aft quadrant!
Turret (light laser cannons): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 damage!
Turret (light laser cannons): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 damage!

Your go! Also, is someone keeping track of your hull damage? Could you keep me apprised? I'm tracking the Honorbound's, but I'm leaving it to you to track the Butterball.

I'll see if I can figure out out shields/hull at this point based on posts so far. GM, note that the arrow shows our forward facing - isn't our port arc the only quadrant facing the enemy at this point?

Yes, sorry. Got the names mixed up!

I'm updating the ship stats on the Map Link as a write this, but here is where we appear to be: Forward=4, Starboard=3, Aft=10, Port=0.
Total Shield Points = 17/40; Total Hull Points = 54/55. I've got a write-up in Discussion regarding how I got these figures, please let me know if I calculated something wrong!

I believe I see an error, Stiehle. I'll reply in the discussion thread

He who grinds blades to dust clacks his mandibles together harder this time.

Yes yes, die you coward yessss.

Sensing that he has the enemy ship on the

Turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 - 4 + 2 = 163d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 1) = 7
Turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 - 4 + 2 = 123d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5) = 10

Grind's first volley lands, depleting the shields and piercing through to the hull!

ROUND 4:
Engineering (divert shields, DC 13): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Science (balance shields, DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Captain (encourage Pilot, DC 8): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Piloting: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

Your Engineering, Science and Piloting turn!

"Well done! Let's finish this guy and get on with our mission. Raatchet, can you divert power to shields? Max, our hull is starting to get a bit tarnished by that laser fire. Can you bolster maximum shields toward him on the next volley? I'll try and keep him to port or dead ahead."

Piloting (Initiative) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 vs Opposed Check [11] = Success! Bad guys move first.

Stiehle continues to fly circles around the vesk ship, intending to put their strongest shields between The Butterball's vulnerable hull and the enemy laser guns. He continues to weave and dart erratically, trying to throw off their targeting - which to this point has been depressingly accurate!

Piloting (Stunt - Evade) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 vs DC 14 = Failure! :(

Per the conversation in the Discussion forum, if Raatchet and Max both succeed at their rolls, we can can bolster shields to port OR forward arc to 13 this round - I'll position us to face the enemy ship with one or the other, depending on how they move (and if those asteroids get in my way).

With a +12 to engineering, I think Raatchet will auto-succeed on all divert actions, which are DC 13. Hence the following scene....

After a few moments of battle, Raatchet gets the hang of this ship and finds that he can easily streamline the diverting of power to any system he pleases. He sets up a microphone and a single button at his console. Next to the button, he attaches a yellow post-it note with the words 'I WIN' scrawled on it. Once set up, Raatchet reclines in his chair and kicks his feet up onto the console, all laid back....

"Shields, Port" Ratchet lackadaisically says into the microphone. He follows up the spoken words by pressing the I WIN button with one of his feet already resting on the console, resulting in restoration of 7 shield points to the Port shield arc.

Raatchet then turns to face an imaginary holovid camera and winks at the imaginary studio audience.

Engineering, Divert to Port Shields, DC 13: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

The Honorbound comes around!

Stiehle smiles and shakes his head at Raatchet's antics, then speaks into the comms. "OK everyone, hold onto something. Humans call this 'pullin' a yewie'." Slipping The Butterball past the asteroids on the port side, the pilot shifts hard and tight to starboard, the nimble craft doubling back on its previous path as The Honorbound slides across the forward viewscreen for a moment, then Stiehle straightens out their heading, skimming alongside the vesk ship along their respective port sides. Again, he is unable to get a good evasive maneuver going, and he mentally curses himself for the slip, but then he calls out aloud. "Max Headroom, let's beef up our port shields. Grinder, here's a point blank shot into their flank, my friend. Miss this and I'll crank up Raatchet's sugar-pop music for the next hour at the highest audio setting. I'll find a way to make it go to eleven!" He grins at the ysoki and then his eyes flicker toward the readouts. Maybe they can end this battle now...

If we can divert all available shields from front arc to port, we should have 13 shield points on that quadrant when the bad guys fire at us (details in the Discussion forum), otherwise we'll probably be at 7. No bonus to AC/TL this round since I rolled miserably on my last Piloting check for the Evade maneuver.

Computers: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Max nods towards Stiehle, and then hits the emergency power-off button instead. He spends the next moments in a panic, scrambling to keep everything as it was before his mistake.

"ERROR... ERROR... DANGER...."

Stiehle raises an eyebrow at the android and hits the comm again. "We've lost Max for the moment. Grinder, what have you got for us?"

Yep, sometimes you just roll a '1'... So port shield is at 7, the layout on the map link shows correctly for this round. Hey, that vesk is due to miss, isn't he?

Ive got a good bead on them again - just waiting on some more encouragement from the captain....hopefully this does it. the spider hisses.

I'm sure it will finish things off. You can do this, Delea continues.

dipl.: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Grinder feels the soothing voice on his rageful spirit and tries once more.

gunnery turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 163d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) = 7

gunnery turret: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 193d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3) = 12

The turret hits hard twice, tearing through shields and into the hull! Crit effect: 1d100 ⇒ 76 The engines are MALFUNCTIONING (-4)!

The turrets return fire!
Gunner (Turret: light laser cannon): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 damage!
Gunner (Turret: light laser cannon): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 damage!

ROUND 5:

Engineering (Patch Engines 1 of 2 checks needed, DC 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Captain (Patch Engines DC 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Science (Rebalance Shields, DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Piloting: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 4 = 16

Your turn: Engineering, Science and Pilot!

That volley takes down our port shields and does 3 more points of hull damage for a total of 8 points of hull damage. I believe we won't see any crit effects until we've taken 11 points of hull damage

Port shields are down. Want me to restore that side? Or if ya think you can face them with the starboard or fore arcs, I'll buff shields on either of those arcs.

My suggestion is to restore shields on the fore arc, bringing it up to 16. Next, during the helm phase, if we can get them in our fore arc, then science can do something aside from balance shields. If we end up not facing the enemy with our fore arc, then science can attempt to balance

Stiehle grimaces as the ship takes more damage to the hull. They are pummeling the vesk ship, but they aren't out of danger yet - not until the enemy vessel is neutralized. He considers Raatchet's suggestion and nods. "Do it, restore shields to the forward arc. I'll try to get us in position to take advantage of having our strongest shields facing them." The pilot begins to maneuver the nimble pegasus-class ship dubbed The Butterball. Just a few more moments and they should be able to end this battle once and for all.

Piloting (Initiative) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 vs Opposed Check [16] = Success! Bad guys move first.

Satisfied that he is still outmaneuvering the pilot of The Honorbound, he looks to bring the enemy vessel into their forward arc while avoiding the same of the enemy even while he tries to avoid the damnably accurate laser blasts. At least their shields should be able to protect them better this time around, once Raatchet diverts the ship's energy to the shields protecting their foward quadrant.

Piloting (Stunt - Evade) Check DRR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 vs DC 14 = Success! [+2 to AC/TL]

Sounds good to me! I think you get auto-success, so I'll adjust the ship's stats to show a total of 16 on the forward arc and 0 on the port arc, correct? Max can take some other action as the science officer, since we won't need to balance shields, as I'm quite sure I can maneuver us so that our forward arc is facing the enemy, since I'm moving after them. Our current stats (once Raatchet diverts to forward shields) is:

Current Ship Stats [Beginning of Helm Phase (Round 5)]
Forward Shield: 16
Starboard Shield: 6
Aft Shield: 6
Port Shield: 0
Total Shield Points = 28/40
Total Hull Points = 47/55

I think we're looking like this:

Forward Shield: 9 (+7 if Raatchet chooses)
Starboard Shield: 6
Aft Shield: 6
Port Shield: 0
Total Shield Points = 21/40
Total Hull Points = 47/55

"RAATCHET'S PLAN APPEARS TACTICALLY SOUND. TURNING TO STRIKE AT THEIR DAMAGED FLANK WITH OUR FORE ARC COULD BRING THIS DUEL TO CLOSURE. IF WE CAN ATTAIN A SOUND TACTICAL POSITION, I CAN TARGET THEIR ENGINES ONCE AGAIN. PERHAPS OUR CAPTAIN WOULD CONSIDER REQUESTING THEIR SURRENDER?"

If we can taunt them as a push for -4 and continue the pressure on their engines, they'll likely never beat us on a piloting check for the remainder of the combat.

Ninja'd by pilot. Continuing from here.

While still reclining with his feet kicked up on the console, Raatchet flashes a thumbs up to Stiehle and Max.

"Shields, Fore" he says into his mic and taps the I WIN button with his foot, restoring 7 shield points to the front arc.

Engineering, Divert Shields, DC 13: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Stiehle, yup, the ship stats you have listed look correct to me

Since everything seems to be well under control, Delea smiles at the rest of the crew and continues to whisper to Grinds.

Good job. Keep it up, and we'll be out of here soon.

dipl to encourage: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The Honorbound comes around for another volley! Your turn to move!

"ATTEMPTING TO LOCK TARGET ON THEIR ENGINES."

Computers to target Engines: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Well... at DC 5 + 1.5x Tier, if they are a tier 2-3 ship without countermeasures that still passes...

It does pass. Tier 2.

Max smiles to himself as he locates his own 'I Win' button on the targetting computer.

Stiehle flies the ship in a classic 'S' pattern, a maneuver common for nimble starfighters trying to avoid a head-to-head confrontation with a better-armed ship with strong forward facing guns.

As the vesk ship slews into their forward arc, the pilot calls out on the comms. "Fire at will! Let's show The Honorbound what The Butterball is made of!" He grins at Raatchet and returns the ysoki's thumbs-up. Then he turns to the android. "There you go Max, nice job, no need to panic! We've go this one wrapped up. The bad guys out there just have to realize it first."

We are currently at +2 AC vs their guns, and our current stats are:

Forward Shield: 16
Starboard Shield: 6
Aft Shield: 6
Port Shield: 0
Total Shield Points = 28/40
Total Hull Points = 47/55

The Honorbound's turrets bark!
Gunner (turret: light laser cannons: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3 damage!
Gunner (turret: light laser cannons: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 for 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 damage!

Your go!

The grinder continues to man the turrets Damn Veskarium design - it keeps clicking ever with all the damage to the engines

Turrets: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 223d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 1) = 11

Turrets: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 223d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4) = 14

The Haan felt a begrudging respect forming, certainly more than he possessed for the so called exo guardians

That first hit crits on a 19 due to the target success.

Both guns hit hard! Crits: 2d100 ⇒ (50, 76) = 126 Weapon arc: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The forward guns (including the turret) are Glitching (-2) and the Engines are WRECKED (auto-fail)!

The comms buzz and the Captain's face appears on the screen. "I have sustained heavy engine damage and cannot maneuver. In light of this, I have no choice but to surrender. Congratulations, Starfinder Butterball, you have prevailed this day. I look forward to crossing blades with you in the future, friends. You have acted honorably, despite your words. I have ejected a cargo pod for you. I think you will find the contents rewarding!" With a grin that is odd for one whose engines are blown, the Vesk captain salutes and ends the transmission.

What now?

Woo! Good job team! That's some of the best shooting and flying I've ever seen! Much heartlove to you all!

Mayhaps we should scan that pod before bringing it on board? The Vesk captain looked a little TOO happy...

If allowed, Raatchet attempts a sense motive on the captain and a computer check to scan the pod

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Computers: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Good idea, Raatchet. If it looks safe, please bring that pod inside so we can see what is in it. This was directed at entire group

The captain seems open and honest enough and a quick scan of the pod reveals the contents: a set of golemforged plating II armor and a squad machine gun.

A half hour of scanning asteroids finally finds the source of the signal: a beacon lodged in a hunk of rock. Decoding the beacon once it's aboard reveals the following message:

"ATTN: This message is confidential; if you are not the intended recipient, _ABSALOM STATION>>EXO-GUARDIANS_, please delete this message immediately.

MESSAGE: This is Remahd, captain of the Struggle’s Scholar. Most of my crew and I escaped Sangoro’s Bulwark with our lives, but upon entering the Drift, we collided with some extraplanar material. Soon after, we lost a crew member, as well as control of our primary engine. We have managed to patch our Drift functionality enough to drop out of this dangerous field and into normal space at the enclosed coordinates. Please send assistance as soon as is feasible—without our engine, our power supply is diminishing rapidly. In the event you are unable to reach us in time, I have heavily encrypted vital information meant only for the current head of the Exo-Guardians and locked it in a hard drive on the ship’s bridge.

During the time it takes to decode the beacon, you're also able to harvest some of those asteroids. The material within will fetch a hefty price when you get back home!

Getting to the coordinates from the message will only take about an hour in the Drift.

Any preparations before you head to the ship's coordinates?

Stiehle transmits to the vesk captain. "Well, The Butterball is deceptively quick, and I am glad our maneuvering fell within the bounds of your honor system. Truly. And tell your gunners that they have damn good aim! I tried everything I could think of to avoid those blasts and I'm not sure I avoided a single one! Go in peace, and if I ever cross blades with you in the future I'll be sure to have my medpatch at hand." With a good-natured smile, the pilot gives his adversary a salute, then kills the transmission and speaks directly to Raatchet. [b]"Hell yes, run a scan before we bring that pod on board. I don't trust that lizard not to have some reason for that toothy smile of his, no matter how much he goes on about honor."

But he is pleasantly surprised when it appears the vesk was honest and truthful, and the human forces himself to perhaps set aside his prejudicial thoughts about the brutish vesk. He's worked alongside one before (and against one, that had a rather nasty attitude), and it appears that each individual should be judged by their actions and not by any sort of preconceived opinion.

"Well, the machine gun looks interesting, but I'll stick to my holdout blaster, thank you very much. And that armor is way too bulky for me." Activating the comm unit again, he calls the creepy-looking spider... wait, there's that prejudice again... clamping down on his thoughts, he speaks. "Hey, uh... Grinder. Come to the bridge and check out these presents we received. You might have to arm wrestle someone other than myself for them, but I think you'll find them interesting."

A bit later, when they receive the transmission, Stiehle's expression turns somber - despite the wealth they've managed to accumulate by mining the asteroids. "I know there's little hope they're still alive. What a terrible way to die." The pilot makes certain his laser blaster is fully charged and the rest of his equipment is secured where he can reach it easily before they dock with the crippled vessel.

Well done, everyone! That space battle couldn't have gone any better, I think. GM, do we have any idea of how old that transmission is? I got the impression this all dates back to the Scoured Stars incident (and how long ago was that?), but figured we might check to make sure the transmission date matches more or less what we were told to expect. Also, no particular preparations, beyond wearing my usual Zero-G clothes and making sure I've got all my equipment. Will go ahead and take the backpack with supplies, just in case anything is needed from the equipment I store in there for emergency use.

If anyone wants the cargo pod contents, Raatchet will check the pod for booby traps before opening it up. Take 10 engineering is 22.

As for figuring out how old the message is, if a computers check is allowed to date it, Raatchet's take 10 computers is 20.

And if allowed, Raatchet would like to rig up and charge a portable power unit (aka battery) that can temporarily power up the Struggle's Scholar long enough for us to investigate the ship. Say about a half hour's worth of power? If this isn't possible, then no worries! Take 10 engineering is 22.

Aside from these items, Raatchet is good to move on!

Definitely seems to date back to just after the Exo-Guardians' base went silent, so not recent. As for the cargo pod, it is safe and untrapped.

"EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. PERFORMING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT NOW... MINIMAL DAMAGE, HULL INTEGRITY AT 85.45%. BRINGING SHIELDS BACK TO FULL AND BALANCED ARRANGEMENT."

~~~

Max looks over the equipment pod and nods. "THIS TOKEN OF APPRECIATION IS GENEROUS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SOCIAL NORMS WITHIN FOREIGN CULTURES FREQUENTLY RESULTS IN POSITIVE TREATMENT. HE-WHO-GRINDS-BLADES-TO-DUST MAY APPRECIATE THIS EQUIPMENT."

With that, Max checks the seals on his second skin, checks the charge level on his firearm, and prepares to home in on the ship's coordinates.

"BOARDING ACTION EXPECTED UPON ARRIVAL. LIMITED OR NONEXISTENT LIFE SUPPORT EXPECTED."

Delea checks that none of her crew are hurt, and then is ready.

Grinder spits. Which is strange for a giant insect man. It basically is the result of him shedding a couple of the mandible casing onto the ground. Its a little disturbing.

Little man, next time we cross blades, let is be with actual blades. No more of this cowardly vehicular combat.

He reviews the armor but is unsure if it is sized correctly for himself. If it is, he puts it on. He dislikes not wearing the Irridishell but is not so obstinate as to turn down better defenses.

Let us make haste - perhaps they left orders on the line of succession and we can be rid of this Ziggy. If nothing else, these old exo-guardians were true heroes who deserve to be honored and remembered and to have their remains returned to their broodmares. I asssume such things are important among you humans and other assorted mammals too?