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Antares gets to work, using her knowledge of physics and her natural aptitude with energy circuits to make the vehicle run faster...
I'm thinking maybe we can bot Madrigal into socializing with one of the other racers this round?
Her skillset not perfectly aligned with what is required for junkracing, she takes some mental notes on what Laboni thinks would make good parts. She carefully picks through the piles of refuse for what she hopes are choice, useful pieces. Not quite what I had in mind when I joined the Society, but a job is a job and we have to protect our own.
"How about these?" she says as she offers up her findings to Laboni.
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Hakrinag does a slow circuit around the pits of the various competitors. While he is quickly chased away at most of the pits, he is able to spend some time observing Lemgem, the gnome, and Velocity, the android.
Lemgem is a blue-haired gnome covered in piercings, tattoos, and augmentations. He notices that she is working very animatedly on her racer, souping it up in ways that might push the limits of the racer itself. Someone with a smooth tongue might be able to con her to overclock her engine, possibly even damaging it completely . In addition, from the way she is interacting with her crew, Hakrinag can tell see that she is a very friendly person, and might possibly be convinced into an alliance . Beyond that, from the way she is handling her craft, she does not appear to be a very competent pilot.
Velocity is a beautiful android with silver hair and skin. They have self-modified to have both masculine and feminine attributes, and have decorated their clothing, eyelids, and lips with bright, colorful patterns. Hakrinag overhears the crew talking about how good a pilot Velocity is, and they do not appear to be bluffing. However, they bemoan the lack of mechanical skills, and as a result, have not even come within top three in previous races. Hakrinag suspects that if someone were to offer to soup up Velocity's racer, they might be convinced to join in an alliance
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While Hakrinag is scoping out the competitors, the others work on the racer. Asier-23-7, Antares-1 and Eli work together to modify the engine, giving it a boost of speed, while Orsis works on the navigation controls, making the racer more responsive. Madrigal, not so mechanically inclined, nonetheless finds useful parts of the racer.
Asier-23-7 takes a short break after this and wanders over to Ratrod's racer, and notices that the engines are quite powerful, likely giving it a speed that is faster than average. Daramak does the same at Orsis' pit and notices that his sleek racer is lacking a weapon, possibly to reduce its weight.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Skill: Bluff or Diplomacy) mediocre pilot
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Skill: Unknown)
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Skill: Unknown) | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Skill: Intimidate) | racer above average speed
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Skill: Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science) good pilot
Speed 40 + 5 (x2) = 50 ft
EAC 10; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1 = +3
Attack -3
Once she has delivered the part, Madrigal heads straight to Ratrod's pit. "Where is that runt of a mouse? I heard he can barely reach the steering! HA! I better find him a booster seat. Maybe a rattle and a pacifier too?" speaking loud enough for the whole pit to hear. That ought to stir something up...
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Hearing about Velocity's skill from the others, Antares wanders over to check out the android's vehicle, trying to determine how good it is - especially compared to their own.
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Eli moves to scope out Nyizin, the ryphorian. Of note is a number of scars that criss cross her body. The mood in the pit is strangely solemn. Pulling aside one of the pit crew, he reveals that the scars are from a fight that killed her dragonkin partner, and she has carried a death wish since then. Competing and winning in the races is her way of honoring her fallen companion. Ryphorian has an unique practice about the death of their partners, and those who can empathize with this would likely improve her relationship. The crew also boasts of her shooting accuracy.
Antares sidles over to Velocity's pit to get a glance at the racer. The two weapons mounted on their racer is immediately obvious, one an energy weapon, the other a kinetic one.
When Madrigal moves over to Ratrod's pit, the ysoki is standing at the centre, alternating between giving commands to the rest of his crew and just standing there admiring his racer. Madrigal's sudden denigrating comments as she comes up from behind sends him spinning around as fast as a top. His fur bristling, he yells back, "You're with that ape Laboni, aren't you! Well, you go tell her ... tell her... she's going down!" he ends rather lamely. He spins back and starts shouting commands at his crew, clearly riled up now.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Skill: Bluff or Diplomacy) mediocre pilot
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Skill: Culture) good attack
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Skill: Unknown) | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Taunted: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Skill: Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x2) = 50 ft
EAC 10; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1 = +3
Attack -3 + 1 = -2
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When he is satisfied with his work on the racer's HUD, Daramak proceeds to tinker with the racers's connection to its remote control. "Looks like there's some latency in the wireless connection. A more efficient compression algorithm could help with the bottleneck and make the controls more responsive..."
On his way to get some space-coffee, Daramak walks by Nyizin's pit to look at her racer.
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Antares thinks on what the others have learned. "Having an ally might make sense, but if we spend time upgrading another vehicle, it might adversely affect out own chances in this race. Perhaps this Lemgem could be made an ally. If she is not as competent as the others, her chances of beating us seems slim."
The android takes some time overclocking the engine of their own racer, though she doesn't take any chances in doing so. With her spare time, she tries to get a good look at Osiris' vehicle, determining how well it might run against their own.
:)
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Daramak reprogrammes the remote wireless control, significantly reducing the latency he found within, while Antates-1 continues working on the engines, boosting the racers' speed. Hakrinag finds a spare part lying around which he thought might be useful, but upon examination by the techies, it turns out to be some plumbing pipes instead.
Daramak takes a short break and scopes out Nyizin's vehicle. He notices an unusual contraption on it. After studying for a while, he realises that upon activation, it channels energy from the piloting system. That would boost the racer's speed significantly, but make the craft less responsive to dodge attacks. Antares-1 follows along to examine Velocity's craft, but finds it too complexly modified to understand how it is put together.
Madrigal, feeling that she can't contribute much to the racer, decides to meet up with the lashunta racer. Orsis is a stoic, dark-haired lashunta who looks unfairly good in black and gold. He looks light on his feet and moves with grace and quick reflexes, evident even while he is working on his craft. She figures that he would likely be able to pilot his racer well in dodging attacks. He looks up at interest at the approaching fellow lashunta, and looks friendly enough. However, she also feels his thoughts digging into her.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Skill: Bluff or Diplomacy) mediocre pilot
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Skill: Culture) good attack | good armor
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Skill: Diplomacy) increased AC in dodging attacks | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Taunted: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Skill: Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x3) = 55 ft
EAC 10; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1(x2) = +4
Attack -3 + 1 = -2
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Eli moves to scope out Nyizin, the ryphorian. Of note is a number of scars that criss cross her body. The mood in the pit is strangely solemn. Pulling aside one of the pit crew, he reveals that the scars are from a fight that killed her dragonkin partner, and she has carried a death wish since then. Competing and winning in the races is her way of honoring her fallen companion. Ryphorian has an unique practice about the death of their partners, and those who can empathize with this would likely improve her relationship. The crew also boasts of her shooting accuracy.
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Eli walks up to Nyizin, casually observing his vehicle for a while, then speaks up calmly. "You know, I have an older brother. By 8 years. Dad wanted him to be a military pilot. Here on the station, if you want to join the pilot squads, they make you do tests very young. My brother failed most of those tests due to a neurological condition."
Her eyes water a bit, but she mans up and - attempting to be inconspicuous - wipes the moisture with her fingers.
"So when I was born, he was very disappointed that I was a girl. That I wouldn't be able to uphold his wish of his children being in the military. Turns out I happen to have a talent for navigation and piloting. Even before that was discovered, I was my father's 'substitute son'. And I still carry that burden today. Old habits die hard."
She pauses, and pats him on the shoulder.
"What I'm saying is - I know the hardships of carrying someone's legacy. I heard what happened to your friend. Stay strong."
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Madrigal's will easily fends off the unwelcomed telepathic instrusion. Orsis looks at Madrigal more intently, impressed that this fellow lashunta was able to brush off like that and looks vaguely chagrin. "I must apologise, milady, for my reckless intrusion. I was merely curious about the presence of a stranger in my racing pit. There have been malicious scoundrels before. Not that I would worry about that in this case. I must admit, that in your case, I was simply curious of what you think about my craft." With a flourish, he gestures towards very sleek looking racer. As noticed earlier, the craft lacks of weapon, but clearly makes up for it with speed and maneuverability.
Eli approaches the draconic-looking Ryphorian and shares on her personal burden, of bearing a legacy which rightly or wrongly, has fallen on her shoulders. As soon as Eli finishes, Nyizin stares at her with an unreadable expression for a long time, to the extent that she starts to fear that she might have offended her in some way. Suddenly, tears roll down the Ryphorian's eyes but just as quickly, she wipes them away and she appears as stoic as she every was. "He was my life-partner, but yes, he was also my friend. I dedicate my live now to the memory of someone valued who has passed, and it seems you do the same. We may be of vastly different species, but we are not so different after all." She stares again Eli for a while, again expressionless, then adds, "I look forward to our upcoming battle, but here, let me show you something. To make our competition more exciting, yes?" Nyizin stoops over at her racer, and points out a rather unusual rewiring of the systems which, when activated, would double the racer's speed for one round, but there is a 50% chance that the engine could have an internal malfunction on the next round that
permanently reduces the vehicle’s base speed by half.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Skill: Bluff or Diplomacy) mediocre pilot
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Boon: double speed for 1 rd, but 50% engine malfunction reducing speed permanently by half on next round) good attack | good armor
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Skill: Diplomacy) increased AC in dodging attacks | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Taunted: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Skill: Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x3) = 55 ft
EAC 10; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1(x2) = +4
Attack -3 + 1 = -2
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"Looking forward to the event, then. See you there.", Eli nods back, seemingly confused for a short moment. She returns to Laboni's 'garage', still a bit baffled.
"These folks are crazy. They will shoot you down at the first opportunity. Our best bet is just upping the engine thrust and getting out of their range in the first few moments. I'm hoping, at least. Some improvements in maneuverability might be worth it as well."
She knees next to the racer's directional thrusters and attempts some optimisation.
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Asier scrounges around the junk to find a good weapon or two. He finds a nice tactical cannon from back when they still tried to use such things in space. He quickly mounts it to the front of the racer hoping that it doesn't over tax the engines.
Finishing with his job early he wanders over to Velocity's both and watchs as they fiddle with their racer. After a few seconds Asier shakes his head an move in. Pointing to one of the wires the android just installed, he comments, "You have to be careful, that wire is fine right now, but once the engine it's next to heats up the casing will melt and then it's liable to short out things or, even worse, melt."
After helping the android do some proper wiring, Asier finally introduces himself. "I am Asier-23-7, it's apparently a pleasure to meet you. I am working with Laboni, so please try not to shoot our racer out of the air in exchange for the help."
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Orsis appears charmed by Madrigal's strong and silent manner. "Milady, my good sense cautions me against this, but my manners require it of me. My earlier unwelcomed mental intrusion demands compensation. Here, let me share with you some secrets of my flawless flying..." He then downloads to Madrigal telepathically a number of tips on fine-control flying, tips which have kept him in the running of championships for a number of races.
Eli wanders back from her encounter with Nyizin, uncertain what exactly had transpired. She eventually puts it out of her mind and turns to work on Laboni's racer, finetuning its maneuverability in a bid out outfly the other racers, especially a particularly trigger happy one.
Meanwhile, Asier-23-7 proudly installs tactical cannon onto Laboni's racer, doubling its firepower in one quick stroke. Taking a break, he then scouts out his fellow android's racer. Velocity guilelessly steps back when Asier-23-7 approaches, allowing him to modify their racer to boost its speed without comment. Velocity does study his work carefully though, even after he is complete, until he is convinced that their fellow android has not sabotaged their craft. "Huh, well I'll be! In this cut throat world of junkracing, I would never have expected help from a fellow competitor. I was quite ready to take last place again, and just entertain myself by shooting at the other competitors. But it looks like I might have a chance." They look at Asier-23-7 a bit longer, than holds out their hand. "What do you say to an alliance? I'll let Laboni take first place, and contend myself to second at most. And, I'll shoot at whoever's in front of her. Allies?"
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Skill: Bluff or Diplomacy) mediocre pilot
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Boon: double speed for 1 rd, but 50% engine malfunction reducing speed permanently by half from next round) good attack | good armor
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Boost: +2 piloting) increased AC in dodging attacks | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Taunted: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Ally: take 2nd place; attack competitors in front of Laboni) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x3) = 55 ft
EAC 10; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting), kinetic weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1(x3) = +5
Attack -3 + 1 = -2
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Antares makes a few more modifications to the engine, until she is satisfied she has coaxed enough power for extra speed to aid Laboni into having one of the fastest vehicles on the course. Then she wanders off again in search of some spare parts to perhaps increase the armor of the racer and takes a look at Lemgem's vehicle while she's at it.
The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet - Take 10 on Physical Science for a '19'
Appraise Lemgem's racer - Take 10 on Engineering for an '18'
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Madrigal, after attempting to boost Laboni's Racer, heads over to Lemgem to talk to him. Noticing that he is working on his engines, Madrigal thinks about bluffing him into overtaxing them, or even breaking them...... A partial bluff to be sure, but aren't the best ones built on truth?
"So, have you seen what we have done to Laboni's racer? Have you seen his engines? You will need to do much more to yours to match ours." Planting the seed of doubt, Madrigal walks away.
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Cracking his knuckles as he finishes programming, Daramak proceeds to root through the nearby scrap and retrieves some old rubber tires. He cuts the tires into strips and bolts them across the surface of the racer.
"It's nothing fancy, but that rubber should help insulate the engine and other internal parts from energy weapons. If Laboni makes it to first, she'll be an obvious target."
During his trips to find extra tires, Daramak examines Lemgem's racer.
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Hakrinag forages again for something to help the racer's targeting system. All this s%$~ looks the same. How about... this one? He rips some sort of circuitboard out of a crippled and dated robot. Upon arrival, he tosses it to Laboni. "Make it count," he mutters.
Bored of searching for parts, he meanders over to to Lemgem's pit. Seeing Madrigal taking jabs at the engineer, he decides to chime in. "Yeah, that barely even looks like an engine!" Not that I can really tell what it is SUPPOSED to look like.
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Asier digs around once more I the trash heaps near the raceyard this time coming up with a small targeting computer that should make targeting other racers easier. He rushes back to Laboni's racer and quickly integrates it into the system.
Finished, he takes his time trekking back to the junk yards, pausing for a moment to watch Ratrod working on his racer, curious if he's done anything new to it.
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The Starfinders pitch in to keep improving Laboni's craft. Daramak adds some insulation to the racer to give it better protection against energy attacks, while Antares-1 modifies the engine further to boost its speed. Madrigal and Hakrinag dives into the scrap heap, pulling out discarded heat-seeking targeting system that had been discarded, which Asier-23-7 expertly integrates into the vehicle.
The work done, they take a short breather, wandering about the other pits. Anatares-1 examines Lemgem's vehicle, and finds it a rather bulky vehicle. It is short of energy deflectors, making it weaker to energy attacks, but its bulk means it is likely well-defended against physical ones. Daramak, in addition, notices that her racer has at best mediocre maneuverability as a result. Asier-23-7 focuses on the key competitor, noticing that it has only one energy weapon installed.
Madrigal, flanked by Hakrinag, saunters over to Lemgem's pit. She is still frantically modifying her racer. While neither know much about the mechanical going-ons of the craft, even a novice can tell that her modifications are starting to skirt the boundaries of common sense. Lemgem looks up when they approach and smiles warmly in welcome. However, once she hears Madrigal's comment, her smile fades and she looks worried and frantic again. "You think so? Oh, oh, oh, yes, I think you're right. I think I can overclock the engine boosting system further." She then dives back to work on her craft at twice the frenzy as before.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Debuff: “oversouped” racer) mediocre pilot | weak energy protection but strong physical protection; mediocre piloting bonus
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Boon: double speed for 1 rd, but 50% engine malfunction reducing speed permanently by half from next round) good attack | good armor
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Boost: +2 piloting) increased AC in dodging attacks | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Debuff: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed; one energy weapon only
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Ally: take 2nd place; attack competitors in front of Laboni) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x4) = 60 ft
EAC 10 + 2 = 12; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting), kinetic weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1(x3) = +5
Attack -3 + 1(x4) = +1
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Antares finds some parts with which she hopes to increase the armor of the racer - primarily against energy attacks since that is the weapon that Ratrod's racer is equipped with. She also wanders past Orsis' vehicle, taking a long look to try and see how fast it looks.
The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC - Take 10 on Physical Science for a '19'
Appraise Lemgem's racer - Take 10 on Engineering for an '18' to see how fast it is.
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Keeping up with the other racers, Madrigal goes and talks strategy with Velocity, their supposed 'ally'.... However, she isn't able to confirm that Velocity will stay a loyal ally and betray Laboni.
Unsuccessfully, she heads back to Laboni's racer and attempts to augment the targeting system to make it more accurate... +1 attack modifier
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Hakrinag goes searching for more junk. I'll be shocked if all of these contraptions actually make it off the ground. Choosing blindly among the heaps again, he picks up what appears to be just a regular piece of metal and heads back.
After dropping off his find, he hangs out near Orsis' pit and converses with the pilot.
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Given the nature of the race (namely, that sabotage is fine unless you are caught), Daramak spends his last break checking over Laboni's racer.
"Okay, I think that's about all I can do. Good luck, Laboni." You're going to need it...
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The crew get back to working on the racer in final bit before the race begins. Antares-1 finds more insulation in junkpile and fixes them the craft to protect against energy attacks. Madrigal fiddles with the targeting system, attempting but failing to find someway to further focus them. Eli crawls under the racer, adjusting the power thrusts and finally manages to streamline the output flow for one of the valve. Hakrinag scours around the junk heap and returns with a piece of metal that he thought looks promising but was just that - a piece of metal. Daramak inspects Laboni's craft carefully, and is assured that no sabotage as taken place. He then goes to adjust the hydraulic system that controls the direction of the thrusters, reducing the latency of its controls.
The work most completed, Antares-1 takes a final look at Lemgem's craft and figures that with it being so bulky, it is likely not to fly very fast. Madrigal goes over to chat with Velocity, who continues to reaffirm the alliance and request her to pass of their thanks once again to Asier-23-7. Hakrinag sidles over and attempts to chat up Orsis, but he shows no interest in a hulking male vesk, focusing on finetuning his craft.
You may take 10 for any of the skill checks below if you wish.
1. Improve Laboni’s Junkracer: You can attempt a Computers, Engineering, Perception, or Physical Science check to find parts in the scrapyard and install them in Laboni’s racer. Other rolls or abilities may be used to the same effect, so long as the player provides an adequate reason. Alternatively, you can use the aid another action to assist each other’s rolls. Weapons installed on the vehicle do not cause damage, but instead impose penalties to the target’s Piloting rolls for 1 round on a successful hit and will stack. Every successful check allows you to pick one improvement from the list below to apply to the vehicle’s statistics; these bonuses are cumulative.
• The vehicle’s base speed increases by 5 feet.
• The vehicle gains a +1 Piloting modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +1 attack modifier.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its EAC.
• The vehicle gains a +2 bonus to its KAC.
• The PCs install a basic energy weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs install a basic kinetic weapon on the vehicle (imposes a –4 base Piloting penalty on a hit).
• The PCs upgrade a weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit.
2. Sabotage: Instead of Improving Laboni's Junkracer, you can instead attempt to sabotage the other vehicles, but must dodge the eyes of everyone in the ramshackle stadium by attempting a Stealth check. Failing this check raises the DC of future Stealth checks to sabotage vehicles by 2. If you succeed at this check, you can then attempt an Engineering check on one of the opposing vehicles to either reduce the vehicle’s speed by 10 feet or to impose a –4 penalty on one of the vehicle’s modifiers (pilot or attack). If the Starfinders are caught cheating in this manner the first time, the offender is merely tossed out of the engine pit. If the Starfinders are caught cheating again, it is grounds for the immediate disqualification of the entire team. (In other words, fail no more than once.)
3. Investigating the Enemy: You can scout out your opponents with a DC15 Sense Motive check, or examine their vehicles with a DC15 Engineering check. You can do this as part of making an improvement skill check, i.e. you take a break during the improvement attempt to casually investigate one of the other racers. Or you can forgo the improvement actions in one round to do this for all the racers. In other words, in one "round", you can either improve the junkracer AND scout out one opponent, or forgo the improvement and scout out all opponents. (If you do the latter, make five pairs of Sense Motive and/or Engineering checks in your post.) This check does not grant exact knowledge of an opponent’s statistics, you get an idea of a driver’s skill (Sense Motive) or the associated vehicle’s strengths and weaknesses (Engineering). On a successful check, you can ask one pertinent question about the pilot’s skill or about the vehicle the pilot is driving (or receives similar relevant information, if you are unsure what to ask about).
4. Socializing: Instead of Investigating the Enemy, you may socialise with the other pilots instead and possibly gain some benefits. Take note that the checks might not necessarily be one of the three social skills.
- Lemgem, female feychild gnome: (Debuff: “oversouped” racer) mediocre pilot | weak energy protection but strong physical protection; mediocre piloting bonus; modest speed
- Nyizin, female ryphorian: (Boon: double speed for 1 rd, but 50% engine malfunction reducing speed permanently by half from next round) good attack | good armor
- Orsis, male damaya lashunta: (Boost: +2 piloting) increased AC in dodging attacks | no weapons
- Ratrod, male ysoki: (Debuff: -2 to all rolls if behind Laboni, +1 if ahead) | racer above average speed; one energy weapon only
- Velocity, nonbinary android:(Ally: take 2nd place; attack competitors in front of Laboni) good pilot | 2 weapons - 1 kinetic, 1 energy
Speed 40 + 5 (x5) = 65 ft
EAC 10 + 2(x2) = 14; KAC 12
Weapons energy weapon (–4 to Piloting), kinetic weapon (–4 to Piloting)
Piloting +2 + 1(x4) = +6
Attack -3 + 1(x4) = +1