Starship Fantasies Playtest (Inactive)

Game Master Brian Minhinnick

Let's back up a bit--What does Ageera say about giving out false information?

That's a small but vital piece of information on how to proceed. :D

"Indeed we have Mr. Cinderbeard, it's good to be here. We would like to inform the headsman at his convinience." Leo answers the greetings

He doesn't say anything. He put Leo in charge. I don't want the Captain to be dictating what you guys can and can't do. If y'all feel that's the best way to go, then do it.

"Certainly Lieutenant. Right this way." He repeats your first arrival on planet, leading you through the luscious tower to the door of the Headman's office. He pushes the buzzer to be let in. There is no response. After a few seconds he pushes the buzzer again. There is still no response. He turns to the group, a worried look on his face. "I don't understand. He was expecting our arrival. Something must be wrong."

Mordanna draws her pistol and quickly scans the immediate area for any suspicious looking characters.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

There are just some servants on lower levels of the promenade. It's like a series of rings going up the inside of the spire, but the headman's is at the top and there's no one really allowed up here.

"Perhaps we should go in."

Swinging her railgun off of her shoulder, Kimefe tries the door.

General Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"Let's do this."

Horus pulls out his pistol and prepares to follow Kimefe's lead.

"With your permission we'll take it from here Mr. Cinderbeard." Leo says, not waiting for the response.

"Hightower, Kimefe take a look at the locking mechanism and see if you can't get us inside. Na'Tal, Starforge cover them." he orders.

"Mr. Cinderbeard any idea what has happened?" He inquires.

Smiling as he has giving his orders. No we're back feets on the ground, grunts in the mutt, well no exactly, but closer than trapped in the tin can.

Leo readies his carbine and steps to the left preparing to provide cover if needed."

Grimwold takes out his pistol and keeps an eye on the surrounding area. " Y'Sir. " Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Kimefe find the door unlocked. It slides open to reveal the Headman's office which at first glance appears to be unoccupied. As the group files in Botarr shrugs at Leo. They gets into the room before they notice that the large high-backed swivel chair behind the Headman's desk has it's back turned towards the entrance.

Okay, we're going to initiative now but I won't have time to make a map until later. Please hold off on posting until then.

Minor retcon mostly due to me forgetting my own descriptions...

The group takes the lift up to the Headman's office at the top of the spire, and steps into the room to find no one there and the swivel chair behind the large desk with its back turned towards them.

Botarr remains in the elevator, and as soon as the party has entered the office, he slaps the button to close the doors. "Fools!" he says, laughing evilly as the doors close on the lift.

Kimefe 22+
Grimwold 22-
Leo 20
Horus 17
G 14
Mordanna 13
B 6

Map

Apologies for the ugly carpet and furniture. Didn't have a lot of options. Right now there aren't any visible enemies. Squares with tables are difficult terrain, and you need a DC 5 climb or acrobatics check when entering the square or you go prone.

Kimefe, Grimwold, Leo and Horus can act.

Grimwold moves into the room a little way looking all about, pointing his pistol this way and that as he looks for danger. Fools? What have you done Botarr? A bomb, an ambush?

" Bless our trigger fingers, let our aim be true! "

Move To L5. Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Cast Bless, +1 to attacks and saves v fear.

"Sow's infected tusk" Leo curses as he moves into cover behind the left table.

Move to M3, crouch down

Kimefe mirrors Leo's movement, ducking towards the right and raising her gun.

Move to M7 and ready an action to shoot anything that moves.

Horus checks the door and tries to open it:

Know(engineering): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
or
Diable device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Round 1
Initiative 22

Kimefe takes up a crouched position behind the right-hand table.

Initiative 22-

Grimwold warps the fabric of the universe with his plea, blessing himself and his allies. He sees that there's something sitting in the chair behind the desk, but can't make out what.

Initiative 20

Leo takes up a similar position to Kimefe, crouched behind the left-hand table.

Initiative 17

Horus begins fiddling with the control panel on the lift door. Just as it begins to slide open, there's a loud THUNK and two impressions dent into the room. Something heavy or very strong just slammed into the doors from the other side.

Initiative 14

None other than Grunk Bigfix comes tearing through the elevator doors. His normal power fist has been replaced with a surgically attached robotic claw painted blood red. His face is completely expressionless as he swipes at (1 Mordanna, 2 Horus 1d2 ⇒ 1) Mordanna.

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

She manages to duck the blow, which tears a long rent in the wall.

Leo and Kimefe can take their readied actions if they want. Mordanna can also act.

Map

Pivoting, Kimefe swears and fires at the orc.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (12, 5, 12) + 1 = 30

Wide-eyed, Mordanna takes a 5' step away and fires at Grunk.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

"Not happening" is Leo only response as he fires his carbine at orc/machine attacking them.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 23 (Bless, Point blank shot, Precise shot)
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (5, 10, 1) + 1 = 17 (Point blank shot)

Ohh, forgot bless. 15 to hit--If that makes a difference.

Initiative 14

Kimefe and Leo pivot to shoot at Grunk. Kimefe's shot goes wide, while Leo's strikes him directly in the face. The bullet tears away a wide swath of green flesh, revealing silvery metal machinery underneath.

Initiative 13

Mordanna steps back and levels her pistol at Grunk, putting a round into his torso. It tears away more flesh and clothing to reveal metal underneath.

Initiative 6

The desk chair pivots to reveal a huge orc sitting in it. He's wearing a tricorn pirate hat, and has the skinned head of an orc attached to his shoulder. His left eye is covered in a patch, and his left arm ends in a power claw with a sawblade spinning in between the claws. He says, "I heard you pricks are the ones been messing up our plans. The fact that you're here means you did something bad to my ship. Well, now you're gonna PAY!!" He moves quickly towards the group, stopping just short of Grimwold.

End of Round 1
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Begin Round 2

Kimefe 22+
Grimwold 22-
Leo 20
Horus 17
GrunkBot 14
Mordanna 13
Grimmald Bloodclaw 6

Map

Grimwold's eyes flash with anger. "What have ya done ta Grunk! Where is the headsman!" he yells punctuating his questions with gunfire as he moves backwards towards Kimefe and Horus.

Attack:1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 9 +1 Point Blank, +1 Bless
Damage:2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10 +1 Point Blank, +1 Trait
Move to N7

Sorry Grunk, Leo thinks as he intensifies his fire at the former colleague. Now keep focus he reminds himself.

Rapid shot 1 at Grunk: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 27
Confirming crit: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 10
Damage: 2d12 + 1 ⇒ (9, 7) + 1 = 17
Rapid shot 2 at Grunk: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 15
Damage: 2d12 + 1 ⇒ (11, 10) + 1 = 22

I messed up the damage from my carbine it's only 2d12 and not 3 as I used in earlier posts.

Round 2: 17

5' step to N7

Horus casts grease on Grimmald's sawblade.

DC15 save each time he tries to use it, or he drops it.

Dang, I thought I would finally have an advantage over Leo despite my bad rolls by taking rapid shot. Oh well. :)

With another curse Kimefe pulls the trigger on her gun again, sending two more bullets flying through the air.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (7, 1, 3) + 1 = 12
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (12, 6, 9) + 1 = 28

Round 2: 17

5' step to N7

Horus casts grease on Grimmald's sawblade.

DC15 save each time he tries to use it, or he drops it.

It's surgically attached to his arm like the others. I'll let you redo that action if you wish.

Horus Hightower wrote:

Round 2: 17

5' step to N7

Horus casts grease on Grimmald's sawblade.

DC15 save each time he tries to use it, or he drops it.

It's surgically attached to his arm like the others. I'll let you redo that action if you wish.

Ahhh, just put it on the ground then, j-k 5+6. Same DC15 ref save

Round 2
Initiative 22+

Kimefe hits Grunk again with one of her shots, shearing away more flesh from the robotic interior.

Initiative 22-

Grimwold fires at Bloodclaw, but misses.

Initiative 20

Leo also strikes the Grunkbot, blasting away flesh and clothing from its chest.

Initiative 17

Horus calls a spell of grease down onto the ground under Bloodclaw.

Reflex save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The large orc slips and falls directly on his ass.

Initiative 14

The Grunkbot swipes at Horus with his claw.

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage 2d10 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

Mordanna can act now.

Map

I always forget--Is the grease from that spell flammable?

Mordanna takes a 5' step to M4. She fires again at the Grunkbot.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

BAh! Totally forgot to update this. Sorry guys.

Round 2
Initiative 13

Mordanna strikes the Grunkbot, but the slug simply ricochets off the metal.

Initiative 6

Bloodclaw raises his hands and growls something guttural, then a bank of mist springs up, shrouding the room.

Everyone in mist has concealment, people more than 5' away have total concealment (aka you can't see them).

End of Round 2
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Begin Round 3

Kimefe 22+
Grimwold 22-
Leo 20
Horus 17
GrunkBot 14
Mordanna 13
Grimmald Bloodclaw 6

Kimefe, Grimwold, Leo and Horus can act.

Map

I can't update the map right now, but the mist is a 20' radius centered on Bloodclaw.

As the rolling fog encompasses him Grimwold spins firing on the target he can still see.

Firing at Grunkbot: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 15 (Bless, Point Blank)
Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 8) + 2 = 18

My action will depend somewhat on the answer to my question; some DM's rule that grease is flammable, some do not. What's your say on it DM Jelani?

No, it's not.

The sight of Grunk is finally getting to Leo and his double tap goes wild.

Attack 1 on Grunkbot: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 11
Damage: 2d12 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 1 = 7

Attack 2 on Grunkbot: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 10
Damage: 2d12 + 1 ⇒ (11, 6) + 1 = 18

Updated the map with the mist. Still waiting on Horus and Kimefe. Sorry for not answering your question about the grease right away Kimefe, I thought it was directed at Horus.

No worries.

Flinching slightly at the mass of fog, Kimefe calms down again when she realizes it doesn't obstruct her viewpoint of the enemy.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2, 8) + 1 = 15
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 3d12 + 1 ⇒ (6, 9, 8) + 1 = 24

Withdraw action to move to M8.

Round 3
Initiative 22+

Kimefe puts two more slugs into the Grunkbot, and sparks begin to shoot from it.

Initiative 22-

Grimwold misses the robot.

Initiative 20

Leo also misses.

Initiative 17

Horus withdraws.

Initiative 14

The Grunkbot swings its claw at Mordanna, sparking and grinding awkwardly.

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Mordanna, you're up.

DM Jelani, during my last turn I took a 5' step to M4. Also, unless the grunkbot has reach it would have needed to move to attack me.

Mordanna takes another 5' step to N3 to keep out of the fog and shoots at the grunkbot again.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 7) = 15

You are of course correct. Luckily it missed you, it would have 5' stepped instead.

Initiative 13

Mordanna's slug blows what's left of the head off the Grunkbot, dropping it to the floor.

Initiative 6

Bloodclaw does stuff and things that are unclear at this time.

End of Round 3
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Begin Round 4

Kimefe 22+
Grimwold 22-
Leo 20
Horus 17
GrunkBot 14
Mordanna 13
Grimmald Bloodclaw 6

Map

With the Grunkbot down Grimwold takes a second to look about as his companions. Seeing the gash on Horus he reaches out placing his hand on the wound. " You'll be right lad? Got a spell that'd clear this up? " He asks casting a healing spell while waving his pistol at the fog.

1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Healing for Horus

Kimefe eyes the fog, trying to make out any movement within it.

Delay until something happens.

Round 3: 17

"Thanks Grimwold."

Horus will dash along the wal,l through the fog, to G9, if he sees no sign of the baddie on the other side, he'll ready a shot with his pistol.

Horus you don't see anything, Leo and Mordanna still need to act.

Leo pulls back from the obscuring effect towards the wall ready to act if anyone should appear.

Withdraw action to M1, do you need a check?

Check if needed, need modifiers: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Mordanna? We're waiting on you.

Mordanna will take another shot at Grunkbot.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Grunkbot is dead! Sorry. I should have removed him from the initiative.

Is the fog preventing us from seeing the other guy?

Just a heads up, I will be out of town on Saturday and Sunday 11-24 & 11-25. I will be back on Monday 11-26.

I'm planning on updating this later today, or tomorrow. Sorry if it's going too slowly lately :/

Hmm we kind of need to work out what false information we are going to give about our encounter with the pirates... We also need the Headsman's assistance with the repairs to the excelsior. So what can we tell him that could draw out the mole?

Welp, I think we know who the mole is now....

Love the desk with a screen!

Dang, I thought I would finally have an advantage over Leo despite my bad rolls by taking rapid shot. Oh well. :)

I am building him almost like I would build a fighter archer :D

Sorry I had some internet dramas!

Are we still here guys? I'd like a post holiday season rollcall please. If you're still here and ready to play please post something.

Sitting in my cell...

Not much longer now Heliopolix.

I'm back

I'm patient :)

Posts are going to be sporadic from me for around two more weeks. I'm in the process of house hunting and moving...

Honestly I'm considering ending this game. Three of the five players haven't posted in ten days and I'm too busy to put in the effort of writing material from scratch for players who can't meet me halfway effort wise. Seems like for months now the only time I can get people to post reliably (aka often and with substance) is when we're in combat.

Also I've had a real life group start up and that's taking a lot of my gaming time. Is anyone besides Horus and Kimefe even still around?

If this is the end of it I want to thank you for such an excellent game thus far. :) It isn't often I get to be the Chief of Security for an entire spaceship, and it has been quite enjoyable.

Sorry Jelani, I'm still here, though I've had a hectic three weeks or so. House hunting, moving all my stuff into storage, more house hunting, work and no broardband. We finally got approved for a house and we're moving again this Friday. Yay!

Well, I would rather pull the plug now than drag it out for a couple more months before it dies, but I'm good either way.

Let me have a think on it for a couple of days and we'll see if anyone else chimes in. Good to know where you three stand.

Still here, if its any help.

I underestimated how much attention my last exam required and to be honest forgot about all pathfinder activities, sorry. I would like to continue, if you are interested. It has been an interesting game so far, I really enjoy the space setting.

Still haven't heard from Mordanna but I think what I'll do is come up with the next adventure and then just fast forward a bit. I have a vague idea for where this goes next but it'll take me a bit to flesh it out. I did a bunch of planning when we first started playing but now we've caught up to that and I've been too busy with other games to keep ahead of us.

Sounds great!

Sorry bout not posting lately. I recently was sick with the flu which made me tire very easily for a couple weeks after that. Couple that with busy at work makes for being tired a lot.

I am willing to continue though.

Okay guys. I've got my real life game today, but sometime this coming week I should be able to move this on. Hopefully sooner rather than later. We're finished on Cygnuss, so a couple quick wrap up posts, then back to Vega for your reward and next assignment. I'm gonna retrofit the Excelsior to make sure there are enough weapons for everyone to use one if they want it, and you're going to get a full crew compliment now that the ship has proven its value. That means several hundred 'red shirts' running around following your orders. Then it'll be on to the actual mission of the ship, exploring deep space with its gate drive.

Any suggestions for this game while we're in this transition period?

Eoriel - Thanks for your patience, sorry this is taking so long. I think I'll just have you assigned to the ship back on Vega. It's easier than explaining why the Guild would be giving another employee to the FEF. Can we tweak the backstory to have him locked up on Vega and accepting a plea deal to join the FEF instead of serving his sentence?

That works fine for me. He might have gotten a bit reckless bringing in a bounty and wound up causing a bunch of collateral damage. He's still going to be trying to find Zoriam.

We need to post more frequently or have more DMPCing. The pace of this game has been pretty terrible (I'm as guilty as anyone).

Agreed. Perhaps switch up your roles on the ship to be more of an 'away team' type deal? There are two reason I haven't been DMPCing more. A) I hate doing it, it takes a ton of time (which I don't really have due to the amount of games I've got going on) and makes me responsible for your character's actions. B) Most of the non-combat decisions are coming down to being made by Leo because he's the senior officer.

If you were all still officers, but of equal rank, and not involved in direct decision making for the ship as a whole it would make things go faster I think. If Ageera is in charge (ie the person all of you report to) and the ship's AI and crew run day-to-day stuff, then the PCs can function more like a traditional D&D party without waiting for one PC to make decisions.

In combat, I'm fine with DMPCing people who haven't posted. Especially if it's one person holding up the fight.

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I found a pre-published sci-fi adventure in an old issue of Dungeon. I'm going to convert it for this. It'll probably take me a while to finish, but since the pace of PBP is pretty slow we can get started again before I'm totally done converting it.

Sounds good to me.

No... I like my rank.

Now jokes aside. You're right in the rank problem in regards to pacing. To continue your suggestion perhaps assign mission specialist in command to switch up the decision process.

Mordanna, just waiting on you to post in gameplay.

I was making some NPCs for the next adventure and I noticed a couple mistakes in my rules documents.

The martial hero should get a bonus feat at first and second level, then every even numbered level thereafter. Just like a fighter.

I never specified weapon groups for the weapon training class feature feat. They are pistols, carbines, rifles, melee, and explosives.

Finally, I slightly redid the armor section of the equipment. I changed ballistic armor to give DR, and the others to provide energy resistance of the appropriate type. This brings it more in line with normal pathfinder rules, without changing how it previously functioned.

Okay, Mordanna I'm going to consider you inactive for now. If I don't see a gameplay post from you before the end of the weekend you'll be out and I'll open up recruitment again.

Changed accordingly

Could you elaborate on how you see the CPO's duties?

You make sure that everyone is doing their job. You are the ship's general manager. Basically the same thing you've been doing, it's just in the field you won't always be in command.

Eoriel, you're up. Check gameplay.

Standard magic items are of course available.

Are you changing the pricing on magic items to fit with your economic system, or are they the same price as listed in the books?

I'm considering buying an assault railgun, how large is that? M16 seize? Is master crafting still 350?

Standard prices for magic, yes about the size of an assault rifle, with a slightly longer barrel (due to the whole magnetic propulsion of the projectile thing), masterwork is 350.

Spent mine on a Blaster Carbine and some light Balistic armour.

Not sure what to buy. Think I will just hold on to the credits for now.

I'm leaning towards a master crafted assault railgun for the fire power. Any inputs?

I have quite a lot of work this week and I'll try to post something tomorrow, but I am not sure I will make it.

Alas, with everything that is happening at work plus real life, I am going to bow out. There is only so much I can juggle. It has been very fun.

Thanks to everyone.

Okay, it's become apparent to me that don't really have the time for all the games I'm running and this is the least active one. So I'm going to go ahead and close it down. This was actually my first, and longest running PBP game to date. Thanks so much for helping me to test out my sci-fi rules everyone. If I ever have the time to start another game with these rules I'll let you all know.

Eoriel, I'm especially sorry to you! I made you wait so long and then you only got to post a couple times. Hope we can play together in some other games in the future.

See you all around the boards, may all your rolls be critical hits!

Fair enough. Good gaming to you all!

Its all good. I can totally relate to free-time shortage. Good gaming!

Thanks everyone for a good game. I have had some difficulty with illness the last week and have not posted as much as needed.

Thanks Jelani . I had a great time playing this game.