The Devil's Gorge (and Beyond)!

Game Master Rynjin

Are all of us but Thetsu able to sleep in the Scuttler? And then maybe someone else could drive while he sleeps, so we can keep going without anyone getting fatigued? If this won't work, Dorla votes for stopping for the night.

You could drive in shifts, yes, but take note that everyone but Thetsu is largely unable to maneuver in the event of a fight. Being startled by combat could very well cause you to crash.

By page 107 of the Thunderscape book, Dorla has pilot training because she has:
8 ranks in craft machinery
8 ranks in disable device
8 ranks in knowledge: engineering
1 rank in spellcraft
8 ranks in use magic/tech device
so a total of 33 ranks, but the book says only 10 needed for pilot training.

However, I can't find the drive skill in the book, so I don't know if you've houseruled this differently. Does this give me enough that I can reasonably safely drive, and stop the vehicle and wake Thetsu up if we are attacked? i.e. I don't want to necessarily drive in combat, just be safe for a moment of combat until Thetsu can take over.

EDIT: also, a +5 dex modifier, if drive is an untrained skill

EDIT2: Chirrup also gives a bonus of +2 to both craft and UMD, so although by the rules he doesn't contribute to pilot training, it makes sense he might also be able to help, also

I went with a separate Drive skill I believe, because that's kinda weird.

But you can do what you're asking anyway. The main issue being that stopping the vehicle is likely to be bad.

I can take a two hour power nap and be good to drive while the rest of yall sleep. That way we only need to full stop for 2 hours.

Does Lesser Restoration remove fatigue? If it does, Dorla could prepare a single of that and give it to Thetsu for him to use when he starts feeling tired.

Oh right. I can use Restoration on myself as a spell-like ability.

There we go.

1d100 ⇒ 90

You likewise travel through the night without meeting other hostile creatures, catching mere glimpses of Skags and other vehicles off in the distance.

Around 2 AM you do encounter a bit of a snag: The bridge is out over a particularly large ravine.

The ravine is DEEP, so deep you can't see the bottom, or even a hint of the bottom, even after throwing a light down.

You could go around, taking you many miles out of your way (perhaps a day or two), or you could delve into the ravine and brave what dangers may lie in its depths.

Does the bridge look like we could fix it?

"We're not exactly crunching for time are we? I'd rather not risk the ravine."

The bridge could poetntially be fixed...if you had the materials and expertise to do so.

Dorla's Engineering experience is probably sufficient, but you have no wood or rope to work with for the footbridge, nor iron to support the stone found here for the vehicle bridge (and that second would take far more than a few days to construct).

"Thetsu... Don't you have an expanding staff? Place it on the bridge's gap and we can cross over it."

"I dont think it would bear the weight of the Mechano-Spider."

"Crippled Spider" says Donovan with a cheerful voice. "Not even if you make it thick and wide enough so that the weight is better distributed? We could also cross on foot, so to reduce the total mass... And I could also create a couple flying constructs to help bear the load."

Dorla Engineering knowledge tells her that the plan her mor eignorant companions are espousing would be ineffective, and likely snap the staff lean in half, dissipating its energies and rendering it little more than a stick.

"Guys, that's probably not going to work very well. The staff would break."

It's possible to make bridges out of wood, you know? Specially with extra support. Have you never seen those tiny bridges made of Popsicle sticks? How long and wide can the staff grow, anyway?

And Donovan has a respectable Kn(Engineering) +11. That's probably more than me. And I graduated in that shit. XD

It's possible to make bridges out of wood, you know? Specially with extra support. How long and wide can the staff grow, anyway?

And Donovan has a respectable Kn(Engineering) +11. That's probably more than me. And I graduated in that s!+~. XD

In can grow to about three times its normal length and width. So you're trying t drive a vehicle that puts all its weight on small points of pressure (spider feet) on something that can grow to maybe a foot and a half thick and about 18 feet long.

"Well... I'm out of ideas, then. I guess we take the long route."

"Yeah, that sounds like the best idea."

2d100 ⇒ (36, 4) = 40

The next day of your long, boring journey proceeds without incident, but the third produces another spot of bother. Off on the horizon you spot another vehicle, and this one appears to have spotted you. It is heavily armed, and seems to have four passengers. They do not appear friendly, and train the front cannon on you, but are currently out of range.

Fight or flee?

Can I safely leave some stuff in the vehicle instead of carrying it? With Chirrup's satchel, Dorla is slightly encumbered if she carries everything.

You can, though on the off chance the vehicle is destroyed (you would have to SEVERELY f++@ up for this to happen, I made it sturdy) that stuff would likely be destroyed as well.

Can I safely leave some stuff in the vehicle instead of carrying it? With Chirrup's satchel, Dorla is slightly encumbered if she carries everything.

If it's not something you need to use in combat, you can have someone else carry it for you. Thetsu and Ugash have pretty good Str scores and Donovan is barely carrying anything.

"Can we avoid that thing... I'm not a fan of vehicle combat."

"Can we avoid that thing... I'm not a fan of vehicle combat."

That was asked both in and out of character, BTW. There isn't much Donovan can do in a vehicle fight. :P

Well, you can try to flee, yes. The Scuttler is a bit slower than normal vehicles, but it can activate a burst of speed to move at 60 feet instead of 40 for a minute, and its ability to essentially ignore difficult terrain can give it an edge in a chase.

"Thetsu, do you think you could handle this thing in combat if that's what we all decided?"

Dorla asked one of her companions to carry a bundle of stuff for her. It contains:

1 alchemist's fire
1 alkali flask
1 acid flask
2 sunrods
1 water purification sponge
2 days rations

and weighs 8 pounds. It's extras of stuff, so if I need it I can get it between combats, but I don't want to have to go all the way back to the vehicle for it.

I'll still track it on Dorla's character sheet, but in a separate section. I'll also list the potions that belong to all of us on Dorla's sheet, unless there's one that anyone wants to carry.

"I have no idea. I can keep us from crashing to our deaths if thats what you mean. How good are you all at using cannons?"

Thetsu has a good question. Mechanics of this?

If it's dex based, Dorla should be really good at it. Also, if the cannon counts as 'splash', Dorla gets to add her int bonus to damage. It also occurs to me that it might be possible for Dorla to drop her bombs into the cannon, which might be a major upgrade to the damage (bombs do 4d6+7 damage). Also, how do the alchemy drops work?

It's a ranged attack. All ranged attacks are Dex based. You cannot infuse the cannon with your Bombs (That would require the Siege Bomb Discovery). I'm willing to let cannons count as Splash Weapons.

Alchemy drops are just like little chambers you can load alchemical items in. A simple lever pull drops one of them behind the vehicle, so they're really only for if a vehicle is right behind you. You currently have one at each end of the vehicle with 5 vials of Acid in each.

Still no idea how to proceed... Guess we keep moving and ignore the other vehicle, since we can't do anything about it for now.

So Flee, then. Aighty. Let's break down some things, may make it easier to decide.

The other vehicle starts at about 300 feet out, and closes at 60 feet per round. It becomes clear after a single round that at your current speed they will catch up to you in 6 rounds (and be within easy weapons range in 2).

You can:

1.) Hit NOS and increase your speed to 60 for one minute (matching theirs), delaying their pursuit and potentially making them think you're not worth it. Your speed boost needs recharging, however, consuming energy equivalent to a battery. It will recharge on its own in 24 hours, or can be recharged instantly with a battery/fuel core/whatever.

2.) Fire cannons. At this range you're taking a -4 to-hit, but a good shot could blow a tire, slowing them down, or deal damage in other ways (again making them think you're not worth the trouble).

3.) Find a patch of difficult terrain to run through, rocky land and so on. You move through this without penalty, they do not, slowing them to 30 feet for the duration.

4.) Duck into the bigass ravine and hope it's not worse than this.

5.) A combination of 1, 2, and 3.

6.) Something I didn't think of here.

Well... I leave if for Dorla and Thetsu to decide. There's not much Donovan can do at this moment.

Why don't we keep going the direction we are, as if we don't see them. The idea is to lure them a little closer before trying to attack, as well as waiting until we're sure they're hostile. At that point, I think Dorla will do OK with a cannon. I think I remember seeing that Donovan has quite high dex, also.

"Well..hold on to your pants! Dorla try to hit em while we run!" Thetsu yells as he shifts gears and steers the Mechano-Spider away from the bandits.

Drive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Assuming that I use Dorla's ranged attack bonus:

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 4 = 11

If that hits, I don't know what the damage die would be, but since it's a splash weapon, Dorla gets an extra +7 to damage.

Thetsu manages to keep the vehicle on course, while Dorla shoots at the pursuing vehicle.

1d8 ⇒ 3

She misses, the shot landing to the car's right side, scorching its door.

Donovan cheers.

"Almost there, Dorla!"

"Hey, someone want to grab the other cannon?" calls Dorla as she lines up another shot.

I'm not sure how we're doing turns and rounds and things, so I'm just going to roll for the next attack, and Rynjin can adjust if we're closer to the enemy or anything.

attack:1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 4 = 23

If that doesn't hit, we're in trouble

Again, I don't know the damage dice, but because this is a splash weapon, Dorla has +8 to damage

Chirrup sings and cheers from his satchel, encouraging everyone. He seems to be assuming that Dorla is the leader of the group, but everyone knows that's just in the nature of a familiar whose world revolves around his mistress.

Good question. How does Initiative even work in this combat?

For simplicity I'm just assuming you guys won Initiative. These guys are just trying to catch up now now, rather than firing. Dorla, the last shot missed because you have a -4 due to range ATM. That second shot got 'em. The last shot did minimum damage (10) because it was Splash.

Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2) + 8 = 11

The second shot hits them squarely n their exposed engine block, and the vehicle stutters and slows to a stop.

Angrily, they fire their own cannon.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

And it hits, impacting your tail end!

2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

But inflicting only a scorch on the armored plating.

"So what do we do now, guys? Do you want to get away, or deal with these guys?"

I'm fine either way, so whatever you guys want to do.

Rynjin: yeah, I know about the -4 from range, it was included in both of my rolls. I was just saying that if a 23 wasn't more than their AC, we were going to have trouble hitting them often enough.

"Let's take em out. We're probably not the only ones they've targeted!"

Thetsu changes direction again.
Drive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Thetsu pops over to the other driver's seat and moves back that way a bit.

Dorla fires again as we get closer.

[ooc]Are we close enough to change the range penalty? I'm rolling as if still -4, if that's wrong please change.

attack:1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 4 = 10
damage:2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 5) + 8 = 14

"Hey Ugash and Donovan! Can one of you take the other cannon?"

You're close enough to nix the ranged penalty. Also, the cannons are on opposite sides and only fire forward with a slight swivel.

Dorla demolishes the vehicle, incinerating all its occupants.