[SFS] GM Blake's Session 0 (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Please use this thread for discussing your characters, creating backgrounds, and other pre-game discussions.

Please post any questions in this thread so that the gameplay thread can be kept clean as a reference.

Thank you, and I hope everyone will have a great time!

I'm super excited for this. Having run the first half of Dead Suns, I've yet to get to play campaign style Starfinder.

My natural tendency is to play an envoy as I tend towards social characters in campaigns. I'm also looking hard at Solarian. I'd definitely have fun with either, so I'd probably choose based on what other people don't select.

I'm leaning towards either a technomancer or a soldier mechanically, but am happy to backfill as needed too.

I haven't read Aeon throne, so I don't know: Is there any guidance on appropriate backgrounds or hooks our characters should be excited about?

I haven't read Aeon throne, so I don't know: Is there any guidance on appropriate backgrounds or hooks our characters should be excited about?

Yes. See the gameplay thread in this Session 0 campaign. :)

Post #2.

Ha! Didn't realize there was going to be info in the session 0 Gameplay thread!

I'm leaning towards either a technomancer or a soldier mechanically, but am happy to backfill as needed too.

I haven't read Aeon throne, so I don't know: Is there any guidance on appropriate backgrounds or hooks our characters should be excited about?

There is in the gameplay thread

My initial character concept was for a ghoran technomancer, so I am partial to technomancy at the moment, though I had a thought for more of a melee-oriented technomancer. I am nothing if not adaptable, so I can fill as needed but you know my preference.

As far as backstory, Ghoran are generally more comfortable among the Vesk, so he's spent most of his time with the Veskarium's fleet. If anybody plats a Vesk or a Veskarium race then that's an easy in, else we could have met later on. Thoughts?

Also if my reading of the character creation info is correct then we all start on the same ship together, so we definitely need some way to bring us together. Maybe one of us owns the ship and the rest of us hired on as crew for any number of reasons. Could be a good starting point to build off of?

Yes. One of you own a ship (or some/all of you own a share of a ship).

The captain (and his partners, if any) and ship were hired to transport supplies. Crew members (fellow PCs) could have been hired before or after the job contract.

You also get to build a ship, but I'll be posting those rules later.

Hey GM Blake and Team! I'm very excited to join this crew...this seems like a great group.

I've played a lot of PbP games for PFS, but have been gravitating toward the adventure paths for more character development. I've only been involved in one Starfinder adventure path (Dead Suns) and have really enjoyed it.

I'll be able to create a character for any class for this group, so if there's a role I need to fill, I'm happy to take it.

I'd been gravitating toward an astrazoan bounty hunter mystic (or potentially technomancer) who uses disguise and mind tricks to capture prey. However, I just realized that race is in Pact Worlds. I'm leaning toward mystic, though.

I also think a pahtra operative would be fun and could get into that.

Hey GM Blake and Team! I'm very excited to join this crew...this seems like a great group.

I've played a lot of PbP games for PFS, but have been gravitating toward the adventure paths for more character development. I've only been involved in one Starfinder adventure path (Dead Suns) and have really enjoyed it.

I'll be able to create a character for any class for this group, so if there's a role I need to fill, I'm happy to take it.

I'd been gravitating toward an astrazoan bounty hunter mystic (or potentially technomancer) who uses disguise and mind tricks to capture prey. However, I just realized that race is in Pact Worlds. I'm leaning toward mystic, though.

I also think a pahtra operative would be fun and could get into that.

If you did want to play a Pahtra that could mesh with my character idea as well, since the Pahtra are part of the Veskarium.

Okay, if envoy, technomancer, and operative are looking likely, then I'll go ahead and put together a soldier tonight (though of course until dice hit the table I'm happy to swap)

Okay, if envoy, technomancer, and operative are looking likely, then I'll go ahead and put together a soldier tonight (though of course until dice hit the table I'm happy to swap)

I'm actually leaning toward Mystic still...the Pahtra Operative is my fallback option if that's needed more.

I had an idea for a haughty Abadaran mystic priest, but I think I am presently leaning towards an operative, former lawman/sheriff from Akiton. Either an augmented human or possibly half-orc. A mechanic may also work for this character concept.

Looks to me like envoy/solarion, mystic, technomancer, soldier, and operative/mechanic. That should cover almost any role, plus whatever Tyranius wants to play.

My Ghoran will probably be the Spacefarer theme, so they will transplant (*snkt*) pretty easily into other PC backstories.

I have a couple ideas. So far I am looking at a Heavy Arms Dragonkin Soldier or a Grey Mindbreaker Mystic.

Alright, I think I'm (PatheticWretch) going with this character, though I need to do the backstory and there will likely be some tweaks.

Haro Phane is a Human Icon Mystic (Overlord connection) who is famous for being a unique kind of bounty hunter.

The Icon theme has you pick a profession you are famous for, so he's famous for being a bounty hunter who somehow makes his prey turn themselves in (using his compulsion mystic powers, but his adoring holo-video audience can believe his prey is so scared Haro Phane is chasing them). He posts videos of his exploits on social media.

He's likely to have a very large celebrity ego, or at least think people should know who he is.

He will primarily be a ranged spellcaster (and I'll take spell focus at level 3), but thought I might use a couple of feats to get a decent melee weapon in the event I need to switch-hit.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on the concept...

Currently planning on running Lors Lorcas: a Shobhad Bombard Soldier. She's a bounty hunter as well, though she's not famous for it like Haro.

Possibly we've worked some jobs together in the past, but Haro ended up getting all the credit?

Okay, given the mix so far, I think an Envoy would be the better option (and one I am more than happy to play.)

I'll pick a race tonight (current front runners are: human and damai)

Liking the idea of the bounty hunters so far, Haro makes me think of something like Dog the Bounty Hunter and that sounds just awful. I love it :D

I imagine then that our pair of bounty hunters are on this "milk run" either as a favour to Cedona or that they've had a bad run and need to make up the difference?

I wonder if Haro or Lors has tried to capture Shade before in a case of mistaken identity? Maybe even when they were on the job together. Could make for a fun hi-jinks kinda feel to their relationship.

I'll whip up some stats for Shade in a bit here. I definitely had one of those brain fart moments when I was initially reading the Ghoran and thought they had a bonus to Int and a penalty to Cha when, in fact, it is the other way around. Whoops. xD

Having just come off of a long line of characters with strong moral foundations, I'm thinking that Antenor will be "in it for the money sister." Even if I play someone unsavory, I never disrupt the party with it. I find a way to make it work. Intra-party angst is definitely NOT my cup of tea.

It looks like we have plenty of scum and villainy so far.

We probably need someone to be our moral compass. :)

I am not really in it for the money, but for the fame, glory, and views. I know some YouTubers in real life, and it's so funny to hear all the "this might sound fake, but it's totally real!" when they're lying through their teeth knowing what is really happening. I think I'm going to have lots of fun with this character.

I'm sure we can weave some stories together for the bounty hunting crew, or a near-miss on Shade for mistaken identity. Or maybe he's seen my HoloVids? ;P

I feel like your ship's AI is gonna have to be you guys' moral compass at this rate.

*chuckle*

Once you guys have settled on your characters, we'll start ship building.

As a former lawman, my character can serve as an "obligatory moral compass".

I was already thinking of my PC as a former sheriff of a backwater (sand?) town in Akiton, when I noticed Antenor was from there. Perhaps, the two have had run ins and my PC is traveling to keep an eye on Antenor. Or, if it fits Antenor's background, my PC and Antenor could have grown up together. My PC pursued law enforcement while his childhood friend chose, well, less savory avenues. Though my PC has been forced/chose retirement, he still holds out some hope of redemption for his old friend. He is hoping to convince him to settle down and start over at the new colony the two are traveling to?

(Just throwing out ideas)

Not sure, yet, why my PC left law enforcement. Perhaps, he felt he was losing himself as injury after injury led to the addition of cybernetic parts. Perhaps, he wouldn't yield to corruption. Maybe, he was just tired and looking for some peace and quiet among the stars on a world far more lush and tranquil than Akiton.

If any of these choices fit with another PC's background or provides a natural ally/foil to play off of, let me know.

Alright here is Shade! Decided to try the thrown weapon route and see how it works out.

I was also thinking that Shade might be a little bit of moral compass as well. They spent most of they're early years among the vesk since some other Ghoran told them that the Pact World races thought Ghoran were a tasty delicacy. So Shade is kinda used to dealing with... ah... not very nice types, and trying to do good anyway. If Valen's lawman ends up being Lawful, he and Shade could argue about the how, but not the what. (Shade is Chaotic). Could be some nice interplay.

Anyone want to volunteer to be the "owner" of the ship that brought these disparate elements together? Shade could (since he has the Spacefarer theme), but he's not going to fit either Captain or Pilot roles, so it seems a bit strange to me. But hey, that's why the crew was hired.

@Haro: I'm thinking the whole social media deal isn't a huge thing in the Veskarium, so I imagine Shade only found out about it through his first interaction with Haro. "You do what for a living?" :D

Maybe I *won* the ship on Celebrity Big Bounty Hunter and have NO idea what to do with it (except hire people to operate it).

I have absolutely no ship skills except probably captain, so that could make sense, too. XD

EDIT: Oh, and then whoever passes along a Like on one of my HoloVids can enter to win a portion of my ship (as long as you know how to fly it, shoot its guns, etc.). Maybe you're all the lucky winners? Alright, this doesn't have to be what happened, but I'm really getting into this character concept.

Oh, Antenor is good, he just wants to get paid. Working on backstory now. Mechanics are mostly set. I'm glad to have a Session 0:

After playing RPGs for.... almost 30 years (Cayden's Codpiece I'm getting old) I've moved AWAY from in depth character backstories. In practice I find that their either bind the player/GM to something that might not fit, or they don't fit and then they don't really enhance play. Instead I've moved towards a more general mental image that gets honed in the first few "sessions."

It looks like my Dragonkin build might be too close to Lors and the gray mystic is very, very similar to Haro so I can go with an either Ysoki or Space Goblin Mechanic.

Good languages to pick up for this AP specifically?

Since it's in the title: Azlanti.

Nothing major otherwise that I can tell.

I'm planning on having Lors be more of a 'freelance sheriff' bounty hunter than a 'scum and villainy' bounty hunter for what it's worth (Vacillating between writing LN or LG for alignment, but the real answer is somewhere in that spectrum anyways).

As a Shobhad, Lors is also from the red sands of Akiton, but I'm envisioning her having left a while ago, so while I'm certainly open to backstory crossovers with Antenor or Valen's lawman, well, it's a big planet, it's not thaaat odd if we didn't cross paths.

I may only be interested in high-profile bounties, and then only for the sport and recognition. :)

This is Srygzink 'Steve the Unreliable' Halfheart. Most end up just calling him Steve as that is the name the baristas at Starbucks keeps putting on his cups.

He like to tinker with anything he can get his hands on, and he likes to try and get his little fingers around most anything within reach.

Heh...I know Steve's going to be a blast already. Who couldn't like a Goblin Mechanic?

I'm thinking that part of my backstory is that there was a galaxy-wide Bounty Hunter competition with a number of different criminals to capture, each with a bounty based on how difficult they were to capture.

Haro, a complete unknown, won the competition by capturing the most difficult criminal (therefore becoming a celebrity to anyone who followed this). The criminal didn't know this, but Haro used his Mystic powers to basically make the criminal turn herself in.

She promptly escaped from prison and wants to kill Haro, but that's another matter entirely.

Perhaps I won a ship...perhaps not.

Anyway, I'm sure Lors could have been part of that competition and we crossed paths.

I don't see many people jump at the opportuity to be the "owner" of the ship, so I guess I'll toss in a competing theory to Haros and we can go with whichever we like more:

Leaving the service of the Veskarium is not something to be done lightly, or easily. Shade was done though, and he needed an out. He couldn't just hop the next transport out though. He'd be branded a deserter before the ship reached the first checkpoint. So he stole a small escort ship and made a break for it, barely escaping.

This would make Shade wanted in the Veskarium, and our pair of bounty hunters signed on as crew to bring Shade in?

That sounds like a really cool hook for a campaign, Shade, but I'm a little concerned that in an AP it's a hook that might not lead to the rest of the story we'll be playing...

You're probably right about that, especially since we are supposed to all know Cedona beforehand.

Steve inherited the ship when his fellow goblins died in a horrible drift engine mishap--drift engines are not designed to roast marshmallows--so he sold shares of the ship to just about anyone interested in sharing the profits of whatever the ship was used for (transport, shipping, bounty hunting... piracy).

?

That idea works...perhaps I still "won" my share of the ship as a prize in whatever competition I became a celebrity in, but didn't know exactly what the prize came with.

Or perhaps I even *think* I own the entire ship and we have some contested title issues. XD

Easy way to fit Cedona in with that idea: Cedona (or the colony she's on) owns a majority share of the ship and got all of us a bearth aboard either to work or to Haro because she's a fan of his?

Yeah...having Cedona charter our flight does make sense too. That puts us all on the flight with a good reason to be together.

I think I will still keep the Veskarium deserter part of my character. He's definitely got a bounty on his head in the Veskarium, but probably not enough to interest Haro.

You were hired by AbadarCorp through their agent Madelon Kesi, a lashunta priest of Abadar.

Cedona, at this moment, is just a coincidental part of the plot, having retired to the frontier colony.

So far, what has worked best is the idea that Haro won the ship and hired a crew to fly it, offering them equal partnership. Then they got the bid for transporting the supplies to Madelon's Landing. Cedona pointed them toward the contract or not.

I think Steve should have come with the ship, having lived his life on the ship, and then woke up one morning to find some human Vlogger claiming he owns it. *chuckle* But that's up to Steve.

/rofl! That is hilarious. I won a ship that came with Steve!

"You guys won't believe this is real, but I got a goblin with the ship! Most liked comment gets to choose his name!"

Ahahaha. This is fantastic.

So far, it looks like we have:

Ghoran Technomancer / Science Officer
Human Mystic (overlord) / Captain
Shobhad Soldier / -
Goblin Mechanic / Engineer
Human Envoy / Captain or Pilot
??? Mystic / -

I listed the key ship roles that you need, and it seems that we have all of those filled.

Lors is happy to crew the guns - I love the idea of Steve coming with the ship!

Sounds good to me! :). I can work with that.

"You guys won't believe this is real, but I got a goblin with the ship! Most liked comment gets to choose his name!"

Ahahaha. This is fantastic.

What about having been named by online vote? Is this where “Steve” came from? XD

The Shaded Grove wrote:

"You guys won't believe this is real, but I got a goblin with the ship! Most liked comment gets to choose his name!"

Ahahaha. This is fantastic.

What about having been named by online vote? Is this where “Steve” came from? XD

We all know the infosphere would have named him Gobby McGobface.

I like the Starbucks explanation, myself. ;)

Antenor is definitely a better captain than a pilot the way he's built now. I might switch out long arm proficiency for Skill Focus (Piloting).

As for back story, I'm not going to be complicated. Antenor bounced from get rich quick scheme to scheme. He's getting better at it only because he's learning that action and involvement pays better than hustling.

He also REALLY doesn't like to OWE anyone, and that includes Cedona.