GM Valen's SFS 1-01 The Commencement - January 2019 (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

I'd also like to confirm whether Saeron can continue to try to ally with Lemgem (I'm assuming her first attempt at Diplomacy was a failure) or if she needs to pursue another avenue. Thanks!

Saeron can continue her attempt as another action. However, the prior attempt failed by more than 5, so DC modifier to Diplomacy increases by 5. Thus, for Round 2, Saeron may use an action to try Diplomacy check again at increased DC (other players made use an action to Aid Another) or use an action to make a Bluff check (at original DC) or move along to another racer/activity.

"Greetings friend. That's a fine piece of machinery you've crafted. Can I convince you to share some wisdom with a new racer?"

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. As the Starfinder approaches, they appear to be struggling to conform a pneumatic piston for use in a modified, rotating cylinder.

Round 2 Summary
M'linda finds another part, at Jeen's direction, that increases the speed of Laboni's junk racer.
Adding a third speed increase of 5 ft. to Laboni's racer

Jeen improves the racer’s handling.
Adding +1 modifier to Piloting of Laboni's racer

URDOA finds parts for another kinetic weapon.
Adding second kinetic weapon to Laboni's racer

Baròleg picks up some racing tips from Nyizin.
Double speed of Laboni’s racer for one round, but there is a 50% chance the engine could have an internal malfunction on the next round that permanently reduces the vehicle’s base speed by half

Saeron’s action this round?

Status of modifications as of Round 2 are now on Slides.

Same rolls as helping Laboni to help Velocity?

Same rolls as helping Laboni to help Velocity?

Correct. I apologize for being unclear.

Embarrassed by her botched attempt to befriend the gnome, Saeron takes a breath and steels herself as she turns her sights to Ratrod.

Pausing before approaching the Ysoki racer, she watches as he and his crew work on their vehicle.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Making an assumption with Diplomacy based on the previous interaction with Lemgem. I don't want to cause a delay as I won't be able to post again for a few hours...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Ewwww. Never mind - I'll see myself out...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Baròleg takes a moment and looks over Velocity's racer. "I am no mechnic, but I think if you adjust the manifolds just a little and shore up the links to the accelerators... It should help." He takes a few moments to help Velocity make the adjustments. "I can't say it will help much, but at least we'll know we each have a friend on the track?"

Thinking the other racer's would have something up their sleeves, Jeen starts working on a spring loaded compartment in the back of the vehicle, made to open up and spill almost anything onto the track to interfere with the opponents driving and vehicle. but, only makes it so it can old one to two substances at a time to minimize complication and construction.
I would like to take 20 on this if we are not rushed, or at least 10. same with computers for making a connection to a button.
Engineering and computers are 12, 22 if taking 10, and 32 if taking 20.

As Baròleg makes his way back to the team's pit area, he wanders close enough to Saeron to use his telepathy to check in, "Have you had success negotiating with Lemgem? What about Ratrod? I can stop at either if needed."

I don't think I can change Ratrod's mind about Laboni so...

Provided Saeron updates him on Lemgem's plan and Ratrod's insert response to last post , Baròleg stops to talk with Lemgem. He begins talking to Lemgem about the overclocking, and how it's a likely not a good idea because Lemgem isn't capable of the technical work...

Bluffing to get Lemgem to overclock, fairly warning that it will explode while insinuating that its because Lemgem isn't a good mechanic.

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"It is too early to tell with this one," she replies telepathically to Baròleg, indicating Ratrod. "I, uh, may have inadvertently offended Lemgem," she admits, disappointment and the hint of embarrassment accompany the sending.

"She does seem to enjoy customising her racer and her own body," she adds, sharing what she was able to learn about the gnome through her observations before turning her attention back to Ratrod.

Embarrassed by her botched attempt to befriend the gnome, Saeron takes a breath and steels herself as she turns her sights to Ratrod.

Ratrod is a ysoki with mottled gray-and-white fur. It is obvious from the way he "works" with his crew that he has a showman’s personality to match his icon status. People in the Spike consider him something of a hero to the ysoki-dominated Scrap Union. Unfortunately, Saeron is unable to get much more of a sense of the champion.

Baròleg takes a moment and looks over Velocity's racer. "I am no mechnic, but I think if you adjust the manifolds just a little and shore up the links to the accelerators... It should help." He takes a few moments to help Velocity make the adjustments. "I can't say it will help much, but at least we'll know we each have a friend on the track?"

The android is quite appreciative. "Thank you, I truly appreciate the help." they say. "I'm a pretty good pilot, but I have to admit that I struggle with engineering. Because of that, I've never won a race—I've mostly sought entertainment by shooting at other racers during previous competitions." Velocity manages something resembling a smile. "If Laboni is about to win, I won' stop her."

Thinking the other racer's would have something up their sleeves, Jeen starts working on a spring loaded compartment in the back of the vehicle, made to open up and spill almost anything onto the track to interfere with the opponents driving and vehicle. but, only makes it so it can old one to two substances at a time to minimize complication and construction.

@ Jeen - There is no game mechanic for the races subsystem that addresses what you are trying to do. The effect of the action seems to be to have Laboni's vehicle let loose "projectiles" that make it harder for an opponent to steer - this is the same as a kinetic weapon, which targets another racer's KAC and, on a hit, causes the targeted racer to take a -4 penalty to Piloting checks.

He begins talking to Lemgem about the overclocking, and how it's a likely not a good idea because Lemgem isn't capable of the technical work...

"Oh, yeah?" the gnome responds a bit vindictively, as she immediately begins making additional modifications to her racer.

"Should have broadcast your opinions telepathically to yourself, Old Man!" she cries out to Baròleg.

Success.

Round 2 Summary Cont'd
Saeron attempts to coax Lemgem into an alliance, but is unsuccessful.

Round 3 Summary
Trying my best to discern what folks are attempting to do based on their prior posts.

M'linda finds another part, at Jeen's direction, that increases the speed of Laboni's junk racer.
Adding a fourth speed increase of 5 ft. to Laboni's racer

Jeen adds a spring loaded compartment to the back of Laboni’s racer, which he fills with canisters of unpleasant goos.
Adding third kinetic weapon to Laboni's racer. [No benefit in adding more than four kinetic weapons

URDOA finds the perfect spring for the new compartment.
Upgrading a kinetic weapon to impose an additional –2 penalty to enemy Piloting checks on a successful hit (total penalty of -6).

Baròleg finds a part that will increase the speed of Velocity’s racer, thereby securing an alliance with the android.
Velocity will positions themself to take second place in the race and directs their weapons against anyone in front of Laboni’s junkracer.

Saeron approaches Ratrod, but is unable to secure any useful information.

Round 4 (Final Round) Summary Begins

Baròleg convinces Lemgem to overclock her racer.
Lemgem will overclock her own machine, which causes the vehicle’s engine to explode at the race’s start and removes Lemgem from the race entirely.

URDOA attempts to find an additional part, but has no luck.

M’linda, however, finds just the part that Jeen was looking for.
@ Jeen - Let me know what improvement to apply her check to.

Also, still need Jeen’s final pre-race action and Saeron’s final pre-race action.

Status of modifications to racer, including those above, are now on Slides.

Her previous attempt having failed to garner the ysoki's attention, Saeron watches as the ysoki and his crew work, momentarily at a loss.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Or could be another Sense Motive, if more appropriate (both +8)

In a moment of desperation, with time running out, she tries a different tack.

Taking out her comm unit, she waves to the ysoki, smiling as she calls out, "Ratrod! Over here! Could I get a picture?"

"I'd just love to post an entry to my vidlog with the best racer on the circuit! Any tips you can give for my subscribers?" she asks once she has his attention.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 She is after an edge - whether that be a tip from him about racing or the track, or something that she has observed of Ratrod or his racer.

Her previous attempt having failed to garner the ysoki's attention, Saeron watches as the ysoki and his crew work, momentarily at a loss.

[dice=Perception]1d20+8 Or could be another Sense Motive, if more appropriate (both +8)
Taking out her comm unit, she waves to the ysoki, smiling as she calls out, "Ratrod! Over here! Could I get a picture?"

"I'd just love to post an entry to my vidlog with the best racer on the circuit! Any tips you can give for my subscribers?" she asks once she has his attention.

@ Saeron - Sense Motive is appropriate. A result of 11 is sufficient to know the information below:

You gather quickly that the ratfolk has no interest in helping Laboni, but he’s willing to banter with you. Though most of his talk plays to the crowd, you recognize that Ratrod takes offense at the challenge to his legitimacy. You believe that you can use this knowledge to raise the stakes on the race by further trash-talking the champion. By getting his fur riled up, you suspect that that he might have trouble focusing while angry.
Requires a successful Intimidation check.

lets put another on speed
He makes another adjustment to the steering mechanism for smoother handling.

Before the race, he tells Laboni a little about the vehicle, going along the lines of dialog of
"push that button to open this" or "pull that lever when something like this happens or even the tips like "and the speed might be temperamental, haven worked it all out yet so go easy on it. But remember, times to let loose and times to pull back"

and if he gets any argument he gives her a "hey, I'm the mechanic here, I know better how to handle this machine." or a "do you want to win this race? then listen to what I'm telling you.

Of course he's not interested in the photo op, Saeron, she tells herself. You're going to have to do better than that! Wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue nervously, she makes a final, desperate attempt to upset the ysoki's equilibrium.

She calls out again, "Oh ho! Now I see why you don't want to have your picture with me... you're scared Laboni is going to beat you! You are worried what everyone will think when the so-called "greatest racer" is beaten by a rookie and is forced to slink away with his widdle tail between his wegs. It's all so clear."

If allowed, I'd like to cast Ghost Sound following her speech, to generate the sound of a large group of people laughing raucously (DC13 Will)

She waits, heart pounding and holding her breath, for Ratrod's response.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

*sigh* About par for the course. And after I rollef a 19 on the Diplomacy check I didn't end up needing...

Round 4 (Final Round) Summary

Baròleg convinces Lemgem to overclock her racer.
Lemgem will overclock her own machine, which causes the vehicle’s engine to explode at the race’s start and removes Lemgem from the race entirely.

URDOA attempts to find an additional part, but has no luck.

M’linda, however, finds just the part that Jeen was looking for--a fuel injector.
Adding a fifth speed increase of 5 ft. to Laboni's racer.

Jeen tinkers with the gyroscope and steering mechanism.
Adding additional +1 modifier to Piloting of Laboni's racer.

Saeron attempts to raz Ratrod, but his well-tuned ears make him wise to her illusionary sounds.

Status of modifications to racer, including those above, are now on Slides.

Before the race, he tells Laboni a little about the vehicle, going along the lines of dialog of

"push that button to open this" or "pull that lever when something like this happens or even the tips like "and the speed might be temperamental, haven worked it all out yet so go easy on it. But remember, times to let loose and times to pull back"

and if he gets any argument he gives her a "hey, I'm the mechanic here, I know better how to handle this machine." or a "do you want to win this race? then listen to what I'm telling you.

Laboni seems to listen intently, nodding for a moment, before stating. "Thank you for your help."

"However," she notes as a robot comes around and urges the racers to bring their machines to the starting line. "I've never actually piloted one of these things. Or, for that matter, fired a weapon. So, I sort of need you guys to do that all for me."

"I'm pretty good at building stuff." she quickly adds. "Including these remotes, which I devised for steering and firing. Here you go!" she says, hastily dropping the remotes into your hands, before moving quickly towards the spectator stands.

"And," she cries over her shoulder before as she straddles the seat on the junk racer, "I hear people usually give their racers a name. So why don't you all go ahead and give it one? Good luck!"

She closes the face-shield on her helmet, then flips a switch to disengage the handlebars from the steering mechanisms, allowing the remotes to take full control, before gripping the handlebars tightly to hold on.

The race uses a modified version of the vehicle chase rules, beginning on page 282 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook. Each turn of the race includes two phases: First, all the competitors fire their weapons at their chosen targets. Second, all the pilots attempt piloting checks to determine their positions in the race. Any number of players can each control a single weapon during the firing phase, whereas only one player can act during the piloting phase.

I need you to decided among yourselves, which role each will have during the race (and I am fine with players switching off each round if they'd like). Each round, I need a player to Pilot Laboni's racer and four players to fire the guns--one the energy weapon, two on the "regular" kinetic weapons, and one on Jean's "springloaded" weapon.

Stats for Laboni's junk racer with all completed mods is now up on Slides.

Once PC assignments are made for the Pilot and the guns, I'll get the race started.

M'linda has a grand 'ol +0 for Piloting, so I definitely should not be driving. I'm good with whatever else we need.

URDOA has +5 to Piloting, but also +1 BAB, (although only +1 dex mod.), so either way.

ranged mod for weapons is +4, but thrown is +1 along with melee.
Piloting is +4. if anyone is on the 'springload' I made, it might as well be me. but I am second best on pilot.

Piloting for the racer is based upon skill ranks and all modifiers. Ranged attack (regardless of the weapon used) is based solely upon the combination of BAB and Dex, unless you can convince me that another modifier is somehow applicable.

No piloting. BAB +! and Dex +1.

No piloting, +1 to fire from Dex. I'll gun.

So, it looks like assignments (with PC modifiers and accompanying racer modifiers) are:

URDOA - pilot +11 (+5+6)
M'linda - energy weapon -1 (+2-3)
Saeron - kinetic weapon -1 (+2-3)
Baròleg - kinetic weapon -2 (+1-3)
Jeen - spring-loaded kinetic weapon +1 (+4-3)

“All right, race fans! Now is the moment that you have all been waiting for!” cries the holo-announcer over the roar of the crowd. "The race promises to be a hot one as all six competitors will be striving to be the first to navigate 3,000 feet of junk-lined track!"

With the remote control to Laboni's junkracer in URDOA's steady, mechanical hands and four other Starfinders using similar controls to activate the racer's weapon systems, Laboni's junkracer with the junior mechanic riding atop of it joins the others at the starting line.

“Gentle beings,” continues the holo-announcer. “Start your engines!”

A cacophony of engine sounds rises in response, accompanied by the hum of thrusters and antigrav generators kicking in and bringing the racers to life.

Laboni glances your direction with a nervous smile.

The lights at the starting line flicker, marking the countdown and then the scream of a buzzer marks the beginning of the race!

Almost immediately, the various racers begin to train their weapons on their opponents.

Phase One Begins!

Ratrod zaps the junkracer of the upstart, Laboni. The ysoki champion snorts with pleasure as he sees the burn his weapon has etched into the Starfinder's racer.
-4 penalty to Piloting this round for Laboni's racer.

Lemgem fires her energy weapon and kinetic weapon at Orsis. A well-place shell throws the lashunta off.
Orsis has -6 penalty to Piloting this round

Nyizin fires on Lemgem, shaving off a piece of the gnome's racer.
Lemgem has -4 penalty to Piloting this round

Orsis fires on Nyizin, but misses.

Velocity fires on Ratrod, but misses.

Starfinder may all go ahead. Pilot takes penalty noted above. Gunners must identify their targets and give me attack rolls. Modifiers are above.

A map of the track is up on Slides. Players can view the track, but cannot make changes. I will update the racer's position at the end of the round once all checks are resolved.

Good luck, Starfinders!

Baròleg tries to line up a shot at Ratrod. "Remember, no firing at Velocity. URDOA bring this junk heap home."

Attack/Kinetic: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

M'linda takes the weapon controls in her hands, a little grin spreading across her face. "I've always wanted to try one of those vid-games."

She nods to Baròleg in acknowledgement, then turns her attention to the task at hand. Not having any interactions with the other races, she focuses her fire on the ysoki that started this whole problem.

Attack/Energy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

..... well.

Saeron grasps the weapon control in a nervous hand. Exhaling sharply as the race begins, the lashunta woman scans the race competitors for a target.

Locating Ratrod, she tagets the ysoki's racer and fires.

Ranged attack, Kinetic weapon: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Jeen gives commands to AGE to act as a camera, putting it on the vehicle.

"M'linda, I can get you one. Heck, I can make you one."

he sets his pad (with the link to AGE's camera) in a place where he and the others could see it and the track at the same time.

Waiting on Jeen to fire his weapon.

Waiting on Jeen to fire his weapon.

Unless Jeen is firing at Laboni's racer, feel free to roll your Piloting (Actually, even if Jeen was firing at Laboni's racer, I could adjust the result with the appropriate modifier later).

Once I have Jeen and URDOA's actions, I will resolve the NPCs' Piloting checks and we will move into Round 2!

Piloting Check vs. DC=16: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

not firing AT Laboni's racer, holding fire for when I need it. AGE is just landing on the racer to act as another point of view.

not firing AT Laboni's racer, holding fire for when I need it. AGE is just landing on the racer to act as another point of view.

Understood (I was just trying to be funny with my firing "at Laboni" note).

GM Transparency Time: The outcome of the race is determined by a rule subsystem, with requires successful attack rolls to impose penalties and a successful Piloting rule to advance down the track. Therefore, there is no benefit to saving a shot. It is to your advantage to designate a target and make an attack roll each round.

so we are not going with a 'one shot' rule type of thing? cause, I only made it to hold 2 things.

so we are not going with a 'one shot' rule type of thing? cause, I only made it to hold 2 things.

I've enjoyed the flavor you've added with your description of the weapon and it's mechanics. It's great role-playing. However, exactly what you proposed was not contemplated under the rule subsystem. So, rather than declare that you can't create such a weapon, as GM, I've instead applied the closest equivalent in the subsystem to resolve the effects of your weapon mechanically. The weapon is a kinetic weapon that imposes a -6 penalty to Piloting due to the substance inside the projectile (regardless of what kind it may be, glue, grease, smoke, etc), rather than the standard -4 penalty for a kinetic weapon, that presumably just shoots standard shells. Since your weapon is a kinetic weapon, it does not have a limited number of shots so you can take one each round.

When you make the attack roll, describe the type of substance you are shooting and I will describe the result in the summary of the round. But, I'm letting you know up front that, regardless of the substance fired, the resuls of successful attack is the same as far as the game mechanics go. The role-playing part comes in with the in-game description, which makes it fun and interesting.

ok, great, if that is how we will do it, that is fine. I shall abide by the rules set as described, and will follow the advice to fire.

but as i see it, I made it to be a single directional weapon that shoots to the rear of the vehicle and effects the vehicle right behind it, if there is no real rule for that then I will go with a splash effect role play instead (it will not splash, results are as GM describes of 'course).

I will make an attack and we will see what happens.

Jeen Presses a button on a, more of a control pad than anything else, and a small compartment opens up in the rear and drops a bunch of semi-sharp spheres.
attack (any none ally target): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Phase One Cont'd

The projectile from the kinetic weapon fired by Baròleg strikes Ratrod's racer, but is deflected by the angle of the armor.

The other Starfinder each remotely activate the remaining guns on Laboni's racer, but the shots go wide.

A spray of spiked-spheres drop from the rear of Laboni's racer, but the other racers are able to circumvent around them.

Phase Two

URDOA remotely guides Laboni's racer around the track, but his planned trajectory is thwarted when the energy beam fired by Ratrod burns a hole through the port stabilizer, forcing the android to slow Laboni's craft down to avoid crashing into the guardrail.
With -4 penalty applied, URDOA's Piloting result was 12. Laboni moves 325 ft.

Oris, his racer having been struck by one of Lemgem's weapon, is also forced to slow down to avoid a crash. The lashunta flashes a sneer at the gnome who fired on him.
Orsis moves 250 ft.

Lemgem, seeing an opportunity and looking to stick it to the Starfinders, begins to overclock her machine well-past the limits of safety, the modified engine over her well-armed junk racer explodes in spectacular fashion, removing the modified gnome from the race!
Lemgem is removed from the race.

Orsis gives out a silent, telepathic cheer at seeing the destruction of the weapon that had slowed him down.

Unscathed and determined to win, Nyizin surges ahead at full speed.
Nyizin moves 500 ft.

But, the expertly-built racer of the reigning champion, Ratrod, is faster and the ryphorian is easily passed by the ysoki, who takes the lead.
Ratrod moves 550 ft.

However, thanks to the assistance of the Starfinders, the racer of Laboni's ally, Velocity, is just as speedy and the android competitor is now neck and neck with Ratrod!
Velocity moves 550 ft.

The race is on! The crowd roars in excitement.

Representation of track with relative locations of the racers is up on Slides. It cannot viewed but not altered by the players.

M'linda continues to focus-fire Ratrod. Oh no you don't!

Attack/Energy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Round Two Begins!

Phase One Begins

With their speed out of the gate, the two frontrunners quickly become targets for one another, as well as the other racers!

Ratrod and Nyizin each fire on Velocity, but fail to strike the racer of the speedy android.

Velocity returns fire on Ratrod, with no success.

Orsis, however, manages to zap Ratrod with a powerful energy beam from his racer's weapon.

The result, however, he finds to be quite unexpected. Rather than scorch his opponent's machine, the specially coated exterior of the ysoki's racer absorbs the energy from the beam, converting it to a powerful search of energy to bolster the racer's speed!
+4 bonus to Ratrod's Piloting check this round!

All PCs may now post their actions for Round 1. PCs may choose to switch off from Piloting or a specific weapon, but each weapon may only be fired once. One Starfinder may also forego an attack to attempt to Aid Another for Piloting. Gunners, please identify a single target and give me your attack rolls.

Jeen presses another button dropping a fragile barrel of goo if Orisis's Path.
attack: 1d20 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 3 = 3 IDK what exactly I need to do, but I'm doing My character's ranged mod, and the piloting aim penalty.

Attack/Ratrod/K: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

"Looks like Ratrod is more clever than we thought. Who has the energy weapon?" Distracted by the Ysoki's clever diffusion system, Baròleg's shot goes wide.

Per scenario's race rules, all attacks happen simultaneously, so...

M'linda continues to focus-fire Ratrod. Oh no you don't!

Oh yes he does! The quick-trigger finger of the solarian finds a target in the ysoki. The energy, however, is absorbed into the engines of the champion's junkracer!

IDK what exactly I need to do, but I'm doing My character's ranged mod, and the piloting aim penalty.

The modifiers for each PC are listed above (although an additional modifier to the Piloting roll may be applied if Laboni's racer is hit with a weapon during Phase One. So, for Jeen roll a d20 and add +1 modifier (which you appear to have correctly calculated from +4-3).

Seeing the result of the attacks on Ratrod, he turns to his companions.
"Ratrod has obviously put time and thought, that we could not, into his racer. I think some of our efforts would be better put getting everyone else out of the race and focus on Ratrod latter. Just get close to him while taking out the others."

He waits, seeing that his attack was not well placed, and looks for the next opportunity to drop some nasty little surprise.

Don't worry about holding your fire Jeen, for this "mini-game" there's no advantage to waiting. It's firing and piloting rolls to win. Since you've got a kinetic weapon, pick a target and have at! :) I'd recommend someone in the lead but that's up to you.

M'linda realizes her mistake too late and looks at her companions guiltily. "I may have caused us more problems. I'll focus my fire on another target from now on."

"Looks like Ratrod is more clever than we thought. Who has the energy weapon?" Distracted by the Ysoki's clever diffusion system, Baròleg's shot goes wide.

"That would be me," M'linda responds sheepishly.

Wincing as her first shot misses terribly, Saeron steadies herself for another shot at Ratrod. "Let's see his racer absorb this..." she mutters as she fires the kinetic weapon.

Kinetic weapon: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Seriously?

She blushes furiously as she somehow almost manages to shoot Laboni's racer.