Boston Theoretical PbP

Game Master Tarren Dei

I'm education adjacent, as I am the data manager for a middle school.

I'm fulfilling a lot of password requests, but our usual yearly events just aren't happening.

I'm expecting huge headaches for me when we resume, but for now, work life isn't much different for me.

** spoiler omitted **

Since we are in Boston in-game, I’ll just tell you I’m having a very Massachusettsy snack:
• Cape Cod potato chips
• Clown Shoe IPA
• Cranberry sauce (made from wild cranberries picked by my daughters)

A friend suggested the chip-cranberry combo. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.

I'm education adjacent, as I am the data manager for a middle school.

I'm fulfilling a lot of password requests, but our usual yearly events just aren't happening.

I'm expecting huge headaches for me when we resume, but for now, work life isn't much different for me.

Everything is up in the air this year. We're trying to continue with a sense of normalcy, but nothing is normal.

• Cape Cod potato chips

My partner, Theo, misses the Cape Cod BBQ. They disappeared from our grocery store right after covid-19. I think it's a distribution/transportation issue. No food shortages or anything here, but we're seeing fewer American products.

Zellgato wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

I've never seen those chips or snacks before.. but I'm mostly Alaska/north West US +Arizona historically. Though th best chips I've had were "O'Zacks Roast Beef " potato chips in Japan. Somehow delicious.
THough lately in terms of snacks. Quinoa Cheese Puffs spicy ones are delicious as heck

@Zellgato, I tried a different brand of Japanese potato chips last year.

@Tarren, my wife and I have actually brought Cape Cod chips with us to Hong Kong and Canada as gifts. It’s kinda funny to me since they’re just… well… chips. But they taste good and aren’t as greasy as other kettle-cooked chips.

Amusingly I'd never seen them.. until today.
Wanted chips. was going to look for ones I had before-they had none. Saw those. So i got a back of the normal lower fat ones.

we'llsee how they are haha

I used to buy them when I travelled to the U.S. regularly. I live about 30 kilometers from the border to the U.S. and may be moving even closer, but I used to spend a lot of time at Maine Coast Semester School at Chewonki with one of the teachers there.

When I read HISS, I think THIS!

And, since no one told me they’re sick to death of them yet, here’s a Massachusetts fun fact:

Molds for the Cobra HISS, FANG and Rattler were made in Massachusetts—but not at Hasbro! Hasbro only manufactured G.I. Joe equipment—as in, they only made good guy vehicles.

Bad guys (“Co-BRAAAAA!!”) were outsourced. My dad’s company was among the manufacturers of evil Cobra vehicles. Specifically, the three I mentioned. He kept a FANG copter on his desk until he sold the business.

[dice=Supermodel (pseudo-nerdette pose)]d20+12+1
She looks both intellectual and irresistible at any camera angle. Her face, so seriously pondering as she daintily sips her coffee.

Soo.. made me think of Blue Steel and Magnum from that Zoolander movie in the 90s

I loved GI Joe toys.

The guy who owned Hasbro had a cottage near where I grew up. Richest house around. We used to hop the fence and swim in his pool until someone would come out to find out who we were and then we'd run. There was a beach nearby, but sometimes it was fun to try his pool instead.

@Zellgato, I see what you mean by hate-tolerate. I *was* tolerating Canvas.

How were the Cape Cod chips?

Pretty good.
I also tried their sweet spicy jalapeno kind.

They both really do have less oily feel. Not quite the type of Japan.. but I think those were air fried or maybe baked

pick a card from any deck of playing cards and tell me what it is

This is cool... now I’m really curious about how this will pan out!

GM wrote:

pick a card from any deck of playing cards and tell me what it is

This is cool... now I’m really curious about how this will pan out!

I'm playing around with spotlight tokens, but thinking tarot themed.

spades=swords=attack token;
diamonds=coins=skill token;
hearts=cups=resist token;
clubs=wands=mana token or defense token

But, only a once per mission kind of thing and only if you get your head right in whatever way your character does that.

Did Theo receive ANY omens of signs of favor or disfavor about the Atlantis mission?

1 spades=swords=attack token;
2 diamonds=coins=skill token;
3 hearts=cups=resist token;
4 clubs=wands=mana token or defense token

I’ll roll a d4 then. And a d13 with 1, 11, 12, 13 as A, J, Q, K.

As a random sidenote.... This facility wouldn't happen to have any spare weaponry? I'm not sure what works underwater in Starfinder, not finding the rules at a quick search.
I know stuff like survival knives do..Maybe the conealable injector would too-as its press to attack.
Since projectiles don't work, Does energy work underwater? since he could try for Caustic Injector pistol. Energy Injection-though he can not injet medicinals (or anything except a biohack) while doing damage due to the weapon's restrictions.

He was planning on eventually picking up an injection pistol (Revolver) or caustic liquidator pistol, and possibly a shield down the line. As he is aware he is not prepared for small quarters.
Also possibly venom spur biotech that he'd see if milking into an injection shot would work, and as a bad backup weapon (not dex nor injection. But the true injection dex concealing blade isn't for severa levels now)

Only the suits matter for these tokens. I'm just using four kinds, but sticking with a tarot theme. So, yeah, a d4 can do it.

Only the suits matter for these tokens. I'm just using four kinds, but sticking with a tarot theme. So, yeah, a d4 can do it.

Cool.

The ♠️ next to the word “female” shows I have the card.

And that’s all it shows. This is not like the “I ♠️ my cat” bumper sticker.

Ha. Got it.

I don't think Zellgato's counts for much but if it does 5red spades and Jokers (They were stuck together). Or if prefer digital cards: 1d4 ⇒ 1 spade, diamond, club, heart

As a random sidenote.... This facility wouldn't happen to have any spare weaponry? I'm not sure what works underwater in Starfinder, not finding the rules at a quick search.

I know stuff like survival knives do..Maybe the conealable injector would too-as its press to attack.
Since projectiles don't work, Does energy work underwater? since he could try for Caustic Injector pistol. Energy Injection-though he can not injet medicinals (or anything except a biohack) while doing damage due to the weapon's restrictions.

He was planning on eventually picking up an injection pistol (Revolver) or caustic liquidator pistol, and possibly a shield down the line. As he is aware he is not prepared for small quarters.
Also possibly venom spur biotech that he'd see if milking into an injection shot would work, and as a bad backup weapon (not dex nor injection. But the true injection dex concealing blade isn't for severa levels now)

They can lend you special experimental weaponry if needed, but they will want it back. It's all part of their research.

I would think the injector could work.

Here's what I find for rules on underwater combat:

Attacks Underwater
Most attacks made underwater take a –2 penalty and deal half damage. Attacks that deal fire damage do only one-quarter damage. Attacks that deal electricity damage take a –4 penalty rather than a –2 penalty. Melee attacks that deal piercing damage deal full damage. Thrown weapons are ineffective underwater, even when launched from land.

Hmmm, I'll have to think for a bit on what Charles would do for this. Maybe I'll play with the slow build-up I've been trying to do for when he hits sixth level and his extra heads get their own personalities.

I actually have a Tarot deck and I drew a card, but it's a non-standard design so I have no idea which suit it is, so I'll roll. 1d4 ⇒ 1

(I am getting two more decks from Kickstarter projects, one by Fyodor Pavlov and the other from an afropunk RPG setting).

So far:
♠️ Theo
♠️ Nissa
♠️ Zellgato
♠️ Kai

Where’s the ♥️?

That's a lot of spades. Save them because I've got some nasty surprises in store for you.

I actually have a Tarot deck and I drew a card, but it's a non-standard design so I have no idea which suit it is, so I'll roll. 1d4

(I am getting two more decks from Kickstarter projects, one by Fyodor Pavlov and the other from an afropunk RPG setting).

I enjoy tarot decks. I especially like the fact they started out as games and therefore we don't have to be shy about using them in a game.

I like certain links that can be made between tarot and games:

Wands are about magic and inspiration and leadership. I'd link them with Charisma.
Swords are about justice and obviously strength, action, and power. so STR
Cups are about emotions and Wisdom. So WIS.
Coins are about crafting and skill. They link well to skill checks. I guess INT.

Hmmm, does Charles have access to transportation to the ranch, or is he going to need a taxi? :D

Boston Theoretical will let you use one of their vehicles.

I'm watching 'The Boys' on Amazon Prime and I'm very tempted to start another superhero PBP called 'The Supe Factory'. Partly just for the name.

Kai can pilot one of the mechas, but only at a +4.

One of the peeps who ventures outside should carry the T-rad detector.

Are you all on Discord? I was thinking of sharing maps more now that I found an easy way to make them.

I'm using https://www.mipui.net/ to make maps for Roll20.

Anyone use Roll20?

I used Roll20.

I used Roll20.

I've just started playing live with some long-time friends from Paizo forums. I'm trying to figure out how to run my own games through it too.

Do you like it?
Do you use Discord with it for voice?

I'm on Roll20 as well. I do generally use other methods for voice.

I have discord. Don't have voice.

I've used it (mostly as a player some GM attempts) for years. maybe almost a decade? like 8 yars. Its pretty nifty.
I've not used it in years for voice though; most of my games have been "live text" sessions.
Last I knew the voice wasn't great. We used Skype back then. With occasional Discord on the few voiced ones 've done lately.

There are some great Youtube videos on guidance.

I use both Discord and Roll20 (for maps). A couple of us are on a Discord server with a bunch of other people from these boards (Dark Century).

As for live games, I tried playing sessions with my live group when lockdown started, using Roll20 for maps and Discord for voice and video chat, sharing images and dice rolling. It worked ok-ish, although some people found it difficult to run so many apps on their laptop (we were also using DnDBeyond for character sheets, as we were playing 5E) - especially Roll20 which is quite resource-heavy.

Using the video/voice functionality in Roll20 did not work well for us.

Yeah, the game I'm in now is using Old School Essentials (so Red Box set D&D BECMI era rules) and Roll20 and Discord. Roll20 had the Old School character sheets built in.

It seemed like enough to work with. More would have been too confusing probably.

Roll20: I was approved for content-creation, but never got around to it. Maybe I should reconsider—see if my art looks good at 280x280. I’ve never played on Roll20 though.

Discord: That’s how I got Kai to join us! I never use voice, but I know a GM who uses Discord for die-rolling. It can be fun when you have unbelievable luck, and you’re jumping back and forth between rolling and chatting with the GM.

I like the idea of a live game, but I know I can’t commit to any specific time. Between family and work, PbP is easiest for me because I can read, post, and disengage until my next free moment. Usually, I check Paizo and Discord between tasks.

Maybe I'll make a map and art channel for this game on Discord then.
It might make some of the scenes clearer.

Okay, I'm Tarren Dei#8256 on Discord. I've created a server Tarren Dei's PbP, but I'm new at this. Is that enough info for you to find me on Discord or do I need to invite you to this server?

Okay, I'm Tarren Dei#8256 on Discord. I've created a server Tarren Dei's PbP, but I'm new at this. Is that enough info for you to find me on Discord or do I need to invite you to this server?

Go to your page and click invite. You can add names of contacts—except you don’t have us—so instead you need to click a link symbol. It will say “link copied.” Then you can paste that here.

I think.

The address should look like this one:

https://discord.gg/FaK3L1nK

https://discord.gg/c3XJZQ

Just hopped in.
(fair warning anyone with said link can join in~)

Do the wetsuits have any radio communication between them?