Discussion goes here! I'm going to be on the road a lot the next couple days, so feel free to chat and discuss character details or connections (I know some of that was already talked about) and I'll chime in as much as I can. Looking forward to getting started.
Sure. I'm totally fine with tweaking builds, even for a little bit after we start if something doesn't work the way you wanted it to in game.
Greetings everyone! Looking forward to looming over meeting the party!
Seems like it should be a fun group. :)
Oh, I don't know if I mentioned, but this is actually the second version of Xevras I've played. I created him for another campaign that died after a while, so I do have some art of him already. :D
He only charges $50 for a simple character illustration, and he's usually open for small commissions like that. ;)
Thanks! I guess if I'm going to talk up commissioning Jacob Blackmon I should link to his commission info. :D
Anyway, any coordination we need to do before starting? In spite of planning on mostly being a Technomancer, Xevras is built for melee, using his reach advantage with a reach weapon to threaten huge swathes of the battlefield at once, while using his magic to make up for his poor ranged accuracy and, at higher levels, to bolster his defenses.
Hey everyone! Had a busy weekend and Monday, but I'm back to normal! Thanks for the selection, GM, looking forward to this game.
That's some badass art, Xevras!
I'll get some more details when I'm back home tonight!
Hellos! I got a little paranoid because I didn't see any follow up on the recruitment thread, so I checked post history. I'll get properly caught up in a bit but I wanted to let you know I'm here.
Also, dot.
Here!
Coordination-wise, Dr. Kjestis is a predominantly melee character, and judging by the team, the biggest frontliner here, which was mostly expected. Combat-wise, the tactic will probably be the usual move to point A and apply injection spear, and as the levels go on, she'll be more and more oriented towards healing, buffing/debuffing and taking hits. Imagine your standard melee cleric in Pathfinder.
About backstory cohesion, which interests me a little more!
- The Ferran quest for homeworld would obviously be the common theme between Rokayla and Tjartka (Tia for short). There's bound to be some conversations and discussions regarding each others' choices. Tia is probably stuck somewhere between agreeing with the results of Rokayla's flight towards the Starfinder Society (though she believes that this obviously can't work for everyone), as well as being quietly disapproving of the pseudo-religious order she's a part of.
- Xevras, I can absolutely see them being the most unlikely gym buddies. (Just imagining a 13' dragonkin spotting for a 3' ferran, and vice versa). Dr. Kjestis is pretty particular about her approach to fitness and wellbeing, and the two seem to have similar philosophy. That, and they're the two egg-heads of the group, and birds of a feather and all that.
- Flux is definitely an interesting one. Being a biologist and a geneticist, Tia is probably going to be rather curious towards the workings of a sentient non-android machine, but has enough bedside manner to stop herself overly probing the SRO.
- I could see there being a little antagonism going between Dr. Kjestis and the professor of esoteric studies, based on the strictly scientific distrust of 'esoteric studies'. With the Ferrans being a nearly emotionless scientific state, there's probably a lot of stigma towards grifters and the sort, but a little abrasion between characters is always fun!
- Xevras, I can absolutely see them being the most unlikely gym buddies. (Just imagining a 13' dragonkin spotting for a 3' ferran, and vice versa). Dr. Kjestis is pretty particular about her approach to fitness and wellbeing, and the two seem to have similar philosophy. That, and they're the two egg-heads of the group, and birds of a feather and all that.
Hah, sounds fun! :D We'll have to see how that develops in-play.
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- Flux is definitely an interesting one. Being a biologist and a geneticist, Tia is probably going to be rather curious towards the workings of a sentient non-android machine, but has enough bedside manner to stop herself overly probing the SRO.
- Flux loves helping people, especially with science. If DR. Kjestis asks to study Flux, it would be happy to help in anyway.
- On the same coin, Flux is very naive as it has spent its entire life in a research lab. So someone like Balazar could easily take advantage of its trust in those that claim to pursue science, if he is so inclined.
- Flux would be ecstatic to meet a Dragonkin like Xevras. Its never met a Dragonkin in person, much less one that used magic! Be prepared for a small robot to climb all over you in excitement.
- Flux would love to talk with Rokayla about her order and the Starfinders. And in turn, it would be overjoyed to tell her all about the Dreamers.
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In terms of combat, I've envisioned Rokayla as kind of a "switch-hitter." I plan on finding myself a good shotgun and a trident to supplement my Flare (which I'm envisioning as kind of a Mare's Leg made of black hole), as well as using my powers more for battlefield control than direct damage. That's what the guns are for!
As for interconnectedness:
- Tia hit the nail on the head as to the basic dynamics our relationship will probably take, along with our mutual desire to establish a ferran colony on Ikirit. Rokayla, for her part, admires Tia's tenacity and how she got the Consensus to finally budge on the issue she'd given up and left Ratheren in frustration over. Where she'd probably take issue with Tia's path is how the ferrans seem determined to NOT get help from other species when the Starfinders show how effective jolly cooperation can be, and she may even be a bit jealous of how Tia seems to be a better ferran than she is. How long do you think we should have known each other? Childhood friends? Cousins? Vaguely having heard of each other but never actually meeting until joining to form this party?
- Rokayla would probably view Xevras as a kind of kindred spirit, both of them embracing paths their parents found alien, though she probably would be jealous his parents let him indulge his interests while she had to run away from home to discover where her talents were.
- As far as Flux is concerned, Rokayla will probably find his quirky perspectives refreshing, especially since they understand things about instinct and spiritualism that set them apart from the rest of those who think in binary (something she sometimes wonders about her fellow ferrans).
- She'll probably regard Balazar as kind of a kindred spirit, at least initially as she's interested in "esoteric studies," as well as appreciating his varied skill-set, though how honest he is with her and how much of his "studies" are ruthig-&#!+ may alter that perception, especially since trying to figure out her own identity and her place in the cosmos is important to her.
If it isn't too obvious by the name, Balazar is a theme mix up between Dr Smith of Lost In Space infamy and Baltar from Battlestar Galactica, though I have no intention of being as insidious or sabotaging to the party. He is, at the core, doing what he thinks he needs to do to survive. Escaping Absalom Station was the first step... now, not getting found out as a stowaway and sent back is paramount. He'll try to make himself useful and appear legitimate, and helping the party mission is the best way to do that.
But, at his heart, he's a con man. Not out of malice, but he has an unfortunate impulse to lie, trick and deceive, even if its not the wisest course of action. It gets him into trouble, but is also a talent that has helped keep him alive.
Interconnecting with the other PCs... he'll not have much in common initially, as the others are all dedicated explorers of a sort. Though we are all sorts of misfits. Balazar may find that link with Rokayla. He will probably avoid Tia, especially if he's suspicious of Balazar's legitimacy. Xevras is a bit 'exotic' as a dragonkin, and probably intimidating at first, but he'd appreciate the value of having a big, scaly friend around if trouble arises. Flux could certainly be a close companion, especially if they're a little gullible.
Sounds like everyone is getting some really good ideas how people might react to each other. I hope I'm not wrong in saying that I've been interpreting Balazar as sly, but not really a bad guy. There's supposed to be some underbelly already forming on Ikirit (Aspis has a stake already and Hunter's Port can be pretty lawless), so I thought he'd be a good fit if the crew ends up interacting with some shady elements.
Apologies for the slow pace. I'm usually pretty casual running games, but this is slow even for me. I should have gameplay ready to start tomorrow with the crew's arrival on Returner Station.
That's fine! I know getting things ready to start can take a while.
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Flux could certainly be a close companion, especially if they're a little gullible.
Yeah, I could see Flux and Balazar being pretty good friends. Almost like brothers, with Flux being the hyper younger brother that has to be pulled out of trouble now and again. And Balazar as the older brother that may be sarcastic, but wouldn't let Flux get hurt if he can help it.
- Flux loves helping people, especially with science. If DR. Kjestis asks to study Flux, it would be happy to help in anyway.
Tia would absolutely be interested in the workings of an SRO. Perhaps mostly regarding the more esoterical, 'soul' side of things, seeing as how they're a lot more mechanical than androids.
- How long do you think we should have known each other? Childhood friends? Cousins? Vaguely having heard of each other but never actually meeting until joining to form this party?
Hm... I'm thinking that the two might've grown up together and have been school buddies? Disagreements and friction starting after going for their post-school education and their opinions starting to branch out. I imagine Tia contacted Rokayla when she was doing her research to ask questions about the larger universe, and Rokayla mentioned Qu'barat university? Tjartka is a little sheltered and square (physically, too) compared to most, I suppose.
- He will probably avoid Tia, especially if he's suspicious of Balazar's legitimacy.
There'll be definitely a lot of questions regarding scientific approach you might want to avoid! On the other hand, she's definitely not too well versed in the greater world, so a little b~!*%%~@ might go a long way (and bring some more questions at a later date!)
Gameplay is up :)
@Balazar: Unless I misunderstood, Balazar did actually join the colony properly, didn't he? I was under the impression that his credentials and what not were BS of course, but not that he'd actually stowed away on the transport or something like that.
I didn't think that far into it. I figured he snuck or bluffed his way on and then blended in as one of the expedition. But he got distracted and forgot to gen up some paperwork. If it's distracting, I can drop it.
It's fine, I just wasn't expecting it. I'm fine to roll with it.
Apologies for the delay, I haven't been feeling well the last couple days. I'll get things rolling later today!
Ah, I was wondering if we were waiting on something. Feel better!
No worries! I do it all the time in my games lol
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The hotel's going to be NUTS for the next two weeks, specifically the WEEKENDS TO REMEMBER!!!
It's a retreat set up by a bunch of churches across the country to send couples for a weekend of marriage-counseling and stuff at our hotel. Apparently they liked us so much LAST year that this year they're doing it TWICE!
Apologies for the delays this week. Quarantine has been really messing with my sense of time and I keep losing track of what I need to post in. I'll get things moving soon!
That's fine. I think the last month or so has been messing with most everyone.
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Yeah. For me as an "essential infrastructure service worker," my schedule's the most consistent it's been in the 4 years I've worked at the hotel, but because we have so few people there I have next to nothing to actually DO for the time I'm on the clock, so the weeks are kind of just blending together. It's kind of impacting my creativity and motivation too... :(
Ugh, true, true.
My job's keeping water nice and potable for the people of London, though we're currently stopping all the non-essential work and I'm only called when there's an issue, so it's a lot less 8-5 and a lot more standing next to my workphone and having the days blend together, which is doing my head in.
Cabin fever's bad, I can't imagine what it's like for the people who've been self isolating since the start of March.
I've still been going into work most days. A few days I can manage to work from home, but with my job it's hard.
Here also!
Also here!
How long do we want to spend getting settled in before heading out on an expedition?
If I'm dragging my feet too much, I can move us on to the next day and get some exploring going if you'd like.
On the one hand, I'm enjoying having some time for our characters to get to know each other and the settlement.
On the other, it's been four months and the only 'excitement' we've had was the malfunctioning robot.
So I'm kinda not sure if I feel like we need to finish the prologue and get to the action yet or not. What's everyone else feel?
Likewise - would love to go for some SPACE ACTION!
Tjartka would probably rather sit administering immunisations and studying samples, and boring stuff like that, but the player wants to stab space critters with a spear. Which also lets me take a sample!
Maybe the waitress should offer to send someone over to the local mechanic's shop for some oil for him to enjoy while the others are eating :P
I believe he's teasing Flux.
I'm just waiting to see how he reacts to Flux deciding to telekinetically trying to reach down his throat.
Totally a tease. I was waiting if anyone was going to see through the bluff and speak up, but no worries.