Outpost III - SFS 2-20 Shades of Spite (7-10) (Inactive)

Game Master Saashaa

No prob, we are going to catch it eventually.

Jazz, I generally don't like to question people's play. But you've done absolutely nothing in this combat and I'm confused as to why you continue to refuse to participate.

Could you at least try to knowledge check these things so we can figure out how to keep them from getting back up again?

In character, honestly I'm not sure Doc Kemple is going to be willing to continue this mission with Jazz along, as they're presenting themselves as a massive liability.

I haven't been able to find the 2nd one and I've been trying to help find it. That last round, I had no idea where it was at and my turn ended when I ended my movement. I have taken that aoo as needed. Yes I have helped out in combat dealing nonlethal damage, but I'm roleplaying a goodie-goodie two-shoes.

I don't want to pile on you Jazz, but we will need you to do more in combat when we face harder opponents later in this adventure.

Our party is not the strongest. We don't really have a tank character since Benoit's AC is low and his damage output is affected by the whims of the dice.

Reynold is a support character and Spanner doesn't hit as hard as a soldier would or have a high AC either. If we run into something Doc can't mind thrust that makes him less effective.

All of us are pretty squishy.

So we need you to make effective use of your spells.

I will do more in combat when facing harder opponents, these things look like dogs, not monsters. These thing aren't exactly a Behemoth from Final Fantasy X.

Sasha, I also want to say I'm enjoying that you are running the encounter using rules as written and not just hand waving whatever ability they have or the effect of Doc's spells because more than likely we are eventually going to kill them.

I appreciate you saying so. When I prepped this scenario it....I felt that if I did not capture the deep built flavor, it just wouldn't be the same. It would be exceptionally bland. This fight is a part of that. I acknowledge that this is tedious. I very much prefer being a player over a GM. As such I often put myself in the shoes of my players to ensure fun is had. Again, while I acknowledge that this is tedious, I truly believe that it is important to continue as such for the sake of building up the rest of the scenario.

Also, I understand Jazz's stance on the necessity of using (especially in Starfinder) limited spellcasting resources on these creatures that seem relatively harmless. I have also gotten a lot of flack for such things in the past. Though, Jazz, it is a tight rope to walk and necessitates a lot of trust from your crew. Don't abuse that trust. It is very rude, and I will not step in if your name gets dragged through the muck because you abused their trust. You are making a choice and know the possible consequences.

EDIT: I'm really sorry Spanner. I thought I had addressed your action, but I did not. The lights above all of the doors are red. When you try to open the door, it is locked.

In combat so far your tactics have not passed beyond cower, cover your head, and scream "Don't hurt the puppies!" While we're in the shadow plane, in the mobile temple to an evil god whose's leader is attempting to test us to see if we're competent enough to be his allies in dealing with a mutual foe. You're not exactly demonstrating any form of competence, so why would my character ICly want you even on this mission. Why would your character even be on this mission?

You have not dealt ANY damage. The only offensive action you've taken the entire combat was an AoO on a pregen not designed to AoO, whom you intentionally reduced the chance to hit on to the point you we almost never going to hit on, only to do inconsequential damage on creatures obviously healing. And the creatures have been repeatedly revealed and pointed out to you, even when not present. Everyone else has managed to attack them.

And your logic of "This combat isn't worth me using resources" because it's the first fight and the monsters aren't monstery enough is, pardon me, a pretty crappy rationale. If we applied that to the whole party, fine we all die because no one thinks this fight is worth expending anything.

And by token of refusing to participate, the rest of the party is burning more of their resources, potentially ones that don't magically replenish and cost credits because we aren't on pregens.

So far you're either forcing us to carry you, or because you're on a pregen showing general disregard for the fact the rest of us have characters that could die on this mission.

Sasha, on a completely opposite note I agree entirely with Benoit. I'm enjoying how you're running the scenario and presenting the thematic aspects. I wanted to play this with this character specifically for those and how they relate to Kemple here.

Doc, what I have this round, spend my entire round looking for a creature, when none of us know where this last one is at. What am I suppose to do? Fireball into a random spot and hope the blast radius hits the creature?

Knowledge check for starters. You could have cast something on any other round and been proactive before now.

Or you know, check one of the places we know it has to be, and roll an actual perception check. Instead of muddling through the center where it isn't and hoping to physically bump into it.

Are you sure it ain't in the center? There are walls there and none of our characters have line of sight there. I'm covering as much area as possible. If you really think it is up north check there.

Yes, if you were paying attention you'd know it has been suggested to HAVE to stand at one of the corners of the room. And I am actively checking there on my turn. Because I am being useful.

Um, one question, if the conflict is in character, then why don't we take that in character? Yes, I'm deafened if you read my spoiler, but Doc doesn't know that yet. Your character has made no attempt to say anything to Jazz, nor has he given me the dirty look, nor has he flipped me off. Or even used sign language to tell him to go in and fight.

The conflict is both in and out of character. Out of character you're clearly avoiding participating and it's frustrating because it very much seems like you want us to just carry you through this scenario.

In character, you're clearly doing nothing useful and my character sees you as a liability that's going to get people hurt.

As far as your last excuse, Please reread the posts other people are making IC. Doc has telepathy, she has been using it to communicate both audibly and through the minds to the rest of the party. Jazz being deaf is immaterial.

I feel like dancing lights might be a good spell to use. I know it ain't an attack spell, but it would be able to cover almost all of the darkness, so there would be almost no place it can regenerate. I would retreat to a corner.

You can also just get out your flashlight and turn it on.

You can also just get out your flashlight and turn it on.

Doublechecking the character sheet, I know it is hard to read, but doublecheck Raia level 8 pregen. She actually does not have one and I didn't purchase one with leftover credits.

Like you said it was hard for me to tell what your character is equipped with or what skills he has since your character sheet is just a massive block of text.

Reading back, courtesy of PbP, I want to make sure that I was clear. The only person who was deafened was Benoit. All others were in the aura of silence at some point surrounding Benoit.

Also, DoubleGold, please do not devolve this into childishness. While it is not enjoyable to have your actions critiqued, it is still not reason to get petty.

Actually, after Doc's critiques, I can see where DoubleGold could question what his character should do. I can also see where he wouldn't want Doc to make the suggestion.

Don't mean to come down on you, Doc. While I don't fully agree with your position, from what you've written, I think I understand it and I don't think you're being unreasonable.

How about we take a breath and move on from here? We're all here to have a good time, so let's do that.
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Dancing lights might prove very useful. Right now all we have is dim light and we need bright light to cancel their regeneration. The dancing lights in conjunction with the flashlight might help.

I honestly think it would be best for me to step out of the game at this point. Having run it by a friend I'm fairly convinced I know why Jazz has decided to run the Pregen as a 'Goody Goody' character that refuses to participate in the first combat. And while they didn't spoil exactly why or what's going on for me, I'm under the impression he's metagaming for something in the adventure.

The fact that his decisions will continue to direct and influence how the game will play out will decrease my enjoyment. And my irritation at the situation will decrease my enjoyment more, while also decreasing everyone else's enjoyment of the game. And whatever my opinions are, this is suppose to be a nice, fun, distracting hobby for everyone.

But it's a big world with a lot of players and not everybody is going to mesh well at a table together and being stuck at home going stir crazy on the weekends doesn't help either. Jazz and I don't, and I escalated the situation first so I'm going to step out.

I apologize for causing discord in the game, and I hope you all have a better rest of Outpost 3 and enjoy the adventure.

You sure you want to step out Doc? I'm not mad at you. I'm sure none of the other players are mad at you. You did make me feel a little uncomfortable, but I'll deal with it. Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Have fun and best of luck.
Also, sorry to hear about your situation at home, hope things get better. Yeah, I agree, Covid-19 isn't helping anyone.

Don't want you to go, Doc. It is (was?) uncomfortable, but we've dealt with the situation and we can move on from here. Stay and play, maybe it won't be as you fear.

I agree with Dax. We are moving forward. Jazz will do more to contribute as we go. I'm enjoying the unconventional nature of this adventure and have no idea what is going to happen next. I have not played it before or read the module. If you happen to know already what is going to happen; please don't ruin it for the rest of us or put the team in a difficult situation if you are trying to meta game it.

I do have to add though, Jazz. This is not the first time i've participated in a play by post game on the Paizo boards with you. In that other game you used a similar type of unconventional play style; where you did hardly any damage to the creatures we were fighting. In fact, Sasha was the GM for that session also. This is a much higher level adventure and we don't have a full party so we probably won't be able to survive if you do that again.

I could do one of two things, I keep my dancing lights on the creature while others have a flashlight as well to prevent regeneration. Or I could magic missile it. I can't do both, since I can't magic missile it while keeping my dancing lights on it, since I can't cast a spell while holding a spell.

@Benoit, are we talking about 1-22?

Edit: 1-28? I've only ever not attacked once in that cause it was a melee set up thing and I ran out of flares, did all my trick attacks though.

No, it was 1-28 and your operative's only ranged weapon was a flare gun, which ran out of ammo really fast.

Ninjaed while editing, anyway ape question if you know it, put it in spoilers.

I don't know anything about the ape quest. I felt your play style was unconventional the last time I played a session with you. I'd like to feel comfortable that you will do your part as we go on in this adventure. If you do things similar to what you were describing in your last few posts in the gameplay thread it should be fine. If you don't we are going to have to have another discussion.

I was credit pushing back then, but now I guess I wouldn't have to with newer characters going forward. Of course you get more credits with higher level scenarios, but didn't know if it was exponential. I didn't know how stingy or generous Starfinder would be, but now I know it is enough to keep up with weapons and armor every 4 levels or so and have a few toys. If I do credit push, less on toys more on weapons/armor.
Pathfinder PFS I don't think I have played single PFS character beyond level 4. If I do a character that high I didn't play him beyond that, ie Dms credits.
Starfinder I've played a small handful of level 8 and beyond stuff enough to count on one hand. SFS or not. Huckle Jim if anyone actually is going through my profile, level 13, 2/3 of that is DMs credits with over 50% of my Dms credits being APs run in campaign mode.

Now that we have that more or less sorted, I'll have a bigger update tomorrow. rp for now if you wish.

I'm mad at myself. I specifically got a Null-Space Chamber to have any miscellaneous gear I might need, like a flashlight, available to me. But I seem to have forgotten to actually buy the stuff. I thought I had, that's why I didn't get one when we were given the chance at the beginning of this scenario.

Hey there all,

The next update is going to require a lot of careful explanation (some things slightly shifting from what I had prepped before this began), which I haven't gotten the chance to parse out and type up. My work is shifting schedules on me (not an excuse, an explanation) so I will attempt to whittle away at it and hopefully have it up by Friday (Sunday at latest).

I really appreciate your patience. I am lucky to be busy during these strange times, but it is busy all the same.

Real life hits Sasha, I understand, we still have over 3 weeks to get this done.
Now we deal with the 4 player adjustment, which does shift things.

No prob.

We understand. Do what needs to be done.

Would it be possible at this point to recruit someone to take Doc's place?

I just realized, when Doc dropped out, not only did that put us at 4 player adjustment which just about every game has, but it put us back down to low tier again.

9+9+8+8+7=41 41/5=8.25 which gets rounded up? This was with DoC

Without doc we have 9+8+8+7=32 32/4=8. So average party level 8 without Doc.

Correct

Is there a problem Jazz?

Overjoyed at the tier drop.

I spilled drink on my keyboard yesterday. I will be updating today.

I have heard concerns expressed about the timing of this scenario ending in time for PaizoCon. I will endeavor to speed this up, but it will also require some extra from you all as well.

Speeding the pace up is no problem for me. I've got nothing special going on this weekend.

Got it, so use my most powerful spells to speed this up, hear you loud and clear=). Just Kidding. Only if necessary, or if I can without hurting the mission.
On another note, I don't plan on doing PaizoCon and if nobody else here is, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Placed my token.

I will be at PaizoCon and I'd like to get Spanner into some games.

I'm not doing PaizoCon either, but like I said I can speed up my posting.

In place, ready to go!

So did the explosive blast destroy all the mirror images and hurt the enemy, or just destroy the mirror images? And then Benoit destroyed a mirror image?