Discussion for invited players may begin here.
Welcome!
Again, welcome everyone.
Here are a few notes about how I would like to keep this game running, and what expectations I might have of you as players (don't worry, there aren't many).
I'd like everyone to know that I plan on being generous with circumstance bonuses when doing role playing or skill checks. For example, if you simply type "I let the dwarf know that he needs to come with us" and roll your intimidate check, the roll will stand without any circumstance bonuses. HOWEVER, if you type something like "YOU listen here, you smelly dwarf! If you don't come with us RIGHT NOW, my vesk friend over there is going to introduce you to his doshko!" I will likely give you a +1 circumstance bonus to the intimidate check. If you really get into it, there can be even higher bonuses.
I'd also like to plan to hand out occasional rerolls. These will result from especially good ideas that move the adventure along or solve a vexing problem. Much like one of my favorite podcasts (Androids and Aliens), we will call these "BOTTLE CAPS". When I give you a bottle cap, that means you have a reroll of any d20 roll you can use anytime.
As I have indicated to all of you, this adventure will require some especially attentive play on your part. As you unravel the mystery, you may want to discuss out of character what's going on. That's great! Try to use this "discussion" area (as opposed to gameplay) for that. I will also leave an open slide (or two) in the google doc for all of you as players to use to make notes if you wish--that might be handy, as posts here tend to get buried after a while.
For most skill checks, I will tend to use the highest roll from any of you, and count other rolls as aid anothers.
A couple of things I'll need from you all:
First, please try hard to make at least 5-6 posts per week (roughly one per day). You may do more if you wish. If you need to be away for a few days, that is certainly fine. Please let us know, and be sure your character's profile is up to date and has botting instructions.
Speaking of character profiles, as I noted, please keep them up to date with things like equipment, spells, skills, etc.
When this adventure is nearing its end, I will supply you all with a chronicle sheet that can be applied to any level one or level two Starfinder Society character. I'll probably ask for your Society information when we are closer to that time.
Finally, HAVE FUN!
A little about me: I am a dad and husband in the midwest United States (the State of Indiana). By day you will be finding me programming a community access television station at my office within the local downtown library branch.
I have been gaming since I was about 11 or 12 back in 1981 or so. Currently I have two home groups, one playing Dungeons and Dragons, and one playing the Signal of Screams AP. At my heart I am an analog gamer--I like holding dice, pencils, character sheets, and books. These times we are in have been hard on me, as there really isn't the opportunity to sit at a table with friends and do that. My D&D group has continued to play via discord and Roll20.
Feel free to introduce yourselves as players. Or not. I appreciate that the internet can be an anonymous place for some.
You'll have the opportunity soon to introduce your characters in game play. Sit tight.
Much like one of my favorite podcasts (Androids and Aliens), we will call these "BOTTLE CAPS".
I love that one, too. I'm a Glass Cannon Patreon and enjoy the shows the group roll out.
Thank you for inviting us along for the ride. I'm looking forward to this kicking off! The expectations you have listed all seem reasonable to me.
About me:
I'm a dad and high school teacher, located on the east coast of Australia. In light of this, I might have a slightly different posting timing than many of you. I generally get to post early morning or late evening which seems to align well with most other party members. At least, I haven't been made aware of it being an issue from any other players or GMs in any PbP games I've played here over the past few years.
I got into the scene after playing CRPGs like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights. My actual in-the-flesh tabletop experience is limited as a player as I play solely through PbP - although I have GMed a little PF and SF for a number of school-based groups over the last 5-6 years.
Have put together this placeholder, but need to finish fleshing out the profile for this fella.
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Hey guys, I'm here. Yes, thank you for inviting us to play.
So as a quick aside, it looks like our party is a little light on melee combatants. I originally envisioned my Nuar Witchwarper as a support guy, but if you think we need another frontliner, I have plenty of other character concepts ready to go. This includes another vanguard, a soldier, and a melee biohacker.
The original idea I have for my Nuar was very flavorful but wasn't strong mechanically, so let me know what you guys want. Of course, it is possible that one of you has a non-standard build and we have a melee operative or a melee technomancer (both of which I have seen before) so let me know.
Checking in! Thanks for choosing me!
This will be the first time I play a mystic. I think an Akashic mystic generally comes off as a support character in combat. If anyone has any advice, I'm open to it.
Alan, thanks for the invite. All those cautions in the middle of your PM were very much what I'm looking for in a game right now. I hoping that the longer term more RP intense game will provide more table comraderie than the typical PbP SFS game.
I'm probably a few years older than our gracious GM. Started playing about the same time but I was 15 or so then. My boy finished school and has been on his own for a few years now. It's just me and my wife at home.
For a long time now PbP has been my only RP outlet. I was a lot more active on the boards 12 years ago. Ran 3 games, always had 4-6 games going as a player. Now 4 games as a player is a lot. Although recently I have been feeling the bug to DM....
My PC, John Rawlins is an Abadarcorp salaryman. Original concept was corporate agent spy operative. An operative is never going to be a front line melee combatant, but if we feel we need someone a little more combat oriented, I can adjust the build a little.
I guess I'll have to actually build John now. (where now is defined as after a day of chores.)
I'm looking forward to playing with you all.
The doctor is in the house!
Thank you for inviting me to play, Quirk. I've been looking for an opportunity to build my role-playing skills, and this AP looks like the perfect place to do that.
I'm also based in the midwest US, and I tend to post in the evenings, but I can sometimes squeeze an extra one in during the day if work is slow. I've only been playing TTRPGs for five years or so, but I really enjoy taking them apart to see how they tick, and Starfinder is my favorite - if you've ever seen a guide or player aid w/ the name "Jimbles" on it, that was me.
As for Doctor Flint-Bridge (Doc Flint to most), she's certainly more of a support character as I plan on running envoy with a dip in biohacker. I'll get her profile up and running within the next couple days or so
Looks like we have heard from everyone but Yariel. I'm sure we will soon.
I am going to go let all of the other submissions know my decision. This is the only part I don't like, especially since the other recruitment thread for The Chimera Mystery was dead on arrival.
I might also point out that VampByDay has been my GM in two recent games (including an ongoing Against the Aeon Throne AP game).
He was invited to join this game right away, as I have always thought it was good karma to offer the chance to play to other GM's.
Though his Witchwarper will work in this game quite nicely, he is unique among you in that there is a chance he may choose a more complementary character class. That has always been the plan.
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As the weekend wears on, I'll have a better idea about getting things started. I am hoping to have a scene that sets things up and allows character introductions by the middle of the week.
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Hello all, I found a gap in the middle of my busy Saturday to squeeze in a post (Wife and Kiddo both napping soundly).
First off, thank you GM Quirk for the invite. I've been wanting to dip my toe deeper into the Starfinder pond for a while now with a good AP but one has just never clicked. This appears to be a wonderful opportunity and I'll do my best.
Yariel is most definitely not a front-liner. She has very low HP and Strength. She is focused on AoE spells as well as the expected complement of skills that a technomancer brings to the table. The picture chosen is obviously not a ysoki, but I feel it fits her attitude a lot better than the options available. Plus, the hair and head tattoo is on point.
As for me, I'm also based out of the Midwestern U.S., living a mere one state west of Indiana (the part of Illinois that isn't Chicago, yes it does exist). But I did go to college in Indiana for a lovely almost long enough to graduate three and a half years.
College (17 years ago) was when I fell in love with RPG's, playing a lot of Shadowrun. That ended and I got into videogames. About five years ago I worked my way back to Pathfinder and Starfinder, both F2F and PbP. I've been playing steadily since.
Hey everyone, finally time for a more formal intro!
I'm living on the US east coast. Right now, I'm working from home, but occasionally having to go in when an issue arises. When at work, I usually don't have time to post, so it's mostly in the evenings, but sometimes I can squeeze in a post in the early mornings.
I've been playing RPGs since I was in high school. Mostly stopped in college, but got back into it later, and especially online gaming after I moved away from my gaming group for a while. I've played some Starfinder, mostly SFS, but I haven't gone very deep into it. As I mentioned, this is the first time I've played a Mystic. I do have a lot of PbP experience mostly in PFS. This is the first time I've tried a Starfinder AP, so I'm excited to dig into a longer storyline.
T'sorkel will be sort of a mystical academic/archaeologist, but I have a thought of giving him a level or two of Operative later on to up his combat utility. I'm a bit concerned he'll run out of things to do in a fight. But I think he'll be a huge help outside combat, especially in a mystery game.
I'd say play what you like. We could try to optimize to the nth degree and still get it wrong.
Yes Vamp--follow your heart on this one. I think with an operative, an envoy, and to a lesser degree a technomancer, most of the skills should be covered.
We have all of the basic iconic rolls covered--a vanguard for muscle, an operative, a technomancer, and a mystic. There is additional support and healing from an envoy.
That puts you in a nice place. You can choose whatever you like.
And I don't think a melee fighter is vital, though we don't know what Rar'gul's build will be. A lot of SFS parties are all ranged, making combat like a Star Wars blaster fight. Just lots of taking cover and maneuvering to get clear shots.
I don't think I've ever played in or GMed a party that is *this* skill heavy, and I am 100% here for it. This party looks custom-built to break every encounter employ high levels of creative problem solving.
Vamp, I second (third?) the others in encouraging you to pick whatever character concept tickles you the most; I don't think we have any critical weaknesses in the party that need shoring. We are a bit thin in the muscle-department, but Quirk has insinuated that the adventure will not be terribly combat heavy (at least initially), and we can always "acquire" more muscle at a later date by picking up some summoning spells for one of the casters or an animal companion with too many teeth.
if you've ever seen a guide or player aid w/ the name "Jimbles" on it, that was me.
Oh, I've benefited from perusing a few of those when trying to get my head around a class!
And Vamp, I agree - go with what you will enjoy the most!
Although he won't exactly be a skill monkey or necessarily have the relevent stat boosts, given the summary GM Quirk gave us I had planned on Rar'gul having at least some social and knowledge skills in addition to the physical ones you'd expect. ie Culture, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Mysticism all suit his backstory.
I've been imagining him as something of a protector given his dedication to the teachings of Hylax, so would be looking at aspects and disciplines that complement that concept (Boundary, Dampen, Interfere, etc). He'll likely start with heavy armour, a shield and a hammer, as well as a small arm of some type.
Vamp, I am liking Beauregard. I read his background in the voice of Humphrey Bogart--it was like one of his monologues at the beginning of an old detective movie.
Your link above seems to be broken. Getting a "file does not exist" error.
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I will be doing some work on the slides this evening (adding some tokens, etc.). You may all feel free to visit them--in fact I would appreciate knowing that all of you can see them and manipulate them as needed.
Expect a post in game play tomorrow. It will simply be an opportunity for characters to introduce themselves in game. The ubiquitous tavern scene at the beginning of an adventure, you might say.
Thursday or so we will board The Chimera and head into the Drift!
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I will be taking note of everyone's background in the recruitment thread. No promises, but I am hoping to put them to work in some way, perhaps in a series of flashback scenes throughout the adventure. Please let me know if there are any major changes.
Your link above seems to be broken. Getting a "file does not exist" error.
Bizarrely, it appears that Paizo's text editor is inserting spaces into urls. Thankfully, hyperlinks still work:
Nice sketch, Jimbles.
I like the shopping guide. It's very handy. I especially like the economy of thrown weapons with the calling fusion as opposed to buying a small arm and ammunition.
I will quibble a little with the ranged soldier. I'd substitute a reaction cannon for the hunting rifle and the assault hammer for the singing disc. They add just a little more damage. The downside of my approach is if your opponent has DR or immunity to physical damage, you're out of luck.
Section the second, Extras from themes.
I see you have toolkits for all reasons.-- Are these fluff? Not that I'm opposed to fluff expenditures. I'm spending 155 credits to hide my survival knife in a wood tube.
Also, lots of miniature computers in the list. Have they made rules that make carrying your own computer beneficial? And I wish I'd thought to miniaturize the computers. I've given them a pass in the past because of limited funds, and bulk.
Thus, does anyone have suggestions about an oppressive home-world or home-location for a ysoki technomancer to have grown up?
Absalom Station's Spike district or nearly anywhere on Akiton are probably the most likely origins for a ysoki with a rough start, but ysoki are extremely common throughout the known galaxy, so nearly anywhere would work. If you're looking for an authoritarian regime, Near Space has a couple pages on a planet populated with Pact Worlders that recently fell to a hobgoblin military coup. I'll look it up this evening if someone else doesn't beat me to it.
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So, mechanically I think I have a good handle on Starfinder, but the major shortage comes with knowledge of the worlds, locations, etc...
Thus, does anyone have suggestions about an oppressive home-world or home-location for a ysoki technomancer to have grown up?
"I grew up on Akiton. Most would call it a dump. But I don't know. If you like throat parching deserts with no cover from hungry giant four-armed shobhads with sniper rifles, it could be paradise."
Edit: Ninja'd by Doc FB.
The Spike is a good idea. Also maybe the fringes of the Azlanti Star Empire. But anywhere could work. Like Golarion halflings, ysoki's small size invites subjugation.
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Nice sketch, Jimbles.
I like the shopping guide. It's very handy. I especially like the economy of thrown weapons with the calling fusion as opposed to buying a small arm and ammunition.
I will quibble a little with the ranged soldier. I'd substitute a reaction cannon for the hunting rifle and the assault hammer for the singing disc. They add just a little more damage. The downside of my approach is if your opponent has DR or immunity to physical damage, you're out of luck.
Section the second, Extras from themes.
I see you have toolkits for all reasons.-- Are these fluff? Not that I'm opposed to fluff expenditures. I'm spending 155 credits to hide my survival knife in a wood tube.
Also, lots of miniature computers in the list. Have they made rules that make carrying your own computer beneficial? And I wish I'd thought to miniaturize the computers. I've given them a pass in the past because of limited funds, and bulk.
A few reasons. I thought about them all. Reaction canons (and the ammo) are HEAVY, and I’ve seen ranges soldiers go for as little as 8 strength. The singing disk targets EAC (usually lower) and like you said, few things resist sonic. Plus they are throwable.
Kits are amazing and I always end up buying like 10 of them. Engineering kits let you do the engineering skill, trap kits give you a +4 to disarm traps, orienteering kits give you a +4 to not get lost, or just a straight up +4 to your profession.
Miniature computers (or datapads if you aren’t playing PFS) let you access the local info sphere from anywhere, letting you take 20 on a knowledge check as long as you have the time and can turn the thing on. Plus most people assume they have the functionality of a smartphone which means you can play video games, record audio, download data wirelessly. . . They are useful.
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Some good ideas, thanks. I await the further info about the coup planet, that maaaay actually fit super well.
I go hog wild for the toolkits too. I get all that can feasibly be used by my characters.
Another one to consider is the Idari. Apparently there is a large Ysoki contingent there keeping things running, and some Ysoki may have issues with the super lawful Kasatha society where they are treated like second class citizens.
I totally missed the profession toolkits. Thanks, guys; that's really good to know.
I'll have to add miniature computers to my buy list, probably in the second round of purchases.
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Found it, that will work very well.
Gideron Prime if anyone is interested in a little info. Now I just need to fill in the details of her background and... maybe her involvement in the coup.
Oooh. This will be cool, Yariel. I'm plotting some very short flashback scenes for each PC, so something with militaristic hobgoblins in the Gideron Authority has potential. Can't wait to read your work.
I'll be setting the scene for this adventure over in gameplay later this evening after I prepare a bit of dinner for the family tonight (firing up the grill!).
Soldiers with 8 strength -- I guess I can see it if the character was a strength-penalized species . For me making a soldier, I'd always have at minimum 12 in both strength and dexterity, and I'd carry both ranged and melee weapons.
I was running an adventure path, second book of Second Darkness, the PCs were about 4th level. One was a sling-staff weilding halfling fighter. He got swallowed whole. That slingstaff was his only weapon. He couldn't do anything but wait for the rest of the party to kill the beast and cut him out.
It's like my dad used to say, "Always carry a pocket knife." (and a handkercheif, and a few dollars)
Of course in SF, pocket knives are expensive.
...
I'll be setting the scene for this adventure over in gameplay later this evening after I prepare a bit of dinner for the family tonight (firing up the grill!).
Shrimp on the barbey?
No, of all things we all decided we were hungry for hot dogs.
Though obviously not a delicacy, in my defense I did purchase the premium all beef Nathan's hot dogs, and we have some freshly chopped onion and a small can of Tony Packo's hot dog sauce.
I have been known to grill some excellent salmon, marinated flank steak, and smoked pork shoulder (for pulled pork). So I don't always slum with a package of hot dogs.
I love a good hot dog.
Salmon is great. We grill it with home made pico de gallo on top. So good.
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Soldiers with 8 strength -- I guess I can see it if the character was a strength-penalized species . For me making a soldier, I'd always have at minimum 12 in both strength and dexterity, and I'd carry both ranged and melee weapons.
I was running an adventure path, second book of Second Darkness, the PCs were about 4th level. One was a sling-staff weilding halfling fighter. He got swallowed whole. That slingstaff was his only weapon. He couldn't do anything but wait for the rest of the party to kill the beast and cut him out.
It's like my dad used to say, "Always carry a pocket knife." (and a handkercheif, and a few dollars)
Of course in SF, pocket knives are expensive.
I have a halfling slingstaff character in PF1. He does stupid amounts of damage. Of course he also has a star knife for that very reason. I under my aliases check out ‘Jad Fizzlebeef.’
I promise I haven't forgotten game play.
I want this first entry to be good. I am typing.
Heathens! Dost thou knowest not that it is the Tuesday of Tacos?!
Not just Taco Tuesday, but Cinco de Drinko, the American Mexican holiday that no one in Mexico even remembers!!!
Whooo!!!
Gameplay has begun. I hope my little introduction does a good job of reflecting at least the very basics of your characters--a first impression, if you will.
Heathens! Dost thou knowest not that it is the Tuesday of Tacos?!Not just Taco Tuesday, but Cinco de Drinko, the American Mexican holiday that no one in Mexico even remembers!!!
Whooo!!!
I love Mexican food. Six years of good eating in LA.
And funny posts. I got a chuckle from both.
Good intro. Are the robot servers named Alice and Flo?
I loved the intro. Very nice touch for each pc.
Yesterday ended up being a little crazier than expected and I didn't get to post as hoped. I will hopefully be able to do so later today.
I have most planning done and just need to update his profile. I just wanted to confirm that item limits were also as per SFS (ie. up to one level higher for CRB)?
Yes. One level higher is correct.
Your characters will be boarding the Chimera tomorrow when I get home from work--it will be my first day back tomorrow, although I have been doing 4-6 hours a week to do the basics of keeping two cable TV stations scheduled and on the air.
Meanwhile, if anyone would like to continue the banter in Mel's, feel free.
Try the chili. Seriously.
I really like inter-PC banter. Sometimes it's the best part of the game. Loved Yariel's first impression of John. The party doesn't have to be all friends.
I wish I could write dialect. I can't, so I'm settling for using be in as many cases and tenses as possible for the verb to be. It's supposed to hint that John was brought up surrounded by a non-human culture, a ryphorian influence. Or maybe it's an Abadaran thing. We'll see how it goes.
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Dialect is darn tough. I gave it a strong effort for my first pfs2 PC and it has been a long growing process. Sometimes way to strong, sometimes way to weak, sometimes spot on. What sorta worked for me was creating a small list of rules to follow when writing dialogue for that PC so I could look over my post and make sure I was being mostly consistent.
For that character I went with a thick New Jersey accent. At least as much as the internet advised how that area actually speaks. Lodda runnon words an ah's shoved in (most famously known is the phrase 'fahgeddaboudit').
Upon a bit of further review of my character creation style, most of my characters tend to start one-note. I think I do that so I can have some strong guidance on how to play them for most situations. Then as they get their feet wet, more of their rounded-ness comes out. Yariel should grow a bit as the game goes along (if she survives, which is never a guarantee).
I have also found dialect to be tricky to dial in to a level where it's strong and consistent enough to add flavor to a character but not strong enough to be a pain to read. Luckily, Doc's affectation is fairly close to my own writing style (I do a lot of technical writing professionally). For most characters, I tend to stay away from a dialect, per se, and lean towards a favored vocabulary instead.
Try the chili. Seriously.
Eh, Doc's pulled out enough intestinal parasites in these backwater stations to be leary of anything that sits in a pot on the backburner for who knows how long.