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I'm still here and would be up for playing!
I'm going to have to do a bit of reading to see what's available in 2e. GMQ, this sounds like a Western vibe, or is it just the dusty mining town that's getting to me?
I would probably lean towards a martial character this time (though an Akashic Mystic still looks fun!). Murderbot might be a fun inspiration. The Western vibe also had me looking at Corpsefolk a bit too.
I did send a PM to Cidribvoot last night. Others may not know. I'd appreciate your help sending a few messages.
FYI, I do plan to create a new campaign page this week.
Also, this mining settlement was used in my home in-person game. One great thing about this is that it's useful in two games. I think that helps motivate me to stay on top of the game as well.
Hey GMQ! I'm still kicking about.
Sounds fun. Look forward to see what you have cooking.
Also, I have a little familiarity with SF2E (on my 3rd and 4th Society missions)
Oh, I'm also getting a Western vibe, ET.
A Firefly-esque frontier romp.
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Gritty old west meets John Carter?
Loved Firefly.
I like your goals for the game GM Quirk. A small location, local threats to start, and recurring NPCs. Reusing maps makes efficient use of your time.
In terms of a new character, I'm thinking either an ysoki or a kasatha. The ysoki would be a miner...soldier? Witchwarper? The latter would probably be a street rat solarian. I'm not certain about either one.
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I almost forgot! I also look forward to finding out a little more about how the 3 Fold Conspiracy wraps up, but am also conscious of the work involved.
Plus, another benefit of the small location and episodal nature might be opportunies for others to run a some mini missions/side plots for GMQ to have a chance to play!
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I'm so glad you are all thinking in terms of characters you would like to play.
And yes, I would say there will be portions of this that will be an homage to old American westerns, especially with Clint Eastwood. I just hope there won't be too much Blazing Saddles!
Right now I'm working on a new campaign page here.
Excellent. Look forward to seeing it.
Leaning towards a human (hylki?) operative at the moment.
Okay everyone. I made a recruitment thread. I have NOT started a separate discussion or gameplay thread yet.
Recruitment: We don't have to take ANY new players, but I thought it might be good to at least consider one or two new players, especially if someone seems truly excited about such a campaign.
My recruitment thread is something you'll all want to read. Perhaps you can post there as established players.
You may also continue to discuss things here, especially if you have thoughts on any submissions from potential new players.
I think the gang's all here. No need for PMing. Did I count right?
I think the gang's all here. No need for PMing. Did I count right?
I think the word is out!
One more time to everyone: read what I wrote in the recruitment thread, there is more information there about the town of Azurite Hollow.
Working on a map of this place now.
I've been trying to digest the Starfinder 2e rules. I'd love some perspective if others have play experience. I was very surprised that Operative has increased weapon proficiency rather than the Soldier, who is more of an armor expert. Does that make the Soldier more defensive or does it have enough offensive firepower still to be the biggest threat in combat?
I see a lot of wording around area effect weapons. Does that make Soldier more of an area affect attacker and Operative a more precision single target attacker?
Still thinking of an Android Soldier. Armor focus might be interesting. They're probably hired security for the mining company. Corpsefolk gunslinger (I guess Operative?) is still teasing me, but I think I'm leaning towards Soldier.
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I've only pbp experience with SF 2E, so I don’t have lot more experience than you, ET. However, one of my SFS2E pcs is a Soldier and I have wrestled with the same conceptual shifts as you describe.
Having played several soldiers in SF1E, it seemed very different. The main thing I've learned is that with area/auto fire for soldiers in 2E, you're not making an attack roll - creatures caught within the area have to make the save vs your class DC or suffer the consequences (damage and suppression). That said, you do make an attack roll (strike) as part of the area/auto attack against a primary target and, if you hit, they get an extra splash of damage plus only pass the previously mentioned save on a critical success.
Feel free to check out my alias for Thomas Orrick to see how it plays with a Bombard Fighting style, if you don't mind the spoilers. Currently on his second SFS mission. Having great fun playing him, too. There was some discussion early on in first mission (in Discussion and Gameplay) as we were trying to figure out how it all worked.
I added a map of Azurite Hollow to the new slide deck.
It is with much guilt that I must admit the obvious: this map is AI. I originally just wanted something to inspire me when I sit down to make some chicken scratches on graph paper, which I would then scan to include in the slides.
The map that was spit out is very nearly perfect. It looks much as I imagined this mining town, which is quite scary.
No guilt for using AI, Quirk, especially not if it came out exactly as you wanted. I'd much rather that you got to see your intent made real and not spend hours doing it. And Thank You for the efforts that you go to for our game!
(I had a whole rant on giving people a break using AI in daily life that was mostly a repeat from a RL convo this weekend, but I will spare everyone.)
Thanks for the update, GMQ. There seems to be some interest in joining us, which is cool. As are the submissions so far.
On that note, I'm narrowing in on a pc idea - Rion Lershock, one time law man turned freelance detective following a particularly tragic case. Operative skirmisher.
I'm thinking an ikeshti mechanic/scavenger. He's back on Akiton after trying out unsuccessfully for the Starfire Legion. (He left boasting about doing great things and now has a heap of humble pie on his plate that's too big to eat.)
Ikeshti will be awesome because it's an Akitonian species with lower social status than ysoki.
What happened to the engineering skill? I can't find what replaces it for handling tech items that aren't computers, building stuff, or repairing things. Is technological wizard no longer a concept in SF?
What happened to the engineering skill? I can't find what replaces it for handling tech items that aren't computers, building stuff, or repairing things. Is technological wizard no longer a concept in SF?
It largely got folded into the crafting skill. Computers will also be used for some of the old engineering rolls. Thievery might also be used.
Great idea. Ikeshti fit right in.
Edit to add: perhaps your character at knew the broodminder who disappeared that the new submission in recruiting shared.
I have invited the new character submission "Kala Jayne" to join us. This player obviously put a lot of thought into their character and embraced my still-developing setting.
I'll be giving the other new submission a "screen test"--a chance to interact with a post I make. Something tells me I won't get another submission, and that's okay.
Oh, and by the way, I love what Kala Jayne did. None of you should feel like you need to do that much. I would love you to stay up on any setting information I convey, and perhaps include bits of it in even the shortest background paragraph when you are putting the finishing touches on your character.
Nice work, GMQ. I'll keep my eyes on the setting information. Any hints on the law enforcement arrangement would be appreciated. And of low rung criminal figures/groups. Or I could devise some through the backstory?
Nevermind, GMQ.
I thought to go over some of the older setting information (not much on SF 2E settlements as yet for me) and found this on AoN for SF1E under Akiton:
Akiton today has no centralized government, and its cold deserts, dry seabeds, and frigid polar ice caps host neverending skirmishes and proxy wars between various cities, clans, corporations, tribes, and offworld factions. It’s a world where unscrupulous business interests can engage in unregulated or morally questionable research and exploitation and where criminals, fugitives, and the lost come to escape justice, hide from their enemies, or try to make a fresh start.
So that (provided you're going to be sticking with the canon in your campaign) answers that question. :)
Perhaps fittingly, could be looking at an Wild West sheriff-like position? ;)
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Nevermind, GMQ.
I thought to go over some of the older setting information (not much on SF 2E settlements as yet for me) and found this on AoN for SF1E under Akiton:
Akiton today has no centralized government, and its cold deserts, dry seabeds, and frigid polar ice caps host neverending skirmishes and proxy wars between various cities, clans, corporations, tribes, and offworld factions. It’s a world where unscrupulous business interests can engage in unregulated or morally questionable research and exploitation and where criminals, fugitives, and the lost come to escape justice, hide from their enemies, or try to make a fresh start.So that (provided you're going to be sticking with the canon in your campaign) answers that question. :)
Azurite Hollow will actually have an effective governance and adequate security (usually!). I'm designing it to be a haven for PC's, which I think is a good thing. It doesn't mean there won't occasionally be incidents where your attention is needed.
Otherwise, Akiton is much as your source describes. "The Wild Wild West" is a good descriptor. There is organized crime in Khefak Depot. There are gangs out in the wild, mostly comprised of incompetent or young ruffians who couldn't cut it in Khefak Depot.
Ah, excellent! Thanks, GMQ. I will await further information pertaining to said governance and security to incorporate into Rion's backstory.
Nice to see another new submission, too!
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Hi, all!
I posted details in the new game thread about Llyfr (LEE-fur), the ysoki bartender mystic (Akashic connection) who runs the local bar/restaurant/clinic called Hollow's Chance.
As I said in that post, I'm happy to build some backstory connections with other characters. Goodness knows they've (probably) all been through a lot together!
Have a good weekend. Stay warm and safe!
***SQUUUEEEEEE*** Akashic Mystic!
I love Llyfr already! I totally look forward to seeing her in action!
Here's what I have for Three-5 so far. I think they're a bored security guard/infosphere junkie. More to come.
It's been real cool seeing everyone's concepts coming together. Also, the interesting ways I've been introduced to for character portraits - Heroforge and Nano Banana! Thanks for sharing!
Sorry to hear you had to cancel, Janosian. I hope the weather isn't too unkind to you northern hemisphere folk.
We have a nice 31 degree C (87ish F) summer day today. Snow is something I have very very little experience with.
It's been real cool seeing everyone's concepts coming together. Also, the interesting ways I've been introduced to for character portraits - Heroforge and Nano Banana! Thanks for sharing!
Sorry to hear you had to cancel, Janosian. I hope the weather isn't too unkind to you northern hemisphere folk.
We have a nice 31 degree C (87ish F) summer day today. Snow is something I have very very little experience with.
I think we really must all charter a flight down under and play Starfinder in person when it's Summer in the southern hemisphere and Winter up here.
Of course there's more wildlife that can kill me where you are. Only one very rare type of venomous snake around here...
Our new player (Kala Jayne) reminded me about the free archetype optional rule.
I'd like to let you all use that.
Go ahead and look that up--it's something that won't really come into play until second level, but it will be useful to plan for it.
Did they (forgot to look at pronouns) work at the mine? If they're an infosphere junkie, they probably know Lllyfr...
Oh, I definitely think Three-5 would be a regular at Hollow's Chance. Llyfr probably knows they're not much of a talker, just let them into the vid area (where Three doesn't even need to jack in) and occasionally bring some basic snacks. They probably don't even eat normal meals usually. Perhaps akin to gamers who survive on beef jerky and half bowls of ramen.
Depending on what happens with the adventure, they may need to be pushed to join in, though they are a security guard, so threats to the area may be their job to deal with. Probably will find themselves surprised at what they might actually care about.
(And for a split second, yes, I contemplated making their name Six-7, but I shuddered on second thought.)
I fell down a rabbit hole this fine Saturday morning.
If you'll take a look at the new slides, I added some AI generated utility vehicles that will be ubiquitous in The Hollow.
The second slide is an automated driverless transport vehicle that most of the mine management is highly suspicious of (though they do own a couple).
A rabbit hole or a mining shaft, GMQ? ;)
Nice images! Really starting to get a sense of the setting.
Bonus archetypes, you say? Hmm. Not something I've used before. A nice little wrinkle to explore. Reminds me a little of gestalt characters.
No story to share thus far, but following the inspiration of my fellow players, here's what I have so far for Rion:
● Hephaistos character sheet (still need to decide on an additional language)
● Nano Banana test portrait
Oh, and ET - I like the sound of what you're putting together for Three-5.
Ha! Nice one on Six-7 :) Thankfully, it seems to have died along with 2025 for my kids.
When I first read their name, Ten-4 is what came to mind for me!
I have opened discussion in the new game HERE.
Please join up there, and perhaps give a brief review of character ideas so I can start to get everything together in my head.