Swarm Wars! presented by GM Sparrowhawk

Game Master Bristor

Just a heads up
Tom and I are moving this week and will have intermittent internet access. If im holding anything up feel free to bot Sevash

Good luck with the move!

Ok, I need help interpreting the trap Telsix just set off. I'm going to assume everyone backed up while they were trying to dispel it, but I'm not sure what counts for the effect. Here is text, and I'd appreciate interpretations of what counts as technological items. I don't think anyone has hybrid items, but is it Telsix's armor, weapons, gear, etc? That seems overly harsh to me.

Effect: curse (hybrid and technological items become glitch-cursed; this is a curse effect); Will DC 15 negates (items of 5th level or above only; lower-level items receive no save); multiple targets (all hybrid and technological items carried by all creatures within 10 feet of the power core)

I think technological basically means it uses a batery and not magic
this is the begining of the description from the core rulebook

"Unless otherwise specified, technological items use a battery and are subject to special abilities that work against items using batteries, charges, or technology."

https://aonsrd.com/TechItems.aspx?ItemName=All&Family=None

I think it is safe to say that analog weapons, while technological, would probably not have an issue with this trap, but that is my personal interpretation

That makes perfect sense, thanks Robyn.

If you think I need to make checks for some of my other stuff, I'm happy to. I think the only other thing I have that uses a battery is my comm unit. Would I need to unglitch the grenades?

No, you've done enough, and yes that'll be 50 credits gone up in mystic smoke.

Someone should be sure to claim that ring of resistance MK1!

In regards to Aysen’s condition, I did some re-reading and while I can grant a +2 bonus on Fort saves vs. disease I believe that’s an “in the moment” thing as I have to expend a Biohacker booster to do so. While that shoots down what we’ve been doing so far I do have max ranks in the Medicine skill which, as long as I meet/exceed the DC of the disease, would permit me to "Treat Disease" and grant a +4 bonus on Aysen’s saving throw for a given day.

I doubt this would affect anything that’s happened currently, but hopefully it can improve our favorite Drow’s chances in the future?

I have to share that as the end of the semester gets closer the number of virtual events my department is supporting on campus is growing exponentially. With this in mind, all I can think of in terms of this confrontation with Zantos is that if the Midnight Squad needs a ringer we bring Aysen in on space-Zoom so that he can try to influence them through someone's communicator.

Ex. "Alright we've got the projector and speakers setup, Aysen can you hear us? We can see you but you may be muted. Try looking for the microphone icon in the bottom-corner of your screen. I know you're irradiated but we'd like everyone to take part in this discussion."

Casey, if you need to take a break, just let us know. Not a problem at all.

Note, you can just mention something you did to get an auto aid, no need to roll as long as you can think of something that went well (my point being Sevash need not roll to get an aid.

I'm still good to participate but if I need to take a break will let you know! May need to take time in late-May/early-June but for now should be good.

Was reading over the starfinder disease rules,
Aysén was 100% dead without the medics and mystics in Oddrock.

"In the case of a disease, the victim must fulfill the conditions in the disease’s Cure entry (usually succeeding at one or more consecutive saving throws). Each time she does so, she moves one step back toward healthy; once she reaches healthy, she is cured."

So radiation sickness requires 3 consecutive saves. So were I not saved by remove radioactivity, I would have to succeed at 3 consecutive saves just to move up a single step on the disease track. But every single failure brings me down a step. So I would have to make 12 consecutive saves (35% chance of success) in order to fight off the disease stage at the stage he was at.

First, Casey, thanks for the recap update.

Mike, you are totally right. I had read it, but misinterpreted in my haste that each success on the roll vs. the 3 needed successes.

Given that, I'll rule that you climb up two rungs (based on something somewhere which said in a medical suite you could get double the effect of a rest), and you are cured of the radiation sickness, but you are still "Weakened": The victim is sickened and fatigued, until you can get another night's rest. Sound fair?

Sounds fair to me.

G'morning all!

This week is looking more hectic that I'd originally anticipated so Tegrodera may need to go on autopilot for a bit.

Any shopping tips for a mystic?

If we're not sure when the next time we'll be able to shop is, I'd probably consider upgraded armor or a personal upgrade for +2 to a stat (maybe DEX or WIS). I think most of the mystic specific items are probably out of budget at this level (digital harrow deck, staff of mystic healing).

Feeling swamped at the moment - given Casey is the same, let's just pause. We'll pick back up Monday morning with the first mission in New Grakka.

Sounds perfect. End of quarter for me, here, so I'd be happy with a little extra time to do the shopping.

Playing catch-up with plot and shopping so hoping to rejoin the narrative either today or tomorrow.

Sorry guys, behind on everything in life. Have an article review due today, and if I can get that out the door sooner rather than later, I'll get this combat going. Telsix and Tegrodera, when you have a chance, please give me the list of items, but right now Aysen and Sevash are in the proverbially crosshairs.

Yeah, same. Swamped at the moment. I'll get that list up (and my shopping done) this weekend if I don't get it today.

Outside of the current encounter with the bird thieves, I'm taking the time to review past-gear and realizing that Tegrodera may have been dragging a tent and portable projector around with him during the flight from Suskillon. Would there be a trustworthy location to store larger gear like that (ex. cargo hold of "Terminus Wild") to handwave things, or can we only expect to have what we can carry?

Yes, you have plenty of storage space at the barracks. It's helpful to take stock of what you are carrying every once in awhile, especially if you have a lower STR, just to be honest about your rough encumbrance, but I'm not a big stickler on that sort of thing.

I ended up getting a mk 1 personal upgrade for Dex.

Sorry! Should have time tomorrow. If anyone wants to bot Teg please do, otherwise I'll just have him boost Sevash or Aysen.

Hey all, my apologies for being absent but I'm sorry to say I'll need to take a bit of a hiatus until the end of June. I've already checked-in with Brian and it sounds like there's a plan for handling Tegrodera so I'll make sure that everything is up to date on his character profile (along with whatever else may be needed).

Looking forward to re-joining when I'm able and best wishes to y'all in the meantime! Go "Midnight Squad"!

Good luck with everything, Casey!

Sorry again! A/C broken, fridge on the fritz, summer vacation planning, etc. have left we little time today (and it's my bday!). In reading this scene, I think Telsix and Sevash's ability to fly actually allows us to short cut the rescue, which I think in PbP is going to be boring/drag on anyway. I'll try to set it up elegantly and bridge us to next scene tomorrow.

Sounds good

Happy Birthday!!!

2nd level spells incoming, very exciting!

I'm think of taking hold person and lesser restoration. Anyone with more experience than I have thoughts on that?

Are the swarm members we've fought so far humanoid?

I think a lot less creatures deal ability damage or effects that lesser restoration fixes. I'd consider taking another spell in its place.

I think you can get some use out of hold person in our current situation, and you can always swap it out any level you feel like you find a better spell to take its place.

I think Mind Thrust was my most used offensive spell on my mystic in society.

Some swarm count as "monstrous humanoid" but I actually realize I don't know if that applies to Hold Person in Starfinder? Mike or Robyn? I do think Mind Thrust is a nice option.

What fun stuff did folks get at 4th level?

I got a steller revelation which let's me convert my melee damage to fire damage (plasma sheathe).

Sorry all, need to get things organized. You can expect a post Thursday morning with details on the scoping it out, and possible entry points, etc. for night sneaking.

Afternoon, everyone. Headed out of town for a long weekend, and rather than get embroiled in the next stage of things and leaving you hanging entirely, I'll just post a bit of a cliffhanger and we'll pick it up on Monday.

And that will give me time to finally update my character. Sorry, I remain the worst.

Hey all. Going away over night so likely next post from me won’t be until the weekend.

Welcome Tim!

Ok, I’m going to call this fight, as solo, there is no way she is going to last long, and I want to get Tim into the mix sooner rather than later. Hope that’s ok. It's going to take me a sec to compile the loot, wrap up the complex, and then set up the next chapter, and it's the start of school next week, so things are likely to be slow between now and next Wednesday. Sorry!

No worries. Sounds good!

Sorry for delay on my end, long weekend, Rosh Hashanah, and back to school have me behind. More tomorrow!

I'm getting crushed between work and writing stuff this week. I'll catch up soon!

Sorry, all, will try to get the next room organized and rolled out today. One thing that would help: if everyone can please go to the "Maps and Handouts" slide show and make sure the info on slides 2 & 3 is up to date, I'd appreciate it. Tim, I just cut and paste Ishkepu into Casey's old slots, so those numbers definitely need fixing.

Thanks!

updated!

Sorry all - my work computer is off being repaired and all my PbP docs were on it and so I don't have my reference materials which makes every post a challenge (although I do at least have the adventure pdf, so making it work). Should get it back early next week.

Just a heads up that I'll be taking a break from the computer from Wed-Sun for the holiday, so feel free to post for this round and we'll pick up next week!

Sounds good.

Happy holidays!

Hey guys, sorry for my absence and for my radio silence. I completely lost the run of things last month. Felicity and I moved out of Dublin during lockdown and when we went back to in-person classes, my commute was close to 2 hours each way. Anyways, I've left that job, so life ought to be getting back to normal (or whatever passes for it these days).