SFS 2-10: Corporate Interests (Inactive)

Game Master AFlashInTime

Welcome to the thread! From conversations last week, there were six people who expressed interest in playing. I've PM'd all of you - please chime in here to confirm interest and give an idea for class/levels. I think we're looking at low tier here, but depending on levels and #s I might post in Flaxseed Station if we want to have (two different) high and low tier tables.

Once people have a few days to respond, if it looks like this table is good to go I'll plan on doing the initial post for the scenario on Thursday or Friday.

I'll look at my characters this evening and figure out who my options are.

My only character available at this level range is a mystic 4 that focuses on throwing weapons - don't count on him for a lot of spellcasting!

Ready with a level 3 Witchwyrds Solarian. Though I need to update my profile here...

Second-1 checking in! Technomancer 3 :)

Sounds like we're low tier? My choices are a level 3 operative (may have leveled to 4), a level 3 melee mystic, and a level 3 envoy.

I think my only option at low tier option is Rogers, my level 4 nuar soldier. I'll get his profile updated tomorrow.

Solarian, soldier, technomancer, mystic. Sounds like my envoy would be the most helpful?

Here's Rogers, updated and ready to go.

Still seeing if Supersuperlative wants to check in, but we're definitely going to be low tier.

Sorry about the delay - I've been operating off my phone and it doesn't show the PM notification.

Definitely interested.

I only have one option to play in this - a 4th level shirren soldier. I just need to update purchases, etc following last mission.

Well, I think that's everything...

He's all set up and ready to go now!

By my count we're definitely playing low tier. Classes are: soldier, soldier, solarian, mystic, technomancer, and I believe envoy.

If everyone's ready, please post the following for reporting and chronicles:

Player name/alias:
Character name:
Character Number:
Faction represented:

Because this is Corporate Interests, no boon slots (other than personal boons) are available! The scenario tells me to explain that PCs acquire boons as they play adventures, which is an interesting thing to tell a group of 3rd level and higher players, but now I've done my job!

Check back in the next 24 to (sadly more likely) 48 hours for the first Gameplay posts.

Player name/alias: Dennis Muldoon
Character name: Rogers de Stieren
Character Number: 215589-704
Faction represented: Exo-Guardians

Player name: Supersuperlative
Character name: Chk'tarlsh
Character number: 274536-701
Faction: Exo-Guardians

Player name/alias: The Ragi
Character name: Oddman
Character Number: 291669-705
Faction represented: Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo)

Player name/alias: Peff
Character name: Second-1
Character Number: 85291-703
Faction represented: Wayfinders

Player name/alias: Mike Knauer
Character name: Gulkyn
Character Number: 262720-701
Faction represented: Acquisitives

Player name/alias: Kate Baker
Character name: Ozelle
Character Number: 215650-2006
Faction represented: Manifold Host

I need to level her up still! She is actually Envoy 2/Soldier 1. And a morlamaw.

Kate, I believe that's a PFS2 character number. Maybe morlamaws have been with us longer than we knew! (Should it be -706?)

I'm getting the slides together now - we should have an initial Gameplay post soon!

First Gameplay post is up. To find the maps and slides, look on the top left corner of any of the pages associated with this PbP game. If everyone can put their token onto the designated slide and fill out your character's initiative and perception bonuses, I would appreciate it.

D'oh! Yes, 706.

Hey folks!

Unfortunately I was at work for about 12 hours today and just do not have the energy to set up the first encounter in slides tonight (it's 11 pm now where I am). Sorry to start off the scenario with a bit of a stumble, but expect an actual quality post soon with the scenario actually moving forward.

Can Rogers try again on the Engineering check to disable the mask (possibly under the guise of standing up suddenly)? Or has that ship sailed with his failed check?

The man is definitely alert now. You would need some sort of Stealth check to approach unnoticed (or similar skill, like slight of hand) to make another engineering check.

Makes sense. I'll leave that for someone else to try then. I know this is shocking, but the 7-foot-tall bull-headed soldier is not exactly stealthy :P

Initially I was trying to weave some of these into a story, but (unfortunately) sometimes being subtle on these kinds of skill challenges just leaves people confused and frustrated. So, here are some OOC options for how to procede, since a couple of people are unsure:

You've investigated all of the potential leads mentioned in the first post except the gate agent writing in the language-that-isn't-Common. You're looking for a Culture check and potentially multiple rounds (1d4) to see what that's about.

Also at the counter, the only way to do more with the woman with the gun is to steal her weapon with sleight of hand. She cannot be bluffed/intimidated/diplomacied away.

You've done everything you can do at the holo-statue.

At the information kiosk, Chk'tarlsh has already interected with the man muttering into his comms. You suspect he's a mercenary and somebody (other than Chk'tarlsh) needs to use Bluff to try to convince him to leave the area, since he appears lost.

In the seating area, because the man is awake now there won't be another chance to disable the mask.

Addditionally, see below if you want even more OOC knowledge regarding how what you're doing now is going to affect the next part of the encounter, per the scenario. I found the interaction a little unintuitive when I was playing the scenario without running it. If you'd rather be surprised, feel free to skip.

"Guessing" your way through a skill challenge usually isn't the most entertaining part of a SF or PF1 session... xD

I hope they found a better alternative in PF2

In a Con Current game this evening, but the next Gameplay post will actually have the conclusion of the investigation phase and move on to the

Apologies for the bumpy start here. It'll get better!

For Rogers, noted on Step Up for next turn. You couldn't have stepped up this turn because you can't take a reaction before your first action in combat in Starfinder, per the Core Rulebook's "Reactions" section on pg. 248. Still, because as you pointed out he has an extra move action so it doesn't matter.

Sorry, you're right. Been playing too much PF2 where that's not necessarily true.

In case the woman's movement looks weird, she started to move to the right, but Rogers Step Up blocked her path, so she moved back to the left and around to the right after passing him.

Step Up only triggers if she takes a guarded step. If she took a full move action, Step Up doesn't apply (but attack of opportunity does).

I went ahead and had her roll another Acrobatics check to move past Rogers through the second square, which failed.

And smoke grenades are weird because they don't grant a condition; you just can't do anything. You'd think while coughing and hacking you could flip a switch (staggered) to turn on environmental protections, but rules as written are pretty clear.

On the other hand, if enviros are already up or you make what becomes an easy save at higher levels, you've now just wasted a turn throwing it.

They are a great option against swarms.

Just missed my turn! Sorry, been a busy couple of days

No worries! And even better, it's your turn again!

Mission 2 takes place on a new day (several days, given you'll be flying to the Diaspora), so everybody's SP and spells are fully replenished. Have to run at the moment but I should have the initial post for mission 2 up later today.

Hey folks!

I realize mission 2 has been a lot of talking and walking through rooms so far. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help move things along.

Seems to be a stealth, computers and/or diplomacy situation. I'm marginal at stealth, can't do computers and terrible at diplomacy, so I'm just hanging back and waiting for someone to act.

My vote is to offer him a ride off-rock and a meeting with our 'sponsor', tell him why we're here and let the chips fall where they may.

I like that plan as well. We may be able to talk him into leaving and giving us the data as his ticket off.

I don't think it's wise to trust this guy so easily, and we have no idea if the society or the anon-dragoncorp will be interested in this mind control chip the guy is working on (if it's even a thing and not just a con). We're convincing him to quit his job but can't offer anything solid in return... we might just wreck his career.

I’ve selected you for a secretive mission. A rival dragoncorp, whow ishes to remain nameless, has enlisted the Society to gather data acquired by Frozen Trove Labs in one of their hidden communication outposts.

...
Be social, or sneaky, or both, just get in, find the data acquired by the long-range communications network, and get out safely

I think taking him with us should be the last option, to avoid unnecessary complications.

Gulkyn leaves stealth and computers to other folks. I recommend someone with those skills excuse themselves back towards where we came in and see what they can find.

... we might just wreck his career.

Right now his career is sitting alone on an asteroid indefinitely. I don't think that would be a huge loss.

It's a paying job, seems to have stability and allows him to pursue other projects while working - they even gave him a pet to use as a guinea pig!

The starfinder society never gave me anything. They don't even let me keep the loot I find while in a mission!

They keep him trapped on a distant outpost, unable to control his own comings and goings, with no chance for advancement or even escape but at their whim. Add to that the fact that they don't listen to his ideas or innovations, and it sounds like a terrible and frankly abusive job to me.

In the first sentence of Quest 2's introduction he was described as "indentured to work for Frozen Trove for his entire adult life" without further information or context. I haven't read Pact Worlds lately, but other than Androids on some cities in Verces (which is very illegal and has a whole organization dedicated to ending the practice) I wasn't tracking that was a thing that major corporations could just do. He's also apparently a brilliant scientist that can't get a meeting with corporate because of reasons that aren't given or explained. It was a bit of an unusual set up, frankly.

Looking at it a certain way, you might have just freed somebody from de facto slavery.

Seems like he might also have been a criminal... with his experiments on mind control, wouldn't surprise me. But let's ditch the unemployed man on Absalom Station and move on!

Sounds like we need someone with Engineering and maybe Medicine to check out the body. Computers and/or Mysticism for the message board. I'm probably best with the witness.

I'm hoping mysticism in case it's an extraplanar sentient, and survival if it's an animal, and if nothing else, perception. It'll probably be a straight medicine, though...

Be careful, I'm betting the witness is the criminal. Very likely a werewolf. With energy claws.

I'll try the infosphere...and mysticism backup if need be.