[SFS/Shifty] #3-02 The Subterranean Safari (C) (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Hi all!

I'm keen for us all to try to post regularly (aim for once or more per weekday and, at least once on weekends). Whilst adventures can be caught in 'conversation loops' back and forth, I will endeavour to keep things kicking along and get the gist of where a conversation is going and keep us pointed in the right direction.

Work, study, and wild parties in Mexico have a way of getting in the way sometimes and if that is likely please leave a post in advance if you know that you may have limited time/ability to post for a period of time (and when we can expect you back).

On that note, I am posting from Sydney, Australia. Most of you will be posting when I am asleep so when I get up around 0500 odd I usually do the catch up over a coffee, and then usually in the afternoon/evening each day.

I will generally roll Initiative (and any other rolls if really required), but not to shaft anyone or railroad them, more in the interest of giving you some sort of outcome to then respond to - I aim to complete a single round of combat within 24 hours.

When in combat, unless a PC has left botting instructions or made arrangement for another player to bot them, I will place any PC that has not posted within the past 24 hours (48 hours on a weekend) on delay.

If a single skill check has been called for, I will accept the PC with the highest skill bonus as the "primary" and all other attempts by PCs for the same check as aiding another.

***

Please provide the following for your PC:

Name:
Character Name:
SFS ID and character number:
Faction:
Day job Roll:
Boons (Happy for this to occur after the briefing)

Character Name: Dr. Mavrik "Drift" Drix
SFS ID and character number: 54329-704
Faction: Acquisitives
Day job Roll: Profession: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Boons: TBD

Gonna make this guy's bot instructions but it is essentially going to be shoot bad guys.

Hey @Shifty, thank you for running this game. I enjoy playing with you a lot! So let us go and play the RP out of this game!

Name: Farol
Character Name: Croaker
SFS ID and character number: 2359780-703
Faction: Acquisitives
Day job Roll: Gambling with dragons: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Boons: will provide after the briefing.

Name: Sedoriku
Character Name: Ceolor Xusha
SFS ID and character number: 108507-02
Faction: Second Seekers (Luwazi)
Day job Roll: Profession (Wilderness Expedition Writer (think Mark Twain)): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Boons (Happy for this to occur after the briefing): TBD, I have some options now!

Ceolor will also be level 4 after this but I'll level him up after the previous scenario finishes.

I've been asked if I want to swap with a lower level character on table 'A' - are you okay with this?

It was me asking, so I am ok with it ;) And I was asking in the name of Jim so I imagine he is fine with it.

Shifty made a Comment on another table so he is fine with it as well ;)

Just reporting my knowledge on the topic ;)

Okay I got Ceolor leveled up, and spent some time to go shopping!

He's going to buy:
Freebooter Armor II (4720)
Aeon Stone Clear Spindle (245)
Ion Tape (240)
Zip Stick (10)
Called Weapon Fusion seal (Item level 5) (792)

and sell:
Freebooter Armor I (75)

He now has some decent AC for these levels, a weapon infusion that allows him to be more efficent at the beginning of combat as well as some good utility things. I love ion tape as it's pretty useful! Also Ceolor can activate it from range with his flare if need be!

Also of note, Ceolor's dayjob check should be 1 higher as he put another rank in the skill.

Typically in the US, the "Dr" can be used by any person with a doctorate. When addressing a medical doctor or when they introduce themselves it would still be "Doctor So-and-so" but on business cards or documents it would be:

Mavrik Drix, MD or Dr. Mavrik Drix, MD or some variation of it.

There are exceptions of course and I haven't been back to the US for some time myself. (I have to return in a few years for my licensing in clinical psychology...which I am dreading)

Yep and traditionally I think the academic doctorates only use the "Dr. So-and-so" in the formal settings, whereas calling someone by the title in less formal settings is more common for the medical doctor. But I could be wrong on that front myself.

Pfft we all know Dr Phil is the only Dr that matters.

Yeah, in the wild country that I live in. There are different written titles for Dr and MD. But when you speak you use doctor to refer to them both. Personally I find it confusing, but what can we do. Thanks for the info.

The country I live in uses the same honorific for doctors and teachers... oh and Manga artists. I believe the term for a doctorate degree and a medical doctor is different though. However I have no clue about he written name practices as that is something I haven't encountered much here.

It is indeed confusing. I will be a doctor with patients but not a medical doctor, mostly because I am not a fan of needles so getting through the general residency wouldn't be smooth for me. People are often confused in the distinction between psychologists and psychiatrists.

Pfft we all know Dr Phil is the only Dr that matters.

Gotta toss Dr. Doom on the list of important doctors. One of my favorite comic characters. Interestingly enough, he does not have a doctorate. Total sham.

I've got some doubts about Chef Tony being a legit chef.

Boons:

Faction: Acquisitives Champion, Improved
Ally: Professional Hireling Access: Life Science, Physical Science, Mysticism +7
Social: Distinguished Ambassador (using to get Defrex Hide, basic after this scenario)
Starship: In-the-Vehicle Training (as you may never know ;))

Social: AdabarCorp Augmentations
Faction: Acquisitives Champion
Ally: Amateur Hireling Access (Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate)

Sorry, As of the 1st I went back full time at work, and with that I am now going to be in meetings for the foreseeable future (at least a few weeks) while at work. Trying to figure how we are going to actually open college in the fall....sigh.

I have nothing new I want to buy.

Name: Jim
Character Name: Baurquathus (Bar or Baur for short)
SFS ID and character number:56565-706
Faction: Acquisitives
Day job Roll:Profession Musician (Guitarist): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

Boons:
Ally: Publicist
Faction: Acquisitives Champion
Personal: Pahtra
Promotional: Shirt Reroll
Social: Distinguished Ambassador (not using him really, just don't have anything else really).

@Bar - Why don't you use known quality acq boon? It would give you more money for the day job

I would, if I was tier 2 Acquisitive :-) ...been playing the 'lets keep SS (J) and ACQ about equal' tier......

I think I need 4-5 more ACQ to get to tier 2.

Ally: Efficient Administrator
Faction: Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo) Champion, Improved!
Personal: Scoured Stars Survivor
Social: Faction's Friend
Starship: Skitterfriend
Slotless: Team Spirit

Ceolor is going to use a boon (Protector of the future) that allows him to get one SS(Luwazi Boon) that costs 2 fame or less for free (assuming he meets the reputation requirements) to get Efficient Administrator, giving a +2 to skill bonuses from any Ally boons you might have! He's also going to spend 5 fame and get Team Spirit, making raise dead much cheaper for people to purchase with fame, and the improved version of the SS(Luwazi) Champion.

I would, if I was tier 2 Acquisitive :-) ...been playing the 'lets keep SS (J) and ACQ about equal' tier......

I think I need 4-5 more ACQ to get to tier 2.

I see, is there a benefit to doing that? I actually never considered it.

With reference to the turrets facing inwards, I can only assume it is to deal with some of the wild animals getting inside the walls. Outside the walls the ferocious beasts can run wild - but if one got inside you'd want the turrets to be able to deal with them.

Absence warning - due to another outbreak of corona I was dragged back into work to do some rapid planning. I will be busy the next 24 hours so will post tomorrow night (late) when I get home.

Thanks for letting us know Shifty! Take care mate!

I got a window of 'normalcy' - touch wood everything goes swimmingly again for a while and the phone stays silent!

Sorry for not posting for a couple of days....my work schedule,and Gencon Onling, and normal VO duties for local games...and well...everything. Got busy. Should be getting more normal after Wednesday when I should have all the pre-Gencon Online prep done.

Its okay we are just getting bested by a skittermander computer.

Says you! Ceolor is getting a STORY! :P

I'm running games at GenCon online the next few days please bot me as needed.

Hey folks till Wednesday my availability might be poor. Please feel free to bot Croaker if needed.

July scenarios were 1-4 & 5-8, kinda ruining my plans as we mostly have 3-6 players. Added to this, the scenarios both kick off arcs.

I could otherwise wait for the August drops which have a very awesome sounding 1-4 which is right up my alley.

I don't have an opinion on the subject. I am fine waiting if this is needed. I still am lacking lvl 5+ PC so if you plan to play 5-8 I could go pregen or could leave a sit for someone else (ideally with an appendix to the deal that I could come back if you decide to run lower-tier scenario :P)

Shifty you're doing an awesome job but I'm going to use Rattus in the special and take step back till the game day :)

July scenarios were 1-4 & 5-8, kinda ruining my plans as we mostly have 3-6 players. Added to this, the scenarios both kick off arcs.

I could otherwise wait for the August drops which have a very awesome sounding 1-4 which is right up my alley.

I'm OK with using a different character for a 1-4 or a pregen for a 5-8. I'm hoping to start running Ceolor through the rest of the scoured stars scenarios before he out levels them.

@Rattus cool
@Ceolor noted

@Shifty - is your great campaign impacted by mortals affair like Gameday? Meaning, will you run the next game before gameday ends?

I am doing some logistics on how to assign my PC's to gameday and I want to be part of next Shifty game (as they are great!). I have a couple of PC's that might end their games mid of September and a couple of PCs that end in the upcoming 2 weeks. Any insights on the next game that you will run?

I like pbp events but they create that vacuum around it, where no new games are started till a month before and a few weeks after the games begin to end.

I was just going to crack something out in the next week - didn't do the math on Gameday as the special is on when I am heading to another state for work and will likely be having some long nights so couldn't reliably pick up the Special.

Level 5-8 I have to keep open as it is where my wife and I have our Draconic Duo (well..one is Draconic, the other half-elf). So I will have to pass on the 5-8. On any level 1-4 or 3-6 I would be up for.

OK after much thought I am going to run the Frozen Ambitions arc (levels 1-4).

My intent is to run each of the scenarios in the arc (I'm guessing 6, but that is based on pure speculation) so I'm inviting my current players to what amounts to a 'mini-campaign' through season 3.

If there is a 'gap' I'll aim to fill it with an alternative 1-4.

First up will be
Shimmerstone Gateway

Sign up is HERE

Kick off in a week or so

OK, I've signed my Mechanic to swap Croaker out for the special. Thanks Shifty!

I'm going to brjng my second favorite starfinder character, Vyviane! She's an operative and loves to prove how good halflings are.

I would love to bring my new Skittermander but the two current scenarios I am in are the last two for the boon.

So this game will finish up shortly, how long is the other game you are waiting on?

Crash Down with Blinky.

Ahh that one is wrapping before long too, so you will probably be ok. Happy to move the start day to the right a few days if we get stuck.

Alright, awesome. I will put my name in the list.

Ok, as I look on the pool of candidates I am not longer sure if I want to bring my lvl 4 here. On top of that I saw at least 2 ppl with skittermanders so maybe this is the time to create my own lvl 1 nufriend.

I will think about that idea.

I have Rayburn (technomancer 4) to play if Farol and I stay upper tier.

If Farol wants to do his nufriend skittermander....I could pull out my level 2 biohacker skittermander to have an all skittermander low level party...not certain how that will go, but hey...I am willing to roll with it.

Though she is 100% GM credit, so I have yet to really solidify her character concept...just have her drawn up on (virtual) paper.

Ok, the decision has been made I will create lvl 1 skittermander for that story. I would hope to join other furry 6-hand PC's :D

Ohh...I want an all skittermander party. We all can be so helpful!

Though Shifty might want to kill the party just because of that ;-)