[SF] Fly Free or Die AP - GM Ewok

Game Master EwokBanshee

Why, we proved you can go through an entire AP almost completely ignoring mysticism and life science :)

(I'll be putting ranks in mysticism and both sciences, but mysticism won't be my best stat bonus)

I've got Mysticism as well, but it's not going to be my best skill either.

Testing out my character profile!

Looks great, Meloriel!

It can be tough to keep up with Information checks at high levels, but it's always nice to have someone who can throw a dice out there. Those identify creature rolls become real handy at the levels where everything has four special abilities.

On that note, how do you handle information gained from a successful check?

PbP can be cumbersome in the back-and-forth.

In the past I've had luck with players stating ahead of time what information is important to them, like "Special Defenses first, Special Attacks second, Special Abilities third", but I also tried spoilering information into a handful of blocks that the players could pick from as they all attempted checks.

That second method definitely requires more prep, though. Because you're always posting everything, when nobody might even succeed. But it really increased the speed at which information got out.

Nefreet, absolutely, those are great recommendations!

When I have parties that tend to Identify Creatures (some parties just aren't into that, which is fine) I will include a spoiler in the first Combat post with the basic creature info you would get in a bare success. Then I ask that folks who beat the DC by x amount ask for the additional info they're looking for.

That method is nice because it's easy, let's folks roll their own, and they can adjust what they want based on the basic description. That being said, it means some important information doesn't come out till Round 2... To avoid this, some groups have requested I roll their knowledge checks for them at the beginning of combat (like I do with initiative). I'm fine with either way!

Alas, I haven't made the jump into PF2 yet! (Just finished reading through the rulebook actually, I'm real behind the curve.) Sounds fun, though!

Well, if you want, I suppose you could jump in after we finish Bounty #12. Middle of August sometime. You'd always be 1 level behind them, but I suppose that wouldn't actually matter for anything. And it would get you to Level 4.

I'll be starting off with Absalom Initiation (#1-01; the first Introductory Scenario), and then moving on to the Season 3 Intros, which are all Repeatable.

Your game and my game are the only two PbP I'll be involved in, so I can keep my attention focused.

Okay, here is PaleDim's no-bull Nuar. A bombard soldier who should provide some fun with grenades and heavy weapons.

I have not bought his equipment yet, and languages and skills are still open for adjustment (once everybody is done and we do some cross-checking). I have a rough feat plan though (that involves powered armor).

Also, it could be fun to explore Maze Cores at some point.

I have bought his equipment now. At the outset he'll be relying on his salvaged grenade as I opted to maximize the non-consumable gear with initial funds.

Reminder that I'm away from Aug 1-12, so I won't be able to participate in any final pre-game conversation happening then :)

So, if there is major/rework style feedback on the character, log it with me earlier this week :)

(I know people don't really like to stomp on each others' characters, so I suspect this would just be language/skill coverage discussion).

Well, if you want, I suppose you could jump in after we finish Bounty #12. Middle of August sometime. You'd always be 1 level behind them, but I suppose that wouldn't actually matter for anything. And it would get you to Level 4.

...

I'm in! I'll DM you details.

I love Jaraduk! Looks fantastic. Your choice of Bombard might make Cellion's choice easier too.

Yep, I think this is clear enough direction that I should go melee to keep all these foes off you guys :)

Expect a vanguard coming up soon!

I'm excited for you ^_^

I love my SFS Vanguard and look forward to seeing yours in action.

Str-based? Or Dex?

Dex based. I have a level 2 Str based vanguard in SFS and he just doesn't get to starship combat, at all. So I figured I'll try dex this time round.

This is a great time to mention that I will be offline July 31st through August 8th. I'm going to aim for a August 16th start for us, with a soft start on August 9th for roleplaying between crewmembers.

I'm excited to see your Vanguard, Cellion! I haven't seen a Vanguard or a Witchwarper play yet, should be fun.

With that, we have our 6 classes! Looks like a Vanguard in melee with everybody else in Range?

For starship combat I'm seeing...
Pilot- Del
Captain- Guess?
Engineer- Strek
Science Officer- Remnar's Technomancer
Gunner- Jaraduk
Gunner- Cellion's Vanguard

Does that look right?

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GM Notes for later...
Players: Nefreet / PaleDim / BigBoom / Remnar / Meloriel / Cellion
Backgrounds: Terraformer / New Hire / Old Hand / Union Busted / Kalistocrat Childhood / Golden Parachute

Looks right to me.

Yep, I'll get my guy started up and a profile up ... soon. Excited to see a Witchwarper and Vanguard, I was thiiiiiiis close to trying a biohacker just because it sounded cool,

GM Ewok: Yep, that list looks right to me as well!

Everyone: I've also barely seen vanguards, witchwarpers or biohackers so I'm looking forward to see a couple of those in action as well!

Out of curiosity... Is anyone else also considering picking up the free trader archetype? (Which, admittedly, doesn't really come into play until level 2...)

Oh I thought you were. Strek is going with Powered Armor Jockey.

EDIT: "anyone", "else", "also"... note to self: finish coffee before replying to posts.

Don't you mean finishing off a can from your twelve pack case of caffeinated pop (aka Intoxicant, Minor)???

;-)

Pop costs credits. EJ still at least keeps coffee brewing in the break room.

Looks like Free Trader could use somebody who is better in the face skills.

Out of curiosity... Is anyone else also considering picking up the free trader archetype? (Which, admittedly, doesn't really come into play until level 2...)

All I'll say is... that is a very fitting archetype for this AP. :)

Yeah I'm a total believer in using options suggested by the Player Guide after playing a Phrenic Adept through Attack of the Swarm.

Alright, y'all! I'm about to head out on a trip for the next week so I'll be AFK for a while. I'll be back August 9th with a soft intro post to get us all roleplaying and into the groove of things. Then we'll start with the storyline on August 16th!

Between now and then, please finalize your PbP character sheets on your profile. Make sure to include Botting instructions, just in case we need to keep your character moving during an absence.

Here we go! Say hello to Akh Xi, draconic android vanguard and marshmallow-eating paranoid goofball. Still need to iron out some details in the background, but otherwise I think I should be mostly ready to go.

Not really sure about my plan for the character at higher levels. Not many of the vanguard selectable options speak to me, so I might go looking for an archetype. Probably not Free Trader, as I have a CHA penalty.

@Ewok: Right now I'm planning on making up a Golden League family that Akh was servant to. Is there maybe a family that shows up in the AP that I could choose instead?

Strek loves marshmellows! We'll get along great ^_^

Wow, Xeno-Dragonkin gives Large AND Flight! That's a wild racial archetype. Sounds like a fun character, Cellion! Definitely give a good description of his appearance in your first post so I don't misrepresent him.

Akh Xi could have been a servant to one of two families, depending on if he had a good relationship with them or a bad one. (At this point I'm basing these families off one of two characters in Book 1, so you can fill in most of the details if you want.)

Good relationship
Akh Xi worked for years to the Jarzeed family, a drow family living on Apostae who were mid-level operatives in the Golden League. The matriarch was always kind to Akh, having found his looks entertaining. Besides, she quickly learned Akh was one of the few in the house who would always listen to her stories of centuries past. She would occasionally invite Akh into her presiding room to share a snack of marshmallows while she told stories of espionage, grand larceny, and subtle court machinations. While the work conditions and pay was fine, Akh could never have risen above his lowly station as xxx due to his gender and race. Akh was almost friends with one of the Matriarch's grandsons, Tause Jarzeed. They were never close, but did play games and discuss pop culture on occasion, in private. In fact it was Tause who introduced Akh to Sinjin as a way off Apostae. (Note: this could have happened a hundred years ago or closer to 10 years ago. Or anywhere in between.)

Bad relationship
Akh Xi worked for years to the Troyuul family, a drow family living on Apostae who were mid-level operatives in the Golden League. The matriarch was a devout racist, who hated androids. She only kept Akh around because she was trying to prove her loyalty to the noble who suggested she hire an android. (The noble, of course, knew of her feelings and was testing her.) Her grandchildren followed in the Matriarch's footsteps and were absolutely awful to Akh and the other non-drow servants. Akh had a terrible time working there but could not easily find employment elsewhere on Apostae. One day on a routine trip to the market he met Sinjin, who was in the middle of stealing the keys to a hover craft from a drow noble in a complicated scheme. Akh played a part in the scheme - whether knowingly or not - saving Sinjin from (no doubt) execution. Sinjin, feeling he owed the android, offered him employment and a trip off planet. (Note, this would have been over a hundred years ago so your character will be older.)

If anyone else wants some backstory ties to the AP, please let me know. I'm a lot more familiar with it now than the last time someone asked.

GM Notes for later...
Players: Nefreet / PaleDim / BigBoom / Remnar / Meloriel / Cellion
Backgrounds: Terraformer / New Hire / Old Hand / Union Busted / Kalistocrat Childhood / Golden Parachute

If anyone else wants some backstory ties to the AP, please let me know. I'm a lot more familiar with it now than the last time someone asked.

If there happens to be any Azlanti encounters, names or references it would definitely motivate Strek to avoid those ^_^

Hmm, those are really cool! Unfortunately, I've already got a whole background put together for Akh that I'm rather attached to. In essence:

I love those details for Akh! In that case, let's go with option #3, the Wrexuum family. This family of drow nobles is hungry for power, always conniving and ambitious for more power and acclaim within the social circles of Apostae. The family has always been on the lower rungs of the social ladder but the most recent generation was born with hands grasping for more. Always calculating, they began to grow tired of Akh's glitches. Though the mishaps had not caused a problem so far, some members of the family were privately worried that they would soon. Because of this, the family didn't search very hard when the family heirloom went missing.

Bad news for Strek (or good, I suppose) there are only passing references to the Azlanti Empire in this AP.

Lol, figured as much, since there's already an entire AP on them, and encounters in other APs.

I love those details for Akh! In that case, let's go with option #3, the Wrexuum family. This family of drow nobles is hungry for power, always conniving and ambitious for more power and acclaim within the social circles of Apostae. The family has always been on the lower rungs of the social ladder but the most recent generation was born with hands grasping for more. Always calculating, they began to grow tired of Akh's glitches. Though the mishaps had not caused a problem so far, some members of the family were privately worried that they would soon. Because of this, the family didn't search very hard when the family heirloom went missing.

Love it. Is there a particular family member from the most recent generation that would have interacted with Akh before he was shipped off to the Xun? (Or could I make one up?)

You can make one up! The person you make up will likely come into the AP at some point. Or at least be referenced.

Awesome!

I've updated Guess?'s profile with full character sheet details. I don't think I have anything left outstanding and am ready to go!

I'll get an alt up and posted tonight or early tomorrow. Been crazy busy but I've got him all created on my app, just gotta get the stuff typed out on the computer.

Ok, here's technomancer accountant Lars.

I'll get the history fully outlined and put up at some point and I've still got to determine what and which bonus languages he might have, I'm thinking if we've been together a while he'll probably know some of the languages of his crewmates if they speak them at all while on ship.

Just a quick heads up. It'll probably be about 24 hours before I have a chance to get my first post up. Will post sooner if I get a chance!

I should be able to get something together tonight

Awesome! There's definitely no rush. This week is a warm up, before jumping into the adventure.

Well that's good since I totally didn't have time tonight.

I mean I had time, but my 5 year old son convinced me I needed to hunt some big monsters on Monster Hunter World, a game he loves to watch me play.

So I did that instead.

But for these events it will matter who is asleep (and super unprepared) and who is at the helm to steer if necessary. So we need four people to be Pilots and to know when people want to sleep (Shifts 1, 2, or 4. The number matters less than how you schedule it. Don't want your front liners asleep at the same time probably...).

@GM Ewok, when you say the number matters less, do you mean the piloting skill matters less? Or the number of people concurrently sleeping during a shift matters less?

@Everyone, assuming piloting skill levels matter, our piloting modifiers are:

GM Ewok, any opportunity for the party (or Guess?) to have started wtih or arrange for some illicit cargo to be smuggled to Castrovel?

Or perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself...

Ah, the numbers matter less in that Shift 1 and Shift 3 are the same mechanically speaking. (I'm going to roll a D4 every time there's a "random" event in the Drift. If it's a combat, anyone sleeping will be caught unawares. If it's a starship thing, hopefully the Pilot on duty is decent at Piloting.) It won't make or break you no matter what you do. Just maybe provide a slight bonus or hindrance for whatever event is happening. Also, Del will be the Primary pilot. So anything you can see coming, starship combats, or Drift navigation will be done by her. It's just that initial surprise moment that will be handled by the pilot on duty. That will give everyone time to get to stations!

Thanks for the list, Guess? ! Does this piloting schedule seem fine?

Pilot
1 Del
2 Guess?
3 Jaraduk
4 Lars

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The party doesn't have any illicit cargo on board right now. Your party has definitely done their fair share of smuggling and/or buying a few extra crates at each stop that EJ doesn't know about for sale at the destination. The AP definitely gives you a few opportunities to do a little smuggling or independent trading on the side. Some of which it makes obvious, some of which are more subtle.

Can Akh be awake for the same shifts as Guess? to provide piloting "aid" rolls? That might help to make up for the so-so piloting skills we have on that shift.

That's a good idea! And I think as long as Del is not sleeping during shift 2, then she'll be able to quickly take over piloting from us amateurs!

Sounds good! How does this sound? (Leaving 3rd shift open for a community shift.)

Sleeping
1 Guess? & Akh
2 Jaraduk & Lars
3 -
4 Del & Strek