DebugAMP's SFS 4-01 - Intro to the Year of the Data Scourge (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

Antares accepts whatever help is given without comment. She has determined that if the controls aren't overridden in the next few moments, the odds favor an immediate catastrophic event...

Computers Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Eh.... better anyway...

@Antares: I believe there was a spoiler earlier for the Computers check at DC 18, so I think you made it!

popper holds his hands up and makes cooing noises. He doesn't actually speak--it's a painful process and he doesn't think it'll help anyway--but at least he's not broadcasting telepathically into everyone's brains and freaking them out anymore.

Antares types in the default password for the transit system computers and quickly unlocks the controls!

Computers or engineering to throw the e-brake!

Off the starting line Kaladyne takes hold of the controls and drives them back doing her best to bring the transit to a halt!

Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

I had assumed that pulling out the appropriate kit would count as an action, so that's why I didn't roll for it in round 3. Was that incorrect?

Twila-5 was just about to attempt to override the lock, but a jerk from the train threw her back long enough for Antares-1 to step up and take control. Between their efficacy and Kaladyne's readiness, it looks like things might be under control. Maybe? She peeks around Kaladyne's shoulder to see if there's anything she can do to help.

Engineering to aid Kaladyne: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Haldir throws himself to the floor in terror, awaiting the crash.

The train shudders and screeches as the e-brake is thrown. It grinds to a halt, leaving everyone shaken, but more or less uninjured. The iconic landscape of Absalom Station’s byways, which range from the cramped metal corridors below to wide alleys and streets here at the surface level, has drastically shifted. Plumes of smoke curl into the manufactured air, billowing up from vehicular wrecks and the smashed remains of glitching machines. Residents gather in uneasy crowds, barely speaking to one another, all frantically checking their comm units to no avail. Lone figures shuffle down the streets in a state of panic or shock.

A deserted train station provides a haven from the surrounding chaos, sprawling beside the winding metal tracks. Abandoned benches and flickering vending machines are the area’s sole occupants. Here, a gentle breeze ruffles the leaves of the trees shading the square. This hidden place offers a brief glimpse of normalcy.

The sloping Eye of the Station rises in the distance. A metal blast shield stutters as it struggles to close over the glass dome, its erratic movements an obvious sign that it, too, is malfunctioning.

Maps and Handouts updated and linked. Go ahead and place yourselves on the map. I went ahead and pasted in icons for each of you. Pinkie, feel free to change yours.

survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Pinkiee has absolutely no idea where they are.

Survival Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Antares finds herself uncertain of how to proceed, unable to get her bearings...

Haldir looks around to see where they are.

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

He realises they are at an intersection a few blocks east of the AbadarCorp-sponsored Freemarkets.

"Well, from here, we are just near the Freemarkets, let's head over there! Maybe someone can tell us what's going on!"

In the middle of his calming noises, the back-facing shirren is jostled forward hard by the sudden stop, landing on his butt.

Ow. He almost complains, then realizes he just fell down instead of flying forward into the front of the train and literally becoming a bug on a windshield. We're alive! Huzzah!

---

Once they enter the train station, he wrings his appendages uncertainly. When Haldir announces where they are, Popper shrugs, antennae twitching anxiously. Good idea as any, yes? Pinkiee, care to lead the way? Popper stays somewhere in the middle of the group's formation, ready to throw out a healing spell or crush a brain, as the case warrants. He does not draw his laser pistol yet, however. He doesn't want to present himself as an armed threat unless someone (or something) threatens first. People are panicked enough without armed strangers roaming about.

Survival DC 12: 1d20 ⇒ 3

"I guess we'll take your word for it, Haldir. Good thing you're familiar with this part of Absalom. Lead on." She checks that her weapons are still at her hips, and is about to draw them. It is at this point that she notices that no one else has their weapon drawn. Why is that? After processing what data she knows, she comes to the conclusion that walking about with weapons drawn would surely become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Ah. Fair enough. Relaxing her hands, she follows Haldir, keeping her eyes peeled for trouble.

1d20 ⇒ 5
+6 for Perception or -1 for Sense Motive, whichever works best

As Popper turns to Pinkie, he catches the sound of several robots in the area letting tools clatter to the ground. It seems as though the station's automated security staff is still present... and given the fact that they appear to be approaching with weapons aimed at the assembled starfinders, are also malfunctioning. Unfortunately, it appears as though Twila-5's instincts proved correct after all.

Round 1:
Haldir
Popper
Antares-1
Pinkie
Twila-5
Robots
Kaladyne

Pinkiee was busy marshalling people off the train and making sure children and parents are together.

He then takes the lead in case there are any more threats.

Seeing that the robots are becoming threatening he interposes himself between the robots and the others, preparing his assault hammer and riot shield.

Kaladyne helps some off the train, but once out among the confused crowds she joins them trying to connect through the comms and in contact with her contacts. That is enough to delay her reaction as the robotic security moves into position.

Engineering to identify: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Preemptive check for turn

Engineering Check to Identify: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Antares sees the incoming threats and focuses the energy that flows through her body and in the nearby environment. "Observer Class Security Robots, these have clearly been hijacked by whatever malicious code compromised the train. Let's take them down quickly, they have no weak points." Purple sparks flicker around her hands like errant fireflies and she ducks low, moving down the steps and along the chairs in the recessed picnic area. Reaching forth one hand, she tries to touch the nearest robot, intending to send a jolting surge through its circuits and hopefully rendering it inoperable.

Cast Jolting Surge, then move 30' (SW, W, NW, NW, W) and touch the Yellow robot target. As the target is an electrical object, she gains an additional +2 to the attack roll. Got only one spoiler with that terrible roll - they are immune to critical hits.

Jolting Surge Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 2 = 16 vs 'Flatfooted'(?) EAC
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 1) = 14 electricity

That's an embarrassing error. That was supposed to say vulnerable to critical hits.

I think you only start flat-footed in PF1. According to the CRB, "combatants who are surprised at the start of battle have the flat-footed condition (see page 276)." That implies those who are not surprised are not flat-footed. Still, 16 is pretty darn good against EAC at low level, I think it's likely a hit. Not a bad start!

Popper sighs. He's mostly useless against robots. He draws his Azimouth laser pistol and moves toward the northern observer bot.

Draw weapon, move 15ft.

Pinky moves forward preparing himself for combat as Antares-1 opts to enter the fray full of energy. Quite literally in fact. With an incantation and a sucker punch, one of the robots explodes. Apparently electricity is super effective!

Popper draws his weapon and advances towards the remaining robots.

Haldir doesn't know one end of a wrench from another.

Haldir will Graviton Attune and form a Ranged Weapon in the form of a Needle into his hand and will aim at Red

Solar Flare vs Red EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Haldir deals 2 Cold and 1 Electrical if it hits as a tiny needle fires and burrows itself into the Robot.

Thanks Popper! Still getting reacquainted with SF rules. :) And no worries GM, heavy with weak points it is!

No problem! I totally understand the pain, I have like six different systems floating around in my noggin right now, and it's the ones that are very similar (eg, PF1/PF2/SF) that are the hardest to keep separate!

Engineering DC 6: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
I opened the only Offense spoiler.

"They likely have pulsecaster pistols and stickybomb grenades. Spread out so they're less effective!" Following her own advice, she peels off to the right a ways and draws her azimuth laser pistol.

Pity she can't draw her weapon on the run yet.

The nearest robot suffers a minor wound from Haldir, and ascends into the air to jet over the desks as it moves forward. It fires off a stickybomb, covering most of the party in a viscous goo.

Red vs AC 5: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Kaladyne, Popper, Haldir, and Pinky - Reflex DC 14 vs Entangled

The second advances and fires off a shot at Pinky.

Green vs Pinkey EAC, 2nd inc: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 18
Damage (E, Nonlethal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Round 1:
Kaladyne (Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Round 2:
Haldir (Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Popper (Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Antares-1
Pinkie (-2, Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Twila-5
Robots (R -4)

Ref Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Popper yelps and ducks as the weird goop flies over his head. He puffs out a relieved breath and fires twice at the nearest robot.

Laser Pistol vs Red EAC: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3
F Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Laser Pistol vs Red EAC: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3
F Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Wow. That's awful.

Antares continues to move past the now-defunct robot, staying low to utilize whatever cover is available as she draws her arc pistol and fires at the nearest target. "I believe that these robots are more easily damaged by electric currents." The android calmly advises the others, though she notes that due to observation and not with any particular insight as to the weaknesses of robots in general. Still, it does make sense...

Move 30' (assuming those stairs are difficult terrain going up?) and try to use the railing as cover if possible. Draw pistol while moving (+1 BAB) and fire off a shot at Green robot.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 vs Green robot's EAC
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 electricity

My warning was too slow. Shoving her frustration at the group's predicament aside, as it serves no useful purpose at this time, Twila-5 aims her pistol at the nearest security robot (red).

Azimuth laser pistol: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d4 ⇒ 3

...That was ineffective. Twila-5 spends the next several seconds analyzing her poor aim so that hopefully she doesn't repeat that error.

ref: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Pinkiee manages to avoid getting entangled in the sticky stuff as he pronks over to Red, getting between it and Popper before trying to hit it with the assault hammer.

hammer: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Twila-5, Popper, and Antares-5 fire off a barrage of energy bolts split between the incoming security robots.

DESTROY... ALL... INTRUDERS...<BZZZZT>

Their vocalizations are clearly compromised, and the shot from Antares-5 sure isn't helping it any. Pinky closes in and batters the armor of one robot, causing a small shower of sparks.

Round 1:
Kaladyne (Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Round 2:
Haldir (Ref DC 14 vs Entangled)
Popper
Antares-1
Pinkie (-2)
Twila-5
Robots (R -8, G -4)

Reflex vs Entangle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Opened Defenses with knowledge check

"Standard models. Pretty bland robots if you ask me, but they aren't here to win a show. Preprogrammed constructs, attached to their weapons, and quick to move in a pinch. Should be easy work this out around them."

Looking the advice of allies, Kaladyne holds her position as she draws pistol and fires at the farther of the two robots.

Static Arc Pistol, 2nd Range increment: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 2 = 15
Electricity: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Draw static arc pistol. Fire static arc pistol at Green

Reflex vs Entangled: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Haldir is very fast with his reflexes and avoids the situation.

He then looks straight ahead, fires up his Graviton Mote a bit more and fires his Needle.

Solar Flare vs Red EAC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

He fires a Needle. Hoping to hit Red.

Kaladyne fires off a shot, however between the long range and passanger seating obstructing the shot, the verthani isn't able to do much more than a glancing blow. Haldir keeps the pressure on the nearby robot, continuing to chip away at its armored exterior as he advances. The heavily damaged robot begins to slam down on Pinkie as it sputters glitching commands. LAY DOWN YOUR SURRENDER YOU SHALL ARRESTED BE <BZZZZTTTT>

Slam x2 vs Pinkie KAC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 4 = 211d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 4 = 5 1 hit
Damage (B): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The second robot advances and fires off a shot at Antares-1.

Pulsecaster vs Antares-1 EAC 13: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Miss

Round 2:
Kaladyne
Round 3:
Haldir
Popper
Antares-1
Pinkie (-8)
Twila-5
Robots (R -13, G -4)

Shots not landing Kaladyne falls back to join with the group fighting the crimson robot. "I would be normally fine following orders, but for my health and safety I'm going to need to cut you off."

She fires off a shot at the robot's lower body in an attempt to knock down the glitching mechanism.

Attack against red
Stunt And Strike - Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 If this beats DC 20+CR, target is flat-footed against this attack
Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Electricity: 1d6 ⇒ 6
If both skill check and attack succeed, target makes a DC 13 Reflex save or falls prone

Full Round Action: Stunt and Strike to move and attack with knock down stunt

Pinkiee attempts to full attack the robot
hammer: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 = 13 damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
hammer: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 = 13 damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Pinkie swings wildly and fails to strike the security robot which appears to be well versed in melee combat. Kaladyne however lands a well placed shot that causes it's head to emit a shower of sparks, then collapse.

Round 2:
Kaladyne
Round 3:
Haldir
Popper
Antares-1
Pinkie (-8)
Twila-5
Green Robot (-4)

Haldir will line Green up and attempt to full round attack with his Solar Flare.

He fires 2 darkness needles from his Solar Flare

Attack 1
Solar Flare vs Green EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 4 = 20
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Attack 2
Solar Flare vs Green EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 4 = 6
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Antares briefly considers using another jolting surge of energy to end this quickly, but then decides to conserve the effort required. This is shaping up to be a long night. She instead takes aim again and fires.

Static Arc Pistol: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 vs Green robot's EAC
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 electricity

Twila-5 shouts a warning to her team: "We're bunching up! Spread out!" Stooping as low as she can, she dashes up to Pinkie and attempts to break the robot's line of sight on her by hiding behind the Morlamaw for a moment before breaking away to create some space between them before taking a shot at the green robot.

Trick Attack (Stealth): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
DC = 20 + Target’s CR

Azimuth laser pistol (F): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d4 ⇒ 4

Haladir, Twila-5, and Antares-1 fire another barrage of small arms fire, peppering it's armored shell. One of Haladir's shots however seems to have left a mark.

Round 2:
Kaladyne
Round 3:
Haldir
Popper
Antares-1
Pinkie (-8)
Twila-5
Green Robot (-9)

Sorry for the delay! Out of town and my laptop is packed, so posting from my phone.

Popper, unsure what else to do, pops off two more shots at the robot whose not blocked by the giant pink fellow.

Laser Pistol vs Green: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 4 = -1
F Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Laser Pistol vs Green: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 4 = 7
F Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Popper makes short work of a few ornamental plants as the final robot trains it's integrated laser on Antares-5 and fires off a short burst.

Attack x2 vs Antares EAC 13: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 = 191d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 4 = 25 Ouch
Damage 1 (E, NL): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage 2 (E, NL): 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

The first shot strikes Antares-5's flank, causing her to seize up for long enough for the robot to line up a clean shot to the chest.

Round 3/4:
Kaladyne
Haldir
Popper
Antares-1 (-12 SP, -1 HP)
Pinkie (-8)
Twila-5
Green Robot (-9)

"I almost rather see it firing off the grenades than be here for it to fire off another pair of those shots." With one robot down Kaladyne returns her attention to the remaining one. "At least then it would feel like an obstacle course rather than this unscheduled chaos."

She takes another shot trying to bring the sentry down quickly.

Attack against green
Stunt And Strike - Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 If this beats DC 20+CR, target is flat-footed against this attack
Static Arc Pistol - Attack vs EAC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
If both skill check and attack succeed, target makes a DC 13 Reflex save or falls prone

Full Round Action: Stunt and Strike to move and attack with knock down stunt

Haldir will try the same again as neither of us have moved.

Full round attack with his Solar Flare on Green.

He fires 2 darkness needles from his Solar Flare

Attack 1:
Solar Flare vs Green EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 4 = 21
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Crit Damage: Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Total: 2 Cold and 2 Electrical

Attack 2:
Solar Flare vs Green EAC: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 4 = 21
Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Crit Damage: Cold Damage + 1 Electrical Damage (from Solarian Crystal): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Total: 5 Cold and 2 Electrical

Crit is Staggered, but Robots are immune to it.
DOUBLE CRIT BABY!

Kaladyne struggles to keep her aim true while maintaining her momentum, but it proves a moot point as Haldir carefully puts one shot in each eye. Smoke pours out of the chassis as it slumps over, then slowly smoulders as it becomes a pile of slag.

Combat over! What do you wish to do? You have a rough idea where you are, but not much of an idea about how to navigate these tunnels.

Antares feels the first shot taker her in the right side, and she staggers back a step or two - enough for the next blast to take her full in the chest! She decides quickly that she must summon the energy to hopefully bring this thing down quickly as she did the first one, when the laser fire from her allies brings the robot down for good.

Gripping the rail in front of her, the android attempts to ascertain how badly damaged she is...

Ouch! Any healing available? So I think those attacks dropped my Stamina to 0 and I've lost 1 HP (but again, it's been awhile, so correct me if I'm wrong on that!) Also, if I recall correctly, the Mending cantrip isn't effective for androids - as they aren't pure constructs. Let me know if I'm mistaken though, as I can cast that cantrip.

I do have a mk 1 serum of healing that can heal the 1 HP of damage to Antares if she wants it. I don't have an option to fix the Stamina aside a brief rest though.

"If comms are out, then we out of contact with anyone that can help us out if this." Kaladyne readies a knife as she keeps an eye out for yet more automated assailants. She looks toward Haldir as she comments, "you mentioned the Freemarkets are near here? You probably were right, if we find our way there, we might find a few more answers. Maybe a way to find others to coordinate alongside."

"Let's get to a defensible position and rest a bit. Hopefully that will give the authorities time to disable this virus. The less we're out in the open until then, the better." Twila-5 begins glancing around for a secluded, non-death-trap spot to rest.

Mending targets one object of up to 1 bulk. Neither androids nor pure constructs are considered objects, so far as I'm aware, and the bulk limit precludes androids anyway.

Before we go anywhere, I think we should rest for a minute. Antares took a nasty hit.

I think we should take 10 minutes so Antares can spend 1 RP and get Stamina back. That was a brutal one-two punch!

@Antares: I can use Healing Touch but it takes 10 minutes and I can only do it once per day, so I won't have it if someone takes a bigger hit. I can, however, do mystic cure. I feel like that would be better than using up a consumable since my spells are a replenishing resource, but if you'd rather use the serum that's fine.

Let me know if you take the spell. The minimum healing will heal your hp to full so no need to roll.

Could Pinkiee have used hid Bodyguard ability to block some of that damage to Antares

Pinky was not adjacent for bodyguard.

Kaladyne looks around to try to find a path to the surface or through the maintenance hatches but it seems to be quite a maze. (Survival or Profession (Tour guide) or similar would help. Anyone who has Absalom Station marked as their home world, or has played in the Commencement, The First Trial, or another scenario that takes place wholly on Absalom station gets +1 to this check)

Twila searches for a defensible position and notes a couple things. First off, the ticket counter has a set of nearby vending machines containing useful supplies for long trips. Given the present circumstances, raiding it would not be an issue.

The vending machines have a basic medkit, two mk 1 nanite patches, two mk 1 serums of healing, and a scientist serum of enhancement.

Additionally, one of the other track lines has a train that doesn't appear to be damaged unlike your own. Whether or not it's also bee hijacked is anyone's guess, but you could probably get it operational (Engineering or Computers). Either way, either position would be defensible for a short rest. The map display which would give you a clear idea how to get to the Freemarkets all appear to be shut off, but they could likely be rebooted with some effort (Computers or Engineering).