[SFS_Aerondor] OS#02- The Great Grav-Train Robbery. (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

“Damn! I was sure y’all were gonna cash in back there. That’s on me for doubting ya, I guess. Listen, I reckon ya ain’t got long before that train pulls into Steepshore, and that oughta be more than enough time for Ixo to throw together one helluva welcome wagon. If ya could handle that last hullabaloo, though, I suppose ya could still wriggle outta this.

“So listen up. I know a spot about a mile outside the station where I can set down and wait for ya; I’ll send ya the coordinates. Ya make it out there alive, and we might still pull this thing off. It ain’t gonna be easy, but I’ll do what I can. Ya still in the cargocar? Tell me what yer thinkin’, and I’ll check the manifest and see if any o’ them crates has anything useful inside.”

Time to think about what your strategy should be. There are a few defaults that you could adapt, but I'll let you have a bit of a chat about it yourselves first.

That was Arda speaking not Royce making an offer right?

Yeap. Royce is hiding in a storage locker at the back of the carriage at the moment...

Your problem is the train is very much alerted to problems and there is likely to be a reception committee waiting at the station for you to get through.

Sorry, missed this last night and long day

Yeah, things've gone a little sideways A Aramesh says as they look around the room - now with multiple extra bodies and a deceased giant eel Really though, who was shipping that???

Looking around, the spathinae peers at the car's walls. You're out there, can get a better read. How fast is this thing going right now? If we - a nod to Kevan - could get to ceiling, or even the car side door if there is one, open as soon as we clear the tunnel, might be able to toss the loot out and book it before we reach the station. With a head start could we get to you before they realize the jig's up?

They look towards the container Royce is cowering in and move some other crates in front of it to block the door. We'll have a nice fall guy too as the icing.

Given we're not exactly the least conspicuous bunch, Aramesh is trying to think of a way to hide/flee quickly. You said there was a manifest of what is in the car with us?

"The map has the tunnel ending at Steepshore station. You have about ten minutes until you get there. If you could get out of that station... let me have a look at the manifest..."

“Just gonna burn breeze, eh? Honestly, probably the best idea. If I know Ixo, they’ll bring out the big guns for something like this. I think I seen somethin’ on the manifest about a buncha vehicles in one o’ them containers. Let’s get that open and see if we can light on somethin’ speedy enough to get ya outta there in one piece.”

There are other options for you if you wanted to try and fight your way out, or bluff your way out... Though given your performance in the two fights to date, fighting might not be ideal...Of course you might want to try something outside the box as well, which would be up to you.

Elena whispers. "Let's look into the vehicles. Feed them Royce as a distraction."

I'll wait for others to chime in here about your escape plan as well. Given the length of the tunnel, if you want to take ten, you do have the opportunity to do so before ... A Light At The End Of The Tunnel (which may or maynot be an oncoming dragon).

"What if we don't stop at the station? What if we take over the train and keep it going beyond the station and get picked up on the other side?" Barat suggests.

"We could take the engine."

GM: Are we in front of the VIP car or behind it?
Other Players: Would it be easier to fight our way forward than to fight our way out of the station?

The train has a lot of security on it. But if you wanted to try and take over the train, I can wing that approach. 1=in front of VIP carriage where are you: 1d2 ⇒ 2 So you would need to get past the VIP carriage somehow if you wanted to take over the engine of the train.

If there's jetpacks on board, we could just open the roof and fly out.

If there's jetpacks on board, we could just open the roof and fly out.

You able to carry the haul with you? Aramesh asks the bear. Happy with the jet-out - once we've left the tunnels of course - but we've come to far to leave empty.

No jet packs but...

Arda quickly checks the manifest. "Crate 22 has some auto-packed hover-cruisers. You could get them open in the car and go through the roof..." is the suggestion.

"Remember, the station is an enclosed space with lots of people, so take care."

There are four cars, so you could each take one, or the better drivers could take passengers. Kevan is going to find it a squeeze but he can make it.

New slide #2 for you
Put your icons next to the vehicle you want to be in and we'll see if you can escape.

pilot: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"Those things are built for speed and worth a lot of credits. If you can pilot worth a damn then hop into one and get ready. Otherwise jump in with me."

Elana hops into one. How many passengers per car?

Well.... Kevan is big. I'd suggest he would have to squeeze, but could get crammed into the back seat of it. It'd be a tough run getting all of you in the one car though.

Barat doesn't have a lot of skill with driving, but some. With the crate and Kevan and everyone else, he figures riding in one car would be a very tight squeeze.

He'll get next to one of the driver's seat but look to Aramesh and Kevan questioningly.

Just got a +3 in Piloting.

Kevan, you can hop in with me. We may not be as good a racer as Elana but we're able to shift around yu for a better fit.

+8 to Piloting. If we're taking two cars, I think Elana and I are the drivers.

You slip into two of the hovercars. One backseat has Kevan, the other has your loot!

How confident is everyone with vehicle chases in SF?

Also if everyone really hates vehicle chases (I know there were some pretty strong views about chase scenes in PF1.. let me know and we can take an alternative escape or simplify the chase a bit

Elana is small and can share a square with allies without penalty. So if it matters Kevan fits better with her.

How confident is everyone with vehicle chases in SF?

Also if everyone really hates vehicle chases (I know there were some pretty strong views about chase scenes in PF1.. let me know and we can take an alternative escape or simplify the chase a bit

I've done a couple so I'm no expert. I didn't mind them so I don't feel the need to skip it. Unless I'm not remembering correctly, the Starfinder system is much better than the PF1 system.

+6 to piloting

It's ..... probably more logical if I'm with Elana Kevan replies. Mass .. velocity, inertia, momentum ... the math doesn't lie.

If their fine with it, works. Aramesh says even as they are heading to power on one of the cars. Barat, hop in. And charge up that laser - might be bumpy between here and the rendezvous.

Let's race/chase!

Barat takes up the shot gun position. Or, more accurately, the shoulder laser seat next to Aramesh.

"Who's going to open the roof?"

Oh yeah .... the roof Kevan says. He goes to take care of that little detail. Be ready for a drop in pressure.

Were you taking a ten minute break? You had time.

And while you are confirming if any of you wanted that ten minute break to get stamina back, can your pilots let me know what you want to do as your initial pilot actions

Details of your cars are on slide 3 - perhaps most importantly your vehicle level is 6

Also your initial pilot checks to get our of your start zone are at a -1 penalty due to obstacles in and around the cargo car.

Elena's stamina is at max so she will check out the cars while the others rest. Presumably 10 minutes is not enough time to upgrade them in any way.

Once everyone is strapped in. "Hang on!"

Double Maneuver.

pilot check to Speed Up DC 17 +6: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 2 - 4 - 1 = 29
pilot check to Evade DC 10 +6: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 2 - 4 - 1 = 17

Get ready to blast: we're gonna draw some eyes. Aramesh says to Barat as they maneuver the Hallajin out of car and see how fast it can get to top speed.

Speed Up
Piloting v DC 23: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 12

The grav-train hums to a stop, and the darkness of the tunnel is abruptly replaced by the bright interior lights of the Steepshore train terminal. Under normal circumstances, this platform would be swarming with passengers waiting to board and laborers waiting to unload cargo. It would also have far fewer security barriers and sniper nests.

A bullhorn-amplified voice announces: “Steepshore! End of the line. To most of our esteemed guests, we would like to extend our warmest greetings. To the scum in 67C: you are surrounded, outgunned, and outnumbered. Disembark now with any and all appendages in the air, and we might go easy on you. You have ten seconds before we open fire. Ten...”

<<<<<<<<VVVVVVVVVVVVVRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM>>>>

Two (one somewhat overloaded) bright red 268 redshift Hallajin hovercars burst from the open roof of car 67C!

LNA is well prepared and quickly boots it off the carriage and onto the boarding platform in a squeal of hover-jets and a plume of smoke. Aramesh is a second behind, having a hard time seeing through the 'smokescreen' that LNA leaves in their wake.

A sniper takes a shot at Aramesh
stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35
attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
P damage: 1d20 + 6 + 3d8 ⇒ (15) + 6 + (6, 4, 1) = 32

Meanwhile, further ahead LNA's car (obviously unhampered by the large form of Kevan in the back) is targetted by a security robot.
attack vs EAC advanced plasma bolter : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
E/f damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 8) + 5 = 16

Finally a set of hovercyles appear on the boarding platform, trying to cut off Aramesh!

You can all make attacks if you wish, or we cna just proceed to the next round.

[url]https://aonsrd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=176]Vehicle combat reminder[/url]
Status: Combat (if you wish) or Pilot phases
LNA 16 damage
Aramesh 32 damage

Kevan has no compunctions about shooting robots - assuming he can hit them

skipshot pistol: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
piercing: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9

%&^$(%&#%

Aramesh takes a shot at the driver of one of the enercycles in their way, trying to get them to move as he continues to try and get the car in gear.
Attack green Enercycle pilot's EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 for Fire daamge: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

Piloting: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 11

Barat...we may not be making it out of here.

Ah. With attack bonuses like that there isn't much point in evading. Will try a double maneuver again.

"Don't waste time making them mad, Just hang on to something."

Speed Up DC 17 +6: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 - 4 = 20
try Speed Up again: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 16 + 2 - 4 = 33

I'll take the rest.

Barat makes no comment on the driving as Aramesh grinds the gears and lurches out of the train car. He does dive in the path of the incoming sniper shot.

If allowed I'll use my Bodyguard feat (as a reaction) and In Harm's Way feat to take the damage from the shot at Aramesh. (and will continue to do so against any other attacks as long as I can.)

He pays little mind to the stationary emplacements. With any luck, they'll be beyond their range soon enough.

Instead, he fires at one of the enercycle pilots.

azimuth shoulder laser: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Fire: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

@Aramesh To just advance a single square you don't need a pilot check, though you could use it to evade for example. Speed up gives you an extra speed boost, but at the risk of ... well.. not advancing at all. What did you want to use your pilot check for?

Lna continues to speed away, while Barat fires at one of the cycles, winging the pilot.

You could use bodyguard/in harms way against attacks on LNA, who is in the same car, but not Aramesh.

I think the cars are LNA-Kevan and Aramesh-Barat. Although, I'm not sure who ended up with the crate.

Swapped, in which case, Barat can take the hit for Amaresh.

I'm fairly sure Barat and Aramesh have the crate

Which ever Kevan is not in really, as he is so big.

@Aramesh To just advance a single square you don't need a pilot check, though you could use it to evade for example. Speed up gives you an extra speed boost, but at the risk of ... well.. not advancing at all. What did you want to use your pilot check for?

Lna continues to speed away, while Barat fires at one of the cycles, winging the pilot.

You could use bodyguard/in harms way against attacks on LNA, who is in the same car, but not Aramesh.

That second time I was trying to just keep pace - which with that roll still failed by 5.

Aramesh coughs in the smoke left behind by LNA, as the snipers continue to pepper the car.
stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
sniper: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3d8 ⇒ (9) + 6 + (4, 3, 8) = 30

In harms way again?

Meanwhile the three hover cycles set off in hot pursuit of the lead car..
speed up! DC20: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 2 = 18
keep pace DC13: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6
keep pace DC13: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 2 = 5

But they are all tangled up in the security barricades at the station.

LNA continues to zoon ahead into the grand vestibule. There are lots of large pillars in here and the crowds have not vanished yet. If you wanted to try driving up the down-escalator you might have a clear shot... but that would make it a little harder to escape.

Pilot phase again
Status: Combat (if you wish) or Pilot phases
LNA 16 damage
Barat 32 damage
Aramash/Barat 30 damage

I think Speed Up gets us clear this turn so will just do that.

"Almost free."

pilot check to speed up DC 17 +6: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 2 = 30

Yes, Barat will take that hit, as well.

"This guy has a good eye," he comments as he narrowly blocks another shot directed at Aramesh.

Still, the cycles, tangled up as they are, are the most persistent threat and he takes another shot at one of them.

azimuth shoulder laser: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Fire: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

With a final burst of speed, LNA's brilliant red hover-car bursts out of the station, through the station square and out into the desert beyond... in hopeful search of Arda.

Having successfully covered the exit of his companions, can Aramest and Barat join them in their desperate escape?

Status: Pilot phase for Aramesh
Barat: 62 damage

We'll see.

Guess they do Aramesh winces as a shot directly towards them is again narrowly directed by Barat. Look if...if we can't get us out of here quickly, we might be able to at least go down enough for you to hop off and hide. we put this together: exit start going sideways is on us too then.

Piloting to keep pace v DC 16: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 24

Finally the stolen vehicle manages to at least lurch fully out of the car as the spathinae takes another shot at the rider of the same cycle they and Barat had been focusing on.

Attack v EAC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 for Fire: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

With Aramesh on the platform, he now finds lots of barriers - put up specifically to try and hamper his movement.

On the plus side, the snipers nests don't have a bead on the car now. On the minus... there is a large security robot that tries to take a shot.

plasma bolter: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
E/F damage: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 = 10 Barat? Going to take this one too?

The three hovercycles to to clear the area to cut you off.

cycle one, keep pace DC13: 1d20 ⇒ 14
cycle two, keep pace DC13: 1d20 ⇒ 12
cycle three, keep pace DC13: 1d20 ⇒ 4

One of the bikes cuts ahead of you.

The other two try to smash into your car.
attack vs KAC17: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
attack vs KAC17: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

However neither of the drivers seems willing to fully commit their bikes to the tactic.

Status: Pilot phase for Aramesh
Aramesh
Barat: 62 damage May make a bonus attack if he wishes
+10 damage to aramesh/Barat.

Shouldn't we turn around and help them?

"Help them do what? I can't steer for them and we can't fight all of that security. We escape to Arda and hope they follow."

Piloting to Keep Pace: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 26

Aramesh perhaps? is gettgin the hang of this thing as they continue forwards around the barriers. They then realize something obvious, and look at the ijtikri next to them.

Hey, Barat. Just gotta say: You're awesome!

Inspiring Boost on Barat to recover 16 SP

Barat's only answer to Aramesh's offer of letting him out is a disbelieving scowl as though amazed and offended that they would even suggest it. The only way he's going to be getting out of this car is by tackling one of the cyclists.

A contemplative look comes to his face as he stares at one of them...but then he shakes his head.

He manages to get in the way of the bolt from the security robot, as well.

"Thanks," he answers. "You seem to be getting the hang of this car, too.

He keeps blazing away at the cyclists, regretting not looting the cargo car for a better weapon.

azimuth shoulder laser (free attack): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Fire: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

azimuth shoulder laser: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Fire: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

He's shooting at the same guy as much as possible. Not that it's doing much good...

Aramesh speeds onto the ticketing concourse. This area is crowded with people, the local 'authorities' obviously thinking you would never get this far. Or perhaps not caring about the people.

The closer cycle behind you ops to swerve through the dining concourse, taking a quicker route.

The cycles in your rear continue to rev in a menacing manner.
keep pace from boarding platform, need 13s: 2d20 ⇒ (8, 1) = 9
keep pace from main concourse, needs 9: 1d20 ⇒ 7

However the two bikes at the back smash into two of the security robots.
Too far behind, so fall out of the chase

The bike taking the "easy" route through the dining concourse aroses an angry patron who throws a plate of spaghetti into the drivers face. He loses speed to clear out his visor.

Barats shoulder laser proves effective at cooking on the pasta sauce, if not damaging the bike.

Status: Pilot phase for Aramesh
Aramesh
Barat: 56 damage. May attack if he wishes. Inspiring words heard.

Keep Pace (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 22

All right...slow and steady...