GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter 3: Sun Divers" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Round 6: Gunnery Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Jin & Tulgram: From what I understand, there's only one weapon that can be used in this position against the anomaly (the forward-facing chain cannons), and a particular weapon can't be fired twice in the same round. So one of you can shoot and the other will have to do something else.

Arrghhh!! I'll take it down!! Look! Tulgram seems absolutely in rage.

Chain Canon: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 3 = 1112d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4) = 30

Heck! It was easier with torpedoes!

I'm sorry, luck should have left me someday, but like any gambler, I believed that it would always be on the next bet.

Tulgram, maybe you should let Jin shoot instead. He's better at it. If your gun is out of ammunition, just take a step back or find something else to do, please.

I realize that Jin can't shoot this round since that gun has already been used, but for future rounds.

Jin stares at Tulgram, a single eyebrow raised.

There's actually no options left in this round, since Jin started as a gunner - even checked minor crew actions to make sure. Moving on!

Tulgram muttering something unintelligible and sets up on the computer the cannon he just fired so that it would be easier for Jin to shoot. (+1 to Jin's attack)

Preeemtive Piloting Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Increasingly incoherent lances of solar energy are easily avoided by the Sun Diver, but the evasive maneuvers make it hard for Tulgram to land a solid hit.

Nobody hit that round.

Round 7: Engineering Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

With the rampaging spores having reached peak spread, the anomaly's Gunnery systems are damaged further and now operate at -4.

"Whaddaya say, pards? Maybe we oughtta let it roam the range and lick its wounds while we mosey on?" asks Hopalong. "Or are ya frettin' it might come back rabid?"

Powering up those weapons!

engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

Good instinct Hop, but I am worried that if we let it limp off, it will come back and try to kill us on the way back. Do we have any information in our databanks that tells us that driving it off is enough? If that thing is sentient and trying to communicate with us, to ask for mercy or surrender or whatever, I'm more than willing to back down, but if it is mindless, then I think the best thing is to remove the danger.

Round 7: Helm Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Xylian: The anomaly has lost Initiative, and I've now taken it's turn (moving 8 hexes away in a straight line).

@Zharis: Hop reports there isn't any info about solar anomalies in the Sun Diver's info banks.

Zharis attempts another scan.

Computers: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + (4) + 1 = 24

Move 10 Hexes.

Tapping furiously on console buttons, Zharis manages to get a partial scan of the photonic anomaly!

You've uncovered the first two pieces of information about the ship. Further scans (if successful) will reveal additional information.

Basic Information: Living crew complement and ship classification (0 crew, living starship with the ooze and fire subtypes), size (Huge), speed (8), and maneuverability (special).

Defenses: AC (17), TL (17) , total and current Hull Points (total 205, current 116), total and current Shield Points in each quadrant (F15, P15, S0, A0), and core PCU value (150).

Round 7: Gunnery Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

Same sitch as last round--there's only one gunnery station available.

Jin blasts the creature with the chain cannon!

Chain Cannon vs. AC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 3 + 1 = 31
Damage: 12d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 1, 1, 4) = 31

With the diverted energy to weapons, that would be 36 damage.

205 HP? Looks like they added an extra 0 in the middle of that...

Zharis points to the captain's chair and says

Tulgram, feel free to take the con while I scan this anomaly. Maybe you can cheer everyone on?

I've already done my action - I think Jin counted my bonus in his attack.

Jin operates the chain cannons and sends another burst of slugs into the heart of the anomaly!

Jin's attack hit, and the anomaly missed. The attack was a natural 20, but the anomaly's three systems are already at the Wrecked stage, so there'll be no more critical developments.

Round 8: Engineering Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Tulgram: If you do want to move to a different role, you can declare it now.

Hani can be heard singing.

"It's the power of SLUGS, doo-doo-BOP, DOO bop!"

engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

I think I'll stay exactly in this role. The main damage is still inflicted by the Jin, there is not much sense from the crits... We just need to hit and finish.

Tulgram returns to his usual state of concentrated work with a rare grunt of displeasure.

Round 8: Helm Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Xylian: You can't fail to beat the anomaly's initiative result (10), so I've gone ahead and move it. You can now take your turn.

Zharis sets up another scan.

Computers: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + (6) + 1 = 31

Okay Hop, try those parameters and see if you can get anything else about it.

The debris from the destroyed anomaly will no doubt provide useful information to the team. Xylian pursues.

Move 10.

Zharis is able to lock the ship's sensors in for a complete scan of the photonic anomaly!

Weapon: Information about one weapon, including its firing arc and the damage it deals, starting with the weapon that uses the most PCU. Repeat this entry until all the starship’s weapons are revealed. The anomaly has one weapon, a persistent particle beam, range long, that deals 10d6 damage.

Load: Information about how the starship’s expansion bays are allocated and any cargo the starship might be carrying. No cargo or expansion bays.

Other: Any remaining ship statistics. The anomaly is able to travel through a short-range form of quantum entanglement but its movements are essentially random unless it perceives danger to its existence. If a ship's Science Office succeeds on the Lock On crew action (with a DC 5 higher than normal), a photonic anomaly will be unable to move for a round. The solar defences of the anomaly means it takes half damage from laser weapons.

Round 8: Gunnery Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

We aren't level 6, so it is impossible for us to do the "Lock On" action under Science Officer (can't have 6 ranks at level 5), so switching back to Captain.

Jin tries to put the anomaly out of its misery:

Chain Cannon vs. AC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 3 + 1 = 29
Damage: 12d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 4, 4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4) = 36

With the diverted energy to weapons, that would be 38 damage.

Just as Jin opens fire again, the Sun Diver shakes--it's suffered a direct hit! "Brace yourselves, pards! Front shields are down!" says Hop, as alarms sound in the background.

The anomaly hits and does 31 damage, knocking out the front shields (with 1 point carrying over to hull damage). Jin hit as well.

Sun Diver: 36/50 Hull Points (8 damage from siccatite degradation.
Shield Points: Forward: 0/30; Starboard: 30/30; Aft: 30/30 Port:
21/30

Round 9: Engineering Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

Hani stops singing.

Instead, he goes to work diverting power to shields.

engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

Can't remember how many this restores--9 or 10?

Holy Cats! says Zharis, quickly scrolling back to the captain's screen. This is not good. Sorry, Hop. Think I got a little complacent there, thinking it was on the run. Switching back to serious mode now.

Good job Hani. We have some shielding back, but we're still vulnerable. Jin, what do you think? I'm done with scans... can we finish it quickly? I'm hoping that was just a lucky shot, but the faster the better with this thing.

By my calculations from the HP it had when we scanned it and the damage since then, it has about 42 left. Probably two more shots to finish it, but if we have to face it to use the gun, it will get one more shot at our forward very weakened shields.

GM... okay for me to move back to Captain role for this round?

"We do not have a lot to work with, but we should be able to destroy the target soon - though more damage to our hull is likely."

That's 5% of our 200 Power Core Units, so 10 shield points back to the forward...

@Zharis I suggest moving to Science Officer and using Balance (Computers DC 19) to move 20 shield points from our aft to our forward quadrant

Oh, okay... good call Jin. I will remain as Science Officer.

Realising the battle's not over, the crew get back to work! Hani restores some power to the Sun Diver's forward shields, while Zharis takes the conn.

@Hani: I believe that'll be 10 points back to the forward shields.

@Zharis: Yep, no problem. You're now the captain, and can act once in any phase.

Edit: Cross-posted with Jin. Zharis, I'm going to list you as Captain, but if you want to act in the upcoming Helm phase as Science Officer, you can.

Sun Diver: 36/50 Hull Points (8 damage from siccatite degradation.
Shield Points: Forward: 10/30; Starboard: 30/30; Aft: 30/30 Port:
21/30

Round 9: Helm Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Xylian: The anomaly has automatically lost Initiative with a 9 and I've moved it.

Zharis attempts to balance the shields.

Computers Check DC 19: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + (2) + 1 = 13

Wow, dicebot is fickle. It really liked me as Captain, but maybe not so much as Science Officer. :) Seriously, I only needed like a 6. So is life though, I suppose. Just have to hope that dicebot isn't going to roll really well for the anomaly.

Zharis growls in frustration as her attempt to balance the shields fails.

Xylian continues the pursuit, but Zharis finds the unfamiliar procedure to rebalance the shields frustrating.

Round 9: Gunnery Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

Jin keeps the attacks up, determined to see the end of this threat.

Chain Cannon vs. AC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 3 + 1 = 18
Damage: 12d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 1, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 1, 4) = 35

Lowest gunnery roll yet - hopefully it still lands

And hopefully it'll miss us and our nearly naked shields! xD

Round 10: Engineering Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

Jin keeps the chain-cannons firing nonstop as the anomaly begins to grow dimmer and dimmer!

The anomaly missed, and one more hit will take it out!

Whew.

Hani continues to divert power to shields.

engineering: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

Zharis takes a deep breath and says

Okay Hop, walk me through this one more time...

Computers (Balance Shields): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + (1) + 1 = 14

But the deep breath wasn't enough, and she is still too flustered to pull it off.

She says

I can't get the shields to balance, sorry. It's all you, Jin. Finish it.

Round 10: Helm Phase

Engineer: Hani
Pilot: Xylian
Science Officer: Zharis
Gunner # 1: Jin
Gunner # 2: Tulgram

Bold should go!

@Xylian: Please roll Initiative. If you get less than 21, you can go ahead and move.

Sun Diver: 36/50 Hull Points (8 damage from siccatite degradation).
Shield Points: Forward: 20/30; Starboard: 30/30; Aft: 30/30 Port:
21/30

Xylian burns at full speed past the blorp, bringing the Sun Diver in close for a point-blank strafing run.
Move forward 10 spaces.
piilot: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Flyby: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28