[SFS] 6-13 The Beginning of the End (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Welcome everybody to this play-by-post game. To get this going, I need a few things from you:
- I need you to fill out the RPG Chronicles (you can find the link in the campaign header) with your PFS details and your character level
- On the Maps and Handouts (also linked in the campaign header), I need you to upload a token and enter your Initiative and Perception modifiers.
- Once you have done that, feel free to introduce your character in the gameplay thread

I like to keep a good pace in my games, and would normally ask for a posting frequency of 1/day + 1/weekend. I use the 'two-vote' for moving to new areas. In combat, I usually give people 24 hours to post an action (which is usually more than enough), and I'd either ask the other players to suggest an action or just allow the player to catch up when I don't hear anything after 24 hours. If there are days that you are not available, or if something unexpected comes up, that's of course no problem - if possible, a notification is appreciated.

I have 2 characters available depending on what others are bringing. I'm happy to play either as I enjoy both.

Skorpahlich: level 8, Witchwarper (Enhanced), Intimidator and offensive spellcasting.

XHC-5: aka "Shaq" the Big Man. Level 7 haan xenometric android vanguard. Large size with a reach weapon, melee and battlefield control.

I'm bringing Twila-5, level 5 Ghost Operative. The dicebot likes to make it look like she has terrible aim. She's pretty standard for an operative.

I'll be bringing Delea, a level 6 mystic. She's quiet and gentle, and sees her main role in combat as healing, but is also willing to throw a few mind thrusts or telekinetic projectiles at the bad guys.

Bringing the only character eligible at the moment, my L8 ace pilot operative.

A few notes:
Full profile has not been updated yet in Paizo, *but* I have linked my Hephaistos character sheet to my tagline and also in my Paizo profile, so 100% that is up date at worst.

I've also GMed this scenario but will do my best to not tip spoilers.

For Kludde, the only other scenario in the metaplot that Fussoa has played is 6-03.

I will try and slot my boons soon.

Can we play in the high tier if possible? I'll bring my level 8 envoy if we can do that.

I'd be okay if we play low tier though if that allows Nomadical to use Shaq, even though he can't make his free throws!

Twila = 5
Delea = 6
Fussou = 8
Calavar = 8

If I bring Shaq and our 6th player (joejungers?) brings anything other than a 5, we're high tier anyway.

If I bring Shaq and our 6th player brings a 5, APL is 6.5 exactly, and it's up to party vote.

If I bring Skorp, we're automatically high tier.

The operatives have ranged and skills covered, the Envoy is the Face, and we've got a mystic healer. I'll still wait to see what joe brings, rather than pick one and end up duplicating roles.

With the arrival of a level 7 spell caster (Nikko Fifty-Niner), I'll go with Shaq for melee front line and damage soaking.

Looking forward to seeing a precog in action. I've never played with one before.

Ouch, those paradox rolls are really a bummer

@Fussoa, why did you not Take 10 on your Trick Attack? You'd auto-Trick any enemy CR 9 or lower. Also, what Debilitating Trick do you normally apply: Flat Footed, Off Target, or something else?

When you are not in immediate danger or distracted, the GM might allow you to take 10 on a skill check. When you take 10, you don’t roll a d20, but rather assume that you rolled a 10 on that die, then add the relevant skill modifiers. For many routine tasks, or for tasks you are particularly skilled at, taking 10 ensures success. If you still fail when taking 10, you might require more time and energy to succeed at that task (see Take 20 below).

The above is from here. Is there an ability that allows you to Take 10 when you otherwise couldn't? If so I gotta check that out!

At 7th level, Operatives get a feature of Trick Attack called "Specialization Skill Mastery." It's often missed because it's under Trick Attack at the beginning of the class features section, not listed as its own thing and requires reference back to the basic Specialization class feature.

"You become so confident in certain skills that you can use them reliably even under adverse conditions. When attempting a skill check with a skill in which you have the Skill Focus feat, you can take 10 even if stress or distractions would normally prevent you from doing so."

"Your specialization grants you the Skill Focus feat in your specialization’s associated skills,..."

So from 7th onward, you only need to have a bonus to your Specialization's trick attack skill(s) of 10 + Level + X, where X is what CR above your level you want to auto-trick. For Fussoa, at level 8, taking 10 with her +19 lets her auto-trick any CR opponent up to CR 9 (so that X would be 1 for her, since she can only auto-trick opponents 1 level above her.)

Of note, I've also seen Operatives take Skill Focus in Piloting so they can be the Pilot and not have to roll much if ever in starship combat.

Often missed, indeed. Glad you pointed that out. I'm really looking forward to level 7 now!

@GM: Can you specify which merc is shooting at Shaq, please. He's built to take AOs. But if an operative trick attack succeeds, then the target is flat footed and can't take an AO against that particular operative. Since Shaq can only keep 2 of them covered at once, it would help to know which one is shooting him if they do succeed at their trick attack on him.

Oof, yeah, obviously the first time I have gotten an operative above 7, so I missed it. To answer the question beforehand, it's flatfooted.

Insane week, I will put my action in now, but very good chance I need botted again until late Friday night EU time. Things should calm the heck down by the weekend, thankfully.

Getting caught up on all my forum games...

I’m traveling today, probably won’t be able to post.

I am also travelling again this week. I am in travelling through Thursday but from Thursday it should be easier to post.

GM, how close is the other vehicle? I'm thinking that using the force blast spell sounds very flavorful, but there's a lot that would be up to GM interpretation, like how a bull rush in the air works. And that's if we're close enough for it.

As per chase rules: if you're in the same zone, you're about 50 feet apart. If you're engaged in combat, it's melee range, otherwise 200 feet per zone. There's not really a clear indication how bull rush would work, but I'd say there's at least a penalty to the enemies' piloting skill on a success, though I'm allowing creature solutions to achieve other effects.

Force blast has a 30 ft range. It's a GM call whether that's close enough to 'about 30 feet'.

spell description

If you rule that would not work, would you allow diplomacy to encourage the pilot, similar to starship combat?

It's cool, so I'll allow it. About 50 feet would fluctuate, so you could just time the blast when the enercopter is close.

Kinda confused by the map. I thought that the big spiky fence wasn't passable. Does Orange have cover from the fence or that wall? Can you detail what is and isn't passable and what is and isn't Difficult Terrain, etc, please?  If it's because they're flying, how high are they that they can clear the fence?

I'll wait to post my actions until this question gets answered. It looks like Orange's token was covering up the wall, so Cavaler's attack may not have been possible. Hard to tell.

XHC-5 wrote:

Kinda confused by the map. I thought that the big spiky fence wasn't passable. Does Orange have cover from the fence or that wall? Can you detail what is and isn't passable and what is and isn't Difficult Terrain, etc, please?  If it's because they're flying, how high are they that they can clear the fence?

I'll wait to post my actions until this question gets answered. It looks like Orange's token was covering up the wall, so Cavaler's attack may not have been possible. Hard to tell.

Yeah, the map is a bit confusing. The spiky fence is passable, they are 'walls under construction'. Walls are walls, the orange robot is hiding behind one.

Did Twila include the extra 20ft Haste movement?

No, but Twila-5 tends to avoid using her Trick Attack a time or two after missing a bunch, so I won't attempt a retcon.

Chronicles are up! Let me know if everything is ok, is something needs to be changed. Thank you all for a very enjoyable game!

Chronicle looks good. Thanks a bunch for running this!

Sheet's good.
I always appreciate the art.

As always, good session.

Chronicle looks good. Thanks for running this, and thanks to the players for a good session.

Chronicle looks good. Thanks for running another great session!

Chronicle is good. Thank you again for running!

Edit: I don't know if Paizo is buggy for me, but this game is reported as 6-16 Dawning Fate and not 6-13 The Beginning of the End.

Edit: I don't know if Paizo is buggy for me, but this game is reported as 6-16 Dawning Fate and not 6-13 The Beginning of the End.

Definitely not Paizo being buggy. Your GM being buggy, that's another question. It's fixed now.

sheet looks good, thanks for running, and for your patience with my unpredictable posting.