@ GM Wolfspirit - Chronicle looks good. Thanks again for running the game!
I'm trying to combine disparate Alien Archive boons with signatures into a single page, which I will then have to scan and send to you. I'll PM you when it is completed, if that is alright with you.
@ All - Lots of fun! Interesting characters! I look forward to sharing a table with each of you in the future!
Iseph fires both weapons at will.
First, they fire the heavy laser cannon.
Primary weapon=heavy laser cannon (subtract 4 to the above result)
Next, they fire the coil gun.
Gunnery (coil gun):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
I am heading to camp over the weekend, so won't be posting. Anyone may feel free to Bot Iseph. They will remain on guns, crit fishing firing at will with the forward weapons (or whatever is available) until the Odyssey shields or critical systems take damage. At that point, Iseph will hop to engineering and diver power to shields/patch system.
I will resume posting sometime Monday (US East Coast). Have a great weekend!
Upon viewing the wreckage more closerly, the android coldly notes, "It does not appear that we will be able to uncover any survivors." Piloting (DC 15):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Iseph races to the wreckage and tries to turn the ship's gun on the creature. Put in purple line to mark a single move. Not sure where on ship the gun is, so it may take double move to get to gun.
If it takes only a single move action for Iseph to get to the gun:
Upon spying the creature, Iseph races away from the group into the blinding sands and towards the wreckage in an effort to sneak up on the monster. Then, they fire!
Iseph inquires, "Sunny, I am unfamiliar with the medicinal values of this particular organic growth. I trust by the fact that you have ingested the substances that you are certain that thehelpful effect it provides in preventing the intervention of toxins will persist for a duration sufficient to sustain the effect for the entire time that we anticipate being on the planet."
Iseph, too, then ingests a bulb. "I agree, Sunny, that it is not displeasing to my flavor receptors."
We'll done, Exemplar-2." Iseph notes as their fellow android gains access to the data locked within the computers of the undead ship. "It would appear that our mission here is now complete. Undoubtedly, the Society will be preparing a mission to this desert world."
"I will attempt to disable the necromantic energy. Iseph says as they manipulate the computer console in the hallway of the undead ship.
Computers:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Moving onto the bridge, Iseph suggests, "I am trained in dealing with computers and other technological equipment. However, this equipment is powered by magic--an area in which I am lacking knowledge."
Can anyone beat a +6 with either Computers or Mysticism? If not, Iseph makes the attempt:
Iseph's attempt (if no other PC is better qualified to attempt it):
Having drawn their pistol upon entering the hostile ship, Iseph moves toward the sound of the scrambling skeletons and stealthily targets the first one they see.
Uncertain when the next attack will come from the approaching undead, Iseph remains at the engineering station and attempts to divert power to the starboard shield array of the Loreseeker.
Engineer to divert power to shields:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
The android appears to vent a sigh of relief as they observe the emitter energizing. Now have 6/10 shield points in the starboard array!]
@ Sunny - I believe that even with the forward laser/turret glitching that you can still full attack with both at -4 penalties, which is a pretty hefty penalty, but you have a better chance of getting at least one high number. Alternatively, Kharos may want to take a gun and double the chance of rolling high enough to hit. Just want you to know you have options.
Iseph splices another power coupling to the forward shield emitter. The resulting hum confirms for the android that the shields are slowly recharging. I believe Iseph's prior Engineering check restored 6 shield points to the Forward Shields (6/10).
I have not been able to find the listing of the status. Do we know the current status of the Loreseeker?
If I am not mistaken, the forward shield array was completely depleted and the forward guns, including the turret, are malfunctioning. If I am correct, then Iseph will attempts repairs, beginning with attempting to restore the forward shields. If it works, next round he will try to Hold It Together to get the forward guns going.
Engineering to divert power to shields:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
@ GM - It may be helpful keeping a tally of starship statuses after each round - the status for the Starfinder ship and at least the damage total done to the enemy ship. Then, the players can see more clearly what parts of the ship need attention and perhaps make guesses as to what may be the most effective strategy.
Please don't think I am suggesting that anyone change their character.
Not all characters need to be built for starship combat. The Keskodai pregen I was playing certainly wasn't.
I am just saying that we happened to form a party in which none of the PCs are really optimized for starship combat (at least not this particular combat, which focuses on teaching the values of positioning, dealing damage, and making repairs) as the battle seems to be making rather evident. Actually, Kharos is a pretty decent captain (but has been plagued by low rolls). And like I said, I suspect the party is going to be very effective in the non-starship quests.
I've run this starship battle via PBP and face-to-face and it has always been a bit of a slog. And those battles have been with parties of five or six with some characters that were optimized ad pilots, engineers, and gunners--which this party is clearly not.
Even with more optimal parties this battle still took about two weeks each time via PbP and that was with a minimum once a day post rate. Botting does help with the pace. I also had the pilot roll initiative with the piloting check and then had PCs post regardless of the order of the phases. Then, I compiled a round by round summary, resolving the actions in proper phase order as GM. It was more work for the GM but I think it helped things move a little quicker.
When I played these quests for Outpost, the GM just called the battle early due to time constraints.
Without an optimized party with multiple gunners, it is just going to go slow, u think. We might be able to go a little faster by having the PC with highest pilot in skill do the piloting (thus more likely to win initiative and position to avoid attacks) and highest gunnery bonus in the coilgun (so highest damage weapon hits more often), but I can't think of much else this party can do. Fortunately, it should go through the next two quests pretty quickly before getting bogged down in the final starship fight (we may want to consider switching multiple PCs to pregens for that fight).
If everyone is fine with the current pace including the GM, then I say continue in as is, but if not, at least a change up of starship roles should be considered.
"Sentient, Sunny." Iseph responds in a robotic, matter-of-fact fashion. "It appears as though you desire to hide. However, I fail to see how hiding would in any manner improve your aim. To the contrary, it is more probable that an attempt to track a target while obscuring yourself from vision will only serve to decrease your accuracy."
Sometimes, the dice are just out to kill (or at least severely frustrate) you.
"My offer to assume the handling of the firing controls on the coil gun still stands.", the android says.
(Wait? Is that cold, calculating android looking... smug?!)
Exemplar moves the Loreseeker up to the larger ship.
@ Exemplar 2 - The Evade maneuver, if successful, would boost the AC of our ship and allow the ship to move normally as it has been. (Core Rule Book, pg. 319). Something you may want to consider (or not) for future rounds.
"Sunny Dillo Jr., my analysis of your firing technique suggests that you inadvertently targeted a piece of space debris." Iseph notes. "Do you think it prudent for me to assume the firing controls of weapon with the superior damage potential and cede control of the laser canon to you?"
Iseph has a +5 bonus to Gunnery (this particular pregen is well-suited for starship combat). If you want to switch, let me know. Otherwise, Iseph will remain on the light laser canon (at least until we start taking on considerable damage).
[ooc]@ Kharos - Good use of Encouragement, I think!
Seeing the tremendous surge of power exude from the weapon on the undead's ship, Iseph says, "I recommend that we make it imperative to stay out of the firing range of that weapon--either by maintaining our distance or staying out of the forward firing arc of that vessel."
Assuming the undead ship ends up in any firing arc of the Loreseeker other than the aft arc…
Iseph’s optical receptors follow the Endless Threnody across the viewscreen as their positronic circuits analyze its likely trajectory.
With their calculations are complete and they conclude they have a shot, the android fires the nearest light laser cannon at the undead ship.
Gunnery (light laser cannon) plus Dependent Modifiers:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Dependent Modifiers:
-2 to attack roll if the Endless Threnody is between 6 and 10 hexes away -4 to attack roll if the Endless Threnody is 11 or more hexes away +1 to attack roll if starship computer bonus has not been used by Exemplar-2 for a manuever
Damage (light laser cannon):2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5
NEVERMIND about those "Dependent Modifiers"! That's a crit! Crit System:1d100 ⇒ 81
"By my calculations, that shot should have inflicted damage to our opponent's power core, Captain." Iseph remarks calmly. "I believe, under such circumstances, that a human might utilize an applicable exclamation, such as, for instance, the word: 'Booyah'."
Ok, moved us into the rear arc after seeing the 4d8 gun points forwards.
Unfortunately for the Starfinders, the undead ship gets to move next before the PCs get to fire. Also, there are piloting stunts/maneuvers detailed in the Starfinder Core Rule Book that can be helpful, even if the ship’s movement for a round is simply making a wide turn, as the maneuvers can add to AC or even get you a “free attack”. However, if the Piloting roll is not high enough to pull the maneuver off, then there can be bad consquences, such as lowering the AC of your ship or allowing your opponent to take a “free attack”. Also, as I noted over in the Discussion thread some of the DCs for those actions in the Core Rule Book have been errata’d.
For those new to Starfinder Starship Combat, let me first say, "Welcome!"
Next, let me acknowledge that it can be seem confusing/complicated, at least at first. This is not helped by the fact that the DCs for many actions printed in the Core Rule Book are incorrect. The corrected DCs have been printed in the Starfinder Starship Combat FAQ.
Someone far more insightful and creative than I, came up with some very useful Starship Role Sheets. Since they were first provided to me here during a game on the PbP boards, I have used them in the SFS games I GM both here via PbP and for FtF games--having printed them out.
"The Endless Threnody has no operative shields. I cannot confirm, however, whether at has more than two weapons. Nevertheless, I will assist with the weapons to maximize our damage potential." Iseph transmits the results of their initial scan to each battle station console, before leaving the science station and taking a position at a firing console.
"Our vessel is nearly twice as fast as theirs. With skillful piloting, we should be able to stay out of range of their forward weapon, which has greater damage potential than the starboard weapon that I failed to pick up on my scan." Iseph notes.
"Exemplar-2, if you believe your flight training adequate for the task, then I will assume a seat at the firing controls." One android recommends to the other. "Otherwise, I am capable of assuming the piloting position."
Offering to switch roles if you'd like, Exemplar-2. Regardless, I think having another gunner may be more beneficial than addition scans and engineering this round since damage has been minimal.
Iseph scans the enemy vessel trying to determine it's capabilities.
Forgot the +2 Computers bonus from the ship's computer, so final result should have been 24.
"The enemy vessel is clearly damaged. Therefore, I am scanning the enemy vessel to determine where it may be most vulnerable to attack so we can attempt to disable it more swiftly. Should such a weakness be identified, I recommend that you adjust this vessel's flight path be adjusted accordingly."
Iseph initiates a full scan of the undead ship.
Computers with ship aid for Scan Action:1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11
