In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 885):

I thought it was rocket rockin'.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 889):

G.R. said he had a contract to bring Cole in, that would indicate he jumped bail and is not just wanted.

Would Travis infer such?

Today: Travis Sunday rolled 22 using 1d20+8. Streetwise (Bail vs Wanted) if necessary.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 890):

Travis may infer whatever he wants to infer from a NPC's speech (or a PC speech, for that matter). Jake and the Judge were just having a related OOC conversation on this topic. Any NPC speech is from that character's perspective. It doesn't necessarily tie to the actual facts of any given matter. Same goes for PC speech; just because a PC makes a statement about something doesn't mean that statement is true, or even accurate.

As for the Streetwise check, Travis recollects that there is a difference between an arrest warrant and someone being wanted for skipping bail; however, what Rasmin meant by his comment is totally up to Sunday's interpretation.

It's gutsy to play a powerhouse like McNeese State in your opener.  Though the breaks went against them, they'll be able to learn from and build on the level of competition they faced.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 892):

Touche. Now I know how Michigan fans felt in 2007, with the loss to Appalachian State. At least the Bulls weren't ranked in the top 5, or favored to win their conference, as the the Wolverines were when they lost to the Mountaineers.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 893):

The Judge will be traveling on business this week. I will log in mornings/evenings barring unforeseen obstacles.

With the PCs making extended conversation as they follow JEB to the Association office, especially Jake, Travis and Cole, it would be necessary to stop--or linger at the porch of the Association--in order to get it all in before entering the building.

The Judge doesn't care what the solution is, but it is only a short walk and the length of the PC speech would take longer than the walk, so the Judge would appreciate some narrative description that covers the time it takes to have that conversation. And the Judge will wait for the players to conclude their conversations and enter--or not enter--the building whenever they are ready.

JEB was leading the group initially, but based on what sounded like separation of Jake, Travis and Cole from JEB, ENS and Mr. Xu, the PCs need to state their actions in regard to when and how they might--or might not--enter the building.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 895):

Do I know McGee?

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 896):

Do you mean does Travis know MgGee?

Sure, he has heard of McGee, although he didn't know the man personally.

USA dos, Mexico zero. Olá Brasil.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 898):

I actually watched soccer.  I'll never be a huge fan but did enjoy the match.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 899):

Thank you for supporting our country's team. The haters can deny it, but futbol is gaining popular interest in the U.S.A. and I predict that someday it will be more popular than other sporting events.

Try watching the English Premiere League (aka Barclay's PL) on Saturday and Sunday mornings on NBSCN and NBC (I don't have to convince ENS). That is futbol at an extremely high level. The skill is amazing. It is a patient man's game, although the action is continuous (see below). The league was on hiatus during these international World Cup qualifiers, but resumes 9/14/13. One thing I like about international soccer is that all the professional leagues around the world respect the international schedules, suspending their league-play temporarily and then resuming when their star players return from the international contests. World-wide cooperation unparalleled in any other endeavor, INMNSHO.

American football has only 11 minutes of action in an entire game. The rest of the 3.5 hours you spend watching the game is dead time--or watching the selling of soap.

American baseball has only 18 minutes of action per game.

Futbol has 66 minutes of action per game.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all of these sporting events. What I object to is the commonly held American notion that futbol is slow. The truth is that American football is slow. Ever since I got the RedZone, I can barely even watch a full NFL game by itself. It is mostly boring, with occasional flashes of interest. I like the RedZone because they switch from game to game and you are regularly watching a play happening, rarely watching dead space.

Okay, step down from soapbox.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 898):

... and the Honduras/Panama tie pushes Mexico out of the play-in spot! Deliciouso!

Still two games for all though...

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 901):

True, two qualifying games left, but mostly meaningless games, now, for CONCACAF. Except in regard to world rankings which are based on an interesting formula of wins/losses, strength of schedule. Although the USA has already qualified for the World Cup, its ranking is unlikely to make a difference in the seeding and draw for the Cup. There are roughly 270 countries fielding a national side, and only 32 make the World Cup. Then the top 8 ranked sides will be seeded in the groups, the rest go into a draw. The chances of any CONCACAF nation, USA or otherwise, being seeded in the top 8 are between zero and nil. So the USA has qualified, and the final two games are only for pride. Same for Costa Rica (a formidable side) and Honduras.

The Judge will be traveling again this week on business. I expect to have internet access and log in morning/evenings but this is a new location so I'm not positive about the regularity of access.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 903):

Having business is good.  I'll be patient.  Hope all else is well (football excepted).  Safe travels.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 904):

My business has been quite successful. Celebrated 10 years of self-employed consulting earlier this year. I can't complain; although sometimes I still do.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 905):

Did you get yourself a gold watch and take yourself to a celebratory dinner? Did you give a long-winded speech to yourself about how hard work and honesty are vertebrae in the backbone of the modern workforce? Did you end up drinking too much and hit on your wife in front of yourself? Then, you posted a picture of yourself on Facebook talking to a plant in the corner of the room? Somehow, you got all the pictures off your phone and they ended up being duck-face selfies. So, you posted them on the refrigerator and you were mortified that you would do such a thing. You reported yourself to HR. You called yourself down to your office to talk about proper workplace etiquette, but you were indignant and felt justified because the pictures were retribution for the inappropriate conduct at the 10-year dinner. You let yourself off with a stern warning. You then called yourself into your office and admonished yourself for the inappropriate conduct at the 10-year dinner.

Ah, self-employment is a bitch with all the new workplace policies you implemented.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 906):

Weird. It's like you were there.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 907):

Superb response! You give yourself 1 AP.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 908):

I missed the judge's narration when Rasmin lost the test of wills and was intimidated by the gunslinger.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 909):

The purpose of the Intimidate check was to determine whether either gunfighter had an advantage in Initiative. I agreed with Sunday's +6. And probably it should have been +8 because Travis won the showdown (by less than 5). But the additional +2 won't matter unless someone else rolls high init. I'll keep it in mind.  Edit: My mistake, should have been -2 for Rasmin and +6 for Sunday. So the +6 was correct, adjusting Rasmin's for future rounds (the effect of the Fast Draw round was the same).

Sunday didn't declare an Intimidation check in order to attempt to get Rasmin to do comply with Sunday's desires (he could have tried that BEFORE the showdown). The Showdown rules use the Intimidation opposed check to see if either gunfighter gets the upper hand. Travis did--he acted first as a result.

What narration did you expect?

EDIT: a few clarifications above, plus
BTW, on a plane and we are beginning descent so I'm about to lose my internet connection. Time permitting, and access available, I will follow-up at the hotel.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Tue 17 Sept 2013.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 910):

What narration.  Rasmin saw the glint in Sunday's eyes and promptly peed his pants.  You know... Something worthy of winning a showdown.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 911):

Note from a playtester....

This is where the game mechanics start to break down for me and D20 Modern.  I'm not complaining I'm just sayin.  Travis Sunday 9th level has the drop and is aiming his weapon, a pistol, at a man.  He's not incompetent, he has a masterwork weapon, short range  etc... Unless he's bulletproof monk Rasmin should be dead or out of commission or he's so fast that Travis should be dead, or at least shot.  Instead it's a hit point race.  Other than scoring an MDT hit first or getting the last shots in before you go below zero , I'm not even sure if it's really beneficial to win initiative in a one on one.  I'm interested to see how many weapons it will take to end this fight.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 911):

After this scenario (or perhaps even now) Travis should be eligible for the Theme Song feat. I so encourage you to take it. You'll find it in FGE 1.1.