Sorry, I've got a few questions into the Ref for clarification before I can give an informed answer about skill package choices.  Once I get the info I need, I'll post something ASAP.

Well, there are a couple of things to consider with this type of decision: One is what kinds of skill and experience has my character learned over the years, which the package skill might represent.   The second would be the group needs and what kind of impact would my choice have on someone else.

I can see Hayden learning to patch up a wound (Medic), navigate the starship (Astrogation), or find a smuggler in a back alley (Streetwise).  Fortunately, with J-o-T-3, I already have a game mechanic which helps translate this experince into useful game terms.

As for impact, taking any of these skills, gives Hayden a +1 bump. On the other hand, not taking Streetwise, removes the unskilled penalty for Jack, which is a much greater impact.  It’s the same for whoever ends up with Astrogation.  So while I’m interested in some of these skills, the impact they would have for another character and the redundancy for the group might be much greater if someone else had them.

So with that in mind, here are my choices:

1st Choice: Sensors-1 (no one seems to be interested in this and everyone has it in some form already)

10th Choice: Whatever is left (Likely Engineer, Medic, or Mechanic)

Seems to me the most important skill we acquire from the Package list isn't spelled out - Teamwork!  ;)

Not to speak for anyone else - but I think I'm safe suggesting at this point we simply nominate Danica to make the call on the open choices and list out the package skill disbursements (if her player doesn't mind).

Well put, Hayden.  I know that I forget those things sometimes.  In this case, I'm going to just say that I believe that Doc Jones and I disagree on what are likely scenarios in which the back-up Astrogator is likely to be most useful and necessary in, especially with this crew.  And I don't think that we are going to convince each other otherwise.  But, ultimately, this shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Note - in almost every case that I can conceive of, our first option is to have Hayden take the place of whoever is down/missing.  That way, everyone else can stay with their proper specialty.  Oh, Danica is missing?  Well, Hayden has Pilot/0, same as Jack  So, Jack remains the astrogator and Hayden become the pilot.  Jack is hurt?   Okay, Doc stays the Medic (and tries to heal Jack?) and Hayden becomes the astrogator...  At least that is my take.

And if two people are missing/down?... Well, when you are down 40% of your original manpower.  I expect there are going to be multiple action penalties no matter what.  Three people are trying to do the job of five - what does one expect?

What I am willing to concede is that Doc seems to want Astrogation more.  So, our chief fixer (of people and things) can and should have it.  Danica wants Comms as her first pick.  And she'll take either Engineer() or Medic - whichever Hayden wants less, given that she has both at level/0 already (not unlike Hayden....:)) and can justify both (not unlike, Hayden again...:)).  I believe that Mechanic is probably best served to either Bertrand (or Jack) who does not have any levels in it at all.  And Bertrand has expressed some interest in it (please correct me if I am wrong, Bertrand - if you would prefer Medic or Engineer(), just say so).

So, I think that the list looks like the following:

  1st  - Hayden     Sensors
  2nd  - Jack       Pilot()
  3rd  - Bertrand   Gunner()
  4th  - Dr. Jones  Astrogation
  5th  - Danica     Comms
  6th  - Danica     Engineer() or Medic
  7th  - Dr. Jones  Science()
  8th  - Bertrand   Mechanic
  9th  - Jack       Streetwise
  10th - Hayden     Engineer() or Medic

Obviously, if anyone feels differently about (or misrepresented in) the list, just let me know - I am merely trying to reflect the preferences that people appear to have stated previously.  If those preferences have changed, then we can try to accommodate that.

I'm ok with Danica working out the skill packages.  The Astrogation skill seems to be the only thing in contention (well, contention might be too strong a word.. perhaps in question is the better way to say it).

Perhaps the Ref might consider splitting it between you... Since under the point buy system, a full skill level (Astrogation-1) is worth 2 points, perhaps it could be split and you could both take level-0 in it (1 pt each).  It seems Astrogation would be something Dani picked up as a pilot and something Jim knows if he has been perusing it as a scholarly interest.

This would let Jim be the primary backup if Jack were off the ship (thanks to Jim's strong Education), but if for some reason, Dani had to single hand the ship, she's at least know to to plot a course to get to the rest of us (if we were off in the launch or something).


I'd say let Bertrand take the extra level-1 skill that would be created out of the process, since he is the only one of us playing a four term character instead of five terms.  Just an idea.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Fri 28 Jan 2011.

I'm fine with Danica allocating; if her player's not up for it, maybe the Ref could advise us.

Regardless, this is where we stand with first choices:

Hayden - Sensors
Jack - Pilot
Bertrand - Gunner
Doc - Astrogation
Danica - Astrogation

Which leaves the following 2nd choices (who's expressed interest):

Comms-1         (Danica)
Engineer(any)-1 (Doc as a third choice, Hayden)
Mechanic-1      (Bertrand, Hayden)
Medic-1         (Bertrand, Hayden)
Streetwise-1    (Jack, Bertrand)
Science (any)-1 (Doc)

Since they both make good arguments we can't really move forward to second choices until Doc and Danica make Opposed Checks for Astrogation ;)

Or we go back to the Ref's original numeric order.

Sorry, Danica, looks like we were all posting at the same time... yeah, this looks good.

I'm down for Hayden's suggestion as well... it's actually quite elegant.

Lastly, if anyone in the queue before Jack wants streetwise, speak up... I'm not going to debate the merits of it, I'll just pick something else ;)

Unless Dr. Jones corrects me, this is my understanding of the top half of the list.

Danica, over to you for the second half:


  6th  - Danica
  7th  - Dr. Jones
  8th  - Bertrand
  9th  - Jack
  10th - Hayden


Engineer (), Mechanic, Medic, Science(), and Streetwise are available.

Danica will take Engineer(), and substitute Weapon Engineering() (Merc. p. 41)

In reply to Danica Moreau (msg #48):

Doc takes Science () per previously stated intent.

Bertrand you have your choice of Mechanic, Medic, or Streetwise.

Make that Streetwise, then. Doesn't make much sense to have a zero there :)

Jack wrote: I'm not going to debate the merits of it, I'll just pick something else ;)


Easier said than done! ;) Jack takes Medic, so at least he and Hayden both gain a level-1 in something. Hayden's stat bonuses make him a better back-up fix-it man than Jack could ever be! A better medic too, for that matter.

In reply to Jacques Keveloh (msg #51):

OK, package skills are done.  A couple players have yet to buy equipment and Thera's player is still finalizing connections and backstory, but we'll go ahead and start soon. :)

Yay, chargen is finally complete!

Sorry for the delay, just been wrapping up a few things with chargen (and RL).  Hopefully an IC post coming later tonight.  Thanks. :)

Man, I get seriously thrown off balance when people mix past and present tense writing! Think we could agree on either form for unity?

How well do the PCs without connections know each other? How long have they been together and chatting since the escape from the yacht?
Do we know anything about this mission other than what is in the Prelude thread?
Who is this 'woman'? Am I missing something?

Not complaining, just curious so I can play my character right. :)

Good questions - Ref left the backstory pretty much to us as far as I can see and then weaved it into his story...

I assume the Doc has met everyone in backstory (even if only just) and he has treated or been involved in treatment of those wounded.  However, at least with the Doc, they aren't good buddies, yet.

Figure its been at least a short while since the yacht ordeal (recover times at least) and mustering out. Ref has provided dates in general, but I don't recall any specific on that one.

'You will each travel there separately...' & '...checked into hotel rooms and joined up to travel to the shipyard.' - we probably said hellos and such, but not much else.

My read on the woman - she appears to be Pathfinder Corps and we are all working for them under cover and probably her.  However, no specific mention as to whether we met/talked to her (or her assistant) has been made (in public threads).

I try to leave wiggle room in my IC posts.  From the prelude, I got that the special secret hospital was probably Facility 1013.  Figure she might have enlisted the Doc herself (he being a cynic of working for FRPC again), or my post could have alluded to a different 'bitch'. ;)

As to the mission - I assume 'contractors for the Scout service of a pocket empire in an underpopulated and relatively unexplored area of space.  Exploration, espionage, and various "odd jobs" will form the bulk of the adventures.' covers it ;)

Oh, in case you missed it - suspect mission details are forthcoming IC when we hook up with our 'Handler' at the starport.  The current scene is probably mostly to give a feel for the ship that stats and deckplans don't convey, though keep a keen eye out and your fishing lines baited for other details... (Hayden and Danica are ;)

'Aidensburg downport ... Mr. Newell, the ship's manager, ... go over the codes and such with you then.  He just asked me to show you around ...'

Mr. Newell might or might not be our handler.  We are working for FRPC - and the ship was originally being built for them - now its under 'private ownership'.

Missing something - sure.  We all are. ;)

I believe that is the point - the Ref is providing us with juicy mysteries to unravel.

Actually I think you're playing your character perfectly.  Of all the PCs, Thera would have the least clue about what is going on.

Thanks for calling me on the presentation, though.  I do get ahead of myself sometimes.

These are the facts each character would certainly know before agreeing to the deal:

1) You will be working as contractors for the Pathfinder Corps to perform a wide-range of tasks as directed.
2) Your cover will be as crew of an independent trader (Gypsy Moth).  Your effectiveness will hinge largely on others not knowing you are Pathfinder operatives.
3) Your pay will be shipboard salary plus shares of 50% of the ship's profit after expenses (no mortgage).
4) Your handler will be a retired Pathfinder named Simon Newell.
5) The term of employment is a minimum of one year.

From Thera's perspective, the pay was probably what attracted her, although if she can't be a pirate maybe mata hari isn't a bad plan B.  Other characters may have joined for other reasons.

As others with more Pathfinder time have pointed out, the woman from the prelude is indeed Petra Zamorin, Deputy Director of the Free Republic Pathfinder Corps.

The point of George Rupert was just to introduce the ship.  We'll progress on to meeting Simon Newell, which is where stuff will start coming together.

In reply to Referee (msg #58):

Ok, I can run with that, thanks. I'd guessed most of it. I'll assume we all know each other by name and have at least a brief resume of each other's backgrounds from our 'recuperation time'.

That and your shared time on the yacht, yes.

Good show... and that part about 'She'll make seven light years ...' really got me (though how is she on the Kessel run? :)

Doc's cool with moving on.

I had assumed that Hayden would have the title of captain - except when in combat, where I believe Danica would have the leadership role whenever possible.

Please share your thoughts about the crew dossiers when you get a chance.

From a ship operations point of view, we probably need 3 people.  Of course there could be considerable value in having a few folks to assist with 'operational' requirements - getaway drivers, door kickers, and people who blow stuff up in new and interesting ways.  So I'd say let's shoot for a total crew of 12 unless someone's got a better idea.

In reply to Hayden Marks (msg #63):

Well, I figure Engineers are good, troublemakers are bad, and a lot depends on the nature of the mission. :)

Meta-game, the Ref did say it was low-violence.

Ref: Does Thera know, or know of, Nino Stern? Since she was people-watching a population of under 2000 on Santander for half a decade or so, I imagine it's likely - unless he left.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:12, Fri 04 Feb 2011.