This thread is for Out-of-character discussions.

Some information has been added to the Setting and Background thread.

Additionally, I'll try to get a thread up about the various navies and merchant lines this weekend.

I know I'm putting up a lot to read.  Please don't feel compelled to digest it all, I'm just trying to provide some texture since it is an OTU setting.

Just to give a quick update, five players are well into chargen at this point.  A couple still have to purchase gear and I know the group is still finalizing connections, but we're coming into focus.  I am very pleased with the mix of skills and interesting backgrounds in the group.

As far as crewing the ship, the positions seem pretty clear as most players have skill 2-3 in one position with little direct competition from other players.  We have:

Pilot - Danica
Astrogator - Jack
Purser/Steward - Hayden
Medic - Dr. Jones
TBD - Bertrand

The group will probably need 2-3 redshirts for engineers and gunners, so there will be a hiring opportunity on Alsace.

We have a sixth player as well, but RL is limiting his participation at the moment.  If necessary, we'll start and have him join the group a little later.

Also, players can start looking at the different skill packages in the Core rules (pg 38) and discussing which package the group might want.

I'd vote for the Starship Package.  Ship skills seem to be where we are the weakest.  And at these Tech Levels, we can not depend on automation to carry the load.  Running this size ship is going to require a fair number of people with starship skills.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:55, Mon 24 Jan 2011.

I'll second the Starship Package.  Danica has 3 of the 8 skills there (all of which we will need if we are spending a lot of time shipboard) at level 1+.  She also has Mechanic/0, but would love to have any of the other skills in the package.  And honestly, even Pilot() and Engineer() as cascades (requiring a specialization) could be taken by her - though it is like more efficient and effective for someone else to take those.

The Starship package is the only one that has Engineer() - so, if we need that, people will either need to spend connection skills getting/boosting that or from the package (the latter is limited, since it is only level 1 (so, probably best as backup).  I believe that a number of us have Engineer (electronics) at level 1 or higher - so, we could be back-up engineers in a pinch.  But only in a pinch.

If not the Starship package, then Explorer and Traveller packages (probably in that order) would like be next on my list as helping to shore up any perceived shortcomings.

Why is it so hard to find a good picture on this board!  GRRRRRR...

All I want is a picture of a 38 year old guy, with a nice beard, who looks like he wouldn't get his ass kicked in a belter bar, while also looking like the kind of guy who could serve drinks to a Duke.  Come on people, is that so hard?!

I may go with this... tough looking guy, full but well kept beard, wearing some kind of ship's uniform with formal hat to make him seem trustworthy and respectable.  This may be as good as it's going to get.

Both Starship and Traveller have Gunner() 1 - which is probably the most lacking (3 turrets currently).

Other skills are basically backup - starship Engineer specialties being the one we currently have no >0 skill levels, IIRC.  (Doc has +1 Edu/Int)

Dr. Jones is not a fighter (of the injure a sophont type) - so anything that might help in a support role (and unlikely to be wanted by others), in the following order:
  Starship - Astrogation, Pilot(any), Engineer(has Electronics/2)
  Traveller - Stealth, Persuade or Comms (upgrade)

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Yeah - finding a pic can be a real pain.  I just wanted a simple doctor... the best matches, the images were fuzzy/dark.  Choose Harrison Ford because of Indiana Jones ("You cheat Dr. Jones...") and seeing him recently as a medical researcher in Extraordinary Measures.

Saw one or two that might fit for you - are you wanting a full beard?

One of the mods has a site that shows all the pics in broad categories (up to a certain date) - I'll try to find the link.

Try http://www.revelcity.com/current_-_male_gallery.htm

Naming of portraits is formated like gggNNN where NNN can be used to find the page number = NNN/18 and ggg is an abbreviation for the group (i.e. mmc -> modern male casual or the like).

Hope that helps.

I'd vote Starship Package as well - seems we're sorely lacking any Engineering skill.

Jack's got Astrogation and Sensors, with Comms-0.

I'd be willing to burn some connection skills on Engineering. The only thing I feel Jack is missing to round him out is Zero G which isn't available in the packages anyway...

@ Hayden:
yeah, slim pickings in the portraits here... did you try other genres/eras?

For another game here I actually pulled a still from a movie and modified it and tried using rpol's suggestions on 'posting your own pic' but it never worked :(

That looks like a picture of actor Jurgen Prochnow as the U-boat Captain from the film Das Boot.  Good choice. :)

Astrogation usually doesn't see much use - just the jump plot time...

Logistically, Doc could probably pull double duty on that to be more useful aboard ship if he had Astrogation 1 (+1 Edu).  His other bridge skills include Sensors 1 and Comm 0.  Normal J-2 plot would be a +4 DM - not like he could cause a misjump anyway (that's the Engineer's job! :).

He can also backup Jack with Engineering(Elecrtical) 2/0 and +1 Int/Edu (As can Danica).

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  P.S. - don't believe you can use your own pic directly for a portrait (I wish).

  You must submit one via email and wait (see FAQs)
  Done this before and my pic showed up some weeks later.
  Unfortunately, it looks like Shannara updated last month's just today at 9:58
  so it will likely be another month... :(

Might want to check the house rules on astrogation.

Oops, edited out the disclaimer in that statement, but, missed any house rules on Astrogation (other than Sensors)?

[Figurin' based on Doc with +2 for Astro/Edu, +4 for Easy, -2 for J2...]

In reply to Dr. Jim D. Jones (msg #13):