In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 951):

The helix weapon's not designed to hit multiple targets. If you deploy a mirror creatively maybe I'll allow it but even then it's a tough shot. Still, bonus points for creativity.

Also, it's worth noting that I am not a very good shot at all with handheld weapons. I've got good bonuses to mech-mounted stuff, but this character isn't designed to engage in combat as a meatsack.

In reply to Xander (msg # 953):

So how does everyone springing into action at once work from a combat perspective? And do we know what everyone is doing for our surprise round?

In reply to Muse (msg # 954):

I think everyone springing into action at once works as a surprise round.  the problem with past experiences has been only some of our team actually being aware of the surprise beforehand.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 955):

If you plan out your surprise rounds, everyone acts in the desired order, as long as those actions all take place around the same time as the initiating action.

Then, normal combat rules apply.

As Billy said, usually only 1 of you gets to act because you don't plan it out ahead.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 956):

OK. Let's plan this out, then. My questions:

- What does Durst do?
- What does Timon do?
- How many guns do we have?
-- Can Muse use Xander's gun and would that help at all?
- Do we wait until the doors to the core close? Sophia should be able to tell us when that's going to happen.
- I've got two Fighting FEATs I can use in a surprise round. Do you want me to grab the guards or smash their weapons? Which guards?
- How are we divvying up our forces vs theirs? Who fights the two guards on the outside and who fights the two guards on the inside?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 12 June 2017.

In reply to Muse (msg # 957):

Durst and Timon both have stat sheets available in the NPC section. Anything you want to know that's not there needs to be asked.

Sophia set a timer but has no way of knowing how quickly the AI can override it now that it's back behind the wheel.

I don't know how many of you took pistols from the ship. I'm assuming just Xander, as he's the only one who said he did.

Other answers require other players.

In reply to Muse (msg # 957):

OOOH OOH I Can answer one of those!!!!!





EDIT: Underestimated how annoying that GIF would be.  Replaced with still image.

Sentiment remains.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Mon 12 June 2017.

In reply to Muse (msg # 957):

Durst and you seem most effective at melee range, both of you have to cover ground ASAP.  If you do that, that is your entire surprise round.

Timon can shoot his gun from slightly farther away, but he has to cover at least 1 area, which still consumes his entire surprise round.

We have at most four guns, my fist, Abraxa's railgun, Xander's sidearm (which I assume he took back after we beat the guards, otherwsie scratch that) and the gun we stole from the guards and gave to Timon.

Muse can use Xander's gun, assuming we have it and he's willing to fork it over.  That would not help at all.

Waiting for the doors seems like a bad idea.  Either all the doors will be back under the crew's control, and the dead sprint ahead of us gets a lot more complicated, or they have hotwired the doors to the core and we have to waste time approaching the other alternative anyway.  Also if they hotwire the doors and we blast and/or cut our way through, they probably shoot us as soon as the doors give way.

You need to be in range of the guards, running 3 areas precludes doing anything to the guards in the surprise round.

Either we all rush them, in which case it's first come first serve, or we shoot the two outside (and possibly someone inside, depending on how the railgun goes) and everyone without a long-range weapon bolts for the core, with you and durst each picking a guard inside to go nuts on while Timon takes a knee within range to hoold down the exterior guards and/or shoot anyone not disarmed or dead (this is the optimal plan, but the railgun shooting through walls is a wrinkle), or I shoot one guard outside, they know where we are and get initiative but we get to see what they do about it, and possibly have to wing it.  I am open to different options on this one, but it's currently four guns down a hallway potentially pointing at us while we currently sit just out of range unnoticed.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 960):

Point of order: You MAY cross areas and attack in the same action if you are Charging. But then your attack IS the Charge.

Otherwise yes, that's all on the up and up.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 961):

Okay, so Muse could theoretically charge a guy.  Durst is capable of it, but shy of an NPC doing the spontaneous talent thing, he doesn't have any kind of explosion Charge that would actually put his abilities to use, right?

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 962):

Cool, so Durst and I charge. I also just did a meditation that will allow me to go at top of initiative order when Watcher rolls us for it. That means after our surprise round, I'll have two fighting feats to play with inside the core before the guards do anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Mon 12 June 2017.

Since we seem to be balancing on a knife's edge here, I'm okay burning the karma to insta-blow up three of the guard's guns. If I can get into their area and act in the surprise round, I should be able to pull it off. But I'll need somebody else to jump in and take care of the fourth gun, otherwise I'm going to be in trouble. I don't have very much HP left, and if Abraxas goes down before we take the core, I'm going to be pretty useless.

Correct.

Personally, I'd love to watch Xander attempt to lug the inert chassis of Abraxas around looking for a spacecab... :)

How do we do this? I'm all for grabbing a gun or whatever, just tell me what you need.

In reply to Muse (msg # 967):

You can only enter a new area and take an action in the same turn if you Charge (or use a power that confers this same benefit).

You could try to sneak closer to put off having to trigger your surprise round, but that could backfire spectacularly.

In reply to Xander (msg # 964):

Also, is the AI core and exterior two separate areas?  I've been assuming the guards are spread 2 and 2.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 969):

AND are there any other countermeasures or defenses, turrets, etc according to what Sophia pulled?

In reply to Muse (msg # 970):

2 guards outside the door. 2 guards inside the door. The inside of the door is the central core. There may be additional compartmentalization within that room but it isn't a structural thing you'd see on a blueprint.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 971):

but are they two areas for the sake of combat?

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 972):

The room is different than the hallway, so the guards are in adjacent areas yes.

Okay then if we want to seize the element of surprise I think our best vet is for me to shoot the gun out of one of the guards's hands as the signal. then Xander charges the other guard to attempt a slam or stun.  Muse runs into the core along with Durst and they work to disable those two guards while Timon runs into range to provide support fire against Xander's target and the disarmed guard.  round two will start with muse wrassling and/or disarming the two interior guards while Durst cleans up the possible third (if Xander slams him inside) or detonates one for esged damage against the other (that muse can hopefully tank?).

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 974):

So it's Billy, Xander, me, Durst, Timon?

Two shots and I'm toast. I'm willing to take one for the team here.

I can grab, stun, disarm, or just plain pull aggro to me.

In reply to Muse (msg # 975):

Okay, so I suggest you try taking their guns.

Oh I guess one last wrinkle, does Muse have at least RM endurance?  otherwise he can't make it to the Core in one surprise round.
edit: aaactually, he can only make it to where the first two guards are even with RM endurance and the whole plan falls apart, doesn't it?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:30, Tue 13 June 2017.