Hello.  Let's use this thread for the game set up and character creation.

Thanks.

In reply to Deviant Code (msg # 1):

Hey.

Added you as Captain for now.

Let's do use the Mongoose version.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/b.../161_24851/Traveller

They don't do a great job of differentiating the editions, so it will be the one with the swoop across the lettering in the logo.

You will need the core rulebook.  The companion does have some interesting creation options, but it's optional.  I picked it up and can feed you the relevant bits if you're interested but don't want to drop another $30.

A couple of things related to the way I prefer character creation.  They aren't biggies.

First, starting age.  The way it's structured, everyone in the party ends up starting the game roughly around the same age.  Which has always seemed kinda wonky to me.  Also, I think it can create a tendency for people to muster out of the career paths around the same time.  Something I also don't find realistic.

So here is what I usually do:

-If you're going in to University for your first term action, start at age 18.
-If you want to enroll in Military Academy for your first term action, you can start at ages 16-18. Your choice
-If you go for the draft as a first term option, you may start at age 16-18.  Your choice.
-If you simply go for career as your first term action, you may start at age 16-18.  Your call.

The Companion I mentioned does have some packages which bundle your background and first term together.  Things like being raised in a Belter colony, being a street urchin, and some others.  Selecting one gives you a set skill list and starts you off at the second term with your first career choice.

There are also some alternatives to the University/Military Academy model.

Anyway, like I said, if you want to know more about that and don't want to pick up the book, let me know and I can give you the info.

Second, the Connection Rule.

All I ask is that you keep the connections logical.  Don't sweat it if you can't make them either.  I've run campaigns where the first game was actually getting all the players together and I think it makes for a tighter, more cohesive group.  But that's just me.

How many PCs were you considering starting with?

Don't worry about trying to create a full starship crew.  I can add NPCs as needed.  My recommendation is to shoot for 3-5 PCs to start with.  Your call though.

I will be offline the rest of today.  In general, I'll be offline Sundays and Wednesdays.  But  that probably won't kick back in until January.

Anyway, I'll check the board tomorrow evening.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Thanks.

So rolling in order:

Character #1:
STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 8
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 3

So he's a bit average. Jack of all but definitely has a lack of education and very low social standing. I think regular university is out. He strikes me as a hard luck kid who would have succeeded just fine if he hadn't been born into absolute poverty. He has a lot of willpower and drive but he could only develop so much with the resources at hand.

Background Skills: Flyer 0, Streetwise 0, Athletics 0, Carouse 0, Drive 0, Mechanic 0, Survival 0, Medic 0

I'm thinking he's going to try and be a pilot in the navy. He was born into a pit and so flying across the stars is the ultimate rejection of his past and conquest of his future.

So applying for Military Academy - Navy.

Aaaannd he doesn't make it. So he's going to apply for it as a regular enlisted. And he makes it!

Basic Training adds: Pilot 0, Vacc Suit 0, Athletics 0, Gunner 0, Mechanic 0, Gun Combat 0

Let's see if he can make officer...AND HE MAKES IT. All that hard work and dedication is really paying off! He is now a junior officer in the navy. Focusing on being a pilot so I think he's a fighter jock.

So let's see if he survives...He does! Also his ship serves in a notable engagement so he'll pick up Pilot 1. And he advances. He is now a Sublieutenant.

Pausing here to start on with the next character but so far this is their stats:


STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 8
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 3

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Mechanic 0
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Vacc Suit 0

Naval Officer: Rank 2
Career Path: Navy (1 term)
Age: 22
This message was last updated by the player at 23:30, Sun 08 Dec 2019.

STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

For this one, with your permission, I'd like to make a straight up mercenary/pirate. Born on the fringe, criminal through and through. Malnutrition factors into their low END.

Picking up Athletics 0, Electronics 0, Flyer 0, Language 0, Mechanic 0, Streetwise 0, Vacc Suit 0

Not bothering for pre-term and just going straight Rogue -> Pirate. Passed.

Gains Deception 0, Recon 0, Gun Combat 0, Stealth 0.

Survival? NOPE! Rolled a 3-> Betrayed. He doesn't end up as a prisoner but has been kicked out of the pirate gang. I'll have to think about the rival or enemy.

STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Gun Combat 0
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

18:01, Today: Captain rolled 39 using 12d6 ((3,3,3,4,5,2)).

STR: 6
DEX: 7
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 7
EDU: 7

Oh great, another average potato. At least this one has decent education and social. I could look at gearing him towards either a science roll or a noble roll.

Skills: Art 0, Athletics 0, Carouse 0, Drive 0, Electronics 0, Flyer 0, Language 0, Profession 0, Science 0, Streetwise 0

First off, rolling for Uni...oohhh just missed it. I'll try for Entertainer. We'll go for Performer. He'll be a dancer!

Picking up Deception 0, Persuade 0, Steward 0.

Rolling for survival: Pass. Event: Oooh Life Event. New Relationship! Gain one ally.

Rolling for advancement: Nope.


So

STR: 6
DEX: 7
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 7
EDU: 7

Art 0
Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Deception 0
Drive 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Language 0
Persuade 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Steward 0
Streetwise 0

+1 Ally.

I think this is going towards the face or, if some lucky rolls happen, the money of the group. Could go a lot of ways but I think I'll stick to entertainer for another term.

18:10, Today: Captain rolled 40 using 12d6 ((1,6,3,3,1,6,1,5,5,3,5,1)).

STR: 7
DEX: 6
END: 7
INT: 6
EDU: 8
SOC: 6

Another bundle of average. Oh well, I guess that's why they call it average. High education though, might try a mechanic or scholar on this one. I'm thinking middle class urbworlder. Not the brightest but has good focus and can study hard.

Admin 0, Animals 0, Art 0, Athletics 0, Electronics 0, Flyer 0, Language 0, Mechanic 0, Medic 0, Profession 0, Science 0

Trying for University. We'll do University. HEY finally someone gets into higher education! They'll go mechanics so I'll pick Engineering (TBD) 1, Astrogation 0. They pick up EDU+1. Now to see if they graduate... NOPE. They picked a very demanding path and just couldn't cut it. I'd say they graduate with a "general studies" degree but nothing of note. They'll try and get a career in technical spot anyway and apply for the Navy. Might be an easy way to tie in to Char #1: Pass. Going Engineering

Getting basic training: Pilot 0, Vacc Suit 0, Gunner 0, Gun Combat 0

Survival? Nope! Cryo mishap. I'll lower STR -1 and elect to continue in the career. I don't think I get an advancement option.


STR: 7
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Animals 0
Art 0
Athletics 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0
This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Another round in the navy for our Pilot/possible Captain.

We'll do Personal development hoping to turn an 8 into a 9...

+1 END...alright. Was hoping for help with the Dex survival check.

Survival? Pass
Event: Abuse your position for profit. Yep! He is poor and from lower class and is hungry for credits. +1 benefit roll.

Advancement: Yep. He is now a Lieutenant.


STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 9
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 3

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Leadership 1
Mechanic 0
Melee (Blade) 1
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Vacc Suit 0

Naval Officer: Rank 3 (Lieutenant)
Career Path: Navy (2 terms) (+1 benefit roll)
Age: 26

So having just been betrayed and narrowly escaping capture he'll try going the other side of things and signing up for law enforcement. What better place to lie low then the belly of the beast? Pass! For basic training he'll pick up Investigate

Survival? Nope! Severely injured. Uh oh. Reducing Strength by 1D: 2. I'll pay that off with medical so taking on 100k of medical to avoid the reduction.

STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Investigate 0
Gun Combat 0
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit 0

All in all a wash of 4 years. Back to being a criminal!

Age: 26
Career: Rogue (1 term), Law Enforcement (1 term). (0 benefits rolls)

Let's check in on our dancer.

Term 2: Performer Skills. Deception. Nice.

Survival? Pass
Event: Ooo criticize a politician. Totally doing that. ANnnd it's a fail. So +1 to a skill (persuade) and roll on mishap. Public opinion turns. -1 SOC

STR: 6
DEX: 7
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 7
SOC: 6

Art 0
Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Deception 1
Drive 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Language 0
Persuade 1
Profession 0
Science 0
Steward 0
Streetwise 0

+1 Ally.

Age: 26
Career: Entertainer (2 terms) (1 benefit roll)

Now our engineer. Another round in the Navy.

Engineering/Gunnery Skill: +1 Engineer...yawn
Survival: Nope!
Mishap: Death of fellow crew! I'll say he was guilty. Again just hard focus only pays off so much. Gains +1 Flyer though

STR: 7
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Animals 0
Art 0
Athletics 0
Electronics 0
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

Age: 26
Rank: Ex-Crewman (Navy 2) (1 benefit roll)

So the only success of the bunch goes for term 3 in the Navy:

Personal Development: +1 STR. He spends a lot of time working out apparently. Wish he spent more time in the simulators or studying...

Survival: Pass
Event: Joins a gambling ring. +1 Gambling and I'll risk it. Someone has to make some money around here. Oooh...failed. Oh well.
Advancement: Yep. He is now a Commander!

STR: 8
DEX: 8
END: 9
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 3

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gambling 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Leadership 1
Mechanic 0
Melee (Blade) 1
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Tactics (Naval) 1
Vacc Suit 0

Naval Officer: Rank 4 (Commander)
Career Path: Navy (3 terms)
Age: 30
This message was last updated by the player at 01:30, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Back to being a criminal! Arrrr!

Qualification: Pass
Personal Development: +1 DEX
Survival: Nope.
Mishap: Betrayed again! He escapes capture though

STR: 7
DEX: 9
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Investigate 0
Gun Combat 0
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Enemy
+1 Rival

Age: 30
Benefits: None

Alright new career: Merchant (Broker). Shifting from creating performances to being a manager of sorts instead.

Qualification: Pass
Basic Training: Broker
Survival: Pass
Event: Life Event
Life Event: Travel: +2 to next Qualification event
Advancement: Nope

STR: 6
DEX: 7
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 7
SOC: 6

Art 0
Athletics 0
Broker 0
Carouse 0
Deception 1
Drive 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Language 0
Persuade 1
Profession 0
Science 0
Steward 0
Streetwise 0

+1 Ally.

Age: 30
Career: Entertainer (2 terms) (1 benefit roll), Broker (1 term)

And I'm mustering out. Rolling 2 benefits:

Exits with 40,000credits and a gun (worth 10,000cr or less).
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Alright so drummed out of the Navy he'll sign up as a merchant marine.

Qualification: Pass
Basic Training: Drive 0
Survival: Pass
Event: Useful Ally! I'll take DM+4 to next advancement check
Advancement: Pass! He is now a Senior Crewman

STR: 7
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Animals 0
Art 0
Athletics 0
Drive 0
Electronics 0
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 1
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Ally
Age: 30
Rank: Ex-Crewman (Navy 2) (1 benefit roll), Merchant Marine Rank 1

Char #1 might actually become a captain!

Personal Development: +1 End. Man he just keeps working out!
Survival: Pass
Event: Notable Engagement. +1 Gunner
Advancement: Pass. He is now a Captain and gets instant social status.
Aging: -1 STR, -1 END


STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 9
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 10

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gambling 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 1
Leadership 1
Mechanic 0
Melee (Blade) 1
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Tactics (Naval) 1
Vacc Suit 0

Naval Officer: Rank 5 (Captain)
Career Path: Navy (4 terms)
Age: 34

Ugh this mess. He'll try and become a Scout this time.

Qualification: Failed -> Drifter (Scavenger)
Basic Training: Melee (Unarmed) 0
Survival: Pass
Event: Life on the Edge. +1 Gun Combat
Advancement: Nope
Aging: Pass

STR: 7
DEX: 9
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Investigate 0
Gun Combat 1
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Melee (Unarmed) 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Enemy
+1 Rival

Age: 34
Career: Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Agent (LEO) - 1, Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Drifter - Scavenger - 1
Benefits: 1 driter

Alright now lets check on our engineer.

Survival: Pass
Event: Gain Electronics 1
Advancement: Nope and discharged w/ benefits.
Aging: -1 Physical

STR: 6
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Animals 0
Art 0
Athletics 0
Drive 0
Electronics 1
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 1
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Ally
Age: 34
Career: Navy 2, Merchant Marine 2
Benefits: Navy 1, Merchant Marine 2

Having reached the high point of a career he has decided to retire and enjoy the perks of his social status for awhile becoming a socialite/dilettante coasting on his success as a decorated veteran. Secretly he's not sure he can last longer in the Navy with his declining skills.

Qualifications: Automatic (yay)
Basic Training: Diplomat 0
Survival: Pass
Event: Conspiracy of nobles tries to recruit him. Refuse to make them an enemy.
Advancement: Nope
Aging: Pass

STR: 7
DEX: 8
END: 9
INT: 8
EDU: 5
SOC: 10

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Diplomat 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gambling 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 1
Leadership 1
Mechanic 0
Melee (Blade) 1
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Tactics (Naval) 1
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Enemy - Conspiracy of Nobles

Naval Officer: Rank 5 (Captain)
Career Path: Navy (4 terms), Noble 1
Benefits: Navy 4, Noble 1
Age: 38
This message was last updated by the player at 02:19, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Another round of Drifter before mustering out.

Skill: Astrogation
Survival: Pass
Event: Forcibly Drafted. DOH!
Advancement: Pass!
Aging: Pass

STR: 7
DEX: 9
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Astrogation 1
Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Investigate 0
Gun Combat 1
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Melee (Unarmed) 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit 1

+1 Enemy
+1 Rival

Age: 38
Career: Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Agent (LEO) - 1, Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Drifter (Scavenger) - 2
Benefits: 2+1 drifter
This message was last edited by the player at 02:25, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Alright. Engineer time.

Advanced Education Skill: Astrogation 1
Survival: Pass
Event: Legal Trouble. Gaining Advocate 1. No Prison
Advancement: Yes. He is now a 4th officer.
Aging: Pass

STR: 6
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Advocate 1
Animals 0
Art 0
Astrogation 1
Athletics 0
Drive 0
Electronics 1
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 1
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Ally
Age: 34
Career: Navy 2, Merchant Marine 3
Benefits: Navy 1, Merchant Marine 3+1

Skill: Personal Development - Melee
Survival: Pass
Event: Gain powerful and charismatic noble as an ally. +1 Leadership
Advancement: Pass!
Aging: -1 STR

STR: 6
DEX: 8
END: 9
INT: 9
EDU: 5
SOC: 10

Athletics 0
Carouse 0
Diplomat 0
Drive 0
Flyer 0
Gambling 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 1
Leadership 2
Mechanic 0
Melee (Blade) 2
Medic 0
Pilot 1
Streetwise 0
Survival 0
Tactics (Naval) 1
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Enemy - Conspiracy of Nobles
+1 Ally - powerful and charismatic noble

Naval Officer: Rank 5 (Captain)
Career Path: Navy (4 terms), Noble 1
Benefits: Navy 4+3 (+1 to rolls), Noble 2+1
Age: 42

Benefits: 75,000cr, +1 INT, TAS Membership, 4 ship shares

Not a bad position for the captain to be in.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:33, Mon 09 Dec 2019.

Draft - Merchant Marines
Basic Training Skill: Steward 0
Survival: Nope
Mishap: Bad deals. Still get a benefits roll.


STR: 7
DEX: 9
END: 4
INT: 7
EDU: 4
SOC: 5

Astrogation 1
Athletics 0
Deception 0
Electronics 0
Flyer 0
Investigate 0
Gun Combat 1
Language 0
Mechanic 0
Melee (Unarmed) 0
Recon 0
Stealth 0
Steward 0
Streetwise 0
Vacc Suit 1

+1 Enemy
+1 Rival
+2 allies


Age: 42
Career: Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Agent (LEO) - 1, Rogue (Pirate) - 1, Drifter (Scavenger) - 2
Benefits: 2+1 drifter, 1 merchant marine.

Benefits: 5000cr, +2 Allies, +1 Weapon,

Skills: +1 Electronics
Survival: Pass
Event: +1 Contact
Advancement: Pass! He is now a 3rd officer
Aging: pass

STR: 6
DEX: 6
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 9
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Advocate 1
Animals 0
Art 0
Astrogation 1
Athletics 0
Drive 0
Electronics 2
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 1
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Ally
+1 Contact

Age: 42
Career: Navy 2, Merchant Marine 4
Benefits: Navy 1, Merchant Marine 4+2

---

Skills: +1 Electronics
Survival: Pass
Event: Advanced Training (failed)
Advancement: Pass! He is now a 2nd officer
Aging: -1 DEX

STR: 6
DEX: 5
END: 6
INT: 6
EDU: 12
SOC: 6

Admin 0
Advocate 1
Animals 0
Art 0
Astrogation 1
Athletics 0
Drive 0
Electronics 3
Engineer 1
Flyer 1
Gun Combat 0
Gunner 0
Language 0
Mechanic 1
Medic 0
Pilot 0
Profession 0
Science 0
Vacc Suit 0

+1 Ally
+1 Contact

Age: 46
Career: Navy 2, Merchant Marine 5
Benefits: Navy 1, Merchant Marine 5+2

Mustering Out: 11000cr, +1 blade, +3 EDU, 1 Ship Share

I still need to work on connections and consolidate everything but here is my attempt at that:

Character 1 = Navy Guy
Character 2 = Drifter
Character 3 = Artist
Character 4 = Merchant


Navy Guy is dating Artist. I'm thinking its a recent thing and a bit of a mid-life crisis. Navy met Artist while Navy was doing the celebrity circuit and ended up leaving Navy's family to be with Artist around the time Artist was thinking about leaving the Brokering.

Navy Guy served on the same ship as Merchant. They drifted apart but Navy knew that Merchant got a bad rap for the accident.

Merchant and Drifter know each other because when Drifter was drafted they served on Merchant's ship.

Artist and Drifter know each other from Drifter's LEO days.

---

What ends up happening is that this whole ship on the edge of space is actually Artists's idea. They wanted to see the stars and here comes Navy with their fat naval commission and celebrity status. Artist seduces Navy and they run away for a life on the rim.

What Navy hasn't told Artist is that Navy didn't flee because they are a sucker but because that powerful coalition of nobles that Navy pissed off was about to drop the hammer and so Navy had to GTFO. In comes hot Artist with an idea to be off-the-grid adventurers/smugglers/pirates and the stars have aligned.

Mechanic and Navy are old friends and have stayed in touch. When Navy needed an engineer to trust they reached out to Mechanic and offered them the ability to jump several rungs in the ladder as XO. Mechanic has always been upset that they lost several years due to the cryo accident and blames that for why their career was always behind the curve. While Merchant had some cash saved away it just wasn't where they thought they would be pushing 50 so some under the table dealings is a way to recoup that.

Drifter is just desperate for a job. Drifter just applied for a job and Merchant picked the name out saying they worked with them. Drifter turns out to be the main source of underworld knowledge for the group with their background in piracy, law enforcement and scavenging.

In reply to Captain (msg # 26):

Let's deal with the mechanical side of the connections first:

To get the bonus from the Connection Rule, you have to be able to link a rolled event to each character.

The Navy Guy was probably a witness or was an officer on the ship at the time Merchant had the accident.  So I can see a connection there.  They'd get the bonus for Term 2.

The other connections are connections based on locations.  No bonus thus far.  If you can give me more detail, we can reassess.

For example:  on the Artist/Drifter connection, maybe the Drifter's accident was while he was chasing a suspect who turned out to be a politician's son.  The Artist saw the incident and disclosed what she saw to a news service.  The politician of course pulled out the stops and got the Drifter fired (claiming he was being reckless during the pursuit and had no evidence to be chasing his son) and orchestrated the blowback on the Artist.

That's just an example.  If you don't want to worry about it, that's fine as well.  Just make sure you take the bonus skill for Navy and Merchant on Term 2.

I like the backstory thus far.  It gives me some meat to work with.

From what I've seen, Artist went to work as a talent scout/agent, correct?

Also, Captain has 4 ship shares and Merchant has 1.

Let me review the rules on ships in this edition, but that may be enough to cover the down payment so we won't need to mess with a 'how they got their ship' story.  Which is fine.  Those can be fun, but it's really the Traveler equivalent of 'you need us to kill some rats in your basement'.

Also, are they all humans?  That's fine.  But if any are Vargar or Aslan, make the adjustments on the stats.

Yeah I read that connections are tied to events so I'll be doing that tomorrow. Getting through that character creation as is was a bit of a burn out for me so I needed a day of R&R to recoup.

They are all human. I thought about making Drifter a Vargar but in the end I'm fine with them all being human for now. New characters introduced later on might be aliens but for now I see it just being humans.

Artist was a high class performer. Space ballet or something equivalent however she never really cracked into the scene and when she decided to take a political stand and failed she washed out. After that she became a talent agent for a few years, just long enough to land her a meal ticket.

Here are their names:

Captain: Ledo Typhin

Artist: Tepha Pezal

Drifter: Silver (obviously not her real name)

Mechanic: Gary "Rig" Rigan

If you add them as characters and unlock their character sheets I can move their final stats over and start figuring out equipment.

---

One last thing, what kind of game are you thinking? I need to pick a skill group but I don't know if this is going to be a purely space themed or a general purpose one. Any skill group you think would fit best?

In reply to Captain (msg # 29):

Yeah, Traveler Character Creation is somethin'.

Love the names Silver and Tepha.  Those are both nice fits.

I'm still considering the game.  However, roughly speaking:

20%  Personal/Gun Combat
10%  Ship Combat
30%  Personal Interactions
10%  Exploration
20%  Intrigue/Mystery
10%  Researching

Overall stories will fall in to three buckets:

Capers.  The criminal part of the game.  I'll provide you rumors, contacts, etc.  The crew will decide what opportunites they want to explore.  They'll do the research and plan the heist.  And then they'll execute it.

Mundane Life.  Dealing with more run of the mill stuff like paying the ship mortgage.  Fencing goods.  Maybe some PC specific stories.

The Overreaching Arch.  There will be an overreaching arch to the game.  Still working on that one.

---

Skill package wise: Traveler, Trader, or Criminal.  Investigator or Explorer might be options too.

You can hire NPCs to fill in skill gaps.  That of course can come with it's own set of issues, but you'll work through them I'm sure.

One last note worth mentioning:  make sure you've read the Trade chapter.  You will have to make mortgage payments on your ship.  Even with the crime, make those trade rolls!  Getting your ship repo'd sucks.

That's probably more information than you wanted.  Sorry.  I'm really tired.

I'll check in with you tomorrow.

Sounds good! If you can add those four characters I can get their character sheets situated.

In reply to Captain (msg # 31):

Should all be there now.  Let me know if something is missing or askew.  Thanks.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 32):

Just to let everyone know:  I will be traveling for the holidays starting December 19th returning around December 28th.  I may post sporadically, depending on my access to internet and schedule.

I will be keeping to my usual schedule until then.

Thanks.

Okay connecting events:

Ledo <--> Tepha through the nobles. The politican that Tepha spoke up against is part of the cabal that Ledo rejected. That commonality is how they connected and bonded to form a relationship.

From that Ledo gained +1 Diplomat and Tepha gained +1 Persuade

Ledo <--> Rig served in combat together. From that Ledo gained +1 Pilot and Rig gained +1 Engineer.


Tepha <--> Silver know each other through a Silver's brother. Tepha dated a Silver's brother who is a pretty big shot in the criminal underground. While Silver had to leave him behind because of the whole "betrayal and becoming a cop thing" Tepha stayed in contact with him.

Tepha gained +1 Art and Silver gained +1 Streetwise


Rig <--> Silver know each other because when Silver was drafted she served on board Rig's merchant ship.

Silver gained +1 Vacc Suit and Rig gained +1 Mechanic.

---

Going with skill group Traveller.

Ledo picks up Gun Combat 1, Deception 1
Tepha picks up Pilot 1, Electronics 1
Silver picks up Gunner 1, Stealth 1
Rig picks up Medic 1, Persuade 1

---

Equipment is going to take a long time. Ledo just has a ton of credits to spend and I'm still getting a handle on the system to know what he will pick up.

In the meantime any thoughts on what kind of ship they'll have?

Minor fix: I just read the rule that if you have the gambler skill you get +1 to your cash rolls so Ledo has 110,000 from his Navy rolls.


Also according to RAW you can purchase up to 2,000 in personal equipment automatically. I'm putting together some shopping lists for basic things like autolaundries and hacking software etc.

I guess we're starting off fresh with the new ship so I get that we wouldn't have a professional arsenal on hand but they will definitely be looking to purchase basic tools, medical supplies and equipment.

For a ship in High Guard there is the Free Trader Type-A.

With a few modifications I think it will work out fine (with Net cost and reduction in tonnage)

Improve Civilian Sensors to Improved Military Sensors: (1.3MCr, 4 power, 2 tons)
Add Pulse Laser Turret (1 MCr, 5 power, 1 ton)
Add Ion Barbette (6 MCr, 10 power, 5 tons)
Add Holographic Controls (2.5MCr)
Add Cargo Scoop (2 tons, 0.5MCr)
Add Forced Linkage TL 12 (2 tons, 0.1MCr)
Convert Power Plant to TL 8 Fusion 7ton (70 power, 3.5MCr) (net -0.5MCr, -3 tons)
===============================================

Adjusted Cargo: 67 tons of cargo, 56.242MCr purchase price.

-5 ship shares = 51.242MCr mortgage = 213,508.33 credits per month on top of
4,686.83 maintenance, 16,000 in life support = 234,195.66 due each month. Oof.

I might think about ripping out some of those low berths but I think I could use them as an impromptu brig? Not really that secure but they're not murderers either so if the other ship is crippled they can just put the crew in low berth and drop them off at the nearest port.

Ledo’s backstory is up in the description.

Everyone has full bios now. Feel free to check them out when you can.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 36):

The connections are fine.

I don't have High Guard at the moment.  It sounds like it's the Free Trader from the core book with a few upgrades though.

My personal recommendation is to go with a far trader.  The Jump-2 engine can be very handy.  However, a Free Trader is always a solid choice.

That much of a mortgage payment for a first ship is a little on the stout side in most games.  Consider that a vanilla Free Trader from the core book with the 5 ship shares works out to about 165 a month.  That being said, it all depends on how much hustle you've got.  I played in one group where we bought a lab ship which is crazy expensive and managed to keep up with the payments for a good part of the game.  Fun times.

Anyway, let me make a suggestion:  Let's table the ship buying for now.  Let's run an introductory caper.  That will let me reacquaint myself with running Traveler and give you a chance to run through the system outside the ship operations and combat.  I can also test out the mechanics of the caper system I'm thinking of using.

After that, you can decide what kind of ship might be right for you.  I'll even give you the chance to earn another ship share.

Interested?

Oh I'd also hold up on buying too much gear.  Make sure the ones who can use weapons have decent ones.  Make sure those who use tools have them.  Otherwise, you can buy what you may need as you go.

I'll allow you reasonable access to markets both legal and illegal for the first few games.  After that, you'll need to start thinking ahead for each scenario.  Fair enough?

Both ideas sound great!

Also I will elaborate on these NPCs later on but for now here is a cheat sheet for various NPC contacts/enemies etc.


(For Ledo)
Sang Real - Enemy - A coalition of powerful nobles that use legal and illegal methods to steer the Imperium. They approached Ledo for membership and he wholeheartedly rejected them so they killed his career.

Baron Yumi Von Arger - Ally - A powerful and charismatic noble. Von Arger is a voice for reason and change within the Imperium and secretly is working to stymie and break up the Sang Real conspiracy.

(For Tepha)

Rezan - Ally - Ex-boyfriend and Silver's younger brother. Ran a small organized crime syndicate before Tepha accidentally got them busted up. Despite their history and break up Rezan still cares for Tepha (and his sister although indirectly) so despite his better judgement is still willing to extend help and information when he can.

(For Silver)
Xar "Siri" Dano - Enemy - A pirate from Silver's first gang. A drug addict, he betrayed the pirate group to beat a drug charge. What the police don't know is that he is also a mass murderer being responsible for several massacres of crew despite the pirate boss letting them go. The police only know about the drug charges so Xar, nicknamed Serial that evolved into Siri because of his body count, has been going around making sure that the loose ends are all tied up. If/when he finds out Silver is alive she could jeopardize his freedom even all these years later.

Detective Haelee Dupin - Rival - Undercover cop that broke up Silver's second pirate gang. Dupin knows that Silver escaped and could be trying to hunter her down knowing she is a career criminal.

Nishi Malekko - Ally - Ran the salvage crew that Silver was a part of for years before being drafted. The two have a close bond and if Silver hadn't gotten hired onto the crew she probably would have gone right back to Nishi. Nishi is happy that Silver's got a shot at a better life and will help out however she can.

Virato Moyle - Ally - Captain of free trader Allegro that Silver served on when drafted. The two became lovers while she was on board although both knew it wouldn't be a long term thing. Still they parted on good terms.

---

(for Rig)

Captain Johen Slivek - Ally - Johen and Rig bunked together in the Navy and were best friends for years. When Rig left because of the accident Johen stayed and rose through the ranks, now commanding an Imperium Cruiser. The two stay in touch and even grab drinks together whenever their paths cross.

Katrina Rigan - Contact - Rig's estranged wife. She is part of the Imperium bureaucracy regarding ship registration and licensing. They met after Rig left the navy, got married and then suffered through 20 years of long distance relationship. At this point they both agree that their marriage is over, despite neither of them actually talking about it, but they stay together while the children are still at home. Once they leave for higher university Rig expects to be served divorce papers. Until then he can still sometimes wheedle information and services out of her when he needs some paperwork fast tracked through the system.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 42):

Let me look the character sheets and bios over.  I'll put up the Rumors board (more information to come) and the Lounge threads tomorrow.  We can start on the trial run game.  Due to the holidays, we may not be able to get far at first.  But we can work our way through.

Looking forward to it.  Thanks.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 43):

Renamed Character Creation OOC.

When you post in a story thread, I ask the following:

Use colored text for dialog.  Any color besides Orange.  If possible, using a different color for each of your PCs would be great, but is not required.  It just helps me when I'm reading posts if the dialog stands out from any narrative description.

Orange text should be used for OOC content that needs to be added, like die roll results or questions.

I gave you a temporary base of operations:  a back room at The Lucky Lizzy.  Atherton is a reasonably trustworthy friend of Ledo's.  At least as far as Ledo knows.  But the rooms are guaranteed to be bug free.

I don't know how much you've read about the Imperium, but here is a little system background:

The Five Sisters subsector is in the Spinward Marches:  a section of the Imperium set behind The Great Rift.  Five Sisters is currently border territory.  It neighbors systems controlled by the Aslan, the Zhodani Empire, and the Sword Worlds.

The Five Sisters is more or less a strong hold for the Imperial Navy.  The 258th Fleet patrols the subsector and does a reasonable job in keeping it safe.

Major industrial powers are Blacklight Technologies, Drexline Industries, CoFalc Conglomerate, and Ariendal Laboratories.

Karin is one of the main systems in Five Sisters.  It is Earth-similar in it's atmo and make up.  The Navy has a large base in orbit.  There is also an independent high port (High Ports are orbital space stations) as well as an extensive Class V starport (or planet side port) at it's southern polar cap.

Karin has always had a history of unstable political regimes.  The situation got so bad that 50 years ago, the Navy interdicted the planet, put it under marital law, and has appointed a new governor for it every ten years since.

The population hasn't taken to this arrangement too well.  The CFA and other freedom fighter organizations have sprung up.  Every few years, one of the groups tries to stage some major operation.  Some have succeeded to some extent, but for the most part the Navy keeps them under wraps.

The Lucky Lizzy is located in the starport.

Wow this is all awesome! I am visiting relatives this weekend but I will try to consume it all ASAP

In reply to Captain (msg # 48):

No worries.  Talk to you tomorrow or Tuesday then.  Thanks.

Alright just to clarify, Rig & Silver are going to be looking into the dock worker and Tepha and Ledo are going to be looking into the trade show to see if there is anything of particular value worth stealing.

In reply to Captain (msg # 50):

Okie dokie.  Let's dig in then.

Usually what I'll need is some kind of idea of how they are looking in to things or researching.  And maybe a better idea of what they are looking in to.

Let's start with Rig and Silver.

Are they looking for Lettie?  Or just asking around to see if this is a viable opportunity (to Tepha's point, this could be a set up)?  Maybe both?

Second, what's their methodology.  You have a choice here: you can describe what they are doing and leave it to me to figure out what skill check is needed, or you can call the check yourself Ex.  "We're going to go in to the bars and drink it up with every dirty john we can, slipping in questions about Lettie as we get them plastered." Or, "Will try to use Carouse to get info out of the locals".

Here are some suggestions.  It's by no means your set of choices.  But just to help you get started:

>If you want to try to talk to Barney:  Streetwise/Int 5+ to find a contact for him and Persuade/Soc to set up a meeting.  The results of the meeting invitation may vary depending on your roll's results.

>If you want to ask around, you can either hit up the local bars and Carouse/Soc 8+ or try to find an information broker and give up a few creds.  Streetwise/Int 4+

>If you want to look for Lettie, there's Investigation/Int or Soc or Recon/Int.

A couple of things I do that aren't cannon:

>In some situations, you can offer a bribe.  Results depend on the amount of the bribe, but usually, I'll give you some kind of DM bonus to your roll (or penalty if the bribe is considered an insult).

>In some cases, like the Investigation roll under the look for Lettie option, I just ask for a roll and see how well you do.  A natural 12 will always get you some kind of positive result.  A natural 2 will always get you some kind of negative result of varying degrees.


>In your case, because you are a strong writer and because you're having to write for four characters, I am awarding you two +1DM bonuses per story thread that you may use at your discretion.  You can not use the bonuses on the same roll though.

Questions thus far?

Suggestions for the Tepha/Ledo inquiry:

>Tepha could go to a spa she knows of where the women of higher class go.  She'll have to spend some credits to get in the door, but she could Carouse/Soc to ask around about the trade show.

>You could research the security personnel.  Either try to find an underworld contact who might have some info (Streewise/Int 10+) or maybe go to the site, ID one of the security personnel, have Tepha follow him and 'bump into him', and flirt flirt flirt your way to info (Diplomat/Soc or Int)

>You can try to hack into the highport's computer system to try to get a schematic of the event space (Electronics/Int 10+)

>You can also do some general research on the computer to see if you can find any anouncements of items of interest planned for this year's trade show.  (Investigate/Int)

Again, these are just some general ideas to help get you started.  You can let me know here or in the story thread what options you wish to consider pursuing.

Let me know if there are any questions.  Thanks.

This is exactly what I need to move forward. I'll look it over and post IC about their plans of attack.

Quick clarification: when you say high port and low port do you mean high port is an orbital station and low port is planetside? Did I miss that in a write up somewhere?

In reply to Captain (msg # 54):

I think I mentioned it, but I was info dumping on you, so it probably got lost in the shuffle.

Yes.

High Ports will always be orbital stations.

Low Ports (some games call them Down Ports or Planetsides) are ground based.

The 'Star Port' is whatever port in a system that is officially recognized as that system's main port.  Bit like the difference between O'Hare Airport and all the little community airports that dot the Chicago area.

It's not uncommon for a busy hub like Karin to have several ports, both high and low.  It can get confusing.

Also, if you hear the term 'Startown' that's usually in reference to the area around a Low Port.  Usually they're the stereotypical shanty town/ad hoc bazaar you'll see in fiction.

Lucky Lizzy is in the Low Port.  It is in the port proper and not the Startown nearby.

Clear as mud?

Oh and just to keep where everyone currently is straight:

Ledo and Rig are on the high port. Barney and the Convention space are up there.

Silver is talking to someone at the low port.

Tepha used a comm box.  So she can be either high or low, depending on your preference.

Lastly, I think I've mentioned it, but I will be traveling starting tomorrow.

I will definitely be offline tomorrow and Friday. I'll try to post either Saturday or Sunday. After that it will be as I can until I return on the 29th.

Once the New Year starts, I will revert to my usual schedule.  That means I will check boards Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and either Friday or Saturday.  I may check more often as my schedule allows.

Let me know if there are any concerns or requests.  Looking forward to gaming with you.  Thanks.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 57):

I am back.  Thanks.  Hope you had a good Holidays.

Glad to hear it! I too have been out for the holidays and have recently returned. Putting up posts now.

In reply to Captain (msg # 59):

I'm so proud of myself.  I finally got a homemade map to upload on to RPOL.  You have no idea.  It's been 10 years in the making.

Anyway, let me know if you can't access the Group 1 map.  This is the private exhibition hall.  I'll work on the main hall and upload that tomorrow or so.

Let me know what questions you have.  Thanks.

Looks great so far. As a mapmaker myself I appreciate the extra touch of excellent graphics and fine details however I would never turn my nose up at even a simple 5-minute MS Paint drawing.

Taking a quick break to get some questions answered:

1) What are your thoughts about their shopping list: x2 boarding vacc suits and x1 rental transport?

2) Are there security cameras in the bar where Ledo & his team are HQ'd at? Is there a back entrance, secret or otherwise that would let them come and go without anyone in the front noticing?  Just trying to figure out a way to establish their alibi.

3) What kind of security did Molly have? At least from what Silver could eyeball during her visit?

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 62):

1) Both are very doable.   You'll be able to get hands on both.  You will need to decide about what rental transport to use.  But we'll get to that when we get in to the preplanning phase.  Unless you were considering hitting this guy up to provide transport, in which case: probably yes.  You'd have to negotiate that with him though.

2) There are cameras, but they're all controlled by your war buddy.  I don't think he's an ally, so him turning a blind eye might cost you a little something.  But the cameras aren't an issue. There are a few other customers.  So there would be witnesses, if you were considering something going down now.  (I haven't read Ledo's latest post yet).

Yes on back doors.  Two:  one from the kitchen and one from the hallway your private room is located in.  Both let out on to an alleyway that has exits to the street and to another alleyway.  There's also a handy ladder to the roof back there.

3) Silver noticed some goons standing by.  She made three:  two in the street and one close by Molly's office.  Silver would know that Molly's on-hand manpower is based on how busy her shop is:  if she has a lot of calls, less men hanging around waiting for work.

Silver noted cameras on all entrances.  She didn't make any cameras inside the building, but that's odd.

---

Let me know what other questions you may have.  Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Tue 07 Jan 2020.

So the updated plan is to frame the heist on Molly and her crew. Silver can go back and lift some cat hairs pretty easily and them make sure that those are rubbed on the vacc suits prior to the heist. Maybe even have some they can plant strategically in the back room like a bright orange hair on a white surface or something to really help the investigation along.

However the cat hairs are the smoking gun but the cops need to know to even look at Molly in the first place.

There are a couple of ideas I have, not sure what is feasible:

1) Steal Molly's identity for the truck rental.

2) Have two rental vehicles so they can do a hotswap of goods from one to the other and then leave the rental used in the heist at or near Molly's property. Park it someplace nearby illegally briefly long enough to pick up a ticket to make the cops look at that area.

3) Buy two identical pieces of jewelry worth 5,000 credits, give or take. Then to pay for the information on Lettie Silver can "pay" the jewelry to Molly while Ledo wears the copy to the heist. The raiders can make a show of ripping it off of him as part of the heist. A broach or something appropriate for a military uniform. Best part is if things go well Ledo will get the payment back once evidence has been processed.

4) Tepha can claim from the bathroom she overheard a raider use the name "Molly".

So how feasible and what kind of rolls would be necessary for these actions?

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 64):

Some of these are task chains and some are situations we'd have to roleplay through.

1) Stealing Molly's identity.
                             >First, actually steal her identity information.
                                     -Either hack the system to get it.  Electronics/Computer
                                     -Steal her ident card.  Skill depends on how you do it.
                                      DEX for pickpocketing.
                                      Electronics/Sensors and Stealth to break in and copy it.
                             >Second, you'd have to use the identity information:
                                     -Rent it yourself then hack the rental company's systems and
                                      replace her info with yours. Electronics/Computers.
                                     -Come up with a fake ident card one of the ladies could use
                                      but ties back to Molly.  Either buy one using Streetwise to
                                      find a hawker or try to create one yourself.  Electronics/Computer.


2)                           Tactics to find a secluded place to make the swap.  The switch itself
                             would have to be roleplayed out.

3)                           This is largely roleplaying.  I would ask for a Persuade or
                             Profession/Actor role to see how believable your performance is.
                             But since you're actually robbing the place, the bar would be set
                             pretty low.  Waving guns around is always good for a bonus.

4)                           Persuade or Profession/Actor.

That help?

Yes it does.

1) I'll go with the second option. Steal her numbers and then put it on a fake card. Probably have Rig, our resident computer specialist, get it set up.

2) Tactics would be on Ledo to roll. The key is a place that not visible through surveillance and that goes for both the switch as well as the final place to park. Silver will be driving after they remove their vacc suits and she needs to ensure that she could pass as Molly from surveillance which means hiding her scar and dying her hair. Also add a shit ton of cat hair to the cab of the car. That shouldn't be a problem if Molly's cats aren't perfectly groomed. Just by petting them if you're careful you can pull out handfuls of hair at a time. Rub tuna juice or something on her hands and the cats will come sniffing to easy petting.

3) Understood.

4) Understood. Makes me a little sad that I went with ballet dancer instead of actress but /shrug.

---

So what are the next steps, the way I see it:

1. Get 2 pieces of identical jewelry (Ledo can go in and say he is buying it for a mistress but needs to keep it under wraps so he will buy one with a card and then slip the clerk cash for the second one to keep it "off the records"
   
2. Acquire Cat Hair/Pay Molly with jewelry
   
3. Steal Molly's Identity via hacking
   
4. Use fake ID + cash to get vacc suits and 1 rental vehicle
   
5. Use own ID to get rental vehicle for the switch
   
6. Using Tactics park Clean rental for the switch
   
7. Ledo buys 2 tickets to the VIP section
   
8. Rig takes the getaway rental and swings by the convention location and sets up the security splice.
   
9. Ledo & Tepha go to convention
   
10. Ledo goes into VIP section while Tepha wanders around
    
11. Ledo scopes out security and then goes back to main convention center to message Tepha. He does but also uses a coded phrases to alert Rig to security measures (i.e. I'll ask about your left leg if there is one armed guard, your right leg if there are two armed guards etc.)
    
12. Ledo & Tepha regroup and go to the auction where they scope out the items on display (typically auctions put items out so that people can inspect the merchandise and hopefully have pamphlets or something trying to boost up interest in the pieces)
    
13. Auction starts. A few minutes before raid Tepha goes to the restroom and clears it out/locks it from the inside.
    
14. Rig & Silver in vacc suits dock and open up airlock just as security lockdown goes into place. Ledo, sitting close to the door runs up and tries to wrestle Rig's gun away but really is just blocking any clean shots from armed security and gets taken hostage. Has broach stolen and is used as leverage to get security to disarm themselves.
    
15. Silver and Ledo stay in main floor while Rig goes in back with loading cart and starts loading up the work.
    
16. If there aren't security cameras in the restroom AND Tepha has the bathroom secured then she will unscrew the vent and go to the back and help Rig load the cart. Otherwise she will crouch by the vent and play the part of spying on Rig to "overhear" the conversation. Before Rig leaves she will return to bathroom and replace vent.
    
17. Rig comes back out and loads cart into rental. Silver takes Ledo hostage and all three depart.
    
18. Ledo will be dumped at the same spot as the "switch" is happening so he can help load up the other vehicle and he'll say he tried to negotiate with the captures thinking they were going to kill him which will explain the "pause". Rig will bash Ledo in the head with his rifle so Ledo can pretend to have been knocked out giving Rig & Silver plenty of time to stash the vehicle before "waking up" and calling for help.
    
19. Rig & Silver dump the rental tied to Molly, change and Rig will head back for the loot while Silver heads home.
    
20. Ledo will "wake up" shortly before security protocol lifts, he'll run around and try and contact local PD to let them know what happened. Tepha and Ledo get taken into custody and give their witness statements, Ledo will report his brooch stolen etc.
    
21. Rig offloads the loot to a storage unit and returns rental.
    
22. Everyone regroups at HQ and they wait and see what happens next.
    
23. (Hopefully) Police investigation over the next few days turn up the cat hairs + Molly name Tepha slips them plus find the rental tied to Molly and she gets picked up for questioning.

For an alibi, Ledo and Tepha are covered but Rig will rig up (ha!) a simple script that will show him playing video games, browsing the internet and streaming entertainment for the time period for him and Silver. Basically he'll spend a couple of days doing just that for a few hours at a time, record it and then splice together a new activity pattern for him and Silver. Ledo and Tepha will leave out the front while Rig and Silver will leave out the back so it will seem like they are just in the back room playing around all day.

Overall their cover is that Ledo wants to start an exploration company and was hoping to bid on something at the auction that would lead them to undiscovered ruins. Rig and Silver are friends he hired to assist.

---

Phew. Given all that it is up to you to figure out what is considered a routine task vs. what needs to be rolled vs. what needs to be roleplayed and hopefully that gives you an idea of what scenes to plan out for the foreseeable future.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 66):

You are detail oriented, aren'tcha?  That's a good thing.  But I do need to digest this.

Let me look this over tonight.  In the meantime, you can proceed with Armband.

Thanks.

Sorry folks.  Had a long night.  Will post tomorrow.

Alrightie.  Let's get this rolling.

First, steps 1 and 3 since those are more or less rolls.

1 will be a persuade/social test.

3 will be an Electronics(Computer)/Int or Edu, whichever Rig has the higher score in.

We'll go from there.  Thanks.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 69):

I was wondering how you rolled a 1.

I think you may have gotten your games mixed up.  In Traveler, you roll 2d6 and adds any dice mods.  You only 'fumble' or 'botch' on a 2.  'Botch'.  Brings back my Ars Magica days.

Anyhoo.  Do you want to reroll?  Or would you rather stand with the spirit of the results?  An average success for Ledo and a failure for Rigg?

Your call.

Yeah I will reroll. Could you do me a favor and set the default roller to 2d6?

Rerolled. Ledo got a 9, Rig got an 11.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 72):

I did not know I could set a default on the dice roller.  Thanks for pointing that out.

Done.

We hadn't talked about Boons and Banes much.  But here's one.

The idea about the duplicate jewelry was a good one.  I'm giving you a Boon to use whenever the jewelry comes up as a key point.  So basically anytime during this heist a roll comes up and the jewelry can be considered a factor in the action being resolved.  For example:  if you had to convince a police inspector that Molly was involved because this was her brooch, I'd allow you to call in a boon.

Obviously, this boon is only relevant for this caper.

Question?

Let's switch over to the Capers thread I just posted.  Moved the list over there.  Just want to keep things a little neater for my own reference.  Thanks.

No we're good. I'm excited to see a caper play out on Play-by-post. When I typed up the detailed list of steps I realized why it's so hard to get these going in regular games. I don't think this is a particularly complicated one, maybe a bit with the frame-up but overall fairly straight forward but it still results in a lot of steps to think up, track and record.

In reply to Captain (msg # 76):

Hey Sir.  Hope you are well.  Just wanted to see if you were waiting on something from me.  Thanks.

No, just got back from vacation so still catching up on rPoL stuff.

In reply to Captain (msg # 78):

Okie dokie.  Hope you had a good time off.

FYI loving the game. If it takes me a couple of days to respond chances are it's because I'm trying to decide on what action I even want to take. I really enjoy the "choose your own adventure" nature of this where you present a couple of options as helpers for me. I do the same thing with my players and it really helps get people on the same page without the need for a lot of back and forth.

Sorry guys.  On my way to the airport for a last minute business trip.  I will respond to posts Thursday.  Thanks.

In reply to Captain (msg # 80):

Thanks.  Sometimes, with PbP, it's just easier to give some options.  Of course, players always surprise you don't they.

No worries on posting.  As a solo game, we're on your schedule.  As from my last post, I'll be back Thursday.  Thanks.

Also in case its not clear I'm ready to move on to the next part of the heist.

In reply to Captain (msg # 83):

Game Map updated in Group 2.

It only details the Private Auction Hall.  The public space Ledo and Tepha will be starting in is not detailed.  When they head to the Private Auction hall, they will go up the stairs on the north end of the map to area 1.

Speaking of which...Key to the Map

Area 1                  Security Checkpoint.  Lounge.  Bar.  Entry

Area 2                  Ladies Room

Area 3                  Men's Room

Area 4                  The Auction Hall.  Theater style seats for the audience.

Area 5                  The Stage the Auctioneer will work from.

Area 6                  Backstage.

Area 8                  The Air Lock.  Please note the audience will have their backs to
                        this. Also, there are some large potted plants and an aquarium at
                        the back that partially obscure the airlock hatch from the stage.
                        Lastly, anyone on the stage will have lighting shining in their
                        eyes.

Let me know if there are questions about the map please.  Thanks.

In case you forgot who the CFA are.  From an earlier post about Karin:

Karin is one of the main systems in Five Sisters.  It is Earth-similar in it's atmo and make up.  The Navy has a large base in orbit.  There is also an independent high port (High Ports are orbital space stations) as well as an extensive Class V starport (or planet side port) at it's southern polar cap.

Karin has always had a history of unstable political regimes.  The situation got so bad that 50 years ago, the Navy interdicted the planet, put it under marital law, and has appointed a new governor for it every ten years since.

The population hasn't taken to this arrangement too well.  The CFA and other freedom fighter organizations have sprung up.  Every few years, one of the groups tries to stage some major operation.  Some have succeeded to some extent, but for the most part the Navy keeps them under wraps.

/slow clap.

Well played sir. Well played.

So wait and observe until the security lockdown so Captain. Competent doesnt call anything in.

Plan is going to be to cause a scene with the suspicious tech. Ledo will palm his brooch and accuse the tech of stealing it, calling over the guards to arrest the thief.

What is the approximate eta until the security lockdown?

Quick question: how long until Rig & Silver are on the scene? How long until the security lockdown?

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 89):

They are parked outside now.  The lock down should go off in five minutes.  But if Rig wants to make an Electronics/Computer roll, I'm sure he could trigger it now from the craft's onboard computer.

Sorry folks.  Have to travel suddenly.  I should be back online Wednesday.  Thanks

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 91):

I'm back.  Sorry for the delay.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 92):

Hey All.  Just to give everyone a heads up.

I'm having some family issues at the moment.  So if I go dark a day or two without any warning, I will ask for your patience and understanding.  Hopefully the issues will be resolved in the next few weeks.

Thank you.

Let me know if I have to roll for a persuade or something for Rig's distraction. Otherwise combat?

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 94):

That's a reasonable distraction.  One way or the other, someone would look towards the sound.

I'll allow you a boon on both Rig's and Silver's first attack rolls.

Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks.

From her vantage point can Tepha see which one has the remote?

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 96):

Hmmm.  Let's see.  Make a Perception check for me.  Int roll please.  If you get a 6 or above, yes.  If not, no.

Though I should mention:

There are only three left.

Mirik is yelling for someone else to use the remote.

The one Rig hit is busy firing back.

And that third one...no one seems to know what he's up to.

Also how does armor work? Silver and Rig are in boarding vac suits that have very high protection ratings, I think +11. I remember seeing something like a minimum damage threshold. but not sure what is happening in the scene.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 98):

Damage is rolled.  Damage rolls of 6 or greater are solid hits. More on that in a second.

The damage is reduced by the armor's rating.  If the damage roll was a solid hit, then regardless of how good the armor is, at least one point will make it through.  I've always thought of it like the sword may not pierce the chain mail.  But the thump from the hit still causes a bruise.

There are armor piercing weapons. They have a AP rating and will ignore that amount of armor.

Ex.  Silver's wearing armor with a rating of 7.  Mirik has a gun with an AP rating of 2.  He scores a hit on her.  Rolls the damage.  Rolls a 7.  He's going to score 2 points of damage on her because of the AP rating on his gun.  If he didn't have an AP rating on his gun, he'd still score 1 point from the solid hit.

Remember to take damage to your END first.  After that, you can split damage up against either your STR or DEX.

Clear as mud?

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 99):

On a side note:  Saw your advert for a solo super villain game.  I'm running a board for solo supers.  Pop by if you're interested.

link to another game

No pressure though.  My Supers games aren't for everyone.

We'll get to the loot in mo.

Wanted to touch base to see if

1) You had any questions, and

2) Any feedback with how that first sample game ran.

I'll probably follow the same model unless you would prefer otherwise.

After this, we'll need to deal with a fence, cash in the PEAK (it's the optional ship share), and actually purchase your very first ship.

After that, we can see where the game takes us.

Thanks.

I think this worked really well. It's rare to see a heist go off this smoothly on rPoL. Not smooth in-game but via OOC putting a plan together and following it through. Normally when I run a heist game it completely falls apart as soon as someone has to do any sort of freeform planning.

In reply to Captain (msg # 102):

It does help that one guy is running it all.

How has it been on your end? Does it feel at times more of a full game?

In reply to Captain (msg # 104):

I prefer solos for RPoL.  And you've certainly outdone yourself running all four PCs.  So no complaints at all here.

Thanks.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 105):

So let's talk fences.  There are rules for fences in Traveler.  But like the merchant rules, they can get really, really tedious.  So here is the option.

We can do the straight up merchant rules for pawning the goods.  Or we can roleplay it.  You will end up making a roll at the end.  But I set the target level depending on how you handle the negotiations in game.

Your call.

A few notes to keep in mind.

You can't haggle down the price of a ship.  Won't happen.

You will get one ship share from the PEAK plus any others you have from your PCs.  This is your down payment.

Figure out the monthly mortgage payment on the ship using the rules in the corebook.  This number can be very important depending on the GM you're playing with.  And you're playing with one such GM.

When it comes time to buy the ship, I'll post the contract.  You won't see it until then.  Make sure you understand what it says.  I have nailed more PC groups this way than any other.

I have said before you should consider buying the best Jump Drive you can.  IMO, a Far Trader beats a Free Trader.  That's true...depending.

Any ship will do (as long as it has some kind of Jump Drive) if you use it right. So you will need to decide what kind of game you want to angle for.

Example:  A Jump 2 drive will usually let you beat out of a system ahead of the local cops.  Most planetary defense forces have Jump 1s if they have any.  But the Navy will have Jumps 3 or 4.  So are the crimes you're planning so big, you'll get the Navy's attention?

Example:  As outlaws, you have to worry about other outlaws.  Pirates are well armed.  Or they have a number of ships to your one.  Armor and weapons are something to keep in mind.

Example:  In one game I played in, we could only come up with enough ship shares to get a Jump 1. So I and another player made a point of scouting out hidey holes before we'd let the group run off to rob the bank.  That saved our butts on a number of occasions.

All that is to say:  there's no way to buy the perfect ship.  So don't try.  Just buy what you think is the best fit for the way you imagine the game will go that has a mortgage payment you think you might be able to make.

And don't forget to spring for vacc suits.  Oi vey was that a mess.

To answer your fence question let me spin it back on you. Do you want these auction items to have a bigger role in the story? Identifying what they are and how to get the best deal with them? Or are you ready to move on to the grander picture of procuring a ship and getting off-world?

I'm good either way but I think negotiating with a fence could easily take some time. A lot of dialogue in a haggle, a lot of back and forth. Again if you've got some interest or something cool up your sleeve I'm happy to explore that but if the loot is just a pile of macguffins it would be easier to just make some rolls and spin things ahead.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 108):

While I do enjoy busting player's chops in a haggle, I'm good with moving on.  I'll figure out the score haul and get back to you tomorrow.

And I will price out a starship!

So I believe we have 6 ship shares now so just going with a Far Trader as a starting point:

52.2405 Mcr - 6 shares = 46.2405 MCr = 192,668.75 per month.
Add in Maintenance of 4353 and you get a grand total of 197,021.75 /month. Still seems high?

I could cut that down a bit by getting an old ship. A 100+ year old ship would cut that in half...

I don't have very good context on how much we can expect to earn in a month so that might be ridiculously high or perfectly reasonable...

In reply to Captain (msg # 111):

You got lucky on a couple of rolls.  Give yourself another ship share.  And bank another 750K in creds.

This was not a good score.  It was a great score.  Don't expect them all to go like this.

Speaking of, and in answer to your earlier question:

Let's talk about the Trade rules.  Some people love them.  Some people hate them.  Me, I'm in the middle.  But let's take a look at how much you can make just by following the rules as is.

If you look at pages 206-7 in the core rulebook, you can see where taking 6 passangers on Basic Berth to a destination will net you around 93K.

If you move on to trade (starting about page 210) you can see the rules for cargo and brokering.  As an example, if you bought 5 tons of gems at standard price (about 100K in creds) and took them to a 'rich' world, and got an average broker roll, you could expect to make 115K in creds, or a 15K profit.  If the world you're selling them on has a ban on gems, and you're smuggling them in to a very uptight world, you could sell for 145K or a 45K profit.

So if you made a run with those passangers and smuggling some gems, you'd be looking at a score of around 120-130K.  That's most, but not all of your mortgage payment.

If your crew wants to take on legitimate passangers and cargo, they can.  But when you buy your ship, you have to keep in mind you need space for passengers and space for cargo. My advice is:  plan on at least some of your crew's income coming from these kind of sources.

More to come in next post.  Give me a sec.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 112):

One word of warning:  Your first score was designed to give you some ship shares and walking around money.  Don't expect them all the paydays to be that good.  You probably already knew that.  But just to get it out there.

For our game, we're going to be using capers.

I'm going to present you two to five rumors at one time.  I'll have a baseline idea what each job will net you, but won't of course be sharing that with you.

You can investigate to try to get an idea of course.  But that will come down to in game action.

When complete the job, you can try to finagle/bargin for a higher payout.  But that will all come down to roleplay.  No rolls allowed.  It'll be strictly what you earn by sweat of your narrative.

So to sum up:

If you want to use the Trade rules from the corebook for normal trade or smuggling, we can.  You will use the mechanics as they are written and make rolls accordingly.

For anything related to a caper, payouts will all depend on your mission success and roleplay.

Ex.  Your gang hears a rumor a broker's looking for someone to run a blockade.  He needs someone to take 3 battle tanks to World X and deliver them to some shady characters.  When they return with proof of receipt, he'll give you your payday, 100K. This is the caper

Ledo learns that this particular world is also having a festival.  There are a lot of tourists heading that way.  Maybe taking on some passangers would help be a good cover. The fares from the passengers would be determined using the rules from the corebook.  Get them there alive and you get that money

At the same time, Silver and Rig pick up a couple of tons of electronics.

We go through the caper.  Everything works out.  The passangers disembark.  Rig sells the electronics. the sale of the electronics would be handled as per the rules in the rulebook as well.

When you get back to the merchant, Ledo makes an argument that because of all the trouble they went through, the merchant should pay out an additional 25K.

I decide that Ledo makes some valid points, but this merchant is a bigger dick than Ledo is.  The merchant offers another 10K beside the 100K he owes you. Take it or leave it.

Clear as mud?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Thu 12 Mar 2020.

Alright here is a design of ship that I have. Basically take a Far Trader stock and then "piratize" it a bit. I'm thinking this is an impounded pirate/smuggler ship that Ledo used his connections for in order to get off the market with minimal paperwork:



Thoughts?

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 115):

I may be having a senior moment.  R Drive?  Did you mean Jump Drive?  Or are you talking about a reaction drive?

I think streamlined hulls include fuel scoops in this addition.  So you should be good there.

Loading Belt is almost never something that will come up.  I've only known one GM who was adamant about having to have something like that bought and paid for.  You can free up a ton for something else if you want.

The Crane has other uses, or potentially has other uses.  So I think that's fine.

I have to remind myself about the computer rules.  So I'll check back on that.  But I think that will be A-OK.

Yeah for combat it has high speed thrusters which then book says to just add a reaction drive.  Added that and 5 hours of tank time without dipping into fuel reserves needed for a jump.

As for the loading belt I was looking for something cheap to round the cargo to an even 40. If we are just saying the crane let’s you unload and load in a reasonable time I will put that 1t into the fuel tank and free up 10t for cargo. This will reduce the high speed thrust time to only 30 minutes but the point is to do a sudden burst of speed not make it sustained. I could also just do a smaller jump to only burn 20t of fuel and that would mean they have 10 hours of burn. I could also use that extra tonnage to double the reaction drive and make it fast, faster than even most military ships but not for very long....

Eh I am overthinking things. Free up 10t from fuel tank to cargo. Or maybe I will get a 10t inflatable fuel tank so if I know I am going hunting and need the speed I can stock up on fuel....hmmmm.... I like this plan.


Computer let’s you run expertise software and agents and the 10 is the bandwidth. I need to price out software but I think it’s not too expensive so I can cover that out of pocket. Use the ship computer to augment my skills and cover gaps.

Can I get an official ruling for what TL this ship is limited to? A lot of software gets pretty high TL that much cost but wanted to check with you
 I have been using a default TL 12 for everything so far.

I would also like to make an interesting proposition by seeing if you would be interested in adding a Ghost in the machine. The diva is the ship has a secret AI installed that people don’t know about. It would be part of the game to find it, make contact and convince it to helP. I don’t is if you want to have a GM NPC to use but that could be an interesting way to do it by making the ship alive.

To do this I would double the ships computer to 20 and eat a few extra million worth of mortgage. I think around 20k a month. A high end AI only takes up 10 so I would still be able to run rudimentary agents and software but for some reason half the processors are always “busy” despite not apparently doing anything. I think the ship could handle the extra power but that would be a clue something is up with the ship by looking at power draw versus operation.

I think I will tweak the ship a little bit. Overall nothing big changed but I might play around with reducing armor and increasing reaction drive or something.

It really though depends on how you feel about a TL higher (or lower) and whether you like the idea of a GM NPC ship AI or not.


Anyway for my own purposes I am committing to 20% discount so I will roll for quirks now.

Lol. -20% hull and double maintenance. Ouch. That double maintenance sucks but at least I didn’t double double. Rolling 3 8s would make the ship ridiculously expensive. I’ve been Looking up online if things should stack or if you should reroll for uniqueness but haven’t found anything. There are better lists with more interesting quirks but considering this is saving 15 million it deserves to be a big penalty.

I think I will call the ship the  Tiamat’s Flight but everyone calls it the Tia for short. Can you add a new character so I can record the stats? Or we can do a thread. Your call

Alright so while waiting on this I'm going to breakdown software agents/packages they will be buying vs. included with the ship.

Included with the ship's computer:

Universal Translator

And this is the stuff they will purchase aftermarket

Depending on your answer about higher tech TL and the "ghost" here are some tweaks I am making:

Reducing Power plant by 1
Adding in 40tons of inflatable fuel
Dropping the loading belt
Adding a cargo scoop
Switching the Concealed Compartment storage to 10tons of Fuel Compartment Storage (I can vent the fuel into the inflatable to get access to it. Much Cheaper than concealed storage!)
Creating a "captains quarters" as a high stateroom
Changing the triple pulse to triple beam for price reasons
Bumping up the reaction drive to +3g to put its speed on par with a patrol corvette.


End result is that including the double maintenance the ship will cost 227,394.43 a month. I can bring that down quite a bit by making it only partially streamlined putting it back to 211,784.43 with the perk or the extra +10% hullpoints to offset the existing damage brings it up to 70 HP.

Before we talk about the TL and AI:  where's your J Drive?  I didn't see it listed.  I'm assuming since it's a Far Trader shell there is one at 2.  Did you count that in the tonnage and price calc?

The AI is an interesting suggestion.  It sounds like you're willing to 1) Let me use it as an NPC and 2) Let me use it as a story element.  Am I reading you right?

Leave the AI aside for now.  Assume TL13 max on the rest.

I think there are a couple of things you have listed you won't really need.  But to be honest, the last time I dealt with spaceship design was a GURPs Traveler game.  And the system conversion is throwing me.  I keep remembering those rules instead of the Mongoose rules.
 Sorry about that.  I need to spend some time with HighGuard to make sure I'm not being goofy.  I'll get back with you no later than Monday on what you have thus far.

Like the name Tia.

1) J-Drive is 2. Yes it is factored in. That's why I'm spending 22.5Mcr on it plus having a 41t fuel tank

2) Regarding the AI - yes it would be a story element and an NPC. I am willing to pay the extra 5Mcr to upgrade the computer in exchange for a potentially very useful ally or at least an interesting story.

3) TL 13...interesting. I will have to go back and rethink some things. I have been keeping to TL 12 cap as that is the default in the book so that might unlock some new options like better expert systems for critical things. I like the idea of having a "virtual pilot" program that can take control of the ship so Ledo can man a turret if needed.

4) You're the GM so it's really up to you. I'm staring at that cargo crane thinking "I wish it was a Breaching Boarding Tube" lol. I am a bit disappointed that they don't mention other options for moving cargo around. A home brewer came up with a space forklift, essentially for about 55,000cr and if you're interested I could use the Vehicle Catelog to price out a forklift that would probably be a lot cheaper than a cargo crane. Travellers is a realist system so I don't want to pooh pooh the concept of "how do you move tons of cargo around".

For example instead of a cargo scoop it would be awesome to use the "repair drones" to go out and grab cargo for me. In Elite: Dangerous you had both options, you could either open your cargo bay and scoop it up or shoot out a drone to collect it for you. Not great rules on how much that would cost though.

5) I am still tinkering with things. It is a fun system. I tried building a cheaper planetoid ship but to account for the Ship's Boat and the same cargo hold you'd need a 300t ship which causes a huge spike in price.

---

I crunched some maths (I think) and I think I could turn a profit JUST by shuttling passengers around. With Tepha and Ledo doubling up in the high stateroom that leaves 2 middle passenger and 10 low berths. Assuming a 3-day cycle (1 day to load/unload passengers, 1 day to scoop and process fuel, 1 day to transit to/from jump point) I can make about 310,000 a month. Obviously I don't want to do that, I won't be able to get a full passenger load out 10x a transit but with 50t of cargo (10 of which is great smuggler compartments) I should be able to turn good profit with even half that.

On top of that the ship is well equipped for being a Jackal. Jumping on derelict ships, juicy underprotected merchants or reverse-pirating. In Star Sector (another great video game) my favorite tactic was ambushing smugglers. They can't really call the police now can they :D

Of course that causes organized crime factions to get very upset with you but it let me turn massive profits while still being able to hide behind law enforcement.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 122):

1) Okay. Thanks.  Just didn't want to assume.

2) Don't factor the AI into your calcs.  Just consider it not there. You'll end up paying for it in other ways.  Ha. Ha. Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha.

3) I'm willing to bump it up to a 13 just to give you some room to play with.  14 is where the tech gets too fiddly IMO.

4) I'm fine if you want to forgo the crane for the boarding tube.  Thought that crane can come in useful.

Traveler can get fussy about aspects of the game.  Loading cargo for example.  As a GM, I'm more interested in the story rather than figuring out crew capacity and trade ratios.

The only time I can see worrying about such things is if you need to beat a clock.  Ex. You've just taken a merchant vessel.  But your sensors showing a naval vessel coming in.  Yeah, you can argue that a loading belt could help speed things along.  But then again:  you still have to set up the belt, move the cargo to it, etc.  If the situation were happening in reality, you would just grab what looked to be high end and get the hell out of town.  And if you're at a starport, I would think you could hire ground crew to do that for you.  It just doesn't make sense to me to be included as a rule.

Any way, I'm blathering.  I'll get back to you Monday.  Let me know what changes you're considering.

Thanks.

Sounds great! Here are my final answers:


In addition here are the Power Requirements:



In addition after market I will be adding the following software via the 750k received:



Bandwidth on the computer is going to be tight:

Tiamat's Flight has a long and storied history depending on who had their hands on it. Originally it started out as a Far Trader under the name Eagle's Flight but when it was captured by pirates they retrofitted it with weapons and armor and renamed it Tiamat's Rage. When the ship was captured again it was converted into a bounty hunter ship and some storage was carved out to add in high-speed thrusters so it could run down targets trying to flee. These bounty hunters renamed the ship to Tiamat's Flight in honor of the ship's history. Ironically after nearly a decade as a bounty hunter the most recent owners decided to skip out on their mortgage and other bounty hunters had to chase it down. The ship proved to be too fast and eventually it came down to the Navy running it down.

The ship was impounded while the bank figured out what to do with it when Ledo came along using the connections he had made (namely by being the one to run it down in the first place) to secure the ship for "general trading, salvaging and rescue operations".

Have to take tonight off.  Will update tomorrow.  Thanks.

No worries. With all the craziness going on with COVID I completely understand!

Hello.

Giving all my games a heads up:  April and May will probably be wonky months for me.  I have a couple of surgeries (nothing life threatening), a large project due for work, and a trial I have to attend (they finally got enough evidence to convict me.  Just kidding.  Maybe).

Anyway, if my posting goes slow or I'm AWOL a day or two, I beg your patience.  I will do my best not to disappear.

Thanks.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 127):

Alright.  Back to it.

You did kind of load up.  And that is a higher mortgage then some.  But given your backstory and the story edge you're giving me in the AI, no complaints here.

You should be okay.  Just always push for the maximum amount of payoff on the capers.  But you were probably going to do that anyway.


I can't recall if any of your folks have medical.  That comes in handy with low berth.  But people who travel low berth are already living dangerously.

Anyway, any concerns or questions?

If not, I will post the next round of caper rumors either Wednesday or Thursday.  I need to think out a couple of things.

Oh. Let me know if anyone is doing a study period.  We'll assume a little gap of time in which the ship is outfitted and getting ready.

Thanks.

Sure. I will look up study rules and get back to it. A couple people have medical and I bought a medical expert system for added oomph. I will be making some IC posts periodically. Don’t wait on me though, just want to spend some time on giving the ship some character.

Uploaded a portion of the Five Sisters subsection map to Game Map/Main.  You are currently on Karin.

FYI heading to Jone, hopefully smuggling stuff there in the process. I've been just tired keeping up with work, kids, own health etc. but I have a lot of stuff planned to post. Just need an hour or two time to get it out.

BUUUUUTTT until then the plan is to head to Jone, maybe snipe a smuggler :D

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 132):

Okie Dokie.

If you want, you can try to pick up a load of cargo to smuggle on Karin.  You can use the tables to roll, if you want to try them out.  Let me know if there are any questions.

And hope you and yours are all healthy.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 133):

And obviously take your time.  COVID has us all in a shake up.

Everyone is healthy if a bit stir crazy. I actually went into self-quarantine a week early to avoid the big city and public transportation and since then my spouse has locked down the house with an iron fist.

Me: "Hey I was thinking about running to the store and picking up..."

Spouse: "ARE YOU CRAZY!? QUAAARARAAANTTTIIIINEEEE"


So I think our chances of catching it are low. Only problem is two things

1) I am working from home full time now and so I think I'm developing bed sores because I sit in the same chair all day for work and then all night from updating rPoL

2) I have kids stuck indoors because of poor weather and the oldest has decided the best way to spend their time is to make the youngest's life a living hell. They are definitely getting stir crazy and it is fraying on everyone's nerves.

I honestly don't know how my posting is going to be. I'm here. I'm excited to play but I'm at my wits end just trying to keep my own games running in between keeping the house in order. It doesn't help that because of the disruption in business my company has decided the best way to continue working is to dump 6 hours of meetings on everyone's schedule every single day /sigh

I'm hoping this weekend will be better and especially next week. Until then though I ask that you just have a bit more patience and if you find yourself itching to play by all means roll some charts. I might not be able to craft an excellent post every single day but I am checking it so if you just need a "would you do X or Y" or "Make a decision on Z" I can drop that.

---

Speaaaking of which. I will be trying to pick up passengers and I will definitely look for both legit and illegitimate cargo. I supposed I can make some rolls now and we can interpret them this weekend:

So rolling for passengers:

Low: 8+1 low + 1 pop + 2 starport + 1 Amber = 13 = 4D = 14
Basic: 7 + 1 pop + 2 starport + 1 Amber = 11 = 4D = 7
Medium: 5 + 1 pop + 2 starport + 1 Amber = 3D = 15
High: 7-4 + 1 pop + 2 starport + 1 Amber = 3D = 13

So if possible I will pick up 2 high passengers (5 staterooms, 3 used by crew) and 10 low. Up to you if you want to make either of the high passengers "interesting" or not.  We can focus on the journey there, we can focus on the arrival, we can focus on the next heist...whatever floats your ship.

As it's just 1 parsec this will get me 24,000 and cost me X in life support (I'll figure that out later).

As for Freight:
Incidental: 7 + 2 incidental + 2 pop + 2 starport - 2 amber = 11 = 4D = 7 batchs
Minor: 6 + 2 pop + 2 starport - 2 amber = 8 =  3D = 6 batchs
Major: 8 - 4 major + 2 pop + 2 starport - 2 amber = 6 = 3D = 10 batchs
Mail: 10 + 0 freight mod +2 armed +5 naval captain + 2 SOC = 19 = ship selected to deliver mail.

So that is 5 containers of mail taking up 25t of space = 125,000 credits. Done and done! Half the cargo is full right then and there.


Time to find a regular cargo supplier and a black market supplier!

Hey I find both:


22:19, Today: Captain rolled 12 using 2d6+8.  regular supplier.
22:19, Today: Tepha Pezal rolled 13 using 2d6+6.  black market supplier.

So if I'm reading the planet code right:

A-C
A767768-C =

Starport: A
Size: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Hydrographic: 7
Population: 7
Government: 6
Law: 8
Tech level: C

Annd...I don't see the trade codes. Looking at an online database of planets it looks like it should be Ag Ri = Agricultural / Rich

So the common avilable goods are:
Common Electronics, Common Industrial Goods, Common Manufactured Goods, Common Raw Materials, Common Consumables x2, Common Ores, Biochemicals, Live Animals, Luxury Consumables, Textiles x2, Uncommon Raw Materials, Wood, Illegal Biochemicals.

+1D random goods = Common Consumables and Textiles again.

Because of this world we have the following purchase modifiers:
C. Electronics +1, C. Raw +3, C. Consumables +3, Live Animals +2, Luxury Consumables +2, Biochemicals +1, Wood +6, U. Raw Materials +2, Textiles +7


We are going to Jone which has... no trade goods. Interesting.

B792785-9 = Starport B, Size 7, Atmosphere 9, Hydrographic 2, Population 7, Government 8, Law 5, Tech 9. I don't think any of that is of particular note besides Dense, Tainted air


That would give the following sales bonuses:

Common Electronics +2, Common Industrial Goods +3, Common Manufactured Goods +3, Common Ore +1, Textiles +2 ,


I like that overlap with Textiles. Cheap price and decent sales bonus. I'll pick up 20t of textiles and 10t of Illegal Biochemicals, base 50,000cr / ton.

Textiles are base 3,000 cr/ton with a +7 DM

Let's get the purchase price of the Textiles. Tepha and Ledo team up for +2 to the Broker roll: 19 = 45% discount = 27,000cr for 20t of them.

Then for the illegal biochems we have no purchase modifier: 95% = 475,000 hooo boy that's where most of the money is going!


So to recap:
Picking up 2 high passengers (takes up 2t of cargo space)
Picking up 10 low passengers
Picking up 25t of Mail
Picking up 20t of Textiles for 27,000cr
Picking up 10t of Illegal Biochems and hiding them in the fuel storage compartments for 475,000cr.

I'm guaranteed to make 149,000cr from the trip not including life support or fuel costs. On top of that I have 20t of Textiles I could make a pretty decent profit off of and 10t of Illegal Biochems I am all but guaranteed to make a profit off of (+6 DM illegal goods +3 skills + minimum 2 on the dice = 11 = 100% so that is 5% profit = 25,000.

With a good roll I might make the monthly mortgage just on this trading run!

Also that took an hour to do! Hopefully next time it will be more streamlined...
This message was last updated by the player at 22:45, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

Cash & Purchases:



Split that 5 ways:

11,000 to each and 11,000 goes into ship supply fund:


New cash totals:

Ledo: 119,800cr
Tepha: 49,000cr
Silver: 14,010cr
Rig: 20,150cr

Also I realize I did my calculations wrong. I thought we had 7 ship shares but we only have 6 so monthly payments are 220,963.60


With the 11,000 set aside from the heist + mail + passengers = 160,000cr. Assuming we can sell cargo for 100% then that puts us at 720,000 income which isn't bad. A little over 3 months of mortgage payments.


Given the fact the ship is armed and Ledo has his reputation as a Naval Captain and member of high society getting mail from populated systems seems to be a guarantee so that is an average of 87,500 a jump. Plus passengers and opportune cargo purchases I can turn a profit fairly easily however that doesn't include any setbacks like repairs, getting caught with contraband, etc.

---

I am putting together personal shopping lists. Which books do you have available? I just want to make sure I'm not dipping into something you don't have access to.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:46, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

Sorry for blowing up the game but I had some time today (stuck indoors, go figure and did some shopping lists:

Ledo:


Remaining Credits: 58550

Tepha:


Remaining Credits: 44,500


Silver:

Remaing: 3,095

Medical Debt Remaining: 99,000

Rig:

Remaining Credits: 14,350



Let me know if there are any special considerations about purchases, especially regarding things like weapons etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

Soo....I have an idea about how to shave off another 2 million from the cost of the ship AND get rid of the cargo crane.

What if I created a utility transport vehicle?

Convert the 3t from the cargo crane into 3t of hangar (allowing 6t of vehicles to dock).

I can then create a light grav vehicle that seats four, has a hidden rotary autocannon turret and two improved manipulator arms as per a cargo lifter. Add in some advanced piloting and navigation upgrades and hangar + vehicle clock in at about 1 Mcr.

This allows me to more easily access planets with a non-streamlined ship, I can cruise around on the surface in style and transport cargo/passengers up and down. Given that the cargo lifter is 3t it would probably end up being about the size of a truck, give or take so moving it around a cargo bay to stack crates vertically etc. seems reasonable. I have rough outlines but I wanted to run the idea by you first before spending more time on it.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:46, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

I feel bad for blowing this up but

A) I am super excited

B) Somehow I ended up with tons of free time and my other games on rPoL are in good shape so I can finally concentrate on this.

Take your time reading and processing this. I am using this also to store my notes day-to-day.

Training

Ledo: Vacc Suit 0 -> 1 (using personal trainer)
Tepha: Broker 0 -> 1 (using personal trainer)
Silver: Heavy Weapons (MP) 0 -> 1 (using personal trainer)
Rig: Vacc Suit 0 -> 1
This message was last updated by the player at 22:47, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

In reply to Captain (msg # 140):

No worries.  I'm enjoying your enthusiasm.

I will look this over but probably won't get to it until tomorrow.  I'll circle back.

I went back through and updated the subject line to reflect what is in each post to help you out.

This deserves a story! So I was playing a dark side Star Wars game where my guy was a Jedi Knight who was secretly fallen to the Sith. His master had given him the task of killing some Jedi to prove his commitment to the dark side so he and another PC had the idea to use his reputation to just walk through the front door and pick off some targets through "training accidents" and the like.

Now the other PC ran a small pirate gang so getting them through the door was going to be tougher but my guy had recovered various sith and jedi artifacts and so "contracted" the pirate PC to transport him and the artifacts back to the jedi temple.

So I walk through the front door and he walks through the front door with this crate of artifacts and the like. I get called to the jedi council to chat about how some previous missions had gone so we parted ways.

I'm midway through my debriefing when a nuke goes off in the middle of the jedi temple. I'm caught full in the blast along with all the masters, knights, padawans etc. I was flabbergasted as I tore up my sheet.

Turns out the OTHER PC had an idea for how to kill a bunch of jedi. He replaced the artifacts inside the crate with a pocket nuke and let my reputation and my belief that I was in charge of the operation just march his nuke right through the front gate. As soon as the temple guards took it to transfer to the vault he hightailed it out of there so while I was giving my debriefing he was telling his crew GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!.

I was furious but I couldn't stop laughing at how well he had played both me, the player, and my PC. I couldn't believe he, the player, would stab me in the back like that after we had spent so many missions finally learning how to work together and my PC couldn't believe some street rat smuggler scumbag could have duped him so completely.

Anyway as a rule I don't transport cargo unless I know exactly what is inside after that incident :P

1) Does 3 crates = 3t? How many Bugees are being moved

2) To fill up the passenger manifest and the rest of the cargo hold are you fine with my rolls from before? 2 high passengers, 10 low passengers, 25t of mail, 10t of textiles @ 45% price (18,500cr) and, if there is still room, a few tons of illegal biochemicals at 95% price?

3) Thoughts on replacing the cargo crane with a custom grav vehicle. Basically it's a tiny 6t shuttle that has manipulator arms, an enclosed cabin and a pop-up autocannon. I can use it to zip around on planets or transport passengers or move cargo around in the hold.

The hangar + vehicle comes out to 3ts of ship space and only 1 Mcr instead of 3 Mcr so shaves off a bit more from the final price.

4) How much total time can be spent on training? I'm assuming after the heist everyone just laid low for awhile and on their sheets I spent for a month's living expenses for each of them. I know they've been doing other stuff but there might have been a week or two of just sitting around after the heist?

5) Everything good on the shopping lists? I don't think there is anything too crazy but the weapons might be an issue. I couldn't find anything in the book about whether items are available for purchase or not.

How every smuggler starts:


How every smuggler ends:

In reply to Captain (msg # 144):

1) I was basing the 300K cred on a 900K cred sales figure (3000 Bugees selling for 300 creds each, then your share being a third).  If we figure them at 3 pounds a piece, that'd be 4.5 tons.

2) On non-caper cargo, it all depends on your rolls.  If that's what you got, then yep.  Just let me know how many NPCs-er...passengers you end up taking on.  2 High and 10 in the freezer, right?

3) I'm good with the vehicle over the crane.  Like I said before, I'm just not going to get bogged down in mechanics over how you get it in there.  Cranes can come in useful for boardings or towing vessels.  But it's not a huge necessity.  I'm fine with it.

4) To be honest, I can't recall what the time requirements are for training in Traveler.  But again to be honest, I never use them.  Systems that require a PC to spend X amount of game time or to go find a sensei to level up annoy me.  I assume your PCs are training during their downtime.  At the end of each caper is when the benefits of that training start to show.  At the end of the caper, you can assume they've spent the required amount of time and run with it.

5) I am still going through the shopping list.  I think everything will be fine, but let me finish up tomorrow if that's alright.  It's been a crazy day.

Liked your Star Wars story by the way.  That's awesome.

And I'm counting nine lungs myself.

Okay new plan:


Hidden Storage: 10 tons
5t of dolls
5t of illegal biochemicals


Main Cargo Hold: 40t
25t of mail cargo.
 2t for passenger luggage storage (overkill but makes math easier)
13t of extra fuel.


The plan is on our way out to swing by a gas giant and scoop a little fuel, fire up the fuel processor and hit our jump. This will take 20t out of the 40t of fuel but we can then process and add the 12t of stored fuel back into the fuel tank bringing it up to just over 3/4ths full which means the hidden fuel storage cannot be accessed.

That is going to be the reoccuring scthick. Use the inflatable fuel tank to pump fuel in during inspections "see officer, it's just a fuel tank filled up" and then when we need to empty it siphon some fuel into the inflatable tank. Not foolproof but I think it's a pretty good trick, especially as transferring fuel back and forth probably takes quite a bit of time.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Tue 24 Mar 2020.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 148):

All good to me.

Let me know if you want to do more doll testing or want to meet again with Banks.

Also, let me know what research or prep you want to do, if any.

Otherwise, we can head to blast off.  No problems since it will be a nice, smooth ride.  Right?

A.

Nice.

Smooth.

Ride.

ha.

ha ha ha.

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! AH HA HA HA HA BWAH HA HA HA!

Once in the air I'll give it another chemical analysis.

I'll definitely be looking up on the 'net about bugees as well as the contact to see if there is anything important I can find out.

Finally I need to reach out to my military contacts to get a pass for the base.

So for maths:

237,500 -  5t of illegal biochems
  1,300 - 13t of unrefined fuel
================================
238,800 credits spent on cargo.


Ship contingency fund: 274,200cr
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Thu 26 Mar 2020.

Lol I am having a lot of fun with this and we haven't even lifted off yet! This is amazing :D

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 152):

Thanks.  I'm enjoying your side as well.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 153):

I do like the fact that Ledo doesn't say he won't jack passengers.  Just not the first set.

:D Never say never.

Loving the game, btw. Easily my favorite I am playing in

In reply to Captain (msg # 155):

Thanks.  I'm having a blast too.

I think I may have caused some confusion.

The ship's computer calculates time differently when it knows it's about to go into Jump.  Remember, even though the actual trip takes a few hours real time, the Ship spends about a week in the pocket universe during the Jump.  So when you Jump, your ship is stuck in a pocket universe for upwards of a week in Jump time.  Your guys can still do stuff.  They just have to do it on the ship because there is nothing else where they are.

So that six hours it's calculating includes Jump.  In other words, those freezers are going to go well before you reach dock.

Your guys would know that.

That was me not being clear.  Sorry about that.  Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks.

Interesting. I fixed my post.

Is it possible for you to post twice a night? I don't know your details but you seem to post regularly around the same time and I can usually hit the posts and respond very shortly afterwards. I am very happy for daily posting but I am greedy so if I can squeeze more out of you a night just let me know :D

In reply to Captain (msg # 159):

I will as I can.  Work is kind of tight at the moment.  And everything with this month has gone south.  But if I'm able, be happy to.

Can't right now though, as I need to go to bed.

Thanks

No worries! Do what you can!

So assuming the ship doesn't explode when we jump...

During the week of jump here is the gameplan

1) Rig fixes stuff. Silver acts as his bitch and when he doesn't have her doing stuff she is hunting for more rivets.

2) Tepha and Ledo will wake up Adje as well as the berther who the highborns thought was a pirate. Separately of course. Start with Adje.

In reply to Captain (msg # 162):

Okay.  Assuming things don't blow up, so noted.

He

He he

Bwah ha ha ha ha ha

Yeah yeah yeah.

So assuming their comms work Rig should have some ideas on how it can be disabling the motion detectors. I'm guessing those aren't just on an 'on/off' switch where anyone can hit it.

In reply to Captain (msg # 165):

Yep. Rig can take a lookie lou, which I'll assume he does.

I was just waiting to see if anyone told Rig to look.

By the by, I still need that information about Silver.  And Ledo too now that I think about it.

Thanks.

So I tried to use something like this in my tabletop star trek game but the players didn't bite. As soon as I was like "hey, have some free cargo" they NOPE NOPE NOPE'd to the next sector.

In reply to Captain (msg # 167):

Didn't Silver turn her comm off?

Oops. She would turn it back on to check in and hear the message.

In reply to Captain (msg # 169):

Okie Dokie.  Just didn't want to assume.

Man, having a blast. That Haverford stuff was amazing.

In reply to Captain (msg # 171):

Thanks.  I had fun imaging cartoon Rig doing a Bob the Builder shuffle.

Every update i'm on the edge of my seat!

Arg! I knew it was coming but my crew acted perfectly for you. Silver left her comms in the bridge because that was how they were talking with the AI.

IF she had her comms when Tepha issued the alert of medical attention Silver could have sent out the alert and Tepha (and Adje) could lock themselves in their room.

BUUUUTTTTT nope. Anyway here is hoping that Silver wins. It's funny but of everyone on the crew she ended up being my favorite. Thanks to some key rolls she acts like she doesn't give a shit but is surprisingly competent and deadly. Still I built a cybered up marine for another game and cyber makes things dangerous fast.

If Tepha dies so be it. She was fun and I love all my babies but I can bring on other people and the emotional damage that would cause to Ledo would be really interesting. Silver would be harder to replace.

Hey feel free to point out if I do something really dumb. I hope you can tell when I do things on purpose like when Silver left her comm or Tepha opened the door. Given the information on hand it seemed appropriate however if you feel like I wrote you into a bad corner, like Ledo’s distraction means insta-death for Tepha let me know because I might have just misinterpeted the situation.

I dont want you to feel like the crew is too stupid to keep alive, lol. They might not be cohesive yet but they should individually be competent.

In reply to Captain (msg # 175):

I think you're role playing is excellent.  I'll nudge you if I think your PC knows something you may not, like how long a Jump takes in subjective time.  But otherwise, your choices have all been logical from the character's POV.  No complaints or critcism.

Since we're coming to the end of the Jump part of the Jone story:

-Obviously I've laid down some groundwork for future plot lines.  These will be occuring inbetween or in tandem with any capers.
-Once Ledo's dropped off the Bugees, you'll have the system to explore at your leisure.  I'll try to get a thread up just giving you some system info.  It's not that big a system really. But there are a few places of interest.  I'll update the capers board once I know where you want to go.  Leaving Jone is an option as well.  Don't feel the need to stick around if you don't want to.
-Let me know if there are any requests or things you'd like to see.

Thanks.

RE: Jumping & Hydrogen:



HOWEVER basic science says that a liquid that is boiling is as hot as that liquid can become. Liquid hydrogen isn't explosive, the gas is. It's a safety hazard because liquid hydrogen boils at -250 F (or C, doesn't really matter at that point) so it changes to gas pretty fast which is highly reactive...if there is a fuel source, Oxygen.

I had forgotten about that when I posted. Even if we blow something up there just isn't enough oxygen to create a huge gigantic explosive. It might amplify it a little but unless it is a large space like the cargo hold it's going to flare out very quick as the trace amounts of oxygen are used up.

Still might trigger a misjump though, depending on how you want to rule it.

Also I whipped up deckplans. I thinks this mostly covers everything:

So just a thought, if you're up for it.

If you want to give us a couple hundred K for the various cyberlimbs recovered that's fine or else maybe that money has to be wired back to Karin to bribe port security to scrub logs of Adje and the Antwhite's boarding the ship in the first place.

In reply to Captain (msg # 179):

That is an interesting idea.  And yeah.  I think you would be able to sell them on the black market.

But it's not going to be something you can sell through the regular cargo/contraband rules.  You got it in a story.  I'm going to make you unload it in a story.  Or part of one.  Stow the stuff for now.  I'll work it in to what's coming next.

Also, thanks for the map.

I don't know how much more you want to dig into this opening mission. We can keep focusing on the minutia if you want or else assume the rest of the repairs works fine and work on what the heck they're going to say to the authorities afterwards.

In reply to Captain (msg # 182):

Sorry. Yesterday had a thing come up.

We will be moving on to Part 3 of Jone.  I need to finish some prep, so tomorrow we'll be ending the Jump and arriving at The Hath.

Thanks.

So to complete this mission we have to smuggle the Bugees into Hath or Stippyland?

Also Ledo would like to do some research on the Antwhites to figure out what in the hell just happened. Debutants don’t normally turn into cyber assassins on a whim...

Also might reach out to Silver’s gunrunning brother to offload the cyber. Might be fun to introduce Tepha’s ex- into the storylines...

In reply to Captain (msg # 184):

Stippy Land is part of the Hath.  Basically it's a combination RX/Commissary and Supply Depot for The Hath.

I just put up the new thread.  I'll add info on the Antwhites tomorrow.

Your call about Silver's Bro.  Just let me know.  Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:45, Tue 21 Apr 2020.

No time to post but so you can mentally prep

- bait and switch Tepha and Adje.

- contacting silvers brother about the cyber loot.

In reply to Captain (msg # 187):

Gohature huh?  That's workable.

Alrightie then.

Is Rig just sleeping in his cabin?  Not debauching?

From the way it's set up I'm guessing it's a girl's night out while Ledo handles the Bugee drop.  And Rig is either along with Ledo or napping.  Correct?

Also, do keep in mind there's no real time intersystem communication in Traveler.  Message has been sent to Rezan, but will go by mail.  So you'll need to propose a time and place for a meet up.

Just because I'm a nice guy, we'll say that Gohature is part of Rezan's territory.  So a meet up there isn't out of the way.  But Ledo and the gang may need to plan for a couple of weeks to get a response and then a couple more weeks for the actual meet.

Yes, you can ask Rezan to send his response to a drop point in another system.  So if Ledo really wants to hit an' git, you can ask Rezan to respond to Gohature.  Silver will know some location there that will hold messages for her.  Tepha probably does too, since she used to be Rezan's main squeeze.

Lastly, don't forget to drop off Banks' cut of the Bugee drop.  Which would involve a trip to the Jone Star Town.  Sorry. That was the deal back in the  original thread.

Unless you're going to cut him out of the deal.  You do have that option.

Let me know either here or in the story thread.  Will get some posts there soon.

Thanks.

Ledo is handling the drop, rig is sleeping. Ladies getting r&r.

Tepha will contact Rezan and let him know they will be in gohature next so to coordinate there. They are not going to cut banks out.

In reply to Captain (msg # 189):

'kay.

So a little girl's fun, a drop off, and Rig's in his 'jammies.

Can we say he's got the Rig Bugee tucked up under his chin?  And he wears the PJs with the flap in the butt?

Sorry.  Been snarky all day.

We'll let the dice decide your fate.

My roll. Not yours.

Thanks.

Of course he has the Rig bugee and a long johns with the butt flap! Wouldn’t have it any other way!

In reply to Captain (msg # 191):

I forget.  Did we already do the pay out for the legitimate cargo on this run?

Nothing has been paid out yet. I haven't adjusted finances at all yet.

In reply to Captain (msg # 193):

Okie dokie.  Let me know if there are any questions.

Fritz and the Mainframe is my new EDM band name, lol.

Okay time to get finances straightened out:

Hidden Storage: 10 tons
5t of dolls
5t of illegal biochemicals

Main Cargo Hold: 40t
25t of mail cargo.
 2t for passenger luggage storage (overkill but makes math easier)
13t of extra fuel.

---

  274,200cr starting ship fund
+ 100,000cr 25t of mail @ 4,000 per ton
-   2,700cr +27t of unrefined fuel
+  24,000cr x2 High Passage, 1 parsec
+   7,000cr x10 Low Passage, 1 parsec
-   8,000cr (x4 staterooms, x1 double occupancy, x10 low berth)
-   6,000cr x6 people
+   6,000cr Biosphere life support credit
-     500cr Berthing cost
+   ??????? Smuggling Bugees

Holding onto the biochems. Rolled awful for the sales broker so just eating that cost for now.


Updated total:
394,000cr.

Cargo Hold:
Main Hold: 0/40t
Fuel Hold: 10/10t currently.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Fri 24 Apr 2020.

Also I'll bite on the claim jumper. Dig up info on that uncle of his and see what's what.

In reply to Captain (msg # 197):

The Antwhites and Aje would like a refund.

Lol. No refunds, right there in the contract they signed. I had to allocate life support and space for them :D

What am I rolling? Streetwise?

In reply to Silver (msg # 200):

Yep

02:00, Today: Silver rolled 8 using 2d6+1.  +1 Streetwise.

Sorry.  Got my systems mixed up.  Traveler does have XP.  Mea Culpa.


Here are the tables from the Companion Book about how to improve.  Basically, to get a new skill, you spend one XP to acquire it at 0.  Then 1 more point to raise it to 1, etc.

GAINING SKILLS
Skill Level     Cost to Gain    Skill Level    Cost to Gain
      0              1               4              8
      1              1               5              16
      2              2               6              32
      3              4               7+       x2 each level

Improving characteristics:

If Silver wants to raise her End from a 5 to a 6, it would cost her 6 points.  If she suddenly wanted to finish her Masters in Women's Studies she could raise her EDU from a 5 to a 6 for 12 pts.

GAINING CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristic Value              Cost to Gain              Cost to Gain
                                (STR, DEX, END)              (INT, EDU)

         1                             1                          2
         2                             2                          4
         3                             3                          6
         4                             4                          8
         5                             5                          10
         6                             6                          12
         7                             7                          14
         8                             8                          16
         9                             9                          18
         10                            10                         20
         11                            11                         22
         12                            12                         24
         13                            13                         26
         14                            14                         28
         15                            15                         30

So, for the First Caper, everyone gets 1 XP.

For the Maiden Voyage, everyone gets 1 XP.

For General Roleplaying, everyone gets 1 XP.

And as a Sorry, take another XP.

So 4 total XP to now.  Spend wisely or save them.  Again, sorry about that.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 204):

Looks like I forgot to ask in my last Jone Pt 4 post.

Let me know where you're parking Tia:  At Grangers or going to Jone.  That decision puts a dent in the landscape.

Also, Rig up to anything?

Thanks.

Granger’s. Unless they have to go to Jone Ledo wants to stay far away from the Antwhites.

Rig is back to fixing the ship.

As a side note they’re going to be looking at upgrading the ship’s computer. I haven’t crafted the narrative for it yet but Ledo is going to suggest cutting Fritz in for a cut of the heist money and suggest he use it to upgrade the hsip’s processor. In theory Fritz is using the entire ship’s computer bandwidth when he is active. Would be nice to give him some breathing room and helps make me feel like I’m not getting (too many) unearned benefits.

I don’t necessarily want a hardcore “feel the pain” kind of game but I don’t like games where the GM just showers the players with benefits.  I like a good challenge. I thought the assassin’s and Fritz and the heist were good introductory missions. Not too difficult and they had some real danger and some real decisions to be made but their victory definitely felt “earned”.

In reply to Captain (msg # 206):

Okie dokie.

Yeah, I'll admit that last one turned into a little more of a Monty Haul than I imagined.  But it was a good game and thing won't always go the crew's way.  Well.  Not that the last one really 'went' their way. Anyway, my point is things will even out.

On that note, have we ever really discussed the length of the game?  Obviously, I've laid groundwork for future events.  But I realize now I just assumed we were continuing past an introductory level game.

I'm fine with continuing.  You're an excellent player.  And I probably have enough raw material on hand for a medium length campaign.  But don't feel obligated to post as all 4 crew members each time.  That must get exhausting.

Your call.  Thanks.

I am game for as long as you want to run and probably beyond that. I am fine doing filler if you need time to set things up, i am fine with published adventures. I love the setting and your style so as long as it takes, i’m in!

In reply to Captain (msg # 208):

Works for me.  Like I said, just didn't want to assume.

Thanks.

Hey All.

Just a heads up.  I am going to be offline this weekend starting Friday.  I plan to be back online Monday evening, but it's a medical thing, so we'll have to see how I feel Monday AM.

If I am a little late in getting back on, I do ask you hang tight.  Games will resume as soon as they can.

Thanks.

Roger that. Good luck and hope they put everything back in the way they found it!

In reply to Captain (msg # 211):

I am going to take tonight off.  Will hopefully be back online no later than Monday.

Thanks Ya'll.

No worries! Take care. I'll just be doing some book keeping while you're gone.

In reply to Captain (msg # 213):

Don't forget to give me those blind rolls please.  Thanks.

1. 7
   
2. 7
   
3. 6
   
4. 12
   
5. 10

12:58, Today: Tepha Pezal rolled 42 using 10d6 with rolls of 2,5,5,2,5,1,6,6,4,6.  blind rollls - luck be a lady!

Hot damn you better not disappear on me. I am having way too much fun with these guys to let you screw it up by leaving me :D

In reply to Captain (msg # 216):

Nah, I'm not planning on disappearing.  I don't start games I don't plan on finishing.  'Plan' being the operative word.

I've been fortunate that I've been able to game with some excellent players, yourself included.  Since I'd like to continue to game with excellent players, I try to be careful not to get a reputation.  You know what I mean?

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 217):

On another note, why did you roll 3d for Tepha?

It's only 2d.

Also, and we haven't covered this before, you get bonuses depending on range and type of weapon.  For example, my shot on you will get +3:  +1 for short range and +2 for a pulse laser.  See page 156 of the rulebook.

I'll give you the choice:  You can take a 2 as the roll or reroll it 2d/Gunner + Dex DM (which I guess for poor Tepha is a -3).  Don't forget to give her bonuses for weapon and range.

Also, it's rare for one hit to destroy a ship.  The biggest danger is that it blasts a hole in the hull.  In this circumstance, that's not so dangerous.  But Rig won't be happy regardless.

That being said, Tia's armor rating is 4 right?

Let me know if there's questions.  I'll need to know what you want to do about Tepha prior to responding to this round of posts.  Thanks.

I used a boon, if one was available so it is roll 3 take highest 2. If there isn't a boon just drop the 3rd die.

So for the first time it was still a 2 and the second time it was an 11 if you drop the 3rd die.

I'm fine with keeping the 2 for now if you let me keep the 11 for the next round :D

Also we're firing a beam laser so according to this it should be a total of a +2 (+4 beam +1 short range -3 trained) so her actual shot was a '4'. Not nearly as catastrophic as I first thought :D

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 219):

I'll catch up tomorrow.  Something I forgot to work up on this game that I need to.

Thanks.

The suspense is killing me :D

Did you ever see the move The Cube? It feels like The Cube...

In reply to Captain (msg # 222):

I hadn't thought about that comparison.  I was thinking more along the lines of Tomb of Horrors.

Ah.  The Classics.

How hard is it to move a cryo tube to the ship? This guy has a warrant right? Does that include a reward?

In reply to Captain (msg # 224):

The tube can be moved.  The biggest problem would be the power:  once it's switched off, the system fails more or less.  They thaw out of the necessary low temp pretty quick.

But that's not an insurmountable obstacle.  Rig can use a portable battery.  Normal Eng/Edu roll.

He's not a huge bounty.  3500 creds.

Have we seen any lockers yet?

In reply to Captain (msg # 226):

Nope.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 227):

Sorry.  Will be back online tomorrow.  Thanks.

No worries. Happens to all of us.

That message was for Fritz, not Greta, lol. I'm not telling her to isolate herself.

In reply to Captain (msg # 230):

Sorry.  It has been a week.

Edited my response.  Thanks.

Are the two dropping going to land near the thermite?

In reply to Captain (msg # 232):

The thermite is going to blast everything under the entry shaft.  Tia and the derelict will both be on the fringes of the blast and will sustain some scuffing.  But Burn Em All and anyone down far enough on the shaft will be effected.

It just depends on how far down the guys in the shaft actually are.

Edit:  Just read Silver and Rig's post.  Just to make sure I am on the same page:  Silver is waiting for the guys in the shaft to drop down before detonating, correct?

Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:25, Sun 07 June 2020.

Almost correct. She figures they will start their attack the second they touch down so she's going to blow up the thermite a couple seconds before that. Catch 'em off guard but still full in the blast.

How strong is the charge going to be? I'm expecting it to really fuck things up but if it's basically a frag grenade I'll just detonate now. If it's "liquify anything in a dozen meters" strong then yeah, she'll wait until they're about in the optimal blast zone and boom.

In reply to Captain (msg # 234):

Rig believes it will be strong enough that you will have to figure out how you're going to get out of here.  Expect it to damage the lift and possibly cause some debris to come down the shaft.  It won't destroy the Burn Em All.  But it should do significant damage.  It will depend on the dice.

Sorry folks.  Had to take a quick business trip.  Will be back online Tuesday.  Thanks.

No worries!

Away from computer so posting here:

18:12, Today: Silver rolled 11 using 4d6.  kablooy.

Ledo has +10 protection

Ion damage: 50


18:16, Today: Gary 'Rig' Rigan rolled 5 using 2d6.  ion cannon: 2d6x10.

Dbl beam laser (if necessary)

:18, Today: Silver rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  dbl beam laser.

So I really wish I could take credit for sending Greta to her death but it was completely by accident.

That was fun.  Thanks for hanging in there on that one.

We'll wrap up Cles' Funtime Dungeon O' Doom this week. And then move along.  Let me know what the crew wants to do at the station.  And then we can blast off.

Were you still thinking about leaving Jone and moving to the next system?

And you haven't read any published adventures for Traveler have you?  I have one in mind I've always wanted to run.

As far as XP, let's give everyone 2 for general roleplay.  2 more for not getting blown up.

Silver wins the riddle-me-this award, so let's give her an extra 2 XP.

Poor Teph wins the 19th-Nervous-Breakdown award.  She gets 3 XP.

Riggy Baby wins the Boy Scout's Cadaver-Recycling badge.  1 XP.

Ledo...oh Ledo.  1 XP.

Fritz of course, being the sexy bastard he is, gets a gazillion XP.

How detailed do you want to get? We can keep going person by person but if you are looking to wrap things up with a tidy bow I'm fine with that as well.

Ledo's going to charge 1,000 credits a berth. Once they are safely in cyro he'll run a search on them to see what kind of bounty they have. He does have a bunch of holes in his ship that will need to be repaired after all. He might also look at offering work if any of them that surrendered don't have too bad of a rap sheet.

After that will come a lengthy salvage operation where they strip whatever they can from the Burn Em All and the derelict. This is where Rig will lead the army of repair bots all around.

Meanwhile Ledo and Silver will secure the passengers and then while under the safe guard of Silver Ledo will go back and explore the rest of the station. He'll try and find that armory as well as poke around for anything else of value.

Once that is all taken care of a regroup session to strategize how to get out of there and to finally figure out how to crack that lockbox and explore the rest of he station, namely "Pleasure" room that he ignored. Also assuming it is safe they'll recover the mine. Who knows when a remote activated mine might be useful.

Finally Ledo, with the help of visuals from Fritz, will prepare their alibi. They were scouting asteroids and discovered a strange signal. When they gained entry they were trapped by the automated defenses and explored the fun house of horrors in order to escape. They met the pirates etc. etc.

Pretty much everything is going to be above board with the only exception being hiding the recovered gems in their fuel tank storage (and any other illicit valuables they recover from the Burn Em). This is in prep for if they encounter the Navy before making their escape.

edit: I haven't read any published adventures and don't plan to. If you want to run something right out of the books that's fine by me. Heck we can go full Pirates of Drinax or whatever if you want.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Wed 17 June 2020.

In regards to XP I'll keep that in mind but I'm also fine without doing any further enhancements to them. Except for Tepha they're all in their 40s and it seems weird to have them suddenly become badasses.

I think they've got a very solid spread of skills and equipment can handle a lot of their gaps. Or other crew. I just think that it will make things a little easier as we don't have to even track it.

That being said if you want to hand out re-rolls or boons or say floating bonuses (i.e. you get to get a bonus +1 to three rolls) that works for me as an alternative.

In reply to Captain (msg # 244):

Hmmm.  Since Fritz has control of the station, the couple of remaining traps you didn't trigger will be minimized.  No sense in going through them when I can save them and use them later.

Let's streamline some of it:

Rapsheet on the Low Berthers:  I'll work that out and post tomorrow in the game thread.  Ledo can make his decisions IC.

Salvage:  Rig needs to give me a Mechanics/Int.  He can take a boon on this one roll because of the bots.

Taking the mine:  Rig or Ledo.  Whoever is going to handle it.  Explosives/Edu roll please.  Don't blow it.  See what I did there.

Silver and Ledo exploring:  Investigate/Int roll from both of them please.

The regroup session should be roleplayed.  Off to the game thread with you.

As far as the alibi, that is an automatic sucess. Fritz seems oddly adept at that.

Let me know if there are questions on any of that please.

I wish I could run you through Crowded Hours. It's kind of like the Traveler scenario.  But it really needs to be played with a group of players who all have disposable characters.  The knives really come out on that one.

I'll take a looksie through my library, but it will probably be "Tripwire".  I've always wanted to run that one.

In any event, thanks.  See you tomorrow.

In reply to Captain (msg # 245):

I think there's a rule somewhere that you can trade in XP for boons or re-rolls

Let's say 10 XP for either a reroll or a boon.

Whatever you'd like to do. As much as I've grown to love this ragtag crew if something happens, something happens. That being said there are usually ways to reduce the risk of total death in these kinds of games. Difficulty levels get a little less, a helpful NPC is introduced, the medbay is actually full stocked instead of ransacked etc.

In reply to Captain (msg # 248):

No, Crowded Hours is more a mixed player game.  It's like Mafia.  You need more than two people.  If you ever get a chance to play it with a good GM and a group of at least five players, I'd encourage you to do it.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 249):

Was Ledo making the explosives roll?  Or was his roll for investigation?

Investigation. I'm holding off on the explosives for now. Nobody is trained in it so I think they might just leave the mine rather than risk chunky salsa.

In reply to Captain (msg # 251):

Okay.  Just wanted to be sure.  Cos if it was the explosive, I would need to write up a muuuuuuuch different post.

LMAO. No that was his investigation roll.

Can they take the lockbox with them for later?

Also to forecast things a bit here is the agenda

1) Finish repairs & salvage. Grabbing anything of value from the Burn Em, stealing their fuel etc.

2) Clear the lift/find another exit

3) Check over the details of the captured crew. Maybe one of them has a background in explosives?

4) Depending on how easy #1 and #2 go determines how confident they feel about opening the lockbox or disabling the mine. Is the lockbox portable?

In reply to Captain (msg # 254):

The bomb would probably have to be disarmed, whether it gets moved or it's just opened.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:04, Sun 21 June 2020.

Any idea if one of our low berthers might know a thing about explosives?

In reply to Captain (msg # 257):

You'd have to wake them up to ask.

In reply to Bad Code (msg # 258):

Never mind. You did.

Let's leave it up to fate.  Make a standard roll.  No bonuses no boons.  You make it, one of the low berthers does have the skill.  If you get a 8 they have Explosives 0.  For every point over 8 you roll, they get one more level in the skill.

I'll wait to see what you get before we leave this place.

We'll wrap up tomorrow.  Were you planning on hanging around Jone any longer?

10:48, Today: Captain rolled 11 using 2d6.  faaate.

FAAAAATEEE!!! So that's a total of a +3 bonus. Let's see how they do...


10:49, Today: Captain rolled 8 using 2d6+3.  berther lockbox.

YEAAAAAAAAAH BUDDY!!
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 22 June 2020.

Who said you killed Siri?

Well poop. Good point.

I am assuming you are heade to Gohature next.  At least I think that was the last thing mentioned.

I need to prep some stuff.  So come back tomorrow and we'll start the new thread.

Thanks.

Any thoughts on adding another crew from their pirate passengers or are they all pretty despicable