When his opponent's claws dig into his back, the U.S.Agent's sight goes red and he feels that familiar fury rising in his gut. He tenses for a physical response then distracted by the oncoming missiles. His shield is used so often to bash the faces of evil-doers, sometimes it's easy to forget that it's meant first and foremost as a defensive weapon. And so, the shield goes up to deflect the deadly barrage!

Reaction to MSDOS's missile volley, Total: 20, Effect: d6:
Team    d6
Ex-Soldier    d8
Enhanced Durability    d8
Vibranium Shield/Superhuman Durability    d10
Combat Expert    d8

U.S.Agent rolls 4,1,5,10,5 using d6,d8,d8,d10,d8 ((4,1,5,10,5)).

Total: 15; Effect: d8
1 Opportunity

Higher reacting Effect die would step down attacking Effect die to d4, or leaving at d6 if Extraordinary Success by attacker cancels it out. Either d4 or d6 Stress is acceptable if it doesn't step up the Agent's Physical Stress

Withstanding the volley, the U.S.Agent rises to his full height and lowers his smoking shield, then turns to the Soviet Skrull. "Come on, man!" he shouts to the being not really a man. "He's attacking you too!</i> Join with us and we can beat him! Like real Americans! Or whatever America is on your planet!"

Emotional attack on Soviet Skrull* (scaring him into turning and joining their side):
Team    d6
Temperamental    d8
Menace Expert    d8
Soviet Skrull Physical Stress    d6

U.S.Agent rolls 5,3,7,5 using d6,d8,d8,d6 ((5,3,7,5)).

-1 PP to add third die to Total
Total: 17; Effect: d8

(* Or a Complication -- whatever could convince him to join with us and fight against MSDOS. If that's not possible then Stress to wear him down.

And not including any physical powers with the assumption that he won't be able to use any physical defense. If it's possible that I could use a physical power in the roll (especially if he's going to whether I do or not), then I can roll another die and redo the Total.)

PPs: 3 (starting; from msg #110) +1 Opportunity (from reaction; if Watcher buys it) -1 (to add die to Total)= 3 or 2 (depending on the Watcher buying the Opportunity)

Next Action: Moondragon

In reply to Watcher (msg # 120):

[Reacting to the Director's 20 heckin' total and D8 and D6 effect dice.

Team D10, The Slayer of All That Breathes D4 (+1PP), Enhanced Reflexes D8, Mass of Fur and Teeth 5D6, They're Everywhere D6, Combat Master D10

00:13, Today: Squirrel Girl rolled 9,7,22,4 using 2d10,1d8,6d6,d4 with rolls of 4,5,7,6,6,5,1,2,2,4.  Reaction vs MSDOS's 20.

7+6+6=19 total (-1PP)
Effect vs D8: D10
Effect vs D6: D10
PP: 3
Opportunities: 1

Squirrel Girl takes a reduced D6 Physical Stress, A Mass of Fur and Teeth takes D4 Physical Stress, which isn't enough to remove a die.]

Even in her dazed state, the sight and sound of Macross Mini Missiles™ are an unmistakable blur. Doreen's eyes go wide, and she turns to break into a run, chittering in a panic and scooping up Tippy-Toe! The explosions go off in a trail following her path, which ends with Squirrel Girl being sent topsy turvy out of the battlefield and into a handy pile of snow. When the dust settles, a freezing Doreen shivers her way out of the pile and holds out Tippy-Toe, who stands in a "ta da!" pose, totally unscathed!

The squirrel army soldiers carefully peek out from their respective hidey holes used as cover, giving tiny cheers of triumph at having escaped, and a renewed set of cheers on seeing Tippy-Toe!

The tantrum from M.S.D.O.S. elicited a disgusted groan. “How utterly childish.” A slender yebrow raised in a sneer, Moondragon raised her force field against the missile attack. “I tire of your petty nuisances!”

For once, the Agent offered a useful action that could benefit them all. Heather seized on his appeal to their emotions and added her considerable psychic energy to John’s efforts. She attempted to reach into the Soviet Skrull’s mind, as well as two minions nearby.

Listen to him. Attack your master.


OOC: Reaction roll.

Solo 1d10 + Haughty Attitude 1d8 + Superhuman Durability 1d10 + Enhanced Reflexes 1d8 + Combat Master 1d10

I’ll use my SFX: Focus to replace 2 dice of equal size in a pool containing a SHAO-LOM MONK TRAINING power with one stepped up die.
2d8s become 1d10.

20:11, Today: Moondragon rolled 6,2,7,7 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d10 with rolls of 6,2,7,7.  Reaction.

13 total.

1 opportunity.

Buddy 1d8 + Disciplined Mind 1d8 + Mind Control 1d10 + Enhanced Stamina 1d8 + Psych Master 1d10.

I’m attempting to exploit any Complications or Stress places on Soviet Super-Skrull & two Skrull minions.

Invoking the Area Attack SFX for 2 extra D6s.

Total 10.
20:27, Today: Moondragon rolled 3,2,2,4,5,2,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d6,1d6 with rolls of 3,2,2,4,5,2,5.  Mind Control Soviet Skrull & 2 Skrullian mooks .

Total: 10.
Some Opportunities there, too. Ouch.





This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Tue 17 Nov 2020.

One of the missiles scores a direct hit on Machine Man. It slams into his chest, and he can feel the explosion rattle several of the connections inside his robotic body. He's not down, but he knows he can't take many more hits like that.

One of the explosions clips US Agent in the shoulder. The shockwave slams him to the side. In the middle of single-combat with his Communist counterpart (you can definitely use that!) he's really more frustrated than hurt. This wasn't really going the way it was supposed to go.

Squirrel Girl and her pack of squirrels takes a glancing blow. It leaves sooty deposits on her clothes and knocks a few hairs out of her tail, but she's definitely taken stronger shots before.

Moondragon simply wills herself to not take any damage from the missiles. Her disdain for this whole affair is simply too thick for the explosions and chaos going on all around her to penetrate.

Seeing an opportunity to try to turn the tide, USAgent tries to appeal to Soviet Skrull's sense of self-interest. The skrull pauses, looking between MSDOS and USAgent in a confused manner, trying to make up its mind who to attack. It is at this moment that Moondragon's mental command crashes into him. This seems to have the opposite effect than she intended, though and his resolve seems to strengthen as he turns back to USAgent with malice in his eyes. "I vill not be corrupted by capitaleesm!" he screams defiantly.

Soviet Skrull takes another swing at USAgent. His heart just doesn't seem to be fully in it though, and it's a sloppy, wild swing that he telegraphs badly to the experienced martial artist that is USAgent.

Alpha Flight Skrull, however, has been beaten and practically hog-tied. Plus he's Canadian, so just inherently nice. When Moondragon's mental command washes over him, he's much more willing to go along with it. Nice people don't shoot their friends with missiles, eh!




I'll buy SG's opp. That leaves her at 4pp and doom up to 3d6, 2d8
I buy USAgent's opp. Leaves him with 2pp after his action. Doom at 2d6, 3d8
I buy Moondragon's opps in one batch, she'll end with 1PP left and doom to 2d6, 3d8, 1d10

SSS resist USAgent 17/d8 emo stress
Buddy d8, Communist Cold Warrior d8, d8 from doom pool = 3d8 = 19:24, Today: Watcher rolled 14 using 3d8 with rolls of 6,4,4.  SSS resist usagent.
Total 10, use doom die to add the third die in, so total 14. Still fails, but no extraordinary success.
d8 emo stress on SSS and doom now at 2d6, 1d8, 1d10

SSS resist Moondragon 14/d8 emo stress Buddy d8, Com.Cold War. d8, d6 from doom
19:28, Today: Watcher rolled 15,5 using 2d8,d6 with rolls of 7,8,5.  SSS resist moondragon.
Total 15/d6 he resists
Doom down to 1d6, 1d8, 1d10

Alpha skrull resist Moondragon 14/d10 emo stress
Buddy d6, Canadian d4+1d8 to doom pool =
19:31, Today: Watcher rolled 3,2 using d6,d4 with rolls of 3,2.  alpha skrull resist moondragon
Total 5, Moon's attack stepped up 1 to d12.
Doom at 1d6, 2d8, d10

SSS's attack at US Agent
Buddy d6, Communist warrior d8, Superhuman strength d8, Combat d10
19:36, Today: Watcher rolled 2,6,3 using d10,2d8,d6 with rolls of 2,4,2,3.  SSS attack USAgent.
Total 7, effect d8 phy stress



Next: USAgent Reaction
Next: Anyone who wants to go; Iceman if nobody volunteers themselves.

Iceman looks at the tied-up Alpha Flight Skrull and nods to Machine Man. "Think you can handle this loser?" Without waiting for a reply, he walks away and faces the villain in charge.

"You're about to have a serious case of brain-freeze," he smirks at the hovering Skrull. Bobby points the ice-blade in his grasp toward M.S.DO.S., willing the temperature around the villain to drop. As far as the X-Man knew, the coldest recorded body temperature ever survived by a human was 56.7 degrees Fahrenheit (13.2 degrees C). But who knew what the reptilian Skrulls could handle, especially one as (possibly) enhanced as M.S.D.O.S.? Bobby figured it couldn't hurt to pour on a little extra cold-- after all, this guy started it.

Team d8
Terrifying Potential d8
Ice Mastery 2d10 (Doubled from SFX)
Sword and Shield d12

SFX: Omega-Level Mutant. Step up or double any Cryokinesis power for one action. If that action fails, add a die to doom pool equal to the normal rating of that power die.

22:09, Today: Iceman rolled 6,8,10,9,7 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d10,1d12 ((6,8,10,9,7)). Iceman trying to freeze M.S.D.O.S. solid. by lowering the temperature around him.

Spent 1 PP to add a 3rd die to the total.

Total: 27
Effect: d12
Opportunities: 0
PP: 0

Reaction Needed: M.S.D.O.S.

Next Action: Machine Man
This message was last edited by the player at 06:14, Sat 21 Nov 2020.

"One can hope," Machine Man, the sentient android replied to his teammate. He was about ready to fall down, and had no chance to produce any weapons or devices that might aid him in his battle. In fact, he was sparking from a number of exposed, damaged components that he'd need in working order if he was going to make weapons out of his android body. He was about done, and needed to rely on simple brute force and hope for the best. Superhuman strength had its advantages, but right now, he'd just about kill for a good old fashioned laser-cannon.

He made a fist — the only thing he could make — and attacked the Alpha Flight skrull.

Team d8
Sentient Android d8
Superhuman strength d10

Machine Man rolled 6,2,1 using d8,d8,d10 ((6,2,1)).

Total: 8
Effect (default): d4
1 Opportunity

"This adventure sucks!" he shouted as two of his fingers snapped off.

MSDOS was not really prepared for one of the heroes to confront him directly. He sneered at Iceman's attempt to freeze him. "You think you can freeze me? My rocket chair shoots a superheated jet of fire! It's more than enough to fend off your feeble ice!" His gloating seems to be justified. Despite Iceman dropping an incredibly powerful cold bomb on him, the science villain cranks up his jet thruster and seems to shrug it off.



MSDOS reaction vs. Iceman 27/d12

Team d8, Science villain d8, Flight d6, Science Master d10, Iceman stress d8, doom push d10
19:35, Today: Watcher rolled 16,15,2 using 2d10,3d8,d6 with rolls of 6,10,4,3,8,2.  msdos reaction to iceman.
Will spend two doom dice to add in two extra dice, so that gets him to 28 total.


Sorry Ice, gotta use everything I can to help the big bad win. You DID succeed in bringing the doom pool down to almost nothing though!

Alpha Flight Skrull is pretty beat up, but then again, so is Machine Man. The robot smashes a metal fist into the alien, only to have it stop short in the air about a foot before reaching the skrull's face. A blue ring of sparkles shoots out from the place in the air where MM's fist stopped, like a rock making ripples in a pool.


AF Skrull react to machine man 8/d4
Team d10, Alien Warrior d8, Force field d8, Combat d8

19:41, Today: Watcher rolled 7,19 using d10,3d8 with rolls of 7,6,8,5.  AF skrull reaction.
15 total, so he is unaffected.

Note, MM, you didn't throw in any of AF Skrull's various injuries to your pool. I will reciprocate and have him not use any of yours in his reaction. That way they kind of cancel out.

I'll buy your opportunity, so 1 more die to doom pool and you get +1PP

Let's do Moondragon next.

Moondragon noticed that the Alpha Flight  Skrull seemed considerably more receptive to her influence than earlier. She psychically “leaned” on him with the force of her mental powers. Yes, it is quite rude of the Director to fire upon you. In fact, his rudeness and unhealthy fetishizing of guns seems downright American, doesn’t it? Why don’t you show him how Justin Trudeau would REALLY like to handle the gun crisis of the States?

If she succeeded in controlling the Skrull this time, he would implement a more visceral strategy of “Gun Control”.

OOC:

Solo 1d10 + Disciplined Mind 1d4 (+1 PP) + Mind Control 1d10 + Enhanced Reflexes 1d8 + Psych Master 1d10.

03:40, Today: Moondragon rolled 1,4,6,4,10 using 1d10,1d4,1d10,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 1,4,6,4,10.  Mind Control AF Skrull.

Total: 16
Effect: 1d8
Opportunity: 1

Gain 1 PP.

 

The Alpha Flight Skrull stands there for a moment, looking between MSDOS and the humans. Moondragon's additional psychic nudge was enough to push it over the edge, and it decides to fire an energy blast at its former leader, who acted rudely by firing missiles at its own team. However, it's actions are somewhat hampered by the beating it has already taken and Machine Man's cables still wrapping it up.

Despite being tangled up, the energy blast catches MSDOS unawares and scores a solid hit on the crazy alien's center-of-mass, leaving a smoking, sparking crater in the rocket chair that supports its huge head. "What treachery is this!" it screams as it lurches to the side from the impact.


I will buy Moondragon's opportunity. That brings her to 3PP. Doom at 3d6

AF Skrull resist MoonD mind control
16/1d8
Team d10, Alien warrior d8, Moondragon stress d4
08:24, Today: Watcher rolled 8,2,1 using d10,d8,d4 with rolls of 8,2,1.  AF Skrull resist mind control.

Total 10/d4/1 opportunity
That's an extraordinary success for moondragon upping her effect die to d10
That is enough to push its ES over d12, so Moon gets control of it!

It fires at MSDOS, but it has d10 phys stress and complication that DOS will get to use in reaction

08:30, Today: Watcher rolled 7,18 using d10,3d8 with rolls of 7,6,5,7.  AF Skrull attack MSDOS.
14/d8 to MSDOS

adding a d6 from doom to MSDOS's pool.
08:32, Today: Watcher rolled 4 using 1d10 with rolls of 4.  add in af skrull complication.
08:32, Today: Watcher rolled 1,5,1,3 using d6,d8,d6,d6 with rolls of 1,5,1,3.  msdos react to AF skrull energy blast.
9 total, d8 effect. That's extraordinary success, so it will step up the effect die to d10


2 opportunities available on MSDOS.
Squirrel Girl up next.

Despite the mental whammy the Director hit her with, Squirrel Girl is still in the fight! With his minor minions scattered, she jumps out from behind the cover she'd taken from those missiles, and with sooty face and all, points to MSDOS.

"Time to eat nuts and kick butts! Gettim, gang!" The army of squirrels slink out from behind their hiding places, glare needles (they're too small for daggers) at the Director, and start charging him, with Squirrel Girl leading the scurry!

[This is absolutely a Physical Stress attack vs MSDOS. Let's see what we can do!

Team D10, The Slayer of All That Breathes D8, Squirrel Control D10, A Mass of Fur and Teeth 5D6, Combat Master D10, MSDOS's Physical Stress D10

Claws SFX: Reduce D10 to D8, add D6, step up Physical Stress inflicted.
Stunt: -1 PP to activate an Opportunity to add Squirrel Scurry! D10 Stunt

Pool: 3D10, 2D8, 6D6

12:59, Today: Squirrel Girl rolled 11,3,19 using 3D10,2D8,6D6 with rolls of 1,9,1,1,2,6,6,1,1,3,2.  Physical Attack vs MSDOS.
13:27, Today: Squirrel Girl rolled 3 using 1d10 with rolls of 3.  MSDOS's Physical Stress!

Total: 9+6+6+3+3+2=29 (-4PP)
Effect: D8->D10 Physical Stress (Claws)
Opportunities: 5
PP: 4-4=0

Well. Um. Your honor, I call Armadillo to the stand.

EDIT: Forgot MSDOS's stress! How could I?! Also, changed from calling USAgent to Armadillo.]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Mon 30 Nov 2020.

Reaction to Soviet Skrull's Physical attack (msg #125), Total: 7, Effect: d8:
Team    d6
Temperamental    d4
(+1 PP)
Enhanced Durability    d8
Vibranium Shield/Superhuman Durability    d10
Combat Expert    d8
Soviet Skrull Emotional Stress    d8

U.S.Agent rolls 6,4,4,5,3,3 using d6,d4,d8,d10,d8,d8 ((6,4,4,5,3,3)).

Total: 11; Effect: d8

PPs: 2 (starting) +1 (negative Distinction) = 3

The U.S.Agent easily defends the attack by the Soviet Skrull with the practiced move of putting up his shield. The growing, tumultuous feeling in his stomach up through his chest, the Agent knows, comes from his rising rage at spending so much of his time and energy against this opponent or his dragging boredom at having to fight him. “Come on, you thing! Fight if you’re going to!” the Agent hollers, then takes it up a notch with a battle-cry in the foreign tongue: “Где здесь ванная комната!!!”

"You should have gone before the battle began, fleshbag," Machine Man muttered.

Seeing the avalanche of rodents heading its way, MSDOS takes evasive action with its rocket chair. Fortunately for it, Squirrel Girl is still seeing double or triple from the mental whammy she suffered earlier in the battle, so it is able to bob and weave around the vanguard. Unfortunately for it, there are a LOT of squirrels, and it can't keep up the tap dance for long.

"Ack! Undone by a swarm of rats with better marketing!" it yells melodramatically as it is bowled over backwards by the tide of squirrels. Its jet sputters and goes out as the squirrels gnaw sparking holes in the hoverchair.


MSDOS vs. SG Total: 29 Effect: D10 Physical Stress (Claws)
Opportunities: 5

SG mental stress d12, Buddy d6 (Him and Soviet Skrull), Twisted Science villain d8, Flight d6, Vehicles d8

11:57, Today: Watcher rolled 7,3,1,1,1 using d12,d8,d8,d6,d6 with rolls of 7,3,1,1,1.  MSDOS react to SG.

10 total. That steps up SG's attack beyond d12, so it will take MSDOS out.

I'll buy SG's opportunities. 2PP back to her, a d12 and a d6 for the doom pool.



Soviet Skrull is still up, but he's not going to last long. USAgent and Armadillo have an action they can take if they want, or I'm perfectly happy hand-waving it and saying he goes down.

The U.S.Agent stands his ground, not throwing another attack on an opponent who has clearly been wrecked. "Just fall, blast you," the U.S.Agent says clearly but forcefully.

The tiny camera-bots are apparently more comfortable to hover near him since there are suddenly a lot more.

Emotional attack on Soviet Skrull (intimidating him):
Team    d6
Hovering camera-bots    d4
(+1 PP)
Menace Expert    d8
Soviet Skrull Emotional Stress    d8

U.S.Agent rolls 2,2,6,4 using d6,d4,d8,d8 ((2,2,6,4)).

Total: 10; Effect: d6

PPs: 3 (starting; from msg #133) +1 (negative Distinction) = 4

As US Agent orders him to fall, Soviet Skrull takes a look around him at the destruction of the town. He transforms his various body parts back into regular skrull anatomy and his body language deflates. "You have deefeated us. What will you do now?" he asks with a Russian accent.


Going to call this combat over. We're back to RP talky time.

Unfortunately, it looks like we lost Armadillo again.

“We shall leave with the dog. You and your...co-stars...will, ah, strike the set and return the director to the Skrull throne world.”
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Wed 09 Dec 2020.

"Wait..." Machine Man was aghast. "This was all about a dog?!

"What is wrong with you fleshy idiots? No wonder we had to John Wick your asses!"

“It’s a paying job.

Something I’ve heard that you never eschewed.”

Tired and still feeling woozy and a little disconnected herself, Squirrel Girl stands beside the Director, one leg triumphantly resting on the fallen rocket chair. She shoots the rest of the team a thumbs up and a wink, then kneels down to address her small army.

"That was great, you guys! You really know how to do your home proud. Bob, Doug, thanks for letting us in on what was going on. You really saved the day! We've got to get going now, but you can have the rest of my pie in the bar. Thanks, everyone! Come on, Tippy-Toe. We've got a puppy to check in on." Doreen stood up and made her way back towards the rest of the group, making sure to pick up the coffee she'd set down over by the light post before making her way toward Lockjaw.

"Aw. Coffee's gone all frozen..."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Machine Man had eschewed paying work plenty of times. He took jobs when he was low on beer money. "Actually, you kinda said that like you don't know what 'eschew' means, but I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt."

“Just have another drink,”” Moondragon said with an eye roll. “Doreen, can you fetch the puppy? I never thought I would say this, but I’m ready to go back to Los Angeles.””

"Again, she says this like it's a bad thing," Machine man said, elbowing Iceman. "But I, for one, could really use a beer right now. How about you?"

In reply to Machine Man (msg # 144):


"I'm with the talking crash dummy," Bobby says, tossing his ice-weapons away and clapping a hand on the battle-damaged android's back. "Drinks for everyone, on me."

The U.S.Agent looks around at his teammates. "This is taking too long," he says. as stoic as he could be but battle-ready. "It's an American right to not have to be patient. And staying in Canadia this long only helps Canadia, not the U.S. of A."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Thu 04 Feb 2021.