OOC: The Sun Never Sets, OOC Thread for The Sun Never Sets Options

[pbangarth]

Oh, we could have soooo much fun with this, eg. Stogie gets blown away by the troll because he called her the wrong name.

[AtroposReborn]

I'm certainly all for splitting up, no assumption needed. Ellesar will go with the ork if Stogie is sticking with the other two.

Infiltration: AGI (4) + Infiltration (4) = 8 Dice >>> 3 Hits

[pbangarth]

Boost AGI and REA for Stogie:

AGI first, then REA : 8 dice each ==> 3 hits, 2 hits

So, AGI is 6 for 6 combat rounds, REA is 5 for 4 combat rounds, giving an Initiative of 10 (1 IP).

[Tecumseh]

I'm heads-down on a global product launch that's happening next week so I likely won't get a new post up until the weekend.

Any more thoughts on finishing this off in real-time? I should be free the next two weekends, plus some weekdays next week.

[pbangarth]

I like the idea of a real-time interaction. In the near future, however, I have weekdays taken up by work and weekends taken up by time with my wife, with whom I have rebuilt a relationship after some tough times. We will move back together this June, after which, time together on the weekends will not be so precious, as we will have time together daily.

So, for now I am not likely to take a few hours stretch on a weekend away from being with her.

But later, I would be way up for it.

PS. Can we get an IC post up before our IC thread disappears from the forum? Mine was the last one, so I would rather not add an immediate second post.

[Tecumseh]

Thanks for the input, pbangarth.

I'll get an IC post up soon. My big product launch is happening right now (http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one-m8/) so I should be able to come up for air soon.

[AtroposReborn]

Good to see that things are going well for everyone. My weekends are pretty open for the next month so I'm still down for some quick RP.

In regards to your product launch, Tec, I hope that all goes smoothly. Both my current phone and the one I had previously are HTC products and I have no qualms.

[Tecumseh]

New post is up!

FYI, even if you're out of commlink range to the rest of civilization, I always figured that commlinks were sufficiently advanced enough to have direct-connection capabilities, like walkie talkies. So I'll say that Stogie and Ellesar can communicate via their commlinks even if they don't have a signal to the rest of the world.

[pbangarth]

New post is up!

FYI, even if you're out of commlink range to the rest of civilization, I always figured that commlinks were sufficiently advanced enough to have direct-connection capabilities, like walkie talkies. So I'll say that Stogie and Ellesar can communicate via their commlinks even if they don't have a signal to the rest of the world.

Oh! I thought of asking that, but feared I was pushing things. Lesson learned. Never hurts to ask.

[pbangarth]

Jake's plan is to stay out of contact and be a sensor for Stogie. He has Perception 2, INT 4 and Enhanced Sense (smell).

I'll leave Perception rolls to you, T. Here's a few others that might be useful:

Hunting 3 + INT 5 = 8 dice ==> 0 Hits! Fuck! I can't keep doing this. I need the Edge for shooting! OK, another Edge re-roll. 8 dice ==> 4 Hits!

That's better. 2 Edge left.

Infiltration 2 + (wilderness) 2 + AGI 6 (for now) = 10 dice ==> 5 Hits!

[pbangarth]

I'm away from my books at the moment, and think this should be asked of the GM, anyway.

As I recall, spellcasting can be detected as it happens, using a formula based on the Force of the spell. Can the use of adept powers be also detected in your game, Tecumseh? I want to know so I can decide whether/when Stogie might choose to activate a power here in the woods.

[Tecumseh]

Hmm, an interesting question. Spellcasting can be detected with a Perception roll against a threshold of (6 - Force), so high-Force spells are readily apparent. I never thought about it for adept powers, mostly since they lack Force ratings.

I'm going to say that adept powers are not immediately obvious on the physical plane (although jacking up your Body or Strength via an Attribute Boost might make your pecs visibly pop), but that someone astrally perceiving would have a decent chance to notice the shifting mana.

[pbangarth]

OK. Stogie will be careful during this hunt, then. Though in the middle of all this life, the detection might be a little more difficult.

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar will be posting up in a spot where he can get a clear line of site on at least two of the men. He'll also let Stogie know to make the first move so that the elf doesn't ruin his chance of getting up close and personal with the mage.

I had quite a few errands to run today but I'll get an IC post up tomorrow after work along with any necessary rolls.

[pbangarth]

Alright! I get to be the babe who drops the scarf.

[AtroposReborn]

I can honestly say I've never heard that saying before.

[pbangarth]

I can honestly say I've never heard that saying before.

Innumerable old movies in which the young studs race against each other, and the race is started by the beautiful young thing who waves a handkerchief, or scarf, or her arms to start them off. I was thinking of Rebel Without a Cause, but I just looked up the scene and she just uses her arms. Can't think of another title off the top of my head.

[Tecumseh]

Pb's making stuff up. Roll your Con skill!

I'll try to get an IC post up tomorrow or, if not then, this weekend.

[Tecumseh]

Oh geez, is it Monday already? What happened to Friday? or the weekend? Well it's my mother's birthday so I spent most of yesterday with her, so that's what happened to Sunday. I hate being the hang-up so I'll get a post up today!

[Tecumseh]

Ruh, roh, Shaggy, Jake doesn't have the Infiltration skill!

In a gesture of extreme benevolence, I'll give Jake a couple dice to match his Tracking pool. Result = 1 hit. Well that didn't help much.

The hunted's perception roll = ??? hits. I suppose I can stop obfuscating the results now that Phlapjack isn't here. 2 hits.

Pb, you're about 50 meters away from the man right now. That's long range for slugs, extreme range for shot. I presume you're packing slugs but correct me if I'm wrong.

He's just looking at Jake right now, a bit confused. You can continue to approach, although he's been alerted now and is no longer distracted. If you fire from here he'll have some cover bonuses from the trees.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, I hoped you would figure out how to deal with the Infiltration thing for Jake, and that it would help that he was separated widely from Stogie. It did for Stogie, but not so much for Jake.

Not for this encounter, as I had not in any way prepared or RPed for this idea beforehand, and in fact just thought of it now, but Tecumseh please give some thought for the future about the Edge that critters have. Dogs are listed as having EDG of 3. Had I thought of it, Stogie might have mentally impressed upon Jake the need to stay unnoticed lest he die, and Jake might have tried really hard to do so, ie. use Edge.

I suspect by now the Attribute Boosts have worn off, so I should roll for Drain Resistance. Each of the two Boosts give a Drain of 1S.

Drain resistance: WIL 4 + BOD 4 = 8 dice ==> 4 HITS, 2 HITS so no Drain.

Alright, I'm going to have to act quickly, else Jake is toast and the mage, if he's smart, will twig to what is happening. Especially if Gunny or the punks we sent packing spoke about Stogie and Jake. I'm going to shoot at the mage, yes with slugs. Birdshot won't do shit to an armoured man. Question is, two shots with no setup, or one shot with a better chance to hit. Firing from cover is -2 dice, long range is -3. Fuck. Well, the cover will work for protecting me, too. And while the mage is busy blowing Stogie away, the rest can deal with the main party.

So, that is, 3d6 for the first shot and 2d6 for the second, with fewer hits but two chances to get lucky, or one shot with AGI boosted again (likely to get more extra dice than one Aim action). Let's say another 2 dice to make it ~5d6. I could also use one of my last two Edge dice for either way (saving the last one to keep my brains from frying), so 7d6 (exploding sixes) and 2d6, or ~9d6 (exploding sixes). Not a primary shooter, Stogie. Sure wish I had gotten closer.

I'll go for the Boost and a single shot.

Attribute Boost AGI: MAG 7 + Boost (AGI) 1 = 8 dice ==> 3 HITS that last for 6 combat rounds. This makes his AGI 6.

EDIT: I have to redo all this. I forgot to take away the minuses. Serves me right for doing this after a long day.

Hmmm. That goes over the tipping point for choosing when to use Edge of 4. I'll save the Edge to reroll misses.

Shot at the mage: AGI 6 + Longarms (shotgun) 5 = 11 dice ==> 4 HITS

Use Edge to reroll misses = 7 dice ==> 3 HITS

Total 7 hits. Base DV ... aww shit. Looking that up I forgot the Enfield has a laser sight! OK, I will roll another 1d6 to see if it counts. I'll roll it twice but only count the first if it is a hit (Edge would allow a reroll of the miss).
==> no hits

OK, so 7 hits, DV is 7P, AP -1.

So, AGI 6 + Longarms (shotgun) 5 - shooting from cover 2 - long range 3 + edge 4 = 10 dice (exploding sixes) ==> 5 HITS

5 hits, DV is 7P, AP -1.

Well, that's it guys. I just opened a can of whupass. Just don't know on whom.

[Tecumseh]

Alright, this is where things grind into slow motion as the GM stops to consider what a dozen different NPCs are thinking and doing independently when they hear a shotgun blast in the woods.

Pb and Atropos, please roll Initiative when you get the chance.

This will be my first 4E combat in several months. I've been running 5E since it came out, so if I suddenly lapse between editions on the rules please gently correct me and I'll do my best to recover.

[Tecumseh]

As for critters and Edge, I generally consider critters (and spirits) to be NPCs with their Edge use subject to the GM. Stogie has a special relation with Jake and has more control over his actions than your average NPC, so he can strongly request/suggest that Jake put some extra effort into it but the GM gets final say.

For you optimizers out there, a bit of a primer on the best way to apply Edge:

Multiply your Edge value by 18/7. This is the cutoff point between whether you should add Edge prior to your roll and get the additional dice plus the exploding 6s, or after your roll to see how you fare and to reroll non-successes.

Ellesar, Edge 1: Add pre-roll for dice pools of 2 or less; for pools of 3 or more, save it to reroll non-successes.
Stogie, Edge 4: Add pre-roll for dice pools of 10 or less; for pools of 11 or more, save it to reroll non-successes.

[Tecumseh]

I'm going to say no dodge for the mage, given that Stogie's infiltration beat his perception roll.

Damage stages to 12P, -1 AP. Soak roll = 4 hits. Final damage is 8P with knockdown, so he's flat on his face eating dirt.

Next steps will come after initiative rolls.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, years ago a bunch of us here on DS arrived at 2.5 as being the turning point multiplier. That is close enough for your fraction.

Absolutely so for Jake's Edge. But, d'oh, I have to actually think of it to suggest it to him.

Woohoo! Eatin' dirt!

Initiative for Stogie: 8 dice ==> Six '4's, but no Hits!

So, Stogie is really impressed with his shot and stands there, amazed: Initiative 8.

Initiative for Jake: 8 dice ==> 5 HIts!

Jake on the other hand is a typical border collie, and reacts like greased lightning: Initiative 13.