[Ic] Bug City, End of the World Options

[Frater Inominatu...]

[ Spoiler ]

Average astral Ini: 31, No "armor"

“Nick! It’s me Eric. Look there’s a guy behind the building being attacked by eight very strange looking orcs. He’s holding his own but it won’t last. Get the others and meet me there. I am going to try and throw them into confusion until you can there. Straight back that way,” Eric points toward a corner of the building “is a door on the east(?) side. Take a left and they’re around the corner. Hurry!” Eric disappears and races back to assist the beleaguered man.

Eric travels up through the roof, thankful that the wall mutes the “stench” within the building. Moving to a point on the roof putting him over the combat. He watches the fluid grace of the young man as he struggles to keep the orcs at bay. Eric waits for an opportunity, a moment when the largest number of them are separate from the young man. Maybe I’ll get lucky and I’ll get them all. Eric gathers the mystic energies around him. Like a whirl pool in a lake, ethreal energies poured through Eric’s hands. The chaotic eddies dancing around his fingers, washing them in multi-hued light, coalesced into a pattern. Eric exulted in the surge of power flowing through his hands. Eric mumbled the words of power, barely a whisper, and the pattern of protection shot out, arcing down to form a dome over the SURGED orcs. The astral barrier flickered once and with an audible THRUMM, solidified over the orcs. That should hold them Eric thought.

[ Spoiler ]

Sorcery: 5 + 1 from spell pool (Avg. Success vs. TN 6: 1)
Drain: Willpower: 5 + 4 from spell pool (Avg. Success vs. TN 3: 6)

It was then that Nick and the rest of the group burst through the door, followed by more of the creatures. Eric sighed, It’s never as simple as that, I should have known. Eric would muse later on the fact that each of these “orcs” had similar mutations. For the moment he dropped through the ceiling and went looking for the last guy in line. He stopped in his tracks at the sight inside the building. Ten or more of the creatures were crowding to get out the door. Eric quickly created an astral barrier between them and the door.

[ Spoiler ]

Sorcery 5 + 1 from spell pool (TN +1, sustaining and Focused concentration) (Avg. Success vs. TN 7: 1)
Drain: Willpower: 5 + 3 from spell pool (Avg. Success vs. TN 3: 5.3)

Eric floated near the ceiling, waiting to see what unfolded next.

[ Spoiler ]

Hold 11 action

[scoundrel]

Gnat spins around as soon as he hears the metallic footsteps behind him, bringing his pistol up in one smooth motion. His eyes widen in surprise when he finds himself staring at a pack of the ugliest faces he had ever seen in his life. Instinctively sensing their deadly intent, his wrist snaps back as he pulls the trigger on his gun, firing a burst at the nearest mutant. He pivots around and continues running to the door without even bothering to ascertain that his shot had dropped the strange creature.

"Guys, we've got company behind us!"

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 20.5
Armor: 6/5
Weapon damage code: 12S (Burst-fire)
Movement: 6 meters per combat phase, 18 meters per combat turn
Relevant Modifiers: +2 TN to all ranged attacks made against him due to camouflage

1st combat phase

Simple Action 1: Take Aim.
Simple Action 2: Pistols: 9 roll, no combat pool (0 recoil).

2nd combat phase

Complex Action: Athletics: 5 roll for additional combat pool dice as Gnat continues to run to the door, making sure to maintain partial cover between him and the bugs.

3rd combat phase

If he makes it through the door: same as phase 1, except unloading all remaining combat pool dice on the shot.
If he doesn't make it to the door: same as phase 2.

[gobogen]

At Gnat's warning, Joe turns around to see the wierd looking creatures coming their way.

Without hesitation Joe levels his rifle toward one of the things on which he has a good line of sight, takes aim straight at its eye, and shoots with intention of killing. Right after, he tries to shoot at the next one coming.

[ Spoiler ]

Joe has a rifle skill of 12. Modifiers: -2 TN for Smartlink, +2 for called shot (Smartlink II)on first shot or for second target on second shot, there shouldn't be any for range or visibility (Vision mag 3, flare comp, thermo, and even scent), weapon base damage: 9S (+ called shot modifiers on first shot). Assuming a target number of 4, this gives 6 successes on each shot (the first should have increased damage levels or ignore armor?).

In case you thought it was a problem, note that he has quick draw and so can draw his rifle if you think it wasn't ready.

He keeps all 9 combat pool dice for dodging and resistance, especially in case of a surprise physical confrontation. His armor rating is B8/I7. He has athletics 6 to help with dodge if he thinks he's very vulnerable and must leap out to avoid getting killed.

[HeySparky]

Dammit. Where is that coming from? And where did Mike and that other guy... Gnat... run off to. Ana growls under her breath. She scents the air, hoping to get a whiff of where the guys might have run off to and immediately wishes she hadn't, remembering the corpses she'd glimpsed inside Galyans. There it is again! She pauses for a split second as the scuffling reaches her ears. She squints cocking her head trying to get a fix on the sound.

Eric is too big for her to carry and too vulnerable to leave. She drags him to the palette and using that as a ramshackle travois, begins to, as gracefully as she might (READ: Not at all) drag Eric toward where she thinks the sound is coming from. The sounds seemed to be coming from here...

<< Ana here. I can't get through the comms. Repeat. Ana here. I can't get through the comms. What is the situation? Come back. >>

[ Spoiler ]

As I am so fond of doing, I submit myself to your everpresent (or was that absent?) mercies. I will at least give you a link to our the CHAR thread.

Ana will try to locate the others, and will not leave Eric. The equipment she is carrying is noted on her char sheet. Of note and prepped for use is her mini-flare gun. She's not at all afraid of firing it right into someone... or thing's face.

[nick012000]

If Locke hears Ana's transmission (OOC: I'm a little confused as to how these things work), he will reply with the following:

<<Locke here. We appear to have encountered some hostiles. Keep the mage safe.>>

She should be able to easily hear the sounds of his burst fire, regardless.

[Sphynx]

Eric summons forth the power of the Astral, and begins weaving a barrier around the 8 strange buglike menaces combating the new stranger. Although impossible to capture all of them within the barrier, the barrier does encase 6 of the strange creatures who immediately look at it and prepare to attack the weak barrier.

[ Spoiler ]

6 bugs lost their action, drain was nil.

Gnat is the first to notice the bugs that have encircled the team and reacts with a quick burst fire from his Ruger Thunderbolt BurstFire Pistol, but faster than imagineable, the creature moves to the side, causing the 3-fire burst to slide right past him without hitting. Shocked, the huge Orc opts for the bettor part of valor, and heads for the door, dodging what attacks he can on the way.

John Locke, reacting more to the sudden burstfire than to the warning itself spins around, gun in hand and delivers a powerful shot at the closes of the creatures, the precision is perfect, despite the speed that the creature moves at, the shot slams powerfully into the shoulder of it. Another perfectly fired burst, and the oozing creature falls to the floor, a clittering of teeth marking its passing.

Joe reacts just seconds after John, and spins around with his sporting rifle, firing a shot centermass of the bug coming for him. It's not even a sporting chance, the creature has a hole the size of a Troll's head, center mass, amd goes down for the count.

2 Bugs down, their turn to attack. With skillful precision which indicates great intelligence, they seperate Mike and Gnat from the rest, Gnat almost falling into the arms of one as he tries to dive for the door. 6 of the 12 within the store seem held back by some force, but are scraping at the air in a quick attempt to remove the barrier. The remaining 6 are now surrounding the 2 victims, though Gnat seems to be holding his own fairly well, dodging and avoiding too much contact. Mike seems frozen, perhaps in fear, though, and falls to his knees.

Meanwhile outside Mishka continues his mostly defensive stance, not realizing that the numbers have dropped from 8 to 2, and thus losing his wonderful oppurtunity for attack.

Anna looks at the pallet, a discarded piece of trash, and then at the truck Eric is laying in. They keys are still in the ignition, and it seems like a pity to waste such great tires in order to pull someone on a pallet.

[ Spoiler ]

Eric did project from the vehicle as I understood it, no? Also, teams might consider suppressive fire, you don't stand a chance when out numbered by bug spirits if your dice are going towards picking them out 1 at a time with gunfire. John and Ana do not hear each other... though ana does hear the gunfire. 2 Bugs are down.

[nick012000]

Locke continues shooting autofire bursts at the bugs closest to him, the roar of the firing almost deafening as the explosive ammo blasts the flesh it hits to bits.

[Frater Inominatu...]

Eric felt the barrier outside fall. Damn He raised a second barrier in a dome over the bugs struggleing to beat down the wall he placed between them and his team. When did we become a "team?" Gripping the strands, Eric slipped outside where the eight creatures had been whittled down by two.

[ Spoiler ]

11 - Complex Action: Cast ASTRAL BARRIER (Dome over Orcs)
Sorcery 5 + 1 from spell pool (TN +1, sustaining and Focused concentration) (Avg. Success vs. TN 7: 1)
Drain: Willpower: 5 + 3 from spell pool (Avg. Success vs. TN 3: 5.3)

Eric, satisfied that the creatures would be a moment, drifted therough the wall ot see how his "Team" was doing. He say six of the eight things either dead or expiring messily. Focusing his will, Eric manifested his astral form on the material plane. "DON'T WORRY, GUYS!" He yelled over the gun fire. He pointed in the direction of the door. Where the orcs were pounding on the barrier. "I just saved a bunch of money on my health insurance by switching to the astral!"

[HeySparky]

The sound of gunshots, muffled through the plasti-cmu walls reach Ana's augmented ears and are shunted by sophisticated biometrics and electronics into a range that leaves her heart pounding, but at least not her ears ringing.

She glances up, throat tightening and sees the door of Mike's truck standing open chiming its distate at Mike's sudden flight. The keys! They're there. She imagines herself folding her long frame into the dwarf modded 'Rover and sighs. Eric, pal... she grabs the slumped mage under his armpits -- Boy... you sure don't look this heavy -- and drags him bodily to the 'Rover, his boots hopping over bits of trash and gravel. She wrestles open the rear driver's side door and pulls Eric up into the back seat -- No yoga balls... An I talking to myself? -- and backs her way out of the opposite side as she makes sure all his limbs are in. She slips into the passenger side, pulling her cloak in so it doesn't slam in the door. She palms the 'red' lock-em-up button and the doors shut. The chiming stops. Oh, thank heaven. She turns sideways, angling her long legs from the passenger seat to work the pedals and grabs the steering wheel with one hand, giving the key a twist with the other. She dials the rearview mirror to suit her and catches a glimpse of Eric. Shaking her head turns her eyes to the direction the gunfire seemed to come from.

Here we go... She presses the accelerator.

[gobogen]

Joe keeps shooting at the bugs, choosing the ones closest to either Mike or Gnat so that others might be scared to get closer. He's quite calm and focused, work as usual.

[ Spoiler ]

He should be able to shoot at two different bugs in one round. Same stats as before except that first shot should be more precise then the second one.

[Fortune]

Taken totally off guard by the quick reactions of his opponents, Mishka quickly back-peddled into a more defensive stance. He was well aware that it was only a matter of time before he missed a block.

Almost surprised once again, he just managed a warning shout before the door burst open and spilled a group of people from the big building, in flight from another similar group of orc-bugs. The ensuing eruption of gunfire almost overwhemed Mishka, confusing him, and in a way terrifying him even more than he was already.

His main concern was Tash, and as he warded off another series of blows, Mishka worked his way back towards a protective stance over his little sister. He was only vaguely aware of the fact that he was aided greatly by the appearance of strange weakly glowing walls that seemed to momentarily hinder the creatures.

[ Spoiler ]

That was then! :P

As Mishka took up his guard position, a slowly growing awareness of the changing situation worked to quell his fear, leaving only his concern for Tash to contain his long-brewing anger and, although he would never admit it, battlelust.

Inspired by the proof of his opponents' mortality, the big blond focuses his attention on the next attack, determined to take the fight to these hideous thing while he had the chance.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 6 + 3d6
Armor: 6/8 [in melee]
Combat Pool: 8 [used for defence]

Actions: Fight his hoop off!

Melee: 11
- Wildcat [6], Improved Ability: Wildcat [4], Enhanced Articulation [1]
- Close Combat Maneuver

Damage: Depends on how you work Killing Hands with the Hardliners, although I don't see why they wouldn't work together.
With: 10M [11M -1 Close Combat]
Without: 8M [9M -1 Close Combat]

[mallet]

"Fagging hell!" Mike yells as he keeps backing up to the door, spraying surpressing fire at the... whatever the hell they were that was coming towards the group. This wasn't good

His instincts, honed on battlefields across the globe, take over. He begins yelling commands to the rest of the team as they try and reach the backdoor, and hopefully better cover.

[ Spoiler ]

Mike will keep up a steady fire, trying to drive the things back or to cover, giving the team a chance to escape. he will use Small unit tactics (and leadership, if you allow that as a complimentary skill) to give helpful commands to the team.

BOD: 9
Combat Pool: 9
assault rifle: 3

Init: 7 + 2d6

Armor (B:4/I:6)

Small unit tactics:6
Leadership/strategy: 5/7

task pool:1

His main goal will not be to kill the things, but to keep them away. 1 die from combat pool to assist shooting, the rest held for dodge/damage soaking. he has a smartgun link, but since he is not trying to take out a specific target, I am not sure if the -2TN counts.

[Lindt]

Editing in process

[ Spoiler ]

Things where quiet in the middle of the street. Able was going to wait untill someone else returned before making his trip in to scavenge for equpiment.

[i]Strange group I fell into. A cross section of Chicagos law enforcement, a PI, an exotic dancer, a card carrying NRA Barkeep, and a pair of sketchy orcs.

[ Spoiler ]

Actions:
Will run around the side of the building in an attempt to flank the 'bad guys'

Combat actions:

Call shot (to stage up damage)
Aim
6 rd Burst (6L becomes 10S) no recoil (5 pts comp +str)

SMG 5+4 combat pool (TN: -2 smartlink +4 call shot -1 aim -2 tracers)

[scoundrel]

Gnat ducks agilely as one of the creatures takes a swing at him and sweeps his leg around in an arc, knocking his foe to the ground. He dives to the left, rolls, and comes up on one knee. His gun arm snaps up and his pistol roars as he opens fire on the freakish orc.

"Suck on that, Marvin!"

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 20.5
Armor: 6/5
Weapon damage code: 12S (Burst-fire)
Movement: 0 meters per combat phase
Relevant Modifiers: -

2nd combat phase

Simple Action 1: Take Aim
Simple Action 2: Pistols: 9 roll, 1 combat pool
TN = 4 (+1 partial lighting, -1 take aim)
Average # of successes: 5

[Sphynx]

Finally crowded together in the frame of a door, the gunfire seems sporadic and almost pointless, however with the guidance of Mike, and his carefully laid supressive fire, the 10 things in the store are held at bay, though not injured. Suddenly, in a burst of movement that rival'd even the bugs, Gnat performs a quick kick-n-fire that takes SERIOUS-ly takes out another one of the bugs, however they are unable to press their attack, and seem to be waiting for some sort of opening now that their own mortality has been made apparent by the 2 already dead and the 1 heavily wounded.

Meanwhile Mishka attacks the 2 unhindered bugs, finding it much easier now that he has backup to watchi his back, and although he doesn't gain an advantage from their support, the opponents lose theirs completely. With a few lucky punches, one of the things finds itself SERIOUS-ly crippled, its arms hanging useless at its side as it tries to bite in return. The other one attacks in full, injuring Mishka LIGHT-ly as it finds a spot on his shoulder to rip the flesh from.

On the Astral, the barriers were all defeated, and as the 6 bugs prepared to attack en-masse on the vulnerable Mishka, Eric quickly throws another barrier up, again blocking their actions.

Able continues his race around the side of the building, as he comes around the first corner, the sound of the Land Rover's engines starting up catches his ears.

[ Spoiler ]

Some of you didn't post dice allocations (or any [ spoiler ] at all). So, despite actions posted, I treated them as 0-dice actions (Ie: the actions were there, but they failed).

Frater: You took a Moderate Wound from drain. Being on the Astral, that means a Physical Wound that can not be healed by Magic. Do you want to spend your karma for a re-roll?

2 bugs with SERIOUS wounds this round, Mishka with a Light Physical wound.

Ana and Able can come around the corner next turn and Able can even act normally in actions. (Ie: he's just around the corner, roll init normally next turn for combat)

[gobogen]

Joe meant to shoot at them carefully, but it seemed that the bugs were approaching their victims a bit too fast so he had to shoot quickly every time they were getting too close and might have had a chance to seriously hurt Gnat or Mike.

Since the bugs seem more scared now, Joe decides to actually shoot at the bugs with the purpose of killing them.

[ Spoiler ]

I'll make this as clear as possible this time.

Joe fires 2 shots at the creatures

first is CALLED for the HEAD of a creature
total dice: 17 (5 from combat pool)
net TN modifier: 0 (-2 smartlink, +2 called shot)

second shot is towards center of mass to wound
total dice: 16 (4 from combat pool)
net TN modifier: 0 (-2 smartlink, +2 second target)

[Lindt]

Gouts of automatic gunfire echo off the concrete buildings, turning the already hellish sound into a catastrophic symphony of destruction. All set against the eerily silent city. Other then the supersonic reports of weapon fire, all that Able could hear was his feet slapping on the pavement. He neared the corner of the building where the combat was taking place in time to hear the Land Rover shifting into second gear as Ana rounded the corner gaining quite fast.
Able takes a partial step, leaving him with some cover as he assessed the situation.

Un-known defendant, 8+ possible assailants, 6 appear to be barriered. Friendlys backing out door spraying into structure, presumably engaging additional hostiles. I’m so boned...

Able drops to a knee, takes a precise bead on the monstrosity beginning re-engagement with the John Doe, and leads 6 rounds into it.

[ Spoiler ]

Assuming bugman #2 is a takeable shot (not directly infront or behind Mishka,


Call shot
Aim
Burst

SMG 5+5 combat pool
6 rd Burst (6L becomes 10S) no recoil (5 pts comp +str)

(TN: -2 smartlink +4 call shot -1 aim -2 tracers, -? range finder) Base TN 3 with range finder.

Init 2d6+9

B10/I9 (FFBA, L Sec, Helmet)

Addational combat pool (3 left) will be held for dodge/soak rolls

[scoundrel]

As the chaotic battle rages on around him, Gnat dodges and weaves, taking whatever shots he can at the twisted orks who seem to be driven by bloodlust alone. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices that one of the vile creatures engaging the mysterious large man that they had come to rescue had drawn blood in his opponent. Taking careful aim so as not to injure the stranger, the young man raises his pistol. Before he can fire, his quarry is blown back as a barrage of lead from somewhere outside brutally rips through its body.

Who the hell is that out there?

Gnat barely has time to complete his thought before another bugman launches itself at him. Sidestepping to avoid its attack, his gun simultaneously flies up and opens fire directly into the monster's face.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 20.5
Armor: 6/5
Weapon damage code: 12S (Burst-fire)
Movement: 0 meters per combat phase
Relevant Modifiers: -

3rd combat phase

Simple Action 1: Take Aim
Simple Action 2: Pistols: 9 roll, 7 combat pool
TN = 4 (+1 partial lighting, -1 take aim)
Average # of successes: 8

[nick012000]

Locke continues the rain of bullets from his HVAR, trying to blow the bugs to bits. As he fires he watches the bullets in the clip dwindle to zero, and sends the command to eject the magazine as soon as the first click is heard.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 26.5
Armor: 9/10 (8/7 Hardened)
Weapon damage code: 14D (Burst-fire+EX explosive ammo)
Movement: none
Relevant Modifiers: -

3rd combat turn
1st Complex Action-Autofire (15 bullets)
2nd Complex Action- Autofire (15 bullets)
3rd Complex Action- Autofire (8 bullets)
Free action- Eject Magazine

First Autofire split into 9 and 6 round bursts (Combat pool 4 for 1st, 5 for second). He will shoot one of the unwounded bugs with it. If the bug survives the first burst, he sends the second into it, otherwise he sends it into the one with a Serious wound. TN 2 for the first, same for 2nd if attacking same bug, otherwise TN 4. If the unwounded bug survives the 9 round burst, he will send a 15 round burst into the next unwounded one he attacks, spending 6 dice from his combat pool (TN 2). If not, he will do the same as before. His last 8 round burst will be directed at a wounded bug if possible, adding 6 dice from combat pool (TN 2).

[mallet]

Mike keeps laying down the surpressive fire and yelling commands, trying to get the team outside, where they have a better chance at picking off the enemy one at a time, as they come out the door after them.

[ Spoiler ]

Same info as last time

[Fortune]

Mishka recoils in pain as the strange creature's teeth close over his shoulder, and he flails around wildly to dislodge his attacker. His jaw clenches as the young man visibly steels himself against the pain of the injury. The confusion of the battle recedes as the big blond feels himself getting caught up in the familiar thrill of battlelust. All but ignoring the surrounding chaos, Mishka proceeds to press his attack against the nearest orc-bug.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 6 + 3d6
Armor: 6/8 [in melee]
Combat Pool: 8 [used for defence]

Actions: Press the attack!

Melee: 11
- Wildcat [6], Improved Ability: Wildcat [4], Enhanced Articulation [1]
- Close Combat Maneuver

Damage: I still don't know how you handle the Killing Hands/Hardliner combo.
Combined: 10M [11M -1 Close Combat]
Not: 8M [9M -1 Close Combat]

[Frater Inominatu...]

05:21:16 Tuesday 08 June 2064 - Outside Galyan's Sporting Goods

Ethereal energies poured through Eric's hands. Struggling to keep barriers up between the orc-bugs and the group he pushed harder and harder. Just a little more... Fire exploded in Eric's left hand as the magical energies scoured a hole through his hand. "Ahhhhrg," his voice echoed and reverberated in the space around him, adding his pain to a place already flooded with way too much emotion. Stupid! What good are you going to be to the group if you fry yourself, huh? Eric steeled himself and focused past the pain to the problem at hand. He began trowing up barriers between the orc-bugs and his group. They needed time to rally and Eric had to give it to them...

[ Spoiler ]

31 - Cast astral barrier(wall) 4 centered on the door.
TN 7: Sorcery 5+1 from spell pool (average success: 1)
Drain TN 4S (3+1 Light Wound): Willpower 5+3 from spell pool (average successes: 4)
21 - Cast astral barrier(Dome) 4 over group
TN 8: Sorcery 5+2 from spell pool (avg. suc.: 1)
Drain TN 5S (4+1 (light wound)+2 (sustaining)-1 (focused concentration): Willpower 5+3 from spell pool (avg. suc.: 2.7)
11 - Cast astral barrier(wall) 4 centered on the door.
TN 9: Sorcery 5+0 from spell pool (average success: 0.6)
Drain TN 6S (3+1 (Light Wound+2 (sustaining)-1 (focused concentration)): Willpower 5+0 from spell pool (average successes: 0.8)

Eric stood under the onslaught of astral energy pouring through his body, threatenin to scour him from existence and scatter his essence across the enitre plane. Keeping a firm hold on his spells [b]Eric[/] waited for the orc-bugs to tear them down.

[ Spoiler ]

Eric will wait until one of the barriers falls and replace it.
01 - Cast astral barrier(wall) 4 centered on the door.
TN 9: Sorcery 5+0 from spell pool (average success: 0.6)
Drain TN 6S (3+1 (Light Wound+2 (sustaining)-1 (focused concentration)): Willpower 5+0 from spell pool (average successes: 0.8)

[Sphynx]

With Mike keeping them at bay, the rest of the team begins finding it a bit easier to pick them off one by one. The remaining 10 in the store continue to try pressing their attack, but Joe quickly takes out 2 in quick succession, with Gnat taking out one with 3 carefully laid shots from his smallarm. Abel and John receive quite a shock though, their bursts seem to have a much reduced effect than expected. Despite John actually emptying an entire clip into one of the bugs, it isn't until the clip is nearly empty that the creature finally falls. The creature Abel shot at seems to hardle notice the shot, although it does seem to have had a MODERATE effect on his attack.

Mishka finds the battle much easier suddenly, and presses the attack, causing the previously injured thing to fall, it's eyes now lifeless, before the other non-barrier'd bug can attack, Mishka drops him as well with precision strikes to the throat, abdomen, and kidney areas.

Ana notices Eric suddenly bleeding profusely from nose and mouth. Whatever's going on with him, it's not good, he looks SERIOUSly wounded, as if someone just took a blender to his insides. However, the barrier around the outside bugs does seem to be holding.

[ Spoiler ]

Despite saying I'd wait to explain, here's the scoop on Bugs in my Reality. The nature of their armour prevents upscaling of damage from guns (this apply only to guns). Therefore, all guns are treated as single-shot for purpose of damage, though successes can raise the TN. Example: a 9L gun which achieves 12 successes on an attack. 6 successes would usually take that to deadly, and the other 6 to raise the TN from 9 to 12. End result is a 12L instead of a 12D, and yes, I realize that you 'lose' 4 dice of expanding damage since 1 success and 5 successes does the same damage/power, that's just how it works. (So the ThunderBolt is treated as a Moderate, since the BF is auto-calc'd into the damage).

Other Notes:
Miska: I stack the 2 (Killing Hands/Gloves) as well.
Eric: Took a Light Drain on the first casting and rolled no 6's for the casting, Light Drain on the 2nd and rolled 2 6's for the casting, Light Drain on the 3rd, and no 6's on the casting. FYI, previous wound modifiers do NOT apply for resisting Drain, so drain was 3S, 3S, 4S (+2 is for EACH spell sustained).

The bugs in the store are unable to move, (PS. Mike, I need to know how many shots you have left in your clip :P) due to suppressive fire.

6 left in the Shop, 6 outside (in a barrier)

[Frater Inominatu...]

If one could sweat in astral space, Eric would be covered in it. The strain of erecting barriers was taking its toll. Already, he bore burns on both hands, a long dark streak up his right arm and his left eye ached something fierce. They hadn't been able to batter all of his barriers down, though it seemed only a matter of time. Accept your victories as they come he thought.

Mike's Rover skiddea round the corner of the building and Eric sensed that his body was near. Thanks for not leaving "me" behind, Ana. He drifted over to the vehicle and maintained watch over his barriers. As the barrier was breached, Eric tried to put another in its place.

[ Spoiler ]

29 - Hold action until the barrier falls (only one left standing, right?)
Then, Cast: Astral Barrier 4 (Complex)
TN 6 + 2 from wounds: 8
Sorcery - 5 skill +4 from spell pool, Drain - 5 Willpower + 5 from Spell pool

19 - Hold until barrier falls
Then, re-enter my body (Exclusive complex)

9 - Cast - levitate on orc-bug
TN 4 +2 from wounds: 6
Sorcery 5 +0 from spell pool (Complex)
Levitate straight up a max speed.
1suc = 6m/turn
2suc = 12m/turn
3suc = 18m/turn
4suc = 24m/turn

With the last barrier's collapse, Eric crawled back into his body. The raw aches in astral space became dull, thobbing ones in his meat body. The back of his hands were blistered and he could feel blood oozing under his shirt sleeve. He sat up in the Rover, wincing at the pain in his back, and saw the orc-bugs renewing their attack. Once again he summoned his will and reached out for one of the attackers pressing the young man. With a flicking motion, Eric tried to throw one of them high into the air...

[nick012000]

Seeing the ineffectiveness of his HVAR bursts, he jettisons the gyroharness, and extends a pair of long, sharp blades from each forearm. He then proceeds to charge the bugs, his spurs slicing in a dance of death.

[ Spoiler ]

Initiative: 26.5
Armor: 8/9 (8/7 Hardened)
Weapon damage code: 19S (two dikoted spurs)
Movement: 10m/pass
Relevant Modifiers: -

3rd combat turn
1st Complex Action-Jettison gyroharness
2nd Complex Action- Charge (7 base, 7 combat pool; TN 4)
3rd Complex Action- Melee Attack (7 base, 7 combat pool; TN 4)

If he can, he will try to gain an advantegous position for -1 TN. I forget what the rules for charging are. I don't have access to the CC ATM.