Relentless can do it!

already done...check the IC


btw, Bubba and Duster left their bikes at home.



You all are at the cabin in shasta

IC-post is up (with some delay). I took the liberty of shortcutting our afternoon ski-training presuming there must be a ski resort near the Cascade Cabins. After preparing for a nights rest and dividing the rooms Kliko is ready to get some chow and make our final preparations after dinner (this is going to make for some frun IC-posting I guess). The team will have to get up early the next morning (probaply around 5:00 AM).

The routes up Shasta will follow existing and popular hiking trails as much as possible (if that’s even remotely possible in this type of area). I’d prefer to setup camp somewhere sheltered (from the prevailing wind direction) with good acces to a stream or melting water (i.e. the logical place for hikers to setup camp), higher compared to the Shamanic Lodge and some 4-5 miles from it. This way the team should have an easier approach from the camp to the lodge.

Good post. You three roll Athletics.

I dont have anything to post for IC, go ahead and rp... and when you guys are ready, bump to 5 am-aka wake up call.

BTW- bubba might want to leave that laser crescent ax behind.

I have a little experience in arctic combat training, and its hard to ski with a ruck and rifle, even down the bunny slopes. Especially with little to no experience.

It takes a bit of talent to ski- I would suggest that you strap light so you can use poles.

I just had a good alternate strategy, but I am not giving you any hints on that.

Athletics roll:


The axe really depends whether Bubba is going to actually wield it while skiing.

I didn't put any rations on the kit-list for this trip. Is it alright if we write these in and subtract the nuyen later on?

Normal food and rations are given for free. I consider them part of your lifestyle. The only time I will subtract nuyen is when you go beyond your lifestyle, such as someone with a low lifestyle going to a 4 or 5 star restaurant, instead of McDonald's or McBeavis's

If you are looking for camping/military rations they will be 10 for each meal. While trail mix, beef jerky and bottles of water will be considered part of your lifestyle.

In other terms, at a low-lifestyle I assume your place has a regular tv with basic cable, middle you may have a trid with basic surround premium cable or satellite, and at high I would assume you have a large flat screen with premium satellite with a nfl sunday ticket, open ice, extra innings, hbo and shotime along with some porn channels.

SNEAKY and JARUEN: Roll Athletics Test

Actually cross country skiing is pretty simple to pick up... trust me I have taken the scouts out and did fine with an overnight backpack with sleeping gear. For a first time trip you pick it up quickly. The only difficulty I had was going down hills, that can get a little out of control on crunchy snow and sharp turns. But in general it was a piece of cake.

Go ahead and roll for me.

The axe is slung on the back or in the pack. Strapped one way or another.

Try cross country skiing up hill with full gear. Not fun. Anyways, I was referring to downhill skiing, and trust me, you dont want to downhill ski in cross country skis without experience. Thats how I took many a tumbles.

If you insist on bringing the ax, go for it. Just thought you might want to pack light for long distance hike, assault and escape. Your batons do almost as much damage and are collapsible. Not a weight issue for the mish, more of a bulkiness and concealment issue, since there may be other hikers and campers on the trails.

Bubba roll for Athletics (Skill 4 c/enhanced articulation)

Ok, there goes 80 for 8x rations. Preferably the kind that heats themselves through a chemical reaction.

Off-piste skiing is rather difficult (gear/weight isn't really the issue there). I've been skiing for almost 25 years now (I'm thirty) and even I find off-piste downhill runs challenging at times. But then again I cheat since I switched to mono-skiing: http://www.monoski.net/images/bigshots/des...02_1024X768.jpg (this is not me).

I gather regular skiing is somewhat easier or more stable in this regard.

Let me send you all a video of one of my friends snowboarding (which I personally find easier than skiing). He has a few years experience, so this is how I see Bubba going down the hill.

Check your emails.

Ok, IC-post is up. I took some liberty with the timestamps, but we should be fine.

Bastard, is it possible to fabricate bottle-bombs from the unused heater-packs (and use a number of these) instead of an incendiary grenade? The improvised feel is just so much better (and it's cheaper too). I'll just have to bring along some more field rations and make sure the bottle-bombs rather fizzle and burn any traces/equipment left rather then explode and blast away all the evidence ...

What is the heating element? Silver Nitrate? What are you mixing with it?

Make a chemistry knowledge test, or do you have another knowledge skill that may help?

Im going to give Jaruen a call and see if his 'children' are ok.

Feel free to climb the mountain once rolls are resolved.


Note: RG is a weapon/demolition gal, with a knack for build/repair on anything and everything.

A bottle bomb is an improvised explosive from the heater-packs that come with the 2060 equivalent of military self-heating ration packs.

They're in SoTa 2063, p. 75. Basically you can turn them into improvised explosives doing 3M + 1 power level per succes on a demolition test (tn 4)), which Kliko fortunately posseses.

Groovy. I don't think I have ever opened that book! There are too many!

Roll a demo test now, and you can use a chem knowledge test to buff. This is just to see if your character knows how to do it. I am sure you will pass. You can use Task Pool if you have it.


Side Note: We used to make MRE (Ration) Bombs in the Army, by dropping the heating component in a soda bottle and recapping it. Just like a dry ice bomb.




I will be posting IC later... in the midst of a home cleaning session, which seems to take longer with my broken wrist. I never realized how difficult sweeping could be. Captain Morgan came to help though, with his friend Vicodin.


EDIT - Everyone make a perception test as well.

Demolition rolls for 5 bottle-bombs (diamond-shaped, 1 timed center bomb that triggers the other 4):

I just needed the first roll. Not for damage, for know how. So, as of now, none have fizzled.





BTW EVERYONE- I am now a Running Target! Hooray for me! 1000 posts of wasted time- according to Mrs. Bastard.

The axe is in the back pack... Bubba likes his axe, he talks to it at night and holds it while he sleeps. He even carved a face into it so he could make out with it j/king... but he still has his axe.

I do not have any dice available so you go to rolls them for me. Unless you know of a dice bot that I can still access? My company keeps blocking websites... I imagine this one will be blacklisted soon.

OMG! Now that's a troublesome sight, sleeping in the same room with a freak who craddles his axe while a sleep! Fortunately Bubba has the bed (let's face it, would you argue with someone like that?).

Are you going to post before 5 AM game-time SneakyJoe? Otherwise I'll put an IC-post up this evening CET including the wake-up.

Oops, missed the perception test. Here goes:

Go ahead and bump the IC Kliko... I pm'ed the results of your Perception Test.

I will post IC after you.

I went ahead and posted on IC. Really Bubba is just gonna follow Kliko as long as he doesnt get too bored then he might do something stupid... such as see if the lake is frozen through in the middle... j/king.

KK... Do you guys want to traverse the mountain in a couple rolls, or adventure story telling style?

I got another IC ready when you guys start your climb.




HAHA @ Bubba

IC-style is prob more fun. I've walked decent miles in the hills of Scotland and English Lake District (check out the Caledonian challenge, 54 mile under 24 hours and 24 Peak Challenge respectively - I failed the latter one). For me it's either way.

Ok, My last IC put you guys at the base of the mountain. I will post again, then feel free to start ICing the climb. Dont bump the time more than a few minutes from my posts please.


Sneaky, if you are posting your IC and its referring to an earlier than my latest time stamped post, please time stamp your post so it matches up somewhere.

I edited my previous IC and moved to my last one so youre not out of order.

sure thing...

you know how to time stamp it right?


use [ ] in place of my { }

{color=orange} blah, blah, blah {/color}

Green Butte Ridge is now the main road to Hestaby's Lodge. The road breaks from the Everitt Memorial Highway at Bunny Flats (a now popular ski area, where you all practiced yesterday game time), follows the Broadway Trail and then along Green Butte Ridge.

Avalanche Center provides a good image. Here is it enlarged: South West Trails

Cascade Gulch is the route that Relentless has chosen based on the ease of the hike and that it is near the West Face which may provide a skiing option if necessary. It also does not bring the team anywhere near the main road.

Can you edit your post please. You are not yet even near the break site. The break is at Hidden Valley, while you guys are between Sand Flat and Horse Camp according to my last post.

Thanks

This is going to be fun , nice pictures btw, they're really helpful.

Sure... from your post it sounded like you were speeding us ahead.

but I see what your were explaining now.

Edit made... also what do I need to roll to find wood scraps and basket weaving? LOL

Kliko also had questions by my last post. I will check and edit if necessary.

If you watch the time stamps, you can see I moved you guys up 45 minutes.

You are just past the fork from Sand Flats and Bunny Flats leading to Horse Camp. You guys are not yet to Horse Camp, you guys are on Horse Camp Trail, leading to Horse Camp.
I see how this is confusing. The "is going" is supposed to be future tense, not present. I was trying to foreshadow a little bit and let you know that after you guys reach Horse Camp, the trail is going to get pretty difficult.


Roll Homo Test

Here is a new link: Shasta Hiking Trails Down in the bottom left there is a map.

The Cascade Gulch Trail (from Horse Camp) to the Summit is a 15 mile round trip. From Sand Flat to Horse Camp is about a 1000 ft climb over about 2.5 miles.

The difficulty will be the terrain and the 8300 feet of elevation over the climb of 10 miles to the summit. And the return trip.



BTW: There seems to be a side discussion issue of downhill/cross country skiing. You guys do realize going down Mt. Shasta is going to be downhill not cross country right?

I hope you are using downhill or hybrid skis.

Cross-country is probaply the European Langlauf-equivalent, nope, we'll not be using those ski's (and yep, it's very easy)

Best bet is probaply some 2060's equivalent to telemark/hybrid ski's allowing for either flexible or fixed heel joint.

I'll post this evening somewhat before the T-junction in the trail. Could you provide a timestamp indication and whether this is ok with you? I'm just very happy I put the ascent descent-kit on the list worth the extra effort of carrying 3 more kilo's up there.

You guys are past the T already. If you want, I will hold up on my next post until after you.



Skiing-is-Easy Debate
My problem with you guys all thinking skiing is easy comes from two things. First, my personal experience, both skiing and watching others learn or attempt to learn. Embedded in this reasoning are my experiences with my own skills and limitations. The second is from a gm standpoint, where you all say something is easy, yet none of your characters possess the skill set or a basis to have me think they might have any experience what-so-ever.

I was stationed in Alaska for 3.5 years in the Army. From October to Feb-March every, we skied or snow shoe-ed at least once a week. In a Battalion of over 600 people, it took the majority more than one attempt to learn. More than half still had difficulty, even after years of experience, of skiing downhill, on our bunny slope, with or without a full load (including me- give me a board!). These were mostly physically fit, and a lot were pretty athletic guys, (I was in an infantry unit). This is not a talent/skill that everyone has a knack for, and you could reason that it would take most more than a few attempts to get it right. I can ice skate pretty well, so I find that easy, but I know not everyone can pick it up with a two hour crash course.

From a GM standpoint, I have to separate you from your character. Because you guys find it easy, your characters may not. Most of my shadowrun characters can shoot with a skill of 6, though I would be a 3 or so. Again, I would give my ice skating a 3 or 4, but I would assume that none of my characters would find it easy if they did not possess the skill.

Please understand that this is why I am not assuming that skiing down Mt. Shasta is going to be easy for your characters. There is a difference from what you know and your character knows, your skills and your characters' skills. Your weaknesses could be your characters' strengths, your strengths could be your characters' weaknesses.

I have tried to hint and warn that it might not be the easiest or best thing to do, and all the responses and emails I have gotten are, "No. It is easy." This is completely subjective, and as someone who cannot ski even with 3 years experience, I disagree. No one has explained to me why it is easy, and/or why their characters would auto possess this skill. It might be because you guys find it easy, probably due to experience.

Basically, none of the PC's have this skill, so there is no reason for me to believe that any of them would find this an easy task, until the dice have been rolled, and they find themselves at the bottom of Shasta in one piece. Everything that I have found indicates the top of the mountain is difficult skiing, while most of the middle areas are intermediate, while the easy beginner levels are in the lower levels of the mountain.

I did not see Skiing listed on any character sheet as a skill. I assume all your PCs can drive and use basic electronics (tv, email, cellphones, ect.) based on them living in the sprawls, where this is common place. However, when it comes to difficult use (car chase, in depth computer use) I will always require a Skill Test. If you all lived in Tahoe, I might assume your characters are at least familiar with the equipment, but you would still need to make a Skill Test trying to ski down a mountain with no set slope there.

Hope this clarifies my position without being too jerky. If you disagree don't tell me I am wrong, tell me why I am wrong. Just remember from my GM standpoint, your PCs don't possess the skill so I would hold off on assuming your characters are going to find it easy until the dice are rolled.

Bastard,

It's not an issue for me, you're absolutely right, so at least IMO you're not required to provide a clarification on your GM-ruling (better put the energy in IC-posts). We better not botch rolls though it will be tough going with a broken leg (or two). For the time being we should be fine with our athletics skill.

Cheers,

Kliko

Dude your such a jerk store...

Well you’re the GM; skiing seems like a skill that would fit in athletics, not necessarily in its own category, unless you specialized in it. I am under the assumption that characters who have a decent athletics skill have some experience skiing.

If hiking is the favorable choice, then hiking with snow shoes is what it will be. We will have the down hill skis strapped to our backs and we will pretend to be back country skiers (well I guess we won’t be pretending because eventually the plan is to be “back country” skiers).

But either way, I do like the comedy of the Big freaking troll putting his skiing gear on in the cabin and knocking everything over.

And did Bubba pass the homo test? I like playing a big dumb troll that can’t seem to stay focused on anything, so please let me interject my weird, but innocent humor into the game.

Athletics does not cover specific skills or sports. Athletics covers your natural athletic ability. If you have an Athletics Skill level of 6 it certainly does not mean you know how to ski. Same as it does not mean you know how to play cricket, curling, skijoring, broomball, repelling, juggling, karate, hackey-sack, frolf, diving, wrestling and/or figure skating.

Otherwise there would be a firearms skill and not a pistols, rifles, shotguns, ect skill.

You guys can still attempt to ski, but it seemed like I was trying to tell you its not going to be easy as you think, and your characters would not be so confident given none of them have the experience. I was getting frustrated by the only response being, it's easy, to which I say again, that is subjective.


I did enjoy the Bubba in full gear (and proud of himself) in the cabin. I even showed Mrs. Bastard because I was laughing out loud... and no I don't use the acronym for that, ever.

Homo Test was to know how to weave a basket. You lack the skill set for that as well.


I have an IC ready for Horse Camp with you all regathering, unless you are going to regather at Hidden Valley.

RG is not going to keep up with Bubba, no matter how light her pack. There is no way they can match stride without causing undo exhaustion to one of them.

Bubba would have to drag his feet, nearly walking heel to toe to slow down to her stride, and she would have to jog to keep up with his natural gait. That is why I separated the group.

I think our charachters found out how 'easy' skiing was during our trial run

Best have the rest catch up at Hors camp, take a 5-10 minute break and gather the group before continueing to Hidden Lake (splitting the group once more).

So what is the result of the homo test? Just cause I lack the skill set doesnt mean its not defaulted to another skill or ability... It will factor into the IC whether successful or not.

I am with consensus that we wait for the group before moving on.

SNEAKY-

Roll PerceptionRoll StealthRoll Intelligence


EDITED @ 1000 on 3/20 to add Bubba's dice rolls

I rolled a blind perception test to hear the suv coming up the road. Obviously Bubba didnt do too well.

Normally I wont let you know because if you roll well and dont find anything you would know nothing is there. If you roll badly and dont find anything, you would be aware something is amiss. Later on, when one person notices something and another doesnt, this may be the case. Or, I could be playing favorites.

Leadership roll to get Bubba's ass moving (and his mind of the damn basket):

Congrats to Jaruen who's wife has just given birth to Jaruenling number 17 I believe!

Wheee, new life! Congrats to Jaruen!

Go ahead and lead the team out on the trail in your next post. If you feel the need to add to the Horse Camp Fiasco, separate by time stamps.

I will leave the next post to SneakyJoe, then lead the team from Horse camp. Oh my, if he really wants to help the little gnome he should just take some of his load...

Next time you check the boards Kliko, go ahead and post if Sneaky has not.



On an unrelated note, there is an open source Shadowrun MMORPG in the works: Shadowrun: Awakened

Hope its good... but know it will be better than that fps piece of shit on vista.

Hey Guys,

Been at the mine sites so I had limited email access, but still got a post off. Anyhow... I should be more able now.

-Keith



Congrats to Josh!

Kliko and Bubba - make Perception Tests

Kliko - make Wilderness Survival Test



BTW - Here are some pictures to give you an idea of your challenges to come.

Crampons and Ice Axe

Three Mountain Climbers (Cascade or Avalanche Gulch)

Looking Down

Happy Campers (Bubba is the one in the red jacket)

Skiing Is Easy

Er, Maybe Not... Good Luck

Perception test:

Wilderness Survival test: