Starfinder: Attack of the Swarm pbp

[ferret]

Gustav has the Career Trooper theme, but at this point I have no idea of when the 5 point reduction to DC applies in this game.  Obviously, it's broader than the description.  Luckily, since it affects DC rather than the die roll, I don't need to worry about it.

Edited April 2, 2021 by ferret

[Zero Prime]

I think we need to stop characterizing the SDF as idiots and bumpkins.  These soldiers have their gear well maintained, most of them have at least a rank in Engineeting which is enough skill to *make* their own weapons and armor so they're obviously going to functional.  Not to mention these guys, who have combat experience under their belts, live and due by their gear.

[ferret]

 

   Oh goody!  As much as I struggle with Starfinder rules, this gets into an area where I have some expertise.  Of course, real life may have little relevance to a Sci-fi game where magic is common,but here' s my thoughts.

   Most land forces have a three level maintenance. - unit/operator, intermediate and depot.  Line units are responsible for the first tier and would very rarely have the diagnostic and test equipment, special tooling, spare parts or data required for the two higher tiers. If a system requires maintenance at those levels, the line unit would direct exchange (DX) it for a fully functional system. It is possible a battalion could have an intermediate maintenance facility but it is more likely it would be at division.  Maintenance Depots would likely be at the corps or army level.

  Lots of stuff gets broken during combat and line units have to rely on the supply system to replace or repair it.  And we know the Fifth has big problems with supply.

  So, in our situation, I don't think SDF soldiers having gear that in need of maintenance or repair implies they are "idiots and pumpkins" but rather that the supply system is unable to keep up with an increased operational tempo.

  We could assume Ratticus' custom rig serves as a substitute for the diagnostic test equipment and special tools needed for intermediate level tasks and that he is using his special expertise to make some unauthorized "fixes".

Edited April 2, 2021 by ferret

[Zero Prime]

Huh, interesting.  Thanks for the insight @ferret

[Corsair]

That's what I was hoping for when asking about damaged stuff.

[Dilvish the Deliverer]

That bears with my experience as well.  I work at an Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMA) and while I'm working on ships systems and not personal equipment, the fact remains that the individual units tend not to have the equipment for certain repairs.

 

Now, how you extrapolate that to Starfinder where parts don't have to be requisitioned from supply, but can just be printed with UPBs....that's another question.  I would assume that you would need a dedicated workshop though, as these are Tech Workshop and Arcane Workshop Expansion bays for ships.  Plus I suppose you would need the plans for the equipment as well.

 

Crafting rules: Crafting items requires you to have access to tools and a workshop or similar space. Most starships have an appropriate area set aside, and such space can be rented at the same price as lodgings in major cities (with the size of the lodging being equivalent to the size of the workshop, which limits the size of items that can be constructed and how many people can work on a single item at one time). Creating an item normally has a base time of 4 hours. If your number of ranks in the appropriate skill to craft an item exceeds that item’s level by 5 or more, you can craft that item in half the base time. If your ranks exceed the item level by 10 or more, you can create the item in onequarter the base time. Objects larger than a Medium creature take twice as long to craft for each size category larger.

 

So even per the rules you need a workshop and the equipment.  Not sure if we are at fully functioning base with tech facilities, or something more like an FOB.  Either way, I don't expect that we will be able to attain too much for free, just from a game balance point of view. 

[haldir]

4 hours ago, Dilvish the Deliverer said:

So even per the rules you need a workshop and the equipment.  Not sure if we are at fully functioning base with tech facilities, or something more like an FOB.  Either way, I don't expect that we will be able to attain too much for free, just from a game balance point of view. 

 

Camp Cavalier isn't not very big. It's not even Fort Polk (those in the Army know what I'm talking about here) size. Resources are low (hence why the PCs have to buy their equipment). There is some workshops, but they are more or less dedicated to vehicle repair. There are smaller places like the Intel area (hence why the drones are slowly being repaired) & a dedicated armor & small arms. 

[Kangaroorex]

Sorry to hit a nerve.  In my limited experience, big or small I have never seen a camp or long term emplacement where someone willing to sit down and repair recalibrate and retool equipment wasn't appreciated.  A cherished weapon becomes jammed and the brass's response is to turn it in for a new one, a radio with an extra channel or two gets dirt in the speaker and the replacement won't work as well, and sometimes the piece you want or are used to is not in supply.  All of these are fixable by a tech with a little time, which a quartermaster usually never has.

 

Same goes for broken equipment in the supply house: it breaks in the field, you turn it in and get a new one and the quartermaster packs anything not outright destroyed into a box and ships it back to Central where there are the resources to figure out what's wrong but a field station normally is made up of specialists who use equipment, not fix it so there is usually always a bunch of equipment that is broken or damaged which usually sits in a scrounge box or a storage container until there is a pickup from central supply.

 

All in all, no matter how well run an outfit is, having a good tech show up on the front lines is a gift from heaven, especially when it means the optics on a high powered rifle that fell into a snipers lap can be recalibrated rather than replaced by standard issue.  It's why Ratticus carries around 4 kits in addition to the general kit that is part of his class, he has tools and skills that may not be available anywhere else on nase.

[Zero Prime]

All right gang, so first off I want to thank @Kangaroorex I feel that we both hit character points in the confrontation between Ratticus & Vitharyan, and got to know those two characters.  And it was well handled, in that characters clashing wasn't taken personally by the players involved.  I have never, and will never, encourage PvP in an RPG, as, in the end it is a group activity and I want the core group to remain effective and moving forward towards their goals.

 

Secondly, as I mentioned in the recruitment thread, I have played through the 1st half of the first book of this AP, and I am glad to admit my bias, Jaldamarrak is one of my favorite NPC's of the scenario.  So I got put on the defensive when I saw him being called out for what, in my mind, is the constraints of the module.  Paying for gear is not in the military's best interest, however, we are playing an RPG and bound by the restraints of it's in-game economy and game balance, so access to equipment is locked away behind earned credits and encounter design.  I have considered running this AP for a while now, and one of the things I would do is modify character creation, providing standard kits based on character class, skills, and mission objectives.

 

So I apologize if my pro-Jaldamarrak, pro-SDF bias has created more conflict within the group than strictly necessary.

 

Also, I've been listening to these guys while doing my morning runs, and, in my head, this is a Vesk battle chant.

 

The Hu, Wolf Totem

[Kangaroorex]

I appreciate understanding where the pro SDF was coming from out of character. 

 

In character, I didn't see any issue at all.  Vitharyan is desperate to save his planet, not lose face among the galactics, and show his world is worth saving.  Ratticus is one of those people who success comes naturally to and expects to save the world personally and be right all the time.  That will lead to conflict.

 

Ratticus is also used to people not believing him so he uses pup to keep his back covered and stay cool around people who don't buy his act.  

 

Though he also has no issue with the occasional prank and an I told you so, he's not going to threaten  his success over a personality clash, he's been through these before (previous partners have referred to him as the luckiest smartelf in the galaxy

[ferret]

@Zero Prime, could you specify why you felt Jaldamarrak was being called out for the constraints of the module? 

   It sounded like you might be referring to the charges for supply, but IC  Gustav decided he disliked and distrusted Jaldamarrak before he learned of those charges. Gustav had a negative thought limited to charges for medical supplies but kept that thought to himself. I saw nothing else negative about the charges

  I think all of our PCs are "proSDF" but not all are "pro Jaldamarrak".  While I think Gustav has valid IC reasons to dislike Jaldamarrak, I will be happy to give him an "attitude adjustment" if you feel it will help make the game more enjoyable.

  

Edited April 4, 2021 by ferret

[Zero Prime]

Honestly, differing ideologies and personalities make for more convincing roleplay, so no issues there.  I thought you basis for disliking the Major was based on the fact that you saw him charging for additional supplies, which is entirely a constraint of a game system, where wealth and access to better gear is dictated by level.

 

Let's let our views develop organically and see where it goes from there.

[Zero Prime]

@Kangaroorex Since your clothing lights up with sponsors, and you're actively trying to piss Vith off now, I'm going to assume you ignored and did not equip the cold weather gear he bought for you and left on your bed as a peace offering?

[Kangaroorex]

Hmmm.. good point.

 

updated the main stream

 

(I forgot the cold weather completely.  Ratticus has spent most of his young life aboard artificial habitats or desert environments.  He considers himself a very brave Yoski for not turning around the moment he got hit with the first cold wind and why doesn't anyone recognize his sacrifice???  he's trying to do the right thing but he is just a little self centered.)

 

when he gets to the Briefing, he publicly thanks whoever it was that left the cold weather gear for him

Edited April 5, 2021 by Kangaroorex

[ferret]

I keep remembering the old Avalon Hill Starship Troopers game and expect bugs to start swarming out of the ground.  I note the dredgers  appeared at about the same time as contact was lost with most of the swarm.  Think the swarm could be trying to go under SDF defenses to attack the Capitol?