The Task Force
Introduction
The republic cleverly picked a team to carry out missions for them. The mission briefings are conveyed to them by a masterful Jedi, Alfred Kha’in.
A team of two humans, a Miralukan, an Ithorian, a Jawa and a droid are dubbed as a “Task Force” by the Republic. They were recently recruited. They were given a ship and are being given missions to accomplish as a team.
Attrition has caused the death of Iasa, and Brenda has thus been able to escape. B4’s past has finally caught up with him.
Updates
- Redundant adventure recap by Tom, not nearly as well-done as Jeremy’s. 3/5
- Aurelia uploaded.
- News report by Jeremy. 2/28
- Awesome recap by Tom. 1/31
- Big post on the comment page, overviewing last session OOC (out of character) Please read and comment. 1/30
- Adventure log (Thanks Tom and Mike). (1 / 24)
- NPC Tracker (Those guys you met and want to know more about). (1 / 24)
- Wiki (Plot information!!). (1 / 24)
The Task Force Comments
good game
Suggestion box:
When we go infiltrate Czerka, or any time, I have a few suggestions for the future Q.
Combat has gone fairly well and been challenging so far, but in the future, three suggestions:
1. squads. Not everyone we fight will be level 16, and being at level 7 and PC’s, we’re pretty powerful. In our last session, I looked at the rules and found them very useful. They make average soldiers more of a threat to us, and easier to manage for you. It’d be annoying as hell if you sent 18 3rd level mercenaries at us, but sending 6 squads would be a lot more manageable and in my opinion a lot more fun.
2. Cover: We’re running around shooting futuristic guns at each other, and the cover rules are simple and easy. +5 reflex defense. You don’t even really need to plan it since you have those crate tiles, just throw some on the map. Punish players who don’t use it. are the enemy more likely to shoot the guys shooting at their cover from their own cover, or the girl charging them with a glowstick (me) obviously, they’d want to shoot the one easier to hit.
3. You’ve done a good job of this so far, but try to make every fight different. Special conditions like time limits, icy surfaces, balconies, cover, dangerous terrain, and bizzare monsters/weapons are always good.
I really enjoyed last session by the way, you handled the big combat very well.
Good game. I don’t know when I’ll get the summary out though.
There’s a game on Thursday no worries :).
I miss my game…
jeremy… you’re tagged bondage.
Yeah… Nox’s reports won’t be nearly so amusing. But I write regardless.
I’m sad that there is no session this week…
XD
You’re taking this all way too seriously, Q. Just.. just calm down, all right? Heh.
I didn’t say not to make any more walls, and I didn’t tell you how to live your life.
I did, however, suggest that you make the difference between walls and obstacles more clear.
I apologize and I’ve said this before at least five times. I’m not going to make anymore impenetrable walls. I am really sorry Jeremy I will definitely change.
I hope that this comment will be the last. This one comment totally encompasses pretty much all of my concerns relating to your campaign. ReadY?
Okay.
There needs to be more of a difference between an obstacle, like a pair of surly guards under orders not to let anyone into the compoud…
And a wall, like a door without access panels, resistant to lightsabers, and completely sealed shut.
We are really having a hard time telling, “okay. Is this the objective, or is this a barrier? Is this a battle we’re supposed to lose, or just a difficult one?”
Ad nauseum.
I will miss Iasa.
INEXPLICABLE!
Right, Jeremy, I’m adding your part to the end of my bio. It’s hardly your full backstory, and you should definitely write your own. In fact, you shouldn’t even feel pressured to play a rockstar, if anything else I can ask Q to make the rockstar an npc.
also, keep in mind that I wrote it right after the session, and I know know nothing other than ‘jeremy’ ‘Arkanian’ and ‘rockstar’.
The fact that you like my character is creepy?
excellent, I’m doing something right.
I can’t really think of much you could do to improve iasa, he’s a pretty damn cool guy. The whole droid building things seems a little off, but everyone has their hobbies.
I sure am inexplicably glad you’re playing as a chick. We need it.
Shit, this is creepy I like your character a lot.
Tom, tell me; how can I improve Iasa character-wise? What annoys you? Other than being difficult to understand.
you know what someone else should do?
Post something.
Dammit, I did it to myself again!
I say ‘wow, these are both cool character concepts’ but decided on one of them. But then I decided to make a character for the other as an npc, but I almost like her more!
I hate decision making, probably because I love building characters so much.
That being said, either Alicia or Noctem will appear next session, and I’m not sure which.
All I need to do now is finish her stat sheet.
her equipment is her sword, a medium shield generator owned by the republic, a cardiac implant, and a fake leg.
The sword is a lightsaber statwise if not fluff wise. the only difference is it has +1 to attack and doesn’t have the saber’s armor and dR ignoring properties.
This is a fine place to discuss objections and the like before the next session starts (Q I look @ you)
BB has been moved to the npcs.
I posted some info on my next charcter, but I got bugged, and for some reason I couldn’t replace BB’s.
I also did the recap for last session, which included allusions to the end and the introduction of my next character.
My summary will be delayed for obvious reasons.
I was thinking earlier today…
I hope Iasa dies.
Really. That sounds odd, but I think that it would be best if at one point, preferably – you know- towards the end of the campaign, Iasa will die. Preferably, also, performing a decidedly heroic sacrafice. Taking a blaster or slash to the chest, eating a bomb…
I just feel that the best way to end his story would be a heroic death.
Everything could have gone a fair bit better, and it’s hardly all your fault Q.
I honestly wasn’t sure what you meant by ‘sandboxing’ until I got someone to explain it to me. :p So I guess you could say I was a little unprepared for what the session entailed. If we do try this again (which I presume is a maybe going on no) I agree with jeremy in that we simply don’t know enough people to play it very well. Our contacts are a twilek dancer and a droid merchant who didn’t remember me, neither of seemed to know anything, though both we tried. For example, if Brenda has been around on Tattooine before, do I know anyone who isn’t actively trying to kill me?
Assuming that future sessions are not sandboxing, I only advise you give the party some stronger motivation. At the moment, we are unemployed, and as well captured. Freedom’s a good motive for next adventure (since unarmed escape hyjinks are always fun) but then I’d advise you come up with a reason why our party should stay together and follow the plot.
Brenda for example, likes some of the other characters, and might be fond enough of Alf, Iasa, and maybe some of the others to stick around. However, her final goals are uncahanged. If Alf is fired/ suspended, does that make me, criminal labor 01 on the lamb? (If I am, expect signifigant degeneration in Brenda’s officiality). (on the lamb = on the run, not accounted for, etc… After the haul ass thing I figured I shouldn’t assume) :p
This is what the Rancor looked like: http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/2/28/Terentatek_TOR.jpg
I apologize greatly for how that game went. It is entirely my fault. I will be sure to make next week’s session much better.
Jeremy, also, please don’t blame the ‘little information’ on me. You guys went for Czerka’s HQ without LOOKING for information. It’s not my job to give you information. It’s your job to look for it.
I won’t Sandbox next time. Also I always have backup plans Jeremy don’t worry.
Q, lemme put it to you straight – that kinda sucked. I will, however, give you a piece-by-piece.
1. The adventure hook was too tenuous. “Modified Rancor?” Sure, interesting, but that’s all we heard. Czerka might be embellishing numbers, but what qualms do we have with them? Nothing we don’t already know. My reccomendation: have a few contacts – maybe a friend in the senate, like a Noble, or an old ranking officer in the Republic tell us. Iasa fought in the Jedi Civil War as well as the Mandalorian Wars. BB has made plenty of friends and enemies. Surely, someone must be willing to tell us more than “this is strange.” Sure, Ja’aani – however you spell his name – was right to give us the info, but we had too little.
2. We spent too much time screwing around. We didn’t know enough – just that the area was mysterious.
3. We formulated a plan – but it wasn’t much of a plan. however, this is the best plan you’re going to see out of us with so little information.. Maybe if we knew more about the security systems or were faced with a less-impregnable base, we could have done something.
4. LIMIT OUR USE OF GEAR AND THE FORCE. Electrobinoculars can be blocked by shielding, thick walls, and so forth. You could tell Trent that “there’s a big lifeform in there. That’s all you can see, due to all the radiation.” Or something.
5. Did I mention we spent too much time screwing around without any idea what to do?
6. The stuff with BB’s Hutt NPC was fun. However, he was just too… unbeatable. There was no way – the second time, at least- to get through him without violence. Really. I can’t see or think of a single way, other than a bum rush.
7. The use of Motta, the NPC from KOTOR I was GREAT. GREAAAAT. Me and Jacob couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe it would have been a good time to hint at a minigame or something… say, swoop racing? =D
Don’t be afraid to make it feel like a video game. You’re going for a Space Western feel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it… uh… yeah.
8. The fortress was too damn impregnable. I get the feeling there would have been no good way to get in – seduction, bluffing, the truth, brute force, air-drop… we just couldn’t get in.
9. I wasn’t even paying attention during the Rancor battle. Sorry. The scholarship thing had me really shaken. It still does.
10. God, I hope to come back next year.
A worthy effort, Q. A learning experience for everyone involved. Also, think about this:
What happens if we refuse a mission? There needs to be either really heavy motivation to do said mission or you need to have alternatives and emergencies. Scum and villainy has a bunch of quick missions and a bunch of mission generators as well.
Given the nature of last session, don’t expect very much of an entry from me.
YAY! We have a forum section we can’t use!
YAY! Q procrastinates writing plot important notes!
I’m going to get my hands on the manual tomorrow and do a quick accounts receivable / accounts payable with my new anti-slavery organization and figure out what (if anything), I can afford. I’ll give you the breakdown tomorrow for anybody that’s interested.
Iasa is awkward Jeremy. He’s a very confused little Jawa. I can tell when you’re acting in character and out of it though, so I maintain you’re doing well.
in other news, Q, can we do my requisition sometime out of session? That way we can save time. Either some time in the office or you can just roll for me. Persuasion of +15.
I feel awkward when I’m in character as Iasa.
Then I’m pretty sure I’ll be the first one over to the dark side. ;)
Then again, my thinkings a bit tainted by the last edition of star wars however, apparently dark side points have become easier to deal with. Something about spending force points and meditating if I recall. Then again, neither pennance, nor meditation really fit who I want Brenda to be.
Ah well, I’ll figure something out. In other news, my summary will be delayed by… Stuff. It will be out before next Thursday though.
Thanks everybody for your comments. My ultimate reason for GMing this game is to make a game fun for you guys. I’ve read Tom and Mike’s concerns and I will act upon it.
Mike. Jedi are more prone to dark side points than any other mithochlorian based organism. This is because they have much more power than any mundane group of mithochlorians. Read up on the Jedi code. If a Jedi does anything ‘destructive’ they get dark side points. This is why if Jerec threw grenades on a wing he doesn’t get dark side points, but if a Jedi did, I will give him dark side points. Jedi do not believe in destruction. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did, I will make sure things are more fair to every party member.
I will make sure the NPCs are more realistic from now on. There were no red blinking lights on the building because it was a low profile building and an abandoned one.
BB dark side points? If you go back to your former ways. Stealing, lying for greed.. etc. you will get dark side points.
I will make sure things are more fair.
Also, the main reason I chose Jedi was for mechanics, not morals. I can always become an ex-jedi or something. shrugs It was very similar circumstances in WoD that I chose a vampire without paying attention to the politics of it. Stupid politics interfering with character development….
First off, all living creatures have mitochlorians, no matter what. Some just have more than others, and are attuned to it. And thank you for being more subtle in the future. I think the dark side points are weird. Yes, you hit both of us with a rocket launcher, but the fact that you were a frog’s hair away from quite literally killing my character, I don’t know. I think two would be justified, and there’ll be plenty of opportunities in the future to remove them. I wouldn’t be too worried about it. And I think the biggest thing in my view that went wrong is the idea that something I want my character to do is vetoed not by rules or regulations, but by the concensus of the group. There were plenty of rifles to go around, so I think I was within my rights. But that’s in the past. In any case, good game, guys. I loved the random BS. Sorry I kinda ran out on you guys, I’ll stay extra-late next time to help do my share of clean up and then some, provided of course, that you believe me.
... not sure how I bolded that.
I respect that Mike but… Honestly, I’ve played with you for over a semester now, and I don’t think you were telling the truth. You’ve always played… Materially fascinated characters, and I don’t think you would have blinked an eye at skimming liberally off the top of your blaster rifle fund. Nor not telling anyone about it. (I think that’s what I called shenanigans on, I’m not quite sure honestly)
I will however, make it a point to confront you more subtly in the future if you would prefer. I am totally fine with that. I like you and to a more limited extent your character, but your greed does grate on my nerves sometimes and can affect my actions in and out of game.
Alright, session overview from my out of character perspective.
Not quite as good as the first session, but it still had a lot of good points.
On The session itself: In my opinion, we should have gone with a more blaster liberal approach, and less goofing around with sneaking and lying, but this is of course with the benefit of hindsight. If and when we do another dungeon, Q, I advise you make the guards a little more realistic. Even if this was a poorly run security force, they were incredibly stupid… and deaf. I shot a rocket at the balcony above me, and a guard something like 20-30 meters away (down the hall) didn’t notice. Stuff is loud, and most security will probably set at least rudimentary alarms.
In that manner we will ‘have’ to be sneaky and clever as we attempted to be, except that way when we fail we’ll have a genuine battle with security forces flocking to our position instead of a few shots with a blaster that could’ve been done in the first place.
On Players, my opinions:
Trent: You’re cool. Might want to care a bit more about life in general, but if your character would take a hit for a plant but not a man, that’s your character.
Jerec: Taking into account the fact that you’re relatively new to roleplaying in general, I think you did a superb job. In the future I’d recommend you take skills more relevant to the way you intend to play your character. Being a soldier, you are not a very good liar. Still, very good enthusiasm and knowledge of mechanics and characters overall.
jeremy: The rp was a bit awkward, but as usual, I reccomend doing some things on this site and just in free time. It’s hard to develop your backstory subtly with 5 impatient party members. I think overall you’re doing fine. Hell, barely anyone else has tried yet.
Mike: honestly, I think you should have just taken scoundrel to begin with, because your character really acts like one. That however, is just my opinion, and I’m sure somewhere there’s a jedi more unscrupulous than you. Other than what was discussed above, no real comment, it was on par of what I expect.
Cube: You were kind of quiet. I understand however, your frustration at people doing checks without being trained while you yourself have an astronomical number in the skill and are sitting right next to them in and out of game.
Myself: Honestly, I feel I did pretty badly this session. I started out fine, but when the two grabbed uniforms, I thought it would be out of character for Brenda to grab dead men’s clothes to disguise herself as a Mandalorian, being the slave to fashion that she is. That was fine for a while, but when I realized that I basically had to leave speech (lies) to the guys in armor, I slowly got more frustrated until I finally lost my head out of game, and made brenda do something out of character (Which is to say, nail my compatriots along with a guard) for her. I apologize to the casualties of my anger. from there, a lot of my tension was relieved, and my honestly I felt a lot better about the game. Probably thanks to Q trying to make us hurry, which I appreciate.
On major events: No real comment, I do however, have a mechanics complaint to lodge with Q. I do not think I deserve two darkside points for causing friendly fire with my rocket launcher. Maybe one, one I can live with. Honestly however, even blatantly evil acts only get 1 darkside point, and mine, though definitely reckless and done with utter disregard for the safety of my companions, I would not agree is blatantly evil. You however, are the GM.
In my opinion, people who actually have mitochlorins should be held in stricter regard to dark side points. Now I am aware that this conveniently does not apply to myself, but hear me out first.
Let’s say for example, Momaw lies to get richer. (I use this example because it is completely ridiculous) Now he might not be using the force, but he does it out of blatant greed. Would this entail a darkside point? Either way could be argued.
Continuing however, let’s say BB does the same. Would that deserve a darkside point? Once more, either might be argued, but in my opinion the darkside would have a much harder case. Why? Because Brendil is greedy, plain and simple. maybe not so much in the large scheme, but certainly on the larger scale. She wants to steal other peoples possesions for a living, and has done so in the past. She has no moral code to uphold, neither a connection to the force to even realize that she’s kind of a bitch (how most people describe dark siders today)
These are of course, my opinions, and only have hold in reality if I act upon them. It’s very important to me to get feedback on all the issues I’ve brought up. I’ll bring up a log tomorrow probably. I’ll also need to figure out a way to justify blowing that balcony up…
To everyone: This was a good game, but when you all “called Shenanigans”, as you put it, you genuinely hurt my feelings. Judging my actions is one thing, but by flat out calling me a liar for what I’m going to do, that is completely uncalled for. Just keep in mind that this not only hurts my character’s feelings, but my own personal feelings as well. ~Mike
“It’s an ‘Adventure Log’ not a ‘Blog!’” – Q
Sio’s Journal somehow or another found its way into the wiki as another view of the adventure.
I’m going to write in the adventure log from BB’s point of view when I get around to it. Expect it to be amusing and accurate (from my perspective that is). I’ll also update Brenda’s opinions ASAP, which is tomorrow hopefully.
Hey guys, I updated my biography (psh… more like technography). Still haven’t done the crunch stuff, but I’ve gotta go now so I’ll do it later.
hey, this is cool, but my character page sucks. I’ll work on it tonight. I bow to Tom.
bio updated with opinions of other characters. These are of course subject to change. Incidentally, anyone who wants to do some out of session role playing, I’m on AIM as ROFL4U and of course, we now have this site.
Hmm… fascinating. I’ll tinker with it and see what I can come up with.
This is such an awesome way to keep track of a campaign! I really look forward to playing with all of you guys! :D