Star Wars

The Other, Other, Other Red Meat

Episode I: Light from Within

Just weeks after the destruction of the massive space station, the Death Star, the Empire has been turned upside down in an effort to find and stop the Rebel Alliance. This has opened many new opportunities for those with loose legal boundaries.

In the Nal Hutta system, a motley crew of mysterious figures has entered into a contest, where the grand prize is the remains of a recently found space wreck, rumored to contain riches of bygone eras.

Many racers are now gathering at the tracks on the rocky world of Cato Neimoidia, where victory and doom are equal opportunities for all….

On the ground of Cato Neimoidia, a massive had gathered from all over the galaxy. It was encouraging to see that the actions taken by the Rebels hadn’t upset the balance to any large degree on the things that really matter. There was still an Empire, still a nearly limitless funding for those willing to do what the Hutts, or the old banking clan bosses, wanted.

Welcome to The Other, Other, Other Red Meat! To get things started, I would love to get everyone’s Simple (-) Cool initiative check. You are either a racer in a swoop or a spectator in one of the VIP boxes surrounding the track (I need at least 2 spectators and 2 racers). As you roll and post your results, please also narrate what's happening within you and around you.

General FYI, this is a closed PbP Game! The current players are:

Wes looked around the spectator box.

Droids made their way around the space offering refreshements. Several attendants in matching colorless yet crisp uniforms stood quietly at the edges ready for anyone who might need something.

The low buzz of excitement was almost drown out by the booming voice of a corpulent and richly dressed patron - a small group of other spectators were paying rapt attention and nodding appropriately as he rattled on about how only the best was good enough for his swoop and pit crew and that he almost felt sorry for those who had to compete against him...

"Loudmouths rarely know what they're talking about", Wes remarked to himself, and he set about observing the others in the room.

"Someone here has to know something about this track, it's secrets and obstacles...will I have more success with a fellow onlooker or would the often overlooked attendants be more helpful." Wes wondered to himself.

Wes raised his hand and an attendant made their way toward him...

Cool Check: 2 Success, 1 Advantage

The pit crew around Gormo buzz about frantically as they attempt to finish preparations on the modified swoop he has squeezed himself into. The swoop has had multiple components, possibly important or even vital ones, removed in order to fit Gormo's bulk on the craft. Gormo's tail flicks to the side of the craft, hanging dangerously close to the ground. A harried attendant pushes the tail back onto the craft and sighs as it flicks off to the other side. A voice booms from a speaker for all of the racers to begin finalizing preparations and Gormo begins gunning the swoop's engine and reaching out to push away pit crew from his craft.

"The time for preparations has gone! Now is the time for Gormo to ride into the hearts of the crowd!" shouts Gormo.

"Sir, please, we haven't finished installing the safety equipment and inhibitors! This swoop could crash and burn at any moment!"

Gormo guns the engines again. "If this swoop can't finish the race, then I will get out and carry it across the finish line!" Gormo laughs and drowns out further protests with the roar of the engine. The attendant following Gormo's tail finally throws up his arms in frustration and straps a racing helmet to the tail's tip before hurrying away.

Cool Roll:

Cool Check: 2eA 4 successes

Conflict:

Gormo gains 1 Conflict for his Terrify Talent

Gralrrua looked around the magnificently decorated VIP box as he walked in except for the human and the attendants the place was a cosmopolitan mix of species, as befitted the owner of the box a senior Hutt in the Qunaalac Clan. The Wookiee had helped the Hutt acquire an assassin droid in a way that was rather odd, he had to modify an ancient T3 series Astromech droid, the programming was not as hard as the various modern updates he had to install to be able to even modify the programming in the first place. Gralrrua chuckled to himself as he made his way over to the drink bar and found what he wanted after a difficult job, he asked the protocol droid for a glass of Cortyg brandy. As he did so he thought to himself I wonder where the Hutt got the droid from anyway. After he had his drink he would find his seat and watch the race in silence hopefully...

2eA: 0 successes, 3 advantage [2eA=A/A, A]

Cool check inititive: 1eP+1eA 2 successes, 1 advantage

Adjusting his helmet and face shield, Sal look around at the rest of the racers. This is insane. I am a mechanic, not a racer.

However, the fact that a second racer was needed pushed out his reasonable fear of riding a swoop bike. This is really insane.

Nodding to one of the techs, Sal goes to his swoop, inspecting the vehicle to ensure there wasn't any damage or sabotage. At least it doesn't look too bad.

Here's my Cool Test.

Cool Test: 2eA 3 successes

(Will move us forward this evening)

The roar of the crowd reached a crescendo, completely drowning out the revv and whine of the swoops.

The opponents were a hardened bunch of racers, a few of which were known by name...Jex "The Rash" and Turfin Zanoka, two infamous Weequay swoop gangsters, were already in the lead position. A third, the human Mijj Terrion, was behind the lot. A determined look was on her face. There were a handful of other contenders, some seasoned, some green. But there was much at stake in this race, and for the heroes, it was personal.

The way this will work is that it's a modified Chase scene. You are the pilot of your craft, and you start at speed 0 (you may accelerate or decelerate with maneuvers). You needn't take maneuvers to move, since you're all essentially heading in the same direction. Instead, your maneuvers can be used to accomplish any other tasks while you pilot your swoop (remember that more than 1 pilot-only maneuver will cause your craft to take strain!). Your swoop can go up to Speed 3, and has a Strain Threshold of 3, and +2 Handling (so +2 Boost dice).

We'll start out with turns right away, and at the end of the round I'd like everyone to make a Competitive Piloting check based on the speed and size of their swoop. Sal's swoop is Silhouette 2, and Gormo's is Silhouette 3.

The Order:

PC

PC

PC

NPCs

PC

PC

First PC is up! Tell me what you wanna do, and I'll give you the difficulty, but you'll probably want to spend at least a maneuver to accelerate or else you'll just be sitting at the starting line

The indicator went from red to brilliant green, and the swoop engines flared as their pilots gunned it!

Can Wes use Skulduggery to try to get some idea or the actual layout of the race track to feed to Sal and Gormo?

Skulduggery Check:

: 2eA+2eP+2eD 4 successes

Gormo roars with delight as he hears the race beginning! His swoop pulls up the starting line, his helmeted tail scraping along the ground.

Question: if Gormo were to reach out and shove at or smash one of the nearby swoops just as the race starts, would that be an instant disqualification, or is this a dirtier kind of race? Would spending a destiny point mean no one notices/it IS a dirty race? Also, were he to do this, would it use up his piloting action?

You may spend a Destiny Point to make it "that kind of race," and those kinds of antics would absolutely require a Piloting action It'd be an opposed Piloting check ().

PM has been sent to Wes.

You may spend a Destiny Point to make it "that kind of race," and those kinds of antics would absolutely require a Piloting action It'd be an opposed Piloting check ().

PM has been sent to Wes.

I spend one destiny point to make it THAT kind of race.

Opposed Piloting Roll: 1eA+2eB+2eC 1 failure

Gormo fails the roll to mess with another craft. He swerves his swoop at one of the other racers, but completely misjudges the distance and swerves into clear space. Gormo curses and shakes his fist at the other swoop pilot as they laugh at him from nearby.

Gormo spends a Maneuver to Punch It!, taking his swoop up to Speed 2 and suffering 2 System Strain to his swoop. He blasts forth, keeping pace with the other racers.

Wes slipped away from his position near the two Weequay too busy laughing to notice him.

Wes pulled out his comlink and spoke to Sal and Gormo:

"There is some sort of trap on the raceway. Someone is very confident Gormo won't finish the race. And their racers will use a short-cut to avoid the 4th leg..."

Wes takes two Strain to perform an extra Maneuver.

Can Wes pinpoint which racers the Weequay were referring to?

Can Wes pinpoint which racers the Weequay were referring to?

Yes, but not from that check; the Successes are already spent. Perhaps Wes has seen the roster (above) and can deduce something?

Wes slipped away from his position near the two Weequay too busy laughing to notice him.

Wes pulled out his comlink and spoke to Sal and Gormo:

"There is some sort of trap on the raceway. Someone is very confident Gormo won't finish the race. And their racers will use a short-cut to avoid the 4th leg..."

Wes takes two Strain to perform an extra Maneuver.

Can Wes pinpoint which racers the Weequay were referring to?

Gormo calls back on his comlink.

"Ah! Thank you Comrade Wes! I will take my skill over their confidence any day! That, and I will take this shortcut as well!" Gormo laughs heartily.

Can Wes pinpoint which racers the Weequay were referring to?

Yes, but not from that check; the Successes are already spent. Perhaps Wes has seen the roster (above) and can deduce something?

Ah, yes. Pretty easy deduction - Sal and Gormo cannot make the reasonable deduction based on Wes' message...so I'll fix that. Should I wait until next turn or can Wes say it in response to Gormo this turn?

At some point, the back and forth "out of turn incidentals" can get excessive (not to mention confusing!), so I do appreciate restraint on the players' parts That being said, this turn or next turn is fine for Wes. He can include it in his next action no problem or as a response to Gormo.

We have one PC slot left before the NPCs. Who'd like it?

Wes slipped away from his position near the two Weequay too busy laughing to notice him.

Wes pulled out his comlink and spoke to Sal and Gormo:

"There is some sort of trap on the raceway. Someone is very confident Gormo won't finish the race. And their racers will use a short-cut to avoid the 4th leg..."

Wes takes two Strain to perform an extra Maneuver.

Can Wes pinpoint which racers the Weequay were referring to?

Gormo calls back on his comlink.

"Ah! Thank you Comrade Wes! I will take my skill over their confidence any day! That, and I will take this shortcut as well!" Gormo laughs heartily.

"Watch the Weequay!"

Sal can take it, I am fine with going last right now.

Readying himself, Sal tries to keep in the middle of the racing formation, trying to get a feel for the other racers. This is insane.

[Action: I'm going to be doing my best to stay in the middle of the formation. What's the difficulty set at?]

Just trying to stay out of everyone's way, minding your own business? You can, at this point, make an Easy Piloting check after accelerating. I'll ask for another (more difficult) check at the end of the round.

[sal's Pilot Check:

Piloting Check: 2eA+1eP+1eD 1 success, 2 advantage
]

Can I use the two advantages to gain a boost die on my next Pilot Check?

[sal's Pilot Check:

Piloting Check: 2eA+1eP+1eD 1 success, 2 advantage

]

Can I use the two advantages to gain a boost die on my next Pilot Check?

Yes, that's fine. What are you doing with your maneuver? Accelerating to Speed 1?