At the end of the first episode of "mask of the pirate queen" the "queen" offers the PCs a deal to match what the consortium is paying them. What do I do if the PCs take the deal?

Well, she CAN and WILL pay them, so that's no problem. Since the PCs help the pirates escape without staggering losses, Moira saves face and can keep her office. In their eyes, she handled the situation well, brokering an alliance with those mercenaries. This just leaves the PCs facing the ire of the Zann Consortium, which can be as powerful and vindictive as you want. Or they can be weak as kittens. On the plus side, the PCs now have friends in low places who know the turf and can help them elude their enemies. (Also, if your players are a little on the antagonistic side, they can always depose Moira for additional 'fun'.)

That's the long-term situation. In the short-term: if they take the deal on Ord Mantell, there's two options: They can lie their way through the Zann Consortium forces and turn coat as soon as they make it to the Renegade's Blood, or they can announce their intentions and fight them outright. Then they can assist in support and repair and help the Renegade's Blood escape, which they'd be doing anyway if they waited until confronting Moria on the bridge.

Planning in advance for this to happen, myself, although I've altered the story such that it's a grudge match between two equal forces. The one that sinks will eventually team up with the players' other enemies once they've managed to dust themselves off. Also, one of the PCs ran away from an arranged marriage and Moira is his fiance. Still working out the sub-plot wherein she's stalking his family's business partners in order to draw him out.

Anyway, hope that helps. Good luck.

First, you watch 'For a Fist Full of Dollars'. Then you watch 'Yojimbo'.

This should give you ideas on how things should go.

My group did exactly this and pissed off basically everyone they knew. I was flustered mid-session and just handed them a bunch of credits (since they hadn't been paid super well beforehand) but in hindsight there's no reason this supply base would have all that cash. I'd prolly give them a good chunk and arrange for the rest to be exchanged later. Then you can have Venlanna breath down their necks about finishing the job, hopefully getting them to turn on the Sorority at the handoff.

On 2/23/2017 at 10:40 AM, Superunknown said:

Well, she CAN and WILL pay them, so that's no problem. Since the PCs help the pirates escape without staggering losses, Moira saves face and can keep her office. In their eyes, she handled the situation well, brokering an alliance with those mercenaries. This just leaves the PCs facing the ire of the Zann Consortium, which can be as powerful and vindictive as you want. Or they can be weak as kittens. On the plus side, the PCs now have friends in low places who know the turf and can help them elude their enemies. (Also, if your players are a little on the antagonistic side, they can always depose Moira for additional 'fun'.)

That's the long-term situation. In the short-term: if they take the deal on Ord Mantell, there's two options: They can lie their way through the Zann Consortium forces and turn coat as soon as they make it to the Renegade's Blood, or they can announce their intentions and fight them outright. Then they can assist in support and repair and help the Renegade's Blood escape, which they'd be doing anyway if they waited until confronting Moria on the bridge.

Planning in advance for this to happen, myself, although I've altered the story such that it's a grudge match between two equal forces. The one that sinks will eventually team up with the players' other enemies once they've managed to dust themselves off. Also, one of the PCs ran away from an arranged marriage and Moira is his fiance. Still working out the sub-plot wherein she's stalking his family's business partners in order to draw him out.

Anyway, hope that helps. Good luck.

Thank you, very helpful.

On 2/23/2017 at 3:23 PM, korjik said:

First, you watch 'For a Fist Full of Dollars'. Then you watch 'Yojimbo'.

This should give you ideas on how things should go.

Thank you, but I've already watched "A Fistful of Dollars" and I don't really care for 30 year old mulberry fields.