We will need it as soon as we have some players.

OK, folks, we have, if needed, Helmsman and Surgeon covered. Not sure about Navigator, yet, but that ha a work around, so I'm not worried.

Cook and someone with Mending would be handy, if you're going that way in character creation. If not...well, the food will be hot, probably, if not 4 star.

I'll make initial assignments when everyone is finished, but you folks can throw all that out the window as soon as you leave the owner's dock.

I will be in nd out most of the day, and character creation is something I can't  do by phone (I need reference books, usually) so I won't be answering as much as I was yesterday. Probably.

We have  charcater ostly done, 4 more in creation stages, and a 5th still trying to juggle desired charcater bits with geographical limits. That's 5 in 2 days. Not bad.

Folk, as I add your completed character, I'll be posting a quick description on the bottom bio line. Please leave my notes as they are. It's how I'll keep you folks straight until I learn the characters. It'll help the other Players, too.

This is just a 2-3 word description of what you do. Not class, but typically your perceived area of expertise. Also, possibly, Gender and/or race, with Male and Human as the defaults. Please don't read anything into that.

Please don't use Int as a dump characteristic. No one is going to play stupid, whatever their sheet says, so please make Int a minimum of 10.

Greetings. Sword Bard here. Hope to have lots of fun with all of you.

Hello all, pygmy (Halfling) barbarian on board and ready for action.

Greetings, I shall be your Star Druid and navigator for this voyage.

Folks, as oyu're completed and added, it becomes shopping time.

A couple things to keep in mind:
If you don't have a dagger you probably want one. It's the universal tool, good for all sorts of things, including meals. Or using a tool proficiency without a tool kit (at a penalty, but at least it's possible). I always recommend one, and I've been ignored on occasion...it's never seemed to matter. Well, other than greasy fingers and too big a bit of food. And that doesn't get role played.

In other recommendations: a bedroll if you don't have one. It comes with a small pad, which makes for sleeping on a ship deck more comfortable. Warmer, too, if you find the temperature in space an issue.

6 responses, 4 characters complete, one pending that may be complete, and one player seems to have faded away. Or he's just having a busy week.

I'll repost in a day or so, see if we can't get numbers up to 6 ot 7 to cover inevitable loses, but we should be starting soon. I'm looking at friday for intro posts to give a couple days for stragglers from a repost.

As assigned by The Trident, I will be the authorized merchant for our voyages. Greetings, all and sundry! May our adventures be thrilling, profitable, and survivable!

Aasimar Warlock of the Tome, at your service.

Hello , all   I will be the ship's cook and bartender.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:46, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

OK, folks, I've bumped the ad. One way or another we will be starting play on the 29th (Monday).

Cool.

Re: Ship Requirements
Renard is a Marine, so he has both sea and land vehicle use. He is a spell caster, so possible helmsman. He has experience with military chain of command, so possible first officer/bosun/captain. So if any of those ship rolls are necessities I can fill them.

In reply to Renard d'Luvernal (msg # 15):

First pass at Ship duties come from the folks that hired you. You folks can change that later, but let's not discuss piracy before you're even on the ship.

Glass is a merchant with Navigation prof , so Navigator is probably best when it becomes needed. Helmsman in a pinch. Until then, we'll see how the roles play out.

Outside of cooking and producing alcohol, Jediah will be good at repelling boarders, preferably by pushing them off the side.

Actually, you can't. GoS gives them special skill/tool requirements. It's kind of a pain to qualify for Officer postings, but only necessary for Event rolls, really, and those don't translate to Space.

Do you need to swab the deck in space? How do you keep the crew busy enough to not think of mutinous thought?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 20):

Well, you get rid of 90% of them....

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 20):

A few neophytes with Presti would do the trick for the first, and good pay and leadership works for the second.

Hmm, well I'm quite a professional in navigations, I'm also pretty good doctor. I can be surgeon if we have too many navigator's.

Folks, when you get a chance, let's pick out portraits and fill in the character descriptions.

And, please, just the physical descriptions other would see at first glance. They don't know your history nor how you think you act. Let them determine your personality the old fashioned (and more accurate) way: through actually observing it as it manifests.

Remember, none of you have met, yet, much less done extensive research on each other... or even just compared notes. That's for in game.

The ballista sounds like an important key weapon for us. Except for 3 crew needed for 1/rd rate of fire what else would we need to know? This may affect which crew does which role (load, aim, fire).

Which end of the spear points outwards.

Seriously, there doesn't seem to be much to it. Oh, a couple of missile feats might be of use, but otherwise, it's just a game mechanic: 3 man crew.

I'll assume designated Artillerist (no gunners, yet) fires, so make sure that job can use Martial Weapons.

And we're off.

And the first player drops out.

Apparently not being allowed to invent cigars as part of a background while another party in the same setting is only just in the area they were invented is an issue. Well, that and making a ruling he didn't agree with and refusing to do it his way simply because he said the game designer said so.

Folks, fi you want to invent something, do it in game. there are rules for it, more or less. Mostly less, but I can fake it. Also, you can't just pull things out of your pocket you haven't bought because it's good for your personal story. Spend the gold.

If you don't like how I interpret your favorite rule, consider the difference a House rule if I refuse to change to your way of thinking, please. I'm not unreasonable, but this edition has way too many grey areas, and I may not always come down on your side. After nearly 10 years of this I think I have a fair grasp on how the grey areas are generally treated, but I do get it wrong on occasion. And I'm expecting to a fair bit in this game, given the rather larger amount of grey than usual.
.

Excuse the vent.

For the record: Distillation requires Alchemy training and tools.

In rugby we always played to the referee. I see no difference here. Stay onside. All a player asks for is clear and consistent calls. :)

Any subs available on the sideline?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 31):

Yes, but he isn't a spell caster or sea trained. He IS military, however, so that much is replaced.

He might be ready later today, probably tomorrow, which is fine. It'll be hat long before launch, probably.

Speaking of which: I tend to update around noon US Pacific. About another 4 hours as of this posting, if there are any last questions/comments in the warehouse.

Sorry, folks, my morning got away from me. I'll update shortly.

What sort of contract have we signed with Trident?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 34):

Well, your lawyer didn't raise any red flags. BTW, you might want to get a lawyer.

They pay you, you do your jog, which incldes taking instruction form designated supervisors. That would be Glass. You'll be gone 1 year, with an option for up to a 2nd year if needed. Their discretion (which means, you may still be away at the end of a year). They pay room and board (ie: you sleep on the ship and eat what Jed cooks).

You know, standard sailor stuff (including penalties for mutiny and all that, of course). It's just easier to jump ship when you can swim to shore.

They are a Mercantile. They need their employees to stick around, so they don't tend to burn through them. Of course, only Glass is a long term employee. The rest of you are mercenaries: Short term help.

Until we prove worthy of longer term employment.  Or we die.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

I read that as 5 star reviews or food poisoning. ;p

Oh, if you die, you're still short term help. It's just that you've reached the end of that term.

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 37):

That's why you have a cleric on board. It's gonna get real awkward when I start purifying Deimos cooking.

How fantastical is Atlantis? Is Master Glass’s appearance common or rare? I can’t work out whether to be amazed or not.

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 40):

Extremely rare. Scaled semi aquatic humans are a bit more common, especially amongst the older families. Glass is rather unique, locally.

OK, folks, that should be everything for into. Launch window, barring something coming up, will be tomorrow's noon post.

After we have some momentum going I'll cut back to MWF postings to give you folks more time for back and forth, but I generally do daily the first week or two of a new game to keep things moving until it becomes self sustaining, to some degree.

Unfortunately, only Glass and BO'B have access to Clipboard for now. Use this time to stow gear in our bunk areas.

Decide what you are carrying what you are leaving behind. This is important. You aren't in danger of drowning  if you fall overboard, but you still don't want to spend months with a pack on your back needlessly.
-If you want access to it, make it fit in your pouch.
-Missile weapons may be stashed on deck, but there isn't a way to secure them. You've been warned.

Light armor is fine. Medium armor is case by case, and heavy armor isn't something you want to swab decks in daily. No 2 handed weapons.

Basically, common sense applies.

When Niall, Glass, and BO'B all tell me they are done on the main deck, I'll open a cabin thread for the 3 of you.

No hurry, if you have something to do outside, first.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:29, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

I can't quite picture the ship. Atlantis being Greek culture is it like a Galley?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 44):

Nope. Much smaller. It's a Keelboat. Let me see if I have a pic, still. I had a major data loss last month, and I'm a little behind in recreating all my info files, much less pics and what not.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Thu 01 Sept 2022.

OK, deck plan loaded into Main Map in Game Maps. I'll put it in the ship thread when I figure out how. Probably later today.


Folks in the Cabin are now in their own thread. I may have a sorcerer pending, but it will delay things a day or so. Hopefully I'll know by later today. I can work a delay into the game, if needed, but I'd like to get things going.

I always get about a third my total submissions a good week after my last ad, and once the game has started. Odd.

So a lot of open space for cargo/activities. No lower decks, since those were the oar locks for the rowers? All we need now is a Druid with Shape Wood. :D

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 47):

I don't think Shape Wood exists anymore. But you have the druid.

Working on getting you someone to replace the rest of what Renard brought to the table: A spell caster that actually knew about boats.

3 Helmsman may be necessary for exhaustion recovery after taking off and landing on planets.

If absolutely necessary, we can retroactively change Niall to be more the navigator of his merchant crew rather than a merchant himself. I offer the alternative.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 49):

That's Glass' job....and unnecessary for now (which has yet to be covered in the Helm room, but will be).

Truthfully, you folks are fine as is, but one lost player could change that so a spare would be nice.

However, this will be he last post start addition, as constantly delaying getting to it is unfair to the ret of you.

Thanks for the pic of the boat. That helps a lot.

Surely, I just wish I could get it to pop up in thread. Still, it's probably easier to find as a Map

Just to be clear - switching Helm to a new PC takes an hour each time? Or can multiple people be attuned to it?

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 53):

Neither, actually. If the attuned is touching it, as well as someone able to use it, Attunement may be transferred in one action.

Otherwise, yes, it take an hour.

Folks, we've started priming the engines.

Expect launch first thing Monday (US Pacific time zone). This is the LAST delay.

Crew assignments need to be made...which may be a problem currently, but not insurmountable.

First shift gets to work, 2nd shift needs to rest.

Anyone that leaves the ship in the next hour is gone from the game, as it won't be here when you return.

There will probably be 2 last minute add-ons, both spell casters enough to help with the helm when we suffer the usual RPoL attrition.

Leaving the planet will take 17 to 20 hours (best I could do, down from 111 days). It is probably the most dangerous part of any journey, as falling off the ship is...well, even Feather Fall won't last long enough for a safe landing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:58, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Hello All, I'm glad to be part of the crew on this all important mission/job/adventure :-)

Nice to meet you.

Hi peeps, this is how vulnerable we may feel on the boat.

People stood are at mid calf, those sat down are sat level with the side.

https://www.bplaser.com/KEELBO...860720_20060830.aspx
https://lewisandclarkboathouse.org/?page_id=168
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Fri 02 Sept 2022.

Hello.  Welcome aboard.
Yikes.  Not much room.

On a plus note, the sides could be improved if find somewhere with wood and tools to do the work (like putting actually lockers between the seats under the wide sides).  Can also apply a large sail (maybe a spare if one is around) to make a shelter, you know, from the space rain lol.

If we have a shipwright I can effect modifications. Though simplest actions is probably get attacked by pirates and steal their ship.

As it wouldn't be affecting the ships integrity or ability to work, I think (as I have been informed when on a ship) the stuff onboard the ship comes down to the Chippy (Carpenter) rather than a shipwright, if we had one.

A shipwright can modify, although I don't see how on something this small, but a carpentry crew in dry dock can repair.

Or there's magic. Depending on which magic, you may still need some training in a tool skill

Kiera and Ghaith, as far as I can tell you're done shopping, let's take you live.

See private threads for set up.  IC responses should be in the thread: "IC: And Off We Go"

Crew "Assignments" are updated on the SHip thread according to skills and spell ability. These are just suggestions (although replacing Glass as Captain would be considered Mutiny if he disagrees) but most of the primary jobs still need to be done by someone.

Folks, one language for all. Please take pity on me and minimize the accents.

Ok. Will edit the accent out.

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 66):

Sorry, truly, I realize some folks like that bit, but if I misread something you could get stuck with unintended results. And I'm not always at my best first thing in the morning, which is when I have the most to wade through in new postings.

In reply to DM (msg # 67):

If it helps, when I've used accents, I always follow it up with the thoughts and desired effect hoped for in plain English.

There... That is pretty good I think.

Just a reminder, Kiera's dog thing is going to need help getting on board.

Which means it isn't, yet (nor is what's in it's saddlebags), although Kiera IS.

In reply to DM (msg # 70):

How high is the edge of the boat from the group please as it states it is in the scaffold of Dry Dock (rather than the 5ft or so normally if on the ground)!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Sat 03 Sept 2022.

At least 10' up, probably closer to 15 after guard rails and etc are accounted for.

Hello to all new crew.

How unusual is the mechanical dog in Atlantis? Would have seen such a thing before?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 73):

Fairly rare, but yes you've likely seen them. After all, you aren't from Atlantis.

I'm old school. Mechanitions came out for AQ back in the day, so I tend to leave them (now called Artificers) in Araby and the Southern Mediterranean. Along with that tribe of gnomes called Gremlins, just because I needed somewhere for Gremlins, and that's where the machines they love (or love to hate) are found.

More than you wanted to know?


Anyhow, Atlantis being Greek(ish) mostly does it's business in the Med, so such things would have worked their way to the Island.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Sun 04 Sept 2022.

Reminder:

Get me your SOPs (if any) and shipboard loadouts.

Someone needs to do some daily water creation and food purifications (I think there are multiple choices for each) And I don't have an SOP for that, yet. (12 gallons water usage per day including Chowder and bread making, plus washing up, so 6 spells per 5 days). Don't purify Jed's Mother culture.

In reply to DM (msg # 75):

SOP?

Standard Operating Procedure. There's a post somewhere from before you were added. You've actually already sent one...for a water voyage. I've listed what I kept of it in your private thread, and why.

Basically the stuff you do every day that you expect me to take into account before we roll initiative for an encounter. At which point it would be too late to have pre-done it. Or things that affect day to day issues on the ship, like who's creating water so you don't run dry in a couple days, etc.

Regarding Purify: If someone has that spell normally, Master Glass could copy it in time (and gold) to cast it as a ritual when needed. This goes for any ritual spell, as well.
SOP: Master Glass will not normally run the Helm - He will walk the deck, check on stores health, (Purify F&D once that is copied over) Mend where needed, Heal minor injuries, and make notes in the log book about events and chart notes (not marking a navigation map).
This message was last edited by the player at 04:20, Mon 05 Sept 2022.

Niall is handling water creation and food purification, so those are covered. He'll be creating water at night, and purifying food in the morning.

Niall  doesn't have it in written form. Sorry, nothing to copy.

As tot he rest, that's less an SOP than a job description. What I need (and which may not apply to you) is spells cast each day, so I know how many slots you're down, and if you have Mage Armor or the like up, that sort of thing.


And no, running all over downtown from the docks is not something that can be done in a hour. If someone leaves the ship, they either get left behind, or we spend a couple more days not going into space.

Mind you, that IS your call, but just how badly do you want some pepper for your soup?

In reply to DM (msg # 80):

Edited out to private.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:39, Mon 05 Sept 2022.

In reply to Ghaith Azad (msg # 81):

Private threads, folks, and I already have yours, Ghaith.

If Mending needs casting, we will address it then. That means your ship is damage and other considerations come into play...like how it got damaged. It'll will probably (but not always) be more than a background activity.

OK, folks, Brian is on the Helm. You lift off as soon as she tells me you do.

For the record:

Most of you gave me far too much for your SOPs. That is a good thing, and a very nice change of pace. I had a guy quit because I didn't let him retcon his SOPS mid battle when he remembered something he'd neglected.

However, and to remind you to do it yourselves:
-Doing your jobs isn't part of the SOP, it's part of ... well, your job. It's assumed already. NOT doing your job, however, IS part of the SOP.

-Role Play actions aren't something that happens in the background with a PC crew. That sort of thing needs to be done IC so everyone else sees it, too.  Remember, there is no NPC crew. I can't take it into account for PCs the way I can NPCs.

-Fixing the ship as SOP is premature (a couple of you posted this). There isn't really a "normal wear and tear" mechanic. Mending spells will come after damage happens, and is best attended to at that time.

I have nothing in SOP for Brian, Jed, and Lyra. That may mean you have nothing particular that you do, or it may mean you haven't sent it in, yet. Or it may mean I missed it. Again, the above doesn't make it into my notes, so it may just be a case of "nothing particular". If you aren't casting a spell every so often, that's probably the case.

I believe Brian's time zone is different enough from mine that actual launch may be this evening.

Whoop, you guys are quick on the postings, either that or I'm too much of a slowpoke. I'll set up a post for you guys to kick things off.

OK, Brian has gotten back to me and we've covered how long she can manage to keep things going on her own. I'll give details to Glass and see how he wants to handle thigs, but...

First shift just started. Second shift is up in 12 hours. Probably time to get to it. The ship is airborne, it might need a crew, and that crew will certainly need fed.

If the pavillion is a different thread, I'm pretty sure Niall should be over there. I went to claim a spot a while ago.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 87):

Yep, but people have been going in and out and I've lost track, so I'm going to wait until an encounter or event to worry about that sort of thing.

Niall is about the only one that seems capable of keeping track f where he is, so you folks can't really expect me to keep track of all of you right now.

If you sked me to commit right now, I'd say half the second shift is up and about and adding to overcrowding on the main deck. Probably not wise when falling off means a very long fall at terminal velocity. Probably still 20d6 in this edition, but I'd have to check.

What happened to the “crew prepare for departure” and fasten seat belts sign?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 89):

They haven't been invented, yet.

In reply to DM (msg # 88):

So to be clear: should I make Niall stay in the deck?

Next you will say there is no safety culture or WH&S reps. ;p

If the helm creates its own gravity. Do we feel motion?

Also, gravity on a SJ ship is planar - if someone falls off don't they oscillate along the plane? When does a planet gravity pull enough to overcome the ships?

Try it and find out. You have no other way of knowing.

sorry, didn't read bak far enough:

Niall: Go to bed. Everyone in your shift should, as you've all been up awhile. An Atlantis day isn't a Ship day. Stay up too long and I WILL invoke lack of sleep penalties. After I figure out what they are.

Ayamba: I wouldn't think so. Not in this edition, from how they describe it. Well, you probably did as the ladder fell away and the buildings shank away, but that would have been an optical illusion. Looking over the side will do it, as well, or clouds in the sky. There are way to tell you're moving, even with 'inertial dampeners'. Well, for now, anyhow. This is all atmosphere, after all. Space might be different.

Do I describe going to bed in the only current IC thread? I don't think I have even a description of.what the inside.of the pavillion looks like

The first level of exhaustion is -1 to pretty much all of your d20s.

Since the Defender isn't Large, it should only take up one space; if I have my size categories right. I just want to be sure.

Post 5 of the ship thread. Basically a bare floor with a tent pole in the middle, and six net slings along the guardrails, 2 to a side (3 sides, forward is the ladder down).

Not a lot to describe.

I am going to assume second shift all goes to bed unless I hear otherwise. Easier on me to hear from the outliers than miss some one getting sleep because I lost count.

Remember, the cabin is an isolated location. If you're pointing at things in it, you're in it, which means you're not talk to people outside of it.

No need to edit anything. It's growing pains to a new set up, and it'll take some adjusting.

I'll describe what I'm hearing, so you can clarify if I'm correct or not:

As I understand it, we are gonna be operating in 2 shifts where one set of characters is sleeping while the other set is active. And since Niall is on the second shift and went to sleep as indicated, I'm effectively out of the game until the shift change happens, along with whoever else is coming to sleep.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 101):

Almost everyone is out of the game, as nothing is happening, and won't for much of your voyage. That's just how it is.

I'll roll an encounter and an event for each week or two. If something happens, then the on duty shift is fully equipped, and the sleeping shift is not. And that is about all the shift will mean unless there is some long term shipboard issue.

Right now, there is a sort of long term shipboard issue, but it's all happening in the Helmroom and it's a matter of a few die rolls, so it should be over today, assuming folks are around and let me know when the rolls are being made, then making them.

Is a sea or space campaign, it's encounters and the next stop that get matter, not the dead time in between. Now that we've set up who is doing what and when, it's all background. Things will pick up.

That being said...you folks might want to decide on a destination. You've got the moon, the other planets 9and some of their moons might be worth going to, also), the asteroid field, etc. If you want to do it all, you can start with Mercury and work outward. Or the Moon, THEN Mercury.

Or you can just head out for the stars and see what happens.

I can't think of any other real options, but characters always think of something the DM missed, so...

For clarity. Going up was powered with the helm creating it own gravity - hence the smooth ride. Now the helm has failed for some reason and we free fall without the helm gravity like an action movie. But hopefully the whole situation may only last seconds depending on dice rolls.

It's a learning experience. Expect 6-12 seconds of "Ahhhhhh!!". I sure hope everything was properly stowed.

A lot of assumptions took place, maybe we did wake Glass... Maybe the transfer did... Maybe we didn't.

And that is what happens when you change helmsmen/get off the helm in a gravity well.

Learning experience his time, and possibly a bit rougher than it should have been (I'd forgotten to notify Glass and rushed to end this bit) but, next time, unsecured items may be lost. Or just fall over the side, which isn't the same thing at all, if you believe Galileo.

You'd think they'd cover that in the job description. "By the way, you'll start falling everytime you change helmsman"

They do. But no one was around to train any of you.

First trip for the planet, remember? You're the experimental dogs and chimps used to find all this out for them.

In reply to DM (msg # 108):

Ghaith had said he was at the Galley when they took off and then to bed. He had heard about the swap and thought of the "there is no Helm powering because it was mentioned that flight was via the Helm, no one at the Helm, ships flounder, in this instance, a plummet.

Still, some test flights wouldn't have hurt.

Woof.

What exactly is it you think you are doing? This IS the flight test. And you're learning lots.

Aren't we going into space? I mean more like, go up a bit and land again on the planet. Figure out how flight actually works before going into space.

Yes. You're going into space. Flying through space is part 2 of the space flight.

After that, it's Merchant Exploration time.

After all, Glass can report on everything from the ship, no need to land to report, so why go back if you don't need to? Hardly cost effective.

They can always make new ships, and even new Helms, now, thanks to Brian. All you have that they don't is the Orrery, and that's only effective if it's used.

Maximize income, minimize outgo. Make a profit. Business basics haven't really changed in centuries.

Next time hire out to Sages, not businessmen. Atlantis has them, too.

And so the concept of a seat belt is seeded. :)

Up next pre-flight safety demonstrations.

It just occurred to me: is what I'm telling at the open cabin door being transmitted to the players in the cabin?

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 116):

Well, Glass is outside (on your thread), Brian is exhausted and out of it, and Kiera is on both threads (being on the Helm), so I didn't really bother, but the 2 of the 3 that could hear and react did hear, if not react.

Sorry peeps, going to be a bit of a delay before I make any responses (hours not days). I've just created a full length crack on the screen of my £300 curved gaming monitor. Now to go out and get a new one. ([STUPID CLEANING AND MOVING, it shouldn't be a thing])

Just been announced, Queen Elizabeth II died this afternoon in her sleep.

Oh, wow. She's been an icon for so many decades.

Would it be acceptable to post on the main deck thread, yells from within the cabin intended for them to have heard, or does GM want to post such things to help maintain continuity.

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 121):

No posting from helm thread to main deck thread is permissible. That's why I have set up two threads and keep reminding you not to post to the wrong one.

If necessary, I'll go back to taking folks out of the main thread, but I'd rather not.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 20:46, Thu 08 Sept 2022.

But will you be posting it so we can hear the yelling from inside?

Do we have a Pavilion Thread? It has been mentioned previously but I cannot see one (I know Ayamba is still on shift but just asking).

If you're on shift, you wont' see it. You aren't there. You only see threads you have access too. I believe right now, between the sleepers in the Cabin and the working crew, the only one left in the Pavilion is Jed, and I used his personal thread when last I posted to him.

But yes, there is one. Mainly it will only come up when something happens and someone is actually in it. Encounters, mostly. It's there mostly in case of need.

Sorry for what might seem like multiple posts, folks but the posting guideline thread is for future players. I could ahve skipped Notices, but I didn't think of the Posting Guidelines until after.

It's getting to be a more widespread problem that you might realize. I seem to be spot addressing it daily, so I thought a group posting might make it more tolerable.

Is the home like a crude throne but made of Stone? Is it only large enough for one medium sized creature to sit on properly at a time? Does it have a raised back or is it more of a stool style?

I'm thinking most of us would have had time and at least curiosity if not duty to see it... I couldn't find more specifics anywhere but maybe I just didn't tug the right thread.

One person, raised back.

And the cabin is meant to have 2 beds and a desk. the Helm replaced the desk, but there isn't really room for the crew to file in and take a peek. Nor has anyone tried to do that.

Remember, someone is generally sleeping in there while it's being used.

I think the thing for the Helm changeover to try is for the current Helm to get up and keep the Helm, the new person to sit down, then transfer. The ship wouldn't suddenly stop floating if the Helm is left, otherwise it's 8 hours with no pee break. I would think it just keeps going without course changes if they get up.

Sorry, no. You have to be sitting in it to control it, apparently. By the Item description, anyhow.

So there will always be a period where it is unpowered during a change of Helmsmen.

Just reading through the SpellJammer source material and wow, it's so un-detailed on things it hurts. There was far better details on the previous edition - they should have just copied that verbatim instead of doing such a piss-poor job at a rewrite.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 131):

And now you're understanding why I have so many house rules and etc. To cover the gaps.

I have the basic books from the 2nd ed version handy, and I'm using what I can, but there were some issues there, too. Plus 3 editions of basic rule changes to the game to adjust to.

I think I'm good for space travel. Guidelines for distances traveled in the Astral are a little hazy, but not too bad. Certainly much quicker than the Flow was. Much more to do, too. Unclear when you make the change from wildspace to Astral, too, so I'll use the 2nd ed rules for a guideline.

Landing on planets is still going to be problematic, but you've had some experience there, so you're forewarned.

I hadn't planned on this game being a playtest, but...

Kiera is gonna try some scandalous crap next transfer

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 133):

NOT an Adult rated game. Let's keep it family friendly. PG, maybe PG 13, but not R, much less...

I rate it Mature so I can say "hell" and "damn" occasionally. Beyond that is not my cup of meat.

I was talking about sitting on somebody else's lap while they're on the helm. She's pretty conservative.

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 135):

If they are on the helm/chair/whatever, the only point to sitting on their lap...isn't conservative enough for this game. It's just not that sort of game.

And it certainly isn't the same as sitting on the Helm, it that's the idea.

Well, if they have further time to try stuff she'll try to get people half on, or sitting on the back before she hopes to try modifying the helm physically... A two seater is just a good idea with a limit like that.

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 137):

There can't be two folks attuned at the same time. To ANY magic item.

What you want to try requires a second Helm.

Just to be clear, we could switch Helm users in space without an issue, since there'd be little to no falling, and everything has a gravity well without a Helm?

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 139):

You're doing it now, in fact.

Edited cabin post to reflect transfer rather than exit. She wouldn't leave right away but make sure he had things in hand at least.

Is someone else helping to crew the ballista? I think we just need 2 people as it auto-reloads thanks to Keira.

Not yet, and you're in the process of docking with the other ship, I think.

Every planet is hollow with a druid on a helm at the center.

I am reading but missed reference to the size of the dragonfly ship. Is bigger, smaller, same as ours? I imagine it would be difficult to work that out in space. But at some point it should be obvious.

And it will be....once I figure it out. That's another thing they kind of skimped on: actual ship tonnage. Air capacity is now determined by how many people it takes to fully man the helm and all weapons. Plus one captain.

Hang on, I have deck plans. et me work out relative lengths, at least.

OK, almost (not quite) twice as long. Almost (not quite)half as wide.

I'd call in about even...except there are two upper decks on the inset ship, and only one on yours. It has about twice the "draft". plus wings and legs.

Of course, that's the 'Unfamiliar with space" answer.

Oh, and it's (Unmanned) weapon is a mangonel. forward upper deck

So size of ship matters less than weapon placements for air envelopes... Interesting.

If we take out enemy weapon placements we start taking out their air.

Keira has SO many experiments to perform. They are best to wait before her sleep though so she can regain magic relatively soon afterward... Assuming an actual full rest that others haven't been able to manage well.

To be clear - we're stationary and the dragonfly is moving towards us, or we're being pulled together? That last IC post was confusing.
And we can see no one else on board?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Sat 10 Sept 2022.

The dragonfly was moving towards you, then YOU stated rotating and moving towards it.

No, no one else above decks on the dragonfly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:49, Sat 10 Sept 2022.

OK, folks, I'm pausing activity on my end now, until Monday, or this encounter is going to go too far sideways to do you folks any good. That means I wont' advance anything.

I will note, however, that I have activity in two separate places. That means I'm trying to juggle two sets of events that may effect each other. That's a hint.

A lot going on right now, much of it....way too chaotic. I'm starting to get complaints. Trouble is, you folks need to fix the issues IC. Even if it means enforcing some crew rules, or remodeling aspects of the ship.

I will point out that, from a "Be considerate of other players" aspect, that you've left Jed lone in the Pavilion out of the loop, and he's missing a few days of play time as a result.

Perhaps there should have been a “all hands on deck” or “battle stations” alarm?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 151):

Something for IC, as you'll have to determine WHAT, as well s IF.

I've some ideas of what we can do, but it will require money. Which we have little to none. :) As well, this is all new to all of us, so we are making sh*t up as we go along.

Yes, I understand. And the ship was designed for sea because that's what the designers knew.

Be aware, however, that you have an Artificer on board. (the Defender and the ballista infusion tells you that. If she's a carpenter there is a fair bit you can do now, with what you have. She isn't a shipwright, of course,, and certainly not space trained, but she can do more than you think...if not quite what she wants to.

There is an easy way of doing this 'Alerting' business, it's called a ships bell.

Or you know, Thaumaturgy. Just flipping shout like sailors raising the alarm.

DM: I'd like some clarity on just how isolated each section is from another. I'm sure it's not as bad as Get Smart's Cone of Silence for each section, but there should be some noise bleed over to allow for loud communication.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 157):

The Pavilion, with it's canvas walls has disadvantage to Perception.

The Cabin, with it's wooden walls and door and total lack of windows is pretty damned cone of silence, yes. That's the only state worse than Disadvantage in the game, so...

Simplified game rules, after all. Not a lot of options.

If the Helmsman can see and hear what's going on in any part of the boar (it's a Keel Boat), then why couldn't Ghaith see or hear panic on deck?

In reply to Ghaith Azad (msg # 159):

He did. As Niall and Glass ran into the cabin. That was all the panic that happened, and they both expressed it quite clearly when they entered.

Almost as soon as you started towards the other ship, and it turned around. All of 1-2 rounds.

In reply to DM (msg # 160):

We were moving towards the ship when I took over, stopping briefly as far as Ghaith was away (and me).

Moving slowly towards something isn't going to cause a crash, especially when you express caution in the post.  For reference, I moved the boat slowly for docking along side to tether, this also infers SLOWLY.

I can see no reason why the other would have turned around at this. If you are not moving, you can't avoid a crash.

In reply to Ghaith Azad (msg # 161):

Nope.

He WAS moving when you started to move. Which means he had no idea in hell what you were doing or where you'd be, just that you didnt' want him to com along side, as you moved where that side was. SO he left.

And I am so sick of going round and round with you about this. Yeesh

And we had no idea either, if I'd been informed we were almost along side, I would have adjusted accordingly.

Which I believe I did mention.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Sun 11 Sept 2022.

In reply to Ghaith Azad (msg # 163):

I said to drop it.

Ghaith has been removed from the game.

I will NPC the character  (minimally) until I can write him out nonviolently (probably the first port of call). He is not a DM character and wont' do anything I can avoid without instruction.

Wow.

Would Gaith do what the Captain said in the Cabin thread, then? Just want confirmation of this to have Niall leave the cabin again if that is the case.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 167):

Yep. He's staying right where he is and letting the other ship do all the work.

And now that that is dealt with the hard way, I can advance earlier than Monday if you wish.

Lyra is a bit behind, but only 2 hours, so everyone is caught up, more or less.

Small creature. about 18 inches. Mini Gargoyle

Oops, apologies. A typo. Two actually. It's been corrected

The critter is only 1.5 foot tall, and could barely handle it's end of the rope.

Cool. Mini 8ft gargoyle was intimidating. Still amazing though.

I rewatched Master and Commander last night. They had a lot more drums, beat to quarters, bells, whistles and sand timers than we do.

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 171):

Drums? That generally means rowers, doesn't it? You don't even have anyone on the rigging.

Drum roll on snare. But true they did have 197 crew am it was a war ship and rigging/ sails to worry about.

Just to confirm - we don't know about the asteroids, just the inner planets and Jupiter?
This message was last edited by the player at 07:00, Mon 12 Sept 2022.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 174):

Yes. The first asteroids were discovered in 1801. There just isn't the optical tech, yet.

Edit: And 1856 for trans Jovian planets
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Mon 12 Sept 2022.

Seriously, people, use quotation marks, please. Highlighting isn't a replacement. Also, Blue is preferred as it's nice and dark and doesn't fade into a white background.

I don't think Glassteel exists anymore. One of the many old favorite spells that have gone away. Permanency, too.

Just a name for large quantities of magically refined glass then.  Please?

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 178):

Glass isn't really done in large quantities, and mundane heat seems to do the job. The only real instances of glass are spyglasses, which are pricey and...not much else. I doubt even lanterns and lamps use glass, although I could be wrong. Possibly some crude glass panes to use as wind breaks

Jugs, flasks, and vials use clay.

Certainly nothing the strength of steel. Although SJ may bring it back if they give us rules for improving ships.

I've posted a text map/chart of the Solar System, but only insofar as known planets. The Orrery shows many more farther out.

Knowing the orbital period is important for navigation without an orrery, and Brian only knows 5 of the 6 I game, none of the others. She can extrapolate for Ceres, some what, but not the rest.

Lower on the same thread will be known information posts about each world that will be updated as you learn more. This should make for a quick reference/reminder over time.

I also renamed the other Lore thread to standardize them for ease in finding them on the list.

And THAT was why the encounter in the first place.

Sorry to anyone... I'm kind of excited and so would Keira. We may have swept a bit ahead of folks. I'll slow it down a bit so others get a chance to at least react.

I don’t think it would make sense for everyone to start firing questions anyway. DM is giving the necessary information anyway.

I'm trying to restrict it to responses. I might not quite be succeeding, but don't count on me to volunteer an answer to a question you haven't asked.

Mostly I just wanted to keep you folks from making your first stop a void world. I was afraid you'd never bring it up. Took you a bit, but we got there.

You COULD try and hire him to redesign your Helm room to the Pavilion deck. After you figure a way to pay him, of course.

Ah, right, payment. So the coinage we have are pure gold right? Their not like just paper or something.

The coins you have are coins, yes. Real metal. Presumably not plated.

Lyra do that thing with your shoulders and get us a good deal on an upgrade. :p
Diplomacy/Persuasion  roll incoming.

My general pattern (outside of combat) is to update on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Todday is Tuesday.

I'm going to rap Fred up tomorrow unless you folks have ore than endless questions for him.

Actually, I may have to edit that one. Keira, give me an Int(Cartography) roll

18 all told.

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 191):

I'll edit. Please post die rolls. It'll help in combat when I have 7 of you doing it.

How familiar would we be with other names he had thrown out... Hobs etc.?

Master Glass or Lyra might be interested in what who controls what worlds... Keira isn't so much at this time. I remind her because it is on my mind but I know life happens to other people too.

Hobs is short for Hobgoblin, so not very. Goblins originated as Oriental boogymen, so I've given Goblinkind Modern Siberia. Which also explains the Great Wall in the setting.

Basically, that's a region so far east it's possibly heard of in the Known world, and reachable, but the western edge of it is Russian colonial expansion east. Not within Atlantis' sphere of influence by a very wide margin, and quite landlocked. Well, to the West.

Nothing any of you might have even heard of without History training. You've probably barely heard of Cathay.

OK, folks, over to you.

What would you like to do?

Main choices under discussion recently are a minor remodel or a trip to elsewhere.

But, of course, you folks may have other plans.

Folks, it's been a fairly quiet couple of days. I'm going to need direction from you lot if I'm to advance things.

Or I could just toss in another encounter to liven things up, but you'd really rather deal with the lack of sleep, first.

I think we are all waiting for Glass, since ultimately IC he gets to decide what we do.

OK well, to give you an idea of time:

2 hours of morning routine before the meeting at the warehouse
Meeting and tour of the ship 1 hour or a bit less.
Attuning helm 1 hour or a bit more.
Getting into space: 17 hours.
Talking with Fred 1 hour.

That's 22 hours. Not a single one of you has had a full long rest, and you can't get one in 2 hours. That's going to be some Exhaustion saves shortly.

Not a big deal, really. a full 24 hour day at a regular ship board routine will fix it  for everyone except Brian. She will need an extra couple of days.

So you are aware and can plan.

Niall had been sleeping until you announced the first shift change, no?

Sorry gang, had a customer onsite for the past few days. Posted. From the spell, it seems the Helm can be deactivated, moved around, then remounted without issues. Gravity is actually not it's function, as every object of size has a gravity envelope - it this correct?

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 200):

Yep. And "deactivating" consists of standing up. It's an attuned magic item. It won't fly a ship until nailed down, but it's still attuned using most of the normal rules.

Mind you, what sounds simple may not be. It has to fit through the door and it's made of solid stone slabs, so it's not likely to be light.

So then our handy-dandy Artificer could dismount it and we could then move it, even it means the doorway gets some renovations. Roller pins and tow rope can move most anything, even with our low STR scores. :D

As far as the IC post goes, Mending isn't an issue and the Artificer should be somewhat able with a hammer and pry bar for the changes. Fred was right - the Helm needs to see all around and not depend upon the Helm-sense alone. We will easily string the hammocks up in the cabin, after we dismount the Helm, so they can have some sleep for a while until we are ready to move it up on the pavilion. As well, we can rig up a canopy over some portion of the deck to shelter more people if the cabin gets too busy. We're not equipped for doing major renos, but this isn't too much, IMO.

Oh sure. It can be done. It'll just take time and work. I'm setting the stage, not nay-saying.

but there is a lot of collateral effects that will need to be addressed, too. And before anyone even CAN go to sleep.

At least you'll have some cargo space on the Quarterdeck, now. Everything behind the tent post (Assuming you put the Helm in front for ease of contact with the main deck.

Not an issue. You have a carpenter. No tools, but I believe she can fix that in an hour.

And why does everyone think there are hammocks? You folks are sleeping on your pads on the deck. Nor do you actually have to over the netting to keep things from flying away if you have a roof and a door. But it may require some clean up and make things harder to find for a bit if there is a gravity issue again. And there will be. It's space, after all, and you're in a fairly small ship.

Mind you, feel free to install hammocks after you acquire some.

But no, sleeping on the main deck isn't a good idea. That's the actual work area. (And you can convert those beds to benches for the deck to make some space).

You folks need a larger ship.

I guess I assumed hammocks because that's a typical way crew bedded down in ships. You can have three or more hammocks in the same area of a single bed, depending on the roof height. Not sure where I missed how the beds actually were.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 206):

Everyone has or seems to. I covered it once early on. It hasn't been particularly important.

You folks are on a Riverboat. It's missing amenities.

DM I think intermittently adding timestamps to your posts would help orient the scenes. Although i have no idea how we are tracking time on board the boat.

I have been. Last one was post 198 above. Nothing IC has happened since.

I'll update the time tomorrow, if anything happens to advance it between now and then.

I've been told what Glass ants done. I've given Keira the breakdown as to what's involved. I've given a much less detailed breakdown in IC 221.

Before I can update, I need a definitive plan, even if it's just to take a day to rest and recover and get the shifts back in sync. Just remember, doing the mods will screw with sleep for one shift again. You're moving the bedroom around, after all.

I can do a lot of it in the background (ie: a single post that covers the hours or days involved), but I need to know what it is, if anything, you're actually doing.

Well have everyone not on shift rest up for 6 hours, except Glass, who will keep watch. He and the current shift will then bunk down as able while construction is going on.this will mean he will have to sleep up top while the helm is dismounted, then move to the cabin after its no longer there.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 210):

Your shift changes in 3 hours, so you know.

Just to cover it again: Niall slept while it wasn't his shift. I don't think I have to roll con, do I?

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 212):

You slept the whole time you were supposed to be working? I missed that.

Re-read what I just wrote. And you didn't miss it, it was a while ago but we went through it. We talked about it both in OOC and IC.

Oh, sorry. Mis-read it.

I as fairly sure no one on day shift got their full 8 hours. let me check some more of the 10 pages that are day 1.

Ok, my memory is a bit off. Looking back it seems night shift is fine. And I need to proof read better.

Only Glass, Brian, and Jed need make Con saves.

Apologies. That will actually help. If nothing else, it means Keira can work safely for another 2-3 hours (Whatever is left of shift 2), which might actually be enough to do everything but fix the door (due to odd limits on Mending ships).

Certainly with the help of everyone she can move the helm upstairs and the beds outside. Netting can wait, but until it's done (if ever) there are hazards should gravity go wonky.

Best to at least partially break down the beds, too. Just so you can free up some deck space.

Anyhow, let me know tonight what you actually want to do, and when. I'll work it into tomorrow's update.

I just want to be sure you are remembering that defender's can repair other things too(not sure if/how that interacts with Mending limits you mentioned but 2d8+PB 3 times a day [srd so I take it with a grain of salt] seems like it might help)

I don't need to remember it, just verify it when you decide to use it. (And it's overkill for non emergency repair work/Artisanry. I'd save it for ship combat when you don't have the luxury of spending a minute casting Mending to keep the ship together).

Remembering what your characters can do and deciding to do it is your job. You each have 1 character to worry about I have at least 7, plus whatever NPCs/Critters might be in play (or even active out of play). I will be concentrating on the NPCs and critters. You have to remind me what your characters can do (or are doing) as it comes up.

And I can assure you, I will forget what some or all of you can do.

Being that time was vague at that point, as was how many bodies would be up and about Keira was mindful of how trying to steal a helm was less effective if you were far from it and or it was nailed down.

Having so many people in the guild cheat her work she is still a shade paranoid of Fred... If that's his real name. Gambling is a crooked pastime to one so conservative as her. She would want to increase distance and have the helm off deck as little as possible.

To this end, having a team rest and be fresh so the ballista has crew and there are people on standby in case the semi auto ballista doesn't dissuade would be attackers when they realize it... Is her priority. She will lie or drag out issues to better achieve the goal of safety but would prefer to be honest. She isn't exceptionally manipulative but it seems Glass was willing to let heaviest work be undone for a shift.

Order of works:
Remove beds
Get bedrolls moved into cabin
Get people sleeping
Unmake beds and organize parts
Leave one net for helmsman to stow gear but get others out of pavilion
Set up 'bell' with personal hammer, crowbar, and some rope
Sleep
Remake defender humanoid
Open doorway
Move helm
Reseal doorway once we are underway again
Get next shift sleeping

So...wait until everyone is sprad around the Helma nd them move it/ As stated before, anone sleeping on either cabin or pavilion will NOT sleep through the Helm being moved.

Especially not if it's being dragged over them.

And this bell you're setting up...how are you acquiring it?

Remaking the Defender requires you to finish a long rest. This list isn't the place for that project.

So, let's cut to what can be done short term: before the next next has to sleep.

You have 2 hours. What would you like to do when people aren't sleeping, yet? That is just about enough time to empty out the cabin and move the Helm up.

Sounds like a good plan. The main reason Glass needs people to sleep now as opposed to doing work is that the cycles/shifts seem to have been majorly disrupted by the encounter and a few of us are at level 1 exhaustion or worse (Brian). He is going to go into level 1 as well by staying up until the shifts normalize. Hopefully, Fred will be off and on his way within 8 hours.
If two hours is enough, then let's move the Helm now before people get to sleep, and proceed from there.
Glass' plan
Coordinate the move of the Helm
Get as many people that need rest to bed ASAP.
Report to Head Office via Sending stones, which I will post as a private.
Watch Fred and wait until next shift
Go to bed.

Helm room and Pavilion threads are gone as there is no Pavilion or Helm room anymore.
There will be a Berthing Thread when needed.

Helmsman may need to shout a bit but can converse with the Cook, at the least.

The Quarterdeck canvas walls and ceiling may be removed if you feel the need to look up. Until then it doesn't hurt to have something to catch things falling up, but that's up to you.  Let me  know if you decide to take it down.

Use OOC if you like to discuss any further changes, but I'd like to get on the road (so to speak) Monday, if at all possible. Kind of hard to throw a murder comet at you if you're in orbit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Sat 17 Sept 2022.

I propose we skip forward. If there are no intended encounters, it's either skip or spend a few RL days with half the ship posting PC getting to know you conversations. We could skip and those on shift share info/details about their character that they would have revealed and spoken about.

I am in agreement with Ayamba, if theirs no encounters anymore, then let's Time-skip for a bit.

Works for me, too.

well, as we seem to be going that way, I'll get you folks on the way to Ceres and n stable watch rotations Monday.

Whether or not you arrive Monday depends on encounter/even rolls, of course.  No need to role play days, weeks, or months (depending) of travel, after all.

As far as the odd stuff remaining, we'll affix anything loose during shift changes and Mend the holes left behind. The cabin should be completed first to allow everyone a bed space when needed, without disturbance.
How many days to Ceres, and do we need to track food and water for these kinds of trips? Glass will be sending and receiving regular updates daily, although there hopefully won't be anything to report.
Since we don't have any trade goods or money to offer (outside of personal leftovers) when we get to Ceres, we should expect to offer services in trade for local currency, at least to get something in our coffers. Unless we have something valuable to the port economy that we don't know of.

How many days? That depends on how fast you move. The 2 or 3 minutes at full speed wasn't enough to let you even guess.

I'll track food, but, basically, you go through about a pound per person per day, I think. Water isn't an issue (Nail makes more every day), and I'll add a food update in periodically. As you don't have scales or the like (well, not on that scale, at least), it will be how many sacks gone, and etc. still, even if you lose track of what you started with, the empties will be a clue.

When it comes down to it, Brian, at least, can make goodberries with a day or so warning. Niall is a couple levels short of Creating food, still. Neither is a great option for morale, but both work.

As to funds, you can always hope for a good encounter. You probably won't get it, but you can hope for it.

Dock fees will be the first issue. You can always pass that hat for that, then rent out for cargo or passengers. Getting started shouldn't be hard, really.

Current IC is just the passage of a day or so. Fred has long since departed.

Determining encounters and events now, but the post was getting a bit long. I'll post shortly.

Trying to understand that last post. Our envelope is 70' and we are 100' away from the hammerhead, so if air is mixing, it's that much bigger?

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 229):

At least twice as big as you, almost 3 times. Which means it's air sticks out a good 180' or more.

Any damage has been done, but there hasn't been any real affect on you folks. Of course, if it's just reduced your remaining time, you won't know until you use the good air up.

It is wrong that my first thought is "A new ship for us!!" :D

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 231):

Not at all. If you can reclaim it, it's yours.

But it's out there for a reason...

Ah, a correction tot he Hammerhead's size: I counted about 190 feet, but the book lists it at 250' long. Parts not on the deck plan, I suppose.

Your air is thoroughly mixed at this point.


Edit: and 2nd shift is sound asleep, so Glass, you and Jed and Brian are all alone unless you wake them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Mon 19 Sept 2022.

I'll wait for comment from Jed and Brian. I've got plans, but I want some  input from them as well.

I miss familiars that were intelligent and evolving.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 235):

They needed to save something for Chain Warlocks, I guess.

As far as the Owl goes - it can't be seen from the 180-260 feet?

I'm unclear if we were woken by Hund or not. Can we post, or are we still asleep?

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 238):

It's not combat so anyone that wants to is up. I'll make an IC update Sorry, active morning here

Would the rusty-visceral smell of carnage be an appropriate sign of thorough air mixing?

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 240):

Well, if you smelled it, it probably would. The lack might not mean much.

I'll advance noonish tomorrow, to give the 2-3 we haven't heard from time to respond.

Current instructions, as I read them, were to given everyone time to dress that wanted it? Lyra took 1 rounds Ayamba didn't take any, but he's unarmed. I haven't heard from Niall. No hurry, schedules differ which is why I try to give a day for combat rounds.

Dayshift and Keira are fully loaded (per shipboard load outs) due to their shift.

Yes, we didn't re-approach until everyone was ready as needed. Owl was instructed to avoid everything.

Where is all our gear now that was in the pavilion netting?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 244):

In the berthing room netting. The netting was moved with you all. I thought I mentioned that, and the 26 holes left behind taking a couple day to repair because of odd Mending rules in the new SJ rules.


The footlockers are empty and up on the quarterdeck against future need, too, btw. and what's left of the two beds, reduced to parts.

Did shift 2 get to finish long rest?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 246):

No, but that will be usual, whichever shift is woken. It's about a 10% chance per day of an encounter, so it won't matter often. Only about 1% of the time, on average: two encounters in two days. Even then, it's an easy save that first missed rest, so it won't affect everyone that 1 time in 100.

Folks none of you are telepaths (although you may meet quite a few), please let's keep the thought bubbles to a minimum. Especially the ones with your plans for the upcoming combats.

I'm a little late today. First combat questions and issues. That's why it's an easy one. Easier than I thought, apparently.

Round 1 is posted, let's try for Noon US Pacific tomorrow for round 2.

One scavver left, still at missile range for anyone that can see it.

I cannot see a post for round 1 results.

post 264 of the "And Off We Go" IC thread

Did we by chance notice if the survivor had broken towards the ballista or the galley?

Right not a problem after all, must have been when i had the thread open and it didn’t come up red.

Will you be posting any of the speech we put in our personal threads? It will be hard to coordinate apart from a sneaky look at the dice roller.

There's a few times I've seen the red and not seen an update, and vice versa. Some limits in the software.

I generally post speech, if it can be heard and understood. Depends on the situation.

I don't remember any last time. Just remember, planning ahead of time beats a 1 round delay in combat.

And I've dealt with sneaky looks at the die roller. All rolls should be hidden. That has been abused previously.

The whole point is prior planning. Coordinating in mid combat is rather hard to do.

OK, I hadn't dealt with the die roller after all. Thanks for reminding me.

Good one Ayamba. Loophole closed. ;p

Everyone is gonna have to remember to include speech in their moves to help coordinate especially when we have double digit round combats. Else we will be guessing all the time. Important for Jed and superiority dice I would imagine -as well as area effect spells.

Ayamba did have speech in his round 1 turn.

So he did. First combat issues had me a little distracted. My apologies.

Folks, he called for help on the Ballista. It's a 3 man job reduced to 2 men due to an Infusion from Keira, but that 2nd man is still necessary to fire every round.

folks, I have it set to secret rolls on purppose. Please leave them secret. Don't uncheck that boxx

Scavver combat is over.  I'll make the next one tougher.

IC is open for posting again.

Can the owl tow a rope over to the body(s) or is the mass too heavy?

The homun could, so the owl could. It falls within the Unseen Servant limits of weight for a 1t level spell.  You would have to control it for the trip, and it couldn't tie it to anything.

But this would be a regular rope, form one of your packs (you don't have ship lines, which would be too heavy, anyhow). How much tension it can handle might be a factor..

Remember, this isn't the ocean. While I wouldn't bump the ships together, a boarding plank is enough to get across a small 2'-3' gap safely. And if you fall, THEN the owl can take the rope it's holding to you to be pulled up.

Once the ships are close enough for use the boarding plank - if we have one -who wants to be first across?

Hund would likely be a best first over, Keira would want to be second in case it finds trouble. Hund can best protect people if it is next to the attacker.

Don't forget you have the disassembled beds from the old officer's cabins. the long bits could be made into some sort of boarding plank, probably

Well this is sublime to ridiculous. We are the Keystone Spelljammers!

I really don't know what to do next. Best if DM does all our rolls going forward.

I decided to roll with it, but I'm thoroughly confused why the rolls are necesary in the first place. How far are the ships from each other? Wouldn't we just be grabbed by the gravitational pull? And definitely would be grabbed back by our ship if we are tied to a rope, without need of anyone pulling.

Hmm, but what if the gravitational pull of the ship was dead. I mean, it looks abandon and derelict, it must mean the systems aren't working. Also, did we tie ourselves with rope? And also it might not work if we're, like 60 to 100 feet away from the ship.

If there is no gravitational pull, then I don't see why on Earth are we trying to dive into deep space. At the very least we must be under the assumption that the ship is survivable, right?

EDIT: As in, our characters must think that it's working if they are trying to cross in the first place.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Tue 27 Sept 2022.

I'm not qualified to know that.

All that I know is their's some mysterious lore or unexplored history hidden inside this shark vessel. That and also possibly poisonous air and disease, but I'm sure you guys got a countermeasure as we head to the unknown to unearth things unseen.

Everything has gravity in Spelljammer. Basically 1G no matter what size the object is, unless it's a planet, but even then the RAW don't get into that. It's not the Helm that provides it. The challenge in walking across should be minor, but this is how the DM wants to play it. The first across should be tossed a rope, and tie off a line for others to cross.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 271):

DC 10 IS minor. You're walking across a narrow beam.

55% of success with no training and a Dex of 10. you folks should be getting across just fine.

What exactly is happening when we fail to cross?

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 273):

well, if you lose you balance on the beam (a step up from tightrope walking, but only a bit) you try and catch yourself as you fall.  Harder, but I'm letting Acro help.

If that misses you fall probably 10 feet into the gravity plane, through it, and "up" until you slow, stop and fall back. You yo-yo like that for a few cycles (each arch smaller) until you stop. Then you drift outward on then plane until you hit the edge of the air and pop out.

Of course the other ship is in the way so that isn't much of a concern. You'll bump up against it,. the find an equalibrim spot between the two gravity planes, which probbaly aren't lined up.

Left unattended, yes, you could wind up in the void eventually, but for now it's meant to be a learning experience about space the hard way. Which has been done. much more emphatically than expected. The die roller does that on occasion: everything rolls low for a bit. Except when you want it too.

I'll end it with the noon post.

My question: Have the Defender try to cross again, or leave it on Rope duty for those that can't walk a narrow beam?

Also, Does Brian join and let Ghaith walk the ship (with or without the Defender) or is she left behind. I'd prefer her to join the party.

I did say "I leave the ship to you", and made physical contact via tap on the shoulder to transfer the helm access to him. She then decided to head to where the crew was heading.

In reply to Brian O'Brien (msg # 275):

For the record, both touching the Helm to transfer contact. A shoulder tap isn't effective.

Basically, for when it matters: both need to be where ever the Helm actually is to transfer attunement. That may matter in combat at some point.

Ah, found your post. First thing in the morning, and I didn't scroll back far enough. Apologies.

I'll find a deck plan for the hammership and post it in maps. please be aware that the new edition hasn't been posted online anywhere, yet. Old edition deck plans may be a bit different than new ones. Please don't put too much faith in the Keys that come with them.

From there we can see the cargo hatch right? What's the condition of that portal?

In reply to Keira Mordewald (msg # 279):

It looks fine, as far as you can tell from 40' away.

And a deck plan IS posted. Group 0 map

Ok, search wrap up posted. Let me know if you want to further check any sections specifically.

Wow, nice assorted stuff. No Helm or Orrery, or are the ivory disks one of them?
Questions and possible paths:
   - Can a ship tow another?
   - We can move the Helm - should we take over this ship and run low crewed weaponry for now? Towing our old one, or even putting it on the deck?
   - Anyone able to Identify?
   - Is the air still good quality?
   - We've done a basic search of the entire ship, or just the top decks and rear cabins?
   - If we've gone through the whole ship, where would the Helm have likely been?
   - Other than the 13 weapons crew, no other bodies have been discovered?

OOC, Niall could identify if he had a 100 gp pearl. He wouldn't share this information on his own, but it's not a stretch to ask a cleric of Lugh (deity of travel and commerce) if he can identify stuff.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 282):

Used to be size of helm and total tonnage determined tow ability. One helm size now, and your ship is so tiny,. I'd say Yes, you can tow.

Moving the Helm across the planks you guys can't walk across easily? Probably not a good idea.

I have no idea if anyone has Identify, but I'd be surprised if they have the rather pricey component, yet.

The air seems good enough...for now.

Whole ship is searched. Galley, berthings, etc.

I believe I mentioned two bodies in room 13? 2+weapons crews is considered a full crew. You folks actually have 2 spares. Three with Ghiath.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Wed 28 Sept 2022.

If you wouldn't share it...don't. Seriously. Let's not play/Metagame in OOC. Wait until the question is asked in IC then answer or don't as you feel appropriate.

That's why I didn't answer myself in the crosspost I just made.

You seem to do it a lot, I thought it was fair game, my bad.

To clarify: I'm not suggesting to metagame, I specifically nudged Glass to ask IC and explained why it made sense for him to do so.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 286):

I try to limit it to clarifications, as above. Or skipping ahead, like today's IC post.

And it seemed like meta gaming because it seemed like you were saying the character wouldn't volunteer the info...but you were doing it anyhow, as a player.

Maybe we just define metagaming differently.

We may be, we should clarify: to my understanding, metagaming is using knowledge you have outside of the game inside of the game. For example, Glass' player could metagame by having Glass know that Niall can cast Identify without asking IC.

Do you go by a different definition?

None of the PCs have ever actually discussed our individual talents. Like Glass' illusion, no one knows what each can do, so it's a bit open-ended. I'm going to post to fix that a bit, so we can 'get to know each other'. Anything not shared in the channel won't be known by the PCs.

In reply to Niall Byrne (msg # 288):

A bnit broader,. but your definition is what you just did: You told him what he didn't know. That was YOU metagaming.

Now if he uses the information you've forced on him he's metagaming.

If he askes because you told him you could, he's metagaming. (He wouldn't ahve been if he'd asked on his own).

So the only way to not metagame is to not ask and not get access to the spell. No he doesn't really have a choice but to metagame, all because you couldn't wait to see if he'd ask, or volunteer the information IC instead of OOC.

You see, once it starts it just keeps going.

So, let's cut to the chase and hen not do it anymore: Niall can Identify if he has the component. So can any Artificer, and many Wizards or wizard Ritual Casters.

Now, as there is nothing to Identify, as far as you can tell, folks...back to  the game, please?

Well, to be fair, it's hard to remember where you got information months down the road, and what you know IC or OOC. That's why I don't like such OOC discussions that players are supposed to pretend they don't know.

My rule is: If you force the information on others, they have it. Expecting them not to is rather silly.

Hence my preference for Role Playing over Story Telling.

Role Playing is more like Acting (and doesn't usually include thought bubbles or soliloquies) while Storytelling is more like the Authoring so many folks call Role Playing these days.

Story telling doesn't happen in table top games, much, but Play by Post is ideal for it, so folks tend to run with it. Please don't.

I get it. The impression I got from the beginning was this was a thrown together crew from who ever was foolish, drunk or naïve enough to serve as the trip's test subjects. We were never really introduced other than name and roles, as far I remember reading.

What I did was tell a player OOC what his character doesn't know IC. That doesn't fall under the definition of metagaming I just gave you. It may fall under your definition, which is why I'm asking for it.

I'm not asking for your definition to be combative, I'm asking because as you suggested we may actually have different definitions for metagaming, so unless I get what you are banning me from doing here I may do it again in the future.

If anything, having characters not know information they would have because the players don't have it or remember it is more close to metagaming than what I'm doing (again, under my definition). Glass (the character) knows Niall is a Lugh follower than can cast magic, him asking IC is not metagaming. It makes sense for Glass to ask.


"My rule is: If you force the information on others, they have it. Expecting them not to is rather silly."

I disagree with the last remark, but copy that.


Also, regarding we not knowing each other, the two shift rules and skipping all RP between crew kinda made that mandatory

Well, we're all awake now. :D Only the NPC is guarding our little tub.

I find it hard to believe that the characters would not have shared some information to each other before now. Maybe not class skills, which is why Ayamba quizzed Keira IC, but certainly where they are from and what they do. I suggested in #222 that we do some form of summary post of character information when the scene pushed forward. But that didn't stick at the time.

Yes, you certainly did. We never followed up on that, so I guess we are now.

It falls under my definition, yes. You're feeding him information he doesn't have, and doing it ooc. Which is pretty much how I've always understood metagaming.

As to skipping role play...if it's happening, I don't update. But a day or two of silence or OOC postings is not RP.

A philosophical discussion about metagaming. This is actually interesting. In RPG my understanding is that it is about actions IC, and knowledge used IC that the character would not otherwise know. But essentially it is about breaking rules.

This is what I am reading: Niall has correctly sought clarity on definition to ensure he doesn't infringe in future. DM has a broader definition which extends OOC (which I have not encountered before), which disallows prompting another player about what your own character could do. In this situation the prompt would potentially put players in a Metagaming situation IC. Hence it is illegal.

I have chosen not to re-read my old Spelljammer material to keep this game fresh, knowing that the rules are likely to be slightly different - noting the DMs Oldtimers thread which I have read. None of which Ayamba would have any knowledge of, which is why he has asked questions IC.

In reply to DM (msg # 297):

Gotcha, I'll refrain from sharing IC information OOC. I still don't think there is anything wrong with it, but I'll respect it if that's the rule you want in your games.

And Ayamba got it pretty much spot on from my POV. I've had a similar experience, where metagaming has always been exclusively using OOC knowledge IC, and not the other way around.

What kind of gems? By any chance is there a pearl? :D

Any that will work for a homunculus heart, as well as the odd discs... would be her first attention but if that is mithril chainmail as opposed to a shirt... She's at least proficient. If it is a shirt she would want to study it but would opt for someone else to wear it since it is so light.

A handful of 10 gp gems. I can give a breakdown of the items you have tomorrow. (Tonight I'm stretched a bit thin).

Also what the potions do, if someone wants to ID them as per the DMG...of course that's dangerous if one is poison.

You may or may not want the mundane weapons and armor. Note that I consider mundane armor sized by general category. Halfling, dwarf, human/elf, Oversized mediums (firbolgs, goliaths, etc). Magic armor may be sized, it may size adjust, depending on the individual piece. Also note that I consider Mithral and Adamantine to be mundane in that regard, unless actually enchanted, as well.

Let me know what you're keeping. There IS rope thick enough for towing on the hammerhead. I'd not recommend trying to move your helm across that gap. Seriously.

edit: Make that halfling size halfling/gnome size. I always forget gnomes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:35, Thu 29 Sept 2022.

We will keep everything, except the bodies if we can't identify what killed them. If we can't safely move the Helm onto the new ship, then we will tow it to Ceres and move it when we land.

You can't safely cross on your own, for the attempts, and trying to manhandle the stone helm to the quarter deck too all of you. Although, to be fair, that was before Keira reconfigured her Defender.

Niall has a request pending to the general party, BTW.

Ignoring an exact count of mundane weapons for now:
-Mithral chainmail that I think only Jed can wear, but I may be mistaken. Clerics vary in that regard, so Niall might be able to, as well.

8 gems each worth about 10gp

4 potions that no one has had the courage to sample-identify

1 square of folded paper with some powder in it.

Navigator's tool
Cook's tools
Cartographer's tools
Seamstress/weaver tools
Jar of buttons
Enough raw canvas to replace the fins once. Too stiff and tough for anything else.

Ghaith, your only sailor, can tell you that old, subtle, nearly worn out (relatively speaking) sailcloth is generally made into clothes for the sailors. Hence the button jar. Old rope makes sandals.  Why Hammerheads have a sail locker escapes me, as there's no wind to beat the canvas soft, but it's there on the deck plan.

Great! Thanks for the details. We're going to miss Ghaith's knowledge when he jumps ship.

PS
The old SJ rules said that craft couldn't maneuver without some other form of propulsion, and the Helm only moved you forward and very slowly in any other direction. Sails actually got pushed by solar power to make better maneuverability. They even had oars and rowers that would move a craft through space! Thus why there is a sail locker in the old hammerhead plans.

Yes, but the new rules put that all on the helm, eliminating most of the crew and any need for actual tonnage ratings.

They use the same deck plans, but with different keys. Helm rooms and bridges have been moved, etc, so there was no reason not to eliminate the sail locker as sails are now mostly decorative. Until they decide to give us an actual rule book, anyhow.

Still, as I said, they included it, so I added it's typical contents.

To be clear, folks, this WAS a random encounter. I added scavvers to make you work for what is a very large haul, if you salvage it. Not enough scavvers, obviously.

That being said...I DO know what killed them, and why what was left behind was left behind. In case you want a mystery to solve.

Niall is waiting for someone to show him where the ivory discs are so he can use Detect Magic.

I wonder if Niall meant deceased instead of Diseased?

Almost 100% certain.

Whoops, edited

LOL! No worries! Done that myself too many times.

I thought he was just assuming a cause for unmarked dead bodies. It made sense after a fashion, after all.

I was reading about body decomposition.

DM did you say we thought it was 2 weeks? That's pretty messy. We would need to wrap the bodies in sail wouldn't we? Or did we do that and I missed it.

DM. To clarify. Are you saying we can't build a gang plank safe enough to cross the 2-3ft gap between ships and move the helm from the keelboat to the new ship? I am thinking weight isn't too much of an issue after we lifted it from the cabin area to up on the pavilion area.

It's solid stone, and it took most of you to raise it. The few boardss you have won't hold the weight.

You can tie a few ropes to it, have folks hold on tight and push it over the side.

Or you can use the helm already over there.

Or you can tow the derelict who's condition you don't know with your ship.

Trying to move your own helm in space is the hardest option, but go for it, if you want. You've been informed it will be very difficult so my job is done.

Well now, did you just tell us what those ivory disks do? :D

The room where the captain and helmsman died, right behind the chart room, and it has a magic seat and seatback.

What else would it be?

Truthfully, I thought it was obvious. Especially as the 3 example pictures in the book all float. I tend to be subtle when I think I'm being obvious on occasion. Sorry.

First I know about a seat in the room with the floating discs. I was always under the impression that there was no helm on the hammership which added to the mystery.

Me either. I thought the Helm was MIA, so we'd have to use ours to move the hammerhead. That changes the plan. We will attune this Helm, and tow the smaller vessel with our NPC Helming that one so they can stop when we do and not crash into us. That work for everyone?
If so, I'll make a post of Captain's orders :D
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Fri 30 Sept 2022.

Under the new metagaming clarifications, I believe you asking that is metagaming and us answering is metagaming. You need to straight up ask IC if I understood correctly.

EDIT: Or ordering in character.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:52, Fri 30 Sept 2022.

I would normally agree, except that we didn't know the Helm existed until these last OOC posts. I read back and didn't see any mention of the magic chair. I don't want to retcon, just insert the knowledge into the IC thread with an order.

I mean specifically the "That work for everyone?" question. Answering that would be metagaming, by the DM's definition, since we would be giving you information that our characters didn't share out loud.

I guess I was more referring to the assumed knowledge of the PCs, and the 'that work for everyone' was for the us players. That's okay, I'll post an IC now making the move.

IC message 315, although there was a typo.

IC message 315, although there was a typo. Mind you, no one actually asked for clarification, a description, or anything, but later on (msg 322) Niall is talking about doing Detect Magic on the discs, so SOMEONE saw it.

This is what I see in that post:
"Re: IC: And off we go.

And the search starts. Seven of you with varying skills, set to to thoroughly search the ship.

It has a ballista and 2 mangonels, for a total of 13 manning the weapons. All dead. No discernable marks on anything but the 5 the 2 scavvers had started in on.  All the bodies are more than a few weeks dead, which probably tell you more about the scavvers than anything.

And then there is the inside of the ship. Room 12 on your map has some charts. Room 13 on your map has 2 dead bodies and 2 ivory disks (on floating over the other) in the center of the room.

You scavenge what you can. Food is as far gone as the bodies, but a set or two of leather armor, assorted shortswords and rapiers, and a collection of daggers can all be found, as well as assorted ship's tools, a suit of chainmail made of mithral, several potion bottles, a few gems, a couple bolts of canvas and a jar of buttons.

Oh, and a big ship."

I truly don't see the chair mentioned. The disks ARE the chair?

I thought the disks were the Orrery, actually. Some kind of display system we didn't know how to make work.

I had assumed the disk was the helm until the detect magic, actually. The transformation school completely threw me off.

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 327):

I caught that. I had no idea what you were basing it on. Like I said, what I think is obvious isn't always.

Really? The book lists the spell that makes Helms as Transformation. I thought that was a big clue. Of course I'm used to players always having access to the books being used, and that doesn't seem to be true for Spelljammer.

I suspect an Orrery would be Illusion, or maybe Diviniation/Illusion. It's projecting an image after all, based on information taken from a great distance in real time.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:57, Fri 30 Sept 2022.

You realize that transferring people and equipment under power will be next to impossible?
The ships will be one in front of the other, with 20' or 30' feet of tow line between them.

Yeah, I don't know anything about Spelljammers (other than the very basic), nor I have gone out of my way to find out about it. Niall doesn't know either, so it works IC that he wouldn't put it together. When you think of a helm, other schools make more logical sense from a common sense point of view, so I can see Niall not knowing what the hell the disks were on inspection.

In reply to DM (msg # 331):

Yes, I realize that. Nothing prevents us from stopping when we need to, as long as there is a Helm operator on both ships. We could even experiment and see if ships slow down on their own, when not 'pushed' by the Helm magic. Even that's not covered in the new book.
From all the PC knows about the magic - which is near zero - I could see him not knowing the difference when the Helm looks unusual, too. :)
All good, we have a Helm and a big ship now.

ok, then, we will need to make arrangements for feeding, shift changes, and etc. I'll need to know when you are stopping, and/or how much of your supplies and personnel you're going to try and not drop over the side so you don't have to stop.

In reply to DM (msg # 334):

We will stock a weeks worth of rations and a barrel of water with the three Helm drivers (including Glass), that way we don't need to stop more than once a week. The orrery, log books and such on the HH. Everyone's preferred gear and basic bedding for all three, if we can't use what's on the HH. All others can remain on the Ad Astra unless they also want to be on the HH, with proportionate supplies. The cook needs to remain with the bulk of the crew + NPC, so he can make more rations as needed.
Glass will fly over all the gear and supplies in a couple of quick trips to prevent accidents.

A question I've wondered with the whole SJ thing - where do people go to the bathroom, and how do they deal with the waste? :D

A reminder: you're only a day out from Ceres.

Some ship plans have facilities. The rest? I assume same as at sea: thundermug or railing. Thundermug dumped over railing...from the back, of course.

Then we don't need much food and water brought over.
I just imagine this slowly orbiting halo of 'stuff', gradually leaving the gravity plane. Ugh. Note to space travelers - do your business at least a day before ports.

no, not orbiting.  it oscillates up and down a few times until air resistance absorbs the momentum of the initial fall, then drifts straight out from the ship at 10'/round

Give me a list of who's going over. Actually, who's staying. Everyone else would be returning to the Ad Astra.

It's almost pivot shift on the helm, so the next two duty helmsmen are Keira (pivot Helmsman) and Ghaith (2nd shift Helmsman), but anyone but Brian that can spell cast can do the job (Brian is at the end of her shift).

It's probably time to start considering Ghaith gone, so Niall is obvious choice for 2nd shift Helmsman, but I think Lyra can do the job as well. Ayamba is the rest of 2nd shift, for the record.

let me know exactly what you want in supplies. The only "rations" you have are in personal kits, all on the other side. Jed can send a stew pot and a bucket with today's bread output and start over with the spare pot, however.

Oops. One last step: who's attuning the new helm?

I asked earlier IC, but is Keira rested enough to Helm?

Niall is going back, since it's more convenient for him to be where the food and water is, since that's pretty much his only job (at least for the moment).

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 341):

Keira, yes. it's her turn, in fact. It's Brian that isn't.

End my sleep deprived suffering.

I'm left unsure of which ship Brian is on.

OK, to be sure I understand the situation:

Glass and Keira and maybe Brian are on the new, derelict, ship with a pot of chowder and a bucket of bread. And their personal gear carried when boarding.

The Ad Astra is tied to the back with a tow line.

You are going to Ceres.

I need to know:
-Which ship Brian is actually on.
-Who is attuning the new Helm.
-What direction is Ceres in?

Oh whoops, I'm not heading off to Ad Astra, sorry. Misread that.

Keira is attuning the new Helm at first, then Glass, then Brian. Gaith on the Ad Astra can rest until we need to stop. Anyone on the Ad Astra will relay which way to go from the Orrery, since we identified Ceres on it with Keira's notes. Port/Starboard/up/down/Aft/Foreward.

And Lyra said she would stay with Glass on the Hammership as well.

What exactly is the Orrery? And if it is the map, shouldn't that be with the ship that is leading. Else we got a backseat driver situation which always ends up with arguments. ;p

No, probably not. Even a 50' tow rope makes shouting unlikely to be heard.

Wouldn't it be easier just to use the dependable ship to tow the wreck, instead of the other way around? You don't have to, I'm just not getting why you're making it so hard.

If it has a helm do we need to tow it?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 351):

Unless you want to fly two ships, one needs to tow the other. It doesn't matter which one tows which one, other than one ship is ready, one needs to be gotten ready. That can take time. Moving supplies and crew over, attuning the helm, etc.

Plus the navigation issue. but that's a very easy fix. Actually, a couple of options for that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:41, Sat 01 Oct 2022.

Sorry, didn't scroll back for enough. It's a chunk of crystal stuck to a bullseye lantern.

Or, if that's not what you're asking: It displays an image in the air of the solar system you're in. Complete with your location in it.

You should hear me yell for my kids, across the farm. 300 feet at least, and they hear just fine, except when they don't want to. :D
How do you define dependable? The HH has nothing wrong with it that we can tell, and the mass of it would be the better one to do the towing, over the smaller, oversized rowboat we came in on.

Not sure why mass makes for better towing. Usually it's the power of the engine. Ever see a tug boat push or tow a ship around?

As to "dependable": one person watching the display in the back of the trailing ship. Another forward yelling to the lead ship. Another on the lead ship to hear it. A runner on the lead ship to take the message downstairs and inside to the helm room.

Like I said, you're doing it the hard way. The hardest way possible, even. I'm sure you have reasons, but they escape me.

Also, in addition to using 5 people to do the job of one, you mentioned the HH had nothing wrong with it you could tell.

You didn't really check, and none of you are skilled in ships, anyhow.

But the Ad Astra is literally less than 4 days out of drydock where it had just had a refit.

In reply to DM (msg # 355):

It's the mass of the ship that might run into the tow-ee that I'd be worried about.
I actually forgot about the new Helm being inside a closed room, TBH. Weird place to put the pilot of a vessel - where they can't really see their surrounding area. That's in room 12? Can we open it up so the driver can see where we're going? Also msg 335, I said "The orrery, log books and such on the HH."

Sure they can. they just can't see past it. Moveable viewpoint, remember?


As to the orrery, I missed that which is why I asked.

As to mass... You're really not getting the fact that it would be ONE mass. Inertia-less field, if you want Sci Fi physics to explain phantasy physics. Did anyone go flying off the deck when the AA slowed as it came near the hammerhead?

Real world physics may apply here and there, but you're applying it in the face of learned reason not to, and creating a lot of work for yourselves.

I don't really understand what you are saying.

Do you mean when one ship tows the other and stops or slows or maneuvers the ship being towed will not crash into the vehicle in front because it acts as one mass?

In reply to Ayamba (msg # 359):

yes. pretty much exactly that. the rope connects them. the gravity plane may twist and bend a bit, but it'll be one plane.

Even separate gravity planes under drift are pushing each other apart at 10' per round. 50' is more than enough for safety.

Here's another way of looking at it, that may help:



The problem you've been trying to address is how to keep them apart. That is automatic under the phantasy physics given: they push things away from them, even each other.

The real problem is keeping them together, which I should have address when using the plank, but I was focused on the tight rope issue.

This is probably a point to remember, and it might well come up again, especially on asteroid bases. If a mooring line comes undone (or is cut) a ship will drift away into the void.

Drifting 'into' isn't a concern, drifting apart is.

This much you probably would have learned by now, but I'm learning along with you, and my focus has been too narrow on occasion. My apologies. I feel like we're doing the playtest WoTC didn't.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:59, Sun 02 Oct 2022.

Okay that makes much more sense to me now. Mooring lines are really important and will naturally tighten when secured.

THAT makes things a bit more understandable! Gravity is polarized for smaller objects, but not for planets? So, in order to board other vessels, Helm would have to keep a constant station-keeping to counter the push? That's definitely dangerous without mooring lines. Later on we will have to put our Artificer to work making suitable gear for crossing, hooking, catching objects in space.

Well, that would take a forge. Easier to just buy the grappling hooks. And the ropes, as she isn't a weaver. Or a combat net, like you used before. And more rope. Always more rope.

So, I don't know if that changes anything, but it's the weekend, so no update until Monday if it does.

No,  the crew locations and such don't change, but towing becomes more sensible. The Orrery will be in the HH's cabin to navigate with, and we on the HH will set the pace to Ceres. One days food and water, and basic bedding and gear.

Looks like he's made a recipe that works wonderfully, for scavver-corpse. :)

In reply to Master Glass (msg # 367):

No, he just got an optimal amount of meat. That was a butchering roll. I need to check and see if it's even any good to eat.