Help me defeat Modrons

[gdyzh]

I play a flying, chaotic, fey shadow sorcerer and have ended up on a huge casino cruise ship in the astral sea. The security is heavy with modrons and githyanki, which frustrates me to no end since they destroy all fun, so now I've decided to wreck maximum havoc with no regard to my own life. I need your help with ideas.

Most prominently I am in possession of a flask of Sovereign Glue, and probably a way to summon Redcaps by the dozen. Beyond that, I can probably get most materials needed for your crazy ideas. Defeating all modrons and githyanki, and destroying the ship are all acceptable outcomes, but getting everything under my control would be even better. Hit me!

[Unoriginal]

I play a flying, chaotic, fey shadow sorcerer and have ended up on a huge casino cruise ship in the astral sea. The security is heavy with modrons and githyanki, which frustrates me to no end since they destroy all fun, so now I've decided to wreck maximum havoc with no regard to my own life. I need your help with ideas.

Most prominently I am in possession of a flask of Sovereign Glue, and probably a way to summon Redcaps by the dozen. Beyond that, I can probably get most materials needed for your crazy ideas. Defeating all modrons and githyanki, and destroying the ship are all acceptable outcomes, but getting everything under my control would be even better. Hit me!

This is a casino, and Modrons can't do any trickery or not follow the rules.Furthermore all Modrons are part of the same machine, but the weaker ones are not particularly intelligent, wise or charismatic.

You just need to fool one into getting at the poker table and the Modrom side of this house of cards will be fallling down.

'course that would require your character to be patient and gradually grind at your opponent.

For Githyanki, I mean that's a whole different book. Are you sure they're not Githzerai? Becsuse whoever managed to make Githyanki work around Modrons is a bigger problem for you than the security.

[gdyzh]

the weaker ones are not particularly intelligent, wise or charismatic. You just need to fool one into getting at the poker table and the Modrom side of this house of cards will be fallling down.

All of them that I've seen so far are Quadrones, unfortunately.


that would require your character to be patient and gradually grind at your opponent.

That might be a problem too. Character is not the patient type, and is now quite agitated.


For Githyanki, I mean that's a whole different book. Are you sure they're not Githzerai? Becsuse whoever managed to make Githyanki work around Modrons is a bigger problem for you than the security.

Yes, Githyanki. Maybe that's an opening then; stirring them up against the Modron machine. Any reference to why they normally wouldn't work around Modrons?

[FabulousFizban]

1) cast flaming sphere
2) set the whole ship on fire
3) ???
4) profit!

[gdyzh]

1) cast flaming sphere
2) set the whole ship on fire
3) ???
4) profit!
Right... tried that already, and got disspelled. Security is intense.

[Mastikator]

Convince the githyanki to help you overthrow the modrons and loot the place. They're space pirates after all.

[Aliess]

Swap all the signs around, ideally creating an infinite loop (put a "now wash your hands" sign on the door leading out of the rest room to prevent anybody following instructions from ever leaving).

[JackPhoenix]

If you can find a way to get around modron omnipresent truesight (good luck with that), a fake pentadrone should be able to order quadrones around. You'd probably need to find out if there isn't a real one giving orders already, though.

It is weird relatively high ranking modrons are there at all, especially in a menial role. They don't communicate with non-modron, and only know modron language even if they did.

[Tawmis]

I play a flying, chaotic, fey shadow sorcerer and have ended up on a huge casino cruise ship in the astral sea. The security is heavy with modrons and githyanki, which frustrates me to no end since they destroy all fun, so now I've decided to wreck maximum havoc with no regard to my own life. I need your help with ideas. Most prominently I am in possession of a flask of Sovereign Glue, and probably a way to summon Redcaps by the dozen. Beyond that, I can probably get most materials needed for your crazy ideas. Defeating all modrons and githyanki, and destroying the ship are all acceptable outcomes, but getting everything under my control would be even better. Hit me!

One question I would ask that I've not seen asked.
Are you alone on this ship?
Where is the rest of the party?
Or is it a solo game and a DM with you and the DM?
If there's other party members, make sure you're not ruining their fun.
Also try to figure out why you're on said ship.
If the DM put you there, they probably did it for a reason.

[gdyzh]

Convince the githyanki to help you overthrow the modrons and loot the place. They're space pirates after all.

That would be great. Perhaps an illusion of the Modrons planning to do away with them could be motivating.


Swap all the signs around, ideally creating an infinite loop (put a "now wash your hands" sign on the door leading out of the rest room to prevent anybody following instructions from ever leaving).

Excellent idea! I'll have to think about more ways to use the Modron mind against them.


If you can find a way to get around modron omnipresent truesight (good luck with that), a fake pentadrone should be able to order quadrones around. You'd probably need to find out if there isn't a real one giving orders already, though.

It is weird relatively high ranking modrons are there at all, especially in a menial role. They don't communicate with non-modron, and only know modron language even if they did.

These particular Quadrones certainly know Common, and are quite happy to question me on any little prank in the works. I wonder if there's a way to corrupt a pentadrone to do my bidding; that would be a big win.


One question I would ask that I've not seen asked.
Are you alone on this ship?
Where is the rest of the party?
Or is it a solo game and a DM with you and the DM?
If there's other party members, make sure you're not ruining their fun.
Also try to figure out why you're on said ship.
If the DM put you there, they probably did it for a reason.

I got separated from the party before, and again after, arriving, but they are on the ship. They have some sort of destructive mission that I know little about, perhaps involving the person who managed to make Githyanki and Modrons play nice. The mission-giver indicated that me going ballistic might help this mission, and so is willing to help with materials.

Oh, and level 7.

[FabulousFizban]

Right... tried that already, and got disspelled. Security is intense.

Protip: mundane fires can't be dispelled

Got any alchemist fire or regular oil?

EDIT: As mechanical beings and avatars of law, can modrons get stuck in a logic loop or paradox? Blue screen of death those dudes.

[gdyzh]

Protip: mundane fires can't be dispelled

Got any alchemist fire or regular oil?

EDIT: As mechanical beings and avatars of law, can modrons get stuck in a logic loop or paradox? Blue screen of death those dudes.

Great point, conventional warfare shouldn't be underestimated. I could probably get any mundane equipment I want for this one. Also, I have that Sovereign Glue... what can I do with that?

I'll try to find ways to insert paradoxes a la Gödel and Russell into those guys brainzz... any other ideas?

[FabulousFizban]

Also, I have that Sovereign Glue... what can I do with that?

Petty chaos. It's a casino right? Glue all the chips together. Get cards stuck to the dealer's hands. Put glue on the toliet seats. Make all the taps stuck in the on position. Glue all the doors shut (glue the emergency exits shut before setting everything on fire).Really think about what a middle school deliquent might do.

[nickl_2000]

With the Sovereign Glue create an inescapable situation for the Modron. All employees must check in with the manager on the other side of this door before starting their shift, use the glue to make sure that the door will never open (sure they can break down the door, but hopefully you get the point).

Also, if you can break into the controlling room where orders are given you can start to give chaotic orders. They must follow who they think is in charge, but if you are the one in charge then they must follow what you say.

For the Gith, maybe illusions and/or disguises of Mind Flayers coming into the casino to gamble? Bonus points if you can make it seem like the Modrons are the ones who are faking the Mind Flayers just to mess with them. Better yet, try and find a way to convinces one of more of the Modrons to wear a Mind Flayer Costume as a dealer or in a show.

[Sigreid]

Sneak in and secretly move things around until they lose it.

[Unoriginal]

With the Sovereign Glue create an inescapable situation for the Modron. All employees must check in with the manager on the other side of this door before starting their shift, use the glue to make sure that the door will never open (sure they can break down the door, but hopefully you get the point).

Also, if you can break into the controlling room where orders are given you can start to give chaotic orders. They must follow who they think is in charge, but if you are the one in charge then they must follow what you say.

For the Gith, maybe illusions and/or disguises of Mind Flayers coming into the casino to gamble? Bonus points if you can make it seem like the Modrons are the ones who are faking the Mind Flayers just to mess with them. Better yet, try and find a way to convinces one of more of the Modrons to wear a Mind Flayer Costume as a dealer or in a show.

Great idea, but I'd go even further:

OP could convince/force actual Mind Flayers to come to the casino as customers.

The Githyanki would lose it, forcing the Modrons to deal with the Gith.

[nickl_2000]

Great idea, but I'd go even further:

OP could convince/force actual Mind Flayers to come to the casino as customers.

The Githyanki would lose it, forcing the Modrons to deal with the Gith.

I actually liked the idea of the Modrons pretending to be Mind Flayers. That way they are basically mocking the Gith, breaking whatever peace they have worked out and causing pure chaos.

[gdyzh]

There are many ideas that depend on being able to order/fool the Quadrones:


I actually liked the idea of the Modrons pretending to be Mind Flayers.


if you can break into the controlling room where orders are given you can start to give chaotic orders. They must follow who they think is in charge, but if you are the one in charge then they must follow what you say.


If you can find a way to get around modron omnipresent truesight (good luck with that), a fake pentadrone should be able to order quadrones around.

To do any of this, I assume I'd have to impersonate a pentadrone, or perhaps find and corrupt one. Anyone have ideas for that?

For impersonation I'm thinking perhaps a mundane costume making me look like a pentadrone, and a spell effect to let me speak their language. After all, it seems like truesight isn't immune to mundane trickery.


You just need to fool one into getting at the poker table and the Modrom side of this house of cards will be fallling down.

What do you mean exactly, "getting at the poker table"?

[JackPhoenix]

To do any of this, I assume I'd have to impersonate a pentadrone, or perhaps find and corrupt one. Anyone have ideas for that?

Figure out how their chain of command work. Modrons shouldn't obey anyone but higher-ranking modrons, so any attempts to confuse them with signs is probably a no-go.


For impersonation I'm thinking perhaps a mundane costume making me look like a pentadrone, and a spell effect to let me speak their language. After all, it seems like truesight isn't immune to mundane trickery.

That should work. Axiomatic Mind means you can't mind control them directly, and you'll have to be careful with the orders so they don't contradict their "core programming". You'll want to look for whoever (or whatever?) is commanding them anyway, maybe figure out their purpose. Serving as guards on a random cruise ship doesn't sound like standard modron MO. I don't know your GM, but I, personally, wouldn't be surprised if the pentadrone in charge was already a rogue using the poor cubes for its own ends. Or, even if it isn't, considering they do understand common and presumably talk to the people, you could somehow convince them it is a rogue... that could turn them against their boss, potentially opening way for more havoc... or having them go back to Mechanus, leaving the security force undermanned (undercubed?)...

[Tawmis]

I play a flying, chaotic, fey shadow sorcerer and have ended up on a huge casino cruise ship in the astral sea. The security is heavy with modrons and githyanki, which frustrates me to no end since they destroy all fun, so now I've decided to wreck maximum havoc with no regard to my own life. I need your help with ideas.


So I think - as others stated - the easiest way to defeat a Modron is by using your environment. Primarily, you're on a casino bardge.
Modrons are all about order and structure and law.

So you convince them how gambling of any sort - is the opposite.

Gambling relies on skill, yes - but it also relies on luck.

Luck of the cards, or the luck of the spinning wheels, or slot machines.

By definition, gambling is the very symbol of chaos.

So you could convince to Modrons that EVERYONE needs to be dealt the same cards to that everything is even.

You could convince them to allow people to replay slot machines, for free, until they win so everyone wins equally.

So on and so on.

Use the fact that any form of gambling is the very sign of chaos.

And that the Githyanki must have altered their programming to accept this.

[gdyzh]

considering they do understand common and presumably talk to the people, you could somehow convince them it is a rogue... that could turn them against their boss

That's brilliant! I note that truesight does not protect against lying, or anything auditory.