Worse Than the Disease OOC

[Volthawk]

Hm. I could get something to make Richard killier, like that technique or something similar (although Targeted Attack is pretty hard to beat as effectiveness goes), but 2 CP does get Richard's Diplomacy up a level, and I have been rolling that a fair amount (as its a useful skill by itself but it's also complementary to Merchant and other friendly social things). Guess it's a matter of deciding which side of things needs a boost more. Will have a think.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq had 1 point unspent previously, so has 3 available now. That could raise Guns (GL) to 14, but I'd prefer to bank them for now, and save up for some more expensive traits.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Failed Streetwise by 1 (his Oblivious nature is making itself known).

[u-b]

Regarding alternative plans:
1. How far from here is the radar base?
2. How far from here is the slaver camp?

[Shoot Da Moon]

Regarding alternative plans:
1. How far from here is the radar base?
2. How far from here is the slaver camp?

1) From Red Brick? Approximately 36 miles.
2) 55 miles.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Richard and Tariq, what do you want to do?

[Volthawk]

Hm. Sorting out the handloads plan would be useful, but if hitting the slavers in the downtime we have is practical (seems so, given our cars and the distance involved) Richard will be pushing for that - he wants to keep hitting the Gamblers if they can, and in particular dealing with some slavers is something he's definitely motivated to do. He'll go along with a majority verdict though if the others want to do the handloads or something else.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Hm. Sorting out the handloads plan would be useful, but if hitting the slavers in the downtime we have is practical (seems so, given our cars and the distance involved) Richard will be pushing for that - he wants to keep hitting the Gamblers if they can, and in particular dealing with some slavers is something he's definitely motivated to do. He'll go along with a majority verdict though if the others want to do the handloads or something else.

Tariq is more inclined to go along with Richard on this one, although as for upgrading the arming sequence on the launched grenades it's something he could likely do in a pretty short time frame.

[u-b]

Okay, let's go after the slavers then. We stay a night in a hotel, keeping an eye on the cars throughout the night. If nothing happens, I will follow with Sean's navigation and driving. We'll probably have to keep using both cars.

[Volthawk]

If Sean and Richard drive, could Tariq do the modifications during the trip, or is that really the kind of thing you shouldn't be doing on the move?

[Shoot Da Moon]

Okay, let's go after the slavers then. We stay a night in a hotel, keeping an eye on the cars throughout the night. If nothing happens, I will follow with Sean's navigation and driving. We'll probably have to keep using both cars.

Red Brick hotels cost a pistol bullet ($5) per person per night. They have a good garage you can keep the cars in.

[GnomesofZurich2]

If Sean and Richard drive, could Tariq do the modifications during the trip, or is that really the kind of thing you shouldn't be doing on the move?

While probably not a good idea to do it while the cars are in motion, he could work out of the trunk of one of the cars while stopped, and I don't think it would take more an hour (tops). Now, that is per grenade, a good roll would presumably allow me to modify several at once.

Although I don't know what the dollar value of reducing the arming time of the grenades (and thus the minimum range) would be, given the grenades are only $80 each, the improvement value is probably 'up to $100', which gives +5 to skill for a modification, +1 for TL7, and +1 for Attentive gives Tariq effective skill 26.

So, he'll try to do at least some in town before they go. I succeeded by 13, bugs roll rounds up to 3, subtract MoS x2 gives -23, so he's able to modify 6 grenades and it takes 11 minutes.

[u-b]

Red Brick hotels cost a pistol bullet ($5) per person per night. They have a good garage you can keep the cars in.

Great. Then we won't have to watch them. As for the costs, let's call it 8 pistol bullets total, including good dinner and breakfast.

...so he's able to modify 6 grenades and it takes 11 minutes.

I think we don't need more than 6 for the next one encounter, but at that speed, you can somewhat simplify the accounting and modify them all. I think Sean will just have his rifle cleaned by the time Tariq is done.

[Shoot Da Moon]

You rolled pretty good on Observation, so you can get lots of useful info, Sean.

Anything else you want me to tell you about?

[u-b]

(OOC: Sean suffers 1 point of injury.)

Does innate DR apply?

As for the slavers camp:
1. How far is Sean from the camp and how far are the others from Sean?
2. Is it posible to target the ground inside the camp with grenades (meaning whether the cover would interfere with the shots)?
3. So, there are 14 slavers visible with 4 of them patrolling with guard dogs. What are the other 10 doing? What are two largest groups (thinking grenade launcher)?
4. Any slaves visible (inside the cage or otherwise)?

[Shoot Da Moon]

Does innate DR apply?

As for the slavers camp:
1. How far is Sean from the camp and how far are the others from Sean?
2. Is it posible to target the ground inside the camp with grenades (meaning whether the cover would interfere with the shots)?
3. So, there are 14 slavers visible with 4 of them patrolling with guard dogs. What are the other 10 doing? What are two largest groups (thinking grenade launcher)?
4. Any slaves visible (inside the cage or otherwise)?

Sorry, nope. Or rather, the DR was already applied, which is why you only took 1 injury.

1) Well, Sean is about 35 yards from the camp. The other exiles are probably a second or two of movement from Sean.
2) No, the cover is low enough that you shoot over it all.
3) Work. Cooking food, keeping an eye on the slave pen, refuelling trucks, and moving stuff.
4) yes, they are all inside the cage. Over 20.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean, make the shot. Roll the dice. Are you okay?

[u-b]

I wonder if the guys will be mentally stunned after the explosion. I guess that few if any of them have combat reflexes.

[Shoot Da Moon]

If the explosive does indeed go off, it will almost certainly cause the slavers to suffer stun unless they get lucky on the Fright Check.

[u-b]

I had a (partial) surprise in mind, as per B393, but a fright check would be a nice addition.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Well, either way, there is only one guard now who is trying to fight back. The rest are either focusing on staying safe, dead, or too hurt to do anything.

[u-b]

The less lucky guards are cowering and crawling, totally behind cover.

That said, are they rolling to pass out? The range penalty at up to 10 feet is -4 at worst, which means the first grenade should have scored about (15 - 5 - 4) / 3 = 2 extra hits for a total of 3 hits for 2d6 cutting fragmentation damage each. Tariq has rolled one, but if we just reuse that roll, that's still 3 * 4 = 12 cutting damage (maybe reduced by armor, if any). Not that we have a way of knowing this, just making sure we are on the same page mechanically.

UPD: Of course, the above is conditional on reusing the same attack roll made by Tariq for all targets instead of you making more per-target attack rolls.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq's second grenade scatters 1 yard from his intended point of impact, back and to the left.

[Shoot Da Moon]

That said, are they rolling to pass out? The range penalty at up to 10 feet is -4 at worst, which means the first grenade should have scored about (15 - 5 - 4) / 3 = 2 extra hits for a total of 3 hits for 2d6 cutting fragmentation damage each. Tariq has rolled one, but if we just reuse that roll, that's still 3 * 4 = 12 cutting damage (maybe reduced by armor, if any). Not that we have a way of knowing this, just making sure we are on the same page mechanically.

UPD: Of course, the above is conditional on reusing the same attack roll made by Tariq for all targets instead of you making more per-target attack rolls.

Don't worry, I took that into account. The slavers have decent armour by your standards, but they are still getting hit by grenades.

Tariq's second grenade scatters 1 yard from his intended point of impact, back and to the left.

Just like JFK, but that turns the explosion from severe wounds to mere ache and blood loss.

[Volthawk]

Was my third shot dodged, or did it just not do enough to drop a dog?

Oh whoops, was in a rush to do the rolls in the morning before having to go away for a bit and forgot to actually do the corresponding IC post. Guess that explains it.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean, what are you doing while Richard is approaching?

Tariq, you may need to roll self-control to resist launching more grenades...

[Shoot Da Moon]

All players earn 2 bonus Character Points for defeating the slavers and freeing those captured at the camp.

[u-b]

1. I think Richard should try fetching the horses when he's done with the slaves. Walking the slaves out of here might be not practical. I assume we can pack them all into available transportation if we can have the horses and some of the slaves can drive the stagecoaches.
2. How far from here is the radar base? How far is the closest noticeable settlement? The later should be confirmed with the slaves assuming Sean's not sure.
3. What should we do with the broken car? Tow it? Blast it? Leave it? Trap it?

[Volthawk]

How many of them are there? Just thinking in terms of passenger capacities and whatnot.

[u-b]

The questions to ask the slaves:
1. What the veteran hunter is most proficient with: rifle or shotgun?
2. Would he want to impose some well-paid revenge? I mean, we're hiring.
3. Any more of them competent with the guns?
4. About those "safe enough places": are they civilization or hidey-holes? Do they want to be escorted there or just given transportation, weapons, and maybe the dead dogs for food?