OOC - Welcome and Chat

[Monsieur Rose]

So, is Remy up for some fast talking to try and convince the pirate slavers to leave the lovely ship unburned?

Or do you think that is a recipe for horrible things?

[atpollard]

So, is Remy up for some fast talking to try and convince the pirate slavers to leave the lovely ship unburned?

Or do you think that is a recipe for horrible things?

Jacques and Remy are free to pursue whatever action they like.

I just wanted you to know that I have scattered what I like to call "threads" leading to adventure among all of the players. Players typically have several "threads" from which they can choose to follow, and some intersect. Rest assured that the particular "threads" that I have given Jacques and Remy will give you many future opportunities for "fast talking", even if you pass on fast talking the Pirate Slavers.

I love seeing what players come up with ... but even if they do not burn the boat, Jacques and Remy must either get to Gwynedd and join the "party" (so the game is manageable for one Referee) or retire from the game as successful NPCs. The two of you cannot sail a Passenger Liner alone.

[AsenRG]

Couldn't we get to Gwynedd to obtain a ship that would find the "drifting" ship:)?

[atpollard]

Couldn't we get to Gwynedd to obtain a ship that would find the "drifting" ship:)?

Anything is possible. (Except me running 7 different "parties" in two different locations ... that didn't work out so well).

[ffilz]

Couldn't we get to Gwynedd to obtain a ship that would find the "drifting" ship:)?

Anything is possible. (Except me running 7 different "parties" in two different locations ... that didn't work out so well).

I admit I was surprised there wasn't a bit more to bring us together. Glad you're doing that now. Doc isn't interested in being a town doctor, his doctoring here is just a natural reaction to the disaster. He's definitely interested in pursuing that coin. If that grabs the other players cool, if not, he'll keep it and pursue it later. If someone comes up with a scheme to get a ship going, he'll sign on as ship's doctor in a heartbeat.

[atpollard]

Abandoned Sternwheeler
Length = 45’
Width = 15’
Draft = 6’
Displacement = 80 metric tons
Cost = Cr 48,000 (new)

45 foot Sternwheeler has a forward crew cabin (Cr1200) that sleeps 2 comfortably or 4 crowded; a small control bridge (Cr1200); two fire-tube boilers (Cr7200); a fuel tank for biodiesel (Cr1200) lasting 168 hours at cruising speed; a 10’x15’ cargo bay; a passenger stateroom (Cr1200) for 1 high or two middle passengers; a compound engine (Cr21,600); and a sturdy wooden hull (Cr14,400).

Notes on QUALITY (2d6 scale)
0 = termite food/pile of rust
2 = sinks/scrap
6 = functional (commercial freight)
8 = pass government inspection (commercial passengers)
10 = perfect condition
12 = brand new
15 = show ready detailed and polished

Cost to repair +1 quality point for each major component:
engine (Cr21,600) = Cr900 + 300 man-hours
wooden hull (Cr14,400) = Cr600 + 200 man-hours
two fire-tube boilers (Cr7200) = Cr300 + 100 man-hours
forward crew cabin (Cr1200) = Cr50 + 15 man-hours
control bridge (Cr1200) = Cr50 + 15 man-hours
fuel tank (Cr1200) = Cr50 + 15 man-hours
passenger stateroom (Cr1200) = Cr50 + 15 man-hours

Current quality of major components on this particular ship:
engine = Quality (10)
wooden hull = Quality (7)
two fire-tube boilers = Quality (3)
forward crew cabin = Quality (4)
control bridge = Quality (7)
fuel tank = Quality (3)
passenger stateroom = Quality (4)

[Leitz]

atpollard, when you mention the large man hour projects, what's the upper limit of "more men" some things might take 100 hours, no matter how many men you put on it.

Addendum: While I am back in town, still groggy and catching up. Will post later, when my eyes are actually open and my keyboard works...

[Pulpatoon]

Here's what I'm thinking for ship repair:

Ignatz' Starting Credits Starting Credits 2,579

Boilers x300
+4=1200, 400 hours
Fuel tank x50
+4=200, 60 hours
Forward Crew Cabin x50
+4=200, 60 hours
Passenger State x50
+4=200, 60 hours

580 hours
1800 Credits

Ignatz' Ending Credits: 779

Projected Quality
engine = Quality (10)
wooden hull = Quality (7)
two fire-tube boilers = Quality (7)
forward crew cabin = Quality (8)
control bridge = Quality (7)
fuel tank = Quality (7)
passenger stateroom = Quality (8)

What do other folks think? Any areas needing greater investment? Anything we can do to ward off piracy?

[Leitz]

I think having a minimum of 6-8 for everything is a great idea. The business question is, how will the group sustain operations? What will bring money in? Building a business venture is a tricky thing-you really have to trust the people who make major decisions.

From an in game perspective, Diana would have an initial level of trust for most of the currently active PCs in Gwynedd. She would be willing to invest if there's a good business plan.

[atpollard]

Here's what I'm thinking for ship repair:

Ignatz' Starting Credits Starting Credits 2,579

Boilers x300
+4=1200, 400 hours
Fuel tank x50
+4=200, 60 hours
Forward Crew Cabin x50
+4=200, 60 hours
Passenger State x50
+4=200, 60 hours

580 hours
1800 Credits

Ignatz' Ending Credits: 779

Projected Quality
engine = Quality (10)
wooden hull = Quality (7)
two fire-tube boilers = Quality (7)
forward crew cabin = Quality (8)
control bridge = Quality (7)
fuel tank = Quality (7)
passenger stateroom = Quality (8)

What do other folks think? Any areas needing greater investment? Anything we can do to ward off piracy?

Some clarification on quality ...
When all items on a ship are at Quality = 6 (or higher), the ship will pass a port inspection as "Safe to transport cargo".
When all items on a ship are at Quality = 8 (or higher), the ship will pass a port inspection as "Safe to transport passengers".

So getting everything to Quality 6 is all you need to get started.

It would require a lot less time to simply replace the boiler than to invest 400 hours rebuilding it. As a "mini adventure hook", you can salvage one of the boilers from the ship that sunk and get a replacement boiler for free (just the nominal cost of installation).

atpollard, when you mention the large man hour projects, what's the upper limit of "more men" some things might take 100 hours, no matter how many men you put on it.

Good question. Let's assume diminishing returns for each additional person on a specific task:

1 person = 1 man-hour per hour
2 people = 1.8 man-hours per hour
3 people = 2.4 man-hours per hour
4 people = 2.9 man-hours per hour
5 people = 3.3 man-hours per hour
6 people = 3.6 man-hours per hour
7 people = 3.9 man-hours per hour
8 people = 4.1 man-hours per hour
9 people = 4.3 man-hours per hour
10 people = 4.2 man-hours per hour

However, there is no reason different people cannot work on different tasks at the same time (Hull; Boiler; Forward Cabin; Bridge; Fuel; Stateroom) at full efficiency.
Shift work will also allow 24 hours per day to work on it.

Using the 400 Hours for the Boilers as the long pole in the schedule, 400 hours is 16.7 days for 3x 1 man shifts or 9.3 days for 3x 2 man shifts or 7 days for 3x 3 man shifts.

Installing new (or used) boilers costs Cr 150 and 50 hours ... plus the cost of the boiler itself (Half the +1 repair cost). Only 27 hours to install for a 2 man crew.

[atpollard]

I think having a minimum of 6-8 for everything is a great idea. The business question is, how will the group sustain operations? What will bring money in? Building a business venture is a tricky thing-you really have to trust the people who make major decisions.
From an in game perspective, Diana would have an initial level of trust for most of the currently active PCs in Gwynedd. She would be willing to invest if there's a good business plan.

Let's see ...

• SOMEONE has a lead on a plant that slows aging.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the Tomb of an ancient Norse Chieftain.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the hidden location of the Crown of Charlemagne.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the location of a kidnapped member of the Britannia Nobility.

(and those are just off the top of my head without consulting my notes)

... but let's worry if the boat can make a profit on Passengers and Cargo.

[Leitz]

Let's see ...

• SOMEONE has a lead on a plant that slows aging.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the Tomb of an ancient Norse Chieftain.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the hidden location of the Crown of Charlemagne.
• SOMEONE has a lead on the location of a kidnapped member of the Britannia Nobility.

(and those are just off the top of my head without consulting my notes)

... but let's worry if the boat can make a profit on Passengers and Cargo.

Well, I've always thought passengers in Traveller was a bad idea; the costs for security make them a losing financial proposition. I will point out that Diana knows nothing about any of the above, and her player came in late last night and his brain missed the flight...

[Urson]

I'll need to look over Jo's character sheet, but I'm pretty sure she can kick in a nice chunk of the costs for the repairs- in exchange for a continuing share of the profits.

[atpollard]

Well, I've always thought passengers in Traveller was a bad idea; the costs for security make them a losing financial proposition. I will point out that Diana knows nothing about any of the above, and her player came in late last night and his brain missed the flight...

No problem.
I just wanted to make it VERY clear that the game had options bigger than "Accountants on the High Seas" if the group was interested in pursuing any of them. One person may have the clue, but each of the tasks is too large for one person to accomplish alone.

[atpollard]

I'll need to look over Jo's character sheet, but I'm pretty sure she can kick in a nice chunk of the costs for the repairs- in exchange for a continuing share of the profits.

I think Jo made a chunk of money on her Salvage Adventure (the first one with the Engine).

[Leitz]

I just wanted to make it VERY clear that the game had options bigger than "Accountants on the High Seas" if the group was interested in pursuing any of them.

I just want to make it VERY clear that Traveller's forte, the "Firefly" sort of "Merchant", would disqualify anyone from being an actual merchant. You'd fail the entrance exam for merchant pre-school, around age 5. The adventure seeds above are great, and looking forward to them. Diana would especially be interested in the kidnapped nobility.

[Pulpatoon]

At present, Ignatz is thinking about fixing up the boat enough to take a load of passengers to whatever their destination was before they were stranded in Gwynedd, and then hope to pick up some other work from there. But he hasn't really thought past that, and has no business plan in mind. He just knows his prospects are better with a ship than without one.

OOC, I figure that some adventure or other will snatch us up once we hit the open seas.

As far as level of repair: Not knowing exactly what the mechanical implications of Quality are for this game, I'd rather not be operating at minimal capacity. Ignatz can get us to the levels stated above, but it would be great if others pitched in and we could improve things further. In particular, we know there are pirates with heavy armament out there, and it would be nice to be able to either defend ourselves against them or outrun them.

And I think the idea of mini-quest for a salvaged boiler system sounds great! Not only would it save us time and money, but it would give several of us a chance to do something together!

[Leitz]

Since the Partnership has had firsthand experience with piracy, arms and a stout crew are a great idea! Diana has probably mentioned to Ignatz that she's looking into getting funds available for the project, and the costs don't seem to bother her too much. She does have some concept of "good tools for the job". While she can't say what they should do, discussing "making things work well" gets her support.

Shipping the castaways who want to go isn't a bad idea, though I'm not sure how much they can pay. Maybe offer a working passage for labor and cleanup? It gets the ship in better shape and it does good for others.

[atpollard]

Going out of town for business on Thursday and spending a long weekend with the family (before schools starts).
I'll be back Monday.

I've been loving the interactions between PCs. Figure out a plan for getting a boiler filled with water from the bottom of the sea to the surface with the resources you have at your disposal. The winch on the salvage tug is still broken.

Also think about building bonds among all of the members to create one group and spare me some railroading.

Important "MacGuffins" are ...

• the Emerald necklace (hidden on Jacques or Remy ... choose who).
• the gold coin (Doc)
• the bloody diary (Ignatz)

... each leads to a different adventure (or are they really unrelated????)

[AsenRG]

Sorry for having held you all down. I'm kinda sick now. Will try to describe the dance better once I'm feeling better and not like the green emoji .

Hey, given Remy's abilities in swordplay (which has similar steps), Coordination 9 and Streetwise*, what do I roll to outdance and impress her ?


*Which to me means he's had similar invitations before .