The Starport Dive

[joertexas]

Just to screw up my own ideas, anything that can be seen can be killed. All it would take is an enemy to accelerate kinetic weapons to just below light speed and send them at the station. A ten-ton impactor at .6c+ would kill anything and be damn near impossible to detect and stop. So, maybe a mobile option, or hiding the station, would be the better choice.

[joertexas]

Oh, and don't forget the Ancient weapons we could mount for station defense. They'd make our ship's armament look like popguns.

Hello, Zho fleet! Meet my Annihilators!"

Yeah, we could make that happen.

[terrymixon]

Just to screw up my own ideas, anything that can be seen can be killed. All it would take is an enemy to accelerate kinetic weapons to just below light speed and send them at the station. A ten-ton impactor at .6c+ would kill anything and be damn near impossible to detect and stop. So, maybe a mobile option, or hiding the station, would be the better choice.

That or a far-flung sensor network. Still, you're right that what can be seen, can be killed. Perhaps Glisten isn't the best home for the starport. Only you can decide. A secret location might be better.

[Tiglath]

Just to screw up my own ideas, anything that can be seen can be killed. All it would take is an enemy to accelerate kinetic weapons to just below light speed and send them at the station. A ten-ton impactor at .6c+ would kill anything and be damn near impossible to detect and stop. So, maybe a mobile option, or hiding the station, would be the better choice.

I'm unsure but repulsors (plus the tertiary???) laser batteries might be able to deal with that threat but the other option is "globe tech". As per my understanding the black globe absorbs all incoming fire/energy (and thereby utterly masks emissions making you "invisible") but the ability to "flicker" the globe is what enables you to engage the enemy (and crucially dump absorbed energy out of its capacitors).

As my mind boggles: does our "boadside" actually have sufficient weight of shot/fire to "pop/overcook" some smaller (relatively) black globe equipped vessels???

To "scale" your idea jumping in system and "throwing" a battle rider at us to ram/board the station might work/hurt.

However, maybe we are in a particularly "luxurious" zone to have to worry about such problems...

[Tiglath]

Excellent summary, Thumper. Lots to think about.

Yes, indeed nicely laid out IC.

[terrymixon]

I was tagged by one of you about the interaction between Aster and Walt, so I'm going to take a moment to explain things. My intent was for Aster to be busting his balls (in a relatively good-natured way) about it rather than berating him, but that might not have come across as clearly as I intended. I know a number of ladies that would give a guy crap in the same way without intending to actually force an action. If that is how it came across, I apologize and will try to be clearer in the future.

One thing to be clear on is that while Walt set out his guidelines, he only did so to Bilis and Bona. Aster knows nothing of that, so it was not part of her mental processes. All she knows is that Walt has a new friend and for reasons unknown, new friend is sleeping with the cat. Seems worthy of some crap on her end.

Now, let me be clear about my intentions so you don't have to worry. When some pairing up was happening in the group, I wanted to give options so that others who might want to RP something similar would have an avenue. If they chose not to do so, that was fine and still is. There is nothing in this that is meant to be coercive. Bona won't do anything she doesn't want to do. No one will make Walt do something he doesn't want to do either.

In doing this plot line, I didn't fully consider the ramifications of different versions of Bilis and Walt rightly pointed out where these were not just parts of a machine whole but individuals. Using that corrective feedback, I made changes to the plot to keep the same intent without this being something icky. That kind of thing is never my desire.

If you feel uncomfortable with something in game, send me a PM. It won't upset me. This is a game for all of us and I don't want any part of it to be something that causes a person to feel uncomfortable. I'm human, and if I go down the wrong path, I'll correct it. I can't fix a problem that I haven't recognized, so you have to tell me if I'm screwing up.

Each of us wants different things from each game. It's my job to do that while putting some challenges in front of you. We're in this together, so help a guy out. If you want to see something in the game, tell me. If you don't like some aspect of the game, tell me. I won't be upset.

I never set out to cause problems, and didn't intend to do so this time, but I'm sure this won't be the last time I make a misstep or edge too close to a line. We're telling a shared story, and it has to be one that all of us find acceptable. Rather than accept something that doesn't sit right, tag me and perhaps I can set your mind at ease. Or, if I'm making a mistake, I'll get a heads up that I'm off course and can take steps to fix what is happening or scrap it entirely. That can't happen if we don't talk. No need to suffer in silence. A solution is a message away.

[Tiglath]

If I might I would add that whenever I feel a miscommunication has occurred I try to remind myself that playing interactive games via the imperfections of email (and even then through the "filter" of an in game persona) virtually guarantees miscommunication. I further reassure myself that anyone still playing RPGs from the 70s must be a grumpy old bastard lovely old bugger like me who will on on occasion (in fact, on the odds, inevitably) fail to get something across as intended. Through more than a decade's experience I can add that every time I've "thought the best" and PM'ed someone (fellow player or DM/GM) I've found a positive resolution.

However, having got here, we have all paid our dues on the journey (so many of us in service to our country as to be worthy of note) that I have to say we have surely earned the privilege of being able to occasionally park our minds in a still wonderful role playing game.

[helvorn]

Thank you Terry! Communication really is the key especially in this format.

[joertexas]

However, maybe we are in a particularly "luxurious" zone to have to worry about such problems...

Whatever happened to a worn-out Beowulf with a scratch crew of misfits chasing cargoes and occasional bounties in some backworld bar?

[helvorn]

However, maybe we are in a particularly "luxurious" zone to have to worry about such problems...

Whatever happened to a worn-out Beowulf with a scratch crew of misfits chasing cargoes and occasional bounties in some backworld bar?

We can have Spicoli code up a nice immersive game along those lines…

[Thumper]

However, maybe we are in a particularly "luxurious" zone to have to worry about such problems...

Whatever happened to a worn-out Beowulf with a scratch crew of misfits chasing cargoes and occasional bounties in some backworld bar?

We can have Spicoli code up a nice immersive game along those lines…

Who says that’s not in our future once we become the Bounty with a Billion Dollar reward? Only our Beowulf is better.

[joertexas]

However, maybe we are in a particularly "luxurious" zone to have to worry about such problems...

Whatever happened to a worn-out Beowulf with a scratch crew of misfits chasing cargoes and occasional bounties in some backworld bar?

We can have Spicoli code up a nice immersive game along those lines…

[Tiglath]

Whatever happened to a worn-out Beowulf with a scratch crew of misfits chasing cargoes and occasional bounties in some backworld bar?

We can have Spicoli code up a nice immersive game along those lines…

Sublime!

Ooooh, which of us is who???

Or maybe the answer is just:

https://media1.tenor.com/m/WUWygJ0Fwz8A ... achine.gif

[terrymixon]

I've created a new topic for your to-do list and changed the ownership to helvorn. Now you can update it as needed and find it easily.

[Tiglath]

I've created a new topic for your to-do list and changed the ownership to helvorn. Now you can update it as needed and find it easily.

Thank you.

[helvorn]

I've created a new topic for your to-do list and changed the ownership to helvorn. Now you can update it as needed and find it easily.

Thank you.

Very nice, thank you!

[Thumper]

I meant to post this earlier, but life got in the way:

I can’t let Terry take all the credit (blame) for the Aster-Walt-Garvin altercation. I received what was written very differently than how Terry transmitted. This was clearly an example of nuance is important, as is context…and as Tiglath said, play by email lacks some of that.

Having just come off the IC resolution to one moral challenge and debate (Bona’s sentience and right to exist), and experiencing several converging challenges (Walt reluctantly evaluating a possible relationship with a self-proclaimed socially and physically child-like yet ancient personage, trying to decide what if anything should be done about a Larceny plot within the crew, then mis-reading Aster’s “push” as other than a joke) I reacted IC poorly to an IC complex situation. I never thought to call a pause to the game and seek OOC clarification…

The lesson learned/relearned by me are: this is a game. GM’e and players don’t intend to be asses. Stop and clarify if something is not passing a sniff-test (in any direction).

My apologies to Terry and Tiglath for not realizing (even after rereading the series of posts) the moment called for game time-out and OOC discussion. I carried on IC what should have been taken OOC. Sorry.

[joertexas]

I meant to post this earlier, but life got in the way:

I can’t let Terry take all the credit (blame) for the Aster-Walt-Garvin altercation. I received what was written very differently than how Terry transmitted. This was clearly an example of nuance is important, as is context…and as Tiglath said, play by email lacks some of that.

Having just come off the IC resolution to one moral challenge and debate (Bona’s sentience and right to exist), and experiencing several converging challenges (Walt reluctantly evaluating a possible relationship with a self-proclaimed socially and physically child-like yet ancient personage, trying to decide what if anything should be done about a Larceny plot within the crew, then mis-reading Aster’s “push” as other than a joke) I reacted IC poorly to an IC complex situation. I never thought to call a pause to the game and seek OOC clarification…

The lesson learned/relearned by me are: this is a game. GM’e and players don’t intend to be asses. Stop and clarify if something is not passing a sniff-test (in any direction).

My apologies to Terry and Tiglath for not realizing (even after rereading the series of posts) the moment called for game time-out and OOC discussion. I carried on IC what should have been taken OOC. Sorry.

A factor here is that some of us have been gaming together for <koff, koff) years - a decade or more in some cases - so we are well used to each other.

[terrymixon]

I meant to post this earlier, but life got in the way:

I can’t let Terry take all the credit (blame) for the Aster-Walt-Garvin altercation. I received what was written very differently than how Terry transmitted. This was clearly an example of nuance is important, as is context…and as Tiglath said, play by email lacks some of that.

Having just come off the IC resolution to one moral challenge and debate (Bona’s sentience and right to exist), and experiencing several converging challenges (Walt reluctantly evaluating a possible relationship with a self-proclaimed socially and physically child-like yet ancient personage, trying to decide what if anything should be done about a Larceny plot within the crew, then mis-reading Aster’s “push” as other than a joke) I reacted IC poorly to an IC complex situation. I never thought to call a pause to the game and seek OOC clarification…

The lesson learned/relearned by me are: this is a game. GM’e and players don’t intend to be asses. Stop and clarify if something is not passing a sniff-test (in any direction).

My apologies to Terry and Tiglath for not realizing (even after rereading the series of posts) the moment called for game time-out and OOC discussion. I carried on IC what should have been taken OOC. Sorry.

A factor here is that some of us have been gaming together for <koff, koff) years - a decade or more in some cases - so we are well used to each other.

Never be afraid to call a pause and seek clarification. That's never out of order. We all fall short when lacking visual or verbal clues and tend to read things to fit the narrative that we have rolling in our heads. Even playing with people for decades, as some of us here have done, doesn't mitigate that. We just develop a looser style that accepts that we'll sort out what is happening rather than looking for a hill to die on. It's all good.

[helvorn]

Well said everyone! Thank you. This is a really special group of players and of course our GM.