Stars Without Number

[Penny-Whistle]

However you want to play I'll try to accommodate. If you do stay on the ship I'll find a way to make sure you get some kind of trade opportunities. Maintenance will be an issue whether or not someone guards the ship. That is built into the game. 5% of the ship cost per year.

And speaking of ships ... some good news and bad from Todd ....

You are completely out of food, water and fuel. As part of the deal, Tohoku Station will provide enough fuel to get you to Gateway. Mr. Cook had it waiting to make sure the delivery ship could depart. The people's harvest is worse than expected because of the behaviour of the last set of adventurers but they aren't starving and they will honour the code of hospitality by giving you a week's supply. Any more and you'll have to give them something in return.

It looks like you will soon need to pay for personal skills training. Even worse: it has been one full year since your last full ship overhaul. Currently it is going to cost 25,000 credits for parts and that bill will get more dear as time passes.

[Treebore]

It looks like you will soon need to pay for personal skills training. Even worse: it has been one full year since your last full ship overhaul. Currently it is going to cost 25,000 credits for parts and that bill will get more dear as time passes.

Shouldn't how long we have had the ship coincide with how long we have been playing? That way we actually have a full year to earn the money to pay for repairs, maintenance, etc...?

[Penny-Whistle]

It looks like you will soon need to pay for personal skills training. Even worse: it has been one full year since your last full ship overhaul. Currently it is going to cost 25,000 credits for parts and that bill will get more dear as time passes.

Shouldn't how long we have had the ship coincide with how long we have been playing? That way we actually have a full year to earn the money to pay for repairs, maintenance, etc...?

Maybe but when I made the ship's character I rolled the dice to see just how well maintained it was. I liked that roll a lot and kept it. (evil laugh)
It was on the character sheet but it occurred to me today that nobody probably read that item or made the connection to the rules. I am not sure where I got the 38 750 credits bill that I originally entered. Maybe that's got the labour cost included.

[Treebore]

It looks like you will soon need to pay for personal skills training. Even worse: it has been one full year since your last full ship overhaul. Currently it is going to cost 25,000 credits for parts and that bill will get more dear as time passes.

Shouldn't how long we have had the ship coincide with how long we have been playing? That way we actually have a full year to earn the money to pay for repairs, maintenance, etc...?

Maybe but when I made the ship's character I rolled the dice to see just how well maintained it was. I liked that roll a lot and kept it. (evil laugh)
It was on the character sheet but it occurred to me today that nobody probably read that item or made the connection to the rules. I am not sure where I got the 38 750 credits bill that I originally entered. Maybe that's got the labour cost included.

Since we are the owners, shouldn't we get rolls to see how much we have made owning and operating the ship this whole time? See the dilemma I am getting at? Its just easier to assume our ship is as old as we are as "played" characters.

[Tadhg]

Re: out of food and water.

No worries.

Hawthorn was able to fill 3 literjons with toilet water.

He also has a case of space food sticks and 6 cans of spam, 8 cans of vegemite, 40 cans of catfood, 60 doves (for feeding Samsom).

And then if we need to, we can eat the cat and bird.

And then . . the rats!

We'll be OK!

[Treebore]

Re: out of food and water.

No worries.

Hawthorn was able to fill 3 literjons with toilet water.

He also has a case of space food sticks and 6 cans of spam, 8 cans of vegemite, 40 cans of catfood, 60 doves (for feeding Samsom).

And then if we need to, we can eat the cat and bird.

And then . . the rats!

We'll be OK!

I don't know about OK on such a diet of food, but we will likely survive.

[Tadhg]

Re: out of food and water.

No worries.

Hawthorn was able to fill 3 literjons with toilet water.

He also has a case of space food sticks and 6 cans of spam, 8 cans of vegemite, 40 cans of catfood, 60 doves (for feeding Samsom).

And then if we need to, we can eat the cat and bird.

And then . . the rats!

We'll be OK!

I don't know about OK on such a diet of food, but we will likely survive.

Haha, and I forgot about my case of smoked sardines!

I love good quality sardines in olive oil and my daughter would wrinkle her nose some years ago when I would open them. I remember telling her that they are some of the healthiest food on the planet and that, when the zombie apocalypse breaks out ~ we will not only eat the fish, but we'll also drink the fish oil. Same with anchovies and pretty much any other canned fish!

[Tadhg]

Re: fuel.

Could we syphon fuel from that other ship that we plundered earlier?

[Treebore]

Re: fuel.

Could we syphon fuel from that other ship that we plundered earlier?

Hopefully there is a gas giant type in the system we are in.

We now establish another protocol, we make sure a system has a Gas Giant or water world whenever possible, and we fuel up before we even land.

Have I mentioned how similar this is to Traveller? They may call it a "Spike Drive", but it does the same things in a very similar manner to Traveller's Jump Drives. The only things really making this feel any different form Traveller are the uses of a D20, and how its "classed based" instead of professions based", even though when you write down your skills, it looks incredibly similar to how you would write it down on an index card for Traveller.

These are all good things in my book, I love Traveller.

[Penny-Whistle]

Every time you complete a spike drive you need to fuel up. Tohoku Station will give you what you need to get to Gateway which is a major trade and tourist hub and directly connected to Sepulchre. You'll find reasonable rates at Gateway for anything you might need. Fuel normally costs 100 credits. If you decide to fuel up next to a gas giant it will add four days to your trip. Buying fuel is actually cheaper than using gas giant fuel because rations at 20 credits per person per day comes to 400 credits for the whole crew of five. Todd doesn't need to eat.

If you set off immediately and avoid lingering the apples will be in transit for about 17 days. Your payment of 5000 credits each is contingent on the apples being in good condition. You are not sure of when they were picked since they were already waiting for pickup by the other crew. If you ask the local people they will tell you that apples will remain fresh for about 2 months maximum.

Whether or not you own the ship or rent it from Mrs. Laveau is completely up to you all. Either direction will lead to complications that I am happy to exploit. I remember asking at the very beginning which way you'd like to go but I realize now that i re-read the chat that the the group never really weighed in with conviction. The ship is what it is -- a beat up piece of crap. In my mind it looks a lot like Serenity from Firefly. That is, the kind of small ship that players your level with ordinary backgrounds might possibly own.

If you are renting it from Mrs. Laveau she will pay the maintenance fees but ask for rental payments: 5000 credits a week. Maybe you will come across some kind of brand new Mercedes-Benz S-Class equivalent in space someday. You could try stealing it. I would have a great deal of fun sending gang members and bounty hunters to trail you through space.

If you do own it a back-story is in order because frankly even this piece of junk is worth more than you could ever really honestly earn. If nobody else creates that story I will.

[Penny-Whistle]

Re: fuel.

Could we syphon fuel from that other ship that we plundered earlier?

A necessary part of the contract was enough fuel to help you leave the isolated planet. It will get you as far as Gateway. And you did get some plunder from that ship -- a complete Spike Drive system.

[Penny-Whistle]

Re: out of food and water.

No worries.

Hawthorn was able to fill 3 literjons with toilet water.

He also has a case of space food sticks and 6 cans of spam, 8 cans of vegemite, 40 cans of catfood, 60 doves (for feeding Samsom).

And then if we need to, we can eat the cat and bird.

And then . . the rats!

We'll be OK!

Food and halflings! I bet he had enough for second breakfast, too.

[Penny-Whistle]

Re: out of food and water.

No worries.

Hawthorn was able to fill 3 literjons with toilet water.

He also has a case of space food sticks and 6 cans of spam, 8 cans of vegemite, 40 cans of catfood, 60 doves (for feeding Samsom).

And then if we need to, we can eat the cat and bird.

And then . . the rats!

We'll be OK!

I don't know about OK on such a diet of food, but we will likely survive.

Haha, and I forgot about my case of smoked sardines!

I love good quality sardines in olive oil and my daughter would wrinkle her nose some years ago when I would open them. I remember telling her that they are some of the healthiest food on the planet and that, when the zombie apocalypse breaks out ~ we will not only eat the fish, but we'll also drink the fish oil. Same with anchovies and pretty much any other canned fish!

When my son was little he LOVED sardines and he frequently wanted to take them to school for lunch. That and packages of dried squid from Japan. I felt so bad for him when his teacher asked me quietly to stop sending the fish because it was causing a terrible distraction. The girls thought it was 'nasty' smelling. I guess they preferred their fish to come in the shapes of squares and rectangles.

[Penny-Whistle]

It looks like you will soon need to pay for personal skills training. Even worse: it has been one full year since your last full ship overhaul. Currently it is going to cost 25,000 credits for parts and that bill will get more dear as time passes.

Shouldn't how long we have had the ship coincide with how long we have been playing? That way we actually have a full year to earn the money to pay for repairs, maintenance, etc...?

Maybe but when I made the ship's character I rolled the dice to see just how well maintained it was. I liked that roll a lot and kept it. (evil laugh)
It was on the character sheet but it occurred to me today that nobody probably read that item or made the connection to the rules. I am not sure where I got the 38 750 credits bill that I originally entered. Maybe that's got the labour cost included.

Since we are the owners, shouldn't we get rolls to see how much we have made owning and operating the ship this whole time? See the dilemma I am getting at? Its just easier to assume our ship is as old as we are as "played" characters.

I am still open to the possibility of you all just renting it.

These ships are a rarity in this universe. The few that exist tend to be owned by huge corporations, gangsters and the like. The cost to buy a relatively small ship like your Free Merchant vessel is 775,000 -- well out of the league of ordinary people. There are many ways that you could have come into ownership but the least likely scenario is that you bought it with hard earned credits.

I might be willing to make a table to randomly roll the back story. Anyway. Why worry? The apple job alone will cover the cost of maintenance for the whole year ahead. And that sum came directly from your excellent negotiating skills. Every new job you acquire will be pure profit minus ordinary living expenses of course.

[Tadhg]

When my son was little he LOVED sardines and he frequently wanted to take them to school for lunch. That and packages of dried squid from Japan. I felt so bad for him when his teacher asked me quietly to stop sending the fish because it was causing a terrible distraction. The girls thought it was 'nasty' smelling. I guess they preferred their fish to come in the shapes of squares and rectangles.

Oh, right. I didn't mention that I offered to give my daughter (she must have been 7, 8 or 9) a dollar to try a piece on a saltine, which she did - but didn't like them. Now at 24, she loves them. I also recall giving her a dollar to eat an olive (another fav of mine) which she did. I don't think she liked them either. Not sure about now.

How old was you son at the time?

My Mom used to give us sardine/cracker snacks when we were young and all of us siblings like them. But, going into 5th and 6th grade and dating girls, I eschewed pretty much anything that could give you bad breath. So I went some 20 years not eating certain fish, garlic and curry.

[Penny-Whistle]

Game on tonight. 7 Central

XP earned: 500. Grand total: 1800 xp

The dungeon party made their way through a downward sloping passage lit by luminous fungi. It was a very narrow but tall space. Surrounding the exit was a strange looking vine with red flowers that looked vaguely like scorpions. Hawthorn recognized them as a caustic species and warned everyone to be wary.

Through the exit was a circular room. The walls and ceiling were covered in luminescent vegetation. Instead of flowers these vines had small egg sized globes of light. The glow felt warm and inviting -- like Christmas lights. In the center was a kind of pyramidal structure with a flat top. A large golden scarab (Chepri) sat on top. Her carapace reflected the light presenting an awesome perhaps even god-like display.

She welcomed the party for helping Goro pass the tests of intelligence, curiosity and bravery. She spoke quietly to Goro and gave him a blessing. To each humanoid she gave the blessing of health (2 permanent hit points and total healing of all hurts). To the metal man she offered a message from the oracle.

Chepri is no ordinary giant scarab, if such a thing exists. She is the god of the planet. The one who welcomes the sun each day and provides healing energies. She knew of Goro's troubled heart and hoped to heal him but she was indisposed while she was taking care of her larvae.

Meanwhile, back at the ship, Marco entertained an elderly man who wanted to practice his English. The elderly man brought a bottle of his home-made black current to share. The quality was excellent. Because Marco was so gracious the elderly man gifted him with a full bottle of his special cordial and a small book called Secrets of Gaming. It was a first edition copy. Very rare and very valuable. Anyone who studied it for a month would gain a skill point for half the normal credit cost. A collector might be willing to pay a lot of money for the volume.

The little one that followed Ingrid everywhere presented her with a handmade bracelet. It was carefully woven with brightly coloured yarn. The center holds a small bead. "Tomodachi," Kiki said over and over not sure if Ingrid understood. Ingrid suspects the bracelet might be more than it appears.

The party zipped off into space and made a successful landing on Gateway.

While on shore leave the group:

• Sold the refurbished bot for 12 000 credits;
  Loaded up on supplies (12 days food, water and O2);
  Put the ship in dry dock for its annual maintenance;
  Placed bets on the day's Jai-Alai match; (make sure you record any earnings)
  Took the tourist bus to the The Orbital Jump Gate; (record any t-shirt purchases)

People Met
Suzanne, the salvage dealer. An honest trader associated with Mrs. Laveau. She sent a good word about you to your employer.

Aeko Cook the son of Edward Cook and brother of Eriko. A gangster connected to the Burning Mirror group. Rumours say he supplies them with slaves which is one of their prime sources of income. Aeko recognized Maureen as the daughter of a family of psychics -- a family that left with his sister to start a new organic peasant colony. He has been trying to locate her but her position has remained hidden. He tried to get some information from the group but failed.

Mr. Lopez, the director of the local Burning Mirror Academy. Mr. Lopez recognized Maureen's psychic abilities and her dissatisfaction with a simple peasant lifestyle. He gave her a card that would allow admittance into his complex. She would be welcomed as a student.

Pepper, the bookie

Bridget, the tour guide

Tobias, the mountain guide

Huan of the Dunes of Despair, spokesperson of the flying lizard tribe.

Where you are now:
Having convinced the flying lizard tribe that you love poetry and care for your children (i.e. that you are People and have souls as they do) they have agreed to transport you across the ice desert to the ice salamander nest. They will wait one day and no longer to return you to the safety of the desert's edge.

The frost salamander nest is set deep in a desert of bitterly cold sand dunes. Icy winds constantly shift the sand particles. Swirling vortices from the air or the ground can appear at any time making ship flight near to impossible. Even if the sudden gusts didn't unbalance the craft, sifting sand would certainly cause irreparable damage to the engines.

[Treebore]

My print copy arrived today.

[Lurker]

I know I'm not in the game, but it sounds great!

I wish I could join in, but ever spare second is weighed and measured ...

[Treebore]

I know I'm not in the game, but it sounds great!

I wish I could join in, but ever spare second is weighed and measured ...

Yeah, its been a good time. Reminds me heavily of Traveller with a little bit of Spacemaster rolled in. Which is good, because Spacemaster has the distinction of being the only RPG I bought then sold...

[Tadhg]

Hey guys, sorry I faded away at the end last night. Was really tired and my meds kicked.

[Penny, Tree can tell that I sometimes passed out during the end of his and or Rigon's games. I'll have to remember to take them a little later in the evening]

[Tadhg]

My print copy arrived today.

Excellent. How is the quality and does it seem worth the price?

[Treebore]

My print copy arrived today.

Excellent. How is the quality and does it seem worth the price?

It looks and feels like a typical soft cover. Once I tape the edges I am certain it will last many years.

[Tadhg]

My print copy arrived today.

Excellent. How is the quality and does it seem worth the price?

It looks and feels like a typical soft cover. Once I tape the edges I am certain it will last many years.

Lol!

[Treebore]

My print copy arrived today.

Excellent. How is the quality and does it seem worth the price?

It looks and feels like a typical soft cover. Once I tape the edges I am certain it will last many years.

Lol!

Hey, Scotch 3M packing tape, greatly extends the life span of any soft cover!

Edit: I have it taped. Contemplating taping over the entire cover. I usually just do the edges, but I really like that cover artwork.

[Penny-Whistle]

I know I'm not in the game, but it sounds great!

I wish I could join in, but ever spare second is weighed and measured ...

What a nice thing to say. If you ever do find a free moment feel free to join in. That is one of the nice things about this kind of game -- you really could just drop in for a session or two.

[Penny-Whistle]

Hey guys, sorry I faded away at the end last night. Was really tired and my meds kicked.

[Penny, Tree can tell that I sometimes passed out during the end of his and or Rigon's games. I'll have to remember to take them a little later in the evening]

No worries. I just need to make things more scary in the future
We can go back to playing a two hour slot if you like.

[Penny-Whistle]

When my son was little he LOVED sardines and he frequently wanted to take them to school for lunch. That and packages of dried squid from Japan. I felt so bad for him when his teacher asked me quietly to stop sending the fish because it was causing a terrible distraction. The girls thought it was 'nasty' smelling. I guess they preferred their fish to come in the shapes of squares and rectangles.

Oh, right. I didn't mention that I offered to give my daughter (she must have been 7, 8 or 9) a dollar to try a piece on a saltine, which she did - but didn't like them. Now at 24, she loves them. I also recall giving her a dollar to eat an olive (another fav of mine) which she did. I don't think she liked them either. Not sure about now.

How old was you son at the time?

My Mom used to give us sardine/cracker snacks when we were young and all of us siblings like them. But, going into 5th and 6th grade and dating girls, I eschewed pretty much anything that could give you bad breath. So I went some 20 years not eating certain fish, garlic and curry.

mmm olives. I seriously would have a very difficult time cooking if I had to eliminate garlic and spices. Have you ever had roasted garlic? To die for. The texture and flavour get totally transformed.

He was a little guy in elementary school -- about 8. His first years were on the west coast so seafood was the default thing to eat besides venison. Moving to Texas was a real culture shock.

[Tadhg]

When my son was little he LOVED sardines and he frequently wanted to take them to school for lunch. That and packages of dried squid from Japan. I felt so bad for him when his teacher asked me quietly to stop sending the fish because it was causing a terrible distraction. The girls thought it was 'nasty' smelling. I guess they preferred their fish to come in the shapes of squares and rectangles.

Oh, right. I didn't mention that I offered to give my daughter (she must have been 7, 8 or 9) a dollar to try a piece on a saltine, which she did - but didn't like them. Now at 24, she loves them. I also recall giving her a dollar to eat an olive (another fav of mine) which she did. I don't think she liked them either. Not sure about now.

How old was you son at the time?

My Mom used to give us sardine/cracker snacks when we were young and all of us siblings like them. But, going into 5th and 6th grade and dating girls, I eschewed pretty much anything that could give you bad breath. So I went some 20 years not eating certain fish, garlic and curry.

mmm olives. I seriously would have a very difficult time cooking if I had to eliminate garlic and spices. Have you ever had roasted garlic? To die for. The texture and flavour get totally transformed.

He was a little guy in elementary school -- about 8. His first years were on the west coast so seafood was the default thing to eat besides venison. Moving to Texas was a real culture shock.

Love roasted garlic. Gave my daughter a garlic roaster casserole dish thingy. Waiting to see how she uses it!

[Penny-Whistle]

Game tonight if you can make it. 7:00 central. We can continue to use the roll20 chat if that is working out for everyone.

You are standing on a cliff face getting ready to fly over the ice desert to find the salamander nest.
I will need a list of what you will be carrying to see if your flying lizard can handle the weight.

Let me know if this sounds reasonable:
A flying lizard can carry 20 units of weight. At 21 it will be encumbered.
I am counting a person as 10 units. Most armor = 1 or 2 depending on the type.
You will need to be wearing a backpack for the lizard's beak to have something to hold on to. It counts as 1.
The package of equipment recommended by your guide will equal 1 unit if it is bundled. Only one person needs to take it.

So if you are wearing woven body armor you can carry 8 units in total.
Anyone wearing a vacc suit or other heavy armor can carry 7.
You may want to leave some space for any loot you might want to bring back.

Good luck and oh ... don't forget your mittens.

Hawthorn is missing some skills on his page. He can still give himself one more tech, culture and vehicle point from his background and training packages.
Ingrid also has one tech and one vehicle skill point yet to be assigned. These probably won't come up today so no hurry.

Both characters have 3 unspent skill points. They don't have to be spent now; you can save them up but I wasn't sure if you were aware of them.

[Tadhg]

Thanks, I'll have a look at my chars just prior to gametime!