JohnA1nut
Member
Two Posts
I've got one 9mm and 2 spare magazines in the shoulder holster under my jacket, the 357 is in the holster behind my back. On my belt, I have 2 speed loaders. Those probably wouldn't be recognized for what they were. I've also got the Leatherman multitool on my belt as well. The other 9mm is in the VSP, because I probably couldn't wear that openly.
Lauren was teaching you clairtacticity on day 12; the question was raised whether you were going to attempt to learn it without the mental image she failed to project.
We can wrap Day 12 and move to Day 13.
Lauren's next psionic skill is used to detect magical energy. She developed it by examining some objects given to her by a young sorceress; she believed they might be magical, but was not certain what that meant. She in essence searched them for some energy within them that was not found in other objects in her home, and so learned to identify psionically objects that were magical.
She fails to transmit the pattern to you; you can attempt to learn the skill without the pattern, or wait for tomorrow.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
She fails to transmit the pattern to you; you can attempt to learn the skill without the pattern, or wait for tomorrow.
OOC I didn't see no rolls for it....
"Now why would I want a skill like that? Let's get to something a little more useful."
Next skill, I don't even want that one.
Day 13 it is.
Sorry--there was a roll, 84 I think, but I forgot to note it. Happens sometimes.
"Why would you want to learn a skill like that? Well, I suppose my question is, why wouldn't you?
"Suppose you came into Londinium sometime before Rome attempted to conquer England, and you saw this large stone standing there with a sword protruding from it, and carved into the stone it said something like, "He who draws this sword form this stone is rightwise born King of all England." Might you want to know if the sword is being held there by magic, or simply well-stuck, or maybe even not a sword at all but some idea of a joke? Being able to tell whether there is magic present in an object can be very useful. What if you have to enter the castle of a wizard, and you come to the door. Do you want to check whether the door is enspelled?
"Apart from that, wouldn't knowing a skill like this mean that if you needed to do something similar you would be better able to figure out how to do it? You might want to know if that werewolf was a native creature in this universe or someone under a magical curse; a skill like this might be the sort of thing you could use to determine that. The more skills you know--the more kinds of skills you know--the better you understand the techniques involved in the field.
"Let me put it to you this way: what if I were to say I saw no reason why I would need to be able to assay the quality of lead, because I'm only interested in metals like gold. Wouldn't you tell me that understanding and identifying lead would be a significant part of understanding and identifying gold? Gaps in your knowledge mean your knowledge is incomplete.
"But that's fine. Tomorrow we'll start on telekinetic skills. Review for me briefly what you can already do in that field."
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"OK Lauren, you made your point. Let's try that one again."
It seems my chances of learning it on my own are higher than her projecting it to me, so let me try that first.
2@2 TK Pulse P4@1 +2
1@3 Simple TK P4@2
1@1 Heavy Object Telekinesis P4@3
1@3 Out-of-Sight Telekinesis P4@3
1@1 High Velocity Telekinesis P4@4
1@1 Neutral Bouyancy TK P4@6
1@9 Multiple Object TK P4@7
1@1 Levitation P4@8
These are my 4@ skills. I want to get to the point where I learn the 5@1 psionic healing. I want to get there soon. I'm not going through that shit again that I did at Pearl Harbor where I'm crippled and surrounded by enemies.
JohnA1nut
Member
Two Posts
Question, do I actually have to be in boxing stance to fight? I've got 1@10+3 boxing, so I've got 1@10+3 throwing punches don't I? Or could I just say I was going to punch someone without being in boxing stance, and just take a moderate penalty? How does that work?
(Doing Therapy)
Question, do I actually have to be in boxing stance to fight? I've got 1@10+3 boxing, so I've got 1@10+3 throwing punches don't I? Or could I just say I was going to punch someone without being in boxing stance, and just take a moderate penalty? How does that work?
At the beginning of a round in which you intend to box, you roll to drop into stance. This is necessary because your style gives you a bonus to hit, and initiative is based on your chance to hit (if you intend to attack), so if you're in style you have a better chance to go first.
If you fail to go into style, you don't receive your style bonuses yet. You can still roll to attack someone with your boxing skill, without the bonuses (and that includes the damage category - your attack will be Annoying because your style has not yet been successfully activated).
However, if you succeed with that out-of-style boxing attack, we assume that you've gotten into your groove, and the successful attack counts as a successful boxing roll for the purposes of getting into style, so your style bonuses apply from that moment on for the rest of the combat.
I'm not looking this up right now, so I could have made an error in my explanation, but if I have I trust MJ will correct me tomorrow.
JohnA1nut
Member
Multiple Posts, multiple posters
"Hey Lauren, speaking of magical items, I'd like to know if you've ever heard of Yes/No/Maybe rune stones. Four stones, coins, etc. Four heads give a yes answer, four tails give a no answer, three heads maybe yes, three tails, maybe no, two heads and two tails, straight maybe. Divination, I believe it's called. (OOC Like a 4D 2 sided GE roll chart to answer questions) Have you ever heard of anything like that?"
(Doing Therapy)
Lauren notes that you know three telekinetic skills she has never used--Out-of-Sight TK (she has always targeted objects by clairvoyance), High-Velocity TK (never thought of it), and Neutral Buoyancy TK (she learned to levitate). On the other hand, she can teach you telekinesis of powder, and she can teach you to fly. She'll teach you the one tomorrow and the other the next day, but she wants to watch you do the other three, if you think you can do them safely.
Scott is right: if you roll a successful punch in Boxing, because that is an attack in style, that activates your style. However, you're not hearing everything: you do not get the bonuses until the style is activated. I would not give you the +DCs for SAL or style on that first attack (you would get one for MSV), and your chance to hit is not modified by the style modifiers. Also, you don't get those bonuses for initiative.
To explain that, at the beginning of the round before rolling initiative, you attempt to activate your boxing style, and fail. Your boxing style has a -15 defensive sit-mod, but that does not count, so then you roll initiative. His chance to hit you is his SAL+BRA+MSV+2xbias minus your defensive values, which at this point are your TV. Had you made that initial roll successfully, there would be another -15 on his chance to hit you because of the style mod. This gives him a significantly better chance to take the initiative and hit you first. Then you get to attack him, and you can roll a boxing attack (which includes your MSV but his defensive values). If the roll is successful, you hit him and activated the style including the defensive values.
Concerning rune stones: "I've never seen anything quite like that, although I've used a bit of magic to get information--finding a path, for example, and seeing things that are invisible. Had a premonition once, too. I'm sure there are things like that, but I don't know how common they are--probably more common in worlds in which runes are commonly used in magic, but I never dealt with rune magic."
--M. J. Young
You twice fail on the high velocity TK, but she watches the other two.
She shows you how to use telekinesis on powder, sand, and other similar substances, which you learn.
You still can't seem to master the boxing stance trick.
--M. J. Young
"You'll have to show me that high-velocity trick tomorrow, and I will show you how to fly."
I'm reminded that she is also teaching Derek, who does not know these telekinetic skills, so that should slow down the class progress....
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
Day 14? I'm not certain, but that's good enough.
"OK Lauren, well, if there's nothing else, I guess I will depart company. I've no interest in learning the computer stuff. Probably should, but how many worlds would it be useful in, ya know? Anyway, I'll catch you later."
My single shot 12 gauge and my 9mm carbine come in on day 22. Check at the gun store and see if they might have come in early. (OOC and yes, if the roll is 30, I'll deal with it)
Go back to the gym, and try the boxing stance trick yet again. (OOC are there any bonuses for numerous failed attempts? Just thought I'd ask....)
If Lauren has nothing else for me, amuse myself for the remainder of the day, and get some sleep.
(Doing Therapy)
On day 15 Lauren says she wants to teach the next skill somewhere in the mall--somewhere where there are high ceilings but not a lot of traffic around.
She teaches you how to fly. Once you are aloft, you can stay up for almost half an hour (this time) and move at a slow walking speed (additional rolls to accelerate and decelerate) and control over direction and altitude, unless you land, at which point it ends (and you have to roll again if you want to fly more).
--M. J. Young
"It is fun, isn't it? It's also proved very useful to me in the past--saved my life more than once. Don't rely on it until you're good at it, though, and don't rely on it even then without some sort of backup, because it can fail.
"Next you teach more more of that metallurgy stuff, and Derek teaches me more about computers, which I should have learned a long time ago. Tomorrow I will teach you how to intensify your senses by shifting mental resources from one to another."
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
Tomorrow I will teach you how to intensify your senses by shifting mental resources from one to another.
Flight is the 4@10 skill. The next skill should be 5@1 psionic healing, isn't it? That would have been insanely useful at Pearl Harbor....
"That 'Metallurgy stuff' is how I made my living for over a year in my last world. I really like it. My teacher Mr. Smith was pretty cool for the most part. I told him a 30-06 bullet was a magic totem that got angry around a fire, and proved it by throwing one into his forge. I'll never forget the look on his face when that happened."
OK, so back to my work, teach her blacksmithing.
Can I practice that flight by floating along an inch off the ground? If you were still moving your feet, no one would look twice at you.
JohnA1nut
Member
Two Posts
It's the 15th, right? The 9mm carbine comes in on day 22, I believe. So, 7 days left.
MJ, just an opinion. Put my next world a situation in which I need to rely on the Verser's Survival Pack for a semi-extended period of time. The rest of the gear is usually above me. Perhaps put it in a secure building, or a really out-of-the-way mountain, or something. I want to see what the VSP can do, put it through its paces, so to speak. I'm carrying a total of 300 rounds for 4 guns. (240 for the 3 9mms, and 60 for the 357. Plus the single-shot shotgun and crossbow) I want to see if that's enough.....
And John, don't even carry the 00 Buck or Bird shot with that. Shredders and flares baby!!!! Three pistols, an assault rifle and a grenade launcher/flamethrower????????? What would you NOT be ready to deal with????????
(Doing Therapy)
(PMH)
Lauren does not know any psionic healing skills; her healings are all magical. The psionic sensory enhancement is her only 5@1 skill.
You can practice that way, although whether anyone notices will depend on a GE roll.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
Did we move ahead a day yet? What day are we on?
"Lauren, I still want to go another round with you. I think next time will be much more exciting."
Offer still stands. Let me have the new use for gloves at the beginning of the fight, so I get 2 attacks per turn, and it will be the last mock combat for this world.
Well, if Lauren doesn't know psionic healing, teach myself. Do like Oak did, prick my finger with a needle and heal it. I still don't understand why you roll for that. Why would you need to roll skill use to prick yourself with a needle? I do it all the time when I get a pimple that won't pop.....
You've used out-of-character knowledge here, I think. Since Lauren does not know any psionic healing skills, you have no reason to think that they would be "about this hard".
Were you present when Oak taught himself the psionic healing skill?
You can try them later.
On the steal initiative skill, you botched, and--and I'm inviting everyone to participate in the botch list, including you.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
You've used out-of-character knowledge here, I think. Since Lauren does not know any psionic healing skills, you have no reason to think that they would be "about this hard".
I think I meant that pricking myself with a needle wouldn't be hard.
Still want to try that. Prick myself with a needle (which I have) and psionically heal it. I'm doing this before the boxing trick. I think I was present when Oak tried it. I wish I had learned it....
(Doing Therapy)
You injure yourself with the needle, and are not able to heal yourself psionically.
In attempting to teach yourself the quick stance move, you fall on your face and break your nose. This is a significant injury that will require medical attention.
--M. J. Young
You try it, but can't quite focus on this.
I'm assuming you attempted this in the gym; you might have attempted it in your room, but mostly you've been training at the gym. If so, a machine has just rolled beside you and asked if you require medical attention.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
Two Posts
If this thing wants me to follow it, or go with it somewhere, I'm going to go to the bathroom and put all of my guns inside the back pack. The last thing I need is for a doctor to see me with 3 pistols. If this thing can heal me itself, then I'm just going to let it do its thing.
The thing is apparently a medical robot, and it begins a process of diagnosis.
"You have fractured a cartilage in your nose. It will require laser repair and realignment. Anesthetics will be administered; you are advised to avoid any complex activities for the next twelve hours. Are you prepared for treatment?"
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"Yeah, I'm ready."
Do whatever it says.
When it's finished:
"Hey, how much does a thing like you cost, what else can you do, and where could I go about purchasing something like you? Are you an AI of any kind? (OOC If it's an AI, it would be an associate, not equipment, right?) Just what all are you capable of doing?"
It treats your injuries while answering your questions.
"I am a Meritronics System 7 Medbot, list price one hundred fifty thousand credits fully stocked, restock packs five thousand credits each. I can handle triage and treatment of most emergency medical problems in the field, and can be adapted to assist human medics in other environs. Purchase inquiries go to Meritronics. I am not artificially inseminated and do not perform artificial insemination functions."
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"No, I mean are you an artificial intelligence?"
I know you're just staying in character, but I hate it when you do that. (Just so you know, I'm laughing)
Well, there ain't no way I got a hundred and fifty Gs. I wonder if Lauren and Derek would help me purchase one.... Money is different to a verser, I could pay them back on the next world we meet in. Buy them something really expensive or something. I want to get one of these things. Go ask Lauren and Derek for a loan.
Lauren says she has an extra five hundred credits you can have; mostly she's spent her money on food and housing, but she doesn't make much as a lecturer. Derek has less--he's been buying a lot of computer parts and tools, upgrading his laptop (yet again) and collecting interface equipment for a lot of applications, including a binary/trinary interface card. He never has spare cash, despite the fact that his apartment is fully paid as part of his employ in central processing.
The robot does not know what an "artificial intelligence" is. It is capable of medical diagnosis and treatment if provided with adequate supplies.
Your nose is repaired.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"Well you little bucket-o-bolts, it looks like you're not gonna follow me. Too bad, I could have used a little guy like you."
Since it seems I'm out of commission for the moment, I think I'm gonna go sack out. When I awaken from my slumber, it should be day 16.
What does Lauren and Derek have in mind for today? Metalworking and psionics, I would hope.
Indeed, Lauren has promised on Day 16 to teach you how to shift your sensory abilities. She projects the skill pattern into your brain. It works by allowing you to shift mental resources, in essence reducing your hearing and/or touch to improve your eyesight, or reducing your eyesight to improve your sense of smell. She says her first use of it was identifying a vampire by the faint smell of decay at a hundred feet--something her werewolf friends did all the time. She's also used it to see in very dim light, particularly when she had to lend her magic cat's eye to a friend so he could see.
You pick it up easily.
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"Wait a minute Lauren. Are you telling me that you can see in the dark? Were you able to see when we fought the last time?"
Tell me that's not a legitimate in-character guess, and I'll come to New Jersey and rip out what remains of your teeth with a rusty pair of pliers.
"Of course I can sometimes see in the dark. Why does that upset you? Seriously, you wanted to fight with the lights off so that you could practice using a technique you learned that enables you to locate your opponent in the dark. I used a technique I learned that enables me to locate my opponent in the dark. I have more than one way to do that. I used one that was relatively easy and relatively reliable. You used a technique I don't know to attack me; I used a technique you don't know to defend and counter.
"If you wanted an unfair advantage, you should have made that clear when you asked me to spar with you."
--M. J. Young
Addendum
"Besides, not every enemy you face will be blinded by darkness. You can't expect the circumstances to be in your favor all the time."
--M. J. Young
JohnA1nut
Member
"If you wanted an unfair advantage, you should have made that clear when you asked me to spar with you."
"How can you possibly say that I had an unfair advantage? My skill is something I learned which enables to use my other senses to locate someone. You cheated. Besides, I found out that magic and psionic powers don't always work. Your senses DO always work. How about we go again, this time, you're blindfolded, and I teach you the basics of panoramic awareness. I went into that under the impression that you could not see. You could see. That's not using a skill to find me in the dark, that's cheating outright, and don't try to tell me it isn't. Or would you be willing to fight me when you can't see and I can? If you're not willing to do that, then you're admitting that you cheated. I'll teach you panoramic awareness, because I guarantee you your magic cat's eye won't always work."
JohnA1nut
Member
Multiple Posts, more than 24 hours after last.
Suppose you're still running me 3 worlds from now, and I run into Lauren again. Is she going to have the skills that I taught her? That's probably totally a referee's thing, isn't it? Who is to say I am not meeting an earlier version of Lauren. (But then, this one would remember me....) I was just wondering. She might land in a medieval world next and need to support herself through the 1@4 blacksmithing that she got from me. (Random guess) Just curious.
Oh an ya know what? I think I made the right choice in Dancing Princess. Learning blacksmithing as opposed to saving the princesses. At least from my character's POV. The blacksmithing helped me land a job in this world, and the gold I would have gotten is practically worthless.
(Doing Therapy)
"How can you say that I cheated? My skill is one that enables me to use the processing power from my other senses to amplify my vision. While I was able to see you, I could not hear nearly so well.
"How about this instead: we stick to psionics lessons, metallurgy, and computer skills, and leave out the sparring altogether.
"Sure, my magic cat's eye won't always work, and my adjusted senses won't always work--and you know what? My flips and kicks don't always work, either. I don't think it's true that your senses will always work--it's just very unlikely that they would fail. But they are skills, like any other skills, and in some worlds they do not work as well and in others they work better and that means that there are almost certainly worlds out there in which your senses do not work at all, and the indigs rely on their psionics or magic for whatever they do.
"Senses are senses. You traded one set of sensory information for another; so did I. You did it one way, I did it another. Now, do you want to learn this skill or not?"
--M. J. Young
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