Since you are in Derek's apartment, you would not expect the hall to be filled with people, and you cannot actually see if anyone is there. I presume that you shouted anyway (because I'm not rewriting that part), but you don't know if there might have been one or two people out there who might have heard.
I don't think ballistic weapons are going to work. Unless we were propped against something, wouldn't it throw us backwards like a rocket, and leave the bullet where it was?
CW laughs. "That's funny, and yes, you would have trouble bracing against the recoil and would be thrown back some distance; but the ratio of your speed versus the speed of the bullet is inversely proportional to the mass--that is, the bullet gets pushed just as hard as you do, and being much smaller and lighter moves farther and faster. You will, however, get knocked back and drift a bit, and if you fire several times you will be knocked back farther."
Without gravity, we don't even know which way is "up" on this thing.
Lauren answers this one. "Well, maybe--but 'down is where the bottoms of the doors--"
"Hatches," CW interjects.
"Thanks. Where the bottoms of the hatches are, so that the crew can step through them; and there are fixed furnishings in this room--that counter over there by the blood stain for example--that tell us which way people commonly stood in here."
I'm sure you already know this, but effective range is more about how accurately you can aim and fire the gun. Since you've never fired your guns in zero gravity, you will have to compensate for the fact that gravity does not cause the projectiles to curve downward. (If you in fact manage to hit the target under these conditions, it will qualify as new use of the first weapon in each major category with which you do so. You may remind me that I said that, but keep track of which weapons you have actually used thus.)if I was propped up to take the recoil, the bullet ranges would be greatly augmented. Only wind resistance and no gravity.
The tape helps a little, but you're not walking "normally". It is tricky keeping the tape loop from sliding off your shoe, and you have to lift your foot in a different way so as to peel the tape from the ground. Also, with each step the tape loses that much more "stick", so after a hundred yards or so it's not doing much for you. But you do get a new use for walking.
CW indicates that he's good, and flips a switch on his shoes. He then appears to be somewhat securely fixed to the floor. "Magnetic," he says. "I hope the power lasts, and that there's enough iron in the floors to keep them functional."
Lauren says she'll manage, thanks, and Derek says he's not sure he could walk like that.
CW says, "Aeresol cans would work, but the acceleration is very slow. Simply pushing off the wall or the floor or the ceiling is a much better choice.
Lauren answers, "Psionic flight should work; just don't botch."
It might be paint, but if so it's brown.
"All right," Lauren says, "I'll go with CW to engineering, and you take Derek to the bridge. You've got the maps; we've got CW's experience. Once we've fixed the gravity we'll try to find our way to you."
If you don't object, CW will turn and walk aft, saying something about an access tube to the lower engineering level, and Derek will point fore saying that you should be able to get an elevator to the bridge somewhere in that direction.
--M. J. Young
the ratio of your speed versus the speed of the bullet is inversely proportional to the mass--that is, the bullet gets pushed just as hard as you do, and being much smaller and lighter moves farther and faster.
"Now that you mention it, I do remember that from physics class. I still "weigh" 300+ pounds (me and the pack) even though I wouldn't register on the scale. It's the quarter ounce bullet's weight pushing against my 300+ pounds."
"Well, maybe--but 'down is where the bottoms of the doors--"
"Still though, down is where gravity takes you. Anyone who watched any sci fi movies would see that ships are always level with each other and pointing "up and down" when in actuality, one could be upside down in relation to the other, and neither crew would be affected by it at all. It was more an observation."
I'm sure you already know this, but effective range is more about how accurately you can aim and fire the gun.
And I bet you don't know this. A 22 caliber bullet only drops about a half inch at 50 yards. Shooting at a human sized target, hitting them a half inch lower in a vital area probably wouldn't change much. Yeah, you might miss their heart with that half inch, but you still shot them in the chest, and they're not likely to get back up without help. At the ranges I'll be shooting at in here, I'm not really concerned. A new use is a new use. Why am I arguing with you about it?
CW says, "Aerosol cans would work, but the acceleration is very slow. Simply pushing off the wall or the floor or the ceiling is a much better choice.
"If you're close enough to either to do so, yeah, but you might not be. Plus there is the issue of stopping when you do. Wait, you've been on these things. Maybe you should telling me what to do."
Is there a fire extinguisher anywhere? Those things have enough pressure and recoil that you would probably get 10 or 15 miles an hour out of one. (Did you ever see Wall-E?) Fire extinguishers anywhere? And since I'm weightless, it doesn't count against my encumbered weight, right?
"Would puckering up and blowing out of your mouth work to push you along? It worked in "Willy Wonka and the Great Glass Elevator." (The sequel novel to the book on which the Willy Wonka movie is based)
It might be paint, but if so it's brown.
If it's dried then he's OK. Like I said, it wouldn't affect his performance, I don't think. Just don't be surprised if I refer to blood as "Red Paint" when speaking in character.
"All right," Lauren says, "I'll go with CW to engineering, and you take Derek to the bridge. You've got the maps
"Who has a map? Derek? I sure don't."
we've got CW's experience. Once we've fixed the gravity we'll try to find our way to you.
"And we will do likewise. I'll let Derek handle the telepathy. I never really got the hang of that. I've had enough things in my head that someone else speaking there just creeps me out."
"Let's get moving."
I go wherever Derek says.
"Oh hey Derek, how familiar are you with Newton's Laws of Motion? An object in motion will tend to stay in motion, until it is acted on by a force greater than that of its own inertia. A good way to move around if we have to would be to "throw" each other on this rope. If I throw you, once you reach the end of it, you will pull me along. There is of course the "equal and opposite reaction" law, so that might not work, now that I think about it. Oh well, let's see what happens."
Time to move.
(Doing Therapy)
Two Posts
The tape helps a little, but you're not walking "normally". It is tricky keeping the tape loop from sliding off your shoe, and you have to lift your foot in a different way so as to peel the tape from the ground. Also, with each step the tape loses that much more "stick", so after a hundred yards or so it's not doing much for you. But you do get a new use for walking.
Freshen up the tape, which is to say, turn it so the still sticky side is on the bottom. Not necessarily what was just on the top. If I ration it, I could get two more good 100 yard walks out of this tape. Might mean the difference between life and death, who knows?
"It doesn't work as well as I had hoped. I might as well enjoy being weightless, but it's nice to know I can walk if I have to."
I've also still got it on my hands. Should help with the weightless moving.
It was in a movie I saw. A guy was trying to shoot a potato gun in zero G. What happened was, the potato came out of the barrel, and just hung in space inches from the barrel, and the dude got blown backwards at about mach 2. I now realize that wouldn't happen, but it was still funny.
(Doing Therapy)
Ah, but you have not yet seen your targets.And I bet you don't know this. A 22 caliber bullet only drops about a half inch at 50 yards. Shooting at a human sized target, hitting them a half inch lower in a vital area probably wouldn't change much. Yeah, you might miss their heart with that half inch, but you still shot them in the chest, and they're not likely to get back up without help.
Is there a fire extinguisher anywhere?
There is none here, but remind me that you will pass one in the hall once you're out of the small cargo section.
"Blowing with your mouth? Well, yes, but very slowly. Also, when you inhale your pull yourself in the other direction, and trying to turn your head around when you are weightless and suspended in the air is very tricky.
Derek has the maps in his computer; he was showing them when you were back in his apartment.
"Oh hey Derek, how familiar are you with Newton's Laws of Motion?...
"Apparently more familiar than you. If you throw me, I go forward and you go backward until one of us hits something or we run out of rope, at which point the rope pulls us toward each other again--not as bad as elastic, but not so good."
A few minutes later you have worked out how to move mostly by bouncing from the left wall to the right and back again. Derek suddenly says, "Lauren says--there's one now, flying lizard."
It is coming directly toward the two of you from about forty feet in front, apparently having pushed off some object somewhere but having skin flaps between its fore and aft legs reminiscent of those of a flying squirrel. The head is about six inches across, with the jaw open rather viciously and claws on its forelegs visible. It might be eight feet long, but thin like a snake or salamander, and powerfully muscled from what you can see. You are shooting at it head-on, which makes it a relatively small target.
Derek pulls his laser pistol into position and fires. There is a flash of light, and a burn clean through the center of the monster's head.
It goes limp but continues drifting toward you apparently from its momentum.
"I think it's dead," Derek says. "Lauren was just warning me that they encountered something like this; I'll let her know we did, too.
"I guess we know what happened to the crew; now we've got to figure out why the ship is doing what it's doing."
--M. J. Young
"Apparently more familiar than you. If you throw me, I go forward and you go backward until one of us hits something or we run out of rope, at which point the rope pulls us toward each other again--not as bad as elastic, but not so good."
I was wracking my brain all day yesterday trying to figure out what would happen with that.
It goes limp but continues drifting toward you apparently from its momentum.
I'm going to get the hell out of its way, I'll tell you that. Never assume it's dead.
"I think it's dead," Derek says. "Lauren was just warning me that they encountered something like this; I'll let her know we did, too.
"Now I wish I had brought that huge shotgun I have. It would be perfect for these things."
"I guess we know what happened to the crew; now we've got to figure out why the ship is doing what it's doing."
"Isn't it blatantly obvious? These things, whatever in the hell they are, are chewing on the power cables and whatnot. That's why they say that you've got a bug in your computer. In the early days of computers, when one shut down, they would invariably find a bug, an insect, inside it which had caused the problem. Just think of these things are really big bugs in a really big computer. This reminds me of an episode of Star Trek Voyager. Janeway battled viruses like these things."
OK, from now on, when I'm moving, I have the 9mm carbine up and I'm looking at the world through the gun sights. Not in a way which would impede my vision, but I can draw a bead in a moment's notice.
Two Posts
Derek and I are tied together. The rope is 100 feet long. I don't imagine tying us and leaving 20 feet between would take more than about 30 feet. The rope is coiled up, and the carabiner is taped open and hanging from the rope belt. I have got, essentially, a 1 prong grappling hook with 70 feet of rope. Just wanted to be clear on that. It's under my coat, tied in a square knot (yes, I was briefly a boy scout.)
We're in a cargo hold? I thought we were in a hallway.
"Derek, hey, let's check the cargo. Maybe there's something in here we can use. They could have a baby nuke on board this thing. If we can blow up the ship and save the station, I'm all for it. Kill those things and go out in a blaze of glory. Just go on to the next world. What do you say? For all we know these flying rats could be a unique species bent on taking over the universe. Did you ever see Star Trek First Contact? Blow up the ship and you take out the Borg. We could have the chance to kill all of these things right now. Get Lauren on your telepathy thing and see what she says. Why waste time searching the ship for why this happened? Just end it now whilst we still have the chance."
If Derek wants to keep going and not check the cargo, I'll untie myself and let him use the rope and carabiner if he wants to. It's still mine if he verses out though. I'm checking the cargo.
Out of character, I'd rather play the world and fight the monsters. I'm sure you would rather run it. However, I know in my heart that my character would be more than willing, and perhaps even looking forward to doing this. I've always said that, when I died, I hoped it was saving the life of another human being. If he can die and save millions of lives, and not even have to stay dead? He would be all for that. Out of character I'd rather play the world, but my character is hoping this can be done. If it goes by the character's hopes, then a 3 is there is a nuke with a single touch button to detonate sitting right in front of him.
Let me guess. It IS a unique species bent on universal conquest, we would find that out eventually and the expected ending is blowing up the ship. They weren't flying into TerraNova to destroy the station, they want to use the inhabitants for food and/or breeding purposes. If we don't stop them here and now, they will spread like a plague to every corner of the universe. Also, as a referee, your biggest pet peeve is when players figure out the whole plot right after the first contact with the enemy. (laughing hysterically)
(Doing Therapy)
Three Posts
A "Baby Nuke" is a small nuclear bomb. It was in a game I played. Baby nukes were small ones, then you had the MOAN, Mother Of All Nukes. It was a fun game.
(Doing Therapy)
As the body drifts past, Derek says, "There be dragons here," and watches it.
You started in a small cargo area and left it into the hallway, which is where you encountered the creature. Did you want to return to the cargo area?
"I suppose we could look. Or we could try to get to the bridge and activate the self-destruct. Or we could try to get hold of the controls at the bridge and see whether we can stop the ship from crashing. I'll give this in favor of your idea: if there are enough of those things, we might never make it to the bridge, and won't save anyone. Against it: the probability that there's an explosive device that powerful in the cargo seems pretty slim, and the time we lose looking for it might prevent us from reaching the bridge, even assuming that we can find it if it's actually there.
"I'll ask Lauren what she thinks; we'll need her to come back to get us off the ship anyway, if we find such a thing."
--M. J. Young
I suppose we could look. Or we could try to get to the bridge and activate the self-destruct.
"Well, how about you go on, to the bridge, and I'll stay here? I don't know squat about what you're going to be doing up there, and I would just get in the way. However, I am more than capable of opening a crate and examining the contents."
"I'll ask Lauren what she thinks; we'll need her to come back to get us off the ship anyway, if we find such a thing."
"Well, what does Lauren say? I caused a rather explosive botch in my last world. That's how I wound up here. Do you think Lauren might know how to do that on purpose with magic? Who says we need a nuke? All we need is for this thing to explode. The means to do it aren't important. Wasn't it Elijah who called down a fireball from Heaven to incinerate the offering? So, we'll make an offering of this ship and have Lauren call a fireball down on it. Problem solved."
Two
"Hey Derek, there's no nuke in that storage room, I'd bet my last $15.00 on it. (And since that came from B Movie Monster world, it's completely worthless) Let's keep going. You said there's a self-destruct on this thing right? Let's get there and activate it. Don't even try to fix anything, just activate auto destruct and abandon ship. Sound good to you?"
(Doing Therapy)
You Juggling Three
Regardless of whatever Derek wants to do, I'm gonna open up one crate in the cargo hold. Just one. Just for the laughs and giggles of it. Who knows? It could be something valuable, it could be a bomb. Maybe it will be something I would want to keep, who knows? But I am opening one.
"To the victor go the spoils"
(Doing Therapy)
"Lauren says," Derek calls while catching up with you as you head back to the cargo section, "That it's not a bad idea, either way, but we should not separate. The ship is apparently swarming with those things.
You pry open a plastic crate and find something immediately identifiable as weapons--pistol-like in design, but light weight, maybe half a pound each, nearly all the visible parts plastic. There are four of them. There are also, separately, sixteen objects that look more like plug-in game cartridges for a hand-held video game, about two ounces each, and a one-pound block in which it appears you can insert four of these, which has a cord leading off it.
"Laser pistols, I'd guess," Derek says. "Power packs probably charged, and that's a recharger for them. Are we going?"
--M. J. Young
"Laser pistols, I'd guess," Derek says. "Power packs probably charged, and that's a recharger for them. Are we going?"
I just knew I was going to open a box with guns inside it.....
"Sure, let me grab a couple of these and drop them into my backpack."
Take all of it. Whilst weightless, it doesn't count against my encumbrance, but it will when they get the gravity back on.
"Let's move Derek."
The laser pistols, save one, are in the backpack. The one is in my pocket. I'm using the 9mm carbine though for defense.
Did I find that fire extinguisher yet?
Tow Spots
Before we leave.
"Derek, are these things ready to fire? How do you change the batteries? Without shooting, give me a real quick tutorial on how to use this thing."
THEN go out in the hallway. Keep the 9mm carbine up and almost at the ready.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, as part of my clothing, I'm also wearing a belt. Do I have to edit the weight, or can we just let that slide? I know it doesn't count right now, but I won't be weightless forever, and I want to get the benefits in the next world.
(Doing Therapy)
1+2=?
Idle chatter whilst bouncing down the hallway.
"Derek, how far are we from the station? We're probably not going to get back there. I do want to put this pack through its paces, but I would like to get back to the rest of my stuff sometime, ya know?"
(Doing Therapy)
Concerning the weight limit, although it is much easier to carry that much weight when weightless, the mass still matters to some degree--your ability to check your momentum is based on the momentum contained in the mass, as is your ability to accelerate or turn. But I'm not counting ounces, and not worried about the belt. You are encumbered, and that will impede your movement slightly, but the details are not going to be that important for the moment.
I presume from your statement that you are putting the charger in your pack also, and the "clips" in your pocket.
Derek shows you how to pop out a clip and replace it, how to read the indicators for how many shots remain, and how to aim and fire the weapon. He notes that you have three power settings on this. The lowest would be for practice, as it would rarely hurt anything, although if you shot someone with it they would feel the sting; it fires twenty times on one pack at that rate. You can double the power for ten shots that would be injurious and again for five that would be more so. He can't guess the recharge time on the capacitive firing system, but he shows you the indicator light that should light when it's charged. "When you're good," he says, "you anticipate the light and shoot as it lights. When you're really good, you fire in that instant between when the system is actually charged and when the light has told you it is. But until you're comfortable with the weapon you should probably not shoot until you see the light, or it might discharge without firing, if you see what I mean."
"The station? I really don't know. I mean, when we made the hop we were far enough out that the ship was barely a point of light in the starry sky; but we're probably moving somewhere around mach ten relative to the station--about eight thousand miles per hour, which is what, a hundred and thirty some miles a minute, two miles per second. We were probably about three hours from collision when we boarded, which is about twenty-four thousand miles; but every seven or eight minutes we're a thousand miles closer. That help at all?"
You do a few panels marked for fire control equipment, but only one of them has a portable extinguisher behind it, the others being controls for systems in the room or connected hoses.
--M. J. Young
I presume from your statement that you are putting the charger in your pack also, and the "clips" in your pocket.
No, everything save one pistol is going into the pack. But yeah, charger too. You said there were 16 spare batteries, and four pistols. I'm assuming the pistols are loaded, and I have a total of 20 batteries. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't anticipate using the laser pistol here, I'm just keeping it out, "just in case."
You do a few panels marked for fire control equipment, but only one of them has a portable extinguisher behind it, the others being controls for systems in the room or connected hoses.
On second thought, I don't think I could carry that and have the rifle at the ready. Leave the extinguisher.
We were probably about three hours from collision when we boarded, which is about twenty-four thousand miles; but every seven or eight minutes we're a thousand miles closer. That help at all?
"Yeah, it tells me we are WAAAAAY far away. At best, I'll be a thousand miles from my gear when I verse out. Now I'm really glad I made this pack. They laughed at me, they said I was crazy to keep a bare minimum of gear on me. Well, I'll show them!!" (Maniacal laughter)
Keep going, where are we, what's happening?
"Hey Derek, telepathy Lauren. Ask her if we can psionically steer this ship whilst on board. If we can at least slow it down, SOMETHING!! Newton's Law comes into play again. Whilst inside the ship, we are still moving at mach 10. If it stops, we don't. Fortunately, there won't be anything to clean off the wall. Still though, what does Lauren think?"
To understand
What it is I'm doing
On this thread,
Please read
Only the first letter in each
Sentence.
This should clarify the
Situation.
Can't go into boxing stance in zero g, can I? Unless I taped my feet to the floor. It would be the one time when you would want to be up against the ropes. Newton's Law, and all of that. It would be a new use though, right? Maybe someone could attack me, and I finally get my fast draw stance down or something.....(hint hint)
I want to try psionic teleportation. Aside from the obvious of wanting to get back to the station, this is probably the last best chance I'm going to have for a while. Try to teleport across the room. I know 20 feet against 20 thousand miles isn't exactly the same, but better to learn it and have SOME idea what to do. Wost case scenario, I end up in outer space. Ten to twelve seconds of useful consciousness later, I'm in the next world. That doesn't sound too bad. At least I'd be CLOSER to my gear......
Almost forgot, I'm tied to Derek.. That could have been interesting.
"Derek, I'm going to untie myself and try teleporting. Don't even try to stop me."
He's getting kind of nervous about the whole thing, and will likely react semi-violently towards Derek if Derek tries to stop him. That might even be conveyed in his tone of voice.
"Whilst I'm doing this Derek, telepathy Lauren and ask her what she thinks would happen if I teleported whilst tied to you. It might be our only chance back to the station."
Now I'm forced to wonder if Derek would count as on-person equipment if I versed out whilst tied to him... I know "John, how would you know?" Well, I'm still allowed to wonder, aren't I? I highly doubt it though.
If I succeed, try to teleport to a place I see in clairvoyance. New use? I'd rather have it on Teleporting, for obvious reasons. Then tie myself back to Derek. If he agrees, try it whilst tied to him. New use again?
If I fail, take a deep breath, relax, and try again.
If I botch, I hope it's not crippling....
(Doing Therapy)
I really don't think they ship weapons fully loaded. You've got sixteen clips and four guns; if you put a clip in a gun you've got fifteen more. If you put all the other clips in the pack, then you have the one in the gun but the others will require effort to reach--which you already know.
Derek, telepathy Lauren. Ask her if we can psionically steer this ship whilst on board. If we can at least slow it down, SOMETHING!!
It takes a moment for him to answer. "She says she's a bit busy at the moment. She also says, you tell her. She taught you all the psionic tricks she knows. If you can think of one that works, try it."
Generally that's called "Positional training", because it incorporates such variants as fighting while in a chair or lying on the ground, but it also includes fighting in special environments such as in water or in trees. Weightless combat would be included in that, and it's a skill you can teach yourself by trying to get into stance in such an environment.Can't go into boxing stance in zero g, can I?
So yes, you can box anywhere, provided you can overcome the disadvantages of the environment.
As for someone attacking you, though, it's going to have teeth and wings. That doesn't mean you can't punch it, but it will be a very formiddable adversary.
You were walking down the hall toward the elevator. You were talking about untying yourself and trying to teleport when Derek yells "Incoming", and you see about ten of these dragons of various sizes swooping toward you from rafters in the ceiling above.
--M. J. Young
I really don't think they ship weapons fully loaded.
"Things which need to be together to work usually can't be shipped together."
Murphy's Laws of Combat.
I hadn't considered that. OK, well, it's loaded in my pocket.
As for someone attacking you, though, it's going to have teeth and wings. That doesn't mean you can't punch it, but it will be a very formiddable adversary.
I was thinking more along the lines of the one surviving crewman who is completely insane and needs to be subdued with a quick right hook to get him to calm down.
You were walking down the hall toward the elevator. You were talking about untying yourself and trying to teleport when Derek yells "Incoming", and you see about ten of these dragons of various sizes swooping toward you from rafters in the ceiling above.
Can they actually fly, or are they more like flying squirrels? Actually flying would be controlled even in zero g. Flying squirrel flight would be more of a guided, falling glide. It would matter to how hard they were to hit. Also, when the gravity came on, a flying squirrel type flight would mean they were likely walking predators, as opposed to flying predators. Much easier to deal with. You described skin between fore and back legs. I'm envisioning this thing not as a pterodactyl, but more as a flying squirrel/crocodile crossbreed. Or are they pterodactyls?
I've got 15 in the clip of the 9mm carbine, it's set on triburst, and I'm shooting. Closet one first. When that's empty, pull the 9mm pistol. Again, 15 shots. If there's any left after that, well, let's hope there aren't. Unless there's a reason to retreat, that's my actions for the next 30 shots, or until they're all dead, whichever comes first.
What color is their blood? (Yes, I'm serious) Red is iron based, green would be copper based. Not that it matters, I'm just curious.
New uses for zero g. I've never shot a gun on triburt. I did at the station shooting range, but that was practice and didn't count. Is the triburt setting a new use as well?
of various sizes
I just noticed that. What are the various sizes?
Muttering under my breath
"If I had known it was gonna be these things, I would have brought the shotgun!!"
If possible and convenient, try to get back to a wall, so the recoil doesn't knock me backwards.
Next chance I get, (As in, when they're all dead.) change the shotgun shell from 00 buckshot to a flare. Reptiles are attracted to heat. Maybe the flare would serve as a decoy distraction to them. Most reptiles are also deaf as a stone, at least on our world. They compensate with other senses (flicking tongue, etc)
(Doing Therapy)
Two
MJ, I'm half surprised you didn't mention that acrostic I did up there. I was kind of anticipating getting the coveted "Make the referee laugh" award for that.
(Doing Therapy)
Your acrostic did not make me laugh; probably fits with my comments in Game Ideas unlimited: Aptrusis, that I don't like games that amount to busy work. However, your Murphy's Law of Combat did, so you got the coveted "Made the referee laugh" today.
The "one surviving crewman" was found and eaten a long time ago. The unknown number of surviving dragons are by now very hungry.
Your image of them as being something more akin to crocodillian flying squirrels is correct, and yes, they would be primarily ground-based predators once gravity is restored--except that their claws give them significant climbing ability and they would have some advantage in swooping down from rafters, air ducts, and other overhead positions, and thus they would have a tendency to take the high positions to await prey when they are not scavenging for it.
I'll excuse myself on the basis that you kept changing your equipment, but now is the time for me to put details to the new weapons. I am guessing that the 9mm carbine is a rifle, fully automatic. A "triburst" would be an automatic firing of three bullets in rapid succession at a single target on a single pull of the trigger, and thus would count as a single attack (damage would be based on three bullets, which I'll cover when I get that far). Assuming all things in his favor, an expert SAL with a 3@ RSV could fire one of these about thirty times in a minute (except that he would be out of ammo that quickly), once every roughly two seconds. That's about RF3 for the complete amateur (to aim and fire the weapon). I would also assume that the single-shot system is "faster", about RF6, which means roughly one (aimed) shot per second for the aforementioned expert. I make 9mm pistols base dangerous, but I hesitate to make 9mm rifles base lethal, because I think that there are more deadly rifles and lethal is the top category for the class, so I would make these base dangerous also. I'm still thinking about how to handle the three-bullet sequence, tending toward an intrisic damage rider, but probably limiting the damage category bonuses to the primary (the second and third bullets not being aimed in the same sense). I would expect fairly typical rifle ranges comparable to those of the M-16-A1. Correct me on any points.
I assume the pistol to be the Ruger P-89.
The blood is red.
It might have been if it were the first time you had ever done it at all. New use means you never thought of this before this moment, and so having just thought of it and trying it here you have figured out something new about the skill that makes you better at it. Having done it in practice, it's part of the general background of the skill.I've never shot a gun on triburt. I did at the station shooting range, but that was practice and didn't count. Is the triburt setting a new use as well?
These which you see range from about the size of a home pet iguana to a fifteen or twenty foot long alligator size. The big one is sort of in the middle, or at least he is the center of attention here, with a few in front and behind and on every side.
--M. J. Young
The "one surviving crewman" was found and eaten a long time ago. The unknown number of surviving dragons are by now very hungry.
(Laughing) Aw come on, you gotta have the "One surviving crewman". The guy who tells the story of what happened right before getting killed. At least I think my stories would.
I'll excuse myself on the basis that you kept changing your equipment, but now is the time for me to put details to the new weapons.
Understood MJ. This shouldn't be hard.
I am guessing that the 9mm carbine is a rifle, fully automatic.
Correct. You know those guns the SWAT guys carry in movies? It's pretty close to that.
A "triburst" would be an automatic firing of three bullets in rapid succession at a single target on a single pull of the trigger, and thus would count as a single attack (damage would be based on three bullets, which I'll cover when I get that far).
EDIT: I just put down some misinformation regarding bullets being the barrel at the same time during shooting. I was misinformed on the cycle rate of the gun, and that information was inaccurate. I just found out it would have blown the gun up.
It would probably hold a 1 or 2 inch pattern at 50 yards. As far as damage, I'd be happy with a small negative sit mod on the other two (or is that how a damage rider attack works?) Your call of course, just giving my two cents.
Assuming all things in his favor, an expert SAL with a 3@ RSV could fire one of these about thirty times in a minute (except that he would be out of ammo that quickly), once every roughly two seconds. That's about RF3 for the complete amateur (to aim and fire the weapon). I would also assume that the single-shot system is "faster", about RF6, which means roughly one (aimed) shot per second for the aforementioned expert.
I don't understand a word you just said, but I'm going to trust you on it. Are you saying that on semi-auto fire, I would get more attacks of 1 bullet than I would get with three on triburst? Kind of a trade speed for firepower kind of thing? Totally acceptable, just curious if that's what you're saying.
I make 9mm pistols base dangerous, but I hesitate to make 9mm rifles base lethal, because I think that there are more deadly rifles and lethal is the top category for the class, so I would make these base dangerous also.
I would actually protest if you made it base lethal. It doesn't deserve it. Is there a way you can give the damage a sit-mod over a 9mm pistol? A +10 or higher damage sit-mod for the rifle over the pistol would be cool with me. Your call of course, but again, giving my two cents.
I'm still thinking about how to handle the three-bullet sequence, tending toward an intrisic damage rider, but probably limiting the damage category bonuses to the primary (the second and third bullets not being aimed in the same sense). I would expect fairly typical rifle ranges comparable to those of the M-16-A1. Correct me on any points.
That's pretty close. The best way to handle ranges with rifles shooting pistol bullets is usually to double the ranges of the pistol. That's the rule of thumb when considering buying one anyway. I gave my thoughts on how to handle the triburst setting a little way up.
I assume the pistol to be the Ruger P-89.
You would assume correct. Takes the same magazines as the carbine.
It might have been if it were the first time you had ever done it at all.
I assumed that since I didn't get the new use because you didn't roll for it, I would get it when you did roll for it. Couldn't you make an exception? (or not, no harm in asking, right?)
These which you see range from about the size of a home pet iguana to a fifteen or twenty foot long alligator size. The big one is sort of in the middle, or at least he is the center of attention here, with a few in front and behind and on every side.
Kill em all, let God sort em out. I'm not a glory hound out to kill the biggest one just because it is the biggest one. That attitude is what cost so many bombers in WW2. No, I fire by threat assessment. Closest one first. If I can score kills with my 5 shots (15 bullets set on triburst) and Derek picks up the slack, this could be quite fun.
(Doing Therapy)
Two
How does that New Use work on guns? I know it specializes, but how do the new uses add up? Is it 1@10+3 new uses on any gun of that kind, and the fourth new use gives me professional with the gun I am currently holding? Or do I have to get all 4 new uses on that gun?
(Doing Therapy)
Three
MJ, I think the "dragons" attack pattern is all messed up. Flying squirrels don't actually fly, it's more like Buzz Lightyear's "Falling with style". If they jump down on us in zero g, they will just float in the air. They would be anticipating falling, but wouldn't. If we stay low, they wouldn't be able to touch us, and it should just be a turkey shoot.
Four
MJ, I hope you caught the edit. I was misinformed on the cycle rate of the 9mm carbine, and put down some misinformation. I hope you see this.
(Doing Therapy)
How damage riders work:
- There are three kinds, and they all work a bit differently because they are for different purposes. In all cases, though, there is a base damage category done by the attack, and a second damage category added to the base.
An intrinsic damage rider means that one attack is rolled and it does one kind of damage, but it does more of that one kind of damage than the damage category suggests. Thus I might think that a bulldozer does something greater than annihilating damage but does not do obliterative damage, so I make it annihilating with a lethal rider, and when you roll I calculate the damage as 1-100 (annihilating) plus 1-20 (Lethal), for 2-120 potential damage. I'm thinking that this is the type of rider that fits this weapon, in which the second and third bullets are intrinsic riders, additional damage of the same type determined by the same roll; I'm also thinking that they don't have the bonuses the primary has, because they are not quite as accurately aimed, and your damage bonuses for SAL and MSV are based mostly on that accuracy.
A secondary rider usually means that two types of damage are occurring but based on the same roll. If you shot a flaming arrow at a target, you would probably get a base damaging attack for the arrow itself and a base damaging attack for the fire. This would be significant because your target might be immune to fire, and so the fire attack would not be effective. Similarly, the kinetic force of the arrow might be deflected but the fire still ignite the target.
A dependent rider is similar except that it involves the use of a second skill. If you're using an active when worn/held sword whose magic is that it does extra damage, you will roll for the ordinary attack with the sword, and if that attack is successful you will roll your magic skill for the extra damage. In this case, the bonus damage only matters if the base attack succeeds and the second skill check succeeds.
Yes, I am saying that. My assumption is that at its fastest (that is, operated by the guy who can operate it faster than anyone else can even think of doing so), the triburst is going to take longer to reset than the single shot will, so he's slower with the triburst. My initial estimate is that he can aim and fire one shot per second with single bullets, but can only fire every other second when it's triburst. I then worked backwards from that to get a whole-number fire rate for each function for the guy who has no bonuses on his fire rate, and got an RF3 for the triburst and an RF6 for the single shot. This actually works out to 54 shots per minute for the fastest guy alive on single shot, 27 for the triburst. For you, with a 1@10 SAL and 2@2 RSV, it means six aimed and fired tribust shots in a minute or 12 single shots, with the stipulation of course that after the fifth shot you have to reload.Are you saying that on semi-auto fire, I would get more attacks of 1 bullet than I would get with three on triburst? Kind of a trade speed for firepower kind of thing? Totally acceptable, just curious if that's what you're saying.
I note that reload time on the Ruger is twelve seconds (amateur); I presume the carbine will be the same.
I am adding : 9mm Carbine (rifle) 15 shot magazine (identical to Ruger P99 clip) 0:12 reload dangerous RF6, triburst option (three bullets in one second, full auto) RF3 provides two dangerous intrinsic riders (not bonused for MSV), 20':150':300':600':+1/6'. I think that covers everything. I'll also note that there were no ranges posted with your Ruger, which I have updated to read Ruger P-89 pistol 15 shot magazine +1 chambered 9mm 3# reload (clip) 0:12 RF10 dangerous 10':75':150':300':+1/3'.
The ranges sort of do that?Is there a way you can give the damage a sit-mod over a 9mm pistol?
If you fire either gun at a target within point blank range, you get +20 for the sense of putting the barrel directly on line with the target (like sticking it in his gut, but you don't have to be quite that close). That +20 applies to 10' on the pistol, but 20' on the rifle. You lose it then for short range, but when you hit medium range you take a -10 penalty--which is at 75' for the pistol but not until 150' for the rifle. The penalty goes up again at long range, to -25, but again this is at 150' for the pistol (where you're now at -10 for the rifle) and 300' for the rifle. When the pistol hits 300' it's at extreme range, picking up an addition -1 (over the -25 penalty already noted) for every three additional feet, while the rifle does not hit extreme range until 600', after which it is -1 for ever
six additional feet. It's not exactly the same as giving you a direct damage bonus (and there are ranges at which it is the same), but it does have that effect overall.Sorry, I'm pretty strict on this. If you want new use for something, you have to take the risk when you first try it. If you incorporate something into your practice, it's already part of the difficulty of your practice, so it counts for that.I assumed that since I didn't get the new use because you didn't roll for it, I would get it when you did roll for it. Couldn't you make an exception?
I should be a stickler on this, but the fact is I haven't tracked which new uses you used with which rifles. When you get the final new use I'll discuss it with you. It makes the most sense to me for it to apply to the gun you are currently using, but since I can't swear that you didn't get the other three in a different gun I might let you apply it to the different gun. Strictly speaking, I should be tracking it for each rifle individually; it was just too much trouble for your the kind of character sheets I'm using here.How does that New Use work on guns? I know it specializes, but how do the new uses add up? Is it 1@10+3 new uses on any gun of that kind, and the fourth new use gives me professional with the gun I am currently holding? Or do I have to get all 4 new uses on that gun?
That assumes that the dragons never adapted to a weightless environment. From the way they are attacking, you should conclude that they are equally at home in weightless situations as they are in gravity ones. That might tell you more about them, but maybe nothing useful for your present circumstance.MJ, I think the "dragons" attack pattern is all messed up. Flying squirrels don't actually fly, it's more like Buzz Lightyear's "Falling with style". If they jump down on us in zero g, they will just float in the air. They would be anticipating falling, but wouldn't. If we stay low, they wouldn't be able to touch us, and it should just be a turkey shoot.
Oh, and it is "flying", although technically it is a type of flying called "wing assisted gliding".
--M. J. Young
MJ, I originally posted that the rifle would have more than one bullet in the barrel during shooting. I don't know where I got that idea, but it was wrong. I edited the post, but I don't know if it was in time for you to catch the edit. I just wanted to make sure you didn't repeat false information you got from me. Uncle Bob said it would actually make the gun explode.
That's about all I have to say. I didn't understand everything you just said, but I'm going to trust you on it. Let's kill us some dragons, shall we?
I noticed up there that you had put down 15+1 shots for one or both of the guns. That's the shot capacity, but the two guns have 15, not 16 bullets each. Just wanted to be clear on that. Yeah, I know I'm ripping myself off, but I'd rather be honest. I just know how my character has the guns, that's all.
An intrinsic damage rider means that one attack is rolled and it does one kind of damage, but it does more of that one kind of damage than the damage category suggests.
So it's one roll for three dangerous level attacks? If I hit for 5 intensities, it's actually 15? Something like that? What was that about the bonuses only being applied to the first shot?
Are there any other new uses applied here? Weightless environment, are there any others right now you can think of? I'm probably not supposed to ask, am I? I'm just trying to imagine if there was anything else I'm doing new, and I thought perhaps you might be able to think of something. Man, I wish I hadn't wasted that new use for triburt, that would have put me at 2@1 with the 9mm carbine. Gotta come up with another new use.....
Would firing full auto be a new use? It was semi, triburt, and full.
I am keeping all empty magazines. Empty, they're an ounce or two.
So if it's once every 2 seconds for an expert, what is it for me?
(Doing Therapy)
You and Derek both fire.
The kick of the gun throws you back hard, and you realize that without gravity you have no center of balance--your knees bend with the impact but for the moment you can't figure out which way is up. The gun has come loose from your hand and is floating a few feet beside you.
Meanwhile, the hall has filled with a horrid noise of a bass bellow, as Derek has apparently injured the big one. An eternal three seconds later it goes silent as there is another flash of light.
Another flash of light and the one you missed is suddenly fried crisp.
Derek shoots again, and a creature hisses, but Derek is shouting, "Where are you? Could use some help here!" as he fumbles to replace his spent power clip.
--M. J. Young
Can I reach the carbine? There's 12 bullets left in it. If I can't, pull the pistol.
This could be the shortest rescue mission in history.....
I'll say this though, if he verses out right here, he's going to be in a really pissed off mood when he gets to the next world. God help the person who tries to get in his way for a little while.
Two
MJ, I know a second new use. If I get the rifle or the pistol out, and score a hit, I'm floating in zero g. I'm a moving target, shooting at a moving target. Yes, I've shot moving targets, but always when I was stationary. A moving target shooting at a moving target adds a whole new degree of difficulty. (And I probably just penalized the roll, didn't I?)
(Doing Therapy)
More than a few and less than too many.
MJ, Behind the Screens, you mentioned that I was walking with the taped shoes. No. I was floating weightless. I said "Might as well enjoy being weightless" a few posts ago. The tape on the shoes is just there for the contingency that I have to walk. That there is no other way to get somewhere in a weightless environment than to heel-toe express it. I can't imagine what that situation might be, but better to be prepared for it. As you said, the tape is only good for 100 yards and makes walking difficult, so why waste it when I can just float and relax a little? I was floating the whole time. Not contesting the botch, it still blew me backwards and into a spin, but maybe I'll get lucky and hit the wall feet first and be able to stand then. Hey, the taped shoes contingency might just pay off here.....
My mistake on the shoes. The kick forces you into a slow backwards spin, and you are not anchored to anything. The gun is drifting away, but the way you are turning your shoulder (and thus your arm) will be approaching it in a moment, so with a bit of a twist and a stretch you ought to be able to snag it.
While you are assessing this, Derek apparently has reloaded, and another flash appears, and then another.
You grab your carbine and pull it into position to fire. There are three close enough that you've got about five seconds before they're able to get jaws or claws on you, and three more behind them.
--M. J. Young
Open fire on the closest one, and pray they can't bite through my coat. (That's not a prayer you would roll for, I don't think)
Is it 2 new uses? I'm a moving target shooting at a moving target, as well as the weightless environment. Or is that all covered in the weightless environment?
To the tune of Row row row your boat.
Post, post, post I do,
Often many times
Read my thread,
I hope you said
"John is an awesome guy."
OK, so it's lame, but at least I tried....
Rewind the tape here MJ. If I can get to the 9mm pistol faster than I can get to the carbine, I would go for that. It was something I learned whilst playing a video game. Yeah, missiles never miss, but why wait for them to lock up, when you can fire the laser so much faster? If I can get the pistol out faster than I could get to the carbine, I would go for that. It sounds like that's a distinct possibility. Rewind the tape here. I wouldn't waste time floating for the carbine if I can get the pistol out faster.
The 9mm pistol is in the shoulder holster, ready to fire, under the coat, which is open. No fast draw skills, and I'm not trying to teach myself one. Just getting it out and going to town.
(Doing Therapy)
You would be faster and more accurate with the pistol once you had it in hand, but at this point you would not have it in hand faster than you would recover the rifle. Besides, I've already got the rifle in your hand based on your statements of action, so at this point it's a question of whether you want to swap the rifle for the pistol after you've already got the rifle back in hand. I'm going to assume not. Your statement was not based on which you could fire faster, but on which you could fire sooner, and there being no difference on that we're going with the previously declared action.
You fire the rifle again, and put three bullets through the skin flap of the nearest one. It is bleeding profusely, but its mouth is open in a hissing scream as the gap continues to close.
A flash from the laser a second after your shot finishes the one you wounded. Then as two of them are right on top of you, the laser fires again and fries one.
I need to establish the cover value of that coat you're wearing. What can you tell me about it, in terms of what I told you about it?
*****
Footnotes:
...pray they can't bite through my coat. (That's not a prayer you would roll for, I don't think)
If you mean more than "hope" by that word "pray" then I need to roll; if it's just an expression, I don't. If it's an actual prayer, you'll have to give me a bit more about it.
Is it 2 new uses?
The same act is never two new uses. It doesn't matter how many things are different, it's only one use, so it's only one new use.
You hit the target this time, so you are being given new use for firing the gun while adrift in a weightless environment.
--M. J. Young
I need to establish the cover value of that coat you're wearing. What can you tell me about it, in terms of what I told you about it?
Shirts made of the same material took every kind of bullets that I have. They took the explosive Shredder shotgun shells and flares with no problem. Supposedly, they will also take lasers and all other manner of weapons. The coat is a trench coat, so I'm assuming it goes to below my knees. If the thing is about to bite me, I would put my left arm out and let it bite my sleeve, then put the rifle barrel (literally) up to its head. The coat should protect flesh, let's just hope it isn't strong enough in the jaw to crush bone.
If you mean more than "hope" by that word "pray" then I need to roll; if it's just an expression, I don't. If it's an actual prayer, you'll have to give me a bit more about it.
Replace "pray" with "hope". It's not an actual prayer.
Nine bullets left in the clip.
It bites down hard on your arm. You realize that if it were not that it cannot penetrate the coat it would have cut into your flesh rather seriously, but that the coat has spread the pressure and blocked the sharp jaws. The momentum of the creature impacts your arm, pushing you backwards some as you slow it. You are swinging the gun toward it as it releases its bite; it is now adrift, but trying to find your arm with its claw.
Derek has scrambled for his knife and a frying pan, and as the three remaining creatures move toward him the gravity suddenly returns, rising rapidly to settle your weight on your feet. Everyone is thrown off balance for a moment, but the fight continues. Derek slashes one of the two now attempting to bite him, but does not wound it severely and it bites him anyway; he is bleeding profusely, but he blocks the other with the frying pan. You pull the trigger and the three bullets tear through the monster that bit you despite the fact that it is now falling toward the floor (it lost its forward momentum and does not glide so easily), although it might have survived two bullets.
One more is airborne, closing on Derek, and will be there in seconds; there are two others alive. One was blocked by the frying pan and fell to the floor, now trying to find its feet; the other also fell to the floor after landing a bite, and is adjusting to the gravity.
Six bullets left in the clip.
--M. J. Young
One more is airborne, closing on Derek, and will be there in seconds
That's my target. I had to reread this a couple times to understand it completely. After I (hopefully) dispatch that one, next shot is at the next closet to Derek. after those two shots, the carbine is empty. Pull the 9mm pistol. This is why you carry more than one gun. You can almost always pull a second gun faster than you can reload the first.
(Doing Therapy)
The beast attempts to bite Derek before you can target it, but clamps its teeth on his frying pan. As it pulls this down toward the ground, you put three bullets into its midsection, tearing it to bits.
Targeting the next one, you put one of the three bullets into it solidly, but it is on the move very swiftly and the other two catch only the skin flap along the side, doing much less damage.
You drop the carbine and grab the pistol as the one you shot is leaping at you; the other is leaping at Derek, who is brandishing his knife in anticipation.
--M. J. Young