You've barely determined that she's out when she starts to groan and shake her head.
--M. J. Young
In baby talk:
"Sarah, go back to sleep. That's an order from the future leader of the world resistance."
I seem to recall something about a 6 second time frame on sleep spells. That seems like it would take 12 seconds or so to say. That's the whole prayer. That right there. So, roll for a 12 second time frame on a sleep spell. I don't want the magic to keep her asleep, I just want her to go to sleep. She was up all night after Terry appeared. She's exhausted. Her body is craving sleep. That's what I was hoping the fainting would do. Five or six hours sleeping would not be unrealistic, I wouldn't think. The magic has nothing to do with how long she's out. I want her to magically fall asleep until her body decides it's time to wake up. She needs it. So, use magic to put her to sleep, and let her natural, physical need for sleep keep her out. Should give me more than enough time to do what I need to do.
If it works, do the above. If not, deal with Sarah when she wakes up.
(Doing Therapy)
Two
If Sarah doesn't go to sleep, my hope is that she will start asking me significant yes or no questions. I could answer by raising my right hand for yes, left for no, etc. I'm assuming I could do that reliably enough for this to work.
The cover story was that Kyle Reese had a DNA enhancement done without his knowledge. It endowed me with the knowledge of the Terminators, SkyNet, gave me the consciousness of an adult, as well as weapon and hand to hand combat skills. Being born with 1@10 gun skill would be quite an advantage for the resistance to provide. As soon as the body was ready, I would be able. Sarah would probably never guess that before I was able to tell her naturally, but I thought you'd be interested anyway.
(Doing Therapy)
Three
Would it bonus the chance of success if I were to say that this will only work in a world where I would be the leader of the world resistance? Or only work on Sarah? How many teenagers want to be able to put their mother to sleep, ya know? I'd really rather not get into a lengthy discussion on it. I'm just giving you different possibilities.
Would it bonus the chance of success if I were to say that this will only work in a world where I would be the leader of the world resistance? Or only work on Sarah?
To the second, no; there are spells that can be individual-specific (such as summoning spells), but that does not generally impact their chance of success--the bonus for the limitation is balanced against the resistance of the one summoned. But attack spells that target specific individuals (and sleep is an attack spell) aren't bonused for that.
To the first, you only think you will be the leader of the world resistance. So maybe you have good reason to think so. But what if I drop you in Sherwood Forest? I can imagine a string of events in which Robin is captured, you take the lead among the Merry Men, when Robin is killed you overthrow Prince John, and then dig in to fight the armies of France and Germany that want to claim England for themselves, as you then promote a new view of a non-monarchial democratic society into the undergrounds of all the countries of the world, and suddenly you are the leader of the world resistance--but neither of us knew it when you cast that sleep spell on the Shire Reeve of Nottingham back at the beginning of the adventure. So no, we can't bonus you for what you will be.
You give your command, and Sarah slumps over in her chair, asleep.
--M. J. Young
Understood about the prayer. Just trying to get the bonuses, ya know.
Designating myself the future leader of the world resistance is kind of irrelevant, isn't it? This would still work in a world where I would never have the hope of becoming that, right?
I'm thinking this wouldn't take more than an hour or so, to summon Terry and tie up Sarah. Certainly an 11 would give me that long, wouldn't it?
Right hand in my mouth, left hand in my mouth, pray whispering for 30 minutes for Terry to appear. Raise my hands up over my head, grab the back of the highchair if possible for support. Done in a seated position.
"Terry, I need your help. I need you to come and stay with me until after Sarah wakes up.* I need you to do me quite a few favors. Help me Terry. You're my only hope."
*And that would be read as "I need you to come and stay with me for an undetermined amount of time."
When Terry shows up, have him tie Sarah to the chair. Then, endow me with the ability to speak in the voice of an adult, for 30 minutes. (Now I wish I hadn't spoiled the cover story) Then, Terry unties Sarah, and he leaves. That's the plan, from your Great Leader.
(Doing Therapy)
Your character does not know the GE roll and cannot make decisions on that basis. He only knows that Sarah fell asleep when commanded, and he has to make a decision about what to do next.
Erasing your knowledge of the GE roll, what is your plan?
--M. J. Young
You misunderstood me. That IS the plan. My character doesn't know how long she's going to be out. She looked exhausted to him. He's hoping he has enough time to do this, but he might not. That comment about the GE roll was just that. A comment. It had nothing whatsoever to do with my actions. Sarah is asleep. He's been trying to get this opportunity for a while. The opportunity is there, he's going to do it. If she wakes up before he's ready, he's going to hit her with that sleep spell again. The GE roll comment was edited in long after everything else. Just forget that it was there. It had nothing to do with this decision. I was just asking out of character a question I knew I wouldn't get answered. Just thinking out loud. The GE roll had nothing whatsoever to do with the decision making process.
I can just hear you "Yeah, you say that now...." well, you're just going to have to trust me. He's been waiting for this chance for about 30 posts or so. This decision WAS made without the knowledge of the GE roll. It was made weeks ago, actually. Just disregard that comment.
O.K. It's just that that was the first time in this world you tried to do this with a thirty minute ritual, so I was guessing that you were using the GE roll to estimate how much time you had. You were wrong, incidentally; I'd already decided how long she was going to be out based on that roll.
You start your ritual. You're about half way through it when Sarah moans, shakes herself, and sits up.
"I can't be doing this; I have to stay alert. It must be the stress. Too many weird things happening."
She looks at you. "You know, I think if just one more weird thing happens, I'm going to let them lock me up. Dr. Silberman says I'm crazy. Maybe he's right."
--M. J. Young
Oh the 30 minute ritual. No, he just didn't want to press his luck that she would be out for several hours. At least one hour was his hope. Seems he was right to think that way.
"Not Crazy. I know SkyNet." (Man, the way that sounds in my head is freaky as hell.) Are there any bonuses for having said "I know SkyNet"?
Say it. Keep trying. This is a roll until I make it or botch kind of thing.
After I say it, hold my hands out in front of me, get a blank stare on my face, and start making jerky motions. I want it to look reminiscent of a 1940s B movie robot. (A Terminator)
After that, try to say the word "Reese" and making a poking gesture with my finger into my arm. Like I'm giving myself an injection. The message I want to convey to Sarah is "I know SkyNet, the Terminators, because Reese had an injection."
John Connor (or should I say "I") didn't want Reese to know he was my father. If John Connor said that Reese needed an injection, Reese would take it, no questions asked. The injection did this to me. That's what I'm trying to tell Sarah.
Ya know what? Now that you know the cover story, maybe Sarah could guess that. Raise my right hand for yes, left hand for no, leave both hands down for maybe. That kind of thing. If I could at least get Sarah to ask me significant yes, no or maybe questions, that would help a lot. "John, is there something different about you?" (Raise right hand for "yes".) Perhaps Reese told her about DNA manipulation. The Terminators were doing that to build the human skin. (Why do you think they were capturing the humans?) Let's not forget, Reese was there. He almost became a "test subject." I could easily imagine him relating that story to Sarah. The day he met John Connor. The concept of Reese having a DNA manipulation done in anticipation of fathering me, with some intuition checks and good GE rolls, I could imagine Sarah actually guessing that. She's smart. Anything that the humans could steal from the Terminators, they did, and vice-versa. Whether a DNA manipulation stolen from the Terminators would be seen as bad or good by Sarah would be up to the dice, but who knows? Let's see what happens with this.
I mean, she already thinks that the resistance sent her a bag of weapons and gear. That they also, through Reese, genetically enhanced her son to make him a more formidable opponent.... Is that so hard to believe? This has potential, let's go with it.
MJ, if it means anything. I know that "Crazy" has a kind of rolling sound. (Tongue vibrating on the roof of your mouth) I have high 2@ or low 3@ ability at making the rolling sound. I used to tell a joke that required it. It's really easy for me. At least in this body. (Example bonus, maybe?) Just letting you know.
(Doing Therapy)
Two
Ya know what? Sarah would be beginning to think that I was different. For one thing, I would get an erection every time I saw her naked, if the body is capable of such. (She might notice after a while) I would refuse to eat peaches, or at least put up a struggle. I like English better than Spanish, and I just spoke to her. Maybe Sarah can put all of the pieces together (finally!) and realize that I'm different. She could quite possibly, even probably, know about the DNA manipulation the Terminators did. After say 40 "Yes, no, maybe" guesses, she exclaims: "My God, The Resistance gave Reese something in his DNA to make John more intelligent!!!! (And thus, a better opponent) That's what he's been trying to show me!!!" At which point, I start clapping, and laughing my little white butt off. I could then explain all of the crazy stuff that's been happening, by demonstration. "(Sighs in awe) And they even gave him the ability to raise a bulletproof force field, so he could protect us from attack." That could happen. Let's go with that, shall we?
And, if she believes in me, and doesn't doubt my abilities, we can even leave this world, never to return, and leave this nightmare behind us forever. But that won't happen for 40 to 50 years.
(Doing Therapy)
Three
Genetic engineering was something the Terminators were doing. The skin on the T-800 units was living, human tissue. They studied the human DNA code to do that. They manipulated the DNA genome so that the skin was more resilient and would heal much, much faster. That's why they were capturing the humans, to study their DNA. (Among other reasons) It was also the day that Reese met John Connor. That would be a significant event for Reese, and he would have almost certainly told Sarah about it. The humans were stealing the DNA secrets to improve medical technologies. Skin that heals in hours instead of days? Tell me a human doctor wouldn't have a field day with that. Sarah could very well know about it. Would it be such a stretch that they sent something like that inside Reese, to be unknowingly given to me when he impregnated Sarah? A DNA augmentation to increase my intelligence and thus make me more formidable. That's the conclusion I want Sarah to reach here.
I'm suddenly reminded of The Wrath of Khan. (Easily the best of the original Star Trek movies) Perhaps Sarah has seen that. Her son is a DNA augment, like Khan, given to him by his father.
This is a roll until I make it or botch kind of thing.
Sorry, but it isn't. This isn't like trying to hit the target by firing another missile. This is a "you failed, you need to have a change in circumstances so you can roll again" situation.
You struggle to say what you want, but it comes out all garbled.
Sarah sighs, shakes her head, and says, "I don't want you to worry about it. You've got to grow up some first. Already I think I've filled your head with things that no baby should know--Skynet, terminators, Cyberdyne. I wouldn't be surprised if you dream about those things. I do. I wish I didn't. I hope you don't."
--M. J. Young
Take a deep breath, calm, enunciate. Might be worth a bonus point or two for extra effort. "I-KNOW-SKY-NET!!!" Do I get any points for already having said that?
I wrote quite a bit about DNA manipulation. You said I could talk Terminator when it became relevant. If I want her to guess DNA manipulation, then I'd say it's relevant. I just wanted to make sure you got everything.
Why is there no intuition check for Sarah noticing (FINALLY!!) that her baby isn't normal? I did just speak to her. She heard me. She likely knows about DNA manipulation. She might be doubting her sanity, but she might also have some gears turning in the back of her mind. "Is there something different about him?"
(Doing Therapy)
Two
1@1 Secretly Communicate Plan to Associate M+7@1 pray quietly aloud with hands folded for 10:00, delivering a five minute explanation of an intended plan which will be heard by the one designated ally, +8SM
If that doesn't work (and even if it does) do this. The message I want to convey is:
"You're not crazy mommy. I'm not normal. Ask me yes or no questions, to be answered by raising right hand for yes, left hand for no. Kyle Reese had DNA work done (And who knows? Maybe he did.) I know things about SkyNet. I know how to fight the machines. Kyle Reese gave me the information. (And he did, in the movie) I can protect you mommy. You're not crazy. Talk to me."
If it does nothing to change the parameters of the prayer, I would want it to come through to her in a childlike, concerned voice. It IS still her infant son speaking, after all.
Since "Hands Folded" does not specify how they must be folded, I'm going to argue that I can do something in this body which would qualify as hands folded. Making fists would technically be hands folded. What's the plan I'm communicating? "Talk to me."
(Doing Therapy)
She shakes her head.
"Sarah," she says, "you've got to get some rest. The stress is making you crazy. Pretty soon you'll be seeing things that aren't there--and if you can't hold on to your sanity, you'll be no help to John. How is he going to believe that a machine came from the future to kill him before he was born, if the person who tells him this hears voices and hallucinates? Not good."
She puts you down for a nap a bit early; she lies down herself. You're pretty near exhausted by now, and it will be difficult for you to stay awake for any length of time, and you can't really tell whether she's asleep or not.
--M. J. Young
it will be difficult for you to stay awake for any length of time
I just need a few minutes. I am going to attempt psionic dream training. I've done this before (kind of) Whilst falling asleep, imagine your intended dream surrounding. Imagine yourself in full detail. Every nuance of yourself, and of your intended dream environment. I had to teach myself to do this when I was a kid to get rid of a recurring nightmare. I'm back on board the TerraNova cargo ship, on a collision course with the station, geared out exactly like I was before. The intended purpose of this is to train myself in my dreams, so that when it's real, I'll have some kind of bonus. There was a movie, you've probably seen it, I can't remember the title of the movie, but I think it starred Fred Macmurray. He was a sham music teacher, who did The Think System, if the band thinks a song, they can play it. That's what I want here. Train myself in my dreams to do this in real life. Of course though, since it's a dream, things aren't realistic. I have the infinite ammo cheat code, I can't be killed, things are different. I can also wake up from it. However, my goal is to train myself in my dreams so that I have a 3@10 example bonus when I'm actually ready to start shooting, and increase my skill in real life.
I told you I was going to run through that scenario again.
Two
In your dreams, you're a 3@10. So, in my dreams, so too will I be. Learn to use the 9mm carbine at 3@10 in my dreams, then when I can do it for real, I'll have serious skill improvement.
In my dreams, I have a subconscious memory of how that gun operates, and I've been told that the subconscious records things like a tape recorder. (Hence, why hypnosis works) I could get to know that gun, from memory, without ever shooting it.
(Doing Therapy)
Examples only count when you are learning a skill you do not already know. You cannot be your own example; the example has to be from someone who actually does have the skill.
To illustrate, let's suppose you'd seen a cowboy movie in which someone fires a six gun, and it's the only time in your life you ever saw a gun. Years later, you decide you want to learn to fire a gun, so you decide to dream about it, and figure out in your mind how it works. In your dreams, you pull the gun out of your pocket, and press the back with your thumb, and the bullet fires. It works every time, and it always hits the target.
Then you get a real revolver, and you draw it and push the back with your thumb. Nothing happens.
Your example was wrong, because it was the imaginary example of someone who doesn't know what he's doing, not the real example of someone who does.
So you can't create a 3@10 example in your dreams unless you are yourself already a 3@10 user and can duplicate your own skill in your memory.
So why is it you are so successful in your dreams? Plot immunity and referee fiat.
It's kind of like that Star Trek Next Generation episode in which Data creates the holodeck comedy club and twentieth century stand-up comedian. When he finally braves the stage, the computer-generated audience laughs at everything he says. Nothing he says is actually funny, and he realizes that; it's just that the computer is programmed to make the audience laugh at the jokes.
In a similar way, when you create the situation in your dreams, the targets are designed to die when you point the gun in their general direction and pull the trigger. You could as easily use the Hot Shots Part Deux trick of throwing handfuls of bullets at them and watching them die, because that's what the dream requires.
Now, take me through it again, and we'll figure out whether there's some way you can use this, and what exactly it is you're trying to do, such that it will improve your ability in the future.
--M. J. Young
MJ, I must ask again, and this time, I hope I get an answer. Why haven't you rolled an intuition check for Sarah realizing that her son isn't normal? She heard me speak. She heard that message inside her head, begging her to talk to me. She might be doubting her sanity, but then again, if she IS insane, there's nothing wrong with testing it out, just to be sure.
Now, take me through it again, and we'll figure out whether there's some way you can use this, and what exactly it is you're trying to do, such that it will improve your ability in the future.
I want to turn my dreams into a poor man's holodeck training program. I want to improve my skills. I could train in boxing. The opponent probably wouldn't be any better than me, but that would still be training. I want to use my dreams to increase my skills. I'm a 1@10 with that carbine now. By the time I can actually shoot it, I hope my skill is up to 2@5 or higher. I want to improve myself in my dreams.
If I put that "Send message to team member" prayer into practice mode, what would happen? Would Sarah get the message every once in a while? Would there be any rolls for whether or not she actually decided to try what it suggests? How does that work? I'm about to go into training practice mode.
(Doing Therapy)
Every mother believes that her first child is extraordinary, and almost every mother knows that she's prejudiced. The intuition check would be worthless, because she already thinks you're absolutely the most brilliant child ever born (because you are her child), and she knows that that colors her perspective. She's never had a child, so she has no one to whom to compare you. As far as she knows, you're normal.
If you want a roll, I'll give you a GE roll--but on a 3 she realizes that you really are extraordinary, and on anything worse than a 20 she concludes that you are possessed, Rosemary's Baby, and determines to be rid of you.
I'm not rolling because the roll would derail the scenario.
Concerning training in your dreams, bod skill abilities are learned in your limbs, and so you can't practice them without actually using your body. You might be able to get some other benefit from dream training, but as yet you've not persuaded me.
If you practice magic skills, you go through the motions of the ritual without there being any actual release of magic power.
--M. J. Young
So just how close am I to having Whisp and Mother?
Well, what CAN I teach myself and improve upon in dream training?
Well, what CAN I teach myself and improve upon in dream training?
That's a good question; let's take it up in another thread.
--M. J. Young
And I've replied there.
(Doing Therapy)
So where are we as far as making this a reality for him? I want my first training simulation to be the TerraNova spaceship. I want to improve skill with the 9mm carbine first.
When I wake up, Sarah will give me a bottle. This is my first in the 30 bottles for the prayer spell that I was doing. I'll look up the stats for that if you insist.
Two
Ya know something? I only went on that mission in TerraNova out of some twisted sense of loyalty to Lauren. If it had been just me, I would have let it hit the station. As you keep pointing out, I'm a verser. Why worry about something so trivial as my own demise?
Let me clarify one aspect: everything is possible in Multiverser. That does not mean that everything is possible for any given character at any specific time in any particular universe; it means that in some worlds for some characters sometimes these things are possible.
You can attempt to teach yourself the sleep practice skill whenever you like. In order for it to work, you must already know (have) the skill you are practicing, and you must have practiced it for at least three hours while awake.
--M. J. Young
So exactly what benefit am I getting from this dream training?
Let's run the TerraNova spaceship simulation. Practicing using the guns that I had there.
When I wake up and get my bottle, that's the first bottle of 30 for the speaking spell.
Two
So if I have to roll to use the dream practice, I can't practice the dream practice and get any kind of skill benefit? I mean, I would get skill marks in dream practice, but not in the practiced skill? Something like that? That might be what I'll do then. Practice the dream practice until I can actually do what I'm practicing in dreams. What if we skipped a couple months, but I was doing the dream practice and practicing skills? (Cue training montage) How would you roll for that?
So, assuming I make all of my rolls, how much faster will I accelerate my gun skills? How does this work? If it's one hour per three, does that mean that 200 days practice counts as 300 days practice? That would work.
(Doing Therapy)
Three
Notes:
Don't forget the communicate to Sarah prayer again.
OK, quit bugging Sarah. Pray for someone/something to take Sarah's mind off of all of the crazy $#!+ that's been happening lately. A trainer, a boyfriend, whatever. Something Relaxing!!!!! If you can't get Kyle's brother, get Kyle's great uncle. He's alive now. Who is to say he isn't into conspiracies and next-level technology?
(Doing Therapy)
Four
MJ, I want an answer, please. You said that the roll on the equipment coming didn't go as you or I had hoped. Why did you roll it at all? As I've said, between the 70 some pounds on person, and the 10% increase, I'd think dropping some ammo would do it. That was, after all, half of the point of the VSP. I can carry 76 pounds more gear from verse to verse. You didn't drop all of the guns, did you? Please tell me you didn't do that. Dropping some ammo would put me underweight, it's simple, just figure out the weight of everything, and add ammo until it comes to the weight limit. (Or something) How does that weight limit thing work? Kyler just picked stuff he thought I would need off of my sheet. Is that a referee's thing? I'd really like to keep the explosive shotgun shells and the grenades, ya know? Most of the other ammo should be replaceable in this world.
Also, there were some things which were coming, scheduled to arrive the day after we boarded the transport. Is it possible that that stuff had arrived, but had not been unpacked before I versed out? At this distance, it would still be in the same scriff vector as the stuff in my room. It was a couple of guns that I really wanted. I would think drop some AK-47 ammo and the 9mm ammo would put me at weight. Just a thought.
(Doing Therapy)
At this point, you can teach yourself the dream training, to the degree that it involves a slightly altered state of consciousness--something above sleep that is as restful as sleep but enables you to control your dreams.
You can't effectively use the dream training for anything unless you can first get three hours of practice in that skill while awake. You could use it for anything you are already able to do in this body which you are practicing when awake.
I'll not answer questions about what is going to be discovered in the future.
--M. J. Young
TerraNova spaceship. I know it won't help, but this is the teaching myself to use it roll. Besides, I want to see how it would have gone if we had stayed together. I've got an hour of dream time, more than enough to run through it again. The dream is going to be played out. Since it's a dream, anything goes. Everything I actually saw is the same, but if the end boss is the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, I won't be surprised. Also, in the dream world, all biases are 15@10. I also have the infinite ammo cheat code. I never have to change weapon magazines, and the 357 will just shoot and shoot and shoot. The shotgun is loaded with whatever I feel like firing at that moment. If I want to fire a flare, I say "Firing flare" Then, without reloading, "Fire Shredder". The laws of physics are much more loose. This is my simulation, after all. The limitation though is that the weapons do exactly the same damage, and the enemies are just as difficult to kill.
MJ, I know you're the referee, but this is my world, and in my world, I set the rules. All GE rolls in the dream world are 2d10+5, or the "safe" roll.
What happens if I botch on a psionic skill in the dream world?
So, geared up with what I had, we've just beamed onto the TerraNova spaceship, and Lauren has just asked "What do you think we should do John?" To which I reply "Let's head for the bridge. That's probably more important than getting the gravity online."
(Doing Therapy)
If I recall correctly, the next thing you did was stop and check the crate with the laser pistols. Does that happen, or is the crate random, or are you skipping the crate?
--M. J. Young
Everything from this point forward is random. Since I never saw that laser pistol fire, I can't exactly imagine it in any way which would help me learn its use. From here on out, it's four of us heading to the bridge. Except for the established parameters, this is just like running through it the first time.
Hey, ya know what? If this technique works, I can get a rematch with that MP......
Two
I didn't really understand much of how this dream training works, but I gotta question. You said that the 2@1 boxing counts towards relearning how to box. Could I teach myself any bod skills in the dream world, and have a similar bonus? How can I advance? New uses. My dream character could get to 1@10 with new uses on using a nightstick. Would I then have a +20 when I tried to learn one?
(Doing Therapy)
Let me see how this plays out before I make any decisions.
I believe, then, that this post is where you are in that world, and this is the corresponding Behind the Screens post.
You have just boarded the ship. The gravity is out, and CW has just explained that the absence of gravity means, among other things, that there are limited convection currents, and thus that you could step abruptly into blisteringly hot or freezingly cold air pockets without warning. Lauren asks whether you want to head for engineering to fix the gravity first, or attempt to make it to the bridge without the gravity. You suggest the bridge, and with that it is agreed to head for the bridge.
Lauren is using psionic flight and CW is walking with magnetic boots. You have attempted to put tape loops on your feet to give you some cling to the floor, which is having only limited success. In the real version, you tied Derek to you with a length of rope. What are you doing this time?
--M. J. Young
No MJ, you're not understanding me. Following my suggestion to head to the bridge, this is a completely different scenario. The last run-through means nothing whatsoever from this point forward. This is an entirely new run-through. I'll accept it up to the point of we're heading towards the bridge. After that, forget the other completely. The terrain, the monsters, they're the same. Everything else is new and different.
So, we're heading towards the bridge, and I too and practicing psionic flight to move around. What's Derek doing? Is he crawling on the walls? Does he want tape for his hands? Does he wish to be tied to me? I do have the carabiner and rope out, to be used as a grappling hook. The carabiner is taped open. The GE rolls here are 2d10+5, and we all have the infinite ammo cheat code. Forget the other thread completely. It has nothing to do with this, except the terrain and monsters.
What if I read a spell in a spell book? Can I dream about Papa Smurf teaching it to me as practice?
(Doing Therapy)
No MJ, you're not understanding me. Following my suggestion to head to the bridge, this is a completely different scenario. The last run-through means nothing whatsoever from this point forward. This is an entirely new run-through. I'll accept it up to the point of we're heading towards the bridge. After that, forget the other completely. The terrain, the monsters, they're the same. Everything else is new and different.
I don't think I misunderstood you. However, if you think I have a floorplan of the ship marked with where monster encounters are, you're mistaken. What I have is a general concept of where the bridge is relative to the cargo hold, a rough definition of the nature of these monsters and how many there are likely to be in any given location, and a GE roll for what you encounter when and where. That means that many of the rolls I made before are completely relevant, because they defined your experience then--you could have gotten a lot of really good rolls and skated to the bridge with almost no trouble, or a much worse roll that got you ambushed overwhelmingly at the exit from the cargo bay.
I also note that your knowledge of that scenario is limited as well--you only actually know it to the point where you had your fatal encounter.
All of which means I have to track your movements against what is known and what you might plausibly invent in your dream. So I need those threads, even if you don't, and it will make my life a lot easier to have them readily available for reference.
The GE rolls here are 2d10+5, and we all have the infinite ammo cheat code.
Bzzt. Deciding how the rules apply is a referee decision, not a player decision. In this case quite specifically you can't make that decision. You are thinking that because you are creating this world in your dreams you get to make "the rules", but your character can never think in terms of game mechanics--they don't exist in his mind, but control his world. To illustrate, Aristotle could not say that in the world he is imagining E does not equal MC squared, because he has no way of knowing that in the real world it does. Your character has no way of knowing that in his "real world" events are controlled by something called a "general effects roll", and thus he cannot imagine that the dream world is different because the general effects rolls have been altered, any more than he can imagine that he always makes all his skill checks and the enemy fails all of his, because he doesn't know what a skill check is.
What if I read a spell in a spell book? Can I dream about Papa Smurf teaching it to me as practice?
No hypothetical questions in the game thread, please. If you don't know a skill you can't practice it.
Derek is pushing himself from one wall to another, spinning slowly as he covers the rear. Lauren is staying about two steps behind you to your left, some sort of long thin staff in hand, laser rifle strapped over her back, pistols holstered in dual quick-draws. CW is a step or so behind her, to your right.
--M. J. Young
Bzzt. Deciding how the rules apply is a referee decision, not a player decision. In this case quite specifically you can't make that decision. You are thinking that because you are creating this world in your dreams you get to make "the rules", but your character can never think in terms of game mechanics--they don't exist in his mind, but control his world.
Bzzt I might not be able to think in terms of game mechanics, but I CAN think in terms of good luck, bad luck, or average luck. My character, in his dreams, has average luck. At least in this case. My character is thinking in terms of "Average Luck" which translates in game mechanics to 2D10+5 GE rolls. So, all rolls are 2D10+5, because my character wants to have average luck. Tell me a better way to communicate "Average Luck" to you, without using game mechanics, and we won't ever have this problem again. (Probably sounds more petulant than it should) I just had no better way to communicate that to you.
I'm practicing psionic flight, I've got the carbine up and at the ready, and I'm trying to stay to the side. Never move to point if it can be helped. So, we're moving 4 abreast, or at least as close to that as can be made with what the others are doing. I'm not leading the pack.