A Day Late And A One-Shot Short

I promised a writeup of my one-shot experiences at Scorchcon, and so here goes.

This could have been a complete disaster for me, but as it turns out, I managed to make something out of it in the end. I went to open up my outlines and stats for the adventures the night before the convention so I could email them to myself and found that my computer had managed to throw a complete shoe and didn’t save the files properly. I decided that the 3rd level one-shot was going to be easy enough to rewrite, but there wasn’t much of a chance of me salvaging the 8th level one. So the morning of the convention, I emailed the few things that I did still have to myself and went to work once I got to the convention.

I managed to, as quick as I could, get the basic outline and some stat blocks typed up, operating on memory most of the time and telling myself that I would adjust on the fly as I needed to and changed my 6 o’clock slot to a second running of Hard Contact and waited until my first slot, which wound up getting canceled because I had no players for it.

However, I had four players for my later game, and two of them decided to play two characters to get a full six member party. They started the one shot, and I quickly found out that most of my encounters were written too low, however, the game ran pretty smoothly even with all the hiccups I had to deal with in the scramble to rewrite it. The skill challenges went fairly well, though need a little more polishing, and the encounters, though too easy, made sense and flowed well from one to another. Most of the problem was placement of a lot of the enemies, and lots of melee enemies (Gamorrean Tribesmen) that couldn’t get into range to make any effective attacks. I also need to beef up a lot of the Battle Droids, as they tended to be destroyed before they were much of a threat.
However, there were a couple of great moments, which included:

• The Human Jedi getting into an argument with the spirit of her fallen Jedi Master on the best way to take the fight to the Separatists who had killed him at the beginning of the adventure.
• The Wookiee Jedi suffering a minor fit of dementia during the final encounter and jumping off the wall of the Gamorrean citadel to engage the enemy, and then climbing back up the next round when there were no more enemies. Then, when the next wave came along, instead of jumping back down, decided to go into a Force Trance and grabbed a nap.
• The Heavy Weapons Specialist spending his Destiny Point during the final encounter as he rolled off the wall to crit on a Battle Droid while using Burst Fire. He dealt 60 some damage to a droid that literally had 1 hit point left. Heavy was the master of overkill during this one shot.

So, the plan is to take this back to the construction board for polishing and refinement, scale up the challenge  a good bit (they were never in any real danger during the game) and give it another run through at some point with one of my regular game groups. Then the next step will be getting The Ghosts of Alderaan rewritten.

So, the one shots could have gone a lot better, but considering my computer throwing a shoe, it didn’t perform too badly. So that’s the game report, such as it was.

This was also my first use of Gaming Paper, which is an excellent product. Durable enough to stand up to a good deal of writing and erasing if need be and easy enough to tear and cut off the roll. It was very nice being able to have my three battle maps drawn up and then just bring them out as I needed them instead of having to stop and erase a reusable battle map three times during the game. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking for an alternative to the reusable maps.

Hard Contact Pregens

I was going to put up a new build of the week today, but I decided that I’d follow up my last post with some the characters that I built for my lower level module I’ll be running next Saturday: Hard Contact. I don’t have much of a preamble, so let’s skip the rest of the formalities and jump right into the stat blocks shall we?

Asanna Drello

Medium Human Jedi 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +6; Senses Perception +3

Langauges Basic

Defenses Ref 14 (flat-footed 14), Fort 14, Will 16; Deflect

hp 44; Thresh 14

Speed 6 squares

Melee lightsaber +4 (2d8+2) or

Melee lightsaber +4 (2d8+3) two handed

Base Atk +3; Grp +3

Special Actions Consular’s Vitality

Force Powers Known (Use the Force +13): Force slam x2, move object, negate energy, vital transfer x2

Abilities Str 12, Dex 11, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14

Talents Consular’s Vitality, Deflect

Feats Force Sensitivity, Force Training (x2), Skill focus (Use the Force), Strong in the Force, Weapon Proficiency (lightsabers, simple waepons)

Skills Acrobatics +6, Initiative +6, Use the Force +13

Possessions padawan robes, lightsaber

Rowollor

Medium Wookiee Jedi 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +6; Senses Perception +2

Languages Basic (understand only), Shyriiwook

Defenses Ref 14 (flat-footed 14), Fort 16, Will 15

hp 50, Thresh 16

Speed 6 squares

Melee lightsaber +7 (2d8+6) or

Melee lightsaber +7 (2d8+9) two-handed

Base Atk +3, Grp +6

Atk Options Guardian Strike, Weapon Specialization (lightsabers)

Force Powers Known (Use the Force +6): battlestrike ( (x2)

Abilities Str 16, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 10

Talents Guardian Strike, Weapon Specialization (lightsabers)

Feats Distracting Strike*, Force Sensitivity, Force Training, Weapon Focus (lightsabers), Weapon Proficiency (lightsabers, simple weapons)

Skills Initiative +6, Use the Force +6

Possessions lightsaber, padawan robes

*renamed from Staggering Attack from Galaxy at War

Short

Medium Human (Clone) Solder 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +4

Lanaguages Basic, Shyriiwook

Defenses Ref 19 (flat-footed 17), Fort 19, Will 14

hp 50; Thresh 19

Speed 6 squares

Melee unarmed +3 (1d4+1)

Ranged ion pistol +5 (3d8+1/+5 vs droids)

Ranged ion rifle +5 (3d8+1/+5 vs. droids)

Ranged ion grenade +5 (4d6+1/+5 vs. droids, 3-square splash)

Ranged sidearm blaster pistol +5 (3d6+1/+3 vs. droids)

Base Atk +3; Grp +3

Atk Options Devastating Attack (pistols, rifles), Disabler, Droid Hunter, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot

Abilities Str 11, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 10

Talents Devastating Attack (pistols, rifles)

Feats Armor Proficiency (light, medium), Disabler, Droid Hunter, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Weapon Proficiency (pistols, rifles, simple weapons)

Skill Endurance +8, Initiative +8, Knowledge (technology) +7, Mechanics +7, Use Computer +7

Possessions clone trooper armor (+6 armor, +2 equipment), ion pistol, ion rifle, 4 ion grenades, sidearm blaster pistol, utility belt with medpac, roll of meshtape, cryo pouch

Heavy

Medium Human (Clone) Soldier 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +4

Languages Basic

Defenses Ref 19 (flat-footed 17), Fort 19, Will 14

hp 53′; Thresh 19

Speed 6 squares

Melee unarmed +4 (1d4+2)

Ranged rotary blaster cannon +3 (3d10+1, 2×4 area) with braced autofire or

Ranged rotary blaster cannon +0 (5d10+1) with Burst Fire

Ranged blaster rifle +5 (3d8+1) or

Ranged blaster rifle +0 (5d8+1) with Burst Fire

Ranged frag grenade +5 (4d6+1, 2-square burst)

Ranged sidearm blaster pistol +5 (3d6+1)

Base Atk +3; Grp +4

Atk Options Burst Fire, Comrades in Arms, Destructive Force, Focused Targeting

Abiltiies Str 13, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10

Talents Comrades in Arms, Focused Targeting

Feats Armor Proficiency (light, medium), Burst Fire, Destructive Force, Toughness, Weapon Proficency (heavy weapons, pistols, rifles, simple weapons)

Skills Climb +7, Initiative +8, Jump +7, Swim +7

Possessions clone trooper armor (+6 armor, +2 equipment), rotary blaster cannon, blaster rifle with attached grenade launcher, sidearm blaster pistol, 4 frag grenades, utility belt with medpac, cryo pouch

Sarge

Medium Human (Clone) Noble 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +9

Languages Basic, Kaminoan, Mando’a, Shyriiwook

Defenses Ref 19 (flat-footed 17), Fort 16, Will 18; Grand Army of the Republic Training

hp 29; Thresh 16

Speed 6 squares

Melee unarmed +3 (1d4+1)

Ranged blaster rifle +5 (3d8+1)

Ranged sidearm blaster pistol +5 (3d6+1)

Ranged frag grenade +5 (4d6+1, 2-square burst)

Base Atk +3; Grp +3

Atk Options Coordinated Attack

Special Actions Anticipate Movement, Born Leader

Abilities Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 12

Talents Anticipate Movement, Born Leader

Feats Armor Profiency (light), Coordinated Attack, Grand Army of the Republic Training, Linguist, Weapon Profiency (pistols, rifles, simple weapons)

Skills Initiative +8, Knowledge (bureaucracy) +7, Knowledge (galactic lore) +7, Knowledge (tactics) +7, Perception +9, Persuasion +7, Treat Injury +7, Use Computer +7

Possessions clone trooper armor (+6 armor, +2 equipment), blaster rifle, sidearm blaster pistol, 2 frag grenades , utility belt with 4 medpacs, cryo pouch

Bullseye

Medium Human (Clone) Solder 2/Scoundrel 1

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +8

Languages Basic, Shyriiwook

Defenses Ref 20 (flat-footed 18), Fort 17, Will 14

hp 41; Thresh 17

Speed 6 squares

Melee unarmed +3 (1d4+1)

Ranged heavy blaster pistol +5 (3d8+1) or

Ranged heavy blaster pistol +3 (4d8+1) with Rapid Shot or

Ranged heavy blaster pistol +0/+0 (3d8+1) or

Ranged heavy blaster pistol -2/-2 (4d8+1) with Rapid Shot

Ranged sidearm blaster pistol +5 (3d6+1)

Base Atk +2; Grp +3

Atk Options Devastating Attack (pistols), Dual Weapon Mastery I, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Running Attack, Skirmisher, Weapon Focus (pistols)

Abilities Str 13, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 11

Talents Devastating Attack (pistols), Skirmisher

Feats Armor Proficiency (light, medium), Dual Weapon Mastery I, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Running Attack, Weapon Focus (pistols), Weapon Proficiency (pistols, rifles, simple weapon)

Skills Initiative +8, Jump +7, Knowledge (tactics) +7, Perception +8, Pilot +8

Possessions clone trooper armor (+6 armor, +2 equipment), 2 heavy blaster pistols, sidearm blaster pistol, utility belt with medpac, cryo pouch

Goggles

Medium Human (Clone) Scout 3

Destiny 1; Force 4; Dark Side 0

Init +8; Senses low-light vision; Perception +12

Languages Basic, Shyriiwook

Defenses Ref 20 (flat-footed 18), Fort 18; Will 14

hp 40; Thresh 18

Speed 6 squares

Melee unarmed +2 (1d4+1)

Ranged heavy blaster rifle +4 (3d12+1)

Ranged sidearm blaster pistol +4 (3d6+1)

Base Atk +2; Grp +2

Special Actions Spotter

Abilities Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 10

Talents Acute Senses, Spotter

Feats Armor Proficiency (light, medium), Shake it Off, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth), Weapon Proficiency (pistols, rifles, simple weapons)

Skills Endurance +8, Initiative +8, Knowledge (galactic lore) +7, Mechanics +7, Perception +12 (can reroll, must take second result), Stealth +18, Survival +7

Possessions clone armor (+6 armor, +2 equipment), heavy blaster rifle, sidearm blaster pistol, utility belt with medpac, electrobinoculars, camouflage poncho, cryo pouch

So there you have the squad. Very combat and soldier focused, I know, but then again, that’s the kind of adventure (and the kind of era) the one-shot is designed around.

I’d love to get other people’s feedback on these guys. Let me know what you like, what you don’t like, what you might do differently, and most importantly, if they look like they’d be fun to play.

I’ll most likely be back on Monday with the pregens from the other game I’ll be running next week, The Ghosts of Alderaan, which is a higher level (8th) adventure, so you can look forward to that.

And tomorrow I’ll be posting up my Build of the Week: The Ultimate Bodyguard, so you have that to look forward to. Until then Gamer Nation.