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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 14, 2010 14:53:47 GMT -6
I need some idea what the "law" says about fights like the one Tango is trying to draw AJ into. Knowing that you were going for a more Age of Sail feel earlier, I immediately presumed that this would play out more like a traditional duel - pistols at ten paces, that sort of thing - but there's enough modern law stuff in the background to also assume that shooting at one another in the street would lead to incarceration. Hence, the advice seeking.
Also, could I get some sort of idea about the layout? How far away this guy is from me, what's in the immediate vicinity, that sort of thing.
[Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=5295970823416668049801351381134396062787624190593367739887393773678]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 14, 2010 16:25:47 GMT -6
I need some idea what the "law" says about fights like the one Tango is trying to draw AJ into. Knowing that you were going for a more Age of Sail feel earlier, I immediately presumed that this would play out more like a traditional duel - pistols at ten paces, that sort of thing - but there's enough modern law stuff in the background to also assume that shooting at one another in the street would lead to incarceration. Hence, the advice seeking. Also, could I get some sort of idea about the layout? How far away this guy is from me, what's in the immediate vicinity, that sort of thing. Duelling is illegal. Use of a weapon in self-defense is not. Shooting someone, and not killing them, is likely going to be considered "assault." There are places where one is more likely to get away with this sort of thing. Here, if you're shown to be the non-aggressor, they'll probably let you go without much of a fuss, barring any exceptional circumstances (like "contempt of cop," reckless endangerment of the public, or whatnot). That said, the cops will generally try to break it up (unless they're really bored). Doesn't happen a lot, but is common enough that people don't think it's weird—maybe like a modern car accident? You can be fairly certain that Tango is not nobility, or high-class at all. There probably won't be anything "formal" here. Physical situation, I suppose, is a bit like your usual mall—stores & whatnot, with a central "street" to it. The café is going to be like a typical mall restaurant, and not necessarily a "food court" place, although those do exist. AJ/Bella are inside, near a main window. Tango is outside ~10m away. No "straight" exit from where you're sitting—have to get up & go to the door to get out. FYI. Everybody's watching
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 15, 2010 10:30:44 GMT -6
Could AJ be considered to be using the Evaluate maneuver against Tango? Because that's kind of what he's trying to do...
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 15, 2010 10:55:08 GMT -6
Could AJ be considered to be using the Evaluate maneuver against Tango? Because that's kind of what he's trying to do... Evaluate is effectively "aiming" a melee attack. Not sure how you do that without directly looking at the target. Maybe max out at +1 (instead of +3)? Might as well tell me what you're planning
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 15, 2010 11:01:50 GMT -6
Not really planning anything, per se. Maybe I should say he's using the "Wait" maneuver instead? Basically, AJ is not planning on making the first move, so he's waiting for Tango to act first. If Tango goes for his gun, AJ is planning on trying a Disarm attack. If the guy takes a swing, AJ is going to try to dodge and retaliate. But he's not going to take the first swing.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 16, 2010 11:57:31 GMT -6
Re: Character Advancement Well, I'm definitely going for "Detect Lies" (since, if Bella is going to be a recurring character, I'm certainly going to need to see through her crap. ), but apart from that, I don't have a good enough grasp on the ultimate goal of the story to know what is necessary. I'd very much like to increase some of AJ's Krav Maga maneuvers, but that's kind of implied with the "offscreen" training he's been taking with the Old Jewish Master back on Tamborro. In addition to him picking up Chinese (however that works), I would also like to improve AJ's Strength score, so we'll have to work in a couple of scenes or some references to him working out more than normal. Mayhap that can be part of the "next day" stuff, like he's got a standing appointment at the gym with Steg? Also, this is how I think the timeline sort of breaks down. - Day 1-2: On Midway. Meets Bella. Pisses off Kong. Meets Julie's fiance. Departs Midway. Evades Missile. Arrives on Tambo. Goes to bar. Goes to lunch. Tango encounter.
- Day 3: Company Meeting @ 1000 hours. AJ intending to visit his Krav Maga instructor.
- Day 4: Sophie scheduled to return. Plan to meet Desi.
- Day 5: Omen maintenance scheduled. Computer Implant reactivation scheduled.
[Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=58259376644278120535092120888821555991987843197596120229264363252]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 16, 2010 15:19:25 GMT -6
What's AJ planning to do with Bella? He going to get her into a hotel or something, put her on the next ship running, or do I recall mention of bringing her back to the apt (for "safety" reasons ). [Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=014829598838578817932141510191643618802883712491886874334583381315]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 16, 2010 15:25:47 GMT -6
Well I know what he'd like to "do with Bella," but that's not G-rated. It really kind of depends on her, actually but he's certainly going to point out (without it trying to sound like a pick-up line) that staying alone is probably dangerous at the moment. There's likely Triad/Tong/Whatever They Are "operatives" on Tambo, and if there aren't, they'll have had plenty of time to get there from Midway, so if/when Kong decides to retaliate, she's going to want to have backup. [Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=14682120110415864865004351705002409576470228485967918387441606537]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 17, 2010 14:55:30 GMT -6
Question in regards to the most recent update: How is Bella reacting to Officer Dallas' clear desire to "take AJ in"?
[Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=15025101256970631501507806599867768245873345630386293431384322958]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 17, 2010 14:56:49 GMT -6
Question in regards to the most recent update: How is Bella reacting to Officer Dallas' clear desire to "take AJ in"? Watching curiously from the table, trying to figure out what's going on. Nothing's actually happened yet. [Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=57855519794778716419592671094266169926035809253252218237138554966]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 17, 2010 14:58:30 GMT -6
But Dallas' body language would clearly be saying "get into the (faux) car, sir" which would imply that AJ is being arrested (or bound by law, if you will.)
[Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=49669085046712047480633431444170532005284980798837077414804749471]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 17, 2010 15:02:05 GMT -6
But Dallas' body language would clearly be saying "get into the (faux) car, sir" which would imply that AJ is being arrested (or bound by law, if you will.) Just getting into the car doesn't necessarily mean anything—you've been there. Until it starts driving off, she probably won't register anything's wrong. If they had patted you down, taken your weapons, & cuffed you, that'd be a different matter. That's my thinking, anyway. [Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=55774804839247959509814751683727138258066877348329189152542323822]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 17, 2010 15:04:28 GMT -6
If they had patted you down, taken your weapons, & cuffed you, that'd be a different matter. In retrospect, they probably should do that anyway. [Test Edit[dice=6]][rand=999590495587130527620978144664077377449219712445417622451338510126]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 18, 2010 10:17:43 GMT -6
Gonna need a check vs Flashbacks. If it fails/triggers, I'll let you write it in, if/when the stress level rises enough to trigger it.[rand=7179897391026173461006404237857440471350621505025848095519120092]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 18, 2010 10:19:53 GMT -6
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=78186831343723262649749822960456692101166622615547480427763723067]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 18, 2010 10:53:53 GMT -6
Based on the prose, AJ is clearly attempting to activate the Mind Block skill (sk: 13, has to be made every minute to maintain according to the Basic Set.) So here's his attempt to activate it (thanks to paranoia.)
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=537228794635122184804197485389770894606551007051118792844829443145]
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 18, 2010 14:27:13 GMT -6
Does AJ know this "Sly" person? Name's not ringing any bells, although I might just be oblivious...
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 18, 2010 14:56:12 GMT -6
Does AJ know this "Sly" person? Name's not ringing any bells, although I might just be oblivious... Probably. Give me a roll anyway: AK(System)/Streetwise
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 18, 2010 14:57:32 GMT -6
Area Knowledge (Helene System) skill: 14
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=5726932805446637151635566465561870163645805062481169742143281508834]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 18, 2010 15:04:26 GMT -6
Area Knowledge (Helene System) skill: 14 Checking my notes, you did hear about Sly from Ali, when you interrogated him (before sticking him in the closet). Clarck was supposed to be selling the blackbox to Sly. IIRC, you rolled it up then too—Sly is the #1 gangster in the area, never been caught, ex-pirate type, paid up with the right people, etc.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 19, 2010 9:02:05 GMT -6
When was the whole Ajax looking for Sabo, DSD stole the blackbox from Clark thing in relation to the "eighth or ninth of June"? I'm not exactly sure where AJ was on those days, although I'm presuming that we had left by that point and were en route to Lucifer.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 19, 2010 9:55:22 GMT -6
When was the whole Ajax looking for Sabo, DSD stole the blackbox from Clark thing in relation to the "eighth or ninth of June"? I'm not exactly sure where AJ was on those days, although I'm presuming that we had left by that point and were en route to Lucifer. Should've put that here already… I have you leaving for Lucifer on 01Jun04, and returning to Tambo on ~14Jun04. That gives about a 2-week window, about three weeks back.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 21, 2010 9:59:07 GMT -6
Nightmare check:
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=2580200455297212443711908194081561721508731790468715348341042587066]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 23, 2010 14:39:27 GMT -6
Damned PCs…always gotta make things more difficult Fight when you should talk; run when you should fight, etc ;D You planning to attempt an Influence check, here? AJ's impression of the visitors, at this point, would be that they are not afraid of him (having superior numbers, at least), and they really couldn't care (low-side of Neutral).
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 23, 2010 14:50:41 GMT -6
Well, do you blame him, especially knowing the kinds of enemies arrayed against him and how someone could potentially hack his brain? He doesn't know these people.
Right now, AJ sees himself in an untenable situation and is bracing himself for a suicidal attempt to "protect the girl." He's sort of stalling while trying to figure a way out. That said, an Influence check certainly seems to fit here. What would be the most likely one he'd use here?
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 23, 2010 15:07:00 GMT -6
Suicidal attempts are soPC He probably knows he's not going to be able to fight his way out of this. Intimidation is unlikely, unless he can really pull something out of his ass. Diplomacy is safe, usually, but we'd have to define the goal—no jack, or getting them to leave? May be something else is appropriate as well? Have to check the skillz. That said, I'm assuming you/he knows what's coming. He's a smart cookie, and there are a number of visible factors to take into account: - He's not wanted dead, or he'd be dead by now (or fighting his way out)
- He's not being "removed" from the premises
- These guys are not the type to be "in charge"—someone else is. He could take some guesses as to who that might be, given the situation. Whatever happens, they'll have to answer to someone else for the results.
- Bella was not injured (that he could tell)
- Weapons being brandished are nasty, and quite lethal—injuries will be severe
- Null-jacks can deliver a program, but are not commonly used that way
I know the PC way is to start fighting—I'd be looking to do that myself, I'm sure, were the positions reversed. We have a tendency to stop there, though, as gamers. The real questions you/we have to ask are "Can you win? and "What happens if you don't?" and thusly, "Does the risk of failure exceed the possibility of success?" The age-old GMing conundrum—how to intimidate a Player into compliance?.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 23, 2010 15:50:02 GMT -6
While I certainly see your points, I'm trying to remain in-character with AJ. He's got the Stubbornness disad, after all, and the knowledge that null-jacks can be used to deliver a program is enough. Blame it on him hanging around Tulk too much. Since they're not dead & Bella wasn't injured, he's already gambling on their "boss" wanting to talk, not to mention, he doesn't much like a bunch of jackasses entering his home and trying to browbeat him into submission.
I'm presuming it would be a Diplomacy thing - no jack likely being the goal (since he doesn't trust them to not try to hack his brain), but an explanation definitely is in order. As far as I can tell, he can't record anything unless he's jacked in and he's not at the moment. So Diplomacy (11) is the plan.
[dice=6][dice=6][dice=6][rand=72641523915446227798256031234125772948672258127112892007424463414]
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 23, 2010 20:22:06 GMT -6
I gave them (the chief, anyways) their roll, and they won out—they're not going to back down, and are clearly prepared to use force. I don't want this to turn into something that is not fun, but, OTOH, I can't very well not pull the proverbial trigger if it comes to it. So, that said: - How do you want this to play out?
- How do you expect this to play out?
- If you were GMing, how would you play this out?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 24, 2010 8:39:48 GMT -6
I don't know what to say. This is one of those situations where I see both sides of the argument - as GM, you need the player to do something, but as the player, I can't see the character actually doing it, especially since he has the Stubbornness disad and doing what you need goes against his character. As far as AJ can tell, these guys are complete mooks working maybe for Kong or Sylvester, and what better way to take out two threats than by having one kill the other thanks to a hacked brain? Something else to take into account, I think, is the nature of their orders. Were they instructed to go in shooting or are they simply too stupid to realize that isn't the case at all? We also need to consider Bella and what she does here. - Want this to play out? Without violence if at all possible. AJ is too stubborn to back down before bullies, but smart enough to know he's outgunned. Since he doesn't know who these guys work for (and actually fears the worst), the not backing down takes precedence over his normal survival instincts because, if he's going down, then he's going to go down swinging.
- Expect it? I dunno. It's a crap no-win situation and I'm don't know how to proceed.
- If I were GMing ... hmm ... difficult to say since I don't know the endgame. There's always the way "Serenity" ended with the mooks about to open fire on Summer but receive a direct order to stand down ... or there's the idea of them carrying a different sort of jammer ... or one of AJ's neighbors opening a door, which causes enough of a distraction to let Trent get the drop on one of the bad guys. A lot depends on who they're working for. Someone who has done their actual homework on AJ is going to know he's a stubborn SOB and prepare accordingly. This is basically the equivalent of a PC being "tied up" and you know how much players like that.
What about using a Plot Point to get out of the situation or something?
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 24, 2010 9:55:18 GMT -6
Clearly, you're just not getting it. Let's try another angle: Since it looks like this is about to crash, I'm just going to tell you what's going on, and maybe we can learn something. I'm assuming you've figured out that Sly is behind this. He want's to talk to this Captain he doesn't really know, but he's done enough digging to know he's (probably) got an NI jack, and maybe an implant computer. He can't maintain his business while being recorded doing his dealings, so he has to take whatever steps to not be recorded. The null-jack is the easiest way to do that, in this situation, and is SOP for him. He's got the guy backed into a corner & out-muscled, expecting that the guy will be intimidated into compliance. In this case, he only wants to talk, so violence is counter-productive. The hired thugs aren't really in on that level of what's going on, are not necessarily all that bright, and if they feel threatened, they're gonna shoot to kill. They're also not going to compromise on their assigned task, since they'll have to answer to someone they know will (as far as they know) kill them for disobedience. Doesn't leave them with many choices. Given the way you have AJ reacting, currently, there's no way I can ever accomplish this task, even if I change the scenery—we'd have the same problem if someone forced him into a limo, or whatever cliché you like. Trent's gonna fight, and logically, subsequently get killed. This is counter-productive to a continuing story (unless it's some sort of Supernatural thing ). Clearly, I have failed to intimidate the Player into submission. Where did I go wrong? Somehow you have it in your head that stubborn non-compliance and possible death are preferable to a null-jack. For the record, Stubbornness does not need to short-circuit one's survival instinct, which is where we're currently going. Diplomacy—he's gonna demand to have it his way. Combat—not really applicable. As to the questions—you're not getting me. I meant for you to tell me how the scene would go in those instances, as if you were writing it into the movie. You clearly have a way you want the scene to go. You clearly have some expectation of success, or you wouldn't be trying this. As to the shoe-on-the-other-foot, it's not a question of how I let you get away with it—I mean, if you were GMing, how would you pull the trigger while trying to keep the story going. If AJ says "Shoot me," and I fail to do so, then I have failed as a GM—as I have in the past. I really hate being put in a position where I end up arguing with a Player about how to play his character. I'm headed that direction with Aaron (every time I run), and I hate that. I have an expectation of how a character will react in a certain situation, and in this (and similar) case, my expectation is apparently incorrect. If I have to argue my case, it takes all the fun out of it—the fact that I have to argue is a failure, even if I ultimately win. That said, even if I convince you that I was right, here, I'm probably going to have to scrap this entire scene (and maybe the story along with it), because, by arguing, I will have "played your character for you," and that's just unacceptable.
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