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  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 12:48 pm on July 14, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt09: Pest Hunting 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , UNE, donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts, Galaxy Guide: 11 Criminal Organizations

    Q: Did anything occur while they were gone? (unlikely)
    A: No

    Luca and Roy return to the Red Rancor. Restocking, refueling and cargo loading has completed.
    Luca thanks the landing bay crew and prepares the ship for take off.

    A few minutes later, the Red Rancor is in space, heading for Keena.
    Luca runs the calculations by the Nav computer, and the ship enters hyperspace.

    Luca: Astrogation: 18/4(2D): Success
    24 days later, the ship emerges from hyperspace in Keena star system.
    Roy: Planetary Systems: 17/10: Success

    Keena is the only habitable planet in the system, which has another 6 planets orbiting its yellow sun. It’s a terrestrial planet densely populated with about 3 billion souls. Wetlands make up the majority of the land masses. The capital Benjy houses the Imperial justice administration for the entire sector. Due to the importance of the planet in the Imperial bureaucracy, the Imperial Governor, Tarsi Merol is the utmost authority on the planet.
    Despite the system’s importance, traffic is low and the starport services are limited.

    Luca turns to Roy. “Let’s hope our reputation doesn’t precede us.”

    Roy: Sensors: 13/10: Success
    Q: Are there Imperial patrols in the area?
    A: No

    As the Red Rancor approaches Keena, no Imperial starships appear on the scanners.
    They broadcast TransVere for landing procedures and head for the designated landing pad.

    Q: Is there any issue with the landing process?
    A: No, but it takes longer than usual.
    Q: How much?
    A: 1Dx10 minutes: 50 minutes

    “Red Rancor, your designated landing pad is 2F-55.” Starport control is heard through the comms. “The pad is not ready yet, please stand by.”
    50 minutes later, and wile Roy’s nerves are on the edge, fearing some issue the Imperial authorities, they hear from the starport operator again. “Red Rancor, please proceed with landing in the designated pad. Follow the northern route, low altitude approach.”
    With the thrusters set on atmospheric landing speed, the Red Rancor gently touches the surface of the landing area. The starport field is in the middle of the wetlands. The sun is about to set, giving an eerie feeling to the atmosphere.

    Q: Is anyone at the dock?
    A: No, but an A2 droid is there to receive manifest.

    They disembark from the vessel. Not a living soul is around, but an A2 accounting droid that approaches.
    “Please state the reason for your arrival, cargo and passenger manifest and desired stay duration.” The droid says and extends a datapad for Luca to enter the desired information.
    Once complete, Luca gives the datapad back to the droid. “Will you require something else?” it asks.
    “Yes, send a message to Yrat Arkner that her goods are here. Also arrange restocking for 25 days traver for a crew of two.”
    “As you wish.” The A2 droid responds.

    Q: Does the customer respond?
    A: Yes, but it will be 1D:2 hours before she arrives.

    “The message recipient has responded sire. She will be here in 2 hours to collect the cargo.” Adds the droid.
    “Alright then” Luca waves the droid away.
    “I say we wait until she arrives then we go for some RnR.” Says Roy. “I love the Rancor, but 23 days is a lot of time to be stuck inside.”
    “Yeah, yeah, we can have some fun after.” Luca agrees.

    A couple hours later, a luxury Mobquet Corona arrives. The driver steps out, and from the passenger door exits a middle aged brunette woman wearing formal business clothing. His hair is cut short, enhancing her sharp facial features. She approaches while the driver stays back, watching.
    “Luca?” she asks.
    Luca nods and extends his arm.
    She shakes it. “I am Yrat.” She looks at the ship. “And this would be the Red Rancor?”
    “Stocked with 60 tons of Ratau mineral fuel as ordered.” Luca says and smiles.
    She smiles back. “I’ll have the droids take if off your plate in the next few hours. 83 hundred credits will be transferred to your account as agreed.”
    “You would do me a favor if you paid in cash.”

    Luca: Persuasion: 12/10: Success.

    Yrat smiles again. “You made the trip without a hustle. That’s more than I can say for light freighter captains such as yourself. It wouldn’t be right to leave this unrewarded. I’ll pay everything in cash once it’s unloaded.”
    “It’s a pleasure doing business with you”. Luca says.
    “I would love to work with you again in the future.” She replies.

    Roy can’t help but wonder if there’s some chemistry between them.

    About one hour later, the Red Rancor is 60 tons lighter. The droids have stocked 3 containers, ready to be transported by Cargo Speeders. Luca and Roy, much richer, head to the nearest canteen in the starport.

    “The Cracked Cask.” Reads the sign outside the canteen.
    Now its late evening, so as the team enters, they see that the place is teeming with locals. A live band has already started playing to entertain them.
    Roy and Luca sit at a table away from the bar and the fuss of the evening and order a couple of drinks.

    Q: Is the evening uneventful?
    A: No, but nothing seriously dangerous will happen.
    Q: Does it involve another patron?
    A: Yes
    UNE: banal commoner, depress hardship, neutral.

    Suddenly, a drunk man sits at their table. Without invitation to sit or speak he starts talking to them about how hard is driving away Zhorwil pests out of his fruit plantations. His name is Porro.
    “You look like a hardy bunch. Would you care to do some hunting with me? Earn a hard night’s work?”
    Luca’s posture says no, but before he has a chance to open his mouth, Roy jumps in. “Sure would love to.”
    Porro’s eyes widen with joy. “Alright fellas, get your blasters and come with me. I’ll pay you. 10 credits per ‘head’. Never thought I’d find hired help here. See, that was my wife’s idea. She kept saying ‘go to that canteen by the starport, someone will be up to the task.‘
    Come, we got no time to lose. The Zhorwil only come out at night. Drinks are on me.” He leaves the payment with the barkeep and leads the team to his landspeeder, an XP-32-1 Sorosuub model.
    Porro pilots the vehicle recklessly in the marshlands, and about 15 minutes later, they are in a moist area with thick vegetation.

    They disembark, and Porro takes out his sporting blaster. He gives one flashlight to Roy and one to Luca. “These maggots eat my fruit at night. Kill them wherever you see them.”
    ‘Cla-cla-cla’ Roy hears and he sees a meter long cock-crustacean-insect like creature crawl from the marsh and climb a tree in front of him.
    Porro shoots and misses. “Get them!” he screams.
    Luca and Roy may be inebriated but they’re not crazy. They exchange looks. Luca lifts his shoulders in a ‘Who cares’ stance and they pull their blaster pistols. Pest hunting it is.

    Q: Are the Zhorwil hostile to invaders?
    A: Yes

    Initiative: Team: 8, Zhorwil: 10

    Round 1
    Zhorwil1:
    Attack Luca: 1: Miss

    Zhorwil2:
    Attack Porro: 10: hit
    Damage: 13/11: Stunned -1D

    Zhorwil3:
    Attack Luca: 5: Miss

    Zhorwil4:
    Attack Porro: 5: Miss

    Zhorwil5:
    Attack Luca: 6: Hit
    Damage: 9/16: No damage

    Roy:
    Shoots Zhorwil1: 13/8: Hit
    Damage: 15/4: Incapacitated

    Luca: 2 actions.
    Shoots Zhorwil5: 10/4: Hit
    Damage: 15/3: Incapacitated
    Shoots Zhorwil3: 9/4: Hit
    Damage: 8/6: Stunned -1D

    Porro:
    Shoots Zhorwil2: 10/4
    Damage: 14/1: Mortally wounded

    3 of the buggers surround Luca and start taking bites at him. He manages to evade 2 of them, but the third bites his foot. Thankfully the strong leather boot withstands the small teeth. Luca blasts off twice and kills one of them.
    Roy aims carefully and kills the one that bit Luca with a strong blast to the body.
    In the meantime Porro is on his own against two of the critters. He jumps around and they can’t bite him, but with a quick shot, one Zhorwil lies curling on its back, dead.

    Round 2:
    With 3 Zhorwil dead, I have to ask
    Q: Do the rest of the Zhorwil flee? (likely)
    A: No, but they will dodge fully

    Zhorwil3:
    Full Dodge: +8

    Zhorwil4:
    Full Dodge: +13

    Luca:
    Shoots Zhorwil3: 10/12: Miss

    Roy:
    Shoots Zhorwil3: 13/16: Miss

    Porro:
    Shoots Zhorwil4: 7/16: Miss

    The two remaining critters crawl around the tree so fast, that the team doesn’t manage to get a clean shot. Clearly they are semi intelligent, for when their brethren died, they turned from hostility to evasion.

    Round3:
    Q: Do the Zhorwil flee?
    A: No, but they dodge fully

    Zhorwil3:
    Full Dodge: +13

    Zhorwil4:
    Full Dodge: +14

    Luca:
    Shoots Zhorwil3: 16/17: Miss

    Roy:
    Shoots Zhorwil3: Complication: Roy fumbles and his blaster falls in the marsh.

    Porro:
    Shoots Zhorwil4: 6/18: Miss

    In his furry to kill the Zhorwil around Luca’s feet, Roy loses his footing and his blaster pistol falls in the marsh. Hopefully its not lost forever in the darkness or in a wet pit.
    Luca and Porro can’t get a hit on the evading critters.

    Round 4:
    Q: Do the Zhorwil flee?
    A: Yes, but they do it so fast, the team can’t shoot them.

    The two Zhorwil jump in a pit of water in front of them, and they flee so fast, there’s no point in trying to hit them.

    Roy: Search Blaster: 11/8: Success.

    Roy finds his blaster pistol.

    Q: Is it working?
    A: Yes, and it wasn’t damaged at all.

    Roy manages to find his blaster. Thankfully it landed on some tree root, undamaged and dry. He holsters it quickly.
    Porro gathers the dead Zhorwil remains. “Thank you fellas. We killed 3 of them, 2 got away, but they’ll think twice before returning. Nasty little critters.” He hands 10 credits to each, but Luca and Roy sternly refuse.
    “At least let me invite you to my house. My wife will make a nice Zhorwil stew.” He pats his stomach with his hand in a gesture of good eating.
    Before Roy has a chance to accept, Luca intervenes. “Thank you very much Porro. But we should be going back. We would only request a lift from you back to the starport.”
    “Yes, certainly.” Porro says disappointed.
    The group enters the landspeeder, and return to the starport.

    Session Background: So this time around things went a bit smooth. I asked a few questions to The Oracle just in case the imaginary GM had other plans for the players, but it was about time they got back on some steadier footing.
    A small side adventure occurred regarding helping the local village farmer, and along with Yrat, 2 new contacts are in the groups list.
    Since the story has evolved a lot, I need to spend some time and do some mapping along with contacts and bullet points for each entry, otherwise I might get lost and do some things that don’t agree with the story so far, or fail to see a connection that might help or make our characters’ life harder.
    I’ve created some NPC cards to start writing down stats in an easy manner for future reference.
    Also in some cases I’ve used random difficulty number generation as described in the rulebook. E.g. When Roy searched for his blaster, I assigned a ‘difficult’ difficulty and rolled it, just to be more fair when I can’t be objective.
    Also I’ve used BOLD right when the group landed, and got a ‘Noble death’ waylay with a ‘Fate’ solution, and couldn’t get it to fit in my story. But as /u/thredith suggested in another thread, I could apply this to another character that I know of from my story and the team will learn of it later when the story evolves.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 12:46 pm on July 8, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt08: After A New Asset 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , UNE, donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts, Galaxy Guide: 11 Criminal Organizations

    “So what now?” Roy asks as the Red Rancor flies far from Ramain. “I’ve taken you across the sector for some info can’t crack and we don’t even know if it’s worth it.”
    “Don’t be so hard on yourself boy. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to right? I got a choice after all. As for the value of the data, let’s say I have a hunch.” Luca says and pauses.
    “What worries me the most now is that we’re running low on resources, fuel and credits. I’m thinking we could jump to Prine. It’s out of the Imperial radar and we can find a cargo run that pays well to restock on supplies. Who knows, we might even find someone to crack our data while we’re at it. You in?” Luca extends his arm towards Roy for a handshake to close the deal.
    Roy shakes Lucas hand. “Sure yeah, I’ll help however I can.” Roy is relieved by Lucas behavior. They’re on this together, by choice.
    “You know boy, I’ve been flying solo for a few years now and it’s nice to have a copilot for a change.”

    I want to find out if Roy has heard of Prine.
    Planetary Systems: 3/12: Failure

    It’s the first time Roy hears of Prine. Maybe Luca will shed some light later.

    The Red Rancor finally reaches a safe distance from Ramain and Luca plots the hyperspace jump. Hyperdrive is engaged and the ship enters hyperspace.

    I decide on an easy astrogation difficulty and roll a random difficulty number with 2D: 9
    I also decided to use a 3D (with wild die) days + 2d12 (the twelve sided dice) hours base astrogation duration: 4d7h
    Luca: Astrogation: 20/9: Success.
    Trip time with Nav multiplier x2: 8d14h

    More than a week later, the Red Rancor emerges from hyperspace to Prine system.
    As Roy mans the copilot seat, Luca points at a planet with blue rings.
    “See that? That’s Prine. There’s a space station orbiting on par with the planet’s rings. It’s the only habitable place here. The planet below has no atmosphere, but is rich in mineral fuel deposits. Space barges come and go to the surface every day filled with miners in space suits.”
    “So it’s a mining corporation base?” Roy asks.
    Luca shakes his head. “It used to be. Then the workers revolted. Bad working conditions, too many fatal accidents and the like. The Empire would have been involved to quell the revolt if they had been notified. The corporation wanted to handle it from the inside. They bribed and supported Eilana Dene, the miner rebel second in command, and converted her to their interests. She overthrew the revolt and with the given arms she took back control. But – she decided to keep the business to herself. She still sells a portion of the extracted mineral fuel back to the corporation at the price of cost, to keep them happy. That seems to work, and they let her run this place as she sees fit.
    And now? now the miners work harder, longer hours, get paid, die more, and I’ve even heard of slavery… That’s what revolting will do to people, mind you.” Luca takes a pause to ponder at his monologue. “The fact that there is no official law here has made this place a favorite of fringe elements. We could buy mineral fuel cheap here and sell it at a higher price to any industrial worlds, or find a customer requiring our cargo transport services.”

    Q: Is there any problem during the docking procedure?
    A: No, and there is a landing bay ready to receive the Red Rancor without wait.

    The Prine station floats in space along with the blue ring around Prine. The blue ring consists of light dust particles and heavy gases that escape the planet’s surface during the mining process. The station is shaped like a big torus with a central rod in the middle interconnected to the torus with several small passageways.

    The Red Rancor hails the Prine station and lands on a designated landing bay. ‘It’s a simple bay without any luxuries.’ Roy thinks. ‘This place lacks even basic amenities.’
    As Luca opes the hatch door he turns to Roy. “You stay here, guard the ship. There isn’t much security as you might have noticed. I’ll go handle docking fees and restocking and then I’ll search for a point drop mission. If that fails we’ll buy Ratau mineral fuel to sell elsewhere. Keep your eyes peeled boy.”

    Docking fee: 20 credits.
    Luca searches for a customer for a point drop mission.
    Streetwise: 10: Easy result: Long Run, Large Cargo, Barely Profitable
    I decide it’s less than half of the ship’s hold. 60 tons of cargo.
    I roll the base duration which is 10d11h. This is double for base Nav multiplier and one day for dropoff and one day for take off: 23 days total.
    Since its barely profitable I roll 1D+6 twice and take the lowest: 6 base credits.
    60x23x6: 8280 credits.
    Restocking fee for 2 crewmen for 23 days: I roll a base cost of 20+3D= 27 credits. The restocking fee is calculated at 27x2x23: 1242 credits.
    Luca also will check to find a data cracker.
    Streewise vs Moderate (15): 18/15: Success.
    I decide that the whole thing takes 1D hours: 2 hours.

    I will roll to see if something happens while the group is split but I will put it to unlikely because they haven’t been able to catch a breath so far.
    Q: Does anything happen while Luca is away (unlikely)
    A: No, and the space station crew shift has started

    Luca returns after a couple of hours. There is a mechanic on deck overseeing the restocking of the Red Rancor. Luca hands him around 20 credits to look after the ship and meets up with Roy.
    “Look boy. I’ve got good news. I found us a run to Keena for Ratau fuel. Doesn’t pay a lot, but we should make around 7k of it, after restocking costs. I’ve also found a cracker for your data. We should go meet with him. Come.”
    “And the ship?” Roy asks.
    “I’ve arranged for these fellas to look after her while we’re gone. Not to mention no one will want to mess with our employer and her cargo.” Luca says.
    “I’ts Eilana Dene, right?”
    “Bingo boy. Sometimes you’ve got to make a deal with the devil.”
    Luca and Roy leave with the Nav cores to find the data cracker.

    They reach a quiet part of the station. Luca looks up the numbering outside of a metal door. “This is it.” He says and rings the comm button.
    A robotic eye extends from the comm device and scans them from top to bottom.
    “Who are you?” a synth voice is heard.
    “We are customers.” Luca responds.
    The automated door opens. Inside is a robotics workshop.

    Q: Is the cracker human?
    A: Yes, but he is cybernetically enhanced
    Q: Does he have any security?
    A: No, but he seems to be capable of handling trouble

    Droid parts and dismantled computers are stacked around the corners. Sitting behind a desk wielding a welder, is a man, mid-30s with brown hair and a beard. He is missing an eye, which is replaced by a red-emitting light infrared cybernetic implant sensor.
    “Keep your blasters holstered and we’ll be okay.” He says.
    “Are you Kuna Desyk?” Luca asks.
    “That I am. What is it that you want?”
    Roy brings out the Nav data cores and places them on the desk. “Whatever is in these.” He says.
    Kuna looks at Roy and then at the cores. “Ah, Nav data cores. Yes I can get that for you. It will cost.”

    I decide to roll 1D thousand credits: 2000

    “2000 credits.”

    Luca Bargain: 18/12: -15%

    “We don’t have the cash on hand. Make us a better price so we don’t go somewhere else while we gather it.” Luca bargains with Kuna.
    “Alright, 1700 credits. But that’s a final offer. If you came back with another price, you might as well go ‘elsewhere’.” Kuna pauses. “You can leave the cores with me so I can work, and you will pay me on delivery.”
    “I don’t think so. We have the extra time to spare.” Luca takes the data cores. “See you in around 2 months.” He says and along with Roy they leave to the Red Rancor.

    Session Background: I had the story flowing, and decided to go with it, and have the rolls to a minimum, just for fairness. Also I used a lot of the ingame mechanics to resolve GM actions (streetwise for contacts, bargain for haggling) which worked better than expected.
    Where I need GM intervention in metrics (astrogation time, costs) and neither MUNE or SW cover it, I started deciding an arbitrary dice to roll. I will start noting them down and create a set of rules to go with.
    Also I intend to start fleshing out the system with the astrogation times so far. I think it will be helpful in the future if my PC decides to revisit a previous scene.
    Finally the team seems to catch a break. There is a serious delay though. A long cargo run and back before they have another shot at cracking the data.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 12:44 pm on July 6, 2019 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Solo StarWarsD6 pt07: Untrustworthy Friends 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , UNE, donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts, Galaxy Guide: 11 Criminal Organizations

    Initiative:
    Player: 5.
    Imperials: 7

    I decided to roll for initial distance between the two groups, the result came up 45 meters

    Round 1:
    Declarations: Two of the Imperial Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) advance and take the street corners for cover, while the other two start shooting at the team.
    LEO1: Target choice (Roll): Roy
    LEO2: Target choice (Roll): Roy
    None of the player characters decides to dodge since the distance is considered long and safe.
    LEO1: Shoots Roy: 14/16: Miss
    LEO2: Shoots Roy: Complication!: The blaster pistol is Jammed, and will require a VE (5) Blaster Repair success to unjam.
    LEO3: Moves to the street corner at the left. Maneuver: 10/5: Success
    LEO4: Moves to the stree corner at the right. Maneuver: 17/5: Success
    Seeker Droid: Waits
    Roy: Half Move to the corner at the left and shoot at nearest LEO (25m)
    -Shoot: 1/14: Miss
    Luca crouches and shoots at the nearest LEO (30m)
    -Shoot: 21/15: Hit (2: Torso)
    -Damage: 7/11: No damage
    Q: Does Kimby walk away?
    A: Yes
    Kimby performs two moves to the back: 8/5, 10/5 Success.

    Two of the Imperials advance behind cover while their squadmates provide cover fire. Roy moves to the nearest corner and shoots back without success, while Luca hits an officer to the chest, but the blast vest seems to have absorbed all the damage. While the two groups exchange shots, Kimby grabs the opportunity and starts running away.

    Round 2:
    LEO1: Target choice: Kimby
    -Shoot: 15/18: Miss
    LEO2: Blaster Repair: 2/5: Failure
    LEO3: Shoots Roy: 19/18: Hit (2: Torso)
    -Damage: 16/13: Stunned (-1D this and next round)
    LEO4: Target choice: Kimby
    -Shoot: 24/17: Hit
    -Damage: 2/11: No damage
    Seeker Droid: Flies fast (2 Movements x 13 meters) behind Kimby
    Roy: Shoots LEO4 (15m): 9/17: Miss
    Luca: Shoots LEO4: 7/17: Miss
    Kimby keeps running (2 Movements) and turns in a corner. Maneuver: 10/5, 10/5 Success

    Seeing their target run away, two of the officers shoot after Kimby. One shot hits her, but its only a glance and she keeps running away, turning at a corner. Roy is hit by an officer to the chest, getting dazed, but his light armor seems to have absorbed the hit. Luca shoots back without success, while the Seeker Droid pursues Kimby, evading the blaster fire in the middle of the firezone.

    Round 3:
    LEO1: Target choice: Roy (Kimby is no longer in Line Of Sight)
    -Shoot: 21/18: Hit
    -Damage: 13/14: No damage
    LEO2: Blaster Repair: 2/5: Failure
    LEO3: Shoots Roy: 6/16: Miss
    LEO4: Target choice: Roy
    -Shoot: 13/15: Miss
    The Seeker Droid uses its search software and advanced sensors to search for Kimby: 7/14: Failure
    (It was a really bad roll for the droid that has 4D+3D=7D!!! total to hunt down subjects).
    Roy: Shoots LEO4: 3/17: Miss
    Luca: Shoots LEO4: 13/17: Miss

    The two sides keep exchanging shots, but they either miss or hit the wall corners that the combatants hide behind. The Seeker Droid has reached Kimby’s last known location and uses its advanced DNA search sensors to locate her, but it cannot calculate a possible escape route and fails on its task.

    Round 4:
    LEO1: Shoots Roy: 17/18: Miss
    LEO2: Blaster Repair: 1/5: Failure
    LEO3: Shoots Roy: 16/17: Miss
    LEO4: Shoots Roy: 5/15: Miss

    Here I realize that the players are seriously outnumbered, they realize it too, so Roy asks if there is a quick way out of the street? They need to change the gameplan.
    Q: Is there any way out of the street? A sewer entrance?
    A: No, but it can be created. Roll Perception vs Moderate difficulty.
    Roy: Perception: 10/11: Failure
    Luca: Perception: 13/11: Success
    The door on the building to the side has a flimsy lock.
    Luca: Shoots lock: 3/3: Success and 1 move inside if open
    -Damage: 8/9: No damage
    Roy: Shoots lock: 4/3: Success and 1 move inside if open
    -Damage: 10/4: Wounded (-4D). The door lock provides no more security.
    Luca and Roy use their reserved move to enter the building.

    The officers keep shooting at the team, but their shots fail to make contact. Luca, worried that they might not make it, looks around and notices the weak door lock at the entrance to the building next to them. He turns his blaster pistol and shoots at it, but it doesn’t budge. Roy sees Luca’s plan and follows through, with a shot that blasts the lock open, and they hastily enter.

    Q: Is the building residential?
    A: Yes

    As they enter, they realize where they are. Slums. A huge residential block. There is virtually no sunlight coming inside. A sewer-like stench hangs in the air, mixed with the terrible odor of cat litter, probably from the felinoid near-humans that live on Ramain. A few trembling artificial lights try to illuminate the dark place, making a fuzzy noise while operating, like a capacitor about to die out. Dirty drapes hang from the balconies around the main stairwell. Maybe a long time ago they used to be a beautiful luxurious decoration, but no more. Some figures appear from their hiding places to investigate the ruckus, but quickly they venture back where they came from. It’s doubtful that the Imperials would follow in the slums without reinforcements, unless they are truly fixed on their target.

    Q: Do the Imperials follow? (unlikely)
    A: Yes, but the droid is away, trying to locate Kimby
    The Imperials spend their next round entering the building, while the group sneaks away in the dark (+8 bonus modifier).
    Roy: Sneak: 28
    Lucal: Sneak: 18
    Imperials: Command Search: 2: Failure
    Search: 9 (no bonus)

    Roy and Luca hide behind drapes and dark stairwells, lurking in, from shadow to shadow. The Imperials enter. Their sergeant sends them out to search around. But they either turn up empty, or find ragtags who live in the slums, cursing them away. A few minutes later, the locals have been unsettled and started forming a group shouting at the Imperial squad. Realizing they might be in trouble soon, they make their way out. In the meantime, Roy and Luca have climbed the stairwell further up in the slums.

    “It seems we’re in the clear” Luca says.
    “Nice friends you have.” Roy snaps. “Kimby hanged us out to dry, the very moment those officers appeared. Now they’re probably thinking we’re in whatever she’s in with her.”
    “Yeah, can’t trust anyone these days boy. She has great computer cracking skills though. I’ve used her expertise a few times in the past. Seems we’ll ahve to find our cracker elsewhere.” He says calmly.
    “We should get back to the Red Rancor. I don’t like this planet.”
    “Yeah, something tells me those LEOs won’t take long to report us. And the Seeker Droid may have our DNA info.”

    Q: Is there anyone obstructing their way out?
    A: No, but it will take at least one hour to get out of the slums if they are to follow a different path out.

    The team takes a different way out, fearing the Imperials might have someone stationed outside of the building. Once they reach the mid levels of Anwer, they start taking precautions, avoiding to show their faces clearly in the public, and walking away from monitored areas.

    Sneak vs Moderate difficulty: 18/14: Success

    Finally, they reach the Tama station landing pad where the Red Rancor is stationed, without detection.

    Q: Is there anyone waiting for them at the landing pad?
    A: Yes, and they’re hiding in wait, to ambush
    Q: Is it Imperials?
    A: No
    Q: Is it Kimby?
    A: No, but, it’s someone looking for her
    Q: Is it a friend of hers?
    A: No, but they are in need of her alive
    Perception vs Moderate difficult to detect ambush: 11/13: Failure

    Luca and Roy are about to enter the Red Rancor when they are caught by surprise by four men who were hiding behind the crates at the end of the pad.

    Luca: Streewise: 20/8: Success

    Luca realizes that they appear to be local thugs. Three of them are wielding blaster rifles, aimed at the team’s general direction. ‘They must be the muscle’ Luca thinks. The one in the middle approaches, in a haughty manner. He is alien, but not a near human like the locals.

    Roy: Alien species: 19/13: Success

    Roy recognizes the species as Kian’thar, and from what he’s heard, they can sense your emotions.
    “You seem to be in an awful lot of hurry.” The Kian’thar says.
    Roy and Luca look at each other. They’re tired, outnumbered, outgunned and outsmarted.

    UNE: Subtle, hinder the oppressed. (Works for a local crime boss)

    “See, I don’t like long introductions. I’m Lligon’tuk. I’m looking for a rather swift friend of yours.” He continues.
    “You and me both, Lligon. We haven’t seen her since she betrayed us.” Luca responds.
    In the meantime Lligon’tuk and his thugs have reached Roy and Luca, encircling them. Lligon’tuk is so close that Roy can smell him. ‘Does their emotion sense work like smell?’ Roy wonders.

    Lligon’tuk: Emotion Sense: 16/10: Success

    Lligon’tuk knows that they have no intent to help Kimby or to lie to him. He realizes that they tell the truth and are pissed off by her.

    Lligon’tuk spits on the floor. “I thought you’d be more useful.” His men grunt and start raising their rifles, but he stops them.

    Q: Does Lligon’tuk force the players to go after Kimby?
    A: No, but he makes them an offer.

    “If you happen to bring her to me, there will be a gift of 1000 credits. If you only notify me of her whereabouts, the gift will be 200 credits. Think about it.” Lligon’tuk finishes. His enforcers lower their blaster rifles.
    “Thanks. I will.” Luca replies.
    “Oh” Lligon’tuk continues “the customs officer has given me the platform for only 15 minutes. This only gives you 3 more minutes for take off.”
    Luca’s and Roy’s eyes widen as Lligon’tuk snarls, and they dart back to the Red Rancor.

    “You think the Imperials will be looking for us Luca?” Roy asks.
    “I don’t intend to sit around and find out.” Luca answers.

    Rushed action: take off: Space transports piloting (-1D): 11/8: Success.

    Luca turns on all the necessary systems in the Red Rancor with such speed, that Roy barely follows. Nevertheless he manages to power up the ship and get her to flying speed in less than 2 minutes, without a hitch. Now they sit back in the safety of the Red Rancor, while the ship leaves the Ramain atmosphere heading for space.

    Session Background: I didn’t have a miniature board, but I, sketched the map, and it worked out so and so. I’ve downloaded and printed a grid map to try out in the next encounter. Still trying to weigh visualization against theater of the mind. I’m finding some troubles with the rules of the Star Wars Rulebook that I have (2nd Edition, Blue Vader), especially movement, so I might switch to REUP or OpenD6 Space for those.
    I’m really enjoying The Oracle. My player tries to get to that planet (initial mission) but he has to tackle one problem after another. He’s no closer to getting there than he was after the 1st jump. Seems that ‘Plot Regression’ intervention has truly worked out.
    I’ve also used some information from Criminal Organizations Galaxy Guide, so that I could fit in a crime boss better suited to the Star Wars universe.
    I also enjoy the encounters difficulties my players have, and the fact that when you play solo, you try to think what your character would truly do, and behave less OOC and more IC.
    Looking back at previous encounters, in the encounter where the group had the advantage onboard KF23, they decided to let the Viltro men live, and not do some mindless shooting, as they had no reason to kill them, even though the enemy might not have given them the same courtesy.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 12:38 pm on July 4, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt06: Old Acquaintances 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts, Galaxy Guide: 11 Criminal Organizations

    The journey through hyperspace lasts 12 whole days. Roy and Luca start to get to know each other better. The old man shows Roy the ins and out of the Red Rancor, while Roy tells him about the planetary systems and alien creatures of the outer rim.

    The team is heading to Ramai.

    Roy: Planetary Systems: 20/13: Success.

    Roy recalls that Ramai is a major trade center. Almost the entire habitable land mass of the planet is covered by a huge metropolis. The locals, Ramains, are a near human species with felinoid eyes and long whiskers. The Imperial Governor, Cron Madas has seized control of the local government and runs the planet as his own, through Imperial rule.

    The Red Rancor broadcasts landing procedure to the station.

    Q: Is there any trouble in landing (unlikely)
    A: No, but the customs agents will not be very ‘accepting’

    The Red Rancor lands on the Tama station above Anwer. As soon as they land, an Imperial customs officer, accompanied by an A2 accounting droid approaches the ship. The landing pad is a simple round platform about 100 meters in diameter without any roof. Container crates and fuel lines are on the side, and two Imperial troopers are hanging out patiently in the back, where the elevator shaft is located. They don’t seem preoccupied with the arrival, but they cast a glance every now and then.

    Roy and Luca disembark. The A2 droid starts speaking in its synth voice. “Welcome to Ramai. Please state your vessel’s name, the captain of the ship, any passengers and cargo manifest, and purpose”.

    The customs officer, a stern white haired man, waits. His hands behind his back.

    “Yes, I’m the captain” Luca sais. “Name’s Luca Delste and this is the Red Rancor. No cargo manifest. Just transporting this fella here, Jado Doraay to meet his sister that works in Anwer Medical University.”

    Luca: Con: 7/16: Failure.

    Roy notices how easily Luca lies, but the customs officer isn’t convinced.
    “No cargo you say? That Ghtroc is a 135 ton transport and you came here with empty hold? I think I’ll have a look.” He raises his hand to summon the troopers.

    “I’m sure we can work something out. You see Jado here knows that the Visa cost has increased by 200 credits, but the required tariff hasn’t been formalized yet.” Luca motions for Roy, who pulls out 200 credits. “We don’t want any trouble”.

    Luca: Bargain (Bribe): 15/13: Success.

    The customs officer thinks about it for a moment, waves back the troopers and collects the credits.
    “That will do for a 24 hour Visa.” he says and turns around and leaves, the A2 droid following.
    Luca can hear the droid chatter in the distance “New Visas? I haven’t been notified-” “Shut Up!” the officer barks.

    With the Imperials in the distance, Roy turns to Luca “We lost 200 credits!”. “Would you rather he searched our ship? or should he run our TransVere in the system? It’s been almost two weeks, and maybe our endeavors haven’t gone unnoticed.. Let’s get those data cores opened and if possible a new Transponder code” Luca calms him down.

    Luca: Streetwise: 9/8: Success.

    After about 3 hours, the duo has done a couple of meets in shady bars. Finally they arrive at a bar called “The Independent Variable”.

    Q: Is it crowded?
    A: No, but guests have started arriving.

    The bar is dark and damp. A lonely Ramain in the back is playing a harmonica to entertain the few regulars. The barkeep sits lazy in his post as Luca and Roy enter.
    Luca orders a couple drinks for him and Roy and he whispers something in the barkeep’s ear. One hour later, a slender figure comes and sits at the bar stool next to Luca.

    She’s a local Ramain, wearing tactical pants and a leather vest. Her felinoid eyes are a deep purple colour, and she wears her green-brown hair braided. A nose ring and a tribal tattoo on her arm complete the portrait.

    “It’s been a long time Luca.” She sais.
    “You haven’t aged a day Kimby.” He replies.
    “Can’t say the same for you old man. What’s your poison?” Kimby asks.
    “Ghromac ale.”
    “At least you haven’t lost your taste. Get me one, and tell me. Who is this young fella?”
    Luca points another ale to the barkeep. “He’s Roy. We have something that needs opening.”
    She nods. “Not here. And I’m not leaving until this glass is empty. So tell me… how’s the Red Rancor flying…

    Q: Does anyone eavesdrop?
    A: No

    The trio spends some time sharing news and small talk. When they’re finished with their drinks, they leave by foot to go to Kimby’s. So far noone in the bar seems to have noticed their conversation.
    Anwer is a huge metropolist. Tall structures reach so high in the sky, that the lower levels only see the blueish sunlight for about one hour at noon, when the sunrays are almost perpendicular to the surface. Even then, the mid and high level walk zones cast so many shadows that is almost darnkess at the bottom. It doesn’t need mentioning that the lower Ramain classes leave at the bottom.

    They walk for about half an hour at the lower levels. Roy thinks he’s lost, but he feels certain that Kimby’s had them walk through the same place twice. Maybe she’s trying to make sure they’re not followed?

    Q: Are they being followed?
    A: Yes, and their ‘hunters’ will make an ambush attempt.

    Intervention!: Regress plot. I decide that something happens so that they can’t go to Kimby’s place.
    So to find out whether they are ambushed or they notice their stalkers beforehand I use the game mechanic and roll Perception against Sneak. I could have rolled Search against Sneak if the characters were actively searching for an ambush.

    Roy: 16/10: Success.

    Roy notices some figures following them through the shadows behind them, a corner or two behind. He stops Luca and Kimby and motions to them.

    Q: Are they Imperials?
    A: Yes
    Q: Are they after Roy and Luca?
    A: No, but they are after Kimby
    Here the intervention starts to flesh out: Maybe it will be evident that their stalkers are watching Kimby’s hideout as well.

    “Crap” Kimby says “Is this heat yours?”
    “Highly doubt it. The customs officer seemed quite content with the 200 credits for a Visa.” Luca responds.
    The Imperial Law Enforcement Officers notice that the group has made them.
    “Halt. In the name of the Emperor!” One of them yells as they raise their blaster pistols. Now that they are in the clear, it is four of them. Wearing blast vests and Imperial uniforms. A Seeker droid is with them. Probably the reason they could follow them from afar without being noticed in their uniform.
    Kimby darts to cover while the first blaster shot flies off.

    Session Background: Donjon helped a lot in creating the planet where all of this takes place. I’ve also used my book on criminal organizations to get information on imperial law enforcement. I really enjoy how The Oracle and Interventions along with the Game Mechanics keeps presenting obstacles to my characters. I also enjoy a lot that there is no backstory to railroad back to. The world is truly open to events, limited by the dice and the imagination.

    I’ve taken the extra time to write both Roy and Luca to a character sheet. And I intend to be fleshing them out a bit more. Luca may become a second player character in the future.

    Also I notice that by adding a bit more detail, the world comes to life (e.g. the white hair of the customs officer), so I’ll be trying to do that too as well, without sacrificing much of the plot. Balance is essential.
    I want to run a detailed combat in next session so I decided to stop the story here in this part.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 4:11 pm on July 2, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt05: The Upper Hand 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts

    With the Anan Belt behind them in realspace, Luca relaxes back in the pilot seat, and puts his feet up on the flight console.

    “So Roy, time to tell me your story, and please, start from the beginning. How did you get in so much trouble?”

    Roy grimaces, and tells Luca his story, leaving nothing out. When he is finished, Luca takes a long hard look at him.

    “I’ve put my neck out for you boy. High risk, low chance for a reward as it seems. Many hours have passed since you hit that distress signal button, and odds are that someone is already salvaging your ship for parts. Let’s just hope that those last coordinates on your mission are still in the Nav Computer. Corporate encryption can be hard to crack… As for you, luck ain’t on your side. Insurance doesn’t cover these deep space scout missions, so it’s likely that your bosses will charge you for the ship and gear you cost them, plus interest of course. Do you happen to have several thousand credits on you son?”

    Roy gave Luca a blank stare.

    “Thought so. You better play dead then, because if they find out you’re still alive, well… I could introduce you to a couple of loan sharks I know.”
    “Wait, no I-” Roy tried to make a case for himself but Luca interrupted him laughing “I’m just messing with you boy. Huh…time has flown. We are about to return to realspace now. What… why are you looking at me like that?”

    Roy spoke up. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after us?” Roy was actually wondering why Luca was so eager to turn to lawlessness for a ‘boy’ he just met.

    “Ah, yes they will. Especially those imperials. They are the owner of the starport you see, renting it to Viltro. But the thing is, boy, I like neither of them. Viltro Syndicate, Galactic Empire, they’re all a bunch of scum if you ask me.”

    “So you’re an outlaw?” Roy asked naively.

    “Ha! and so are you now boy, right? ‘nough talking. We have arrived.” Luca put his feet down and straps the belt. The Red Rancor slows down to realspace.

    Q: Are there other ships in the area?
    A: Yes
    Q: Are they scavengers not rescuers?
    A: No, but thy are not friendly
    Luca runs a sensor scan: 17: he detects a ship.
    Unknown crew: Sensors: 6, doesn’t detect the Red Rancor or doesn’t have crew on board.

    “Sensors show unknowns Roy. Let’s see if we can find out who they are.”

    Scan: 20/13: success
    Q: Are they Imperial?
    A: No, but they are Viltro Syndicate.
    Q: Is it a fighter ship?
    A: No, and it is a simple scout Z-10 seeker bearing Viltro identifications.

    “They seem to have homed in on your ship due to your beacon, but they haven’t seen us yet” Luca says.

    Q: Are there Viltro crewmen aboard KF-23?
    A: Yes, but they haven’t managed to salvage anything yet

    Luca positions the Red Rancor behind the KF-23, and turns the sensors to passive. Then he sees two men wearing vac suits, on the hull of the KF-23.

    Q: Did they notice the Red Rancor?
    A: No, and they are focused on the prize ship.
    Q: Are they leaving?
    A: No, and they just boarded the vessel.

    The two men are walking slowly to the breach on the rear of the hull of KF-23

    Luca turns to Roy. “We need to be fast, boy. You have the pass to the airlock right?” Roy nods. “That’s our way in.

    Luca piloting: 31/13

    Luca locks the Red Rancor onto the KF-23 with such grace that the ship doesn’t budge an inch.
    He locks on a vac helmet on his vac suit and grabs a blaster rifle as he heads to the airlock.
    Roy enters his Karflo credentials into the airlock’s numpad and the airlock door opens.

    Q: Do they meet the Viltro boarders?
    A: No

    “Let’s head straight to the cockpit. You get the Nav coordinates. I’ll make sure they don’t bother us.
    Luca and Roy reach the cockpit.

    Q: Is the Viltro boarding crew in the cockpit? (unlikely)
    A: No

    Roy takes his datapad and connects to the Nav computer. He may have access rights, but the data isn’t meant to be copied.

    Roy computers roll: Complication!

    The security of the Nav computer kicks in and blocks any access to the system.

    “What’s taking so long?” Luca asks worried. “It’s locked me out! I’ll have to manually rip out the Nav data core so that we can crack it later” Roy responds through the comm.
    “How long?” He asks. “15 minutes give or take” comes Roy’s answer.

    Q: Has the Viltro boarding crew arrived at the cockpit?
    A: Yes

    I decide since the Viltro crew doesn’t know about our friends and since they are expecting them, they get an ambush roll.

    Surprise: 12/5: Success! The Viltro crew is surprised!

    The Viltro crew are arrive to the cockpit and are caught flat-footed by Luca, pointing his blaster rifle at them. He motions for them to drop their guns.

    Intimidate: 12/9: Success

    The two men slowly put their sidearms down as Roy moves to collect them. Then he gets back to working on getting the Nav data. He has lifted the fight console panel and has started unplugging the Nav computer data cores.

    Starship repair: 25/15: Success

    15 minutes later Roy has extracted the data cores. Luca nods “It’s about time we get out of here. This place will be crawling with Imperials and Viltros soon.”

    They lock the airlock and return to the Red Rancor with the data cores and two extra blaster pistols.

    Luca prepares the hyperjump.
    ”Where are we going?” Roy asks.
    “I know just the right girl to get the data out of these cores, boy” Luca says.

    Astrogation: 18/13

    The Red Rancor enters hyperspace leaving behind the derelict KF23 scout ship and two Viltro men thankful for their lives.

    Session Background: I’m using a lot of the game system mechanics and it works out well. The complications are an extra storyline assistant!

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 1:12 pm on June 28, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt04: A Daring Escape 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Characters: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Luca Delste, Smuggler
    Solo Tools: MUNE , donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts

    “Yes, I-“ Roy was interrupted by the man “Hopefully it won’t come to that.” He paused for a moment. “Man the copilot seat.”

    The old man powers up the ship, initiating takeoff procedures. He presses the comm button. “This is the Red Rancor requesting departure clearance. TransVere has been submitted.”

    Q: Does starport control give clearance?
    A: No, and they try to stop the Red Rankor from leaving.

    No answer comes from the other end. Meanwhile Roy sees the Viltro soldiers in front of the ship, blasters aimed at the freighter.

    “I repeat this is Luca Delste, captain of the Red Rancor, requesting departure clearance. I am transporting unstable Rusya crystals. Every minute counts before my merchandise turns to dust.”

    “Hold on Red Rancor” starport control responds.
    Luca looks at Roy. “Like hell we will.” and powers up the thrusters.

    “Red Rancor cease your flight actions now and surrender your passenger! You are harboring a-“ Luca shuts the comm off.

    “By the way, name’s Luca, boy, what’s yours?”
    “Roy” He mutters as the Red Rancor starts hovering off the hangar floor.

    Q: Is there defensive weaponry at the ready in the hangar? (Unlikely)
    A: No
    Q: Are there starfighters nearby?
    A: Yes, and 2 Z-95 are right outside the starport.

    Here I have another intervention, and the roll brings up: New entity.
    Q: Is it another crew member?
    A: No
    Q: Is it friendly?
    A: No
    Now I decided to run a portent to find out more. I had trouble resolving the words that mattered and had a few rerolls to get something that made sense. I came up with ‘combative agreement’ which tells me it’s an ally of Viltro that assists often in military matters.

    Q: Is it Imperial?
    A: Yes, and it’s the Imperial Customs Frigate from before
    I decide that it will appear from hyperspace in 2D6 rounds=5

    “I am picking up hostiles boy. I see 2 Z-95s right outside” Luca said.

    Now I want to see if the Red Rancor has any modifications.
    Q: Is the Red Rankor modified for speed (likely)
    A: No!
    Q: Does it have upgraded weapons?
    A: No, but it has improved shields (+1)
    I will be stating difficulty rolls like this Rolled Result/Target Difficulty Number
    Maneuver: 27/15 Success

    Luca pilots the ship quickly out of the hangar bay. The Red Rancor maneuvers left and right, around the starships lined up in queue, staying on the blindside of the Z-95s.
    She flies smoothly outside under the controls of Luca.

    The patrol pilots of the Z-95 scan for the Red Rancor. Sensors: 17/10 Success

    The patrol detects the Red Rancor.

    Combat begins.
    Initiative:
    Red Rancor: 24
    Z-95: 10

    Q: What is their distance?
    A: Short
    Q: Is there other ship traffic? (Likely)
    A: Yes

    Based on the Rulebook I decide on a moderate difficulty for space flight maneuvers.

    “Blast them Roy” Luca says to Roy. Roy uses the controls to aim the front laser of the Red Rancor to one of the Z-95s.

    Round 1:

    Luca makes one move towards the Z-95
    Roy shoots at the Z-95 #1
    To hit 20/13: Hit!
    Damage: 16/13: Shields blown

    Z-95 #1 shoots at the Red Rancor and makes 1/2 move
    To hit 18/18: hit
    Damage: 7/15: no damage

    Z-95 #2 shoots at the Red Rancor and makes 1/2 move
    To hit 13/18: miss

    The starfighters move closer and start exchanging laser blasts. For brief moment the Z-95 gets into Roy’s crosshairs, and he pulls the trigger. It is hit, reducing its energy shields to nothing. The Viltro pilots shoot back, but they fail to do any damage.

    Round 2:

    Since the combatants’ spaceships have passed each other, and they are on their tails, Luca performs a quick bootlegger turn so that the Z-95’s tail is again in the fire arc of the Red Rancor’s laser cannons. He also activates shields to front.
    Maneuver: 18/20: slight slip in control, -1D to actions for the rest of the round.
    Roy fires another shot at the 1st Z-95.
    To hit 17/13: hit
    Damage: 17/9: lightly damaged, ship loses 1D from its shield code

    Both Z-95s perform a bootlegger turn to get the Red Rankor in their sights, and shoot at it.

    Z-95 #1
    Maneuver: 14/20: serious control problems, -3D for all actions this round, -1D for next round
    Z-95 #2
    Maneuver: 7/20: minor collision

    Q: Does it hit its wingman?
    A: Yes

    The dual maneuver fails and the two starfighters glance off each other.
    Damage to Z-95 #1: 5: lightly damaged, the missiles weapon system is inoperative
    Damage to Z-95 #2: Shields blown

    As the starfighters pass in front of each other they all turn back for a second pass. Luca miscalculates a nearby space tug, and jerks the Red Rancor a bit while flying. Roy has the enemy again in his sights, and this time his shots manage to turn the Z-95s missile system inoperational.
    The enemy pilot pair tries to turn in a synchronized maneuver, but they fail, and the two fighters glance of each other, thankful that it wasn’t a worse crash.

    Round 3:

    Luca will perform a full dodge while moving towards the Z-95. Roll: 17+13 diff: 30
    Roy shoots again the first Z-95
    To hit: 17/13: hit
    Damage: 14/13: controls ionized -1D that round and next, controls frozen for two rounds

    Z-95 #1: Controls are frozen, maneuver roll must be made
    Maneuver: 8/13: Serious control problems, -1D for next round

    Z-95 #2: shoots at the Red Rancor and makes 1/2 move
    To hit: 15/30: miss

    Luca performs evasive maneuvers amongst the traffic to avoid the enemy fire. Roy is on fire! He hits the enemy craft once more, ionizing its controls. A power surge runs through the starfighter, freezing all controls, and it moves straight forward helpless.
    The second pilot is no match for Luca’s skill and fails to damage the Red Rancor.

    Round 4:

    As the two Z-95s again fly past the Red Rancor, Luca turns to Roy “Let’s do a final pass, then let’s get out of here. Punch in your ships coordinates”.
    He again performs a quick bootlegger turn so that the Z-95’s tail is again in the fire arc of the Red Rancor’s laser cannons.

    Maneuver: 25/13: success
    Roy shoots again the first Z-95
    To hit: 13/13: hit
    Damage: 13/3: Heavily damaged, the Z-95 loses the laser cannons weapon system.

    Z-95 #1: Controls are frozen, maneuver roll must be made
    Maneuver: 11/13: slight slip in control, -1D to actions for the rest of the round

    Z-95 #2: Bootlegger turn and shoots at the Red Rancor.
    To hit: 2: miss

    Roy hits the helpless Z-95, destroying its laser system. Now it’s no longer a threat.

    Round 5:

    Luca moves the Red Rancor at 3/4 speed towards the asteroid belt.

    Maneuver: 11/13: slight slip in control, -1D to actions for the rest of the round.
    Roy shoots the second Z-95
    To hit: 15/13: hit
    Damage: 16/5: Heavily damaged, the Z-95 loses the concussion missile weapon system.

    Since the Z-95s are damaged and haven’t managed to score a hit at the Red Rankor, I ask
    Q: Do the Z-95s break off?
    A: No, but only the second one follows

    Z-95 #2: Bootlegger turn and shoots at the Red Rancor.
    To hit: 2: miss

    Roy switches targets, and hits the second enemy, destroying the starfighter’s missile system.

    Suddenly out of hyperspace, an Imperial Customs Frigate appears.
    Red Rancor passive Sensors: 16/8: Success, detected.

    Q: Does the frigate appear between the Red Rankor and the starport?
    A: No, and it is blocking the Red Rankor route’s to the asteroid belt.
    Q: Is it aware of the recent events at the starport?
    A: No, but, it is a matter of short time before the Viltro Syndicate notifies them
    Q: Are there enemy reinforcements arriving?
    A: Yes, and in increased numbers, 2 Z-95 squadrons.

    “Friends of yours Roy?” Lucas asks as he sees an Imperial Customs Frigate appear in the sensors, blocking their exit to the asteroid belt. “Scratch our plan to hide in the belt. It’s time to hit the hyperdrive. I wanted more time, but we ain’t got a choice”.
    Roy verifies the coordinates, its a hasty entry, and he can’t forget that it was a well calculated entry that got him in this predicament.

    Round 6:

    Frigate initiative: 21

    Luca performs the hasty entry astrogation calculation and engages the hyperdrive.

    Here I decided to roll the moderate (x2) difficulty and not call it, in order to be objective.
    Astrogation: 25/8: Success

    The Red Rancor enters hyperspace, leaving behind all those meaning harm to her crew, and Roy breathes out a sigh of relief.

    Session Background: First time running a space combat with theater of the mind. It didn’t help much, so next time I will try to have a map or tokens of sorts to visualize it better. Also I need to get better acquainted with the space combat, so that I can apply the rules better. On a side note, the bad luck that Roy had on his 2nd hyperjump turned to good luck on their escape. Now there is time for Roy to get to know his host.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 6:25 pm on June 26, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt03: Fight or flight 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Solo Tools: MUNE , donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts

    Q: Did someone notice the distress signal?
    A: Yes, but by the time they will arrive the pod will be far away.
    Q: Did they notice the pod?
    A: Yes, but they will go to investigate the beacon first.
    Q: Is it safe to reach the belt in the pod?
    A: No, but the dangers can be evaded.

    Roy watched from the small window canopy into the void of space.

    Perception roll failure.

    He saw something far away heading towards his abandoned scout ship. Pirates? Smugglers? Or just a figment of his imagination?
    A steady beep was heard from the pod controls. Proximity alert! Roy switched to manual control to evade the space rocks heading towards the pod.

    Space transport piloting success.

    The pod controls were stiff, but Roy managed to evade successfully and the pod continued its course.

    Q: Does the pod reach the Anan Belt starport before the distress signal search party catches up?
    A: Yes, and the search party could not follow up with the escape pod.

    A few hours later Roy saw the huge asteroid base through the canopy. Freight starships coming in and out of the main hangar, lined up in a queue.
    He slowed down the pod to avoid any collisions.
    Some moments later the of jerked. A space tug had grabbed the pod with its magnetic claws and was hauling it to the starport hangar.

    The tug dropped the pod in a low traffic part of the starport. Roy catches a glimpse of the huge hangar before his attention is turned elsewhere.
    The pod door is secured from the inside, but after a few banging noises and the sparks of a plasma torch, an opening is created where the door should be.

    ‘Step outside. Keep hands visible at all times!’ A voice was heard from a loudspeaker.

    Roy steps out slowly, palms facing outward, to be greeted by three men in Viltro Syndicate red uniforms. The stripes on one of the men make him out to be an officer.

    Here I wanted to change the flow, and as a good GM give the player a chance to avoid a hard fate. The way the story was unfolding Roy was heading to the brig and the story would not be a space opera… Nevertheless I wanted to be fair and I asked the Oracle first.
    Q: Is everything as expected?
    A: No, there is a distraction.
    Q: Is it an explosion?
    A: Yes.

    The trio is looking closely at Roy, the soldiers nodding their blaster pistol barrels, signaling him to move on.
    ‘Step it up!’ The officer shouts angrily. A split second later, a loud explosion is heard through the hangar. A spaceship has turned into a fiery ball of flame. The men look at it startled.

    Roy does not wait to ponder what or why has happened. ‘This may be my chance’ he thought as he dashed a sprint through the hangar.

    ‘Quick! Get him!’ Shouts the officer.

    I am making some adjustments to the combat mechanics. Star Wars D6 has action declaration order which has no point in solo play so I decide that the action and declarations happen at the same time.
    Initiative Roy: 11.
    Initiative enemy: 8.
    Round 1:
    Roy moves first 4 moves x 10 meters.

    Roy sprints and hides behind some crates.

    Q: Do the soldiers shoot?
    A: Yes, but their weapons are on stun
    This is long range shooting since Roy sprinted and is at 40 meters away, the base difficulty is 20. 1/2 cover roll gives a further +14 to difficulty. I will be using the stars for Imperial Army Troopers for the soldiers while the officer has a further +1.

    Soldier 1: roll 22.

    The first soldier hits the crate Roy is using as cover.

    Blaster pistol damage 19 vs cover 8 = 11

    Crate is heavily damaged and the damage passes through reduced to Roy.

    Blaster pistol damage 10 vs Roy 13. No damage.

    The blast damages Roy’s cover and he feels the heat on his shoulder, but he doesn’t get hurt.

    Soldier 2: Roll 13, miss.

    The second soldier shoots but misses.

    Officer: Roll 21, hit cover.
    The officer hits the crate as well.

    Damage 15 vs damaged crate 6 = 6.
    Crate is severely damaged and damage passes through to Roy.
    Damage 11 vs 10, Roy is stunned.

    The blast further damaged the crate and this time Roy feels a strong hit numbing his neck and arm.

    Round 2:

    Q: Is there more cover?
    A: Yes, but Roy needs to moves 1d4=4 moves to get there.

    Roy sprints once more to get behind another crate. The distance between him and his attackers has doubled.

    Q: Do the troopers keep shooting, considering the increased distance?
    A: Yes, and they switch the blasters to full power mode.

    “Kill him!” The officer yells as he switches the blaster pistol from stun to regular damage.

    Soldier 1: Rolls 16, miss
    Soldier 2: Rolls 14, miss
    Officer: Rolls 17, miss.

    The trio shoots at Roy, but they fail to hit him.

    Right now, I realize that Roy needs to find a way out if he is to survive, since he is severely outnumbered, even if the enemy is inferior. So I ask the Oracle.
    Q: Is there an escape route visible?
    No, and the hangar blast doors are closing.
    Q: Is there any starship nearby available? (I.e door unlocked)
    A: Yes, but the crew is still inside.
    Q: Is the starship star fighter scale?
    A: Yes
    Q: Is it a transport?
    A: Yes, and it is field up and ready
    Here according to MUNE, I have an intervention. I roll a 2, positive entity.
    Q: Is the entity Roy?
    A: No
    Q: Is it the crew of the ship?
    A: Yes
    I use a portent for the crew: steamed sobriety.
    Now I got stuck a bit, a lot of questions, no action and I had to move on.

    Roy looks around for a way to escape. His sprint has got him away from the hangar blast doors that are slowly closing in. He doesn’t know if it’s because of him or the earlier explosion and he doesn’t intend to stay to find out. He looks to his left and there is a weary Ghtroc Freighter. The fuel lines detached, and the cargo bay door still open. ‘That’s my chance’ Roy thinks as he tries to sneak away from the soldiers into the ship.

    Round 3:

    Roy sneak roll 12 vs soldier perception 9+6 advantage due to the soldiers being aware of Roy’s general location.

    “He’s trying to get away!” The soldier shouts pointing at Roy, so much for sneaking in.
    Roy hops aboard and comes face to face with the resident, an old man, staring at him.

    Using UNE I got the following for the ships crew: Defective chieftain, acquire discretion. I combine this with the steamed sobriety portent to get a mysterious smuggler who used to lead a smuggling ring but left, and tried to keep his whereabouts hidden.

    “Help me” Roy says, “they’re after me, I did nothing wrong.”

    I roll on UNE NPC bearing lies and focus superiors.

    “Are you lying to me boy?” The man asks “Are you not a spy sent here by your superiors?”

    “No, no please listen, my ship crashed and I got stranded here by mistake. Get me out of here and whatever you may find on my ship is yours”.

    Q: Does the man get swayed?
    A: Yes, and he is willing to fight their way out of there.

    The old man pushes the button to lift the boarding ramp. “Do you know how to shoot a laser cannon?” He asks as he moves towards the cockpit.

    Session Background: It seems that Roy alone had some trouble especially considering the rocky start he had. Now a mysterious old man has joined him at the promise of a reward, and I’ll have to see how their relationship will play out. Maybe it’s a chance to get back to the track of the original mission, who knows?

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 10:35 pm on June 24, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt02: Rupture 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate scout
    Solo Tools: MUNE , donjon
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts

    Q: Is the rupture sealable? (Unlikely)
    A: No
    Q: Are the ships comms working?
    A: Yes
    Q: Is the cockpit damaged?
    A: No, and all sensors and diagnostics are operational

    Roy slowly headed to the cockpit. Everything was intact here. He ran the ships diagnostics. Full engine failure. All power was coming from emergency power cells. ‘Time to see the damage with my own eyes’ Roy thought and walked to the engine room.
    A huge gaping hole in the hull lay where the engine used to be. The scout ship was no longer spaceworthy. It was time to abandon ship.

    Q:Are there any planets?
    A: No, and he is in an asteroid belt, the ship could be hit again any time

    Back to the cockpit. Sensors were still working, scanning all around showed no planetary bodies, but a lot of small asteroids in a collision course to the ship. ‘Crap, I’m on limited time’ he thought.

    Q: Is there a lot of time until the asteroids reach the ship?
    A: No, and the nearest asteroids are not big enough to land safely.
    I also rolled 1D6x15 minutes for ETA with a result of 2=30 minutes

    Roy hit the distress signal button and an emergency beacon was activated and jettisoned into space.
    Then he calculated the collision ETA to at least 30 minutes with the first smaller asteroids.

    Here I thought of using donjon system generator which by luck showed an asteroid belt!.

    Astrogation data show that he is in the Anan Belt system. Probably at the far end as sensors did not detect any of the known planets.

    Roy doesn’t know whether to thank or curse his luck. Anan Belt is populated, and it even has an Imperial Class Starport. But it is home to the Viltro Syndicate. A rival to his employer, Karflo Corp, eager to get profit in any manner of ways possible.

    Q: Is the escape pod damaged?
    A: Yes, but repairable
    I rolled a successful easy Starship Repair to perform diagnostics, A failed moderate Starship repair for 15 minutes, and a successful retrial. That was cutting it close!

    ‘Back to the task at hand’ he thought, gathering his gear to the escape pod. An orange warning light flashes in the pod. The label states Power. Some fuses and power circuits must be fried.
    Using the repair tools, 15 minutes later he has only managed to replace the burnt fuses. Working with the vac suit isn’t easy.
    Roy spends another quarter of an hour to repair the power circuit board. Power is rerouted and the escape pod is finally operational. He shuts the door closed, pulls the lever and breathes out a sigh of relief as the pod heads safely for the belt with its automated thrusters.

    Session Background: After a rough start for Roy (he rolled a 12 in astrogation mishap! In part 1) this play was quite uneventful. Mostly had to do with gathering info of the surrounding system and ensuring survivability.

     
  • Unknown's avatar

    giorgis 5:05 pm on June 22, 2019 Permalink | Reply
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    Solo StarWarsD6 pt01: A Scout’s Odyssey 

    System: Star Wars D6 by West End Games.
    Setting: Star Wars Era of the Rebellion.
    Character: Royxand Handscul ‘Roy’, Corporate Scout
    Solo Tools: MUNE , BOLD
    Books: Star Wars The Roleplaying Game Second Edition (West End Games), Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts

    Used the BOLD waylays to define the adventure.
    Rolled misunderstanding, unforeseen. Solution favored skill.
    So I decided that a mission that should be given to someone else was given to Roy and it will play out later on. His Scout skills are his best strength so in spite of the mistake he might get away with it

    Day 0:
    Roy had already completed the scouts training in Karflo Corp. several months ago, but still he was performing map data analysis in HQ. Day in, day out he was still waiting for his opening. That mission which would give him a promotion and maybe an increase in salary.

    His datapad blinked. Incoming message. Encrypted! He entered his credentials to decrypt it and read through it with anxiety.

    At last! A Scout mission! “Investigate PG-39X. Outer Rim Unknown regions. Scout transport KF23 will be ready and equipped with standard mission gear in 18 hours. Coordinates have been uploaded to the Nav Computer.”

    The Unknown Regions of the Outer Rim, he thought. That would take several weeks time to arrive. Roy finished his job for the day, went home to prepare, and notified his friends and family about his imminent leave.

    Day 1:
    Roy arrived at the Karflo hangar bay. KF23 was a retrofitted Sienar Ships Lone Scout A with Karflo markings.
    A droid at the airlock handed him the manifest. He perused the contents and signed off on the responsibility of the ship and equipment ownership.
    Among others there were 20 weeks worth of rations, a claim beacon, multi pack, a light scouts armor and a DL-18 blaster pistol.
    A blaster pistol? The return to reality hit him hard as he boarded the ship. The outer rim is dangerous, his life was at stake.

    As he initiated the ships start sequence he went through the Astrogation data. The Nav computer had plotted 3 microjumps to reach PG-39X, but the coordinates of each jump would be unlocked in sequence as he arrived to each destination. Standard Karflo procedure to safeguard confidential corporate information.

    His Lone Scout left orbit, and in a few minutes with the help of the Nav Computer he performed the astrogation calculations and was entering hyperspace.

    He saw the calculated ETA. 10 days. That’s a lot he thought. It was the first time he was so far away from Raiys, his home planet in Tingel Arm sector.

    Q: Was the jump completed OK?
    A: Yes, but a ship is there.
    Q: Is it a combat ship?
    A: Yes
    Q: Is it imperial navy?
    A: No, but it is Imperial Customs

    Day 11:
    The jump from hyperspace was as expected. Roy didn’t get the time to get back to the cockpit and he was already being hailed.

    “This is the Imperial Customs Service. Unknown vessel prepare to be scanned. Maintain speed and course.”

    Imperial Customs here? Roy wondered. “Greetings. I shall comply, you may commence the search” Roy answered over the comms while performing a scan of the so called Imperial ship at the same time. Pirates were more likely to be here.

    His scans identified the ship as an Imperial Customs Frigate, verifying their identity. But still there was no further response on the other end. Where the Imperials satisfied or did they think he was some smuggler?

    He hailed them again “My name is Royxand Handskul, employed as a Scout by Karflo Corp. on official corporate business. Is everything all right?”

    Q: Are the imperials satisfied?
    A: Yes

    “Move on.” The frigate operator responded bluntly. Roy relieved, prepares the Nav Computer for the next jump.

    The coordinates have been unlocked, the course is calculated and KF23 enters hyperspace. ETA 5 days.

    Here the game astrogation mechanics are at work. I failed the astrogation roll by 9 points with a wild mishap die. Then I rolled a 12 on the astrogation mishap table with the following terrible results.

    Day 15:
    A loud noise is heard and the ship rumbles. A collision! Asteroid debris flies away as the ship drops to realspace. The red alarm light of a ruptured hull flashes through the ship.
    Roy needs to move fast the rupture is nearby, and he must get to the survival suit, as his life is in imminent danger!

    Calmly, as if in a training he pulls out the suit from the emergency box. He puts it on, seals it and starts taking a few breaths before deciding what to do next as the oxygen leaves the ship.

    Session Background: I decided to go with the Star Wars D6 system for a few reasons. First of all I have hard copies of the books I am using which is a great help. Secondly the system allows for stories that are revolving around one character be it a Scout, a Smuggler, a Jedi, a Pirate Captain or a Bounty Hunter. If extra support is needed droids can fill in the gaps without requiring serious background information. Finally the space opera feel of the system is great and there is a plethora of information both on Star Wars and on D6.

     

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