Surviving Castle Heterodyne

[WearsHats]

"I think we've learned about as much as we can from this crystal, unless you have any other ideas. Shall we move on to repairing the wiring on it? Shall we lift the workshop threshold, clean up, install it, and see what happens?"

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I'm disturbed that Ursula may be turning into Dr. Banner. HUSK BASH!

[spiderwrangler]

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Shall we move on to repairing the wiring on it?"

The wiring under the workshop threshold seems intact, while the wiring under the hallway/fountain threshold is crap.

I'm disturbed that Ursula may be turning into Dr. Banner. HUSK BASH!

Says the guy with the mild mannered character who can also bend metal bars when it's necessary... I haven't even bothered to figure out what Gabe's special ability would mean in a combat context...

[WearsHats]

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Shall we move on to repairing the wiring on it?"

The wiring under the workshop threshold seems intact, while the wiring under the hallway/fountain threshold is crap.

So we can just install it as-is?

I'm disturbed that Ursula may be turning into Dr. Banner. HUSK BASH!

Says the guy with the mild mannered character who can also bend metal bars when it's necessary... I haven't even bothered to figure out what Gabe's special ability would mean in a combat context...

Hey, you're the one who gave him that ability.

As for combat, the ability needs to be invoked and then has a cooldown period. I would presume it would work the same way in combat. If I'm throwing a punch or something, I might do somewhat more than average damage (that's up to you), but the ability itself would only come into play if I specifically invoked it (to attempt to pull a clank's arm off, hit with superhuman strength, or the like). It would have the same chance to temporarily cripple me (and thus be a risky thing to do in combat) and would have the same cooldown period.

You're the GM, so it's up to you, but that's what makes sense to me.

[spiderwrangler]

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As for combat, the ability needs to be invoked and then has a cooldown period. I would presume it would work the same way in combat. If I'm throwing a punch or something, I might do somewhat more than average damage (that's up to you), but the ability itself would only come into play if I specifically invoked it (to attempt to pull a clank's arm off, hit with superhuman strength, or the like). It would have the same chance to temporarily cripple me (and thus be a risky thing to do in combat) and would have the same cooldown period.

You're the GM, so it's up to you, but that's what makes sense to me.

Correct, that's mostly what I had in mind, you would need to invoke it, and it would have chance to cripple, I was mostly referring to how I'd handle dealing damage on a successful hit (how much extra, how it's portrayed, etc. Somewhere between "Gabe hits particularly hard" and "Gabe does his impression of [Song of Fire and Ice/ GoT spoiler] Ser Gregor popping Oberyn's skull like a rotten melon ".). I do agree that it would be risky, especially given that it's cooldown is measured in 15 min turns, while combat happens in rounds of ill defined, but much shorter duration. At 5% chance though, it's basically the same as needing to roll anything but a 1 on a d20 check... situations might arise where it might be worth the risk. Feel free to try it out on your fellow sparks if anyone gets too out of line...


Also, yes, there is no indication that you couldn't install it to make the threshold at the workshop/hallway into a viable junction, other than the missing crystal, everything there seems to be intact, though the pile of powdered remnants from the previous crystal would need to be removed before a new one could be inserted in its place.

[spiderwrangler]

***Retroactive piece of fluff I meant to address previously:***

Initially I'd wanted the workshop a bit dim and ominous as you guys were first exploring it, lighting only coming from a bit of moss by each bench. We haven't been playing as such, nor was it my intention for it to remain that way, but in reading over some old posts as I was writing up the anniversary notice, I saw I never addressed it.

Lets just assume that Castlina's energy reserves were low initially when you guys entered, and she's harvested enough captured lightning (which she has gained reserves since we started, just not enough to spare any to zap Hiero, thus his quest to create his own) to be able to light the workshop and kitchen adequately. Some sort of ceiling based illumination that provides enough light for you to have been able to do all the things you've accomplished in the workshop over the past year. Doesn't change anything, really, as most of you (and me too) likely assumed it was already in place. Anyway, carry on.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Ziou throws the book back, kicking to the bookshelf as he grabs Antonomy between humanoids and farm animals, starting to read antonomy.

[WearsHats]

Makes sense to me.

I've edited my dialog above.

[Nerre]

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I'm disturbed that Ursula may be turning into Dr. Banner. HUSK BASH!

Says the guy with the mild mannered character who can also bend metal bars when it's necessary... I haven't even bothered to figure out what Gabe's special ability would mean in a combat context...

I think Hiero would then be iron man, given his implants and electrodes and having a lot of metal and capacitor knowledge...

[Alaen]

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Wouldn't Hiero be more like Thor with his electricity?

Sadly shields aren't really August's style, or he could do a decent Captain America impression.

[BadgeAddict]

Sam steps lightly to the sharp turn and peers around the corner, carefully looking around for any traps that might exist before turning the corner and continuing to explore. He holds a closed fist (hoping that his followers know to stop) as he looks around for traps before continuing.

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Did we ever figure out how many partitions of a turn is combat/exploration? 1 normal turn = X time, 1 Combat/Explore Turn = X/4 Time?

[spiderwrangler]

As Sam approaches the bend, he signals the others to halt. In the center of the floor, bending around the curve is a large Heterodyne sigil worked into the floor. The trilobite itself is about flush with the rest of the floor, and is a paler color than the grey stone surrounding it.

[thumbnail]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zZvj ... 93-h879-no[/thumbnail]

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Did we ever figure out how many partitions of a turn is combat/exploration? 1 normal turn = X time, 1 Combat/Explore Turn = X/4 Time?

No... mostly because it can vary, so it is currently up to my discretion. For example, Sam carefully exploring is going to take more time than August taking a swing at an opponent, so even though Combat/Explore time is lumped together, different actions will take varying amounts of time. I have just been estimating what is roughly 15 min worth of activity, and calling that the equivalent of a turn. For example, Sam sneaking about into the right side room, carefully moving along the wall, etc. may have taken ~5 min, and the searching of the pile of stuff used up his remaining time. If he'd gotten into combat instead, multiple rounds may have transpired in the same time... most fights aren't likely to take more than 15 min, after all.

[BadgeAddict]

Sam holds his torch close to the sigil, wondering if perhaps the beautiful inlay was a trap. Unwilling to test his theory of whether or it was a trap meant to maim or kill him, Sam hugs the wall closely, being very careful not to touch the inlay with his feet, once past he continues cautiously exploring.

[spiderwrangler]

Sam keeps his eye on the sigil, alert for any funny business, and hugs the wall as he inches past. As his foot descends on a particular stone, he hears a faint *clik*... Sam springs back to the relatively safe part of the hallway where August and Charlie are waiting. He lands with a tumbling roll at Charlie's feet and turns to look back where he'd jumped from in time to see a thin foot long spike retreat back into the wall as the stone pops back up. Good thing it miss... well crap... Sam looks down at his thigh and sees a slight gash through his trousers and a small scratch where he was nicked by the spike. The wound is too small to have done much damage, but a dark green substance is smeared across his flesh. This can't be good. The orange mimmoth with a birthday cake for a head agrees.

"Mr. Sam, are you, you harmed?"

[BadgeAddict]

Sam bolts to his feet pointing at the Sigil on the floor saying "Titty rats are pretty tasty!". Pulling out his small hammer and chisel, he walks over and looks more closely at the wall where the spike had come from. "Specializing in pansies, I killed etiquette." Sam begins mumbling to himself and then shakes his hand at the ceiling yelling. "Forward Squabbling Monkeys, seize the fortress". The large red balloon which hovered beside him bobbed slowly up and down as if it was nodding in agreement.

Letting out a long sigh, Sam squatted next to the wall and began to hammer and chisel at the stone blocks in an attempt to get at the sharp pointy object behind it.

[spiderwrangler]

Charlie taps the side of his head, "I think my, my communication center is malfunctioning, malfunctioning again. I understood nothing, nothing he just said, said."

[Alaen]

August sighed. Sam certainly hadn't taken long to get hurt.

"Your processor should be fine. I believe this sudden bout of aphasia was caused by poison from the trap he just sprung.

Mr Griffin, we do not know how severe this poison is. I would suggest we return to the workshop to treat your wound. It would be best if you move as little as possible to keep the poison from spreading."

[BadgeAddict]

Sam looked at August and threw his hands up in the air "Hamsteak Pickle DeathBirds" and went back to hammering and chiseling. The Orange Orangutan Sitting next to him began to flip through the book it was holding, finally stopping at a particular page and holding it out to Sam, saying simply "Ook".

Sam stared for a few moments at the proffered page before exclaiming. "Freaky owl fetishes meet at mashed potato summit!"

Sam then goes back to work on the block. The Orangutan was nice enough to hold the chisel for him. Sam simply nodded his thanks.

[spiderwrangler]

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If Sam is gonna work on chiseling out the trap, that puts him off Explore time while working on the task.

[Alaen]

August sighs and facepalms, but leaves Sam alone for now.
He will monitor him, and determine if his condition is worsening.

"Stubborn fool."
"Reminds me of someone I know."

[Synch]

Enoch keeps working away at his diagram, pausing every now and then to look at his progress and make a few adjustments. When he finishes he holds it aloft to look at it as a whole, with a satisfied smile.

[Nerre]

So many miniupdates, are we still in the same turn? I kind of lost track of current events, sorry.

[spiderwrangler]

So many miniupdates, are we still in the same turn? I kind of lost track of current events, sorry.

Last update was Thursday, so we are due... Hiero doesn't have any actions though, and Kew hasn't responded to Gabe's suggestion...

@Wears: Do you want Gabe to proceed without her? His polite 'Shall we do this?" type things don't give me the best indication on how to proceed if no one says "Yes we shall." If silence means "No.", then Gabe wouldn't be taking any actions, but if his question is more of a "I intend to do this, would you care to join me?", then I'll have him more forward without Kew.

[WearsHats]

I'll try to be clearer in the future. In this case, it was "I intend to do this. Are there any objections? Anything I'm forgetting?"

Generally, I'm looking for actual input and responses, and waiting to see what people say before I make a firm decision. But I'll try to remember to include a conditional next time.

So, yeah, if Quarg doesn't check in, Gabe will go ahead with the installation.

[Quarg]

Kew ponders for a moment, "I want to make sure that this quartz isn't special in someway, I have a vauge recollection of someone talking about doping crystals over a beer in Kings Arms...which is why I think those continental dolts missed it..." She looks around I'd like to see about putting some light through this..."

(OOC: My reading of the last rolls was that there was more information available from study...but I may just be miss reading the rolls...)

[WearsHats]

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Kew ponders for a moment, "I want to make sure that this quartz isn't special in someway, I have a vauge recollection of someone talking about doping crystals over a beer in Kings Arms...which is why I think those continental dolts missed it..." She looks around I'd like to see about putting some light through this..."

(OOC: My reading of the last rolls was that there was more information available from study...but I may just be miss reading the rolls...)

Kew and Gabe extract the crystal and lower the block back into place before returning to the workshop with the tripod to study the crystal a bit further.

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Unskilled (2d3) + 2 = 2,1,2 = 5 CP / -- CP needed, gains 0.5 SP in Crystals

The +2 represents use of the book to crossreference, as well as minor gains from your levels in Chemistry and Optics... I don't feel they apply enough to give full benefit, basically if a task doesn't return SP in a skill, that skill won't apply to the task...

They conclude that it is quartz, and in comparing the size to the powdered depression in the workshop threshold, they can see that it certainly would fit into place.

My interpretation was that it's quartz and it fits in the slot and that's as much as we can tell. If you want to see if we can squeeze out a bit more, I'm willing to give it another turn, but I don't get the sense we'd learn anything meaningful.