Contritum - Round 28

Dop time. Today on the agenda, some skillpoints, some organizing of character sheet stuff...

Also, Terry promptly kills off the vine-wrapped Carrier proper. As expected, it dies and rapidly disintegrates into loose code... mostly. It seems like the vines have become stained with the stuff, slowly merging together into some kind of plantoid abomination. Thankfully, the plantoid decides to escape rather than attack just yet, running off towards the east.

Some situations may have changed...

Battle has been processed.

Round over.

Chinook gives fire support to R1fler-87.

Outside of battle, Chinook goes to investigate the duck.

Morningstar and Mirrorstar move to G11 and I11. Morningstar attacks the Strider, while Mirrorstar scans it.

Trait debuffs don't move.

Ristretto tears the Infester to bits with her axes before retreating to I5. This triggers her trait, assuming it kills. If it doesn't, she won't retreat.

'Splodey just shoots the Psychostrider.

Latte dashes down to H10 and attempts to kind of stab the PStrider before retreating to F8. I know full well, with a 10% resistance to physical, 1AC and the fact that Latte's claws are a multihit weapon, that this will heck all, but I honestly can't think of anything else for her to do, so... I'll take that six damage, or whatever.

To make up for the lack of neat stuff in battle, Latte finds her way out of town, kind of just ignoring the Spear, it would seem. She then heads South stealthily, cautious of what may lie ahead.

Frappe smirks as she watches the jolt go through the infester's body. Although tempted to finish it off, her attention is drawn to the Psychostrider to the South. She darts to D7, taking cover behind the barrier. The drone follows her to C6, before beeping as it scans over the Psychostrider. Frappe frowns slightly at what she sees on her headset.
"Air and Esoterical... nothin' for either." Regardless of this, she opts to simply fire a jolt of electricity at the Psychostrider.

Contritum - Round 29

I have enough time tonight to... make a post here stating that this dop is happening, and not a whole lot more. However, I have plans...

For one thing - balance changes. Some minor nerfs to some overused things, some minor buffs to things people have mentioned are a tad underpowered, possibly some enemy changes depending on if they'd be neat to see or not. Maybe include Veteran enemies into the game, and introduce a rank above Elite...?

For another thing - zone choices. I have three ideas for the next potential zone in mind.
The first potential choice is... A water-heavy world with moderate concentrations of Defaced, low concentrations of Abandoned, the presence of Wildlife, and possibly some aquatic neatness.
The second potential choice is... A factory world with low concentrations of Defaced (mostly invaders), high concentrations of Abandoned, and industrial-based environments.
The third potential choice is... An Engietech Heavy Frigate patrolling through the system, constantly beset by numerous Defaced and the occasional Abandoned vessel, with the most unique thing about it being that there'll be quite a few ambient NPCs present...

Do let me know which one of the choices sounds most interesting. Or even suggest some things yourself if you feel like there's something not present?


Out of battle stuff:

Chinook goes to investigate the Duck. It is a duck, happily floating in the water. At least, it seems like a duck... The fact that it just handed the mercenary a journal of some kind might suggest something more interesting?

Outside of battle, Latte heads out of the town, then moves to take an investigative look south from there. What she ends up walking in on is... not pleasant, to say the least, but possibly a fortunate sight given there's at least one person around who can help make sense of things, assuming recovery goes smoothly.

All situations have been processed.

Round over.

'Splodey puts his skillpoint into STR. He then switches one of his Captain's Marks for the Duck Journal.

'SPLODIMUS: Ducks! I like ducks.

He then walks up to the elemental sniper with the skull mask... and rips it clean off.

He also remembers there was a weird looking crossbow bolt on one of the logs. He looks for it around the place, and picks it up.

He then runs along to the "Further Along" area, where he notes the sign.

'SPLODIMUS: ...Eh? Dere somethin' 'ere...?

He cautiously enters the supply depot. And almost immediately...

'SPLODIMUS: ...oh.

He seems to be readying for combat, juuuust in case.

'SPLODIMUS: 'Xplain yerself.

He waits for the inevitable response.

Chinook takes a point out of DEF and puts three into SKI, tosses a bit of bread to the duck, and goes to ask Toolbox & Gang if they want to help us fight.

Chinook also equips the Elemental Rifle, setting the type to Air.

Strix +2s his INT.

Morningstar +4's his SPC, since he apparently forgot to allocate points before the previous fight. This should bump up his trait debuffs.

Morningstar returns to the Factory and gives I.R.I.S. an offer:
Morningstar: Perhaps, if you do not wish to stay immobilized here, you could come with us? Assuming, of course, you are willing to work with us.
Morningstar: My idea is to upload a copy of your consciousness into equipment deployable into a drone: a shield, perhaps? The copy would sync with your "main" consciousness, of course.
Morningstar: The only issue is the process of creating it, but we do have a factory, after all.

Morningstar manifests a holographic blueprint:
I.R.I.S. Shield (Trinket)
+2 AC
Deploy (1/battle, you may use your action to lose 2 AC and summon a friendly Repair Drone with 5 HP, 1 AC, and no attack. Its healing is 5-6, and it can't use Restore Function, either.)
Dual Slot

((For clarification, this isn't a craftpost, I'm just making an IC suggestion to IRIS. If IRIS agrees, crafting is a thing that's doable right now, and the suggestion isn't completely unbalanced, I'll do the crafting next round.))

Contritum - Round 30

It's a slightly unfinished update, I'm aware, but I decided it would serve as an acceptable foundation.

Build changes
Splodimus: +1 STR, Captain's Mark -> Duck Journal
Chinook: +3 SKI, -1 DEF, Atmospheric Annihilator -> Elemental Rifle
Strix: +2 INT
Morningstar: +4 SPC

Interactions:

Splodimus tears off the elite sniper's mask. At least, that was attempted. The uncomfortable discovery made there is that what was presumably a mask is in fact the creature's face. Yeah... He also loots the Heartcross Bolt from the camp battle's aftermath, then heads off to the supply depot.

Upon arriving there, he's promptly greeted by that strange Defaced woman. While she doesn't seem outwardly aggressive, one would get the feeling there's some arrangement of defenses kept out of sight...

???: ["Hello there. I was wondering when one of you would come by..."]
???: ["You've been catching a bit of attention, by the way. It's fortunate for you that I'm the first higher-rank one to notice you."]
???: ["The others would... probably just want to convert you right away. Me? I don't care too much for that. What I do care for..."]
???: ["Money, ownership of things, that type of deal. Just things that the rest of my species tends to overlook."]
???: ["Actually, it's fortunate that you came here. Outsiders tend to bring quite a few interesting things with them..."]

The unknown hums to the beat of a tune only she can hear properly. It's kind of loud, so one could just hear the tones from her headphones.

???: ["Now, more directly phrased..."]
???: ["How about a simple business deal? I sell things I don't need to you, you give me money in return. And maybe other things."]
???: ["I think you'll find the exchange quite helpful for the both of us."]


Chinook tosses bread to the duck, who seems quite happy to be getting free food. They then wander over to the current trio of Engietech people. The question about providing help briefly sparks some discourse between them. The spearman and swordsman turn to each other...

???: ...You're the bored one. What do you reckon?
???: Might as well. But, again, money issues.
???: Mh. You're not wrong, but... hm.
???: Fellas, ah reckon there's a solution 'ere. Jus' treat it like a job.
???: Meaning?
???: Git paid fer it. Seems simple 'nuff t' me.
???: ...Sure. Sure. Maybe... yeah, that works. Depends how much we're paid, though.
???: Should be able to eke out enough from a fairly low rate... How about you two?
???: In the same boat as you, really.
???: Ah've got machines t' maintain, y'all're bettin' ah'll charge more. They ain't free t' keep goin'.
???: I guess that settles it for us.

The trio turn to Chinook, the toolbox-carrying fellow in particular being the one to deliver terms and conditions.

???: Af'er a quick talk, we've decided. Y'all can 'ave our 'elp...
???: If we're paid fer it.


Morningstar heads to the factory to talk with I.R.I.S. The core seems to be considering the offer, silently observing the holographic blueprint with one eye for a while, then giving a reply.

IRIS: [THIS-IS-A-VIABLE-POSSIBILITY. I-WILL-BE-ABLE-TO-ACCEPT-THIS.]
IRIS: [BE-AWARE-THAT-THE-DRONE-MAY-HAVE-LIMITED-PROCESSING-POWER-AND-THUS-MAY-NOT-BE-ABLE-TO-RETAIN-EVERY-EXPECTATION.]
IRIS: [AS-A-SIDENOTE. I-BELIEVE-I-COULD-REARRANGE-SOME-EQUIPMENT-TO-ALLOW-OTHER-USES.]
IRIS: [THE-DRONE-THAT-ACCOMPANIES-YOU. THE-ONE-WITH-THE-HARPOON-GUN.]
IRIS: [IT-LOOKS-LIKE-A-DISTANT-DESCENDANT-OF-A-FAMILIAR-DESIGN...]
IRIS: [PERHAPS-I-COULD-FIND-SOME-BLUEPRINTS-THAT-WOULD-LET-YOU-HAVE-MORE-SUCH-DRONES. OR-MERELY-BLUEPRINTS-TO-UPGRADE-THAT-ORIGINAL-ONE.]

...Crafting items appear to have appeared in the inventory. Not a great number of them so far, but some.


All interactions have been processed.

Round over.

Chinook nods to the trio, but then leaves to prepare to join the battle at the struggle.

Ristretto takes a cautionary sniff at one of her axes. She considers tasting the glitch juice of the Defaced, but fortunately she's smarter than that. Just.

~~

Then, she puts two points in AGI and changes the way her special works, slightly.

X Marks The Spot
Fills By: Dealing Damage, Downing Enemies (x15), Killing Enemies (x25)
SP Cost: 250
Draw an X-Shape where the centre is within Range 1-3. It covers Range 1 from the centre. Deal (8-8) Direct Damage to enemies within the area. Can't crit.
(In note: If you would down an enemy (corpses don't count), you gain another usage of X Marks The Spot to use from the centre of your last X. You may perform this up to 3 times in a row. Once you finish, Teleport to the centre of the last X, or within the closest unoccupied space (you may choose which, in a tie).)
Mods:
-2 SPC per SPC. Scales with SPC (two-thirds) (Only lower damage counts for kill confirms on resets). +1 Upper Range for placing the X per 6 SPC. Fish In A Barrel at 10 SPC (No limit on resets.). You're On My List at 15 SPC (X area has +1 Upper Range).

Morningstar crafts the thing:

Morn equips the shield and advances into The Struggle and—NONONONONONONONO BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD
Morningstar: This planet's situation is far, far worse than previously calculated. Evil grass? This can only mean one thing...
Morningstar: We have a druid on our hands.
Morningstar: AAAAGGGGHGHHHHHGHHH DRUIIIIDSSSS
Morn then announces to everyone in the general vicinity:
Morningstar: ALERT: Expect an upcoming enemy to summon a larger and larger man. Be aware, as it will allow them later on to summon an even larger man.

'Splodimus waits for the Defaced to finish. After they finish, 'Splodimus was still on edge... but eventually he gives them the benefit of the doubt, and leaves his combat position.

'SPLODIMUS: ...Tha's all? Works fer me. Ain't got much t' burn money on anyhow. Lesse wha' y' got...

He walks over to the blade. 1000, huh? Though, it seems like it might be able to fit the hilt they found earlier... a bit strange that a candy cane blade exists, he thinks, but then he remembers where he came from and how it was actually a viable weapon...

He also checks out the crossbow arms. 600. A perfect fit for the crossbow stock and bolt the party found. Though the garish pinkness mildly irritates him...

'SPLODIMUS: ...I'll take 'em bot'.

He conjures up a money bag. It contains the 1600 money needed for the transaction. He takes both of the items, and hands the sack of cash to the Defaced.

'SPLODIMUS: Pleasure doin' business wit' ya. Lookin' forward t' more products.

He then exits the building, when he hears Morningstar's call. He walks into the struggle at (BA15). He notes the Handgun dude.

'SPLODIMUS: Oi, mate, mind movin' t' th' left a bit? 'Splosion incomin'.

He then shoves a bomb straight onto the stinger of the vine right ahead of him, strikes a match, and lights it low on the fuse. 'Splodimus takes a step back.

To nobody's surprise, it explodes. 'Splodimus lowers into a combat stance.

Contritum - Round 31

It's time for the update. I'm pretty bad at consistency, huh. Anyway, let's see what's on the agenda...


Chinook acknowledges conversation and walks to The Struggle.

Ristretto manages to not fail a wisdom check on whether it's worth licking glitch residue off the axes, then assigns skillpoints and does special changes.

Morningstar prepares CRAFTSTUFF... the first craftstuff of the game, actually. Granted, craftstuff only just became available, but still, it's worth noting. He then appears to have a small breakdown about evil grass and druids. Something about summoning a larger man...

Splodimus listens to a chatty person, then performs transactions. Namely buying stuff. The cost is 1600 Money, and the gains is a sword blade and part of a crossbow. That's two items that contribute to the completion of two other items. Yay for capitalism.

(Dialogue goes here)

He then walks over to the Struggle, setting a bomb on the vine and warning the handgunner to move a bit. Naturally, setting off explosions that interfere with Defaced operations is prone to getting their attention and hostility in equal measure... A fight is bound to ensue.

(Hey, guys! OoC, I know, but I have good news, and bad news.)

(Good news: I figured out how to use the forums on mobile, so I can overcome my slow internet and frequent power outages.)

(Bad news: This is an old cellphone, so it can't run Google Drive, nor Discord.)

(Therefore, I suggest using Discord AND forum PMs to communicate. As for the Google Drive issue, that's more complicated - perhaps PMing me an ASCII map of the battlefield?)

(Sorry for double-posting, can't edit on mobile.)

(Would it be innapropiate to create a Contritum discussion thread? DTG:Chaos did it, but Discord didn't exist back then.)