Shapers of the Apocalypse (Cosmic Horror vs. Player Characters)

Academia Nut · Dec 5, 2015

George said:
a conditional where he abandons his research if any legal opportunities come up would be nice, I think.

He would have, at a greater penalty.

Edit: Also, if we can sort out the expedition composition while I go update Amber Age I will try to get in an update tonight.

Powerofmind · Dec 5, 2015

Personally I'm just worried you guys are forgetting one key factor when it come to choosing the expedition lead.

Academia Nut said:
The leaders will form the focus of the expedition, so their personal skills will be of most use. Everyone else assigned can pitch in, but the leader sets the general tone and generally is key to figuring out not just if the expedition succeeds or fails, but how it succeeds or fails.

The expedition lead dictates the focus. As a few examples:
-Lead with Corbyn, and things are likely to take a law-oriented bent with a probable side of documenting peaceful inhabitants, determining property lines, and possibly snagging some real estate ourselves.
-Lead with Schwartzwald, and the survey will be archaeological in nature, finding old tribal sites, performing geological surveys for precious materials, and of course, trying to find a dinosaur.
-Lead with Henry and the very first thing we'll see on the roll chart is

Hostile Encounter Type: 7
Hostile Natives

Given most people want Freeman or Schwartzwald to lead... Freeman is basically Henry with a small side order of Bainsbridge glory-hounding(he wants influence to be considered for presidency). It will end up being a 'violently control the population and loot natives for anything of cultural or monetary value' kind of expedition.

racnor · Dec 5, 2015

Powerofmind said:
Personally I'm just worried you guys are forgetting one key factor when it come to choosing the expedition lead.

The expedition lead dictates the focus. As a few examples:
-Lead with Corbyn, and things are likely to take a law-oriented bent with a probable side of documenting peaceful inhabitants, determining property lines, and possibly snagging some real estate ourselves.
-Lead with Schwartzwald, and the survey will be archaeological in nature, finding old tribal sites, performing geological surveys for precious materials, and of course, trying to find a dinosaur.
-Lead with Henry and the very first thing we'll see on the roll chart is

Given most people want Freeman or Schwartzwald to lead... Freeman is basically Henry with a small side order of Bainsbridge glory-hounding(he wants influence to be considered for presidency). It will end up being a 'violently control the population and loot natives for anything of cultural or monetary value' kind of expedition.

Fortunately, if you were to switch to plan Skippy, Schwartzwald would lead. If you don't, Henry wins 12.6 to 12.

Sightsear · Dec 5, 2015

Powerofmind said:
Given most people want Freeman or Schwartzwald to lead... Freeman is basically Henry with a small side order of Bainsbridge glory-hounding(he wants influence to be considered for presidency). It will end up being a 'violently control the population and loot natives for anything of cultural or monetary value' kind of expedition.

...Will it net us prestige? Because if so, I'm totally ok with a historical recreation of horrible oppression in the name of fun and profit!

Besides, we can hire the other natives to help us do it! They tend to hate each other more than they hate the new guys rolling in from the East. Humans tend to all be equally dickish, it's just that we're bigger than they are is all.

"I'm sorry, my fellows, but I'm afraid that I simply cannot accompany this expedition, as something out untoward has cropped up involving my estates. However, if any of you could help me acquire the services of a several priests, an exorcist, and several barrels of flammable oil, I would be ever so greatful.

1230

Mr Apollo · Dec 5, 2015

[X] Expedition Leader
-[X] Peter Schwartzwald (1.2x)
[X] Expedition Members
-[X] Henry Jackson (1.9x)
-[X] Tyler Freeman
-[X] Gary Grant (1x)
-[X] Wilhelm Sonnenberg (1x)
-[X] Corbyn James (1x)
-[X] Morgan Blumstein (1x)

redzonejoe · Dec 5, 2015

Powerofmind said:
Personally I'm just worried you guys are forgetting one key factor when it come to choosing the expedition lead.

The expedition lead dictates the focus. As a few examples:
-Lead with Corbyn, and things are likely to take a law-oriented bent with a probable side of documenting peaceful inhabitants, determining property lines, and possibly snagging some real estate ourselves.
-Lead with Schwartzwald, and the survey will be archaeological in nature, finding old tribal sites, performing geological surveys for precious materials, and of course, trying to find a dinosaur.
-Lead with Henry and the very first thing we'll see on the roll chart is

Given most people want Freeman or Schwartzwald to lead... Freeman is basically Henry with a small side order of Bainsbridge glory-hounding(he wants influence to be considered for presidency). It will end up being a 'violently control the population and loot natives for anything of cultural or monetary value' kind of expedition.

'hostile natives' might be a thing if we're unlucky. Henry or Tyler would shoot back, while Corbyn would probably try to bargain with them, or hire local muscle to help fight.

You're making it sound like if Freeman leads an expedition, violence and hostility are the only possible outcomes. When truthfully, the initial hostility level of the natives are up to the dice, and the expedition leader's skills decide how we react.

I agree that the style of expedition might change, but I disagree with your assessment of what those changes would be.

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

redzonejoe said:
'hostile natives' might be a thing if we're unlucky. Henry or Tyler would shoot back, while Corbyn would probably try to bargain with them, or hire local muscle to help fight.

You're making it sound like if Freeman leads an expedition, violence and hostility are the only possible outcomes. When truthfully, the initial hostility level of the natives are up to the dice, and the expedition leader's skills decide how we react.

I agree that the style of expedition might change, but I disagree with your assessment of what those changes would be.

You read the quote. The leader's skills and talents(as well as probably their ambitions) plays a strong part in determining the flavor of the expedition. Freeman's skill list is all combat and you can pretty easily finagle his ambition to being oriented towards fighting or at least highly aggressive actions. Henry's skill list is all combat and his ambition is combat-oriented. It's pretty easy to see exactly which direction Tactics, Personal Combat, and Survival will direct an expedition.

[X] Admiral Skippy

Hangwind · Dec 6, 2015

[X] Admiral Skippy

Academia Nut · Dec 6, 2015

Okay then, then by my count this should be more or less what most people want. The expedition leader is certainly correct:

[X] Expedition Leader
-[X] Peter Schwartzwald (1.2x)
[X] Expedition Members
-[X] Henry Jackson (1.9x)
-[X] Tyler Freeman
-[X] Wilhelm Sonnenberg (1x)
-[X] Corbyn James (1x)
-[X] Morgan Blumstein (1x)

redzonejoe · Dec 6, 2015

Powerofmind said:
You read the quote. The leader's skills and talents(as well as probably their ambitions) plays a strong part in determining the flavor of the expedition. Freeman's skill list is all combat and you can pretty easily finagle his ambition to being oriented towards fighting or at least highly aggressive actions. Henry's skill list is all combat and his ambition is combat-oriented. It's pretty easy to see exactly which direction Tactics, Personal Combat, and Survival will direct an expedition.

[X] Admiral Skippy

See there's where I disagree with you.
You seem to think that somebody knowing how to shoot means the expedition's primary goal will be to wage war on whatever happens to be around.

I think that survival means a focus on staying alive, which is the opposite of starting random fights.

I think survival and personal combat lends itself to hunting and exploring the region. Not necessarily with the intention of mapping, but just to see what's there.

I think tactics could lend itself to getting to know the region, the terrain and the people. Learning about local legends, even. Knowing what we're getting in to instead of going in blind.

I do not think that somebody with personal combat, tactics and survival will walk into a town and say "fight me 1v1, bitches", as you seem to think.

I do think that members of an explorer's guild on a survey expedition would explore and survey the area, and that military skills would do well in ensuring that happens successfully.

I get that that you're looking at it on a meta level, "guy is good at fighting" means "Guy will end up fighting". I even agree with you, partly. We'd deal with hostiles by fighting back instead of running away. But I don't agree that sending Freeman as leader would make hostile events more likely. I suppose we'll see in the update, but I do believe that random events are random.

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

redzonejoe said:
See there's where I disagree with you.
You seem to think that somebody knowing how to shoot means the expedition's primary goal will be to wage war on whatever happens to be around.

I think that survival means a focus on staying alive, which is the opposite of starting random fights.

I think survival and personal combat lends itself to hunting and exploring the region. Not necessarily with the intention of mapping, but just to see what's there.

I think tactics could lend itself to getting to know the region, the terrain and the people. Learning about local legends, even. Knowing what we're getting in to instead of going in blind.

I do not think that somebody with personal combat, tactics and survival will walk into a town and say "fight me 1v1, bitches", as you seem to think.

I do think that members of an explorer's guild on a survey expedition would explore and survey the area, and that military skills would do well in ensuring that happens successfully.

I get that that you're looking at it on a meta level, "guy is good at fighting" means "Guy will end up fighting". I even agree with you, partly. We'd deal with hostiles by fighting back instead of running away. But I don't agree that sending Freeman as leader would make hostile events more likely. I suppose we'll see in the update, but I do believe that random events are random.

I think you're off on that. It's silly to think that that a person whose entire viable skillset consists of hunting and military strategy wouldn't consider primarily military approaches to problems, or focus the efforts of the expedition on such areas, where he excels and can show his talents best.

racnor · Dec 6, 2015

"Gentlemen, let us remain composed. The men are already heading down to Mr. Jefferson's land, and when they get there we will surely know enough to resolve this."

Academia Nut · Dec 6, 2015

[X] Expedition Leader
-[X] Peter Schwartzwald (1.2x)
[X] Expedition Members
-[X] Henry Jackson (1.9x)
-[X] Tyler Freeman
-[X] Wilhelm Sonnenberg (1x)
-[X] Corbyn James (1x)
-[X] Morgan Blumstein (1x)

While there is much discussion and horse trading among those involved, it is eventually decided that Peter should be the leader, with much of the rest of the movers and shakers of the Association outside the executive council going along, with the only major deviation being Henry also accompanying them since it will be on the property of his friend for much of the expedition. It seems only fitting that he go along and have a chance to visit at times as well.

Management
Rolled 94 + (2, 9, 8, 6) = 118
Spectacularly well run!

Cartography
Rolled (100 + 39) + (3, 4, 8, 10) = 163
1 advantage
Morgan Charisma
Rolled 84 + (10, 9, 6, 4) = 113
Blumstein's Ridge!

Research
Rolled 63 + (10, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7) = 101
~~1 Complication~~, 3 advantages

Science (geology)
Rolled 6 + (3, 5, 4, 8, 6) = 26
Defaults -> 44
2 1 complication, 1 advantage

Meet the Press
Bainsbridge Charisma
Rolled 1 + (8, 5, 5, 6, 6, 9) = 40
Defaults -> 65
3 2 complications, 1 advantage
+2 Permanent Influence, +2 Temporary Influence

Bainsbridge Willpower
Rolled 38 + (3, 4, 3, 1, 6) = 55
Does not gain Wrathful

Historicity Rolled 60

The expedition sets out as soon as possible to fanfare from those staying behind, although obviously to little attention outside their own little circle. The train ride down to the New Mexico Territory is mostly uneventful, with the men assigned to the expedition spending most of their time reviewing the information already gathered by Blumstein and Schwartzwald on what they might find there, and on the various bits of news that they get from the papers they buy at the more well connected stops along the way. For obvious reasons the biggest bit of news in circulation is the various debates between the members over the upcoming election, although other topics of interest are the conflict between the British and the Boers in South Africa and the reports of atrocities coming out of China.

As they enter into the Territory there is also discussion of a bit of shocking local news. There had been a horrific massacre of a homestead not too far from their destination area, where over a dozen men, women, and children had all been horrifically killed, either shot or burned to death when their home and barn was burned down. The perpetrator, some red and black devil up from Mexico and undoubtedly of the worst mixing of cannibal lines of Africa and the Americas, had been found sitting on a rock watching his handiwork burn, his empty rifle next to him and a soulless look on his face. When the posse that came to investigate the fire found him there, he had offered not resistance to his execution, and had merely smiled as he was strung up. While awful business, it was over, and Tyler used the moment to remind everyone to be careful in this relatively lawless area.

However, upon arrival in the New Mexico territory, Schwartzwald drops all pretenses of idleness and becomes a dynamo of activity. While never touching anything not made from stone himself, he expertly manages the entire expedition once off the train and keeps everything running with exemplary efficiency. He in fact manages to avoid overbearing stinginess and moralizing to arrive at that perfect spot of generous frugality. None want for anything, but they also keep their own wants in check so that they do not ask for anything unnecessary. When Clayton Jefferson comes to the camp for the first time, he is astonished by how well run it all is and how well his money is being invested.

When he starts to get back the efforts of the mapping Schwartzwald is bending the team towards, he is utterly awestruck. While there is only so much that can be done in the time they have, the team manages to turn in a series of maps to put the US Geological Survey to shame. Every bit of the landscape - including bits of critical information such as springs and regions of seasonal flooding - within the area of interest is thoroughly surveyed. So much new information is compiled that Morgan even gets to fulfill his ambition to have a fairly prominent and important looking series of hills named after him for his contribution. Actually, pretty much everyone who came along got something named after them, but thanks to his efforts Morgan definitely got the most important bit of unnamed geography out in the arid region named after him. Of definite interest is also a full cataloguing of the locations of the curious abandoned settlements of the local tribes. While nowhere near as grand as the ancient ruins of the Old World or the temple complexes in Central America, they are certainly interesting locations and deemed worthy of further investigation in the future. By Peter's estimates there is enough work to fill the career of an archaeologist from thesis to retirement.

About the only disappointment Peter can report is that they did not have enough time work out a full mineral survey, although he got a few preliminary results after taking a few somewhat promising looking samples back to Boston. While nothing spectacular showed up in his work, he does think that with all the mapping done and his initial assays he should be able to start finding things of interest in a follow up expedition.

Unfortunately, while Bainsbridge is proud to report on the success and garners much academic interest, the local presses fail to really pick up it, and the only one to do so writes a disparaging commentary on "delusional old men grubbing about in the dirt thinking doing the work of a common surveyor and thinking that makes them gentlemen explorers".

Bainsbridge nearly smashes something before he calms down after reading that bit, letting it settle into a cold simmer.

Influence 14 (19) [-1]
Resources 22 (27) [-1]
Ethics 14 [0]

New Mexico Contacts (+1 bonus dice whenever involved in New Mexico)
Local Dirt Grubbers (gain no Influence from successful expeditions in North America until removed by action or event)

Expedition Grace Period: Launch an expedition by 1905 to begin taking Influence penalties

Assets: Explorer's Library (allows for Research and Cartography checks to aid in Expedition Projects)

Build Contacts (Charisma check to improve temporary Influence score) [VP-E]
Consolidate Connections (Charisma check to convert temporary Influence into permanent Influence) [VP-E]
Soothe Egos (Charisma check to keep temporary Influence from decaying, or increase the speed of recovery) [VP-E]
Libel Suit (Attempt to counter the slander against you and remove the Organization Trait "Local Dirt Grubbers") [VP-E] [Jr]

Fundraising (Charisma check to spend temporary Influence to improve temporary Resources score) [VP-E] [T]
Manage Endowments (Management check to convert temporary Resource into permanent Resource) [T]
Manage Accounts (Management check to keep temporary Resources from decaying, or increase the speed of recovery) [T] [VP-O]

Manage Estates (Management check to reduce the upkeep costs of various resources) [VP-O]
Improve Ethics (Worst of Management and Charisma check to improve Ethics score, to Max of character performing task's Willpower) [VP-O]
Erode Ethics (Charisma check to decrease Ethics score) [VP-O]
Acquire Assets (Influence and/or Resources check to acquire new assets) [VP-O]

Attempt to Launch Expedition (Makes Influence and Resource checks to attempt to launch an expedition) [PO]

Library Research (Research check to consult maps and journals to seek advantages in launching an expedition) [Jr]

[VP-E] = Vice President External
[T] = Treasurer
[VP-O] = Vice President Operations
[PO] = President Only
[NP] = Not President
[Jr] = Junior members may do action at -10 penalty

Unless otherwise marked, the President can perform any of the listed actions

Expedition Yacht (reduces Resource DCs for expeditions that are to be sailed to, depending on amount of sailing required) Res DC: 60, [-2] Resources decay/turn Available for purchase next year
Small Private Dock (has room for up to four expedition yachts, halving their upkeep) Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 80, [-3] Resources decay/turn

A new expedition goal may be selected. Items in green are considered easy and unambitious.

Appalachian Mountain Survey (Inf DC: 20, Res DC: 20)
Rocky Mountain Survey (Inf DC: 20, Res DC: 25)
South-West Survey (Inf DC: 20, Res DC: 25)
New Mexico Mineral Survey (Inf DC: 15, Res DC: 20)
New Mexico Archaeological Survey (Inf DC: 15, Res DC: 20)
Cascades Survey (Inf DC: 20, Res DC: 25)

Canadian North Survey (Inf DC: 30, Res DC: 70)

Mesoamerican Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 70)
Andean Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 75)
Amazonas River Survey (Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 80)

Greek Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 65)
Anatolian Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 60, Res DC: 70)
Ancient European Archaeological Dig (Inf: 90, Res Rec: 50)

African Safari (Inf DC: 30, Res DC: 50)
African Interior Survey (Inf DC: 50, Res DC: 70)
Egyptian Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 80, Res DC: 65)
Arabian Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 90, Res DC: 75)

Persian Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 80, Res DC: 70)
Indian Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 80, Res DC: 65)
Himalayan Expedition (Inf DC: 60, Res DC: 70)
Chinese Archaeological Dig (Inf DC: 110, Res DC: 80)

Siberian Interior Survey (Inf DC: 70, Res DC: 90)

Pacific Island Survey (Inf DC: 20, Res DC: 80)
Australian Outback Survey (Inf DC: 30, Res DC: 75)

Arctic Expedition (Inf DC: 40, Res DC: 100)
Antarctic Expedition (Inf DC: 40, Res DC: 120)

Da Boyz · Dec 6, 2015

Academia Nut said:
Rolled 1 + (8, 5, 5, 6, 6, 9) = 40

Ouch. If we hadn't critfailed what would this have gotten us?

Academia Nut · Dec 6, 2015

Da Boyz said:
Ouch. If we hadn't critfailed what would this have gotten us?

About the same, but not the major complication of the general press not caring about your accomplishments.

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

"A damn good showing, boys! Chin up, Bainsbridge. The press and public are terribly fickle. Even the most charismatic will feel the sting of the editor's pen at least once in his life!"

George · Dec 6, 2015

Canadian North Survey (Inf DC: 30, Res DC: 70)

Shoot for this?

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

Time for turn preparation.

Influence 14 (19) [-1]
Resources 22 (27) [-1]
We need to consolidate our resources and influence for a year, heavily so. We literally can't reliably afford to take anything bigger than a survey, and they just got punched in the balls for completion rewards.

I suggest a year of focused attempts to consolidate influence, convert temp influence to resources, and use bainsbridge's enormous stat blocks to convert them to permanent resources, while we use Corbyn to fix the survey penalty and try to pull some research on our next target, a Canadian North survey(everything else has unreasonably huge demands save the African Safari).

Everybody in favor of a general turn build like that, without a major expedition?

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

In other news:

Academia Nut said:
Ambition: Have a town named after him

Blumstein has become really ridiculously demanding, but giving him his mountain increased his education trait by one level, from 3 to 4, giving him +3 to it's original stats, as well as a brand new +3 willpower!

DAMN completing people's ambitions is a fantastic way to buff them up.

I am also scared of the cannibal Native/African combo with no soul. That's just foreboding.

Arbit · Dec 6, 2015

Powerofmind said:
In other news:

Blumstein has become really ridiculously demanding, but giving him his mountain increased his education trait by one level, from 3 to 4, giving him +3 to it's original stats, as well as a brand new +3 willpower!

DAMN completing people's ambitions is a fantastic way to buff them up.

I am also scared of the cannibal Native/African combo with no soul. That's just foreboding.

That's why I'd like to do an archeological or mineral survey in New Mexico soonish. That looked awfuly like something possesed him or something was wrong with the farmers.

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

Arbit said:
That's why I'd like to do an archeological or mineral survey in New Mexico soonish. That looked awully like something possesed him or something was wrong with the farmers.

Congratulations on joining the Gentlemen's Avatars club, first of all.

I could support a turn where we immediately go for another New Mexico survey, or build up for a Meso-American expedition(given the tribal magic will be more common there), so long as we can law away that damn penalty before we go(given AN's previous weigh-ins on that, I suspect he'll say yes).

Sightsear · Dec 6, 2015

George said:
Canadian North Survey (Inf DC: 30, Res DC: 70)

Shoot for this?

I like it. But first, SUE THE PRESSES!

"This is a slander against our honor! 'dirt grubbers' he calls us? Well, unfortunately for him, 'delusional old men' like us, tend to know quite a few other such folk! And he is about to learn that we are not a people to cross lightly!"

"Who's up for plotting our revenge over a game of cards, eh? Don't sit in this chair though, it's reserved for the ghost that's been sneaking about recently. Snuck in while you were away."

Powerofmind said:
I am also scared of the cannibal Native/African combo with no soul. That's just foreboding.

Eh, I'm sure the people he killed were, like, summoning mole-people or something.

1137

Powerofmind · Dec 6, 2015

[] Consolidate Connections (Charisma check to convert temporary Influence into permanent Influence) [VP-E]
[] Libel Suit (Attempt to counter the slander against you and remove the Organization Trait "Local Dirt Grubbers") [Corbyn]

[] Manage Endowments (Management check to convert temporary Resource into permanent Resource) [T]

Erm... I have no idea what our VP-O can even do this year...

[] Attempt to Launch Expedition (Makes Influence and Resource checks to attempt to launch an expedition) [PO]
-[] New Mexico Mineral Survey OR Archaeological Survey (Inf DC: 15, Res DC: 20)

[] Library Research (Research check to consult maps and journals to seek advantages in launching an expedition) [Schwartzwald, Blumstein]

Here is the current draft of my best guess for the year. We really need to think of something for our VP-O to do other than buy shit :/

al103 · Dec 6, 2015

If we go for New Mexico we should chose Mineral. It should give resources independently of press while Archeo is probably influence-heavy pick that requires good press to be effective.

Zaratustra · Dec 6, 2015

Powerofmind said:
Erm... I have no idea what our VP-O can even do this year...

buy a dock where we can put our future ships, the guys job is to buy and manage, so either send him after the dock, tell him to erode our ethics or wast him ona junior task

Powerofmind said:
-[] New Mexico Mineral Survey OR Archaeological Survey (Inf DC: 15, Res DC: 20)

as much as we may want to look at mexico, since we won't be actively looking for whatever hapened the chance of finding something is low and I doubt whatever is there will disapear if we don't go after it ASAP so with that said I think we should go to either Africa or Canada, even whitout the press situation up in the air we should avoid sequential green expedition if we are to build prestige, atract more menbers and expand our operations

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