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So the scene right now took a hard right and an encounter that I expected to be a chase scene and it looked like you guys where going to walk away with has just turned into a potential battle.

My concern is the forces played out where balanced it as "obvious overwhelming force to run from" not as "solid fight the players will enjoy". This means my expectation was for the chase to end and you guys to return to Wheaton and have a down time before we moved on to the next adventure.

Right now it is looking a lot like it will turn into a fight, and I want you guys as players to decide what you want and make sure you are on the same page here.

While the rewards for victory would be astronomical. The risk in an encounter like this could be multiple characters going blaze of Glory.

i do not want to be that 'killer GM who trapped you, so I want yall to chat up how to proceed OOC so everyone can still have fun even if in character things are tense.

I have to say, I think Hardin would be down for a scrape. He doesn’t trust the CS in the slightest, and in tense situations he’d default to what he knows best.

I wouldn’t be mad if it came down to him blazing; the scene is cool enough to warrant it. That’s not my goal, mind you (especially because for the first time in forever I don’t have a character I'm dying to play bouncing around in my head that I would want to replace him with), but it wouldn’t upset me.

Edit: Also, (1) the loot haul would be insane, and (2) we would likely not need to beat all of the assembled dead boys in order to win the encounter. Though the CS are known for their military prowess, killing 1/3 - 1/2 of their number would probably be enough to break their will and send them into retreat. That fraction might be higher for the Red Bastards, but not for their support troops.

If they try to hurt the hostages Arthur will intervene.

That being said, I've only had a character in this game for a few months so I don't have the time and effort put into it that many of the rest of you do. I'm fine violence or not, though Arthur will follow the orders to stand down unless compelled to do otherwise.

I'd rather not have to go out in a blaze of glory. I like this character.

It was asked what the force composition was.

Mechanized Patrol

• 4 UAR1 Enforcers (1 Wild Card Officer)
• 4 SAMAS

The Red Bastards (An elite CS Death Squad of Mage Hunters)

• Nash (a Major villain who i planned on being recurring)
• 12 & 13 Two wild card Mage Hunters (Mind Melter + Psi-Stalker)
• 3 Mind Melters
• 6 Skelebots
• They drive a Mark V

So essentially each OC would have to take out at least either a SAMAS or a UAR-1 and that isn't even accounting for the Mind Melters and skelebots. If we fight it's possible we could win but the odds of us doing so without any if the PC's (and probably a good chunk of the hostages) are pretty slim. Again I'm good either way we want to do this.

Arthur_Bishop wrote:So essentially each OC would have to take out at least either a SAMAS or a UAR-1 and that isn't even accounting for the Mind Melters and skelebots. If we fight it's possible we could win but the odds of us doing so without any if the PC's (and probably a good chunk of the hostages) are pretty slim. Again I'm good either way we want to do this.

So, I think it bears clarification that I would be just as happy to avoid this fight as I would be to have it. I’m not trying to kill my character, here.

That said, I don’t think we’d need to beat all of those baddies; just enough to make ‘em run. Still a tall order, but maybe not quite that tall.

Hire I see things.

Foxx is unwilling to be searched.

Physically searching an innocent person against their will is simply wrong.

The CS will require searching 100% to allow temporary escape.

There may be refugees unwilling to be searched (I planned to roll versus a TN 8 for them to say no).

Another option would be to run again.

This would risk a round of firing by the in position mecha, but 12 & 13 would slow them add they need to get in. Putting things back to were they were before the stop (excepting the shots fired).


However, I only have 3 bennies + would card bennies giving you an edge there.

My character wont let those coalition robots touch him, so he is against being detained and searched as well.

I say we just get the hell out of here. But if everyone else wants to stand and fight, then I will too.

Leethe saw it get stolen?

Leethe wrote:Leethe saw it get stolen?

The CS data drive was found by Billy and Erin while repairing the APC. L.C. had it and when he went back to base turned it over to the Legion. the began working on it and found out it was a detailed list of Magic Zone infiltrators in the CS. L.C. has the knowledge of the list, but not the list itself.

This data is the reason why Rebuke has been hunting you and why the CS are so desperate they sent The Red Bastards their most elite mage hunters.

let's put this another way. We can let a couple of psi-stalkers search us to verify what we already know - the drive is not here. If they try to walk away with anything else L.C. will personally ventilate them and let their boss know they got grabby.

I was trying to eliminate an enemy by means of info we don't need and would just as soon seen used. Unless you like the idea of the Federation of Magic possibly using the CS to attack us more. These guys have a goal, and our destruction is not their primary mission. In fact if they did destroy us, it would in fact leave them frustrated and facing censure as they have literally no leads. It would probably end up with an assault on Castle Refuge itself - either by them or activating one of the spies they have to search for intel.

Alright - decision time:

From Rob: I was PM'ed about how serious the death threat is. I think it is important for me to communicate clearly.

I do not instant kill player's characters. it is not interesting and does not increase anyone's fun or tension.
However, i also do not think it is right to coddle them and eliminate risk. The heroes who chose to stay behind are in real serious danger. The CS, will take advantage of them being bound to torture them, mind read them, and mind control them for when the others return with the data. The CS will have a clear and decisive plan to kill all of them, The 99, but most especially Brison and Hardin because they are traitors in Nash's eyes who have willing risked the lives of mankind for their own selfish motivations.
I will assume as a GM, that you guys will be cooking up a plan to rescue your team mates without a APC full on innocents. Likewise Nash will assume the same and be planning for it.
Characters may die, but if they do it will be in an interesting way, not as pointless executions

Me: So with that said, I have two proposals

• One, the three of us walk back to the CS meek as you please surrender into their "loving" mercies and play it out. If we're all resolved to die or blaze out, we might as well play it out and see what happens.
• Two, the three of us walk back, meek as you please and in close proximity begin combat in earnest while the APCs escape. Hardin sends his horse to extract Arthur and Sir William and I blaze out to let them get away; between Arthur and Sir William, they are screwed; and LC can definitely hold off the Red Bastards until he dies

Thoughts, especiall Sir William's player

Third proposal: you go with them. Hardin, Brison and Rob (in L.C.'s now not-being-used flying power armor) circle back ahead of the CS and set an ambush. Rob can bring some of his Super Trooper's awesome Maysies and we can use the charges to cause a distraction and to bust up the APC and take you back. It'd be high-risk and would have to be a quick job, but it would be fun and could potentially get everyone out without anyone having to blaze.