Leatherhead
Possibly a Idiot.
Ok, did a bit of a rework. Even went with the Dual Wielder feat, so Glau wasn't just stuck with Scimitars.
Spelljammin' (5e PBP OOC) (Full)
- Thread starter FitzTheRuke
- Start date
FitzTheRuke
Legend
A gaff hook and a belaying pin? (Can you tell that I'm getting sick of the standard weapon list? I mean, I'm fine with it stat-wise - I don't think it needs to be longer - I just think it's past time we started using the names as placeholders and refluffed stuff as often as possible, even if it requires changing the damage-types of certain weapons to turn them into others).
Steve Gorak
Adventurer
Hey @FitzTheRuke, please note my edit to my latest IC post.
I don't know what I smoked, but I swear I thought I had rolled a 2. It's actually a 1 on the d20, and a 3 on the d4, so even if the total is 11, with the new rules, it's an auto fail if I'm not mistaken.
Sorry aboot that!
Cheers,
SG
I don't know what I smoked, but I swear I thought I had rolled a 2. It's actually a 1 on the d20, and a 3 on the d4, so even if the total is 11, with the new rules, it's an auto fail if I'm not mistaken.
Sorry aboot that!
Cheers,
SG
FitzTheRuke
Legend
In case you haven't heard, the ship-to-ship combat rules in the Spelljammer book are terrible. They don't really give you a lot of guidance for anything at all. We have a few choices:
1) Try them as is. See if we can make them work. I'll do my best to find things for everyone to do, but it'll probably bore most players.
2) Try my incomplete houserule version. As above but maybe a little better.
3) Skip most of it and do a boarding action. I'll let anyone who wants to do it to fire the ballistae at the enemy ship and then set up both ships as a battlefield. Even if we do that, I'll probably start the ships not too close together, so ranged combatants can do their thing. (If you're a melee character, consider crewing a ballista!)
By the rules, it would take 10 rounds for the ships to come together, and that's assuming that the Astral Elves don't do anything to avoid the boarding action. They have a HUGE advantage at range, so it would make more sense for them to try to avoid it.
Wildspace isn't as empty as real space, (this is fantasy space, gang!) so we can say that the Moondancer can make a ruse of running for it until they go around some asteroids or something and then dive on their pursuers.
1) Try them as is. See if we can make them work. I'll do my best to find things for everyone to do, but it'll probably bore most players.
2) Try my incomplete houserule version. As above but maybe a little better.
3) Skip most of it and do a boarding action. I'll let anyone who wants to do it to fire the ballistae at the enemy ship and then set up both ships as a battlefield. Even if we do that, I'll probably start the ships not too close together, so ranged combatants can do their thing. (If you're a melee character, consider crewing a ballista!)
By the rules, it would take 10 rounds for the ships to come together, and that's assuming that the Astral Elves don't do anything to avoid the boarding action. They have a HUGE advantage at range, so it would make more sense for them to try to avoid it.
Wildspace isn't as empty as real space, (this is fantasy space, gang!) so we can say that the Moondancer can make a ruse of running for it until they go around some asteroids or something and then dive on their pursuers.
Leatherhead
Possibly a Idiot.
I'm halfway tempted to strap Glau on a ballista bolt in order to board the enemy ship early.
jmucchiello
Hero
I don't think we'd let that happen. 
FitzTheRuke
Legend
I'll give a chance for others to weigh in with their desires, if any, and then I'll just wing it. I want everyone involved, but I'm not 100% sure who's even still around. I think it's everyone other than maybe @gnarlygninja who hasn't posted lately. (Still welcome to any time!) Anyone who wants to fire the ballista can take a turn doing it (you're part of a crew, but it doesn't really matter who pulls the trigger, and there are plenty of rounds in which to fire. Just give me a 1d20+6 for 3d10 and I'll work it out from there. Just give me one each (if you want your character to be part of a gun-crew), otherwise just tell me what position you're taking. You could be simply part of the boarding party, or passing out pikes to those who will stay aboard the Moondancer to defend it in case of counter-attack.
I'll assume that whatever rounds worth of firing we lack when all is said and done, go about average. I'm going to roll a few random shots from the Moth as well, so expect the possibility of incoming damage.
I'll assume that whatever rounds worth of firing we lack when all is said and done, go about average. I'm going to roll a few random shots from the Moth as well, so expect the possibility of incoming damage.
Steve Gorak
Adventurer
I vote for boarding! I love the idea of having a second ship if we are successful ;-)
Nic has a decent ranged attack at attack +7/+7, damage 2d6+4/1d6+4, range 90/300, and I'm dying to use thorn whip to have one of the elves fall off the ship.
Of course, all of this assumes we won't be wiped out ;-)
Cheers,
SG
Nic has a decent ranged attack at attack +7/+7, damage 2d6+4/1d6+4, range 90/300, and I'm dying to use thorn whip to have one of the elves fall off the ship.
Of course, all of this assumes we won't be wiped out ;-)
Cheers,
SG
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Here's another interesting phenomenon that I didn't notice until I set up the encounter map. The Star Moth moves at 50ft/round, and the Moondancer (a Space Galleon) moves at 35ft/round. (I have no idea if they are capable of the dash action or not. I'd be inclined to say yes, but the rules are mum on the subject).
But the Star Moth is 200ft long, and the Space Galleon 130ft. When I build a map (as you'll see), they will "feel" like they are crawling along, as they can only move ~1/4 their own length in a round!
At any rate, I'm going to start the combat out at ~300ft as the ships move toward each other. You can attack that at range, if you like. If you feel like you're doing nothing, feel free to fire a ballista (only two shots total per round, though, so you can't ALL do that!).
Hopefully if you don't feel that you can do much, well, you can dodge or ready an action and the ships will collide soon enough.
But the Star Moth is 200ft long, and the Space Galleon 130ft. When I build a map (as you'll see), they will "feel" like they are crawling along, as they can only move ~1/4 their own length in a round!
At any rate, I'm going to start the combat out at ~300ft as the ships move toward each other. You can attack that at range, if you like. If you feel like you're doing nothing, feel free to fire a ballista (only two shots total per round, though, so you can't ALL do that!).
Hopefully if you don't feel that you can do much, well, you can dodge or ready an action and the ships will collide soon enough.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
So, I didn't want to start with them just crashed together, in case anyone wanted to do some ranged attacks leading up to it, but I also don't want to spend three weeks getting us to the point where we board. I just wanted to show what it essentially looks like.
Still, the crew of the Moondancer are significantly more exposed than the crew of the Dark Star (the name of the Star Moth). The only ones not behind full cover, ATM, are three gunners on their Mangonel on the roof, and the three gunners (per side) on their ballistae in the "eye holes" (of the moth) - the light green partial circles on the bow, just aft of the long "nose" prow. They all have cover, giving them ACs of 16 (and are 300+ feet away, though the range will shorten slightly as the round progresses).
Is this making sense so far? I can make it make more sense, if need be.
Still, the crew of the Moondancer are significantly more exposed than the crew of the Dark Star (the name of the Star Moth). The only ones not behind full cover, ATM, are three gunners on their Mangonel on the roof, and the three gunners (per side) on their ballistae in the "eye holes" (of the moth) - the light green partial circles on the bow, just aft of the long "nose" prow. They all have cover, giving them ACs of 16 (and are 300+ feet away, though the range will shorten slightly as the round progresses).
Is this making sense so far? I can make it make more sense, if need be.
jmucchiello
Hero
Delph has no ranged attacks. So she'll take a ballista. Do you want us to just generate a bunch of attack rolls here in the OOC and they you can describe it all in the IC as the ships get close together?
FitzTheRuke
Legend
As I was laying it out I decided to just start our combat around where the ballista is effective, so you don't need to generate a bunch of attack rolls, just take a turn if you're on a ballista. There's two, so Delphine can take one, and someone can take another.
Ballista is +6 for 3d10. You can target the ship, or point it towards the parts of the ships with weapons (if you want to try to disrupt their fire), but they're not quite accurate enough to target individual people - leave that to any regular ranged attacks, assuming we have any. This goes both ways, so you'll be happy to know that I'm not going to (directly, anyway) shoot any of you with the mangonel that does 5d10. Again, it's something that the rules don't mention at all - what you can shoot at - but it seems like they meant for them to be used to attack the other ship. Everyone I've played with has always wanted to attack the other crew with them (in particular captains, of course) but I think I have a handle on it now.
You CAN "target the bridge" if you want... it has a chance to hurt the astral elves. (Though they are behind protective cover, unlike the crew of the Moondancer. Though both ship's Spelljamming Helms are below decks for a reason!
I hope that is starting to make sense.
Leatherhead
Possibly a Idiot.
I would have brought up more crossbows if I had known this many people didn't have ranged attacks.
VLAD the Destroyer
Adventurer
I have range but not 300 ft. I'll pass the ballista to someone else once they are in Eldritch Blast range.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Okay! I'm getting the impression that too many players don't feel that they can really do anything until the ships collide.
I'm going to rework the timing and positioning to move us along faster. Let's speed things along from the round we just rolled (if anyone hasn't made an attack that they wish to roll, go ahead, there's still a ballista that hasn't fired. I'll have Monty do it if no one steps up). But to be clear: We're going to go over these three rounds all at once to speed things up. The round that Nic & Charlie just rolled was T-3 (measuring to impact).
T-3: Ships move from 340ft apart to 255ft apart.
T-2: Ships move from 255ft apart to 170ft apart.
T-1: Ships move from 170ft apart to 85ft apart.
Round 1: Ships move from 85ft apart to impact
(Neither Ship is interested in ramming the other, so impact will be loud and scratch the paint, but not damage either ship or knock anyone over.)
So let's have everyone post for T-3 through T-1 (3 rounds. If you already posted for T-3, don't do it again). I'll give you a bit of time for it, and then I'll have the crew do anything that you don't. Plus, I'll roll for the Star Moth. If you want to wait it out, that's fine.
EDIT: We can assume that you fire any abilities at your ideal range during the round. Ballista are ranged120/480 & the Moth's Mangonel is 200/800. I put that there so I don't have to keep looking it up.
I'm going to rework the timing and positioning to move us along faster. Let's speed things along from the round we just rolled (if anyone hasn't made an attack that they wish to roll, go ahead, there's still a ballista that hasn't fired. I'll have Monty do it if no one steps up). But to be clear: We're going to go over these three rounds all at once to speed things up. The round that Nic & Charlie just rolled was T-3 (measuring to impact).
T-3: Ships move from 340ft apart to 255ft apart.
T-2: Ships move from 255ft apart to 170ft apart.
T-1: Ships move from 170ft apart to 85ft apart.
Round 1: Ships move from 85ft apart to impact
(Neither Ship is interested in ramming the other, so impact will be loud and scratch the paint, but not damage either ship or knock anyone over.)
So let's have everyone post for T-3 through T-1 (3 rounds. If you already posted for T-3, don't do it again). I'll give you a bit of time for it, and then I'll have the crew do anything that you don't. Plus, I'll roll for the Star Moth. If you want to wait it out, that's fine.
EDIT: We can assume that you fire any abilities at your ideal range during the round. Ballista are ranged120/480 & the Moth's Mangonel is 200/800. I put that there so I don't have to keep looking it up.
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jmucchiello
Hero
So the ballista are at disadvantage the first two rounds?
VLAD the Destroyer
Adventurer
yeah they have a range of 120ft/480ft so anything farther than 120ft is at disadvantage. Or at least that is my understanding.
jmucchiello
Hero
I did three turns on the ballista.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Okay, just so we're not waiting on anyone who is waiting on me, here's where we're at:
Charlie missed twice with a Ballista but hit a crew AC 25 for 13 with EB.
Delphine missed twice & then critted with a Ballista for 29.
Glau passed out pikes, then raged & climbed into the tops.
Gunthar joined a ballista crew (let's say, Charlie's, as a loader until T-1, where he can fire).
Nic fired a gadget during T-3 but can still act for T-2 & T-1.
Phlox is ready & waiting.
Sanderson is waiting for closer range?
William is below decks keeping the refugees calm?
@Lidgar feel free to have Gunthar fire the T-1 Ballista shot (short range) while Charlie EBs.
@Kobold Stew is there anything you want to do when the ships get closer? At T-1?
@gnarlygninja are you around to play William?
Will get to R1 when everyone has chimed in. Got a gaggle of Moms coming over for BBQ tomorrow for Mother's Day, but I might find some time. Otherwise, Monday!
Charlie missed twice with a Ballista but hit a crew AC 25 for 13 with EB.
Delphine missed twice & then critted with a Ballista for 29.
Glau passed out pikes, then raged & climbed into the tops.
Gunthar joined a ballista crew (let's say, Charlie's, as a loader until T-1, where he can fire).
Nic fired a gadget during T-3 but can still act for T-2 & T-1.
Phlox is ready & waiting.
Sanderson is waiting for closer range?
William is below decks keeping the refugees calm?
@Lidgar feel free to have Gunthar fire the T-1 Ballista shot (short range) while Charlie EBs.
@Kobold Stew is there anything you want to do when the ships get closer? At T-1?
@gnarlygninja are you around to play William?
Will get to R1 when everyone has chimed in. Got a gaggle of Moms coming over for BBQ tomorrow for Mother's Day, but I might find some time. Otherwise, Monday!
Steve Gorak
Adventurer
Hey folks,
I just posted Nic's actions for T-2 and T-1.
Also, a head's up that I'm getting shoulder surgery tomorrow, so I'll either be significantly more available, or dazed and confused and will be posting a bit less. If I fail to respond, please feel free to autopilot Gimlak.
See you all on the other side!
Cheers,
SG
I just posted Nic's actions for T-2 and T-1.
Also, a head's up that I'm getting shoulder surgery tomorrow, so I'll either be significantly more available, or dazed and confused and will be posting a bit less. If I fail to respond, please feel free to autopilot Gimlak.
See you all on the other side!
Cheers,
SG
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