Episode 2.01: Brushfire!

[Renny]

"There is much truth in your words, Yutan," Cole answered cautiously.

"It is important to remember that these..." Cole offers the rifle forward to emphasise his words, "...are merely tools. There was a time when the development of bigger and better fire sticks caused discord between our peoples and very nearly led to the end of our..tribes. You show great wisdom in recognizing the danger inherent in this situation."

[Davy, aka GM]

Yutan nods thoughtfully, and Styles adds, "We are sorry that such change has disrupted your people."

"Had it not, my people would have been slaughtered and driven off," Yutan counters. "We're thankful for your help, and gladly take the change over the alternative. At least we have a chance to survive."

"Then, let's see if our new tools can help with that."

The Rostov's captain suggests the group reconvenes at the firing range, wehre the hunters practice their marksmanship, to which Yutan agrees and the party heads back outside.

They come to a spot away from the camp where several low bolders are lined up about 25 meters in front of a rise in the rock. Against the rise sit numerous small rocks, broken pottery, and wicker humanoid-shaped figurines. The rise itself is marked with dozens of chips and strikes where rounds have impacted the rock.

Cole and Styles both demonstrate the loading of the rifles, and each take several shots down range, showing both the consitency and speed with which the weapons can put rounds on target. Yutan and the others are highly impressed by the guns, and each take turns with them. A number of hunters also gather for the demonstration, and each are amazed by the novelty.

OOC: Time for a training montage!

At this point, I'm going to call for a series of four tasks.

Sorak and his department will be responsible for manufacturing the repeaters and ammunition. This will be Daring + Engineering vs. Difficulty 2, assisted by the ship's Computers + Engineering. The Engineering Department Advantage granted by Sorak's Chief Engineer role will reduce this to Difficulty 1.

Tobin and his department will be responsible for gathering sensor data and analyzing the military situation - i.e., disposition of the Apellans, gatherings of warriors, mass movement, production times of smithies, etc. This will be Insight + Science vs. Difficulty 2, assisted by the ship's Sensors + Science. The ship's Advanced Sensor Suite Talent will reduce this to Difficulty 1.

Cole and his department will be responsible for training hunt/war leaders and other hunters in the use of the repeaters. This will be Presence + Security vs. Difficulty 2, assisted by Ensign Reed (10 & 3).

Treyva will be responsible for teaching Yutan and his war leaders the strategy and tactics necessary to win the war (rather than just preventing the Apellans from winning battles). This will be Presence + Command vs. Difficulty 2, assisted by Captain Styles (8 & 5). The Tyreen are inherently reluctant to engage in the kind of total war it will take to win the war against the Apellans, so I will impose the Reluctant Students Disadvantage to reflect that, which will increase this to Difficulty 3.

The degrees of success or failure of these tasks will determine a few things that I can't reveal right now.

[Doug Burke]

Sorak Daring (7) + Engineering (5) task:

Rolled 2d20 : 7, 19, total 26

Drake Computers (7) + Engineering (3) Assist:

Rolled 1d20 : 8, total 8

[Doug Burke]

Nice Dicebot. Good Dicebot!

Looks like 2 successes...

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Yes, 2 Successes vs. Difficulty 1. Success, plus 1 Momentum generated.

We'll discuss Momentum spends once all of the tasks have been resolved.

Current
Momentum 0 (1 pending, Sorak)
Threat 8

[Patrick Goodman]

I really don't trust my luck, even with Styles assisting me. I will throw 3 threat your way to Create Opportunity to the tune of two dice.

Treyva training task
Presence + Command (10/5), TN15, D3 - Cultural Flexibility talent might apply, but I don't see any focuses

Rolled 4d20 : 11, 12, 10, 1, total 34

Styles assist
Presence + Command (8/5), TN13

Rolled 1d20 : 10, total 10

Make it worth it, dicebot....

[Patrick Goodman]

Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle....

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: I looked at it, and no, Cultural Flexibility isn't applicable in this situation.

However, that's 6 Successes vs. Difficulty 3. Success, plus 3 Momentum generated!

Current
Momentum 0 (4 pending, Sorak (1) & Treyva (3))
Threat 11

[Patrick Goodman]

Well, I figured the talent was a long shot,  but had to try. Does the Reluctant Students complication apply only to the training, or does it persist into howthey prosecution of the war?

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: I haven't thought that far ahead. For the moment, it only applies to the training (i.e., trying to get them to adhere to a new strategic direction).

[Patrick Goodman]

If it just applies to the training, then I'll just bank the momentum. If it carries forward and keeps them from fighting effectively later, I'll buy it off.

[Renny]

Cole Training Task

Presence ( + Security (5) vs Difficulty 2

Rolled 2d20 : 11, 3, total 14

Reed Assist

Presence (10) + Security (3)

Rolled 1d20 : 14, total 14

I'm unsure whether you feel the Ground Tactics focus would apply. I've assumed not, in this case.

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: Ground Tactics won't apply for just range training (physical operation of the weapon). It will be useful for field training later, though.

2 Successes vs. Difficulty 2 for Cole. Success.

Once Nolmir rolls for Tobin, I'll post results.

Current
Momentum 0 (4 pending, Sorak (1) & Treyva (3))
Threat 11

[Nolmir]

OOC: Tobin's Insight (9) + Science (5) TN 14, vs. Difficulty 1

Rolled 2d20 : 15, 10, total 25

Ship's Sensors (9) + Science (2) TN 11 assist

Rolled 1d20 : 6, total 6

[Davy, aka GM]

OOC: 2 Successes vs. Difficulty 1. Success, plus 1 Momentum generated!

Current
Momentum 0 (5 pending, Sorak (1), Treyva (3), & Tobin (1))
Threat 11

Sorak and his engineers work to maximize production of the guns and ammunition, squeezing as much efficiency as they can from the ship's industrial fabricators.

Meanwhile, Cole's security department delivers each completed weapon and box of rounds to the firing range, where the lieutenant and Ensign Reed of the Rostov are training as many hunters as they can in the operation of the repeaters. That they're already familiar with the basics of firearms makes his tasks easier than he expected.

Tobin scours the villages and countryside with the ship's sensors, trying to gather as much information as he can on the Apellans' activity and movements.

Treyva and Styles work directly with Yutan and the other leaders, taking on the difficult task of teaching them new tactics and strategies to use with their new tools.

OOC: Results

Note that anywhere I state a Momentum cost, you can instead add Threat by the same amount.

Sorak is able to increase the rate of production to about 150 per day. Spending 1 Momentum will increase that to 180 per day, which will allow the crew to outfit all 400-or-so Tyreen hunters in just 54 hours. (180 is about the maximum output the Drake can handle, even with all the stops pulled out.)

Treyva & Styles think the Tyreens understand the basic principles of the new tactics and strategy; Styles, of course, has pushed a slightly more aggressive agenda, trying to get the Tyreens to finally start fighting to win (rather than to purely defend).

Instead of spending Momentum to counter a potential Complication, I instead suggest spending 2 Momentum on an Advantage we'll call "More Aggressive Strategy." This will serve to counter their "Defensive Strategy" Complication, if it comes into play; if the Complication doesn't come into play, the Advantage will then reduce the Difficulty of the Tyreen efforts, as usual.

Cole's training is going smoothly. He'll be able to get about 200 warriors trained by the time manufacturing is done. Spending 4 Momentum will allow him to double that number (at 50 additional trained men per Momentum spent).

Tobin's analysis is that most smithies in the villages are producing few rifled muskets, and most are producing shot in large quantities. This leads him to believe that the Apellans already have all the arms they need at the moment.

Further, he has detected several camps in open territory between the two westernmost villages (closest to the Tyreens' hills). His count of numbers is approximately 850 men in total; it's difficult to determine how many of the men are carrying the new rifled musket.

And, while he's not a military expert, by the preparations they're making, the computer predicts they'll begin their advance sometime in the next 36-72 hours, and there's a 93% chance that it will come before the manufacturing is complete (based on 150/day), and a 99.6% chance that it will come before training is complete (based on Cole's 200 number).

Momentum spends to Obtain Information (which, I think, Tobin gets a free Momentum to spend on OI, due to a talent) are available.

Questions he can ask include, but aren't limited to:

1. How many rifled muskets are in the hands of the soldiers in camp?
2. Can the computer/analysis narrow down the attack window?