Originally posted by general_urko
1 million quatloos if you confess that the secret sauce behind Collins' personality has been rolling a d20 to decide on her dialogue:
1-4 She says something totally professional and on point
5-10 She says something a little odd
11-20 She says something totally out of left field
busted
Last edited by anyrose; 21 Mar 2014 at 10:40 AM.
All four of these Security officers have appeared in previous missions, as it happens.
I hadn't envisioned Paul Henreid, but I have no objection if that's your mental image.
And isn't rolling a d20 supposed to be the best option? So anyrose, you do prefer confrontation after all!
As far as writing, you know I think you totally underestimate yourself there. I thought the whole shopping scenes, not to mention the drug stuff before we all left the ship, were really well-done. Of course if that's not something you enjoy, you gotta play the game the way you want to. I don't mean to imply anything otherwise if it's not fun for you.
My one "real person" RPG (as opposed to a videogames) was "Call of Cthulhu" back in the 1990s and it was, at least in the group I played with, very storyline/roleplaying-oriented. But I know through reading the sometimes interminable discussions for the AD&D-oriented "Order of the Stick" webcomic, action and commands are usually a huge part of the genre. This mission does seem pretty different from the Sakathian one by design: mysteries tend to be less hitpointy and more cerebral/dialogue-heavy.
BTW I realize I miswrote earlier--I said the character interaction began in the middle of #3, when I meant middle of #2. I forgot there were basically two mini-missions in #2 -- the fakeout test at the beginning, and then the Sakathian stuff; the latter is the point when I joined in, and I forgot it wasn't a different mission number from the test stuff.
Edited to add: Oh yes EH, I recognized Fariz; but I admit the others are all blurs amid the multitudinous country representatives. Actually I always wonder if this is the character whose nationality is going to be significant, or if it's just setting the atmosphere. Your mystery background makes me hyperanalyze ever potential clue!
Nah, the Paul Henreid thing was just a joke because of our debate whether he was way older than he really was as of Casablanca, and here was this middle-aged Czech dude--just like Victor Laszlo. (The character definitely had at least 15 years on Henreid at the time, darn it!)
Last edited by choie; 21 Mar 2014 at 03:59 PM.
back in the 90s, when my friends and I had simple lives, we would get together once or twice a month. Our games were GURPS based, but our worlds were varied: Trekiverse, Superheroes, Spy (a la Bond), Star Wars, Conan the Barbarian, Ancient Japan, and one where we each created a character from our favorite genre. I liked that one the best. We had a 24th C. Sentient Android, a Medieval wizard, a 14th C. Japanese Ninja, a Brat-Pack era Vegas stage magician, a 17th C Pirate, and a Gulf War era Marine. A mysterious man known to us only as Mister Miller came to each of our characters' worlds, handed us a mystical coin, and the next morning we were all together. We played 4 adventures in that story "Unstuck in Time", including one where we ended up on DS9 and the Wizard and the Ninja nearly destroyed Quark's Bar when we saw the Ferengi (I was the wizard).
Last edited by anyrose; 21 Mar 2014 at 04:05 PM.
That sounds weird but fun!
Oh, so much fun.
I have a twin, or is it an older me?
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Wait, are we assuming that some significant amount of time passed after the redshirt's question--which was put to Collins, presumably? I sure as heck didn't want Kylah to respond before anyrose had a chance to post. Now Rangin's calling the rest of us slow-witted! Dang.
What - you were expecting Collins to answer?
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
"I'm an investigator, not an empath."
I realize that was cruel.
But hey, Graham's no empath...
Heh, heck yeah it was cruel, but perfect. And then Collins goes all "Let's me, you and him start a Secret Club!" with half the crew, ignoring the rest of us. Nice!
At this point I'm beginning to wonder if Collins has early-onset Irumodic Syndrome. (Y'know, what Picard had in All Good Things.) Did she forget, or is she simply ignoring, all of Vargas's orders?
She's not ignoring Vargas' orders. She's not anything. She wants to be anywhere else but in charge of this mission. She's in turmoil.
Did T'Var ever mention Wilson had a limp when he rejoined us before the spore introduction
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
I wonder who will flatten Rangin first, Kylah or Collins for suggestion they team up, though I don't think he is fully aware of how bad it has got between them.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Well, Kylah has been reminding Collins that this is what Vargas wanted (regarding them teaming up for the announcement), so while she obviously isn't thrilled about it herself, she's resigned to obeying Vargas's orders.
I'm not sure I understand anyrose's distinction between Collins's ignoring Vargas's orders and the fact that she's clearly not following them. I mean, sure, it's obvious Collins doesn't want command, and she's mentally checked out, but she's got her orders, so she doesn't even have to use her brain that much: follow what Vargas said and she's halfway there.
Re: the ankle, yeah, that's one of the anomalies I was hoping someone else would mention (because I didn't want Kylah bringing everything up and stealing someone's thunder; she's overstepping herself as it is).
To answer your question, while we were all headed to the induction room, T'Var offered to help get it fixed but Wilson brushed it off, so yep, the PCs all heard that.
I guess I should just bite the bullet and have Kylah ask all the questions I personally still have even if other characters (e.g. T'Var) should logically be the ones to address them. What the heck, Kylah can't get any more disliked for being uppity.
Speaking of T'Var and stuff she knows that isn't public, something's been bugging me since it happened because it's something that EH described as a gesture only T'Var saw, but she never told the rest of us about it. (At the time I actually PMed WES to nudge her so T'Var would tell us, but that didn't work.)
When we were at the crime scene, Collins asked if Wilson had argued with anyone recently. EH wrote that T'Var--and only T'Var, dammit--saw Mrs. Hsu look sideways at Halsey.
What did that mean? Did Mrs. Hsu overhear an argument between Halsey/Wilson? That's the obvious interpretation, but one could also easily read that look as Mrs. Hsu being worried that Halsey would mention overhearing an argument between Mrs. H and Wilson.
But as I said, the rest of the PCs don't know that and now that T'Var's an NPC I don't know if EH plans on rectifying that issue, ahem. It's frustrating to have privileged info locked away in an NPC's brain!
I guess I'll have Kylah try to elicit that info from T'Var now.
I do think it's weird to be re-interviewing people like Halsey when we haven't even gotten through the whole list of people in those houses (much less, like, other guests). That non-Federation Proxul dude, for example. He's obviously somebody we need to chat with, if only 'cause EH went to the trouble to create a non-Federation planet and alien for us.
Seeing his chance, Graham pulls Collins aside.
"Can you believe Rangin suggested you and Kylah team up? For god's sake, she wasn't even weaned properly." He shakes his head. "Now we know how much his advice is worth!
Will be fun to see how the rest of the group react.
So, what swung the decision then....
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
you'll find out
Awww poor Jeremi, her one idea this entire mission isn't immediately receiving a standing ovation!Collins looks around the table. Nobody said anything about her idea to get the Admiral and his aide to safety, which surprises her. They've been coaching me to ask for input and when I do, no one speaks up. She mentally rolls her eyes
Anyway, speaking only for Kylah, she didn't think Collins was asking for input on the plan re: Hardin; when Collins said "Any thoughts?" Kylah assumed was asking in general for anything that wasn't yet brought up. Let's face it, at this point, Kylah had no reason to assume her ideas will be listened to by JC; Delaney seems to have given up hope long ago, for good reason, that Collins will remember him at all, much less listen to his ideas. Rangin just had his entire plan dismissed for Graham's. So that leaves Graham and T'Var who might have a shot at offering opinions that Collins might consider.
And that's what you get, Lt., when you treat people like mere nuisances for two missions straight.
to which Collins replies "Bite me" and throws the virtually empty coffee cup at Kylah, causing the last few drops to stain her uniform.
Last edited by anyrose; 28 Mar 2014 at 02:40 PM.
I'll be honest and say I completely missed it, and Rangin probably would have responded if only he wasn't thinking about the missing parts in Graham's plan that will pop up later on.
Yeah: blame Graham instead
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Maybe the "mudpit of his brain" needed more time to process things...
Don't worry, one of these days they'll learn to get along...Maybe the "mudpit of his brain" needed more time to process things...
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Are we waiting for something to occur, or are we going to split up to our various tasks?
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
I think that's the plan
Wait...the plan to split or the plan to wait...because something just happened...
I don't know where the hell we are at this point. We've been walking out in the corridor for a while, but EH just said Rangin & Delaney haven't left yet. Help!
Oh dear, Collins. I've seen enough soaps to have a good guess where this is heading.
I think at this point, you could say that most of the conversations have taken place by the door and the four of them, Rangin, Delaney, Kylah and Graham, were about to head out, while Lt. Collins was across with Dr. Tvar. The security detail were mainly by the buffet.
Them, as Rangin and Delaney head out in front, Collins goes down.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Yeah, considering Graham's managed to leap inside before Rangin, my concept of both time and space is clearly not up to speed. I'll assume Kylah is aware of what's going on as well. Pretty scary!
I did try to convey that Graham would push past anybody in the way - not just because there probably was, but also because that's how he would react.
If Collins had heard Kylah's suggestion, she probably would have objected vehemently, which Kylah might then have chalked up to Collins' trauna
Mmm, interesting that Collins would refuse. But I doubt Kylah would have chalked it up to trauma--if Collins's feelings were strong enough I think Kylah'd probably be able to tell this was something she definitely wouldn't want.
In any event, it's probably not feasible (although seems like it'd be worth a try--ooh, I bet if creepy Dr. Waite were here he'd totally do it without Collins's permission!). Still, I thought it'd make sense for someone to throw the idea out there considering we were specifically told about the spores' regenerative properties.
It's a great plot thread;for thinking of it; but it'll be interesting to read that scene should it come to pass
Thank you! Well, the miscarriage/pregnancy complication (whichever it turns out to be) was a surprising twist! Poor Collins. (Although if this were a TV show I'd be thinking, geeze, naturally the 1960s network's Standards & Practices wouldn't allow an abortion!)
The spore angle and the agonizing decision Collins might have to make could've made interesting ST: DS9 material. That show's writers (esp. Robert H. Wolfe & Ronald D. Moore) loved moral/psychological dilemmas like that.
Last edited by choie; 01 Apr 2014 at 10:14 PM.
anyrose and I had discussed several scenarios as to Collins's pregnancy, incl. a miscarriage. It certainly has dramatic potential.
Just added a couple of things to think about when it comes to Lt. Collins and the spore therapy.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
To remain involved in the game while Collins is being treated in Sickbay, anyrose will, until further notice, be playing Security Crewman Felice Dodson, earlier described as "a young, stolid Canadian woman." She beamed down with Ens. Mahmoud and the others.
"...who hates Ensign Kylah"
Added what you left off EH
Cool, welcome, anyrose/Felice.
Geeze why doesn't Vargas just snip off Delaney's testicles and beam them off the planet while he's at it? I know you don't want an NPC to be the mission leader, but I do feel sorry for Delaney nonetheless. Plus, why wouldn't Roble or Singh order Pourtash (who's at least led a mission) or some other more senior officer(s) down to the planet? We've just lost 1/3 of our team. Although it's amusing to think of the Yorktown crew just hanging around in space while three ensigns and a castrated Lt. JG are trying to solve a major murder mystery down on the planet.
Edited to stick my tongue out at GU:
Last edited by choie; 02 Apr 2014 at 08:59 PM.
This is what Security Crewman Felice Dodson looks like (but with lighter hair and complexion) :
Last edited by anyrose; 02 Apr 2014 at 10:27 PM.
Better coloring
Heh, did you give her leggings rather than the dress, too? Fortunately she still has the regulation ST:TOS earrings, which are a must for any security officer.
Somehow I think Vargas should have mentioned that Graham had reached a high rank before certain indiscretions left him an Ensign, it would have added another reason why he should be in charge.
Felice Dodson: redshirt going out in style.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
no leggings, just opaque stockings
I think strict Starfleet regulations require female legs to be in view at all times, at least with the mini-dress. One must be professional, you know.
Hell, he started to do so even before Vargas annointed him Collins's successor!
LOL, oh, this is awesome. Graham seems to have accepted his reputation as a bullying thug, especially since he appears to believe Rangin is a namby-pamby pacifist. But if Graham knew he's actually also considered a lech re: Kylah? Now that would certainly mortify him! Poor guy.
There seems to be a distinct lack of trust in Mr Graham from the non-security team members of the party.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
If Graham could read minds, on the one hand he might learn & actually believe his daughter doesn't hate him.
On the other hand, knowing what the crew thinks of him would indeed be upsetting...
But will the latter get worse before / if it gets better?
Oooh it's going to get worse!!!
Last edited by general_urko; 03 Apr 2014 at 03:46 PM. Reason: edited after seeing main thread
Well that was certainly a curveball from Graham...it'll probably get worse before it gets better.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Mind-Reader Graham thinks "WTF does everyone mean what was wrong with the old plans, we just cut the core team almost in half, goddammit... who's going to talk to the ^&%^& Admiral, "Ghost Collins" and "Ghost T'Var"?
Mind-Reader Rangin thinks, "wonder why Graham didn't assign some of the security detail to back up the team members, then you could carry out the old plan with different groups.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
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