IG-88

In my last Star Frontiers game summary I mentioned that the robot the characters found looked like IG-88. Well in case you dont know and if you dont you should be flogged with a cat o nine tails, before you run home and pop in the DVD player the "Empire Strikes Back". The scene with all the body hunters on the bridge of the star destroyer you will see it there. He is a Star Wars droid. A droid that has achieved sentience, and become a bounty hunter. The characters robot is not sentient. Although he is a former security robot. Carrying a laser rifle that looks like the big one IG-88 carries.

Up and back

Well as you remember from last time the characters are headed to the shuttle port. Today player wise it is Omar, Loran, and Octavian. Geshs play had an emergency and couldn't attend. Well as the characters walked into the shuttle port. They are greeted by Octavian. Who had come down from the ship to contact the characters. As the whole planet seems to be having radio signals jammed. Well they all get on the soonest shuttle to the space station. Finally they head off to the space station. As they start gaining altitude. Theres an explosion. The ship starts going down. Oxygen masks deploy and people start freaking out. They impact the planet and everything goes black. The characters wake up to find that they have survived the crash. They cant find Gesh any where though. Everyone else seems to have died in the crash. The characters lose several item apiece in the crash. Loran loses his cricket bat, and a frag grenade. Octavian loses his semi auto pistol and a doze grenade. Omar loses his electric sword, auto rifle, and his needler pistol. Well they scavenge the wreckage. Only finding the refreshment cart cart of any use. grabbing all the beverages and peanuts from it. They survey their area. Deciding to head for some hilly ravines. As they enter the ravines they see some people moving around in the distance. Dressed in brown robes. Omar sneaks ahead to try to get the drop on these people. While Loran and Octavian cover him. Unfortunately they all get surprised by small groups of the these people in brown robes. They appear to be lizard like humanoids armed with crude metal swords. They grunt at them of point for them to walk. So the characters play along. They walk down the ravine. Finding at the end a small village built into the canyon walls. (Kind of like the Hopi Indians.) They are approached by what appears to be the chief of the tribe. He is dressed the sam as the others save for the feather headdress. He also carries a nagata like spear weapon. A tall staff with one of the crude sword blades attached to the end. He motions for the characters to follow him. Grunting in some language unknown to them. He leads them into a cave. This cave has torches lit on the wall every ten feet or so. After a short ways into the cave the right hand side wall, Changes from stone to metal. Loran identifies it as the hull of a space ship. They travel a little further down the tunnel. Coming to a set of cave drawings on the stone wall. The chief grunts and points at the wall. The characters look it over. Loran correctly identifies it as being a set of stories and legends. It shows a adulthood ritual. Where a boy heads to a location kills a large bear looking creature. Which he then drags to what looks like a sacred place. Where he is given his sword. Therefore becoming a man. Below this shows a legend of strangers going through the same ritual. Then being taken to a secret place for a reward. The chief then beckons them to follow him. He heads farther down the tunnel. Passing another tunnel. Finally coming to an exit. It opens up into a canyon. The chief points down the canyon grunting in his language. They figure this is the start of the ritual of adult hood. So they proceed down the canyon. The chief standing in the entrance to the cave watching them walk away. They walk for maybe an hour or so. The area its self seems to be getting hotter and hotter. They come across a stream. It is dirty and smells of sulfur. They see a couple big salamanders catch a fish from the stream. Then run off as they approach. They jump the stream. Loran and Octavian fall in. Getting mildly burned. They travel further down the canyon. It splits left and right. They go left. The canyon becomes more rocky. When suddenly they attacked by salamanders. Two on the right and two on the left. Loran and Omar dispatch both groups quickly with sprays of automatic fire. The characters travel further a canyon joins their canyon. They suspect the other direction they could have gone rejoining the canyon. They travel finding a large open section of the canyon with a sulphury stream passing through it. It front of them a bear like creature with red scales is fishing. It turns and charges the characters. They battle the creature. It attacks the characters with its metal claws. (which seem natural not cybernetic.) They finally bring it down. They proceed to drag the carcase to the sacred place. They have to jump another stream. Omar and Loran jump across. Octavian falls in again. Splashing Omar burning him too. They reach sheer cliff with hand holds cut into the wall. Before they can drag the creatures body up though. They have to fight another bear creature. They kill it off. Then fumble their way through hauling the carcase up the wall. Once at the top they are greeted by lizard people. Dressed in aprons and robes made out of the bear creatures hide. They take the carcase and give each of the player on of the crude swords of the tribe. The players travel back to the cave that they came from. On the way back they take the opposite fork as they did last time. They are attacked by salamanders again. Three groups of two, and single creature. They have more trouble than expected. One of the creatures bites and latches on to Omar crotch. Doing damage every turn till Loran killed it. Omar still had to pry it off him. Finally they reach the cave. They are greeted by the chief. Who grunts and motions to follow him. He takes them down the side passage they passed before. Which ends at an airlock door. The chief grunts and points at the door. Loran jimmies the door open. As it opens they are hit by stale air. The cargo area seems not to have been opened in a long time. They find a couple of parabatteries, a hover fork truck, and box upon box of bottles of liquor. Then they find the holy grail in their opinion. They find a security robot. It has a dead power pack. It looks like IG-88. Complete with large laser rifle. They load twelve cases of liquor, the robot and the parabatteries and the hover fork. Driving out to the village, the tunnel being just big enough. By this time it is becoming night. They can see the smoke rising from their crash site in the distance. They also see lights. They head back to the crash site. Where they are picked up by rescue crews. The rescue team takes them back to Mahg Mar City. The characters go and find a liquor store. To which they sell the liquor to. For 6000 credits. Not a bad profit. They then go see Ralphy. They patch things up with him. Giving him the hover fork, for destroying his car lot. They then ask him where they can find One Eyed Hank. He tells them he frequents a club called the Pompadour. They rent a car from Ralphy and travel there to find Hank. He is dressed in a white rhinestone covered jumpsuit. Of course speaking like Elvis. He programed the robot and put in the battery. He only wanted 500 credits. but the characters were so happy with him they gave him a 1000 credits. They then took the robot (Which is now named Awesomo 3000) to the bar that Allister haunts. Loran and Awesomo go in. While Octavian guards the front door, and Omar guards the back door. Loran and awesomo chase Allister out the bar. Who is then cornered by Omar. Who smacks him with his bat. He then tells them he will give back the tool kit. He acts like hes going to get it out of a car trunk. Then suddenly he pulls an electro stunner out. Awesomo fires his laser rifle almost killing Allister. He then admits he doesn't have the tool kit. That it not even his car. The characters stuff him in the trunk of their car. Returning to Ralphys. Ralphy as usual greets the characters. They open the trunk and ask him if hell get rid of him. Ralphy looks down at him. Hey this guy owes me money. He hollers out wheres my money bitch?! Punching him twice. He tells the characters he'll take care of this guy. The characters then left for the hotel.

Sorry.....

Sorry about not posting last weeks summary. Or any thing else for that matter. Works been, whats the words i'm looking for. Oh, yeah a rolling cluster @#%$. So bear with me. I'll post last weeeks summary with this weeks summary. Maybe get some more stuff posted too.

Weapons of mass destruction

So once again. It was only three characters. Omar, Loran, and Gesh. Well they picked up their new cargo. At the space station in Kir-Kut. Instead of two cargo pods. It was two shuttles. They were to go back to Mahg Mar. Once there they were to fly them down to the planet to a renadvous site. They would guard the shuttles till they were picked up by the Streel Corp. Well they travelled to Mahg Mar uneventfully. They then got in the shuttles and took them planet side. Fortunately for them the shuttles were programed to do this automatically. So they didn't need to know how to pilot them. Anyways they reach the surface. Once there they don't find anyone waiting for them. Well the get curious about whats in the shuttles as they have never been informed. They unskillful pick the lock mechanism. They find that in the back of the shuttle a Hover Tank. Suddenly they see the sand moving. A sandshark pops out of the sand and attacks Omar. Well the group quickly dispatches the beast. It then that they hear vehicles approaching.

Well a ground car pulls up. Out steps five Merc Co soldiers including the woman with the whip. That seems to be the one in charge of the mining camp. She is short with the paying them the amount owed. Telling them that the car is no there responsibility. As it was rented from Ralphy Mays rental and used car emporium. The characters quickly jump in to the car and take off. They see the shuttles fly off. Presumably back to the mining camp. They go back to Mahg Mar city. They return the car to Ralphy. Who was glad to see them as always. They go to the bar across the street from Ralphys lot. Hoping to find some work before they leave the planet. As they sit in the bar. They see a group of the Mao suited gangsters enter. On of which is a fat man. Clutching a hairless cat. He appears to be the leader. they sit down. Then one of the flunkies approaches the characters. He tells them the boss wants to talk to them. So they go over and talk to the boss. He offers them a job. All they have to do is pick up some crates and deliver them to a location in the desert. 2000 credits up front, 2000 credits on delivery. The characters agree to the deal. The boss gives them an address on Green street to pick the crates up at, and coordinates in the desert they are to be delivered to. They go back across the street to Ralphys. They rent from him an Explorer. Which is a big 4WD van built for rugged terrain. They go to the address to pick up the crates. Its two buildings down from the warehouse that blew up. They are greeted by guys in green leathers. They quickly load the four crates up sending them on their way. The characters drive away. Curiosity getting the better of them. They open the crates to find robot brains. Figuring this might be a good way for them to get a robot. Like they have been wanting. The decide to get someone to reprogram a couple of the brains to come back to them. Once they are installed in the robot. So they go to Ralphy, to find a robot technician. Well Ralphy knows a couple guys and provides info on them. He asks the characters for on of the robots. Which they agree to. He tells them they should see Allister or one eyed Hank. Well they decide to see Allister. So they go to the bar he frequents. As they enter the bartender pulls a big ass rifle. Telling the characters that they don't serve their kind. Referring to Gesh the dralasite, and Omar the Yarizian. Omar, and Gesh grudgingly leave the bar. While Loran works out an agreement with Allister. Well they take Allister out to the explorer. He reprograms the brains for the characters. Telling them they are military robot brains at that. Which the characters are excited about. He goes back top the bar and the characters are on their way. The travel far out into the desert. When suddenly they are surrounded by hover bikes, and a car pulls up. They are all clad in green leathers and are the people taking delivery on the brains. They off load the crates. On of the guys pays the characters and smacks the front of the explorer telling them they are all set. The hover bikes and car take off. As do the characters. They get about half way back to Mahg Mar City. When the front of the explorer explodes. Well the character spend time jury rigging the explorer to get them back to the city. By this time it has become night. As they are travelling. They are passed by a high speed tracked vehicle. They do not get a good look at it because of the dust cloud it kicks up. They finally enter the city. As they do it looks like it has been attacked. Bullet holes and craters mar the building and road. They decide to get back to ralphys to get their robots when they come in. As they drive to Ralphys. They notice that the path of destruction follows the exact same path. As they approach Ralphys they see blown up cop cars and massive destruction. They get out of the explorer and approach Ralphys lot. They see two mini tanks. Which fire at and knock down police air cars that approach. Ralphy peeks his head out of one of the windows in his office. He tells them. "Get those god damned things out of here!". The characters tell him that one of them is his. He tells them again to get them out of there. So the characters have the robots follow them in the explorer and stash them behind the warehouse. That they had picked up the crates, that they delivered to the mining camp. They told the robots not to attack unless attacked. They then figured that they better get those robot brains out of the robots. As the brains could link them to the robots. So they go and hire Allister again. He tells them that he needs some special tool kit. So the characters buy it for him. They return to the warehouse. To find the robots and police fighting. They watch the police finally obliterate the robots. As this is going on. Allister runs off with the tool kit they bought him. This makes the characters angry. But theres not much they could do. They figure they better get off the planet. So they head for the shuttle port.

Pirates!

Well this week. One of my players had family from out of town visiting. The other is on vacation. That left me with only two players. But we played anyways. So it was just Omar the Yarzian merc, and Loran the disgruntled former UFP man. As you recall from the last adventure. They returned to the hotel after the warehouse explosion. Well the next day they got a call from Octavious to return to the ship. The ship had been overhauled faster than expected. Plus they had already acquired a new cargo. So Gesh, Omar, and Loran return to the "Chubby Virgin". (Which for those that are just joining us is their small cargo/container ship) Once aboard they found out that their cargo was people. As Streel is evacuating what they are referring to as non-essential personnel from Mahg Mar. Life support isn't an issue as the passengers are in cryo-sleep. So they are carried in the exterior cargo pods. They have to deliver these people to Kir-Kut in the Solar Minor system.
Well the first half of the journey went off without a hitch.
That's when the pirates attacked.
Billy the pilot babbled something over the intercom. Omar, Loran went to see what was the matter. Sensors showed a ship coming up on them fast. It looked to big a frigate in size. Loran hailed them. They told them that Yellow Beard demands they stop and be boarded. Or they will attack. Well Omar doesn't take to this very well. Billy swings the ship around and Omar fires the laser battery. He actually hits them. Well the pirates fire back damaging the laser battery. and disabling one of the engines. The pirate ship then moves in and latches on to the "Chubby Virgin". Well the crew readies themselves for boarding setting up under cover where they think the pirates will board from. Well their plan works as they cut down four of the five pirates that board them. Omar and Loran decide to take the fight to the pirates. They used the extended gang way between the ships to board the pirates ship. Once they get to the pirates ship they are engaged in combat with two pirates guarding the hatchway. They quickly dispatch them. They follow the blood trail that the man they wounded on their ship left. It leads them to a large room. Inside of which is four pirates and their leader Yellow Beard.

As soon as Omar sees all the men he throws his Doze Grenade. This puts three of the four pirates asleep. Yellow Beard cackles at them "Is that all ye, got? Get'em Trashcan." With that from a door behind him a robot drives out. It has a cylinder shaped body with triangular shaped track assemblies on both sides of it. On its right it had a gyro jet rifle for an arm, and a manipulator arm on its left. Yellow beard chuckles loudly and exits the room to a door on the right. The fight then begins, Omar and Loran quickly dispatch the robot. This makes the pirate mad as he cries out "Trashcan Nooo....". The pirate gets hit and runs off. The characters now go through the door on the side going after Yellow Beard. The room they enter is some sort of observation deck. Its a circular room with a wall of translucent plasti-steel open to space. Standing before them is Yellow Beard. So defeated Trashcan eh? Well you wont find me so easy. Yellow beard and the characters exchange fire. Yellow beard using his Electrostunner. Set on electrocute. They defeat Yellow Beard, but not before almost dieing themselves. They feel the ship start to move. Fearing being trapped on the pirate ship they quickly return to their ship. Right before the pirate ship pulls away. Leaving in defeat. They safely reach the space station at Kir-Kut. their they pay to have the ship fixed. Which pretty much cut the journeys profits in half. Omar and Loran visit a pawn shop on the space station. Bilbos Lost and Found. Run by an Ifshnit named Bilbo. (Ifshnit are basically space dwarves) They pawn off some of the stuff, they recovered from the pirates bodies. They return to the ship to find out good news. They have secured another cargo. They are to carry two shuttles (instead of cargo pods) full of equipment. Desperately needed on the planet Mahg Mar.
That's where we ended.

Next time return to Mahg Mar.

Mean Streets

Mean Streets takes the best (and bleakest) aspects of film noir, presenting them in a concept with which to role-play cynical private eyes, unscrupulous gangsters, and dangerous femme fatales as portrayed in film noir from the '40s and better part of the '50s.

This is the opening tag line from Deep7. For their game Mean Streets. They get right on the money. This thing just oozes noir film. Covering the the whole genre very well. It uses Deep7's XPG system. Which is simple and rules light. Which suits me, and the genre very well. Its very much worth a look. Even if you don't like the system. It is a treasure trove of info, for the era.

The reason I bring any of this up. Is that Ive been thinking about the genre. Ive had Mean Streets for a while. But I have not gotten a chance to run it. Well a couple days ago some folks were speaking about Fly From Evil. A game S. John Ross is working on. Which I guess has been a long time coming. He has stated he doesnt want to rush it by setting a deadline. He wants it right, and well playtested. Well his game is very much like Mean Streets. I very much want to check it out when he completes it. Anyways thats what got me thinking about Mean Streets. I would like to run a game of it tonight. But I think I will have trouble pulling my roomate away from the computer. As hes recently become addicted to Blitzkreig.

Anyways I found a review by of all people S. John Ross of Mean Streets. Check it out.

Kanes Game

We played Kanes game thursday. Wow it was a lot different than I thought it would be. It is mix of Aliens and Resident Evil. Was totally not expecting that. I was expecting a wild space opera. But received a gritty space survival horror. Don't get me wrong it is very cool. I don't think Kane thinks, I think that. But I do. As I was a little catty towards the end of the session. Honestly I haven't gotten much sleep the last week. That's why. Not that, that is a good excuse. But it is what it is. Kanes taken and changed his Star Frontiers universe from mine. As his has ships with artificial gravity. He down loaded a couple different ship plans from I believe RPGnow. They're meant for D20 future. But that's just a name. They have worked fantastically for our purposes. These things are incredibly detailed and the battle ship is frikkin huge! He downloaded them and had them printed a Kinkos. For a small fee. He did that with the Star Frontiers books to. Had them printed and bound. Its totally worth it. I'm going to do that my self. But it will be a week or two. As my cash flow has been seriously impaired by bills recently.
(Just as a side note. I kind of flipped him out. I posted that picture of the M-41 pulse rifle. By chance earlier this week. Kane was totally like how did you know?)