By Star And Melody

[steel crescent]

By Star and Melody is a third-party supplement that concerns itself with Milesia, a small planet that is within Union space but not technically part of Union proper. Decedents of Firstcomm astronauts, they left Union when Piston 1 was fired an an world was sentenced to death. Now, they are finding their way in a vast universe where they are a small player, attempting to make their way with panache, a hold on the ideals of Firstcomm...and maybe a little supernatural aid on their side.

The book includes new manufacturer, Ironleaf Foundry along with core bonuses, flashpoints, and information on how they rise from and fit into the setting of Lancer. In addition, it will include a mini-adventure across a single chaotic night on Milesia itself, where its nature as 'not technically Union space' is put to the test by Deniable Assets and Mercenary Groups hunting down Aunic Minds the players are protecting.

For GMs, there is several new NPCs from the Tech-Clearing Exorcist to the thieving Magpie and the Best Boy Hound.

The playtest documents can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jcKV4xrOI7SVgclud3R_fCwZ9MLgfwQi3-9wJy8-zX4/edit?usp=sharing

If you've got any questions about it, I'm more than happy to answer them! Or if you just want to talk about it and give feedback.

[copper socket]

I've heard this thing is pretty good

[steel crescent]

The current .lcp (Though the playtest document will keep an updated link if things change).

[young comet]

Posting to track this!

[storm fulcrum]

WOOOOOO
(Are the NPCs in the LCP?)

[steel crescent]

They are! There might be more NPCs later, if I get Good Ideas/some of them will get some updates in options but they're there!

[storm fulcrum]

Nice.

[steel crescent]

(And if people have any things they'd love to see in NPCs, I do always appreciate hearing what people would like to see)

[dusk sundial]

oh damn dedicated Ironleaf thread <w<

[wind lodge]

SHES BROKE FREE, Stars and Melody in her own home

@patent crater @'ing my local lily enjoyer

[deep elk]

LETSGOOO

[ocean sapphire]

Here to track this thing!

[harsh rapids]

@steel crescent npc question for you: the Huntsmaster has a few optionals that say "when the huntsmaster has cover," is this meant to specifically be the huntsmaster being next to any cover at all? or when the huntsmaster has cover against a certain character specifically?

also >Hound Drone in a pack that also has an npc named the Hound.

that one just pains me on the shock armor index :p

[split forum]

I've been looking at the Ironleaf stuff and there's definitely lots of juice there If I have any questions/clarifications, should I just ask them here directly?

[steel crescent]

Please do

[steel crescent]

Shooting At Ghosts is from the source of the attack or save. Fade into the wild is the usual 'if you have cover from all enemies, you can hide'

Just clarifying that it's not 'you become hidden even if you can't remain hidden'

[harsh rapids]

👍

[hard field]

hey is it suppose to say undefined and undefined in the manufacturers for ironleaf foundry

[steel crescent]

Hmmm? Where does it say that?

[buoyant compass]

LOL

the compendium manufacturers page, apparently

[steel crescent]

Oh, interesting. That does make sense, I'm not sure I wrote a specific section for 'what is IF' for basing that off. I should do that.

[split forum]

btw, why IF instead of ILF?

[steel crescent]

I felt like ILF would make people read it as Iron Leaf Foundry instead of Ironleaf Foundry, when Ironleaf is the Proper Name of one of the groups on-planet.

If that makes sense?

[split forum]

yeye

[steel crescent]

@copper socket So I should likely write something for that section. XD

[buoyant compass]

that's divided into two sections, fwiw - a 'quote' that's supposed to be a single-line tagline ("Superior by design", "Your friend in an unfriendly sea", etc.), and the 'description' which is just the rest of the textbox

(for ppl wondering why it says undefined for both)

[steel crescent]

Yeah and IF does actually have a single line tagline! So I can use that.

[buoyant compass]

what's IF's tagline?

[copper socket]

yea I think I asked you for this at some point and it wasn't written and then we just kind of forgot about it lmfao

[buoyant compass]

i dont think most people really check that page, to be fair

i certainly don't

[steel crescent]

Hahahah. I'll put that on the list alongside the last couple of optionals for NPCs for the next iteration.

(Both 'Star and Melody' and 'Hate, Iron and Death' are references to a song about the Tuatha De Dannan fading from the world)

[split forum]

anyways, love what I've seen so far, here's the question dump

Also, Scilla is really funny

I'm just gonna stick a heavy melee on it and spin it like a blender

[steel crescent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19qpqjebafg

[steel crescent]

Okay, gimme a hair of time to get those answers. There's a few of them 😛

[steel crescent]

Okay so:

1a) Yes, you have heat regardless.
1b) Yeah, still all the normal parts of brace if you succeed.
2) 1 above the terrain. You basicly hover a *little* above the ground regardless of the ground's height.
3) Yeah, since you can order Protocols however you want.
4a) Yeah, if you never hit with it, it doesn't get wasted/You can try again later.
5) That's supposed to be a single attack, yeah.
6) They have what normally happens when you can't fly happen to them, they fall. Could clarify that though.
7) Yeah, patch kit is designed to work with it/it's designed to work whenever.
8) Perhaps, yeah.
9) The intent is if they pass the save/are not affected you can try again.
10) The intent is 'If you pass the save, you turn up at the start of your turn, if you fail it, you turn up at the *end* (And thus lost the turn)
11) Yeah, it applies vs melee if you've got a source of cover.
12) Yeah, it's a flat +1 (Since it applies to everything)
13a) Yeah, that's a good point. Will clarify.
13b) The intent was you *don't* get them, hence 'you may only take' but maybe should make that clearer.

[split forum]

Maybe for Misteltoe's trait, you could reword it to something like, "...its height drops until it is hovering 1 space above the terrain beneath it unless it is standing..."

[steel crescent]

Thanks for the feedback btw, I do like getting feedback on things.

[sour igloo]

nice to see this finally getting a thing of it's own

[split forum]

I only just realized there actually aren't any heavy melees in IF (other than the Belladonna integrated weapon)

[buoyant compass]

"that can't be right.... huh. there aren't"

denting iron is a bit of a discount one, though!

[steel crescent]

yeah, they've got a lot of 'I don't mount a heavy melee, I use some other trick' with their melee mechs

[storm fulcrum]

weird interaction I noticed
Lily's core active makes its mines and grenades not consume limited charges

Demolitionist 1 says that "at the end of each scene, you restore 1 charge to each Limited system with the Mine tag for each undetonated Mine you deployed from that system."

so a Lily with demoltionist who's low on limited charges could pop core in a scene, spam a bunch of "free" mines, and then get limited charges back for each one that's undetonated at the end

[steel crescent]

I'd rule that you can't restore what you didn't consume. XD

[storm fulcrum]

yeah, I have no idea how you could word it so it doesn't do that in the ability itself tho
kind of thing that really might be left best as an errata on discord

though I'm not sure it's actually... a bad thing? aside from feeling silly?
it incentivizes you to not save your core for the last combat for once

[steel crescent]

And the Demon Core doesn't have a Mine Mode 😛

So you're not getting any of them restored

[storm fulcrum]

might incentivize "farming" behavior and trying to drag out scenes to get more mines out, which I guess would be an issue

[split forum]

Demolitionist is 1st party content right?

[storm fulcrum]

yep

solstice rain

[steel crescent]

I feel like my big concern with trying to find a wording to 'negate' that would be that it would likely decrease clarity if you don't know the very specific interaction it's designed to stop.

[storm fulcrum]

yeah

I guess the actual answer would be changing the core active to do something functionally similar but that doesn't have the weird interaction
like instead of a passive bonus it just refills all your mine and grenade charges when you use it
idk if that's worth the bother tho

[split forum]

tbh I kinda just assumed it's not a good idea to mix 3rd party with anything other than Long Rim and KTB

[storm fulcrum]

even KTB
the white witch exists

[split forum]

or Wallflower

[steel crescent]

I think my general stance is 'Restore' requires something to be used and if you're not using it, you can't restore it.

If that makes sense?

[storm fulcrum]

random discord errata of "this wasn't intended and it's kind of silly" might be the best way to go

it's how Tom does it

oh!

[split forum]

I've seen other 3rd party stuff with the disclaimer that it's not balanced for the 1st party stuff

[storm fulcrum]

something "all mines deployed this way detonate at the end of the scene"?

concise, funny to picture even without the context, and stops you from getting them back

[modern halo]

can the art be resized? It heavily chugs on a laptop whenever you get to the ironleaf section and is outright crashing/unsuable on mobile, very similar to Grim and Sons

[split forum]

the IF document?

[storm fulcrum]

comp/con I assume

[modern halo]

lcp

the art for this is like 8 times the size of core

[storm fulcrum]

IIRC there were some issues going on with hosting the images in general earlier

[steel crescent]

That could likely be cut down for the next iteration, though, yeah.

[split forum]

hm, mine just doesn't seem to load the images at all

[modern halo]

which gets much worse when you list things by license because then the puter have to to render all nine of them at once on the screen in a row

[steel crescent]

Ikilist for Next Iteration:

-Finish Optionals For NPCs
-Hit Images with a Compression Hammer Until They Get Smaller
-Write a Company Overview for IF.

[steel crescent]

That's fair. I'll look into shrinking images for the next iteration. I am bad at art and keep forgetting that art has sizes that need consideration XD

[split forum]

I'm semi-surprised that compcon doesn't have an image size limit built in tbh

[modern halo]

it do be frying something on this puter

[steel crescent]

Oh wow.

[storm fulcrum]

pov: you're baldr

[steel crescent]

NPC-wise, the Magpie needs 2 more optionals and the Thermovore needs 1 more but they base stuff for them is done and they have several optionals. I hope they're interesting so far.

[full sand]

when that Ra-grown dark evil pack hits

[split forum]

Are the NPCs only available in the lcp and not in a google doc somewhere?

[steel crescent]

Nah, they're in docs too. I just need to put them in the compiled document (Forgot to do that)

[steel crescent]

Updated the document to have a link to the NPCs too

[steel crescent]

Going to be working on a writeup for the small adventure for this this afternoon, will post here when it's done.

On that topic: Is there any lancer factions you wish got more showing? This would be in an antagonistic role (As I'm working on Several MGS-tier weird mercenary/spec ops groups for players to encounter).

[woven creek]

Is the Maw there yet?

[steel crescent]

The Maw are a Little Bit Wiped Out iirc but yeah, they're not currently on the list.

[woven creek]

Even if it's not the Real Actual Maw, it could be fun to have a group that got ahold of some of the old tech

[wind lodge]

i think i brought up mirrorsmoke last time you brought this up? i stand by that

[steel crescent]

Yeah, Mirrorspoke makes sense (Though I think I'm going to focus a bit on their legal team side)

[wind lodge]

i mean thats super cool too tho

in reality i dont think official lore touches either much, so exploring eithers got me 👀

[steel crescent]

(Their legal team stuff interests me, the Azorius MTG Player)

[steel crescent]

I have Bad News about the various enemy merc groups.

Special - The Opfor has access to the following Protocol. The limited value is shared across the entire Opfor.

Thanks For The Donation Chat!
Protocol, Limited 3
Restore 50% of max HP.

[storm fulcrum]

yeah I've played Interpoint

[steel crescent]

(In this case it's more streamers than Interpoint, I'd not actually thought about that)

[storm fulcrum]

I meant that, in Interpoint's streamed games, the chat can literally give you extra repairs during a rest

I have benefitted from it many times (I am bad at keeping my mech alive)

[full sand]

what next? Mods Crush Their Balls, deal 1 structure damage to target, limited 1 shared amonst opfor

[steel crescent]

No but all of the teams are going to have a 'small rules tweak' trick to them. XD

[junior hare]

yo this looks cool!

Did you have any thoughts about where Milesia is located geo/cosmographically? Which ring and such?

[steel crescent]

My intent was that it was one of the outer rings, as part of that 'Technically within Union space but still within a gray area'

[junior hare]

Would you say it's close to Aunic space at all? I'd love to put it on my map

[steel crescent]

I'll admit, the specific location is not one I have quite worked out/feel free to put it where you want but it's likely relatively close (Without being actually in Boundary Garden Space) as Aunic Diplomats are going to be a major part of the mini-adventure I'm working on.

[junior hare]

I noticed that, so that's why I asked 😛

Cascade Line time 😎

[steel crescent]

Nice!

[steel crescent]

The Second Distal is upon Union. Across the stars, hardlight lances tear the souls from Union ships and NHPs unleashe incomprehensible assaults upon Aunic defences. Even Milesia, lightyears from Cornocopia is not truly unaffected by this war. The legacy of Piston 1 hangs in the air like the miasma of a plague when the subject is spoken of, Milesia aware that generations ago, their ancestors were part of the group that brought judgement upon Aun itself. Do they have the right to judge Aun torching one of the trees that holds up the sky of their executioners?

Milesia's political situation as a non-Union actor, if only by technicality, has also become a major factor for them. The Aunic Ascendency has used Milesia as a diplomatic station for many years, trusting a third party for their safety. While few among them believed that Union would seize their Souls or assassinate them, it kept tensions at a lower boil to have both parties speaking in a theoretically neutral location.

Tonight, it is neutral territory no longer.

Across the omninet, among secretive communication lines to mercernary groups has come an offer. More manna than one would see in an entire lifetime, if they can raid the Aunic Embassy in Tallaght and deliver the Minds Semiramide and Domitilla to the buyer. Alive is preferred but not required. Spurred on by this competition, megacorp and state actors alike have moved, unwilling to let another achieve this coup if they can manage it themselves. As the sun fades on a city that never sleeps, the reactors of dozens of secreted mechs are flaring into life.

Semiramide and Domitilla are not alone however. Milesia's Garda are preparing defences, interdiction teams and decoys to catch some of these mercenaries. Among these decoys is a genuine team, helping move the pair out of the city and to a safe location where attackers would need an army rather than a covert strike team to take them.

And you, Lancers, are the defenders of these Minds. There will be no rest on this chaotic night.

Fluff up for the intro to the mini adventure. How's this seem?

[junior hare]

Sounds alright to me, only the third sentence of the first paragraph feels awkward. The whole thing could do with some editing but it reads pretty well

[steel crescent]

Yeah, it's currently very much a First Draft.

[sour igloo]

yeah that seems like it's gonna be a glorious clusterfuck

[steel crescent]

Vague pondering: Setting up stuff the minds you are escorting can do as Reserves.

UNMAKE
Expend this reserve to remove 1 hostile character with 1 maximum structure, or up to 3 hostile grunts from a scenario.

[storm fulcrum]

could go down the list of meditations in the aunic field guide

[steel crescent]

Yeah, that's my thoughts. Make it a little more personalised than normal reserves.

[split forum]

I'm curious how people feel about the core bonuses so far.

Iron Crown seems cool although I don't know if it's quite worth it as a general utility CB that could go on any build. The 5-6 and 1 results are a substantial improvement over base, but 2-4 doesn't feel like as big an upgrade, and it's the most common result.

Perfection of Skill and Perfection of Spirit seem like they could each have some really cool builds centered on them.

Fragarach's Warding is pretty funny, both the lore and the actual effect (also I keep reading it as "Warning").

Perfection of Form is okay I guess. I kinda wish it was 1/scene instead of 1/mission.

Probably the only one I have a few reservations about would be Orbital Drop Training, if only because I'd feel a little bad for making my GM deal with it. Like, just the threat of the 1/mission effect, although I think it's pretty reasonably balanced.

[steel crescent]

Perfection of Form was pondered as 1/scene but you don't make that many saves and checks per battle normally, compared to attack rolls. It could easily end up 'pass the one save you're forced to make each battle'.

[split forum]

For Laurel's Earthbreaker trait, does it apply to characters adjacent to itself, or adjacent to Devastations?

[steel crescent]

Adjacent to itself

[split forum]

oh okay, the first time I read it, I actually thought it was the latter, good to know

[steel crescent]

Alright. Should have some stuff to show off this evening.

[storm fulcrum]

Orgone energy is real in milesia?

like... that thing

A cloudbuster is a device designed by Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957), which Reich claimed could produce rain by manipulating what he called "orgone energy" present in the atmosphere.[1]

The cloudbuster was intended to be used in a way similar to a lightning rod: focusing it on a location in the sky and grounding it in some material that was presumed to absorb orgone—such as a body of water—would draw the orgone energy out of the atmosphere, causing the formation of clouds and rain. Reich conducted dozens of experiments with the cloudbuster, calling the research "Cosmic orgone engineering".[1]

There have been no verified instances of a cloudbuster actually working and producing noticeable weather change, such as causing rain. Orgone therapy is seen as pseudoscience.[2]

A cloudbuster consists of an array of parallel hollow metal tubes which are connected at the rear to a series of flexible metal hoses which are equal or slightly smaller in diameter to the parallel tubes. Alternatively, the rear of the tubes are joined together to a single large diameter pipe and flexible metal hose. The open end of these hoses are placed in water, which Reich believed to be a natural orgone absorber. The pipes can be aimed into areas of the sky to draw energy to the ground like a lightning rod.

[steel crescent]

Hahahaha. I'm glad someone got the reference.

[storm fulcrum]

I watched Citation Needed way too many times

[steel crescent]

I needed some technobabble for the teraforming stuff.

And figured I might as well use Real Babble.

[storm fulcrum]

"real" might be an overstatement

[steel crescent]

Well the babble was real.

The energy not so much

[storm fulcrum]

it was just a bunch of tubes filled with water lmao

oh btw, about the Airgead Barrow flashpoint... why does the USB have the authority to lock down the Barrow?

especially given how important it is as a cultural site to the planet?

cause this isn't a Union world

do they have like, a local political backer under whose authority they're operating?

[steel crescent]

Mostly via 'You not being union is really just a political niceity, we know for all real purposes you're Union and we are willing to push when it comes to Potential Metavault.

But I should likely make that more clear. As that's supposed to be part of the tension.

[storm fulcrum]

right

[steel crescent]

That this is really overstepping bounds as far as the locals are concerned.

[storm fulcrum]

I still think that they probably should have some backing locally, at least among the local elites, cause that sounds like something ThirdComm would do
and especially when it was a team sent to investigate a weird paracausal cave... them needing to do something like this is not entirely unforseeable

[steel crescent]

That's fair. I can add an extra player/some backing.

(I am also amazed no one's called me out on the reference in that flashpoint)

[storm fulcrum]

it also sounds like an interesting dynamic yeah

[storm fulcrum]

damn now i'm gonna be wondering what it is

[storm fulcrum]

it could also be an alternate way for locals to get into the barrow without running the USB blockade

[steel crescent]

||Diana Adler/Artemis Fowl||

[storm fulcrum]

I knew that name sounded familiar
I haven't read that though

so might just be pop culture osmosis

[storm fulcrum]

convince whoever is actually in charge of this place to pressure the USB team, which might make Dr. Hobeika more willing to let the PCs through if the alternative is disastrous political consequences

man was trained for metavaults and paracode not... centcomm *shudders*

[steel crescent]

Hahahaha

I'll tinker with things. As Dr Hobeika is supposed to be not UNREASONABLE but definitely a person who's personal experience is affecting his response.

The intent is that there is no 'Bad Guy' side. Just different priorities and fears.

If that makes sense?

[storm fulcrum]

mhmm

[steel crescent]

(Project Avalon on the other hand: Yep, Bad Guy There.)

(I asked a British Friend if the Doctor in Avalon had enough of a Silly British Nobility name and he called me weak)

[split forum]

Can't wait to see the Phlogiston and Aether licenses lol

[steel crescent]

With the mini-adventure, how do people feel about in addition to 'a few options for enemies', there being the extra factor of 'Where in the city it takes place'. With that area adding a single type of Specific Terrain to the map.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17P2C06nm8ZnkeqfSH503JGDc_Bwd6HB6PjmiWl9f1Kw/edit?usp=sharing

So like, if you fight Downtown it might go 'Zone A on this map are Occupied'. Or if you fight in a Transit Lane, it might go 'Zone B is Accelerating terrain because it's a Highway'

[storm fulcrum]

Makes sense

[steel crescent]

Cool. The intent is to make them independent of each other, so while the map is based on the opposition (As enemy compositions vary based on game type) the location will throw a bit of individual chaos into them.

[sour igloo]

Sounds cool

[storm fulcrum]

Is there an outline of the "protecting aunic minds from kindapping" adventure anywhere yet?
even if it's extremely brief so far

I suddenly have a lot more free time for a week or two due a natural disaster cancelling classes where i live, and I have a a friend who really wants to try a Rowan sometime

so I wanna try and run a 1 on 1 game (with npc backup)

[steel crescent]

Sadly the actual missions are far from done/the bit that will take the most time. I've got the 'sell it to people' overview but everything else is right now just dot points in my notebook.

The Second Distal is upon Union. Across the stars, hardlight lances tear the souls from Union ships and NHPs unleashe incomprehensible assaults upon Aunic defences. Even Milesia, lightyears from Cornocopia is not truly unaffected by this war. The legacy of Piston 1 hangs in the air like the miasma of a plague when the subject is spoken of, Milesia aware that generations ago, their ancestors were part of the group that brought judgement upon Aun itself. Do they have the right to judge Aun torching one of the trees that holds up the sky of their executioners?

Milesia's political situation as a non-Union actor, if only by technicality, has also become a major factor for them. The Aunic Ascendency has used Milesia as a diplomatic station for many years, trusting a third party for their safety. While few among them believed that Union would seize their Souls or assassinate them, it kept tensions at a lower boil to have both parties speaking in a theoretically neutral location.

Tonight, it is neutral territory no longer.

Across the omninet, among secretive communication lines to mercernary groups has come an offer. More manna than one would see in an entire lifetime, if they can raid the Aunic Embassy in Tallaght and deliver the Minds Semiramide and Domitilla to the buyer. Alive is preferred but not required. Spurred on by this competition, megacorp and state actors alike have moved, unwilling to let another achieve this coup if they can manage it themselves. As the sun fades on a city that never sleeps, the reactors of dozens of secreted mechs are flaring into life.

Semiramide and Domitilla are not alone however. Milesia's Garda are preparing defences, interdiction teams and decoys to catch some of these mercenaries. Among these decoys is a genuine team, helping move the pair out of the city and to a safe location where attackers would need an army rather than a covert strike team to take them.

And you, Lancers, are the defenders of these Minds. There will be no rest on this chaotic night.

[storm fulcrum]

cool

and do you have an outline/summary of the teams the players would fight?

I know one of them is "HA tankies in tanks"

[steel crescent]

The intent is for there to be 6-8 potential ones, with the GM picking which ones they want. I've brainstormed a couple of them.

[storm fulcrum]

cool, can you post those?

[steel crescent]

Literal Tankies - Formally the 117th Legionary Armoured Division. On Milesia for R&R, called into service by an ambitious commander planning on stealing the minds, blasting apart the other bounty hunters and pretending they 'failed' to save the minds. Among the various teams they're by far bringing the most armour and guns but anyone they're going up against will have plenty of prep time (Planned this one for a defensive mission as you've gotten time to bunker down as they arrive).

Mirrorsmoke Legal - Mirrorsmoke is in a lot of places and has a lot of assets but they're not *everywhere*. This one caught them a little off-guard and the only forces on-planet are a Mirrorsmoke Mercenary Legal Team. On the plus side: They are Armoured Frame Qualified and they think they've found a precedent that makes it *technically* legal for them to shoot people in public. (Mirages and units they support well)

Ungrateful Terrorists - Not actually Ungrateful, though they're play acting it. A Barony Assassination Team the House of Stone has hired to play the role of Ungrateful and get a lot of people killed as part of their attempt to build up bad sentiment against the Ungrateful Movement. If they get their way, they'll kill the Minds and send out a 'Yeah, we did it. Menat Aun is also an oppressor and we declare war on him too' Omninet announcement. (lots of mobile, sneaky assholes)

Sir La Mancha - Lady Dulcinea La Mancha of the House of Water genuinely wants the best for the Minds. She's just also fucking mad. Convinced that this operation is actually a secret Union plot to capture them, she's here with her retainers to save them and declare her true love for Mind Semiramide. They have never actually met. The biggest trouble for the players is regardless of how out of her mind she is...she's also a veteran Barony pilot in a bleeding edge frame. (She's planned as the fight that has an Ultra in it)

The ones I've currently got plans for.

The intent is that while the advanture doesn't have a long plot, all of the various groups should have a lot of personality.

As it's very inspired by the Greenback Jane arc in Black Lagoon, which was very 'Oh god, what's this guy's gimmick?'

[storm fulcrum]

Lmao, nice

Yeah, I can work with this

I'm not sure this would even count as playtesting?more so just doing my own thing based on the same premise

[steel crescent]

Eh, I'm just happy if people have fun with the premice 😛

[storm fulcrum]

Having fun is my main goal

[steel crescent]

The stuff I plan to put together for this is:

6-8 Missions (With enemy compositions)
A good fluff overview of each enemy composition that has a lot of personality.
An overview of a few places in the city you might end up fighting in.
A custom Reserves list that is made up of support the Minds are providing.

[gentle grove]

By missions, do you mean combats? Cause missions are themselves self contained 2-3 fight arcs, whereas it sounds like all these people are 1 fight each

[steel crescent]

yeah, sorry. I mean fights.

[gentle grove]

No worries! Just struck me a bit weird as written, figured I knew what you meant

[storm fulcrum]

which ironleaf license do ya'll think is the most fun at LL1?
like an LL1 character with otherwise only GMS stuff

I think Rowan 1 could be really cool on a Chomolungma

[steel crescent]

Scilla 1 seems good if you wanna run defender.

Gets you a Big Heavy Gun and the Engram.

[wind lodge]

I like grenades so I'm super biased

^^^ (grenades goerg)

Grenades Goerg, who uses 2 billion grenade systems, should be considered an outliar

[steel crescent]

Pillage Supplies
Quick Action, Recharge 5+
Target hostile character in Range 5 has its supplies stolen, being unable to spend repairs until the end of their next turn, while the Magpie either restores 5/6/7 HP or recharges one Magpie system. A successful agility save negates these effects.

I continue to make the Magpie Mean.

[storm fulcrum]

Can you Overwatch with the Clover's Cloich Tabaill attacls?

[steel crescent]

You cannot.

but

Now I'm tempted to let you.

'Running away, are you?' Structures You

[storm fulcrum]

waaaait a minute
is Magnum Opus Interstellar the one hiring people to steal the minds?
they're obscenely wealthy, hate the Aun after they blew up a blink gate, and seem to already have an antagonistic relationship with Milesia based on the fluff of the Champion's Blade exotic

[steel crescent]

I'd not considered them but they'd work as one of the factions in play, yeah.

[storm fulcrum]

i was thinking they might work as a team but then i thought they might very well be the ones masterminding the whole thing

[steel crescent]

They'd likely work well as a Drone-Focused Team.

'Here is an Engineer, a Hive, a Bombard etc'

[storm fulcrum]

and then randomly one Size 1/2 Elite Specter (Nimue)

[steel crescent]

Pondering various Mind powers that would work well as Reserves.

Precognition: The GM reveals the next sitrep and the enemy composition (Including optional modules and reinforcements) for that sitrep.

[hot niche]

So I know the planet is kind of the big thing but, I was wondering: what would be decent ways for characters who aren't playing on or around Milesia to get their hands on Ironleaf licenses?

I might be wrong but they don't seem like they have super wide coverage.

[wind lodge]

I could have sworn they were at least getting some increasing outreach considering one of the pieces of art we saw earlier for it is like, the ironleaf foundry and harison armory both at a con

[gentle grove]

I believe that scene's happening on Milesia itself, but I would assume based on that that Milesia and Ironleaf in particular has designs on exporting frames and competing in the same sorta space

So if there's any particular place where there'd be a large buildup of military tech people trying to sell things, IF would be there to sell Milesia to the galaxy

[steel crescent]

The Convention itself is on-planet but Milesia is A) Near a Blink Gate B) On the Omninet. They are 100% selling tech to Union grups.

[steel crescent]

They likely wouldn't be as 'off the shelf' as a HA frame but if you can get your hands on an SSC frame in a place, you can likely find an Ironleaf Foundry one.

Both are 'Specialist Boutique' but not 'Unheard of'

[hot niche]

Gotcha 👍

[storm fulcrum]

that's one of the artist's PCs right?

love seeing her in the background of stuff, like in the Icebreaker Borealis art from In Golden Flame

[storm fulcrum]

also I love that
in general
the mech cosplays, the HA lady in like a 1950s stewardess looking outfit the... person grovelling at the barbarossa's feet?

[steel crescent]

You'd have to take that up with @quiet flame but I think so?

I know this one is one of mine.

Ashryn, an old D&D 4e character of mine.

[steel crescent]

Yep, it's enough of a convention meme we had to have someone doing the 'step on me, cosplayer lady' thing.

[quiet flame]

yes it is! its a lot easier to fill a crowd with stuff like that lmao

[storm fulcrum]

They want to be her siege stabilizers

[storm fulcrum]

making a Shadow of the Wolf character who's a Karrakin milesiaboo

[steel crescent]

Hahahah

[storm fulcrum]

simplest karrakin mobility hardsuit

Shadow of the Wolf only goes up to LL1, so best I can do is Translaxle Butterfly on a Chomolungma
which is good, because I don't think that hardsuit would fit inside a Rowan

[steel crescent]

That's very fun

[steel crescent]

@hearty steppe Yep! That also falls under the 'conditions' part.

The Silversword ends 1 condition or a tech-caused effect.

You can shrug off the Demolisher's Hammer Stun too

[storm fulcrum]

ooo

you can finally stabilize at a spite's face

[steel crescent]

The Silversword's trait's are mostly light because King Under The Mountain is Player-Facing Juggernaut.

[hot niche]

Double checking, Silversword can target itself with its core right?

[steel crescent]

Yep! It can trigger when your turn would start and you can go "ME!" for 'which character starts next round'.

[steel crescent]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aA0XOiKqM9d2aH2kKL-mfcVjE99FKCfa2pec8J5I3f8/edit?usp=sharing NPCs for Star and Melody got updates. Should hopefully be a bit more interesting. Still a hair more to do but I do appreciate any thoughts on any of them.

The Magpie got the biggest changes, of the lot

The Magpie also got a bit of a re-theming. Or more accurately a blending of themes to make it less one-note.

[steel crescent]

Alright, all the NPCs are now fully complete, if anyone wants to look over them.

[steel crescent]

Hey guys, it's not in the .lcp yet but the Poppy got some tinkering with its core power/the gyrostorm pods.

It was in a bit of an awkward place where it kinda had a core power and a 1/scene thing at the same time.

And the core power ate up a lot of your time once you activated it.

So I ended up adjusting it to have an Efficient Core Power but the Gyrostorm Pods are now Shinier.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1253969354438217728/1253969570427965542/image.png?ex=6677c9ab&is=6676782b&hm=aba1f50803516df0a833b68421501a35a75e69598e66d0cfa4abec51deac8634&

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1253969354438217728/1253969582087999538/image.png?ex=6677c9ad&is=6676782d&hm=e69917ae13cb2b0c10a2f8e57a763380eb905c50acbb3f9e3fb64c62ac1b6bcd&

Firing the pods is now a Free action, as it's the Efficent Core Power.

And the firing modes didn't get a damage increase but they did get much more reliable damage codes

[steel crescent]

(I'd also like to thank the people who gave the feedback. I really appreciate it.)

[frigid vine]

This looks like a great change. It was always at the back of my mind but I've sadly never gotten to test the poppy (or any IF mechs) myself

[steel crescent]

And yes, technically as it's a free action core power you could chain it with a GMS Core Bonus but if you're repeatedly hitting 1/20 odds just go to Vegas instead.

[frigid vine]

Yeah, sometimes “theoretically infinite” is fair

Sometimes it’s “infinite attacks by repeatedly showing a guy a knife”

(PF 1e combo)

[storm fulcrum]

I thought that only worked on geologists

[molten dawn]

Kickstarter with POD down the road?

[steel crescent]

Kickstarter yes (Looking for in the second half of this year), POD is still being debated.

[hearty steppe]

Honestly, don't know how to feel about it. a good chunk of my plays when I was runnning Poppy was barraging the Rook Medium Machine gun and the gyropods once per fight, or being able to do it every turn. I suppose it being a free action core power evens it out. But I didn't see any problem with how it was before.

I do enjoy the changes from rolled damage to essentially averages rounded up. (from 1d6+4 to 8 for example). I guess it's mostly just me just not particularly enjoying efficient cores in execution.

I like big and impactful core powers, not the ones where you do "One thing" and that's it, like most efficients. Overall I don't mind the change. Dunno if my feedback is worth much lol, haven't been able to play Poppy for a while.

Althought, Poppy can already top consistent team damage by itself (Especially with OPcal), and apply a lot of pressure with Heavy gunner and using the Rook. Popping that core and essentially having two heavy weapons was a surefire way to just dumpster an ultra whenever one would pop up.

Overall, it's a good change.

[copper socket]

as the guy who provoked this change: the issue was core power became basically all you do and it led to very stale gameplay

every single turn in core was barrage rook + gyrostorms

it was very strong but it was also, like. really boring

repeatable wingshredder was also really abusive and led to a lot of gm feelsbad

I'm also running heavy gunner poppy and it just felt kind of rough to have most of my build effectively nullified when I popped core because barraging became the objectively correct move to take just because it shat out so much damage

(or, alternatively, deterministic, functionally-unremovable slow)

[steel crescent]

All feedback is good, don't feel like you can't say things. Thank you for that!

[sick granite]

Sorry if this is rude of me to say, but shouldnt electrobaton deal energy damage instead of burn?

[steel crescent]

No, that's not unreasonable to ask.

My logic in this case was that I wanted it to be a 'it keeps crackling through you' effect, more than just 'once and done'

As the electrobaton is more of a 'you get electorcuted and you end up twitching for some time' than a 'scorched by a lightning bolt' effect

There's a gamist aspect.

[sick granite]

i see i see..... maybe make it so it deals 1 damage of kinetic, burn, and energy? that way you get a balance of the crunch and fluff

also, i caught that caiphas cain reference in the lore section. very based

wait are the aun just an insert of the imperium?

...... holy shit......

[steel crescent]

With 'Aun must be crazy'? Entertainingly, it's actually a reference to the thing that cain is a refence to.

[sick granite]

no just that entire section of the lore thing in general lol

[sick granite]

expanding off on this, you could also add a bit in the lore section along the lines of "the intense voltage causes systems to fizzle, short, and burn out in a cascade of failures, locking up joints and disrupting sensors"

Even more based is the tf2 referneces with the Lily lol. RIP Rick May

[steel crescent]

Yeah, the Lily is just 'Full on TF2 Soldier'

[sick granite]

one last thing. I think maybe it would be a good idea to change the name of the cratermaker to something more fitting for its inteanded use. maybe "airstriker", or "curbstomper" or or something along those lines. Im saying thos as cratermaker is more of a name for something like a mortar or a proper rocket launcher, not a melee weapon.

also, the patch kit looks utterly broken. so long as you dont get structured you can just dump points into hull and by ll3 youre basically immortal. god help your gm if you bring a lannie along for the ride....

sorry again if im being rude at all saying this

[dusk sundial]

Our counterargument, confessing we're not even looking at the patch kit, is that it sounds like it costs repairs, an inherently limited resource, and that becoming "basically immortal" isn't as hard as it sounds. You just play the Balor.

Also Cratermaker is a fucking awesome name for a melee weapon, in our opinion

You hit them hard enough to make them into/put them in a crater, that's sick

[sick granite]

Balor aint got shit on this. As a quick action and for only 1 repair and 2 heat, you can either completely top off your hp or restore a lost weapon or system.

granted on the poppy itself this is a bit balanced since it has almost no defenses against tech attacks and is a bit squishy, but imagine something like that placed onto a barbarossa or a drake.

and the balor itself is balanced by its low heat cap and mid e def

imo i think this system should be limited so you cant just tag team with a lannie and never die.

[dusk sundial]

In our experience, even those TEN repairs from the Lancaster can burn down hella quick

1 Repair is already how much you spend to top off your HP during rests or when you Stabilize. You're paying 2 Heat to reduce the action cost, essentially.

[sick granite]

oh seriosly?

[dusk sundial]

On which part?

[sick granite]

this

[dusk sundial]

We mean, yeah, look at the Stabilize options.

[sick granite]

well when you say that then yeah its balanced

[dusk sundial]

also Balor does have shit on that, regen with maximal HP investment is nuts and even at LL3, it's rocking up with like 24 HP, regenerating 6 per round.

26, sorry (7 per round)

that's enough to negate an Assault skirmish

[sick granite]

yeah. ive run a game with a buddy playing balor. i dont think hes structured once

sorry for being such an idiot here

[dusk sundial]

Be nice to yourself

[steel crescent]

btw, if it's okay by people I'd love people's thoughts on the By Star And Melody NPCs.

[keen vale]

Just had to the chance to love the silver sword and I love the thing to death

It and a mistletoe are so powerful together

On that note, how do you play a belladonna? I don’t feel like it does very much

[steel crescent]

The Belladonna wants to be surrounded by enemies and fighting enemies with effects that reduce damage.

The scythe has built in paracausal.

And gets bonus damage based on how many dudes are around it.

That said: It is one of the frames that needs the most feedback, as it's the one I'm the least 100% on.

[steel crescent]

https://vxtwitter.com/ladwife/status/1808073559736013197 Iki naming characters for By Star And Melody

[steel crescent]

https://vxtwitter.com/Ikiry0/status/1809014097142558993 Fun fact: This bit of art was originally made for a project that didn't go anywhere (Some Icon homebrew) but it works really well for By Star And Melody.

[steel crescent]

I am debating if something is too silly for an NPC in one of the flashpoints.

Dr Scriveners aides are frustrated by his habit of making notes on a device, forgetting it somewhere on the station and requisitioning another. It's terrible for data integrity and security.

[woven creek]

I'm a fan

GMs love dropping clues

[gentle grove]

Yeah, I mean if AAA videogames do it, why not this?

[wind lodge]

They ask him, "why not just use the station cloud to back up your notes?"

It's just not the same he answers, buying his fifth device this week on company funds

[split forum]

lol that was the first thought I had too

my headcanon would be that he's paranoid that the cloud is less secure

[steel crescent]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103948694249811999/1261200096939474964/ByStarAndMelody_streamer_wip.jpg?ex=6692179f&is=6690c61f&hm=4bd79a7b3eb2ce3280c9f25ca005c8652144a116f60b6ab1edd46e43937e30bc&

Initial colour for another bit of art by @quiet flame!

[uncut sinew]

"horustoeguy"

[wind lodge]

Out of curiosity

Would you say By Star And Melody is inherently a lot more compatible with Field Guide to Liminal Space than most third party content is with each other?

[steel crescent]

I'd say a soft yes.

Basicly: Since I made both of them there's more 'just generally aware of stuff/didn't actively try to break things'.

[wind lodge]

That makes sense, that's generally what I was wondering

[steel crescent]

But I've not hard vetted ever combo

It's not like say, the 3 liminal space companies where we actively tried to push them at each other.

If that makes sense?

[wind lodge]

It's safe to assume that generally these two should play together nicely and should be okay to mix, but if some really wacky stuff shows up don't be afraid to make a ruling

[steel crescent]

Basicly, yeah.

[wind lodge]

Wanted to make sure, thank you!

[steel crescent]

Hmm...is there anything on the topic of Milesia that people would like to see details on/want to ask questions about?

[wind lodge]

🤔🤔

[deep elk]

Need to look at the doc again

[wind lodge]

Okay thinking about some builds and stuff

As Ikiryo already saw, one of my players might gain access to the ironleaf foundry

They are starting out with a Nelson

[wind lodge]

Which mechs would you say mix really nicely with the Nelson's license levels as well as the Nelson frame itself in ILF

[hot niche]

Rose

Nelson likes melees and boosting, Rose license has both

[steel crescent]

I'd also consider the Clover.

Since it's another 'main weapons with bonus damage' mech, its licence translates naturally.

Fets a pair of weapons that a Nelson might like.

[proud verge]

Silver hand let's go

Any red branch references as well?

[steel crescent]

In the Rose, sorta!

The NHP

Based on Medb and her 'I will flatten this mountain before I give up my anger with Conchobar'

[proud verge]

Damn that rules. Excellent Irish mythos usage

[steel crescent]

A lot of depictions of Medb tend to focus on 'Sexy, lots of partners' aspect but her 'Captain Ahab has nothing on me' vengence is the bit of her story that really spoke to me.

There is something about being such a hater (Not without reason) that when you find out the name of the person who'll kill Conchobar in prophesy, you rename all your kids to that name.

[proud verge]

We stan a vengeful queen. Love those absolutely spite filled characters.

[steel crescent]

The 'Cattle Raid' stuff is mostly split between Rose (For the more 'warrior without compare' parts) and the Clover (For the 'Oh, you're an unkillable monster' parts).

I do wonder if I overdid the fluff for the Setanta-class NHP. I wanted to sorta recontextualize 'anger' as 'No, anger is not always a bad thing. You SHOULD be angry about some things'.

[proud verge]

No that absolutely rules. That goes so hard and rings so true

[steel crescent]

The Silversword is based off Fionn mac Cumhaill

Both his strengths and his failures.

Not all of the mechs have a direct 'X is Y' and not all are Irish Mythology (One is norse, one is TF2 etc) but the general theming is Irish mythology.

[wind lodge]

ooo thank you!

[proud verge]

Wow, end the round is just such a powerful sentence. Dear GM, we go next.

I'll need to check it out. The first lore section was very nice as well.

[steel crescent]

Glad to hear so! The lore is the bit with the least feedback so I'm glad to hear people like it.

The intent is 'This is based off Irish mythology but it's not always going to be 1:1 matching and not so tied that people who don't know the mythology are lost'.

As I want to tread the tightrope of 'Sharing what I love with others' without 'Getting so into the weeds that only I get what I'm talking about'.

[proud verge]

Very understandable. Irish mythology is pretty niche overall, and doesn't have the same widespread low level knowledge that other mythos have. But it also rules.

[storm fulcrum]

tbh TF2 kinda feels like a mythology sometimes
with the amount of memes and gmod/sfm creations that are just part of hte community's subconcious at this point

[steel crescent]

And it lets me do things like this.

[proud verge]

I haven't read it yet, but Kudzu is a hilarious theme for a mech.

[steel crescent]

It lives up to the name. It's a disgustingly hard to finish off support.

The defensive stats are not insanely high but it has 'Always works' custom paint job

[proud verge]

Amazing. An absolute nightmare of a frame.

[steel crescent]

It's a combat medic that's got a good bit of 'combat' alongside the medic part, being Support/Defender

[steel crescent]

If people ever have questions about mechanics, fluff or even design process, happy to chatter

[proud verge]

What made you do "Oops, (almost) all size 1/2!"? Did you start with that idea, or did it arise from some other part of your design process?

[steel crescent]

So, this started long ago before it was even Ironleaf Foundry. Back in the days of 'The only Size 1/2 is the goblin'.

Yes, before the Napoleon was size 1/2

The intent was to make basicly 'Cool hardsuits' as hardsuits at that point didn't have much rules.

And it sorta ended up becoming a full mech project

[proud verge]

That's pretty rad. All hard suits is a pretty neat theme.

[steel crescent]

I ended up sorta retrofitting it into the fluff in the history section. Where the IF frames are mostly not built off the baseline that other mechs came from, instead being a spinoff of Firstcomm Space Enviromental Suits that got heavier and better armoured and more armed until they sorta ended up at 'small mech' from the other direction.

[steel crescent]

So, fun thing with the By Star And Melody art.

When I was getting art for characters, we ran into an issue. I didn't want the art to be Too Stereotypical. It's inspired by Irish Mythology but it's not 'Thor: The Emerald Isle'

But I did want it to draw from some elements of irish historical dresses.

The bigger issue: Getting art for a politician. On one hand - To avoid stereotyping, just base them off actual historical irish politicians.

On the other hand - This is the current Irish President, a Literal Leprechaun of a man.

[fluid flame]

To be honest, so long as you don’t overdo the green I think you’re already a good deal of the way there.

[steel crescent]

There's a chunk of green but plenty of people not in green.

People in more uniform/military garb

[fluid flame]

Yeah, that looks solid! One thing I might suggest, out of interest: there’s a very Irish tendency to make fun of ostentatiousness. A little accessorising is fine, but people will absolutely make fun of people who try to be too fashionable.

[steel crescent]

Makes sense. You're from Ireland yourself?

[fluid flame]

Yep! Born & raised Dubliner.

[steel crescent]

Nice. Dual National Here. My grandfather came from Sligo to Australia.

[fluid flame]

Cool!

[steel crescent]

One of the two characters in the art above is actually going to be the centerpiece of a bigger bit of art.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103948694249811999/1261200096939474964/ByStarAndMelody_streamer_wip.jpg?ex=669df51f&is=669ca39f&hm=b08f2b07a96d17ca9d0fb8e4fd6797b0529927bdde23aa2565494454524d5756&

Which was me wanting to get some mech pilot art done that sorta gets to show off the 'arena combat/spectator sport' stuff that's on Milesia.

As a lot of the time 'mechs in action' are very 'Here is War'

[fluid flame]

I was thinking something about the art looked familiar!

I remember you sharing the stream art before.

[steel crescent]

As you can sorta tell by the cockpit look, I do like myself some mechwarrior/battletech (Though a lot of that comes down to the artist as well)

[fluid flame]

It’s a good look. I love older sci-fi stuff with switches/tabs and such.

[steel crescent]

Yeah, I like shiny but that tactile sorta feeling I feel is really important

Especially on something as 'it needs to keep working with a railgun shot through it' as a mech.

[proud verge]

Omg that's amazing.

[proud verge]

Wait, is the twitch chat diagetic? That rules.

[steel crescent]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103948694249811999/1265467886797979721/ByStarAndMelody_streamer_final.jpg?ex=66a19e4f&is=66a04ccf&hm=8f6371eb20c4c085bdb957f79e5f2714d23c2fefbdcde19c57435501243bb8c7&

Finished Art!

[woven creek]

[proud verge]

I want a whole series of her lmao.

[steel crescent]

She's actually an old NPC from a game I ran!

[steel crescent]

Hey guys, mind if I ask a bit of a question about one of the systems in IF/what people think of it?

The Iron Will, on the Clover.

On one hand - I think it's conceptually one of the most 'I know what this was designed for' systems but I also worry it's a bit...not great.

Iron Will
3 SP, Unique
After you roll a structure damage roll or overheating check; or would be Stunned by an effect, you can delay suffering the effect until the end of your next turn. Each effect can only be delayed once this way and if the effect would cause you to be destroyed, during this time you are immune to damage and effects, and can’t be moved, targeted, or affected by any other character or effect.

“So he tied himself to a mighty stone
By his guts and belt he hung
And so he still stood on his feet
Till the last breath it left his lungs” -Gavin Dunne, The Tale Of Cú Chulainn

[hot niche]

I like it a bunch but also it's 3 SP for "if you get screwed over you get screwed over slightly later"

it also doesn't work if you get double structured

I'd personally still take it but I value anything that says "stunned take a hike" as like, critical QoL

[steel crescent]

Iron Will
2 SP, Unique
1/round, when you would become stunned or jammed or you would suffer the effect of a Tech Action, you can instead gain 2 heat unless it was caused by your own actions, systems, traits etc.

“So he tied himself to a mighty stone
By his guts and belt he hung
And so he still stood on his feet
Till the last breath it left his lungs” -Gavin Dunne, The Tale Of Cú Chulainn

The alternate pondering for it is a 1/round 'soak up control effect'.

The Riastrad on the Clover also got a small upgrade.

Getting this added:

If a hostile character hits you with an attack or deals damage to you, they also become your Prey.

So anyone who interferes with you just ruining a guy's day gets added to the list of people to ruin the day of.

[proud verge]

I like that, it tells the GM, hey, be careful about getting in the way, I got beef with this NPC. Which potentially keeps them from trying to just shut you down.

[proud verge]

I guess my question is, how does this interact with things from the witch? You can take 2 heat to avoid shooting your ally? You can take 2 heat to avoid the large mass of heat from tear down?

Being able to avoid NPC tech effects feels like it really warps the way PCs interact with certain NPC classes.

[steel crescent]

Yeah but I'm not 100% set on it.

[hot niche]

tbh I'd keep the old Iron will but make it like, differently costed?

like 2 SP 2 heat instead of 3 SP

and adjust the wording so you can still delay structure even if you get double structured

[proud verge]

I'd agree with that, it definitely feels more irrepressible.

[steel crescent]

Oh, you're supposed to be able to that. Each instance of structure damage can be delayed once but you can delay getting structured twice.

[hot niche]

Yeah that's not clear atm

[steel crescent]

I'll need to adjust the wording! Thanks for the feedback

[steel crescent]

Iron Will
2 SP, Unique
After you roll a structure damage roll or overheating check; or would be Stunned or Jammed by an effect, you can gain 2 Heat delay suffering the effect until the end of your next turn. Each effect can only be delayed once this way (Though multiple instances of the same effect can each be delayed individually) and if the effect would cause you to be destroyed, during this time you are immune to damage and effects, and can’t be moved, targeted, or affected by any other character or effect.

“So he tied himself to a mighty stone
By his guts and belt he hung
And so he still stood on his feet
Till the last breath it left his lungs” -Gavin Dunne, The Tale Of Cú Chulainn

Clearer? I mentioned multiple instances of the same effect.

[hot niche]

Yeah

[storm fulcrum]

ooo what mech is she in? also a sherman? idk if the readouts are talking about the other sherman

[steel crescent]

She's in an IF Silversword, though with a different main weapon!

[storm fulcrum]

huh, more normal than I'd have imagined a Silversword's cockpit to be

streaming with Trinary Legion must be an Experience

can you call your future and past selves "mods"?

[steel crescent]

She is aware she always has, is always and always will do reactor crimes

[storm fulcrum]

o i see the silversword there

[wind lodge]

IPSWITCH MENTIONED!!!!!

[storm fulcrum]

!

wait where switch mention?

OOO

Switch does have a different username in the Muse but I doubt that's where a milesian pilot would be streaming

[green harness]

Star and Melody is ironleaf foundry right? Awesome :0

[steel crescent]

Yep! The Ironleaf Foundry mechs originate from one of the groups on-planet.

Ironleaf Collective
Originally designed as little more than a mining outpost of Crimthainn, and not even given a formal name as an independent Túath, Outpost Tríocha became the center of a conflict over the rights of its workers that would forge it into what would become the Ironleaf Collective.

Under pressure by other Túatha and its position very clearly in decline, Crimthainn was pushing its outposts to the limit. Rest hours were cut and food quality slipped as the outpost’s numbers were pushed beyond what it was ever designed for. Situated on excellent mineral veins, it was built for mining and forging, producing plates of material for vehicles and exoskeletons in its glowing heart. 

As limits were pushed, accidents skyrocketed and the Metalworkers Union of the forges called for a strike. Crimthainn responded instead by sending troops to break the strike and install martial law, forcing the workers from their own factories to bring in non-Union workers. Unwilling to take this lying down, the strike escalated to physical violence and to gunfire; and after the skirmish the strikebreakers found themselves outnumbered and outgunned. Outpost Tríocha declared itself an independent Túath, taking the new name from the symbol on the banners of the Metalworkers Union that had fought for them.

The modern Ironleaf Collective has not forgotten this past, even with the safety and security that the interplanetary community has brought the planet. While much of the material they work with now comes from orbital sources, the factories of the Ironleaf Collective still glow as new materials are produced by research laboratories, and development agreements across the far reaches of space introduce new techniques to even old veterans.

This mining history is often quite visible upon the land of the Ironleaf Collective, with many of the older cities at least partially underground as they moved into the space that the mines excavated. It’s said that one could live their entire life without ever venturing into the light of day within the Collective, if one chose to do so.

[green harness]

Def buying this when it comes out

Been followin this for agws

[steel crescent]

Thanks for that. Being a one person project it's been slow but I'm really proud of how far it's come (Though I really do need to do more editing passes to the fluff stuff)

[steel crescent]

If you have any thoughts or feedback, I'm always open for it!

[shrewd hearth]

Just dropping this off cause good God it was terrifying and hilarious. One of the worst/best things you can ever hear a Poppy pilot say is "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON, BUT AS LONG AS I'VE GOT AMMO THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH!!"

[steel crescent]

Hahahah

[steel crescent]

Also: In 'god dammit players'. One of them spent the game calling the Fatuity Beam the 'Bimbo Beam'. XD

[steel crescent]

Gene Engineered Plants
Annwfyn’s expertise in modified flora has allowed it to provide sustenance for many far-ranging colonies, adjusting popular staple foods to grow in the environments that humanity finds itself in among the stars. For more personal usage, many artisanal flavors and designs of fruits and vegetables have been made on Milesia, emulating both natural and unnatural tastes to the eater’s desires. One of the less world-shaking but very popular options is the various fruits modified to be alcoholic without a fermentation process, creating a fruit that is taken straight from tree to bottle or even salad. It allows for a variety of interesting textures that could not be produced with traditional fermenting and an alcoholic snack for long-patrol ships that don’t involve a grunt building a dangerous home-made still somewhere in a cargo bay.

Writing about silly minor things.

[coarse arrow]

Tbf, that's how a world comes to life. And are also the kinds of things that players will latch onto. 😛

[steel crescent]

A little inspired by my dad's stories of just how absolutely plastered Naval Ships spent most of their time. XD

[coarse arrow]

I don't know how many times I offhandedly described a minor setting detail that ended up becoming one of the most memorable and oft-repeated to my playtesters.

[steel crescent]

He had a story of how him and 2 other senior officers (He was a commander, the other two were about the same rank as him) spent half an hour convinced the ship was haunted.

Because they were that drunk and whenever they put an empty glass on the table in the officer's lounge, it would slide down to the other end.

Eventually a slightly more sober officer worked out it was A) The table had just been polished B) there was a fan on one end of the table.

[harsh rapids]

and here i was thinking it was just that they were on a boat

[steel crescent]

Here's an odd pondering: Is there anything people would like to see discussed in culture or other stuff for the planet?

[proud verge]

If you haven't already, food, and cultural touch points around meals I find to be incredibly important for making a culture feel real.

So like, what they eat, how they traditionally cook, what meals are like, and particularly noticeable bits of culture surrounding the meal, etc.

[steel crescent]

That's fair. I did a hair of that up above but I've mostly focused on political stuff previously. I should do more there.

Metat Must Be Joking
One of the latest smash hits of Milesia's media creations and one that has perhaps not aged quite as well as they'd have liked with the Boundary Garden flaring up, this series follows an amiable but entirely undisciplined Ascendency Soldier saved by sheer dumb luck getting mistaken for a powerful Mind. Each attempt to convince his superiors that he's not chosen by Metat Aun so that he can return to a safe logistics position only results in more and more improbable situations that spread his legend further as stumbles his way into conspiracies, unexpected pirate raids and strange paracausal phenomena.

The series has become very well known for the significant attention it puts into detailed showings of Ascendency Mechs. This is the result of diplomats from the Aunic Embassy on Milesia having heard about its filming and rather than being offended at the premise, took offense at the idea that an NHP would be playing the exhausted and put upon Aunic Soul desperately trying to keep the protagonist alive, thus sending a few of their local bodyguard units to help provide authenticity and cultural advisors.

Been trying to make sure the planet has some personality.

Milesian NHPs and AI
Milesia's long time spent apart from Union resulted in first contact also being their first encounter with NHPs. While certainly shocked by such beings, a mythology heavy in various spirits in the world around them and a dedication to the Three Pillars that had lasted since long before NHPs were known has led to rapid acceptance upon the world, with many serving in authoritative roles in both politics and the Gardaí.

Milesia affords NHPs with all rights of a citizen, regardless of contract or origin of the NHP. This gives local NHPs vastly more personal freedom than those within Union itself, able to quit their current role as any other person would quit a job and to chart their own course through society. While Milesia does not have the vivisected knowledge of NHP creation that the Union Science Bureau and the Corpostates can boast to allow for easy creation of homemade NHP lines, this freedom has allowed for lines that would have been scrapped by the Corpostates to be obtained for a song by the planet, many finding a role in which they can excel, regardless of planned purpose.

One area in which Milesia can, however, claim expertise is in non-NHP artificial intelligence. Their significant time away from Union, working with what was once the pride of the Union Space Program has given them significant experience with the coding and creation of what Union calls Comp/Con units. Milesian Comp/Cons are often faster to react to novel situations than their competition, with those designed for animalistic subaltern security and hunting partners being particularly well respected across the galaxy.

[keen vale]

I recently ran a belle in a combat encounter, and my only point against it is that I think the scythe could be brought up to 1d6+4 instead of 1d6+2

but that's it

[steel crescent]

nods
I'd been conservative because of the AOE aspects but you think it's a little low?

[keen vale]

Yeah, I don't think that will crash the numbers

it's a pretty small boost overall, really more of a consistency fix

[steel crescent]

nods

I'll look into it. I hope it was otherwise fun?

[keen vale]

otherwise, quite fun, alot of damage

doesn't do too much with the other stuff from the license, but the frame is pretty good all around

[steel crescent]

That's great to hear! It's in a bit of an awkward state where it and the rose were originally 2 seperate licences before 'alt frames' existed.

And the gear from both got combined/some stuff got scrapped because it was less interesting gear on both frames.

Direct Interface Link
1 SP, Unique
You automatically pass checks to disarm mines and interact with objects.

Like I don't think anyone is missing this.

[keen vale]

Yeah definitely not

[steel crescent]

Should have some updates soon. The areas being worked on:

Belladonna's Main Weapon
Clover Systems (Iron Will and NHP)

[copper socket]

forward me a changelog when you've got stuff handled if you wouldn't mind, along with anything I missed

I know I need to get in the poppy core change and I think there were a bunch of npc changes as well?

[steel crescent]

Yeah, though mostly just 'getting a full setup of optionals'

I think the Hound is the only one where stuff changed on the NPCs

[copper socket]

sounds good

if you could get a full list just to make sure things are 1:1 I'd appreciate it

[steel crescent]

Will do!

[deep elk]

Hey! I wanted to ask if there is a more recent version of this or if its still the up to date one! I finally have some time over the weekend and if you still looking for it actually manage to go through em and drop some feedback and thoughts! #homebrew-design message

(and also the bigger lore doc!)

[steel crescent]

Hey! Yeah, that's a live document/any updates I make are made to that doc.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jcKV4xrOI7SVgclud3R_fCwZ9MLgfwQi3-9wJy8-zX4/edit?usp=sharing This is the combo document that links all the sub-parts.

[deep elk]

I hooope i get through it in the next days and gonna drop some feedback 😌 (I know I said that before and life got really in the way so big sorry for that )

[deep elk]

lessgo!

[steel crescent]

I'd love that, if you have time but no pressure!

[storm fulcrum]

is there more info about the Setanta-class NHP anywhere else?
the fluff in the system is a quote, presumably from one of them
but I'm curious about like. how it was made, what are they known to be like/why people might seek them out
which isn't completely answered by one of them explaining their worldview (it is really cool tho)

[steel crescent]

I wrote that quote yeah and there's actually a little bit more fluff about NHPs and Milesia in one of the other sections. Just a moment!

Milesian NHPs and AI
Milesia's long time spent apart from Union resulted in first contact also being their first encounter with NHPs. While certainly shocked by such beings, a mythology heavy in various spirits in the world around them and a dedication to the Three Pillars that had lasted since long before NHPs were known has led to rapid acceptance upon the world, with many serving in authoritative roles in both politics and Gardaí.

Milesia affords NHPs with all rights of a citizen, regardless of contract or origin of the NHP. This gives local NHPs vastly more personal freedom than those within Union itself, able to quit their current role as any other person would quit a job and to chart their own course through society. While Milesia does not have the vivisected knowledge of NHP creation that the Union Science Bureau and the Corpostates can boast to allow for easy creation of homemade NHP lines, this freedom has allowed for lines that would have been scrapped by the Corpostates to be obtained for a song by the planet, many finding a role in which they can excel, regardless of planned purpose.

One area in which Milesia can however claim expertise is in non-NHP artificial intelligence. Their significant time away from Union, working with what was once the pride of the Union Space Program has given them significant experience with the coding and creation of what Union calls Comp/Con units. Milesian Comp/Cons are often faster to react to novel situations than their competition, with those designed for animalistic subaltern security and hunting partners being particularly well respected across the galaxy.

All Milesian NHPs are not technically made by the nation but 'failed projects' by various corps they've helped give a new role to.

[storm fulcrum]

hm
Setanta's effect is similar to Sekhmet's, and the process of shackling Sekhmet was noted to be extremely fraught and difficult... (at least in Legionnaire, IDK if that's based in canon material anywhere)
wonder if there could be a relation there

[steel crescent]

Quite possibly, yeah. I'll admit I don't have a plan on what the 'original' design of the lines was.

Though I could likely make something up easily enough as I have thoughts on the general 'vibe'

[storm fulcrum]

I was just kinda trying to formulate some ideas how I could get a Setanta NHP in a campaign that has nothing to do with Milesia and isn't set very close to a blink gate
cause other Ironleaf Foundry license gear you can just buy online and print
but this one is a whole ass person

could just go with what's suggested in IGF, that NHP systems are more like equipment for an NHP, and any of them can run it well enough to not have a mechanical downside
but I dunno, maybe I could work something out

[steel crescent]

My thoughts on the original version of the Setanta is that it was originally industrial equipment, not military. A mining oversight NHP that brought that was discarded due to being too rough on the gear, bringing that focus to a situation where 'life or death' matters more than 'What's the repair bill afterwards'.

[storm fulcrum]

game hasn't started yet so it's not impossible for the GM to add a small milesian diaspora or even just a single NPC I can meet

[steel crescent]

Likely originally made by IPS-N.

But constrained by being the 'we care about profit margins' corp

[storm fulcrum]

"what happens if we plug a sekhmet into a forklift?"

"you're fired."

[steel crescent]

Freya was likely HA. Part of the same project that got the Louis made but an early, discarded iteration before they got the actual engine working, adapted to work with Unknown Paths Research's prototypes.

[storm fulcrum]

btw, why'd you decide to call it Freyja and not Frigg?
since it's in the Baldr themed license
or named after a Valkyrie since that's what the ability is referencing

[steel crescent]

Freyja rules over her heavenly field, Fólkvangr, where she receives half of those who die in battle

And it Steals People 😛

[storm fulcrum]

ah i c

[steel crescent]

...this has also made me really tempted to try and ressurect an attempt at a talent I'd backburnered but had been planning for this project originally.

[storm fulcrum]

oooo talent

[steel crescent]

Ovate
Talent
There are many who spend drones like money, purchasing the path to victory over crushed metal. You instead work with your machines as a partner, keeping each other safe. Under your guidance, your partner can be more than just another machine, almost seeming to have a spirit and a personality. Watching you in action can make the idea that only NHPs are truly sapient a lot more questionable to those who see you working back to back with your friend.

Familiar (Rank I): You gain a Prototype drone with the following profile. It requires no SP to install.
    Quick Action, Drone (Size 1/2, HP 10+Grit, 10 E-defense/Evasion, Hover)
    You unleash your prototype drone to an empty space within sensor range. The drone has can hover, emits a Burst 2 aura and makes saves using your Grit. You can move the drone to a new space in your sensor range or recall it as a quick action. 

During a Full Repair, you can adjust the configuration of the drone, choosing one of the following:
    -Technician Drone: Allied characters within your Prototype Drone's Aura have +1 accuracy on checks and saves.
    -Hunter Drone: Hostile characters within your Prototype Drone's Aura have +1 difficulty on checks and saves.
    -Pathfinder Drone: Allied characters starting their turn within your Prototype Drone's Aura can move +1 spaces when they move or boost and can ignore difficult and dangerous terrain until end of turn.

If destroyed, you can spend 1 repair during a rest to restore the prototype drone to full HP and function.

Cat Sí (Rank II): On a full repair, you can modify and tweak essential components of your system in order to increase the effectiveness of your prototype drone. Choose one of the following:
    -Camouflage Systems: The prototype drone is Invisible. Allied characters within your Prototype Drone's Aura have Soft Cover.
    -Laser Array: When a hostile character with Lock On ends their turn within or enters the Prototype Drone's Aura, they suffer 3 Energy Damage. Each character can only take damage this way once per round.
    -Whitewash Repair Module: The Prototype Drone is automatically repaired at the start of each scene without spending repairs. When an allied character Stabilizes within the Prototype Drone's Aura, they can choose an additional option from either list.

In addition, the prototype drone gains 4 Speed and can move independently on your turn.

Cath Palug (Rank III): Your drone has been updated with a false axis repulsive field generator; paracausal technology from black markets, bleeding edge think tanks or whispers within your own mind.

1/Scene, as a Quick Action, you can activate the technology to cause an effect based on the configuration of your drone.
    -Technician: Any number of allied characters in the drone's aura 2+Grit Overshield.
    -Hunter: Any number of Hostile characters in the affected area suffer 6 AP Kinetic damage and are knocked back 3 spaces. A successful hull save halves the damage.
    -Pathfinder: Any number of allied characters in the drones aura can teleport up to 5 spaces as a reaction.

[storm fulcrum]

oooh I made a prototype drone system once

the hardest part was making it just not a wall of text in comp/con

familiar is a clever name for it

[steel crescent]

yearp

The names for the tiers are 'increasingly scary supernatural cat' 😛

[storm fulcrum]

lol

[steel crescent]

From 'Animal Companion of Witch' to 'Fey Cat' to 'The Cat that Are LIke 180 Knights before a round table guy killed it'

[storm fulcrum]

huh, neat

~~Talent Rank IV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oBTczOlv98&pp=ygUVZ2lhbnQgY2F0IGRlbGV0cyBtYXRo~~

[storm fulcrum]

but yea, my idea was pretty similar just like... clumsier
one of the players in my home game tried it for a while but ended up swapping to other stuff (mainly making my life hell with heavy gunner 3)

[steel crescent]

Makes sense! It's an area that's tricky due to 'oh god, many words'. XD

The original version had More Choices but that led to a bit too much 'stacking in the same area'

[buoyant compass]

lmao, i like rank 1 and 2 a lot - and i see how rank 3 got reused in IF

[steel crescent]

Oh? Where did it get re-used? (Not impossible, my memory can be cruddy)

[buoyant compass]

ragnarok dive, the mistletoe LL1

Your mech engages in matter-energy conversion across a Line 5 area. Characters in the affected area must pass an engineering save or take 1d6 Energy Damage. A successful save halves the damage. Your mech then reforms in any free space adjacent to the line, counting as teleporting.

[steel crescent]

Ah, yeah. I might have yanked a bit for there. It's my prefered way of going that sorta 'Dash Attack' that video games love.

[buoyant compass]

obviously it's not exactly the same but the vague idea stuck out to me as familiar

[storm fulcrum]

I think the formatting on the silversword is broken on the doc rn

[steel crescent]

Fixed it up!

[steel crescent]

Hey guys, sorry for being a bit quiet for a bit. Been dealing with Food Poisoning.

[steel crescent]

Finishing off some writing for the last of the Tuatha and trying to make the naturalists feel like 'hippies' and more 'they study megafauna, they understand nature isn't just a pretty garden'.

In this case: Their militia keeps a number of advanced mechs on hand not for 'fighting megafauna' but 'Poachers going after megafauna are either bringing armoured vehicles or mechs of their own' and nothing stops poaching like a railgun

[wind lodge]

Oh hey my partner is making a character founded entirely on this concept!

[storm fulcrum]

what's the Belladonna... supposed to do?

cause it wants people to fail saves, but as far as I can tell the only thing in the license that forces a save is Dullahan Lunge

[steel crescent]

The Belladonna wants to do crits and saves. The integrated weapon is accurate and the weapon type that benefits the most from crits, as it would allow it to do 3 Paracausal Damage to everything in its very wide threat.

[buoyant compass]

its fun to play as fast paced melee striker, since it's got a super high threat without needing to build into it - especially with polyfilament kusarigama

[steel crescent]

The Kusarigama is also another 'benefits from crits' weapon.

Where whenever you get the crit you also prone them and trigger your extra damage.

It also likes all sorts of non-weapon damage. Grenades/Mines for example, as well as stuff like Siege Ram.

But yeah, a big thing it likes is Wide Arc Cleave. As that's damage that benefits from the 'Paracausal Damage for you'

And the integrated does it quite well

[steel crescent]

Oh and another thing: The Belladonna has some of the most reliable damage about of a melee striker.

As while some might hit harder, it has 'no way to reduce this' built in.

And a lot of people rely on various 'get resistance' reactions or solid armour

[storm fulcrum]

so the saves don't have much support but that's not much of an issue cause you can just focus on crits when you're still with just the base license?

[steel crescent]

Yeah. The saves were sorta a 'oh and also this' to broaden options for branching out later

As Ironleaf Foundry has a fair bit of 'hey, do saves' things.

Also, as a stealth mech, there's a very available source of saves you can force to play into it's 'I am a ninja who pops out and Murders Everyone' plan

'I jump out, force a save, putting 3 irreducible damage on another guy around the guy I was originally targeting, then hitting my original target with my Big Murderscythe'

Conchobar's Due also deals non-weapon damage.

So while you're not as tanky as a Rose, Conchobar's due can take big chunks out of even normally tanky foes if you use it

I hope that helps @storm fulcrum?

[storm fulcrum]

oooo I see

yeah I swore I was missing something and yeah it was Infiltrator

wait...
is Perfection of Form/Perfection of Spirit a Starcraft reference?

ah wait no they say purity in that game, not perfection

https://starcraft.fandom.com/wiki/Purity_of_form

https://starcraft.fandom.com/wiki/Purity_of_essence

speaking of the Rose and Belladona
I assume this is not the intent, that it would be pretty clear to anyone reading that it's not the intent, but I think RAW you could pick an integrated mount in Iron Crown's 2-4 result to make it do more damage and ignore destruction?

On a 1-3, the weapons in one mount of your choice prepares to vent their last gasp of power before failing. The next time the weapons in this mount are fired, they have +1 accuracy and deal +1d6 bonus damage. The next time these weapons are fired, or at the end of the scene, the weapons in this mount are destroyed.

[steel crescent]

It shouldn't apply to them. I might need to make things more clear.

[storm fulcrum]

It seems like you could pretty easily just say "the weapons in one non-integrated mount of your choice" and it'd remove any ambiguity
but it's 5am and my brain is cooked so I'm not sure if I'm missing something

[steel crescent]

Fair

[storm fulcrum]

also another thing, have you considered adding at time limit like "before the end of your next turn" to this bit of the 5-6 result?

You can reroll your next attack against the source of the Structure Damage.
not for any "balance" reason, but purely so it's less to track
so you wont feel bad if you forget you got structured by that operator 4 rounds ago and only realize it after you attacked it

[shrewd hearth]

So I got a player who's wanting to play a star and melody mech but combine it with bits from the blue doctor and forget-me-not. The first one is a size one half striker/controller that likes to either get close and murder or have its paired aux revolvers from it and the forget-me-not to use its free exotic system that lets it consume burn stacks to smack some one with ap energy damage. And the forget-me-not is a striker defender with anti tech properties as well as berserker properties and brutal melee. It can also do the dual revolvers thing. You guys got any ideas?

[dusk sundial]

hell, been a second since we've gandered at the Range, uhh

not gonna have time to doso this morning, but we'll get to it later hopefully

[fleet needle]

Huh, something very odd I noticed, the agility check to remain flying happens even on Overheating, not just Structuring

The Scilla might need that or?

[steel crescent]

...it does not, though I should clarify that.

[fleet needle]

Alrighty

[deep elk]

Reaally really love the Maelstrom 😌

[steel crescent]

Woo, glad to hear comments on the NPCs. I really with the Maestrom wanted to make an NPC that plays into a major aspect of lancer: Battles are not just beatdowns, they've got objectives. So I sorta put it together to be 'NPC who Plays Objectives Well'

[deep elk]

nod nod!

I am slowly going through the npcs! Turns out getting a job offer does throw oyu life into chaos so its taking me ages 😂

[steel crescent]

God, don't I know it. Funny thing: I got my current job because I got hit by a car.

I was desperate to find some job and despite getting sensory overload really easily, I applied for a shitty call center job with Telstra. It would have driven me insane but I needed a job.

On the way back from the job I got run over and it turns out Telstra has no use for you if you've got no arms.

Two weeks later, I got a call from a place I'd applied for and forgotten about who were more than happy to give me the weeks needed to recover from broken arms.

And it's the best job I've ever had

[deep elk]

I finished my bachelor middle of last year. then applied to a thing in October and had my job interview with them in november and went on a waiting list (civil servant) for a 2 year master combined with working for them during and after the master. I got the confirmation that they wanna hire me roughly 20 days ago and start start of next month with the master beginning next year, thought it would not be anything isnce on the website they said they period of working for them before htem aster started in july so i for sure t hought it would never happen

[steel crescent]

Oh hey, Civil Servant High Five 😛

(I won't give specifics but I can't sing the praises of Civil Servant positions highly enough if you want somewhere that actually cares about your Work/Life Balance)

[deep elk]

but there where times where i didnt here from them for 3+ months 😂

[deep elk]

nod nod

[steel crescent]

Yeah, I can't speak for whatever country you're in but from my experiance government agencies have a long recruiting time.

In part because they need to go through like 3 layers of 'Okay, nobody has a conflict of interest here right/we're able to defend this employee if challenged legally as a legitimate hire, not nepotism'

Australia just passed a fun law there that so many employers are being salty about it's hilarious. Right To Disconnect. It's a law that basicly goes 'If it's not in your formal duties and you're actively being paid, your employer can't do shit if you refuse to let them contact you outside of work hours'

So like, if you're getting On-Call Overtime? Yeah, you can be called. If you work a 9-5 and the boss goes 'Hey we need some work from you at 3am', they can't legally punish you for going 'Fuck off, I'm asleep'

[deep elk]

germany. so its bureaucracy HELL

[steel crescent]

Ah, I've heard there's big tests for German civil service jobs.

Australia works mostly with 'Good news, lots of interviews for you' there. XD

[steel crescent]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jcKV4xrOI7SVgclud3R_fCwZ9MLgfwQi3-9wJy8-zX4/edit?usp=sharing @desert wolf it's based around a single world and some various shit going on around it (From a Resident Evil-Style Horrorshow of someone attempting mind uploading going very wrong, to 'Someone poisoned the champion of a big mech arena combat'). One corp and a chunk of NPCs.

[wind lodge]

hello hello! checking in on this out of curiosity?

[steel crescent]

Hey, I got myself quite sick.

[wind lodge]

i love your work 🥺 and it came to my mind

i think a lot about how cool your writing is

[steel crescent]

I'm on the mend now and plan to get back into this.

[wind lodge]

:0 im real glad youre doing better

being sick sucks

i work w kids and got WHOOPING COUGH like 2 months ago and my voice is still recovering

[steel crescent]

All in all this is close to be sorted, it's jsut a last couple of things and some editing. Editing drives me crazy solo even when I'm not sick though. XD

[wind lodge]

hey, my friend who has a slightly clunky computer, it overheats easy

he mentioned that the ironleaf foundry images seem to be really big (file size wise) in comp con and when on screen/displayed in menu, can cause a bit of lag

im unsure how much this happens, but i thought id bring up

[steel crescent]

It's been mentioned occasionally, yeah. I should likely swap to lower resolution versions of those pictures

[mint berry]

It seems I don't have access to the LCP link (clicked and it threw an error)

[steel crescent]

Odd, it is set up so anyone with the link can access it.

What error did you get?

[mint berry]

Was something on the lines of "your client does not have permission"

Odd so it's probably something on my end

[steel crescent]

Let me test something.

Here's the .lcp btw

[mint berry]

Thank ye kindly!

[steel crescent]

Okay, got some testing done by others...it might be on your end, as it's working for them.

[steel crescent]

I hope you have fun Charon. If you have any thoughts/feedback (In particular on anything fluff-wise), I'd love to hear them!

[mint berry]

also got some questions for the Lily
if I'm affected by a blast that doesn't deal damage (i.e. the Iskander's Repulser Field from an ally) can I still fly 5 spaces

[steel crescent]

Yep!

[wind lodge]

@steel crescent ok moving here

Its a mix of "its so fucking funny that im using a tank in a mech game" and "what the fuck This thing is fucked up" and "This thing is so fucking cool" and "So you're telling me I get to pick between a fucking UFO and a fucking tank???!!!!!!"

[steel crescent]

I had a lot of fun with working out a place to fit it as Ironleaf Foundry's got a different Starting Baseline than Union had (Due to being apart for so long/mechs being a seccom thing).

With their mechs coming from 'Hardsuits that Got Big' rather than 'We need a tank that walks' like Union's did.

[steel crescent]

I think I've told this story before but the UFO is a Celtic Mythology Joke.

https://i0.wp.com/stonefireblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/airships.jpg

The Tuatha arrived in, according to some translations, flying ships.

Hence the UFO

[wind lodge]

oh thats good

[steel crescent]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uSuMTLstnQ6dlZaz8lTmkYGcr_xDBZzTs-ecBqx4HKo/edit?usp=sharing

I made a new NPC!

It's designed to be an Objective Focused NPC.

Their job is to go 'this mission has a victory condition and I am going to play for that victory condition, not just brawl'

[hot niche]

Remind me: can scilla actually benefit from walls, or does it's trait mean that it always pokes out above them?

[steel crescent]

It can still get cover, yeah.

This is just about 'Look, stop doing 3D calculations'

[hot niche]

yeah I knew it was about that, just couldn't remember if it stopped there or extended to "I exist at all points within the cylinder"

[steel crescent]

Nah, it's literally there because I realized I had to keep including 'Ignoring Height' on it's short range AOE weapons 😛

And went 'I want this to work with other mech toys too'

[hot forge]

Just to confirm there hasn't been a new LCP for this yet right?

[steel crescent]

Not yet. Life kinda got to me for a while and it's a one person project on rules.

[hot forge]

Just making sure, was scrolling through liminal space for some reason because I couldn't find this thread

Love the player mechs in so far btw, here's hoping someone actually picks one in my game lmao

[steel crescent]

Glad you like them!

[wind lodge]

how has this been going?

thought id check in !

[steel crescent]

Nearly done! Got more fluff writen. Just need to get Layout Sorted.

;-;

I hate layout/have no talent for it

[wind lodge]

:0 yooo nice

[wind lodge]

I'm not like a master at it but I've been able to make pretty great copycat documents for both a friends 2024 dnd design layout, as well as the Wilderfeast ttrpg, and I did both of those in Google docs, so if you want to shoot me a couple of questions, I don't know how helpful I will be but I'd be happy to at least try to point you in some directions

[copper socket]

missed this, whoops. hi, I'm the lcp person

next version update on the LCP is 100% guaranteed to break things because I need to change the authors on it and comp/con doesn't like when you do that

I, uh, kind of became trans in-between version updates. oops!

[harsh rapids]

Frame perfect gender canceling to ruin the lcp

[dusk sundial]

oh! congrats!

[sick granite]

sorry but is there an itchio page or something for this project that i can follow?

[sick granite]

apologies if this is rude to ask, but does that mean the lcp development is stalled out or sunk, or is it still being worked on?

[copper socket]

You're good

Lcp development isn't going anywhere, I just need Iki to make changes for me to do to the lcp

[sick granite]

Sick! Thanks much!

[steel crescent]

Hey, not currently. This project is still ongoing, just had life just absolutely devour me recently.

[sick granite]

lol, i feel that. well, heres hoping yall can get back to it soon! keep up the great work!

[steel crescent]

Thanks for the kind words

[verbal marsh]

Is Perfection of Form a flat +1?

[steel crescent]

Yes

Not +1 accuracy, flat

[verbal marsh]

Also, the Mistletoe can use Misteltein with Oz/Silver Shuffle and reload it afterwards, right?

[steel crescent]

I guess so!

[verbal marsh]

Can you not use FREYJA beams to heal and cool?

And the Mistletoe can reload the Backoff Propellant when it boosts, right?

I think it goes something like this.

-- IF Mistletoe @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Mistletoe 2, MO & S HOLIDAY 3, IPS-N Raleigh 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  OUROBOROS Resupply System, Integrated Weapon
[ TALENTS ]
  Vanguard 3, Ace 2, Gunslinger 2, Skirmisher 2
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:17 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:10 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:-1 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:10 EDEF:8 SENSE:5 SAVE:14
[ WEAPONS ]
  Integrated: “Mistilteinn” Core Channel
  INTEGRATED WEAPON: Wristgun
  FLEX MOUNT: Huckleberry Revolver-Carbine
  AUX/AUX MOUNT: Hand Cannon / Hand Cannon
  AUX/AUX MOUNT: Pistol / Wristgun
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Invocation of Sigrun, Oz/Silver Shuffle, BELLRINGER, Armament Redundancy

Also, how does Insult to Injury work with
(a) the Temperance;
(b) Daemonology?

Also, is it intentional that no IF frames have Main/Aux mounts?

[steel crescent]

It wouldn't relaly work with damonology, as that's a tech system that makes some 'sorta mines' rather than directly mines.

And yeah, IF tends towards either Heavy Mounts or Big Integrated Weapons.

[verbal marsh]

But it would do its usual thing with Temperance?

[steel crescent]

I guess so?

[wind lodge]

@steel crescent are all the mech art for by star and melody by moiderah?

[verbal marsh]

Hmm. I'm a bit dissatisfied.

-- DOWNFALL TEMPERANCE @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Rowan 3, DOWNFALL AVARICE 2, MOI PTOLEMY 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Perfection of Form, Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints
[ TALENTS ]
  Demolitionist 3, Orator 3, Grease Monkey 3
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:17 ARMOR:2
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:10 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:-2 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:9 EDEF:9 SENSE:8 SAVE:15
[ WEAPONS ]
  FLEX MOUNT: Transaxle Butterfly // Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Claymore x4, “Buffer” Counterdeployment Module, Interdiction Lasers, "Arrowstorm" Variable Charges x5, Akashic Charges x6

So my thought is that Rowan would really have fun with a Duelist build, but it's got a Heavy Mount. It also wants Siege Ram, though, so...

-- IF Rowan @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Rowan 2, IF Rose 1, IPS-N Tortuga 2, IPS-N Caliban 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Overpower Caliber, Perfection of Skill
[ TALENTS ]
  Duelist 3, Skirmisher 2, Vanguard 2, Pankrati 2
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:9 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:0 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:10 EDEF:8 SENSE:5 SAVE:15
[ WEAPONS ]
  FLEX MOUNT: Polyfilament Kusarigama (Supermassive Mod) // Overpower Caliber
  HEAVY MOUNT: Daisy Cutter
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Siege Ram, Armament Redundancy, "Arrowstorm" Variable Charges x5, "Caillech's Step" Quake Generator x4, Rapid Burst Jump Jet System

[verbal marsh]

Also, Orator + Humiliated sounds nasty.

[steel crescent]

The mech art is, yes. There's a couple of non-mech arts done by other artists.

[steel crescent]

'You're just a bully'

[verbal marsh]

-- HORUS Gorgon @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Rowan 3, HORUS Gorgon 3
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  The Lesson of the Open Door, Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints
[ TALENTS ]
  Siege Specialist 2, Black Thumb 2, House Guard 2, Hacker 2, Orator 1
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:2 ENGI:2
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:23 ARMOR:0
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:7 REPAIR:5
  TECH ATK:+3 LIMITED:+1
  SPD:4 EVA:8 EDEF:14 SENSE:8 SAVE:17
[ WEAPONS ]
  FLEX MOUNT: Vorpal Gun
  MAIN MOUNT: Transaxle Butterfly
  MAIN MOUNT: Mortar // Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Psychofracture Analysis, Monitor Module, //SCORPION V70.1, Armament Redundancy, Mimic Mesh

I just hate it when enemies are able to do stuff.

It uses Hacker to pile penalties onto enemies. It's really for devastating Ultras.

[steel crescent]

It's so terrible when enemies are allowed to play the game 😛

[verbal marsh]

Wait, why do I have Black Thumb still?

[wind lodge]

yes, thats what i meant!! thank you

[wind lodge]

A friend was asking

[verbal marsh]

I'm still addicted.

-- IF Belladonna @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Rose 2, SSC Mourning Cloak 1, DOWNFALL LUST 3
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Overpower Caliber, Narrowband Targeting
[ TALENTS ]
  Executioner 3, Hunter 3, Skirmisher 2, Duelist 1
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:11 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:-1 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:10 EDEF:6 SENSE:5 SAVE:14
[ WEAPONS ]
  Integrated: Monomolecular Scythe
  FLEX MOUNT: Fold Knife (CUPID Mod) / Tactical Knife (CUPID Mod) // Overpower Caliber, Narrowband Targeting
  MAIN MOUNT: Swordbreaker
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Personalizations, Armament Redundancy, Rapid Burst Jump Jet System, Pattern-B HEX Charges x5

[verbal marsh]

The LCP has a different core power for the Poppy than the Google doc.

[steel crescent]

Huh, how's it differ?

[verbal marsh]

The LCP has the core weapons be 1/scene, and the core power is a protocol that lets it be 1/round.

[steel crescent]

Right, I was tinkering with that.

The google docs is the update there, the .lcp is a hair out of date there.

[verbal marsh]

It means Unicomp is really good.

[steel crescent]

Yeah, it gives the Poppy a very frequent top up.

[verbal marsh]

So this is what I made.

-- IF Poppy @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Poppy 2, MOI PTOLEMY 2, DOWNFALL WRATH 1, SSC Death’s Head 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Overpower Caliber, Universal Compatibility
[ TALENTS ]
  Infiltrator 3, Nuclear Cavalier 2, Skirmisher 2, Tactician 2
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:10 REPAIR:7
  TECH ATK:-1 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:4 EVA:10 EDEF:6 SENSE:12 SAVE:13
[ WEAPONS ]
  Integrated: Disposable Gyrostorm Pods
  FLEX MOUNT: Zhuge 𝜈-Model Needlerifle
  MAIN MOUNT: Assault Rifle
  HEAVY MOUNT: Precision Plasma Channel // Overpower Caliber
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Armament Redundancy, Camouflaged Foxhole, High-Stress Mag Clamps, CHESS System, Akashic Charges x6

A couple questions about Camouflaged Foxhole.

• If you end your turn in a foxhole but don't explicitly Hide, and no enemy approaches within 3 of you, do you count as having started your turn Hidden for Infiltrator 2?
• If an enemy approaches within 3, does this trigger Infiltrator 3 and/or the Nimue ability?

[steel crescent]

The hidden bonus doesn't apply to active mechs, just deployables, non-mechs and shut down mechs.

Hostile characters treat deployables, size 1/2 non-mech characters and shut down mechs entirely inside the foxhole as Hidden if they are not within Range 3.

[verbal marsh]

Reading is once again OP. Thanks.

[verbal marsh]

If you use Riastrad and gain a Prey, then another enemy deals damage to you, they also become your Prey. So you have two Prey. What happens when only one of them is Intangible?

[verbal marsh]

When Baldrdeath says the Misteltein ignores immunities, does that also mean that, if you've got Roland Chamber active, you ignore their immunity to Prone?

[steel crescent]

sure, why not. XD

[copper socket]

make a hornet fall out of the sky

[verbal marsh]

If you're Unbalanced, can you take free actions, protocols, and reactions?

[steel crescent]

Yeah, it's not that nasty an effect.

[verbal marsh]

If you use Chooser of the Slain on a destroyed non-Limited Drone, does it still destroy the system it comes from?

[steel crescent]

Yeah, you are still considered to hsve trashed it

[verbal marsh]

If the Poppy uses Patch Kit, does Metafold Armory apply?

Because if so, then it can do this extremely silly thing.

-- IF Poppy @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  HORUS Hydra 2, IF Poppy 2, MOI MEDEA 2
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints, Overpower Caliber
[ TALENTS ]
  Centimane 3, Heavy Gunner 3, Drone Commander 2, Duelist 1
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:10 REPAIR:7
  TECH ATK:-1 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:4 EVA:10 EDEF:6 SENSE:12 SAVE:13
[ WEAPONS ]
  Integrated: Disposable Gyrostorm Pods
  FLEX MOUNT: Spartoi Blade
  MAIN MOUNT: Spartoi Blade
  HEAVY MOUNT: Ghast Nexus // Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints, Overpower Caliber
[ SYSTEMS ]
  PUPPETMASTER, Golden Fleece, Last Dance Module, Patch Kit, Armament Redundancy

[verbal marsh]

Also, if the +1 from Perfection of Form causes an ally to succeed on a save that deals reduced damage on a success, would you say that counts for House Guard 3?

[steel crescent]

Sure

[steel crescent]

Yep!

[verbal marsh]

Nice. So this Poppy can do a weird Medea cosplay.

[verbal marsh]

You know what else is a check that can be upgraded by Psychofracture? Burn.

-- IF Rowan @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  HA Genghis 1, IF Rowan 3, MO & S CELESTE 2
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints, Integrated Weapon
[ TALENTS ]
  Heavy Gunner 3, Vanguard 3, Skirmisher 2, Orator 1
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:1
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:9 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:0 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:10 EDEF:8 SENSE:5 SAVE:15
[ WEAPONS ]
  INTEGRATED WEAPON: Pistol
  FLEX MOUNT: Terror-Class Scattergun
  HEAVY MOUNT: Krakatoa Thermobaric Flamethrower (Hydrostatic Induction Mod) // Auto-Stabilizing Hardpoints
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Armament Redundancy, Psychofracture Analysis, MUTINY Targeting System, Bermuda Propulsion System

[verbal marsh]

And this is a fairly simple Rose.

-- IF Rose @ LL6 --
[ LICENSES ]
  IF Rose 2, IPS-N Caliban 1, IPS-N Nelson 1, IPS-N Tortuga 1, IF Clover 1
[ CORE BONUSES ]
  Titanomachy Mesh, Perfection of Skill
[ TALENTS ]
  Duelist 3, House Guard 3, Hunter 3
[ STATS ]
  HULL:4 AGI:0 SYS:0 ENGI:4
  STRUCTURE:4 HP:19 ARMOR:2
  STRESS:4 HEATCAP:11 REPAIR:6
  TECH ATK:-1 LIMITED:+2
  SPD:5 EVA:10 EDEF:6 SENSE:5 SAVE:14
[ WEAPONS ]
  Integrated: Thorn
  FLEX MOUNT: Silver Hand / Silver Hand (Supermassive Mod)
  MAIN MOUNT: War Pike
[ SYSTEMS ]
  Armament Redundancy, Bulwark Mods, Siege Ram, Personalizations, Rapid Burst Jump Jet System

[steel crescent]

Evil

[verbal marsh]

It's kind of a shame I needed to grab Perfection of Skill for the bonus to parry and ram, rather than Perfection of Spirit for clinging to an ally, but it can't be helped.

[verbal marsh]

Also, for Immunization, I think the second option is redundant, because becoming immune to a condition also clears it unless it can't be cleared.