Clone Wars Campaign: Emily Prentiss, Corporate Troubleshooter

Emily Prentiss was The Wife's alternate character during the big Corporate Sector story arc. Prentiss, an Assistant Auditor General for the Corporate Sector Authority, fit in perfectly during the arc and was quite useful to the party with her extensive knowledge of rules, regulations, and the all around bureaucratic nature of that sector of the galaxy. For example, Prentiss arranged permission for the party's Jedi to keep his lightsaber as a "religious artifact" and for Daal's father to gain refugee status.

I always appreciate it when players come up with back-up characters with different personalities and roles than their primary characters, and Prentiss was certainly different than Arresta.

Ms. Emily Prentiss

Noble 7/Corporate Agent 10

Age: 30, Gender: F, Height: 5'10, Weight: 125, Species: Human

Strength: 8 (-1)

Dexterity: 12 (+1)

Constitution: 12 (+1)

Intelligence: 19 (+4)

Wisdom: 16 (+3)

Charisma: 17 (+3)

Hit Points: 107

Speed: 6

Base Attack: +12

Damage Threshold: 28

Fortitude Defense: 18 (or 28 w/ fixed +10)

Reflex Defense: 20 (or 30 w/fixed +10)

Will Defense: 24 (or 34 w/fixed +10)

Force Points: 13

Languages: Basic, Huttese, Bothan, Rodese, Bocci, High Galactic

Talents: Wealth, Connections, Educated, Spontaneous Skill, Distant Command, Born Leader, Impose Hesitation, Wrong Decision, Impose Confusion

Feats: Linguist, WP: Pistols, WP: Simple, Point Blank Shot, Deadeye, Precise Shot, Skill Focus (x4, Deception, Knowledge: Bureaucracy, Perception, Use Computer), Vehicular Combat, Melee Defense, Coordinated Attack

Class Feature: Executive Leadership (x5 per encounter) (gives ally +2 to speed, or attacks, or defenses)

Skills: Acrobatics +9, Climb +7, Deception +21, Endurance +9, Gather Information +16, Initiative +14, Jump +7, Knowledge: Technology +17, Knowledge: Bureaucracy + 22, Mechanics +12, Perception +21, Persuasion +16, Pilot +13, Ride +9, Stealth +9, Survival +11, Swim +7, Treat Injury +16, Use Computer +22

CSA Sonic Blaster +13 to hit, damage 2d6+7, DC 20 Fort or -1 on track

Equipment: 19645 credits, 2 medpacs, modified snap baton, bracer computer w/ visual comlink, SR 20 energy shield, code cylinder, credit chip, aqua breather, CSA sonic blaster, ration pack, all temperature cloak, blaster pistol, flight suit

Return to Clone Wars Campaign Main Page

Persuasion [Worth Press]

I have to admit, Jane Austen's Persuasion was just . . . pretty boring. The book mainly consists of the main character, Anne Elliot, hanging about until finally realizing that the man she really wants is a sailor whose love she turned away several years ago. Anne herself is not particularly interesting, nor are there the really fun, memorable characters like the father in Emma. The only dramatic incident in the book is one of Anne's acquaintances taking a tumble and bumping her head, but she's not really hurt and the whole incident is designed to help dispose of one of Anne's potential suitors. In six months I'll have completely forgotten what this book is about, but I will say it offers an interesting historical look at what daily life might be like in the lower-echelons of the the English gentry. It also demonstrates the high regard that Englishmen held for the navy as one of the few avenues for citizens of mundane birth to advance themselves into positions of power, wealth, and prestige.

For essays, John Wiltshire's "Modern Interpretations" discusses how, although the slow-moving and even mournful Persuasion was Austen's final published novel, she was working on a "high-spirited satire" at the time of her death. Wiltshire also talks about a couple of recent filmed versions of the book. Maggie Lane's "Regency Life" has an interesting discussion on the role of the navy during the period in which Austen was writing, as well as the use of seaside resorts as places visited for both recreation and their supposed medicinal effects. Caroline Sanderson's "Geographical Settings" focusses primarily on Bath and Lyme Regis, while Josephine Ross' "A Modern Perspective" offers an interesting portrait of Jane Austen's own failed romantic pursuits and how that may have influenced her writing.

Next: Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

Particularly Interesting Detritus

In May, the service that hosts this blog began automatically tracking various statistics. There's some surprising stuff. For example, here are my five most-read posts (at least over the past several months):

1. Saga Edition House Rules

2. Guest Post: Phantom of the Opera: Love Never Dies

3. Torchwood Online Game: Mission 1

4. Call of Cthulhu Sixth Edition (Part III)

5. Call of Cthulhu, Sixth Edition (Part 1)

Torchwood-related posts capture four out of the next five most popular.

Lessons I should take from this: (1) I should talk The Wife into writing more posts for me; (2) I should finally get around to finishing the Torchwood online game; and (3) I should write more reviews of Cthulhu stuff.

In terms of "Pageviews by Countries", the U.S. gives me twice as much traffic as Canada, but surprises like South Korea, Luxembourg, and Romania make the top ten. Hey, if I had any Luxembourg-specific material I would happily pander.

Finally, the most popular search keywords leading to the site are a couple variations on the name of the blog, and the phrases "Avengers Unplugged" and "Torchwood Cast". The phrase "barbi twins comics" also breaks into the top ten. You are a strange thing, Internet.

Fantasy Football (2010) Week Two

Wow, I got *creamed* in Week Two, losing by 80 points! My team came up with a mediocre 66 points, partially due to Ryan Mathews getting injured in the first quarter and Tom Brady getting stymied by the Jets defense in the second half of the game. My opponent, on the other hand, had the highest scoring game of anyone in the league so far this season (146), as Lions RB Jahvid Best turned in a whopping 40 points single-handedly, with Frank Gore and the Steelers D/ST getting 28 each. Considering his QB only got 2 points, that's an amazing total. Even if my team had doubled their point total, I still would have l0st, so at least I didn't end up wasting a lot of points.

I'm sticking with Ryan Mathews even though he's a bit banged up, mainly because I can't find anyone else who is clearly better. With Tom Brady and Wes Welker playing the Bills, I think things will be better next week, but then my opponent also has Chris Johnson so who knows.

And The Wife once again won big (86-65) and obtained bragging rights within the household. "The NFL is a marathon, not a sprint!" I reply, and hope things turn around because we now have a bet riding on which team scores the most total points over the course of the season: whoever loses has to write a blog post saying whatever the winner wants. Her starting RB, Reggie Bush, is out for the next several weeks, so it could be my lucky break.

ACCELERATED SUN RUNNERS (66 Points)

QB Tom Brady: 11 Points

RB Ryan Mathews: 2 Points

RB Ahmad Bradshaw: 8 Points

RB/WR Donald Driver: 9 Points

WR Wes Welker: 9 Points

WR Terrell Owens: 5 Points

TE Jermichael Finley: 10 Points

D/ST Jets: 8 Points

K Ryan Longwell: 4 Points

AUSSIE MCDONALD39 (146 POINTS)

QB Joe Flacco: 2 Points

RB Frank Gore: 28 Points

RB Jahvid Best: 40 Points

RB/WR Mike Wallace: 2 Points

WR Randy Moss: 9 Points

WR Calvin Johnson: 13 Points

TE Antonio Gates: 17 Points

D/ST Steelers: 28 Points

K Matt Prater: 7 Points

Clone Wars Campaign: Purity First

Purity First was a xenophobic paramilitary organization I created to give the PCs some non-Separatist, non-Sun Runner opponents. Inspired by the Ku Klux Klan and Robert Jordan's Whitecloaks, Purity First is a human-only organization that is virulently opposed to "aliens." In the campaign, the PCs first encountered Purity First when it was a loose rabble of simple-minded zealots. However, the group secretly received financing and an influx of well-trained adherents due to the machinations of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and became a force to be reckoned with. After years of civil war, the small planet Mongui was ripe for the taking and occupied by Purity First to serve as the group's galactic headquarters. The organization conscripted a large percentage of the population to serve as its footsoldiers, while organizing its elite forces into battle-hardened phalanxes. After a bloody rebellion led by the PCs (in which three PCs were killed), Purity First was driven off Mongui and its leader, the Grand Inquisitor, was revealed to have secretly been a droid (the idea being that Palpatine wanted a pawn he could easily control). Below are the stats for some members of the group (defences are calculated using our House Rules, otherwise simply add 10 to each).

--------------------------------

Purity First Conscript

Human, Soldier 4, Size Medium

Hit Points: 50 (Threshold: 18)

Initiative +9, Spd. 6

Str. +2, Dex. +2, Con. +1, Wis. +1

Force Points: 2 (1d6)

Defences: Reflex +11 (+9 flat-footed), Fortitude +8, Will Defense +4

Feats/Talents: Whirlwind Attack, Weapon Focus: Truth Stave, Weapon Specialization: Truth Stave, Stunning Strike, Rapport

Attacks: Truth Stave, +7 to hit, damage 2d6+7 (DC 25 Fortitude defence or blinded)

Skills: Perception +8, Mechanics +7, Endurance +8

Equipment: Truth Stave, Refractive Battle Armor (ignores first hit from energy weapon), Electrobinoculars, Comlink, 2d20 Credits

-----------------------------------------------

Phalanx Soldiers ("Seekers")

Human, Soldier 7/Elite Trooper 3/Medium Sized

Hit Points: 120 (Threshold: 25)

Initiative: +9, Speed 4

Str. +2, Con. +3, Dex. +4, Wis. +1, Int. +0, Cha. -1

Force Points: 11 (2d6)

Defences: Reflex (Front Rank) +21 or Reflex (Second Rank) +26*, Fortitude +15, Will +11

* Seekers in the Front Rank often hold riot shields and fight defensively for an additional +5 bonus to Reflex Defence, and if so Seekers in the Second Rank receive Improved Cover for a +10 bonus

Feats/Talents: Point Blank Shot, Farshot, Deadeye, Careful Shot, Rapport, Devastating/Greater Devastating Attack, Delay Damage, Armored Defence, Watch Your Back, Phalanx, Weapon Focus/Greater Weapon Focus, Toughness, Advantageous Cover, Armor Proficiency (Light, Medium), Weapon Proficiency (Pistols, Rifles, Simple)

Attacks: Heavy Blaster Rifle w/ Aim & Double Rapport +26 to hit, damage 4d10+6; Riot Shield +13, d. 1d6+8

Skills: Knowledge (Tactics) +10, Perception +13

Equipment: Heavy Blaster Rifle, Riot Shields, Masterwork Ceremonial Armor

Return to Clone Wars Campaign Main Page

Fantasy Football 2010 Week 1

A big 91 to 68 win to start off Week 1, and I feel confident I have a strong team. Tom Brady and Wes Welker delivered big, as did the Jets defense. Terrell Owens and Jermichael Finley underperformed, but I had a big margin for error so everything worked out okay. The only opposing player of note was Miles Austin's 20 points.

The Wife's team also won big--is there an intra-family playoff game in the near future?

ACCELERATED SUN RUNNERS (91 points)

QB Tom Brady 22 points

RB Ryan Mathews 5 points

RB Ahmad Bradshaw 12 points

RB/WR Donald Driver 9 points

WR Wes Welker 18 points

WR Terrell Owens 5 points

TE Jermichael Finley 4 points

D/ST Jets 12 points

Ryan Longwell 4 points

KY COOKS BROWNS (68 points)

QB Matt Schaub 6 points

RB Maurice Jones-Drew 10 points

RB Tim Hightower 11 points

RB/WR Jonathan Stewart 1 point

WR Miles Austin 20 points

WR Steve Smith 4 points

TE Jason Witten 2 points

D/ST Cowboys 5 points

K Rob Bironas 9 points

Alahambara, Arch-Vizier of Mulhoric

Alahambara was a character I had a lot of fun playing in a recent 3-session game using the Pathfinder (D&D 3.5) rules. The idea behind Alahambara is that he was a powerful, smart, and cunning wizard who had manipulated events so as to reach a high-level political post. In my character background, this fantasy Machiavelli, however, was the victim of a terrible form of assassination: mind theft! With much of his memory and cognitive ability gone, Alahambara began wandering, looking for something he knows is missing but can't really understand. Personality-wise, I role-played this damaged Alahambara as a prideful and arrogant Alzheimer's patient, prone to hiding defects in his memory with gruff and bluster.

The adventure even had a happy ending. After raiding the tomb of Gung the Magnificent on behalf of the Ice Count Valgos, Alahambara received a boon from an extra-planar demon and managed to get his memories and normal personality restored. The game ended there, but it was a nice little character arc.

Alahambara, Arch-Vizier of Mulhoric

Human Lawful Evil Wizard (Level 6)

Hit Points: 43

Strength: 8 (-1)

Dexterity: 10 (-)

Constitution: 12 (+1)

Intelligence: 20 (+5)

Wisdom: 15 (+2)

Charisma: 18 (+4)

Armor Class: 15 (+3 Bracers, +2 Ring)

Fortitude Defense: +3

Reflex Defense: +2

Will Defense: +7

Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Infernal, Abyssal, Undercommon

Melee: Attack +3 (Staff, d. 1d6-1)

Ranged: Attack +3

CMB: 2

CMD: 12

Speed: 30'

Initiative: +0

Proficiencies: Club, Dagger, Crossbows, Staff (no armor or shields)

Skills: Acrobatics +0, Appraise +9, Bluff +5, Climb -1, Craft (Alchemy) +11, Diplomacy +6, Disable Device +8, Disguise +4, Escape Artist +0, Fly +5, Heal +2, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (Arcana) +11, Knowledge (Planes) +10, Knowledge (Nobility) +10, Knowledge (Geography) + 10, Knowledge (History) +10, Linguistics +10, Perception +2, Perform +4, Ride +2, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +15, Stealth +0, Survival +2, Swim -1, Use Magic Device +12

Feats/Features: Arcane Bond (Staff), Arcane School (Universalist), Hand of the Apprentice, Scribe Scroll, Eschew Materials, Magical Aptitude, Spell Penetration, Craft Wondrous Items & Rings, Weapon Focus (Quarterstaff), Diplomatic Credentials, Arcane Strike, Toughness

Level 0 Spells (Memorize 4, Know all)

Level 1 Spells (Memorize 5, Know: Mage Armor, Shield, Animate Rope, Mount, True Strike, Detect Secret Doors, Cause Fear, Expeditious Retreat, Identify, Endure Elementals)

Level 2 Spells (Memorize 4, Know: Invisibility, Spectral Hand, Whispering Wind, Ghoul Touch)

Level 3 Spells (Memorize 3, Know: Fly, Fireball, Major Image, Dispel Magic)

Equipment: 40 PP, 269 GP, 34 SP, 10 CP, Wand of Command Undead, Wand of Magic Missiles, Quarterstaff, Spellbook, Ring of Protection +2, Bracers of Armor +3, Gloves of Arrow Snaring, Deck of Illusions, Rope of Climbing, Elixir of Swimming (x2), Elixir of Hiding (x2), Handy Haversack, Bedroll, Ink, Paper, Rations (x10), Waterskin, Masterwork "Thieves'" Tools, Noble's Outfit & Ring, Stone of Continual Light, Headband of Intellect