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Note: I got a PM from I_S, and his IG Medic will be a NPC, as he's going to be away from his computer for a while

Quick question about the NPC:

-non-player characters are controlled by a GM or AI, so who's controlling the NPC's here?

NPCs are a bit fuzzy, as they were a late addition. I'm not particularly interesting in GMing the NPCs per se, as I'm also playing, so...

Monster NPCs like the Ambull have an AI routine, so they're simple. They will do whatever they do, per their daily rules. Probably anybody in the game can apply their rules for the day, as their actions are well-defined.

Team NPCs like Cenobyte (or Bloodletter / Servitor, if they ever get summoned / activiated) are under control of the Team. Anyone on the Team in the same location can have them take an action.

How does that work?

So the players just ask the NPC nicely and it acts once per day then?
Or twice, if a leader spends his orders to double the NPCs action.

I assume a NPC benefits like a PC from its location.

Should work.

Maybe leader should mark their "orders" when addressing a NPC. We humble minions know then if were still able to add our own tasks
to the NPC's schedule.

1hadhq wrote:So the players just ask the NPC nicely and it acts once per day then?
Or twice, if a leader spends his orders to double the NPCs action.

I assume a NPC benefits like a PC from its location.

Maybe leader should mark their "orders" when addressing a NPC. We humble minions know then if were still able to add our own tasks
to the NPC's schedule.

Yup. NPCs are reliable that way - they'll take orders from anyone on the team, and the Leader can double them, just like any teammate.

Correct, a NPC can shoot from a Tower, just like anyone else.

Sure. Leaders using their Leader power, should explicitly say they order somebody (or something) to take a particular action. I'll show this in the game thread.

Sounds Good Just waiting for first moves now, lol.

This version makes me tremble at moving towards people to use my Attacker ability.

@ferrett: ahh, but once you get stuck in, you hit twice as hard as they do!

Can I as a leader, make a raider attack then move? (as per the raider rules)

'Fraid not. Every character gets a default faction rule and a chosen character rule. The CSM faction rule is Tank. Your character rule is Leader. You do not have the Raider rule and so cannot take that action. Also, the Crumbling Tower does not give you that rule.

Judging by Sgt. Krieger's example, you can take your one action per day AND use your leadership ability should you have to.

I meant, make a raider do it

Sure, you can "order" one of your guys per day--i.e., take their action for them. As I said, this seems to be in addition to takig your own one action per day.

SORRY! I misread which day John used Leader to order me blasting off to the Tower. Using Leader seems to be your one action for the day, after all. This counts as an EXTRA action for them--i.e., they end up taking two actions that day but one of them is decided by you.

Third Try: You know, I'm actually just as confused as you. On the second page of the Game Thread, eighth post down, John orders me to the tower and the CenoByte continue self-repairs. I'm not sure if John needed to take the action of ordering the CenoByte to continue self-repairs or not. If he did, then you can use Leader and take one action per day. If not, then using Leader is your one action per day.

Well, does it matter which order the raider moves and attacks?

Raiders move after attacking, I think.

Looks like John is back on to answer what turns out to be *our* question.

Drk_Oblitr8r wrote:Can I as a leader, make a raider attack then move? (as per the raider rules)

You can Order your teammate to use Raider.
____

Manchu wrote:Judging by Sgt. Krieger's example, you can take your one action per day AND use your leadership ability should you have to.

Actually, it's one OR the other. The NPC has its own extra action, which may be confusing.

So, can I pick the order?

Yes, based on who happens to be around.

For example, right now, Krieger only has the CenoByte, so his Order options are rather limited: Medic, Attack 1, or Move 1.

All:

FYI, Manchu and I will be launching Team Survivor Game 2 in a week or two. We are looking for input and suggestions, along with potential interest.

Thanks,

/John

Emperors Faithful wrote:Can we just clarify exactly what Inquisitor_Syphonius is doing here? I don't think we'll need 2 medics just yet.

JohnHwangDD wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:Can we just clarify exactly what Inquisitor_Syphonius is doing here?

I don't think we'll need 2 medics just yet.

He's on your team, because I thought he'd help

I thought double skills would be interesting. If you don't want him, the SM will gladly take him as our Apothecary.

Emperors Faithful wrote:As an IG Leader, do I also have Sniper?

Yes, per example on p.1
____

the_ferrett wrote:"Bon Skrott" as a name

noted.

JohnHwangDD wrote:Yeah, the Leader simply has the NPC take an action, tho I'm not opposed if another teammate has the NPC take an action.

JohnHwangDD wrote:Note: I got a PM from I_S, and his IG Medic will be a NPC, as he's going to be away from his computer for a while

1hadhq wrote:Quick question about the NPC:

-non-player characters are controlled by a GM or AI, so who's controlling the NPC's here?

JohnHwangDD wrote:NPCs are a bit fuzzy, as they were a late addition. I'm not particularly interesting in GMing the NPCs per se, as I'm also playing, so...

Monster NPCs like the Ambull have an AI routine, so they're simple. They will do whatever they do, per their daily rules. Probably anybody in the game can apply their rules for the day, as their actions are well-defined.

Team NPCs like Cenobyte (or Bloodletter / Servitor, if they ever get summoned / activiated) are under control of the Team. Anyone on the Team in the same location can have them take an action.

How does that work?

JohnHwangDD wrote:

1hadhq wrote:So the players just ask the NPC nicely and it acts once per day then?
Or twice, if a leader spends his orders to double the NPCs action.

I assume a NPC benefits like a PC from its location.

Maybe leader should mark their "orders" when addressing a NPC. We humble minions know then if were still able to add our own tasks
to the NPC's schedule.

Yup. NPCs are reliable that way - they'll take orders from anyone on the team, and the Leader can double them, just like any teammate.

Correct, a NPC can shoot from a Tower, just like anyone else.

Sure. Leaders using their Leader power, should explicitly say they order somebody (or something) to take a particular action. I'll show this in the game thread.

@ EF in game thread:
IMHO, these quotes make it really obvious that Jones is a NPC and they describe what a NPC may do.

Thanks for collecting the NPC information, 1hadhq


I add one new rule, for when PCs abandon NPCs:

if a PC isn't present, the NPC must Move toward the closest PC where possible.


This means that NPCs by themselves won't use any special abilities (except perhaps, Blitzer) until they are back with a PC present. Fair penalty for abandoning NPC, and pulls the team back together.

Now that people have entered all of the locations, I thought I'd spend a post talking about the design of the initial board layout and relic placement.

Board Design

1. AEROPORT RUINS (+B)
[Cenobyte Medic]
This was designed as a rather vanilla location, a semi-secure staging point to enter the rest of the board, with Blitzer to support that.

The Cenobyte reinforces this as the nominal Black Templar start point, and suits their methodical approach.

2. CRUMBLING TOWER (+S)
This location overwatches most of the board, and was designed as a place that CC-oriented forces could hold against siege, Sniping approaching forces.

The Combat Servitor was here to give the IG a reason to move off Plaza

3. OVERGROWN PLAZA (+F/-B)
This was designed with Fighter to support a combat bent, and placed so the Tower could support people on the ground with well-coordinated team actions. Blitzer was removed so that people couldn't jump into the Bunker, but would have to go through Temple

Being the middle of the board, this was the default Guard start point, and not a bad one - they could Snipe both locations, and had Fighter back against any mass CC attack.

4. ABANDONED TEMPLE (+P/-S)
Bloodletter
This location was for gamblers, with everybody gaining Psyker - high risk/high reward, messy deaths. Sniper was removed so that people couldn't snip into the Bunker.

This is also the nominal CSM start location, with the Bloodletter present. Notionally, the CSM could activate it and charge the Plaza for real carnage... CSMs actually said Tower, which was a surprise.

5. UNDERGROUND BUNKER (+M)
Ambull & Rosarius
With full Medic and immunity to Sniper / Blitzer, this location was designed as a "safe room", if only one could get past the Ambull.


Items
The Servo Skull, Rosarius, and Jump Pack were all deliberately placed where nobody would immediately need them, giving teams the opportunity to trade an action now for more options later.

By and large, I think the board did what it was supposed to do, so that location mattered and affected tactics.

Liked the current design so far.
Will follow up games have the same: pick first charcter and abilities - see later the board and the locally granted abilities ?
Nice to have something that doesnt come for free ( local ) with Hein (C).

1hadhq wrote:Liked the current design so far.

Will follow up games have the same: pick first charcter and abilities - see later the board and the locally granted abilities ?

Nice to have something that doesnt come for free ( local ) with Hein (C).

Thanks, 1hadhq.

TeamS 2 will have similar character / ability selection, but with more possible customization. Please see here for details: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/309712.page#1841359 As you can see, in Game 2, abilities can double or stack, so characters can be more specialized than before.

Teams and Characters shouldn't depend on the luck of the board, items, or NPCs, although if something looks grossly wrong in team building, a kindly referee may make some allowances to take the edge off things.

JohnHwangDD wrote:

Team NPCs like Cenobyte (or Bloodletter / Servitor, if they ever get summoned / activiated) are under control of the Team. Anyone on the Team in the same location can have them take an action.

I wasn't sure which category Jones fell into. John has already resolved this and I'm DEAD. What is your problem 1hadhq?

Emperors Faithful wrote:



I wasn't sure which category Jones fell into. John has already resolved this and I'm DEAD. What is your problem 1hadhq?

There is no problem anymore.
Posted in both threads ( game and discussion ) at the same day. Treat is as outdated.

Thanks again to everyone for playing game 1. I hope that you all enjoyed it, despite the couple issues with NPCs not being completely clear.

I've attempted to address those issues, and will be giving my thoughts on the game & gameplay in the coming days, prior to kicking off Game 2.

from the game thread, 3 questions from the designer:

1. what did you think about the "us vs. them" Team element? Was being on pre-set Teams a plus, or a minus?

2. what did you think about the Leader? would you play a Leader, why / why not?

3. the game finished in 25 days. Was this a good timeframe?