Yellow Sun 'It's Double or Nothing' Part 3

My goal going forward is to condense the recaps of my Red Dwarf / Yellow Sun RPG campaign to no more than two Parts/posts. My apologize for these early entries being so long. It takes a bit of doing to get into a format that works but I can see how to improve things for Episode 3.

As noted last time, this was a great session and a most unusual one. No enemy to vanquish, no life threatening obstacles to overcome, and no mystery to solve. Instead, it was all about character. Who are they, what are they about, why do they do what they do. 

Now let's finish things up...

Yellow Sun

Season I, Episode 2

'It's Double or Nothing'

Part 3

The team was gathered together in the Mess Hall of the Yellow Sun that now sat in orbit of an icy, barren world distantly revolving around a beautiful blue star. 

On the large screen in front of them was ADAM, the ship's AI, informing them that the Duality Drive test run had not worked as smoothly as he'd thought. In fact, there was a major Smeg-Up he hadn't anticipated. 

The group decided to head up to the Drive Room to have the reason of this conversation.

The Duality Drive had somehow created two separate yet identical Yellow Suns, one at the starting point of the test and another at the intended destination, the blue star system.

[I made it clear that this was not time travel related nor a Yellow Sun from a parallel universe, all of which were speculated by the players - but again, not their characters - earlier in the session. It became apparent during a discussion of how exactly the Duality Drive should have worked that this was more like the Thomas Riker/Will Riker transporter accident from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Two identical 'originals' had been created, the same up to the point where different decisions were made.]

Webb had mentioned this possibility when the test was first attempted and was now telling everyone 'I told you you'. Wilder asked ADAM if he could hail the other Yellow Sun and yes, it turned out that indeed he could. The two ADAMs were then ordered by the two Wilders to come up with a plan. 

After a few moments they both told their respective crews that a reactivation of the Duality Drive with the proper coordinates and modulation would merge the two ships back into a single vessel - along with all the occupants - provided they didn't collide together in a massive explosion. Both Webbs and Wilders ordered the two ADAMs to run simulations to make sure that didn't happen. They did their best. 

After about two dozen scenarios, the ADAMs finally found one where no one died and damage was minimal. Minimal was still too much for the Webbs, but the ADAMs assured them this was the best they could hope for. So many variables were unprecedented and therefore unknown. 

The two Yellow Sun crews had a moment to speak to each other before they were combined to avoid some sort of quantum identity non-sense that really no one had the time or patience to deal with. 

Chicken looked at Chicken and the one on the Yellow Sun in the blue star system yelled, "I had Chocolate Covered Strawberries!" The other said equally as excitedly, "I had Chocolate Covered Pretzels!" They both ooh'ed and aah'ed at the others culinary discovery and agreed they'd each have to try the other's find.

ARTHUR said, with his usual casual, working class Londoner accent and deliberate cadence, "Made Mutton Bangers." The other nodded approvingly. "Made Pork ones me'self." The other nodded back. "Hmm. Yes. Should've gone with Pork." "Next time", said his doppleganger, and that was the end of that. 

We catch the Wilders in mid-conversation, each detailing their Arctic Rescue Mission. They compare notes on the prevalence of Polar Bears vs. Penguins and can't quite come to a consensus. The decide to forward each other electronic copies of their respective Drill parameters. 

Webb looks at Webb and of course Webb looks back and the two simultaneously take a deep breath and sigh. This is way outside of their wheelhouses. Finally, the blue star system Webb says, "About Roberts...", and the other says, "Yes. I know. We had to know. But...". "Yes?", says the blue star system Webb. "It's fine. Really. I'm fine.", says the Pork, Pretzel, no blue star version of Webb. They smile at each other, nod, and sign off. 

ADAM tells ADAM what a pleasure it was working with someone so intelligent, dedicated, and might he say, handsome. The pleasure, ADAM assures him, was all his. 

Duality Drive Reactivation in 5-5. 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, 1-1....

The ships shook and blurred, creating two 'after images', then four, than eight; each duplicate image creating an additional two duplicate images. This lasted longer than it had the first time and the group started to shout in stereo. Suddenly they all - and I do mean All; All the groups on all the Yellow Suns - felt as if they were being pulled, yanked really, from the center of their beings to a point...

Everything went still. Everyone stood up or got into a chair and looked around the Drive Room and at each other. Everything seemed normal but then, it had before as well. 

 The Drive Room of the SCSS Yellow Sun

Based on concept art for the Nostromo bridge 

by legendary artist Ron Cobb

Wilder instructed ADAM to scan the area for any anomalies related to the incident. Webb suggested ADAM scan himself, the ship, and the group as well. After a bit, ADAM indicated that they were the only them in the vicinity. The plan worked, though the Duality Drive itself had been destroyed. There was also some minor damage to the main engine relays and sub-systems. Wilder put the Skutters to work on that straight away. 

Chicken left the room once things had settled and headed for the Snack Sucre' Vending Machine once more. She saw a new option she hadn't noticed before; Strawberry Flavored Chocolate Covered Pretzels! Thinking nothing of it beyond 'Yum!' she asked for a hundred packages and sat down in front of the machine to eat.

ARTHUR returned to the Galley to plan dinner. As he was putting away the leftover Bangers and Mash he noticed that the Bangers were a mix of Pork and Mutton. He jotted down ideas for improving the recipe and then went about his business. 

Wilder stood in the Drive Room looking at various readouts and consoles, eventually noticing a Yellow Alert - Condition RED blinking on the Tactical, Engineering, and Operations screens. All the '2's were back to normal. That was nice. More importantly however, the Port Side Laser Cannon...

Webb had left the bridge at some point, walking somewhat aimlessly down the corridors, ostensibly heading for his quarters. ADAM appeared on a nearby wall display, asking Mitchell if he was alright. Webb stopped, nodded, and thanked ADAM once more for the business with David Roberts. ADAM smiled and nodded. As Webb walked on he was glad ADAM had removed all the data about his old friend while ADAM was glad he had given Mitchell the information about Robert surviving.

Oh boy.

***

Closing music, end credits roll, and that was the completion of session number two. 

I hope you all enjoyed reading it half as much as I did running it. It was literally one of the best single sessions of a game I've had in a long time. 

The banter, the way each PC handled the situation, it all made for a perfect storm of character development and comedy that was exactly what I was going for. We learn something about Webb's backstory, Wilder's attempts to connect with Chicken and why, as well as ARTHUR in some dialogue about why he learned to cook. 

Chicken doesn't develop per se but that also fit perfectly with who she is and how she really lives only in the moment with just the basic desires to eat, sleep, and poke around the ship. This is also very much like Cat from the Red Dwarf TV show, who develops very little and very subtly over the course of 12 seasons. 

OK, got some other things to talk about, need to write up Episode 3, and prepare for running Episode 4 tomorrow night! SMEG! 

Later,

AD
Barking Alien

Yellow Sun 'It's Double or Nothing' Part 2

Continuing my recap of our second session as the players - but not their characters - realize something has gone terribly wrong with the Duality Drive's test run.

Two separate and distinct Yellow Sun vessels have been created:

One Yellow Sun exists in a system surrounding a blue star with a single habitable though inhospitably cold planet. The Duality Drive test run was a success! 

One Yellow Sun exists in deep space, not having moved at all as the Duality Drive text run was a failure. 

Yellow Sun

Season I, Episode 2

'It's Double or Nothing'

Part 2

[As noted in the previous post, this adventure was a real experiment on my part and I am especially proud of myself and my players that it worked out as well as it did, which may I say was incredibly well.

The session, essentially a character study designed to allow us to get to know the PCs, enabled the players to set up their own scenarios for the duration of the session and then, through the fact that a second, duplicate ship had been created, allowed them to run through those scenarios again with a different outcome.

It was extremely interesting as this we not a mystery to the players as many SF games are; the player, but not the PCs, knew exactly what had happened within moments. The PCs did not become aware of it until much later when I, again as both GM and NPC, revealed the error. How to fix it was a bit of a puzzle and what came after was even more potentially intriguing. 

So the players were not playing to win, beat the adventure, defeat enemies, or anything of the sort. They were playing to expand on their characters and find out what was going to happen next and that my friends made for a brilliant session.]

Aboard a Yellow Sun with a bright blue star out the Port Side windows, ARTHUR 1001 made Mutton Bangers, though the computer indicated he'd chosen both Pork and Mutton. A glitch clearly. One he'd address with ADAM at some point. Mutton had come out of the food storage compartment, so Mutton it was...though he was certain he had originally requested Pork. 

Lt. Donald Wilder gave Chicken access to his Credit Account and she immediately used some to purchase as many packages of Chocolate Covered Strawberries as she could from the Snack Sucre' Vending Machine on Level 5 (the one with the French accent that flirted with her as she sat in from of it asking questions and eating). Wilder asked for her help with an Arctic Rescue Drill in case they had to land on the blue star's icy planet. 

She thought about it but before she could answer the two of them saw a Skutter coming down the corridor. Chicken ducked into an alcove and then raced down the hallway once the Skutter had passed her. In a desperate attempt to get her, the Skutter spun around and zoomed forward (as much as Skutters can 'zoom') and banged its chassis against the wall, denting it.  The Skutter hung its head in frustration. 

Wilder tried to distract it by checking on the preparations for his drill. The Skutter's chirps and clicks indicated things would be ready in the Hangar Bay. 

Mitchell Webb had found the Archive Room, specifically designed to enable crewmembers to sit and view information - video, audio, text, or a combo thereof - on a console in anyone of two rows of sound proofed cubicles. After a bit of a discussion with ADAM in which he apologized for his earlier rant about not needing a computer's help, he requested ADAM pull up information on his old comedy partner and best friend, David Roberts. Roberts was supposed to accompany Webb onto the Yellow Sun and Mitchell couldn't help wondering if he'd made it and was therefore killed with the crew. He had to know. 

ADAM informed him that Roberts never boarded the Yellow Sun at Triton. A delay in connecting flights caused him to miss his shuttle. Mitchell was incredibly relieved. 

Lt. Wilder's voice came over the loud speaker asking ARTHUR and Webb to contact him in the Drive Room. He asked ARTHUR to assist him with his drill by taking on the role of an attacking Penguin. Yes. A Penguin. It was an arctic world and there was a distinct possibility it harbored vicious...space...Penguins. 

Wilder asked Webb to accompany him on the drill, to learn some survival skills and/or so Wilder would have someone to save. Cheered on by the news of his old friend's good fortune, Webb agreed. 

All the number '2's on all the ships digital readouts were blinking. 

A Yellow Alert Condition flashed on half the screens on the ship. Something about the Port Side Laser Cannon overcharging. 

Aboard a Yellow Sun that hadn't budged, ARTHUR 1001 made Pork Bangers, though the computer indicated he'd chosen both Pork and Mutton. A glitch of some sort. One he'd address with ADAM at a later time.

Lt. Donald Wilder gave Chicken access to his Credit Account and she immediately used some to purchase as many packages of Chocolate Covered Pretzels as she could from the Snack Sucre' Vending Machine on Level 5 - French accent, flirty personality. Wilder asked for her help with an Arctic Rescue Drill in case they had to land on an icy planet. The one around that far off blue star gave him the idea.

She thought about it for but a second and then said yes, just as the two of them saw a Skutter coming down the corridor. Chicken swiftly ducked into an alcove and then jumped down an access hatch to the levels below. The Skutter must have seen her because in a desperate attempt to get her it zoomed forward and banged its 'head' against the wall, denting it. The Skutter hung said head in frustration. 

Wilder got the Skutter's attention and checked on the preparations for his drill. The Skutter's chirps and clicks indicated things would be ready in the Hangar Bay. After a moment of thought, the Lieutenant suggested the Skutter could further assist by helping to simulate a Polar Bear attack. Yes. A Polar Bear. If it was an arctic world, there was a distinct possibility it harbored vicious...space...Polar Bears. 

Mitchell Webb had found the Archive Room, specifically designed to enable crewmembers to sit and view information on a console in any one of two rows of sound proofed cubicles. After a bit of a discussion with ADAM in which he apologized for his earlier rant about not needing a computer's help, he requested ADAM remove all information on his old comedy partner and best friend, David Roberts. Roberts was supposed to accompany Webb onto the Yellow Sun and Mitchell couldn't help wondering if he'd made it and and was therefore killed with the crew.

That said, Mitchell couldn't bear it if ADAM informed him that Roberts had died. Webb made it clear that it would be a special favor to him if ADAM deleted any and all information about Roberts from the ship's data banks. ADAM 'pursed his lips', hesitating for a moment before saying that he would do as requested. A few seconds later ADAM confirmed it was done. Mitchell was incredibly relieved. 

Wilder used the loud speaker to ask for Webb to accompany him on the drill, to learn some survival skills and/or so Wilder would have someone to save. In a bit of a daze from the choice he made, Webb didn't even notice Wilder was talking to him specifically. He finally found enough of his wits to say no thank you. 

All the number '2's on all the ships digital readouts were blinking. 

A Yellow Alert Condition flashed on half the screens on the ship. Something about the Port Side Laser Cannon overcharging. 

As the Yellow Sun entered orbit around the blue star's icy but habitable planet, Lt. Wilder and Mitchell Webb entered the Hangar Bay to see a fine coating of snow and ice covering every surface of the room. Snow capped the top of the Starbug and Starguard Shuttles and tiny icicles hung from the bottom of cargo lifters and crates of machine parts. Wilder had ADAM alter his hologram to appear as if he were wearing cold weather gear; a parka with a fur-lined hood, snow boots, a backpack with ice-climbing gear, etc. Webb stood there freezing. 

Over by a stack of storage containers, ARTHUR 1001 - all 8 ft., 800 lbs of him - hid, very poorly I might add, in a giant Penguin costume. When the entry doors closed behind the two men with a loud, mechanical 'cha-thunk', Webb jumped a bit. ARTHUR took that opportunity to leap towards the two of them. The slightly closer Webb spun out of the way, largely by accident, causing the menacing Security Robot to lunge toward Wilder. Lt. Wilder is a hologram though you see, and ARTHUR passed right through him and stumbled face-first into the now closed doors the other two had previously entered through. 

Wilder let the other know what a good job they'd done. He was impressed by ARTHUR's killer Penguin portrayal and commended Webb on his instincts and reflexes. After giving the two of them minor critiques and pointers, Mitchell asked, 'What now?' ARTHUR informed the others that lunch would be ready in the Galley / Mess Hall and off they went. 

Chicken was in the Mess when the others arrived, talking to Talkie Toaster and finishing off a package of Chocolate Covered Pretzels. 

***

As the Yellow Sun sat in space, largely motionless, Chicken entered the Hangar Bay to see a fine coating of snow and ice covering every surface of the room. Snow capped the top of the Shuttles and tiny icicles hung from the bottom of cargo crates. She walked further in as the doors closed behind her with a loud, mechanical 'cha-thunk. Chicken jumped and her eyes darted about in a wild and manic fashion until she decided to make a quick run towards one of the Starbugs. Once there she ducked beneath and behind one of the landing struts, peering out to stay alert for trouble.

The entry way doors opened again and Wilder walked in. Wilder had ADAM alter his hologram to appear as if he were wearing cold weather gear. Once she saw him and how he was dressed, Chicken realized it was bitterly cold in the room. She started to feel like she was freezing! If only she'd continued not paying attention.  

Wilder didn't see Chicken but he did see the Skutter, as it was racing right towards him and wearing a Polar Bear costume. To be honest it was more of a Polar Bear-skin rug, complete with head, just sort of draped over the Skutter. It lunged menacingly, or at least as menacingly as a Skutter can, which isn't very much really. Realizing Wilder wasn't frightened it just stopped and looked up at the Lieutenant. He gave it a pat on the head - which neither of them could actually feel - and told the Skutter it had done a fine job on short notice. The little droid seemed quite proud of itself.

That's when Chicken popped out of her hiding place and skipped over to Wilder and the Skutter, complaining about the cold and distinct lack of Pretzels in the Hangar Bay. The Skutter suddenly realized who she was a made an attempt to grab her but as usual Chicken was too fast and agile for it. She ran towards the doors, out of the Hangar, and into the corridor as the Skutter gave chase, bumping into the doorway for yet another small dent on it's body. 

ARTHUR's voice came over the ship's loud speaker informing the others that lunch would be ready in the Galley / Mess Hall and off they went. 

Mitchell was in the Mess when the others arrived, having come up from the Archive Room when he heard ARTHUR's announcement. 

***

The group sat together talking while the only two organic members, Mitchell Webb and Chicken, ate the Mutton Bangers and Mash. The flavor was...adequate...as evidenced by Webb's desire to eat but only nibbling at it between bits of discussion. Chicken scarfed hers down and after finishing a second plate, asked Webb if she could try some of his. He gave it to her saying it would be a shame not to as she was clearly enjoying it so much. 

ARTHUR let them know there was no rush. He had made plenty.

That's when ADAM appeared on a screen with a face that indicated he didn't have great news...

***

The group sat together talking while the only two organic members, Mitchell Webb and Chicken, ate the Pork Bangers and Mash. The flavor was...better than adequate...as evidenced by Chicken scarfing hers down and fishing for a second and even third plate. Webb was still very distracted by his earlier decision to erase his friend from the computer records. He barely touched his food. Chicken asked if he was going to eat it and if not...He gave it to her seeing as it would be a shame not to as she was clearly enjoying it so much. 

ARTHUR let them know there was no rush. He had made plenty.

That's when ADAM appeared on a screen with a face that indicated he didn't have great news...

***

"Sorry to interrupt everyone but I'm afraid I made a significant miscalculation during the Duality Drive test."

'What kind of miscalculation?'  the group asked.

***

"Sorry to interrupt everyone but I'm afraid I made a significant miscalculation during the Duality Drive test."

'What kind of miscalculation?'  the group asked.

***

"Well..."

To be concluded...

To be concluded...

AD
Barking Alien

Yellow Sun 'It's Double or Nothing' Part 1

The second session of my new Red Dwarf Universe RPG campaign, Yellow Sun, was something of a thought experiment. I really wasn't sure it was going to work the way I saw it in my mind.

I contacted the players through a Facebook Message Group I set up for the campaign and asked them if a Character Study episode was OK with them. No intended action or intrigue per se, though it could happen, but rather a strong focus on getting to know the PCs.

My main concern was, 'Is a Character Study better once we know something about the Characters - we being the Player running them and the group as a whole - or would a Character Study episode enable us to get to know the characters in the first place? Would it be a good way to figure out who they are?'

The players, without knowing what I had in mind beyond that, all voted for a Character Study episode to get to know their PCs. I found that exciting and oddly heart warming as well. It showed me that they really cared about this campaign and want to push it forward and try something different. 

I decided to go with my original, rather unusual framing and pacing plan for the session and I have to say the results were pretty great. Here is a recap of the session in a more overview format that the previous play-by-play used for Episode 1. Let me know which one you guys prefer going forward.

Yellow Sun

Season I, Episode 2

'It's Double or Nothing"

Part 1

"Mayday. Mayday. This is an SOS Distress Call from the Space Corps Search and Rescue Vessel 'Yellow Sun'. Yes, we see the irony.

A Cadmium II Radiation Accident has killed the crew and we are three million years off course. The only survivors are:

Mitchell Webb, a comedian and passenger placed in Stasis during the accident.

Lt. Donald Wilder, Rescue Specialist, resurrected as a Ship's Hologram.

ARTHUR 1001, the ship's Chief Robot Security Officer. 

and Chicken. A lifeform evolved from escaped domestic poultry.

I am ADAM, the Yellow Sun's Artificial Intelligence with an IQ of 6000. That's same IQ as twelve thousand Kardashian fans"

Our story begins with each of the Yellow Sun survivors working on some personal endeavor.

Lt. Donald Wilder is on the Bridge asking ADAM to help him go through various data files until he finds the one he's looking for. Finally he comes upon the right one and plays it. We hear a boisterous male voice spouting rhetoric about a Conspiracy Theory involving Dinosaurs and UFOS. Jotting down some notes, Wilder leaves the Drive Room to find Chicken.

ARTHUR 1001 is in the ship's Galley, having decided to make lunch for the group. He intends on making Bangers and Mash until he learns that the ship's stores are out of the specific type of sausage he wanted to use. Instead of substituting another kind, he decides to make some sausage from scratch. ADAM appears on a screen to tell him something but gets distracted by ARTHUR's cooking preparation and begins asking the Robot about it. ARTHUR is given various meat options by the computer and selects Pork, though both Pork and Mutton are highlighted. ARTHUR and ADAM both acknowledge that this is odd. ARTHUR presses the button again and Pork is confirmed. ARTHUR reaches into the food storage compartment and then begins getting to work. 

Chicken is sitting cross-legged in a big, serious looking chair, her face lit by a console screen and a series of glowing buttons. Chicken presses a button and an image on the screen lights up. As it starts blinking, a version of ADAM's voice that sounds slower, deeper, and more serious says, "Port Side Laser Cannon Fully Charged." After a few moments more it came again saying, "Warning! Do not Overcharge! Repeat - Do not Overcharge!" Chicken then pressed the button again and the light and voice faded away. She decides to press it once more and the whole process repeats, as it had the last two or three dozen times she'd done this. 

Mitchell Webb walked aimlessly but with purpose down the corridors of Level 15 - or was it 20? - searching for the library "Real books", Webb exclaims, "No more screen and plastic paper. What separates us from animals is the written word and the written word fairs nowhere better than on real paper!" ADAM appears on various screens up and down the halls offering to help. "I am a Human Being," shouts Webb, "And what has Humanity come to? Do we need computers to do everything for us? Tell us which way is up and how to clean our bums? I will find the library myself thank you very much!"

Webb did not find the library. Instead he found an Officer's Exam Testing Room with a study book on Astro-navigation. Frustrated but eager to prove himself self-sufficient and capable, Mitchell started reading the booklet thinking he might learn some useful skills.Not technically minded it all seems a lot of gibberish.

Lt. Wilder finds Chicken at the Port Side Gunnery Station and tries to engage her in conversation. He tells her he's been studying theories put forth by a 'pre-accident' philosopher who asserted that Dinosaurs didn't disappear because of a meteor and may not have evolved directly into birds as we had thought. They did evolve, according to this theory, perhaps becoming more bird-like (who knows after all), but advanced to the point where they developed space flight and left Earth. It was considered a crazy notion "But look at you Chicken", Wilder insists, "your people prove it could have happened. You basically confirm it. A parallel history!"

Wilder's attempt to connect with Chicken is well intended but fails to take into account the fact that Chicken is, well, Chicken. "WOW!", exclaims Chicken, "That's amazing! Can you clear up a few things for me?"

"Of course", beams Wilder.

"What are Dinosaurs? What's Earth? [I've heard you guys mention it before.] Birds are like some kind of Chicken right? What's a Meteor? How did it make the Dinosaurs disappear or not disappear? Are you saying my people are Dinosaurs? Or we were Dinosaurs? Again what are Dinosaurs?"

At this point ADAM appears on screens throughout the ship informing everyone that he has some big news. "Attention All Personnel. Attention All Personnel. All Four Personnel. Please report to the Drive Room for a Briefing. Thank you."

Everyone puts aside or complete their various doings and heads up to the Bridge. ARTHUR puts the food he was preparing into the refrigeration unit and contemplates whether it wouldn't have been better to choose Mutton.

Once everyone assembled in the Drive Room, ADAM appeared on the screens again and explains that with the information the team downloaded from the Nova 8 (in Episode 1) he was able to discover that the ship had a Duality Drive. He made various modifications to the Yellow Sun's drive systems and now we have a working Duality Drive of our own. 

Wilder asks exactly what that means and ADAM explains a Duality Drive is a Faster-Than-Light Drive that picks two points in Space/Time, connects them, then moves a starship from the one point to the other. For a full second, a ship with an active Duality Drive is actually in two places at once, its starting point and its destination.

The Players discuss whether this will help them find the Red Dwarf faster and ADAM suggests it may. He wants to test it right away but the team thinks he should run some simulations first.

In addition, Webb (of all people) says that ADAM's calculations on where Red Dwarf might be wrong. Mitchell thinks that if the engines of the JMC Mining Ship are functioning, they would turn around and head back to Earth and might be coming towards them not still going away. ADAM is impressed and recalculates. He then runs his simulation scenarios.

"Simulation 1 initiated. Oh dear. Simulation 2. Ow ow ow. That looked...very painful. Hmmm. I'll cycle through a few more. Just a moment please. Jeepers! Ouch! Hmmm...no. My goodness no. Ah, this looks promis...no. Definitely not."

After this ADAM doesn't speak aloud for several minutes. His face winces a few times, he shakes his head in frustration once or twice, then finally says with some enthusiasm, "Ah-ha! Simulation 12. No one died. Damage to the vessel was not existent outside a few minor power fluctuations. Initiating Test Run. Please pick a destination."

While Webb protested, Wilder noted two star systems within 12 light years. Chicken wanted to go to the pretty yellow star, but the cool, bright blue one had a planet around it with a breathable atmosphere. Chicken deemed it pretty enough for an effective test. ADAM counted down...

"Initiating Duality Drive in 4...3...2...1, Activate!"

Everything shook and blurred. It was as if everyone, even ARTHUR and Wilder, were seeing two images superimposed - One in which the Yellow Sun was where it started and one in which it was in the vicinity of the blue star and its planet. Another few seconds of shuddering and the ship and everything in it fell still.

Out the Port Side window, Wilder could see the blue star in the near distance. The jump was a success! "Take us into orbit of the planet ADAM", said Wilder.

Out the Port Side window, nothing had changed. Wilder looked at ADAM's face on a nearby screen and asked what had happened. "Nothing" said ADAM sheepishly. "I am afraid my calculations were incorrect. The Duality Drive does not function. I will analyze the data and find out why. My apologies."

On the Yellow Sun in the blue star system, Webb went back down to the Exam Room but found the ship's Archive Room instead. Wilder instructed ADAM to prep a Rescue/Survival Drill in case they had to land on the planet. The Drill involved polar conditions - cold temperatures, ice, snow, and perhaps ARTHUR pretending to be an attacking Penguin.  Wilder then took Chicken to get some treats from a Vending Machine. She got Chocolate Covered Strawberries from a flirty Vending Unit with a French accent. ARTHUR returned to the Galley to finish lunch. He found he had chosen Mutton after all. Strange.

All the number '2's on screens throughout the ship blinked.

The Port Side Laser Cannon continued to Overcharge. 

On the Yellow Sun that hadn't moved, Webb went back down to the Exam Room but found the ship's Archive Room instead. Wilder instructed ADAM to prep a Rescue/Survival Drill in case they needed to travel to that blue star's planet at some point. The Drill involved polar conditions - cold temperatures, ice, snow, and perhaps a Skutter pretending to be an attacking Polar Bear.  Wilder then took Chicken to get some treats from a Vending Machine. She got Chocolate Covered Pretzels from a flirty Vending Unit with a French accent. ARTHUR returned to the Galley to finish lunch. He found the Pork and got back to prepping.

All the number '2's on screens throughout the ship blinked.

The Port Side Laser Cannon continued to Overcharge. 

The story continues...

The story continues...

AD
Barking Alien

The Fourth Is Strong With This One

Happy Star Wars Day Everybody!

Art by Sarah Stone

For most of you this will be posting up on Star Wars Day Eve as I was unable to tear myself away from another project to post this earlier as I intended. No matter, we are together now and I want to say what a lovely May the 4th is has been! 

It all started with a morning cup of tea (as I am low on coffee) and the Grand Finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars with the twelfth episode of Season 7, 'Victory and Death'.

What an incredible end to an incredible final four episodes. The beauty, majesty, and tragedy of the last story arc, 'The Siege of Mandalore' makes up for the rest of the Season 7 episodes which were, in my opinion, rather lackluster. I almost wish they hadn't made a Season 7 but instead just made a single 'Siege of Mandalore' film. 

Be that as it may, it was fantastic and I highly recommend seeing the last four if you are a Star Wars fan of any kind. It is Star Wars at its best in every sense of the word. 

And speaking of Star Wars at its best...

If you have any interest in the creative process behind good Star Wars productions you could do far worse than checking out Disney Gallery - Star Wars: The Mandalorian on Disney+.

An eight episode series, airing weekly I believe, goes behind the scenes of the awesome streaming series to reveal how it was put together and what went into making it work. The first episode features a neat discussion between show Creator and Executive Producer Jon Favreau and each one of the Season 1 directors. It was very interesting seeing each of their different skills addressed and their personalities come through. 

I will definitely be watching this going forward. 

In related news, Taika Waititi, who directed The Mandalorian Season 1 finale and voiced the Bounty Hunter Droid IG-11, will be directing and co-writing a theatrical Star Wars film! That's right, a new Star Wars movie by the man who gave us Thor: Ragnarok and Jo-Jo Rabbit. I am intrigued to say the least.

And that's not all! A new Disney+ series is in the works as well. Read more about that here. 

Finally, because you and I like the rest of the Star Wars loving galaxy can't get enough of The Mandalorian's resident Force Sensitive alien infant, there is this...

Yes, that is a real product - Coming soon to supermarket shelves from your local store to Long Ago, and Far, Far Away. Can't wait!

Well, that's all for this Nerf Herder. Clear skies, Bright Suns, and I'll see you around the galaxy.

AD
Barking Alien

Hold Me Back

A big issue I run into when I'm working on a game I'm really excited about is figuring out when to inject which idea I have into the campaign.

To put it another way, I tend to have dozens upon dozens of ideas for scenarios, characters, environments, and more and I want the players to be able to experience them all right away. I don't want the campaign to end prematurely for some reason with everyone getting to experience all the cool content I have planned. 

The problem is, you can't put several dozen sessions worth of content into a single adventure no matter how much you want to. It just doesn't work and it's a situation I have seen far too many rookie Gamemasters attempt. The desire to throw everything and the kitchen sink into a single sitting will only weigh the game down and muddy the players' understanding of what is (or isn't) going on. 

In addition, as I recently discussed with some of my players, sometimes a story works better if other stories are told first. For example, an adventure heavy in action and combat has more weight if you care about the characters involved. You get to care about the characters by first getting to know them.

So, by this thinking, in a new campaign one should have a character study/development focused session precede one in which said characters' lives are in danger. Know that we know who they are, and we want to know even more, no one will want to see them killed off. This raises the emotional stakes and is a lesson I learned from analyzing the better constructed television series. 

For my new Red Dwarf/Yellow Sun campaign, I had several session/adventure ready to roll and several more I planned to develop further that expanded the world-building and brought in some of my favorite elements of the TV show's canon. However, after re-watching the entire Red Dwarf show from beginning to (current) end I noticed that the first season was largely explorations of the characters all set aboard the titular vessel. Sure Sci-Fi concepts were thrown in but major components of Red Dwarf's milieu such as GELFs (Genetically Engineered Life Forms) and Swirly Space Anomalies don't really appear until much later. 

This, as well as discussions on the subject with the players, convinced me that the second 'episode' of Yellow Sun should be a character driven one. I rearranged the episode order I was originally planning and the results were nothing short of amazing. We were able to pull off the kind of session that had every chance of failing big time. It was both a bit experimental and high concept but because it was really about getting to know the PCs, the Players took it and ran with in. One of the best sessions of anything I've had in a while. 

In the end, show some restraint, hold back that epic set piece and army of multi-headed monstrosities and spend so time figuring out who your heroes are. It will feel that much more satisfying next time they fight to live or die. 

AD
Barking Alien