Five Parsecs From Home Forays (18/2/24 Mission 6 AAR with pictures)

[Legionnaire]

I've had my eyes on the ruleset for some time. I finally took the plunge and bought it. As it's only for my own amusement, I have ordered some Corvus Belli card scenery and printed out some 30mm scale miniatures.

The crew:

Archibald Dhosh-Whonga (Human/ Captain)

Disgraced noble. His family tired of his loafing around and cut his allowance. Uncle Rufus lent him an old diplomatic vessel and now he has to make his way in a vast galaxy.

Sister Barbarita (Empath/ Councellor)

Uncle Rufus hopes she will have better luck guiding Alistair than his own family. As a nun of the Holy Order Muckmuck, she carries a high tech energy blade. It can cut through most things but she prefers to talk to people. Her Mother Superior gave her a mysterious Crystal...

Atlas Copco (Engineer/ Ship Mechanic)

Atlas can talk to machines and has spent most of his adult life in one military service or another. Now he feels he needs a change of environment. The only crew member with any combat experience.

Hyacinth Begonia (Human/ Agent)

She proclaims she's a librarian and few people even remember she was there. A great skill to have when you're a government agent on the run!

Daphnee Rubenstein (Human/ Ad Hoc Medic)

She grew up in the gutter and with determination she has left her humble beginnings behind. A one-way ticket to the stars and she has just mustered on. She dreams of becoming a doctor one day.

[Legionnaire]

FIRST CAMPAIGN TURN

"Zygnus VII... what a dump!" Archibald thought as he waited impatiently in the customs queue. When the offical informed him that he had to a) have a license to ply his trade and b) the obscene sum to buy said license, Hyacinth smoothly produced a document from her briefcase. The official seemed to scrutinize the document forever but finally he grunted and handed it back, waving them through.

(License required, costing SIX credits  , I rolled for Forgery and of course the spy on the run has got one handy  )

When they were all together they considered their options. There seemed to be a lot of restrictions on a lot of things, travel outside of the city centre was heavy regulated.

(Travel Restrictions, only one crew member per Campaign Turn can Explore)

Archibald, being a friendly sort, soon managed to interest a young man, Torbein, in helping them out. He said it could be dangerous but the young only smiled and said "Ja, ja, zat's ok!"

Atlas, ever being the quartermaster, decided to check out the market for some useful goods. For this purpose he had "borrowed" Alistair's last bottle of Finlordian Konjak. He got a very good deal and put the money into procuring some much needed medical supplies. They needed those more than a bottle of 35 year old brandy...

Sister Barbarita went to talk to those that uncle Rufus had sent a letter of introduction to, to help young Alistair on his way. She was also told by Hyacinth that she "knew some people here", so she spoke eloquently with both parties.

Hyacinth "went for a walk", and when she came back she spoke at great length in hushed tones with Sister Barbarita. The nun mulled things over and turned that peculiar crystal over in her hand...

Daphnee, not one for dragging her feet, spent the day at the gym and the shooting range. She was determined to make a good impression and showing herself capable.

(Archibald Recruited one crew member, Atlas Traded, Sister Barbarita looked for Patron and found 2! Hyacinth Explored and purchased 2 Rumours from an Info Broker, total of 3 Rumours now! Last but not least, Daphnee Trained and earned 1 XP).

Sister Barbarita had much to tell. There was no shortage of job offers and there also was a matter of... personal interest.

(2 Patrons offered Jobs. One Private Organisation, Move Through Scenario against 4 Guild Troopers and with Bitter Struggle special conditions, has to be done in the next 3 Turns.

The other, Corporation, with some better Danger Pay, Protect Scenario against 8 Space Pirates with Caught Off-Guard special condition. Has to be done THIS Turn. Also the scenario I'll go with.

With 3 Rumours, I roll a 2 and get a Quest! Rolling it up I decide that'll have to wait until we are more experienced...

Bitter Struggle, Acquire Scenario against 4 Krorg! (Mean armoured bear beasts that can rip you apart...)

If all goes according to plan, first ever game taking place this weekend. Looking forward to that 

[mikedemana]

Sounds great! I purchased and read through the rules/campaign rules earlier this year. I would love to meld the campaign onto another set of rules (Galactic Heroes from Wiley Games). And I'd also like to make it a large enough crew that each player could control 2-3 figures.

Either way, I love the way 5 Parsecs grafts a continuing storyline onto a series of encounters. Great idea, and I wish more skirmish rules sets did this. I'm interested in hearing how the crew fares on their expedition.

Mike Demana

[Legionnaire]

Sounds great! I purchased and read through the rules/campaign rules earlier this year. I would love to meld the campaign onto another set of rules (Galactic Heroes from Wiley Games). And I'd also like to make it a large enough crew that each player could control 2-3 figures.

Either way, I love the way 5 Parsecs grafts a continuing storyline onto a series of encounters. Great idea, and I wish more skirmish rules sets did this. I'm interested in hearing how the crew fares on their expedition.

Mike Demana

Thank you kindly Sir!

I do get my gaming fix on an irregular basis, mostly due to work interfering. I always have an idea kicking about for a game, but then it can take a long time before I get it realised. This little rule set fits me nicely, although I already had a couple of ideas regarding the crew so I took a few liberties  , mainly about their background.

I'm very much looking forward to getting stuck in, already have the fluff for the first mission sorted out.

[LouieN]

Those characters are great artwork.

[Legionnaire]

Those characters are great artwork.

They are made by a gentleman called David Okum, he has a LOT of different artworks on drivethrurpg and patreon I believe. Suitable for almost any kind of games you can imagine playing.

[Legionnaire]

Homemade stat cards and most of the relevant information so I won't lose track of things that might turn out to save the day  .

Discovered I had done it wrong so had to re-roll most of the crew's starting equipment. As Atlas Copco is the only one with any kind of combat experience (ex Mercenary and grew up in a military environment), he is now armed with a beast of a gun  . Auto Rifle (think GPMG), with Bipod, Assault Blade and Tracking Sight...

[ithoriel]

Always nice to see another 5 Parsecs campaign on the go.
I like both the card characters and the character cards! Great ideas.
My own campaign has stalled for about a year due to Real Life (tm) but I still intend to get the crew of Freetrader: Destiny's Child back in (20mm) action.
It's a lovely game system and the new compendium will make it even better.
Since it's solo there's no one to complain if I invoke "rules are for the advice of wise men and the adherence of fools" to make a better story!

Sounds great! I purchased and read through the rules/campaign rules earlier this year. I would love to meld the campaign onto another set of rules (Galactic Heroes from Wiley Games). And I'd also like to make it a large enough crew that each player could control 2-3 figures.

Mike, there are rules for co-op games with multiple ship crews, though you'd be looking at 5 or 6 figures each rather than 2-3. That said, I don't think it would be beyond the bounds of possibility to run crews of 3 opposed by half the standard number of opponents per player.
I have to say I like the 5 Parsecs combat system. Quick and brutal ... but not regularly fatal!

[Legionnaire]

First game played! I like how quick it moves along, still scope for tactics, different AI behaviour for enemies. I do like how easy it is to resolve what happens (are you hit? how bad is it?). I was a little concerned when the Captain took a stray shot in round 1 (Stun) and Daphnee got Injured in round 2, but luckily I had 2 Stim packs so used one. I can see how valuable they are going to be...

Tables there are an abundance of, but I like that you rarely have to look anything up once you've started playing. I have stat cards and the enemy sheet at hand and then you're basically ready to go. The tables are for fleshing out the story before and after.

I also like the Morale system, nice and easy and I think it makes a lot of sense; Pirates bailing on 1-3 aren't the bravest troops around so it was lucky for us 3 enemies backed out. With a starting number of 8, with TWO Auto Rifles and the rest armed with Military Rifles, they had a LOT of firepower. But like us, mostly hits on 6's (or a total of 6+). Cover IS your friend . Atlas, having Combat +1 and an Auto Rifle equipped with Tripod, Assault Blade AND Tracking Sight could potentially hit an enemy in Cover on a 3+ . Glad he's on my team...

And of course, the approach that once you've purchased the game, you can do what you like with it is very appealing. I had a few ideas about the backgrounds of some members, so I picked the things from the list that were closest instead of rolling, which worked very well.

All in all, I'm VERY impressed with this little gem.

AFTERMATH

Protect scenario solved within 4 rounds, +2 Credits bonus for efficiency.
4 Credits
+2 for Danger Pay.
Total of 8 Credits.
No Crew member in Sick Bay (have a Nano Doc on standby)
A curious data stick (+1 Rumour or +1 Quest Rumour)
Deflector Shield
Needle Rifle in need of Repair (for Atlas to sort)
Shell Gun in need of Repair (for Atlas to sort)

The Crew has now got the GaoXing LaoPai (Happy Old Geezer) Corporation as Patron. Hyacinth has ties to them so they are some sort of shady data gathering organization, posing as a noodles and rice/ food company.

Everyone got 3 XP
Atlas earned +1 XP for having the first kill on the team
The crew overheard something interesting prior to the fight (+1 Rumour)
Hyacinth can't mask herself as a librarian anymore so she put on her Security Bureau uniform (she's an intelligence operative on the run)

[ithoriel]

Good looking game and nice commentary.
Glad the crew came out intact and they gathered a decent haul of creds and equipment as well as some useful XP and a rumour. Great start.
I look forward to the crew's future progress.

[Legionnaire]

Good looking game and nice commentary.
Glad the crew came out intact and they gathered a decent haul of creds and equipment as well as some useful XP and a rumour. Great start.
I look forward to the crew's future progress.

Thank you kindly Sir!

Mostly Corvus Belli scenery pack, very affordable preprinted card scenery, less than £9 for some of them. A car wreck from Fallout Wasteland Warfare I bought of a chap who'd painted it nicely, some other bits and bobs and hey presto. That wrecked Protectron is a very nice piece, made by the same chap who did the car wreck.

I have a Quest "activated" but as I don't think we are hard enough yet to tackle it, I put it on the back burner. I think one level or two needs to be had before I try this on. Enemies Toughness 6, Armour 5+, Morale 0... I think right now they will spit us out without even chewing  .

Totally agree. With most combatants, on either side, hitting on only a straight up 6, it could go either way. We could've ended up taking a casualty or two, maybe they had held on for longer (higher Morale checks) and then it'd be a totally different game. Having the Auto Rifle was a BIG BIG help, two shots and a decent chance to hit. Hitting same target OR a target up to 3" away, well, this one is a keeper 

I think my first training priority is to give Daphnee Medic Training. I always like to have options to come back when things go south 

[Legionnaire]

While the iron's hot and I have time on my hands.

FIRST BATTLE INTERLUDE

Flush with both success and cold hard cash, the team went on a well deserved night out. Waking up in the morning the day after, SOMEONE had bought a Duplicator, but it was unclear who had done it. Archibald felt a new found responsibility and put some money towards paying off the debt of the space ship.

(Spent 3 credits and received a Duplicator, paid 1 credit upkeep and spent another 4 in total to bring the debt down by 3 credits after tax. Total 8 credits spent, 6 left in the bank account.)

When the crew had been fed and watered, there was lots of work to do. Atlas tinkered most of the day with the faulty Needle Rifle and Shell Gun, but was only able to make the Needle Rifle fit for service, the Shell Gun needed some replace parts that he was waiting for.

Captain Archibald scored some assorted trade goods and locked them up safely but hoped they wouldn't perish waiting for a customer.

Sister Barbarita spent most of the day socializing and getting to know many people in the city, she heard many interesting life stories.

Hyacinth talked to Mr Sorensen, who happened to have another job for the "competent" crew. He was well impressed with their work so far and happy to pay extra for their time.

Torbein, the newest crew member went to the shooting range and did some working out, never hurts to show the paying bosses you're on top of things.

Daphnee went shopping and impressed everyone when she came back with a large collection of repair parts for the ship, which would no doubt come in handy in the near future.

(Atlas tried to Repair the two broken weapons but only succeeded on the Needle Rifle. Archibald and Daphnee Traded. Archibald got some Trade Goods, worth 1D6 if travelling to another planet but on a 1 it's worthless and has perished. Daphnee managed to score 6 Credits worth of Starship Repair Parts. Sister Barbarita Explored and earned 1 Story Point. Hyacinth went to the Patron, Mr Sorensen, manager at GaoXing LaoPai Corporation and got a Patron Mission. Torbein Trained.)

Mr Sorensen needed a data extraction unit delivered to an industrial site. The mission was complicated by the unhealthy environment and some mercenaries in the vicinity, unclear what they were doing there. However, one of the mercenaries, a Talbot Grumm, was of interest to GaoXing Laopai, and if they would eliminate this person, they would earn a significant bonus. It was not an urgent matter but they would appreciate if it was being done within the next week or two.

(Patron mission, +2 Cr Danger Pay, otherwise nothing extra. Toxic Environment and Priority Target. Deliver mission.

Facing off against 6 Unknown Mercenaries, 4 Mercs, 1 Specialist and one Lieutenant. Mercs armed with Hand Lasers, Specialist Rattle Gun and Lieutenant Auto Rifle. One of the 6 mercs will randomly be designated Talbot Grumm. That figure has Toughness 5 and is if eliminated worth 1D3 Credits as a bonus. The mission has to be done this Turn or the following 2).

[Ragnar]

Excellent stuff. 

You are inspiring me to get back into my campaign.

[Legionnaire]

Excellent stuff. 

You are inspiring me to get back into my campaign.

Thank you kind sir.

I am initially trying out 10 campaign Turns to see what happens and I aim to play one game a week when I can, which should be doable. Too often work and life interferes and stalls things but I have recently bought a small collapsible table so I can have things set up for a day or two if I'm on a roll, which should be easier to motivate. More gaming later today!

[Legionnaire]

"How wonderful to see you again," Mr Sorensen beamed at them in his cozy office and indicated that they should take a seat.
"As it happens, I have another little matter that I would appreciate if you had the time to sort out for me. It's not urgent, in the next couple of weeks is fine."
"We haven't got anything better to do at the moment Mr Sorensen, so we are all ears," Archibald made himself comfortable in a large chair.

"Splendid! This is a data unit, encrypted of course, and I need you to head here," he brought up a picture of what more looked like the city dump than a habitable area on the vid screen.
"Look at those environment readings," Daphnee whispered.
"They are off the scale, it's a toxic soup there. Don't want to get any of that nasty soup in your lungs."
"True," Mr Sorensen acknowledged.
"But nevertheless, I need some data gathered. There's a jackpoint here," a point on the vidscreen lit up.

"There's also the small matter of a personal request. Amongst the mercenaries inhabiting the area, there's a man called Talbot Grumm," Mr Sorensen looked like he had bit into a lemon. The statement was followed by the picture of a pockmarked man with a thin moustache.
"If you made sure that this specimen couldn't sully our streets with his presence anymore, I'd be ever so grateful and give you a substantial bonus, paid out of my own pockets." That got everyone's attention, it's very rare for a corpo rep to pay with their own money, he really didn't like Talbot, that much was clear!
"Consider it done Mr Sorensen!" Archibald rose and shook his hand, sealing the deal the old fashioned way.
"Thank you. Now, I'm sure you have lots of preparations to undertake so I shall take up no more of your valuable time. I hope to hear of your success very soon," Mr Sorensen smiled at them again and they were escorted out by the secretary.

(Battle number TWO. The Patron GaoXing LaoPai Corporation has got a Delivery Mission. Within the next 3 Turns, but I do it now as it's the best on offer this turn. Toxic Environment and Priority Target. Opposition is 4 Unknown Mercenaries with Hand Lasers, 1 Specialist with Rattle Gun and 1 Lieutenant with Auto Rifle.)

POST BATTLE SEQUENCE

8 Credits (roll of 4, Danger Pay +2 and Priority Target +2 Credits)
Seeker Sight (given to Archiebald to be fit on his new Needle Rifle)
Due to the Environment Hazard Event in Turn 2 which injured both Sister Barbarita and Hyacinth, I ruled that the Stimpack was not available and both got sent to Sick Bay. I had one Nano Bot so Hyacinth got immediate treatment. I was lucky and Sister Barbarita had only suffered minor injuries, 1 Campaign Turn in Sick Bay so no Campaign Job for her.

After all the XP had been handed out, these are the improvements the crew made:
Atlas +1 Toughness (Toughness 3 as he's a frail Engineer)
Daphnee +1 Combat
Torbein +1 Combat

The tax man takes an interest in the ship and leaves Archibald gasping for air as he's ordered to pay SIX Credits  in excess taxes OR having the ship impounded! Grumbling he makes the transfer, nearly wiping out the crew's profits  .

More disaster follows, Torbein is injured while working on the ship, he has to spend 1 Campaign Turn in Sick Bay and the ship is also damaged in the process (1 Hull Point), That is fixed with the repair parts Daphnee procured earlier.