Yes, a couple still live.

I don't know how much strategy there can be at this point; we have several people moving towards the cabin, one in it, multiple undead threatening the family inside.  I am of a mind to push out a post today.

The kitty is currently alone inside.  Gib and Aranwen are not far behind, they can make it inside within a round.  Cedric and Kith are another round back.

Woo!

lol @ clone slaw.

Solid post, Eol.  That's all we need - response/reaction where appropriate, let me kow what your clone wants to do, where appropriate.

Good tips, Bree.

It's a balancing act, I think.  To me, you can really get away with playing Paranoia people as "one note" and it work out great.  Gettign too deep just leads to frustration when your clone gets killed by random GM whim. 

As I've told you via PM, Eol, I do think you are overthinking it.  Paranoia is supposed to be campy, zany, silly.  You're such an incredible player, and you write freakig novellas to games... I think you are looking for that here, and it's a square peg in a round hole. 

How do you want to proceed?

Thanks for the response.  You have been rock solid from day one. 

Your approach is correct - Paranoia is more casual, and is intentionally more bizarre, more in your face silliness.  Melodramatic roleplay is the way to go.

I'm afraid that I'll end up having to replace Bud, which is just too bad, as he did a nice job. 

If we're just having a bit of a lull, that's fine.  Wha I don't want is to have to guilt players every week to post.  the point of a game is to have fun, so if it's more a chore than fun, we need to re assess.

There is really nothing that I feel that I can add that helps in any way.  Do know that I am sorry that you are having to carry all of this.  The Inn is a community, and we hate to see one of our own hurting.

Okay.  It has been a week, and I have exactly two player posts.  This is roughly the same spot that a lot of Paranoia games tend to get derailed; most people are not familiar with the game, and it isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I know that Keeper had a wedding this past week, and has been scarce.  so I can give him a pass. 

Bud is temporarily away, I'm NPCing him for a bit longer. 

No posts from elixir or Eol.  And posts in general seem to be harder and harder to come by.

So, where do we stand?

1) Everything is okay, really.  Games have highs and lows, this is just a low, it will cycle back. 
2) We're okay, but maybe we should consider finding a replacement player or two, since Paranoia isn't for everyone.
3) We've been charity posting, but we're actually tired of this game, tired of dying, let's just shake hands and walk away.
4) We'd like this game, but the GM needs to do [FILL IN THE BLANK] to make it more fun/more iteresting to read/[SOMETHING ELSE].
5) ?

Let me know, please.

For combat, all I really need is to know your general plan for tactics.  You can do that via Q&A post, or even via PM.  Regular game posts are the best, but I have no issue with you just letting me know how you plan to proceed in combat, then writing a recap post after.

Nine here, too! 

Thanks, Blackthorn.  Sorry, I was impatient, wanted to get this up before the weekend. 

I know you are busy and I felt there wasn't a lot of choices left open to you.  Honsestly, unless you had chosen to stay behind, or circle the cabin or something, this is how it would have played out no matter what, given Ch'dau doing his best beserker rage impersonation.

I updated my post to better reflect the number of opponents.

I mean... if you save the mom, the boy is almost certainly dead.  And save is going to be a relative term for her, I'm afriad. 

Sorry.

 Post is up. 

I'm really sorry, ya'll. 

DM's note: before you read further, I warn you once more - this game contains adult horror themes.  If this bothers you, click into another thread now, please. 

DM's note, part two: with the rest of the party acting, I felt like Aranwen's hands were pretty tied.  He is a front line fighter, the most skilled among the group; unless Blackthorn decides that he's not going to help, he pretty much has to be moving into the cabin, doesn't he?  Blackthorn, if you object - let me know.

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With a roar, Ch'dau charges headlong towards the cabin.  So swift is the kazari and his rage that he outpaces his companions before they can react. 

Cedric and Midge begin incantations, while Gib and Aranwen draw blades and move to support. 

Realizing that her big cat companion has left her side - and that any element of surprise is now long gone - Kithran looses the drawn arrow, clipping one of the zombies in the back of its shoulder, and spinning it around an instant before the full fury of the raging Kazari is upon it.  One of the short blades drives through the abomination's chest and exits its back, even as the huge felanoid warrior drives fangs into its face in his mindless fury. 

Midge's incantation completes, and within moments, every wasp and hornet within the surrounding acres are swarming in an angry, stinging cloud.  Of course, wasps are indiscriminate; they sting the zombies, they sting the warriors trying to get past the zombies. 

Gib and Aranwen arrive, with the former battering a zombie out of his way, while the latter nimbly sidesteps and hamstrings one in passing with her blade. 

Kith sheaths her bow and draws her dagger in the process of moving to support Ch'dau as Cedric also pushes up to attack. 

The warriors struggle forward, intent on escaping the stinging wasps.  Near the doorway, it can be heard - a child's cry of fear.

At least one of the woodsman's children still lives! 

A zombie moves to block the kazari's path, but Ch'dau will not be denied.  The hulking warrior sweeps it to the side, where its head splits open with a sickening crunch against a wooden post.  Heedless of anything else, the kazari pushes inside to the scene of a waking nightmare.

The cabin is laid out as three rooms - a large common room has a dining table in the center, with a counter on the far wall with pots, eating utensils, and such on it.  To the right are two doors, each presumably leading to a bedroom.  There are a couple of zombies standing at odd locations in the main room.

One door stands open; a cursory glance reveals a larger bed inside that must belong to the woodsman and his wife. 

The second door is broken off its hinges; visible through it is a set of bunk beds.  A small child of four or five years sits on top, as far back agaist the wall as he can squeeze.  The child is screaming and crying, as his brother - perhaps eight years of age - is being pulled down by at least four zombies clearly intent on tearing him limb from limb. 

A few feet to the side lies a woman with a cast iron skillet a foot or so from her open hand.  The form of one of the undead is on top of her; she lies completely motionless, with her eyes wide and staring at the ceiling. 

The initial threat assessment in the big warrior's brain indicates that the woman died fighting here to protect her children, and is in the process of being comsumed, but perhaps her sacrifice need not be in vain. 

As he begins to move, Ch'dau registers the motion by the undead on the floor, and horrified understanding begins to dawn in his mind. 

The abomination is not eating the woman - at least, not yet.  Its long, forked tongue slips out of its mouth, traces along the woman's throat, up to her ear.  The poor woman's legs are parted, her skirts are pulled up - the creature is not truly lying on top of her, as much as its own lower body is nestled between her thighs while it makes a jerky hunching motion.  It glances up at Ch'dau, fixing him with unnatural, hateful yellow eyes as it begins to giggle sadistically.

Yeah, I can think of a couple, myself. 

The thing about Karma is that it is limited to one vote per thread. 

Hmmm...

Random silly idea - what if we made a little badge that people could put on their profile page that recognied them for outstanding participation, roleplay, etc.  Maybe have it voted on somehow?

Yeah, the idea falls apart if you look at it too closely...

I am DYING to put the next post in.  Would love love love to hear from Blackthorn, bvberry today!

I mean, I don't think i can fit 500 inside.  

Might be a lot, though,  causing overflow outside... 

"Time???" the woodsman wails, "there is no time!  They 'ave broken tha door, they are in tha 'ouse!  Me wife an' children are in there!  If all ye plan ta do is scout about, then give me a blade, an' let me die wit 'em!"

He tries to collect himself.  "There is no cellar!  Mayhap they barred tha doors inside, but if tha dead could break tha fron' door, there be no way the doors inside could 'old fer long!"

I did a little fluff post for some NPCs.  I wanted to explore some enlisteds a bit, give myself somethign to do here besides just be the plot device that is the Captain.

Stardate 2365.02.19
USS Peregrine, Deck 5, Phaser Range - 1908

The last of the targets flickered away in a puff of light, and the Computer spoke. 

=/=Exercise complete.  Total accuracy, eighty-five percent. =/=

Crewman Stephen Galla let out a whoop, then holstered his sidearm.  The hours he had spent working wth Lieutenant Reid were finally paying off - this was his third consecutive result of about the same score, even once he had raised the difficulty.  He would be sure to qualify this week, meaning that Petty Officer was no longer a pipe dream.  For a good six months now, his phaser range scores has been all that were holding him back; soon enough, his performance evals would check the "Meets standards" box in that area, if not "Exceeds standards".  Hah!  Who would have believed that?

Still grinning like an idiot, Stephen stepped out into the corridor.  "Computer," he spoke, "please locate Petty Officer Juarez."

=/=Pretty Officer Juarez is in the Observation Lounge. =/=

"Perfect!" he exlaimed as he headed down the corridor. 

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

As he entered the Aerie, Galla scanned the room, finding Juarez sitting at a small table with a brown-haired human woman that he didn't recognize.  Stephen walked slowly across the room, wearing a mask of disappointment.  Juarez caught his eye and stood.  "Steve!  How did it go?

Galla shook his head slightly, and Systems Specialist winced.  "That bad, eh?  Man, I'm sorry.  Hang in there - you'll get it, I know you will!"

Galla cut his eyes meaningfully to the left, and Juarez coughed.  "Oh, I'm sorry!  Steve, let me introduce you to Merida Peers.  Merida just transfered aboard yesterday, she'll being doing damage control.  Merida, this is Steve Gallo, my best buddy in the fleet. We did basic together."

The brown haired woman offered Galla a firm handshake and a smile.  "Honestly, let's hope that things are boring and I end up spending my time fetching tools for Chief Davis.  Nobody is happy if I'm actually doing damage control, right?" 

The group shared a polite laugh and took seats around the table.

Juarez fixed his freind with a stare.  "Steve is in Security, and has been working hard on phaser qualification.  If he can earn the next level, he'll qualify for Petty Officer."

Gallo simply nodded.

"Okay, man. Spill it.  How bad was it?" he asked.  "You had me thinking that you were going to make it this time."

Deadpan, Stephen looked his friend right in the eye.  "Well, Marcel, I scored eighty-five percent."

The words hung in the air for a moment before the darker-skinned man sputtered in disbelief.  "But wait, doesn't that mean... you ass!"  As he spoke, Juarez punched his friend in the shoulder.  "You made me think you had blown it!  It's time to celebrate, and you'd better believe that this round's on you!"

Merida found herself laughing along with the two friends.  One drink turned into four, stories were swapped around the table... all in all, it could have been a far worse first night on a new cruise.