Character Creation

Will this initial adventure involve multiple "sessions" or just one? Trying to see if a 'once-per-session' stunt would be worth it or not.

Yeah, a smart guy that is almost insane? And he knows only stuff about his job, i.e. physics and math, and nothing else.

Oh, nice sheet! I'll rework my character to use that. :)

Edit: updated draft character: https://gamersplane.com/characters/custom/30376/

I went ahead and filled out a character sheet also. I'm still thinking aspects past the High Concept and Trouble - I thought that would probably come up during this session 0-ish chat.

Also, let me know if I have the skills listed correctly.

I wasn't sure what to make my main science skill so I put Applied Mathematics (Cryptography) and I figured dealing with communications gear would fall under his Info Tech and Engineering/Repair skills. Let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions.

Major Tanner is looking good--don't forget to give him the 3 and 4 boxes for physical and mental stress (they're grayed out on the sheet but you might want to shade the font to black to make it clear they're active).

Some years ago a self-styled space pirate called Zaid Curtix smuggled an orbital railgun onto a research station and took the employees there hostage. He fired a fifty kilo titanium rod into the ocean at orbital velocity near Farley's Capital as a warning shot and issued a ridiculous list of demands, threatening to start wiping out cities if he didn't get what he wanted.

Zaid was clearly unstable--a mix of megalomania and paranoia--but the government was able to parlay with him. The deadline was extended from hours to days; a few of the hostages were released. The crisis negotiator insisted that she could resolve the matter peacfully. However, Ashely Clarke (then Marshall of the Orbital Guard, now General of the whole Planetary Defence Force) didn't buy it, so she discreetly dispatched a team of soldiers to re-take the station. They couldn't get a ship anywhere near the pirates without alerting Zaid, who had an orbital strike locked on to the Capital, so a squad of sixteen orbital guards made the jump through empty space. Two hours in a vac suit with minimal maneuverability with a firefight on the other end (or, if the catapult on the Orbital Guard frigate was mis-calibrated, a long slow arc into the void).

Tanner (who was just a Lieutenant then) started the attack by putting a high caliber round through the railgun's control module from ten kilometres out. The fight to re-take the station proceeded module by module, but without the threat of an orbital strike the pirates nerve didn't hold long. Most of the hostages survived, Zaid was executed, and his crew ended up in a Civic Reintegration camp doing menial labour.

Public opinion on the raid was divided: a few folks hailed the Orbital Guard as heroes; many were furious that they'd made such a risky move in secret. The fallout was a source of tension between the Planetary Defence Forces and the government (and between soldiers and civilians) for years.

For some reason I don't seem to be able to open Gavin's page--you might need to mark them as Public since they're not yet added to the campaign? But that's sounding good, and you're right I figured once we have everyone's High Concept and Trouble we'd do a Phase 0 similar to the Phase Trio where you all add a bit of initial backstory and an Aspect, and then each add a couple of Aspects related to history/interactions with other characters to tie the party's story together.

I’ve Read about That! You’ve read hundreds—if not thousands—of books on a wide variety of topics. You can spend a fate point to use Lore in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having read about the action you’re attempting. (Fate Core, p.115)

I'd like to use this stunt I found online, but the lore skill has been removed from the list. Which skill would you suggest instead? Linguistics?
[quote]I’ve Read about That! You’ve read hundreds—if not thousands—of books on a wide variety of topics. You can spend a fate point to use Lore in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having read about the action you’re attempting. (Fate Core, p.115)

Is there a police force in this world?

Apologies! I added my character to the campaign, let me know if you can open it now.

FYI--the Utility Belt works for me as written but (despite it being a Stunt) I'm inclined to treat it like a 'Gear Aspect' on p16 of the Toolkit. Basically, just meaning that because it's technically a carried object, I may at times offer you a compel to have it be temporarily removed/unavailable in exchange for a Fate point if the story supports it.

(but that makes you much less bookwormish)

we could maybe fudge that a bit and assign it to your Rapport Skill instead and have it be something you talked someone into showing you/training you in rather than read about.

I've seen somebody do that! You've managed to convince people to show you their tips and tricks and payed attention while they explained in great detail. You can spend a fate point to use Rapport in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having specific knowledge of the action you’re attempting.

@natknight For Phase 2 Phillip could be getting involved with Tanner.
With Phil's aspect "I know a guy", he could have known one of the hostages on the space station and had a way to contact them.
Solve a situation: The hostage gave some useful information about the whereabouts of the pirates on the space station. This helped the PDF create a plan of attack.

What do you think? Sound plausible?

He is into UFO and possibly believes a couple of conspiracy theories.

Something like this?
[quote]I've seen somebody do that! You've managed to convince people to show you their tips and tricks and payed attention while they explained in great detail. You can spend a fate point to use Rapport in place of any other skill for one roll or exchange, provided you can justify having specific knowledge of the action you’re attempting.

Aspect: When the going gets weird, weirdness finds Gavin

I submited my character. He just has brains and a bit of muscle but he cannot fight at all. He is into UFO and possibly believes a couple of conspiracy theories.