Atomic Robo

4 July 2014: 2 pm: Atomic Robo

• GM: Brennan Taylor
• Me: Robo the Veteran
• Tim: Bao Lang
• Ben: Benjamin Smithfield
• ???: Jenkins
• Nick: Koa
• Rich Flynn: Bernard Fischer

I'm not sure I can describe even the parts I do remember of this one. Both the comic and the RPG Atomic Robo are complicated to explain. Short version: Nikola Tesla built Atomic Robo, and they thought of each other as father and son. Science is a whole lot weirder. Atomic Robo went on to found and / or head the company Tesladyne (unless Tesla founded it -- I'm not sure). Atomic Robo stories may be set at any point in Robo's life -- or, if time travel is involved, at all of them at once. This story is set in the early 21st century, when Tesladyne is a large, well-established corporation.

As for the other PCs, I don't recall a lot about Koa or Benjamin Smithfield from the comic.

Bao Lang's player thought about the character's Omega Aspect, and came to a decision.

Tim: My Omega has to have to do with giant monsters cuz I'm [i.e., Bao Lang's] from Hong Kong.

He decided the Aspect was: Kaiu Seem to Be Following Me

My notes say that Bao Lang is the second most dangerous operative. The first most dangerous is Jenkins.

Atomic Robo PCs have three Modes, which are sort of skill categories (though they have skills within these Modes). Some Modes are general, like Action, Banter, Intrigue, and Science. Some are specialized, like Robot, which Atomic Robo has. Some are extremely specialized, like Jenkins, which Jenkins has. Jenkins also has an Aspect: The Vampire Dimension Couldn't Kill Me. This should give you a sufficient understanding of Jenkins for the purpose of my not-very-detailed write up.

That leaves Bernard Fischer. He was a not exactly athletic scientist whose first day at Tesladyne traumatized him, as it would have anyone not used to fighting scientific horrors. Rich Flynn had never read the comics, but a 30 second description of Bernard was sufficient to tell him all he needed to know to play Bernard brilliantly.

Tesladyne HQ was currently located near Nova Scotia. Bernard received a call from a colleague in Scotland, one Fergus MacDonald, described by the GM as "a redheaded freckly Bernard". Fergus told Bernard that two fishermen had gone missing at Loch Ness.

Fergus: You investigate this sort of thing, right?

Bernard: When I have to.

Still, he knew what needed to be done, even if, iirc, it had been proven that there was no great mysterious Loch Ness monster.

Fergus: This is what we do... You can count on us.

So, folks headed over to Scotland and Loch Ness. I'm not sure of the context of any of the following:

Koa: I think it was on the low setting)

Net Gun
I have one half built
Taffeta Projector
Less-than-lethal weaponry division

It's so sweet how she tries to cheer him up
So bring the big gun
Well, that's what I was gonna bring -- what are you gonna bring?
I always bring the big gun

Koa (I think on seeing Bernard, aka Bernie, and Fergus together): I'm seeing double.

Bao: Oh this is too weird!

My notes say something about Bernard having a puff inhalator.

Now, when you've got Loch Ness, you've got giant monsters, or in this case, well, dinosaurs. When you've got Loch Ness + Dinosaurs in Atomic Robo, what you have is an evil plan hatched by Atomic Robo's most annoying villains, Dr. Dinosaur.

And things got interesting on and in Loch Ness, even if I do forget details. Bao and Kao were in a Tesladyne submarine with Jenkins hanging on outside in Scuba gear.

Bao: Stand by, Smithfield -- we're heading down to the bottom

Smithfield: Why would you do that?

Koa: Jenkins!!

Smithfield: Oh, that's why.

Jenkins was confident in their ability to handle anything on, in, or under Loch Ness -- like, say, in Dr. Dinosaur's secret lair underneath the loch.

Jenkins: If it bleeds, we can kill it.

GM: Absolutely. Actually, if it doesn't bleed, you can probably kill it.

Koa: We got any weapons on this thing? And don't say Jenkins!

So, the submarine was gone from the loch, and there was a now-empty boat on the loch (I think one or more of the PCs had been in it).

Smithfield: Let's go and investigate the boat.

Robo: This is a trap. Let's go and investigate the boat.

My notes say something about Bernie, paleontology, plesiosaur, and Back Seat Action Science! I think this meant he told Jenkins where a vulnerable Plesiosaur Nerve Cluster was.

Meanwhile, on the submarine:

Koa: Bao Yang, what's going on out there?

She wasn't sure how to tell.

Koa: Look Out the Window. Jerk right or jerk left?

Bao Yang: Oh. -You're- a jerk.

I forget what this contested roll was about:

Jenkins's Player: 5.

GM: It got a 7.

Jenkins's Player: Oh.

Bernard's Player: If only you had a million f*g fate points.

Jenkins used Bernard's advice fighting a plesiosaur. My notes say that someone, likely the GM, said that it was knocked out, but that there was "not a lot of air under this thing". I think "this thing" was the submarine or something else.

Jenkins: Yeah, but now it's in -my- element!

Everyone: I got it right where I want it.

GM: And that's when the cable snaps.

The submarine now had an Aspect: Cracked Window

Other created Aspects included:

• Plesiosaur Nerve Custer -- box checked, which meant that someone, likely Jenkins, had used the free tag already.
• Jerk Left -- unchecked box
• Beached -- unchecked box

Somewhere in here, possibly because kaiu follow Bao Yang, 12 plesiosaurs popped up their heads above the water.

I forget who said this: Those are my only two choices.

Someone: Bernard, this one's yours.

Bernard: I don't have any experience with live ones!

Smithfield: Talk to Jenkins.

I'm not sure what happened, but my notes mention a Vanished Aluminum Boat.

Bernard: I hide under the boat.

GM (handing Bernard's player a Fate Point): Jenkins is there.

Bernard: I think I faint -- and I bob there in my life vest

Down under the lake, Dr. Dinosaur appeared to gloat. I'm not sure who he was gloating at, other than Smithfield.

Dr. Dinosaur: I see you there, you foolish mammals! Come up here or I'll send my plesiosaurs to devour your flesh!

Smithfield: If I come up there, will you have your plesiosaur devour my flesh anyway?

Dr. Dinosaur tapped his finger against his lip, thinking about this. Dr. Dinosaur isn't always that bright.

Smithfield: Cuz if you do, I won't come up there.

Dr. Dinosaur: Not for a while, at least. They may get hungry later.

Smithfield: All right, yes -- tell me all your plans. Mind if I take notes? We'll need this stuff later.

Dr. Dinosaur: Take your foolish, mammalian _notes_!

He proceeded to explain his plan, which I suspect my mammalian brain could not comprehend, even if I remembered it.

Smithfield: So, what happens after that?

Dr. Dinosaur: That requires Phase 2 of my plan -- which is still under construction!

He locked Smithfield and anyone with him in a cell with the missing fishermen.

Smithfield (to fishermen): Hey guys, we're here to rescue you. I got him to tell me all his plans. It's a work in progress.

Bernard saw Dr. Dinosaur take Smithfield away and knew he had to revive Jenkins.

Bernard: Wake up! <Smack smack!> They took Ben! Let's go!

My notes mention a pistol and a tank. I'm not sure about the tank, but I think the reference to the pistol means that Jenkins handed Bernard one.

Jenkins: Let's go -- stay low!

Bernard: Okay.

At this point, the player mimed Bernard moving, gun pointed in front of him (mostly at the ground), doing a great job of the body language.

Jenkins made a fine Stealth roll, of at least 5. However...

Someone: There is the Bernard Factor.

Possibly the same Someone: With the Bright Orange Floaty.

Bernard's Player: And I'm always in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time. (takes a Fate Point for compelling this aspect) And he steps on the tail of one of the plesiosaurs.

Something of a fight broke out. Bernard actually acquitted himself well.

Bernard's Player: Bernard is probably terrified as he cold cocks the plesiosaur and its head plops to the ground. Then, Bernard remembers his gun.

Meanwhile, Bao Yang and Koa talked with Atomic Robo about what had just happened.

Either Bao Yang or Koa: It vanished -- didn't you see it? How could you not see it?

Robo: Yeah, I saw it not being here, but I didn't see it vanishing. By the way, you do know there are a dozen plesiosaurs by you?

Koa: Oh yes -- we put Bernard on it.

Robo: Bernard. Who vanished.

Koa: ... Oh.

Ben: It's the pause that made it.

Bao Yang and Koa started arguing over the science. I have no idea what science they were arguing over.

Bao Yang: Finally, I just hit him.

Koa: Where's the net gun?

GM: Your plesiosaur friends are fine.

Bao Yang: I'm not sure why they signed up in the first place. We should be fine.

Apparently, Bao Yang's Science Aspect is: No No No -- This is more reasonable. (I am guessing that this is for definitions of "reasonable" with which no one should ever have to become acquainted.)

I forget the context of this:

Bao Yang: There must be Jenkins's blood or (on?) the rest of the boat.

Koa: There must be <something illegible> attacking them.

Meanwhile, Bernard and Jenkins made their way through the underwater base.

GM: All the scientific equipment of unknown purpose.

Jenkins: That's why I brought Bernard along. (to Bernard) Find out what this stuff does. I'll cover you.

Bernard (who has, after all, just cold cocked a plesiosaur): _You'll_ cover _me_.

Jenkins vanished (via stealth, not magic, technology, or enemy action).

Meanwhile, the plesiosaurs were attacking the submarine, smacking into the same window that had already been cracked.

Koa: They're more intelligent than we realized -- they're smashing the weak spot! Bernard should be here!

My notes say something about a magnetic field as the window gave way.

Koa: I still want my net gun.

Bao Yang: Are you going to attack the plesiosaurs for it?

Koa: ....

I think this may be the point where Atomic Robo was in a boat on the loch. He looked to shore, and didn't see whoever was supposed to be on shore. He looked to the far part of the loch, and didn't see whatever vehicle (boat? submarine?) was supposed to be there. I did the robot move for the looking in both directions. Then, iirc, he and his boat got sucked down under the loch.

Koa and Bao Yang exited the sub once it had landed below the loch.

Koa: I really wanted to use my net gun.

Someone, possibly the GM: As they walk off, the net gun goes off.

Robo came to a very annoying door.

R: Who. Builds a load-bearing. Door? Oh right -- Dr. Dinosaur... I hate that guy.

Meanwhile, Jenkins invoked his Aspect: Grimly Pragmatic.

Jenkins: Well, I guess I'm doing Science now. It has Come to This.

I think what this meant was that most or all of the team were coming up with a Theory, using a science subsystem that was created for the Atomic Robo RPG. My notes say "2VPs", but I forget what that means. Victory Points? I really need to read the rulebook. In any case, facts and aspects were created.

Fact: Dr. Dinosaur's machines use some sort of particle accelerator, but what they're accelerating is oil molecules to induce genetic hyperevolution. (It's like mega-evolution, only because Dr. Dinosaur is involved, it works much worse.)

Fact: Densified Saurian brains and hyper-evolved plesiosaurs.

Bernard: Oh my ghod -- it's Unnatural Selection!

Yes! Dr. Dinosaur had an Unnatural Selection Machine!

3 VP: Because Magnets

I am guessing that this meant we created an Aspect called Because Magnets that cost 3 VPs, whatever that means.

Bernard created an Aspect that applies to the machines.

Bernard: A Crime Against Nature

Jenkins: So send it to Nature Jail?

Combat broke out again, at least briefly.

Jenkins: Gun! (holds his hand out)

Bernard: Oh -- me! I'm not used to being involved in these conversations. (hands Jenkins the gun)

Jenkins put the gun to good use.

Koa: Did he just 1-shot a plesiosaur?

Bao Yang: If I know Jenkins, this was his second one.

Meanwhile, the more scientific minded turned back to Dr. Dinosaur's machine.

Robo: Bernard -- see if you can reverse this and turn them back into normal plesiosaurs who just want to run away from us.

Bernard: I don't know if that'll be their first instinct, but okay.

Smithfield: I have an idea. There has to be a self destruct button, because this is Dr. Dinosaur.

Bernard: Let's find a way out first.

Jenkins: Working on it.

Dr. Dinosaur arrived in the middle of this, of course. My notes say: "It will fill and seal holes (- Bao trying to shut Dr. Dinosaur up".

Dr. Dinosaur: Oil doesn't contain any genetic material, you fool!

Someone: Yes, it does.

Dr. Dinosaur: What? You foolish mammal -- aaah!

Bernard: Accelerate the evolution.

Koa: And turn them into human.

GM: Yeah, cuz that's how evolution works.

Bernard's Player: We'll let the dice decide.

GM: They could all turn into Dr. Dinosaur.

Bernard: I'm hoping they'll develop free will and decide it's wrong and they don't want to be pawns.

Bernard used one of his Stunts: Science Flashes Before My Eyes

This gives him +2 when doing science under immediate threat to his life. I think somewhere around here, he defined his Intrigue Aspect. He started with "my evil plans" but switched to "The things I've seen!" I'm not sure whether that was what the player defined as an Intrigue Aspect or whether he decided to go with a pre-existing Aspect instead.

The skill needed was the science of Paleontology.

GM (to Bernard's player): I think you're the most qualified.

Bernard: That's sad.

Robo: No -- that's why we hired you.

The GM compelled the Aspect A Crime Against Nature to turn an ordinary Success into Success With a Cost, which was, after all, much more interesting.

Cost: The evolution is far farther along than Dr. Dinosaur intended!

Dr. Dinosaur: Ftop you fopls!

I think that this was not a typo, and was meant to be Dr. Dinosaur trying to say "Stop you fools!" while he was at least partially gagged.

The plesiosaurs were looking to escape the cave. Naturally, Atomic Robo and Dr. Dinosaur were between them and the exit. Oh, and they were Psychic Plesiosaurs!

Bernard (clearly knowing better): There will be no consequences.

GM (perhaps playing an NPC): We'll round them up later.

Smithfield: We're only Scientists! We son' t have _time_ to think of consequences!

The plesiosaurs ran over Atomic Robo on their way out. This was painful. Very painful. But, not fatal or even crippling.

Smithfield: So, self destruct time?

Robo: Do we have a way out?

Bernard: Hey, I did my part!

Jenkins was looking for a way out.

Smithfield: Hey, nothing motivates looking for a way out like a self destruct sequence!

Someone used computer science, I think.

GM: The problem is that this is Dr. Dinosaur's science, and he's an idiot -- but for some reason, his machines work.

Someone used the Aspect Jumping in with Both Feet for a +2 on an important roll, getting a total of +6, which meant an ordinary success. In this case, my notes say, "can load and get out just in time". I believe that what was being loaded up was an escape pod of some kind.

There was a sign in the escape pod. It said:

Maximum Occupancy: 1 Dinosaur

Everyone escaped the underwater base. My notes say:

Koa: Springs?
Really?

Koa: So, Shwarma?

Bao Yang: In Scotland?

Robo: I think he means haggis.

Koa: No, shwarma. Let's go home.

And there we ended the session.