Objects in Motion

Not all who wander are lost

Objects in Motion is a collection of three custom squad playbooks for Beam Saber by Austin Ramsay, published under the Beam Saber Supply Drop license. You can purchase Beam Saber and find out more about the Supply Drop license here.  

Objects in Motions contains three brand-new squad playbooks which share a core mechanic and narrative conceit: the squad's forward operating base is itself a colossal mobile vehicle. Included are the following features:

• Exploit the War for profit and adventure or inspire others to forego the status quo with the Pirates! squad.
• Embody the common goal of disparate patron factions with The Fellowship as you fulfill or redefine your purpose.
• Contend with supernatural forces as The Forlorn to discover the truth of your undying curse.
• 27 new squad abilities, including the shared starting ability Home Sweet Home, which details the rules for your very own Colossal Vehicle.
• 15 new  upgrades to help define your squad.
• 21 new pilot abilities, available exclusively as veteran advancements for pilots of Pirates!, Fellowship, or Forlorn squads.
• Example allies and rivals to seed conflict for your squads.
• GM suggestions on ways to implement Direct Superiors for Pirates!, Fellowship, and Forlorn squads.

Content Warning

Objects in Motion contains the following content and themes which may be triggering for some players:

• cannibalism
• depictions of death
• grief
• implied persistent injury
• invasion of privacy
• martyrdom
• themes of death and dying

Previews

Squad Upgrades

• Jolly Roger. Your squad gains access to a 0 load Outfit for your personal vehicles and FOB, which is a notorious symbol known far and wide. You get +1d when using it to leverage your reputation. Your crew must re-roll any 1s on entanglement rolls.
• One More Squadmate (2 upgrades): Your FOB has a mind of its own, and is a Cohort with one of the following specialties: defense—navigation—piloting. It is Loyal to your Fellowship and has an Obligation to your purpose.
• Memento Mori. Deep within your FOB lies a vault filled with tokens from a lifetime ago. Whenever you cut loose here, describe a better time and clear 1 forlorn.

Squad Abilities

• Motley Crew. Your squad is a magnet for eccentric weirdos. Once per Region, you may hire a Specialist as a downtime action, provided you've helped them before. They are Loyal in addition to their other edges and flaws.
• Something to Believe In. Or, at the very least, "have a grudging respect for". When you complete a mission in a region, gain +1 status with a squad based in that region (including, possibly, the target of that mission).
• Ghost Stories. You gain access to a new tactic, Supernatural. The supernatural tactic involves engaging with powers beyond the explanation of science; the detail is the mysterious forces invoked. When using this tactic, you may mark 1 forlorn in place of spark.

Squad Veteran Abilities

• Shanty. Add +1 action rating to Consort, to a maximum of 4. You may direct your cohorts with Consort instead of Command. When you setup someone with Consort, they gain improved effect. 
• Who the Hell Do You Think I Am!? You may take this ability when your pilot dies, but at no other time. Count the number of segments in your drive clocks. Each other pilot in the squad immediately fills that many segments of their drive clocks.
• Collective Unconscious. Your undying nature has given you a new perspective on the world. You can speak, read, and write all languages, and you get +1d when attempting to make an earnest connection with a foe.

Financial Hardship

If you're experiencing financial hardship  feel free to contact me on Twitter and let me know. You'll get a copy, no questions asked.

Future plans for Objects in Motion

This supply drop is text-complete, but I would like to eventually add layout and art assets at some unspecified point in the future. When the supply drop is fully completed, everyone that purchased the text version will have access to the full version at no additional charge.