Shadowrun

Catalyst Game Labs => Catalyst's Shadowrun Products => Topic started by: Herr Brackhaus on <10-07-14/2229:43>

Title: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <10-07-14/2229:43>
Looks like we know what the next sourcebook is going to be, if the usual "cover art = imminent release" trend holds true.
http://catalystgamelabs.tumblr.com/post/99446844861/shadowrun-lockdown-cover-illustration
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Michael Chandra on <10-07-14/2232:30>
Lockdown has been in the works for quite a while now. :) That it's now in this phase may mean SRO is coming along nicely.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <10-07-14/2241:38>
Cover art:

(http://media.tumblr.com/814a977d5746b7bbcfb8dfb23f8da68b/tumblr_inline_nd3p45KJno1s9c9hj.jpg)

Anyone know who the artist is?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <10-07-14/2248:22>
Michael Chandra
If my google-fu is strong, it's a Boston sourcebook, yes?

AJCarrington
No idea. Looks good, though. Troll with a bazooka gets me every time.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: MijRai on <10-07-14/2314:07>
If my google-fu is strong, it's a Boston sourcebook, yes?


The link's text mentions it's setting up Boston as a location.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: JackVII on <10-07-14/2322:03>
I love it when they visually show AR stuff. It looks so cool.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PeterSmith on <10-07-14/2342:31>
Love the cover. And yes, it's set in Boston. And yes, it's the book that the SRO backers covered as a stretch goal.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Namikaze on <10-08-14/0043:56>
<3 <3 <3
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <10-08-14/0213:03>
I'm glad you all get to see it. It looks even better full-sized. There's some incredible art in this.


Oh, and the text is looking pretty good, too.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Michael Chandra on <10-08-14/0802:17>
Michael Chandra
If my google-fu is strong, it's a Boston sourcebook, yes?
Correct. It's about the NEMA Quarantine Zone, which is basically all of (I think) Boston locked down due to Sybil rearing its ugly head, a crazy dragon attacking NeoNet and something that I myself suspect is Blue-227 causing people to go berserk.

There are a few stories from the book that were already posted at Shadowrun Universe, whose writer (Scott Schletz) has Sybil. I kid you not.

http://www.shadowrun.com/shadowrun-online/stories/
http://www.shadowrun.com/2070/2013/01/11/farewell-to-scott-schletz-aka-wolf/

There's also https://twitter.com/Jackpoint2075 which contains a lot of tweets about the Boston lockdown and how it pretty much is going crazy.



ZeConster pledged enough for the printed book, I can't wait to steal it from him and have a physical read rather than a digital one. His name can thus of course be found in the credits of SRO. Mine too, but not because of my pledge. ^_^'
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <10-08-14/1357:50>
I think it's going to be interesting. I don't think anyone but Scott should be doing CFD stories; he just nails it every time, for my money. I mean, really, go pick up Stolen Souls and read "Freedom Isn't Free" again. Because if that's not creepy as hell to you, there might be something wrong. Probably with you (though possibly me).
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <10-08-14/1959:45>
Like one of the JackPoint tweets mentioned, the UCAS is now 3 for 3 in losing major cities: Manhattan, Chicago, Boston. St. Louis is a divided city. They nearly lost DeeCee a couple times, Detroit almost had a dome put over the whole city to isolate it from the world, Seattle independence policlubbers occasionally stir up trouble, and then there's the UCAS Sector of Denver ...
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Imveros on <10-08-14/2132:45>
i love the design of the combat axes that troll is using on the far right of the picture. Very neobarbarian ;)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <10-08-14/2242:07>
I can't wait to read it! More chaos to descent my players into ^^
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Fedifensor on <10-09-14/0914:09>
I wonder if this book will influence where Season 6 of Missions is set...
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Michael Chandra on <10-09-14/0929:24>
Ah, you missed the news. They're no longer having 1 Season per location, due to confusement from the 5A and 5B lettering. So right now it's Season 5 (previously 5A 1 to 6), Season 6 (previously 5B 1 to 4), and so on.

And I doubt they'll put a Missions season in Boston any time soon, because there's already something taking place in the NEMA Quarantine Zone: Shadowrun Online.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <10-09-14/1150:12>
What's this about Season lettering? 5A vs 5B?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: The Tekwych on <10-09-14/1212:53>
What's this about Season lettering? 5A vs 5B?

With this fifth year of the Missions line they broke things down into a part 1 and part 2 or A and B. You can see this when looking at the Mission files at Drive Through RPG (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/browse.php?cPath=4328_4820)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Bull on <10-09-14/1227:29>
Bit of a tangent, but I'll roll with it for now (If you want to continue the conversation though, please head over to the Missions sub-forum).

1)  Missions generally take place in locations that are currently "unused".  This gives us free reign to meddle with the location, and we don't have to worry about main metaplot screwing up the Missions storylines.  So doubtful we'll visit Boston anytime soon.

2)  It was decided to break Missions down into shorter storyarc "chunks" and to define those better.  Since Season 4 bounced between two different plots, it was confusing if players were only interested in one plotline.  Season 5 is a little more linear, but we decided to keep things contained in 6-episode arcs.  These arcs all link to form one bigger story, however.  So initially, we were labelling them A, B, etc.  So you would have SRM 5A-01, 5A-02, etc.  Then SRM 5B-01.  The plan is to do 4 story arcs for the full "Season", so it would have culminated with SRM 5D-06 being the final adventure.  The Powers That Be decided this was potentially confusing (and it apparently messed with our contracts and our book numbering system), so the decision came down to break each arc into a different number instead.  So arc one is SRM 05-01 through 05-06.  Arc two is SRM 06-01 through 06-06.  So to designate the actual season, we now just use the location name.  So this season is "Shadowrun Missions: Chicago" instead of "Season 5". 
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <10-09-14/1404:44>
Bit of a tangent, but I'll roll with it for now <znip>
Much obliged; thank you for explaining.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <10-09-14/1456:23>
i love the design of the combat axes that troll is using on the far right of the picture. Very neobarbarian ;)
They have speed holes.





I wonder if this book will influence where Season 6 of Missions is set...
Probably not. It's the setting for the Shadowrun Online MMO.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <11-14-14/1707:44>
Some new art from Tumblr (http://catalystgamelabs.tumblr.com/post/102568974006/shadowrun-lockdown-art):

(http://media.tumblr.com/c78dc7062171b6e336fa9b3f343f7af3/tumblr_inline_nf06mn4Lrd1s9c9hj.jpg)

(http://media.tumblr.com/daa065489fe111392302f2971c082ef3/tumblr_inline_nf06mvKohW1s9c9hj.jpg)

Is it me, or does that head seem huge when compared to the body?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: 8-bit on <11-14-14/1710:36>
It also looks like his skin is falling apart to show a mechanical skeleton underneath. I can't tell if he's surrounded by spirits or virtual "demons".
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <11-14-14/2046:12>
Ahhh...that would make more sense... ;)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Namikaze on <11-15-14/0045:01>
Whatever is happening to that poor guy, I hope he has a great insurance policy.  I wonder if that's some sort of CFD/dragon attack?  I dunno what's going on there, but it looks awful.  I love it.  :)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: jim1701 on <11-15-14/0106:19>
Docwagon Medic:  "I ain't touching that!"
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: carmachu on <11-25-14/2120:32>
Ah, you missed the news. They're no longer having 1 Season per location, due to confusement from the 5A and 5B lettering. So right now it's Season 5 (previously 5A 1 to 6), Season 6 (previously 5B 1 to 4), and so on.

And I doubt they'll put a Missions season in Boston any time soon, because there's already something taking place in the NEMA Quarantine Zone: Shadowrun Online.

As an aside where are the missions located/downloaded/bought?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <11-25-14/2258:17>
Those that have been released are available from CGL and/or DTRPG.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Michael Chandra on <11-26-14/1414:08>
Which are SRM 5 1~3, Firing Line and Sprawl Wilds. Each of the books contains 4 CMPs. There's 7 more Chicago Missions and 16 more CMPs so far, but those aren't out for purchase. (In the case of Chicago Missions that's 'for purchase yet'.)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <11-30-14/2313:50>
Are the Elven Blood adventures considered CMP adventures? If yes, I believe they are 4th edition only, correct?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <12-01-14/0142:46>
The missions in Elven Blood are only stated for 4th I fear :/ I've been planning to use them in any case or at least draw upon them.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Michael Chandra on <12-01-14/0729:17>
Elven Blood is presented in full Missions format, so as far as I can tell it would be legal for Season 4 characters. This would mean you can play them before you turn your character into a prime runner for Chicago Season, though PM1 isn't out yet. I think that puts Season 4 at a total of 31 non-convention missions available? Namely 04-00~04-12, Free Taiwan, the five Elven Bloods, four Sprawl Wilds, four Firing Line and four London Falling.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <12-01-14/0927:38>
Yes, Elven Blood is a compilation of CMP adventures and was only statted for SR4. From the product description:

Quote
Elven Blood is a compilation of five different Missions that have been written to premiere at summer 2012 conventions. They can, however, be played by anyone. Whether you’re playing at a con, in a game store, or in the comfort of your own home, Elven Blood has an adventure for you. Taking you from the mean streets of Seattle to the wild lands of Tír Tairngire, Elven Blood offers exciting and inventive adventures for all Shadowrun fans.

Elven Blood is for use with Shadowrun, Twentieth Anniversary Edition.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-14-15/1346:39>
Cover was posted on FB (https://www.facebook.com/ShadowrunChronicles/photos/a.179435638810587.46999.170199826400835/823812497706228/?type=1):

(https://scontent-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10631202_823812497706228_8773713304745702156_o.jpg)

Happy days!! ;D
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <04-14-15/1348:46>
Woah... What the heck is that thing up top?

That's a slick looking cover right there.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <04-14-15/1419:56>
Woah... What the heck is that thing up top?

I think it's one of these guys.

https://youtu.be/XBsC7rV2Uoc
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <04-14-15/1651:37>
NICE!
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Patrick Goodman on <04-14-15/1804:26>
Depends on the value you assign for "NICE," really....
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-14-15/1934:37>
Details, details... ;D
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <04-14-15/1938:49>
Well, the player side is terrified.  The GM side is excited.  The fan of awesome artwork is equally excited.  So that's two excited votes vs. one terrified vote.  :)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <04-14-15/2127:20>
Eagle Shaman, huh. Didn't see that coming.

So Aztechnology does have some part in the Lockdown.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <04-14-15/2254:30>
It's downtown Boston. EVERYONE is involved.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <04-15-15/0310:15>
Just release the book already ... Must have more plotting materials!
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-15-15/0821:09>
Based on the FB comment, sounds like the book is done:

Quote
Just received the pdf version of our PnP 5th edition Boston Lockdown campaign book for cross checking. 240 fraggin’ pages of mayhem and infectious fun. Thanks @Scott Schletz, @Jason Hardy and @Matt Heerdt for this fabulous campaign book!

However, given that this was tied to the KS, not sure how/when it will be released to general public. Hopefully, this means that they can start fulfilling the KS backers soon...from the latest KS update:

Quote
Backer Rewards Update

On top of the brand new update for the game, we wanted to give you a quick update on the backer rewards. As I type, the brand new Boston Lockdown Campaign Book by writer extraordinaire Scott Schletz is on my hard drive as a pdf. This means all backers of the appropriate reward tiers will get one for launch (Yay!). That also unfortunately means actually printing and shipping the books will take at least 8 weeks if not more until we can even begin to distribute them. As postage has been getting consistently more expensive, we simply cannot afford to ship rewards piecemeal, so we need to wait until everything can be assembled in one place and into one package.

No mention about public release...would not expect general distribution until after KS rewards have been fulfilled. (IMHO)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-28-15/1545:39>
For those who backed the KS at a level to get this as a reward, check you email...codes are going out (I've already downloaded mine ;D).
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <04-28-15/1634:12>
I think I was a backer.  I had early access at least.  Is there a way to check?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-28-15/1838:49>
Not sure...you can always head to the KS site...once logged in, should indicate the level you pledged.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <04-28-15/2309:39>
Le poop.  No such luck.  My husband backed Hong Kong, but not Boston.  *slaps husband*
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: ScytheKnight on <04-28-15/2325:30>
If you used Steam key you can purchase an upgrade and/or RPG version there...
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <04-29-15/0202:16>
He bought it for us on Steam, so we might upgrade to the RPG edition.  :)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-29-15/0847:41>
Le poop.  No such luck.  My husband backed Hong Kong, but not Boston.  *slaps husband*
In fairness, this game has been in development a LONG time...funded back in Aug 2012...nearly 2 and a half years ago.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-30-15/0631:59>
A nice bonus (don't remember them as being part of the rewards) is the booklet of 4-5 adventures set in Boston that are based on the QS rules. Great way to segue from digital to pen and paper ;D
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Marzhin on <05-01-15/1558:15>
I'm currently browsing through the Boston Lockdown book, and was doubly surprised: not only I made it as a prime runner in the book, but my friend Yaksha, with whom I co-founded my SR website Fondation Draco and who tragically passed away in 2006, also got a mention in the book (his SR character did, at least).
I remember suggesting his name to the SRO devs a couple of years ago, if they ever needed some extra runner names to drop in there, but I wasn't actually expecting them to do it in the book.
That's pretty awesome of Cliffhanger and the book's writers.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <05-01-15/1635:29>
I'll let them know.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Scott Schletz on <05-01-15/1744:58>
Oh. They know.

It's an honor to write for a game you love. It's even more of an honor to be able to write into the history of the game world, those who work hard to shape it and support it in real life.

Thank you to all who backed it. You gave me a chance to let my insanity explode through an entire book; let me make shout outs to all you who backed it; and well, you all just make me feel appreciated.

A HUGE THANKS!
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Marzhin on <05-01-15/1928:59>
Oh. They know.

It's an honor to write for a game you love. It's even more of an honor to be able to write into the history of the game world, those who work hard to shape it and support it in real life.

Thank you to all who backed it. You gave me a chance to let my insanity explode through an entire book; let me make shout outs to all you who backed it; and well, you all just make me feel appreciated.

A HUGE THANKS!

Thank YOU for the great book Scott. I still haven't read all of it yet, but so far I've had a blast. Lockdown is a great entry in the SR5 line and a worthy addition to the Shadowrun mythos in general :)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-02-15/0303:36>
Still reading this.

Why is there no map of Boston?

You know what I like about Shadowrun source books, is how educational they are. I have no idea that it was called the Hub of the Universe, a very stupid name that I questioned its legitimacy. But some quick googling, it's legit. I get to learn about the Green Monster. And you know, its pretty cool. With that said, the location section was kind of a boring read. I read it all assuming there would be some jem in there. And if there was I must have glazed over it.

I like the subtle code /dev/grl had for her parents. Didn't piece that together until I remembered what her hometown is and what she'd keep there.

The new Jackpointers are annoying, but I realize will be necessary because the old ones will get geeked sooner or later.

I love that there is a local Boston runner named /dev/boi. I thought that was really cute.

I really liked DC. I always loved the idea of the naive youth. In fact I love this entire reporter idea. Its good. This entire section of the book is pure gold. I love how it starts so mundane like no one even cares followed by post apocalyptic survival. Civilization sure did break down quickly.

I wonder what's up with that spirit that saved AJ in the water. Wild spirit maybe? Or maybe a friendly shaman put it there to keep people out of trouble.

I love the part on Logan Airport. A dude gets shot and when the team comes back to pick him up, he's all better? Yeah? Almost like something inside him healed him up? And oh, what's this officer's training? Come to Logan Airport and be apart of something, eh? Worse than the bugs.

I'm still reading, but man, this is a hell of a ride.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-02-15/2134:23>
***Big Spoilers ahead. So don't read if you don't want to know***

I just finished the book.

There were parts I enjoyed. I'm surprised how much AJ grew on me. Still not sure if he's dead or a head case now.

And there are things that I highly question. The Megas seem to be awfully cooperative. Which is very strange. And the QZ seemed to go up very quickly. And on top of that I'm not entirely sure why everyone isn't infected when the nanites can reproduce so quickly.

I also find the idea of being able to copy or make instances of AI's a bit problematic. Some headcases are made from incomplete AI codes, which is why we got shamblers and ragers, or so I assume. So my problem is, I'm hoping the rules for AI PCs make a comeback, but the idea that a PC can infinitely copy themselves with nanites, I don't know about that. I kind of thought it was going to be like being in multiple nodes in SR4 or something. There is only 1 AI, but they can have an open subscription to run on devices or on a cloud of nanites, and that if they're in a headcase, the nanites would just transmite back the data to the AI home node to keep everything in sync.

Then the million dollar twist, I'm not sure how I'm feeling about the return of Deus. I was perfectly okay with the old school super AI's being dead. But even then, I don't get why Pax would help Deus, she hates him. I don't understand how Deus and Cerberus were able to make a new AI just by fighting each other. What was Deus doing for over 10 years? Hanging out on Mars I guess. How did he survive Crash 2.0? He was at point blank range of Jormungand, and then I thought there was an EMP that knocked out most of the Matrix in Boston.

I realize this book can't answer everything, and it at least did tell us a bit more of how CFD started and the reasons why.

I think I'd have much rather liked to see a new AI rather than Deus.The Arcology and Crash 2.0 will be a hard act to follow. If this was a brand new AI with new alien motivations, I at least wouldn't need to compare it to what came before. But because it's the same players from before, I now can't but help but compare it. That means Gagarin is Renraku Arcology 2, and Lockdown is a combination of Bug City and System Failure. Is that a good thing? I don't know...

Is Neurosis a separate AI? Stolen Souls implied so. And he never showed up in Lockdown, so the question is still open.

And if Deus is still around that means Mirage and Morgan are still around. What have they been doing for a decade? Hanging out on Mars too?

So many questions, so few answers.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Marzhin on <05-06-15/0355:20>
I'm currently browsing through the Boston Lockdown book, and was doubly surprised: not only I made it as a prime runner in the book, but my friend Yaksha, with whom I co-founded my SR website Fondation Draco and who tragically passed away in 2006, also got a mention in the book (his SR character did, at least).
I remember suggesting his name to the SRO devs a couple of years ago, if they ever needed some extra runner names to drop in there, but I wasn't actually expecting them to do it in the book.
That's pretty awesome of Cliffhanger and the book's writers.

Since he's now part of the Shadowrun lore, I couldn't resist recreating my character, Marzhin the Dwarf Adept, in the Shadowrun Chronicles video game as well :)

(http://fondationdraco.free.fr/images/SR_online/SCBL_Marzhin_ingame.jpg)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-06-15/1142:17>
Are you a dwarf? There does seem to be a lack of major dwarven prime runners for some reason.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Crimsondude on <05-06-15/1516:26>
Are you a dwarf? There does seem to be a lack of major dwarven prime runners for some reason.
They're easy to overlook.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-06-15/1715:36>
Are you a dwarf? There does seem to be a lack of major dwarven prime runners for some reason.
They're easy to overlook.
You didn't put on your mirrorshades, Mr Caruso...

Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaah!
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Marzhin on <05-06-15/1848:12>
Are you a dwarf? There does seem to be a lack of major dwarven prime runners for some reason.

Well now there's one :)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <05-06-15/1857:56>
Well now there's one :)

Well played 8)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-09-15/0054:48>
Lockdown is out for people that didn't buy Chronicles.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149042/Shadowrun-Lockdown
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Sabato Kuroi on <05-09-15/0433:00>
Lockdown is out for people that didn't buy Chronicles.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149042/Shadowrun-Lockdown

Awesome!



Should I read Stolen Souls before I read Lockdown?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-09-15/0853:46>
I did, but I don't think you need to.

Stolen Souls has rules to become a headcase and fluff around CFD research for failed cures. But you probably don't want to expose your PCs to becoming headcases. It will help give some context for understanding "normal" headcases, which Lockdown does include a bit of, but doesn't go into great detail on.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <05-09-15/1516:17>
Nice piece of artwork just posted up on Tumblr (http://catalystgamelabs.tumblr.com/post/118530687041/shadowrun-lockdown-and-bloody-business-art):

(http://40.media.tumblr.com/cbe9464464502382754772c6961c2f2b/tumblr_inline_no3azlJY0c1s9c9hj_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Kincaid on <05-09-15/1618:48>
It looks like the Azzies got the Hatch Shell.  Bastards.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <05-09-15/2341:24>
Very nice visualization of the skyline.  The book did a good job describing it, but seeing the view from the Harbor (haa-baa) helps to solidify what I had in mind.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Angelone on <05-10-15/1321:03>
Anyone have any more information on the Transys Graygul? The Knights of Rage decker has it and I can't find it anywhere else so I'm thinking it's exclusive to them. Stats in spoiler
[spoiler]Transys Graygul [DR 6, AT 8 8 7 6, Prog 8, Av 16R, 789,475] [/spoiler]
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <05-11-15/0333:21>
I was pleasantly surprised by the new cyberdeck, Graygul, though I wonder why it was not listed in the back of the book or among the other new gadgets instead of being snuck in like that hiding in a stat box but with availability and price tag.

...

I also wished the Game information section provided more answers instead of heading to piece it all together through the fluff and short stories. Stats for Cereus but not Eilohann or Deus (if he has a real form anymore)?
Other than that it is a good book that rides the zombie horror wave
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/0831:38>
I doubt attributes for Deus or Eliohann will really become necessary. If they are, the GM should likely just make it up on the spot, as these are entities that are so far beyond most player characters that stats probably won't be very useful.

In other words, if players are trying to take down Eliohann and/or Deus, I hope they have their DocWagon Platinum contracts good and ready.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Aaron on <05-11-15/0848:53>
A deck with those stats, Angelone, should cost about 830,500¥. So if that's the cost in the book, it's a steal.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/0921:20>
Heh, because the 40,000¥ difference makes such an impact at the 800,000¥ level? ;)

/cheek
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <05-11-15/0931:47>
I doubt attributes for Deus or Eliohann will really become necessary. If they are, the GM should likely just make it up on the spot, as these are entities that are so far beyond most player characters that stats probably won't be very useful.

In other words, if players are trying to take down Eliohann and/or Deus, I hope they have their DocWagon Platinum contracts good and ready.

Then why stat out Cereus? He is the "child" of the two. Why be able to defeat him?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/0942:48>
First thought that comes to mind is that Cereus is actually listed as an NPC in the book; it's entirely possible for GMs to use him as a Mr. Johnson, listed in one of the subplot sections. It is also possible to encounter Cereus in various states of completeness as part of the head case epidemic.

Cerberus/Deus/Eliohann, on the other hand, is pretty much listed as MIA for the time being, what with having disappeared somewhere (Salem?). As I see it, if the writers had wanted C/D/E to be a credible threat and/or opponent, they would have provided attributes for it.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Aaron on <05-11-15/1734:39>
If you don't want that 40k¥, I'll take it. =i)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Novocrane on <05-11-15/1959:31>
So ... cyber suites. Can anyone official say whether they're just eyeballed, or if there's a formula?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/2010:51>
I've been meaning to do the math on cyber suites. I'll get back to this thread later if no one else has already done it.

I know one suite that caught my eye combined reaction enhancers with synaptic boosters for some reason. We may need some clarification on that one.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Novocrane on <05-11-15/2028:19>
I noticed incompatibilities, too.

Kuro, for instance, has Bone Density, Muscle Aug, Muscle Toner, and Synaptic Boosters at max - then throws a Suprathyroid cherry on top. (maybe they need an aug that raises Body in all situations ...)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/2214:45>
All right, so after a quick comparison of the Essence and Nuyen costs of individual parts vs Suite costs, I'm starting to wonder where this crunch comes from. I'll be honest, it doesn't look good at first glance.

I've attached the full comparisons to this post for easy viewing.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-11-15/2218:02>
And part 2 of comparison.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: ScytheKnight on <05-11-15/2319:12>
Unless it's a discount due to enhanced compatibility between the components as part of the suit?

I don't have the book so can't say if it's just something like the PACKs of Run Faster (Hey there, here's a bunch of cyberware!) or if it's actually something of an integrated cyberware system.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Novocrane on <05-12-15/0653:23>
All right, so after a quick comparison of the Essence and Nuyen costs of individual parts vs Suite costs, I'm starting to wonder where this crunch comes from. I'll be honest, it doesn't look good at first glance.
You used partial limbs for the EVO BTH, when they're ostensibly full limbs. Still not seeing anything to make out of the whole shebang.
Unless it's a discount due to enhanced compatibility between the components as part of the suit?
5e cybersuites are essence reduced and nuyen increased, as opposed to 4e's 10% off both costs. They do have other restrictions, though.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pollution on <05-12-15/0937:10>
I'm not sold on suites yet.  They were good in 4th, but the essence reduction, while nice, isn't going to sell my sammie on them.

If you can't combine suites, or add to them, then they're pretty "meh" in my opinion.

I get that they're special, and I get that they're custom, but the idea of spending 125k for a 95k suite to shave off a few essence points, and not be able to add anything else (bio OR chrome) is not a route I'll take with most of my characters.

Though, for an infiltration specialist, or face, it might be okay.  I COULD see it for a decker, but your average sam is going to look at these and go, "Can't ever upgrade?  No thanks, Chummer."
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Sabato Kuroi on <05-12-15/1430:01>
So, for us who still  wait for a physical copy of Lockdown, who is Cereus?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <05-12-15/1913:09>
Cereus is an AI born out of the chaos of the battle between the Cerberus E-ghost and Deus (or the fragments Pax released) within MIT&T servers. It hates its legacy and wants to destroy both its parents and any trace of their existence. That basically means it has a huge genocide Campaign on its hands since all the problems in Boston are caused by those two.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Sabato Kuroi on <05-13-15/0246:19>
Cereus is an AI born out of the chaos of the battle between the Cerberus E-ghost and Deus (or the fragments Pax released) within MIT&T servers. It hates its legacy and wants to destroy both its parents and any trace of their existence. That basically means it has a huge genocide Campaign on its hands since all the problems in Boston are caused by those two.
That's really cool!

It's a pity there are no stats for the Deus/Eliohan - AI/Dragon hybrid.It is a really great idea for a superboss.


It seems I really need to purchase a cooy of Lockdown since it deals with 2 matters that intrigued me in the past.
I actually started 2 "prophetic" topics some time ago.
One was about the fate of Deus after the 2nd Crash and the other was about the possibility of downloading an E-Ghost into a meat body :p
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: PiXeL01 on <05-13-15/0346:03>
Deus really is not mentioned except in passing phrases throughout the book as it really is not the main villain if you will. The CFD zombies and Evo/NeoNet/Aztechnology are
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: AJCarrington on <05-17-15/1722:50>
Excellent review by Alex Lucard over on Diehard GameFan (http://diehardgamefan.com/2015/05/12/tabletop-review-shadowrun-lockdown/). The piece is long and in depth, so I'm only going to re-post his final summary:

Quote
So there you go: Lockdown is easily the best gaming release for Shadowrun this year. It’s better than the video game it is a tie-in for (although give Cliffhanger a chance to fix the issues. Had the game been a non-online affair, it would actually be quite nice) and it’s relatively cheap for a CGL sourcebook. Now, is it worth getting the video game and the sourcebook for $50 or should you just get the book on its own? That’s up to you. Again, the Steam summer sale will probably see Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown with a nice discount, so you might want to get it then. No matter what though, you really should get Lockdown if you’re a fan of the current tabletop game. I’d love to see more city books like this in the future.

I heartily recommend that you take the time to read the review...doesn't pull any punches. ;D
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Sabato Kuroi on <05-20-15/1753:05>
So, is it a good idea to take my group on a trip to Boston?Does the book/fluff provide  any plot hooks in order to draw runners to the area?
Or should I just make them roll new characters?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: DeathStrobe on <05-20-15/1812:10>
So, is it a good idea to take my group on a trip to Boston?Does the book/fluff provide  any plot hooks in order to draw runners to the area?
Or should I just make them roll new characters?

The very first run is basically an excuse to get the runners to Boston by investigating a kidnapping/extraction. It doesn't make 100% sense based on the person that is kidnapped/extracted, and depending on how it plays out, the runners might have to babysit an NPC the whole time they're doing other runs in Boston. The pay is good at the least...
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <05-20-15/1848:34>
So, is it a good idea to take my group on a trip to Boston?

Not if you value your life.  People go in, no one comes out.

Does the book/fluff provide  any plot hooks in order to draw runners to the area?

Plenty of hooks are available.  The first mission, as DeathStrobe said, is basically all hook.  But there's no reason why you can't take the timeline and adapt the specifics to your group.

Or should I just make them roll new characters?

After they get infected, you should probably have them roll new characters.  I don't think there's any chance of them staying clean.  It's a daily struggle, and the nanites are in the air, water, on every surface, etc.  You'd need to be in some sort of armored chemically-sealed suit, and even then you'd probably be unable to move fast enough to get away from the infected.  And then there's the non-infected, who will kill you for your suit.  So yeah...  it's bad news.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-20-15/2125:07>
After they get infected, you should probably have them roll new characters.  I don't think there's any chance of them staying clean.  It's a daily struggle, and the nanites are in the air, water, on every surface, etc.  You'd need to be in some sort of armored chemically-sealed suit, and even then you'd probably be unable to move fast enough to get away from the infected.  And then there's the non-infected, who will kill you for your suit.  So yeah...  it's bad news.
That's not entirely true for Boston; if the characters were at Fenway when Eliohann came crashing down, then sure, time to reroll, but the rules for the "Boston Strain" of CFD has different rules from "normal" CFD. You'll want to read up on the section "Lockdown CFD" on page 201 of Lockdown for specifics, but this line sums it up nicely:
"This means that the only two ways to catch the Cerberus strain of the virus is from nanites that have not yet infected a host and then run their course, or from brain matter spatter."
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Mirikon on <05-21-15/0010:05>
Indeed. It is bad, but not Raccoon City bad.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <05-21-15/1104:44>
You'll want to read up on the section "Lockdown CFD" on page 201 of Lockdown for specifics, but this line sums it up nicely:
"This means that the only two ways to catch the Cerberus strain of the virus is from nanites that have not yet infected a host and then run their course, or from brain matter spatter."

I suppose this means you'll want to read page 211, where it says:
"Add onto all this the fact that many of the nanites, or at least fragments of them, are still in the air and in the heads and bodies of the head cases"

Granted, page 201 is talking specifically about methods of infection, and page 211 is talking specifically about Noise and the Matrix.  But I don't see why I shouldn't believe that the air being breathed could still get someone infected.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-21-15/1322:48>
Page 201, as you say, discusses methods of infection. Page 211 discusses noise. While the two are not mutually exclusive, there's a difference between "there are nanites in the air" and "there are enough nanites in the air to the point where you could get infected". I'd say Page 201 deals with the latter more than 211.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Mirikon on <05-21-15/2359:47>
Agreed with Brackhaus. You're looking at two related, but separate things, Pixie. The infection danger is timed, due to the programming of the nanites. Once past that time limit, the infection danger is minimal unless you find a store of nanites that haven't yet infected someone, or get brain spatter on you. But just because those nanites aren't infectious any more doesn't mean they've all just disappeared. They're still around, and still sending out crap tons of low-level electronic signals, which acts similar to an area jammer by filling the airwaves with 'white noise'.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Pixie on <05-24-15/0017:37>
Alright, I get what you guys are saying.  That does make things a lot better than I had envisioned.  By the end of the book, I was expecting the last month to all be things that AJ had done without realizing it, because everyone had been infected already.  Kind of a "it was all a dream" kind of scenario combined with 28 Days Later.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: ScytheKnight on <05-27-15/2309:04>
So had the chance to grab Lockdown and flick through the new crunch stuff and honestly.... the suits don't seem that bad to me? They all have cyber eyes and almost all of them have cyber ears as well... but only the rating listed so it seems you can fill the capacity with whatever you want. Plus it does mentioned that components of the suit can be upgraded.

Are they stuff for the ubermench street sam (well, OK apart from MCT: Kuro)? Nope... but they're a good place for someone who wants to get a decent set of 'ware without betting 'turned into a robot' by essence loss.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Herr Brackhaus on <05-27-15/2316:41>
ScytheKnight
You might want to look through my review of the contents compared to individual pieces of ware. Some, if not most, of the suites makes no sense.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: ScytheKnight on <05-27-15/2353:22>
Ehh, I dunno... I think many a hacker would be happy to start out with Mind Boost, upgrading into Mental Athlete... Front Line Mind is a kinda terrifying combo of boosted mental and physical stats with Rating 6 Skill Jack and Wires, any skill a chip away with the stats to use it!

Spinrad, solid all-round physical stat boosts.

Just looking directly at what's there some of them may not make sense at fist, until you see that each type is created by a particular Megacorp, if you start looking at it in light of this being standard 'ware for a particular role in a corp, then yeah, they make sense.

Remember, most stuff isn't made for Shadowrunners, we just (mis)use it!
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: rayous on <07-28-15/1356:27>
Has anyone found any good landmarks to draw a Quarantine Zone on a map? The book mentions that the zone goes up to beverly harbor and the danver river in the salem section so I am looking for more areas that are named. Run and gun says 10 kilometer radius from the boston harbor but that area is ~27 kilometers away.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: rayous on <07-28-15/1627:13>
Nevermind, found it on page 115 "everything inside the 95/128/93 ring around the city."
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: rayous on <08-06-15/2144:17>
so, the blue hills r&d complex did not really give much detail on its security (unlike the ecse which is the wrong place to go). Anyone have a description of what kind of security i should place there?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Beta on <08-10-15/1117:46>
so, the blue hills r&d complex did not really give much detail on its security (unlike the ecse which is the wrong place to go). Anyone have a description of what kind of security i should place there?

I just ran into this myself.  It was very odd -- I kept flipping the page, looking for that next part that provided more detail about where in that massive compound the target is located, what the compound security is like, who/what else is near the target …

Since I want to make this part reasonably easy (don’t want a long hospital stay to be required!) I’ve waved my hands and decided that current security is sub-par – that given the size of the compound they normally depended a lot on drones and spirits both of which are not operating as normal.  Between the noise in the matrix and the issues with the security systems on the expressway the drones are mostly out of action, or moved to the front gates to deal with protesters, and that meanwhile most of Neonet’s magic resources are tied up in either supporting tower 4 or taking part in the ‘security drill.’  On top of which some of the security guards are already out of action, and they are dealing with ‘protesters’ at the gate, so their normal patrols have been compromised.  And finally non-vital personal have been told to stay in the on-base housing, so there are less general people around. 

In short, they are dealing with mostly passive security (locks, cameras, detectors), a small number of guards at key locations, and patrolling watcher spirits (they were up before things went to heck, and are still following their orders).  At least, that is all they have hit so far--they are currently in the tunnels, heading toward the building where I decided the target labs are (notice that although we get an aerial view of the compound, the text doesn’t bother to mention which of the buildings the target is in/under?  Or for that matter which of the portions of the compound are under the control of which subsidiary?) 

I think I’ll have a fair number of people around the target, making it highly likely that an alarm goes out –if it does they’ll have to deal with waves of security drones on the way out (guards feel they can’t leave the front gate for the most part).
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: carmachu on <09-07-15/2117:19>
I can honestly say, while I'm enjoying Lockdown as a product, I've discovered that I truely and deeply HATE jackpoint and most of its users. Maybe its the old grognard shadowrunner in me, but Jackpoint in this comes off as the antithesis of everything Shadowland was. Shadowland was about getting information out.  Jackpoint isnt- once I read Netcat's post, I started discovering I really didnt like Jackpoint or any of its posters much(well, other then Kane, becuase he's old fun). Reading page 78-79,  and saying its better to keep everything underwraps, and keep the information underwraps and they were ok with it, it reminds me how different jackpoint is from the old Shadowlands when Bug city quarantine came down and they HAD to get the information out.

Captain Chaos's eghost has to be rolling somewhere in the matrix right about now.

(Of course maybe that was always suppose to be that way and I missed it, but here's where I've seen it most)

Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Marzhin on <09-10-15/1643:15>
(Of course maybe that was always suppose to be that way and I missed it, but here's where I've seen it most)

I remember that in The Clutch of Dragons, Harlequin hacks Frosty's account and calls the Jackpointers out on that.

Quote
Your lot is far more dour and selfish than the good Captain's anarchist vessel.

Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: carmachu on <09-10-15/1958:55>
(Of course maybe that was always suppose to be that way and I missed it, but here's where I've seen it most)

I remember that in The Clutch of Dragons, Harlequin hacks Frosty's account and calls the Jackpointers out on that.

Quote
Your lot is far more dour and selfish than the good Captain's anarchist vessel.


Amen there. And thats what I guess I miss most of all. What page was that?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: ProfGast on <09-10-15/2006:33>
According to Fastjack's post index: Clutch of the Dragons pg 34
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Darzil on <01-16-16/1556:38>
At the risk of thread necromancy, it isn't clear to me why Aiden was kidnapped (Beantown Bound). If he were a technomancer it'd make sense, as he was imprisoned with 'other technomancers' being investigated. But he isn't. Is there a reason I have overlooked ?

(though probably will be if I use this material)
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Beta on <01-16-16/1630:20>
I made him into a technomancer -- it just made no sense to me as written.  I assume that at some point he was changed to an adept in order to make him an easier npc?
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Dinendae on <01-17-16/0047:56>
I made him into a technomancer -- it just made no sense to me as written.  I assume that at some point he was changed to an adept in order to make him an easier npc?

I could have sworn that it mentioned him being a technomacer somewhere?  ???
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: MadDogMaddux on <01-18-16/1805:43>
In the character trove he's an adept. In the campaign I'm running, it's going to be a case of mistaken identity.
Title: Re: [SR5] Lockdown
Post by: Horsemen on <02-27-16/0433:58>
I ran it that the kidnappers were actually after after the kid from the SR QSR from Free RPG day 2014.  He was an electrokinetic infected by CFD that had committed identify theft on Aiden using his identity to hide.  Once Aiden arrived in Boston he was being kept as part of an expanded experiment.