[firebug]

So I am running a gang/street level campaign, and for my players I want some good set-dressing.  I want the kind of stuff that people talk about, the odd rumors, the "who's who" that people in the barrens talk about.

One in particular I'm curious to hear is, if there was a single person who was "the strongest", in the Barrens, is there an NPC who'd fit that?  By strong I mean like...  Both in a fight, and just someone you don't mess with.  Whether it's a gang leader, or a shadowrunner, or someone people think might secretly be a demon...

And I'd love to hear other rumors people have come up with.  Stuff like...

"The other day I saw a man swallow an entire devil rat in one bite.  Just unhinged his jaw or something, and down it went..."
"People say they see weird blue lights shining out of the manhole cover on 7th Street."
"I swear the other day, I saw a woman come out of a door in this alleyway, but now it's just bricks.  Where did the door go?"

Or maybe stuff like:
"Never go on 143rd Street by yourself after a fight.  If there's a moon in the sky, they say a ghost of a man shows up, just a floating skin, no bones or guts, and he'll chase you and try to suck your organs out through your open wounds."

It occurs to me that, in a world like Shadowrun, where ignorance is practically currency, and anything is possible, and everyone's up to something...  Rumors like this must be almost a commonplace as AR spam-ads.  Maybe just quoting Plan 9 would work...

[Sendaz]

One in particular I'm curious to hear is, if there was a single person who was "the strongest", in the Barrens, is there an NPC who'd fit that?  By strong I mean like...  Both in a fight, and just someone you don't mess with.  Whether it's a gang leader, or a shadowrunner, or someone people think might secretly be a demon...

Mungo, you seek Mungo
If you listen to the street you will hear more than a few tales of Mungo and if you ask Uncle CanRay very nicely he may even tell you which ones are true.

Though Growler might have given him a run for his money.
Remember those jokes about Sammies losing more hydraulic fluid than blood when cut?  Growler was living proof of that claim.

And I'd love to hear other rumors people have come up with.  It occurs to me that, in a world like Shadowrun, where ignorance is practically currency, and anything is possible, and everyone's up to something...  Rumors like this must be almost a commonplace as AR spam-ads.  Maybe just quoting Plan 9 would work...

Well you can always try your luck in La Grande Risqué, but just remember to never count your assets at the table and they don't take UCAS Express.

[firebug]

Hehe, Mungo and Growler I like.  And that La Grande Risque is really cool, thanks!

[ScytheKnight]

Depends a bit on the scale of your game...

Are your players roaming the Barrens? Then you'll be more concerned about major power players ad possibly bigger Go-Gangs (lack of any real law makes player's vehicles getting attacked more prevalent.)

Are they roaming a district like Touristville, Bargain Basement or Glow City? then you'll want who's top of the pile in that district. This could be a few people who are tops of different piles.

Are they squatters just trying to make do and unlikely to move further than a few blocks? Then you'll likely just want to focus in on the local gangs.

However all this does get hit for a spin if you're setting up in someplace like the Chicago or Boston QZs, you'll then have other things to worry about as well.

[firebug]

The players are more or less entry-level runner in power (no alternate creation rules) but will be dealing with gang stuff and territory conflicts in Kingsgate.  The idea is for them to be sort of carving their own haven in the barrens the same way a gang would at first.

As time goes on, obviously they'd be making such a name for themselves that others would be interested.  But the focus of the game will be conflict between gangs.