NEWS

Books to help RPG player's

  • 29 Replies
  • 46528 Views

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« on: <09-30-12/0614:15> »
Here a few books to help RPG player's get in to roles like police officers, Criminals and so on

If anyone can find any other books that would help players just post it here. If any one can find a book on how hitmen work it would be great.

Body Trauma: A Writer's Guide to Wounds and Injuries
This is a great book to show how Injuries to character would effect them.

HowDunit - The Book of Poisons

Even though shadowrun has different poisons this book could help you understand how poisons effect's people. 

Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers
Great book on how police handle investigations. To help GM and players know how they might be found out by seeing how lone star works to find them,

Howdunit Forensics
This book gives you information on how forensics work so you can know how to really erase your tracks.

Missing Persons (Howdunit Writing)
With Missing Persons in hand you'll find the types that commonly become PIs - ex-cops, macho criminal wannabes, reporters; the easiest people to find (men, property owners and professionals) and the hardest (women, scoundrels and those with common names); profiles of the missing and profiles of those searching; how and why people hide

Howdunit: How Crimes Are Committed and Solved
The ultimate reference on the dark world of criminals and those who oppose them! Readers will learn how crimes are plotted, committed, investigated and solved. This hefty reference includes chapters from nine of the books in the "Howdunit" crime series, as well as thirteen new chapters on key topics, such as property crime, gangs and the drug trade. Boertlein also offers a huge glossary of crime words and phrases, plenty of photographs.

Rip-Off: A Writer's Guide to Crimes of Deception (Howdunit Writing)

Some books for Matrix Hackers and Shadowrun teams giving Idea's how to break in to a place.

This books is great for giving matrix hackers idea's how to break in to places or cyber attacks.
Stealing the Network: The Complete Series Collector's Edition
"Stealing the Network: How to Own the Box is a unique book in the fiction department. It combines stories that are fictional, with technology that is real. While none of the stories have happened, there is no reason why they could not. You could argue it provides a road map for criminal hackers, but I say it does something else: it provides a glimpse into the creative minds of some of today's best hackers, and even the best hackers will tell you that the game is a mental one." - from the Foreword to the first Stealing the Network book, How to Own the Box, Jeff Moss, Founder & Director, Black Hat, Inc. and Founder of DEFCON

For the very first time the complete Stealing the Network epic is available in an enormous, over 1000 page volume complete with the final chapter of the saga and a DVD filled with behind the scenes video footage!

These groundbreaking books created a fictional world of hacker superheroes and villains based on real world technology, tools, and tactics. It is almost as if the authors peered into the future as many of the techniques and scenarios in these books have come to pass.

This book gives you more ways to getting in to place tactical idea's for breaking in.
Ninja Hacking: Unconventional Penetration Testing Tactics and Techniques
Ever thought of using the time-tested tactics and techniques of the ancient ninja to understand the mind of today's ninja, the hacker? As a penetration tester or security consultant you no doubt perform tests both externally and internally for your clients that include both physical and technical tests. Throw traditional pen testing methods out the window for now and see how thinking and acting like a ninja can actually grant you quicker and more complete access to a company's assets. Get in before the hacker does with these unorthodox techniques. Use all of the tools that the ninja has: disguise, espionage, stealth, and concealment. Learn how to benefit from these tools by laying your plans, impersonating employees, infiltrating via alarm system evasion, discovering weak points and timing, spyware and keylogging software, and log manipulation and logic bombs. And, really, don't you want to be a ninja for a day just because they're cool? Let this book be your excuse!

  • Discusses techniques used by malicious attackers in real-world situations
  • Details unorthodox penetration testing techniques by getting inside the mind of a ninja
  • Expands upon current penetration testing methodologies including new tactics for hardware and physical attacks

Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security Teams
Most IT security teams concentrate on keeping networks and systems safe from attacks from the outside-but what if your attacker was on the inside? While nearly all IT teams perform a variety of network and application penetration testing procedures, an audit and test of the physical location has not been as prevalent. IT teams are now increasingly requesting physical penetration tests, but there is little available in terms of training. The goal of the test is to demonstrate any deficiencies in operating procedures concerning physical security.

Featuring a Foreword written by world-renowned hacker Kevin D. Mitnick and lead author of The Art of Intrusion and The Art of Deception, this book is the first guide to planning and performing a physical penetration test. Inside, IT security expert Wil Allsopp guides you through the entire process from gathering intelligence, getting inside, dealing with threats, staying hidden (often in plain sight), and getting access to networks and data.

Low Tech Hacking: Street Smarts for Security Professionals
« Last Edit: <03-06-13/0825:14> by Basic »
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

AJCarrington

  • *
  • Global Moderator
  • Ace Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2018
« Reply #1 on: <11-19-12/0648:18> »
These are great - thank you.

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #2 on: <11-19-12/1726:47> »
No problem if you find any other books that would be great :)
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

JustADude

  • *
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 3043
  • Madness? This! Is! A FORUM!
« Reply #3 on: <11-19-12/1849:00> »
Actually, think we could get this pinned? It really is a great reading list.
“What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.”
― Albert Einstein

"Being average just means that half of everyone you meet is better than you."
― Me

Black

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1620
  • Rocking the Shadows since 1990
« Reply #4 on: <11-19-12/2342:35> »
Actually, think we could get this pinned? It really is a great reading list.

Concur, FastJack, could you please pin this topic?

Thanks!
Perception molds reality
Change perception and reality will follow
SR1+SR2+SR3++SR4+hb+++B?UB+IE+W+sa+m-gmM--P

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #5 on: <11-21-12/0025:52> »
It would be great if he could do that.
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

FastJack

  • *
  • Administrator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 6364
  • Kids these days...
« Reply #6 on: <11-21-12/0754:28> »
"And lo, on the 21st day, the topic was stickyethed and all was good."

FastJack

  • *
  • Administrator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 6364
  • Kids these days...
« Reply #7 on: <11-21-12/0803:42> »
Of course, now that it's stickyed, I expect great things in this thread. Not only books on how to think like a 'Runner, but on all aspects of the game. And, much like Bull's Art Thread, I suggest a "book tax" on the thread. Meaning, try to add books as often as you can to your posts. I'll start with a favorite of mine (although it's now over 10 years old...):

Fantasy Roleplaying Gamer's Bible

This book looks through all aspects of gaming, from the types of gamers, how to run good games, why games are important, and some popular games to pick up (Shadowrun is featured in the book). It's also a great book to hand to those loved ones that "don't get it" to help them understand why this is a big part of our lives.


FastJack

  • *
  • Administrator
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 6364
  • Kids these days...

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #9 on: <11-21-12/1203:52> »
This is a great for your shadowrun team to read it will give them idea's on how to break in to places other then using brute force.

Ninja Hacking: Unconventional Penetration Testing Tactics and Techniques

This book should give GM's Idea's for matrix runs.

Stealing the Network: The Complete Series Collector's Edition, Final Chapter, and DVD

This book should help GM's and Players giving there characters more depth.

Writer's Guide to Character Traits

This one should give you Idea's on the type of plot you want to run for your player's.

20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them
« Last Edit: <11-21-12/1219:20> by Basic »
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #10 on: <11-27-12/2221:06> »

This book can help you make a truly memorable antagonist
Bullies, Bastards And Bitches: How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction

This book can help you get to know your characters more in depth.
What Would Your Character Do?: Personality Quizzes for Analyzing Your Characters.
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

JustADude

  • *
  • Prime Runner
  • *****
  • Posts: 3043
  • Madness? This! Is! A FORUM!
« Reply #11 on: <12-01-12/2106:23> »
Not a book, but a very nice website that offers some very clear insights into the world Shadowrunners live in.

I already posted about it HERE, but here's a transcription of the articles I cherry-picked for those that don't want to follow the link:

Quote
"Advice to Writers": An article that has some decent tips on how to portray a compelling bad-guy type, and how disposable minions generally really act when confronted with someone who can obviously slap them silly.

"Street Fighting": An insider view on the real world of high-stakes violence.

"Monkey Dance": How a "normal" person, with no crisis training, tends to respond to an impending conflict.

"Violence Scale": An article about different severities of violence, how the game changes as the stakes rise, and how people handle getting thrown out of their depth.

"Kinds of Violence": The main motivations behind why someone would actually pursue premeditated violence. Several sub-pages with more detail on each.

"Types of Violence": Totally different topic; this page is a rough, front-lines guide to different types of agitated individuals and how to (and how to not) deal with them.

"Best Way To Get Attacked?": Actually an article on several 'no-duh' factors for avoiding physical altercation, and common reasons people don't do them.

"Shadow Dancing": A wonderfully explicit summation of the informal little ways people naturally check situations out. I'm almost totally sure the name is a coincidence.

"High Risk Behavior & When in Rome": All about the different rules of etiquette in different social strata, and what happens if/when you don't shift gears appropriately.

"Alpha Male Behavior": Discourse on how genuine dominant personalities behave, as opposed to people trying to bluster and be self-important. Also more discussions of the realities of street life.
“What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.”
― Albert Einstein

"Being average just means that half of everyone you meet is better than you."
― Me

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #12 on: <01-10-13/1732:08> »
This book help you build some NPC's with more depth also can help you figure out what some of your player character's development might be.
45 Master Characters, Revised Edition: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters

A Writer's Guide to Characterization: Archetypes, Heroic Journeys, and Other Elements of Dynamic Character Development



--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--

Neurosis

  • *
  • Chummer
  • **
  • Posts: 200
  • ain't no rest for the wicked
« Reply #13 on: <02-19-13/1703:26> »
Neat, these are helpful to RPG Designers too.
~"Pirates and bankrobbers, not lawyers and CEOs
Stockbrokers ain't no heroes!"~

***
Devon Oratz//CGL Freelancer
My Blog: tarotAmerican
My RPGs: endTransmission.

Basic

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1153
  • the game is rigged
« Reply #14 on: <03-03-13/2244:27> »
Some books for Matrix Hackers and Shadowrun teams giving Idea's how to break in to a place.

Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security Teams
« Last Edit: <03-03-13/2305:12> by Basic »
--Is today the day you thought about doing something, or the day you did something?--

--We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into hell in the knowledge that we will rise.--