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Shadowrun Cutting Black Sourcebook Review Posted

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Michael Chandra

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« Reply #15 on: <01-12-20/1542:44> »
Honestly, this whole mess seems the perfect moment for one of my KE NPCs to retire, which was in fact already planned for 2081. Perfect timing, really. ^_^
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Horsemen

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« Reply #16 on: <01-12-20/1638:13> »
Honestly, this whole mess seems the perfect moment for one of my KE NPCs to retire, which was in fact already planned for 2081. Perfect timing, really. ^_^

I gather this NPC wouldn't feel ethically motivated to stay on and help those in need of law and order within what is now a zone of chaos?

Unless he is of course objecting to what Ares and Knight Errant are doing.  :o
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Michael Chandra

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« Reply #17 on: <01-12-20/1655:27> »
Honestly, going freelancer and cutting a few deals with Dragons sounds like a better idea for him. ;D Urubia and Kalanyr both have interests they want protected, especially after <spoiler> did <spoiler> in the Free Seattle adventure.
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« Reply #18 on: <01-12-20/1714:11> »
Honestly, going freelancer and cutting a few deals with Dragons sounds like a better idea for him. ;D Urubia and Kalanyr both have interests they want protected, especially after <spoiler> did <spoiler> in the Free Seattle adventure.

Fair and Exactly!  ;)
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wraith

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« Reply #19 on: <01-17-20/0133:54> »
Read the book to find out more.

I think this sums things up for me pretty succinctly. At present, all we have are one persons’ comments/thoughts and given the scope of the changes, I’ll need to dive and and see exactly how it plays I it and sits.

At the same time, nothing in that summary says to me that this is a thing I need to own or read, because at best it would generate a huge headache for me to use in game since my tables generally aren't Just Mages. There are precious few ways someone with most of their spine replaced with cyberware (wired reflexes) or heavy duty headware like an encephalon survives in those cities as described.  Especially a SINless someone who doesn't have a support system to get them medical treatment at the best of times... and with much of the transportation infrastructure run by Grid Guide down, the metroplex starts to starve in 72 hours at the outside.

Banshee

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« Reply #20 on: <01-17-20/0707:19> »
Read the book to find out more.

I think this sums things up for me pretty succinctly. At present, all we have are one persons’ comments/thoughts and given the scope of the changes, I’ll need to dive and and see exactly how it plays I it and sits.

At the same time, nothing in that summary says to me that this is a thing I need to own or read, because at best it would generate a huge headache for me to use in game since my tables generally aren't Just Mages. There are precious few ways someone with most of their spine replaced with cyberware (wired reflexes) or heavy duty headware like an encephalon survives in those cities as described.  Especially a SINless someone who doesn't have a support system to get them medical treatment at the best of times... and with much of the transportation infrastructure run by Grid Guide down, the metroplex starts to starve in 72 hours at the outside.

That's just it, there is a lot more to it than that ... nothing in Cutring Black has wiped out cyberware or infrastructure. Is there some deaths and whatnot caused by the blackouts ... yes, but it is nowhere near as bad as an apocalyptic setback to the stone ages that is being interpreted. It was all a very temporary thing done to chaos and assert control by some as yet unknown entities
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Aria

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« Reply #21 on: <01-17-20/0754:40> »
Anyone know when the blackouts happen relative to the timeline?  I'm guessing that they will happen after Free Seattle (otherwise it would be improbable that it didn't play a part in that...), want to stick to canon as far as possible and looking forward to getting my hands on this (well the digital version anyway, no time/space for dead trees any more)
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Banshee

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« Reply #22 on: <01-17-20/0757:48> »
Anyone know when the blackouts happen relative to the timeline?  I'm guessing that they will happen after Free Seattle (otherwise it would be improbable that it didn't play a part in that...), want to stick to canon as far as possible and looking forward to getting my hands on this (well the digital version anyway, no time/space for dead trees any more)

Honestly don't know a whole lot about Free Seattle,  but isn't the focus there on Seattle becoming a free state? If aobthat is one of the consequences of Cutting Black
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Sphinx

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« Reply #23 on: <01-17-20/1116:16> »
Free Seattle is a series of shadowruns that take place during a summit in mid-2080 where dignitaries representing several factions meet to discuss the pros and cons of Seattle becoming an independent free state. As far as I can tell, the city blackouts in the UCAS happen after Free Seattle, but before Seattle declares independence.

Wakshaani

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« Reply #24 on: <01-18-20/0205:06> »
Anyone know when the blackouts happen relative to the timeline?  I'm guessing that they will happen after Free Seattle (otherwise it would be improbable that it didn't play a part in that...), want to stick to canon as far as possible and looking forward to getting my hands on this (well the digital version anyway, no time/space for dead trees any more)

Sure.

The first one hits on All Hallow's Eve. The next few are within about 24 hours of that, but smaller in effect. a few more dribble in after that, but I forget the exact time frame. There's … ten-ish? In all? Maybe a dozen.

Lots of other stuff happen too, of course, but it all starts on Oct 31st, with Philly getting hit by the largest.

Michael Chandra

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« Reply #25 on: <01-18-20/0516:02> »
Why didn't anyone tell me about Vogel and Knight?! O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O______________O

Also, the Sea Dragon can go straight to hell as far as I'm concerned, but that's because I don't like people who kidnap babies.

As for my NPC, given how KE's screwed up by following the Ares party line, putting their contracts at risk, I'd say not only my NPC bailed, but his underlings also decided KE no longer holds a proper future for them. So my new headcanon is that four squads of KE Seattle HTR have now gone freelance and are cutting deals with Urubia and Kalanyr to do dirty work and security for them in cases where their interests aren't conflicting.
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Wakshaani

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« Reply #26 on: <01-18-20/1013:48> »
K and V is one of the things I was sitting on. I wasn't about to let THAT one slip. :D

Keep reading! There's more stuff in there. Mwu-hahaha.

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« Reply #27 on: <01-18-20/1708:06> »
There are far worse things revealed within those pages! Already trying to work some of this into upcoming campaigns.
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« Reply #28 on: <01-21-20/2111:55> »
Just did a search for the code name for the Ares operation in Detroit.  Per Wikipedia: "It is an aggressive but rather dubious choice for Black which often leads to wild and tricky positions."

No kidding.
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FastJack

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« Reply #29 on: <01-21-20/2139:10> »
K and V is one of the things I was sitting on. I wasn't about to let THAT one slip. :D

Keep reading! There's more stuff in there. Mwu-hahaha.
Of course this ruins my mega-adventure that focuses on Aurelius' daughter stealing Ares from Knight... le sigh