Shadowrun

Catalyst Game Labs => Official Announcements => Topic started by: JM_Hardy on <02-15-12/1400:55>

Title: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: JM_Hardy on <02-15-12/1400:55>
The newest Shadowrun PDF-only product is now out--Safehouses, which tells you all you need to know about the special places you go when you need to lie low (Battleshop (http://www.battlecorps.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2944), DriveThruRPG (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=99534)). Yeah, internal rhyme is my friend. Anyway, here's more info:

HIDING FROM THE HEAT

If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will. A run will go south. People will be looking for you. Their eyes will be everywhere—your home, your friends’ houses, the places you hang out, even the spots where you buy your soykaf. They’re looking for you, waiting for you, and when they find you, they’re not going to talk. It’ll be a single shot, or a flash of sharp steel, and you’ll be done.

To avoid this, you need to lay low. You need a place where no one will look for you, and where you’ll have enough of life’s basics to get you by. Don’t know where to find such a place? You’re in luck, chummer—we’ve got the guide for you. Whether your acquiring and stocking your own bolt hole or engaging professional safehouse managers, we’ve got the info you need to live to fight another day.

Safehouses is a supplement for Shadowrun, Twentieth Anniversary Edition that provides both flavor text and rules to help runners acquire or find the hideouts they need to stay out of harm’s way. It includes sample safehouses, equipment suggestions for the well-stocked hideaway, and safehouse creation rules that work with the Advanced Lifestyles rules from Runner’s Companion. Get Safehouses, stay safe, and be ready to charge back into the shadows once the trouble you’re in has blown over.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <02-15-12/1409:44>
Very nice.  Can't quite place where I know the name of the author, however...
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Mirikon on <02-15-12/1422:14>
Yay!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: FastJack on <02-15-12/1436:05>
Judging by the JackPoint opening page, I'm going to assume that it's Clockwork's account we're viewing...
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: All4BigGuns on <02-15-12/1505:27>
Just picked it up. Looks good so far.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Sichr on <02-15-12/1515:18>
bought. downloaded...quequed for reading :)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Mirikon on <02-15-12/1539:47>
OK, read through it, and I gotta say I love it.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Keita on <02-15-12/1548:55>
Bought and read. Love it!  ;D Now having ideas for an addition to my "team" of shadowrunners...*rubs hands together gleefully*
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Black on <02-15-12/1824:09>
So.. whats up with Toronto?... 8)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Chrona on <02-16-12/0319:34>
Very nice.  Can't quite place where I know the name of the author, however...
Congrats CanRay! Proud of you!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Black on <02-16-12/0348:52>
Very nice.  Can't quite place where I know the name of the author, however...
Congrats CanRay! Proud of you!

Really? WOW!  Congrats CanRay!  Soooooooo coooooool!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Mathias on <02-16-12/1443:56>
Judging by the JackPoint opening page, I'm going to assume that it's Clockwork's account we're viewing...

What was interesting was the item in the alets on the left-hand side - "twenty-seven people have removed you from their list of contacts" - that suggests something more recent than the Clockwork/Netcat thing, so I'm thinking it's someone other than Clockwork, unless he's done something more recent.  It's also always said "Welcome to JackPoint, chummer" - the "YOU BASTARD" is for just this book, which also makes me think this is someone who's only recently ticked off the others.

The homework mention on the login page and the homework mention in the graffitti on the last page was also cute.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: FastJack on <02-16-12/1647:53>
Judging by the JackPoint opening page, I'm going to assume that it's Clockwork's account we're viewing...

What was interesting was the item in the alets on the left-hand side - "twenty-seven people have removed you from their list of contacts" - that suggests something more recent than the Clockwork/Netcat thing, so I'm thinking it's someone other than Clockwork, unless he's done something more recent.  It's also always said "Welcome to JackPoint, chummer" - the "YOU BASTARD" is for just this book, which also makes me think this is someone who's only recently ticked off the others.

The homework mention on the login page and the homework mention in the graffitti on the last page was also cute.
See, I'm thinking it's Clockwork because of the comment about TM Safehouses being "Piggy Banks". I'm thinking that shortly after the comments were posted, he was caught doing something nobody liked.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Mirikon on <02-16-12/1709:14>
I have to agree. Clockwork is pretty much the only Jackpointer that has that level of antipathy going towards him. Even though Pistons may not have forgiven Haze, they at least haven't gotten into any arguments recently. And while Bull and Frosty might not be on speaking terms, they at least have always been civil on Jackpoint. Of all the feuds, Clockwork's is the only one where most of Jackpoint is lined up on one side or the other, including most of the people who could change his login screen to read "YOU BASTARD".
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <02-16-12/1829:47>
How many users threatened the little child of fellow members recently?  Especially if my theory is correct about FastJack being the Godfather of said kid?
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Angelone on <02-16-12/1957:18>
Bought it, like the Rikki Ratboy tribute.  :'( Fastjack seems to be losing it, broken eggs? Whoever the login screen belongs to they seem to be in trouble, barely any gas, commlinks almost dead, and a shaped charge going off near them, good times.

Edit- WEDGE! Canray I love you!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: All4BigGuns on <02-16-12/2016:22>
If I read the 'author' right, much props to you CanRay. I think you did a very good job with this one.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Raventrickster on <02-17-12/0302:15>
Great book, good fiction, sound reasoning behind different choices and a way to make a reasonably priced shipping container bolthole within the advanced lifestyle rules.  Excellent job Canray
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: rasmusnicolaj on <02-17-12/0331:53>
More stuff to spend money on? Must be some kind of a conspiracy.
Well I better by it and read it now and see what CanRay has come up with  ;D

Rasmus
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Sichr on <02-17-12/0357:24>
Oh God. Just please dont make this another Clockwork oriented topic again :P
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: redwolf on <02-17-12/0405:49>
Oh God. Just please dont make this another Clockwork oriented topic again :P
nop it's  CAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN  RAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY oriented ;D
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <02-17-12/1344:58>
Thanks a lot folks.  This is only the start I hope.  ;D
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Digital_Viking on <02-17-12/1428:53>
Great work CanRay - glad to have purchased it.

And just for Sichr:

ClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockwork
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Sichr on <02-17-12/1555:23>
I love that guy :)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: JustADude on <02-17-12/1755:40>
ClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockwork

I... I don't know whether to Smite or Applaud, here...
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <02-17-12/1801:22>
ClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockworkClockwork
I... I don't know whether to Smite or Applaud, here...
Both.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-05-12/1603:13>
OK... I'm just blown away. Safehouses is still in the Top Ten at Drive-Thru RPG! Almost two months after release! Coming out on the same week the MARVEL RPG came out and conquered the #1 spot like Conan and Wolverine teaming up for a "King of the Hill" battle royale!

Thanks to all of you who bought it and helped keep it in that spot!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Mirikon on <04-05-12/1612:32>
Hey, it is quality stuff. As nice as it is to have a shiny new gun, the little things that allow you to add some flair to your character and flesh out their life is what really does it for me. One of the reasons I like the world-building parts of the books so much. One of the gems in Twilight Horizon, for instance, is the part in the back where they give some examples of Personafix chips, which haven't really gotten much attention. Even gag products like Street Legends Home Edition give me ideas I can use.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-05-12/2235:25>
Well, that's what I was aiming at.  And, yes, I'm listening to what people have to say about what was missing in Safehouses as well.

And have more ideas as well.  Just a matter of waiting and such.

But, I mean, in the Top Ten for almost two months???  That just...  It blows me away and makes me cry manly tears.   :'(
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: FastJack on <04-06-12/2347:42>
I didn't know canucks could cry. Unless they ran out of Lablatt. ;)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-07-12/0026:39>
I didn't know canucks could cry. Unless they ran out of Lablatt. ;)
Wayne Gretzky retiring was also cause for a good cry.

I'm also out of Blue and Canadian.   :'(
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: AJCarrington on <04-07-12/0901:22>
"Labatt"  ;D

AJC
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: FastJack on <04-07-12/1335:03>
"Labatt"  ;D

AJC
Gotcha. :)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-07-12/1644:10>
Be glad we're laid back Canadians, that's one of those things that will get you into fights in Canada, dissing our beer.  ;D
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Angelone on <04-07-12/1709:12>
PBR?

As a side note, beer is serious business.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Digital_Viking on <04-07-12/1801:52>
PBR?

As a side note, beer is serious business.

Truth
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Smiley on <04-09-12/1312:30>
Agreed!
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Starglyte on <04-13-12/1018:21>
Bah all this talking about how good Safehouses got me to buy it. Hopefully we will see another Runner's Black Book style release for the new pdfs.  :)
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-13-12/1557:13>
Bah all this talking about how good Safehouses got me to buy it. Hopefully we will see another Runner's Black Book style release for the new pdfs.  :)
Thank you.  ;D

What did you think of it?
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Starglyte on <04-13-12/2209:09>
Loved the  humor in the game systems section. Funny as it sounds, I got a kick reading the qualities for the safe-houses. Doesn't hurt that I always had a soft spot for  toolkit supplements that detail where PCs hang their hats.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-13-12/2327:09>
Loved the  humor in the game systems section. Funny as it sounds, I got a kick reading the qualities for the safe-houses. Doesn't hurt that I always had a soft spot for  toolkit supplements that detail where PCs hang their hats.
Or their lined coats, as Rikki Ratboy said.  ;D
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Ryo on <04-16-12/0454:56>
Pretty cool book, loved the humor in the jackpointers going back and forth. My only critique is in the qualities. For many of them, they don't really mention what they do mechanically. They add great flavor to a hidey hole, sure, but paying LP, or worse, gaining LP, for qualities that don't seem to have a tangible impact is a little iffy to me. For example, Maid's on Vacation and Hell's Waiting Room. Both are well described and add a nice atmosphere, but I can't really tell what effect either one has.

There's also Leaky Faucet and Noisy Neighborhood, which sound like they have the exact same effect, unable to sleep, but for two different costs.

The actual writing is great though, and I'm glad a resource like this has been made. Nicely done, CanRay. How did you get that Freelancing gig, anyhow?
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-16-12/0839:06>
Pretty cool book, loved the humor in the jackpointers going back and forth. My only critique is in the qualities. For many of them, they don't really mention what they do mechanically. They add great flavor to a hidey hole, sure, but paying LP, or worse, gaining LP, for qualities that don't seem to have a tangible impact is a little iffy to me. For example, Maid's on Vacation and Hell's Waiting Room. Both are well described and add a nice atmosphere, but I can't really tell what effect either one has.

There's also Leaky Faucet and Noisy Neighborhood, which sound like they have the exact same effect, unable to sleep, but for two different costs.

The actual writing is great though, and I'm glad a resource like this has been made. Nicely done, CanRay. How did you get that Freelancing gig, anyhow?
Maid's On Vacation and Hell's Waiting Room are both RP qualities that should be great ways to earn Karma.  Remember, it's GMs that make Safehouses, not PCs.  Essentially, how do the characters deal with the issues of having to live in a massive mess, or with the psychological raw nerves?

You can do something about Noisy Neighborhood (At the risk of revealing yourself and making some local enemies who might snitch you out), while Leaky Faucet is a part of the building itself and nothing you do will help with it.  (Other than the aforementioned ear plugs or SimDreams V2.7.).

Thanks for the kind words, I thought it was something that would be useful to a lot of groups.  Certainly seems so, as it's still on the Hottest Items list on Drive-Thru RPG as of this date.  ;D

As for landing this gig.  Luck.  Pure and simple.  Right place, right contacts, right time.  Like nailing that one Shadowrun that sets the person up for life.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Digital_Viking on <04-16-12/1046:29>

As for landing this gig.  Luck.  Pure and simple.  Right place, right contacts, right time.  Like nailing that one Shadowrun that sets the person up for life.

And a heap of talent, which The Powers That Be have wisely recognized.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <04-02-13/0340:40>
Just a reminder folks that my first book is still available for sale!  ;D
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Eric da MAJ on <07-18-17/1306:23>
I see a lot of runners making a mistake with their so-called "safe house". It's obviously not a safe house but a headquarters - an expensive and permanent HQ.  An HQ is just a nice fat, juicy, surface to air missile target for enemies more powerful and more sneaky than you could reasonably deal with.  It's called Shadowrun for a reason.

Real safe house ideas>

1. Davy Jones Locker. A strategically placed, fully stocked, waterproof storage container sunk up river from the bridge where you jump your Suzuki Mirage during a dramatic high-speed chase.  Just add a retractable remotely operated cable to drag you there and apparatus to ensure you have breathable air for a month and you're good to go.

2. Grandma's. No, not YOUR grandma. Just an old homeless lady with most of her mental facilities left.  You throw on a magic disguise, introduce yourself as her long lost nephew, and graciously put her up in a medium lifestyle apartment in another town.  You keep the Nuyen flowing for food, rent, trid and drop by once in a while to maintain your role with her and the neighborhood.  When the drek hits the fan, of course grandma will take you in.  And if necessary your five weird looking poker buddies.  Just keep your feet off the furniture and be nice to the cats.

3. Road Trip.  Get another storage container, fully stocked. Put a label on it such as "toxic manure".  Contract random truck companies via the matrix to haul it randomly throughout North America on secondary roads.  You might even send it on a slow boat to China. Once there, get rejected by customs and get a slow boat back.

4. Dirt Nap.  Buy a mausoleum "to replace the old family plot which is flooded or full" under a fake SIN.  Stock it with coffins full of supplies.  Get inhumed when the drek hits the fan.  In this option you can add alarms, matrix connections, security cams, even guards.  Gotta keep the ancestors safe from ghouls after all. 

5. Temp.  Work a deal with a Johnson to get a job nights at a distant Stuffer Shack (like Neo Tokyo) in lieu of payment, date TBD, under a fake SIN.  Rotate to different coffin hotels. Practice: "Do you want soy fries and flavor packs with that?".

6. Shell Game.  Set up all five of these options. Choose one. Monitor the other four. If one gets raided it will tell you volumes about your communication security and/or friends.  Admittedly this is only an option for a well heeled runner.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Kiirnodel on <07-18-17/1900:52>
Woah there, quite the thread necromancy going on here.

Eric, if you were wanting to start a discussion about proper Safehouse choices, I suggest starting a new thread in the General Discussions section.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Sendaz on <07-18-17/1909:32>
Maybe he was stuck in one of his 'safehouse' containers for a couple of years until just recently? :P
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: &#24525; on <07-19-17/0127:33>
Just like this back-up *zing*
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Eric da MAJ on <07-20-17/1442:03>
With the speed this forum used to move at, it took me this long to post.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: barkley on <10-24-17/0513:38>
Nice to hear that
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: Prime Mover on <10-24-17/1356:24>
I know its necromancy but what the hell.  My runners actually used Grandma's house back in second edition when they where in London.  Killed two birds with one stone, place to fall back to and a local for some basic intel.
Title: Re: Safehouses now out--stay cool when the heat is on!
Post by: CanRay on <12-06-17/0443:16>
I see a lot of runners making a mistake with their so-called "safe house". It's obviously not a safe house but a headquarters - an expensive and permanent HQ.  An HQ is just a nice fat, juicy, surface to air missile target for enemies more powerful and more sneaky than you could reasonably deal with.  It's called Shadowrun for a reason.

Real safe house ideas>

1. Davy Jones Locker. A strategically placed, fully stocked, waterproof storage container sunk up river from the bridge where you jump your Suzuki Mirage during a dramatic high-speed chase.  Just add a retractable remotely operated cable to drag you there and apparatus to ensure you have breathable air for a month and you're good to go.

2. Grandma's. No, not YOUR grandma. Just an old homeless lady with most of her mental facilities left.  You throw on a magic disguise, introduce yourself as her long lost nephew, and graciously put her up in a medium lifestyle apartment in another town.  You keep the Nuyen flowing for food, rent, trid and drop by once in a while to maintain your role with her and the neighborhood.  When the drek hits the fan, of course grandma will take you in.  And if necessary your five weird looking poker buddies.  Just keep your feet off the furniture and be nice to the cats.

3. Road Trip.  Get another storage container, fully stocked. Put a label on it such as "toxic manure".  Contract random truck companies via the matrix to haul it randomly throughout North America on secondary roads.  You might even send it on a slow boat to China. Once there, get rejected by customs and get a slow boat back.

4. Dirt Nap.  Buy a mausoleum "to replace the old family plot which is flooded or full" under a fake SIN.  Stock it with coffins full of supplies.  Get inhumed when the drek hits the fan.  In this option you can add alarms, matrix connections, security cams, even guards.  Gotta keep the ancestors safe from ghouls after all. 

5. Temp.  Work a deal with a Johnson to get a job nights at a distant Stuffer Shack (like Neo Tokyo) in lieu of payment, date TBD, under a fake SIN.  Rotate to different coffin hotels. Practice: "Do you want soy fries and flavor packs with that?".

6. Shell Game.  Set up all five of these options. Choose one. Monitor the other four. If one gets raided it will tell you volumes about your communication security and/or friends.  Admittedly this is only an option for a well heeled runner.
I think I adequately described which to use for what.   ;D

1:  Remember:  Entertainment.  That's going to be a horrible month of no cable trid!

2:  This was in the book, not directly, but insinuated.  I've also used this as a meet-up place with a Johnson the group already knew (as opposed to one a Fixer was setting them up with.).

3:  Walking The Earth.  Again, described in the book.

4:  Ah yes, the Jake Armitage Special!  From the SNES cartridge to Shadowrun:  Returns, your favorite ghoul(ish) Dog Shaman/Street Samurai/Decker Galore at his finest!

5:  I think most 'runners will be eating their gun before the week is out.  I also introduced my group to Sixth World call centres, and they refuse to enter them ever again.  Even if they did kidnap one of their favorite NPCs from one.

6:  That implies an interconnection you don't want with Safehouses and Bolt Holes.  If one gets burned bad enough, it can lead to the others.  Recording and looking at the details later, OTOH...

Glad to have someone narco this thread nicely.  Always happy to revisit my first book.   ;D

I know its necromancy but what the hell.  My runners actually used Grandma's house back in second edition when they where in London.  Killed two birds with one stone, place to fall back to and a local for some basic intel.
Sweet to know!

My group met up with a Johnson at a poor old lady's house who thought they were her various grandkids.  Yes, even when one was a dwarf and another a troll (she was really far gone.).  It brightened up her day, and she had no idea they were talking about doing a 'run into San Diego Comic Con.   ;D