Shadowrun

Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: Lorebane24 on <08-10-18/1755:06>

Title: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-10-18/1755:06>
I am desperate for a game, and Shadowrun, though not my favorite system, is far and away my favorite setting.  However, I'm starting grad school soon, and probably won't be able to fit an in-person or even scheduled online game into my schedule, so I'm looking back at PbP.

I figured I'd toss this up to see if there are enough people here who would be interested in a campaign that would ultimately heavily involve the Sixth World Tarot, using it to tie together and expose the party to several other elements of the plot.  I've got nascent plot ideas that would involve Aztechnology, MCT, a few major street gangs, Wuxing, and the Seelie Court (and maybe Ares), so there are a lot of angles that could be covered.  My lore-savvy is probably above-average, but not to the level of most of the lore-masters on these boards.  Seattle would be the most likely starting point, but I'm open to other places, and I hope for the game to eventually take off to other locales, with Morocco, the Sioux Nation, Metropole, and Asamando being particular likely to come up (y'know, places I've got sourcebooks to use as a springboard).

Also, if enough people want to try something different, I was toying with the idea of having the party being something other than a group of shadowrunners for a different style of game.  I like to imagine, in-universe, people talking about "the Shadows" like they talk about "the Game" in the Wire.  That is to say, someone can be "of the Shadows" without actually being a shadowrunner.  FBI detectives, a fledgling PI agency desperate for jobs - there are a lot of possibilities if anyone is bored with always being a party of Shadowrunners.

I've run shadowrun before, but my system mastery is middling, and I just want to be upfront about that.  I have historically used a lot of house rules (I have like a five page document for them sitting in a file somewhere), but I'd be very clear about any that would incorporated and open to a reasonable discussion on whether or not they go too far in a particular direction (for the most part, I nerf summoning, don't allow TMs for PCs (could change if I can either find a rework I like or Kill Code adequately addresses them).  I've got some stuff to make aspected magicians far more workable, and have put together a list of adjusted karma costs that I feel better reflect how they would impact a game in the style I hope to run (stand outs: combat style qualities are a little cheaper, Adept Ways are a little cheaper, and the very high-value negative qualities that are mostly roleplaying don't yield as much bonus karma (Corporate SIN, for example).  Finally, I usually use the "sum-to-ten" rules for character generation, with a caveat that a character can still only have a single A priority.

I'd be looking at something that's more on the black trenchcoat/mirrorshades end of things.  A character proficient in combat is by no means a bad thing, but a dedicated street samurai would probably be pretty bored.

And for a final note, I feel I ought to be upfront that, especially when I run shadowrun, my games tend to get kind of adult.  It's a gritty world that doesn't always, or even often, have happy endings, so there is a chance that human rights could will be violated, (fantasy) prejudices will be explored, and children could get hurt, though this is more to highlight the wrongs of the Sixth World than to relish in the edginess of it.  As such, PCs would most frequently be dealing with the aftermath of such incidents and not seeing purple prose of a guy being tortured - but bad things do happen in Shadowrun.

So, with all that being said, would anyone be interested?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-10-18/1940:22>
I would with the caveat that I might be a little slow for the first few weeks -- One more week in the job that has been sucking up my time, energy, and life (and which led me to drop almost all of my PBP games a year ago), then four weeks of doing it two days a week while transitioning into a new job, then fully into the new job (which I'm sure will keep me busy, but shouldn't be as insane and a shorter commute will help too).  I'm sure I could get a character built and some posts up, but more deeply researched or carefully worked out posts might be fifty days out for me.

Would be up for playing almost anything.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-10-18/2021:00>
Cool, Beta is into it!  I found my old house rules documents and reviewed them.  I had forgotten that I had written up a Technomancer overhaul I wanted to test out, so they're on the table.  I figure I should get those up here so you guys can see what you'd be working with.  These were originally written for a group of entirely new players, so there's some stuff in there you can skip over at the beginnings.  I've included my reasoning for each of these changes, but one I can see being contentious is the changed to how spirits work, and this what I ask you to keep in mind - it's a nerf to how versatile summoning is in the world as a whole, not just to PCs.  It is going to take some doing to convince me that, in spite of some costs and risks behind summoning, it does not provide a disproportionate benefit to the investment it requires.  I aim to address this, and the problems I have run into in the pasts with "oversummoning."  I want spirits to stay kind of special, and I've seen too many games devolve into a spiritual arms race.  The changes to how magic works, and what is viable, will be reflected in the game world - most Awakened NPCs you deal with (especially grunts) are going to be aspected magicians (with sorcerers being favored on typical security details).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-10-18/2022:48>
And the rest.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-11-18/0510:53>
I have a concept I'd like to try (Panserbjorn), but I don't know if that meshes with the story you have in mind.
If not I can come up with another concept

But yes, I'm interested
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-11-18/1253:27>
I'm looking at a few options, and have a rules interpretation question that could impact one or two of them:  Adrenalin surge and Lighting reflexes (from Run Faster), in each case do they apply only on meat-space initiative, or do they also apply in matrix and astral initiative situations?  (I've been looking at trying to make an explorer traveler work, and going first in astral combat is so key, given no armor.  Not saying I'm going with that option, depends somewhat on what others are interested in playing, and how niche I can afford to be)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-11-18/1539:47>
I've always read Lightning Reflexes as being intended just for meat-space.  I can see how it could be unclear, but, to me, it looks like it was intended to be a one-time, front-loaded initiative booster for characters who for whatever reason will not be investing in any others.  That being said, all but 5 of your karma on something that gets outscaled (and in not too long) by other types of initiative boosters seems a little much, so I want to say that along with that ruling that it's karma cost will be dropped from 20 to 15.

As for Adrenaline Surge, it's apparent intent doesn't scream one way or another to me, but off-hand I don't see a particular problem with it applying to astral and matrix initiative.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-11-18/1545:53>
I have a concept I'd like to try (Panserbjorn), but I don't know if that meshes with the story you have in mind.
If not I can come up with another concept

But yes, I'm interested

Do you mean the armored bears from Golden Compass?  Generally, I'm not a huge fan of metavariants and metasapients as PCs, at least until I get some more experience as a shadowrun GM under my belt.  I'm pretty disenclined towards metasapients at all, and metavarients I'd prefer to handle on a case by case basis.  I think some of them are kind of cool, but I would prefer to at least have a good case made on, for example, why a minotaur character couldn't work just as well as a troll before fully committing to it.

I guess while I'm talking about race, I ought to mention where I stand on infected PCs.  Basically, I want to keep most of them as monsters, but I can definitely see the the appeal in roleplaying one, so I'm open to gnawers, ghouls, and vampires of any race, but in this particular iteration of world, the other infected strains do such a number on the psyche during the transformation that them being even semi-functional members of society is nearly unheard of, with nearly all cases becoming either feral or developing very pronounced superhuman psychosis.

Similarly, I want to avoid AI PCs for now, largely because I am still trying to get my head around the rules for them and how they affect encounter/run design.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-11-18/1607:16>
Don't worry, I'm not talking about Shifters. My concept is human adept with the adept spell from Hard Targets (Shapeshifting).

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-11-18/1616:37>
Oh yeah, that's fine!
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-11-18/1705:00>
Beta: To be first in astral combat, look for intuition if I recall correctly initiative is intuition*2 + 4d6. So maxing up intuition - or even augmenting it if you wish to burn a little - would make you vicious on the astral.

I'll be interested as well, not sure what kind of character -perhaps a decker.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-11-18/1914:53>
Since I couldn't really start of as a bear shapeshifter, I downgraded my concept for the moment to Mountain Lion shifter.
As I said, I don't know if a crazy indian fits your story. If not, I'll create a more gritty, hard boiled detective type.

Bobby „MadCat“ Walker (Amerindian)      
Remaining Karma: 5      
Priorities:      
Resources   E   
Magic   B   
Race   E   
Attributes   B   
Skills   A   
      
Attributes:      
BOD   5   
REA   2(5)   (10 Karma)
AGI   2   (10 Karma)
STR   3   
CHA   4   
INT   6   
LOG   3   
WIL   5   
EDG   2   
MAG   7   
ESS   6   
      
Limit:      
Phys   6   
Ment   6   
Soc   6(7)   
      
Qualities:      
Exceptional Attribute MAG   14   
Quick Healer   3   
Agile Defender   3   
Mentor Spirit (Beast aka: Shark) – Mentor‘s Mask   5   
      
Super Human Psychosis   -2   
National SIN (Sioux)   -5   
In Debt 4   -4   
Did you just call me dumb   -3   
Impassive   -7   
Poor Self Control (Thrill Seeker)   -4   
      
Skillgroups:      
Stealth   6   
Outdoors   4   
      
Skills:      
Unarmed (Tooth and Claw)   6(8)   +3
Spellcasting (Manipulation)   6(8)   
Gymnastics (Dodge)   6(8)   
Perception   6   
Intimidate (Mental)   6(8)   
Armorer (Armor)   1(3)   
Piloting Ground   1   
Pistols   6   
Assensing (Aura Reading)   4(6)   
      
Knowledge Skills:      
English (N)      
Lakota   6   
Arcana   6   
Magical Threats   4   
Underworld   3   
Zoology   5   
Military (Sioux)   3   

Fighting Styles:
OKICHITAW
 + Sweep
 + Counterstrike
      
Contacts:      
Talismonger (Bill Wildwater) 5/2      
Captain Razak (SDF) 4/3      
Lysander (Info Broker) 3/1
Livewire (Neo-Anarchist hacker) 3/3       
      
Adept Powers (Sioux Tradition):      
Killing Hands      
Increased Reflexes  3   3,5   
AGI Boost   0,25   
BOD Boost   0,25   
Astral Perception   1   
Adept Spell (Shapechange, Fetish)   1   
Heightened Concern   0,5   
Critical Strike   0,5   
Elemental Strike (Electricity)   0,5   
Demara   0,5   
      
Equipment   26000   
Fake SIN 2   -4000   
Armored Jacket   -2000   
 + ShockFrills   -250   
Critter Armor 12   -600   
 +Electrical Insulation 6   -1500   
 +Chemical Protection 6   -1500   
Critter Googles R6   -300   
 +Persona Mod (2 Electronic Packs)   -500   
 +Flare compensation   -250   
 +Low Light Vision   -500   
 +Visual Enhancement R3   -1500   
Comlink R1   -100   
Trodes   -70   
Respirator R6   -300   
Survival Kit   -200   
Fetish   -2000   
Livestyle Medium (Shared)   -1900   
1/4 of the Team Car -4000   
Reagents 50   -1000   
Stealth Tags 30   -30   
Medkit R3   -1500   
Miniwelder    -250   
Defiance Ex Shocker   -250   
 +Laser Sight   -125   
 +Quickdraw Holster   -175   
 + 20 Taser Darts   -100   
 +Peronalized Grip   -100   
Luggage (good) (Backpack)   -100   
 + Roll of duct tape   -5   
Amorer Toolkit   -500   
      
Money on Hand   1025   


Background:

Recruiting Interview with Specialist Robert Walker:
Son of War Shaman Yanni "Dark Crow" Walker and Environmental Engineer Elisabeth Miller (official resident).
Born August 12th 2051 in Cheyenne.
Developed strong physical magical talent during highschool, was recruited into Sioux Defense Forces at age 17, recommended for special training at 18. Completed tour of duty at [Classified] and [Classified], talent for infiltration and scout duties. Recommended for special operations, recommendation rescinded due to disciplinary problems.
Barred from further promotions, honorable discharge in 2073. Assessment by Shaman Bill Whitewater indicates severe totemic influence over personality and/or corrupted totem (Hunger/Wendigo classification).
Self employed tourist guide, private detective and suspected mercenary work.
Currently in debted to the Tiošpaye.

Assessment: Ready for recruitment

Cpt. Razak: Mr. Walker, how are you? It's been a while since we met.
Robert Walker: Yeah, long time no see... Could be better, could be worse. Anyone still alive from the 16th?
CR: The 16th never dies - though no, no-one you'd know is still around. I heard you had some trouble recently? Something about a lost consignment for the extended Family?
RW: You looking for trouble? Cause asking stuff like that is a quick way to getting digested by coyotes. I've got nothing to do with those assholes since Charlie took over.
CR: Fair enough. But you are still looking for gainful employment, aren't you? See kid, I always had a week spot for you and your abilities. A real shame that those pencil pushers couldn't overlook that little scuffle you had with Seargent What's-his-name.
RW: Ha. Asshole deserved it.
CR: Well, maybe you didn't have to turn into a Chimpanzee, knock him out and throw your own feces at him.
RW: Didn't have to - wanted.
CR: *Sigh* - Just for your information, it took me considerable effort to prevent them from just throwing you into prison and losing the key. The honorable discharge was the best I could do for you.
RW: And my eternal gratitude it has ensured. What do you want? I've got a child's birthday party to entertain and need to get into character soon.
CR: How would you like to work for a real PI agency? In Seattle. A regular income, no troubles with the NAN authorities, interesting jobs and a new start?
RW: Yeah - what's the catch?
CR: From time to time you'd be approached by someone who gives you a job you can't refuse - still payed of course.
RW: So black ops on forreign soil? Eh, what the hell, I'm in. At least it can't be as boring as the shit I do right here...
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-11-18/1955:38>
I'm tentatively interested, although I don't have Sixth World Tarot for better or worse. I have a couple combat-oriented characters that I've been wanting to experiment with.

I'd very much be down for a "different-style game". I've had a lot of luck with ganger campaigns, personally, and I ran a passable Sioux Wildcats PbP game as well. Some of the old editions have whole sections dedicated to alternative campaigns ideas, which we could tap if the group is interested.

I'll look through the house rule docs soon to see if things will be a good fit. (Probably, as I tend to use lots of house rules myself.)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-12-18/1451:26>
Since I couldn't really start of as a bear shapeshifter, I downgraded my concept for the moment to Mountain Lion shifter.
As I said, I don't know if a crazy indian fits your story. If not, I'll create a more gritty, hard boiled detective type.

Bobby „MadCat“ Walker (Amerindian)      
Stuff

It looks mostly good, but check out the general house rules and magic house rules I put up.  A few of the skills have been folded into broader categories and adepts get a little bump in it.

As for contacts, it might be something to hold off on.  You get the usual points for personal contact, but I also always do a writeup of shared contacts, so there will be a list that includes an arms dealer, a talismonger, a street doc, etc... (all at about connection 3/4) that people will get extra freebie points to spend on loyalty for them.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-12-18/1528:09>
Yeah, i read those and followed them. Thought about taking the Wild Cat style, but ultimately I still felt as if I hadn't enough skills to go around.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-12-18/1532:32>
Initial build:
Burnout adept with cyberarms and cyberlegs. Some social, sneaking, gymnastics and driving.    I did priority, and still need to adopt him to house rules. (e.g. I noticed you wrapped around gun skills).
 

== Personal Data ==
Name: Roberto                   Alias:
Human, Male                     
Movement: 2/4 (2m/hit)                   
Swim: 1 (1m/hit)                     
80, 180                         Composure: 10
Street Cred: 0                  Judge Intentions: 10
Notoriety: 0                    Lift/Carry: 8 (45 kg/30 kg)
Public Awareness: 0             Memory: 10
Karma: 0                        Nuyen: 12,500¥
Age: 30                         Skin: tan
Eyes: Brown                     Hair: Bold
Primary Arm: Right             

== Priorities ==
Metatype: E,0
Attributes: A,4
Special: D,1
Skills: B,3
Resources: C,2

== Attributes ==
BOD: 5                          CHA: 5
AGI: 1 (5) INT: 5
REA: 5 (7) LOG: 5
STR: 1 (3) WIL: 5
EDG: 3                          MAG: 3

== Derived Attributes
Essence: 3.20                   Initiative:          12 +3d6
Physical Damage Track: 15       Rigger Initiative:   12 +3d6
Stun Damage Track:              11Astral Initiative:   10 +3d6
Physical: 6                     Matrix AR:           12 +3d6
Mental: 7                       Matrix Cold:         5 + DP +3d6
   Vision Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Visual))
   Vision Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Visual))
Social: 7                       Matrix Hot:          5 + DP +4d6
   Impassive [-1] (Does not include Intimidation.)
   Securetech PPP: Vitals Kit [-1] (Must be visible)
Astral: 7

 == Active Skills ==
Automatics                      Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Con                             Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Etiquette                       Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 10
Gymnastics                      Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Leadership                      Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 10
Negotiation                     Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 10
Perception                      Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Pilot Ground Craft              Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 13
Sneaking                        Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11

 == Knowledge Skills ==

 == Qualities ==
Adept
Astral Beacon
Big Regret (Not Saving Friend)
Biocompatability (Cyberware)
Consummate Professional
Impassive
The Burnout's Way

 == Powers ==
Combat SenseRating: 1
Improved ReflexesRating: 2

 == Lifestyle ==
Hotels (Traveler) 1  Month
   + Grid Subscription (Public Grid)

 == Cyberware/Bioware ==
Obvious Full Arm (AGI 6, STR 3, Physical 6) (Left)
   + Customized AgilityRating 6
Obvious Full Arm (AGI 6, STR 3, Physical 6) (Right)
   + Customized AgilityRating 6
Obvious Full Leg (AGI 6, STR 3, Physical 6) (Left)
   + Customized AgilityRating 6
Obvious Full Leg (AGI 6, STR 3, Physical 6) (Right)
   + Customized AgilityRating 6

 == Armor ==
Armor Jacket                       14
   + Gel Packs
Forearm Guards                     +1
Helmet                             +2
Securetech PPP: Vitals Kit         +1

 == Weapons ==
AK-97
   + Personalized Grip
   + Smartgun System, External
   Pool: 11     Accuracy: 5 (8) DV: 10P      AP: -2    RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 6     DV: 3S       AP: -     RC: 2
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-12-18/1825:03>
I read the house rules and I liked them. I've always been curious to play with consolidated combat skill groups.

@Lorebane, what are you looking for at this point? Do you want concepts, or sheets, or are you still pondering the possibility of an alternative campaign?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-12-18/2138:20>
Well, we've seen an idea of what a couple people want to make stat-wise, but at this point (especially this being a PbP, where the action is slower) I am also interested in where the characters fit into the world.  For example, one character had Big Regret - I'd love to explore (even if through messaging) what that means, because I'll work that into the plot.

So for now, let's settle on a place and style.  What would everyone's preferences be as far as...

Unless anyone has strong objections, I'd like to start in Seattle, because I already have the beginnings of an arc there.

So what would people prefer as far as premise?  Shadowrunners?  PI Agency?  Government men?  Ultimately, I'm running a SWT game (it's not necesarry for players to have the sourcebook), but there are a few ways it could be approached.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-12-18/2236:43>
SWT = ???

I'm batting around a few character concepts, some of which would fit into some campaigns better than others*.  To a large degree I want the GM to feel interested in the nature of the story, as that makes it easy for me to get really into it.  I guess you could say that when I'm a player, my character plot is more like a vine, and I'm hoping the GM's plot will provide the tree for the vine to climb.

* For instance, the Traveler that I was playing with has a pretty narrow niche -- basic face functions around 14 dice, and strong in the astral, and weak at everything else.  Might work in a private investigation type game, as he'd have his specialization there.  Probably less so as a police unit where they'd probably expect basic competency of all officers.  etc.

(The character grew up as something like an astral addict (like a video game addict, roughly).  Has spent most of his time mooning after unavailable manic-pixie-dream spirits and adventuring in the astral.  Asensing and astral combat come with Traveller, and negotiate, ettiquitte and Con translate over, but he'd be pretty barren on other active skills.  metatype C (elf), Attributes A, Magic C (Traveller), Skill E, Resources C. Str 1 (2 with karma), body 3, reactions 4, agility 5, Logic 4, Willpower 6, Intuition 5(6), Charisma 7.  Enough nuyen for rating one tailored pheromones, intuition booster, and weapon focus, plus a few utility items.).  Natural Athlete, Adrenaline Rush, ten karma on strength leaves 20 karma to buy a lot of one point wonder skills.)



But also looking at some other character ideas, and happy to adapt to the format of the game.

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-12-18/2354:38>
SWT= Sixth World Tarot.  Book of the lost is my big springboard here.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-13-18/0116:35>
I was thinking about a cop, turned into a mercenary/bodyguard to pay the bill. I'll need some more time for a story and the big regret would be a large part of that story, (and it would be difficult to handle policemen). I also like the PI agency, idea or even a gang. Coppers/goverment people seems like a lot of meta-gaming about their organization, the law and so forth which I am not sure that I have the attention to grasp. 

Thus, I prefer to be on the fun side of the law and to know enough about it not to get in trouble. Rather than have it as a binding code.

Beta: Notice that for tailored pheromones 1 - you can use a perfume (Black Panther if I recall correctly.) It has the same effect and should be much cheaper.



Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-13-18/0155:51>
The two builds I have in mind are both orks.

Option A has four redlined cyberlimbs. He's good with the traditional holy trinity of shooty-sneaky-stabby, but also has excellent Perception dice pools that might lend themselves toward an investigation. He's 95% complete and would just some tweaks to his skills and his equipment list to reflect the game's house rules.

Option B is an adept with a cyberarm. This one is more at the concept/priority stage, so maybe only 10% complete. I'm noticing that everyone else is posting Awakened characters so far, which could either be a hook or a liability or both.

Jack Spade already posted a Sioux shapeshifter. I don't have Sixth World Tarot, but if we're aiming for locales with sourcebooks then one possibility is that we could be Sioux government operatives tracking something down in Seattle before hopping back home to the Sioux Nation and then elsewhere from there. (For the record, I thought the Shadows in Focus - Sioux Nation book was superb. I read it twice and would love to run there.) I always thought that the Office of Military Intelligence - basically an independent shadow government - would be a great basis for a game, especially if there's some political intrigue with other governments or other branches of the Sioux government. Sinopa's machinations and personal ambitions could really drive a grand trenchcoat/mirrorshades campaign.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-13-18/0213:16>
Some insight about the rules:

1. Mages and mystic adepts.
I am getting more spells by doing a mystic adept and kicking its spellpower to 6, ignoring the attunement. (ending up with 12 spells and 2 power points), whereas when I build a mage I end up with 9 spells. The reason for that is that I don't get more spells when increasing magic with karma/special attribute points.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-13-18/1155:07>
Lorebane, a quick note that your Technomancer document cuts off mid-sentence, just before telling us how many complex forms TMs get.  (yes, I read the other two days ago -- poor TMs, always an afterthought!)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-13-18/1206:51>
Good catches, thanks!  As far as mystic adepts, perhaps it would be more appropriate to give them spells equal to their spellpower x 1.5 (rounded up) than double their spellpower?  For Technos, I meant for them to have the same number of spell slots as a mage of the same priority to use on complex forms and sprites.  (12 for Priority A, I believe).

Also, the one major thing I noticed on characters so far is armor selections.  It's not that it's bad, but in games I run I always recommend owning at least one suit of semi-concealable or inconspicuous armor.  The way I've always played it is that you can probably wear an armored jacket into a dive bar, but that's like the upper limit, and no one will think you're not there to cause trouble if you wear one to a mid-range+ restaurant or in Bellevue.  Especially if it's covered in Gel Packs.  I have always run with the assumption that an armored vest is light enough to conceal beneath most clothing, but will show through a tailored suit, and second skin armor will fit comfortably under anything.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-13-18/1300:32>
@Tecumseh

I'd certainly be up for a premise like that. As it is, the character is ex-military and now something of a bounty hunter - good at tracking, sneaking up and subduing people.
He is a bit too unstable for regular government sanctioned work, but certainly a very useful "deniable asset"


@Lorebane
Regarding polite armor: I went with the Sioux Nation book which describes amor jackets as acceptable wear pretty everywhere inside the First Nations territories. Of course, once we are outside of that, a few bugs might have to be spent on better attire (although Bobby certainly won't fit in such an environment, unless he takes the form of a tiny dog in a handbag)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-13-18/1340:12>
@Lorebane -- How do you feel about 'used' (aka omega-grade) cultured bioware?  (cultured bioware obviously isn't available used, but it is suggested in Chrome Flesh that there are often sub-prime ware (trial runs, cheap knock-offs) that behave the same mechanically).  Not a make or break issue, just want to know where you come down on that question.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-13-18/1343:23>
So I'm okay with the omega grade cultured bioware, but with a caveat that at character creation it's availability is not affected (it will be once the game is in swing for purposes of procurement).  Essentially, I'm fine with someone wanting to spend less money to use up more essence, but I'm wary of it being used to bypass the availability limit to get things you otherwise couldn't get for new characters.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-13-18/1357:32>
Alright, so it occurs to me that what "Sixth World Tarot" game means could probably use a little more coverage, just so people know what they're in for.  I want to avoid too many spoilers, but it will ultimately be a relic hunt style game, involving a relic with 78 pieces to it (so it has the potential for a pretty long life).  The hunt starts in Seattle, but the incidentals involved in going after the items and competing with other interested parties gives me license to touch on most facets of the Shadowrun setting.

That being the case, the current most likely framing setups for the party could be...

1) A group of runners who gets hired onto several jobs involving the tarot, and then we can see if the group settles into favored employers or even pursues the artifact for their own interests.

2) A PI agency hired for a job involving the tarot that really starts to sprawl.

3) The UCAS FBI's thaumaturgical division is investigating the tarot, so we could have a party of a few agents and maybe some outside contractors.

4) The party could be corporate men working on behalf of one of the corps most interested in the tarot (Aztechnology, Wuxing, and MCT.  SK is also mentioned in the sourcebook, but I just don't have as many cool ideas for them).

Other factions and interests that are extremely likely to come up are the Draco Foundation (but I need to brush up on my lore for them), the Seelie and Unseelie courts (and by extension, the Sioux Nation, since there's that portal in Yellowstone), Ordo Maximus, and the Halloweeners.  While they aren't, by canon, heavily invested in the SWT, there's too much fun shit happening with Ares and Spinrad Global to not do shit with, so I'm looking for ways to get them in on it as well.  It's also impossible for me to not include the crime syndicates at some point.

Finally, while the game starts in Seattle, I hope to have a few out-of-city runs after a while, and, if the game takes off, moving to other parts of the world eventually.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-13-18/1432:08>
I'm most partial to option 2
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-13-18/1520:26>
Also, it looks like there is enough interest here to go ahead with a game and close recruiment.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-13-18/1553:57>
There are four of us, which is good number of players for PbP, but we don't have any hacking, casting, summoning, or drones. Maybe that's a good thing if the journeyman GM wants to keep things streamlined, but there are gaps when compared to a traditional team composition.

As for the options, from high-to-low I'm probably 4/1/2/3. I still like my Sioux OMI idea.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-13-18/1639:24>
Ah, I thought we had 5 for some reason!  And yeah,  good point on the party roles.  Id be comfortable with up to two more players, I think.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-13-18/1722:19>
Actually, that sounds like a game where we don't have to worry about the more unbalancing aspects (I'd have totally played a Matrix focused char if the new book was already out)

Having an NPC Hacker would make a lot things faster if the team just has to apply a Data Tap to get things hackyfied. We can hurt spirits and drones just fine, so it's not necessarily a requirement to have a mage or a rigger on our side.

As for our team: How about a Sioux Nation sponsored, easily disawoved black ops runner team... :D
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-13-18/1747:29>
Even if we went with the Private Investigation firm angle, it wouldn't rule out the Sioux black ops side of things ... say that 'Charlie' (who could be a hacker?) was Sioux black ops and has set up a PI company in Seattle as cover.  Possibly seeding it with some of his own people but also hiring in others to make it less obviously an intelligence front.  Not all of the characters would then have to have that Sioux black ops background. 
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-14-18/0116:49>
PS I am still playing around, so far I have a nice aspected sorcerer, face and B&E kind of guy.

I am also open for decker/techno/rigger if we want to have it in the game.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/0148:50>
I think that Beta makes a pretty good point about game style.  I'm warming more and more to the idea of a PI team, which I'm kind of seeing as basically being a team of shadowrunners with an office, with the lesser anonymity and venier of legitimacy that comes along with it.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-14-18/0210:34>
Here's what I was thinking for my cyberlimb monster. I rarely play mundane characters, and this is one of my first characters with cyberlimbs. I was concerned about overlap with gilga but that might be less of a concern if he's cooking up an aspected sorcerer. (As an aside, I'm very excited about the possibility of both an aspected sorcerer and a traveler in the group.)

As previously stated, he's the sneaky-shooty-stabby type. The background is that he was a weak, sickly kid, who was underdeveloped due to his parents' persistent drug habits. After a childhood largely spent in a wheelchair - which was social death in the hypermasculine Sioux culture - he inherited enough money to make his dreams come true. Those dream primarily revolved around being a physical badass, so now he's celebrating his (purchased) physical gifts while emulating the Sioux macho men that he always wanted to be. His value to a PI team would be through his B&E skills and his powers of perception, which he honed throughout his youth while consistently sitting on the sidelines. There was nothing else to do but watch, so he watched, and became a good observer in the process.

== Personal Data ==
Street Name: Machk

== Priorities ==
Metatype: B,3
Attributes: E,0
Special: E,0
Skills: B,3
Resources: A,4

== Karma Spending ==
-25 Positive Qualities
+25 Negative Qualities
-20 Attributes (Logic 2 and Charisma 2)
-4 Skills (Con 1 and Computer 1)

== Attributes ==
BOD: 4
AGI: 1 (10 for all limbs)
REA: 5 (8)
STR: 3 (12 right arm, 10 left arm, 5 legs)
CHA: 2
INT: 6
LOG: 2
WIL: 4
EDG: 5

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   0.04
Initiative:                14 +1d6
Physical Damage Track:     8
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Active Skills ==
Close Quarters Skill Group: 5

Automatics (SMGs) 5 (+2)
Locksmith (Maglocks) 5 (+2)
Perception (Visual) 5 (+2)
Sneaking (Indoors) 5 (+2)

Etiquette (Corporate) 1 (+2)
Disguise (Camouflage) 1 (+2)
Gymnastics (Leaping) 1 (+2)
Palming (Legerdemain) 1 (+2)
Pilot Ground Craft (Wheeled) 1 (+2)
Tracking (Urban) 1 (+2)
Con 1
Computer 1
      
== Knowledge Skills ==
Logic 2 + Intuition 6 = 8 * 3 = 24 free points
English N
Lakota 3
Or'zet 3
Drumming 3
Firearms (Automatics) 2 (4)
Seattle Area Knowledge 3
Sioux Nation Area Knowledge (Butte) 4 (6)
Cybertechnology 4


== Contacts ==
Heather Huxley (Street Doc), C: 3, L: 3 - three free Connection points
Tricky Nicky (Identity Broker/Forger), C: 3, L: 3 - six chargen karma for Contacts

== Positive Qualities ==
Agile Defender
Biocompatability (Cyberware)
Jack of All Trades Master of None
Perfect Time
Redliner

== Negative Qualities ==
Family Curse
Impassive
In Debt (2)
Lightweight
SINner (National) (Sioux)

== Lifestyle ==
Group Lifestyle (1 month)

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Bilateral Coordination Co-processor
Damper
Nephritic screen Rating 5
Obvious Full Arm, Used (AGI 10, STR 10, Physical 11) (Left)
   + Customized Agility Rating 6
   + Enhanced Agility Rating 2
   + Customized Strength Rating 8
   + Submachine Gun
   + Sound Suppressor
   + Armor Rating 3
   
Obvious Full Arm, Used (AGI 10, STR 12, Physical 12) (Right)
   + Customized Agility Rating 6
   + Enhanced Agility Rating 2
   + Customized Strength Rating 8
   + Enhanced Strength Rating 3
   + Spurs
   + Armor Rating 3
   + Shock Hand

Obvious Full Leg (AGI 10, STR 5, Physical 8) (Left)
   + Customized Agility Rating 6
   + Enhanced Agility Rating 2
   + Armor Rating 2
   + Hydraulic Jacks Rating 6
   + Skimmers
   + Radar Sensor Rating 4
   + Smuggling Compartment

Obvious Full Leg (AGI 10, STR 5, Physical 8) (Right)
   + Customized Agility Rating 6
   + Enhanced Agility Rating 2
   + Armor Rating 2
   + Hydraulic Jacks Rating 6
   + Skimmers
   + Internal Air Tank Rating 3

Olfactory Booster Rating 4
Reaction Enhancers Rating 3 (Used)
Sleep Regulator

== Armor ==
Armor Jacket                       12
   + Chemical Protection 4
   + Fire Resistance 4
   + Nonconductivity 4
Custom Ballistic Mask              +2
   + Gas Mask
   + Vision Enhancement Rating 3
Zoé: Executive Suite               12
   + Custom Fit
   + Newest Model

== Weapons ==
AK-97
   + Gas-Vent 3 System
   + Personalized Grip
   + Shock Pad
   + Smartgun System, Internal
 
Cyber Submachine Gun
   + Smartgun System, Internal
 
Ingram Smartgun X
   + Gas-Vent 2 System
   + Smartgun System, Internal
   + Sound Suppressor

Grenade: Flash-Bang x5
Grenade: Fragmentation x5
Grenade: Gas (Pepper Punch) x5
Grenade: High Explosive x5
Shock Hand x5
Shuriken x5
Throwing Knives x5
Spurs

== Commlink ==
Transys Avalon (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 6, FWL: 6)
   + Subvocal Mic
   + Trodes

== Gear: Equipped ==
Ammo: APDS (Submachine Guns) ×100
Ammo: APDS (Assault Rifles) ×100
Ammo: Explosive Rounds (Submachine Guns) ×100
Ammo: Explosive Rounds (Assault Rifles) ×100
Ammo: Gel Rounds (Submachine Guns) ×100
Ammo: Gel Rounds (Assault Rifles) ×100
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Submachine Guns) ×100
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Assault Rifles) ×100
Autopicker Rating 6
Bug Scanner Rating 6
Contacts Rating 3
   + Image Link
   + Smartlink
   + Flare Compensation
C-Squared Rating 6 ×5
Earbuds Rating 3
   + Sound Link
   + Audio Enhancement Rating 2
Fake SIN (UCAS) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Blades) Rating 4
   + Fake License (SMG) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Assault Rifles) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Optical & Imaging Devices (cybereyes w/ smartlink)) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Restraints) Rating 4
   + Fake License (B&E Gear) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Driver's License) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Bodyguard License) Rating 4
   + Fake License (Bounty Hunter's License) Rating 4
Flashlight, Low-light
Gecko Tape Gloves
Glasses Rating 4
   + Vision Enhancement Rating 3
   + Thermographic Vision
Jammer, Area Rating 4
Micro-Transceiver
Miniwelder
Restraint, Plasteel ×5
Slap Patch, Stim Patch Rating 6 ×2
Slap Patch, Tranq Patch Rating 6 ×2
Slap Patch, Trauma Patch ×2
Survival Kit
Tag Eraser

== Vehicles ==
Suzuki Mirage (Racing Bike)       
   + Sensor Array Rating 2

== Description ==
The smallest ork you've ever seen, but with huge, jacked cyberlimbs. He's obviously overcompensating.

== Background ==
Strong. All Machk ever wanted to be was strong. He was born small, weak, and clumsy. This might have been the result of Machk's mother chemical dependencies while he was in utero. His father wasn't much better.

The saving grace - sort of - was that both his parents were gainfully employed. Indeed, it was their corporate employment and the stresses involved that led them to their addictions. His parents recognized their own failings even if they felt powerless to overcome them. They had Machk outfitted with a top-of-the-line nephritic screen, which simultaneously curbed his desire for the same substances while also keeping him emerge from his sickly youth. While still dumb, weak, and clumsy, he no longer was in danger of dying from a bad flu.

Machk's parents were killed in a car crash, likely due to their driving while impaired. Machk took his inheritance and began to invest in cyberlimbs that would compensate for his small genitals physical liabilities. In short order he became fast and strong, although he's still on the dumb side.

Machk inherited his parents' addictive tendencies. Instead of expressing these through chemicals or chips, Machk finds himself under the spell of cyberenhancements. He is not yet a cyber singularity seeker, nor does he suffer from super-human psychosis, but he's well on his way to both. His limbs are redlined and he's ready to rock in the service of anyone who can underwrite future or better cyber enhancements.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/0257:51>
So with two Sioux characters so far, I had an idea for merging what seem to be the most popular premises right now.  How does this sound?

You guys are are brand new PI agency whose startup was discretely sponsored by the Sioux government as a plausibly deniable asset in Seattle.  They have a couple of agents (the Sioux PCs) placed there, but by and large the agreement is that the agency has been provided with the resources to get off the ground - an office to work out of and a few contacts - and will sustain itself, but sometimes they will be approached by a client representing the Sioux nation, and they are expected to take the jobs this guy offered at the pay offered, no questions asked.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-14-18/0305:01>
Great, I'm totally on board with that.
Detailed background for Bobby will follow
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/1117:15>
Background sounds good, Lorebane -- gives you all sorts of hooks into the group, and gives us good character options.

Roster so far looks like:

Tecumseh -- Machk -- cyberlimbed sneaky-stabby
Jack Spade -- Bobby -- (Sioux black-ops?)
Gilga -- ? -- still playing around with concepts (aspected sorceror / face / B&E / ?)
Beta -- ? -- still playing around with concepts (traveler-face-lite / full face / 'Medium' (lite mage) / ?)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-14-18/1323:31>
I like the premise but it does raise some additional questions. Would the other PCs know and/or understand the nature of the agency? If so, would they care?

I'm just looking down the road for potential conflicts, like Jack or I technically being the bosses if we're the Sioux agents, which my character is grossly unqualified for. (Bobby could use Intimidate, I suppose, which can come across as PVP if we're not careful. Super Human Psychosis and "Did you just call me dumb" would make him an interesting manager.)

If we want to loop in more players, we might want to cross-post with the Looking for Games thread. Not many people browse the play-by-post thread anymore.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/1341:49>
In some ways smaller groups are easier in PBP, because there is less chance on any given day that someone wasn't able to post, (or worse is off on vacation for two weeks with no net access).  There even becomes that near mythical potential to get through two rounds of posting in a day(!). 

On the other hand, obviously less character abilities, fewer player interactions, and one person being offline is a bigger chunk of the total, etc.

But overall, four seems like a pretty reasonable number to me.

================================
@Tecumseh I was reading your character sheet and looking at what you are doing with the cyber-limbs (I'm a bit wobbly on the rules and options, so was curious to see a dedicated build), and I was just curious about one thing  For example:
Quote
Obvious Full Arm, Used (AGI 10, STR 10, Physical 11) (Left)

I'm not sure what the "Physical 11" means?  (also the combo of redliner and this build .... yikes, do not get punched by him!
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/1357:08>
Valid concerns raised Tecumseh.  Perhaps "representatives" might be a better word than agents?  I forsee this as, essentially, the Sioux providing the seed money for a startup that will be able to help them in turn.  I figure the PCs would be aware that the money is coming from the Sioux, and the whole thing is a little shadowy, to keep up some modicum of deniability, but basic agreement is "We're setting you up so you can do jobs for as needed.  We got you an office and all the necessary contacts and resources (which, surprise, surprise, mostly have some sort of tie to the Sioux).  From here on out, you run yourselves, but someday, sometimes, you'll get an offer from "Agent X."  If you don't do the jobs he offers, you can expect this little network we've established for you to dry up fast."

The Sioux PCs don't necessarily have to be agents, but could be Sioux contractors that have been places there with the expectation that they will steer the agency away from jobs that would cross with Sioux interests.

So I guess you'd be almost like Sioux privateers, just without the ship.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-14-18/1457:20>
@Lorebane Sioux privateers sounds good me! Who has the letter of marque?

Bobby and I both have some modest debt, which might have inspired us to accept some Sioux seed money.

@Beta I agree that small groups can work well for PbP. We have a bit of an All Star team here, in terms of experience, so that's encouraging too.

"Physical" is Chummer's way of referring to the limb's Physical limit. That said, Physical Limits get wonky with cyberlimbs, since the Strength (and thus the Limit) can vary per limb. Some GMs track Limits per limb, some use an average for the whole body, some use a combination of the two depending on the nature of the test, others ignore cyberlimbs altogether (which might work if you just have one but is an extreme interpretation if you have four of them).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/1500:23>
The characters would not necessarily (all) have to know about the ultimate money behind the thing.  They know that the agency was set up by Joe.  Depending on how much they ever get to meet Joe, they may suspect/know that he is from the Sioux Nation, they may suspect that he has his own masters to answer to.  And they know he wants to know about the jobs they take, and might guide them away from some of them.

==============================================

When I first got the offer, I was offended.  Who was this ‘Joe’ guy to call me out of the blue, and to expect me to jump at the offer of being an employee?  If I’d wanted to work for someone I’d have joined the fragging corps.  Not that any of them had ever asked, but surely one of them would recognize my value, right?  And for all I knew, Joe could be fronting for a corp; he was sure fronting for someone.

I’d come to Seattle to be independent, to make my own way, to prove the doubters wrong, and all that other drek from the opening credits of “Runner by Night.”  I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I knew I was good.  I’d only been here for six months, but I had found work!  Just … not enough work.  The money I’d come here with was almost dried up, and I was at the point of dodging my landlord and surviving on unflavored soy.  Frag, I hadn’t had a beer or soycaff in over a week, that how’s tight things were.  I had some work lined up, or I thought I did, but they were having trouble coming up with the down-payment, and I didn’t have anything in the pipe after that.

So yah, I was insulted.  But then I listened a bit more, because I couldn’t afford to be insulted.  Joe needed people to investigate certain things in Seattle from time to time.  He wanted a team he trusted, instead of having to round of freelancers all of the time.  But he didn’t have enough business to hire a team full-time.  So he was setting up a legit Private Investigations agency.  This “Shepherd Investigations” would be open to cases from anyone, not just the business that Joe needed someone to deal with in Seattle.  We’d have a fee structure and would use it no matter who we were working for, Joe or walk in clients.  Joe guaranteed that, if our work was acceptable, there would be enough work to pay reasonable bills. 

I hesitated, I think Joe could tell that I was tempted, and he moved in for the kill  “Look, tell you what, I’ll pay you 250 just to go to the office for a few hours.  Choose a desk, fire up the soycaff machine to make sure that it works, go down to Stuffer Shack to pick up some snacks for the fridge and just sit there, have a caff, have some lunch, and see how it feels.  There isn’t anyone there yet, but I’ll get the landlord to meet you.  Give me a call at three o’clock and let me know your decision.” 

Two-hundred creds wasn’t going to pay my rent, but I didn’t have anything else to do, and it was a free lunch, right?  So I went.  And at 2:30 Dr. Hammish – ‘call me Annie’ -- knocked at the door and said how downstairs at Dr. Tusks Dental Services they were excited to have new neighbors, and they had were having trouble with contacting a patient that they had a custom implant ready for, and would we be willing to take on such a trivial job?  Sure it was almost certainly a set-up from Joe, and the job was dead simple, but it was more work.  Suddenly rent didn’t seem so far out of reach, for the first time in days I wasn’t hungry, and frag me if Annie didn’t seem to be enjoying our conversation.  So I took the work from Annie, and I called Joe and said I’d give the agency a shot.

===========================================

Would that seem reasonable?  (other than needing better names)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-14-18/1627:32>
I like it!

We just need an agency name:

The Insights Agency
Seattle Investigative Group
Machk & Friends

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/1632:29>
I like it a lot too!  I'll work on some of the specifics today.  Also, even though the campaign will eventually move beyond Seattle, I've shelled out on a lot of sourcebooks and figure I may as well make use of them - so while the game is in Seattle, I'd like to get pretty detailed.  If you guys want, you could be a little more specific with where you want to be located.  You wouldn't be sponsered to be put up in Bellevue or anything, and you probably wouldn't be in the Barrens or out in Snohomish, but most of the other districts would be open season.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-14-18/1706:36>
I'm from Seattle IRL - I live just down the street from where the Aztechnology Pyramid would be - and know a stupid amount about the Shadowrun version of the city. I think the Seattle location was one of the biggest hooks for me when I started playing 25 years ago.

I can handle as much detail as the GM is willing to support (and that the other players are willing to tolerate).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-14-18/1723:42>
Meet Amy Maka, a hybrid Anglo Sioux aspected mage. (and a bit of a decker).

Born to a Sioux father and an Anglo mother, Amy Maka did not find her place in either of the worlds.  She grew up on a reservation and felt discrimination by so-called native Sioux.  Her father kept in touch occasionally and would take Amy Maka with him to some father-daughter activity. Together, they enjoyed off-road driving and, target practice.  Daddy loved his firearms, and Amy Maka loved her father, so she rigorously practiced driving and shooting. It gave them something to do together.

Her mother did not like that kind of influence and encouraged Amy Maka to study hard and get a real job in the computing industry.  Amy did so and discovered a natural talent for hacking things and advanced computer usages. Her first job was performing extensive matrix research on various topics, for students that were too lazy or too incompetent to do it themselves. Opportunities for the SINless where quite limited, so this was as good as life could get. It was not bad, she had to parents that no longer loved each other, but the two of them liked her, and she made enough to sustain herself.

Her lucky break was in her late teens when she awakened. Such a gift offered a hope to break out of poverty, and such hoped justified going to great length. Namely, it justified sending Amy Maka away. Her mother sent her away to a nearby tribe to get some magical education.  She was under the guidance of Shaman Dancing Bear.  Traditional hard-core Sioux shamanism - from a tribe that refused to use modern technology.  She did not fit very well in that tradition as well. First, she showed no conjuring capabilities - which was a disappointment. Second, when she finally found a totem, it was not the mighty Bear, the noble Eagle or the restless Horse, not at all it was - the Spider. It did not quite fit, and Amy Maka did not speak much about her mentor.

Maka's first boyfriend was a traditionalist Sioux man, a hunter.  She loved him deeply, and the two planned to run off to Seattle and get married. Things did not end up very well for the two. Their connection was frowned upon by Crying Fox's parents. Maka being an unusual magic practitioner made it even worse, instead of a holy woman - she was foreign-alien.  The family did not have it - his terrible big brother caught the two lovers together and beat Crying Fox unconscious. Maka could do something to help him; she was a sorcerer, she had a gun nearby.

She froze in terror, too naked, too ashamed and too surprised. A lifetime of training with firearms, years of magic education, and she did nothing. Worse than nothing, she ran away and hid in nearby bushes.  She watched the entire drama without interfering.  If there was one thing worse than looking like an Anglo and having strange magic - it was to be a coward.  So she left, running away from her family from her boyfriend, and finding herself in Seattle. She suffered for being an 'Anglo' why not listen to them? Perhaps she'll find a home in Seattle...

It was difficult to stand up on her two feet; first, she needed to reach  Seattle illegally, which was expensive. Second, she needed a fake SIN for the first time in her life, which was more expensive.  Third, she needed work to pay off her debit, but legitimate work did not pay well enough,  and she did not have the connections to do anything else.  Amy Maka ended up being indebted to the people that brought her. Luckily for her, instead of killing her for being so hopeless to finish off her debit, they decided to use her and allowed her to pay the interest on the debt with shadow jobs. It was only in Seattle when Amy Maka became a real criminal.  (but being a criminal was better than being a prostitute, so she had that pride.)

She found the job at an agency funded by the Sioux nation to be a lifeline to some badly needed cash and connections that could help her pay her debts. They did not need to blackmail her. The hope of breaking free from the Mafia was enough to have her intrigued.  However, blackmail was on the table if she misbehaved, and Amy Maka was not sure how her father would react if he heard of her behavior. Would he disown her?  He must never find out.

Also, in a way despite anything, Amy Maka was a Sioux patriot. She got that from her father,  she did not plan to be such a coward.  Though, if he beat his brother so severely, what would he do to her? That Wildcat brother terrified Amy Maka still, after all these years.  Perhaps, working for the government, she'll prove to herself,  that she was no longer a cowered. Though, she could never imagine going back.

character sheet.
[spoiler]
== Personal Data ==
Name: Amy Maka Green            Alias:
Elf, Female                     
Movement: 10/20 (2m/hit)                 
Swim: 3 (1m/hit)                     
50, 170                         Composure: 10
Street Cred: 0                  Judge Intentions: 10
Notoriety: 0                    Lift/Carry: 2 (15 kg/10 kg)
Public Awareness: 0             Memory: 10
Karma: 5                        Nuyen: 213¥
Age: 30                         Skin: white
Eyes: Green                     Hair: Blonde
Primary Arm: Right             

== Priorities ==
Metatype: C,2
Attributes: B,3
Special: D,1
Skills: A,4
Resources: E,0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 1                          CHA: 5
AGI: 5                          INT: 5
REA: 4                          LOG: 5
STR: 1                          WIL: 5
EDG: 2                          MAG: 5

== Derived Attributes
Essence: 6.00                   Initiative:          9 +1d6
Physical Damage Track: 9        Rigger Initiative:   9 +1d6
Stun Damage Track:              11Astral Initiative:   10 +3d6
Physical: 3                     Matrix AR:           9 +1d6
Mental: 7                       Matrix Cold:         6 +3d6
Social: 7                       Matrix Hot:          6 +4d6
   Vashon Island: Ace of Cups [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral: 7

 == Active Skills ==
Assensing (Aura Reading)        Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8 (10)
Computer                        Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Con                             Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Counterspelling                 Base: 3  + Karma: 2  = 5   Pool: 10
Disguise                        Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 10
Etiquette                       Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 9
Hacking (Personas)              Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11 (13)
Impersonation (Human)           Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6 (8)
Leadership                      Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 9
Negotiation                     Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 9
Palming                         Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 10
Perception                      Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 10
Pilot Ground Craft (Wheeled)    Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 10 (12)
Pistols (Machine Pistols)       Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11 (13)
Ritual Spellcasting             Base: 3  + Karma: 2  = 5   Pool: 10
Sneaking                        Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 10
Software (Data Bombs)           Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6 (8)
Spellcasting                    Base: 3  + Karma: 2  = 5   Pool: 10

 == Knowledge Skills ==
English                         Native
Lakota                          Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Sperethiel                      Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Arcana                          Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 11
Area Knowledge: Seattle         Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 9
Art                             Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6
Data Havens                     Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6
Gaming                          Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6
Music (Classical)               Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7 (9)

 == Qualities ==
Aspected Magician
Big Regret (Not Saving Friend)
Code of Honor (Harmony With Nature)
Dedicated Spellslinger
Focused Concentration ( 5)
In Debt ( 8)
Low-Light Vision
Mentor Spirit (Spider (Alt))
Phobia (Common, Mild) (Rats)
Poor Self Control (Thrill Seeker)

 == Tradition ==
Shamanic, Resist Drain with  10

 == Spells ==
Fling (Limited)          DV: F-4
Growth (Limited)         DV: F+1
Heal                     DV: F-4
Increase [Attribute] (INT)DV: F-3
Increase [Attribute] (LOG)DV: F-3
Increase [Attribute] (CHA)DV: F-3
Influence (Limited)      DV: F-3
Levitate                 DV: F-2
Makeover                 DV: F-3
Watcher                  DV: Special

 == Lifestyle ==
Group Lifestyle (Medium) 1  Month
   + Grid Subscription (Local Grid)
   + Grid Subscription (Public Grid)

 == Armor ==
Armor Jacket                       12
Vashon Island: Ace of Cups         9

 == Weapons ==
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 3     DV: 1S       AP: -     RC: 2
Urban Tribe Tomahawk
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 4     DV: 3P       AP: -1    RC: 2
Walther P118
   + Advanced Safety System, Basic
   + Electronic Firing
   + Extended Clip
   + Gas-Vent 2 System
   + Safe Target System, Base
   + Smartgun System, Internal
   + Trigger Removal
   + Weapon Commlink
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 5 (8) DV: 7P       AP: -     RC: 5

 == Commlink ==
Erika MCD-1 (ATT: 2, SLZ: 3, DP: 1, FWL: 4)
   + Sim Module, Hot
   + Universal Connector Cord (Meter)
   + Commlink Functionality [Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Credstick Reader, Earbuds, GPS Guidance System, Micro Trid-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]
   + Vectored Signal Filter
   + Program Carrier (Virtual Machine)
   + Browse
   + Edit
   + Encryption
   + Search
   + Signal Scrub
   + Toolbox
   + Exploit
   + Decryption
   + Wrapper
   + Smoke and Mirrors
 == Contacts ==
Janet (Infobroker), Dime (Connection: 3, Loyalty: 1)

Kira Black (Decker), (Connection: 3, Loyalty: 2)

Tom Jones (Go-Ganger), (Connection: 3, Loyalty: 3)

== GM contacts ==
- Johnny Morad – Arms Dealer (Connection 3, Loyalty 3)
- Five-Fingers Gao & Fenghuang – Talismongers (Connection 3, Loyalty 1)
- Fagin – Grey Market Item Delivery - (Connection 3, Loyalty 1)


Kira 'OOO' Benson
Known in the matrix as triple O, or Black (due to the RGB value ofBlack).  Kira is a phenomenal decker and does some teaching on the side.  Kira is nowadays laying low as an electronic shop owner in Redmond's barrens. Amy Maka (AM), knows her due to a previous shadow work. She made Kira her hero, and mentor and the two often meet during the matrix so she can study. Like any relationship, Black's way of teaching is an apprenticeship which means that Kira does some decking, computer research or even provides overwatch for free. In return,  she gets instruction, repairs to her deck and the ability to network with Black's contacts.  She does get paid when the job is illegal or extra tedious though.  Except for job, once in a while, usually after a generous payday, the two go out drinking and dancing.  The two are not friends yet, but few people know Black as a decker, and out of these she finds AM as pleasant to be around. 

Janet 'Dime' Butler
It is Janet's job to know things, anything - information is her preferred currency, and the most valued service she performs.  AM met her in her years at the Sioux and used her services from time to time when she could not find enough information herself - or when she sold stolen data.  Janet likes artwork, especially AR/VR modern art. AM met her once at such virtual art gallery.

Tom Jones
Tom Jones (TJ) is a collector, leg-breaker, and ganger. While not strictly a Mafiosi he is in bed with them, and usually does some of their dirty work.  AM met him when he beat the crap out of her for missing out on a payment. 
This was one of the most traumatic experiences for AM, and she vowed that it would never happen again.

How the two grew closer? Well, being so desperate and about to be hit again AM convinced TJ to take some barter from him. She'll help him impress some girl he was after, and he'll give her some more time. AM pimped him up and added a dash of magic - and TJ kept coming and even paying for AM's services. He still required collecting the debt, but would usually give her some leeway.  You could say that AM is one of TJ's contacts, tough AM sees herself capable of asking for favors - and expecting cooperation due to their now regularized relationship.

Non-contact people.

Crying Fox -
Her (almost) husband, ex-boyfriend. AM had left things unresolved between the two when she fleed Sioux and has never looked back, contacted or called. She left him, without a word, physically and digitally disappearing as if she never existed.  Why? AM asked herself many times why. In part because she was ashamed, unworthy of his love. In part, because she did not want him to sacrifice his family, his tribe for her.  In part because she was afraid that she would be next.

Crying Wolf
Crying Fox's brother, a Wildcat. AM knows very little of him, but he is the stuff of horror for her. His narrow-mindedness and stigma have ripped her away from the last (and only) time AM was happy.

Dancing Bear (Beer)
Dancing Bear (also known as 'Beer') is a Sioux (full mage) shaman, and a spiritual leader of a small traditionalist Sioux community; he trained  AM and taught her the ropes into developing her talent. Sadly, she was aspected to sorcery that while useful, does not carry the culturally valued. To AM he is almost a father figure a person that introduced her into a world of wonder, and awe. 

He is known as Beer, due to a pact he has with a powerful spirit. That requires him (so he says) to consume a lot of beer - both in his rituals and in his offerings.  He could also be an alcoholic - and the objective truth may be somewhere in the middle.

Rina Gold
AM's mother, an unregistered citizen of the Sioux nation, earning her living from teaching computers at an elementary school. She grew AM up and kept her out of troubles. In a few occasions, she even bribed a lawman to look the other way when AM was caught 'existing' without certificates.  Her love and dedication have made AM what she is today.

Yahto Gem
AM's father, married to another woman whom AM has never met, and has a family of his own. Unexpectedly, Yahto made an effort to have a connection to AM. He paid for much of her upbringing arriving at night to visit her mother, and on occasion when he had business trips, he took AM with him on long drives. He taught her to drive, and to shoot with small arms. Skills which he considered a must-have but Rina would never want AM to have.

AM keeps in touch with her parents, but they think that she is a secretary.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/1753:15>
I'm liking Amy Maka -- eager to see how much decking she has.  (I was looking at trying to do something that at least had high computer skill, because matrix search, but if you have that covered then I'll not worry about it as much).

Tecumseh -- Machk -- cyberlimbed sneaky-stabby
Jack Spade -- Bobby -- (Sioux black-ops?)
Gilga -- Amy Maka -- aspected sorceror / decker(lite?)
Beta -- ? -- still playing around with concepts (traveler-face-lite / full face / 'Medium' (lite mage) / ?)

I'd better make a decision soon!

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/1807:12>
Loving what I'm seeing, great writeup!  Also, if there are a few holes in the decking department we can always have an NPC secretary or something that can cover those areas.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/1826:26>
Loving what I'm seeing, great writeup!  Also, if there are a few holes in the decking department we can always have an NPC secretary or something that can cover those areas.

I'm suddenly having visions of Garcia from Criminal Minds as a Dwarf ....
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-14-18/2215:19>
@Lorebane24 Something in another thread popped a question into my head:  are we using standard progression (karma/nuyen rewards), or do you have any house rules around that?  (I'm asking in part because a number of PBP games seem to, as each run tends to take a while so progression can be slow.  And in part because some character concepts need more filling in of nuyen or karma before before being solid -- so assuming standard progression I'll avoid anyone who needs buckets of karma to be competent to walk down the street)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-14-18/2323:52>
My pool of players has always been pretty small for Shadowrun games, so I don't have a lot to go on for what is standard karma.  I usually give out about 10-15 karma per run, and then periodically have a big run that's sort of an arc finisher that yields 2-3 times that as a sort of a step up into the next league.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-15-18/0104:54>
@About matrix gaps, the thing that is missing is the capability to perform attack actions (e.g., Crack files), that is we miss a deck. So if we want these capabilities we either need to loan a deck or hire a dedicated decker. We can, however, hack stuff we steal -find - or directly connect to a device, and indirectly sleaze a mark on a host. (to be used as snoop command).

@Which brings me to the second point raised by Beta about progression, I think that everybody grows for somewhere, and think about teamwork.  E.g., I think that 10 dice in social is not a face, but two characters with this ability working a social challenge together can achieve the performance of a face. (and it is more interesting, roleplaying wise). This is how the dedicated face acquired proficiency to the point of going solo.  Perhaps the same reasoning works for other skill sets as well.

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-15-18/0354:58>
As promised, here's the introduction for Bobby "MadCat" Walker

Background:

Recruiting Interview with Specialist Robert Walker:
Son of War Shaman Yanni "Dark Crow" Walker and Environmental Engineer Elisabeth Miller (official resident).
Born August 12th 2051 in Cheyenne.
Developed strong physical magical talent during highschool, was recruited into Sioux Defense Forces at age 17, recommended for special training at 18. Completed tour of duty at [Classified] and [Classified], talent for infiltration and scout duties. Recommended for special operations, recommendation rescinded due to disciplinary problems.
Barred from further promotions, honorable discharge in 2073. Assessment by Shaman Bill Whitewater indicates severe totemic influence over personality and/or corrupted totem (Hunger/Wendigo classification).
Self employed tourist guide, private detective and suspected mercenary work.
Currently in debted to the Tiošpaye.

Assessment: Ready for recruitment

Cpt. Razak: Mr. Walker, how are you? It's been a while since we met.
Robert Walker: Yeah, long time no see... Could be better, could be worse. Anyone still alive from the 16th?
CR: The 16th never dies - though no, no-one you'd know is still around. I heard you had some trouble recently? Something about a lost consignment for the extended Family?
RW: You looking for trouble? Cause asking stuff like that is a quick way to getting digested by coyotes. I've got nothing to do with those assholes since Charlie took over.
CR: Fair enough. But you are still looking for gainful employment, aren't you? See kid, I always had a week spot for you and your abilities. A real shame that those pencil pushers couldn't overlook that little scuffle you had with Seargent What's-his-name.
RW: Ha. Asshole deserved it.
CR: Well, maybe you didn't have to turn into a Chimpanzee, knock him out and throw your own feces at him.
RW: Didn't have to - wanted.
CR: *Sigh* - Just for your information, it took me considerable effort to prevent them from just throwing you into prison and losing the key. The honorable discharge was the best I could do for you.
RW: And my eternal gratitude it has ensured. What do you want? I've got a child's birthday party to entertain and need to get into character soon.
CR: How would you like to work for a real PI agency? In Seattle. A regular income, no troubles with the NAN authorities, interesting jobs and a new start?
RW: Yeah - what's the catch?
CR: From time to time you'd be approached by someone who gives you a job you can't refuse - still payed of course.
RW: So black ops on forreign soil? Eh, what the hell, I'm in. At least it can't be as boring as the shit I do right here...


@Lorebane24
JFYI: Beta is talking about Aria's progression system: Every two posts earns you 1 Karma and 2000 Nuyen. The system encourages regular postings and allows characters to grow despite the comparably long time pbp games take.
I've taken part in several games that use this rule (and also GMed a few myself) and can attest to it's functionality - especially since it allows you to replace lost gear and shore up character deficits with relative ease. Not to mention, it prevents the descend into murder-hoboism, because players don't need to flog every last tea cozy to refinance their expended ammunition.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-15-18/1034:55>
Madcat .... nickname, or standard combat form? :p

============================

re: progression -- I wasn't just thinking about Aria's system.  JaydeMoon gave fairly standard karma and nuyen for missions, but gave bonus karma or nuyen for character backgrounds and contact write-ups, and for penning a 'milk run' mission description between main runs, and also supported 'working for the man/working for the people' to move some karma/nuyen around to where it was needed most.

But the amount that Lorebane is talking about per mission should accomplish much the same effect -- completing a mission will give enough karma to provide a solid jump to a character (an initiation, most of bringing a stat from two to three, take a 1 point skill and take it to three and have some change, etc).

Aria's system I found, if anything, too generous at times?  With chatty players I found that I couldn't find justifications for the amount of nuyen or time to make use of the karma.  It also made it too easy to take resources E, so long as you had some solid contacts for gear, because by the time we'd accepted a mission you could afford to gear up notably.  Not that I ever mind having lots of nuyen and karma, and it actually lets nuyen dependendent characters realistically get upgrades (my mis-built decker was in a game Mercy was running under Aria's umbrella, and was actually able to save up enough to buy a deck).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1244:29>
I'm always wary of uneven PC advancement becayse of its impact on encounters - I prefer using edge refreshment as a reward for roleplaying/cleverness/activity.

In any case, I'm getting pretty stoked for this game.  If we can finalize the basics in the next few days I'd like to try to get the IC topic up sometime this weekend

Couple final things before we set the stage for everything...

I think having an agency to work out of could be a fun chance to have a customizeable home base.  Would you be interested in treating it like a group lifelstyle and assigning it qualitied fron Run Faster?

Also, one thing I usually like to do is shared contacts.  People everyone knows and who I usually use to launch story plots.  I typically draft a list of 4-5 contacts with a brief writeup and the list always includes some shadowrunning basics, like a talismonger, an arms dealer, a street doc etc...  they all have the same connectio  and theneveryone gets points equal to 2 + (cha/2) to spend on loyalty for them (no pointz spent means you dont know them).  This is in addition to the usual contact points, so PCs still get to flesh out personal contacts.  If you hiys are into it, I have a list of contacts I was goimg to use for a similar campaign that I can revise and place herr after work
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-15-18/1307:39>
A group lifestyle could be handy in keeping costs down (or in also supporting bolt holes).  I've never looked at it very carefully before, I guess we'd need to agree on the level and stuff, then divide up costs?

More contacts are always good -- I'll take 'em anyway you got 'em!
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-15-18/1327:46>
Group lifestyle works for me.
I am still crunching to start with a proper cyberdeck. So anything to keep costs down helps.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1343:36>
Would an attack dongle or stealth dongle do the trick for a dabbler?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-15-18/1355:49>
I'm all for group lifestyle. Medium with four people costs 6500, so 1625 per person.
And of course I'll take free contacts :D

Madcat .... nickname, or standard combat form? :p

Yes  ;D

As for the resources issue: Downtime becomes the limiting factor - as it realistically should be - and yes, resources E is a lot easier to pull off - but then people with resources A will enjoy the fact that they actually earn enough money to replace their gear when it breaks (one of the reasons I hesitate to play a drone rigger in anything but games with high cash flow.) It also enables the team to save up for some nice gear - like a common owned airplane or helicopter.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1407:45>
As far as cash rewards go, I actually mix that one up a lot, depending on employer.  Some Johnsons might offer to pay per PC, others offer one lump sum to the party.  Some offer an advance, some wont show you a cent till the job is done, and some might have a fixer to hold the money in escrow.  Regardless, I rarely give out large piles of cash ( it's rare for one of my runners to take home more than 15k apiece for a run, and it usually starts smaller than that, but I always try to include chances for gear upgrades, whether that is a Johnson paying you in cyber parts or a chance to snatch a prototype deck from a lab.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-15-18/1410:20>
Lots of thoughts; I'm probably going to forget some of them.

Gilga/Maka's Increased Attribute spells make her pretty versatile. She can reliably get 3 hits and lock them in with Focused Concentration, which means that her social pools are closer to 12 than 9. That's good enough to make her a Face in my opinion, if Beta wants to go another direction.

I've run 5 PbP games and played in 3 others and am constantly experimenting with the rewards system. The bad news is that it is difficult to balance character progression. (I love my Awakened characters, but let's be honest that they can do much, much more with 30 karma than a mundane character can.) The good news is that there are a ton of tools at the GM's disposal. In addition to karma and nuyen, the GM can give Contacts, or gear, or Attribute points for dump stats, or reduced skill training costs for specific skills, or any other number of things that can provide a meaningful sense of progression without unbalancing the game. Questions to consider not just how much but how often, as PbP games can stretch for months and years. I could write on this for pages and pages so I'll stop here unless we want to dive into it deeper. I will say that we have a highly-experienced, mature group of players here and that's a tremendous asset in itself. That alone will help keep things balanced.

Personally, I would love a home base, but I'll note that it might not be leveraged much if we're hopping between locations. I just want to make sure that the time and attention we spend building it out is proportional to the amount we use it.

I'm also happy with a group lifestyle, as it sounds like we have some common themes among us besides employment. Sioux, In Debt, a couple Impassives, a couple Thrill Seekers.

Group contacts also make a lot of sense, given the nature of the agency. Is there an assumption about how long we've been in "business" and working together? A week, a month, a year?

@gilga How far away are you from a proper cyberdeck?

I know Beta is still working on concepts. We should figure out a team vehicle too, unless that comes with the office. I put aside enough for a motorcycle but would have to pinch to come up with a Ford Americar or a Mercury Comet.

@Lorebane How much background do you want? 20 Questions?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-15-18/1603:55>
Just to warn you all, I'm taking a side trip in looking at technomancers ... trying to see if between the errata earlier this year and the house rules I can make one who could cover the cybercombat angle, and be a useful investigator, and still do some other useful things.  (for this sort of game I don't want to only buff other peoples gear).

@Lorebane :  looking at TMs does raise the question:  would you be open to a partial rebuild of one, once we get our hands on kill code?  It looks like they get a lot of new options, but I don't want to say "I'm not ready until then"

I think I'm actually going to get some time to read rulebooks tonight and scribble some numbers down, so should be able to figure out if I want to pursue this angle.  If I don't I'll get back to statting up something else tomorrow.



Rough concept there is

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1622:28>
If someone makes a TM, I'd be fine with taking another look at them when Kill Code hits.  When that times comes, I figure it will be a conversation, essentially asking whether or not it effectively addresses Technos.  If it does, full rebuild will be in the cards.  If not, we'll take a look at what options from the book we'd want and look at how to incorporate them into these house rules.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1823:16>
Aight, here are the shared contacts.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-15-18/1846:44>
Clarifying questions on the group contacts:

All are Connection 3, got that.

We get free points equal to 2 + Charisma/2, capped at 5. So, in Machk's case, 3 points. I can spend these on Loyalty for the group contacts, and if I spend any on a specific contact then I don't personally know them, correct?

Does Loyalty start at 0 or at 1? If I spend all 3 of Machk's free points on Heather Huxley, street doc who can't repair her own face, is her Loyalty 3 or 4? If it's 3, can I spend one of my chargen contact points to make it 4?

Does Johnny Morad only sell guns or does he sell other weapons and ammo as well?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-15-18/1850:58>
Yes, loyalty starts at 0 for all of them.  Jonny Morad specializes in instruments of war that are street legal, if just barely, so he stocks guns, ammo, armor, and accessories.  Hus milspec stash can unclude items with an F availabilty, like an Ares Alpha or Mossberg.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-15-18/2258:40>
I am making some modifications to Amy Maka nothing crucial, but I am giving up the Morgan, and converting some karma to money and start with an Erika. It would make her a reasonable decker. Will update her soon + contacts and everything.

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-16-18/0115:12>
@gilga, if Beta goes technomancer does that change your desire to play a decker-lite? I know you're pouring a lot of resources into a deck, plus a lot of skill group points into the necessary skills.

@GM Can we put our chargen points for Contacts into the group contacts?

@GM How much background do you want for the PCs?

@All Any thoughts on a team car or van?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-16-18/0627:12>
I looked it over, and I'm not going techno.  There is a VERY viable character there, especially for a PI, but not the sort of limited+focused build I was looking for I don't think.  Plus a lot of dice rolling, and my least  liked part of pbp games is pasting in all those dice rolls.

What I am playing to be decided very shortly.  Need to squeeze in time to rough out a couple of ideas then make a decision.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-16-18/1026:29>
As far as background, I like what I see so far.  20 questions seems a little excessive, because while useful, I feel like only abput 30-40% od the answers really define the character.  What I am mostly looking for us....

What motivates you beyond money amd survival?  Any jobs they wont take?  What ideals would they betray an employer for?

Where did they come from and how did tjey get here?

What are the two or three most important formative experiences im your life?  I like to try and fold major background evemts into the plot if I can, so the more details you give me about people and events here, the more I have to work with.

How did they acquire their skillset?

Any personal goals?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-16-18/1510:16>
I usually have to play the character a bit before I can really answer those questions, but I'll do my best:

- Seeing action is MadCats main motivation to do anything. His totem has a strong influence upon him, making him live in the moment with no particular longterm strategy.
- Jobs he won't take have usually something to do with them being boring or distasteful - he doesn't lie or at least not well and he has little regard for anyone trying to rob someone of their freedom. He is a man of his word and wouldn't betray anyone who hasn't betrayed him first - but he might openly pull out of a deal if it came in conflict with someone he considers friends or family
- He came from a middle class family with divided ancestory - white and native, so he always was on the lookout for something he could truly belong to, which quickly came into conflict with his valued personal freedom
- The experiences I would have to develop inplay, but it's likely feelings of rejection (during school), acceptance (military service) and betrayal (discharge after his misconduct).
- His main goal is to earn enough to be able to enjoy his freedom - which currently stands in stark contrast to having debts with the Sioux Mafia.


@Tecumseh
If I don't by the bike, I can offer 5000 Nuyen for a team vehicle.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-16-18/1524:17>
1. getting a deck would make her a reasonable decker. I'll need to find how to teach her electronic warefare, but the rest seems less important to me. (e.g. I can live with skipping cyber-combat).

I'll finish her in a few days, moving my apartment so the brain is not working due to tiredness.

P.S is the limitation of using a single 'A' priority a hard one? Indeed I get a slightly better build with two A priority, but the strange thing is that as my build requires many attribute points and many skills (So I decided on Skills A)...  I could only do it with an elf. (as Elf + attributes B is similar to Human + attributes A).  I don't mind her being an elf, just never planned it.



Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-16-18/1553:41>
I'm pretty married to the "only 1 priority A" limit, because I've seen some of the shenanigans that entail when players can starting doubling down on the As.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-16-18/1704:08>
Switching the character name from Machk to Mato. (Machk is Alqonquin; Mato is Sioux/Lakota. Plus I remembered that I already used Machk for another character in another story and I need to keep them straight in my head.)

What are the two or three most important formative experiences in your life?
1. Mato was born to corporate drug addicts, who produced a baby about as small and weak as an ork can be. He's been physically underdeveloped all his life, and thus rejected by Sioux culture. He spent his youth on the sidelines, both literally and metaphorically. This fostered his powers of observation, while simultaneously stoking his desperation to physically participate in life.

2. Mato's parents were killed in car crash that he attributes to their drug use. He took his inheritance and his parents' life insurance money and decided to pour it into cybernetic enhancements that would help him overcome his physical limitations. He wasn't bright enough to put some aside to help overcome his mental limitations.

3. Mato overspent. Not having a good head for numbers, he blew through his funds to the point where he needed to borrow money from the Koshari. He's not deeply in debt, but just enough where he needs steady employment to keep the legbreakers at bay. (Mato's legs are made of titanium and are unlikely to be literally broken, but the debt collectors could probably do a number on ribs or his nose or somewhere else painful and fragile.) This has inspired him to pursue gainful employment in Seattle, which conveniently gets him out of the Koshari's territory while he earns enough to pay them back.

How did they acquire their skillset?
Once he had his basic cybernetic implants, Mato threw himself at physical pursuits with the zeal of the newly converted. He wanted to learn everything he saw on the trids growing up: fighting, shooting, sneaking around like a Native ninja. The Sioux culture is militarized enough that there were plenty of opportunities to pursue these hobbies. Mato paid a lot of ex-Wildcats to be his mentors. Mato is skilled but not an expert, which is attributable to his desire to do lots of different things in an effort to make up for lost time. This robs him of the discipline to focus on any specific talent (Jack of All Trades quality).

Where did they come from and how did they get here?
Mato was born and raised in the Sioux Nation. He has come to Seattle to pursue a business venture with the investigative agency, which he believes will put food on the table, keep the Koshari at bay, and lead to greater earning opportunities.

What motivates you beyond money and survival?
Mato grew up feeling worthless and scorned by Sioux society. While he certainly wanted cyberlimbs to compensate for his physical infirmities, his subconscious motivation was a deep-seeded inferiority complex. He wants to feel valued and respected. To that end, he wants to put some of the skills he's learned into practice in a real-world environment.

Any jobs they wont take? 
Mato won't take a job that openly involves violence against children. He would also decline work from standard antagonists, e.g. Humanis Policlub, Human Nation, Alamos 20K, insect spirits (except mantids), dragons, etc.

In pursuit of his quest for respect, Mato traded in most of his metahumanity. He is impassive about violence and death, so he is open to wetwork and distasteful protection or intimidation services. His opinions of the weak and downtrodden are complex: they remind him of everything he used to be, and he resents the memory, so in killing them he is (metaphorically) killing the part of himself that he hates. Still, he can't help feeling lingering moments of compassion and a desire to help them better themselves, especially children with untapped potential.

What ideals would they betray an employer for?
Mato isn't intelligent in the traditional sense but he has the right instincts to do a common sense risk/reward analysis. He's not going to jeopardize his reputation and future earning potential unless the payoff is significant enough to negate the need for a good reputation and future earning potential.

He might also "betray" an employer if he feels like the job was significantly misrepresented and/or accepted under false pretenses. He wouldn't consider it a betrayal but rather a renegotiation of terms.

Any personal goals?
Mato grew up in relative comfort, with two gainfully-employed corporate parents, but he also witnessed the results of this first hand: namely, stress to the point of being driven to excess in terms of drugs, BTLs, and other vices. His goal would be to obtain a similar standard of living, but without the accompanying stresses. A permanent High lifestyle would be a personal goal.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-18-18/0212:01>
I am finally done with Amy Maka.  She has a deck, and she still needs to learn, but she decks alright.

I added contacts (as well as other important non-contact people in her life).
https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=27929.msg504739#msg504739


interview:

What are the two or three most important formative experiences in your life?

1. Driving around the NAN with my daddy, wishing that the road would never end.
2. Apprenticing under 'Beer's wing, which was like a parent for me.
3. Leaving the Sioux nation, my boyfriend, my family and everyone behind.

 
How did they acquire their skillset?

It is easy really. My daddy taught me driving and shooting, my mother taught me about technology, and Beer taught me how to develop my talent. The rest of what I know is social skills which I learned by surviving.  My position was also weak, and I had to learn to blend in, to mislead convincingly, and to bargain to make sure that the few coins I had could sustain me.

Where did they come from and how did they get here?

I ask myself the same question... I shouldn't have gotten here, not like this.  However, something broke in when I failed to protect the love of my life.   You could say that I lost it, I left everyone, and everything and started over again outside of the NAN where I never belonged due to my western appearance, lack of legal status, and circumstances.

I never planned to be a criminal, not a big one. I got into a significant debt due to expenses in getting here - and then if I did not get money people would physically harm me.  It gets easier over time, which scares me.

What motivates you beyond money and survival?

I want to prove my worth to myself. I want my daddy to be proud, I want him to formally acknowledge me, and I want to meet his family, my family. 

 I want to be a Sioux patriot and to be a legal Sioux citizen.  Or to leave it all behind, and be someone else. It is confusing... Perhaps I just want to belong to something bigger than myself, and to be legitimate in some manner without the need to always look over my back.

I want to fix things with Crying Fox, or at least to close it. He is a bleeding point in my heart.  However, all these are nice and dandy, and I am really in a bind right now. I need the money. I'll do anything to get it.

Any jobs they wont take?
 
Yes, plenty - if the money is not enough. If the team assembly is inadequate for the job, or if I cannot trust the Johnson enough. I avoid jobs that leave people dead unless there is absolutely no other alternative.

However, I have a debt to influential people - and I would at the end of the day do anything to be free of it.  There is nothing I would not do if I am in a corner, and the alternative is not to pay my monthly payment.  Given a choice, I'll go for the less violent, and less dangerous options though.  I'd prefer a job that I could somehow morally justify. Nobody likes to be the villian.

What ideals would they betray an employer for?

Never, If I accepted the job, I deliver.  It is a matter of honor, and of survival. I live because I get the job done.
 

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-18-18/1439:41>
So the forum is back!  I think at this point we're just waiting on Beta's character, and need to finalize the details of where you guys are operating out of.  If you think that the back and forth of hashing that out on the forums would take too long, I could also draft something.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-18-18/1452:34>
As I said, I'm fine with a shared lifestyle - Medium should be enough.
I imagine a single suburban house from were we operate.
(http://i64.tinypic.com/15f3y2u.png)

(http://i63.tinypic.com/289iy2u.png)


As for the offered contacts: If I understood that right I have 4 points to spread on Loyalty
I'll take the Info Broker with 1 Loyalty and the Neo-Anarchist hacker with 3
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-18-18/1524:48>
Amy Maka takes the Talismonger with loyalty 1, the delivery service loyalty 1, and the arms dealer at loyalty 3.  I'll update her character sheet.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-18-18/1531:15>
Just played around with Home-By-Me for our shared acommodations (see previous post)
Madcat takes the utility room  ;)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-18-18/1644:35>
Sorry for being slow on the character.  In my first post I mentioned how I was about to start transitioning out of the job that has been eating my life?  Yah, that starts next week, and the last part of this week seemed determined to remind me of why I needed out.  So I'm still at the point of choosing one of the following somewhat face-y characters:

1) Traveler based (the concept just won't die for me ...).  attributes A, metatype C (elf), magic C (traveler), but then either:
 a - Skills E, resources C.  ~15 dice on negotiate and con, 13-14 on astral combat, decent etiquette, and everything else is off skill 1.  But bioware and good gear, clothes, etc.
 b- Skills C, resources E.  The classic broke magician build.  A little lower on the strengths, a little less weak at everything else.

2) A more classic face, attributes A, skills B, reources C, Meta D, special E.  Social skills, disguise and imitate, enough 'ware to be a little dangerous and ware and gear to boost social skills.  You know this build, just details that vary.

3) A 'Medium' take on the shaman/face-lite build.  Charisma tradition, either illusion or manipulation as their school of magic, and likely 16 dice in that area, and 1 spirit type available.  Attributes A, magic B, skills C, meta D, resources E.  Not face level social skills, but good enough to team work.

I'm probably not going to get back to this today, but will make some time tomorrow.  In the meantime any thoughts or suggestions appreciated (as in : I've not really scanned the other characters to see where we may have a hole that needs patching)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-18-18/1717:12>
@Lorebane Is it okay to spend free Loyalty points on the group contacts and then to upgrade those Loyalty ratings with the Contact karma we get from chargen?

Mato will take the street doc (Heather Huxley) but I'm still working on the rest of his Contacts and knowledge skills.

@All Are we concerned about the stability of the forums? I moved two PbP games off the forums last year (over to rpol.net) because things were so unstable. Obviously things are much better now than they were back then, when things would go down for two weeks at a time and the reboot would lose your most recent progress, but I don't know if Friday's outage was an anomaly or a warning.

@Team For lifestyle, I was thinking more about a shared office, maybe with a barracks or small bedrooms upstairs.

For location, I can imagine us setting up shop in Touristville, or perhaps the small semi-respectable city center of Puyallup. (Not out in the Barrens.) I think that's where Jimmy Kincaid's office is in Russell Zimmerman's stories.

If we stick with Medium neighborhood then I think we can land anywhere with a security rating of B. Here's a map: http://www.1w6.de/rpg/sr/map/?borders=on

From Run Faster, a garage might be something we want to include.

Cutting Aces also has some Social Subscription Software that would be relevant to a PI agency. I don't know if it's appropriate to roll these up to a Lifestyle cost, but they are monthly expenses and would be relevant to our work. Things like:

CarnivoreGold: linguistic database and code-breaking software
MonaLisa: facial recognition software
Pheromone Detection: niche, but Mato could use it
Speech Template Comparison: detect impersonators
Target Tracking: tracks individuals in a crowd
Thermal Mood Reading: assists Judge Intentions
Vocal Tension Lie Detection: also assists Judge Intentions

Each of those cost ¥250 per month.

@Beta I like #1 and #3, mostly because I've never been in a game with either. #1 is great for scouting, #3 is great for having some summoning abilities that we don't otherwise have. With a Shamanic build we'd get air spirits if you go Illusion and spirits of man if you go for Manipulation.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-18-18/1730:53>
Honestly, with the finances of my character, he'll need quite a bit luck to even make rent for his shitty low level lifestyle.

With only 85% income (National SIN) and the strong wish to keep his kneecaps (3000 NY/month to stay afloat) he needs to earn 5200 every month to stay afloat - any kind of subscription falls squarely into the "nope" category for  him.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-18-18/1810:43>
Well, my character is even in more debt... So let's keep the expenses minimal.

As for traveler, how about:
Skills: A/B
Attributes: B/A
Meta: C (elf, or dwarf (?) )
Magic: D (full mage - there is the house rules).
Resources: E

The reason I suggest it is that the house rules actually allow you to take full mage at priority D and get astral projection.  Skill A would give you plenty of skills for astral combat and so forth. Even if you decide to take all special points for edge and leave magic 2 (astral combat is not affected by it), and you can have no magical skills if you wish to be a traveler. You could also buy FA mastery qualities with the spells you get (some may make sense - e.g. the one that gives better assensing).



Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-18-18/1833:12>
Good catch on the mage thing.  I had just lifted the traveler (explorer?) From FA, I think, and hadnt considered its relation to my revised stuff.  A low priority mage seems like a good way to work it, but if you really just want to be able to project we can try to figure a priority D rework for it that woild be more balanced.

For the group contacts, you can spend your usual karma/points to enhance them, but they still have the 7 total limit (so max 4 loyalty in any case).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-18-18/2040:01>
Let's look at Lifestyles.

The base Medium lifestyle is ¥5,000. Each additional occupant is an extra 10%. Since there are 1 + 3 of us that makes an extra 30%, for a base price of ¥6,500 per month.

The advanced lifestyle rules from Run Faster have the following ratings for Medium:

• Comforts & Necessities: 3, since we don't have any allergies, this is good enough not to suffer any fatigue penalties
• Security: 3, we should upgrade this to 4
• Neighborhood: 4, a B security rating

We have 4 optional points to spend.

• I recommend putting 1 into Security (making it 4).
• I recommend another 1 point into Grid Subscription so that we're not always on the public grid. This costs an extra ¥50 per month.
• I would put the 2 remaining points into Garage, which covers a vehicle rating Body 5 or higher (i.e. team van). This costs an extra ¥100 per month.

That would make the final price ¥6,650. Four ways, that's ¥1,663 a month per person, which seems highly affordable to me.

Open for discussion!
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-18-18/2158:24>
Nice catch, Gilga!  Indeed gives a better build, and opens up some interesting possibilities.  Wheels are churning :)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-19-18/0151:06>
I added knowledge skills and Contacts to my sheet, so I'm tentatively ready to go: https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=27929.msg504713#msg504713

I spent my 3 free Loyalty points on the street doc. With my chargen karma I went for an identity broker / forger that can help us with fake SINs and licenses.

@GM Artisan is now a knowledge skill, per the House Rules. The text says, "These skills, encompassing various sorts of craftsmanship and performances, are counted as knowledge skills." Performance is a separate active skill; is that now a knowledge skill too? So, for example, if I want to be good at drumming, is that a knowledge skill or do I still need to take the Performance active skill?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-19-18/0207:43>
Let's look at Lifestyles.

The base Medium lifestyle is ¥5,000. Each additional occupant is an extra 10%. Since there are 1 + 3 of us that makes an extra 30%, for a base price of ¥6,500 per month.

The advanced lifestyle rules from Run Faster have the following ratings for Medium:

• Comforts & Necessities: 3, since we don't have any allergies, this is good enough not to suffer any fatigue penalties
• Security: 3, we should upgrade this to 4
• Neighborhood: 4, a B security rating

We have 4 optional points to spend.

• I recommend putting 1 into Security (making it 4).
• I recommend another 1 point into Grid Subscription so that we're not always on the public grid. This costs an extra ¥50 per month.
• I would put the 2 remaining points into Garage, which covers a vehicle rating Body 5 or higher (i.e. team van). This costs an extra ¥100 per month.

That would make the final price ¥6,650. Four ways, that's ¥1,663 a month per person, which seems highly affordable to me.

Open for discussion!

I'm ok with that distribution, but I always thought the points were included in the base price so you don't need to pay the extras until you go beyond your point limit.
Otherwise we'd have to add the extras first and calculate the 10% per person afterwards: 5150*1,3=6695 or 1674 per person
That's still within range of my character's means, at least for the first month.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-19-18/0915:45>
Thoughts on a couple of spells that have some utility at force two, some reagents, and maybe seven dice pool?  (magic 2, spellcasting 1, specialization, mentor)? 

Slow levitation beats no levitation, for example.  (Possibly aiming for spells we don't already have coverage on).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-19-18/1207:46>
Makeover, shape change,  mindlink, mana barrier, physical barrier,  cammofledge(not oposed... hits sre negative dice to observer) , watcher because they can help you in astral combat
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-19-18/1222:44>
@Beta
You want spells that are voluntary and/or unopposed. Levitation is the obvious example, as you cited.

Fashion is another favorite. This can be wondrously effective and convenient.

Spatial Sense (Extended) is a tremendous spell.

Similarly, Catalog is a dynamite spell for a private investigator, but unfortunately it is opposed by Object Resistance.

Fix can be handy in a pinch.

Sterilize, if we've been naughty and need to cover our tracks.

@Jack
I far prefer SR4's advanced lifestyles. SR5's rules still baffle me.

I'm reasonably sure that you do have to pay for all the extras, and it appears that you also have to pay for optional points put into Security like I suggested. Here's the passage from Run Faster:

Quote
Not all the points for each lifestyle need to be spent—each point can raise the monthly cost of the lifestyle, so players have to consider the benefits they get and the costs of gaining them. Each point spent on Comforts & Necessities, Security, or Neighborhood increases the Lifestyle cost by ten percent of the base lifestyle. Points spent in the Entertainment category vary in cost; depending on the associated lifestyle, they may not bring in additional costs (see Entertainment, p. 219, as well as the information for each category).

If I'm reading that correctly then that would add 10% for the optional point in the Security rating (which I still think is a good idea), which comes to ¥1,841 per person. Still less than a Low lifestyle.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-19-18/1555:42>
@Tecumseh

Damn, you are right - oh well, time to earn some serious money then...
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-19-18/2121:09>
It seems like sometimes when I'm posting on my phone it isn't making it through to the boards.  I'll make to copy the post and check that it has gong through in the future (I've lost a couple of posts now, grrr).

I have my priority D mage doing a decent Traveller imitation, and have most of the character jotted out on a piece of scrap paper -- now I'm just trying to figure out how deeply in debt he needs to be.  I don't think we came to any conclusion about a group vehicle?  A shared Americar would come out to $4k each.  Is that possible for everyone, or is that one level of indebtedness too far?



Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-20-18/0050:19>
If I give up my bike, that's in the budget.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-20-18/0110:13>
I spent ¥8,500 on a motorcycle. I can give that up and put it toward a team vehicle.

I'd love to get a van (¥30k or ¥35k) but that might be too much of a reach. If we're going to be nation-hopping then maybe an expensive team vehicle isn't prudent. Still, it might be nice to upgrade an Americar with some relatively inexpensive but useful features, like spoof chips and GridGuide Override, maybe a smuggling compartment. The whole thing would be less than ¥20K, so ¥8K from me and ¥4K from everyone else.

I'll probably continue to fiddle with my spending right up until game start.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-20-18/0153:54>
To get a decent deck 50k+ (with priority E finances) I had to give an arm and a leg, I took in debt 8 (owing 60k, 40k cash), and converted 10 karma to nuyen. I am uncomfortable in kicking debt higher than 8, as I am not sure how likely she is to cover such debt.

Even after all that, I had to plan exactly which hacking programs I needed to use, and which non-hacking programs. I bought like 28 bullets, and 5 reagents... so there is not much of a wiggle room.

What I could do is give up armor jacket, and be left with a social suit/dress. I wanted to have both as I anticipated that we'll visit both places where you need to dress nicely and places without a dress code.

My gun is also, not the cheapest one I can replace my 800$ gun with a cheaper gun.  The most I could skim is like 1500 but anything more requires some big compromises (E.g., not starting with a proper deck).  If I go to the comlink/RCC route -  I can just buy a van or something.

The problem with that route is that my character would not be able to crack files. So the usefulness of the matrix would be to spoof commands and such.
 
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-20-18/0221:35>
If people haven't played with it before, In Debt is a bitch goddess who gives with one hand while taking away with the other. Level 8 should put you in borderline freak-out mode. That's ¥60K of debt with ¥6K due every month, or ~¥8K when you add in Lifestyle. Now I think we can cover that with the GM's guidelines around pay, but that doesn't even take into account paying down the debt, let alone investing in new toys.

At that point we should give more consideration to the GM's proposal of using an NPC secretary to cover holes in our capabilities. However, I defer to gilga's sense of what will be the most fun to play.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-20-18/0313:53>
I think it is fine, the options of not starting with debt kick me about 50-60 karma backward to reach the starting position of my character. What I am saying, is it is a bitch - but I got a lot out of it. Namely, I got a deck that I can build a successful full-fledged decker on.

I think it is worth the hassle, and either I can convert some karma to money (working for the man) or I enjoy karma advancement (new spells, skills, qualities). I'll enjoy the implications... ;)

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-20-18/0347:41>
Let me shake the couch cushions to see what falls out. I need to comb through my Chummer file again to identify oversights and possible cost savings. For example, I just noticed that I was double-paying for Lifestyle, so that freed up some nuyen. Not enough to cover an Americar by myself, but maybe enough to help cover gilga's portion.

@Beta Let me know where you net out on nuyen and if you can chip anything in.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-20-18/0534:58>
I have 6400 nuyen in bike and lifestyle.
After communal lifestyle that leaves 4500 for the car
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-20-18/0708:20>
I was at in debt 3 without a vehicle or weapon focus.  Can go to four and kick in at least 5k to a car (maybe six?  Not in front of my calculations) and will wait on a focus until after a run or two.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-20-18/1252:16>
The Ford cost 16k, there is the GMC 442 for 14k which is slightly cheaper.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-20-18/1410:16>
Yeah, the Chameleon for 14k is probably the best choice - followed by buying two Morgans
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-20-18/1857:52>
If I can get 4k from Jack and 4k from Beta then I think I can cover the rest. I'll try to design something tonight.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-20-18/2206:32>
You have my 4k.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-20-18/2353:02>
"Jaw-Jaw" is Tsimshian by map nationality, but Haida (albeit with a fair bit of European mixed in) by his own description.  In one of the many small misdeeds inflicted on the Haida by the Tsimshian, Guujaw was kicked nearly to death by Tsimshian security when he was nine, and his attackers thought he was dead after he spontaneously astrally projected, leaving his body apparently lifeless.  He encountered his first spirit then, which helped him find help, and he survived.  Survived, but with dire injuries.

His father had already been working construction in Seattle to send money to the family, and now he took Guujaw back with him to get him what medical care he could.  It took a long time to restore the boy's body and face, time which Guujaw spent mostly astral, playing, fighting, chasing, avoiding, and generally living with spirits around Seattle.  His father and the doctors and 'doctors' that they saw thought he was having some sort of seizure due to brain damage from the attack.

His father eventually saved up enough money to move to the slums of Cheyenne, and to take Guujaw to a renowned shaman healer in Cheyenne, who informed father and son of what was really going on, that Guujaw was awakened, albeit with only weak magic.  After an emotional scene, Guujaw forced himself to start spending more time in his body.  He tried to find decent work, however his damaged body kept him from taking on most more physical jobs.  He tried learning magic, but not much of it stuck.  He eventually learned that the social skills he'd learned dealing with spirits could earn him more than he could ever make with honest labour, and that what he could learn astrally could earn him even more than that.

Then his father fell ill, and he had to pay for doctors and healers.  In the end they couldn't save his Father, and Jaw-Jaw, as he'd become known, found himself alone and in debt.  He left Cheyenne, and returned to visit the lost beaches of Haida Gwai, by returning to Seattle.  But in Seattle he had even less contacts and reputation than in Cheyenne, and he was getting desperate when a man came and made him an offer that he couldn't afford to refuse.

=====================================
Negative qualities not finalized, but probably include infirm and Creature of Comfort (middle class) to reflect his damaged body and how much he depends on a good mattress and orthopedic chairs and decent food to not end up grumpy from pain and discomfort (he swears good food helps his back!).  In debt IV.  And something for a few more points -- probably Sinner: national (Tsimshian) but I want to take a good look to see if something else fits in well at three points or so.

(I had planned biased: vs MCT and unsteady hands, but I just had way too many points of negative qualities, so had to dump some)

The Tsimshian government has fallen in the intervening years, so he can't take vengence on them.  He knows he can't take down MCT, but any chance that he gets to do them some damage he is apt to take.  Long term goals....I'm not sure just yet.

He won't take missions to brutalize people.  He's not entirely against killing, although he doesn't much like it.  But leaving others like he was left?  He can't do that. ( Except maybe if they were senior enough in MCT.)

====================

I'd been hoping to get the character sheet together tonight, but it is approaching midnight, so not happening today.  To give people something: metatype C, attributes A, Special D (mage), Skills B, Resources E.

attributes
=======
strength 2 (1 with karma)
body 3
agility 4
reactions 4
logic 5
intuition 5
will 6
charisma 7

Edge 4
Essence 6
Magic 2

Magic
====
Spirits: spirit of man
Spells: catch, astral armor (both from Hard Targets)
Astral Projection

Skills:
=====
Influence skill group 5
Con  (fast talk) 6 (8)
assensing (aura reading) 6 (8)
astral combat (spirits) 6 (8)
spellcasting (manipulation) 1 (3)
summoning (man) 1(3))
13 more points of skills.

Gear:
Nothing too special.  4k towards their vehicle.  A sword cane (to be made a weapon focus later).  Rating four ID with a couple of licenses (PI, firearms).  Some reagents.  binoculars

Positive Qualities:
===========
Too many options, haven't decided yet for sure.  I want a mentor spirit with +2 on manipulations spells and a useful skill bonus, but so far of none of the ones that have that really feel right for the character.  Will see.  Then talents useful to his face side, but haven't decided between bland and human looking to support disguise type work, or more straight up help with facy stuff in some circumstances.

Note: could instead spend 15 karma to take magic to 3, but I'm think I'll leave it at 2 for now, buy some 'ware in a bit, then buy it back to two and then three.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-21-18/0007:15>
Woohoo!  The whole crew is up!

So I was thinking about it earlier this week, it has been mentioned here, and one player sent me a message about it - forum stability.  I share the concerns of others, and wouldn't be averse to using a more stable forum for the game thread.  You seem to be a lot more experienced than I am with PbP games, so I'd defer to your judgement on which site to use, but if you guys are all on board, I have what will be my last full day off in A FREAKING WHILE (had my grad orientation today and imma be busier than I thought!) on Wednesday and if you guys can point me to a good forum, I can get it all set up then.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-21-18/0056:57>
Well, there is always dumpshock
or the little exclave www.rpgplayroom.net

Then again, this forum is pretty stable. The recent hickup was part of the admins trying to curb the influx of spammers.
The only thing speaking against this forum is that we can't use spoilers to hide OOC stuff like rolls and rules questions in the corresponding posts.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-21-18/0232:16>
Regarding the forums, I am open to staying here. I ran a 3-year game at Dumpshock but strongly feel that these forums are better. I ran a one-shot over at rpgcrossing.net but the formatting drove me nutty. I currently have two games going over at rpol.net, which I like pretty well. I've never played at RPG Playroom, nor had I even heard of it until just now. I wondered where Aria ended up... question answered! I'm open to playing there if the others recommend it, since it looks like everyone but me and the GM are playing there.

@GM
Is Performance now a knowledge skill, similar to Artisan, or is it still an active skill?

@Team
Here's our vehicle, with 4k from Jack and 4k from Beta and the rest from me.

Ford Americar
+ Amenities (High) - a nod to Beta's Creature of Comfort quality
+ Anti-Theft System (Rating 2) - a nod to the High amenities
+ GridLink Override - which presumes that GridLink comes standard, as the text implies
+ Manual Control Override
+ Morphing License Plate
+ Spoof Chips
+ Smuggling Compartment

Open for discussion. Amy/gilga is the best driver, and probably won't be pulled over for Driving While Ork like I might be, so I imagine she'll be behind the wheel most of the time.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-21-18/0806:41>
@Tecumseh: aww, that is sweet!  Nice if we have to spend the night on a stake out :)

@Lorebane:  I'm fine with keeping the game here.  The new software has seemed stable.  Any site might have outages occasionally, but the question is really how often, for how long, and is anything lost?  I think we look reasonable on that front here now.  Showing that PbP games still happen seems like good advertising too.  That said, I'm fine with moving.  If Obidancer is willing to support other games I can certainly vouch that rpgplayroom.net that he set up works nicely.

The one thing I'd messaged about was possibly setting up an obsidianportal campaign page.  Even with the free version it gives a place to post characters, NPC write up, place descriptions, etc.  (and personally I prefer using it to a google drive type page because my work blocks gmail, drive, yahoo mail, etc.  all in the name of making it harder to move work files outside the company.  But Obsidianportal  is fine to access.  Makes lunch time updates much easier when I'm not trying to load things on my phone).  Games can also be run using the forums for a campaign, but I think the forums may only come with the paid version, so not pushing that.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-21-18/1024:19>
@Beta - One of my characters (in Jack's game) got her hand on R6 weapon focus, and as she has the mental stats for it I figured it would be nice to dabble in astral combat. However, as I thought about it more and more, I figured out the best focuses are the weapons with high reach. R6 Knife - is about as useful as an R3 spear. (give or take, resistance to BGC).  (Actually, less effective because the spear also helps in defense).

So, if/when you do get a weapon foci, notice that even the most simple spear would give you reach of 3, and as you are projecting, you are in the astral, and the physical spear can stay in the car or something. Thus even at F1, you'll get +4 to hit, and -3 dice to the opponent as there does not seem to be any other way to get reach in astral combat.


Does that make sense? I mean I am sorry if it is obvious - it is for me the first time to consider astral.

@Lorebane - I am fine here, but I don't mind DS/Rpgplayroom.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-21-18/1343:20>
I'm not sure if reach is a property that carries over to the astral, but there can be certainly made an argument for it, since weapon foci do retain their damage and their accuracy on the astral (though that leaves the question if you also keep the AP value - if that's the case, get a Nodachi or Highland claymore Weapon Focus asap)

@Tecumseh
Cool, that ride sounds about right :D

Btw, I have limited mod rights on rpgplayroom, so I can open the ooc and ip threads.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-21-18/1425:26>
Given the nature of astral combat, I'd assumed that reach would not count?  If it does, for sure I need to look at how to make use of it.

I don't recall the rules saying anything one way or another -- anyone else recall if there is a reference that would push things one way or another?  (I was going with the sword cane for the +3 damage, decent accuracy, and somewhat easier to cart around.  He'll have a couple of other canes for when weapon scanners would be an issue.  But I'm not wedded to it.)

@Lorebane: I was considering giving Jaw-Jaw a knowledge skill for the faerie courts (he went through the Yellowstone astral eruption while in Cheyenne?  He met spirits from there?). But wanted to check that a) it is a thing in your game world, b) you are fine with a character having knowledge of it, and c) you are ok with the character having knowledge while the player doesn't?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-21-18/1437:39>
If reach is a thing, you probably will do best with the
KRIME BILL (BLADES)
ACC REACH DAM AP AVAIL COST
5 1/3* (STR+3)P –2 12R 1,500¥

from Street Lethal
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-21-18/1505:09>
So it sounds like we are okay with these forums?  If it becomes an issue later we can always move then.

@Beta.   I actually plan on making use of the faerie courts, but they are a smidge different in my world from what is laid out in the Court of Shadows.  Most notably - guns do not change into crossbows or whatever in the faerie realms - they stay guns.  The people of faerie are basically familiar with them, heyve seen them, and a few carry them, but they are still considered "unfashionable."  Other big thing is that I'm ditching the weired mental matrix analogue they habe and replacing it with - the matrix.  In my little revision, Renraku (as the first corp to get any sort of foothold in the court) has helpef them set up a sort of planar intranent, unconnenected to the matrix on the material plane.  It othwrwise funtioms the same, but not all info held in one will be om the other, and no one has even tried to explore the Foundatiom there yet.

 For a knowledge skill, "Seelie Court" might be an okay general knowlwdge skill, but if you want to specialize, seelie politics and fey creatured might be appropriate niches.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-21-18/2037:51>
@Lorebane, sounds great!  I haven't read the faeries court book, so I don't have much to unlearn :-)

Re: weapon focus in astral combat.  Book does confirm that weapons get their usual accuracy and damage code, but doesn't say anything about reach or armor penetration. By their omission when the other items are mentioned, I'd read it as they don't apply in astral.  But GM's house call in the end I think (although I'll probably put this to the forums sometime soon, to see what they think.)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-22-18/0217:41>
@Beta
What's the ETA on the sheet?

Astral combat is woefully undetailed, a pain point which has come up several times for me. I've played with it several ways, tweaking as I went along. I've even gone back through previous editions looking for clues about how they handled things, but even those introduce as many questions as they answer. I don't think the fluff and the crunch align very well, which makes the foundation of the rules weak.

I generally opt for a weapon focus that has the most utility in the real world. Sure, I have a lot of fun swinging a claymore around both the physical world and the astral, but its concealability is a major headache. Give me a combat knife or a sapphire knife that I can carry around without looking like the Highlander. 
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-22-18/0950:25>
Well, in my opinion since you would normally project leaving your body in a safe place (e.g. the team's car, or even from home.) There is essence in a larger combat focus. Even if you do not get reach bonus, you would get bonus damage.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-22-18/1247:51>
I'm pretty sure that I'm not starting play with a weapon focus, so I have some time to make a final decision there.

For the character sheet, it is coming, really!  Because I'm not using a standard Chummer priority I won't be printing direct from there -- have some parts worked out on Chummer, some on paper, now just need to make a bit of time to write it up in one place.  I can't promise today for that, although if I can get to it I will.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-22-18/2218:32>
Character build mostly done in Chummer (haven't finished spending nuyen on things like commlinks and glasses yet).  Anyone know if there is a way to generate a text file out of Chummer (just to save some time on putting the whole thing in text format -- I'll have to edit anyway as we have some non-standard build stuff that I just approximated).

And despite the previous post, looks like Jaw-Jaw will start with a weapon focus.  I was at 24 points of negative qualities, and the easiest way to get to 25 points was to pump the debt up by one ... (and yes, I'm staying with the sword cane).
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-23-18/0050:52>
So we are all in debt... that will be a very, very motivated bunch of detectives :D

as for getting a textfile:
If you hit the print option you can exchange the format in which it will be printed - including as a text file. You can copy that text instead of printing.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-23-18/1228:33>
So we got a vehicle, characters are nostly done.  I think we need to finalize/set in stone a few details of the lifestyle/office (were you guys going to be in Touristville?).  Is there anything else I am missing before we get rolling?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-23-18/1321:35>
I'm fine with Touristville.
We all get to roll our starting money before we begin but since we are sharing accomodations I'd suggest we all just roll on the low lifestyle table (that way I don't have to recalculate  ::) )

I'm ready to go otherwise.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-23-18/1341:24>
Well, if we are all good with that, then I can start the IC and OOC threads tonight.  I would be comfortable with starting as long as all the characters are done by the time the meet with the first client is finished.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-23-18/1432:13>
Touristville is technically too nice for our Medium lifestyle. I would recommend either Capitol Hill, just uphill from Downtown, or Union Bay / Laurelhurst, which are ridiculously high class in real life (right on the lake) but are only Middle class according to Shadowrun. Both locations would be central / close to the city center and potential corporate customers.

I can have my sheet ready by the time I post in the OOC thread. I'm just tweaking inventory.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-23-18/1458:32>
Touristville is the only non-disastrous part of Redmond, as I understand it.  How would it be too nice?  (I thought it was something like a security rating C?  But I'm not at my books, can't check for sure)

I seem to recall that some of the southern parts of Seattle (Seattle proper, as opposed to the larger sprawl) were of lower security rating, and would then be reasonably close to the nice areas downtown and in Bellevue, and the varied combinations of gangs, grit, and ghastliness of Auburn, Tacoma and Puyallup, and near the airport for those quick trips to places where we don't yet know the people who want to kill us.  Would that work, to be not as far out as Puyallup downtown as one suggestion was, but still reasonably accessible to all of that?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-23-18/1702:28>
It depends on how by-the-book Lorebane wants to be. Run Faster says that Middle lifestyles have to be in B or A neighborhoods, and we didn't pay to upgrade to A.

If we want to be in Touristville, we'll have to have a Low lifestyle. It will cost less but security will be garbage and we'll be in constant jeopardy of break-ins and either having our car stolen (because we can't get a garage) or fatigue damage (because Comforts & Necessities isn't high enough).

SeaTac is a B neighborhood right next to the airport. I still think Capitol Hill is a good idea, given its proximity to downtown. The reality is that we have, what, 18 ranks of debt between us? That means our debt and lifestyle payments are collectively in the neighborhood of 20K per month. We need monied clients, so we should hover around rich neighborhoods.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-23-18/1750:09>
Pretty final, finally.


Note: karma spent: 10 on attributes, 24 on qualities, 3 on bonding a focus, 13 on skills.
==========================
== Personal Data ==
Street Name: Jawsie
Name: Guujaw Thompson
Movement: 8/16 (2m/hit)
Swim: 3 (1m/hit)
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Elf
Composure: 13
Judge Intentions: 13
Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)
Memory: 10
Nuyen: 319

== Priorities ==
Metatype: C - Elf
Attributes: A - 24 Attributes
Special: D - Mage (2 magic, 1 skill at 2 (assensing), 3 "spells"
Skills: B - 36 Skills/5 Skill Groups
Resources: E - 6,000¥

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 4
REA: 4
STR: 2
CHA: 8
INT: 5
LOG: 5
WIL: 5
EDG: 4
MAG: 2

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6.00
Initiative:                9 +1d6
Rigger Initiative:         9 +1d6
Astral Initiative:         10 +3d6
Matrix AR:                 9 +1d6
Matrix Cold:               10 +3d6
Matrix Hot:                10 +4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Limits ==
Physical:                  4
Mental:                    7
Social:                    9
Astral:                    9

== Active Skills ==
Asensing (aura reading)  Base: 6          Pool: 11 (13)
Astral Combat (wf: blades)Base: 6         Pool: 11 (13)
Computer                 Base: 1          Pool: 6
Con                      Base: 6          Pool: 14 
Disguise                 Base: 4          Pool: 9
Etiquette                Base: 5          Pool: 13
Gymnastics               Base: 1          Pool: 5
Impersonation            Base: 1          Pool: 9
Leadership               Base: 5          Pool: 13
Melee (Swords)           Base: 1          Pool: 5 (7)
Navigation               Base: 1          Pool: 6
Negotiation              Base: 5          Pool: 13
Perception (hearing      Base: 1          Pool: 6 (8)
Running                  Base: 1          Pool: 3
Small Arms (M.Pistols)   Base: 1          Pool: 5 (7)
Sneaking                 Base: 4          Pool: 8
Spellcasting (manip)     Base: 1          Pool: 3 (5)
Summoning (Man)          Base: 1          Pool: 3 (5)
Swimming                 Base: 1          Pool: 3
Tracking                 Base: 1          Pool: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==
Haida                    Base: 4          Pool: 10
Japanese                 Base: 6          Pool: 12
Lakota                Base: 6          Pool: 12
Russian                  Base: 6          Pool: 12
Spanish                  Base: 6          Pool: 12
Sperethiel               Base: 4          Pool: 10
Architecture             Base: 3          Pool: 8
Faerie Courts            Base: 4          Pool: 9
Private Investigator     Base: 4          Pool: 9
Seattle Free Spirit CommunityBase: 1          Pool: 6
Seattle music scene      Base: 2          Pool: 7

== Contacts ==
Bowdash; (Seattle Downtown) Fixer (C4, L2)
Green Toes; (Seattle, Courts) Free Fae Spirit (C2, L2)
Mr. Jabowski; (Auburn); Mafia Lieutenant (C3, L2)
Adeline Peters; (Seattle) KE Forensic Magician (C2, L3)
Zwipe (Touristville) Ganger (C1, L3)
Free Contacts
Lysander; (Seattle?) Info Broker (C3, L2)
Five-Fingers Gao & Fenghuang; (Seattle?), Talismongers, (C3, L4)

== Qualities ==
Addiction, mild, Psyche (4)
Alibi
Creature of Comfort (Middle)
Human-Looking
In Debt ( 5)
Infirm
Linguist
Low-Light Vision
Method Actor
Quick Healer
Records on File (MCT)


== Lifestyle ==
Medium (shared)

== Tradition ==
Shamanic, Resist Drain with: 13

== Spells ==
Astral Armor (mana, LOS, sustained, drain = F-2)
Levitate (physical, LOS, sustained, drain = F-2)

== Spirits ==
Spirit of Man (B+1, A+2, R+2, S-2, I+1 / Accident, concealement, Confusion, Enhanced Senses (low light, thermographic), guard, influence, search. / Optional: Fear, Innate spell, movement, phychokinesis)


== Armor ==
Armor Vest                         9
Good Suit                          0

== Weapons ==
Glock 51
   + Ceramic/Plasteel Components
   + Laser Sight
   Pool: 5 (7)   Accuracy: 6 (7)   DV: 7P   AP: -   RC: 2
Mortimer of London ‘Belgrave’ Sword Cane w/personalized grip
   Pool: 5/6 (7/8)     Accuracy: 6   DV: 5P      AP: -2   RC: n/a  <== Meat
   Pool: 12/13 (14/15) Accuracy: 6   DV: 10s/p   AP: -2   RC: n/a  <== Astral 
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3   Accuracy: 4   DV: 2S    AP: -   RC: n/a  <== Meat
   Pool: 12  Accuracy: 9   DV: 7S/P  AP: -   RC: n/a  <== Astral

== Commlink ==
MCT Blue Defender (rating 3 ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 1, FWL: 5)
   + wrist-band formfactor, Commlink Functionality [Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Credstick Reader, Earbuds, GPS Guidance System, Micro Trid-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]
Sony Angel (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 1, FWL: 1)

== Gear: Equipped ==
Ammo: Gel Rounds (Machine Pistols) ×30
Ammo: Regular Ammo (Machine Pistols) ×60
Black Panther (2 doses)
Earbuds Rating 2
   + Sound Link
   + Select Sound Filter Rating 1
Fake SIN (Hector Vega) Rating 4
   + license (machine pistol) 4
   + license (blade) 4
Glasses Rating 3
   + Flare Compensation
   + Image Link
   + Magnification
Micro-Transceiver
Psyche (2 doses)
Reagents, per dram ×25
Tool Kit (Disguise)
Trodes
Weapon Focus (Bonded Foci) (Mortimer of London ‘Belgrave’ Sword Cane) Rating 1
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-23-18/1826:35>
I'm not going to be too by-the-book on this.  To me, for a small agency operating out of a place like Touristville (I admit, I know little of the canon for this place, but it sounds very cool), the cost of a middle lifestyle seems appropriate to cover the cost of dormitory-style housing (which is what the floor plan looks like to me, albeit with nicer decor) and overhead.  This is where pnp RPGs have the edge over video games, because we can easily just say that, reflected in the costs of the lifestyle, you've spruced the space up a little so it looks niceish for clients, and you've invested in above-average security measures because let's face it you're still in the Barrens.

This might be a good time to clarify where I stand on the general state of the world and how it relates to what's been published.  Through my own experiences in different campaigns, everyone seems to have a slightly different interpretation of what they've read, and there are inconsistencies even within published material, so here are a few examples of what I imagine to be then "norm" in Shadowrun.  Gonna use spoilers to avoid a wall.

<spoilers=Food>I don't know what I always feel like starting with this one - maybe because it's one of the details that's been so different in each game I've played in.  In my campaigns, it's probably not as scarce or out-of-reach as printed stuff makes it out to be.  The people who are surviving exclusively on nutrisoy tubes and krill are squatters and hobos.  At low lifestyle people can generally expect to eat some sort of shaped, textured, and flavored staple food for most meals.  Soy burgers and such.  Soy always gets talked up, but krill, rice, and other easy-to-mass-produce "filler" foods are often used as well.  Even at low lifestyle, they can afford to sample "real food" now and again, just not the best.  They can find, for example, a couple packaged (lab-grown) apple slices at the Stuffer Shack, but it's price is such that it's more of a luxury item, akin to what a high-shelf block of aged cheese might be for most of us today.  These people will never taste a steak in their life, though.  At mid lifestyle, people can expect to enjoy about one portion of real food in each meal that adds a little less "humans are supposed to eat like this" feeling to their food.  Their burger might be made with C grade beef, or their soy steak's sauce might have actual mushrooms in it.  At high lifestyle, it's pretty typical, and luxury eats dishes each meal that would make a squatter weep, and when they splurge on food at least one of the ingredients is probably awakened.</spoilers>

<spoilers=Wageslaves and the workweek> Wageslaves make the world go round.  To me, the world of Shadowrun is very much about capitalism run rampant, and in spite of the horrific exploitation it has led to, it also ensures that the world has become straight up 1984 because of one key fact of the system - the corps need customers.  They control everything, but someone needs to buy their products, spend money on their services, and drive their economy, and the Corporate Court also ensures that some degree of competition is always allowed for everyone's mutual interests.  So while there are always exceptions, I imagine a 60 hour workweek to be 2018's "nine-to-five."  Ten hours a day, six days a week.  And on that day off, they are looking for distractions that the corps are happy to provide.  The corps are also smart enough to realize that a burnt-out employee is unproductive and unprofitable, so they each have their own way with working to avoid it.  Shiawase puts antidepressants in the water.  Horizon is pretty lax about unscheduled breaks.  But ultimately wageslavery (and the typical sixth-world citizen) is a state of barely tolerable oppression where they're thrown a bone just often enough to keep them passive.</spoilers>

<spoilers=Shadowrunners, Security, and my KE>I think I may of mentioned this once, but I imagine the Shadowrunning industry to be akin to "the Game" as portrayed in the Wire, and, in-universe, you may here people talk about it that way.  The Shadows is that metaphorical grey (or black) area of society were shadowrunners and those associated with them work, and someone (the characters in this campaign, for example, along with Johnsons, made men, and a lot of dirty cops) might be considered to be "of the Shadows" (or "part of the Game") without actually being considered shadowrunners.  Generally speaking, the world is not built to keep shadowrunners out, because most people never expect to deal with one (meaning this won't be a game where, for example, a middle-manager has electrified windows in their home).  Corporate property is another matter, of course.

I've never been a fan of the grunt stats (or gear) as presented in the book, so I print my own, but to get an idea of what I use as a baseline, I run with the book's suggestion that 4 ranks in a skill is typical "professional" level.  That's what you can expect from the typical schmo for whatever it is they have to do every single day.  IT workers have 4 ranks in computers, a beat cop has 4 ranks in small arms, and the local gang's sneakiest dude has 4 ranks in stealth.  I figure a stat of 4 to match in most cases, with a small bump from gear when it is readily available (like a smartlink) for a typical die pool of 8-10 for a mook (generally enough for them to by 2 successes for routine tasks).

Now I mention KE up there because I figured it would be reasonable to assume your characters would be familiar with what sort of artillery and protocols would be on the streets.  I've fallen in love with these little setting writeups so other outfits will operate differently, but for KE, a standard patrol is 2 officers and a scouting drone (like in Bladerunner!) and the accompanying car, kinda like typical cops.  But, since cyberpunk is dystopian, the uniform and gear for an average patrolman (not their SWAT guys) is a ballistic trenchcoat (functionally a lined coat) and a hardened helmet with a few HUD assists like smartlink and low-light vision.  Standard issue weapon in 2080 is the Ares Sigma SMG (from Gun Heaven) with an Ares Predator as a sidearm.  They all carry extra gear in the trunks that allows any unit to be quickly mobilized for riot suppression, including a few pieces of modular armor (securtech PPP), a single ballistic shield, a few flashbangs, and two drums of stick-n-shock rounds for their Sigmas</spoilers>

<spoilers=Magic: Commonality, commercialization, and security>  Along with my tweak of the magic priorities comes certain assumptions about magic and its place in the world.  Full mages are unicorns, and if they want it, they have ample opportunities they can sell out for regardless of where they come from, so if you see a mage who's not attached to a corp, a government, or a crime syndicate, they've probably got some baggage.  Sorcerers and conjurers are relatively more common, and what you are most likely to see when dealing with grunts (KE HRTs typically have a sorcerer, for example).  Aspected mages are often in a spot to work freelance - in fact, many sorcerers an conjurers make good money simply by charging to maintain a few wards and bound spirits in place that cannot afford to keep a mage on payroll full-time.

Just as rare as mages (but you guys will be running into them more than that) are magicians of any sort of with a Magic higher than 4 or 5.  Most mages who aren't in the Shadows or in the security industry stop there because by that time their spells are enough to do what they need to do.  Even if they are involved in research, they tend to focus more on initiation than on upping their force potency - universities and R&D labs have plenty of magicians who are Grade 3+ initiates but only have a Magic score of 4.

I think that the different traditions are a lot of fun, so I like to imagine that as of FA, the world is in the middle of a sort of a traditions renaissance - it's no longer the case that hermeticism and shamanism are what 90% of magicians practice.  More people are becoming interested in lesser known and obscure traditions.  Most corps still harbor biases, but they may not always be what you'd initially assume (Shiawase prefers Shinto shaman, as expected, but MCT prefers hermetics because they find that loyalty to the kami can conflict with loyalty to MCT).

Finally I want to get this out there right up - magic is not mass-produced (though regeants are often mass-harvested).  Magic has thus far firmly resisted any and all attempts to commercialize it.  It can't be put in a can (except, literally, with hobo alchemy), and it can't be grown on a farm.  Attempts to factory-farm awakened animals have had very mixed results, and reagents that usually grow don't seem to do well when the conditions for their creation are engineered.  The closest the corps get to routine magical "products" are really just them selling reagents they've harvested and spell forumla they've created.  The magical side of the corporate world is all about services (mages on retainer, magical forensics, etc...) and lots and lots of research.</spoilers>

EDIT: How do I do spoilers again?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-23-18/1844:44>
Also, I have been following the thread on weapon foci in astral combat, and here is were I stand: I dont think it was intended in the ruled, but I think it's cool, so it's in.  But I may give astral reach to a few critters too.  For now, a§sume that typical spirits do not have reach
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-23-18/2037:02>
I don't think spoiler tags work in the new boards :-(

I'm not too fussed one way or another on reach and AP, he's going with the sword cane because it works with the infirm and everything.  I figure dice pools adjust out appropriately so there is no point in chasing lots of extra dice.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-24-18/0037:33>
@Lorebane
The setting sounds good. I'm happy to be operating out of Touristville. It's the part of Redmond closest to Bellevue so corpers and rich kids go slumming there.

@Beta
Suppressive fire is by far the best use for s small dice pool. It's not subtle, but even a pool of 6 to 8 dice can meaningfully contribute. I'm on my phone so just make sure your gun has the ammo capacity to support it. Tasers are good because they're legal, but their range sucks and it's hard to connect with a modest dice pool.

Consider hardcapping Charisma instead of Willpower. I figure you have WIL for Astral Combat, but you have many more skills linked to Charisma. Your drain pool will be the same either way.

I think final lifestyle cost is ¥1,841 a month. Are we thinking a ground floor office with living space upstairs?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-24-18/0253:07>
@Beta+ Tecumesh
Charisma also plays a role in astral combat. +1DV is also not bad, more likely to one-shot a spirit. 2 hits in astral combat would kill anything, so the question is how close are you to get them in one? +1 charisma might make you more effective.

P.S I do not see mage skills in your sheet, didn't you want to take like 1 point of spellcasting?

@All - I am fine with turistville - with our massive debt the extra security may mean that no common criminal would interfere as the Mafia/other crime syndicate are invested in our business.


 
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-24-18/0729:09>
Thank you for the save Gilga!  Between home and two different work places I was working with a lot of different scraps of paper and chummer saves, and it looks like in one of the copying events I lost the magic.  Bugger.  Well, that explains why Jawjaws disguise and perception were better than I'd been expecting ...

I have to head out currently, but will update the skills, and add the spell and spirit, later today.

I might also change his street handle I was going with Jaw jaw as in the usage of 'jaw' for 'talk.'  But it just hit me that it sounds quite a bit like 'Jar-Jar' and that isn't a name association that I need in my head.  Will try to come up with something new by the time I update.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-24-18/1215:46>
OK, character updated/fixed (in the original post, and also copied over to obsidian portal at: https://brexbasicbackups.obsidianportal.com/characters/jawsey

I made the change to charisma 8 / Will 5. I'm a bit worried, as will is also astral soak and resistance to most spells that can be cast in the astral ... but it flat out makes him a better face which will more frequently be his role.

I downgraded his commlink from  Hermes Icon to an MCT Blue Defender ("the cop wristband 'link") in order to afford a disguise kit, which I'd been missing earlier.  That also let me fiddle with a few other minor things.

Do any of you, by any chance, have the German "State of the Art" book?  I'd chosen a machine pistol off of Chummer without realizing that it came from there.  Without knowing any issues raised in the text I'm not so comfortable using it, so will switch out to the trusty Steyr TMP unless one of you has the source book.

Contacts

After increasing Charisma, I have three more contact points to spend.  Contacts are currently:

-Bowdash; (Seattle Downtown) Fixer (C4, L2) <-- always good to have a fixer

-Green Toes; (Seattle, Courts) Free Fae Spirit (C2, L2) <-- needed at least one spirit contact

-Mr. Jabowski; (Auburn); Mafia Lieutenant (C3, L2)  <-- who Jawsey owes 25nY.

-Lt. Adeline Peters; (Seattle) KE Forensic Magician (C3, L3)  <-- every PI needs a cop contact!

Free Contacts

-Heather Huxley; (Seattle?) Street Doc (C3, L2) <-- generally good to have, might want 'ware some day.
-Five-Fingers Gao & Fenghuang; (Seattle?), Talismongers, (C3, L4) <-- with loyalty 4, you can sometimes buy alchemical preparations from them.  Given our limited magic coverage, might be useful?  And reagents and focus had to come from somewhere.

Is anyone feeling like they have holes in their contact coverage that they'd like some help on?   Jawsey has more room to move points around and fill in gaps than any of the others, I suspect.  (if we are otherwise good I'll probably add the classic street kid or snitch or something like that)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-24-18/1426:33>
I think we're good to go as soon as the agency gets a name, then.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-24-18/1552:37>
Do any of you, by any chance, have the German "State of the Art" book?  I'd chosen a machine pistol off of Chummer without realizing that it came from there.  Without knowing any issues raised in the text I'm not so comfortable using it, so will switch out to the trusty Steyr TMP unless one of you has the source book.

Yupp, I do. Nothing special about it. It's a pretty good design without being overwhelming. Cheap, considering it has plaststeel components.


As for the name of our agency: United Researchers, Mages and Manhunters Agency. - Short: UR MAMA sent us...

Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-24-18/1635:05>
Do any of you, by any chance, have the German "State of the Art" book? 

Yupp, I do. Nothing special about it. It's a pretty good design without being overwhelming. Cheap, considering it has plaststeel components.

Thanks!  I'll leave it be then (I just wanted to avoid something that was only used by one corp or such oddness)

Quote
As for the name of our agency: United Researchers, Mages and Manhunters Agency. - Short: UR MAMA sent us...

Groan!

But then again, I've failed to come up with any ideas I like ...
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-24-18/1646:29>
@Beta
I don't know if you're trying to spread out your Contacts intentionally. I already took Heather Huxley, but I don't have any objections to doubling up. If you still have points, then maybe some Touristville connections? A joygirl or some gangers or the like.

Also, I think everyone else took Lakota as a language. I know it wouldn't be native for you but I imagine it would be easy to pick up with three roommates who speak it. I thought I would mention it in case you wanted to switch up some of your language skills.

@Team
What about ”Seattle Investigative Operations - Undercover Experience", or SIOUX for short. Or just SIO.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-24-18/1650:05>
Yeah we can go with that :D

(In my defense: It's been a long day)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-24-18/1730:39>
-I swapped Cantonese for Lakota, so we can all talk together and really appear like a NAN terrorist cell!

-Added Zwipe, a local ganger, as a contact

- Swapped the street doc for the info broker (Lysander) in the free contacts.
@Lorebane: Lysanders' services paragraph seems to cut off suddenly?
"Services – Lysander's primary service is information.  He is a treasure trove of seemingly trivial facts, and he knows more than a thing or two about who's-who in Seattle and what they're getting their grubby little fingers into.  He has made a profession of this, though he finds currency for information "  Is there something missing?

-All: I made an Obsidian Portal 'campaign' just to store things in like character sheets, if anyone else would like to stash theirs there for easier linking. (if I'd been smart I would have reserved a post on the first page of the thread and put the character sheet there)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-24-18/1819:08>
Yeah, Lysander's entry should finish "he finds trading currency for information rather gauche, preferring to trade secrets for secrets."
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: gilga on <08-24-18/2343:06>
Or "Amazing Experiences: Guided Tours"...

Something that seems legitimate for a Johnson to visit, and would not frame them if someone does a light investigation. We are not a 'Shadowrun agency, private detectives... we are tour guides.

Or perhaps "Touristville: Bed, Breakfast, and Extra"


Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-25-18/2012:55>
I suppose it's worth asking the GM whether we are publicly a PI agency or if there's some conceit about the nature of our work or our clients.

If are needing to clear 20K a month then we need monied clients, likely corporate, so how we would attract them (a fixer? nice Matrix site? bathroom grafitti?) might benefit from the GM's "how the world works" input.

Other questions might be how long we've worked together, which would help inform our RP and our familiarity with each other's talents.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-25-18/2138:00>
Basically, you guys have been setup with PI licenses to keep things above board, and an office so people can seek you out to hire you (I hadn't considered marketing), but otherwise operational paramaters are pretty broad specifically so you can work as versatile troubleshooters.

I would prefer that you've been setup rather recently, like to the point where the game kicks off with your first client.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-25-18/2213:09>
We are set up with PI licenses?  (as in, Jawsey doesn't have to have spent 800 nY on an R4 license?)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-26-18/0003:30>
Correct!  Sorry, shoulda mentioned that.  Licenses are always one of those things I forget about.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-26-18/0305:49>
Cool,
so no need to play coy with what we are.

"Seattle Investigations Services" seems to convey the right tone without scaring any clients away that aren't that fond of the NAN.

By the way, I modified my character slightly:
I found that there is OKICHITAW as a fighting style. So I exchanged two of my skill points for two fighting techniques (Counterstrike and Sweep)
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-26-18/1139:38>
I'm going to do a small tweak to swap out national SIN for, umm, working on it.  I was never sure it Tsimshian had actually given the Haida SIN, and with the debt level it is tough.  Also have 800 nY to re-assigned.

=====================

update some hours later:
-removed National SIN (5 point neg quality)
-removed rating four PI license from fake SIN (800 nY)
+added addiction, mild, Physche (4 point neg quality)
+added records on file (MCT) (1 point neg quality)
+1 dose of Black Panther cologne (to 2 total) (250nY)
+2 doses Phyche (2 total) (400nY)
====================
net 0 karma, net +150nY on hand.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-26-18/1840:21>
+1 dose of Black Panther cologne (to 2 total) (250nY)

60% of the time, it works every time.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-26-18/1936:47>
Not to be relied upon, but sometimes you try everything, even if the odds aren't great. 

I mean, some of the team will be a lot easier to get along with if he can help them get them a date now and then ....
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-27-18/0118:08>
I'm good with "Seattle Investigations Services".

Are we ready to open some game threads?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/0142:00>
I think so.  Im about to head to bed, but I'll get the game proper thread started in the morning.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-27-18/0148:05>
Alright,

I'll board a plane tonight for a one week holiday to Ireland (or Tír na nÓg for you guys  ;)), so my posting will be slightly irregular, depending on where I find free wifi.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Stoneglobe on <08-27-18/0851:57>
Know I'm late to the party but if you're up for another player would love to be part of this. Concept I have is a noir Voudoo PI. Either aspected conjurer or a full mage who has dedicated conjurer so no spell casting but maybe a bit of alchemy. Idea is an ex-con who's now out on the streets and trying to make his way in the world. Of course the world doesn't necessarily want him to make his way so he keeps getting drawn back into the seedier side of life. Being a ex-con makes it difficult to get a real job.

Focus is much more on his investigative skills than his magic. Lower values in magic stuff (prob max of 4 for skills) and also sensitive system so when he does use it, it hurts.

Haven't had a chance to read your house rules yet as wanted to ask before I put time into polishing off the character and presenting.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/1137:15>
I'm okay with one more if everyone else is.  I think alchemy is perfectly suited to voodoo gris gris, too!  I want to get started pretty soon, though, so I'd like to get it all figured out and finally fairly quickly
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <08-27-18/1214:41>
@Stoneglobe

Just one question: Are you in for the long haul this time?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Stoneglobe on <08-27-18/1244:50>
@Stoneglobe

Just one question: Are you in for the long haul this time?

A valid question and I am. Real life is much more stable and I can properly commit to this endeavour. I'm moving at the end of the week so that will tke me out for a couple of days but other than that I want to play and have the ability to do so.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-27-18/1302:04>
I have no objections to a fifth player and will ultimately accept whatever the GM accepts.

With that in mind, I will raise two potential issues:

1) I really like the NAN theme of our PCs and would like to preserve that, if at all possible. Everyone being In Debt is also an interesting nuance.

2) To Jack's point, Stoneglobe dropped Umbrae Europae less than two months into the game, with no notice. Stoneglobe also dropped Tri Tri Again with no notice. Same with Sorting Spaghetti. As a PbP GM, these are all cardinal sins to me.

Stoneglobe, this is also your first post in two months, and you haven't done any significant posting since 2016. I guess at this point I'd be interested in a compelling reason why we would should wait for a player who has proved themselves to be so unreliable. If we move forward with this, I would suggest that we all commit to a Code of Conduct to establish expectations around player participation.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Stoneglobe on <08-27-18/1337:21>
I know that I have flaked before and offer no trite excuses. I can only apologise for it.

Rather than put the enjoyment of others at risk or cause ill feelings amongst players I will withdraw my application to this. I take no offence at anything said and wish everyone a great game which I hope to enjoy reading.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/1517:38>
Aight, cool.  I'll move ahead with things then.  I'm ruminating on exactly how to kick off the opening vignette.  I've got class in couple hours, and I can't promise that it will be there before then, but if it's not, I'll put it up first thing when I get home.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Beta on <08-27-18/1522:11>
To make one suggestion: in the OOC thread, Lorebane make an extra couple of posts marked 'reserved' for any documentation you want to add later that is easy to find, then each of us make one post and copy over our character stats there (if you don't have time to make the copy right away, just post and state 'reserved' for now).  That way all the key information is easy to find without needing bookmarks.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/1525:21>
I'll make the OOC thread as soon as I think of a name for the campaign.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/1534:07>
https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=28007.0

Here it is!  Also, I recall that someone speaks spanish as one of their languages.  Was that Azlanter spanish or archaic?  Also, everyone please double check to make sure you're character sheets reflect the consolidated weapon skills - you may be entitled to a couple more skill points.

EDIT:  Could everyone please post a copy or link to their final build for their first post in the OOC thread?  That will make it easy to find and reference.
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Lorebane24 on <08-27-18/1631:52>
https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=28008.msg505393;topicseen#msg505393

IC thread is up!
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Tecumseh on <08-28-18/0232:01>
My sheet is up in the OOC thread, although I have some more formatting to do.

I made some changes to my inventory, including picking up some of those Social Subscription Software services I mentioned from Cutting Aces.

I also tweaked my knowledge skills a bit.

Question 1: can we go over expectations for licenses? How granular do we need to be? For example, do I need separate licenses for SMGs and Assault Rifles?

Question 2: What calculation are we using for starting nuyen?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: bvalentine on <09-04-18/2220:37>
Is this game still recruiting?
Title: Re: Interest check for a PbP by a journeyman GM.
Post by: Jack_Spade on <09-05-18/1430:52>
You are a bit late, the game already started.
Are you a reliable and experienced player?