[Xzylvador]

I know this is probably one of the biggest rules in Shadowrun...
But what alternatives are there?

Suppose Lofwyr or some such approaches you with a job offer, won't it always be an offer you reaaaly can't refuse? Isn't saying "No thanks." even more likely to get you killed than saying "Yeah, let's work out a deal."?
So well... are there ways to get out of this kind of situation, or does the fact that your somehow managed to catch a Dragon's attention mean it's too late to have any personal choice already?

[KommissarK]

I'd say its called breaking the rules. Sure, its one of the classic sayings, but I know with my current character, if Lowfyr popped up right in front of me, the first thing I would be saying is how he should thank me for killing these intruders (while I introduce my party to narrow bursts from an HVBAR).

[flatlyne2001]

Having dealt with a dragon(ghostwalker) he was working through humans so we didn't know it was him initially.  And he kinda of made it worth our while(after his people tried to kill us during the payment meet).  Just can't ever set foot back in Denver now.

[JoeNapalm]

I know this is probably one of the biggest rules in Shadowrun...
But what alternatives are there?

Suppose Lofwyr or some such approaches you with a job offer, won't it always be an offer you reaaaly can't refuse? Isn't saying "No thanks." even more likely to get you killed than saying "Yeah, let's work out a deal."?
So well... are there ways to get out of this kind of situation, or does the fact that your somehow managed to catch a Dragon's attention mean it's too late to have any personal choice already?

The proverb only applies if you have a choice.

In your scenario, you deal with everything you've got, in the hopes of making it out of there alive. Once you've got some breathing room, it's time for damage control, burning every ID you have, (forget calling in markers, the Dragon will find out), and get the @#$% out of Dodge.

In the end, you're still slotted something special...but in the end, aren't we all?

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[baronspam]

So, you will mess with multi-trillon nuyen corps who own space stations and thor shot orbital weapons and have for practical purposes unlimited manpower and financial resources if they choose to use it to hunt you down and take you out.  But a big lizard makes you squeemish?  Not thinking this through, chummer.

In a bit more serious mode, the whole "never cut a deal with a dragon" line was just good flavor text.  The Great dragons have a wide range of personalities and adgendas.  They are epic schemers, its true.  I think a better phrase is "never double cross a dragon".  Thats a good way to end up brunch.  But if the agent of one of the Greats approached my character with some work, I would probably take it.  In many ways they are more reliable than a Mr. Johnson.  They certainly have thought the operation out to all possible ends.  They are not really any more likely to burn you or double cross.  Why would they?  If they don't want something coming back to them you will never know who you are working for.  If you do know, they have a reason they want you to know.  Motivation if nothing else.  If a Great puts a play in motion he has the situation wired.  Stick to the mission specs and keep your head down, and I don't think you have any more of a likelyhood than average of getting hung out to dry.

[Yorick]

working for a dragon gives notoriety, which leads to public awareness. as a rules mechanic, this sort of thing kind of reinforces the idea. working for a dragon is as bad for your rep as doublecrossing your johnson, or killing an innocent person. thats serious. and yet, theres no penalty for taking a run from a johnson who works for S-K, which is basically owned by a great dragon.

also, the 'working for a dragon' penalty says nothing about it being a great dragon. it says noting about dealing with- it says working for. and in many cases, you have no choice (ooc no choice because thats the run your GM is offering you to play).

[Stahlseele]

I'd not only DEAL with a Dragon, i'd even WORK for Lofwyr . .
Hell, a Dragon, at least, i can respect . .

[JoeNapalm]

So, you will mess with multi-trillon nuyen corps who own space stations and thor shot orbital weapons and have for practical purposes unlimited manpower and financial resources if they choose to use it to hunt you down and take you out.  But a big lizard makes you squeemish?  Not thinking this through, chummer.

A Megacorp run by a Metahuman I can maybe understand and predict - even if that prediction is that they'll try to frag me from orbit.

An alien intelligence such as a Dragon or an AI? That's bad juju. They'll come at you from some 5th dimensional direction that you didn't even know about, let alone see coming.

A Human ties up loose ends. A Dragon? A Dragon plays with it's food.

*shudder*


-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[Denver Doc]

Working for a dragon (especially a great dragon), powerful AI (old school before the second crash powerful), a powerful great form free spirit or immortal elf is tricky business.  If you start off knowing that you work for them... your probably going to end up dying, or worse.  If you find out later, disappear before it is too late.  If one comes to you direct that means you were either in the right place at the right time or you are the best.  When your the best and you get involved with one of these things step it up to your A (or should I say AAA) game.  You are going to need something big as insurance, make sure that is priority one and getting the rest of the job finished a close second.   

Otherwise your just a cog in the great wheel, sure their underlings might try to off you to protect the network just like any run, but generally you'll make it through to your next job and your non the wiser.  Being a runner is about finding out just the right amount of information, not too little and sometimes not too much.

[Little D]

It may be that I saw way too many 80's-style macho bullshit action movies...

But Lofwyr swoops down and offers me a job?  I light a cig, tilt my head up until we're looking at each other eye to eye (slowly, for dramatic purposes), let the cig smoke act as a barrier between us, and then mutter in my best Clint Eastwood imitation ;
"You wanna talk?  Let's talk."

And a few hours later, there's something exploding somewhere, for some odd reason.

Ahh, the 80's...

[CanRay]

To make a good '80s Action Flick, you need Ninjas or Terrorists, MP-5s, and Explosions. 

[Bull]

Depends on the Dragon.  That's all I gotta say.

But never, EVER try to strong arm a dragon.  Or think you have the drop on them. 

For anyone who's a long time, old school D&D player, espeically Forgotten Realms, you may be familiar with Elminster's set of contingency spells.  Basically, a whole host of Protection, Teleportation, Illusion, and other "Get Me The Frag Outta Here" spells all set up with a series of emergency contingencies.  I figure Dragons, especially Great Dragons, are much the same way, with a whole pile of high level anchored spells with various emergency triggers.

I know one of my favorites that I've used a few times as a GM is basically my "Hand of God" contingency...  Invisibilty combined with a BIG heal spell and an illusion of the dragon dying spectacularly.  Always used while he's flying awya, and the PCs have managed to get their hands on rocket launchers or other heavy weaponry.  Poor Perianwyr has needed that particular combo more than a few times

Bull

[Paeniteo Azrael]

It may be that I saw way too many 80's-style macho bullshit action movies...

But Lofwyr swoops down and offers me a job?  I light a cig, tilt my head up until we're looking at each other eye to eye (slowly, for dramatic purposes), let the cig smoke act as a barrier between us, and then mutter in my best Clint Eastwood imitation ;
"You wanna talk?  Let's talk."

And a few hours later, there's something exploding somewhere, for some odd reason.

Ahh, the 80's...

Something like this?

As a rule, I don't investigate what a dragon is asking me to do (beyond knowing what I myself am doing), and attempt to do whatever is asked. I then proceed to never complain about anything regarding the run, and hope to god everything went as planned. Then I GTFO of town. As a GM, I'm thinking about perhaps throwing a Dragon at my characters who may or may not become antagonistic depending on how the characters deal with him.

[CanRay]

Something like this?

This reminds me of the Punisher Max comic where Frank Castle has an escape plan that involves launching a nuke at Moscow.

I was reading it and thinking, "Yes, yes this is what my group back home would have done.  After keying the nuke, just out of spite."

[Tex Muldoon]

Dealing with a dragon has me on edge. I mean a person I can shoot, hell bribe at best they have a short life. Dragon thats like making an enemy of immortal idea it will be around forever.