[Shadowrun] Clown Country

[UnseenShade]

I'm interested. I'll get to working on it right away. I tend towards team support/tactical support roles.

[Rahzeil]

Glad to see a decent amount of interest.

[Nantei]

Sooooo. Where do you picture this landing on the black trenchcoat vs pink mohawk scale? I figure a lot more trenchcoat since you want to follow the timeline, but since you mentioned including your own homebrew stuff I thought I might ask.

Possibly related: How are you on above average timeline knowledge? I've studied it a couple times for specific character backgrounds, but I don't have a historians' view of it or anyfin.

For concepts, I have an old character from a long-dead game that I would like to remake. Namely an anti-social remote-only rigger. Being remote-only, things can get... complex. She has to stay local, but since she wants to stay anonymous she also has to stay out of plain sight.

[Rahzeil]

Originally Posted by Nantei

Sooooo. Where do you picture this landing on the black trenchcoat vs pink mohawk scale? I figure a lot more trenchcoat since you want to follow the timeline, but since you mentioned including your own homebrew stuff I thought I might ask.

Possibly related: How are you on above average timeline knowledge? I've studied it a couple times for specific character backgrounds, but I don't have a historians' view of it or anyfin.

For concepts, I have an old character from a long-dead game that I would like to remake. Namely an anti-social remote-only rigger. Being remote-only, things can get... complex. She has to stay local, but since she wants to stay anonymous she also has to stay out of plain sight.

That's a good question. Actually, it's a great one. I invision this game definitely more on the black trenchcoat end of things, although not necessarily for the reason you mentioned. If player action would change the timeline, then we'll deal with that when it happens. I'm okay with roling with it, if it seems like something that might be enjoyable for the group. Generally speaking though, it can be tough to make a permanent mark on the world in Shadowrun because the powers that be are so much larger than life. Still, it can happen, especially if this campaign stretches on for a while.

My main concern with pink mohawk is that I intend to play the corporations and other major players fairly straight. I'm not going to insta-gib anyone for a single mistake, but runners do need to fear the top 10, dragons, and other big leaguers for the boogiemen that they are, and maintain a respectable amount of caution in their planning to make sure they don't face retaliation.

Of course, I fully intend to take player knowledge into account. Unless I've already pointed something out before I will try to give fair warning regarding things most Shadowrunners would be wary of.

Regarding timeline knowledge, I would say I'm probably above average, but like anyone my knowledge varies with the content area. I know the general history of the matrix, the biggest dragons, and the big 10. I have a much stronger knowledge regarding the subjects of this particular game, since I've read any sourcebooks involved, but the only Shadowrun book I've read that isn't gameplay releated is Book one of the Dragonheart trillogy. It really just depends. Keep in mind though we are in 2050 though. There's a lot that hasn't happened yet.

So you basically want to be the gal in the van, right? I don't necessarily have problems with that, but there are always going to be repercussions for any choice. For instance, if you choose to stay away from the team, you may have to deal with occasionally not having your team to help you when something goes awry. More importantly, there are always areas where wireless communication isn't reliable, and then you have issues with even being able to provide support for the team. What does the remote rigger do when the signal is reduced to a level where they can't maintain control over their drones? If you're okay with the drawbacks to such a playstyle, I don't have issues with it.

[koboldsDIE]

I think my char is as built as I can get it without help, as this is only my second true SR char. As for the Trenchcoat-Mohawk spectrum i'm leaning Mohawk.

I might need help adjusting the priorities, as I still have a boat load of cash to burn. Unless there are some toys I don't know about.

Name: Born: Ajaxaran Tacitaan
Goes by: Ajax
Age: looks 21 might be 40
Meta: Elf
Class/role: StreetSam

Priorities:
B: Resources-275,000
A: Attributes-24
C: Skills-28/2
D: Elf-1 (Low-light vision)
D: Elf-1

Descritpion: Ajax is lean lean hungry looking sort, with a pair of matching chrome arms, a going away present courtesy the Military. Ajax keeps his dirty blonde hair tight to his head, and he is always wearing his leathers. His pointed ears have a line of small silver piercings strung through them. Ajax is also rarely seen without his shooter's glasses on, so what if they happen to be linked to his com.

Personality: His time in the military only helped to reinforce his lack of love for overt expressions of power, that weren't his own. Ajax maintains that death is only a fitting end for those who have had at least some time to know the suffering of life. To that end, he will not willingly target children, or women of child bearing age. Trolls and orcs however are anothwer issue all together, Ajax has no problem raining hot lead upon their heads. But that may have come from his time in the Ancients, which was brief, as he then got drafted. In his spare time he enjoys making bombs, which as much as he would like to ship to the homes of a variety of people, he hasn't as there might be children living at those addresses as well.

Background:Ajaxaran was born in and grew up around across the Sound from Seattle in Brownsville. A sleepy little suburb, but not quite the barrens. The Ancients had a strong presence in his town, and as soon as he was old enough to steal and ride a bike, he started to hang around them. In time he proved to be adept with all manner of handguns. However, Ajaxaran's parents didn't approve of his new friends, and the trouble that they had a habit of getting into. As is the elven way, and not even the leader of the Ancients could interfer, Ajaxaran was sent off to a militaristic baording school when he was about 17.

After graduating that "finishing School" as his parents called it, Ajax did a six year hitch with the military as a demolotions expert, training him in all manner of bomb creation and disposal. During a training exercise Ajaxaran was trying to disarm what was supposed to be a dummy bomb; in that if it went off the bomb was supposed to spray the actual blast radius with powdered paint and chalk. However, it wasn't a dummy, but a live mine. Ajaxaran managed to partially diffuse it, but it still went off and took both of his arms, just below the elbow.

The investigation came up moot, and Ajaxaran conducted his own inquisition from the infirmary. His natural antipathy for the power structure of the army gave him a good deal of difficulty, but he managed to charm a few nurses into asking around for him. The rumors brought back to Ajaxaran were not surprising, another member of the ordinace disposal squad thought that the elf was perhaps a bit too cocky and wanted to take him down a peg, by switching out the paint powder with just under 3 grams of black powder. Now, laid up with several weeks of physical therapy, Ajaxaran's aversion to the order of the regimented gang his parents dumped him into grew exponentially. But at least the accidnet gave him an upgrade.

That upgrade included internal mounts for his service pistol, and a stabalizing gyro. However, due to the attack upon his person, the command structure decided that Ajaxaran should not be giving over to field work, and he was promptly served with a medical discharge. The officer that handled his termination was given the parting gift of a broken nose.

"You can't give me these, I quit. You can take this slotted job and shove it so far up yer hoop it crawls out yer fraggin nose. If I ever get the Chip Truth on who blew my arms off, they won't be able to wash the drek off."

With that most reverent parting statement, Ajaxaran left the base, and caught the first transport back to his home town of Seattle. He knew he couldn't go back to his parents, as he had a feeling that they wouldn't approve of his new chrome. Ajax also had doubts that the Ancients would take him back, but he let them know he was back in town, with some newly acquired skills.

 

Priorities:
B: Resources-275,000
A: Attributes-24
C: Skills-28/2
D: Elf-1 (Low-light vision)
D: Elf-1

Lifestyle: Low (3d6x60)Y

BOD5 AGI5 Rea5 Str4 Wil3 Log5 Int4 Cha4 Edge3 Condition boxes: Physical-11, Stun-10 Overflow-?

Limits: Phy6 Mental6 Social6 Init: Phy8+1d6 Ast 8+2d6 Cold4+3d6Hot4+4d6

Skills:

rating	name	Atts	Mods	Dice
2	Firearms	5	0	7
0	Archery	5	0	4
0	Blades	5	0	4
0	clubs	5	0	4
2	Heavy Weapons	5	0	7
0	Thrown Weapons	5	0	4
3	Unarmed Combat	5	0	8
0	Gunnery	5	0	4
3	gymnastics	5	0	8
0	Escape Artist	5	0	4
0	locksmith	5	0	4
0	Palming	4	0	4
0	Sneaking	5	0	4
0	Diving	5	0	4
0	Free-Fall	5	0	4
3	pilot ground Craft	5	0	8
0	Pilot Water Craft	5	0	4
4	Running	4	0	7
0	Swimming	4	0	2
0	Con	4	0	3
0	Etiquette	4	0	3
0	Instruction	4	0	3
4	Intimidation		4	0
0	Leadership	4	0	3
0	Negotiation	4	0	3
0	Performance	4	0	3
0	Impersonation	4	0	3
0	Animal Handling	4	0	3
0	Artisan	4	0	3
0	Disguise	4	0	3
1	Navigation	4	0	5
1	Perception	4	0	5
0	Tracking	4	0	3
3	Armorer(Explosive)	5	0	8
0	Computer	5	0	4
0	Cybercombat	5	0	4
3	Demolitions	5	0	8
0	First Aid	5	0	4
0	Forgery	5	0	4
1	Survival	3	0	4
	Knowledge
	Interest
5	Motorbikes	4	0	9
	Professional
2	Military(ARMY)	5	0	7
2	Engineering(Mechanical)	5	0	7
1	Architecture	5	0	6
	Street
4	Seattle Street Gangs(Ancients)	4	0	8
	Languages
1	Milspec	4	0	6
2	Sperethiel	4	0	6
n	English	4	0

Qualities: 6/25 Karma
Ambidextrous (4)
Bilingual (5)
Home ground-Seattle(10)
know a guy
Quick healer (3)
Natural Athlete (7)
Negatives:
Assassin's Creed (+15)
SINNER-national (+5)
10Karma flipped for 20000Y bought a van



GEAR:
Colt GVT 2066, Laser sight, Gas Vent3, Internal SMart, 5mag/14 rnd, 2 Lic. Acc6(8) RC6(6) DP6 Avail9R 2000Y 70 rnds HP ammo Dam+1 AP2, 4R:490Y
(back up piece) Baretta 201T, Laser Sight, Silencer, Internal Smart, Quick-draw, 4 mag/21rnd, 3lic. Acc6(8) RC2(3) dp0 Avail 9R 1840Y 80 rnds HP 5600Y
(Mounted on bike)ArmTech MGL12, Smart platform, Internal smart, Airburst link, 3mag/12 rnd. Acc4(6) RC2(2) DP 0 Avail 12F 13110Y
10 rnds Canon ammo 400Y; 10 frags 18 p Flechette, Ap5 Blast -1/m Avail 11F 1000Y; HiExplosive 16P AP-2 Blast-2/m Avail 11F 1000Y
4Kg Commercial explosive5 + 4caps 700Y

Seax( 4 fake licenses) Acc6(6) Reach 1 Dmg Str5+3P AP-2 Avail5R 1300Y

Synleather: 240Y
ArmorJacket, Fire Resist2, Armor 12, Avail2 1500Y

Hermes Ikon R5,Avail10 3000Y
Implanted in rt arm 2000Y
Sub vocal mic 50Y

Fake sin2 & License2 for Aurillon 5400Y
Fake SIN3 &vb Lic3 for Liam Wu 8100Y

Shooter's Glasses Cap3 Avail9 2575Y
Flare Comp
Smartlink
Image link

Flashlight 25Y
R3 Medkit 750Y

DocWagon Contract 2 years, Gold

1 Platinum Cred sticks @ 500,000 ea- 500Y

Bomb making kit 500Y
Motorbike repair kit 500


Left Cyberarm (Full)[15 cap 8 avail 1Ess RC3], Str5 Agi5
Enhancements: Armor +2, Gyromount [8] Holster [5] 49000Y

Right Cyberarm(Full)([15 cap 8 avail 1Ess RC3] Str5 Agi5
Enhancements: Armor +2, Gyromount [8] Slide [3] Commlink[2 50000Y

Wired Reflexes R1 2Ess 8restricted 39000

Dermal Plating(2) 1Ess 8Restricted 6000Y

Suzuki Mirage Handle:5/3 Speed:6 Accel:3 Bod5(1 heavy gun mount) armor 5 2 sensors Manual operation 14000Y

GMC Bulldog: Handle 3/3 Speed 3 Accel 1 Bod16 (5 possible weapon mounts) Armor12 1 pilot 2 sensors, 6 seats Manual operation 35500Y

93Y left

Contacts: Arms Dealer 4C 3L
Ancients LT 2C 3L

[juikej]

Going to have to back out mainly because of time.

[Nantei]

Originally Posted by Rahzeil

So you basically want to be the gal in the van, right? I don't necessarily have problems with that, but there are always going to be repercussions for any choice. For instance, if you choose to stay away from the team, you may have to deal with occasionally not having your team to help you when something goes awry. More importantly, there are always areas where wireless communication isn't reliable, and then you have issues with even being able to provide support for the team. What does the remote rigger do when the signal is reduced to a level where they can't maintain control over their drones? If you're okay with the drawbacks to such a playstyle, I don't have issues with it.

Well if the starting time is 2050 then it's not actually viable. 2050 doesn't have the wireless matrix yet because there hasn't been the 2.0 crash. But generally speaking unless the team goes way underground or there's super strong scramblers, I wouldn't have been locked out. She literally flies an electric glider so she can always avoid penalties for range, which is fairly inconspicuous in the night sky, but if she were to be attacked there I had failsafe on failsafe on failsafe planned. But since we're starting in an era without wireless, I do have another concept I can run with.

[Rahzeil]

Originally Posted by Nantei

Well if the starting time is 2050 then it's not actually viable. 2050 doesn't have the wireless matrix yet because there hasn't been the 2.0 crash. But generally speaking unless the team goes way underground or there's super strong scramblers, I wouldn't have been locked out. She literally flies an electric glider so she can always avoid penalties for range, which is fairly inconspicuous in the night sky, but if she were to be attacked there I had failsafe on failsafe on failsafe planned. But since we're starting in an era without wireless, I do have another concept I can run with.

Originally Posted by Rahzeil

I'm going to intentionally keep the timeline vague, mainly for book keeping reasons. For one thing, we'll be using the latest Shadowrun rules including technology, even though the tech has changed significantly since the early days of Shadowrun (mainly, there was no such thing as wireless in first edition).

Still, I think late 2050 is fairly accurate and also vague enough for me to work with. We'll leave it at that for now.

To put it simply, I don't want to force Shadowrun 1e rules on new players so we will be playing 1st edition Shadowrun events using 5th edition shadowrun rules. I'm ignoring the whole wired matrix thing entirely by handwaiving it. I've seen this done before and it works fine. The matrix crash isn't relevant to this campaign other than in its effect on player resources, so forcing players to deal with the wired matrix just for the sake of authenticity strikes me as a step too far.

[ElCosoLoco]

sweet . I'll apply again with Angel, my elf decker/face combo. I guess she'll be from Erika or some other Corp, since NeoNET didn't exist in the 50 right?

[Malakor]

It's been a while since I played Shadowrun, but I'd like to give it another go.

Here is my character application:

---

Kane Lawson

Description:
While not particularly tall or strong, Kane moves with grace and precision that can only result in the regular practice of some physical activity. He keeps his black hair short, a day-old growth of beard, clean cut nails and a nice skin indicates someone who puts some attention in his grooming. He usually wears a decent, if not expensive, suit appropriate for one whose business involves working with people who might care about such things.

As Alan, he changes into his custom fitted Mortimer of London armored suit and long brown coat, a pair of black combat boots, black leather gloves, dark shades and a wide-brimmed black hat.

Personality:
His dark blue eyes are those of an observer, who who looks and notices small details about people, people have often said that he had eyes that would "look straight into your soul". Although Kane is somewhat handsome, he is rather serious and rarely smiles, no one can remember the last time he made a joke. He is not the life of a party, but is able to carry interesting conversations. In his private life, it takes some time to earn Kane's trust and respect, but he is fiercely loyal once his friendship is earned.

Background:
Kane grew up in a low-class household with junkie parents and a couple of younger twin sisters. He has no love for his father who would be physically abusive and while his relationship with his mother was warmer, her drug addiction would make her somewhat emotionally absent. He often took care of her and his sisters, acting as the surrogate man of the house instead of his deadbeat dad who would be away most of the time.

As a teenager, Kane took up jobs to help put food on the table for himself and his family. He was determined to save up to get an education and do better than his family. One of his jobs was making deliveries for all kinds of clients. Things that weren't too valuable to entrust to a young man his age: food, home supplies, secondhand junk... After a few years, he had saved up just enough to start putting himself through college. He studied psychology at UWS.

That's where he met Quin, a fellow student who was also passionate about magic. Quin was self-taught and had some minor talent for magic, always anxious to show Kane his latest find or trick. They read about it and exchanged ideas via commlink while Kane worked at his night job as a cashier in a 24/7 convenience store. He'd have plenty of free time to study for school and his other reading. He was particularly fascinated about mind magic and his studies being somewhat related, he became quite good at it.

Eventually, his skills were noticed and he was offered a job where he could put them to use in a shadier but much more lucrative fashion. His upbringing left him with very few scruples when it came to stealing from the rich. He'd use his skills to push employees to leave their post, open safes, discover passwords. He got better at it, and after a while, he picked up a few additional skills for when things got hairy and decided go to by the name Alan Jackson or "Ajax".

When he graduated, he opened his practice as a magical psychologist. Who said there was no magic pill when it came to resolving life's problems?

Link to Character sheet

[Nantei]

Originally Posted by ElCosoLoco

sweet . I'll apply again with Angel, my elf decker/face combo. I guess she'll be from Erika or some other Corp, since NeoNET didn't exist in the 50 right?

Yup. Neo net came in at the 2.0 crash. Also I totally forgot you said that, Rahzeil. I'll think about if I want to continue with the rigger.

[zevonian]

@Rahzeil: 5e came out recently, yes? How similar is it to the "20th Anniversary" edition?

[Rahzeil]

Just to clarify on the megacorps, your 2050 tripple A megacorps are Ares, Aztechnology, Saeder-Krupp, Fuchi Industrial, Renraku, Mitsuhama, Yamatetsu, and Shiawase.

[Rahzeil]

Originally Posted by zevonian

@Rahzeil: 5e came out recently, yes? How similar is it to the "20th Anniversary" edition?

It's been out for a couple of years now, so I guess that's a matter of perspective. It's somewhat different. Character creation is no longer handled through BP, which is important, and a number of rules have been revamped or changed in subtle or not-so-subtle ways. Let me send you a link.

[koboldsDIE]

If you could advise me on my sheet so that I can make any adjustments.