Bastard's Bastards?

In case this was missed due to my double (now triple) post, and the second starting a new page.

For the record, half of the post I just posted was written a few years back by Grendel (another user here on dumpshock). I've always like the dream sequence he wrote for Ludi, and I've been trying to find a moment to use it. It seemed like an appropriate way to get back into the story (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Ntwi - I had Felix and Ludi doing hiring, and only Kliko at the meet. However, you wrote Felix into the meet. Did you not see my OoC post that specified this? I even quoted it so it would be on the current page.

Though the two events are not happening simultaneously, I separated them so I can run them at the same time, and not have Kliko slow it down, since he stated he would be busy for the next month.

If you want to be in both, I guess that's fine, but your role is more important in the recruitment.

Please check the OoC before posting in the IC. I have been leaving notes there for players and characters, and they seem to get ignored or missed often. Is there anything I can do to make them more clear?

Sorry about that, I had been reading it like Radek was bringing the new blood (which was odd if we were going to be doing the hiring). I'll get that edited and fixed. I read the OOC all the time, I guess I was just in a mental rut of most of the team being at the meet, whether for security/paranoia concerns or what have you. Its also the selected individuals vs a team or runners mindset as well, giving individuals the appearance of being able to say yes or no to a specific job. I'm sure in the past 6 months of runs together there would have been conversations over this so it's not a problem.

Having only a single person there will certainly make it easier to manage and streamline the process for PBP however, so it makes alot of sense here.

No problem.

I did it that way so I can move both parts of the story at the same time.

Recruitment 4 Thread

I'll write up the meet with Radek this evening. You want us to hire the new characters through Jaxx or can we us other fixer/dealer contacts as well?

Go through Jaxx, he is a free contact to all players.

Or, as stated in the IC, Radek can also get you runners (through their fixers).

@Bastard: Can you update us on the interim jobs we did April-October? Then we cana djust our other equipment purchases and lifestyles accordingly.

Hey Kliko, I had you at the meet alone and Felix and Ludi recruiting IC (though so far there is little interest, when each time before I got a lot of interest), this way I could keep both stories moving at the same time, at two different speeds, then bring them together.



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I am going over your character sheets still, making sure I am not giving you things you don't need.

Summer Rewards

ALL
250,000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) minus Lifestyle costs x6 (May, June, July, August, September, October)
1 E&F Point (save or use)
10 Points worth of Knowledge Skills that are "character building" only
aka non-game advantageous (check with me if in doubt)
max 4 on one Skill
10 points total, not karma build
One new Rating 2 Active Skill


KLIKO
Level 1 Contact - Fixer - Radek
+1 Leadership Base Skill
+1 Etiquette Base Skill


FELIX
Spell - Treat - Rating 4


LUDI
Etiquette Specialization - Bluff/Lie - Rating 4

Isn't Negotiation/Fast Talk used to lie?

EDIT: And just so you all know, Ludi now has the "Cartoons" knowledge skills with the "Saturday Morning Shows" specialization.

Wait up: does this mean I can now have my Ruthenium Coated Hardened Military Grade Armor?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Did not see that, so I will have to give you something else




Umm... no. Not unless you want super duper mages. With the same armor. Riding dragons. Great dragons.

A burst of APDS will fix that just nicely...

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but this just about duplicates the Heal spell that he just learned. If you were going to add a spell to his arsenal, there are three that he has the formulas for but has not spent the karma to learn. Or if the shorter casting time for Treat may be important, leave it at that.

We are such a bunch of assholes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Kliko & Felix:
What do you guys think: should I have Ludi invest in some SOTA Armor or a ruthenium sneak suit? I know we have Felix and his be all end all invisibility spell but I feel bad for the guy having to sustain the spell all the time and getting the crap drained out of him.

Bastard:
So, I take it military grade hardened armor is out of the question? And yes, I'm serious on this one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) And no, I will not make it turn invisible because that's too much like cheating.

Well, its a 24/1 month availability item... (but you can reduce the target number by increasing waiting time).

That being said I would invest in surveillance equipment like transmitting dataline taps or in tactical communications gear. Kliko owns a number of sets of BattleTac ready comm-units. He doesn't own the required receiver or master-unit for example. Sneak suits are fine as are high-level maglock passkeys. These can save you a lot of time when under pressure.

Those passkeys are ridiculously expensive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sarcastic.gif) 30 000 per rating if I remember correctly. Considering we already have all the gear to just go through the reader itself.... Altought I'll admit that passkeys take a lot less time and are a little more subtle than a gutted out reader just hanging off the wall.

Since we're going "decker-less" now, I think we can forfeit the dataline taps.

I'm with you on the comm gear tho. I think Ludi currently has a broadcast encryption unit rating 5, which should be enough to keep our lines secure. Depending on how much Bastard sticks to the rules, the only "real" issue I could see cropping up is maximum range. Ludi can run the encryption module straight off her datajack, so all communication can be bounced through her if need be. A bit dangerous if she gets taken out, but if that happens, the shit probably is already so much on secured line of comms won't be an issue (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

What I love about the ruthenium suits is that they add directly to the TN for spotting someone. You have a R10 sneak suit and you roll a one, that's already a TN 11 to spot! The only thing that sucks, and you've mentioned it, is that FFBA is capped at 4/1. I could go with a ruthenium cloak and wear armor under instead, but Ludi would dislike the "bulk" on a pure RP basis.

@Bastard:
One more question for you: can a combat vest and a backpack be covered with ruthenium?

Kliko communication's kit includes:We should be in the clear as far as communications go.

Ah, so we do have a full set of secured comms (checks that off my list)

I would encourage a ruthenium poncho, drapes over everything nicely, harder to hand-to-hand or such in though. Having invisibility that will not glow brightly on the astral is encouraged and something Felix will be purchasing as well (most likely).



[Edit] It still gives 1/2 the bonus against thermographic and other sensors if I'm reading it right (M&M pg 114 "...dwarfs and trolls, ultrasound using characters and vehicle sensors reduce the target number modifier of the Ruthenium by half, rounding down"), so you can still get a +6 for a maxed out system if I'm reading it correctly. Of course a maxxed out system costs ~170k iirc.

Ruthenium polymers ain't that ok.
You're still visible for people equipped with thermographic or ultrasound sight... and there are other ways to defeat ultrasound sensors (Kliko carries an ultrasound emitter/detector for just that)

I'm thinking of to keep at least some of the payments as working capital for our next run.

Does de 10 points total refer to the knowledge skill karma or regular karma, but not for karma pool?
Can we take specializations as well (like 1/3 instead of base rating 2)?

I see Kliko going for Interest Skills: Seedy Ork Bars