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Describe Your Game

DocTaotsu View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 10:17 PM Post #1
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,991 Joined: 1-February 08 From: Off the rock! Back In America! WOOOOO! Member No.: 15,601	How do you describe your game to new players/interested parties? I typically describe my game as, plot wise, a combination of Ronin and Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex, culturally Transmetropolitan/Snow Crash and Neuromancer/Blade Runner for the darker bits.

Stahlseele View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 10:20 PM Post #2
The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525	we're pretty much unexplainable . . or you can sum it up into one word . . either fun, frustrating, or chaos g

CollateralDynamo View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 10:32 PM Post #3
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 347 Joined: 8-April 08 From: Bug City, UCAS Member No.: 15,864	When I'm trying to round up another player for my game, I tell them to picture Robocop meets American Psycho...then add some magic. If that raises their eyebrows, they'll usually make it at my table.

ElFenrir View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 10:50 PM Post #4
Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,168 Joined: 15-April 05 From: Helsinki, Finland Member No.: 7,337	Hmm...tough to describe. just a bunch of us having fun. Rules-wise, Moderate powered to a little above average; standard 400 BP game, but with no Availability chargen limits and a couple other houserules. As for style? Hmm...a bit more action oriented, but with healthy stealth, social, and then just storytelling and the like; sometimes we go whole sessions just roleplaying and not even rolling anything. We're all big videogame fans and action movie fans, so stuff can creep in indeed. We also like a decent dose of humor now and then; we don't have total silly campaigns, some parts can get quite serious and pretty heartbreaking even if a beloved NPC dies; but we aren't afraid to interject humor, like the current group's(in New Jersey) plan on sneaking in somewhere by contacting the Builder's Union to picket outside of a place hiring non-Union workers. The plan was to hide in the big union rat. The Trojan Rat joke lives on forever. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Kyoto Kid View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 11:38 PM Post #5
Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490	...I usually describe my campaigns as "Loose Canon" in that I do not really deal with the overall metaplot (e.g. GDs, IES & ED tie-ins) and also take some liberty such as adding to available gear, corp players etc. I tend to be a big fan of mysteries and intrigue so clue solving and pounding the pavement/matrix waves is a major part of the game and all sorts of clues abound. Unfortunately my style seemed better suited for previous editions in that the shadows were really "the shadows" as opposed to the RFID and Wireless Matrix infested world it is now.

Fortune View Member Profile	Apr 9 2008, 11:52 PM Post #6
Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486	D&D with guns! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

WearzManySkins View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:03 AM Post #7
Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,159 Joined: 12-April 07 From: Ork Underground Member No.: 11,440	Self Basting Turkeys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) They get them selves into more trouble with out any of my assistance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) So I sit back and throw out some threads of maybe plots and watch to see how they go about it and such. WMS

Game2BHappy View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:27 AM Post #8
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 268 Joined: 30-March 03 From: Denver, CO Member No.: 4,355	ummm... "Sneakers" meets "Escape from New York" via the plot of "Snatch".

bjorn View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:38 AM Post #9
Target Group: Members Posts: 73 Joined: 23-July 07 From: Binghamton, New York Member No.: 12,344	QUOTE (Fortune @ Apr 9 2008, 07:52 PM) D&D with guns! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Exactly what I say

Kyoto Kid View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:38 AM Post #10
Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490	...WMS, I like that one. I also like to play on suspense and the runners' sense or paranoia. How many times I've made the characters (& even players) sweat bullets over something that often had little or no real bearing on the actual job. Case in point during a recent "invisible bodyguard" mission, the PCs became rather nervous when a bunch of suits who entered the shopping arcade of an Office plaza they were in. Suddenly the decker was keeping a a close eye on the "intruders" through the sec cams while the others were busy figuring out how to deal with the threat. When the group walked towards where the PCs were (to get lattes at a Starbucks), I could almost sense that a confrontation was about to occur. Once the suits got their coffee, they turned around and headed to the lifts, paying no attention to the runners at all. The group was nothing more than a contingent of businessmen from Fed-Boeing who were there for a presentation meeting upstairs. ...that's not too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/vegm.gif) is it?

DocTaotsu View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 04:11 AM Post #11
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,991 Joined: 1-February 08 From: Off the rock! Back In America! WOOOOO! Member No.: 15,601	Heck no! The red herring of untimely demise is half the fun of SR. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Critias View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 05:44 AM Post #12
Freelance Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 7,324 Joined: 30-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 6,714	QUOTE (Fortune @ Apr 9 2008, 07:52 PM) D&D with guns! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Cyberpunk with magic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

BlueMax View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 06:14 AM Post #13
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,336 Joined: 25-February 08 From: San Mateo CA Member No.: 15,708	For Shadowrun players who may join When I put up my post looking for players, it went as follows Vitals Setting: Seattle, 2070ish. Seriousness Level: Low, but just above goofy. On average at least. Sometimes the metaplanes require goofy. Sometimes the plans require a strong sense of goofy. Rules Mastery: Medium to low. Style: GM grew up with Shadowrun. If you know 1st and 2nd ed think that style. If you don't think more dystopia, fewer people on the planet, powerful NAN. For other Gamers I tell them "D&D in the future. Replace country with corp. Replace thieves guild with organized crime." The usual response "So nothing changes! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) ". I freely admit that 13 years ago, I would waste their time telling them about the "organic" nature of the system. Foruth Ed is so easy to teach, target number five. For people entirely new to gaming I dont even describe shadowrun. I don't go that far into covering Role-Playing. I just ask them to come on over and give it a try.

DV8 View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 08:39 AM Post #14
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 714 Joined: 26-February 02 From: .nl Member No.: 116	QUOTE (Stahlseele @ Apr 10 2008, 12:20 AM) we're pretty much unexplainable . . or you can sum it up into one word . . either fun, frustrating, or chaos g Wait...you're in my game!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

vladski View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:48 PM Post #15
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 350 Joined: 20-August 06 Member No.: 9,176	QUOTE (WearzManySkins @ Apr 9 2008, 07:03 PM) Self Basting Turkeys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) They get them selves into more trouble with out any of my assistance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) So I sit back and throw out some threads of maybe plots and watch to see how they go about it and such. WMS Oh god, tell me about it. One of the most hilarious times was a few years back when I was running Paradise Lost, where the runners have to go to Hawai'i. (And excellent adventure if you have never run it and the back half of the adventure is the Hawai'i source book... very worth picking up) What follows is a scene straight out of the adventure, so don't read if you do not want to be spoiled on one of the scenes. Minor Spoiler for Paradise Lost below: [ Spoiler ] Anyway, at some point, the players never-before-seen contact is supposed to meet them at a luau that night. So, while they are sitting there eating roast pig and poi and belly dancers wriggle about to the beat of the drums, a woman come running through the middle of the partiers, clutching something that she throws at the feet of one of the players. Here's a recollected memory of the event: GM (me): Okay, so a tall blond elven girl, comes running through all the seated patrons, clutching something under her arm. Some distance behind there appears to be some folks chasing her. As she passes by you, she tosses a satchel at your feet. Player 1 (Elf Adept, being played by a nearly 50 YO man): She does what? PLayer 2 (Dwarf Street Sam, played by a 30 YO man): Oh no! Player 3 (Dwarf Rigger, played by a 50 YO man): Oh God! GM: She tossed something about a foot from where you are seated. It apears to be a satchel. Okay, everyone roll initiative. Initiave is rolled. Adept followed by Sam and then Rigger. GM: Okay, Player 1, what are you gonna do? Player 1: I leap to my feet and chase after her, yelling, "Take care of hte bomb!" I raise my eyebrows but say "Okay." He does just that. GM: Okay, Player 2, you're up. What are you going to do? Player 2: I pull my Predator and shoot at the terrorist elf! GM: Terrorist elf? Player 2: Yeah, the chic that jsut threw the bomb at us! GM: Oh! Okay. Player 2 quick draws his Predator and takes a couple shots at the retreating figure in the shadows. He manages one box of light damage. She doesn't get knocked down. GM: Okay, Player 3, your turn. Player 3: Is the package close enough for me to reach from here? I roll some dice GM: Sure, you can lean over nad grab it. Player 3: Okay. I grab it and toss it in... GM: No, you already used your complex action picking it up. You are holding the package. You'll have to wait for hte next phase. Player 3: Oh....crap! Well, I can drop it, right? That's a free action? GM: Sure. Player 3: Okay, I am going to drop it in punch bowl sitting on the table in front of me. GM (wanting to hold head at this point) You are dropping it in the punch bowl? That's not jsut dropping it. Player 3 (looking scared to death): "But!" GM: Fine, give me an Athletics test, target 6. Player 3 rolls dice, is successful. Okay, the faux leather bag is floating in the punch bowl. Player 3 still looks scared GM: Okay, now, the guys chasing the elf, apparently 3 humans and an ork, come stampeding through the crowd, who is reacting to all this commotion and gunfire. A couple of voices are screaming "Bomb!! Bomb! Run!" The partiers are climbing to their feet and scrambling. Okay, next phase. Erase your 10's. GM: Okay Player 1, what are you doing? Player 1: How close am I to the terrorist? GM: You mean the elf? Player 1: Yeah! GM: Ummm, about 3 meters behind her. Player 1: Okay, I launch myself at her, and try to bring her down using my martial arts. GM: Ummm, fine, okay. Assigns penalties and has Player 1 make his attacks. He succeeds in tripping up the elf. GM: Okay, Player 2, what are you going to do? Player 2: Can I see the terrorist? GM: The elf? Player2: Yeah! If I can see her, I want to shoot her again. GM: She's hard to see between the crowd that's running in all directions and hte fact that PLayer 1 is on top of her. Player 2: Damn! Okay. I get up and start yelling at the folks around me to "Run! There's a bomb!" I move in the direction of PLayer 1. GM: Okay. No problem. GM: OKay, Player 3, what are you gonna do? Player 3: Is the bomb jsut floating in the punch bowl? GM: You mean the satchel? Player 3: Yeah. If it's just floating there, I am going to submerge it. GM: Um sure.. okay, I'll let you stand up and press it into the bowl. Is that what you want to do? Player 3: Yeah! (he looks a little relieved) He stands up and presses the leather bag deep into the bowl. GM: Okay, 3rd phase... just Player 1 and Player 2 this time. Player 1, what's your action? Player 1: I am going to beat up this terrorist. GM: Beat up? Player 1: Yeah! Using my Killing Hands, I am going to pummel her into submission. GM: Killing hands? Physical damage or Stun? Player 1 (after taking considerable time to think about this) reluctantly: "I'll use Stun." He attacks the downed elf and, between her penalties for being injured and being down, she loses spectacularly. When all is said and down he still manages to inflict 2 boxes of P damage while knocking her out. GM: OKay, she's gone. Her eyes roll back in her head, she stops moving and her face is absolutely covered in blood. PLayer 1: Good! GM: Player 2? Player 2: Okay, what's the security team doing? GM: What security team? Player 2: The ones that were chasing the elf terrorist! GM: Oh... the humans and the ork are moving towards where Player 1 just got done beating the elf up. PLayer 2: Okay. I am tucking my Predator away and joining them. GM: Joining them? Player 2: Yeah. I am running after them to catch up. GM: Okay GM: Okay guys, roll me a new init. They do so, winding up in the same order as before. GM: The crowd is now in a panic and fleeing every direction. You hear cries of "Bomb!" and some yelling "Dial 911!" Okay, Player 1, the elf is unconscious under you. What are you going to do? Player 1: Umm... (He studies the playing mat, checking his distance from the punch bowl to himself and apparently deems himself to be out of a blast zone.) I am going to start searchign the terrorist bitch. GM: You mean the elf. Are you looking for anything in particular? Player 1: Yeah, weapons and ID. GM: Okay, roll your perception. Player 1 rolls. GM: Okay, you find a large switchblade on her and a little Streetline Special. You find a cred stick in her pocket. GM: Okay, Player 2? Player 2: I run along behind the security team. GM: You mean the humans and the ork? Player 2: Yeah GM: Okay. Anything else? PLayer 2: I dig out the Security Specialist papers our fixer sent to us. GM: Okay. GM: OKay, Player 3. You are standing over the punch bowl and are holding the pleather bag under the surface. Now what are you going to do? Player 3: Well, I want to pull it out and start disarming it. GM: Disarming what? Player 3: The bomb! (looking at me like I am an idiot) I want to disarm the bomb with my Demolitiions skill. GM: Okay, you pull the doused bag out of the punch bowl and are carefully opening it... Player 3: Using my Demolitions in case it's trapped! GM: Yeah... tell you what, just give me a perception test. Player 3 rolls and has several successes at a base of 4. GM: You carefully open the drenched satchel and looking inside you see some paperwork that is completely soaked. Looks like it might have once been floorplans. There appear to be a couple electronic ID cards, now probably ruined after being completely submerged in the juiced up rum from the bowl. Player 3: Oh. Oh! Crap, I bet that terrorist elf must have stolen this from our contact. GM (sobbing): Or, you know... give me a perception roll. Player 3 rolls, pretty well. GM: Or, you know.. the "terrorist elf"... maybe she WAS your contact? Player 3: Oh.... ______________________ The PCs at that point have it out with the gang that was chasing their contact, succeed in killing them and narrowly avoid the arriving police, and haul their unconscious contact away. She is very reluctant to help them at this point, and only replaces their floorplans after they pay for the reconstructive surgery to her face from the adept mangling her nose and mouth. The easy "in" they had via the electronic pass cards that were ruined is gone and they had to break in electronically. After killing the gang in public and with all the witnesses, they had to relocate hotels and go into disguise since assorted clear pictures of their faces were plastered all over the Trid, collected from the various tourists that were at the luau on vaction with their handy cameras. They were VERY wanted by the local cops. My players tried to convince me that the whole bomb scare was my fault. They said "Who calls that a satchel?! I figured when you said satchel it meant a satchel charge!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) They still grumbled when I pointed out to them that "Look, the module developers called it that. Not all satchels are bombs! IN fact, satchels are used to DISGUISE bombs! All in the day of the life of a Shadowrunner, I guess. Vlad

Fuchs View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 12:52 PM Post #16
Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,328 Joined: 28-November 05 From: Zuerich Member No.: 8,014	[ Spoiler ] Never heard the word "satchel" used in any way other than as "satchel charge".

vladski View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 01:18 PM Post #17
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 350 Joined: 20-August 06 Member No.: 9,176	QUOTE (Fuchs @ Apr 10 2008, 07:52 AM) [ Spoiler ] Never heard the word "satchel" used in any way other than as "satchel charge". [ Spoiler ] Satchel from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Satch"el n. A little sack or bag for carrying papers, books, or small articles of wearing apparel; a hand bag. [Spelled also "sachel."] from American Heritage Dictionary satchÂ·el n. A small bag, often having a shoulder strap, used for carrying books or clothing. Those, and many other definitions bearing a similarity, are from Dictionary.com for the word "satchel". In none of them are explosives ever mentioned. Here's a link to the entry if you would like to check it yourself: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/satchel I am simply pointing out the fact of how people playing the game often make really bad assumptions and do not try to clear up the facts. I paused and corrected so often in my exchanges with them, that I would have figured one of them would have at least picked up on some issues. I never once claimed it was a bomb, or said anything about terrorists. These were all adult, intelligent, native English-speaking players who I would assume know the definition of satchel. Vlad

DocTaotsu View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 01:28 PM Post #18
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,991 Joined: 1-February 08 From: Off the rock! Back In America! WOOOOO! Member No.: 15,601	Cyberpunk with magic and D&D with guns. I think that pretty much covers the bases (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Prime Mover View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 01:35 PM Post #19
Shooting Target Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,755 Joined: 5-September 06 From: UCAS Member No.: 9,313	Almost all of my players have come from another game before Shadowrun and have basic concepts down. Usually give a copy of Time Line and Slang Guidebook. (I find it as important to give my players the background of SR as I do giving them rules mechanics.) Then like most games to teach the basics we make a Character with input from the other players and then proceed to a mock combat breaking the players into teams and putting them in situations to have to use skills and abilities to defeat the opposing team. As for our play style, its changed alot from 1st-4th edition. But current teams can be summed up with a sentance. Negotiate for more money,plan,legwork,collect needed gear,replan,pull the job then freak out cause things start to come unraveled and there was'nt enough post run planning! Had teams that had 5 pre and post run backups and had groups that just wanted to drive in the front doors gun blazing. A mix of these styles and players makes current runs actually fun to GM.

vladski View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 01:36 PM Post #20
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 350 Joined: 20-August 06 Member No.: 9,176	Anyway, not meaning to hi-jack the thread with my amusing (to me anyway) anecdote. When I try to describe Shadowrun it depends on my audience. To Non-roleplayers: OKay, the game is set in a near future fantasy world. Ever seen the movies Blade Runner or Johnny Mnemonic or... FastJack? Sorta like that, except magic has also returned to the world and there are orks and trolls and elves and dragons. Think of hte ovie Big Trouble in Little China! In my current game the players are all special ops detectives that go around solving cases or storming the bad guys enclaves or are breaking-in ala Mission Impossible. To Role-players of other games: OKay its set about 60-70 years in the future where magic has returned and there are elves and trolls and orcs and such. IN my current game, the characters are government agents that do all sorts of things from breaking and entering missions, to gun fights, to solving mysteries. Corporations pretty much rule the world and the characters are typically folks that work as freelancers outside the system, doing the corps dirty work. To former Shadowrunners from other editions: No explanation needed! My world is no different than it really ever was. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) The mechanics are all that has changed. I'll simply give them a low-down on what my current campaigns flavor is. Vlad

Yoan View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 01:50 PM Post #21
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 179 Joined: 8-June 05 From: MontrÃ©al, RÃ©publique du QuÃ©bec Member No.: 7,433	Usually start with slightly lower BP, but may begin at 400BP standard next game (Any Montrealers around, btw?) It has a heavy Sprawl Trilogy/Neuromancer feel, though I try to distance myself from the whole 80's thing-- much to my chagrin! I even infuse some of Gibson's latest works ie: Spook Country into it-- the image or feel it invokes, that is, not plot hooks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I try to guide them into Ronin/Heat types of runs/planning, and I TRY to add emphasis to legwork and contacts a bit more... violence is never lacking, of course. Despite the common grit/paranoia, there are healthy doses of humour, lulz & fun.

Whipstitch View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 02:15 PM Post #22
Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,883 Joined: 16-December 06 Member No.: 10,386	Deadly.

Kyoto Kid View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 03:16 PM Post #23
Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490	QUOTE (vladski @ Apr 10 2008, 05:48 AM) Oh god, tell me about it. One of the most hilarious times was a few years back when I was running Paradise Lost, where the runners have to go to Hawai'i. (And excellent adventure if you have never run it and the back half of the adventure is the Hawai'i source book... very worth picking up) What follows is a scene straight out of the adventure, so don't read if you do not want to be spoiled on one of the scenes. Minor Spoiler for Paradise Lost below: [ Spoiler ] Anyway, at some point, the players never-before-seen contact is supposed to meet them at a luau that night. So, while they are sitting there eating roast pig and poi and belly dancers wriggle about to the beat of the drums, a woman come running through the middle of the partiers, clutching something that she throws at the feet of one of the players. Here's a recollected memory of the event: GM (me): Okay, so a tall blond elven girl, comes running through all the seated patrons, clutching something under her arm. Some distance behind there appears to be some folks chasing her. As she passes by you, she tosses a satchel at your feet. Player 1 (Elf Adept, being played by a nearly 50 YO man): She does what? PLayer 2 (Dwarf Street Sam, played by a 30 YO man): Oh no! Player 3 (Dwarf Rigger, played by a 50 YO man): Oh God! GM: She tossed something about a foot from where you are seated. It apears to be a satchel. Okay, everyone roll initiative. Initiave is rolled. Adept followed by Sam and then Rigger. GM: Okay, Player 1, what are you gonna do? Player 1: I leap to my feet and chase after her, yelling, "Take care of hte bomb!" I raise my eyebrows but say "Okay." He does just that. GM: Okay, Player 2, you're up. What are you going to do? Player 2: I pull my Predator and shoot at the terrorist elf! GM: Terrorist elf? Player 2: Yeah, the chic that jsut threw the bomb at us! GM: Oh! Okay. Player 2 quick draws his Predator and takes a couple shots at the retreating figure in the shadows. He manages one box of light damage. She doesn't get knocked down. GM: Okay, Player 3, your turn. Player 3: Is the package close enough for me to reach from here? I roll some dice GM: Sure, you can lean over nad grab it. Player 3: Okay. I grab it and toss it in... GM: No, you already used your complex action picking it up. You are holding the package. You'll have to wait for hte next phase. Player 3: Oh....crap! Well, I can drop it, right? That's a free action? GM: Sure. Player 3: Okay, I am going to drop it in punch bowl sitting on the table in front of me. GM (wanting to hold head at this point) You are dropping it in the punch bowl? That's not jsut dropping it. Player 3 (looking scared to death): "But!" GM: Fine, give me an Athletics test, target 6. Player 3 rolls dice, is successful. Okay, the faux leather bag is floating in the punch bowl. Player 3 still looks scared GM: Okay, now, the guys chasing the elf, apparently 3 humans and an ork, come stampeding through the crowd, who is reacting to all this commotion and gunfire. A couple of voices are screaming "Bomb!! Bomb! Run!" The partiers are climbing to their feet and scrambling. Okay, next phase. Erase your 10's. GM: Okay Player 1, what are you doing? Player 1: How close am I to the terrorist? GM: You mean the elf? Player 1: Yeah! GM: Ummm, about 3 meters behind her. Player 1: Okay, I launch myself at her, and try to bring her down using my martial arts. GM: Ummm, fine, okay. Assigns penalties and has Player 1 make his attacks. He succeeds in tripping up the elf. GM: Okay, Player 2, what are you going to do? Player 2: Can I see the terrorist? GM: The elf? Player2: Yeah! If I can see her, I want to shoot her again. GM: She's hard to see between the crowd that's running in all directions and hte fact that PLayer 1 is on top of her. Player 2: Damn! Okay. I get up and start yelling at the folks around me to "Run! There's a bomb!" I move in the direction of PLayer 1. GM: Okay. No problem. GM: OKay, Player 3, what are you gonna do? Player 3: Is the bomb jsut floating in the punch bowl? GM: You mean the satchel? Player 3: Yeah. If it's just floating there, I am going to submerge it. GM: Um sure.. okay, I'll let you stand up and press it into the bowl. Is that what you want to do? Player 3: Yeah! (he looks a little relieved) He stands up and presses the leather bag deep into the bowl. GM: Okay, 3rd phase... just Player 1 and Player 2 this time. Player 1, what's your action? Player 1: I am going to beat up this terrorist. GM: Beat up? Player 1: Yeah! Using my Killing Hands, I am going to pummel her into submission. GM: Killing hands? Physical damage or Stun? Player 1 (after taking considerable time to think about this) reluctantly: "I'll use Stun." He attacks the downed elf and, between her penalties for being injured and being down, she loses spectacularly. When all is said and down he still manages to inflict 2 boxes of P damage while knocking her out. GM: OKay, she's gone. Her eyes roll back in her head, she stops moving and her face is absolutely covered in blood. PLayer 1: Good! GM: Player 2? Player 2: Okay, what's the security team doing? GM: What security team? Player 2: The ones that were chasing the elf terrorist! GM: Oh... the humans and the ork are moving towards where Player 1 just got done beating the elf up. PLayer 2: Okay. I am tucking my Predator away and joining them. GM: Joining them? Player 2: Yeah. I am running after them to catch up. GM: Okay GM: Okay guys, roll me a new init. They do so, winding up in the same order as before. GM: The crowd is now in a panic and fleeing every direction. You hear cries of "Bomb!" and some yelling "Dial 911!" Okay, Player 1, the elf is unconscious under you. What are you going to do? Player 1: Umm... (He studies the playing mat, checking his distance from the punch bowl to himself and apparently deems himself to be out of a blast zone.) I am going to start searchign the terrorist bitch. GM: You mean the elf. Are you looking for anything in particular? Player 1: Yeah, weapons and ID. GM: Okay, roll your perception. Player 1 rolls. GM: Okay, you find a large switchblade on her and a little Streetline Special. You find a cred stick in her pocket. GM: Okay, Player 2? Player 2: I run along behind the security team. GM: You mean the humans and the ork? Player 2: Yeah GM: Okay. Anything else? PLayer 2: I dig out the Security Specialist papers our fixer sent to us. GM: Okay. GM: OKay, Player 3. You are standing over the punch bowl and are holding the pleather bag under the surface. Now what are you going to do? Player 3: Well, I want to pull it out and start disarming it. GM: Disarming what? Player 3: The bomb! (looking at me like I am an idiot) I want to disarm the bomb with my Demolitiions skill. GM: Okay, you pull the doused bag out of the punch bowl and are carefully opening it... Player 3: Using my Demolitions in case it's trapped! GM: Yeah... tell you what, just give me a perception test. Player 3 rolls and has several successes at a base of 4. GM: You carefully open the drenched satchel and looking inside you see some paperwork that is completely soaked. Looks like it might have once been floorplans. There appear to be a couple electronic ID cards, now probably ruined after being completely submerged in the juiced up rum from the bowl. Player 3: Oh. Oh! Crap, I bet that terrorist elf must have stolen this from our contact. GM (sobbing): Or, you know... give me a perception roll. Player 3 rolls, pretty well. GM: Or, you know.. the "terrorist elf"... maybe she WAS your contact? Player 3: Oh.... ______________________ The PCs at that point have it out with the gang that was chasing their contact, succeed in killing them and narrowly avoid the arriving police, and haul their unconscious contact away. She is very reluctant to help them at this point, and only replaces their floorplans after they pay for the reconstructive surgery to her face from the adept mangling her nose and mouth. The easy "in" they had via the electronic pass cards that were ruined is gone and they had to break in electronically. After killing the gang in public and with all the witnesses, they had to relocate hotels and go into disguise since assorted clear pictures of their faces were plastered all over the Trid, collected from the various tourists that were at the luau on vaction with their handy cameras. They were VERY wanted by the local cops. My players tried to convince me that the whole bomb scare was my fault. They said "Who calls that a satchel?! I figured when you said satchel it meant a satchel charge!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) They still grumbled when I pointed out to them that "Look, the module developers called it that. Not all satchels are bombs! IN fact, satchels are used to DISGUISE bombs! All in the day of the life of a Shadowrunner, I guess. Vlad ...now that is an excellent story, and all generated by the players. I've had that kind of thing happen before. Most recently a similar "misunderstanding" occurred during my March Madhouse mission when the Troll Decker (who had a couple LAW rockets) almost took out a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel where Leela and her party ere staying. The PC's mage was spooked into believing they were assassins who were to kill the person the team was protecting after he assessed them from astral space. I just mentioned what he saw: one Cybered up dude (Leela's Bodyguard Anatoli) two highly awakened auras, (one a bodyguard mage, the other a high force Spirit of Man) and one sort of "odd" aura (Leela) Seeing as the character never met any of them before he didn't recognise any of their auras. Would have been very interesting, particularly since Leela had nothing to do with the mission at hand and was there by happenstance (she was giving testimony at a hearing that stemmed from what happened during the previous Drek the Halls scenario). Lots of fun letting them run the scene for a while. BTW, also ran Paradise Lost, but the scene went pretty straightforward (had players who knew the definition of satchel).

Stahlseele View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 07:40 PM Post #24
The ShadowComedian Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,538 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525	we're(if we can roud em up) still playing SR3 . . if you want to call it that, with our houserules . . but basically, we are about having fun . . and the real fun starts, when the GM's and the players idea of fun differs in varying degrees ^^ i basically just play to hang out with the boyz and the gitz . .

nathanross View Member Profile	Apr 10 2008, 08:47 PM Post #25
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 811 Joined: 30-January 07 From: Portland, OR Member No.: 10,845	QUOTE (Kyoto Kid @ Apr 10 2008, 11:16 AM) ...now that is an excellent story, and all generated by the players. I've had that kind of thing happen before. Most recently a similar "misunderstanding" occurred during my March Madhouse mission when the Troll Decker (who had a couple LAW rockets) almost took out a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel where Leela and her party ere staying. Okay, now this needs explaining: The group consists of two hacker/riggers, a mage, and a paranoid face who wants his money (me). Our target, who we were hired to guard without him knowing, has safely made his way back to his room at the Four Seasons Hotel. We are constant surveillance for abnormal people when the GM makes note of a suspicious girl who just came in the front door (no perception tests called for). She goes into the room above the room across the hall from the target. We send the mage up to assense the girl. As he is watching the room, first a fully decked out cybersam comes in, then a high force spirit of man and a very powerful mage. The mage doesn't have time to do anything before they start to cast a mana barrier on the room. He comes back and report this to us. Now the man we are protecting is in the Vory's sights and my character who is an expert on the underworld is smelling Chimera a mile away. I'm on the radio to the troll rigger (who's currently outside in his old DHL van stocked with LAWs) within seconds, "Rocket that Room!" Unfortunately, I am the only one in our group who ever thinks to act instead of wait, so they just sit there, content that we will know if they act. Then the GM gives us a perception test to realize that it is our favorite million dollar girl, Leila, who we should know by sight instantly (like I said, this girl is worth at least a million dollars to the group), as we have chased her around Seattle, and in a previous life across Europe. I am all for player action, but common GMs, you gotta at least give em a Perception check! Even if the players dont notice things, the characters would. And who the hell would confuse a satchel with a satchel charge? Dont you people speak English?

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