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ShadowDragon
post Jan 31 2007, 03:30 AM
Post #1


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I'm going to put this on my campaign website to help out my players, but I wanted to get some feedback from you guys first. If you have any comments or things to add, please reply :)

1. Always do your legwork. Know who your Johnson is and know who your target is. Do recon in the astral, the matrix, and the physical.

2. Never go into danger without an escape plan. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Don’t get cocky just because you haven’t died yet.

3. The weakest link in any security system is always the metahuman element. Build your plans around exploiting that link.

4. Paranoia will keep you alive. Always check and double check for RFIDs. Use a quality commlink full of necessary programs even if you’re not a hacker. Only trust yourself, your team, and your mother. Expect your Johnson to betray you, and expect contacts to sell you out to Star. Be extra careful not to leave a data trail or leave evidence at a crime.

5. Make an effort to build trust and camaraderie in your team. Not only do they help you make more nuyen, they’ll save your life.

6. Be an expert in one field and contribute your expertise to the team. Be proactive with your contribution and don’t wait to be asked. Everyone should be the leader of the team in their field.

7. Be well rounded. You don’t want to be a liability in combat or negotiations, and the odd skill can come in handy when no one in your team is an expert in that field, or the expert is unable to help.

8. Don’t be afraid to look outside the team for help. If your team is missing a skill set needed for a mission, hire another runner to fill the gap. You can even hire entire groups of runners for distractions.

9. Network with everyone you can. You never know when a new contact can come in handy. The face isn’t the only person who should do this.

10. Enter negotiations with a game plan. Legwork should start before the mission. With enough legwork, sometimes you can even know what the mission is before the Johnson tells you; exploit this to negotiate for more nuyen. Some factors that can increase payment:
- Level of danger (Danger to yourself, your reputation, and your possessions)
- Time constraints (How long do you need to work and how quickly does it need to be done?)
- Team experience and reputation (Have you done work for this Johnson in the past? What does your team have to offer that other runners don’t?)
- Amount of legwork needed (Paying contacts and bribing people can be expensive)
- Stealth requirements (Leaving no trace, no or limited killing)
- Assets needed (IE drones, explosives, bullets, drugs, and contacts)

11. Remember that you’re a professional, and act like it. Don’t be an ass to the Johnson, keep your cool at all times, and protect your reputation at almost any cost. Survival should be the only thing that takes priority over professionalism.

12. If you’re making plenty of nuyen from the Johnson, don’t squeeze out more by looting the ganger’s Streetline Special and Meta Link commlink. Your contacts don't want to waste their time with used junk. But also don’t overlook expensive paydata and gear that can substantially increase your income.

13. If you’re not being paid to kill someone, you’re usually better off not doing it if you can avoid it. You never know when a death can spur on a vendetta from a loved one, and you never know if that ganger is the runaway daughter of a megacorp exec. At the same time, be careful not to leave crucial witnesses.
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Kyoto Kid
post Feb 1 2007, 04:12 PM
Post #2


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QUOTE (ShadowDragon)
QUOTE (Kyoto Kid @ Jan 31 2007, 02:34 AM)
...I've tried these approaches, but when the characters decide to walk, because they didn't get what they wanted, it is kind of a burn.  I usually do not have a backup scenario planned due to the fact I have a real life (plus day job) and other interests outside SR.

We only meet every two weeks at best and I usually have to travel across town (by transit) to run/play since my place is too small for hosting a gaming session.  A lot of trouble to go through to just pack everything in after say 20-30 min and go home.

If the PCs are routinely walking out on the Johnson, then it sounds like you have an out of character problem. This isn't something you should fix in game. Talk to your players. Maybe they want a faster pace of advancement. Ask them why they just walk out, and reiterate your situation to them. Have any of them GM/DMed before? It sounds like they don't appreciate the work you put into this.

...actually, some of the more disruptive characters are played by one of the other GMs in our group. It's not so much they actually walk out than they threaten to or browbeat the J. Unfortunately because of the situation I mentioned in earlier posts, I end up accommodating their wishes since I invested a fair amount of time setting up the run (and getting to the site we play at) and don't want to waste it all by just packing things in.

As to advancement, I am pretty generous to a point. The pure roleplay segments offer a lot of opportunity for the characters to to earn bonus "Instant Karma".

QUOTE (ornot)
KK... An idea presents itself. Have the Johnson meet them online. That way most of the social adepts powers are limited.

If your players are bullying you by refusing to play if you don't offer them uber goodness, then you're probably better off finding a group who are a little more mature.

I actually have considered that. In my last campaign, the PCs actually tied to avoid Face to Face with the Johnson since she was fairly "influential".

Unfortunately Portland seems to be a fairly "lean" gaming community when it comes to SR so I feel I have to take what I can get.

@Garrowolf: Interesting take. I'll have to keep this in mind for the next mission.
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Posts in this topic
- ShadowDragon   Running for Dummies   Jan 31 2007, 03:30 AM
- - OSUMacbeth   I'll add one. Don't get cocky just because...   Jan 31 2007, 03:47 AM
- - Thane36425   I'll add one too. Safehouses. Each team member...   Jan 31 2007, 04:42 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   Make friends in the Barrens. At least avoid making...   Jan 31 2007, 04:50 AM
- - Garrowolf   I have a question for you. How do you reinforce th...   Jan 31 2007, 04:55 AM
- - cetiah   QUOTE (Garrowolf) So how do you reinforce common s...   Jan 31 2007, 05:16 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   Oooooh. An "Identities and Heat" system ...   Jan 31 2007, 05:19 AM
- - Garrowolf   OKay, Good. I like the Heat thing too. What else?   Jan 31 2007, 05:25 AM
- - ShadowDragon   These aren't rules Garrowolf, they're tips...   Jan 31 2007, 05:25 AM
- - apollo124   Something else to add.. Unless you have absolutel...   Jan 31 2007, 05:29 AM
- - ShadowDragon   QUOTE (cetiah) This is why I felt I needed "I...   Jan 31 2007, 05:30 AM
- - Crakkerjakk   /agree with apollo The only thing that mobilizes ...   Jan 31 2007, 05:36 AM
- - Garrowolf   okay fair enough   Jan 31 2007, 05:48 AM
- - apollo124   Thanks, Crakkerjakk. Also something else just cam...   Jan 31 2007, 05:53 AM
- - Kyoto Kid   QUOTE (ShadowDragon)11. Remember that you’re a pro...   Jan 31 2007, 07:01 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   QUOTE (Kyoto Kid) QUOTE (ShadowDragon)11. Remember...   Jan 31 2007, 07:17 AM
- - Garrowolf   One way to deal with the runners who manipulate th...   Jan 31 2007, 07:23 AM
- - ShadowDragon   QUOTE (Garrowolf) One way to deal with the runners...   Jan 31 2007, 07:32 AM
- - Kyoto Kid   ...I've tried these approaches, but when the c...   Jan 31 2007, 07:34 AM
- - Leehouse   Give them the price they want, then start double c...   Jan 31 2007, 07:56 AM
- - Kyoto Kid   ..actually, I have one thing I am doing in the sce...   Jan 31 2007, 08:09 AM
- - Slump   QUOTE (Kyoto Kid @ Jan 31 2007, 02:34 AM) We ...   Jan 31 2007, 10:26 AM
- - toturi   Information is very important. If you have it, you...   Jan 31 2007, 01:35 PM
- - Garrowolf   slump, I am very interested in this model of yours...   Jan 31 2007, 03:35 PM
- - Kyoto Kid   QUOTE (Slump)That's an easy one to fix. If you...   Jan 31 2007, 04:04 PM
- - Thain   I wrote this for my group a few years ago, I think...   Jan 31 2007, 05:17 PM
- - sunnyside   @KK If you're one of the GMs who doesn't ...   Jan 31 2007, 06:01 PM
- - sunnyside   @ Garrowulf On the subject of helping players gro...   Jan 31 2007, 06:10 PM
- - ShadowDragon   QUOTE (Kyoto Kid) ...I've tried these approach...   Jan 31 2007, 06:58 PM
- - Slump   QUOTE (Garrowolf @ Jan 31 2007, 10:35 AM) slu...   Feb 1 2007, 12:14 AM
- - Cynic project   Never worry about losing tools. you can replace to...   Feb 1 2007, 01:02 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   QUOTE (Cynic project) Never worry about losing too...   Feb 1 2007, 01:50 AM
- - Rotbart van Dainig   Which brings us to the point: Burn everything you ...   Feb 1 2007, 01:52 AM
- - fistandantilus3.0   QUOTE You can't replace yourself. but you can...   Feb 1 2007, 01:52 AM
- - Ravor   <Stolen from another Thread> Whenever a cha...   Feb 1 2007, 02:09 AM
- - Sir_Psycho   QUOTE (Thain) I wrote this for my group a few year...   Feb 1 2007, 02:14 AM
- - Spike   I'd say it was stolen from Chris Rock, but wha...   Feb 1 2007, 02:39 AM
- - Teulisch   Look like you belong. The best way to hide is in p...   Feb 1 2007, 02:41 AM
- - ornot   @KK... An idea presents itself. Have the Johnson m...   Feb 1 2007, 02:52 AM
- - Garrowolf   What would be funny is if your social adepts start...   Feb 1 2007, 03:34 AM
- - Kyoto Kid   QUOTE (ShadowDragon)QUOTE (Kyoto Kid @ Jan 31...   Feb 1 2007, 04:12 PM
- - Mistwalker   @KK A few other options that you can use are: Me...   Feb 1 2007, 05:04 PM
- - Jack Kain   Bargaining for a higher pay is a part of shadowrun...   Feb 1 2007, 06:27 PM
- - ShadowDragon   QUOTE ...actually, some of the more disruptive cha...   Feb 1 2007, 06:58 PM
- - fistandantilus3.0   QUOTE (Kyoto Kid) ...actually, some of the more d...   Feb 1 2007, 07:19 PM
- - ShadowDragon8685   KK, it may be hard, but here's what you do. G...   Feb 1 2007, 07:24 PM
- - djinni   QUOTE (Kyoto Kid) ...actually, some of the more di...   Feb 1 2007, 07:24 PM
- - ShadowDragon8685   Oh, yeah. You can do a lot to a Mr. J, because he ...   Feb 1 2007, 07:28 PM
- - cetiah   QUOTE (ShadowDragon @ Jan 31 2007, 12:30 AM) ...   Feb 1 2007, 07:30 PM
- - fistandantilus3.0   QUOTE (ShadowDragon8685) Oh, yeah. You can do a lo...   Feb 1 2007, 07:48 PM
- - Thane36425   There is always the blackmail option. Suppose the ...   Feb 1 2007, 08:00 PM
- - Kyoto Kid   ...to all, thanks for the pointers. I actually ...   Feb 1 2007, 09:32 PM
- - Slash_Thompson   I don't think it's particularly 'unrea...   Feb 1 2007, 10:34 PM
- - Cheops   I usually use the pattern of meet somewhere public...   Feb 1 2007, 10:39 PM
- - Kyoto Kid   ...For the mission I ran before the one I am curre...   Feb 2 2007, 01:37 AM
- - Garrowolf   I knew a player in someone else's game that fi...   Feb 2 2007, 06:46 AM
- - fistandantilus3.0   QUOTE (Garrowolf) I knew a player in someone else...   Feb 2 2007, 06:51 AM
- - Garrowolf   yeah I have lots of things that make it a bad idea...   Feb 2 2007, 06:56 AM
- - fistandantilus3.0   QUOTE (Garrowolf) The Johnson just looked at him a...   Feb 2 2007, 07:00 AM
- - Garrowolf   well you can send money and I would TRY and rememb...   Feb 2 2007, 07:06 AM
- - Rotbart van Dainig   QUOTE (Garrowolf)I had one person try this with me...   Feb 2 2007, 07:25 AM
- - Wakshaani   Solved that lil' problem a while back. Teh fi...   Feb 2 2007, 10:33 AM
- - toturi   QUOTE (Wakshaani) Solved that lil' problem a w...   Feb 2 2007, 01:51 PM
- - Mistwalker   Back to the original thread. Use plenty of Nanopa...   Feb 2 2007, 01:53 PM
- - Ed_209a   QUOTE (Sir_Psycho) QUOTE (Thain @ Jan 31 2007...   Feb 2 2007, 01:54 PM
- - Kyoto Kid   QUOTE (Mistwalker)Back to the original thread. Us...   Feb 2 2007, 09:32 PM
- - Rotbart van Dainig   QUOTE (Mistwalker) Do this for every run, and you ...   Feb 2 2007, 09:40 PM
- - ShadowDragon8685   QUOTE (toturi) QUOTE (Wakshaani @ Feb 2 2007,...   Feb 2 2007, 11:25 PM
- - Slump   QUOTE "Help Mrs Silverman find one of her los...   Feb 2 2007, 11:54 PM
- - Kyoto Kid   QUOTE (ShadowDragon8685)Do Not Screw the Hired Hel...   Feb 3 2007, 12:34 AM
- - fistandantilus3.0   Yup   Feb 3 2007, 12:34 AM
- - ornot   QUOTE (toturi) QUOTE (Wakshaani @ Feb 2 2007,...   Feb 3 2007, 03:31 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   QUOTE (ornot) QUOTE (toturi @ Feb 2 2007, 08:...   Feb 3 2007, 04:03 AM
- - toturi   QUOTE (ornot) QUOTE (toturi @ Feb 2 2007, 08:...   Feb 3 2007, 04:18 AM
- - ornot   @SD8685: That was indeed a random example, pulled ...   Feb 3 2007, 04:36 AM
- - toturi   QUOTE (ornot) @Toturi: While it might be possible ...   Feb 3 2007, 05:09 AM
- - apollo124   Since this topic seems to have become "How to...   Feb 4 2007, 06:25 AM
- - ShadowDragon8685   QUOTE (apollo124) Since this topic seems to have b...   Feb 4 2007, 07:39 AM
- - Glyph   Professional Johnsons should often employ less-tha...   Feb 4 2007, 08:50 AM
- - Sir_Psycho   QUOTE (ShadowDragon8685) QUOTE (apollo124 @ F...   Feb 4 2007, 09:42 AM
- - Slump   All the runners I played went all "borrowed l...   Feb 4 2007, 09:59 AM
- - Garrowolf   slump that is creative, funny, gross, and disturbi...   Feb 4 2007, 10:38 AM
- - apollo124   QUOTE (Sir_Psycho) [/QUOTE] They wouldn't b...   Feb 4 2007, 02:16 PM
- - bibliophile20   I know of one group that is so paranoid about ritu...   Feb 4 2007, 08:11 PM
- - WhiskeyMac   Mr. Johnson shops around with fixers, not shadowru...   Feb 5 2007, 10:46 PM
- - djinni   QUOTE (Sir_Psycho) They wouldn't be asking, th...   Feb 6 2007, 01:24 AM
- - Mistwalker   Who needs fecal matter. Just have a very sharp nee...   Feb 6 2007, 01:29 AM
- - Serial_Peacemaker   It strikes me that jabbing your potential employee...   Feb 7 2007, 07:07 AM
- - cetiah   QUOTE (Serial_Peacemaker @ Feb 7 2007, 02:07 ...   Feb 7 2007, 07:22 AM
- - toturi   Are tiny flakes of skin cells sufficient for ritua...   Feb 7 2007, 08:01 AM
- - Ravor   Well I don't remember if its in this thread or...   Mar 4 2007, 10:04 PM
- - apollo124   Of course getting a cell sample would be tough. C...   Mar 5 2007, 05:16 AM
- - Ravor   True, you're right, it is possible to get Link...   Mar 5 2007, 06:47 AM
- - Thane36425   QUOTE (Ravor) So yes, Ritual Magic can be a very...   Mar 5 2007, 07:00 AM
- - Thane36425   QUOTE (bibliophile20) I know of one group that is ...   Mar 5 2007, 07:04 AM
- - Thane36425   QUOTE (WhiskeyMac) Mr. Johnson shops around with f...   Mar 5 2007, 07:11 AM
- - MaxHunter   I do things that way too. I mean, street cred, rep...   Mar 6 2007, 05:21 AM
- - nathanross   Yeah, powerfull voodoo mystic adepts that spirit t...   Mar 6 2007, 06:25 AM
- - kzt   QUOTE (MaxHunter) Unluckily for some of my players...   Mar 7 2007, 05:28 AM
- - fistandantilus3.0   Yeah, I always had problems with body guard runs a...   Mar 7 2007, 05:52 AM
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