 Paranoia, Does it know no bounds? |
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 Oct 14 2005, 11:37 PM
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#1
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 25 Joined: 4-November 03 From: Bellingham Member No.: 5,791  |
Ok, so I'm getting ready to start a short series of runs here, and I'm an overly paranoid player. (Is there really such a thing as too paranoid?) I am a mage and due to certain...intuitive warnings...I believe that a little extra paranoia is justified. I have my spells pretty much all fetished, but the danger of not being able to cast spells has prompted me to tuck away some spares for a rainy day. I have one set of spares at my house in the basement and one set hidden in a compartment in the hilt of my katana. I was kind of wondering what other measures people took when they were feeling especially 'gunned-for' - what else would it be prudent for me to prepare for?
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Oct 14 2005, 11:58 PM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 745 Joined: 26-July 03 From: Montréal, QC, Canada Member No.: 5,029 |
Dead-man's drops: data packets stashed in quiet corners of the Matrix which, unless fed a 'lullabye' password every 12 hours (or 24 or 48 or whatever), automatically unravel and begin disseminating themselves across the virtual landscape. Naturally, all of the data is highly incriminating to your enemies (and allies, if you're a fan of 'slash-and-burn' tactics).
Read the bolt-holes thread; lots of good ideas there. Start stashing small amounts of :nuyen:, weapons and ammo in discreet spaces across the city. Get a vehicle (or two or three if you've got the resources), gas it up, fill the trunk with food and a couple jerrycans of fuel so you don't have to stop for a couple of days. Hide them in case you have to leave town. Get some currency that doesn't depend on matrix connections or credstick readers: scrip and precious metals. You may have to bribe someone who doesn't have a credstick handy. If there's time, talk to your cyberdoc and get a fake tooth with a transmitter; it shouldn't cost any Essence and it can allow your allies to get you out of a tight spot. Find out what a last-minute plane ticket costs and have that much money easily available (like, in your fraggin' pocket). Stay out of any borough with a security rating higher than C: keep your face off cameras (which are ubiquitous in higher-security areas). Do you have contacts in the Ork Underground? Why not? Astrally perceive often: every few minutes is a good guideline. Why? It costs you nothing, doesn't hurt--as long as you're not in combat, natch--and might save your life. I could go on, but I hope this helps. |
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Oct 15 2005, 12:08 AM
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#3
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Target Group: Members Posts: 25 Joined: 4-November 03 From: Bellingham Member No.: 5,791 |
Thanks much! I still have tome to prepare, so it should help.
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Oct 15 2005, 01:19 AM
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#4
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Rule #1: Never have all your spells fetished.
If you can't fight naked, you're not paranoid enough. |
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Oct 15 2005, 02:41 AM
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#5
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Creating a god with his own hands Group: Members Posts: 1,405 Joined: 30-September 02 From: 0:0:0:0:0:0:0:1 Member No.: 3,364 |
Keep your Laser Handy!
Trust No One! The Computer is your Frie- sorry, what were we talking about? |
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Oct 15 2005, 03:07 AM
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#6
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Damnit, I knew this was a seven clone mission!
Don't forget counter-surveillance techniques...do you boobytrap your boltholes? Do you have pre-paid accounts with street docs that specialize in cosmetic surgery? -Siege |
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Oct 15 2005, 03:31 AM
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#7
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Mr. Johnson Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,587 Joined: 25-January 05 From: Berkeley, CA Member No.: 7,014 |
Ack! You are ALL commie mutant traitors!
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Oct 15 2005, 03:37 AM
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#8
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Commie, Commie, Commie chameleon...
-Siege |
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Oct 15 2005, 07:35 AM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 295 Joined: 10-July 05 Member No.: 7,492 |
When you do change your face, don't forget to tip hansomly, and give the dock an "after" picture of someone that you really, really don't like.
Just because you're a mage doesn't mean you don't need an assault rifle. Looking dangerous is often as effective as being dangerous, plus you don't really need much skill for supressive fire. Pack grenades. If you can't hit the broad side of a barn, use something non-lethal, so it won't kill *you.* Grenades of any type tend to cause people to scatter. ("Is that another smoke?" "I don't know, and I don't care, I'm out!") Dead hookers are a great source of quick cash. If you can't find one, make one. |
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Oct 15 2005, 07:43 AM
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#10
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
If you're the mage, it is a good idea to get an old datajack, cut off the electronic parts, and superglue the port to your head. Then, get an empty deck casing and carry it around with you. No one ever says "geek the decker first". |
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Oct 15 2005, 07:58 AM
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#11
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Although geeking the decker just might get all his buddies to abort if completing the job absolutely requires his abilities. This is often the case when the team finds it necessary to bring their decker along with them in the meat.
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Oct 15 2005, 02:03 PM
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#12
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Shooting Target Group: Validating Posts: 1,618 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Montevideo, Uruguay. Member No.: 3,992 |
I knew Dumpshock would eventually jump the shark, but ... Boy George? Urk! :wobble: |
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Oct 15 2005, 02:34 PM
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#13
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
You should be paranoid. But even the paranoid have enemies. If you let your paranoia to paralyse your PC then it is time for chargen again.
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Oct 16 2005, 09:53 AM
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#14
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Target Group: Members Posts: 68 Joined: 9-October 04 Member No.: 6,738 |
But if there are two or 3 decker like people, and no obvious mage,hopefully the enemy will *hopefully* just go after the tank who is more prepared to deal with bulllets.
Also, if imitating a decker, make sure you are a bit unkempt, as deckers aren't known for taking care of their meat bodies. (Stereotypes! EEEK!) I find that when the runs quit being fun because your worrying what the GM has got planned, then your too paranoid. |
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Oct 16 2005, 10:22 AM
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#15
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
When is a Decker integral to a run, really? Paydata? Just blow a bunch of crap up, break into the networking closet, and rip the nonvolitile memory right out of the Host. If you can't do that then just take the whole thing with you. |
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Oct 16 2005, 11:16 AM
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#16
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Uncle Fisty Group: Admin Posts: 13,891 Joined: 3-January 05 From: Next To Her Member No.: 6,928 |
My usually hidey places are in either the ork underground ( I 'bribe' them regularly with loads of food, 'specially from the local Stuffer Shack), or a little bolt hole near Glow City. The place is dangerous on it's own, making it a risky proposition for anyone to follow you in. Plus, with wards in your bolt hole, along with the background, makes astral tracking a task.
I also find that having an ally spirit (or two) and some watchers, and some spirits/elementals (greatform) in your doss on gaurd (behind masked wards) is also good ofr the piece of mind. Never, ever require anything to cast a spell. No fetish modifiers are that important. You can always use an expendable one anyways. While it's more expensive, you're also a lot more flexible. Get drones. Get a rigger buddy. Get a machanic buddy. Get some skills to ocmmand them. Then get some drones to guard yer butt. Then install a tinsy bit of CXII and a radio detonator on some important circuit boards onthem, or better yeta cell phone detonator, so you can disable them is some jerk of a rigger should take contorl of them. Give 'em some dumpshock to boot! Get a big doss. Some place without a lot of entrances, but a lot of space. My personal fave is abandoned factories in the barrens. usually have a few entrances in the same places. Then set traps. With monowire. And ultraviolet trip beams. And more monowire. And for the love of god don't forget where the monowire is (windows would be good). Get a pet. Like a hell hound. Raise it if you have to (MTC sells 'em through Parashield). Once you get one and train it, get two more. Barghest's work good too, although nothing is more intimidating than a cerebrus hound (although the corrosive saliva is hell on your carpets). Pay people. Pay street people. Pay store owners near you. Pay the mob. Pay them some more. Then tip everyone. It's expensive, but they'll be more likely to watch your back or give you some warning if they're forced to sell you out. Why go for one payout from a tough guy, when your buddy down the street Mr. Tough is asking about keeps paying you. Get to know some other runners. Get to know your fixer well. If you get the cash for it, hire some runners for something, to get into the practice of it. Then put a team on retainer to save your bacon incase you should need it. Pay them well (assuming you can afford to). Just consider it part of you saving-your-life-style. Get the symbolic linking metamagic, then get good at some form of art. Then make a symbolic link foci of anyone that might threaten you. Then make another one. Get to know some other street mages, or even better, runner mages. Found a magical initiatory group, then make sure that you include the fraternity and secrecy strictures. That way no one else will know that you're all working together. Plus they can't attack you, and have to help save your butt due to the fraternity. it wll take some work, but will be worth it in the long run. Especially if oyu can make your over-sized doss their group headquarters, so that they all contribute to it's/your security. Worried still about whether or not you can trust them? Well that's what symbolic linnking is for silly! Assense everyone and everything. And once you've done that, do it again. Teach you ally spirit detect enemies, armor, health, and give it sorcery (for spell defense). Also teach it to use a sniper rifle, then give it one. Easy way to cover your back. Heck, if your GM will let you, make two ally spirits, then give one a form as a rifle. If you're feeling a bit ruthless, make a weak (Force1-3) ally, then let it go free (this can be dangerous) then bind it as a free spirit. Then feed it karma to make it more powerful. That wealth power could sure help you pay for some other things too. My gargoyle shaman has done just about all of the above, and some other things that I can't tell you, becuase I don't trust you. Finally, don't do any of the things I just told you to do. You can't trust me. I'm leading you astray, and trying to distract you from the real enemy. The Drop-bear-IE-Fraggle-Oompa-Loompa World Domination Cabal (DBIEFOLWDC - DIEFOCers for short). Don't believe me? You shouldn't. So do everything I tell you. You can trust me. |
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Oct 16 2005, 02:22 PM
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#17
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I always Ward my bolthole! ;) |
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Oct 16 2005, 03:45 PM
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#18
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Anything computer-based that can't be done through the Matrix and requires more skill than any other member of the team has. Although I'm speaking, of course, of pure deckers only, and not deckers who can fulfill other roles. In this case, whether or not your mage in decker disguise is actually integral to the run is immaterial - if the security team thinks he is, it all amounts to the same thing. |
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Oct 16 2005, 04:00 PM
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#19
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Do you have something against bums? |
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Oct 19 2005, 03:42 AM
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#20
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Uncle Fisty Group: Admin Posts: 13,891 Joined: 3-January 05 From: Next To Her Member No.: 6,928 |
yes. I usually set my hell hounds against the bums. Why do you ask? :]
Remeber that in a fire fight, the sec team is trying to "ruin your run". They're trying to "kill you". And the geek with a computer in his hands is less a threat then the guy with a ball of fire generally. They can alwasy shoot the computer geek after the guy with the ball of fire and the guy with the LMG are bleeding on the floor. Then your runs is still ruined. |
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Oct 19 2005, 03:58 AM
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#21
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Which is precisely why you, as a security team, should execute him first. He's the easiest target to wax, and if you pull it off, you might not have to contend with the rest of the team for much longer. |
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Oct 19 2005, 04:52 AM
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#22
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 184 Joined: 22-September 05 Member No.: 7,770 |
or... piss the troll (who just had F6 armor cast onto him) into bull-rushing your position with a 10 ft. pickaxe. |
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Oct 19 2005, 04:58 AM
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#23
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Target Group: Members Posts: 77 Joined: 27-September 05 Member No.: 7,782 |
Right on! Then you can introduce his face to a full-auto burst from your high velocity assault rifle. :)
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Oct 19 2005, 03:30 PM
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#24
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
*Adds fistandantilus to the List of people to go up against the wall when his hobo army takes over.* :) You seriously don't want to get on the wrong side of them. I mean, who's got a better reason to hang around on the streets or wander around the neighbourhood without looking suspicious? A small amount of cash spread around every so often gives you a very good early warning net or barometer of what things are like on the streets. |
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Oct 20 2005, 12:02 AM
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#25
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,283 Joined: 17-May 05 Member No.: 7,398 |
My street sam owns a nuclear fallout bunker in the Redmond Barrens. Its reinforced metal door at the surface is at the end of an alleyway that is filled with gravel, other than a winding trail of pavestones. The gravel is mined. There are two smart sentry guns mounted on either side of the door. If anyone other than me walks down the alleyway when I'm not home (and when I am home, and I'm not expecting visitors), the sentry guns open fire, and monowire thats strung from one wall to the other get pulled taut. The bones and rotting corpses of the assorted bums who thought that this was a good place to camp out attest to the lethality, and serve as a better warning sign than any sign ever could.
The stairway down to the bunker is loaded with smart sentry guns. Two can see every point on it. The bunker itself has a Force 4 Background Count thanks to a former owner who was your stereotypical evil-mage-torturing-people-then-sacrificing-them-for-power. He sleeps in a bed that has folding armor plates, so it resembles a box when deployed. It also has a smart sentry gun and an air filter. Ah... luxury security... |
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