IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

3 Pages V   1 2 3 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> My Current Campaign, Advice, Comments, Ideas?
MadDogMaddux
post Nov 2 2006, 04:06 AM
Post #1


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 174
Joined: 10-September 06
Member No.: 9,349



OK, some of you have been following my adventures as a new GM in Shadowrun - mostly a campaign with one player and the potential for a few others in the future.

My player's character is named Jace and is not REALLY a street sammy, but has some similarities - mostly boosted synapses, and lots of skills with weapons. Recently he made the dumb choice to walk alone through the Tacoma Warehouse district at night, got mugged, and lost most of his gear. I was nice and didn't have him get organ-legged.

The next night, he went out and mugged some poor drunk leaving a bar and sold the guy's commlink for a few Nuyen.

Tonight, we got together to get him to a place where he'd be ready to work with another character (hopefully) this weekend.

I posted here and asked for a bunch of creative mugging victim ideas, and so was all ready to roll with it.

Instead, he decides to lay low and wait for his scrounger contact to find him an Ares Predator IV. While he's waiting, his hacker brother turns up news that the Pet Store Jace broke into the other night while looking for a specific pet to steal was shot up really badly. No reports or witnesses to who did it (it was the Mob, btw - the pet he stole belonged to a Mafia Lieutenant who had it kenneled there for some personal care. When they didn't have it, he had the place shot up good.). Jace's brother reminds him that a security guard at the apartments where he found the pet took his photo with his cybereyes. Figuring to play it safe, Jace decides that the security guard needs to be found and have his memory erased.

He spends 2 days casing the guy (but not very well) and never really makes a firm plan. (I was hoping he'd ambush him with his Narcojet Heavy Crossbow when he headed out for work at 11PM or so, but he never was willing to go to the guy's house for some reason) In the end, he follows the guy to his Rent-a-cop office, and waits for him to come out after clocking out. The guy does, hails a cab, and when it arrives, both he and Jace get in.

The guy recognizes that he recognizes him, and begins searching through his headware to recognize it. So Jace pulls out his Streetline Special and tells him to quit doing what he's doing, and that he's coming with him.

The guy relaxes, sends a message to his security corp via his headware, and just sits there, knowing that help is on the way.

Jace figures out that something is up, pulls out a narcojet bolt, and stabs the guy with it, then pistol whips him for good measure.


They're in an automated cab, headed to the warehouse district where Jace's brother will meet them and wipe the guy's memory, and Jace can't break through the barrier to commandeer the vehicle (no pilot skills anyhow).

Pretty soon, a squad car from the security corp shows up, tailing the taxi. After a while, it pulls up beside, and the passenger rolls down the window and begins shooting at the tires.

Jace rolls down the window, pulls up his Heavy Crossbow and hits the guy for 8 Physical and 9 Stun damage after resistance. (I applied a +2 dice pool to the defese roll to reflect the fact that he's shooting into another car.)

With all the damage, the guy slumps over (how do you handle knockdown when seated in a car?) and Jace shoots the driver on his second initiative pass (I gave HIM a +3 dice pool to reflect being deeper inside the car). Hits him and does less damage, but still a heckuvalot.

Jace wins the next round of inits and puts another bolt into the driver, who dies immediately and causes the car to crash.


At this point Jace STOPS the taxi, gets out, and checks over the security vehicle, but leaves everything, jumps in the taxi and hauls off to an alley to meet his brother.

The brother inserts a kink bomb into the security guard's datajack, frying the cyber there, then Jace slits the guard's throat for good measure.

Then on foot, they head back to the crash site, jump in the car and drive off, Kink Bombing the two bodies, then rifling through the gear. They leave the car in an alley, and I have Jace's brother think to use the battery and fuel to burn the car after they've stripped some gear out (not a lot tho, it's a small time security corp. ).


They t hen go home, grab all their gear, and leave the apartment. Jace wants to start over, so ditches the fake SIN associated with that apartment as well. (I also took away the lifestyle he'd bought before the game)

In the end, they picked up 3 crappy comm links, some decent CyberGlasses, 1 Remmington 990, 2 Ares Predators, 2 Armored Vests, and some other small stuff that Security Guards might carry.



So, I'm still new to this - did he get away with that too easily? Should I have had other cops show up sooner? (Tacoma warehouse district, roughly 1PM) Should the security guys have had more/less gear?

Any comments for future improvement would be greatly appreciated.

Also, do I award Karma for this or not? It was not a contract, just something he felt like he needed to do to not get connected with the pet-napping.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MadDogMaddux
post Nov 2 2006, 04:09 AM
Post #2


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 174
Joined: 10-September 06
Member No.: 9,349



Also, some conventions I'm using :

Sometimes I just have him roll his edge dice to see if the situation develops favorably for him or not.

He took Mild Common Allergy, but left me to define it, so I made it an allergy to Smog. Anytime he's out without a respirator, I make him roll Body, and if he doesn't get a hit, assess him some stun damage. Should the threshold be higher, effects be different?


I find that I use perception a lot, whenever he asks me a detail about the world, I have him roll perception -2 to see if he noticed.

A lot of times, I don't generate characters for him to fight - just use 3 for all stats for random generic characters. Good idea or bad idea?

Bah, I think I had more questions, but can't remember. I'll post 'em as I do. THX!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fortune
post Nov 2 2006, 06:25 AM
Post #3


Immoral Elf
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 15,247
Joined: 29-March 02
From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat
Member No.: 2,486



QUOTE (MadDogMaddux @ Nov 2 2006, 03:09 PM)
He took Mild Common Allergy, but left me to define it, so I made it an allergy to Smog. Anytime he's out without a respirator, I make him roll Body, and if he doesn't get a hit, assess him some stun damage. Should the threshold be higher, effects be different?

Um, it's a Mild Allergy. At most it should be a minor irritant (ie. a small dice pool penalty). It should almost never actually cause damage.

QUOTE
I find that I use perception a lot, whenever he asks me a detail about the world, I have him roll perception -2 to see if he noticed.


Why the arbitrary and ever-present -2 penalty?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
de4dmeta1
post Nov 2 2006, 06:52 AM
Post #4


Target
*

Group: Members
Posts: 67
Joined: 15-June 04
From: Richmond, BC
Member No.: 6,405



QUOTE (Fortune)
QUOTE
I find that I use perception a lot, whenever he asks me a detail about the world, I have him roll perception -2 to see if he noticed.


Why the arbitrary and ever-present -2 penalty?

I'm thinking because of the distraction caused by his mild allergy.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MadDogMaddux
post Nov 2 2006, 06:57 AM
Post #5


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 174
Joined: 10-September 06
Member No.: 9,349



Rules state that unless you SAY you're making it a point to observe in detail, you get a -2 penalty.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
kzt
post Nov 2 2006, 07:16 AM
Post #6


Great Dragon
*********

Group: Members
Posts: 5,537
Joined: 27-August 06
From: Albuquerque NM
Member No.: 9,234



QUOTE (MadDogMaddux)
Rules state that unless you SAY you're making it a point to observe in detail, you get a -2 penalty.

You realize that following the perception rules explicitly means that the average person without perception skill walking down the street won't EVER notice the crowd of terrified screaming people running past him fleeing machinegun fire without using edge? Does this make sense to you? It doesn't to me.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MadDogMaddux
post Nov 2 2006, 07:30 AM
Post #7


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 174
Joined: 10-September 06
Member No.: 9,349



fair enough. I don't mind ditching the rule - but I'm still grappling with the ruleset, so I have not gotten around to throwing stuff out just cuz it doesn't make sense. :P
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fortune
post Nov 2 2006, 07:30 AM
Post #8


Immoral Elf
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 15,247
Joined: 29-March 02
From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat
Member No.: 2,486



QUOTE (MadDogMaddux)
Rules state that unless you SAY you're making it a point to observe in detail, you get a -2 penalty.

Rules also say to use Perception sparingly, as in only when it really matters, as opposed to things like noticing whether the last Stuffer Shack Slitch™ that served you was blonde or brunette.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
MadDogMaddux
post Nov 2 2006, 07:35 AM
Post #9


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 174
Joined: 10-September 06
Member No.: 9,349



LOL

Well, I was more thinking like specific numbering on a police car, etc.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Fortune
post Nov 2 2006, 07:37 AM
Post #10


Immoral Elf
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 15,247
Joined: 29-March 02
From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat
Member No.: 2,486



QUOTE (MadDogMaddux @ Nov 2 2006, 06:35 PM)
Well, I was more thinking like specific numbering on a police car

And in that example, I would think an actual Perception test with a -2 Dice Pool penalty is fair enough. :D
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Mistwalker
post Nov 2 2006, 12:18 PM
Post #11


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 668
Joined: 4-September 06
Member No.: 9,304



You do realize that Jace, who would have been only wanted only for B&E and pet napping, commited 3 murders to cover it up?

Shakes his head.

That shoot out at 1PM should have been captured on a lot of cameras, specially as he got out of the cab, then came back with an accomplice to get the car. You have to remember that all cybereyes have the capability of recording, as well as all the security cameras and drones flying around.

Hmm, think I would have had the guys in the rent-a-cop car been on the commlink to HQ, letting them know about the crossbow wielding guy, before they went off line, after all, they were responding to a kidnapping, with several other cars responding to them going off line, if not Lone Star HTR team.

What did they do with the car? ditch it somewhere? if so, did they santize it to remove all of their traces? if not, then the murder investigation will have a few clues and Jace will have problems down the road.

Are there any steath RFID tags on the gear taken from the rent-a-cops? hmm, did they even check for RFIDs, the regular kind?

You may want to educate your player about RFIDs if he doesn't know about them. As well, depending on the style of game you want to play, you may want to let the player know that murders of any kind will draw more investigations and resources than non-lethal damage or simple B&E style charges.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ChicagosFinest
post Nov 2 2006, 03:05 PM
Post #12


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 340
Joined: 18-September 06
From: Chicago (CZ)
Member No.: 9,422



Is this a back story to him actually becoming a pro shadowrunner?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Moon-Hawk
post Nov 2 2006, 03:34 PM
Post #13


Genuine Artificial Intelligence
********

Group: Members
Posts: 4,019
Joined: 12-June 03
Member No.: 4,715



If he's not in combat and he's asking about the world, assume he's takinga simple action and observing in detail. That -2 should only apply in combat when they're not spending the simple action, or if you ask for the perception test (to notice the sniper, for example), rather than when they ask for it.
That's my rule of thumb.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
lorechaser
post Nov 2 2006, 03:38 PM
Post #14


Running Target
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,333
Joined: 19-August 06
From: Austin
Member No.: 9,168



Re: 3 murders - that was my general comment.

He went *way* overboard and escalated things hugely. The autocab most likely has recordings of him stabbing and pistol whipping the guy. The response team certainly did (although I don't think a bigger response was needed, unless this was a very protective corp. The guy wasn't on duty, and wasn't at an asset - they were just responding to help an employee out. They wouldn't send the big guns.).

I personally wouldn't have the response team take out the autocab - it's an *auto* cab - someone controls it. Just call the dispatcher, and have it pull over.

But Jace then escalated hugely by killing 3 guards, cutting someone's throat (!?) and burning the bodies. That's huge.

Also, 9 phys and 8 stun? Did he shoot the guy twice? Crossbows are a complex action to use, so either he got too many shots off, or you might have misunderstood the damage rules....
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Mistwalker
post Nov 2 2006, 04:04 PM
Post #15


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 668
Joined: 4-September 06
Member No.: 9,304



Lorechaser,
there are injection arrows and bolts. They do normal damage, as well as inject a drug into the subject. Narco-jet is a common drug used on these.
So, with a heavy crossbow, 7P, -1 AP (iirc), you also add in 10S due to the narco-jet.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Mistwalker
post Nov 2 2006, 04:07 PM
Post #16


Moving Target
**

Group: Members
Posts: 668
Joined: 4-September 06
Member No.: 9,304



As for the rent-a-cop company sending in back up, I wasn't saying to have an HTR team go in with the first call, but once the 1st back-up team in the squad car started losing people.

If they are a small company, they will call Lone Star, after all, it is a kidnapping, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, etc... for multiple people. Being used to shadowrunners, or at least the idea of them, they would probably not want to take them on directly, but get Lone Star HTR team to come in and do it.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
lorechaser
post Nov 2 2006, 04:31 PM
Post #17


Running Target
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,333
Joined: 19-August 06
From: Austin
Member No.: 9,168



QUOTE (Mistwalker)
Lorechaser,
there are injection arrows and bolts. They do normal damage, as well as inject a drug into the subject. Narco-jet is a common drug used on these.
So, with a heavy crossbow, 7P, -1 AP (iirc), you also add in 10S due to the narco-jet.

Ahhh.

The wording confused me. It's early here, yet. ;)

Carry on.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Butterblume
post Nov 2 2006, 04:38 PM
Post #18


Running Target
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,150
Joined: 19-December 05
From: Rhein-Ruhr Megaplex
Member No.: 8,081



Personally, I like bigger responses of security forces. After all, they have to assume that everyone committing a (capitel) crime is 'superhuman' in one way or another. Today, police forces assume the suspect is armed, and act accordingly.

Bored LS cop: 'Did you hear about those two security guys who commited suicide?'
Other bored LS cop: 'How did they do it?'
Bored LS cop: 'Went after a kidnapper without backup.'
Other bored LS cop, munching another sonut(*): 'Dumb bastards.'

[(*) Sonut: our version of a soy donut]
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Ophis
post Nov 2 2006, 04:45 PM
Post #19


Mystery Archaeologist
******

Group: Members
Posts: 2,906
Joined: 19-September 05
From: The apple tree
Member No.: 7,760



QUOTE (lorechaser)
Also, 9 phys and 8 stun? Did he shoot the guy twice? Crossbows are a complex action to use, so either he got too many shots off, or you might have misunderstood the damage rules....

The crossbows are a simple action to fire, like everything else not in FA mode. The write mentions that they need no ready weapon action to load a bolt. They have a pump action like the one in dusk till dawn.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
lorechaser
post Nov 2 2006, 05:35 PM
Post #20


Running Target
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,333
Joined: 19-August 06
From: Austin
Member No.: 9,168



Dammmmn.

I'd never even looked at the crossbow under the new rules. That's just amusingly impressive.

Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Moon-Hawk
post Nov 2 2006, 05:39 PM
Post #21


Genuine Artificial Intelligence
********

Group: Members
Posts: 4,019
Joined: 12-June 03
Member No.: 4,715



How does that work? If you can mechanically cock it with one shotgun-like pump, it would have to have a very weak draw. If it has a strong draw, (stronger than you can achieve with one hand) you'd need to pump it 15 times like a super-soaker have enough mechanical advantage to slowly ratchet it back.
Newton! Archimedes! Help me understand the SR4 shotgun-bow!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
BishopMcQ
post Nov 2 2006, 05:45 PM
Post #22


The back-up plan
**********

Group: Retired Admins
Posts: 8,423
Joined: 15-January 03
From: San Diego
Member No.: 3,910



Perhaps there is a mechanism which automatically pulls the string back, like a tailhook in reverse. Then the pumping action would only be to feed another bolt into the firing line.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Moon-Hawk
post Nov 2 2006, 05:47 PM
Post #23


Genuine Artificial Intelligence
********

Group: Members
Posts: 4,019
Joined: 12-June 03
Member No.: 4,715



Ah, so an electrically powered winch cocks it for you, and the mechanical action is just to put a new bolt in position. Sure, that makes sense. Well, enough sense, anyway. Thanks!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
lorechaser
post Nov 2 2006, 05:48 PM
Post #24


Running Target
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,333
Joined: 19-August 06
From: Austin
Member No.: 9,168



It is an interesting question, actually.

Because on firearms, most of the time the recocking is done by explosive pressure. The crossbow has none of that. So either it has a some sort of geared mechanism that converts the pump to a much stronger pull, or a motorized draw....

And a motorized draw to pull the string back in 1.5 seconds to the point that it does 7P and -1 AP is a strong motor....
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Moon-Hawk
post Nov 2 2006, 05:49 PM
Post #25


Genuine Artificial Intelligence
********

Group: Members
Posts: 4,019
Joined: 12-June 03
Member No.: 4,715



It still seems to me that it should be SS, not SA, even in that case.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

3 Pages V   1 2 3 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 23rd April 2024 - 03:51 PM

Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.