The Agency: Fear & Loathing OOC Options

[dionysus]

Time/setting
I'm going to use timestamps like "Day 1: 1400", rather than "04/12/2072: 1400" to leave the door open for other GMs to hook into specific historical events. They will be in green
For my own convenience, I have set the adventure as starting in the Seattle area. I know the Agency doesn't have an official location, but I'm going with Seattle for now.

Posting style:
Italicize thoughts.
Character names in Bold.
"Regular quote marks around dialogue."
<<chevrons around private, electronic communications>>

Rolling:
Make your own rolls, honor system. Post them thus:
Attribute + Skill [+ other modifiers]
[write out results of roll here] = # hits (also note if glitch/crit glitch)
If you want to roll for something but aren't sure of the proper roll, post your best guess and I'll ask for something different if I need to.
If I want to keep modifiers secret, I'll roll the modifier dice and add hits for + modifiers, subtract hits for - modifiers.

Secrets:
I prefer PMs to spoilers, so I wont be using many of the latter. Up to you how you want to keep personal things personal for your character.

Karma/Edge
Karma will be awarded at the end of the run. I will probably refresh edge at least once during the run, but other than that I'm not telling.

The Team
Oracle (BlackHat): Adept investigator
Caca (DireRadiant): Street-sam socialite
Grandpa (Alex): Assassin & sniper
Ziro (DeBadAss): Mage
You guys may decide that someone with vehicle skills is needed. If so, we can either try and recruit another player or work up an NPC that gets hired.

Everybody check in and let me know that you're good to go, and I'll start the IC thread.

[ludomastro]

"What do you damn kids want?" asked Grandpa. Really, you'd think they would let an old man get some rest.

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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[DireRadiant]

"Party Time!" answered Caca

[De Badd Ass]

Ziro, Checking in.

[BlackHat]

Sorry, missed the bit about checking in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Oracle was ready yesterday.

[DireRadiant]

What kind of Oracle didn't know ahead of time to check in?

[dionysus]

Ok, I've posted the IC thread. Who's doing what at the meet? Is there one person negotiating for the group, are you all going in together, etc.

[DireRadiant]

Is it standard to negotiate agency contracts?

Cinzia has base 8 - 11 dice for negotiations

Also of note, since vehicles are mentioned, Cinzia has skillwires and the following activesofts Pilot Ground Craft 1, Pilot Aircraft 1, Pilot Watercraft 1

[dionysus]

Is it standard to negotiate agency contracts?

Not sure, I guess we're setting a precedent.
I would say it's not *standard*, but not disallowed. I.e. if you feel like you're being lowballed, go ahead and talk the J up, but remember that aggressive negotiation might wind up with complaints being sent to the Agency.
Also, it's not just negotiating price, but perhaps there's something the J knows that he/she doesn't want to reveal, but some sweet talking might get it out of them.

Also of note, since vehicles are mentioned, Cinzia has skillwires and the following activesofts Pilot Ground Craft 1, Pilot Aircraft 1, Pilot Watercraft 1

And those may be enough, time will tell.

[ludomastro]

Grandpa has wires as well with a 2 in Ground and Air if I remember correctly. (Work has this thing about wikis for some reason so I can't check right now.)

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I will post IC when I get home. Too much goodness to properly frame a response while here in corpville.

[BlackHat]

Assuming someone has some social skills, Oracle will stand quietly to the side and observe - available for questions if whoever is speaking for us has any questions. Upon entering, he'll assense those in the room.

Intuition 5 + Assensing 4 + Enhanced Perception 4 + Limbic 3 + Qualia 1 =13 dice.

I'll just buy three successes on everyone in the room (Johnson, bodyguards, and the PCs too)

[BlackHat]

Also, since it is going to come up sooner rather than later, when I use precognition, would you like the questions to stick to the form of yes/no questions? The description of the metamagic just says it has to be a question, but all of the examples given are yes/no questions - but it also says that the amount of information gained is based on the net successes, and if the information is basically "yes" or "no" then it doesn't seem to make any sense to have net successes matter.

And, to test the waters, here:

First question (yes/no anyway) "Will this Johnson double-cross us?" (I figure that is always a good one to get out in the open, if it is going to happen.)

Logic 8 + Arcana 7 + Neocortical 3 + PuSHeD 1 + Encephelon 1 + Analytics 4 = 24 dice (20 if analytics doesn't apply here, but it is a logic-based test to decipher something)

Again, I'll just buy 6 (or 5) hits. Which should give me a fairly detailed vision of how our final dealing with this Johnson should go.

[De Badd Ass]

Ok, I've posted the IC thread. Who's doing what at the meet? Is there one person negotiating for the group, are you all going in together, etc.

Ziro will be providing Magical Overwatch, of course. Ziro has a bit of a reputation, and thinks it would be best for him to stay in the background. In fact, he would prefer to attend astrally, if that is appropriate. He'll do whatever the group's negotiator advises on that.

BTW: I updated Ziro's character sheet, and included his reputation stats:

[ Spoiler ]

Total Karma 30
Street Cred: 3
Notoriety: 4
Public Awareness: 2

I found that the wiki would not let me update the attached spreadsheet. Takes an administrator.

[ludomastro]

Grandpa has Charisma 4 + Influence Group 3 = 7 dice for Negociations. I don't think he is our best choice.

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@ dionysus

Grandpa will be wearing his Actioneer Business Suit. He will take up a position on the side of the room actively observing his surroundings and sizing up the bodyguards in case action is needed. If the J didn't specify a weapons policy he will also have his Colt Manhunter loaded with gel rounds. No matter the weapons policy, he will have his monowhip in his fingertip compartment.

[dionysus]

re. weapons: hand-held SA or smaller weapons are permitted.

@DBA: fixed permissions for file operations, give it a go. I have no problem with astral attendance, you'll just have to specify where your meatbody is.

Regarding the maps, here ya go.

[BlackHat]

It sounds liek Cinzia should do any negotiations, if there is to be any. Oracle is fine with accepting the job as it stands, but won't complain if we can get a little more.

[dionysus]

Let's add one more posting style: if you want to communicate privately over your networks (i.e. subvocals or electronic message), put it in chevrons <<like this>>

[ludomastro]

Grandpa is going to take the sideline view again for a minute and actively observe the J and his "escorts". He is looking for any identifying marks, tell-tale signs of hidden weapons, etc. He will also note metatype, apparent age, weight, height, etc.

Intuition (4) + Perception (4) + Specialization: Visual (2) + Actively looking (3) = 13
I will buy 4 successes.

[De Badd Ass]

I have no problem with astral attendance, you'll just have to specify where your meatbody is.

Ziro debates and decides not to put off the inevitable. He will attend the meeting "in the flesh".
Magic + Conjuring + Mentor + Focus [5 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 5 4 1 4 3] = 5 hits
Spirit Resists [6 6 2 3 6 4] = 3 hits
Willpower + Charisma [3 5 3 5 5 5 6 2 1] = 5 hits
Ziro Conjures Force 6 Air Spirit with 2 services. Takes 1 Point of Physical Damage.
Logic -1 + Medkit [4 4 1 2 5 1 3 3 4] = 1 hit.
Ziro heals 1 point of Physical Damage

Astral Perception, outside [Results:1 1 4 2 4 1 2 HITS:0]
Astral Perception, inside [Results:4 4 4 6 3 5 2 HITS:2]

[dionysus]

Ok, seems like everyone (with the possible exception of Ziro) is content with the terms. I'd like to wait and see if Caca has anything to say before we clinch the deal.

[ludomastro]

Assuming it's important, can I get a line on my questions?

[De Badd Ass]

Ok, seems like everyone (with the possible exception of Ziro) is content with the terms.

"What are the terms?", Ziro wants to know.

[dionysus]

@Ziro: Well, so far it's 15k upon delivery, looks like there might be some negotiation from Cinzia. The offer is 15k for the group: if that's too low for you, let Cinzia know IC.

@DireRadiant, how about a negotiation roll?

@Alex:
Both bodyguards are adult trolls, in *very* good health. Pretty run of the mill for 30-something trolls, i.e. tall, wide & built like an APC. There are some not-so-concealed weapons in their jackets: large pistol/light machine gun sized. Experience tells you they've almost certainly got some smaller weapons on their persons (knives and such), but they're too well concealed to see just what and where. If the J is carrying heat, you can't tell. It doesn't seem like it's his style, but stranger things have happened.
Re identifying marks: the Johnson is squeaky clean. If it's a makeup job, it's impenetrable. The bodyguards have evidence of a violent lifestyle: some scars, a broken nose on one of them, dings in the horns, etc. The one to your left is actually missing the last 4 inches of his right horn. No visible tattoos or other markings, but there could very well be something under the business suit. There is one thing: these may be the first troll bodyguards you've ever seen in suits that actually fit well. You grudgingly admit they look pretty sharp.

[DireRadiant]

@DireRadiant, how about a negotiation roll?

Cha 4 + Negotiation 4 + Tailored Pheremones 3
1 2 3 6 6 5 2 1 4 3 1 = 3 hits

[De Badd Ass]

@Ziro: Well, so far it's 15k upon delivery, looks like there might be some negotiation from Cinzia. The offer is 15k for the group: if that's too low for you, let Cinzia know IC.

Out of character: Here are some facts that the Agency's negotiator should know.

Ziro's lifestyle costs 5,000 nuyen/month.
It costs 7,500 nuyen to bind a spirit. (+ possible medical expenses (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

In character: Ziro expects the Agency to understand the economic facts of life. There are two questions, How long is this supposed to be, and what level of effort do they expect Ziro to make. Considering Ziro's past, he would take consider assignment to a low paying job, or a low-ball bid to be a personal message from the Agency to himself.

Of course, if this particular group has never worked together before, then Ziro wouldn't know whether any of the others have been briefed by the Agency on these particular points. I will assume this is the case, and brief Cinzia on fact number two.