Online Shadowrun 4th game, Street Level, Options

[PirateChef]

I'm going to be starting a weekly Shadowrun 4th edition game to be run online using the OpenRPG program (www.openrpg.com) So far it looks like the game is going to be in the evening, CST, though the actual night is still up for debate.

The game will take place in Seattle, for the most part, and will start with the pc's as new shadowrunners trying to make their way up in the world. Post here if anyone is interested.

[bloodychill]

I've never used OpenRPG but I'll take a look at it and see if it's something I'd willing to try.

[Backgammon]

I'm interested, but I can probably only manage once, maybe twice a month... Let me know if that'd be alright with you.

[Starmage21]

A night still has to be picked for the game. Until that happens I cant give a definite yes. Suffice to say: Im interested.


I'm available Sunday through Thursday Evenings.

[Scarecrow237]

You can count me interested too. I, too, am new to OpenRPG, and my availability isn't the best, but here goes: Tuesday through Friday free, free on occasional Saturdays, but not all of them. Sundays Free.

[spazz451]

I might be interested. Partially depends on if I end up getting a local group going.
Currently I have all nights except Mondays or Thursdays available.
I've only played 3rd ed for around half a year about 5 years ago, so I'm a bit rusty, but I have been reading up on the 4th ed book lately and can normally pick gaming systems up decently quick.
Let me know if you get things rolling.

[PirateChef]

Right now I am strongly considering Sunday nights. I am thinking of running the game as partial play by post / partial openrpg with most of the legwork / details being taken care of on the forums, and actual runs and meetings being done via openrpg. That way it will be much easier to do a mission per week type play to allow for better flexibility.

[Dire-GM]

Definitely interested.

I played a lot of SR when it first came out but haven't played any in over a decade. The recent release of the SR 4A not only attracted my attention but it also re-ignited my interest in the game, in a big way. Open-RPG / PBP / or even Skype would be great!

[PirateChef]

OKay, there seems to be enough interest, so let's start getting things laid out.

Game will be Sunday nights at 7pm EST / 6pm CST, via OpenRPG. Post here if you want in and I'll add you to the list of players. I would like a group of between 3 and 7 players.

Characters will be 400 BP, RAW characters, and anything not in the core book will have to be approved (Generally, gear / magic from the other books will be okayed as long as it fits under starting availability, while races will not be) I don't plan on using any house rules, unless someone points out something that is incredibly overpowered.

As far as backgrounds, most things are acceptable, but I do want the group to be new shadowrunners. This might not be your first run, but it's definitely one of the first.

[spazz451]

That time works for me.

I've only played a 3rd ed rigger about 5 yrs ago, so I don't have a specific built in mind. I tend to like stealthy characters. Perhaps a face, sniper, adept, or cyberwared meleer/gunbunnie. Do others have a preferance? Are others interested in a group building for living space? Would be nice if we are attacked off-mission. Also would give us space for mechanical work, space to care for the injured, and all that jazz, and it's probably easier to fortify one space as opposed to each residence personally.

How much non-running stuff do we need to take care of? Do we need to specify our living space, with any modifications? Are you opposed to a group residence?

[Lando]

Characters will be 400 BP, RAW characters, and anything not in the core book will have to be approved (Generally, gear / magic from the other books will be okayed as long as it fits under starting availability, while races will not be) I don't plan on using any house rules, unless someone points out something that is incredibly overpowered..

I'm game and would like to make use of some additional gear/cyber/weapons from some supplements. If you don't already have a street samurai/merc/weapon master type I'd like to apply for that position.

Can we get additional points by taking Flaws and the like?

Books I'll likely make use of
Core
Arsenal
Augmentation
Runner's Companion

[Zenyen]

I'd like to play as more of a Cyber Samurai with Decker secondary.

[PirateChef]

Spazz451 - I like the idea of a group HQ of some sort, but it would be better to establish things like that in the course of the game, once everyone gets a feel for their needs. I also recommend everyone have a separate spot, in case. As far as your lifestyle and whatnot that's non running stuff, I would like it if everyone had a decent amount laid out, though you can go with the minimum of just buying your desired lifestyle and saying it's an apartment somewhere. I think it adds a lot of flavor to a character if they have some things going on outside of running, though again that can be fleshed out in game.

Lando - I've got all of the books you mentioned, and most of the gear in them will be fine, as long as you stay under starting availability. Flaws can be taken, again pending GM approval. I know there are a few cheesy ones out there that I would rather avoid / know about so I can actually use them against you so you earn those points.

Zenyen - Shouldn't be a problem, as most hackers in 4th have to have a good bit of Samurai going on to be able to hang with the group (though the term decker is rarely used anymore, what with cyberdecks being obsolete)

Characters So Far:

1. Spazz451 - Stealth based, possibly a face
2. Lando - Street samurai/merc/weapon master type
3. Zenyen - Cybered / Hacker
4. - ?
5. - ?
6. - ?

I would like to have characters pregenned by this coming Sunday, so we can go ahead and get started. I'm available most nights, and will probably hold a char creation session at some point, maybe Friday, if anyone needs some help.

[Zenyen]

Good to hear I can play. As a follow-up, can we use Advantages AND Flaws or only Flaws?

[PirateChef]

Both, with approval.

[Zenyen]

My character is finished but I used qualities so your approval is required. My character sheet is in OpenRPG format so could I meet you on OpenRPG sometime before Sunday to send it to you?

[Card]

If you're still taking players, I'd love to sign on. It'll be my first time with OpenRPG, and I admit I'm still fairly new to SR.

Thinking about a magician character-- Wouldn't mind a little char creation session to help me wade through options. Could do afternoon/evening today, if that's still possibly happening.

[PirateChef]

I'll be on OpenRPG at around 5 pm CST, on the VEAV 1 server. I'll start up a room, doing character generation for this game and a Deadlands I will be running if I can get any players (unrelated). If anyone wants help with character creation, help getting used to OpenRPG, or just to chat about the game, feel free to drop in and say hello.

Characters thus far:

1. Spazz451 - Stealth based, possibly a face
2. Lando - Street samurai/merc/weapon master type
3. Zenyen - Cybered / Hacker
4. Card - Magician type
5. - ?
6. - ?

[spazz451]

PirateChef, is it possible that we (or some of us) know each other before starting? I am thinking in terms of being able to share contacts and possibly a lifestyle (as I understand it lifestyle doesn't have a BP, but you have to be able to pay for it and I'll need to bring in good money to pay for a face's lifestyle AND get my gear up to snuff). Trying to cover infiltration, investigation, and negotiation while still being able to do SOMETHING in combat turns out to be very taxing.

As it is looking, I'll be able to do it all, but not necessarily all that well - having about 5 in the stats I really need (otherwise 2s, being elf helps), and several points in the bare necessary skills. It gives me plenty of knowledge skills, but not much left for contacts and resources (having 3 decent connections leave next to nothing for gear or cyber).

Perhaps you or another player could look some things over and provide some advice? Or simply confirm that is pretty much the power level of starting characters? I know we aren't supposed to be great, but I also don't want to get into the first firefight and go down or simply be stuck hiding under boxes. I think it'll be fun, just not as much if they track us down by the wide blood trail I'm leaving.

I haven't played much, so I'm not real sure about the power level of most starting characters but I'm trying to make sure I'm not ending up too generalized. From what it seems, it's better off to be specialized in terms of spending karma later on.

Also a point of interest, is anyone picking up some form or healing? Or is the basic method patches and a first-aid kit?
And since it does not look like we have a rigger, is anyone planning on getting a vehicle to get to & from runs? I'd like to eventually get one, but with my character build I don't be affording one.

Oh, I thought of one other question. How is 'starting money' that we get from lifestyle handled? Are we taking the avg (3/4/3/4...) or rolling when we get together? Can we have already spent that money on something or do we have to wait till in game and take the time to tract items down/get surgery for implants?

[PirateChef]

PirateChef, is it possible that we (or some of us) know each other before starting? I am thinking in terms of being able to share contacts and possibly a lifestyle (as I understand it lifestyle doesn't have a BP, but you have to be able to pay for it and I'll need to bring in good money to pay for a face's lifestyle AND get my gear up to snuff). Trying to cover infiltration, investigation, and negotiation while still being able to do SOMETHING in combat turns out to be very taxing.

As it is looking, I'll be able to do it all, but not necessarily all that well - having about 5 in the stats I really need (otherwise 2s, being elf helps), and several points in the bare necessary skills. It gives me plenty of knowledge skills, but not much left for contacts and resources (having 3 decent connections leave next to nothing for gear or cyber).

Perhaps you or another player could look some things over and provide some advice? Or simply confirm that is pretty much the power level of starting characters? I know we aren't supposed to be great, but I also don't want to get into the first firefight and go down or simply be stuck hiding under boxes. I think it'll be fun, just not as much if they track us down by the wide blood trail I'm leaving.

I haven't played much, so I'm not real sure about the power level of most starting characters but I'm trying to make sure I'm not ending up too generalized. From what it seems, it's better off to be specialized in terms of spending karma later on.

Also a point of interest, is anyone picking up some form or healing? Or is the basic method patches and a first-aid kit?

It's up to you if any (or all) of you know each other before game starts, that's somehting you'd have to discuss with the other players, but I don't have anything against it.

As far as stats and skills go, most characters start with about a 3 or 4 in the important attributes, 2 or 3 in the less important ones. And with 4 being the cap on most skills, you can usually work it out, especially if you take advantage of skill groups. Even if you max out the 200 Bp limit for attributes, and take the maximum money amount (50 BP), and being an elf (25 BP) you're left with 125BP, which can get you 2 skill groups at 4 (or 20 total skill points), and 6 Connection 2 Loyalty 2 contacts. Then you can take a few negative qualities, to pay for positive one or to get more skills, or rearrange the skill / contact expenditures.

You won't start out the best at anything, but you'd defnitely be able to get around, and you can always build up from there. If you want you can drop by the room this afternoon / evening and we can work it all up there.

Healing - We have a magician coming aboard, but it's up to him if he plans to take any sort of healing abilities, and you can always use a few patches to set everything right.

[Card]

I am planning on having some healing abilities, but if someone has the BP for some first aid points, that might be a good idea. You know, for if I get shot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Argentis]

Hi, I'm interested in playing, but I'm not 100% sure if I'm available Sunday nights. As for a character, I'm thinking about that too. I'll post again when I have a character concept figured out. Is there anything the group would need? I've only played a mage many years ago in 3rd, so I'm happy to play another mage, but not sure if that's overkill since there's already one in the group. I'm curious about riggers, but don't really know much about them. Heck I'd even be happy playing a chromed-up gun junkie.


Let me know,
Argentis

[PirateChef]

Hi, I'm interested in playing, but I'm not 100% sure if I'm available Sunday nights. As for a character, I'm thinking about that too. I'll post again when I have a character concept figured out. Is there anything the group would need? I've only played a mage many years ago in 3rd, so I'm happy to play another mage, but not sure if that's overkill since there's already one in the group. I'm curious about riggers, but don't really know much about them. Heck I'd even be happy playing a chromed-up gun junkie.


Let me know,
Argentis

Having two magically active people in a group isn't a bad thing. As far as riggers go, in 4th Edition they are basically hackers with a specialized gear and skillsets. There is no VCR anymore, so they have a lot more room for cyber improvement, and can make use of some of the same skills hackers do to take over other riggers drones and such.

Let me know when you know if Sundays work for you and I'll add you to the list

[Zenyen]

PirateChef, is it possible that we (or some of us) know each other before starting? I am thinking in terms of being able to share contacts and possibly a lifestyle (as I understand it lifestyle doesn't have a BP, but you have to be able to pay for it and I'll need to bring in good money to pay for a face's lifestyle AND get my gear up to snuff). Trying to cover infiltration, investigation, and negotiation while still being able to do SOMETHING in combat turns out to be very taxing.

As it is looking, I'll be able to do it all, but not necessarily all that well - having about 5 in the stats I really need (otherwise 2s, being elf helps), and several points in the bare necessary skills. It gives me plenty of knowledge skills, but not much left for contacts and resources (having 3 decent connections leave next to nothing for gear or cyber).

Perhaps you or another player could look some things over and provide some advice? Or simply confirm that is pretty much the power level of starting characters? I know we aren't supposed to be great, but I also don't want to get into the first firefight and go down or simply be stuck hiding under boxes. I think it'll be fun, just not as much if they track us down by the wide blood trail I'm leaving.

I haven't played much, so I'm not real sure about the power level of most starting characters but I'm trying to make sure I'm not ending up too generalized. From what it seems, it's better off to be specialized in terms of spending karma later on.

Also a point of interest, is anyone picking up some form or healing? Or is the basic method patches and a first-aid kit?
And since it does not look like we have a rigger, is anyone planning on getting a vehicle to get to & from runs? I'd like to eventually get one, but with my character build I don't be affording one.

Oh, I thought of one other question. How is 'starting money' that we get from lifestyle handled? Are we taking the avg (3/4/3/4...) or rolling when we get together? Can we have already spent that money on something or do we have to wait till in game and take the time to tract items down/get surgery for implants?

Look into bioware/cyberware to augment weaker stats while you beef up other stats. I'm a hacker and shooter and I did fairly well in excelling at both through augmentations. Also, it would be a good idea to sift through the general shadowrun forum for ideas and suggestions. There are a lot of experts there that have good advice to share.

One main suggestion is the use of emotionsoft to boost your social skills. It's a new thing in Arsenal that is fairly cheap but very effective.
Another is focusing in one firearm skill, specializing in it and then getting some agility boosting bioware to offset your deficiency in agility. Of course this requires some explaining in the background, but it's definitely doable and surprisingly cheap.

[PirateChef]

I've got a room open on the Mayhem Server

Room: Shadowrun 4 / Deadlands Recruitment & Character Creation

I'm going to be afk until around 5pm CST though, but feel free to drop by.