Looking to play...or GM... Options

[Penta]

Okay, FYI: BaronKen emailed me, dropping out due to RL.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Puppy sad.

What this means: For sanity's sake, you've still got til 1000 EDT tomorrow to fix your sheets. Additionally, I'll accept new people for reserve slots - essentially, the next person(s) to join will meet up with the team at some future point until we reach 10 people, at which point any newbies stay on reserve until either someone bows out or I figure out a way to run a group of more than 10 without my brain exploding.

[Knight Saber]

Doh, that's right, Karoline. It's my goof - I told Knight Saber I was giving her the flaw at what I thought was the correct BP amount, but did so without checking RC. You get a cookie.

---

With that, I should make a note as to how I interpret that flaw.

Records on File, to me, does not necessarily mean you have derogatory records against you on file. It means that at some point, your real identity went through a security clearance investigation (including the required investigation to enter virtually any first-world military), some kind of reasonably-thorough background check, etc. It also includes, say, service jackets.

I really see this applying if you're formerly attached to a military, particularly if you're formerly-attached to any variety of special operations force (or have been an officer or officer-candidate); They keep tabs on you in a general sense, so they know where to send notices in case of recall (which usually means wartime, to be honest).

I make a note of who the records would be held by. Especially after the Crash of 2029, I don't see records being kept solely in digital form. Governments, militaries in particular, are too conservative for otherwise to be true (and for the CAS and UCAS (taking a leaf from their predecessor states), records storage is governed by extensive regulations basically mandating that the truly important digital files also get kept on paper where it is at all possible, or in copies in off-Matrix storage where it isn't. (This is based on RL government recordkeeping practices, which are scary in their detail and redundancy when applied properly.)).

Fret not: They are unlikely to share their records to any great degree. To pry a service record from the military for example, even a DD214, without the consent of the person being recorded is hard even when you're on the same team. Lord help you if you're another country (or a corp).

And I get 5 more BP to play with... which is both good and bad. That's how I took Records on File to be. A Criminal SIN has records of your crimes and ID, but Records on File has a lot of overall information on you, good, bad and indifferent... medical records, history of movement, a lot about one's work, etc.

I don't have the Runner's Companion... what are the rules about having extra safehouses? Do you just pay for extra Lifestyles in different places? Having a few apartments (and thus addresses) on different islands might be useful.

[Penta]

I think that's the RAW...I'll look, and edit the post if I find differently in RC. *reads*

Yeah. The advanced lifestyle system is fun but more complex than I really want to get into at the start of the game. For now, we'll presume a safehouse is the cost of an additional lifestyle.

[CollateralDynamo]

Multiple lifestyles just are extra costs every month. Starting nuyen is calculated at your highest pre-bought lifestyle before character creation.

[Karoline]

And I get 5 more BP to play with... which is both good and bad. That's how I took Records on File to be. A Criminal SIN has records of your crimes and ID, but Records on File has a lot of overall information on you, good, bad and indifferent... medical records, history of movement, a lot about one's work, etc.

I don't have the Runner's Companion... what are the rules about having extra safehouses? Do you just pay for extra Lifestyles in different places? Having a few apartments (and thus addresses) on different islands might be useful.

Yep, that's basically how you do other safehouses. RC has rules for splitting up the lifestyle, but Penta said he wasn't using them anyway. Some low low lifestyles make for decent safehouses. Maybe Penta will give you a discount since you won't need food/trid/matrix access or many of those other things when your not actually there.

[Marwynn]

I vote Invisible Castle as well for dice rolls. Great site, useful roller too. Rolling 4 dice for example and you can type 4d6.hits(5) and it'll show the individual rolls and sum up the results that are 5 or higher.

Question: Which area would you guys like to be Warded? I don't think Iago's the only awakened character here, so we can ward multiple spots perhaps. The Bridge would be my bet.

[Karoline]

I vote Invisible Castle as well for dice rolls. Great site, useful roller too. Rolling 4 dice for example and you can type 4d6.hits(5) and it'll show the individual rolls and sum up the results that are 5 or higher.

Question: Which area would you guys like to be Warded? I don't think Iago's the only awakened character here, so we can ward multiple spots perhaps. The Bridge would be my bet.

I agree with Invisible Castle. I've used it before and it seems to work quite well.

As for the warding... can't you ward the entire ship? I didn't think it was exceptionally difficult to do so, but I haven't looked over the magic rules in ages.

[Penta]

Um, you can't ward a mobile object, I believe. A ward is a fixed point in space.

[Karoline]

Um, you can't ward a mobile object, I believe. A ward is a fixed point in space.

He's right. The ward can't move (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Edit: This seems to apply to lodges as well, though it is much less specific as to if the lodge moving through space is possible or not. It does say it isn't portable and can't be carried around, but that seemed to be talking about carrying the stuff in your pocket, not necessarily if the lodge was built in something that moved.

[Marwynn]

I was under the impression that you can't move the actual ward location by moving the anchor. The anchor can't be moved in relation to the ward, but since the ward is applied to the walls (or hull) of the ship I thought it was okay.

I got 250 cubic metres of wardspace apparently.

[Karoline]

No, it is saying that the anchor can't be moved more than a few cm from its original position though space, so it can't be placed on a car for example. It should be noted that this could allow for some interesting use of an earthquake to launch a magic attack because the quake might break the ward.

Edit: Also 250 cubic meters of ward space is cool but less impressive than it sounds. The boat is 60 meters long, and 12 meters wide. That means you could only cover about 1/3rd of a meter in height of the ship per warding. Given that the ship is at least... I don't know like 12 meters tall, it would take something like 36 wardings (Maybe less since it gets smaller near the bottom and top).

[MusicMan]

OTOH, since we'll be moving around alot, it'll be harder for our opponent's to scry on us and find us anyways... won't it? My SR Magic-fu is weak...

[Knight Saber]

Says here (SR4A p. 194) that "A basic ward must be placed on a non-living thing and must posses a physical anchor. The anchor cannot be be moved in relation to the ward." (Emphasis mine). A ward anchor on a ship wouldn't be moving in relation to the ship, so it's feasible.

That said, the engine room would take priority over the bridge. With a rigger and a skinlink, the ship can be operated from anywhere.

I've edited my sheet for the +5 BP... 1 point to get Medium Lifestyle, 2 on an automatics specialty and 2 bumping up contact ratings.

[Penta]

Thanks, Knight Saber.

Before I post, some brief thoughts:

1. I'm *considering* house-ruling a mechanical bonus to operating from the bridge/engine room, rather than everybody holing up in their quarters and just rigging the ship from bed. Maybe instead of a bonus to operating from those spaces, a penalty for operating from elsewhere. Then again, maybe not, but I want to encourage "traditional" modes of operating, even if in theory you can rig from bed. It makes for better RP.
2. Because the desc for Enhanced Imaging Screens seems to suggest that the screens work only in a small space, I'm figuring that on a ship, the most logical place for that is the bridge.

Thoughts in reply?

[budoka05]

Absolutely, screens on the bridge.

[Karoline]

Thanks, Knight Saber.

Before I post, some brief thoughts:

1. I'm *considering* house-ruling a mechanical bonus to operating from the bridge/engine room, rather than everybody holing up in their quarters and just rigging the ship from bed. Maybe instead of a bonus to operating from those spaces, a penalty for operating from elsewhere. Then again, maybe not, but I want to encourage "traditional" modes of operating, even if in theory you can rig from bed. It makes for better RP.
2. Because the desc for Enhanced Imaging Screens seems to suggest that the screens work only in a small space, I'm figuring that on a ship, the most logical place for that is the bridge.

Thoughts in reply?

1. I totally want to rig the boat from my bed now.

2. My personal interpretation was that it made all the windows of the vehicle able to do this. I figured that would include the bridge (of course) as well as things like the portholes that might be in quarters, and windows in the other areas. I'd been hoping to be able to use it to make the ship look inhabited while we stowed away on our smaller boat, or all in one area for a surprise attack/defense.

Part of my reasoning for this is that the price was based on body, and the book gave specific mention of being able to make the vehicle look empty when it was not and inhabited when it was, which I would think would require the use of the side and back windows as well as just the front.

[Penta]

Okay, good point, I missed the point of price being based on body.

[MusicMan]

So, when are we starting the game?

[Karoline]

So, when are we starting the game?

Ummm... we have started? You've even posted...

[MusicMan]

We have!?!?!?!?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[Karoline]

We have!?!?!?!?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?showtopic=28191

Isn't that you on post #15?

Edit: And 24? ...and 29? Are we dealing with a clone? Digital doppleganger?

[MusicMan]

Don't let them fool you, those threads were started by biogenetically engineered super-clones of us. They are going to secretly subvert SR4 into their own version of SR5 which will use the same class/power system taken from DnD 4E.

DON'T LET THEM RUIN SR4!!!! FOR THE CHILDREN!!!!! FOR PONY!!!!!

[Penta]

*sighs, pulls out the tranquilizers, injects MM with them* Enough insanity for one day.

[MusicMan]

What what? I don't get SnS? Wow... I'm not trying hard enough.