PC addicted to tempo (SPOILERS)

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PC addicted to tempo (SPOILERS), Help! One of my PCs is addicted!

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The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 12:11 AM Post #1
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	DON'T READ THIS THREAD IF YOU ARE PLAYING GHOST CARTELS!!! [ Spoiler ] Ok, I am running Ghost Cartels and we're about halfway through 'Dirty Pretty Money' and my PCs in trying to decide to fabricate evidence endicting Evan Goldman, they decide to get the PC spy to disguise himself as Goldman. In addition, they basically hack both Goldman's car and his wife's (gaining full Admin on both and backdooring the cars). Disguised as Goldman and using his car at night (when Goldman is asleep) they go to a dodgy, illegal Russian brothel (owned by one of their contacts). Getting access to surveillance footage and cameras he's carrying, they decide they are going to create a homemade video of 'Goldman' having sex with an illegal Russian immigrant hooker (who also happens to be 16). At which point, 'Goldman' thinks to himself "Hang on - I have a LOT of drugs on me. How can I make this video more damning?" So he pulls out a tab of tempo - one for him and one for the girl. Long story short - 'Goldman' makes a VERY convincing selfmade porno video (he's a mundane cyber-freak experiencing his first astral jaunt while getting his rocks off, experiencing a feedback loop off her tempo high). I get the PC to make an Addiction test. Passes physical test, fails mental test. I decide the intensity of the experience is enough to warrant an Addiction (Mild) to Tempo. I read out the description of Addiction (Mild) and the player says to me "Ah, well, that doesn't sound too bad." I didn't say anything to him about the downsides obviously. My question now is this - now the PC is addicted, how/where/when do I decide when the other side effects come in? There are no mechanics covering this. I'm trying to work out if my PC will experience a moment like Haze did (I think it would e fantastic to throw that one out there). I'm also keen to hear how other GMs handled this as I am sure other GMs encountered this dilemma. - J.

Tymeaus Jalynsfe... Tymeaus Jalynsfein View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 12:51 AM Post #2
Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022	QUOTE (The Jake @ Oct 23 2009, 06:11 PM) DON'T READ THIS THREAD IF YOU ARE PLAYING GHOST CARTELS!!! [ Spoiler ] Ok, I am running Ghost Cartels and we're about halfway through 'Dirty Pretty Money' and my PCs in trying to decide to fabricate evidence endicting Evan Goldman, they decide to get the PC spy to disguise himself as Goldman. In addition, they basically hack both Goldman's car and his wife's (gaining full Admin on both and backdooring the cars). Disguised as Goldman and using his car at night (when Goldman is asleep) they go to a dodgy, illegal Russian brothel (owned by one of their contacts). Getting access to surveillance footage and cameras he's carrying, they decide they are going to create a homemade video of 'Goldman' having sex with an illegal Russian immigrant hooker (who also happens to be 16). At which point, 'Goldman' thinks to himself "Hang on - I have a LOT of drugs on me. How can I make this video more damning?" So he pulls out a tab of tempo - one for him and one for the girl. Long story short - 'Goldman' makes a VERY convincing selfmade porno video (he's a mundane cyber-freak experiencing his first astral jaunt while getting his rocks off, experiencing a feedback loop off her tempo high). I get the PC to make an Addiction test. Passes physical test, fails mental test. I decide the intensity of the experience is enough to warrant an Addiction (Mild) to Tempo. I read out the description of Addiction (Mild) and the player says to me "Ah, well, that doesn't sound too bad." I didn't say anything to him about the downsides obviously. My question now is this - now the PC is addicted, how/where/when do I decide when the other side effects come in? There are no mechanics covering this. I'm trying to work out if my PC will experience a moment like Haze did (I think it would e fantastic to throw that one out there). I'm also keen to hear how other GMs handled this as I am sure other GMs encountered this dilemma. - J. Not knowing what Tempo is, WHat are the Downsides other than the Addiction itself? Keep the Faith

The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 12:58 AM Post #3
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	Have you played or are you intending on playing in Ghost Cartels? Don't want to spoil it if you intend on doing either. - J.

Tymeaus Jalynsfe... Tymeaus Jalynsfein View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 01:47 AM Post #4
Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022	QUOTE (The Jake @ Oct 23 2009, 06:58 PM) Have you played or are you intending on playing in Ghost Cartels? Don't want to spoil it if you intend on doing either. - J. Not sure... the GM has made some noises about Ghost Cartels, but we are currently pretty deeply enmeshed in Emergence for the forseeable future... Keep the Faith

Backgammon View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 02:38 AM Post #5
Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600	[ Spoiler ] Well, the possessions only start occuring later. I always thought that you need to be using a lot for you to be a good conduit. Plus, it's not like the spirits have time to possess everyone - only a small fraction of people were being used as meat condoms. So I wouldn't do anything at all at first, for a while, and only later could you start thinking about messing with the character's head. I'd make it coincide with something else, like a mage the team just met, make it seem like he's being used by him or something have them go up in arms against people that have nothing to do with this, or whatever. You don't them to think it's tempo making him get possessed.

The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 04:27 AM Post #6
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	Backgammon - [ Spoiler ] The rub is that ANYONE using tempo can be used. One time, several times, whatever - at least that was my reading of it. Although principally I would agree with you that it would require someone who is a regular user to experience these symptoms. Haze was already a habitual user before the incident. Tymeus, sorry mate - I won't spoil it for you. I'd recommend you avoid the thread as it WILL spoil the game for you - if you ever decide to play it. - J.

Degausser View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 05:04 AM Post #7
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 380 Joined: 19-May 07 Member No.: 11,698	Without SPOILING ANYTHING, The addiction that comes from ghost cartels doesn't give the player BP, so kicking the habit is not as hard as kicking a habit from the BPs at character creation (at least, I would rule that). I would rule that, if the person makes it through the campaign without killing themselves from an overdose, that they would suffer the withrawl symptoms from their level of addiction for a while, then be over it. The duration of the withdrawl should be inconvenient, but not debilitating. Off the top of my head: Mild:2 weeks Moderate: 3 Weeks Severe: 4 weeks Burnout: 6 weeks. If ever introduced to Tempo again, they would get the addiction again but . . . well it would fall into the category of spoilers so I'll say no more. [ Spoiler ] The "other" effects of temp don't kick in until the person has a burnout addition, I believe. I think it says that somewhere in the book.

The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 06:12 AM Post #8
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	Degausser/Backgammon - You two are correct. See p. 59 [ Spoiler ] "Hardcore addicts and abusers can accrue additional long term secondary eff ects such as fugue states (lost time and memory), some trance-like or mesmerized states, and temporary personality changes ranging from mild to radical. Gamemasters should refer to The Secret of Tempo, p. 133, for further information on these secondary effects." Thanks for the clarification guys. Does anyone know what happens to KondOrchid after the events of GC? I have it on good authority that RAM is acquired by Aztechnology but it is hinted that they are also acquired by Aztechnology (see Glasswalker's comments, p. 44). Does that sound right? - J.

Backgammon View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 08:34 PM Post #9
Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600	I don't believe there's any further material on KonOrchid's fate. I would assume various parts of its operations get bought up by other corps here and there. Why are you asking? Something specific in mind?

The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 24 2009, 10:04 PM Post #10
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	QUOTE (Backgammon @ Oct 24 2009, 09:34 PM) I don't believe there's any further material on KonOrchid's fate. I would assume various parts of its operations get bought up by other corps here and there. Why are you asking? Something specific in mind? My PCs are looking to build up their arms dealing business. They're in the middle of growing out their small arms dealing operation across North America, with a contact in an A rated medical company and they've already mentioned they'd like to grow it to AA status to claim exterritorality if they can. It's all speculation and wishful thinking at this point but if they even have a whiff of being able to buy off sections of it, I'm sure they would try. - J.

Tymeaus Jalynsfe... Tymeaus Jalynsfein View Member Profile	Oct 25 2009, 12:06 AM Post #11
Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022	QUOTE (The Jake @ Oct 24 2009, 03:04 PM) My PCs are looking to build up their arms dealing business. They're in the middle of growing out their small arms dealing operation across North America, with a contact in an A rated medical company and they've already mentioned they'd like to grow it to AA status to claim exterritorality if they can. It's all speculation and wishful thinking at this point but if they even have a whiff of being able to buy off sections of it, I'm sure they would try. - J. That is pretty ambitious... tell them Good Luck, and let us know how it works out for 'em... Keep the Faith

Backgammon View Member Profile	Oct 25 2009, 03:12 PM Post #12
Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600	How the hell can a handful of criminal guys make an A corp, much less a AA? Assuming they could, why the fuck are they shadowrunning? Their multi-million salaries not enough?

The Jake View Member Profile	Oct 27 2009, 11:22 PM Post #13
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	QUOTE (Backgammon @ Oct 25 2009, 03:12 PM) How the hell can a handful of criminal guys make an A corp, much less a AA? Assuming they could, why the fuck are they shadowrunning? Their multi-million salaries not enough? Yeah, well, so far they haven't. Its all a pipe dream atm. They think they can do it. So I let them dream. To put it in perspective, their company has a single base of operations in Seattle and starting to set up shop in New Orleans and trying to figure out how they can ship in stuff from New Orleans (cross international borders). That's it. They're leveraging off an A-rated medical company who is also doing dodgy deals and willing to throw them cash under the table to help make it happen and use their shipping routes/channels where they can. And you are dead on correct however. Even if they somehow achieve that, running would become largely redundant. If it ever gets to a point they are making that much money off their arms sales (atm I'm liberally applying Blackjack's Law of Money so its kinda moot), it would either change the tone of the campaign dramatically or I would pretty much end it there. - J.

nylanfs View Member Profile	Oct 27 2009, 11:32 PM Post #14
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 366 Joined: 10-November 08 Member No.: 16,576	You know what would be fun, if they get to that level. Say that you would like to take a break from the high-powered group for a while and have everyone make new runners, then have the new runners make some runs on the up and coming corp for their rivals. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Hopefully you can do it suble enough that they don't realise what they are doing at first and then start switching back between the groups and make them play against them selves. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ascalaphus View Member Profile	Nov 2 2009, 12:00 PM Post #15
Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,899 Joined: 29-October 09 From: Leiden, the Netherlands Member No.: 17,814	Well, there are some NPC former shadowrunners in several AAA corps, even as shareholders.. I'd say that for powerful runners, getting a chuck of a Mega could be doable. Blackmail the right person, edit some last testament and will disposition of shares, or profit from "Dunkelzahn 2"... (Of course, people will be pissed off. Survival isn't assured.)

The Jake View Member Profile	Nov 3 2009, 02:39 AM Post #16
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872	I have more than a few plot hooks in mind for these characters and their arms dealing business. I have no shortage of ideas there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Just because they have an arms dealing business NOW doesn't mean they will be able to hold onto it forever. They're also very conscious of that the more of the business they control, the more of a target is painted on their heads. - J.

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