GI: Chicago, City of Glows, Bugs, Ghouls, and the Mafia! What fun! Options

[CollateralDynamo]

Hey fellow DSFers,

I'm a vet of SR3 & 4 and have been running Shadowrun games in the flesh for the past five or so years. Recently however, my face to face Shadowrun opportunities have been drying up so I've turned to Dumpshock here to fill the void. I have only ever run one forum game in the past, and that didn't go so well because I tried to go too big too fast with a different rule set I wasn't familiar with. But I wish to try again with something I am much more comfortable with. So I am here to gauge if there would be any interest in the type of game I would like to run. Here are the details:

Setting: Chicago 2072
Players: 3 - 5 dedicated players (ideally people who can commit to posting daily, but semi-daily also acceptable)
Feel: I tend to run games more mirror-shade/trench-coat then pink mohawk. That said, I have nothing against the slightly more over the top style of play. Pink mohawk certainly has a place within the Chicago CZ, and it certainly doesn't have a place in most of the surrounding areas. I hope to make a game that feels gritty and emphasizes the disparity between inside the CZ and out. I hope to keep things dark, but humorous. If I'm not laughing when I'm writing your runs, I'm probably focused on killing you, and that is no fun for anyone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Rules for Char Gen:
400 point Build Point system (no Karma-Gen, don't ask), give me a fully fleshed out character and we can talk about upping the points here or there
SR4A Ruleset
All books from that edition acceptable
No martial arts optional rules, I don't like them, sorry, find a different way to get free dice (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Note: Make sure your character concept is capable of surviving both in the harsh realities of the CZ and the upper-middle class world surrounding it.

So, anyone interested? If you are interested in playing please reply in thread with: basic character concept, what you would expect to see out of the campaign, and how often you think you can post. Thanks again! Hope to see you in the world!

Collateral Dynamo, Loyal Citizen of Bug City

[crizh]

400BP in the CZ might be a bit harsh but I'd be willing to give some sort of Combat Mage a go.

If nothing else the characters are fun to build.

[SincereAgape]

This sounds fun. Put me down for as interested.

Used to live in Chicago, and I love playing in areas that are somewhat familiar.

Thinking about playing a Ork or Dwarf mercenary. Mundane.

For what I am looking for out of the game. A military/mercenary like story. But for the most part open to anything.

[CollateralDynamo]

I think 400 BPs can build some pretty rough and tumble characters. Just because the campaign will take place in and around Chicago doesn't mean I'm going to be beating you guys with the Bug Spirit stick, especially not at first. I think I usually do well at scaling threats to meet the party level, that said, you go spelunking in the Cermak crater when that isn't even remotely your mission, yeah you might want to wear insect repellent. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm envisioning that early on you will have a lot of relationship with the local underworld as well as higher contact to ghouls then one would normally expect. No, I'm not saying "be paranoid about contracting VITAS". What I am saying is that you guys are going to be runners, and you'll be working for many and varied parties...at least at first.

[crizh]

I was actually thinking of playing a Ghoul. I was going to take Infertile Infected to be on the safe side but I figured that if there was ever anywhere that it would be reasonable to play a ghoul it was Chicago.

[CollateralDynamo]

I thought someone might want to go the ghoul route. As long as you are infertile I'll allow it, just know that I won't be pulling any punches on the social stigmas. It could be a lot of fun to play as an intelligent and perhaps (shock!) well meaning ghoul. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[DigitalOYABUN]

Might be a good place for a drone rigger or a gunslinger adept.

edit: looking more towards gunslinger, I'm showing my age now but Chi-town reminds me of 'Cyborg' the Van Damme movie in the 80's.

[DigitalOYABUN]

As I'm going about the concept in my mind, I'm thinking more along the lines of an Adept, that has alot in common with the description of the Bountyhunter archtype in the book. A rugged survivalist that actually does okay in the area, as he's adapted by taking a few bits of training in enchanting to do some small talislegging....also to find and harvest the Chicago Grey he may happen upon, as well as any para-animals he runs afoul, or traps.

[CollateralDynamo]

Sounds like an interesting concept Oyabun. Should work. It sounds like Oyabun and Agape are both looking to play muscle type characters. Not sure what Crizh is looking at other then "ghoul". I haven't worked out exact missions or anything, so I will try to play to your team's strengths. That said...if you have absolutely no magic or tech or social skill support...you will likely face some difficulties.

[DigitalOYABUN]

To be fair mine isnt all muscle, but is outdoor'sy, and he'll have some magical knowledge ie Parabiology and Parazoology (kind of like having a wilderness guide for the area around)

and I call the dreadlock and lined coat look!

[crizh]

I'm thinking of a combat mage archetype but with a couple of twists.

I'm looking a using SURGE to make a kind of Lacedon with Gills and Underwater Vision and using Hedge Witchcraft as a tradition with Dark Goddess as my Mentor Spirit.

I'm still tweaking the basic concept, trying to improve my skill base.

edit - I'm not liking Hedge Witchcraft, I'm having trouble reconciling it with character background. I might go with something else, perhaps Psionic, not sure.

[CollateralDynamo]

Alright, I am liking the sound of this team. Should be....unique. I'll be busy this weekend, but the sooner you guys can start getting characters in to me, the better. And like I alluded to above, if you have a really good back story and need a couple more BPs to flesh out an idea, we can discuss it.

PM me when you are ready to show off your char sheet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[DigitalOYABUN]

Okay, with the nature of it being a Feral City, do we have the option of anything higher than squatter for lifestyle? Possibly low, similar to the place Vin Diesel lives in the beginning of Babylon AD?

Now my next question, parts of the city are grown over like in 'I am legend' ?

I know I keep with the film/visual references, but they help me immensely in figuring things out.

[Red-ROM]

I've never played in Chicago(believe it or not). I'd like to try it. I have a rough Idea for a skill monkey character. hacking/weapon specialist hybrid. maybe explosives guy if I can squeeze it in..

edit: on the posting rate. I usually post everyday. I'm in 2 other games, one seems to be moving very, very, slowly(am I right Crizh?) so I think I'll still be doing 2 games essentially, which hasn't been a problem.

[DigitalOYABUN]

Question, does the strength added from Power Throw adept power factor into the trip/knockdown of a Bola? Bola states: half strength plus net hits versus targets body for a knockdown. Seeing if its worth the points in learning, might be a good thing for a 'bounty hunter' type.

[CollateralDynamo]

All right, I'm back from the weekend, here to respond to all your questions:

DigitalOYABUN: Lifestyle: you can have any lifestyle you want. If you live WITHIN the CZ (which stands for Containment Zone if anyone didn't know) , then you would probably be stuck with something on the low to street end of things. However, most of your employers, and indeed most sane people, live in the surrounding Chicago sprawl. These areas weren't hit particularly hard by the blast, although they did have to deal with a few waves of refugees.

If you've lived in Chicago you know how much that city just sprawls out and out in the present day, in the Shadowrun Universe this has increased substantially. With the loss of the downtown and South-side areas of the city, the Northside, and the Naperville-Bolingbrook conglomerate have expanded quite a bit. These regions include most of the business in the region now, and include the presence of near every megacorp. Unlike Seattle, there is no longer any real "downtown" due to its destruction, instead there is simply a large ring of middle class areas. Of course, if you look you can find gated communities on the west side, and refugee slums that haven't been cleaned up yet up North.

City Overgrown: When the blast occurred and bugs began flooding into the city, Ares was there with security forces in an astonishingly short amount of time. Along with the UCAS military it was decided that, in order to stem the tide of bug spirits, everyone would need to be sealed in. Thus, only the people that escaped the area in a matter of hours or through some cunning other means actually left. Many were trapped within the CZ where they were hunted down by Bugs, Raiders, or Ghouls. Or worse, joined up with them. The people that sided with the bugs during those dark days are still considered the worst kind of scum. It has been about a decade since the official barricade was dropped and the bug spirit situation "neutralized", but nobody is too eager to move back in.

So, to answer your question in a very roundabout way, downtown, chinatown, and most areas on the near south side were uninhabited for the past two decades. These places are somewhat overgrown, but with twisted and tainted plants. Areas like Navy Pier, and slightly further south side (southern areas of Bridgeport for example) have been populated the entire time, and have suffered from a lack of repair, but remain more on the condemned side then overgrown.

Power Throw: I've never seen an official ruling on this unique situation. It sounds like a fun mechanic and makes sense in my mind, so I'll say "sure" for now. Power Throw's strength increase makes the Bola's knockdown harder to resist.

Red-ROM: Welcome aboard. Skill Monkey works for me. This team has nobody on the tech side of things, so creating a passable hacker might be wise. Remember, lots of tech in the city is old school and there is very little wireless up in the CZ, that will probably effect your gear load out.

Keep the Questions coming! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[DigitalOYABUN]

Would you say we're more zone crawlers or shadowrunners in this game you're presenting? Reason I ask is my Chara is turning out to be quite the outdoorsy tracker type.

[CollateralDynamo]

I'm envisioning that you guys are indeed Shadowrunners. However you are frequently going to be asked to "go fetch"/"handle" things in the CZ.

Basically I see about 50% of your runs being generally: get a job from a high class johnson out in the 'burbs, go into the terrifying CZ and almost die for said johnson, come back and give him his curious trinket/ghoul ear (no offense Crizh)

The other 50% will probably be more traditional Shadowrunning. Pretty much every Megacorp has a presence in the Chicagoland area. Add that to the large number of migrant workers, refugees, and organized crime bosses and you have a pretty diverse Shadow field.

That said, as you guys prove to the world what your characters are capable of, you will get jobs more and more suited to your unique skill-sets (whatever they might end up being).

[DigitalOYABUN]

Cool, that'll work great!


Okay on gear a few questions.

Can I get an old style gunfighter belt? similar to this: http://www.westernemporium.com/store/media/002349_sm.jpg
or this: http://www.circlekb.com/merchant2/graphics...rs_a1_cross.JPG
If so I was thinking 500 yen????? about that price now, and yes i'm going the rustic look.

Not sure if I'm going this route I might not even own a vehicle, but what would the price on a camper top be? http://www.whistler-outdoors.com/images/truckcamper.jpg

[CollateralDynamo]

Old-fashioned gun-fighter belt is fine. To me it looks like a quick-draw holster with a customized quality to make it look unique. I'm AFB right now but I'd say just take the cost of quick-draw holster from SR4A and add the customized look "weapon mod" from Arsenal and whatever that cost comes out to should be fine.

As far as campers go, if I recall correctly, anything not explicitly covered in the books supposedly is roughly 1 USD to 25 Nuyen, so you can do a price check based on that criteria. That or we could flip through Arsenal and try to figure out a more "rules friendly" solution, its up to you.

Edit: If you want to actually LIVE in your camper truck then that is an entirely different issue, most likely one best solved with the "advanced lifestyle" rules in Runner Companion.

[CollateralDynamo]

How is everybody doing? Crizh? SincereAgape? Red-ROM? You guys still interested?

Thoughts? Comments?

[DigitalOYABUN]

Will we be using the 'used' quality for vehicles? I'd assume it'd be hard to find new in this neck of the woods, but I might be wrong.


And the custom look for the gunbelt....it confer the intimidation bonus? Would it stack with the weapon in it if I had it?

[crizh]

Yup, I PM'd you this morning.

Still working on a full character sheet but I'm close to done.

[DigitalOYABUN]

Still going all ghoulish? If so, please stay down wind of my chara (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohplease.gif)

[CollateralDynamo]

Crizh, you PM'ed me? I didn't get anything from you...I got a PM from Digital earlier today, but nothing from you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Digital: You don't NEED to buy used, there is enough of an infrastructure outside of the CZ for newer goods to come in. It will look pretty out of place once you get within the city, but I suppose a team of Shadowrunners within the CZ is always going to stick out a little.

I don't see why a custom modded gun-belt WOULDN'T confer the intimidation bonus. It won't stack with other, similar bonuses however, that would get silly quick.