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> What are the odds... gm factor vs reality (long), thoughts and help please
tisoz
post Feb 22 2004, 10:08 AM
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IMO the problem is the GM doesn't see the NPCs as real characters, they are just obstacles to be overcome. Realism keeps getting thrown around, but wouldn't the NPC gangers and sec guards realistically want to survive? A group can be on an entirely lower tech level and still defend themself, think Vietnam. They improvised and used tactics that gave them a chance.

If the PCs see a situation and know exactly how to attack it, why wouldn't their soon to be victims anticipate the situation, see exactly how it would be attacked, and have a counter? Realistic? I think so, otherwise the GM may as well be setting up ducks in a shooting gallery.

The best NPCs I've seen were ones that the GM played like PCs. In Shadowrun, they even get to be the good guys if you look at shadowrunners as criminals who are hired to commit crimes. :)
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Crusher Bob
post Feb 22 2004, 11:01 AM
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There is a realistic limit to people's ability to both plan and react to things, Runners who have been doing this for a while (i.e. they did it to get the skills and gear they have when they start the game) will tend to be much better than most anyone else when it comes to reacting well. Security guards are not a well oiled military machine. A (good) group of runners is.

This covers only tactical situations, oc. But the same general principle applies to everything else, there are not a whole lot of people in the world that are as near as good as a starting runner,
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toturi
post Feb 22 2004, 01:24 PM
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QUOTE (tisoz)
IMO the problem is the GM doesn't see the NPCs as real characters, they are just obstacles to be overcome. Realism keeps getting thrown around, but wouldn't the NPC gangers and sec guards realistically want to survive? A group can be on an entirely lower tech level and still defend themself, think Vietnam. They improvised and used tactics that gave them a chance.

If the PCs see a situation and know exactly how to attack it, why wouldn't their soon to be victims anticipate the situation, see exactly how it would be attacked, and have a counter? Realistic? I think so, otherwise the GM may as well be setting up ducks in a shooting gallery.

The best NPCs I've seen were ones that the GM played like PCs. In Shadowrun, they even get to be the good guys if you look at shadowrunners as criminals who are hired to commit crimes. :)

Your assumption of an equally well oiled team is valid only if that team has trained together and has worked together before. By having worked together before I mean that they must have responded to various situations and know how each other will react. It takes at least 2 full gaming sessions (1 full run) to gell together.

Once there is some consistency(at least to the runners) to the way the team reacts, they are very difficult to take down.

A question I ask myself when creating sec guards are whether they have worked together before. Maybe they were training buddies at the corp academy? Or was one of them transfered from another facility? Or did their sec manager just got transfered in and now they have the "brains not knowing how the hands and feet will react" situation? Or did that guy's partner got wasted during last week's break in? These factors make it very inconducive for the security team to gell. So for the most parts, I will sometimes make a sec guard block his buddy's LOS, step in the way of the sec rigger's drone's heavy weapons, etc.

Attrition in the security business is high, look at the security companies nowadays. They hire cheap, provide minimum training and lousy equipment for the most part, any sec company will have at least one of these factors. I do not see how that will change in the future.
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Synner
post Feb 22 2004, 02:02 PM
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QUOTE (Crusher Bob @ Feb 22 2004, 11:01 AM)
Runners who have been doing this for a while (i.e. they did it to get the skills and gear they have when they start the game) will tend to be much better than most anyone else when it comes to reacting well.  Security guards are not a well oiled military machine.  A (good) group of runners is.

On the other hand, there is the minor detail that corporate security guards are specifically trained and equipped to counter well-oiled shadowrun teams (the single most common threat in the Sixth World to the assets they are assigned to protect), even better equipped and more skillful runners. Whether it be by tactics, numbers, area lockdowns, passive and automated defenses, etc, security guards (don't make the mistake of comparing them with today's rent-a-cops like torturi is doing) are trained to make use of every resource at their disposal (human and otherwise) to stop the runners.

That is why stealth should be imperative in a shadowrun. Lose the edge of concealment and surprise and runners should be screwed, the odds are just against them - if they aren't your GM is playing the sec guards wrong or you're playing an excepcionally high-powered and unbalanced campaign (I say unbalanced because your experienced veterans should probably not be pulling penny jobs -minor labs, low-level extractions and datasteals, etc - but being hired to hit secure corporate targets which have well-equipped, tightly coordinated and above-average trained security staff.

This is what they do for a living. This is why corps put them through intensive training programs (unlike regular rent-a-cops) - just check Corporate Security Handbook. This is why the corps place thousands of dollars of gear in their hands and place millions of dollars of equipment and material under their guard.
Plus they screw up they lose their jobs, their reputations and their livelihoods (not a nice thing in the dystopic Sixth World). The site sec-coordinator screws up once, he likely won't get to do it again (and he knows it). Torturi is also mistaken, many megacorp (Ares, S-K, MCT and Renraku to name just a few biggies) crosstrain their security forces with their armed forces (Corp Download, Corp Security Handbook and SOTA63) and even complement security staff with mercs in highly volatile areas.

Sec guards and (more importantly) their coordinators are intelligent and capable human beings who are not going to throw themselves in harm's way by running up to the enemy and shooting it out; not when they are especifically trained to counter this sort of threat. They will set up chokepoint firezones. They will lockdown every corridor and room they are not using, blocking off and sealing areas (at the very least it will slow the runners progress). They will push their Host(s)' into Alert status. They will call off-site Matrix, Response Team and Magical support. In practice they will will be Holding an Action around the next five corners behind max. cover and Aiming not for a specific target - which isn't there yet- but to fill an area with Suppressive Fire at the first sight of movement (meaning they'll even be able to get the drop on wired runners). They will use directional flash paks and flashgrenades (and after SOTA63 even reuthenium wall displays). They will use smoke and neurogas grenades when necessary (especially against mages)). They will use delaying tactics whenever possible.

They will not rush to the scene of a breakin in groups of 2 or 3 men. They will not expose themselves unnecessarily to enemy fire. They will not charge/rush an obviously superior foe (any team with a mage for instance). They will not hold their ground against superior firepower unless it is a latch ditch effort (They will fallback and/or circle round somehow).

The runners are making a stand? Chuck multiple flashpacks and flashgrenades at them (or better yet lower the lights so low-light capable runners switch to that and then throw-impact triggered flashgrenades round the corner)! Then shoot them up from behind heavy cover or the slots of mobile barricades.
The runners are plowing through your men? Lock security doors and electrify them, saturate the area with Neurostun (or an Air Elemental's Powers) and wait (they either lose to the gas or later to the lack of oxygen, all you have to do is be patient).
Runners are too powerful? Box them into a room or corridor with suppressive fire (corridors are only a couple of meters wide at best, multiple security guards should have no problem saturating one with an almost continuous stream of Suppressive Fire - this doesn't have to hit but woe to the runner that steps into the hail of lead). Keep the runners busy and locked down until backup arrives (High Threat Response unit should be onsite in 10 mins max).
Have your computer ping your roving patrolmen every 5 minutes with a radiocode, codeword response expected otherwise you go on alert (if the facililty is extra-secure there might be a continuous radio feed of the guard's "health" status (using elementary sensors) to the security board, someone's heartbeat suddenly spikes, slows too much or stops and you go on alert (this has the added bonus that if anyone uses a jammer within the radio field you immediately know because you lose the signal to some of your men).
Runners are armed to bear and too big for your men to take down? Tell your sec mage to have his fire elemental(s) streak to the enemies location and engulf the guy with the biggest guns (he should back up the spirit(s) just in case there is astral support and not allow the spirit to be blocked or get caught up fighting, the elemental can even take a few wounds he's not there to fight, then the secmage can pull out and watch the fireworks as the runner's ammo cooks off).
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Crusher Bob
post Feb 22 2004, 02:25 PM
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So everyone in the military is an ass kicking, name taking, gum chewing bassass? It's what they are trained to do, after all?

Shadowrunners don't hit the place you are guarding everythursday.
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Synner
post Feb 22 2004, 02:36 PM
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QUOTE (Crusher Bob @ Feb 22 2004, 02:25 PM)
So everyone in the military is an ass kicking, name taking, gum chewing bassass?  It's what they are trained to do, after all?

Actually no, its not what they're trained to do. If you've been in any Service you would know better.
QUOTE
Shadowrunners don't hit the place you are guarding everythursday.

Let me ask you this then - Who but shadowrunners (and their corporate-affiliated black ops equivalents) are going to hit the assets you are guarding? Who are you especifically trained and equipped to stop? Who else could pose a threat and be interested in a secure corporate instalation? Why are you there at all?

If security staff didn't stand a chance of protecting a site and going up against this kind of threat the corps wouldn't use them. They would simply concentrate their most coveted assets in one or two sites worldwide and put them under the protection of a couple of high-powered FireWatch/Red Samurai/whatever companies.

And yes, you are correct, runners don't hit targets every day (although you'd do well to figure the economics and turnaround of a city with even 20 shadowteams playing the market); but that doesn't mean security staff aren't trained to defend themselves efficiently and effectively when they do. None of the tactics I describe above should be beyond the capacity and training of most security forces guarding vital sites. In fact I have even gone into the high-end integrated tactics a well-trained and equipped security force could use, just the run-of-the-mill stuff guys down at generic Mitshuhama Research Lab 2355-b would use in any given emergency.
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toturi
post Feb 22 2004, 03:33 PM
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QUOTE (Synner @ Feb 22 2004, 10:36 PM)
QUOTE (Crusher Bob @ Feb 22 2004, 02:25 PM)
So everyone in the military is an ass kicking, name taking, gum chewing bassass?  It's what they are trained to do, after all?

Actually no, its not what they're trained to do. If you've been in any Service you would know better.
QUOTE
Shadowrunners don't hit the place you are guarding everythursday.

Let me ask you this then - Who but shadowrunners (and their corporate-affiliated black ops equivalents) are going to hit the assets you are guarding? Who are you especifically trained and equipped to stop? Who else could pose a threat and be interested in a secure corporate instalation? Why are you there at all?

If security staff didn't stand a chance of protecting a site and going up against this kind of threat the corps wouldn't use them. They would simply concentrate their most coveted assets in one or two sites worldwide and put them under the protection of a couple of high-powered FireWatch/Red Samurai/whatever companies.

And yes, you are correct, runners don't hit targets every day (although you'd do well to figure the economics and turnaround of a city with even 20 shadowteams playing the market); but that doesn't mean security staff aren't trained to defend themselves efficiently and effectively when they do. None of the tactics I describe above should be beyond the capacity and training of most security forces guarding vital sites. In fact I have even gone into the high-end integrated tactics a well-trained and equipped security force could use, just the run-of-the-mill stuff guys down at generic Mitshuhama Research Lab 2355-b would use in any given emergency.

Negative! You are dead wrong! If sec guards are so well trained and so well-equipped as to be comparable to say the Marine Embassy details or even the Federal Marshals, then let me ask you: Do you know how expensive that is? You think it is economically viable option to defend all your facilities to that extent?

The last time I heard the US government was losing money. I do not see a for-profit corp spending those amounts of money. Also here's a news flash: Who controls/or are closer to the finances of a company? The sec guards or the accoutants? You think the accountants would want to cut the finance department or the security department? Why are you having so much training? Why did you buy so many weapons? Did it matter in this or that intrusion of the facility? You spent so much money in training yet you are being intruded. Where is the returns on the investment on security? We are still being stolen from!

I don't think you have ever been the security/military business before. Or rather not been to a budget session in the business.

With regards to the highlighted portion of your post, your sec guards are trained just enough that if the opposing Johnson goes cheap and hires a bunch of rank newbies or off the street gangers, they can handle it, not against real pros. And since you already did say that those tactics were the ones employed by the well-trained, I really do not see your point.

However, it is still your game but I think I've made my points.
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Synner
post Feb 22 2004, 06:22 PM
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QUOTE
Negative! You are dead wrong! If sec guards are so well trained and so well-equipped as to be comparable to say the Marine Embassy details or even the Federal Marshals, then let me ask you: Do you know how expensive that is? You think it is economically viable option to defend all your facilities to that extent?

First, I'm using canon references and I'm backed by material in several sourcebooks (namely Corporate Security Handbook, Lone Star and Corp Download amongst others).

FYI - A fully trained specialist soldier costs the US Army 10k to 12k dollares not counting gear. A rank and file infantryman costs around 8,000 dollares. 4-5000 for your average National Guardsman over the course of 4 years.

Even if it "loses" money (which is a silly thing to say since by that logic all government spending is a "loss") on it I don't see the US stinting on either. There are reasons why and they apply just as well for megacorps as they do for governments.

QUOTE
The last time I heard the US government was losing money. I do not see a for-profit corp spending those amounts of money.


Well, it's a choice between having a security budget of 10 billion nuyen worldwide divied up amongst the operating overhead of multiple divisions or risk losing invaluable assets, personnel and technology worth many times that to your competitors. It's called an "arms race". If you don't do it you won't be able to keep up with the competition that does...

QUOTE
Also here's a news flash: Who controls/or are closer to the finances of a company? The sec guards or the accoutants?

Man do you need a primer in high finance and the business world.

Well the only possible answer to your question is: neither. The guys on the Board of Directors (or at most the shareholders) decide stuff like this independently of what either the accountants and the guards want. That's probably the worst counterargument I've ever seen.

Before they cut security costs, they'd cut their military assets. But the point is they don't have to cut either, they're that rich! Defense is as integral to doing corporate business in 2063 as it is for national politics today. Frag, Ares has more than 5,000 men (those cross-trained guys I mentioned before) in CFS alone.

QUOTE
You think the accountants would want to cut the finance department or the security department? Why are you having so much training? Why did you buy so many weapons? Did it matter in this or that intrusion of the facility? You spent so much money in training yet you are being intruded. Where is the returns on the investment on security? We are still being stolen from!

Sheesh, you really do need some insight into big business. I have no idea where you dug up all these misconceptions about how budgets are decided in multinational corporations.

Plus, you're mistakenly reasoning like a small size security company, you're not thinking like a megacorp that has more money and assets to protect than most modern countries (at least in the Sixth World).

Let me clarify something that you don't seem to have grasped. In the Sixth World Megacorps have full-fledged defense budgets. Megacorps have aircraft carrier groups and submarines. Megacorps field SOTA-equipped military divisions. Megacorps have orbital weapon platforms and nukes. Megacorps have multi-million dollar cyberzombies, combat robots and Spec Ops forces.

What's the cost of a fully rigger-equipped, multi-drone suite, automated defense guns and turrets, monofilament electric fence, paracritters, pressure sensor, laser FAB-reinforced walls, multi-spectrum camera system, central security control and 20-man well-trained security staff in 40 sites across the world compared to that? (which probably encompases less security than how Corp Download describes MCTs zero zones)

Of course, smaller corps can't afford all this, so they limit the resources they do have and make sure they're the best of they can afford or else they won't be around for long. Even megacorps scale there security operations regarding the "value" of the material/personnel/information which is being guarded but that's about it to make it more cost effective but they're not going to stint on security on stuff other corps are going to target.

QUOTE
I don't think you have ever been the security/military business before. Or rather not been to a budget session in the business.

Actually I've been a Lieutenant in a NATO-affiliated country, where during my service I was responsible for logistics, supplies and arms for a Battlion-sized mixed-force intervention unit during extensive multi-national field exercises (not the real thing but the logistics and cost evaluations are).

QUOTE
With regards to the highlighted portion of your post, your sec guards are trained just enough that if the opposing Johnson goes cheap and hires a bunch of rank newbies or off the street gangers, they can handle it, not against real pros.

Why? Gangers and wannabees are not going to get past the perimeter let alone on the grounds. Those paramilitary assets above aren't there just for show. If you read the material available you will note that several megacorps cross-train and exchange men between their military and security branches. Whether you play the game differently is another issue.

QUOTE
And since you already did say that those tactics were the ones employed by the well-trained, I really do not see your point.

Well, then you must have missed the bit where I said high-end integrated tactics as opposed to the simple tactical solutions I presented previously - which any run-of-the-mill security officer should have prepared his men for.

QUOTE
However, it is still your game but I think I've made my points.

Nah, this isn't my game. My game is street-level. This is just looking to SR canon for info on what to expect from the gameworld. Sorry, but at least I fail to see your points.
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Aesir
post Feb 22 2004, 09:38 PM
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I see corp security and shadowrunners as obvious antagonists. Both groups are keeping in pace with the other. I can say that without any game world or real world numbers to prove it, because it has to be that way.

White Dwarf. I think the route you´ve chosen seems to be a good one. The problem you now face, as stated, is that higher end jobs in that magnitude will make the runners prime target for many of the biggest power players in the sixth world. But wouldn´t it make for as many very powerfull friends? Throw in a few runs taking care of some dilicate personal buisness for a great dragon or something similar. Having a dragon or a corporate CEO waching your back will stop future targets from simply seeking you out and storm your hideout with a small army. On this level it will be important to be a part of the politics rather than an expendeble asset. Still deniable, but maybe inofficially suported by some bigwigs, so that other bigwigs will have to be cunning to take you out. Then your chalange will be to ballance who you piss of with who you make friends with. And as usually to keep from taking any wrong steps.
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toturi
post Feb 23 2004, 02:09 AM
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QUOTE (Synner)
First, I'm using canon references and I'm backed by material in several sourcebooks (namely Corporate Security Handbook, Lone Star and Corp Download amongst others).

What's the cost of a fully rigger-equipped, multi-drone suite, automated defense guns and turrets, monofilament electric fence, paracritters, pressure sensor, laser FAB-reinforced walls, multi-spectrum camera system, central security control and 20-man well-trained security staff in 40 sites across the world compared to that? (which probably encompases less security than how Corp Download describes MCTs zero zones)

Sorry, but at least I fail to see your points.

Corp Download states the level of security a megacorp would have (in the Running Against sections). Most are rated Equal if not Superior to a normal (I would define normal as chargen) runner team.

How expensive was it to have your street sam implant his cyber? 123 BPs? Roughly half a million nuyen give or take. And if the opposition is Superior, considerably more. Every sec guard has at least 1/2 million :nuyen: spent on him.
And how much were you paying your guards? 1K :nuyen: per month?

In my country, an basic infantryman cost roughly 10K a year and that's minimal training. A barely-pass for everything. And these guys are conscripts too, they work cheap!

On the other hand, how much are Lone Star cops paid? How many LS officers have cyber? They do!? When running into megacorps, I use the stats for the mega in question. However, I was thinking of security of those A/unrated corps that are a dime a dozen and should possibly take up a substantial amount of your business.
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BitBasher
post Feb 23 2004, 04:10 AM
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QUOTE
And if the opposition is Superior, considerably more. Every sec guard has at least 1/2 million  spent on him.
In all fairness that 500k worth of cyber probably costs the mega 20k because they manufacture it. The doctors are on salary too.
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Synner
post Feb 23 2004, 09:16 AM
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QUOTE (toturi @ Feb 23 2004, 02:09 AM)
QUOTE (Synner @ Feb 23 2004, 02:22 AM)
First, I'm using canon references and I'm backed by material in several sourcebooks (namely Corporate Security Handbook, Lone Star and Corp Download amongst others).

What's the cost of a fully rigger-equipped, multi-drone suite, automated defense guns and turrets, monofilament electric fence, paracritters, pressure sensor, laser FAB-reinforced walls, multi-spectrum camera system, central security control and 20-man well-trained security staff in 40 sites across the world compared to that? (which probably encompases less security than how Corp Download describes MCTs zero zones)

Sorry, but at least I fail to see your points.

Corp Download states the level of security a megacorp would have (in the Running Against sections). Most are rated Equal if not Superior to a normal (I would define normal as chargen) runner team.


Thank you for reinforcing my point for me. If you actually think about what you've just posted, you'll realize that you've agreed that:
a) Corp security forces are Equal to runner teams (whether they're starting or not is besides the point) - which contradicts your previous notion that they're just there to keep out gangers and wannabes. It also means they have skills in the same range as the players characters, they're as experienced as the PCs and they're equipped as least as well. What this means is you're supposed to consider the hardware, cyberware, skills and cash a runner team has and then give the Equal enemy the same range.
b) A starting runner/Equal sec guard is certainly not the "rent-a-cop" you were proposing above wether you like it or not. These are highly-trained individuals, loyal to the corp and good at what they do. They're trained to give the shadowrunners a run for their money (so to speak).
c) Note that the rules say that default individuals are Equal to runners. They're also more of them than there are shadowrunners.

Whether you play this way or not is besides the point. I'm justing that the published canon universe backs me up and not you - mainly in response to that silly "it's your game" comment. If you want to underpower the opposition you are free to do so but don't come out and say that that's the way things are.

QUOTE
How expensive was it to have your street sam implant his cyber? 123 BPs? Roughly half a million nuyen give or take. And if the opposition is Superior, considerably more. Every sec guard has at least 1/2 million :nuyen: spent on him.
And how much were you paying your guards? 1K :nuyen: per month?

BitBasher is correct. Your street sam (almost by definition) picks up his cyber on the streets which means he pays street prices. Corps get their stuff at cost. Furthermore, you're being narrowminded, there are many ways of Equating opposition which don't strictly involve uping their cyber to street sam levels. Give them higher skills than the runners or more tactical experience to make up for the less cyber and they're just as Equal. Give the site rigger the same level of nuyen in drones and automated systems and they're just as Equal.

QUOTE
In my country, an basic infantryman cost roughly 10K a year and that's minimal training. A barely-pass for everything. And these guys are conscripts too, they work cheap!

I have no idea what it costs you guys, in my country it costs about 4000 euros and the results are crap. What's your point?

I take it you've decided not to address the whole issue of carrier groups, submarines, orbital weapon platforms and cyberzombies because it doesn't fit with your perception of the game either?

QUOTE
On the other hand, how much are Lone Star cops paid? How many LS officers have cyber? They do!?

Actually yes. You should get the book. Lone Star actually co-sponsors (it doesn't give it) the acquisition of work-related implants. Regarding salary I'd say Lone Star cops probably make at least enough a month for a Medium lifestyle which is way more than you're giving them credit for...

QUOTE
When running into megacorps, I use the stats for the mega in question. However, I was thinking of security of those A/unrated corps that are a dime a dozen and should possibly take up a substantial amount of your business.

While stats and gear may be less than Equal there's no reason why some of these guys have to be any dumber or less experienced than the megacorp cops. They've also got the advantage of numbers most of the time.
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toturi
post Feb 23 2004, 10:28 AM
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You are simply not getting it. If those sec guards have Canon stats, use them! If Canon says the sec team is a well-oiled machine(Ares Firewatch/Renraku Red/etc), then so be it. But I am saying unless otherwise noted, without any Canon sources for the specifics of the security opposition in question, this is how I see the run-of-the-mill security guards.

How well do you really know you platoon(as a lieutanant)? Do you think a unrated/A corp will be willing to spend time and money to train their security to military levels? And as you said the results for the military are crap, so why would the corps want to spend money on crap? These are my arguments against the thinking that the guards are as well organised/trained as the runners.

My use of the Lone Star officers are to establish a baseline example for lower rated corps security guards.

I've nothing Canon that says anything specific about the tactics and strategies of generic security guards. They do not say how well they know each other, they do not say how often they train with one another, or how liable they are to trip over each other's shoes.

Everything that I've stated say that unless otherwise noted in Canon, security guards are rent-a-cops hired to keep out the rabble. And I have not read anything Canon to say otherwise. Corp Download specifies the individual megas, I do not have Corp Security Handbook or Lone Star. The other book that I have that specifies security is SOTA 2063.

And for the last time, unless otherwise stated specifically in Canon that so-and-so security company or XYZ corp has security guards that are well trained/non-bunglers/non-incompetents, I will extrapolate from the rent-a-cops of today.

Edit: So unless Corp Security Handbook explicitly states that generic guards are as well-oiled/smart as the runners, it is not Canon that they will be. Some may be, others won't. And extrapolating from the rent-a-cops today, a lot won't.

For your information, I never had anyone question my Canon-ness before. I find it amusing and surprising. Most of the time, people question my strict adherence to Canon. :D
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Watchman
post Feb 23 2004, 02:15 PM
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Umm... maybe this has been pointed out before (I didn't go to the trouble of reading all the four pages inbetween), but wouldn't there be a "full spectrum" of security services available on the market ? It's not like a shopping mall needs to prepare for the kinds of attacks that high-end research labs or important corporate offices have coming sooner or later, and thus is going to hire just those donut-munching barely-trained three-penny slobs (well, not really, at least if the sec guards around *here* are anything to judge by) mostly to check gang violence or similar. Market and demand, remember ?

Likewise, most corporations are unlikely to spend a whole lot of money defending facilities that do not contain anything particularly important, while at the actually vital sites the security's going to be as draconian as possible within the limits of budget and the environment (zero-zones are a tad difficult to create around the head office downtown...).

Still, they have a certain "feudal obligation" to see to it that their employees don't get shot at or blown up by the assorted wackos and psychos of the Sixth World, so you'd imagine even regular office buildings and basic manufacturing plants were equipped to at least hold out against major gang attacks or whatever until reinforcements arrive, be they the corporation's own troubleshooters (bad pun intented) or provided by an external agency.
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BitBasher
post Feb 23 2004, 05:57 PM
Post #140


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QUOTE
My use of the Lone Star officers are to establish a baseline example for lower rated corps security guards.
Thats probably a bad idea since Lone Star is a top of the line AA multinational extaterrotirial megacorporation. They will be right at the top of the pile.
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RedmondLarry
post Feb 23 2004, 07:17 PM
Post #141


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When Lone Star or Knight Errant is awarded a contract by a City to provide a specific level of police services to the city, it is because they are the low bidder. They will hire and train the cheapest work force they can get by with to meet that level of police services. If they do a good job controlling costs, AND there aren't any mob wars or gang wars that cause a lot of overtime, they'll make a profit on that contract. They have long experience making profits on such contracts.

A city will not write into their contract a level of police services that they aren't willing to pay for. Politicians won't get re-elected if they waste the taxpayers money on unnecessary services.

Current practice in police services is to have large numbers of low-cost uniformed police visible on patrol, and high-threat response (HTR) teams standing by. The salary, training, and gear expenses for HTR team members is much higher than the expenses for a uniformed patrol officer. Some of the primary activities of uniformed officers is to be visible on the street, write traffic tickets, respond to domestic disputes, take reports of minor property crimes, direct traffic at accident scenes and construction sites, and provide security at major sporting events. Most will not fire their weapon in the line of duty during a contract year. Good police services are essential in modern cities, but the majority of police officers are not equiped or trained to handle the threat posed by a Street Samurai or Combat Mage.

Current practice in security services for most corporations follows the same thinking. Many low-cost uniformed security guards (possibly contracted from LS or KE), HTR backup (often contracted from LS or KE). Mega-corporations are more likely to employ their own security than to contract to Lone Star or Knight Errant.
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The White Dwarf
post Feb 23 2004, 10:28 PM
Post #142


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Id just like to point out that the People part of a run is never the issue. Runners can and will know about them and their capabilites beforehand, and can easily plan around them. In fact, people are usually the least dangerous part of any run. The hard part is planning so that all that non-person stuff mentioned doesnt stop you. You can see people, you cant neccessarily see the gas-dispension system, etc.

This is why higher end runs can become cumbersome to run everytime. Theres simply too much security technology in place to plan around. One offs with it are fine, but every run would become tiresome. This is why Ive chosen to try and take a different approach with high end, by attempting to stay away from the "infiltrate the castle" approach to runs; at least until I see some suggestions of how to streamline the whole bypass security planning. Not to make it any easier, but because if its not fun why play, and spending 3 sessions planning each run isnt fun.

As far as how 'good' security is, its relative to the location. There is no broad scope classification of security. In various books youll see stats with rating 3-5 stuff and a few basic cyber mods, then youll see something with rating 6-8 stuff and military grade gear. Its relative to the place youre hitting. Lone Star is quantified in New Seattle, as a known value, also in a few modules iirc. Random security teams may be crack trainees, but any runner with the Security Procedures knowledge skill or Security Design knowledge skill can look at a facility and the gaurd placement, and roll to predict what the guards will do, as per SOTA. Augment with some magic and a little decking, and you can get a fair idea of what tactics you will be facing most of the time. This gives you an edge, even if youre equal to start with, because Runners by default have the element of surprise and unknown objectives on their target. So, good secirty, bad security both in their own areas; but good runners will have the edge no matter how trained the guards are, which is why runners are paid the big bucks to do what they do.
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Siege
post Feb 23 2004, 10:36 PM
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It's always easier to be proactive than reactive.

-Siege
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sidartha
post Feb 24 2004, 01:16 AM
Post #144


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Another point to bear in mind is that shadowrun is a game where dice are king they are the alpha and the omega of the game and that is where the runners have the advantage.
For example: In a run a few years back we had to infiltrate a heavily defended walled facility. our advantage lay in the small fact that one of the guard towers could be seen from the outside, we had a decker that could double as a sniper with a silent rifle. he took out the guards in the tower because quite simply he could throw more dice to damage the bad guys than they could to resist the damage.
With the tower negated it was a simple matter to put some one in that tower and have him answer the radio calls we had been monitoring for the last three days. Get in, Get out and Get paid.
As siege said it's easer to be proactive than reactive and also remember the guy who shoots second has to do so with wound penaltys
This is Devil's Advocate, signing off.......
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Mr. Woodchuck
post Feb 24 2004, 02:26 AM
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one must always keep in mind that no matter how omnipotent the security at any installation there is another related installation with much lower security that you can infiltrate to establish an identity that allows you to walk right in the front doors of said citadel. with a little planning and forethought nothing is completely secure.
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