Starting a new game., or at least gathering interest. Options

[LurkerOutThere]

Actually I'll bow out, while i'm intrigued Czich has issues with me and I've already got a lot on my plate with my own game as is.

[ravensoracle]

So far I have 8 people interested. Unless already told otherwise, I am thinking having a rough draft by Fri is reasonable. Like is said I am not starting the game for a minimum of 2 weeks so that I can develop a good story around the characters and ensure that I can get all my pending characters completed.

The interested players are:
SleepIncarnate
crizh
pbangarth
BlackHat
Crank
malachite333
cndblank
Glyph

I would like to have basic concepts done by Friday so we can all see what roles are being filled. And I may increase the number to six if I think the game will not die because of inactivity.

EDIT:Sorry to see you go Lurker

[pbangarth]

OK, so I took a couple of hours I really couldn't afford and reworked Bongo Slade in the Karmagen system. I will look over the stats etc. a few times before I post them, but here is a thumbnail sketch of Bongo for any who might want to know a prospective teammate:

- A charming, very talented musician. He can stop the show with his music. Literally. He knows by the third song of the first set who he will be sleeping with tonight.

- He knows a drummer in Lagos... a shaman up by Hudson Bay.... and a pawn broker in Seattle. He's bought it cheap here and sold it dear there.

- If there is some way, magical or mundane, to detect something, Bongo probably has it. Or soon will. The falling pin in the next room; the manastorm 10 kilometers away.

- He remembers everything. Everything. What she was feeling at that moment; how many knives were in the left drawer; what turns it took, in which order, to get through the sewer to the mafioso's bathhouse.

- He can learn the basics of a new language in a couple of hours. he can learn the exact lay of a room in a glance.

- If it isn't nailed down, it's a missile weapon for Bongo. (Nevertheless, he is more a lover than a fighter.)

- He can get in. He can get out. he can recite poetry and sing from below her balcony, and climb to her when she begs him to "Come to me!"

- He dreams. One day... one day he will play the heartbeat of Gaea!

[SleepIncarnate]

Ok, I know if I don't ask this, someone eventually will, so yes/no to the following:
Possession traditions?
Simsense Accelerators?
Cyborgs/Cyberzombies?

And while it is sad to see Lurker go, I can understand that he's got a lot going on with his game. I on the other hand am not GMing (though I am AGM for a game that's fairly quiet atm with lots of people having RL issues) and while crizch has problems with me as well based on first impressions, I have no intentions of leaving just because of that, so will have at least one concept to you, if not two or three, by Friday.

[cndblank]

I was a computer programmer for 13 years. I have never played a decker/hacker. It just seems too much like the life I left.

Know that feeling.

[BlackHat]

5. Magic/TM PC's may Initiate/ Submerge twice, Mundanes got to spend up to 150 Karma on gear.

Another question: Is this the extent of post-char-gen advancement you would like to see? or are these just the two aspects that have limitations?

For example, after initiating, may an awakened person also spend karma to raise their magic attribute? Or could a character with one skill at 6 raise another of his skills above 4?

I'm assuming the answer to these questions is no, based on the KarmaGen writeup, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I suspect you are going to see a lot of awakened characters, because access to up to two metamagic techniques (which PBP characters rarely get access to) is probably a lot sexier than an extra 100-grand that can only be spent purchasing more of the same equipment your character already had access to. That's not necessarily a problem, just an observation about rule #5.

[cndblank]

I suspect you are going to see a lot of awakened characters, because access to up to two metamagic techniques (which PBP characters rarely get access to) is probably a lot sexier than an extra 100-grand that can only be spent purchasing more of the same equipment your character already had access to. That's not necessarily a problem, just an observation about rule #5.

I expect you are right.

In my own campaign I offer extra starting Cred and access to higher availability ware/gear to Mundanes to help balance it out (without much luck so far to be sure).

[crizh]

On the same theme as Blackhat's question, what about stuff like Quickening, buying Metamagic/Power Points, etc?

There's loads of things a character could spend karma on other than just straight initiation.

[ravensoracle]

Ok, I know if I don't ask this, someone eventually will, so yes/no to the following:
Possession traditions?
Simsense Accelerators?
Cyborgs/Cyberzombies?

Possession -No
Simsense Accelerators -Yes
Cyborgs/ Cyberzomies - No

Another question: Is this the extent of post-char-gen advancement you would like to see? or are these just the two aspects that have limitations?

For example, after initiating, may an awakened person also spend karma to raise their magic attribute? Or could a character with one skill at 6 raise another of his skills above 4?

I'm assuming the answer to these questions is no, based on the KarmaGen writeup, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I suspect you are going to see a lot of awakened characters, because access to up to two metamagic techniques (which PBP characters rarely get access to) is probably a lot sexier than an extra 100-grand that can only be spent purchasing more of the same equipment your character already had access to. That's not necessarily a problem, just an observation about rule #5.

Yes, but only with the last 100 Karma and you must pay the Advancement Costs from Sr4A.

I expect you are right.

In my own campaign I offer extra starting Cred and access to higher availability ware/gear to Mundanes to help balance it out (without much luck so far to be sure).

You've got a point there and I think that I agree with that. Mundanes will have access to Availibility 16 Gear, Avail 24 With Restricted.

On the same theme as Blackhat's question, what about stuff like Quickening, buying Metamagic/Power Points, etc?

There's loads of things a character could spend karma on other than just straight initiation.

See the above answer.

[zzyxzs]

I'd like to register my interest. I'll send a full concept over PM, but the idea is a Mystic Adept that specializes in social infiltration. The face-changing, voice copying, "I'm now you, and you are either unconscious or dead" kind of infiltration.

[ravensoracle]

Ok I am asking that everyone put the costs, whether in Karma or cash for gear, on their character sheet. This will make it 10X easier on me for double checking your sheet and will allow me to concentrate on background and personality of your characters. If you've GM'd you'd know this is a big help and will allow things to progress faster.

BTW I now have a target for the run and have the initial meet with the Johnson worked out. Now I am working on NPC's and environment. Having one person capable of being a data courier may help with the mission in a small way.

[Red-ROM]

I noticed this game starting up. I'd like to throw my hat in if possible. I'd like to use one of the poor characters from PBP games that died on arrival. I'd have too adjust them but I don't want to do that if your not interested..

street name: Runt
Character Info:

[ Spoiler ]

real name: Helmut Krieger
race: Dwarf
description:

[ Spoiler ]

height: 3'6" Weight: 50lbs Age:34 hair: blond eyes: blue
Runt is a dwarf with two Blond 3'' mohawks and a handlebar moustache. He's almost always wearing coveralls loaded with tools under a leather jacket, and a pair of goggels strapped around his head

background:

[ Spoiler ]

Helmut was an upstanding wage slave in Germany. He and his parents worked for Saeder-Krupp. His mother,Helania, was a chemist and a head research developer. His father,Thomas, was a maintenance engineer. He went to a decent school, although he ran in a punk crowd in his free time. Upon graduating he got on as a matrix assistant to a Weapon design team at Saeder-krupp. Although he was kept at the low end of the security clearence, he still learned a wide array of weapons engineering. so what happened? the place he worked at was put on lockdown for 12 hours, 26 minutes, 3 seconds. Two other facilities had been attacked. when the smoke cleared, His father was dead, and his mother was missing. His attemts to get answers were shunned, so he decided to go missing too. A tip from a friend higher up told him that his mother's project had its main competition in Chicago. Thats all he would say. He told Helmut to skip town, and not come back to work. Runt spent everything he had to smuggle himself to the UCAS. and now he works in the shadows to make a living and try to discover what happened to his mother.Before he left Gemany, He had dumped his parent's house node onto a chip and wiped it. When he went through it later, He found a half deleted file from a NeoNet research firm. It was talking about something called "cloud link" , but the technical data left was mostly about aresol suspention methods. There was also a mysterious message from someone named "Emit Su'evig" thanking her for her lecture on industrial solvents. He vaguely remembered his mom going to a lecture in Chicago, but it was almost a year ago, and the message was dated the night before the attack. Moreover, this Emit guy said he was from Ares "Environmental solutions labrotories". But all his matrix searching has turned up no such person. Runt tried to research the confrence his mother attended. The main lecture was by a Father Timothy Fitzpatrick on "The effects of industry on the Astral plane and the metahuman soul". He tried to talk to this guy too, but the church said he's been missing almost as long as his mother. He's kept an ear out for runners that might have worked in Germany too. His fixer, Football Bob, told him that he heard a chick named "Skyrunner" had been shipped that way pretty recently, But advised runt to stay clear of her. She was big league trouble. That was his words.

Karma:0/0
Essence:3.15
Physical condition(max 10)[][][][][][][][][][]
stun condition(max 10)[][][][][][][][][][]
Lifestyle:squatter(1month)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 20(starting cred 2d6*20= [4,4] = 8 )

Qualities(+10 net BP)

[ Spoiler ]

Jury Rigger(-10)
Lost Loved One(+5)
Vindictive(+10)
SIN'er(+5)

Attributes(220 including edge)

[ Spoiler ]

Body- 4
Agility- 5
Reaction-3(4)
Strenth- 3
Charisma-3
Intuition- 4
Logic- 5
Willpower- 3
Edge- 5

Skills(164)

[ Spoiler ]

Active skills
Hacking skill group-3
Electronics skill group-3
Armorer-3
Chemistry-3
demolitions-3
industrial mechanic-1
automatics-3
throwing weapons-1
Gymnastics-2
infiltration-2
palming-2
heavy weapons-3
perception-1
survival-2
etiquette-1
Knowledge skills
German- N
English- 3
Saeder-Krupp- 2
Wiz Punk music- 3
Matrix clubs-2
Computer Science-4
Weapon design-4
Electrical engineering-3
Explosives-3
Chemistry-3

Ware:( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 41,500)

[ Spoiler ]

Wired Reflexes 1- 11,000
data jack-500
Encephalon 1 - 30,000

Gear:( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 108,100)

[ Spoiler ]

Ares Crusader

[ Spoiler ]

(Response 4/signal 3/firewall 6/Pilot 4)(body 1/armor 1/sensor 6)
-smartlink(internal),dwarf mod,personalized grip,additional clip,tracker,pilot 4,limping propulsion,exchangable weapon mount,sound suppressor(barrel),sensors(camera/laser range finder/non-linear junction 6)

concealable holster
2 spare clips
60 stick-n-shock rounds
60 explosive rounds
Colt M23

[ Spoiler ]

-smartlink(internal),dwarf mod,personal grip,tracker,powerslide mount(underbarrel),sling,gas vent-3(barrel),shock pad, image scope(vision mag/low light/flare comp)

40 explosive rounds
Ammo drum(colt M23)
-100 rounds,exchangable weapon mount

Ares Antioch-2

[ Spoiler ]

-airburst link,dwarf mod,firing mode upgrade(SA),personalized grip,tracker,exchangable weapon mount

Duffle bag
back pack
4 high explosive mini grenades
4 flash-bang mini grenades
2 regular smoke grenades

Industrious coveralls(5/4)

[ Spoiler ]

chemical protection 4
fire protection 3

leather Jacket(2/2)

[ Spoiler ]

non conductivity 5
Shock frills

Vitals protection(+1/+1)
shin guards(+0/+1)

goggles(R6)

[ Spoiler ]

img link
flare comp
ultrasound

earbuds(R3)

[ Spoiler ]

select sound filter 1
Audio enhancement 2

Hermes Ikon(response 5/signal 5/firewall 6/system 5)

[ Spoiler ]

hardening R6
Laser link
sat link
environmental resistence(heat)
environmental resistance(under water)

Dummy commlink
fake SIN (R3)Chad Mardigan
programs

[ Spoiler ]

analyze 4
browse 4
command 2
edit 4
Encrypt 6
scan 4
armor 4
Biofeedback filter 6
attack 4
decrypt 4
defuse 4
exploit 6
medic 4
sniffer 4
spoof 4
stealth 6
track 4

MCT fly spy
Chemistry kit
demolitions kit
hardware kit
wire clippers
mini welder
respirator(R6)
medkit(R6)
survival kit

1kg foam explosive(R10)
2 detinator cords
4 radio detinators
10 slap patches
1 dose Leal
2 doses Overdrive
10 doses cram
10 sticks Betel gum

contacts:(16BP)

[ Spoiler ]

Football Bob (fixer L3/C3)
-Old Bob is a big, chrome, son of a bitch.Always wearing a blue and orange football jersey thats barley holding together. A local talent scout for the shadows, he's Run'ts main source of work since he got to town

Anarchists Black Cross,Chicago chapter
(Group L2/C3(8 ) 20-99 members/sprawl wide/active matrix presence)
-This is the group that helped smuggle him into the UCAS. He's done a few favors for the local chapter, and hopes to keep a good relationship with them.

Max Broman (reformated)

Character Sheet:

[ Spoiler ]

Max Broman:

[ Spoiler ]

Human, 5'8" blue eyes, sandy blond hair, sharply dressed, Big grin, super white teeth
20 questions

[ Spoiler ]

1) parents:
Max's Dad was a grifter in auburn. Max's mother worked in a textile plant. his Dad was locked up after ripping off a
few bankers for 40k.

2)What would they say about Max:
His dad is proud as punch,"My boy is in the big leagues" . His Mother is also very proud, but she thinks he is running
a semi legit investment company."I'm just glad he didn't turn out like his father, all the good looks and none of the bad
habits"

3)How has recent events impacted max:
When Max was 18, his father took him into the biggest scam he had ever run. Telling people that Dunklesahn's will
was going to create a new company, and that it could likely become the next Megacorp. He spread the name
around,"Vibratech". They didn't ask them for anything directly, just built a buzz during the media storm that surrounded
all the strange outcomes of the will. Then got a hacker to add the fake company to the exchange. It only stayed up for a
minute and a half, but they sold 8,000 shares and made a small fortune. The hacker ended up with the lions share, but it was the most exciting thing Max had ever experienced

4)How did Max end up in the Shadows:
Max tried to walk the straight and narrow. after his father got locked up, his mother sent him to Business school
(with money his father made grifting). With no SIN, Max worked as a freelance investor. Working with corporate
middle management. But he found the richer they were, the crazier they were, Drugs, girls, fetishes. He ended up getting them the illicit things they craved more than investing their money, and the lifestyle began to rub off on him. especially the drugs.

5)Whats Max's pad like(hehe):
Its....colorful. his tridio is like virtual reality in the flesh. There's simsense of sex laced through everything. Lots of
images of hot young girls bent over very expensive cars. He has a wall in his bathroom tagged with the Zoe' matrix
catalog, Instantly updated and draped over a virtual representation of himself. His 5th floor condo has mirror ceilings in
every room and a vintage wine rack over the mirrored bar that separates the kitchen from the den. There are laser light
effects both real and augmented, and all the furniture is Tru Synth leather, Black.

6)Any religion or convictions:
His mother is Jewish, but he doesn't think about religion much in this part of his life. He feels that there's a sucker
born every minute and if you get duped out of your money, you deserved to lose it. Of course he's not keen on steeling
from the poor. there's no sport in it. He's not a fan of violence.

7)What do I dislike about Max:
Max is like a used car salesman sometimes. You always kind of wonder what he's after. He's also real high strung
and energetic. it's hard to mellow out or relax if you're in the same room with him.

8)Best and worst magacorp for Max:
He loves him some Aztechnology. Some of his favorite party people work for them, and they know how to have a
good time. He also likes there sense of style. He's kind of had a thing for the seattle pyramid since he was a kid. He's
not really against any Megacorp to a serious extent, but "Evo" has a real hippie vibe that doesn't sit right with him.

9)What's the story with his contacts:
This could take a while.....
Sam- is an Aztechnologie company man. Max met him at a club that he barely remembers flying to in Aztlan. He talked
up a storm there to some serious bigwigs, and when he woke up in his living room , he thought he dreamed it all, until the first "request" came to his inbox. He's done a couple jobs for him now, and he can only vaguely remember what the guy looked like

Brad Hefton-is a guy that max met in business school. its kind of a fluke that he ran into him while trying to sort out some travel problems. One night of drinking and a hefty wad of cash, and old brad can really grease a few wheels in the travel paper department.

Julian Barberry- is officially a barber. Bud he is also the mafia don's trusted advisor. Max started getting invites to this hairstylist, and a few guys came to s door and insisted it would be in his interest to try this place out. Turn's out the mob was looking to launder some extra cash in a hurry. So Max forged a few investment portfolios and boom. Julian recieved a windfall from shortselling stocks. he was so imressed that max still launders the mob's money from time to time.

Ami Hida- Had a very shamful roll in the hay with old Max after a very wild tea party. Now she throws a little business his way as sort of a pay off in case he was thinking of spreading the word around. And who knows, maybe she had some fun

Zackery Tatem-He worked with Max's dad in the Dunkelzahn scheme and he knows Max has some real potential. He also knows where Max's dad is and has a little leverage on him, which helps in the trust department.

Ivan Krenski- This guy happened to catch Max on a drinking binge. One of the rare times when the nova coke runs out, and Max tries to fight off the downward spiral with booze. Ivan had Just had to beat up his best friend because the guy owed his boss money. The two just clicked for that moment in time. they traded "cards", and every once in a while, they'll get hammered together.

the Black Star- this group gave their number to his mother at temple. she passed it to him thinking it was some kind of youth group, volunteer thing. Max had heard of their Christian counterpart, so he called them up. The group was just getting started but they had some potential, so he funds them when he can.

The komungo ring- was a group he was refered to by sam. They have come in handy more times than he can count, and he's becoume sort of a regular customer.

the busher's- Max was looking for reliable smugglers in and out of the Salish-Shidhe lands. He played up his father's Makah heritage(even though his father was half Irish) and found a group that worked in the shadow of the council's military. giving them a huge scope and maneuverability. their numbers aren't quite there yet, but they have been very effective.

10) What does max do ona lazy sunday:
Usually sleeps off a Bender for the first 8 to 10 hours. If he's up at a decent time he'll call his mother and make idle chat over brunch, sitting on his couch, looking out over the Sound and the Tacoma docks. Trying to explain why he hasn't met the right girl yet. then he'll shoot an email to his Dad telling him about his latest Adventures, whichecking the news on trideo and the Matrix at the same time. With nothing do, assuming his stash isn't totally wiped, he'll get cleaned up and go test drive the lastest Eurocar Westwind, or head to downtown for some shopping. He might hit a Casino for dinner and cards. Usaully he'll meet an interesting lady along the way, but nobody his mother would approve of.

11)How did Max aquire his skills:
I'm sure Van Gough's father had this experience when he taught his son to paint. Max's dad was showing him the ropes of grifting from the time he could talk, and max picked it up like magic. The boy had a quick wit and attention to detail that was unmatched. The same held true when he was in business school. he just got more out of it than most. Max is always learning. as he found himself in the shadows, hes had to start developing some , harder skills. Like shooting and not getting shot. This is not something max wants to engage in really, so its slowed his progress in those areas.

12)what is the Moral line for Max:
Max is not into violence (outside of consenting sexual partners), So he doesn't get himself involed in wetwork, Killing sprees, weird vendettas, or hate crimes. those usually don't have the financial returns he would like anyway.

13)How about his Adept tradition:
Max doesn't realise he is awakened. He feels his magic as a drive to succeed. its his never say die, climb any mountain attitude. Those motivation tags at the office are his mentor spirit. remember, whether you think you can , or you think you can't, you're probably right. this was true until recently. he began to get more than just a sense of people, he began to see thier auras, and then more of the magical plane he had only heard about from wage mages. now he is reading corporate sites on being a mage, and the "Hermetic tradition" and he has discovered the ability to summon magical spirits, but this is all very new to him.

14)any implants:
nope

15)what does max think of "ordinary life":
Max sees ordinary life as his dad in jail, and living inthe shadows as hanging on the street corner as a kid playing "lost watch" with his dad. He sees ordinary life as his mom working in a glue factory for peanuts, and the shadows as the women in 3,000 skirts snorting coke off of their pool boy on a teusday afternoon.

16)whats Max's nightmare:
slowing down, losing his edge. He has nightmares about drowning, but he's not suffocating, he's just moving too slow and he can't understand what people are saying, and no one seems to notice him or care. Sometimes he has dreams about being in jailwith his father, but those are good and bad

17) what items/ people are sacred to Max:
at 16,Max was runng a "Lottery scam" on a girl. Lilly Katherine, an Irish catholic with red hair and rich parents. He caught her sneeking out of private school and helped her get out and get cigarettes a few times. then he told her that he had rigged the lotery, all but one number and if she had 50 cred to buy all the possible tickets, they could be rich. It was a stupid scam looking back on it , but Lilly probably didn't care about the money. She gave him the cred and took his virginity in his dads Americar behined a stuffer shack. He never saw her again, and he spent the money on his first immitation Rolex. That watch is Max's lucky charm. He doesn't waer it, because it's an obvious knock off, but he carries it in his pocket.

18)What did max want to be as a child/ what about now:
As a child, max wanted to be like his dad. excited, happy, smarter than the average bear. he wanted to walk the streets and take what he wanted with a smile and a little white lie. Now he wants the same thing on a grander scale. But I think he is on the verge of realising that he's missing something that his dad had. A smart and loving anchor to keep him from self destruction

19) What does max look like:
He's 5'8" with brown eyes sandy blond hair thats cut short and trendy. He likes a little stubble to give his look a little more edge. His skin is tan and his features are boyish, but square.His teeth are perfect and white. His nose is a little large due to his jewish and Native american heritage(he is an American mutt that also includes a little Japanese with the others I have already mentioned) He waers shiny Zoe' suites with big mirror sunglasses.

20) How did Max get his street name:
Max was a name his father made up for him on the spot and it kind of stuck. The "Broman" part came from an old customer of his that was pretty burnt out on Bliss. It was a murmured version of "Brother man", But Max liked it.

Attributes

[ Spoiler ]

Body: 3(+1[healing]Rapid healing)
Agility: 4
Reaction: 2(+1 cram, +1 novacoke)
Strength: 2
Charisma: 5(+1 novacoke, 1 coke crash)
Logic: 5
Intuition: 4
Willpower: 3(1 coke crash)
Magic: 5 (3adept/2Magic)
Edge: 2
Initiative: 6(+1 cram, +1 novacoke)
Cold Sim Initiative: 8
Initiative passes:1(2 cram)

Skills:

[ Spoiler ]

Active Skills
Influence skill group- 4
-Con-4(5 Improved ability,+1Kinesics)
-Etiquette-4(+1 Kinesics)
-Leadership-4(+1 Kinesics)
-Negotiation-4(+1 Kinesics)
Electronics skill group-3
-Computer-3
-Data Search-3
-Hardware-3
-Software-3
Forgery-5(6 Improved ability)
perception-4(+1 Betel gum,+1 novacoke)
dodge-1
pistols-1
Assensing-3(+1[emotional state]kinesics)
Summoning-3
Infiltrate-1
palming-1(+1 nimble fingers)

knowledge skills(27free)
Chemestry-1
Economics-4
Seattle street gangs-4
Salish smugglers-4
Accounting-6(+1 tech school)
Security Procedures-4(+1 tech school)
English-N
Japanese-2
Salish-2

Qualities:

[ Spoiler ]

Positive Qualities(15BP)
Technical School
Mystic Adept

Negative Qualities(20BP)
Moderate Addiction(Nova Coke)
Mild Addiction(Betel gum)
Mild Addiction(Cram)

Wares:

[ Spoiler ]

none

powers:

[ Spoiler ]

Adept Powers:
Kinesics(1)
multi tasking
nimble fingers
rapid healing(1)
improved con(1)
improved forgery(1)
linguistics
astral perception

Gear:

[ Spoiler ]

Weapons:

[ Spoiler ]

Streetline Special

Armor:

[ Spoiler ]

Armored Vest 6/4-non conductivity R6

On hand:

[ Spoiler ]

commlink(Hermes Ikon-4 Response/3 Signal/6 firewall/4 System)

[ Spoiler ]

Fake SIN(R3)- Theadore Williams C.P.A.
Fake SIN(R2)- Allen Bundy
Browse R6
Encrypt R6
Edit R6
Scan R6
Analyze R6
Data bomb R3

Mirrored glasses(R4)

[ Spoiler ]

-image link
-Thermographic
-Lie detection(R6)

Old Fake Rolex
4-sticks Betel gum
2 doses cram
1 dose Nova coke
Concealable holster(streetline special-stick and shock)
spare clip- regular ammo

At home:

[ Spoiler ]

Hardware toolkit
Area Smart Jammer(R3)
8 doses cram
8 doses Nova coke
4 s-n-s bullets
4 regular bullets
4 capsule bullets
spare clip-capsule rounds

Contacts:

[ Spoiler ]

"Sam" Aztechnology Johnson L2/C6
Zackery Tatem, Investment Banker L2/C4
Julian Barbberry, Maffia Consiglieri L3/C4
Ivan Krenski, Russian mob leg breaker L1/C1
Ami Hida, Yakusa wakagashira L1/C3
Brad Heffton , Seattle DOT administrator L2/C4
(group)Komun'go Ring L3/C5 (20-99 members/Tacoma/some magic/some matrix resourses)
(group)Black Star L3/C5(2-19 members/Seattle sprawl/some magic/some matrix)
(group)Bushers gang L3/C9(20-99 members/Salish Nation/some magic/broad matrix resources)
Will

Game Information:

[ Spoiler ]

Physical Condition Monitor:[][][][][][][][][][] (max10) (high pain tolerence 1 novacoke)
Stun Condition Monitor: [][][][][][][][][][] (max10)
Edge: Current 2 / 2 Max
Nuyen: 5,000 ((2) certified credsticks 1,000each/ 2,000 black acount/ 1,000 in stocks)
Lifestyle: high(1 month)

Awards:

[ Spoiler ]

2 total Karma/ 2 unspent

[pbangarth]

OK, folks are starting to post character sheets, so here's a draft of Bongo Slade. Gimme some feedback, dudes.

Ravensoracle, are the Background and Vignette acceptable substitutes for the 20 questions?

Bongo Slade

Background

[ Spoiler ]

Bongo Slade - Mystic Drummer

Martin O'Malley (Bongo Slade on the street) was born into a middle-class family in Toronto. Martin's parents are very conscious of class mobility and wanted their son to have as good a life as they could help him get. They had high expectations for him because of talents he exhibited early in life. He has a knack for languages, and so "foreign service" was discussed, and he is also very artistic in several ways, and so, while not as lucrative, a career in "the arts" was also seen as a possibility. Above all, education to a high degree was considered necessary.

Martin just wanted to play music. He skipped school, but studied music and poetry (lyrics) on his own. Percussion was his calling. Anything you could hit was his instrument. He engaged in petty crime to pay for fun with his buddies and private lessons with the best teachers (and that he didn't convince his parents to do so in a legitimate fashion tells much about him). He travelled all over Toronto and region, playing music, dealing and stealing. His school report cards were ... well, not always failing, but certainly not encouraging. He thought it would be cool to have electronic instrumentation implanted in him, but a test implant quickly showed that he was unreceptive almost to the point of allergy to mechanical implants.

One music teacher was an adept, and saw the spark of Magic in the boy. (Martin picked up the old, outdated Morse Code in a couple of days at a museum. The rhythm of the 'language' attracted Martin. The speed with which he picked it up caught the teacher's eye.) The teacher helped the Magic develop in Martin, who himself developed the Adept way, focussing everything he could into playing his music better, 'attuning' to the world around him, 'listening and seeing' the music of the world.

Over the course of a few years, Martin developed some regular places to play, pretty seedy some of them, and learned some survival skills as well. It's amazing what you can do to an unruly patron with a well-hurled cymbal. Eventually the inevitable happened, and Martin came afoul of the law. Petty theft got him police attention, which his parents managed to smooth over. The Crash 2.0 did the rest. Disapproval and constraints from his parents, and disappointment from his Magic- and music mentor decided Martin that it was time to move on.

Denver was cool for a while, but the border crossings were always a hassle, and Bongo never was sure when his fake ID would fail. Seattle looks good. Half a continent away and full of intrigue and exotic foreigners. There have to be interesting things going on here, new music to learn and play, and maybe a clue to his dream.

Even before he new of his own Magical talent, Martin had a sense that there was a"music underlying it all". In dreams and daytime musings (in class of course) Martin imagined that the Earth has a heartbeat, and that the right person, maybe in the right place and time, could play that rhythm and be in tune with Gaia. This is the goal that Martin, now Bongo Slade, seeks in the streets of Seattle and in the countryside around.

The first step is to become the best drummer in the world. (Hey, he's young enough to think in those terms.) His skill is amazing, to the point that he can mesmerize his audience if he wants to. He is trying to hone his skill, his talent and his Magic to bring him to the point where he can play that dream. He travels extensively, earning his way with his art and learning languages with no effort at all.

He has developed his Magic into that scary realm of Metamagic, acquiring abilities to delve deep into the magical nature of the world around him. Bongo knows that in an academic environment he could have access to the latest theories, but he won't go there ever again. Even worse would be to sell his talent to some corporation, even if they would think it worth hiring. No, he has to do it on his own, on the streets and in the woods. He uses his Magic for music and for profit, exercising it in order to make it grow. In initiation, he has sought talents directed towards taking his musical ability beyond the range of ordinary humanity and designed to open his senses to the intricacies of Gaea. In the meantime he keeps his eyes and ears open for any clues or stories about the underlying rhythm of the world. He is learning how to make musical drums, and is especially keen on finding out if some kind of 'music focus' had ever been made. (That is, something that enhances magic directed specifically towards performance.)

So he does what he has to in order to make ends meet and to stretch his talents. Runs in the shadows are a fast way to wealth and power, as far as he can see. He offers the ability to distract, to charm, to investigate and memorize instantly, to describe in great detail what he has heard and seen, 'five finger discounts', basic computer skills and second-string backup in a fight. As yet, he hasn't become disillusioned, despite the seamier aspects of things he has done "for his art", and despite the signs all around him that failure can be final.

Character Traits
- brash, young know-it-all in his early 20s (though of course he is too young to know much at all)
- consummately confident in his own skill as a musician
- "lover, not a fighter" is mostly true
- willing to do almost anything to get ahead in his goal ... wetwork?? Hmmm ...
- able to cooperate with a team, even a team leader, but despises established authority figures and organizations
- curious about anything and everything going on around him, and will investigate (he has tried some drugs - hey, he's a musician!)
- always looking for the music in things, particularly rhythms

Contacts

Joe Coole - music agent/fixer
Runs Coole Inc., a talent agency in Toronto with connections in Seattle. Joe saw the opportunity to branch out in business during the making of a simsense action flick when elements of organized crime threatened to derail the production because his client took the place of a low-level mobster's sweetheart. Joe hired protection and set up a run to convince the mobster his girl was not right for the part. Since then, he has protected a number of productions, and hired his teams out for more conventional runs. He takes a cut of all proceeds.

First used Bongo's musical talents, but increasingly finds his skills useful in the shadows. He has tried, but failed to convince Bongo to become part of a regular team.

Mick the Slick - pawn broker/fence
Seattle pawn broker, willing to accept anything brought through the front door, and most of what comes in the back door. Has made some good profit on 'five-finger discount' items Bongo has brought him. In return he has provided Bongo access to some interesting, quality musical instruments.

Johnny Winnipeg - Algonkian Raven shaman
One one of his forays into the wilds north-west of Toronto, in search of "the real Gaia", Bongo ran across a group unfriendly to anglos from the south. They were led by Johnny. Bongo gained their confidence when he learned their language in a few hours and talked at length about his dream to drum the heartbeat of Gaia. Johnny Winnipeg has skirted the edges of eco-terrorism and is cold-hearted towards those he sees as the enemy, but will bend over backwards to help those he thinks "see the light". Bongo has won membership in the latter group, though Johnny is waiting to see if the boy lives up to his promise.

Runs-with-Tricks - Pueblo Coyote shaman
A man of boundless energy and mischief, Runs-with-Tricks lives to fool others through practical jokes and money-making schemes. He met the boy when Bongo ranged through the drylands south-west of Denver. Bongo's good-humoured response to a somewhat painful joke earned him a good meal, stiff whiskey and a hangover. Bongo's drumming won a longer-term respect and a promise to help in Bongo's quest, once he gets "a little chest hair."

Fobo Mukasa - percussionist in Lagos
A brilliant musician, one of the few whom Bongo regards as a better drummer than he, so of course Bongo had to go to that hellhole and spend time with Mukasa. Mutual respect developed. Great music happened. Much alcohol was consumed. An invitation to come jam stands.

Ando Miko - Tokyo talent agent
Imperial capitals always draw artists, and artists always need impressarios. Ando knows the Tokyo scene inside out, but has not branched beyond the city. He is a consummate capitalist, and will do what he can to make a nuyen form talent like Bongo.

Vignette

[ Spoiler ]

The late afternoon sun glaring through the dust on the window didn't help his just-awake mood, but the stale pizza hanging over the edge of the dinette table did. The beer beside it made things even better. Bongo Slade considered his options for this evening. A quick run at midnight meant he had a few hours to kill. He packed the necessities into a duffel bag and headed to the Rex. The band tonight was supposed to be into old-style jazz, and he hadn't played any in a while.

Queen Street West was the usual, pink mohawks and chains rubbing shoulders with slumming Armantés. The doorman at the Rex lit up a big smile when he saw Bongo and waved him through the lineup. He called up a buddy by commlink, "I don't care who you're with, drekhead. Get your hoop down here, now. Slade is here tonight."

Bongo found a good vantage point by the bar despite the crowd. The bartender brought him the usual, and he settled back to scan the audience. "Oh, now she looks amazing!" he thought. He memorized her in great detail. Sometimes a memory like that made a long stake-out bearable. She seemed to enjoy his scrutiny. "Hope she's here later."

The band had just started, and their style went way back. Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Joe Pass. This was a treat. He settled in and let the music flow through him. Near the end of the set, a waiter came to him and said the band would be honoured to have him sit in for a piece or two. No problem. He signaled the bartender to watch his gear.

Bongo scanned the instruments on stage, thought about the style so far, and asked the percussionist if he could borrow the djembé for a while. The drummer was happy to comply. The band conferred with him a moment, and they selected a slightly more modern piece that highlighted the percussion. Bongo quieted his thoughts and centered himself. He set the piece in motion with a single, deep thump at the centre of the instrument, then pulled out the rhythm from inside himself. Horns, bass and guitar wove their themes around the rhythm, and Bongo called up the magic. The patrons stopped eating and drinking, the waiters struggled with their orders... all eyes sought him out. The musicians on stage found new hooks in the rhythm they never new existed, and danced intricate improvisations they had never tried before. "Yeah," he thought, "I'm in the pocket tonight."

The applause eventually died down, and Bongo thanked the musicians for the opportunity to play. He checked the time and decided he had to go. Collecting his gear, he headed out the back, avoiding the sizably increased crowd. Nearby was a room he kept for business. He made sure no one tracked him, and went in. Minutes later, a different man came out. Older, worn clothing, five-o’clock shadow from days ago, smelling of sweat and something indescribable, he shuffled down the alley and onto Queen Street. The nightlife gave him a wide berth and looks of disgust. He mumbled incoherent phrases and stumbled as if drunk. A nearby alleyway was his destination. It led behind Club Rojo, tonight's target. He tripped and fell into the alleyway, climbed up the brick wall to standing position again, and shuffled down the alley, singing in a gravelly voice, "One hundred days, one hundred nights, to know a man's heart..."

At the back of the club, a bare bulb lit a door and entryway and two men in cheap suits standing in front of the door. They watched Bongo approach, and kept an eye on him. He fell beside a dumpster and the garbage can he had moved close to it last night. "...and a little more, for him to know his own." The door guards were not sure about what he was doing, except for the disgust they felt for him. His left foot started to twitch, banging against the dumpster in a long, complicated rhythm. He grabbed the garbage can, as if to stand, but drew it down onto himself, clanging. He held onto the lid, flailing as if to ward off something flying around him, banging against the can in a counterpoint to his foot-beat. Once again, he called the magic. The guards paid him very close attention.

As they watched him, someone dressed in black leaned down from the roof of the entryway to the club and adjusted something on the video camera above the door. Two others, dressed similarly, slid down either side of the entryway and incapacitated the guards easily. The only thing they would remember later is the drunk and a sudden pain in the neck. Bongo finished the contrapuntal composition with a flourish, and rose steadily. One of the team in black nodded to him, and he replied in kind. He headed out of the alley, drunk and disorderly again, and the three in black opened the door with a key from the guards, and entered.

As he took a more circuitous route back to his change room, looking forward to cleaning up, Bongo recalled the image of the woman in the Rex. He wondered what language they might speak tonight.

Bongo Slade 53 questions:

[ Spoiler ]

1. What is your characters Sex?
Male.

2. What is your characters physical size?
175 cm; 75 kg.

3. What is the color of the characters Hair, eyes, and skin?
Hair: brown
Eyes: brown
Skin: white

4. What is the character's general appearance (i.e., How does he dress, etc.)?
Casual chic; sometimes a narrow brim fedora; you look at him and you say "musician".

5. Where was the character born (City, State, Hospital Name)?
Toronto, Ontario, UCAS.

6. What is the characters date of birth?
3 June, 2050.

7. What was the character's family life like?
Middle class, loving parents, formal education up to high school with expectations to go further.

8. Has the character begun his own family?
No. He is way too mobile; won't allow himself to be tied down.

9. Where or how was the character educated?

Went to neighbourhood schools till the end of High School, which he just barely finished.

10. Has the character ever done anything else for a living?

He has made a meager living as a musician. He is an excellent percussionist but has not always been a good businessman.

11. What are the characters beliefs on church and state?
They are separate entities, but both exist as tools to control the masses.

12. Describe the characters Moral code. Include how mercenary he is, whether or not he'll kill innocents, etc.
Bongo will do just about any job for cash, but hurting people directly just for money is out.

13. What are the character have any goals?
Bongo wants more than anything to discover the "Heartbeat of Gaea", and then to play it.

14. Why does the character run the shadows? (Why does he run the shadows still, rather than getting a "real" job?)
The shadows afford quick money, mobility, no strings attached. If he feels like going to the Phillipines tomorrow, he can.

15. What kind of personality does your character have? This should not necessarily be obviously stated in the background, as it is more important for actually playing the character, but it may color or add mood to the history.

- brash, young know-it-all in his early 20s (though of course he is too young to know much at all)
- consummately confident in his own skill as a musician
- "lover, not a fighter" is mostly true
- able to cooperate with a team, even a team leader, but despises established authority figures and organizations
- curious about anything and everything going on around him, and will investigate (he has tried some drugs - hey, he's a musician!)
- always looking for the music in things, particularly rhythms

17. Are their certain things the character can't or won't do? Why?
Wetwork is out. Bongo values life, and is more interested in celebrating life than destroying it. If violence comes to him, though, he will respond in kind.

18. What things, people, or ideas does the character hate?
Authority figures. People who are bossy just for the sake of it. People who think they deserve to be in charge simply by some birthright or position.

19. What things people, or ideas does the character love?
Creative, 'think outside the box' people. An underlying meaning to the magic in the world.

20. What is the character's name? Give both full birth name, as well as nicknames, street names, etc.

Born Martin O'Malley. Took the street name Bongo Slade when he left the old life behind. It comes form a nickname he got in summer camp, banging on a metal washbasin in his tent.

21. Determine what your character used to do, before becoming a shadowrunner (very important).
Was a student in school, and of music privately.


22. Decide why your character left his or her old job, if he had one. (also important).
Left the old life because he thought it would lead him to his goal too slowly. He feels that only exploring 'out in the world' will he find what he seeks.

23. Come up with a reason for why the character became a shadowrunner. (This very often will tie in with #22. This is not the same as #14, but rather why he started running the shadows originally. What led him to it?)

He took many odd jobs in the beginning, when he was quite young, but none paid as well or was as much fun as being the 'spy', the 'scout', the 'distraction'. It started as a game to Bongo, but he is far more professional about things now, because he has seen the consequences of failure, and because the pros get more jobs and money.


24. How did your character come to know his or her contacts? Contacts are an important part of Shadowrun, decide how and why you know them.
Joe Coole - music agent/fixer
Runs Coole Inc., a talent agency in Toronto with connections in Seattle. Joe saw the opportunity to branch out in business during the making of a simsense action flick when elements of organized crime threatened to derail the production because his client took the place of a low-level mobster's sweetheart. Joe hired protection and set up a run to convince the mobster his girl was not right for the part. Since then, he has protected a number of productions, and hired his teams out for more conventional runs. He takes a cut of all proceeds.

First used Bongo's musical talents, but increasingly finds his skills useful in the shadows. He has tried, but failed to convince Bongo to become part of a regular team.

Mick the Slick - pawn broker/fence
Seattle pawn broker, willing to accept anything brought through the front door, and most of what comes in the back door. Has made some good profit on 'five-finger discount' items Bongo has brought him. In return he has provided Bongo access to some interesting, quality musical instruments.

Johnny Winnipeg - Algonkian Raven shaman
One one of his forays into the wilds north-west of Toronto, in search of "the real Gaea", Bongo ran across a group unfriendly to anglos from the south. They were led by Johnny. Bongo gained their confidence when he learned their language in a few hours and talked at length about his dream to drum the heartbeat of Gaia. Johnny Winnipeg has skirted the edges of eco-terrorism and is cold-hearted towards those he sees as the enemy, but will bend over backwards to help those he thinks "see the light". Bongo has won membership in the latter group, though Johnny is waiting to see if the boy lives up to his promise.

Runs-with-Tricks - Pueblo Coyote shaman
A man of boundless energy and mischief, Runs-with-Tricks lives to fool others through practical jokes and money-making schemes. He met the boy when Bongo ranged through the drylands south-west of Denver. Bongo's good-humoured response to a somewhat painful joke earned him a good meal, stiff whiskey and a hangover. Bongo's drumming won a longer-term respect and a promise to help in Bongo's quest, once he gets "a little chest hair."

Fobo Mukasa - percussionist in Lagos
A brilliant musician, one of the few whom Bongo regards as a better drummer than he, so of course Bongo had to go to that hellhole and spend time with Mukasa. Mutual respect developed. Great music happened. Much alcohol was consumed. An invitation to come jam stands.

Ando Miko - Tokyo talent agent
Imperial capitals always draw artists, and artists always need impressarios. Ando knows the Tokyo scene inside out, but has not branched beyond the city. He is a consummate capitalist, and will do what he can to make a nuyen form talent like Bongo.


25. Does the character have a SIN? Does the character actually use it? Or is the character one of the SINless_masses? This may be affected by the characters previous employment.

Yes, he has a SIN, but he doesn't want to use it, as it might lead those back home to find him. He wants freedom from the confines of family. And he knows if they connect with him, they might be in danger one day.

26. Is the character a full-time shadowrunner? Or does the character lead a Batman-like double existence?
Performance and shadowrunning provide his income. He could make far more money from his music if he wanted to, but to him it is all about performance, not business.

27. Which person(s) or group(s) do you love the most?
Well, to be honest, probably himself.


28. Which person(s) or group(s) do you hate the most?
Corporate flunkies who think they are boss. Same with institutional teachers. Any person set into a position of authority for a reason not to Bongo's liking.


29. Which person(s) or group(s) do you respect the most?
.Free-spirited musicians.

30. Which person(s) or group(s) do you fear the most?
Organized crime. Those people are brutal. Yeah, go up to #28 and add organized criminals.


31. What is your favorite color?
Yellow.

32. What is your favorite food and/or drink?

Pizza and beer. Bongo can play the role and go for fancier fare, but these are his comfort foods.

33. What place would you most like to visit?
Some really powerful magical node, or connection of ley lines. That may be where he can get a clue about Gaea.

34. Which person(s) or group(s) are you most loyal to?
Not much of any group gets his loyalty. The team he is working with gets everything he has, though. Good musicians get respect.

35. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the most enjoyment? (WARNING: Answering Sex for this question can and will result in penalties to your character!)
Playing percussion. No contest.

36. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the least enjoyment?
Settling accounts with the bar manager. Gotta be done, maybe even good at it, but it isn't fun.

37. What annoys you the most?
Stuffed shirts. Losers who think they are winners.

38. What (if any) is your favorite form of art?
Music. Duh.

39. What is your greatest goal?
To play the heartbeat of Gaea.


40. What do you think is your characters best quality?
Creativity.

41. What do you think is your characters worst quality?
"Don't have one." *grin*

42. What is the most important thing you have ever done?
Saved the life of a musician who got on the wrong side of some bad people.

43. Which religion (if any) do you follow?
Kashmir Shaivism looks good this week.

44. What is your most treasured possession (and why)?
"Possessions tie you down, chummer." Maybe his djembe.


45. What are your three most common dreams?
A) Flying
B) Burrowing into a jellylike Earth.
C) A big parrot coming around the corner of the house.

46. What is the Characters current relationship with his family?
Estranged. It's not that he doesn't like them, they just don't understand him and don't want to. They want to mould him. Not gonna happen.

47. If the characters family is still alive, what do they do, and where do they live?
They are still in Toronto. Both are investment consultants. "Yuck."


48. Where did the character learn his Skills?

Musical skills came from teachers and practice. Magic skills came from teachers, practice and experiment. Shadow skills came from living in the shadows.

49. Does the character have a good luck charm? What is it, and why?
Nope. Luck comes from within.

50. What type of music does the character like?
Anything with a good beat. These days he goes for old-time Jazz.

51. List any past serious relationships that your character has had, and give a brief overview of the relationship.
Aside from family, not much. Well, maybe that singer who was almost murdered. It looked good for a while, but career meant more to her than to Bongo. He moved on, or maybe she did first. Hard to say.

52. Where does your character live? Why does he live there?
In Seattle now, because that's where a lot of work, both music and shadow, is. But every once in a while he just picks up and goes … "that way." *points in random direction*

53. Remember, I, as most Gamemasters, like detail, so if you can think of any other little details, quirks, or whatever that you think might please the almighty GM, then add them here.



Check the Background and Vignette. If you really want to, look into the "Way of the Yen" IC thread.

Character sheet

[ Spoiler ]

{Karma costs in curly brackets}
Human {0*}
Core Attributes {360}
BOD 3 {25}
AGI 4 {45}
REA 3 {25}
STR 4 {45}
CHA 5 {70}
INT 6 {100}
LOG 3 {25}
WIL 3 {25}

INI 9 (1 IP)

Special Attributes {170}
EDG 4 {35}
ESS 6
MAG 7 {135}

Qualities {0}
Adept {10}
Martial Arts (1) {10}
-Arnis de Mano : +1 DV Blades
##############
Inspired {10}
Perceptive (2) {20}
^ALinguist {10}
Fame, local {10}
- Toronto music community
SINner (1) {-10}
Sensitive System {-30}
Mild Addiction {-10}
-tobacco
Mild Addiction {-10}
- Betel chewing gum
Mild Prejudice {-10}
- established authority

Adept Powers (7 pts.)
Enhanced Perception (1) 0.25
Improved Artisan (1) 0.25
Enthralling Performance 0.5
- artisan, percussion
Commanding Voice 0.25
Linguistics 0.25
Multi-Tasking 0.5
Eidetic Sense Memory 0.5
Three-Dimensional Memory 0.5
^BNimble Fingers 0.25
Power Throw (3) 0.75
Missile Mastery 1.0
Astral Perception 1.0
Missile Parry (1) 0.25
^CFacial Sculpt (2) 0.5
Sustenance 0.25

Initiations {24}
Psychometry {11} (Masterpiece ordeal: "Ruminations on an Old Man's Trumpet"; 5/4 time quartet - 7.14 minutes)
Sensing {13} (Masterpiece ordeal: "Storm Over the Horizon"; 9/4 time chamber orchestra - 15.4 minutes)

Active Skills {206}
Artisan 6(9) {44}
(percussion) (+2) {2}
Perception 3 (+4) {14}
(hearing) (+2) {2}
Assensing 3 (+3) {14}
(psychometry) (+2) {2}
Enchanting 1 {4}
Arcana 1 {4}
Influence GRP 2 {20}
(Con: seduction) (+2) {2}
(Leadership: persuasion) (+2) {2}
(Etiquette: entertainment industry) (+2) {2}
(Negotiation: bargaining) (+2) {2}
Stealth GRP 3 {35}
(Disguise (+2^C) : cosmetic) (+2) {2}
(Infiltration: urban) (+2) {2}
(Palming) (+1^B)
Athletic GRP 1 {10}
Survival 1 {4}
(urban) (+2) {2}
Throwing Weapons 3 {14}
(throwing knives) (+2) {2}
Blades 1 {4}
(knives) (+2) {2}
Dodge 2 {8}
(ranged attack) (+2) {2}
Pilot Ground Vehicle 1 {4}
First Aid 1 {4}
Computer 1 {4}
Data Search 1 {4}

Knowledge Skills (27 pts.) {24}
Music Theory 3
Ethnomusicology 2 {2}
Sound Engineering 1
Toronto Street Gangs 1
Toronto Music Scene 2
Denver Music Scene 1
Tokyo Music Scene 1 {2}
Musical Drum Design 2
Exotic Woods 1
Gaea Theory 2
Magic Artifacts 1
English N
Morse Code 1
Nahuatl 1
Pueblo 2(3^A)
Algonkian 2(3^A)
Cantonese 1
Japanese 2 (3^A)
Spanish 1
Tagalog 2(3^A) {4}
Russian 1 {2}
Swahili 1 {2}
French 1
Igbo 1 {2}
Yoruba 2(3) {4}

Contacts connections/loyalty {29}
Joe Coole 3/3
Mick the Slick 3/2
Johnny Winnipeg 2/2
Runs-with-Tricks 2/2
Fobo Mukasa 2/3
Ando Miko 3/2

Special Gear {14}
Weapon Focus F2 (ceramic knife)
20,000 Nuyen {8}
Bonding {6}

Gear 65,000 Nuyen {26}
Percussion Equipment - drum kit 4,000Â¥
- bongos
- djembe
Fairlight Caliban Commlink 8,000
Noritake Navi 10,500
upgrades: - system 6
- response 4
- firewall 6
- signal 5
Sim Module (hot sim) 250
Trodes 50
AR Gloves 250
Satellite Link 500
Programs - analyze 6 1,800
- browse 6
- edit 6
Computer Toolkit 500
Datachip X 5 1
Mapsoft (6) - Seattle 30
Tag Eraser 150
Microtransceiver (6) - subvocal mic and earbud 1,200
Medkit (6) - supplies X 5 850
Stimulant Patch (6) X 5 150
Survival Kit 100
Myomeric Rope X 10 m 200
Lightstick X 2 10
Middle Lifestyle X 1 month 5,000
Fake SIN (3) 3,000
Fake SIN (4) 4,000
Fake Licenses (4) - thermal smoke grenade 1,600
- flash-bang
- smoke grenade
- ballistic shield
(all licenses are performance related - yes, the shield too, it gets rough on stage sometimes)
Contact Lenses - low light 700
- flare comp
- image link
- vision enhancement (3)
- vision magnification (electronic)
Earbuds - audio enhancement (3) 730
- select sound filter (3)
Latex face mask 500
Nanopaste, small X 6 3,000
Laes-laced cigarettes X 20 500
Psyche - dose X 3 600
Red Mescaline - dose X 8 400
Loco (speedballed Red Mescaline and Psyche) - dose X 3 1,050
Raecon Sting holdout pistol + 4 clips ammo 390
Shuriken X 10 300
Throwing Knife X 10 200
Grenades - flash-bang X 4 1,350
- fragmentation X 4
- flash pack X 2
- high explosive X 8
- smoke X 2
- thermal smoke X 2
Ballistic Shield (6/4) 1,500
Urban Explorer (6/6) 500
Lined Coat (6/4) 700
Synergist Business Line - suit jacket, slacks, shirt (5/3) 1,500
Clothing: cool musician; classy, won't go out of style; workman's jeans and boots, etc. 8,300
TOTAL 65,000 ¥

Karma Earned: {5}
-saved from chargen 5
-Ion Eyez bar 28 April 2010 4
TOTAL 9

Karma Spent

TOTAL 0

Bongo's Favourite Poetry (to be appended over time)

[ Spoiler ]

if this drum

if this drum beats
anywhere at all now

surely one day my feet
might find its rhythm
has spread like grass root
humble bumbling
soft chains of thanks
giving rise to

a spacious
dangerous
gracious
soul
fit to live singing
in this world of wonders.

-- Anna Marie Sewell
Fifth World Drum
Calgary: Frontenac House Ltd.

EDIT: 11 March 2010 fixed contact lenses and earbuds, redistributed extra cash
EDIT: 15 March 2010 changed Initiations to account for ordeals; added Arcana Skill, bumped Contact loyalty
EDIT: 31 March 2010 added poetry spoiler
EDIT: 7 October 2010 inserted 53 questions for completeness in one post

[ravensoracle]

Ravensoracle, are the Background and Vignette acceptable substitutes for the 20 questions?

I will take a real close look at the character tommorow but what I am seeing on a cursory glance is that the contacts are not going to work. Sr4A gives ratings for them that limits what can be shoved in them. Also the avail is increased by each mod. I haven't added it all up but I know ultrasound alone is +8.

As to the Background questions you have answered a good deal of them already so cutting and pasting them into the questionnaire should make answering the rest go real quick. I ain't going to lie about it. All the extra work will make a difference in my choosing. But I am making the 50 Questions mandatory.

[pbangarth]

I will take a real close look at the character tommorow but what I am seeing on a cursory glance is that the contacts are not going to work. Sr4A gives ratings for them that limits what can be shoved in them. Also the avail is increased by each mod. I haven't added it all up but I know ultrasound alone is +8.

As to the Background questions you have answered a good deal of them already so cutting and pasting them into the questionnaire should make answering the rest go real quick. I ain't going to lie about it. All the extra work will make a difference in my choosing. But I am making the 50 Questions mandatory.

Ah! Contact lenses! Gotcha. How did ultrasound get in there? I'll have a look.

OK, I'll work on the questionnaire.

EDIT: OK, I cribbed the contact lenses and earbuds from a character for whom the availability was not a problem. I will fix them.

[BlackHat]

Edit: If I can't think of an easy solution then I might be persuaded to just go with the normal Matrix rules.

Any conclusion on this? I was looking at even a normal hacker, and noticed that there wasn't much point in having any programs at higher than rating 3-4. Sure, you might roll well, and get 6 hits in one roll, but its unlikely enough that its probably not worth upgrading all of your programs. It's not a deal breaker for me, either way, but I'll want to make sure I know which way we're going with this before investing in any high-rating software.

Also, if we're sticking with that rule, how does that affect extended tests? I assume the hits limited per interval? (Otherwise, most extended tests would be impossible, since they often have thresholds > 6).

And how do you feel about the Unwired rules regarding cracked programs. No hacker wants to use legal software (particularly with the bonus to tracking it grants), and nobody has the time to patch up a bunch of cracked software. Assuming we're using those rules (which are default, IIRC), do you want us to pay full price for software at char-gen, even if we want it to be cracked? or could we pay the 10% price for pirated software, acknowledging that it will degrade?

[ravensoracle]

Any conclusion on this? I was looking at even a normal hacker, and noticed that there wasn't much point in having any programs at higher than rating 3-4. Sure, you might roll well, and get 6 hits in one roll, but its unlikely enough that its probably not worth upgrading all of your programs. It's not a deal breaker for me, either way, but I'll want to make sure I know which way we're going with this before investing in any high-rating software.

Also, if we're sticking with that rule, how does that affect extended tests? I assume the hits limited per interval? (Otherwise, most extended tests would be impossible, since they often have thresholds > 6).

Right now I am thinking of just going back to the regular rules. Trying to add TM's with the Stat + Skill rule is a pain in the A*&. I ran it that way in my RL game but I didn't have a TM att the table. I will say to at least make a token effort on having a decent Logic. I am not going to accept a hacker character with a Logic of 1. If you haven't read the main forum, I am asking about the feasibility of Stat + Skill + Program just like all the other skills use tools. If you have any input on that please join that discussion. My biggest beef with the Matrix rules is that they are not in line with the rest off the rule set.

And how do you feel about the Unwired rules regarding cracked programs. No hacker wants to use legal software (particularly with the bonus to tracking it grants), and nobody has the time to patch up a bunch of cracked software. Assuming we're using those rules (which are default, IIRC), do you want us to pay full price for software at char-gen, even if we want it to be cracked? or could we pay the 10% price for pirated software, acknowledging that it will degrade?

I will allow pirated software. You must roll for each piece of software, as per the rules, to determine if you critically glitch and get bugs.

I'd like to see, but it is not a requirement, at least a token effort be applied to communications security during the run. I mean at the bare minimum know when you are on a secure line or not. That is just the training in dealing with Classified material from my military background talking though.

[ravensoracle]

Oh and for an initial test, you will have to be able to enter an area similar to the public areas in any AAA corp's regional headquarters in downtown Seattle.

[pbangarth]

No problemo, dude! Es un ensayo muy sencillo!

[zzyxzs]

Right now I am thinking of just going back to the regular rules. Trying to add TM's with the Stat + Skill rule is a pain in the A*&. I ran it that way in my RL game but I didn't have a TM att the table. I will say to at least make a token effort on having a decent Logic. I am not going to accept a hacker character with a Logic of 1. If you haven't read the main forum, I am asking about the feasibility of Stat + Skill + Program just like all the other skills use tools. If you have any input on that please join that discussion. My biggest beef with the Matrix rules is that they are not in line with the rest off the rule set.

Though it wouldn't address the problem of the Matrix rules not being in line with the rest of the rule set, perhaps a limit to your unaugmented Matrix skills (Hacking, etc.) could be 1.5 times your Logic rating (rounded up)? For example, Logic 1 would be limited to Hacking 2, Logic 2 would be limited to Hacking 3, Logic 3 would be limited to Hacking 5, etc. That might even be a sensible house rule to apply to all skills.

[crizh]

That might even be a sensible house rule to apply to all skills.

I have to say on the surface this idea greatly appeals to me.

One of the things that really twirls my propeller about SR4 is that players are capped at 7(10) for skill ratings and Spirits/Sprites/Dragons/etc are not.

[pbangarth]

I have to say on the surface this idea greatly appeals to me.

One of the things that really twirls my propeller about SR4 is that players are capped at 7(10) for skill ratings and Spirits/Sprites/Dragons/etc are not.

I don't understand.

Sprite/Spirit Attributes are based on their Rating/Force, and so are their Skills. So a Force 4 spirit has its Skills at Rating 4 and they don't get better, unless the spirit goes free, and spends the Karma to build Skills. And Dragons are off the scale in Attributes anyway, so their Skills would not be seriously limited by this rule anyway.

[LurkerOutThere]

But a rating 8 spirit has 8 in it's skill by the book, that is a problem. Ditto for sprite.

[pbangarth]

But a rating 8 spirit has 8 in it's skill by the book, that is a problem. Ditto for sprite.

Yes, but allowing a spirit's Skill to go to 1.5 times its linked Attribute (which is the ratio from zzyxzs that crizh likes) would make things even worse, no?

Maybe I'm not reading crizh correctly. Maybe he just would like metahumans to be able to grow Skills to a level that competes with powerful beings like spirits and dragons. In that case, I see what he is getting at.

[SleepIncarnate]

Ok, between work, other games I'm already in, FFXIII, and working on the sheet, it's gonna take me a bit to finish the 53 question sheet. Do you just want a rough draft of the sheet and what I've got so far by tomorrow, with like a basic background, or do you want the full 53 questions and a fleshed out backstory?