Lifestyle Templates Options

[Wanderer]

What type of lifestyle templates do you find particularly appropriate for shadowrunners, keeping in mind lifestyles are typically used as hideouts and operation base, in addition to living?

I think that a good combination might be:

Area 2 (Low) (to save on expenses: if one invests in security, has little to worry from burglars anyway)

Comforts 4 (High) (if the lifestyle gets to be used as safehouse, far better to have it comfortable)

Entertainment 4 (High) (as above; plus, one gets better matrix access)

Furnishings 2-4 (Low-High) (this is another area where one can potentially save, unless the char really likes to be surrounded by beauty; Low is threadbare functional, Middle is adequate, High is stylish)

Security 4 (High) (keep your equipment safe)

Space 4 (High) (to keep in-house all those shamanic lodges, hermetics circles, and various shops)

Plus, for a for a safehouse-like lifestyle, and some Flaws to cheapen it:

Defensive Setup +0.10
Escape Tunnel +0.10
Inconspicous Housing +0.10
Privacy Screen 3 +0.30
Reliable Utilities +0.10
Cacophonous Neighborhood –0.05
Disgusting Neighborhood –0.05
Horrible View –0.05
Middle of Nowhere –0.05
Rough Neighborhood –0.15

if one also aims for magical powerhouse:
Defensive Setup +0.10
Inconspicous Housing +0.10
Manaline/Power Site in the Basement +0.30
Privacy Screen 3 +0.30
Reliable Utilities +0.10
Astral Magnet –0.20
Bad Reputation –0.05
Haunted 2 –0.20
Infestation 2 –0.20
Middle of Nowhere –0.05

Or for a more comfortable lifestyle aimed to greater relax:

Defensive Setup +0.10
Good Insulation +0.05
Privacy Screen 3 +0.30
Reliable Utilities +0.10
Watertight +0.05
Annoying Neighbors –0.05
Horrible View –0.05
Mail Leftovers –0.05
Middle of Nowhere –0.05
This isn’t Sam’s Pizza –0.05

[Siege]

My GM doesn't use the lifestyle guide -- rather players can buy upgrades as they deem appropriate.

Buying maglocks and installing them, for example.

-Siege

[Jason Farlander]

I rather like the lifestyle customization rules, but havent really had the chance to implement them. I bought the book after I had started up a campaign, the PC's didnt want to spend any money upgrading their lifestyle, and then the campaign died.

One thing I noticed is that I would not want my mage's lifestyle to function as an astral magnet. Ever. Too easy to have that become a very bad thing.

[252]

As I'm finally getting to that part of the book. I'm trying to think of slow ways to incorporate this. My biggest way is hoping people are going to change houses and such.

Then again I might do what Siege said, and just have them buy things as needed to get the different benefits. Though I'm not sure what I will truly do.

[sable twilight]

Mechanic's Shop
This site is perfect for a rigger's vehicle facility. The neighborhood is not really the nicest, being in the middle of an industrial park right next to the highway, but the landlord is really very nice and is desperate to keep the place rented.
Note: This is only the site for the rigger's (or weapon specialist's) facility. The actually facility or personal lifestyle must be rented (or purchased) separately.

Area – Squatter (1pt) – The area is in the middle of an industrial park.
Comforts – Middle (3pt) – The power and water are pretty reliable.
Entertainment – Street (0pt) – What, you came here to work, not goof around. Don't you find engines and transmissions fun enough already?
Furnishings – Street (1pt) – Like a mechanic's shop is going to have much else?
Security – Middle (3pt) – Fairly good considering the neighborhood. Decent locks, night watch, big dogs, it's not like some one is going to want to boost your Entertainment or Furnishings.
Space – Luxury (5pt) – Big enough to house a vehicle facility.
Total: 13 points

Merits:
Easygoing Landlord (+.05)*
Inconspicuous Housing (+.10)
No More Neighbors (+.15)
Privacy Screen 3 (+.30)
Quiet Neighborhood (+.15)
Total: +.75
*If lifestyle is purchased, drop Easygoing Landlord

Flaws:
Cacophonous Neighborhood (-.05)
Horrible View 4 (-.20)
Mail Leftovers (-.05)
Middle of Nowhere (-.05)
Patchwork Engineering (-.05)
Total:-.40

Total Monthly Upkeep: 2,228 :nuyen:
With Weapon Facility Rental: 3,228 :nuyen:
With Vehicle Facility Rental: 4,228 :nuyen:
With Computer, Cybernetics or Electonics Facility Rental: 5,228 :nuyen:

Purchase: 214,500Y :nuyen:
With Weapon Facility Rental: 314,500 :nuyen:
With Vehicle Facility Rental: 414,500 :nuyen:
With Computer, Cybernetics or Electonics Facility Rental: 514,500 :nuyen:

[sable twilight]

Prairie Dog Commons
This was just your typical, run down, inner city, housing project apartment building until a Prairie Dog Shaman moved in. Though her diligent work and effort, she has managed to bring the residents together, form a community watch program, and overall get them all more involved in one another lives. The residents and neighbors have taken to calling the building the Prairie Dog Commons

Area – Low (2pt)
Comforts – Medium (3pt)
Entertainment – Low (2pt)*
Furnishings – Low (2pt)*
Security - Medium (3pt)
Space – Low (2pt)*
*In addition to the base points, there are two additional points that may be spent on Entertainment, Furnishings, or Space. Only one per option.
Total: 16 points

Merits:
Concerned Neighbors (+.05)
Easygoing Landlord (+.05)
Good Reputation (+.05)
Helpful Neighbors (+.05)
Vigilant Security (+.15)
Total: +.35

Flaws:
Annoying Neighbors (-.05)
Intolerant Neighbors (-.05)
Mail Leftovers (-.05)
Patchwork Engineering (-.05)
Rough Neighborhood (-.15)
Total: -.35

Monthly Upkeep: 3,650 :nuyen:

[sable twilight]

The Rat Hole
This location has become the hang out for a group of rat shamans and their associates.

Area – Squatter (1pt)
Comforts – Low (2pt)
Entertainment – Squatter (1pt)
Furnishings – Squatter (1pt)
Security – Squatter (1pt)
Space – High (4pt)
Total: 10pt

Edges:
Defensive Setup (+.10)
Easygoing Landlord (+.05)
Escape Tunnel (+.10)
Hasty Access (+.05)
One Step Away From Everything (+.05)
Total: +.35

Flaws:
Bad Reputation (-.05)
Crashpad (-.10)
Infestation (-.10)
Living by Committee (-.10)
Portal in the Closet (-.20)
Total: -.55

Monthly Upkeep: 560 :nuyen:
Purchase (if you really want it): 56,000 :nuyen:

[The Burning One]

Sorry newbing out again. Which book are the lifestyle templates out of?

TBO

[Adam]

Sprawl Survival Guide has the optional lifestyle rules that these templates are built for.

[sable twilight]

Okay, I'm hooked. Making lifestyles is almost as much fun as gening up characters. Hope you all enjoy the write ups, or at least don't mind me posting them.

Las Ance Motel
This dilapidated motel is a barely a step up from a coffin, but only if you consider having enough room to move around and location private enough to do work that requires a little discretion as step up. The management could care less what goes on in the rooms they rent out. As long as you pay your bill on time, you could probably get away with murder. Some of the letters on the ancient neon have long since burned out, leaving it with the name Las ance Motel.

Area – Low (2pt)
Comforts – Middle (3pt)
Entertainment – Low (2pt)
Furnishings – Low (2pt)
Security – Middle (3pt)
Space – Low (2pt)
Total: 14pt

Edges:
Hasty Access (+.05)
Privacy Screen 3 (+.30)
Total: +.35

Flaws:
Disgruntled Service (-.10)
Infestation (-.10)
Rough Neighborhood (-.15)
Trigger-Happy Landlord (-.05)
Total: -.40

Nightly Cost: 75 :nuyen:
Monthly Upkeep: 2,233 :nuyen:

[Siege]

Go for it -- make a collection of them and post online.

I'm sure there GMs who would love to have an easy reference of hideouts, buildings and whatnot to inflict on their players.

Especially if their players don't know about the related benefits and drawbacks, until discovered through role-play. :grinbig:

-Siege

[sable twilight]

Okay, in this one I intoduced a new Flaw; Nosy Neighbors. Let me know if you all think it is too powerful, too weak, too complex, or the like.

Suburbia
Ah yes, the suburbs. Sometimes it can be useful to hide out in a nice, quite house, in a nice, quite neighborhood. Because all the houses and streets look the same, sometimes it's pretty easy to get lost. Maybe the runners can bring a little excitement to the doldrums. And you can be guaranteed if they do, it will be talked about for years to come.

Area – Middle (3pt)
Comforts – Middle (3pt)
Entertainment – Middle (3pt)
Furnishing – Middle (3pt)
Security – Middle (3pt)
Space – Middle (3pt)
Total: 18pt

Edges:
Concerned Neighbors (+.05)
Good Reputation (+.05)
Inconspicuous Housing (+.10)
Quiet Neighborhood (+.15)
Total: +.35

Flaws:
Ambush Friendly (-.10)
Middle of Nowhere (-.05)
Nosy Neighbors (-.05)*
Total: -.20

*New Flaw
Nosy Neighbors
Value: -0.05
The character's neighbors take it upon themselves to be involved in the business of very one else in the community. The neighbors will come to investigate anything strange or peculiar going on in the neighbor hood, but not out of concern for community, but for their own titillation. Nosy Neighbors must succeed a Willpower (4) test to resist investigating, and will only even try to resist investigating if asked or threatened not to. Treat them as having an Intelligence of 3 for purposes of noticing anything that might be considered unusual or noteworthy, Willpower 2 for resisting the urge to investigate, and Stealth 3 for being noticed themselves. This Flaw can be taken in conjunction with other "Neighbors" Edges and Flaws, each pertaining to a specific set of neighbors.

Monthly Upkeep: 5,750 :nuyen:

[Nikoli]

Um, isn't there a lifestyle flaw like this alerady? not sure, don't keep a copy of the books at work (though I'm tempted)

[sable twilight]

I did bring mine to work (bad me). There is Annoying Neighbors, which make noise, disturb the character with requests, etc., and Intolerant Neighbors, which have short tempters, complain about then noise, and avoid personal contact. The Nosy Neighbors are like all those typical sitcom and movie neighbor types. When the shamans start chanting, the neighbors investigate. When the characters get a bunch of heavy boxes delivered, the neighbors investigate. If the characters happen to have any obvious cyberware, the neighbors want to know what it is, when they got it, and what the operating specs are. Think of the neighbor lady from the old sitcom Bewitched (Gladys I think her name was) or the neighbor from the movie House. It can also be potentially bad for the characters if the Neighbors actually see anything.

[Rev]

The swinging bachelor pad (High here, but easy to abstract to any level):

Area - Luxury
Comforts - High
Entertainment - Luxury
Furnishing - Middle
Security - High
Space - Middle

Edges/Flaws:
Cacophonous Neighborhood (-.05)
Good View 1 (+0.05)

Monthly cost: 10k :nuyen:

[RangerJoe]

I like the bachelor pad's "Furnishings- Middle." I mean, really, all you need is a pimpin' bed, a functional bar, and a futon of some sort when she gets angry and decides to make you sleep on the couch.

[sable twilight]

Adam, I take it you are the same Adam that edits The Shadowrun Supplemental? If so, do you think any of these are good or interesting enough to be included in a future issue?

This next one, at least the premise of it, is a bit more little tongue in cheek.

The Dorm
Not all Shadowrunners are in it for the danger and excitement. Some turn to running to help pay their way through collage. Here is a typical dorm room a collage runner may find themselves living in. Even though the typical University may have excellent, high-speed matrix access, with so many students logging in at the same time, it frequently slows the network down to a crawl.

Area – Middle (3pt)
Comforts – Middle (3pt)
Entertainment – Low (2pt)
Furnishings – Low (2pt)
Security – Middle (3pt)
Space – Squatter (1pt)
Total: 14 pt

Edges:
Helpful Neighbors (+.05)
One Step Away From Everything (+.05)
Roommate From Heaven (+.10)
Total: +.20

Flaws:
Cacophonous Neighborhood (-.05)
Gnomes Under the Floorboards (-.10)
Either Crashpad or Roommate From Hell 2 (-.10)
Living by Committee (-.10)
Mail Leftovers (-.05)
Total: -.40

Monthly Upkeep: 1,880 :nuyen:

[sable twilight]

[Adam]

[simonw2000]

I'll think of some real soon!

[Wanderer]

[simonw2000]

Enchanting Shop (Based on the Facility template)

Area – Squatter (1pt) – The area is in the middle of an industrial park.
Comforts – Middle (3pt) – The power and water are pretty reliable.
Entertainment – Street (0pt) – What, you came here to work, not goof around. Don't you find magic fun enough already?
Furnishings – Low (2pt) – Like a enchanting shop is going to have much else? Enough for between Enchantments.
Security – Middle (3pt) – Fairly good considering the neighborhood. Decent locks, night watch, big dogs, it's not like someone is going to want to boost your Entertainment or Furnishings.
Space – High (4pt) – Big enough to house an Enchanting Shop.
Total: 13 points

Merits:
Easygoing Landlord (+.05)*
Inconspicuous Housing (+.10)
Mana Line Or Power Site In The Basement (+.30)
No More Neighbors (+.15)
Privacy Screen 3 (+.30)
Quiet Neighborhood (+.15)
Total: +1.05
*If lifestyle is purchased, drop Easygoing Landlord

Flaws:
Cacophonous Neighborhood (-.05)
Horrible View 4 (-.20)
Mail Leftovers (-.05)
Middle of Nowhere (-.05)
Total:-.35

Total Monthly Upkeep: 3,228 :nuyen: all together

Purchase: 322,800Y :nuyen:

[Shockwave_IIc]

This is one i cooked up for a character i thought, basically, just got to seattle (or other city) with nothin more then 5000 :nuyen:. Pocket sec took 3k, armour another 1k, weapons 500. so not a whole lot left for living.

Hear goes
Area, Squatter. It changes by night. Never staying in one place to long

Comforts, Street. You simply don't have the money for any..

Entertainment, Squatter. Sitting in a park, watching the ad's on a view board, maybe hearing someone else's radio. Could be a lot highier if the character is the really likable type.

Furnishing. Street. You need a house to have furnishing no?

Security. Street. Not that you need it, you don't have anything. Could be highier by using airport lockers and such.

Space. Squatter. You able to keep the rain of your back most nights.

Total 3 60:nuyen:
merits/ flaws
Easy going landlord +.05 (not a landlord per se. It just amazzing how far that last 5 :nuyen: can go...)
One step Away from everything +.05
Annoying Neighbours (other bums tend to be) -.05
Bad Insulation -.05
Cacophonous Neighbourhood -.05
Cursed Amenities -.10 (public loos anyone?)
Intolerant Neighbours -.05
No Privacy lvl3 -.15
Total -.35

cost per month 39 :nuyen:
To Buy 3900 But why?

[Siege]

I thought the Pocket Secretary was 2k?

-Siege

[Fortune]