In Neptune's Realm - OOC thread, Chatter on the high seas Options

[Minchandre]

I did not foresee awarding anybody rank/title except the CO as Captain, but I think the Seren's rank would just be translated as Lieutenant. (Which, DH please check me, actually makes sense in most navies for the XO of a small ship.) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You're right; Cherry's O3 which makes her a Navy Lieutenant. I guess Navy O1 is kinda a weird rank. Of course, you have Israel's weird one-fewer-rank-than-most system, but that's not really apparent at O3 level.

[Minchandre]

Penta, how annoying would it be for you to post an actual seating chart? It's not that Cherry's averse to shouting across the table, it'll just help me a little with the RP.

[Penta]

I'd have to figure out how to draw one first, and I have no idea how to do that, but after that, not too annoying.

[Minchandre]

You could just fully list the people.

[Penta]

Yeah, but what way would be illustrative enough?

[Xahn Borealis]

Also, could we influence the seating position? Aquaman would want to sit as far as possible from the thaumaturgical instructor, while still ensuring a clear view of at least one of the elves (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . He's incorrigible, man. (Someone please describe him as incorrigible IC!)

[Penta]

That would encourage them to put him right next to one of the magic-users!:D

[Xahn Borealis]

I'm not sure if you can call that cruel... probably for the magic user! Having some Ork grumble under his breath constantly about "damn spellslingers".... Not fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) So they actually have a seating plan, or is it a case of "just take a seat"?

[Penta]

They do, but I'm not really going to be picky about it.

[toturi]

[ Spoiler ]

Eddy Gutierrez

Ork Adept

Body 4
Agility 5
Reaction 4(6)
Strength 3
Charisma 3
Intuition 5
Logic 3
Willpower 4
Edge 5
Magic 5

[ Spoiler ]

Athletics Group 3
Close Combat Group 1
Cracking Group 1
Firearms Group 4
Influence Group 1
Mechanics Group 1
Outdoors Group 3
Stealth Group 4
Diving 1
Parachuting 1
Perception 6
Pilot Watercraft 1
Thrown Weapons 1

English N

Border Patrol Tactics 1
Covert Ops Protocols 6
Corporate Security Procedures 1
Paranormal Animals 1
Underworld Politics 1

[ Spoiler ]

Addiction(Mild) Betel
Records on File Evo
Sensitive System
SINner

Lowlight vision

[ Spoiler ]

Enhanced Perception 5
Eidetic Sense Memory
Improved Reflexes II
Improved Sense - Sound Dampening, Improved Scent
Sustenance

[ Spoiler ]

Cougar Fine Longblade
Shockgloves
Fichetti Security 600
Yamaha Sakura Fubuki
Ares Predator IV
Franchi SPAS-22
FFBA Fullbody (Fire Resistant/Insulation/Non-conductivity 3/3/3)
Urban Explorer + Helmet 2 sets (Radiation Shielding 6/Chemical Protection 6, Skinlink + Image Link/HUD)
Actioneer Business Clothes (Radiation Shielding 6, 2 Conceal Holsters)
Aces High Jacket (Insulation 3, Nonconductivity 3)
FFBA Half Body (Chemical Protection 3, Fire Resistant 3)
482 rounds regular ammo
50 Betel doses
Sensors: Geiger Counter + Non-linear Junction Detector + Ultrawide band radar 4 + GPS
Rating 3 Contact Lens (Vision Enhancement 3, Flare Compensation)
Rating 4 Glasses (Imagelink, Smartlink, Vision Magnification)
2 Rating 3 Earbuds (Audio Enhancement 3, Select Sound Filter 3) (Audio Enhancement 3, Spatial Recogniser)
4 Ammo pouches
1 Buttpack
1 Smart pack
1 Rappelling Gloves
1 Gas Mask
1 Combat Load Vest
1 Smart Canteen
1 Backpack
1 Survival Kit
1 Hermes Ikon(upgrade Resp 6), Firewall 6, System 6 + Rating 6 Agent(Arm6, Att6, Analyse 6, Browse 6, Scan 6) + skinlink & trodes
1 Latex Face Mask
1 Fake License Rating 4
1 Fake SIN Rating 4
1 Desert Goggles
1 Snake mesh socks
1 Containment manacles
5 Plastic restraints
1 Rating 6 medkit + 1 set supplies
1 Rating 6 autopicker
1 Wire clipper
2 Concealable holsters
3 Standard flashlight
1 Quickdraw holster
1 Sling
1 Tag Eraser
1 Voice Mask
1 OXSYS Artificial Gill
200 Shocklock rounds
5 Flash grenades
5 Flashbang grenades
10 Gas grenades (5 Neurostun, 5 Breathtaker)
50 doses Body Paint
50 dry lubricant

John Clark 3/3 Fixer contact

Penta: As you can see, there is still about 20k nuyen left for me to spend to round up some odds and ends. I realised that I didn't really need so much resources, so I put some of the karma back into Cracking 1 and a 3/3 Fixer Contact if it is ok.

Rest of the crew: Eddie needs to be flexible in his job, so I built him accordingly. But that makes him a jack of many trades and master of Perception. I would say that he is a utility guy unless there is a lookout/spotter position for him to fill but Intel/Navigator would be fine.

[Minchandre]

So, I'm gonna wait until after DH posts, because he's presumably going to accept CO, and I want to do XO, so it seems good that I'll wait until after him.

[Faraday]

I'm debating on purser. Doc Roger might haev a little too much on his plate as part of the intel team AND as Medical officer of the boat already.

[Xahn Borealis]

Aquaman? "I'll be your pilot for the following trip, cos I'm the best damn pilot in the CAS." He's not an ambitious guy. He will not be standing up for CO, XO, or purser. He WILL be trying for engineering, and navigator. Also, pilot. Did I mention that?

[Penta]

I'm debating on purser. Doc Roger might haev a little too much on his plate as part of the intel team AND as Medical officer of the boat already.

Purser seriously takes maybe an IC hour to train, max, if your character knows basic HS Algebra. (It's basically a really quick introduction to basic accounting principles and to the software used, and an overview of dos and don'ts.) After the loan activates, it ICly requires no more than occasional updating of the records to be purser. The thing is that it requires absolute accuracy in those records, and a head for details. ICly, you really would be expected to account for every cent of money in and money out. That said, I would consider it done off-camera, and let you focus on the fun stuff of being the doc and one of the intel folks.

OOC purser (which we don't have yet, and don't strictly need, but it would be nice to have one to back me up) probably takes more initially because purely of the excel-fu required to set up usable sheets - one for a track of ship funds, one to track loan repayments (there's no interest because calculating that makes me want to cry), one to track plain money in/money out. (On the other hand? There's 1 karma available if you have the excel-fu to set up all three sheets and make them look good and be usable.) No, OOC purser and IC purser do not need to be the same person. No, my excel-fu is not good enough to set it up on my own. I just do not know Excel 2007 (or any version of Excel, really) well enough. After that, I'll do most of the data entry on my own, just relying on the OOC purser to keep backups and check my numbers.

Yes, I foresee excel being handy in this campaign. Not my intention going in (I was trying to avoid getting complex in any way, not wanting to scare people off), but I considered it this morning, and it strikes me as being helpful to track the money-handling that will matter in this campaign. Possibly also supply-tracking, on an OOC basis.

[Penta]

Penta: As you can see, there is still about 20k nuyen left for me to spend to round up some odds and ends. I realised that I didn't really need so much resources, so I put some of the karma back into Cracking 1 and a 3/3 Fixer Contact if it is ok.

I would say he'd be excellent as an intel collector - I debate as to whether or not the UCAS would attempt a friendly debriefing. Really, toturi, up to you, it'd be something we'd RP off-thread (say via email or IM, PM is really suboptimal for RP) and then possibly post. It'd be for the character development. really. I don't foresee offering karma unless there's really good RP.

He'd also likely do well as a backup navigator, or perhaps primary.

I'll approve the cracking skill - I'd like info about the contact so I can RP him and stuff, but you don't need to provide that on-thread; numberswise he seems acceptable, I just would like more than a name and that he's a fixer.

Otherwise, spend that 20k nuyen soon (if you didn't redirect the BP/karma, I'm not sure) so I can close out your sheet and lock it down for play, please.

[toturi]

I would say he'd be excellent as an intel collector - I debate as to whether or not the UCAS would attempt a friendly debriefing. Really, toturi, up to you, it'd be something we'd RP off-thread (say via email or IM, PM is really suboptimal for RP) and then possibly post. It'd be for the character development. really. I don't foresee offering karma unless there's really good RP.

He'd also likely do well as a backup navigator, or perhaps primary.

I'll approve the cracking skill - I'd like info about the contact so I can RP him and stuff, but you don't need to provide that on-thread; numberswise he seems acceptable, I just would like more than a name and that he's a fixer.

Otherwise, spend that 20k nuyen soon (if you didn't redirect the BP/karma, I'm not sure) so I can close out your sheet and lock it down for play, please.

His contact was his ex-handler back in Yamatetsu who also went independent; recently he has been keeping a low profile in Boston (hence the street fixer Connections Rating of 3).

I will probably be spending the nuyen on miscellaneous gear. I just want to be sure I didn't miss out any essential equipment that he would have had. I wouldn't mind if you simply lump into Miscellaneous and if Eddie would reasonably have gotten a backpack to carry his gear in but I forgot to get him one, he actually has a backpack. Or else I would have to do the accounting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Dumori]

I've got a smaller version on that on my sheet. my last batch of nuyen is spent on odds and end as well and matrix games weapons and cyberware catalogs ect. I guess I better get to posting him up. You guys mind if I host it on my wiki and juts link?

[Penta]

Okay, about breakfast:

For my sanity, I'm not going to even try to RP all of the characters mentioned. Instead, I'll reply to particularly interesting posts, and otherwise provide brief character sketches of the instructor team below.

Walker quickly shows the meaning of "an officer and a gentleman", even more than Roberts. He seems to know a little about everything - it's easy to see why he's reached as high as he has: Sheer intelligence. He's fairly guarded when you try to talk shop with him - by his comments, this is his first meal of the day, which might explain why he isn't talking overly much.

Roberts is more relaxed than any of you have ever known him. He seems genuinely excited about what's to come, and versus Walker's focus on his food, he's happy to chat while eating (politely). He actually seems to have done the smart thing and had something small before everyone arrived, unlike his boss.

Ramirez is a big, burly guy. He's happy to talk about what he teaches, to give the less-experienced characters a hint into why someone would serve. He's a sports fan, too, especially of Urban Brawl.

Lynch is more of an intellectual - he'll discuss current events, fishing, sailing, boating...Combat Biking...Skydiving.

Benitez is a gearhead. Through and through. She isn't uncomfortable around her fellow servicemembers, or the runners, but she gravitates naturally towards seeking fellow geeks to talk geeky stuff with.

Grant...When you think of Grant, think of a classic fighter pilot. That is what this guy is. A jock in uniform. Despite the Captain's admonishment not to talk shop, he loves to talk about flying. However, respecting said admonition, he won't talk military flying. He flies a Cessna in his spare time. He'll happily talk about that. He also works on cars.

Vaccaro is seriously the intellectual of the group, something that may shock those with preconcieved notions about orks. He thoroughly enjoys the moment when those notions go running splat into the fact that this guy graduated from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson center of International Studies...After going through on an academic scholarship. Only when he decided not to do grad school did he choose Navy OCS. He knows a lot about the region, it quickly becomes apparent.

Esteban is a hermetic mage...A classic one in personality. He wears the brass beaver ring of an MIT&T graduate, and it shows in his personality. He'll talk current events, magic...baseball (he's a Red Sox fan)...Magic...Engineering...Magic.

Taylor is tall, charming, dashing...Physically fit...Unusual traits for a hacker, definitely not stereotype. However, he quickly shows himself to be just as much a geek as the other hackers aboard. He just happens to have social skills. A ring on one of his fingers marks him as a graduate of the UCAS Naval Academy at Annapolis, to knowledgable observers.
---

I'm not going to make up a seating chart. If you aren't Salt, don't worry about where you sit - there's no seniority being enforced, for mil or runner, at this meal anyway. 9 instructors and 8 runners - Walker sits at the center of the left-hand side of the table, Salt and Roberts as indicated, and then it alternates on either side between runner and teacher, using the other side of the table to keep everyone clustered close for easy conversation and stuff movement. No shouting down the table necessary, really. Just presume that you guys are sprinkled throughout - far enough apart that the runners can't really stick to themselves without seeming odd, but close enough that everybody can converse.
===

This next is unrelated to anything, but I want to include it on the thread anyway before I forget. A brief summary of what is publicly known about the current situation surrounding this whole mission:

Throughout 2071 and 2072, tensions with Aztlan have been at a fever pitch over a whole host of issues. The UCAS is basically not-really-on-speaking-terms with the Azzies, and the CAS is officially at war with em (see the split of Texas, the Ochre Line around Austin, etc), so there's an incentive to move against em. Subtly, because there's *no way in hell* the UCAS on its own would want to take on Aztlan/Aztechnology in open war. They'd possibly win, especially with CAS support, but it would likely be Pyrrhic. At the same time, the UCAS has been unpleasantly surprised by numerous small things taking place in the OPAREA, most especially the heating up of tensions between Aztlan and Amazonia (See Ghost Cartels for an example. Yes, Tempo and the related events happened as depicted.).

That said, this campaign is not strictly "beat on the Azzies", though they are a major geopolitical factor. After breakfast, I can have Walker do a quick briefing/speech (in BitW I did it out on the dock due to character questions, but this group is different (which is great) and it never came up there), laying out certain things to the runners before inprocessing and the start of training. In part it lays out the situation, in part it lays out terms and conditions...I'll probably have to rewrite it heavily, but I can still do it if you guys think we've left important things unaddressed.

[Penta]

His contact was his ex-handler back in Yamatetsu who also went independent; recently he has been keeping a low profile in Boston (hence the street fixer Connections Rating of 3).

I will probably be spending the nuyen on miscellaneous gear. I just want to be sure I didn't miss out any essential equipment that he would have had. I wouldn't mind if you simply lump into Miscellaneous and if Eddie would reasonably have gotten a backpack to carry his gear in but I forgot to get him one, he actually has a backpack. Or else I would have to do the accounting (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Sure that works. I may pester you for more details re the contact, but that works for now.

[Penta]

I've got a smaller version on that on my sheet. my last batch of nuyen is spent on odds and end as well and matrix games weapons and cyberware catalogs ect. I guess I better get to posting him up. You guys mind if I host it on my wiki and juts link?

Not at all. Heck, if you guys want to set up a wiki just for this campaign and put all the character sheets there, I'm not opposed. It just has to stay up.

[Dumori]

I think my one for fields of fire my old merc game is still up. So I'll likely just re-claim it.

[Minchandre]

I'm bored of waiting for DH; I'll post in a few hours when I'm home, but assume that Cherry's XO-ness comes after Salt's CO-ness.

[Minchandre]

By the way, I left Cherry's conversational engagement intentionally vague. Feel free to talk to her etc. I'd rather talk to players than NPCs (no offense, NPCs. We love you, too).

[Xahn Borealis]

I should've mentioned after my first post, Aquaman's obvious cyberarm has a cybergun and a light pistol in a cyberholster, when asked to check weapons should he hand over the arm (it's modular) or just the gun? I think it would be more of a conversation starter if he gave up the arm, just to emphasise that his cyberarm was originally meant to be a prosthesis for a lost arm, rather than just another augmentation with Capacity slots.

[Dumori]

At least sharky only has to hand over the gun in his slide and the combat knife in his leg holster. He has an other blade in thelarge summgling compartmen in his leg but he'll keep that if he can. It goes with his survival kit in there as his last ditch equipment.