Rules of Shadowrun, The dos and don'ts Options

[Inpu]

We were chatting in the Spells are Strong thread when it came up that someone should make a thread that lists the rules of Shadowrun. Here are a few examples:

First rule of combat in the Sixth World: Geek the Mage.

Second rule of combat in the Sixth World: Geek the Ork with the big gun.

Third rule of combat in the Sixth World: If you're an Ork with a big gun, get a magician partner.

DGIF: Drones Go In First.

Please feel free to add more!

[tagz]

Have fun.

Anything the PCs can do, the NPCs can do too.

Use MORE explosives is not the back up plan, it's the last resort plan.

[BlueMax]

Perhaps alt schule for you whippersnappers

Never deal with a dragon
Never trust an elf
Don't shoot till you see the points of their ears

BlueMax

[stevebugge]

Are you talking Do's and Don't in Character or out of Character?

My OOC
Don't Argue with the GM during gameplay
Do have fun
Do have a working knowledge of the rules
Don't be a rules lawyer during play

[D2F]

Perhaps alt schule for you whippersnappers

Never deal with a dragon
Never trust an elf
Don't shoot till you see the points of their ears

BlueMax

You forgot: "Find your own truth!"

Also:

- Double Tap!
- Think before you cheat!
- Always have a backup gun!

[Lanlaorn]

Are you talking Do's and Don't in Character or out of Character?

My OOC
Don't Argue with the GM during gameplay
Do have fun
Do have a working knowledge of the rules
Don't be a rules lawyer during play

Lol, what's the point of knowing the rules if you're not going to correct mistakes. No offense, but GMs who won't swallow their pride are IMO one of the biggest sources of arguments at the table. There's no shame in taking the 30 seconds to check a rule critical to the situation, especially in an era of searchable .pdfs. Obviously for something unimportant people should just make a note of it and point it out later to not disturb the flow of the game, but if it's going to make a difference in how the scenario plays out then you owe it to your players to not fuck it up.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Works for republic commandos, works for shadowrun:

Rule 01: Kill 'em before they kill you.
Rule 17: Always make sure they're dead.
Rule 23: Never pull sentry duty on an empty stomach.
Rule 39: Never say no to a healing spell.
Rule 45: Any crash you can walk away from is a good one.
Rule 89: One's an anomaly, two's a trend.

Other rules I would add:

Keep your back to the wall.
Trust no mage.
Ghouls are NOT people too.
Don't shit where you eat/sleep.

[stevebugge]

Lol, what's the point of knowing the rules if you're not going to correct mistakes. No offense, but GMs who won't swallow their pride are IMO one of the biggest sources of arguments at the table. There's no shame in taking the 30 seconds to check a rule critical to the situation, especially in an era of searchable .pdfs. Obviously for something unimportant people should just make a note of it and point it out later to not disturb the flow of the game, but if it's going to make a difference in how the scenario plays out then you owe it to your players to not fuck it up.

I've found most of the time it's not a case of one or the other not knowing a rule but a disagreement on interpretation or application, if it can be solved in 30 seconds it's not a big deal but if it takes longer than that and there are 3-4 other players not involved in the dispute let it go.

[Hand-E-Food]

Beware of any small child or pet animal that has more than one line of description.

[Lanlaorn]

I've found most of the time it's not a case of one or the other not knowing a rule but a disagreement on interpretation or application, if it can be solved in 30 seconds it's not a big deal but if it takes longer than that and there are 3-4 other players not involved in the dispute let it go.

Ah in that case by all means just pick one interpretation for the night and argue it out afterwards (or take it to dumpshock (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ). I was thinking more along the lines of "you're doing it wrong" than "I think X should be read as Y".

[Daylen]

27 always have an escape plan

28 always have a backup for when plan A through Z fail or don't apply.

29 never piss of the GM in or out of play when its close to gaming time

30 unless you REALLY want to.

[stevebugge]

Ah in that case by all means just pick one interpretation for the night and argue it out afterwards (or take it to dumpshock (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ). I was thinking more along the lines of "you're doing it wrong" than "I think X should be read as Y".

I was in a group once where the GM and a player argued for 20 minutes about the implications of the placement of a comma in an adept power description, that really was a waste of a night.

[CanRay]

Pillage, then burn.

An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody.

Close air support covereth a multitude of sins.

Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.

If violence wasn’t your last resort, you failed to resort to enough of it.

Mockery and derision have their place. Usually, it's on the wrong side of an Ares Predator.

Never turn your back on an enemy.

Sometimes the only way out is through. . . through hostile gang territory.

Everything is air-droppable at least once. Especially enemies.

A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.

Do unto others.

Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.

Give a man a nutrasoy, feed him for a day. Take his nutrasoy away and tell him he's lucky just to be alive, and he'll figure out how to hack a dispenser to get another one for you to take tomorrow.

Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.

The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.

A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.

Only cheaters prosper.

That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.

When the going gets tough, the tough call for magic.

There is no 'overkill.' There is only 'open fire' and 'I need to reload.'

Just because it's easy for you doesn't mean it can't be hard on your clients.

[Doc Chase]

Ah yes, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates, Shadowrun style.

[Daylen]

no one ever see one of these type threads before? numbers for the rules in incrementing values?

52. never leave the big guns at home.

53. when the gm tries to make you leave the big guns at home bring extra ammo and keep the big guns.

54. always have a spare house filled with replacement gear.

55. always have a spare runner for when someone gets geeked

56. always have a spare group for when everyone gets geeked.

57. always have a spare GM for when he gets geeked.

[Doc Chase]

There is no overkill. There's only "Open Fire" and "I need to reload."

Incoming fire has the right of way.

Incoming fire (and Lone Star) doesn't differentiate between friend and foe.

Unless they're the foe.

[CanRay]

Playing a "Corporate Security Force" drinking game while on a 'Run is never a good idea.

No longer allowed to "Experiment" with cleaning supplies while on an Extraction 'Run.

No longer allowed to "Experiment" with cleaning supplies while on a B&E 'Run.

No longer allowed to "Experiment" with cleaning supplies while on a Datasteal 'Run.

Encouraged to "Experiment" with cleaning supplies on a sabotage 'Run.

[Thin White Duke]

As a complete Shadowrun and tabletop gaming virgin this is the stuff I like to read.

[BookWyrm]

Always do the legwork.
The Johnson can (& most likely will) try to slot you one. Emphasis on the word "try".
Leave as little as possible to chance.
If you don't trust your team, don't do the gig.
Always have the correct ammo.
Make sure your permits are up-to-date.
NEVER get the mage mad at you.
ALWAYS get paid up front first.
Make sure you can get to the Johnson if things go sour.

[Daylen]

If you don't trust your team, make sure you can track them down and kill them.
Always have extra types of ammo.
permits are for smucks.
Always be ready to geek the mage, even when he's yours.
Always know where the Johnson's safehouse is.
Always have a backup buyer.
Always steal something to sell.

[Abstruse]

Spend a good amount of time making your plan, because it will save your ass.

Always have a back-up plan because the first plan will never work.

After the first two plans fail, make sure you have enough CXII to blow the place to hell.

Oh, and the classic:

Shoot straight
Conserve ammo
And never, ever, make a deal with a dragon.

[Red_Cap]

Always be ready to geek the mage psyker, even especially when he's yours.

There. Now it applies to Dark Heresy, too.


Mages are like condoms. Its better to have one and not need it, then need it and not have one.

If at first you don't succeed, there's DocWagon.

Never go into a place without knowing how to get back out.

You don't have to get in the first shot. . . . but it helps.

If you see a dragon, run. You're obviously not supposed to be there.

If it bleeds, you can kill it.

[stevebugge]

If it bleeds, you can kill it.

Additionally if it leaks Hydraulic Fluid you can probably kill it as well, but you might need a bigger gun.

[CanRay]

Additionally if it leaks Hydraulic Fluid you can probably kill it as well, but you might need a bigger gun.

"All right! We killed the automated construction systems! Now the Union Workers can get their jobs back!"

[augmentin]

Most would still apply to shadowrun:

[ Spoiler ]

USMC Rules For Gun Fighting
Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns. Bring their friends who have guns.
If you can, make friends with those on the crew served weapons. Bring them as well. Borrow money from them, it gives them an added incentive to protect you.
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
Only hits count. Close doesn't count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.
Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)
If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.
In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived and who didn't.
If you are not shooting, you should be communicating (calling for arty or air support), reloading, and running.
Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting is more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.
Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket."
Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.
In combat, there are no rules, always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
Have a plan.
Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.
Have a back-up, back-up plan in case CentCom or SecDef finds the first two plans "unacceptable".
Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The only visible target should be in your gun sights.
Flank your adversary when possible. Protect your flank.
Don't drop your guard.
Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.
Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).
Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.
Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.
Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a "4."


Army Rules for Gun Fighting
See USMC Rules to gun Fighting.
Add 60 to 90 days.
Hope the Marines already destroyed all meaningful resistance.


Navy Rules for Gun Fighting
Adopt an aggressive offshore posture.
Send in the Marines.
Drink Coffee and eat donuts.


Air Force Rules for Gun Fighting
Kiss the wife goodbye.
Drive to the base in your sports car.
Fly to target area, drop bombs, (try not to hit the Canuks) fly back to your home base.
BBQ some burgers and drink beer in your back yard, and talk shit about the Navy, Army and Marines.