Let's Get Gritty (OoC/Discussion. Always Rectuiting!), Chicago... Nuff' Said Options

[Belvidere]

Wasteland. That's what they call it now. Chicago that is. They say that nothing is worth a damn thing anymore. They say that the if the bugs don't frag ya, then the radiation will. They say the only people left there are the crazies and those lookin' to no be found. But what most don't know. They're right. Containment Zone, Wasteland, Drekhole, Abyss. Oh I've heard all the names. My favorite name of all, Home.
Believe it or not, there are some of us who love this place. It's the only thing we know, and it's ours. No corp is going to try and claim this place and only the crazies go into the truly dangerous places. So I ask you, are you up for it? Cause you know what they say chummer. Only roaches and twinkies can make it in a place like this. Care to prove'em wrong?

Welcome on and all to the Let's Get Gritty OoC thread. This is where OoC concerns and comments shall be voiced, as well as dice rolled when needed, though I'd like to keep those to a minimum. I'd like to keep the game fun and fast paced though gritty and grimy just like our favorite hell hole of a city.

Character creation rules are as follows:
-600 Karma character creation
-Standard restrictions on gear, but I'm going to trust my players to get gear that makes sense for their characters. I reserve the right to say "no"
-Your characters can either be born and raised in Chicago, or recently in the Zone. If you're new to the Zone, I need a damn good reason for you to be there.
-I'm going to be using the advanced medtech rules for massive damage, and glitches and critical glitches.
-I am hoping for at least two posts a week from everyone, though I know things come up. If you're unable to get time to sit down and post, just shoot me a quick PM to let me know.

Approved Players/Characters
-Tanegar/Glass-Walker: City Purifying Shaman
-Notsoevildm/Blanks: Ex-Docwagon Medic
-Seth/Umbra: Big Scared Rat Shaman
-Edana/Mel: Genetic experiment gone wrong... or right?

Reserve List:
-Fyndhal/Bullseye: Throwing adept
-Mister__Joshua/Jim: Chicago Survivalist


Please, repost your characters in this thread if you would! Thank you!

For the in character thread...
"Orange shall be dialog."
Green shall be for commlinks. Both text and subvocal, if used. Though please note the difference.
Purple shall be used for thoughts and internal monologues.
And classical white, shall be used for actions and narrative.

[Tanegar]

Glass-Walker character sheet

How is posting dice rolls in a separate thread from the action going to work? Cross-referencing post numbers? If I may make a recommendation, the following format works well in the PbP Rogue Trader game:

Glass-Walker casts a spell.¹

Rolls:

[ Spoiler ]

¹Magic 4 + Spellcasting 3 = 7d6, 3 hits

It's simple, convenient to read, and unobtrusive.

[Edana]

Melanie (Mel)

How long had she been here? The days stretched out into time she could barely comprehend. But she didn't need to comprehend, she only needed to survive. That's what the old woman had taught her. Be the hunter or the hunted, the predator or the prey, these were the choices that mattered in this place. And so she honed the instincts that brought her to this place, an experiment gone horribly wrong, or horribly right depending on who you asked.

Her mind wandered back to the stark white, glimpses of her past. They had poked and prodded, laughed at the little girl she was, taken pleasure in her reactions to the pain. But they had learned fear. Stabbed her one too many times. Her world went from white to red in an instant. The air was filled with screams, their terror only fueled her lust for vengeance.

Movement out of the corner of her eye snaps her mind back from its reverie. It was bigger than normal. They would eat well tonight. Her muscles tense in anticipation. As it passes by she drops from her hiding place and the battle is over before it's even begun. No need to needlessly waste energy. She backs off, knowing she need only follow her prey until the venom works its grim magic.

--

Melanie is or rather, was, a genetic experiment. Eventually the testing and teasing caused something to snap and she wounded or killed most of the staff, allowing her to escape out into the Chicago CZ. There she's been living with an older woman, who took her in despite the girl's anti-social, nearly feral, nature. As she's grown, Mel has made a few friends, people she's grown to trust, and who she looks after in her own way.

Basic skills: Infiltration/Close Combat/Survival

[ Spoiler ]

Demographics
Metatype: Human
Gender: Female
Age: ?? (Appears to be 13 or so)
Height: 1.59m
Weight: 62kg
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Golden
Skin: Olive

Attributes
Body: 4
Agility: 6 (8)
Reaction: 4 (8)
Strength: 4 (6)
Charisma: 2
Intuition: 4
Logic: 1
Willpower: 2

Edge: 3
Essence: 0.1
Initiative: 8 (12)
Initiative Passes: 1 (3)
Physical Damage Track: 8
Stun Damage Track: 9

Current Karma: 0
Total Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0

Active Skills
Climbing 2
Running 3
Unarmed Combat 4
Pistols 1
Survival 3
Tracking 2
Infiltration 4
Shadowing 3
Dodge 3
Intimidation 3
Perception 3

Street Knowledge
Chicago Area Knowledge 2
Chicago Safehouses 1
Chicago Hunting Grounds 2

Languages
English N

Qualities
Genecrafted
Genetic Heritage (Agility Optimization)
Martial Arts (Muay Thai, +1 DV unarmed)
Class III Surge
Celerity*
Fangs*
Nasty Vibe*
Natural Venom (Nova Scorpion, 12P, -2 penetration, 1hr onset)*
Ogre Stomach*
Berserker*
Neoteny*
Uneducated
Illiterate
(*Metagenetic Qualities)

Martial Arts Maneuvers
Finishing Move
Full Offense

Equipment (242,500¥)
Cyberware (52,000¥)
Wired Reflexes II [+2 REA, +2 IP]
Reaction Enhancer 2 [+2 REA]

Geneware (181,500¥)
Bone Density Augmentation 4 [+4 damage resistance, Unarmed DV = STR/2+3]
Cat's Eyes [Low-Light Vision]
Enhanced Articulation [+1 physical skills linked to physical attributes]
Muscle Augmentation 2 [+2 STR]
Muscle Toner 2 [+2 AGI]
Synthacardium 3 [+3 athletic tests]

Neo-EPO [+1 Athletics, +1 fatigue tests]
Qualia [+1 Intuition-liked skills]
Synch [+1 Perception, +1 combat tests vs opponent that has attacked at least once]
Pollution Tolerance [+3 dice resisting pollutants]
Genetic Optimization (Agility) [+1 max AGI]

Weapons (1105¥)
Ares Viper Slivergun [SA/BF, 30c, 8P(f), AP +5]
+ Integral Sound Suppressor
+ Flechette Ammo (60)
+ Spare Clips (1)

Armor (900¥)
Armored Jacket 8/6

Miscellaneous Gear (85¥)
Smart Canteen
Butt Pack

Credits, Lifestyle & IDs (6000¥)
Squatter Lifestyle, 12 months

[910¥ Remaining -- Replace with starting cash roll]

Contacts
Cathy "Gran" Miller 4/1
A woman in her mid 40's, "Gran" is the nickname given to her by the local kids, which Mel picked up and began using as well. She found Mel wounded and exhausted in her garden, and took pity on the youngster, taking her in and caring for her after the escape from the lab. She treats Mel as a daughter, and Mel has grown to care for her in turn, helping to supply food for the household.

Holiday (Street Doc) 3/3
The community's main medical provider, Holiday treated Mel's wounds when she was brought in by Gran. She has since helped him with some scavenging and other tasks, and he has repaid her with a few choice bits of 'ware. Mel is rarely at ease around his shop, but she trusts him enough that he's one of the only people that can get anywhere near her with a needle.

Appearance
An unkempt mess, Mel could probably pass for a cute, if muscular, preteen girl if she took any time at all to care about her looks. Her dark brown hair falls approximately to the middle of her shoulder blades, though it's often tangled and dusty. She wears aged, but reasonably whole, jeans and a t-shirt most of the time. Her heritage is most obvious in the golden cat-like eyes that peer out from her rounded face.

Lifestyle
Mel lives with Gran in a run-down old house, long abandoned. They have a small garden in some space that has been cleared in what used to be the yard.

Background
Melanie is or rather, was, a genetic experiment. Raised in a secret lab within Chicago, eventually the testing and teasing caused something to snap and she wounded or killed most of the staff, allowing her to escape out into the CZ. Wounded and tired from the ordeal, she collapsed in a garden near the house Cathy Miller was living in. The older woman found what she thought was a child, and took the little girl in, nursing her back to health. Unused to the kindness, Melanie didn't know how to respond at first, but she slowly warmed up to 'Gran', as the community's children called her.

Still, her past experiences, generally taciturn nature, an ill-defined aura from her heritage, and apparent lack of aging kept Mel from really being welcome in most of the community. Most respect her ability, but try not to associate too closely. For her part, Mel is mostly a loner, though she recognizes that the community doesn't seem to mean her any active harm, so she prefers to stay near the few people she has made friends with.

Skill Quick Reference

CODE

Climbing        2 skill + 6 STR + 1 NeoEPO + 3 Synthacardium + 1 EA = 13
Running         3 skill + 6 STR + 1 NeoEPO + 3 Synthacardium + 1 EA = 14
Unarmed Combat  4 skill + 8 AGI                                     = 12
Pistols         1 skill + 8 AGI                                     = 9
Survival        3 skill + 2 WIL                                     = 5
Tracking        2 skill + 4 INT + 1 Qualia                          = 7
Infiltration    4 skill + 8 AGI + 1 EA                              = 13
Shadowing       3 skill + 4 INT + 1 Qualia                          = 8
Dodge           3 skill + 8 REA                                     = 11
Intimidation    3 skill + 2 CHA + 3 Nasty Vibe                      = 8
Perception      3 skill + 4 INT + 1 Qualia + 1 Synch                = 9

As far as rolls go, I'm indifferent. PbP usually moves slow enough that even without explicit references you can usually figure out which OOC post goes with the IC post. Superscript links are pretty unobtrusive too though, so that could work as well.

[Seth]

"I'm so happy...I'm so happy..." hums Umbra.

Thanks for inviting me along. I have a busy day at work today, so I will post my character sheet here tonight, and keep this page as a status summary.

Looking forwards to seeing you all in the game


Umbra link to spreadsheet

[ Spoiler ]

Race: Orc
Attributes: Body 4, Agility 5/7, Reaction 5/7, Strength 3, Charisma 4, Intuition 2, Logic 1, Willpower 3, Edge 3, Magic 6/5, Essence 5.0
Skills: Blades (cyberwpn) 4, Pistols (taser) 1, Infiltration (urban) 4, Outdoors 1, Athletics 1, Influence 4, Pilot ground vehicle (wheeled) 1, Perception (visual) 2
Knowledge skillsChicago underground (not criminals...under the ground) 1, Chicago area knowledge 1
Positive Qualities:Adept, Genetic heritage (reakt), First impression, Local fame, Mentor spirit (rat)
Negative Qualities: Computer Illiterate, SINner (criminal), Dependent (easy), Combat monster, Prejudiced (specific, biased)
Adept powers: Combat sense 4, Improved reflexes II, Improved infiltration 2
Cyberarm: Body 4, Agility 9, Strength 11, Large smuggling compartment, Hand razors (retractable: weapon focus level 2)
Bioware: Muscle toner 2
Outer Armour: Urban explorer jumpsuit + helmet. Nonconductivity 3, chemical 3, fire 3
Helmet: Urban explorer internal air tank 2 hours
Weapons:Defiance FX shocker/smart link
Ammo:8 darts
Glasses: Smart link
Contacts: Flare compensation, visual enhancement 3, thermal
Ear buds: audio enhancers 3
Other: Auto lock picker rating 6
Commlink:So what is a commlink anyway, and why would I want one?
Lifestyle: None!
Contacts: Mayor Denby Contact 3 Loyalty 3.
Starting cash: None


Backstory

[ Spoiler ]

Umbra's den was off a main storm drain that led into Lake Michigan. While messy, it had everything that Umbra needed: a stash of food, a place to keep a few spare clothers (needed when meeting posh folks), and a nice safe place to hide Umbra's small set of treasures.

Rat wasn't the easiest totem to follow. Sometimes Rat put Umbra in danger. It was safer outside Chicago, but Rat said there were things here that had to be done. It wasn't easy to get inside the wall, but Rat knew a way. There were others dangers too: there were other people living near here, and there were predators that preyed on them. Rat didn't like that, and Umbra had to do things about it. Sometimes Rat was greedy and Umbra had to go and get some treasure. Still Rat was helpful, and had taught Umbra lots of tricks.

Rat has told Umbra that he needs to grow. Umbra is a person and the people above are people. Umbra needs to learn to be with people. So Umbra is now spending more time upstairs, and is learning about people. Rat sometimes tell Umbra to look after certain people. Sometimes Rat tells Umbra to rescue certain people: it's very dangerous in Chicago.

Some of the people above don't like Umbra. It wasn't his fault that he was very big and little bit slow. They used to pick on him, and Umbra would run away. Once they didn't let him run away and he had to hurt them. Umbra hurt one of them so bad that he never walked again. Rat taught him "always run from a fight, but if you cannot then finish it". Umbra doesn't like to fight but sometimes you need to. The people above don't mess with Umbra anymore.

Some of the people above don't like anyone. Once Rat told Umbra to stop some raiders. That didn't go too well: the raiders had radar and grenades, and Rat's tricks were not enough to save him. The doctor saved most of Umbra, but couldn't save his arm. Rat really isn't an easy totem to follow. One day Umbra will be able to leave Chicago and get a new one.

Umbra likes the Mayor. The Mayor gave Umbra a shinny badge called a medal, and paid for a new arm. Rat says that the new arm is spoiling his magic, but it's better than not having an arm. The Mayor said Umbra had to get washed before he could get his shinny badge. Lots of people watched Umbra get his shinny badge. More people are nice to Umbra now. Rat was right, but not having a proper arm hurts sometimes.

Umbra likes Chicago. There are nice people here. There are no wage zombies in Chicago. Umbra doesn't like Wage Zombies.

Rat says that Umbra has to grow up more. Umbra needs to find some friends to help protect the Mayor's people.

[Notsoevildm]

Glad you liked my character concept. Will post full build later today. I'd prefer to keep OOC to this thread, including dice rolls. I assume we will use Invisible Castle?

[Belvidere]

Yes, invisible castle for rolls. And we'll keep OoC here. And just say what you're doing in the OoC post to go along with the in IC post of you actually doing it.

[Seth]

I just bought Feral Cities (in real paper format). I like the book, and about half of it seems to be devoted to Chicago.

Chicago is quite different from the Chicago I remember in Bug City and I think a very interesting place for a campaign: It's not quite as forsaken as I thought it would be.

[Notsoevildm]

Blanks
The fan on the desk reminds him of how he ended up here. He stands frozen remembering his fall from the DocWagon HTR helicopter as the bug spirit tore into it. He hit the roof hard and watched the chopper tumble past him dragging him towards the edge of the roof. Only his fast reactions and the quick release on the rapelling harness prevented him from following it 20 stories to the ground.

He snaps back to reality, pushing the memory from five years ago into the back of his mind. The ganger is talking to him. One of his buddies is hurt and he has some gel rounds and medical supplies to trade if he can fix him up. His cyebereyes blink behind the protective covers that go with his name. He reaches for his medkit. There is a patient to treat.

[ Spoiler ]

600 karma build

Attributes
Body: 4
Agility: 4[5]
Reaction: 4[5]
Strength: 3[4]
Charisma: 3
Intuition: 3
Logic: 4
Willpower: 4
EDGE: 2
Phys Init 7[8]
Passes 1
Essence: 3.615

Skills
Biotech (Group) 4
Influence (Group) 3
Outdoors (Group) 3

Climbing 3
Clubs (Batons) 3 (+2)
Dodge (Ranged) 3 (+2)
Infiltration 3
Perception 3
Pilot Aircraft (Helicopters) 2 (+2)
Pilot Ground Craft (Cars) 2 (+2)
Pistols (Semi-automatics) 4 (+2)
Running 2
Unarmed Combat (Subduing) 4 (+2)

Knowledge skills
Corp (Renraku) 3
Regional (Chicago) 4
Biology 4
Parazoology 3
Hangouts (Safehouses) 4
Wines 2

English N
Japanese 4

Qualities
Biocompatibility (Cyberware) 20
Tough as Nails (1) 20
Pacifist -10
SINner (Standard) -10
Addiction (Mild, Cram) -10
Flashbacks - (Uncommon, trigger: sounds similar to helicopter blades) -10

Cyberware
Dermal Plating Rating 1
Biomonitor
Muscle Replacement 1
Internal Air Tank
Reaction Enhancer 1
Cybereyes Rating 2
- Low-Light Vision
- Thermographic Vision
- Flare Compensation
- Protective Covers
- Vision Enhancement 1
- Image Link/Recorder

Gear
Armored Vest 6/4
Helmet 1/2
SecureTech Vitals Protector 1/1
SecureTech Shin Guards 0/1
Total armor 8/8

Hardliner gloves
AZ-150 stun baton
Browning Ultra Power
60 x Gel Rounds
60 x Regular Ammo
30 x Hollow Point Rounds
Standard Rope 100m
10 x Pepper Punch
20 x Cram (19)
Earbuds R3
Medkit R6
2 x Medkit Supplies
3 x Antidote Patch
4 x Stimulant Patch R3
4 x Tranq Patch R3
Trauma Patch
2 x Plasteel restraints
Survival Kit
Climbing Gear
Respirator R3
Butt Pack
Quick-Draw Holser

Contacts
Pawn Broker (L1 C2)
Street Vendor (L1 C1)

I might tweak gear if I remember anything I forgot, but will keep it within reason.
EDIT: Seems I forget to include his armor. Sheet updated.

[Edana]

Edited in my basic sheet. I'll clean it up a bit when I finish typing up background tonight. For now, work calls (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) .

[Belvidere]

Glad to see you guys are all so responsive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

I do believe we're only waiting on glass walker and we'll be good to get this game a rollin'. But what are you guys expecting out of this game? Chicago can be a few different things. Are you guys wanting a brutal, survival experience, a gritty in the dirty shadows game, or an escape game?

I rely more on my players for story than on me to railroad you. So I guess the better question is, what do your characters really want to do? Also, if you wanted to work out any way your characters have previously met/worked together/fought, I'd like to know before the game.

[Edana]

For my part, I'm leaning more towards survival first, moving up to the dirty shadows. Mel really has no reason to seek to leave the CZ, and wouldn't be too likely to fit in anywhere else anyway. I'm definitely open to whatever though.

As far as having met beforehand, I could definitely see Umbra and Mel having met before, especially if they were based in the same general community of survivors. The same could be said for Blanks if he fell in with people in the area, since no one will turn down having a medic around (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . Mel's not really the social type, but if any of the others want to work out some sort of history, let me know, it might even give her a reason to be more trusting towards them.

[Seth]

For me an ideal campaign would be a few scene setting moments in which we get to feel the difference between Chicago and <Insert name of big city here>, then perhaps the unraveling of some hideous magical threat. I like Edana's observation that most of us have no reason to leave Chicago. I personally wouldn't want to spend much time in the CZ (the whole place is a mana ebb) I view that mostly as a "dive in when you absolutely have to in order to accomplish some mission" sort of place.

Feral Cities had a load of hints in it, I noted the following but there were many more

• I particularly liked the hints about the group called Technospace...something really wierd is going on there
• The Spire is about to move into level 100. Guards are going missing, send in the disposable runners to investigate
• Some Insect Shaman decides to cast an Alarm Clock spell, and wake the spirits: either we have the Zombie Insect Apocalypse all over again, or we try and stop it
• We get a clue about the Foul one...there is a 2 million nuyen bounty in her.
• A full on war between the Ghouls and Humanis: the Pork Wars
• Some wierd stuff around Elemental Hall
• A new FAB IV epidemic caused by mutation of FABIII

As far as being together: Edana's answer looked good.

• How about putting us in a community, and we are part of that communities "militia". We have to get our food / water from somewhere, and defending the community isn't a bad option. Unlike most Shadowrun games that would link us to the community that we are living in.
• Perhaps we have been hired by the Ghouls to guard the pigs, and are getting paid in Hams (I'd want Blanks to make really sure its a pig Ham mind you...)
• The tried and trusted "Mr Johnson invites you to the Chicago's Own pizzeria" gets us all together

@Edana: Did you spot Freaktown in Feral Cities? There appear to be a load of changelings that live over there...

[Tanegar]

I do believe we're only waiting on glass walker and we'll be good to get this game a rollin'.

Waiting for what? I posted a link to my character sheet in the first reply. Seth's idea of making us part of a community militia group sounds good.

[Notsoevildm]

I was definitely thinking of the survival theme, small runs to find food, water, etc., gradually working up to deal with an emerging metaplot threat.

I also like the community idea. Not necessarily one that we are an integral part of, but perhaps the sort of safe place where people come together to trade. Kind of a post apocalyptic wild west frontier town like the one in the Book of Eli film.

I was thinking that Blanks would be a sort of medic for hire and that his skills would likely be in high demand in the Chicago. I will see if I can get my hands on a copy of Feral Cities to get a feel for what Chicago is like in the 2070s.

As for how he would know any of the other PCs - he could have patched them up at some point in their past.

[Belvidere]

Waiting for what? I posted a link to my character sheet in the first reply. Seth's idea of making us part of a community militia group sounds good.

Whoops, I didn't see that. My apologies.

Well then, I shall get started on the intro post at lunch. As for a community militia, I think it could work out very well. Were you guys thinking it would have structure (Like the American Militia) with ranks and an attempted leadership. Or more along the lines of, "He can fight and they're coming! Go fight!" type of deal?

[Edana]

I don't imagine we'd be part of a formalized militia. Probably more of an "I know/like these people, and they need my help" sort of deal. The community might have a more formalized group, but I doubt we'd be a direct part of it.

Mel at least could be considered an apex predator in her own right, and would likely be one of the people getting food for others. (And getting paid in other necessities in return, though she'd be unlikely to directly deal with most people.)

[Seth]

Anarchy rules!

[Notsoevildm]

I don't imagine we'd be part of a formalized militia. Probably more of an "I know/like these people, and they need my help" sort of deal. The community might have a more formalized group, but I doubt we'd be a direct part of it.

This is more along the lines of what I was thinking than an organized militia.

[Tanegar]

Yeah, when I said "militia" I wasn't thinking ranks and uniforms; more like a group of people within the community who are willing and able to fight, and understand that if there's a threat they're the ones who go out to meet it. There's probably a leader, and the group probably breaks down into teams, but the teams are most likely cliques of friends and/or people who find they work well together rather than squads that people get assigned to. The PCs could be one such team.

[Belvidere]

Alright. So, welcome to C.I.G. The Chicago Incident Group. The rallied citizens within the walls who stand against the grim and terrifying things that seek to exterminate the remainder of Chicagoland.

Feel free to name your sqad if you wish, and if it makes sense for the group of you, assign a "leader". The only person you are considered "subordinates" to is self proclaimed Lt. Foxx. And though he comes off as an asshole, you've seen his soft side more than once. He cares for what's left of Chicagoland, to the point where he'd die for it. And he leads it well.

[Seth]

Here are some ideas:

• The Rat Pack
• Foxes Few
• Foxes Four
• The Squalid Squad
• Chicago's Finest

Of course I think that the Rat Pack is clearly the best name possible

[Belvidere]

I don't know why but when I hear Rat Pack, I get this image of a bunch of Disney style rats looking out over Chicago with determined looks on their faces as the sun rises once more, and they charge headlong into a battle far to big for them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[Tanegar]

Do we have a designated area of responsibility (geographic or otherwise), or are we troubleshooters-at-large? That might inform our choice of names.

Reading "Foxes Few" and "Foxes Four" gave me an idea: FOXHOUND. Now all we need is an antagonist named Snake... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[Belvidere]

When it comes down the the CIG, territory is only something you claim. The group is few enough in numbers, nobody is really going to dispute if you want to watch over a certain town, or if you want to wander between them where you're needed/wanting to go.

[Belvidere]

I am now working on the intro post. My apologies for taking so long, things got hectic around the house over the weekend. But it should be up tonight.