Fast and loose LA campaign, How do I start this thing? Options

[sunnyside]

We usually play World of Darkness, and our WtF GM has a "Shadow of the Colossus" approach to combat - every fight is a boss fight and if we do fight, we have to be crazy prepared. During ten game sessions (long ones), we fought TWICE.

That's probably a bit extreme for typical shadowrun. That said my teams try and push off combat (especially against corps) for as long as possible using stealth and hacking or social skills and whatnot. This in part is due to reiforcements (i.e. the corp they're hitting calls in some hackers, spirits, drones, etc.) Though every adventure shouldn't be a "bust into that building" job.

However, my main problem is pacing - I don't have a clear view how fast should the threats escalate just so it keeps the players on edge, but doesn't outright steamroll them. It would suck if they dropped a metaphorical anvil on themselves three sessions in.

Threats are different in Shadowrun. For one thing because of the glass cannon effect.

OH! If they're new to Shadowrun, there is a think I've decided to always do after trying it out. So you have their hacker or an NPC hacker or whatever with a "rough" feeling of their abilities slap on some trode rigs and load up a "game" for them to play. (The avatars just happen to be them in Shadowrun turns.) Anyway you just give them a couple tries at shooting each other up, maybe have them try and do something else, and, yes, eventually let the hacker do something riidiculous. It's fun, but it teaches them that they can generally bring down the other guys in a single action or be brought down if they're using their good hardware at an exposed target(epecially if they don't know you're there).

4E isn't quite as glass cannony as some of the other editions, but still a lot that way.

Anyway the point is threats are all about how they get to go about attacking you. They'll whup that helicopter full of red samurai, but get plinked off by a mook they didn't see.

Also it's OK to throw a threat at them that's way high, especially if they'd have a reasonable chance to run.

Fighting another shadowteam makes a nice finale for a short story arc. I actually have idea for that - title and concept. The title is "Men Who Hate Women" (there will be a hacker called the Salamander in the campaign, just having nothing to do with this arc) and the concept is working for, and then against, a prostitution/porn film ring. Bunraku "puppets", client with odd tastes, this kind of stuff.

Coll cool. Though remember if they're going up against another shadowrunning team, and they get the drop on the other teams, the big showdown could easily be over by the time you've gone around the table once.

[Seriously Mike]

That's probably a bit extreme for typical shadowrun. That said my teams try and push off combat (especially against corps) for as long as possible using stealth and hacking or social skills and whatnot. This in part is due to reiforcements (i.e. the corp they're hitting calls in some hackers, spirits, drones, etc.) Though every adventure shouldn't be a "bust into that building" job.

Hey, half of a good shadowrun is the planning! I watched Ocean's Eleven, you know! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Threats are different in Shadowrun. For one thing because of the glass cannon effect.

4E isn't quite as glass cannony as some of the other editions, but still a lot that way.

Well, anything that doesn't have clear-cut power levels is glass cannony. I play L5R and WOD, one of my players (Artoo) is something of a powergamer, but even he couldn't create a build that was indestructible from the get-go. Tough, yes, but still having enough vulnerabilities to get whacked quite easily.

Anyway the point is threats are all about how they get to go about attacking you. They'll whup that helicopter full of red samurai, but get plinked off by a mook they didn't see.

Also it's OK to throw a threat at them that's way high, especially if they'd have a reasonable chance to run.

's what I said: terrain effects - they'll be able to get creative with killing mooks and escaping if overwhelmed. Also, enemy morale - I will roll Willpower+something openly after the players do something impressive (one-shotting a guy, using terrain effects for multi-kill) to check if the mooks don't drop everything and panic. Smarter (read: higher level) mooks will also use terrain effects to their advantage (expect corp security to throw grenades to flush the players out).

Where do I find information about tacnets? I think it may come in handy.

[sunnyside]

Well, anything that doesn't have clear-cut power levels is glass cannony.

Well, no. For example take Rifts. I suppose Rifts had levels, but that wasn't such a good measure of "power level." However the point is that character can usually take a few hits (actually quite a few hits) from equivalent characters before they started suffering for it or risked getting shut down.

Therefore the importance of shooting first, or getting a clean opening shot, wasn't such a big deal compared to other factors.

In Shadowrun, even this edition, one attack against an unwary opponent by a player class character can frequently end someone with a PC type defense right then.

As a result who their opposition is will be frequently a secondary concern compared to the manner in which combat is initiated.

Terrain effects are...odd in this edition. High dice pools almost ignore terrain. But having some cover can shut down low dice pool attacks from mooks. This works out...Okish, because players still think of terms of terrain to protect against mookish attacks, and as the GM the mooks can still get some cover for fluff reasons if not tactical ones.

Personally I use a lot of drones

- I will roll Willpower+something openly after the players do something impressive (one-shotting a guy, using terrain effects for multi-kill) to check if the mooks don't drop everything and panic. Smarter (read: higher level) mooks will also use terrain effects to their advantage (expect corp security to throw grenades to flush the players out).

I like that idea. Older editions of Shadowrun (where having six boxes of damage actually severely affected your ability to fight) characters in adventures would usually have something in their descriptions that would indicate that if they took a certain amount of damage the'd make a break for it if they thought they could. In this edition you do already have the rules for getting up after taking a wound.

Where do I find information about tacnets? I think it may come in handy.

I think they were in Unwired, which I actually avoided buying after some bad reviews.

[Seriously Mike]

I think they were in Unwired, which I actually avoided buying after some bad reviews.

OK, checked that one out. That "six sensor inputs required" thing made me think it's not as cool as it would first seem.

Also, in the Deus Ex: Human Revolution thread, we got to a conclusion that Horizon isn't as nice and happy company as they'd like us to think. Where do I look for info about Horizon, apart from CorpEnc?

[Nath]

Where do I look for info about Horizon, apart from CorpEnc?

Corporate Enclaves and Corporate Guide covered Horizon so far. The coming Horizon adventure may contain some info.

[Seriously Mike]

CorpGuide. Jesus Christ, the info from CorpGuide. I have no idea if Kanpur was an isolated case or SOP for Horizon, but either way, there's stuff in Horizon that seriously reeks - although it's held tightly under wraps.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

CorpGuide. Jesus Christ, the info from CorpGuide. I have no idea if Kanpur was an isolated case or SOP for Horizon, but either way, there's stuff in Horizon that seriously reeks - although it's held tightly under wraps.

I am pretty sure that goes for every Megacorp, from A-AAA Status.

[Seriously Mike]

I am pretty sure that goes for every Megacorp, from A-AAA Status.

Sure, but Aztech or S-K don't have this kind of reputation. Horizon is considered "the good megacorp", so people don't expect this kind of stuff from them.

[CanRay]

I am pretty sure that goes for every Megacorp, from A-AAA Status.

Some A-Levels might still be decent. All that means is that they're Multinational, IIRC.

So "Bob's Shipping and Freight" which has offices in Seattle and Portland would count. Sure, they're probably mobbed up, but what business that isn't extraterritorial doesn't at least pay "Protection"?

[Seriously Mike]

Going through CorpEnc again. I stumbled upon the info that the Koshari are slinging Tempo (I figured out it's Tempo after cross-referencing hyphz's campaign reports from Ghost Cartels) - where can I find some more information about the drug?

[Seriously Mike]

And of course, what would LA be without Hollywood? I want to write a blog post about the sim and trid stars, of course with a lot of references to today's stars (like Steve "WINNER!" Cord, son of famous actor Charles Cord (real name Carlos Cortez), or Swiss bodybuilder turned actor Rainer "Wolfcastle" Wolfschloss). Mind dropping some ideas? No guarantee I'm gonna use it, but in case of dry spell you can count on it. Of course the post will have two language versions, so I can brag about it here and at SR's Facebook page as well.

[Seriously Mike]

All right, two brand new questions:
1. Is it possible to fit a "cyborg body" drone (Akiyama, Otomo, Tomino) with standard drone control interface, ie. CPU able to use Pilot program and remote control rig?
2. How hard is it to rebuild a drone into something similar, but bigger? For example, taking a control unit from a Bust-A-Move and fitting it into a five-foot-tall light frame with more powerful servos and battery packs?

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

1. Yes. It is a drone, after all. All it would need is a Pilot Rating. Which you can purchase.
2. GM Discretion.

[Seriously Mike]

Ha. So looking at the feedback in the other thread, a crazy rigger with two to four custom anthroform drones isn't too extravagant as a rival. However, familiar men in black suits and shades are not (I mean, an Otomo is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 150k after all, those guys aren't really disposable).

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Ha. So looking at the feedback in the other thread, a crazy rigger with two to four custom anthroform drones isn't too extravagant as a rival. However, familiar men in black suits and shades are not (I mean, an Otomo is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 150k after all, those guys aren't really disposable).

Well, if you can afford 4 Men in Black (Otomo's) then anything else is just cake. But no, 4 custom drones, as long as they are not better than what you can currently purchase, is not too extravagant. I have found that a Single Otomo can be, and often is, a Killer. 4 is just awesome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Seriously Mike]

I gotta look at drones again and stat those puppets. But I'll look at Otomos again and if my players fuck up really bad, they'll be facing Agent Smith. Or worse.

[Seriously Mike]

OK, things are slowly moving forward. I will most probably make this campaign PBP on a friend's forum, as he already offered help. I also have the first string of missions roughly planned out, involving pompous elves, the Triads, kiddy porn and sleazy independent producers. Oh, also my idea from the "idol singer" thread is so totally in.
Now, I divided the Triads into three distinct branches: 14K deal in drugs, Wo Shing Wo in black-market telesma and other magical stuff and the fictional Hong Shi smuggle people, forge documents and sling BTLs. Any recommendations on where to look for more inspiration regarding organized crime in SR? Because the players will either go to Triads in search of work or piss them off with fireworks organized at their expense.

[PresentPresence]

Vice or maybe 10 Gangs. You could also look at Seattle 2072 and maybe the Sixth World Almanac, but I haven't read that so I can't be sure.

[Seriously Mike]

Yep, Vice looks pretty good. I also made a list of the factions that can offer the players some work (more or less story-related, but I'm not sure what the story will be, as of now):

(V) Valiant Video Entertainment
(F) 14K Triad
(W) Wo Shing Wo Triad
(H) Hong Shi Triad
(G) G-Kingz
(B) Blood Roses
® Russian Bratva
(K) The Koshari
(A) The Ancients
(L) Burning Angels
(M) Milano Family
© Scaletti Family
(P) Pueblo Corporate Council
(Z) Aztechnology
(O) Horizon

The letters in parentheses are an internal reference to my planning (for example, mission lists, NPC alignments etc.).

[CanRay]

Great, chat room gang signs. *Headdesk*

[Seriously Mike]

No, I'm using Google Docs to write everything out, so for example the letters are used to mark the missions (V1 - Casting Call, the first mission for Valiant Video Entertainment, V5 - The Final Cut, last mission for VVE) and during which mission the characters should meet important NPCs (Jimmy Yau, the Triad smuggler, is met during mission V1).

[Seriously Mike]

And we're finally off. The cast:
My ex as Sunshine, the snarky dwarf streetdoc.
The admin as Eric, wheelman slash bum.
The admin's wife as Zara, elven eco-shaman wacko.
Havoc as Jack, Humanis hacker and jerkass of unbelievable proportions. I tasked him with assembling the team, to mirror the concept of my story (the other crew will appear in background).

Now here's a catch: the team from my story also started with the hacker finding the rest and convincing them to work together. But, my hacker is a liberal ork who speaks at least a bit of Russian and the first person he decided to go to was a former Russian paratrooper (and I like Fatum's idea of Russian paras being mostly orks and trolls - sure, this one's human, but she doesn't mind orks at all), so it pretty much worked from the get-go.

[Warlordtheft]

I've been running an LA campaign for almost a year now. I call it my LA Lagoon series. The thing about LA is that you have the Corp Zone (on one side) and the Mad-Max/Waterworld/Escape fron NY side with a horde of Sinless that have been discarded by the rest of LA (or don't want to be part of the crazy LA scene). Read the Cal Free source book (2nd ed), or Neo A's guide to North America (1st Ed) regarding the El Inferno ghetto for some back ground, as well as the corp guide in reference to Horizon.

It is wild and crazy in either side of town. One cause it is great "reality" vid. The other cause well, it is pretty much lawless and the locals like it that way. BTW-black trench coat types are still viable campaigns in LA, it just isn't SOP. Why extract a sim starlet queitly, when you can extract her as part of a new show for the same price?

[Seriously Mike]

So I'm basically trolling the hacker into stealing some material from Persona 2.0. While he has an appointed meeting in a couple of hours. This means a) getting steamrolled by whatever security I can throw at him (fifteen-dice stealth, scan, track, attack and blackout? It took out Slamm-0! in a turn or two, any schmuck off the street is toast compared to that!), b) missing a meeting with a Johnson, c) the Johnson ruining the life of our hacker AND his contact, who happens to be a police precinct captain in Fun City.

Plus, he apparently didn't catch the hint that an ork kept busy as a laborer for ridiculously low pay is a better thing for a racist dick our hacker is than an ork mugging people in the street due to having no job.

[Seriously Mike]

Decided to do some number-crunching for fun. I took combat stats for the whole players' team and my NPC crew. Here's a chart. Pools don't include gear bonuses (with the exception of weapon focus), damage values are default DV for each weapon.

Havoc - Team Players' hacker. Primary melee: shock hand. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: light pistol.
Marx - Team Players' B&E. Primary melee: knife. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: pistols (none equipped).
Katel - Team Players' shaman and face. Primary melee: knife. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: F10 direct spell. Secondary ranged: F5 direct spell.
Judgment - Team Rocket's weapons specialist. Primary melee: spurs. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: SMG. Secondary ranged: light pistol.
Rage - Team Rocket's paranormalist, adept. Primary melee: weapon focus (sword). Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: heavy pistol. Secondary ranged: holdout pistol.
Insight - Team Rocket's B&E and face (build borrowed from Dumpshock). Primary melee: monowhip. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: heavy pistol. Secondary ranged: holdout pistol.
Harbinger - Team Rocket's hacker. Primary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: heavy pistol.
Death - Team Rocket's wheelman. Primary melee: wrench. Secondary melee: unarmed. Primary ranged: heavy pistol.

If they ever go against each other, Team Players gets CREAMED.