[X] My Assistant

[Blaze]

As part of a mad idea I've been toying with I've ended up having to find a way of getting a 'local' running team out of Seattle and into Vladivostok, and given the ware and gear they're packing I doubt they'll be flying commercially. Now, I did this once before, many years ago, using the route out of Target: Smuggler Havens (I think). Of course, that was in SR3. In SR4, I'm imagining smuggling will be a different ball-game. Most importantly, I believe someone's stuck a whacking great spaceport in the middle of the route.

So, my question. Has anyone run the Seattle-Vladivostok route in SR4-era, and if so how'd you handle it? And, as a wider question, in the world of wireless networking, technomancy and biodrones, what new and interesting things is a smuggler going to have to think about when making his/her run?

Bonus point: In the unlikely event a running team decides to try their luck at commercial air travel, how would you handle it- both from their point of view, and from that of the security that'll be screening them?

[Paul]

I've never run it, but I'll be following this thread-as my group is building a lot of Street Cred with the local Russians!

[Paul]

I'd definitely consider reading up on what's along the route!

[Seriously Mike]

I've never run it, but I'll be following this thread-as my group is building a lot of Street Cred with the local Russians!

Heh, I'll be following this thread too. It may answer the question "how a legally dead, wired up chick traveled from Evo land to Seattle".
Anyway, am I remembering right that Vladivostok is an Evo corporate city?

[Makki]

Heh, I'll be following this thread too. It may answer the question "how a legally dead, wired up chick traveled from Evo land to Seattle".
Anyway, am I remembering right that Vladivostok is an Evo corporate city?

This for a start. The team needs to make an Evo exec for a friend who will provide a corporate-only flight. They have their own check-in terminals. That's btw what our travel usually ends up with. The Johnson works for a megacorp and can therefore provide save travel with no law enforcement attraction.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Remember, Forbidden items fall into two categories:

1- The item is illegal in any possible way even by governments and corps. The only possible way governments and corps could legally possess these things is when they fall under "studying and researching for defense purposes". Ex: weaponized virii, neurotoxins, pretty much anything forbidden by the Geneva Protocol.

2- The item is illegal for personal possession but governments and corps may have them and issue them to their members. Ex: milspec gear such as: tanks, fighters, gauss rifles, forbidden ware, etc.


Given these two groups if your group can get fake ID's and licenses that put them as government or corporate officers on a official mission they could easily travel with all their gear. Even so, their will be a data trail leading to them even if the trail ends in fake id's and licenses that will never be used again.
The other possibility is smugling themselves.

I would vote using a naval route, perhaps enlisting into a "fishing travel" through the pacific and using a small boat/sub when approaching Vladvostok coast.
Just my two (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) anyway.

[MK Ultra]

I'd definitely consider reading up on what's along the route!

The Kamchatka pan-insula went through some changes in SR canon. It was severed from the main land at some point, maybe effected by unusual magical phenomena, too, and IIRC is no longer part of either Russia or Siberia. No idea how this will effect the city. Away from books - shadows of asia should have the info, unfortunately, that one is not at my place at the moment either. Maybe 'll give the Almanach a try tonight...

Reffering to OP
I like submarine trips. Anyway, I am sure the old rout from SH (excellent book) is still in use, they will just keep some distance to the spaceport (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Paul]

Hence the reason I said read up on it!

[DMiller]

Our group does a lot of international travel with our gear. The way we handle it is pretty simple. We pay a smuggler to get us close to our destination and let them handle the details. This keeps the smuggling details all in the GMs control. If he wants us to have some random encounter that our charactres need to help with, he adds one, if not we arrive where we paid to arrive after a predefined amount of game time.

The GM bases the cost on the distance and how difficult he feels the trip should be, as well as how close we need to land to civilzation. Costs usually vary from around ¥4,000 per character up to ¥45,000 each. Our team does get paid some reasonably large amounts at times.

As always YMMV.
-D

[CanRay]

Just remember, speaking slowly and loudly will not make you understood, but will make you look like a jerk and probably punched in the face. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Hagga]

As part of a mad idea I've been toying with I've ended up having to find a way of getting a 'local' running team out of Seattle and into Vladivostok, and given the ware and gear they're packing I doubt they'll be flying commercially. Now, I did this once before, many years ago, using the route out of Target: Smuggler Havens (I think). Of course, that was in SR3. In SR4, I'm imagining smuggling will be a different ball-game. Most importantly, I believe someone's stuck a whacking great spaceport in the middle of the route.

So, my question. Has anyone run the Seattle-Vladivostok route in SR4-era, and if so how'd you handle it? And, as a wider question, in the world of wireless networking, technomancy and biodrones, what new and interesting things is a smuggler going to have to think about when making his/her run?

Bonus point: In the unlikely event a running team decides to try their luck at commercial air travel, how would you handle it- both from their point of view, and from that of the security that'll be screening them?

I think the security screening them would calmly and quietly explain why they can't get on the plane, while stomping on the foot button that summons assistance in the form of a heavily armed response team. Unless they have no illegal bits, ware included, which would lead them to just getting extra screening 'because they're shadow-looking scum'.

[CanRay]

Luggage is very important, even if you're light on the stuff inside the luggage. "I'm going shopping for something special and want room for it" is a good excuse, especially if you can name said item that isn't available, but is legal, where you currently are.

Trying to fly when all you have to check is a pair of handguns only gets you asked into the nice little room where you're interrogated for a long, long time. Then, if all your questions pan out, still given a full body check by the Troll with big hands.

[Midas]

Wa-ay back in SR1, the Harlequinn sourcebook had a Bavarian episode involving commercial air travel. Would have to be updated to SR4, but basically should the PCs chose to fly commercially they should get hold of R6 fake SINs with licences for all necessary 'ware and arrange for gear upon arrival. I recall the sourcebook suggested mages and folk with R/F/lethal 'ware get explosive cuffs that explode fairly lethaly if ware/magic is activated on-flight. I imagine security checks at the airport would also be fairly extensive ...

Buying a ticket on a smuggler plane might be more your players style, and would certainly be easier, although if customs are avoided the PCs should arrange for fake SINs with appropriate visas/licences once there.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I think the security screening them would calmly and quietly explain why they can't get on the plane, while stomping on the foot button that summons assistance in the form of a heavily armed response team. Unless they have no illegal bits, ware included, which would lead them to just getting extra screening 'because they're shadow-looking scum'.

Unless, of course, you are not "Shadow Looking Scum."
You can be a shadowrunner and be quite presentable, even for a Non-Face. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Wa-ay back in SR1, the Harlequinn sourcebook had a Bavarian episode involving commercial air travel. Would have to be updated to SR4, but basically should the PCs chose to fly commercially they should get hold of R6 fake SINs with licences for all necessary 'ware and arrange for gear upon arrival. I recall the sourcebook suggested mages and folk with R/F/lethal 'ware get explosive cuffs that explode fairly lethaly if ware/magic is activated on-flight. I imagine security checks at the airport would also be fairly extensive ...

Buying a ticket on a smuggler plane might be more your players style, and would certainly be easier, although if customs are avoided the PCs should arrange for fake SINs with appropriate visas/licences once there.

We just ran this scenario a couple of weeks ago. It was quite fun.

[CanRay]

Unless, of course, you are not "Shadow Looking Scum."
You can be a shadowrunner and be quite presentable, even for a Non-Face. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's called a suit. Own one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

We just ran this scenario a couple of weeks ago. It was quite fun.

Bastards, the lot of you!

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

It's called a suit. Own one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Bastards, the lot of you!

Indeed.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

And no doubt... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Seriously Mike]

It's called a suit. Own one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

It depends. For some destinations, a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, bucket hat, sunglasses and a big-ass camera work even better.

[Dr.Rockso]

It depends. For some destinations, a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, bucket hat, sunglasses and a big-ass camera work even better.

We can't stop here - this is bat country!

[CanRay]

It depends. For some destinations, a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, bucket hat, sunglasses and a big-ass camera work even better.

We can't stop here - this is bat country!

Do *NOT* get that suitcase checked by customs!!!

[Seriously Mike]

We can't stop here - this is bat country!

Awakened bats of the Mojave. Thanks for another horrible idea. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Backgammon]

Seattle->Vladi is easy - get chummy with your Vory friends and buy passage in an automated super freighter. Couple days later, you're there.

By plane, you'll need to bypass Sea-Tac air controllers. Your hacker can easily do that by hacking in an inserting your plane in authorized traffic. This assumes you take off from a private strip somewhere. If you're flying commercial, or using a private plane but from a commercial airport, then you got physical security to deal with. By far your biggest problems. You're gonna need SHITLOADS of fake licenses.

Basically, in all scenarios, Seattle is the only problem. Security in Vladi is easily bought. Just make sure there are no shapeshifters in your group and that you can at least pretend to be friends with the Vory, or perhaps Evo.

[Modular Man]

A few months from now I will try something like that with my character, moving from Seattle to Germany. By now, I'm planning on shipping containers, some hacking and maybe a few fake licenses. I do have some time to get there, though.
Maybe it's a good idea not to bring all your gear in one big chunk. Even sending them via mail (from someone else's address, of course) might be a good idea. Cheap stuff is also easily replaced on the other side - you don't want to get busted because of that latex mask kit, or do you?
Cyberware, of course, that's difficult. Good fake papers, a smuggler or a week living in a shipping crate are likely the best way, as mentioned above.

[Paul]

Sometimes it can be fun on concentrating on the how you get there, but as a GM I always try to keep in mind that you can't always be bogged down by the details.

[Pendaric]

Dont forget the smugglers using the old soviate subs.