Your Avarage Shadowrunner & Enemies/Goons, Help the noob GM, earn Karma Options

[Stahlgewitter]

My next project is going digital. 14 dice, the main rulebook and character sheets. The rest will be on my laptop. Chummer (and its dice roller), excel tables for modifiers and rule reminders, name generators (because I suck at names) and pdfs for quick referance. Let's face it, Shadowrun is a slow game; I try to streamline it as much as possible. I don't like writing down statistics, especially for grunts; that's why I asked the "avarage dice pool". Thanks for the high/low dices, by the way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Now that I think about it, I should probably make a generic pool of NPCs for emergency purposes.
Anyway,

Question of the day: What is your take on the "3 separate worlds" problem? Spells are cast in the meat world so no problem there. I haven't read the awakened world in detail (yet. tech first, magic second. this is cyberpunk after all), so no idea on the astral. Hacking in combat = extended tests = the player rolls the dice and waits for its turn, gets bored. Also, I need imaginative ways to wreak havoc once I hack in a commlink.

P.S: It's been ages since I wrote something in English. Damn...

man i feel with you, writing without practice is so hard ^^

yeah i also planned going digital a long time, by now ive gotten all books, progs, maps etc on my pc.
next step is buying a few cheap tablets and a little programming.

i would love if something like that would come from pegasus or the american producers of SR but it seems, nothing like that on the way.
heck i would even pay monthly if i get a cool database like the first weapon/implant books (with shadowtalk) for shopping, a SR google earth and some programs for interactive combat etc
it would make playing way more comfort!

and why the hell is there no official Character generator? i love the work some dudes did with excel but it shouldnt have to be done by fans

[Stahlgewitter]

whoops double post, sry

[stevebugge]

i would love if something like that would come from pegasus or the american producers of SR but it seems, nothing like that on the way.
heck i would even pay monthly if i get a cool database like the first weapon/implant books (with shadowtalk) for shopping, a SR google earth and some programs for interactive combat etc
it would make playing way more comfort!

and why the hell is there no official Character generator? i love the work some dudes did with excel but it shouldnt have to be done by fans

Probably the answer is money. Developers don't work for free, this would be a lot of work and it would have to turn a profit, subscriptions would probably be expensive or you'd have to sell a lot of them

[Stahlgewitter]

Probably the answer is money. Developers don't work for free, this would be a lot of work and it would have to turn a profit, subscriptions would probably be expensive or you'd have to sell a lot of them

i dont see a problem with the money, they could start small.
for start, a simple combat prog (init/damage/spells/weapon/modifiers) and a small Database.
Also for the Database theres not much to write, its more like scan/correct/edit.
Also add Core Rules and a Chargenerator

and you can sell it for all the pads out there, heck it would even give them new costumers.

Face reality, we have 2011 nobodys gonna buy or carry tons of books if he can get it all on chip and slot it in a 200dollar pad
(first gen pads are more then enough for playing SR)

[stevebugge]

i dont see a problem with the money, they could start small.
for start, a simple combat prog (init/damage/spells/weapon/modifiers) and a small Database.
Also for the Database theres not much to write, its more like scan/correct/edit.
Also add Core Rules and a Chargenerator

and you can sell it for all the pads out there, heck it would even give them new costumers.

Face reality, we have 2011 nobodys gonna buy or carry tons of books if he can get it all on chip and slot it in a 200dollar pad
(first gen pads are more then enough for playing SR)

2011 or not I far prefer my physical dice and bag of books to computers. It is a personal taste thing but a big part of the appeal of SR is getting away from the computer and having some interaction with real people.

I personally have considered banning laptops at the table because more often than not people are not paying attention to the game.

If all they do is scan and proof read not many will buy it, they would just use the existing PDF. This really would need to have some added value to make it attractive to buy.

[Daylen]

2011 or not I far prefer my physical dice and bag of books to computers. It is a personal taste thing but a big part of the appeal of SR is getting away from the computer and having some interaction with real people.

I personally have considered banning laptops at the table because more often than not people are not paying attention to the game.

If all they do is scan and proof read not many will buy it, they would just use the existing PDF. This really would need to have some added value to make it attractive to buy.

You don't like it when someone plays UA and only pays enough attention to roll dice now and then?

[stevebugge]

You don't like it when someone plays UA and only pays enough attention to roll dice now and then?

That would be an improvement actually, what really gets me is

"OK you're getting ready to meet with Mr. Johnson, anyone taking any actions?"

"OMG someone redid the hamster dance with squirrels wearing codpieces check it out"

[Borbag]

My friends are like cats; if it's shiny and moving they get distracted (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) So laptops are GM only.

As a player I also prefer normal dice and character sheets, hell i got every kind of dice set (d6, d10, d20&co) just in case. Players use normal dice; I use dice rollers to speed things along. Well that's the idea anyway, I haven't tried it out yet.
As for the bag of books... I wish. Shadowrun is not a popular game in here (rpg is not a popular hobby) so I can only buy books online. Usually shipping costs half as much as the book so... yeah.

Chummer is a beautiful character generator. It has its issues, but it's far better than excel tables. The developers could include tech support with bundle products like Runner's Toolkit. But marketing and selling software is too much hassle.

And roll-players suck.

[Stahlgewitter]

That would be an improvement actually, what really gets me is

"OK you're getting ready to meet with Mr. Johnson, anyone taking any actions?"

"OMG someone redid the hamster dance with squirrels wearing codpieces check it out"

such things only happen 1 time, after loosing a leg or an arm for not paying attention players tend to pay attention (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[Borbag]

That would be an improvement actually, what really gets me is

"OK you're getting ready to meet with Mr. Johnson, anyone taking any actions?"

"OMG someone redid the hamster dance with squirrels wearing codpieces check it out"

And the main act of tonight's nightmares will feature squirrels wearing codpieces doing the hamster dance.
Note to self: Stay away from the internet when it's bedtime.

[Daylen]

That would be an improvement actually, what really gets me is

"OK you're getting ready to meet with Mr. Johnson, anyone taking any actions?"

"OMG someone redid the hamster dance with squirrels wearing codpieces check it out"

I'm sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Jet]

I would suggest to you to sit down with your group and discuss the game you want to run. Then have everyone at least talk about characters. Ideally have them sit down and make up their group. If you are there then you can gauge what kind of game you are going to get, as opposed to the one you intended to run.

This is not a necessity, but it has worked for me when I could do it. Otherwise I end up with one rules molester with 25+ dice in "Kill NPC", a pacifist healing mage, an intrusion expert who does not work with others and avoids all combat, an infected physad who is keeping this terrible secret from the world, a rigger who never leaves his SUV turned poor man's MIG-67 because the Arsenal book allows "those mods", and a face who doesn't get out of bed for less than 100,000 nuyen.

What I love about Shadowrun is the above can still work. But if you get in on the ground floor you can see what your players are wanting and what they are making. By making up an established team to start with they and you can get a feel for things before the first shell casing hits the barroom floor and you can get a feel for the runs that will work and what won't. They may suprise you (my players do all the time) but if 75% of your group are demolition gunbunnies who don't sneak then I cannot see Mr. Johnson hiring them for missions requiring discretion.

I always thought shadowrunning was a little like Hollywood; you can be typecast. This is not always bad as your fixer knows you are a sniper who specializes in those hard to hit targets so he should not be throwing hacking runs at you. Ditto if you have a rep for passing on wetwork so why would he waste his time and yours with runs you won't touch. If your rep says your jobs are loud then loud jobs will come your way and so on and so forth.

Another thing I like to do are flavor runs. The threat is negligible, the payout is nominal, but it lets me showcase the world and gives the PC an opportunity to interact and just plain see how my world works. A little individual time for each PC if you can manage it pays out huge dividends.

[Paul]

I would suggest to you to sit down with your group and discuss the game you want to run. Then have everyone at least talk about characters. Ideally have them sit down and make up their group. If you are there then you can gauge what kind of game you are going to get, as opposed to the one you intended to run.

This. Number one thing most people seem to skip is simple communication. It doesn't have to be a super complex conversation, but I think you should at least cover the basics: don't be a dick, here's what I as a GM expect and want so what do you guys want or expect?

It's surprising sometimes what people will throw out at you. I've run entire campaigns based off of player suggestions.

[stevebugge]

I end up with one rules molester with 25+ dice in "Kill NPC", a pacifist healing mage, an intrusion expert who does not work with others and avoids all combat, an infected physad who is keeping this terrible secret from the world, a rigger who never leaves his SUV turned poor man's MIG-67 because the Arsenal book allows "those mods", and a face who doesn't get out of bed for less than 100,000 nuyen.

What I love about Shadowrun is the above can still work. But if you get in on the ground floor you can see what your players are wanting and what they are making. By making up an established team to start with they and you can get a feel for things before the first shell casing hits the barroom floor and you can get a feel for the runs that will work and what won't. They may suprise you (my players do all the time) but if 75% of your group are demolition gunbunnies who don't sneak then I cannot see Mr. Johnson hiring them for missions requiring discretion.

For everyone who's ever had to have the Johnson use the line "I was looking to hire professionals, but given my budget and time frame you'll have to do"

[Paul]

It's hard to keep a straight face when you say "I've hired you because you're professionals." sometimes.

[Sengir]

The guy that introduced me to SR has vanished from the face of the Earth.

Isn't there a bug hive somewhere under Istanbul/Constantinople?

[SoyKaf Adict]

I'm actually a new GM myself, mind you, I've read the books religiously. Yes, I do prefer the hard cover books to a collection of scroll wheel bait. I just get more out of it when flipping pages at my leisure, and being able to switch book to book as needed without much wait time.

I have this new group, only one has ever role-played before. Yes, I have reached a fabled station in all of gamer-dom, I actually have more than one female playing XD, better part is, if they're playing a face character I can actually go through the motions without having to vomit, far from it. So, they're still really wet behind the ears and even I can have all the book knowledge I want, but without previous exposure to running anything that actually lasted a whole mission. One thing I have been to go "on-the-fly" with: Take the highest of each attribute and the name of the character who owns it. Everything I throw at them currently is that stat or lower, since they're just starting out. This makes sure that everything is at least on par, unless I'm planning on throwing anything like a Dragon out at them. I don't imagine they'll get me to that point of pissed off XD

I was gonna ask, each tradition has a set of spirits, IE. Combat: Fire, Detection: Guidance. So if the Mage conjures a spirit for combat it'll only be a fire spirit? I'm also lost on what Task, Guidance, and other undefined spirits utilize. I'm not sure how to work them in if the character wants to craft a tradition that emphasizes one of them.

I think Catalyst would make money on a "Shadowrunning for Mundanes" book XD, so many amorphous rules and unexplained entities. Like, I have no clue how my matrix actions with the group's hacker should be set up.

[Glyph]

I was gonna ask, each tradition has a set of spirits, IE. Combat: Fire, Detection: Guidance. So if the Mage conjures a spirit for combat it'll only be a fire spirit? I'm also lost on what Task, Guidance, and other undefined spirits utilize. I'm not sure how to work them in if the character wants to craft a tradition that emphasizes one of them.

No, spirits can be conjured for a variety of purposes. They are associated with a certain type of spell because they can only provide magical services for that category of spell. In other words, there is nothing wrong with sending a fire spirit out to look for someone, or burn through a door, but if you need it to do Aid Sorcery, it can only provide this assistance for combat spells.

[Daylen]

No, spirits can be conjured for a variety of purposes. They are associated with a certain type of spell because they can only provide magical services for that category of spell. In other words, there is nothing wrong with sending a fire spirit out to look for someone, or burn through a door, but if you need it to do Aid Sorcery, it can only provide this assistance for combat spells.

I'm sure a fire elemental could assist in the casting of Bigby's Turkey Roast.

[Borbag]

For everyone who's ever had to have the Johnson use the line "I was looking to hire professionals, but given my budget and time frame you'll have to do"

This made me laugh so hard (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Flavor runs seems like a good idea (if you have the time).

[Paul]

I think Catalyst would make money on a "Shadowrunning for Mundanes" book XD, so many amorphous rules and unexplained entities. Like, I have no clue how my matrix actions with the group's hacker should be set up.

My advice is if you're running a new, and inexperienced group is first find out if anyone even wants to play a hacker. if not, subcontract it and deal with it when you guys have more time. If someone does have the desire to play a hacker or technomancer sit down ahead of time with them, or hash it out via email. Keep in game time spent looking up rules to a minimum-and make sure they understand that's how it will be. We use the 45 second rule. 45 seconds, and no more, is spent looking up a rule then I make a call on the field, which stands until the game is over. Then we can spend as much time as we'd like being nerds with books.

[SoyKaf Adict]

No, spirits can be conjured for a variety of purposes. They are associated with a certain type of spell because they can only provide magical services for that category of spell. In other words, there is nothing wrong with sending a fire spirit out to look for someone, or burn through a door, but if you need it to do Aid Sorcery, it can only provide this assistance for combat spells.

Thanks, I had no idea where it said that in the main book (if at all), I do own Street Magic, but it's really hard to memorize everything one would think was key to making a solid magician. Sometimes, I can't even find that type of info.

-Lodges, how to make one, who can make one, and what do they offer?
-Spirits, getting a basic rundown, like lodges. Most info is in Street Magic, but a play-by-play of the life and "death" of a bound spirit would help immensely as a cheat sheet.
-Figuring in background counts when it matters
-Astral perception/projection do's and donuts. How to make the Astral believable.
-Aura signatures left by spells, when to not throw that big ass fireball. Who to watch out for when you do.

@Paul: Okie dokie, I'll have to pick up Unwired if I want to know more I guess. They better not come out with 5e any time soon, I'm spending so much damn money on these books. Thanks for that bit of info!

Like Magic, I just need to wrap my head around crafting nodes, making them a challenge, and offering a unique perspective of Matrix locales that'll keep him from feeling like he's on the sidelines.

I'm starting the characters with just higher than green (320 bp), and plopping them in the Puyallups. There they'll carve an area out while dealing with gangers. Hoping to start small and make the world bigger as they progress along, plus, law enforcement doesn't give two snots what happens in the Puyallups half the time. Eventually getting to the point where they'll be paranoid that every camera in High Sec can see through their clothes. (Which may or may not be the case)

I am QUITE sure these topics have been gone over with a nanofiber-toothed comb, but it's hard to sift through all the detritus. I'm also noticing I should just make this a new thread, kinda jacked this guy's topic XD