Knock-off, When second best *IS* good enough Options

[CanRay]

Exactly. Of course, the illegal automotive factories that are putting out Jackrabbit clones (See Arsenal) are probably gearing up for Original VW Bug Clones as well.

Cheap to produce, and a high demand.

(BTW: One of my characters that I have written up drives a knock-off Jackrabbit from the Pueblo Corporate Council called the Jackalope.).

[Seriously Mike]

I was working on stats for the Toyota Moonbeam soccer mom minivan (also a staple of Tokyo's cab service) yesterday and having the opportunity, I compared Nissan Jackrabbit with Honda Spirit.
I was all like "What." While Honda Spirit can be considered the-worst-ever, Jackrabbit is actually a pretty nifty vehicle. It goes 120 metres per round, it can outrun a Mercury Comet!

Also, I can finally tell you who makes the Compensator. It's a lengthened Ford Rancher SUV with a Lincoln Badge.

[Seriously Mike]

I usually make up new models by adding quirks to gun or vehicle.
Ruger Super Warhawk becomes the Rutger Shortstop with a shortened barrel. Just as good but a little less range and better concealability.
The Jackrabbit becomes the Ares Hare with the similar models rule (+20% acceleration -1 BOD)

Point me to that "similar models rule", I'm curious.

[Neraph]

Point me to that "similar models rule", I'm curious.

Arsenal, page 106.

[Seriously Mike]

Arsenal, page 106.

Oh. When I look at it, and comparing vehicles from the corebook and Arsenal, you're still able to make pretty damn anything. Between Mercury Comet and Hyundai Shin-Hyung (boring sedan and sporty sedan, respectively), there's enough room to fit a lot of different things, even a soccer mom minivan. Same goes for Jackrabbit and Honda Spirit.

[Seriously Mike]

OK. My Wizard Martin Miggs has achieved a new level in his Knock-Off filled life, by actually living IN a Knock-Off neighborhood.

In the 2040's there was a brief resurgence of "English" archetecture. this resulted in certain asthetic aspects being aped and added into already existing projects by Archetects but it was the late land developer Zachary Spencer who grabbed ahold of this trend and used it as an excuse to bulldoze a few slums and erect a Gated Community that was dedicated to the notion of a small English Town in the middle of Seattle. It came complete with stores, restaraunts, theatres, pubs, parkspace, It's own Police force, and of course nice compact but decent housing.

He dubbed it... Blimey Estates.

China called. They want their knock-off English town back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[CanRay]

China called. They want their knock-off English town back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Everyone knows the Chinese Knock-Offs are better than the UCAS Knock-Offs anyhow.

[Ryusukanku]

*Chuckle*

One of the big advantages to making your home a blantant knock-off is that it's easy to find reference material to see just what your "lifestyle" provides.

Granted what My Magician has for appliances will probably be a lot more 'futuristic' than what we see here, but it does give me ideas for how he's turning it into a Lodge and redecorating the place.

True that the inner layout and dimentions change to suit the comedy as the animators saw fit but all in all it's still a good generalisation to use.


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUp6gWUTN-U/Tm5W...laby+Street.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XQ1GpjlmJ4/Tm5Y...Street+-+Me.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGB3BygfCws/Tm5g...527s+Garden.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0wt8Dq9r9Pw/Tm5g...Garden+-+Me.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qG02uZ68QnQ/Tm5k...+Garden+Set.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JeYexmUq7Z4/Tm5k...Living+Room.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JxCIYrpckmM/Tm5r...rdseye+View.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6__5GMwD1o/Tm5m...Dining+Room.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYOoWggnxV0/Tm5q...t+-+Kitchen.jpg

http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/article/...5525828-000.jpg

http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/intera...omits-house.jpg

[ShadowDragon8685]

I introduced Blimey Estates into my game last Sunday. My players...


They had a strangely negative reaction at first, one of them comparing it to Stepford of The Stepford Wives. I think I salvaged it by making it clear that the people who live there are pretty much in-tune with the fact that the neighborhood has become a living parody, rather than any overt attempt to force a neighborhood ethos on everyone, they seemed to start to warm up after that.

As for the house itself, well... You went more Wallace & Gromit, I went more of the current blockbuster Sherlock Holmes movies for the aesthetic of the house they got: 221B Baker street, predictably enough.

I imagine that the sale price on that home was rather large, in excess of what its Lifestyle cost might make one think... Fortunately it wasn't their money. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Seriously Mike]

This is hilarious, especially positive and negative qualities. "Nah, dis izzent O'Loomis' Pub!" *fling commlink across the room* *throw blanket over head*

[Ryusukanku]

That was really well written out ShadowDragon8685.

I only see one error in the write-up. The 'English Architecture' trend and creation of Blimey Estates was during the Twenty Fortys and not the Nineteen Fortys.

That being said, I am liking this very much. No doubt there are different 'regions' in the gated community to allow some variety so I see no real reason that a 221B Baker street can't exist there. among other 'English' buildings.

A friend pointed out to me that the Town of Sandford ( From the film Hot Fuzz ) could make useful reference material for players as much as my own Coronation Street and wallace and Gromit thoughts. Concidering how the film works out in the end, I'd say that is almost perfect for Shadowrun.

I guess since Mister Spencer really didn't do any genuine research when he drew up the plans for Blimey Estates, any movies or TV series or books that feature an 'English' theme are fair game for the players to point at, laugh and say "That's where I live/work in Blimey Estates".



Of course the real fun might come if you have a player who has a Shadowrunner who comes from the real deal and winds up living in this bastardised, americanised version of his or her homeland.

"'Ere now, 'Morning 'Govnah! Nice day for it, Eh wot?"

"Sod off you bloody git."

[ShadowDragon8685]

That was really well written out ShadowDragon8685.

I only see one error in the write-up. The 'English Architecture' trend and creation of Blimey Estates was during the Twenty Fortys and not the Nineteen Fortys.

Erp, yeah... I don't know what happened there. Typographical errors, because immediately below two instances of the 1940s comes a mention of the 2040s.

That being said, I am liking this very much. No doubt there are different 'regions' in the gated community to allow some variety so I see no real reason that a 221B Baker street can't exist there. among other 'English' buildings.

True that. I figured that the wanker who built it didn't do any more research beyond looking up the movies and shows he remembered from his early adulthood circa the 2000s. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

A friend pointed out to me that the Town of Sandford ( From the film Hot Fuzz ) could make useful reference material for players as much as my own Coronation Street and wallace and Gromit thoughts. Concidering how the film works out in the end, I'd say that is almost perfect for Shadowrun.

I dunno... I mean, Sandford's in the country. And Renton, even the edge of Renton bordering Redmond, isn't really the country... You'd need to move the Estates into Puyallup, I'd think. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Though the village buildings and all, yeah, sure, no question. Plus, Nicolas Angel would be a perfect force in Shadowrun, a seemingly unstoppable PhysAd badass of an honest copper.

I guess since Mister Spencer really didn't do any genuine research when he drew up the plans for Blimey Estates, any movies or TV series or books that feature an 'English' theme are fair game for the players to point at, laugh and say "That's where I live/work in Blimey Estates".

Yeap, fair game indeed. I can't wait to mention the lawn gnomes in their back yard.

Maybe the lawn gnomes are actually little drones, and they come to life at night to march on the lawn gnomes in the neighbor's yards...

Of course the real fun might come if you have a player who has a Shadowrunner who comes from the real deal and winds up living in this bastardised, americanised version of his or her homeland.

"'Ere now, 'Morning 'Govnah! Nice day for it, Eh wot?"

"Sod off you bloody git."

Actually, I do. The amnesiac elf is from the UK. I made her give me a Composure roll (threshold 4) which she failed and told her about how this hit her, at once with a feeling of homesickness, and then with a feeling of fakeness.