Playing Styles, Pink Mohawk, Black Trench Coat and...wah? Options

[binarywraith]

I prefer to play Bob From Accounting. Ex-corper who got burned to cover his bosses ass, so now he works the shadows instead, putting his massive stack of financial knowledge and hideous knowsoft collection to use by arranging for his team to steal all sorts of things the corps don't really even bother to inventory, like a dozen pallets of nutri-soy, and selling them in the barrens at a markup.

[The Jopp]

How about the troll logic 1 hacker? *PUNCH SERVER, GRAB PARTS* "Dis hard drive, me think. Crack open later."

That IS my adept throwing troll. He's got logic 1 and spoof hacking skills of 3 or so. Enough to get by, and not very smart.

[Draco18s]

That IS my adept throwing troll. He's got logic 1 and spoof hacking skills of 3 or so. Enough to get by, and not very smart.

Fair. Just that this troll hacker idea my friend has would be filling the role of "hacker" to the T while still being as dumb as a pile of bricks.
That is, not a throwing adept or anything special in a firefight (capable, but not special).

[CanRay]

I prefer to play Bob From Accounting. Ex-corper who got burned to cover his bosses ass, so now he works the shadows instead, putting his massive stack of financial knowledge and hideous knowsoft collection to use by arranging for his team to steal all sorts of things the corps don't really even bother to inventory, like a dozen pallets of nutri-soy, and selling them in the barrens at a markup.

Sounds like my Accountant From Hell build. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Me, I want to make a Pixie Puncher.

[almost normal]

Any style really requires a homogeneous group though. You can have 4 guys wanting trenchcoat, but if there's one pink mohawk in there, the planning gets fucked. The Mohawker doesn't want any consequences for going way over the top, and the trenchcoats demand the mohawk gets smacked down, to validate their own style of planning and legwork. In a group like that, there really is no perfect balance. The hawker is always going to want less consequence, and the coats are always going to want more.

As a Gm for just such a group, it gives me a giant headache working like that. Constantly. To the point of rage. I think it'll also lead to some of the most fun though, as the two playstyles clash and the world around them reacts.

[Stahlseele]

I don't have any such problems.
I let the sneaky guys try to shmooze and sneak their asses in and out of wherever . .
And when(note, not if) they fuck up, i start to kill stuff to clear a path out for them . . .

[Jizmack]

As a GM I try to make totally clear what the larger setting is going to be in a game. The consequences of any actions are spelled out as coherently as possible, and I use the player’s contacts to place much emphasis on learning/knowing exactly what to expect in regards to both opposition and collateral damage.
More importantly, I always give the players a choice in settings, for example: Los Angeles vs. Manhattan, or Eastern Hong Kong (corp suburbs) vs. Kowloon City (lawlessness and blighted).
That way the players decide on their own how they want to approach the game, and have no excuse for doing “stupid” acts relative to the chosen setting.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Any style really requires a homogeneous group though. You can have 4 guys wanting trenchcoat, but if there's one pink mohawk in there, the planning gets fucked. The Mohawker doesn't want any consequences for going way over the top, and the trenchcoats demand the mohawk gets smacked down, to validate their own style of planning and legwork. In a group like that, there really is no perfect balance. The hawker is always going to want less consequence, and the coats are always going to want more.

What normally happens at that point is the Mohawk gets two in the back of the head from one (or more) of the TrenchCoats. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[baron_samedi]

quick question:
so what would you call a style where none of the characters are street sams?
like what if a team is all mystics- shamans, adepts, etc.?

would you call that style Spook N' Spell?

[The Jopp]

quick question:
so what would you call a style where none of the characters are street sams?
like what if a team is all mystics- shamans, adepts, etc.?

would you call that style Spook N' Spell?

All Mages: Manabombs / Spirits Galore
Adepts: The Invisible Killing Hands

[CrystalBlue]

quick question:
so what would you call a style where none of the characters are street sams?
like what if a team is all mystics- shamans, adepts, etc.?

would you call that style Spook N' Spell?

Actually, I call that Friday Night, since no one really goes for the tech. Any hacking we have is all Technomancer and all combat is either spells, Killing Hands, or a gun adept. We actually have a mundane. No magic and no technology. All guns, drugs, and Australian accent.

[pbangarth]

Our home group started out with a team of runners helping out a gang clearing territory in LA. It tended towards the pink mohawk end of things.

We graduated to a team that is more along the lines of Canray's definition of trenchcoat. All of us like the fact that this time we spend more time on legwork than wetwork. But with a trio made up of a combat hacker, a mage good at summoning and a free spirit (me), one could describe our group as D+SGIF: drones and spirits go in first. Matrix and contact work found our target, spirit scouting got the layout, and then three of us plus assorted mechanical and spirit allies flooded the opposition. Well, when I say "three of us," I actually mean I went in with the lackies while my buddies stayed outside directing them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sarcastic.gif)

This was the GM's first foray in that role. Next time, I think he will be less inclined to think, "Maybe these NPCs are too tough."

[Shortstraw]

What normally happens at that point is the Mohawk gets two in the back of the head from one (or more) of the TrenchCoats. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Of course the mohawker was designed to take on an armoured battalion (because that's how he rolls) so he turns around sneezes and kills the other pc's.

[binarywraith]

Of course the mohawker was designed to take on an armoured battalion (because that's how he rolls) so he turns around sneezes and kills the other pc's.

Generally true. SR3 trolls rocking 18+ armor and enough willpower to shrug off spells, go.

[Stahlseele]

shrugging off spells was nearly impossible in SR3 too.
18 Armor is impossible too under SR3 rules. Without magical help.
BODY on the other Hand CAN be gotten to 18. That's Cyber-Augmented though and counts neither for poison nor disease . .

[binarywraith]

shrugging off spells was nearly impossible in SR3 too.
18 Armor is impossible too under SR3 rules. Without magical help.
BODY on the other Hand CAN be gotten to 18. That's Cyber-Augmented though and counts neither for poison nor disease . .

Like I said. Troll. Voodoo phys/mage.

[hobgoblin]

One thing to have in mind is that the Seattle plex is big enough to handle either end.

If your operating in the corp zones downtown and the A level districts, the shades better be on or your in trouble fast.

Head to the z-zones, or onto the highways at night, and your likely to find day-glo mohawks.

As for Noir, that is outside of either. That is about the futility. Sure, you take down that exec dumping buggy simsense cum BTL into the zones. But your only satisfaction is seeing him carted away. There will be no big shakeup over it, and your only refuge will be your mindbender of choice in the long run.

[Mirilion]

I'm guessing you can use the setting to run survival horror or mystery/investigation campaigns, not just crime/cyberpunk with the shades and trenchcoats and mohawks.

By the way, when I saw the topic title, especially the "and... wah?", ork WAAAGHs from Warhammer 40k immediately came to mind. But I guess that's covered under pink mohawk. Could be amusing if a Brittish ork warrior subculture started using terms like dakka and choppy, not to mention blowing up everything in sight just on principle.

[hobgoblin]

I'm guessing you can use the setting to run survival horror or mystery/investigation campaigns, not just crime/cyberpunk with the shades and trenchcoats and mohawks.

Arcology shutdown demonstrated that very well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[CanRay]

I'm guessing you can use the setting to run survival horror or mystery/investigation campaigns, not just crime/cyberpunk with the shades and trenchcoats and mohawks.

Yep. My group in Deadlands: Hell On Earth was pretty Mirrorshades/Black Trenchcoat.

Then I got one of them to sign a deal with pure evil. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/vegm.gif)

[Socinus]

I think it's better to have a character who can do Pink Mohawk when the situation is called for and Black Trenchcoat.

Sometimes blowing shit up really is a better overall solution.

[Draco18s]

Sometimes blowing shit up really is a better overall solution.

My group blew up a fireworks factory once.

Admittedly we were being paid to eliminate their latest R&D project...and we set it on fire (which didn't do much, actually)...and shot it up an elevator shaft...and into the air...which aerosolized it...and then it burned......and it was explosive.....

[kzt]

I prefer to play Bob From Accounting. Ex-corper who got burned to cover his bosses ass, so now he works the shadows instead, putting his massive stack of financial knowledge and hideous knowsoft collection to use by arranging for his team to steal all sorts of things the corps don't really even bother to inventory, like a dozen pallets of nutri-soy, and selling them in the barrens at a markup.

We preferred to steal things that someone had really good reasons to not officially inventory, and also would fail to report their sudden absence to the police. But yeah, same general effect.

[binarywraith]

We preferred to steal things that someone had really good reasons to not officially inventory, and also would fail to report their sudden absence to the police. But yeah, same general effect.

That's the ticket. We went with stuff like nutrisoy and office supplies specifically because they'd write it off and likely assume someone inside their organization sold it black market.

[thepatriot]

I normally run with what I call "Cyber Noir", where good guys are few and far between, but do exist, corruption has gotten ahead and settled in, and the heroes have feet of clay. The phrase used is "In traditional fiction, the right guy does the right thing at the right time ... in noir, one of those is wrong."

Streets are darker, rain is common, and it feels like everyone's on the take.

OoOoO! I LIKE IT! Don't forget the Ork whores in front of the filthy Stuffer Shack on the corner... very important.

I prefer to play Bob From Accounting. Ex-corper who got burned to cover his bosses ass, so now he works the shadows instead, putting his massive stack of financial knowledge and hideous knowsoft collection to use by arranging for his team to steal all sorts of things the corps don't really even bother to inventory, like a dozen pallets of nutri-soy, and selling them in the barrens at a markup.

Couldn't possibly agree more. Bravo, chummer. I'm particularly fond of the kidnapped-corp-kid-pressed-into-simsense-slavery-and-escaped-into-the-shadows concept.

Actually, I call that Friday Night, since no one really goes for the tech. Any hacking we have is all Technomancer and all combat is either spells, Killing Hands, or a gun adept. We actually have a mundane. No magic and no technology. All guns, drugs, and Australian accent.

I empathize. Sadly, but I empathize.

By the way, when I saw the topic title, especially the "and... wah?", ork WAAAGHs from Warhammer 40k immediately came to mind. But I guess that's covered under pink mohawk. Could be amusing if a Brittish ork warrior subculture started using terms like dakka and choppy, not to mention blowing up everything in sight just on principle.

LOL!!!!!!

I admit I'm a huge fan of Mirrored shades... but then again I think I'm one of precious few who loved the first Bourne film, but hated the rest. I'm also a fan of 1984, which, in a way, is what SR is all about. That's what hackers are for, right? To shut all those cameras off?

The Accountant is precious, too... after all, soycaf swilling shadowrunners would see that off-the-books crate of crayons as a bonus... though Mr. Johnson might find it a bit... unprofessional.