Behind the Crown [OoC], Out-of-Character information for Behind the Crown Options

[Koekepan]

Drive time of about 45 minutes (Tacoma to north of downtown, Seattle, in late traffic).

[pbangarth]

Are the semi-regular updates that result from Blue's imprecise instructions now interfering with Blue's rest to clear his head?

[Koekepan]

Not really. Blue can mostly grunt and nod at them.

[Bastard]

Is there a "Hey Google" "Siri" or "Alexa" in this verse?

[Koekepan]

Something like that, but not in such a unified form. Most people interact relatively silently with their 'links and other matrix-aware devices, but almost everything can in principle take voice commands - but then again it's a lot more personalised to the 'link. So it might as easily be: "Hoopkicker Deluxe, what are the latest combat biking league standings?"

[pbangarth]

Happy New Year! When the Eve comes in game time, maybe Blue can shoot off some 'fireworks'.

[Bastard]

Happy new year!

I'm going to try and post tomorrow from work. Sorry fir the delays.

[Koekepan]

I understand. Have to clear out that hangover. Have to dump the passed-out elves into the snow to wake them up. Have to make coffee. Have to unwedge the remains of that trespassing ork from the cleanerbot and toss it into the pigsty for disposal.

New years are always rough.

[Bastard]

My new years was quiet. Wife was asleep early, me and the kid played Minecraft & Roblox.

[Bastard]

Moving Monday! Yay!

Hopefully I can get my interment set up right away. They were supposed to deliver the equipment to the new house last week, but my wife went by Friday and it wasn't there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Koekepan]

I'll let each of you make an underworld knowledge type of roll to suss out more about the building contracts thing, if you're so minded.

[pbangarth]

Well, Blue has no underworld knowledge skill (unless you want to consider corporate culture as 'underworld' ), so I'll use the default rule:

INT 4 = 4 dice: 9, 5, 2, 1

[Koekepan]

Blue doesn't have answers, or not directly anyway. He does however have questions.

The regions in which urban renewal, or whatever the hell they call it in a given week, is concerned, are what one might call marginal with respect to an existence by, near or even in the barrens. This raises the first question: Why? What is the purpose? Are they trying to - put unused land to use in the space-constrained Seattle enclave? Create buffer zones around the barrens? Spend money on public works as a sort of economic stimulus plan? Curry favour with majors by dishing out contracts? What's the game here?

The next obvious question, which is linked to the first is: who cares? If areas such as Redmond and Puyallup are wrecked remnants of an ugly past, why does it matter to someone, and who is this person?

A related, but not identical question is: who benefits? Corporations? The government, such as it is? Some kind of other group, like a policlub?

So many questions.

[Bastard]

I am back! I don't have my computer set up yet, but I have a laptop.



2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle = [4d6=5, 5, 2, 2]

[Koekepan]

Karmakaze's police training leads her along a different train of thought: cui bono? This whole thing smells of gentrification on an organised basis. It will go along with increased surveillance, improved security, and generally be hostile to criminal gangs. Strictly white collar, top-tier criminals may find more room to hide but anybody with an interest at the streetmeat level is going to be pushed aside. Megacorps would probably benefit, but mostly by an improved environment and an increasingly stable society, if it all works out. There are other players - the government itself (with its various tentacles including politicians, civil servants and so on) and also policlubs and various outsider groups.

Perhaps it's a sort of omnibus vote-winning exercise, lavishing money and a vision of security? Of course, given corruption who knows where it will all end. In tears, like as not.

[pbangarth]

Alright!

I went back to the last time Karma Pool refreshed, May 3rd our time, and searched forward from there. I think Blue still has his 1 Karma Pool point available.

The power!

[pbangarth]

What seemed unusual was that they weren't hurrying like delivery workers, or just shuffling from a parking lot to a door, but trudging along as if they were headed somewhere.

All Right! Some action!

[pbangarth]

Would it be reasonable for players to assume that the kind of info that Karmakaze just got would automatically be shared with Blue, and vice versa? Such automatic sharing might speed up play a little.

Thoughts?

[Koekepan]

Actually I'll leave that to her. It depends on how close to her chest the character plays her cards.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, I figured, but wanted to toss this out for consideration.

EDIT: And Blue will wait for Karmakaze's OK to the plan.

[Bastard]

Would it be reasonable for players to assume that the kind of info that Karmakaze just got would automatically be shared with Blue, and vice versa? Such automatic sharing might speed up play a little.

Thoughts?

I am for this. My character is open. An informed teammate is a prepared teammate, and a prepared teammate is a good teammate.

Feel free to move/quote Karma in your ICs as needed.

[pbangarth]

Okily-Dokiley-Doo! Works for me, neighbor.

[Koekepan]

On the other hand, I don't want to go much further until I hear what Karmakaze does in response to the report.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, she has to actually put up with being called 'girl', for one thing.

[Koekepan]

Karmakaze? You there?