Deeper into the Matrix [OOC] Options

[Volker]

Firstly, I'm terribly sorry for my posting morale recently. I returned from a meeting finding myself having covid, then spent most of my recovery time alternating between the couch to rest and the desktop to work because currently there's a shitload of work. In between I'm supporting a friend who's about to have a mental breakdown. This all leaves little time for shadowrun. Just to let you know I haven't lost interest. I expect this to go on similarly for another three weeks or so, then it should gradually get better. Or so I really, really hope.

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As for the ambush. Maybe it's just me losing track but I still didn't quite get why we would lay ambush on a truck. Even if we simply ignore that the reason for our break-in might not be given anymore, wasn't it the original plan to sneak into the bunker to get to the central computer system where we could shut down the shield? Where is ambushing a truck full of weapons going to support us in this?

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Zappers damage is resisted only with device rating + Firewall, so unless the van is slaved to gear, the damage resistance shouldn't be too high. And even if it is, it would rise to 12 or so - that's still not a high value for damage resistance. With her skill, two rounds would certainly do to take out the van. Problem is: If we kill the van than there's no hiding our ambush, and raising an alarm will only be a matter of time even if the guards don't do it right when we hit.
Do you think it's too dangerous to do it right where we stand now? They have to leave the van anyway, and when we attack while the haul crates they won't even have their hands free. We strike quickly and silently, and it's over before they realize what just happened.

[Gilga]

You wanted to get gear for the raid. b&e armors weapons etc to improve your chances. But the avatar you saw claimed that it is a predictible move and a trap so he suggested you ambush a track rather than raid the bunker.

[Volker]

Ah, thanks for the reminder. Then let's get some good gear.

How many guards were there to guard the truck? Were those the sames who carried the cargo?

[Thanee]

Sorry to hear that, Volker, especially about your friend. Hope he gets better and hope you will find some rest as well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[Thanee]

As for ambushing the truck, I still think our chances will be best, if we wait for them to get out. But that will be in vincinity to the bunker, of course.

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

Take into account that you heard numerous guards at the bunker whereas the truck only has two people in it, but it is essentially your call.

[Volker]

@Thanee

I agree in all regards.

@Gilga

How many guards were there to guard the truck? Were those the sames who carried the cargo?

[Gilga]

There were two people on the last truck.

[Volker]

All good things come in threes: Were those the sames who carried the cargo?

[Gilga]

Yes, exactly.

[Volker]

@Thanee

I guess we agree then. While they are carrying crates, they can't wield weapons. bnc first subdues their communication and then we hit fast and silent before they can react.
Agree?

[Gilga]

So you are ambushing thetruck at the bunker despite the additional guards there?

[Thanee]

Do we have another reasonable choice?

Stopping the truck and getting inside without much in terms of gear seems rather difficult to accomplish.

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

On the road seems less dangerous but as you wish. Are you going to try and snatch a create or two or to fight? What is the general plan.

[Thanee]

The problem with the road is that if we cannot stop the truck, it simply drives away (we are on foot).

And even if we can stop it, we still have to somehow get inside.

If it is a truck like today, that would be easy, but in shadowrun vehicles are all armored and not quite so easy to open.


At the bunker we have to deal with additional guards at some point, if we do not manage to defeat the two that are with the truck quickly, but that still seems to be a way more controllable situation for us.

Bye
Thanee

[Thanee]

@Gilga: I'm pretty sure that would fall under Sneaking not Disguise.

Disguise is basically making yourself look different.

Sneaking is hiding and moving unnoticed.


An option here could also be to roll Sneaking based on Willpower instead of Agility, to express the long duration of staying hidden.

Bye
Thanee

[Gilga]

I was under the impression that you need disguise to hide in the terrain well and sneak to move silently but I don't mind your interpretation.

[Volker]

Yeah, that's mostly my reasoning as well. The goal is not to rouse the additional guards. Speaking of, it would be awesome if you could give us a rough outline of where they and the drones roughly are and stuff. Like, are there twenty guards with direct line of sight or is there one lazy fella watching porn in some hut? Just to get a general gist.


As for the skill in use, it's unfortunately rather ambiguous. Content-wise, only Sneaking makes sense to me. "Disguise covers non-magical forms of masking your identity, including makeup and enhancement" (CRB 132) whereas Sneaking "allows you to remain inconspicuous in various situations." On the other hand, camouflage is a specialization of disguise. I'd interpret it as "painting the camouflage is Disguise, actually hiding is Sneaking".

If we roll on WIL, it's WIL + Sneaking +6: 15d6t5 3
If it's AGI instead, I'd have 3 dice less, making it only two scores.
Should we be allowed to roll on INT, however, I'd be able to roll two more dice. INT + Sneaking: 2d6t5 2
That would be a whopping 5 hits.

[Gilga]

The thing is, you do not know the outline because of the fog. You roughly know that there is a road, a gate and a paved yard where the truck stopped, and a bunker. You hardly saw any guards, you just heard some people talking which gives you the estimates.

[Thanee]

Yeah, the "camouflage" specialization is weird, since they probably mean the application and not the actual hiding there, but why would you roll for that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Maybe, if you camouflage yourself and "hide in plain sight", so it is not your skill of remaining unseen (Sneaking), but rather your skilll of making you look like the terrain (Disguise).

I guess "camouflage" specialization could also be seen as hiding something else, which makes a lot more sense to me. Like, you know, use camouflage nets to hide your vehicles and stuff like that.

But here, I just don't see it as being applicable. since we do absolutely nothing to disguise ourselves, but rely on the terrain and our skill to remain unnoticed.

Anyways... let's hide!

Sneaking: 6 hits (Willpower would be -4 dice, but same result)

Bye
Thanee

[Volker]

The thing is, you do not know the outline because of the fog. You roughly know that there is a road, a gate and a paved yard where the truck stopped, and a bunker. You hardly saw any guards, you just heard some people talking which gives you the estimates.

Right, but I can look around, I can look for matrix icons, and so forth.

Yeah, the "camouflage" specialization is weird, since they probably mean the application and not the actual hiding there, but why would you roll for that. biggrin.gif

Maybe, if you camouflage yourself and "hide in plain sight", so it is not your skill of remaining unseen (Sneaking), but rather your skilll of making you look like the terrain (Disguise).

I guess "camouflage" specialization could also be seen as hiding something else, which makes a lot more sense to me. Like, you know, use camouflage nets to hide your vehicles and stuff like that.

Just watch The Hunger Games and you will see, how camouflage is a worthy specialization (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
“Yes, frosting. The final defense of the dying.“ LMAO

[Volker]

You aren't waiting for me to roll, are you?

If we roll on WIL, it's WIL + Sneaking +6: 15d6t5 3
If it's AGI instead, I'd have 3 dice less, making it only two scores.
Should we be allowed to roll on INT, however, I'd be able to roll two more dice. INT + Sneaking: 2d6t5 2
That would be a whopping 5 hits.

[Gilga]

Nope, RL is crazy. I'll try to move along tomorrow.

[Thanee]

Those guards are very perceptive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Well, guess we have to see where this gets us then...

Bye
Thanee

[Volker]

@gilga Didn't want to hurry you. I was just unclear whether you missed the roll.


Could you kindly make a sketch of the surroundings and the positions of the guards, as far as we can tell?