Charm City [OOC] Options

[sunnyside]

I never got Attitude! Let me know if you think it's good and why.

On the note of things going on in IC, I wanted to make sure you knew about YYZ.

https://youtu.be/ftVTWDrtrlc?si=go6YCvGtTDFmwNuO
 

Perception check roll:

Perception for a hatch: 8d6t4 3

Three successes on threshold 4, with perception of 4 and intuition of 4 giving a pool of 8.

I'm guessing this was for another game?

[Koekepan]

I'm guessing this was for another game?

Nope, that's for this game. You wanted a roll for perception to spot the hatch. His perception is 4, his intuition is 4, dice pool 8, standard target is 4, three successes.

[sunnyside]

Nope, that's for this game. You wanted a roll for perception to spot the hatch. His perception is 4, his intuition is 4, dice pool 8, standard target is 4, three successes.

Oh, I see. When I said easy instead of giving a threshold I meant like a threshold of 2 and that it was a case where both characters there could just buy those hits. They weren't trying to hide the hatch like a secret treasure trove, they just weren't properly marking or keeping it clean and uncluttered. Just noting that if you had less observant characters stuff like that would be more of a hassle.

Edit: Not sure if you're talking to Bongo or Abby in the post. I'm thinking Bongo after Abby is gone?

[Koekepan]

Bongo, around when she leaves. He doesn't care if she hears that they're fetching tools.

[pbangarth]

I never got Attitude! Let me know if you think it's good and why.

On the note of things going on in IC, I wanted to make sure you knew about YYZ.

https://youtu.be/ftVTWDrtrlc?si=go6YCvGtTDFmwNuO

Love the Canadian content!

Just from a quick glance, I see that Attitude has a lot of material on top artists, ways musicians can also be runners. Stuff Bongo should know.

[Koekepan]

Negotiating his way past the locals: 9d6t4 4

That's 3 Charisma, 4 negotiation, +2 bonus as per GM. 4 successes, he manages to get people on his side without difficulty.

[sunnyside]

First off I'm still having some computer issues. So replies might be erratic until I get it sorted, but I'll try and keep on top of things. Hopefully by Wednesday I'll have a new monitor.


In regards to the last post I actually developed something of a pet peeve in a D&D campaign I was a player in where no matter what we did, even if we just wanted to buy some potions or whatever, the DM always spun it up into a big encounter.

I mention this because Willie can potentially be a problem along those lines. If he really wants to get into a brawl on top of Paul's van he could easily escalate the situation with the whole uncouth thing. But Paul has probably been expecting these guys or some other Japanacorp goons, and knows that they know they don't actually have a legal right to hassle loitering vehicles or Orks sitting in them even if law enforcement is rather spotty and biased here. So if Willie calls him in before the goons make their move Paul has a pretty solid shot at sorting it, since he has that skillset.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, Willie is trying to be cool about it. Old habits die hard, but his new thought processes are slowly winning out. Mostly.

[sunnyside]

Though it does seem like you're gearing up to rumble, but I guess we'll see.

[pbangarth]

Etiquette test in the latest Bongo post. Bongo Slade is the name he has used all along. Might as well keep it going. In the long run he should think more carefully about that, especially since he has three fake SINs now.

Willie's message should flag Tubesnake to get involved! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[sunnyside]

I'll wait for Koekepan at least before posting.

Though since it was mentioned, I'll add that Willie is pretty sure he could crank the wheel to the left and pull a U turn and be out of there without even having to be overly quick about it.

I've got a new monitor, so I should be better about replying again.

[sunnyside]

So we can keep going in the in between times in detail if it's fun. It can also be good for character and NPC development.


Or would folks be interested in speeding up time and jumping ahead to the next mission? Maybe with a few posts fleshing out some details.


While it might be a thing that Vex thinks Bongo works as an assistant plumber, he's got an in with word spreading from his music ploy and especially the business at the Choptank.

Paul made his choices with Seafarers union and it can be a while before that takes a turn. He's essentially managed the Federal Hill tunnels by feeding Bongo to Abby.

There was a risk of a rumble with Selena. However in an enjoyable coincidental way she's managed to confuse the gangs about her "team." It was fun realizing the tableau the group presented. I thought maybe they'd loose it going into one of the side rooms. There was gossip that maybe they weren't heavy security. But then they come out clearly having just used it for a private discussion, which they all assumed was in regards to discussing themselves. After that they head over to the table with the most unruly set for some entertainment with Mike and his calm as a cucumber style, like a proper cooler. Anyway the point is I think they've managed to smooth that out, and Thanee already laid out how the rest of the evening might go.

Folks could then sort out final purchases, karma spends, and maybe something from Thanee about Selena's ward showing up, Angel bothering Paul to let her practice with drones and introducing the members of Bongo's initiatory group.

[pbangarth]

To achieve his long-term goal, play the heartbeat of Gaia, Bongo figures he needs to Initiate. Probably a bunch. No matter how he would approach that, it will take time.

As far as Bongo goes, his initial objective during this break, making contact with Vex, has been achieved. I suspect that achieving the primary objective, checking out whether he and Vex will fit, joining the group, and initiating will take a fair bit of time. Negotiation Tests, playing music, maybe going on a quick run with the Group to demonstrate his commitment. All that would take time. Doing the Thesis/Masterpiece ordeal (SM p. 52) has an Extended Test with a time period of 1 week.

Although Initiating on one's own is discussed, no time limit or Extended Test is described in the books. Surely that too would take time. Bongo has enough Karma to do it either way, but he might need to sit out a run in order to effect the change.

Along with all of that, there could be a lot of RP for Bongo by himself, which could leave the rest of the team twiddling their thumbs.

We've spent a day or so since the last run, and I don't know what your plan is for such intermediary times, sunnyside. If a run is in the near offing (Brewster is a businessman, no?), then Bongo could hold off on his magical quest and prepare for more mundane pursuits. For example, in his last run, he had to practice his Locksmith Skill. Improving that before the next run could be useful, increasing that ability to contribute to the team. So I could do that for him right here and leave it at that. (Stream of consciousness writing helps making decisions.)

Hmmm. Willie increased his Edged Weapons Skill by 1. (Aside: Willie is ready to go for the next run.) Under the Improving Skills and Skill Groups section in SR4A, the Interval for improving a Skill is 1 week. So, I guess we will have at least a week total before the next run.

[ Spoiler ]

Extended Test to improve Locksmith to level 2: INT 5 + Locksmith 1 =6 dice: Test: 6(2, 1 week): 2 hits

Wrapped up with all of this is whether the GM and the other players want me to play two PCs during a run. I brought Bongo and Willie together to Baltimore because at the time, I was the only player. We now have some cool PCs in the mix, and I am enjoying their contributions. It would appear that Angel, Lenny and Flatline are now NPCs, so that leaves Willie and Bongo, Tubesnake (plus drones) and Selina (plus Fiona).

Those 4+ look like a well-rounded team. I'm happy to play both if that's alright with the rest of you. If not, I can sit Bongo out for a run and sunnyside and I can carry on with the Initiation search.

So, Willie is training, Bongo is training, Tubesnake is plumbing and Selina is schmoozing.

[Koekepan]

Here you go, Abby. Nice, tasty Bongo. Get a load of those shoulders ....

... anyway, yeah. If Paul has the time and opportunity, he'd like to build a couple more drones in two designs - a small one for Angel to practice, with minimal capacities to keep costs and complexity down, and a beefier walker that looks like a tarantula the size of a motorcycle.

[sunnyside]

Just as a reminder, joining a group costs 5 karma. I'll have to sort some particulars and dues.

In terms of time I'd mentioned giving a month and I'll stick to that.

In regards to drones, are you looking to use the build/repair options to spend time instead of as much money for the drones, either requesting the GM to make up something along the lines of what you're looking for or using Arsenal vehicle mods on a standard drone to get what you want (spider legs are one of the listed mods. Somehow under "W" however as I recall). I think that's relatively straightforward. Homebrewing something outside of regular rules would take more discussion.

For characters I'm kinda liking having pairs in terms of your ability to make posts. Selena and Fiona function that way (and really are about as strong as two normal starting characters). Paul has Angel and his drones. If the rest don't object I'm fine with Bongo and Willie being together. Especially since in some ways Willie could be challenging to RP with.  

[pbangarth]

Especially since in some ways Willie could be challenging to RP with.  

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Koekepan]

Pairings: I propose that the pairings be slanted to variety in terms of capability so as to make them more effective in combination.

Drones: yes, build/repair and time rather than cost, especially because they will be custom. I'm not requesting that the GM do the design, so much as that the GM either handwave the time involved into a downtime session, or ascribe some time that can be slotted into other action. The designs in mind should be doable inside Arsenal.

[pbangarth]

Pairings: I propose that the pairings be slanted to variety in terms of capability so as to make them more effective in combination.

That was my plan when I built Willie and Bongo for when I was the only player, and I believe they fit your paradigm. Neither Selina nor Fiona can be split from the other and provide strong presence in a major environment. Fiona is turning out to be a good infiltrator! So that leaves Tubesnake, whom sunnyside is suggesting could team up with Angel. While there is some overlap, they do operate primarily in different environments.

If you were to have a second PC besides Tubesnake under your control, Koekepan, what would feel better for you?

[Koekepan]

Tough question. The easy answer would be some kind of magician, because of how utterly mundane he is, but an equally valid approach would be some sort of face because of how utterly mundane he is. On the other hand, he could pair well with a combat monster who needs an intelligence service, or with a humanitarian robin hood who wants to avoid conflict as much as possible.

In fact, he could be a very effective DocWagon rescue team member too.

[sunnyside]

So modifications are fairly well laid out in arsenal, with the complication being the issue of the plan, which mostly hinges on how complicated and unique the modification is.

As far as I can tell the idea of building something from parts to save money simply doesn't exist outside of the matrix stuff. Let me know if any of you know otherwise.

I'm inclined to say between fixing up used stuff like new and getting kits you can basically follow the matrix hardware rules up to around the value of that stuff common for players (say 12,000 nuyen). If you want your own T-bird that's going to have to be some other rules.

[sunnyside]

Depending on her emphasis and how she wants to play it, Selina could make an intimidation roll with that "nothing will happen"

Similarly she could roll resistance to intimidation. (one three hits, one two. I don't think any modifiers on the resistance roll unless you'd really want to claim Selina doesn't think they'd try something. I gave it to Mike, but Selina probably knows better. ) In neither case would there be much of an expected overt reaction, they're just sizing people up and seeing how they react.

As for Poker I don't think Shadowrun has any rules for Gambling. It actually comes up in something I was planning to take pieces of for later, but that book actually tells the GM to take out cards and have the players play. In this case, especially with Poker, it might come down to con rolls/defenses, with modifiers for an appropriate ?knowledge? skill and anything else someone can bring to bear like a math SPU, maybe leveraging assessing or something.

[Thanee]

Depending on her emphasis and how she wants to play it, Selina could make an intimidation roll with that "nothing will happen"

Probably not intimidation, she is not trying to put them in their place or telling them "or else", more like underlining that this is supposed to be a safe place.
Leadership maybe? First Impression should apply here, right?

Leadership with First Impression 2 hits

Similarly she could roll resistance to intimidation. (one three hits, one two. I don't think any modifiers on the resistance roll unless you'd really want to claim Selina doesn't think they'd try something. I gave it to Mike, but Selina probably knows better. ) In neither case would there be much of an expected overt reaction, they're just sizing people up and seeing how they react.

Okay, let's see... that would just be Willpower then.

Resist Intimidate 2 hits
Resist Intimidate 0 hits (that would also be a Glitch, I believe... so spending one Edge to negate that)

As for Poker I don't think Shadowrun has any rules for Gambling. It actually comes up in something I was planning to take pieces of for later, but that book actually tells the GM to take out cards and have the players play. In this case, especially with Poker, it might come down to con rolls/defenses, with modifiers for an appropriate ?knowledge? skill and anything else someone can bring to bear like a math SPU, maybe leveraging assessing or something.

Con should work reasonably well.

Bye
Thanee

[sunnyside]

Well, how about this for poker.


Depending on your play style, roll con or negotiation + charisma or logic. You can propose things like I mentioned above that could modify the roll.

For games like this with a normal ante to total chips ratio treat the whole pile of chips like ten units.

Each round of play (which would represent multiple hands) results everyone getting a unit from everyone they beat. In some games, including this one, it's acceptable to just leave.

Eventually you get a showdown.

First roll the defense on a judge intentions test (Willpower + charisma)+4 (because you're deliberately trying to avoid tells) to set a threshold for your "poker face"
Then roll a judge intentions test (Intiuition + charisma), which will be compared to the others "poker face" thresholds.
Winning that gives a +6 on the subsequent roll.
Then do the above roll for being all in.

[sunnyside]

Or Selina just watches or uses Mike's money and we don't owery about having to homebrew anything right now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Thanee]

She can gamble away her own money (or win some, you never know). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Bye
Thanee