Looking to play a game., Preferably around Frederick, MD. Options

[Tinman]

Hello.

I'm pretty much a new player, both to Shadowrun and pen & paper games in general. I'm trying to find a game going on not too far from the Frederick Maryland area as I have problems getting out of a lot of obligations with school and work.

I'm interested both in playing a game and building up experience with the system and maybe even getting my feet wet GM'ing. As I've only played one game in my life, people with a modicum of patience would be *greatly* appreciated.

I hope I can hear from someone, I'm going crazy thinking up situations and characters I can't do anything with.

[Sren]

I live in Glen Burnie, about an hour form you. But so far, almost everyone I've found on dumpshock has stopped communicating with me before we actually meet. But if you're not too picky, and you don't mind driving to glen burnie (or know someplace in between you and me that we could play) we could get together. I might be able to drag a coworker in, and maybe tempt one of the dumpshockers who started ignoring me into meeting...

I'm not a great GM, but I can introduce you to the game. I know the magic and combat systems pretty well. On the rare occasion that I GM a game, I tend to let the characters get powerful, but thats not normally much of a problem...

The only idea I have for a game right now starts out with the characters being normal Joe Schmoes in the process of getting forced into the shadows. I plan on allowing some cinematic advancement to let the characters become decent runners after a couple games of intro, but there's still the downside of the characters being railroaded a little at the beginning (i.e. things beyond their control forcing them from their "normal" lives into the shadows).

Anyways, if you haven't already decided you don't want to talk to me, post here or email (tbryant10@hotmail.com) me and we can try to meet. The local game store will have a spare table most Sunday afternoons (the store closes at 6pm on sundays).

As for going crazy with character ideas, I'm up for discussing character ideas if you'd like someone to talk to...

Later (hopefully)
S'Ren

[Aku]

could oyu give me an idea where either of these area's are in relationship to somerset, PA? i've HEARD fo Fredrick, but if i remember correctly it's in the DC area, in which case, well, thats aways away for me.

[Tinman]

I just checked Mapquest, because I have a terrible sense of direction. But it looks like I'm about a 2 1/2 hour trip south-east down 70 away from you in Somerset. Hope that helps some.

[Aku]

ouch yea... thanks, but i think it's safe to assume i'm out, thats a bit of a drive for someone unemployed to drive for a game heh//

[PBTHHHHT]

Hmmm... Tinman, you're in luck. My friends and I are wanting to restart an srun campaign soon, especially around spring/summer. The main place where we play is around Germantown, MD. That's less than 20 miles depending on the roads you use to get there. I can run it by the guy whose place we usually game at since he's a bit particular about people but it's a good place to game.

Hey Sren, so you want to gm...? hmmm...
ok you two, email me. vallaugh@yahoo :biggrin:

[Tinman]

Bam, e-mail sent. I've already gotten in contact with Sren, so it'd be cool if we could all have a game together. If that doesn't work out, well... there isn't any reason I couldn't play two games at once. :D

[Sren]

The more the merrier... just need to get a time and place to meet.

[PBTHHHHT]

k, still waiting for the email... hmm... I wonder if yahoo is acting up or something. I still haven't seen it and it's 1 am. hmmm...
Anyway, I've been contacted by one more who lives in gaithersburg.
So that's you two, him and me so far. That's four.

My friend mentioned he can volunteer his place (in Germantown) as long as he's merely a player, but only once every two weeks on Saturdays from noon till 8. He doesn't have much time outside of that, he just recently gotten promoted to a management position at some engineering place so he's been swamped with work.

That's five. Then there's one more guy who've I played over the years too, he knows his srun rules and his magic stuff. So that's 6. I think we have a full group. Well, that and there's not much room we can fit at my friend's gaming table. :P

[Tinman]

So, is there a plan to meet up this Saturday? Just checking in case I missed out on an e-mail or something.

[Sren]

Anyone have a suggestion better than meeting at games, comics and stuff? Its a little late to plan on meeting on Saturday, but sunday afternoon is good for me.

EDIT: www.gamescomicsstuff.com

[pwolf66]

There's zero chance of me being able to make it any where NEAR Glen Burnie. It's just too far to commit to on a regular basis. I was hoping that it would be in the Gaithersburg/Germantown area and there's a nice store near here that might be good to meet: www.other-realms.com

Let me know. I'm very interested in getting back into SR but I don't have 10 hours to commit to it on Saturdays (8 hours plus 2 hours travel), just not there.

Later

[Tinman]

Well, I'm going to try to make it over to games, comics, and stuff tomorrow in the mid-afternoon (3 pm or so) just to see if I can meet up with whoever can make it there. Maybe I'll see some of you guys there, if not we can just discuss the planning over e-mail or something. :cyber:

[Tinman]

Other-realms sounds like a good place to meet for me if it's no problem with anyone else. I'm fine with Gaithersburg or Glen Burnie, or anything in between for that matter.

[crimson ronin]

me and a friend would like to join id go to glen burnie or other realms id prfer other realms since the have lots of room and i know where it is

[PBTHHHHT]

Sorry I hadn't replied for a bit. Well, my friend is out, mainly because he'd prefer to game on Saturdays and I think some of you had mentioned the preference for Sunday gaming. As for myself, I'm also a bit hesitant to commit to gaming on Sundays. Plus, I'd be available only for every other week.

This weekend I'm out because I probably have to go into work and catch up on deadlines. Dang, now I just remembered I promised to help a coworker move into his apartment for next weekend. Argh!!! :grr:

[Sren]

Sorry I haven't kept up this week. I'll do better in the future. Since no one has a definite plan, lets here votes for this: since I don't recall who said they didn't want to play on Sat., how does Sat evenings, around 6pm, sound? I'll drive down to otherrealms next weekend. I'll try to be there early.

I was probably the one who said Sat. evenings were bad because the Glen Burnie store is overcrowded with CCG players on Saturday...

Anyways, I might have to work tomorrow, so I need to stay nearby. I'm always subject to unscheduled overtime, but in the last two years, I've only had to work late on a Saturday once, but there are big changes going on at work, and I need to be around if there's a problem.

Anyways, let me know if Sat evenings at six pm a otherrealms is good, lets see some agreement or better ideas.

If I GM, which seems likely unless someone else would like to do it, I plan on having the characters start out as average joes, and become experienced runners over the course of the first and second adventure. I promise a cenematic level of advancement over the first few adventures, and I'll try not to railroad you guys into my plot schemes after the first couple nights (the first adventure or two will be the characters' entrance into the SINless life, and gaining a contact...)

I'm an inexperienced GM, but the only way to learn is to keep trying.

Hope to hear from you all soon, but for now, its time for bed.
S'Ren

[crimson ronin]

average joes get hired by johnsons? if i play ill try to make an average joe up

[Tinman]

Next Saturday in Other Realms at 6. Gotcha. Will I need to bring some cash to help pay for a table? I'm pretty new at this so I'm not sure about the SOP with the tables. Anyway, seeya then.

[Sren]

Good question Tinman. Anyone who has been to otherrealms have an answer?

[crimson ronin]

yea i got yer answer i got an inside man at other realms(rob kaminsky) actually friday is gameday there but i am sure i can get us a table no charge other realms has thier own message boards also may want to check them out

[crimson ronin]

everyone who wants to meet for whomevers sr game be advised that on the 26th there happens to already be a sr event planned there so why dont we all enjoy the event and play someone elses game later? we can all exchange info with each other at the game!

[Tinman]

That's not a bad idea. I couldn't find anything on the event calender for the store about what time it's happening though. Is it an all day thing?

It probably would be good to pick a time when we can all meet. I can get out of work around 3:00, so getting together anytime after that would be good. I think the store is open until 12:00 AM though so that should give us a bit of leeway.

Here's hoping we can pull something off. :cyber:

::edit:: Whoops, forgot we already agreed to meet at 6:00. Silly me. ::edit::

[crimson ronin]

unfortunately the guy running the one game 2 part event has premade characters ick!! ill probably play anyways his games are 11am-3pm then 4pm-8pm hope they dont suck!

[Sren]

I'll try to be there for the early game, but no promises (early Sat is vulnerable to oversleeping and unscheduled overtime...) and I'll stay after trying to find you guys. If he has room for all of us, cool, if not, I'll try to have something ready for my attempt at a campaign.

Here's the info for my game, I guess we'll try to start the first Sat in March... (if I can get enough people to stay after meeting me...) Just a note, March 19th I'll be occupied in the evening and might not make it to other-realms (D&D Mini tournament in Glen Burnie).

Character creation:

Who
Each of the characters has led a blessed life. Each has had the best opportunities made available to them; good education, good job opportunities, good home life, everything. Starting a couple months ago, however, that all changed. Family members ran away, or were killed. The characters were unexpectedly fired from jobs they performed well at. They were accused of crimes, and the people they used as alibis lied. They’ve been mugged or threatened repeatedly and unable to get help from the authorities. Homes burned down. Been arrested for crimes they didn’t commit and been abused by the police. They’ve been otherwise completely abused, trashed and seemingly hated by everyone around them.

Each character has been herded to Seattle. Their SINs either erased or set as criminal SINs. They have little cash left, and have been attacked or threatened nearly every time they try to rent a room to stay for the night.

What
The characters will be made using the character point system from the Shadowrun Companion with the following modifications:
-Each character will be made with only 90 points
-There is no cost for character race (standard races only)
-Cost for aspected magicians and adepts is 0 points (no voodoo please)
-Cost for full magician is 5 points (no voodoo please)
-Aspected magicians get 45 spell points, full magicians get 35 spell points
-Characters can buy attributes to 7 and skills to 8 (remember, skill ratings above the related attribute cost double)
-Characters may not have any edges or flaws worth more than 2 points
-Each character has the sensitive system flaw, and gains no additional points for it
-Each character can purchase Delta-grade cyber for normal price (characters should be unaware of the upgrade).
-Use the following table for starting resources, keep in mind that the characters cannot start with more than they can carry with them on the streets and possibly a stolen vehicle:
30 points: 2,200,000 Nuyen
25 points: 1,650,000 Nuyen
20 points: 1,100,000 Nuyen
15 points: 825,000 Nuyen
10 points: 480,000 Nuyen
05 points: 165,000 Nuyen
00 points: 55,000 Nuyen
-5 points: 11,000 Nuyen

When
The IC time will be fall (rainy season?) five years before dunkie’s death…

Where
Um… starts downtown Seattle, the characters are running from unknown enemies (and maybe some known ones too).

Why
IC: because you don’t seem to have many options.
OOC: because we want to play SRIII!!!

More notes: Any suggestions/questions, feel free to email me or discuss them here. For players who don't want to play magical characters, you can have latent magic discovered during play, OR we can discuss other character options via email. The reason for the unusual chargen system is that the characters are special, but don't know why, and its related to magic.