Abandoned Highschool, Shadowrunner Base? Options

[Stormdrake]

Just recently went back to my old highschool. It's in Chicago and not the best part either. The amount of non human security now present combined with the schools normal assets made me think what a shadowrunner team in 2065 could make of such a location. Figured it could make a really cool base. So my question to you all is what do you remeber from your highschools? Just looking for ideas to be included in a write up.
Thanks,
Stormdrake

[hermit]

I suppose they'd have to chase out the local gang first, though.

[Nikoli]

Typicaly schools are built too open for a good base. All those windows, double doors and hatches mean tons of entry points for intruders. Never mind more modern building architecture (most abandoned schools today are from 60 years ago or more) so imagine those all plexiglass walls of windows and trying to secure that in some of hte cafeterias.

[Bearclaw]

If you take the whole thing though, including the grounds, it wouldn't be as big of a deal. The rigger just puts in a couple of the track mounted drones around the outside fence, and after the first person over the fense gets shredded by MMG fire, everyone else gets the idea.
In the Redmond barrens, I'm sure there are at least 20 schools that would work for this. Of course, all of them are currently the squats for dozens of families, or for a local gang, but they're there.

[northern lights]

just ran a group through the mall from my high school town. had a psuedo gang in residence. the pc's never thought to use it themselves. i personally thought it would be pretty cool.

[Ancient History]

It has potential, but you'd need to make some serious modifications. Some notes:

The Good

• Plenty of Space
• Personal Gym
• Possible open areas for shamans, back-to-nature-types, and exapnsion.
• Ideal for setting up urban assault drills.
• Possible bonus spaces, such as greenhouse, server room, pool, weight room, garage, machine shop, JROTC armory, theater, library, etc.
• Basic defenses (alarms, closed-circuit TV, barbed-wire fences, concrete roadblocks, locks) likely.

The Bad

• Renovations needed, likely expensive (but excellent once complete).
• Vulnerable (although mazelike, serious or prolonged habitation would necessitate massive and expensive improvements to defense: reinforcing walls, bricking up unnecessary windows, adding exterior security cameras and drone [since most schools have a decent lawn, cybered or paranormal dogs may be ideal], adding Awakened ivy or wards, etc. Furthermore, architectural plans are likely matters of public record.)
• Possible toxic zone (all those boring classes are one thing, but who knows what darksome deeds were committed there?) or haunted. Some schoolgrounds tainted by local toxic waste dump, asbestos, etc.

The Ugly
A school is a big target, and a serious investment. Once you start renovations, you pretty much have to prepare for a seige if you're ever tracked back there. Furthermore, as a highly visible location, at least one legal SIN would be necessary, and property taxes probably apply.

[hyzmarca]

Exterior doors can be secured or simply welded shut. Windows would be another problem but they can be secured, as well. All you really need is some security bars and possibly some plywood to cover them on the inside just in case the base is attacked by a magician. It would be work, but not much more work than securing any other squatter location.

[mmu1]

Who says you need to rebuild and fortify the whole thing? Blow out non-load bearing walls to create open field of fire, and fortify/reinforce only the sections you intend to live in. Mine the rest.

[Shadow]

I always thought a Firehouse would make an awesome base. Its small, tough, and defendable.

As for the school, you could always setup in one section of it, board or block of the rest. Like you could setup in the gym and close of everything else.

[Nikoli]

Yeah, a firehouse would be nice. just imagine all the spirits running around there...

[Trax]

Plus you get a kickass pole to slide down.

[Kyuhan]

GHOSTBUSTERS!!!



EDIT: Hmmm, that sounded a little too excited... :spin:

[PBTHHHHT]

What about buying a hotel and then casting a mojo illusion spell that makes it so the building is not there anymore and the lot is deserted. Plus, going to all the people associated with building and the city planners and implanting into their mind via spell or even psychotropic BTL's to make them believe the building was demolished...

Yeah, yeah, I caught 'The Shadow' on cable recently. :-P

[Stormdrake]

One reason I thought a high school would be appropriate is that many of the older ones did double duty as civil fallout shelters. Meaning the school has its own genarator and water supply and much of the structure is already re-enforced. As for open windows and too many access points a lot of older city highschools were multi level with no windows on the ground floor. Built like semi fortresses or mini prisons if the truth be told.

[Nikoli]

But many of those types have been ground under the wave of urban sprawl long before your characters took their first mewling breaths. Not saying that there aren't any still left around, but if they are still around and that good for defense, likely someone else has already moved in and made the necessary arrangements to keep you out.

[Stormdrake]

PBTHHHHT, Just because an idea has been used by hollywood does not make it a bad one. Was actually thinking a ancored spirit with the power of "hide" or "fear" would at least keep the local gang bangers away. A few accidental deaths or disappearances would also go a long way to keeping the locals away. IF you wanted to be evil that is.

[RangerJoe]

Provided the school is in the Barrens in a Z-zone, you don't even need to kick out the local gang/squatters. Having "normal" people around helps keep a runner HQ low profile. If the runners don't mind spending a little bit of time as landlords (the devil rats are swarming in the gym again...), their local squatters and gangers will provide an excellent shielf to unwanted scrutiny.

Just make sure that some areas of the school are off-limits (e.g., the heavily protected runners only zone). If one of the locals acts up, they get "sent to the principle's office."

[Nikoli]

that or every time one of them wanders in, the gang gets an unmarked package with the unbroken skin (sans the rest of them) of their missing friend. sooner or later, they'll find a cave and bury themselves to hide and take up macrame...

[Stormdrake]

Ok true such a structure would in real life probably have occupents already. However as we are talking a game were the characters are the main point I think there could be ways around this. The story plot I am working on has a school having been modified by a corporation to be used as a deniable asset. That corp gets gobled up by a larger corporation before the base can be put to its use and in the restructuring it is "lost". A surviving member of managment of the little corps knows about it and uses it to pay off runners to help him escape from the corporation that took over and get some pay back. Obviously a very rough outline but you get the idea.

[RangerJoe]

I think folks have considerably different ideas of what a "typical school" campus is going to look like in game. A rolling, green acres high school, with a sprawling gym, one or two stories, and grassy fields around it is one thing. A compact urban school in a multistory building with athletic facilities on the roof and a pool in the basement (like many schools in NYC, for example) is going to be a completely different kettle of SR fish. I'd be sure your players are clear on exactly what the layout of the grounds and/or building is.

[Shadow]

And then theres high schools that look like this and are in Tacoma to boot.

[Stormdrake]

Shadow, ok that one looks like it could be fun. Something else for people to keep in mind is that according to cannon there are lots of ghost towns scattered across North America. Which means lots of old highschools sitting in ghost towns. Granted that means traveling to work but if your running teams that do smuggeling or other globe bouncing the possibilities are not too far fetched.

[Trax]

An entire town to call your own. :D

[PBTHHHHT]

[ShieldT]

20-story high school? What kind of town did you live in?

Joking :grinbig: