Emo's thread about "Why Do You Shadowrun?" got me thinking as to why I Shadowrun, and why I run the games I do.
I have always been interested in the street-level campaign that eventually turns heroic. What I mean by this is although the characters may start incredibly detatched from the everyday actions of the megas, politicos, IEs, and dragons, they will eventually rise to a point of prominence where they will be directly interacting with these entities. Still inferior, but in a position where they have the chance to make or break canon history.
I'm running a game set in pre-Bug City Chicago, and while all the money's really to be made in the Elevated/Core/Southside, several players have their main lifestyles in the less-than-glamorous Northside, and thus need to either spend a lot of time to drive out of their way to avoid, or drive right through, the Noose.
Now, I want there to be consequences to their actions of living and driving through the grittier areas of Chicago, and sometimes even horrible ones. Hence come the gangs... go-gangs, groups demanding tribute, random muggers, etc. However, I don't want this to be like D&D with a Random Urban Encounter Percentile Die™, where the runner mops the gangers up, and walks home to nurse his Light Wound for the night (exaggeration, and I'm going to play these guys dangerously and occaisonally with intelligent tactics). Yet at the same time, this game is online, and I don't want to slow the game down too much with these kinds of events.
How do you run these kinds of events? Random violence already happens to people not targeted by corps, and I want to get them to realize why living in a Low Lifestyle isn't the best of choices for a person's life span. To put it simply, I want to bring the street back to their street-level lives.
Full Version: Gangs and Your Runners
I would populate your gang ridden sections of town in the sort of places gangers tend to hang out. For fun they will be at bars and strip clubs if they have money, maybe just drinking and drugging at one of their pads or in a public park if they don't. If they deal they will have different places they sell, a few on street corners, some in parks, the ones with more juice will be in bars and clubs. There will be parts of town they "own" and can do just about whatever they want, they may have a local cop on the take who only busts them when they really make a lot of noise, and then only one or two. Gangs and basketball seem to be forever linked, chances are the gangers in Chicago in 2050 will be just as in to playing ball as they are today. BAsically any time the runners paths cross in to places where the gangers are, because they are all predatory street creatures, there is going to be some sort of contest of wills, chest puffing, trash talking, and if not carefully handled (or if enough drugs & alcohol are in play) fighting.
Take a page from The Warriors. Gangs stake out their territory, clearly mark it with graffiti, and fight over turf. The presence of gangs in an area should be obvious by the burners painted on every free space and they would also identify which gang owns the turf. When in gang territory one runs the risk of confonting the gang that owns the turf.
Also, gang politics is every bit as complicated and intense as politics within and between nations. Each gang is a soverign military state unto itself, not unlike the militaristic city-states of ancient Greece.
Go-Gangs are different. They don't have turf. They will certainly have a overign clubhouse which seve as a base of operations but they are nomads at heart and thus they spend most of their time on the roads. They patrol major highways across the continent, raiding towns and accosting motorists. Rather than being like a Greek city-state they are like Mongol hoards and Viking raiders. A person an potentially run into a go-gang on any major road.
Also, gang politics is every bit as complicated and intense as politics within and between nations. Each gang is a soverign military state unto itself, not unlike the militaristic city-states of ancient Greece.
Go-Gangs are different. They don't have turf. They will certainly have a overign clubhouse which seve as a base of operations but they are nomads at heart and thus they spend most of their time on the roads. They patrol major highways across the continent, raiding towns and accosting motorists. Rather than being like a Greek city-state they are like Mongol hoards and Viking raiders. A person an potentially run into a go-gang on any major road.
| QUOTE (hyzmarca) |
| Go-Gangs are different. They don't have turf. They will certainly have a overign clubhouse which seve as a base of operations but they are nomads at heart and thus they spend most of their time on the roads. They patrol major highways across the continent, raiding towns and accosting motorists. Rather than being like a Greek city-state they are like Mongol hoards and Viking raiders. A person an potentially run into a go-gang on any major road. |
I always thought go-gangs had turf, too. I understood that go-gangs staked out certain portions of major (& minor) roadways as their own.
In our game, one of the team members actually belongs to the local go-gang, which is loosely allied to the local gang.
I would say it should depend on your team & their backgrounds. How long have the characters supposedly lived in these areas? Do they currently live in or near a particular gangs territory? If they've lived there for over, say, 2 years, they've probably come to some form of understanding with the local gang & would know which areas of town to absolutely avoid. In order to not slow down our game, we pretty much state whenever we're mobile that we're avoiding the territories of rival gangs as much as we can.
Just my 2
| QUOTE (BrianL03) |
| Gangs and Your Runners, Or, how DO you survive in that Squatter? |
You ever see The Empire Strikes Back? Just find a suitable temporary refuge, trolls work best but orks will do in a pinch if you're a dwarf, gut them and then crawl inside. Toasty warm on those cold winter nights. Plus everyone seems to leave you alone afterwards for some reason. Sorry, couldn't resist.
| QUOTE (Valentinew) |
| I always thought go-gangs had turf, too. I understood that go-gangs staked out certain portions of major (& minor) roadways as their own. |
I see go gangs as more of an extention of classic biker gangs. While they may have a particular stretch of highway that they patrol it would be far too large to reasonably call turf and, due to their nomadic nature, different go-gangs can withstand some overlap in their patrol areas.
Sadly, until my most recent bash at a more street-level run, most of my players used their various Gang-related knowledge skills for chosing their routes through the barrens, I91, etc. and then I read this recently -
And that was the first real time anyone go to use their l33t-ass Gang ID, etc skillz.
-Tir
[ Spoiler ]
And that was the first real time anyone go to use their l33t-ass Gang ID, etc skillz.
-Tir
Regarding the previous post, Kudos to Wounded Ronin for the mission idea.
And an honourable mention to Voran, who quite accurately predicted what the reactions were...
-Tir
And an honourable mention to Voran, who quite accurately predicted what the reactions were...
-Tir
I dunno about anyone else...
But that sounds awesome!
But that sounds awesome!
Update on the Run-
Well, it pretty much turned into the monster slay-fest you'd imagined it. Much carnage from the Orc with the LMG, some horrible, HORRIBLE shots from back-up Troll-Adept-With-Bow with Troll-in-the-Jackrabbit also increasing the bodycount.
So who was the deadliest?
The Initiated mage with Control Fire 7 and will of 9.
What the hell? Who were the opposition?
Sighs.
You know, this whole idea was to be a 4-hour diversion.
I now have these jokers on guncam wasting an entire chapter of cutthroat gangers with a couple of light wounds to show for it.
I think it's time to introduce the concept of vendetta.
-Tir.
Well, it pretty much turned into the monster slay-fest you'd imagined it. Much carnage from the Orc with the LMG, some horrible, HORRIBLE shots from back-up Troll-Adept-With-Bow with Troll-in-the-Jackrabbit also increasing the bodycount.
So who was the deadliest?
The Initiated mage with Control Fire 7 and will of 9.
What the hell? Who were the opposition?
[ Spoiler ]
Sighs.
You know, this whole idea was to be a 4-hour diversion.
I now have these jokers on guncam wasting an entire chapter of cutthroat gangers with a couple of light wounds to show for it.
I think it's time to introduce the concept of vendetta.
-Tir.
Well I always ran with the Big Trouble in Little China feel for it. I.e. that gang bangers tended to come in two varieties.
The "normal" gangs were the home team variety that were used to establish some sense of power and community in the area. They may be violent and scum potentially but they have some connection to the local area.
The "corp gangs" are like Lo Pans group in that they're essentially the hired muscle of the corporation or some subsidiary in the area, The really LOW end of the totem poll for enforcement but the average feel is that the corps get their cut plus also use them for testing weapons development.
The "normal" gangs were the home team variety that were used to establish some sense of power and community in the area. They may be violent and scum potentially but they have some connection to the local area.
The "corp gangs" are like Lo Pans group in that they're essentially the hired muscle of the corporation or some subsidiary in the area, The really LOW end of the totem poll for enforcement but the average feel is that the corps get their cut plus also use them for testing weapons development.
Assault on Precinct 13. The runners go to a restaurant, hell, just about anywhere, and they're surrounded and attacked there. Preferrably during a meet with a Johnson/Fixer.
Always remember that gangers usually prey on anything weaker than them, and challenge everything equal to them in the area; they will, however, usually steer clear of a group of runners looking obviously like pros and sporting obvious big firepower and serious 'ware (unless the gangers set up an ambush in order to steal the runners' gear). The fact that they're street-scum and thugs doesn't mean that they are stupid.
Otherwise, they're usually more of an harrasment and less of a threat (to runners, that is; they ARE a big threat to most locals who cross them) unless the gang is well-established and well-connected. They are usually good businessman too, and would be very happy to strike a deal with runners (nuyen is nuyen after all) as long as the runners don't challange their turf. IIRC part of the Squatter lifestyle cost is bribes to the local gang to leave the character alone. They could also be very good information sources if the runners maintain the right kind of relations with them.
In other words, they are people too, very violent people that is, and not D&D goblin hordes.
Otherwise, they're usually more of an harrasment and less of a threat (to runners, that is; they ARE a big threat to most locals who cross them) unless the gang is well-established and well-connected. They are usually good businessman too, and would be very happy to strike a deal with runners (nuyen is nuyen after all) as long as the runners don't challange their turf. IIRC part of the Squatter lifestyle cost is bribes to the local gang to leave the character alone. They could also be very good information sources if the runners maintain the right kind of relations with them.
In other words, they are people too, very violent people that is, and not D&D goblin hordes.
| QUOTE |
| In other words, they are people too, very violent people that is, and not D&D goblin hordes. |
Frankly, do you see a difference?
But they are different from DnD goblin hordes. Gang members are known within their communities not merely as hoodlums, but also as sons, brothers, boyfriends, neighbors, schoolmates, lovers, and fathers. On the other side of things, the gang members swear allegiance to their gang, but they also have bonds of loyalty to their non-affiliated friends and family members. I'm not saying that street gangs are "okay" because of this, but it's important to understand that the relationship between the street gang and the larger community is more complex than one of simple hostility.
You know, D&d and fantasy can be like this, too. 
The humanoids and otehrs don't live in a vacuum.
But back on the topic.
There is always an element of force rapports. Who can intimidate who. The runners eitheir negotiate, or show off their muscles.
The humanoids and otehrs don't live in a vacuum.But back on the topic.
There is always an element of force rapports. Who can intimidate who. The runners eitheir negotiate, or show off their muscles.
That's why they ambush runners in the bathroom. I mean, seriously, how many runners say to themselves "Hey, he's having a titanically colon-rending crunch in there, it's been twenty minutes, I'd better go check on him and make sure he's okay." Dude could sit alone in a stall for hours, pantws down and garotte around his neck.
How would gangs deal with puppies?
What do you mean? Are puppies a big deal in your campaign?
| QUOTE (emo samurai) |
| How would gangs deal with puppies? |
Hm. Garlic, salt, pepper. Wrap the puppy up in clay, und put in the fire. After a few hours, break the clay shell (which also removes the hair), and voila: Yummy Grub.
That's stupid.
Where are they getting CLAY in the Sprawl? It's probably really just near-clay, produced by Aztechnology.
Where are they getting CLAY in the Sprawl? It's probably really just near-clay, produced by Aztechnology.
Depends on the sprawl. In Seattle it is probably enough to dig in the cellar.
I think that the most plausible thing that a street ganger would do with a puppy would be to raise it as a either guard dog or a fighting dog, especially if it is of one of the breeds that are seen as vicious or intimidating. Otherwise, I would imagine that he would leave it alone.
We are playing in a dark future. A nice Puppy probably tastes better than rats. I think at least in Chinatown there aren't any puppies running around.
Even where the puppies are not eaten, they probably serve as moving targets for those crazed gangers.
I like puppies, btw. Those evil kittens, on the other hand ...
Even where the puppies are not eaten, they probably serve as moving targets for those crazed gangers.
I like puppies, btw. Those evil kittens, on the other hand ...
Do NOT break the puppy-kitten shared-cuteness truce!
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