Full Version: Making money as a Runner
For the record, it's my understanding that bearer bonds have been illegal in the US since the 1980s. I don't think we're really going to see them return in 2070.
Isn't that basically what a certified credstick is: a document worth X amount of money to whoever turns it in?
I see certified credsticks as cash. Bearer bonds, on the other hand, are *ENORMOUS AMOUNTS* of cash, usually, and my understanding is that one of the reasons they were made illegal was their use in organized crime and the drug trade.
I don't remember the book from SR3 that talked about credsticks that well, but my recollection is that you could only get certified credsticks up to a certain capacity...
I don't remember the book from SR3 that talked about credsticks that well, but my recollection is that you could only get certified credsticks up to a certain capacity...
IIRC there were several levels of certified credstick, each with it's own cost and rating. The highest cost ones were unlimited in capacity but were very expensive and much harder to try and tamper with.
Well, cretified credsitcks are beyond the government's ability to regulate, for the most part.
Making them a great replacement for bonds, at least from a criminal point of view.
You could ban the use of any credits not tied to an account, which would stop most legal use of certified creds.
You could ban the use of any credits not tied to an account, which would stop most legal use of certified creds.
Runners who take payment in stock, are also in a wonderful position for insider trading opportunities.
Runner X calls his broker, "Um, can you sell my stock in <X> in like the next ten minutes? And buy some stock in <Y>?"
Broker: Ok. Any special reason?
Runner X: Nah, just don't like the company anymore.
Next day, newscasts cover how company X lost one of their prime manufacturing plants, and in related news company Y announces a new cutting edge product.
Runner X calls his broker, "Um, can you sell my stock in <X> in like the next ten minutes? And buy some stock in <Y>?"
Broker: Ok. Any special reason?
Runner X: Nah, just don't like the company anymore.
Next day, newscasts cover how company X lost one of their prime manufacturing plants, and in related news company Y announces a new cutting edge product.
| QUOTE (Voran) |
| Runners who take payment in stock, are also in a wonderful position for insider trading opportunities. Runner X calls his broker, "Um, can you sell my stock in <X> in like the next ten minutes? And buy some stock in <Y>?" Broker: Ok. Any special reason? Runner X: Nah, just don't like the company anymore. Next day, newscasts cover how company X lost one of their prime manufacturing plants, and in related news company Y announces a new cutting edge product. |
Yep
I found the section of Corporate Shadowfiles that deals with the question of "Why would a runner get paid in stock?" to be a very elightening read.
Now I just gotta incorporate it into the campaign.
stocks are a dangerous way to go. if ownership is based on a fake sin, then you have some serious risk if that sin goes pop.
the real value, stockwise, is selling your paydata to the brokers. they manage enough stocks for their clients to make a HUGE profit off such info, far more than what a runner can afford to invest. so they can afford to pay for good data.
the real value, stockwise, is selling your paydata to the brokers. they manage enough stocks for their clients to make a HUGE profit off such info, far more than what a runner can afford to invest. so they can afford to pay for good data.
| QUOTE (Teulisch) |
the real value, stockwise, is selling your paydata to the brokers. they manage enough stocks for their clients to make a HUGE profit off such info, far more than what a runner can afford to invest. so they can afford to pay for good data. |
| QUOTE |
| stocks are a dangerous way to go. if ownership is based on a fake sin, then you have some serious risk if that sin goes pop. |
True - but nothing is ever a certainty in the shadows. Just walking down the street with a fake SIN is dangerous.
| QUOTE |
| the real value, stockwise, is selling your paydata to the brokers. they manage enough stocks for their clients to make a HUGE profit off such info, far more than what a runner can afford to invest. so they can afford to pay for good data. |
This depends on if the runners get paid in actual stock certificates or they get paid and then invest it. How many shares does each Megacorp have floating around? Millions from what I've read. I doubt that a mega is going to even notice giving out anything less than 100,000 shares - especially when it could make those runners you just hired extremely reluctent to hit your corp before they have time to offload the stock.
10,000 shares of a stock might not make a runner rich, but if the run is successful (as in no heat for the corp that hired/payed you) and they get their competing product to market before the target corp has a chance to recover... well those 10,000 shares could of doubled or tripled in value.
Heck that could be a good tool to teach new players the value of being subtle without seeming to be a tightfisted GM.
| QUOTE |
Johnson: So in summary, I'll pay you 10,000 nuyen to break into that lab and steal the prototype. Players discuss among themselves. Party Face: We're interested but our expenses on this one will be higher than normal, we can't do it for less than 30,000 nuyen. Johnson: 30,000 nuyen? Absolutely out of the question. Party Face: Sorry Mr. J - no can do for 10k... what about 25k? Johnson: 25k is still to high - I'm prepared to offer 20,000 shares of Ares stock. You complete the run quitely those shares should double or possibly even triple in value. Players discuss among themselves. Party Face: We're golden Mr. J. Expect delivery in 72 hours. |
If you wanted to get really tricky - it the Johnson could be giving out the Ares stock as a plan to frag over Ares by double-crossing the runners and using the resulting bad publicity to devalue Ares stock in preparation for a hostile takeover of one of their holdings.
I'm not saying every GM should use stock as payment. Just that its a tool that seems to be overlooked and could bring some extra zing to the game.
I would be very suprised to see a Johnson hand over much more than around 10000 shares ever, keep in mind that AAA Stock is most likely valued between 75-150 NuYen per share. 10000 shares in that range would be a huge payment in most games.
Also keep in mind that a run is not going to seriously impact a AAA stock. Unless it's emo's campaign and the run reveals the deepest, darkest Azzie secrets or something.
Pay them in shares of a publicly-traded subsidiary, instead. Paying them in one that stands to immediately and publicly gain from the run gives them incentive to not mess it up.
Also pay heed to the advice given out repeatedly in the SBs... own at least 1 share in every corp that you have the least bit of interest in. Being a legal shareholder doesn't give you a lot of edge in a day when corp filings hit the DDH faster than they hit O-Z, but it doesn't cost a lot, and you never know when it will help.
Pay them in shares of a publicly-traded subsidiary, instead. Paying them in one that stands to immediately and publicly gain from the run gives them incentive to not mess it up.
Also pay heed to the advice given out repeatedly in the SBs... own at least 1 share in every corp that you have the least bit of interest in. Being a legal shareholder doesn't give you a lot of edge in a day when corp filings hit the DDH faster than they hit O-Z, but it doesn't cost a lot, and you never know when it will help.
| QUOTE (Big D) |
| Also keep in mind that a run is not going to seriously impact a AAA stock. Unless it's emo's campaign and the run reveals the deepest, darkest Azzie secrets or something. |
So if it's someone else's campaign and the run reveals the deepest darkest Azie secrets it'll be business as usual?
Just when I was looking for a way to incorporate Brokerage X into my game, Dumpshock comes through again.
Heh. Stock options for the team, rather than individually.
Now we're talking.
Heh. Stock options for the team, rather than individually.
Now we're talking.
| QUOTE (NightHaunter) |
| Heh. Stock options for the team, rather than individually. Now we're talking. |
I'd rather give stock options to one or two of the team members. Makes for some interesting situations.
Runner #1: "If we destroy this KE facility, this run will be a lot easier."
Runner #2: (looking up from his AR Ares stock portfolio display) "Er ..."
| QUOTE (Aaron) | ||
I'd rather give stock options to one or two of the team members. Makes for some interesting situations. Runner #1: "If we destroy this KE facility, this run will be a lot easier." Runner #2: (looking up from his AR Ares stock portfolio display) "Er ..." |
Hummm.
Maybe a bit of both.
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