After haggling so much on the price, Rat probably won't add anything frivolous at this point. Right now, he's spending a lot of money, has a job that doesn't pay anything, and has had very little luck lining up his next job (although he's hoping his new 'ware and gear will help change that). He's a bit nervous about his finances.

The only thing he would be interested in, at this point, would be a detatchable silencer for Ma Bell, to make it even more suitable for its primary role as a sniper rifle. Plus, he'll want to get some ammo for both guns, of course.

Glyph,

Silencer, check. Do you want any special ammo, or just standard ammo?

To everyone,

My apologies that the interlude is taking so long. Hopefully it is enjoyable!

--K

Very enjoyable, and I for one don't mind at all

It might not be quite as much 'interaction' but your storytelling and descriptions make up for that in a BIG way krishcane!

I completely agree with SnowRaven. I love the way you give life to details that I had previously considered small (haggling over price, and especially the details of how matrix legwork is done).

While I'm eager for the next job, the "cutscenes" you are giving are utterly priceless.

I like it, myself. A lot of times things like getting new 'ware are glossed over, when it should be more of a big deal. A runner should be weighing his options, worried about complications, disoriented after the operation, and in the back of his mind, he should always wonder if the doc will just let him die, take out a few choice organs, and toss his body in the dumpster. Rat's surgery had all of those nice, little details that breathe life into a runner's "downtime".


On the ammo, I think he'll stick with the basic stuff for now - he already has those incendiary rounds for special occasions. At some point, I am sure he will buy some more exotic ammo, but that will probably be when he has completed another run and feels like a shopping spree to celebrate.

*Edit* And I loved reading the decking stuff. It's kind of scary how much information even a 40-BP decker can dig up on someone!

Just to recap, after all purchases, Rat's gear list looks like this:

Credstick Balance: 9,250 nuyen

Gear -
Weapons:

Streetline Special Pistol with 17 Rounds of Regular Ammo
Knife

Noisy Cricket
Heavy Pistol, SA, 9M, concealability:9 weight:1.75 kg ammo: 10-shot clip
dwarf-adjusted (+2 to non-dwarves using it)
personalized grip for Rat (which means 1 point of recoil comp)
internal smartlink II
top and barrel mounts available
Concealable Holster
98 rounds regular ammo
24 incendiary rounds
extra clip

Ma Bell
Sport Rifle, SA, 7S, concealability:2 weight:4 kg ammo: 5-shot internal mag.
dwarf-adjusted (+2 to non-dwarves using it)
personalized grip for Rat (which means 1 point of recoil comp)
internal smartlink II
extended range -- use sport rifle ranges plus 10%
top and barrel mounts available
Silencer
107 regular rounds
13 tracer rounds

Pepper Punch (40 doses) plus spray dispenser

Armor/Clothing: Ordinary Clothing (x 1).
Armor Vest with Plates (4/3)
Armor casual wear (jeans and T-shirt)
Other Gear: Military-surplus Duffel Bag (of 100 Nuyen cost), Ration Bars (10 Days).

--K

Made a custom Low-lifestyle for Jimmy from the Sprawl Survival Guide:

Location -- 1 pt (squatter equiv.) -- D-zone. Jimmy's apartment is in a decrepit business district at the edge of the Barrens. Not quite the actual Barrens, but definitely a worse neighborhood than the poor tract housing where his parents live. Crime is common, street scum roam with impunity, but few people are here at all.

Comforts -- 2 pts. (low equiv.) -- Jimmy's apartment has electricity and water, although it's prone to going out at times and the water isn't safe to drink. His budget allows him to eat soy food. He has no control over the thermostat -- it's set by the dry cleaning place downstairs, and it's heating only, no A/C. He can only wash clothes when they are open, but at least that's free. He has a tiny shower, no tub.

Entertainment -- 3 pts. (middle equiv.) -- He has it better than his parents' house in the Entertainment category. He gets a small, personal virtual machine (Blue-4 host) on the business host downstairs, along with dire warnings not to mess with the host itself or the other VMs. He is also warned against decking from here, lest he be traced and bring trouble. However, for searching and legal enjoyments of the Matrix, he has very high-bandwidth and low-latency, so the 'Trix feels good. His privileges come with free voice and video calls, some email accounts, and a small hosting space on his Blue-4 unit. His lifestyle budget here also allows for the rental of a good sim deck, Shadowland fees, and access to good clubs and concerts. We know he would budget for that.

Furnishings -- 1 pt (squatter equiv.) -- Jimmy gets some crates from the alley to sit on and stack his computer and decks. After all, he's jacked in most of the time, so he doesn't need comfort. He gets a wheezing mini-fridge for soft drinks, and smuggles his old mattress out of his parents house. Other than that, the apartment is pretty empty.

Security -- 3 pts. (middle equiv.) -- There is certainly better security than at home. His building has a Triad strongman on guard downstairs at all times, assigned to protect the business. Whether he'd get involved in a personal altercation at Jimmy's place is up in the air, but he'd at least protect the building. Of course, that guard can call in the rest of the gang on short-notice if something bad starts going down, and the Triads are fiercely protective of their own. Jimmy gets to hide in the shadow of that. The doors to the building are maglocked, as are the interior doors to the apartments, all at Rating 4. Jimmy feels pretty safe, even in this crappy neighborhood.

Area -- 2 pts. (low equiv) -- The space itself is about like home. It's smaller, but with less people so it evens out. It's a cramped, one-bedroom apartment, but still better than a studio. He's seen worse, and he's a small guy, so it works out fine.

--K.

Hi folks,

We are officially off the cinematic interlude, so post at will. Soon I will post the first hooks for the new run, but if there's any miscellaneous posting you want to throw in there, rock out.

I'm in Chicago today, and I've been entertained seeing all these "Bug City" landmarks.... I drove by Cermak Rd. yesterday.

--K

Hey folks,

Everyone has about 2 hours of game-time to gather themselves up and head over to the meet site. Let me know if there are any actions you'd like to take beforehand, and what you want to bring to the site.

--K

Hey guys,

Anyone still out there? Did I take so long to write up those cinematic interludes that everyone moved on?

Throw in some flavor text in the IC thread, even if you've got no major actions that need doing, just so I don't feel so lonely. I've been dominating the thread for too long, which was not my intent.

--K

Hehe - sorry. I haven't posted anything because I didn't think I had much of value to do. Don't worry, I"m sure we're all still here. I'll try and post something today from work before i leave town for the weekend.

- Gabriel

Still here, and I don't mind you dominating the thread for awhile - your writing is worth it!

I'll throw some flavor posts out there soon. I got my new car today, so between work, the trip up there, the paperwork, etc. it's been a pretty hectic day. But I should get something up for Rat soon - tomorrow if not tonight.

Awesome flavor posts -- I smiled to myself and even laughed out loud. Made me happy. Remind me to give "roleplaying" karma later for the flavor-posters.

Progress will be slow this week. I'm supposed to be in a class training right now, and I'm sorta avoiding it... but I can't be gone too long. Small posts from me will hopefully be accompanied by lotsa flavor from y'all until I'm more free.

--K

Aaarrrghhhh.... so.... busy......

--K

That's okay We all know how it can be.

What is it they say? Patience is virtue?

Well, we'll get to practice much virtue. I had high hopes of posting more before I leave tomorrow, but I can now see it won't happen. For the next week, I'll be in the Carribbean. I'm back on the 24th, and I won't be able to post until then.

As always, feel free to add flavor text, personal conversations, or just descriptions of your character brushing their teeth with RoachPaste, the most popular toothpaste in the ghetto.

--K

Okay, that works - I'll be gone from the 21st to the 24th myself

Hi guys,

I've realized that I've straight run out of time. I've started my grad school program now, as I continue to work full time, teach meditation in the evenings, and train toward my 2nd degree black belt. I thought perhaps I could still squeeze in the posts to this thread.... but it's looking increasingly unlikely. Even when I have the minutes near a computer, the creative well is dry.

In a way, "standing on a street corner" is an appropriate place for this thread to pause. It fits the style so far, fits the characters. I love these characters and I'd love to see them continue on for a much longer time. I can't lead it, but the GM chair in Cage Fight is up for grabs if anyone wants it (and the players agree).

If no one wants the GM spot here, then Cage Fight pauses until such time that I can pick it up again. That might happen in August, but that's so far away, it's hard to commit. Of course, feel free as players to just take over the storyline in narrative form as well.

It's been lots and lots of fun! I'll probably re-read the whole thread when I have time. What a blast! Thanks to all the current and past players, especially Dark Scrier and Glyph, who played through it consistently for 14 months. Good gaming!

--K

Krishcane,

congratulations on your grad school program. I know (since several of my friends are doing the same thing) that it's no cakewalk. To be stacking that with your 2nd degree belt work, that's plain impressive. Thank you for putting an explicit pause to this.

While I am reluctantly open to the idea of someone else picking up the GM-ing gauntlet (even if only temporarily), I must confess that I am very open to a long-term pause in this. These last two-three weeks, I've been trying to kick my job search into high gear (and I know that it has adversely reflected the quality, creativity, and promptness of Needles' mosts). Hopefully, the job search phase will not need to last long, but for the moment I don't feel I can play well.

Enjoy grad school (what're you going for, and what's your area of study? I'm morbidly curious...), and have fun with your martial arts training as well. You've been an awesome GM, and I look forward to gaming with you again. (Thanks also to all my fellow players -- you guys are inspirational in the depths to which you get in character. I have learned that I have a lot to learn in taht regard. )

I'll keep watching this thread, of course (topic reply notification rocks ). Have a great summer, folks.

- Gabriel

Krishcane,

I agree with gknoy - that is impressive! Way more than I can handle at one time, in any case. And I do understand. I would probably prefer a long-term pause - I think it would be very difficult to find a GM that can keep the feel of this game as well as you had. But I'll go with a new GM if the rest of the group wishes for that.

Personally, I have just recently realized that I need to take hold of a few things in my life and will have less time in front of the computer (well, that remains to be seen really, but I'm hoping...)

I'll also take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in Cage Fight; It started out as a wonderful read for me and became a wonderful gaming experience! Thanks especially to you, krishcane, for doing such an excellent job gamemastering, and for coming up with the idea in the first place. And to the rest of you (current and past players) - great characters, great roleplaying!

It would, of course, be great if we could all pick it up again some time in the future, but if not; it's an interesting place to end it.

As a side note, I have been thinking about putting the entire thing together - editing it from start to end and adding some minor material as needed - as a story, and with the permission of everyone involved I will see if I can find the time to do that and put it up on the web somewhere.

-Thomas

I'm really touched by those thoughtful responses. Thank you very much.

For the recond, I'll be studying toward a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology at Naropa University.

Thomas, as for editing the extended run into an actual story, that would be amazing. You have my enthusiastic permission to do that! If you happen to find the time, while somehow less in front of the computer, please send us the URL.

Good wishes to all!

--K

I've really enjoyed the game. Thanks for GMing this, Krishcane, and I have no problems with a long wait before picking it up again. And Thomas, I think it would be interesting to see Cage Fight as a story. If you ever do post it on the web, send us a link - I'd like to read it.

Good luck to the greatest GM I've even played under.

You were excellent in Experimental, and amazingly brilliant here. I have no doubts that your life is going to somehow get more interesting that it already is. Goodluck krishcane, and keep us posted.

I'd love to see it written up as a story too. You guys played some of the most awesome characters I've ever seen. 40 build points is no challenge to someone who can RP the bottom of the barrel like you guys. Who needs stats to be great?

If this game goes no further, I'm happy to just have this thread, so I can point at it occasionally and say "I played in that game"

-- The Buckman

Also, I'd like to open an invitation to you guys to join the mud I GM for. You guys are the type of players I love, players who can throw out a good action. Not to mention that I wouldn't mind playing SR with you guys again.

I'd be happy to have you along if you wanted to sign up. In fact, I'd love it.

So, if you guys are interested in mudding, come on over.
www.awakenedworlds.net port 4000

Anyone else still living in hope?

Wow, it's been a long time since I've seen this thread pop up.

Cage Fight was a real blast, but for Krishcane, real life got too hectic. If he ever decides to pick it up again, I'll definitely be there, though.

Well, Dark Scrier - for a second there I was...

Oh, me too Glyph, me too.

While I'm typing I can give off a report on my 'pet project' - I've copied down every IC post of Cage Fight, since day one, and taken out almost everything unnecessary and it's still over 300 pages long at font size 12. All I have to do now is bind it all together, using the OOC posts and character info to get it to flow as a story... Too bad I'm so busy though - at this rate, the game will start again before I'm done! (Okay, so maybe my hope lasted longer than a second... )

Was looking at my character here (curious to see how he converts to SR4), and I thought I'd post and see who's still around

During a computer crash I lost all 300 pages of notes, forum posts and the beginning of my narrative for this, so I'm not sure if I'm gonna give it another go, sadly...

Anyway, a 'hi' and wave to any of you that are still around and reading this =)

Never thought I'd see this thread pop up again!

It's too bad you lost those notes. They still don't have the old forum content back up, so it would be hard to put together the beginning of the story.

It's hard to convert anything from SR3 to SR4, since Attributes and skills are handled so differently (high Attributes are rarer, and a skill of 3 or 4 is actually pretty good).

I have nothing productive to add, just wanted to see if I could make Glyph say "Never thought this thread would come back" again.

Seriously though, I still think about this game from time to time. It was a blast playing with you all.

Not as surprising the third time.

But yeah, Cage Fight was a blast. Much as I like powergaming, those little 40 BP characters were fun.