I'm GMing a game for some of my friends and I'm always coming up with little thoughts and ideas that I'd like to hear opinions about. I reckon this section is the best one since the welcome states "It is also meant as a resource for GMs to find information specific to their own campaigns."

The setting is based on the northern UK. There are 4 players, none of which has any real matrix skills. One picked the Occult Investigator example char and modified it a bit. (higher Magic, less contacts and some other stuff) The others are more or less melee combat oriented so I want to put that to use. They're also a rather murderous lot.

The first scenario I have in mind involves a reward they got off another mission which was 7000 and a luxury weekend at a hotel they did a job for. I'm going to let them fool around a bit before having explosives go off with an enemy runner team and a handful of mercenaries making their way through the hotel in search of an important exec.

Main thing is that the team will arm themselves and make it back to their rooms if they want their stuff back. They also wouldn't have anything illegal on themselves since they're just on a holiday. If they're in the swimming pool they'll have to fight their way out wearing a towel Then they're free to do whatever they want, escape, try to kill the invaders, rescue the VIP or try to rob the hotel in the confusion.

Anyone know of any possible traps or situations I should prepare (for)?


My other scenario involves a tip about strange BTLs and large shipments of data chips to an area in the middle of nowhere. If they follow it up the team will find an enormous forgotten bunker and missile silo. At the bottom level there's a large mainframe cluster with a paranoid remnant AI that's using a worshipping cult to supply it with data on chips as it won't allow direct links to the outside in fear of other AIs or digital attacks. It's using heavily modified personafix BTLs on the less trusted worshippers to make them obedient and ultimately addicted to it.

I'm just not entirely sure of what challenges I should have them face on the way there however. Ideas or comments are welcome.

Well I guess the poilce would get there. Although it's not sure how the UK would be in the dark SR future. I imagine the police would be somewhat weakened and underfunded so that private security exists, but isn't quite as common as in the american lands. However it might be the military elite forces that intervene in terrorist situations instead. I do know my players will react wildly if I hint that SAS is on the way! They might go hide under a carpet or something.

Possible incentives for staying might be to argue payment from the hotel manager who got them here in the first place, gaining a huge favour (or payment) off the wealthy executive for saving his ass or knowing the players they might just think the enemy is out to get them. My players come to the best ever conclusions sometimes.


Regarding the AI, I like your thoughts on it and when you mention the cybersurgeon it strikes me that it might be willing to pay for having selected sheep brought into its folds so to speak. I don't expect it to be very happy with the idea of magic so it would certainly be looking for powerful magicians to protect it as well as other people with key skills... Unless it decides that these people would be better off dead than under its thumb that could lead to a possible employment. Of course that's if they're willing to work for something that would be willing to sacrifice them in a picosecond in order to ensure its continued existence, not much different from a megacorporation, really...
And it DOES want to know what the other AIs are up to.

Check out Shadows of Europe and/or London Sourcebook. UK cops are tough and armed and don't like it when anyone but them are. They come down hard on anyone carrying firearms, and put them down fast.

My only concern really is haivng the game set up, and the team not taking the hook you provide because they may not see the bait. Happens some time.

I'm not too worried about the hotel scenario. I think we'll all be happy no matter what they pick as long as they don't collapse the hotel down on themselves.

However it'll be harder to get them inside a concrete labyrinth. Not sure how to lure them there. Maybe they'll get a job to look after some lost person when the area has gotten a reputation that people go in and don't come out?