Blue is hiding in the car as Karmakaze suggested. Hoping that the police offiicer won't notice the wanted fugitive with a price on his head.
I, on the other hand, am dealing with an ISP that yet again is intermittently dying. My data.plan on my phone is overtime and costing me.
First world problems.
Full Version: Behind the Crown [OoC]
In your description of single use spell items, Koekepan, you say creating a summoning device would not be worth it. But, say Blue is running from something nasty, ducks into his home and activates an item that calls an F6 Sweez to save his ass. The Drain would likely be substantial but unimportant if suffered ahead of time.
This makes sense to me. Is it doable?
This makes sense to me. Is it doable?
What I said last time:
You can't prepare it, because it won't work, not because it's difficult. Spiritual environments fluctuate, and it's not a static process. This is why it's work, not mere formalism.
QUOTE
I'm not extending formulae to summoning because it's a qualitatively different procedure - aside from anything else, time and place movements make each summoning unique. The one summoning that you can almost always pull off with minimal drama is a watcher - but of course that has its own limitations. Think of it as the difference between "shoot this gun aimed at that target" and "negotiate a contract". Every pull of a trigger is effectively the same once you've loaded the gun. The same contractual terms might be acceptable one day, unacceptable the next, and conditionally acceptable yet the following. No summoning formulae. Want to summon? Run the risk.
You can't prepare it, because it won't work, not because it's difficult. Spiritual environments fluctuate, and it's not a static process. This is why it's work, not mere formalism.
Ah. I forgot I already asked and got an answer. Gettin' old.
I had not realized so much time had passed since I last checked in. Thought it was a couple days.
I am traveling for the holidays, but I will be returning home just before Christmas. Been 2000 miles from home all week.
Ah. Cross-continent family and friends, huh? I hope you missed the worst of the weather pattern that scudded across us all.
QUOTE (Koekepan @ Dec 20 2022, 09:46 AM) 
One leading theory was that one of those crystal cult centres opened up and raised everybody's cosmic consciousness in the ways of righteousness blahblahblah ... but while one opened, we found no link whatsoever."""
I knew it! I knew it!! Universal Brotherhood 2.0!
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Dec 19 2022, 08:52 PM)
Ah. Cross-continent family and friends, huh? I hope you missed the worst of the weather pattern that scudded across us all.
I will catch it upon landing on my return plane ride, then have to drive through a possible snow storm and flash freezing event. Sounds fun.
So, following from the thread from which I draw the following link:
in-world measure of Force
... how would you, Koekepan like us to talk about the Force of objects or spells? For example, Blue might want to get Mary Margaret to source a Force X focus. How should he phrase it?
in-world measure of Force
... how would you, Koekepan like us to talk about the Force of objects or spells? For example, Blue might want to get Mary Margaret to source a Force X focus. How should he phrase it?
Look at industries that have similar problems.
In the computing world, if you're trying to spec a computing system, the discussion about redundancy, disaster recover and so on can be both extremely specific (maximum two hour key data recovery time including spinning up new instances, etc. etc. etc.) and very fuzzy (if a hurricane wipes us out, we claim insurance and close the doors, but we want to have a sub-hurricane answer ...)
I'm leaning toward a measure of specific (I have to be able to summon an earth spirit with the strength to lift up a 3 ton vehicle) and the comparative (If I use this formula to cast a spell, I can do it but it hurts. Do you have a focus that can help with this?) because it's a fast-moving field.
Does this help?
In the computing world, if you're trying to spec a computing system, the discussion about redundancy, disaster recover and so on can be both extremely specific (maximum two hour key data recovery time including spinning up new instances, etc. etc. etc.) and very fuzzy (if a hurricane wipes us out, we claim insurance and close the doors, but we want to have a sub-hurricane answer ...)
I'm leaning toward a measure of specific (I have to be able to summon an earth spirit with the strength to lift up a 3 ton vehicle) and the comparative (If I use this formula to cast a spell, I can do it but it hurts. Do you have a focus that can help with this?) because it's a fast-moving field.
Does this help?
Let's look at this another way. In our physical world, we have many units of measure to quantify various forms of energy usage/expenditure:
Force: Newtons
Magnetic Field: Teslas or Gauss
Kinetic Energy: Joules
Work: Erg
So, we have a way of measuring things that aren't directly accessible to our senses. Many of the above measures, and probably others, have to do with how much X has to be moved Y distance, or some such combination. We have a handy structure in SR to parallel that structure. See SR3 page 151, "On the Manipulation of Mana".
Mana exists in some kind of field, which can be accessed and 'channelled'. I suspect magical theorists in the SR universe would have been able to quantify magical Force in terms of how much Mana needs to be channelled to get a certain effect, or summon a spirit. Maybe one would need 3 'Quatloos' of Mana to cast a spell that causes M Drain. But maybe one would need to channel 4 'Quatloos' of Mana to summon a spirit of Force high enough to cause S Drain in a magician of CHA 6.
This all seems logical to me, but could be an unnecessary complication. It might actually be logical for Enchanters, spell designers and such to have simplified the marketing of their products by using a single term that could equate to different levels of Mana being channelled depending on the nature of the task, Sorcery or Conjuring.
Say, "Force" for example.
Force: Newtons
Magnetic Field: Teslas or Gauss
Kinetic Energy: Joules
Work: Erg
So, we have a way of measuring things that aren't directly accessible to our senses. Many of the above measures, and probably others, have to do with how much X has to be moved Y distance, or some such combination. We have a handy structure in SR to parallel that structure. See SR3 page 151, "On the Manipulation of Mana".
Mana exists in some kind of field, which can be accessed and 'channelled'. I suspect magical theorists in the SR universe would have been able to quantify magical Force in terms of how much Mana needs to be channelled to get a certain effect, or summon a spirit. Maybe one would need 3 'Quatloos' of Mana to cast a spell that causes M Drain. But maybe one would need to channel 4 'Quatloos' of Mana to summon a spirit of Force high enough to cause S Drain in a magician of CHA 6.
This all seems logical to me, but could be an unnecessary complication. It might actually be logical for Enchanters, spell designers and such to have simplified the marketing of their products by using a single term that could equate to different levels of Mana being channelled depending on the nature of the task, Sorcery or Conjuring.
Say, "Force" for example.
Nath sums it up well here.
I quite agree on a few points; the Shadowrun developers weren't economists, and that shows on many very painful levels.
However, I contend that what I said above addresses Nath's points quite well, with the added assumption that while assensing is nominally hard, in an environment where you are shopping, can take time to look around, do have standards for comparison right there, and have someone setting prices who presumably is also capable of assensing (or has a consultant who is), and doesn't want to be caught cheating by a very touchy and powerful clientele, a comparative standard of description is quite adequate. In fact, it's necessary when an uptight academic elementalist and a wild-eyed raccoon shaman might both be customers in the same day. The elementalist would be delighted to speak in terms of force and power and numbers and fractal dimensional measures, whereas the raccoon shaman counts fleas and hand-washings.
The talismonger has to serve both.
However, I contend that what I said above addresses Nath's points quite well, with the added assumption that while assensing is nominally hard, in an environment where you are shopping, can take time to look around, do have standards for comparison right there, and have someone setting prices who presumably is also capable of assensing (or has a consultant who is), and doesn't want to be caught cheating by a very touchy and powerful clientele, a comparative standard of description is quite adequate. In fact, it's necessary when an uptight academic elementalist and a wild-eyed raccoon shaman might both be customers in the same day. The elementalist would be delighted to speak in terms of force and power and numbers and fractal dimensional measures, whereas the raccoon shaman counts fleas and hand-washings.
The talismonger has to serve both.
Well, I suppose one could say something like, "I want to buy the best Sustaining Focus I can. I have 30,000 nuyen. See what you can get for that."
I should have kept my mouth shut and just put together a list for Mary Margaret with Force values stated.
I should have kept my mouth shut and just put together a list for Mary Margaret with Force values stated.
I made it safely. My plane was one of the last ones to land. Then my 2.5 hour drive home took two days due to long delays leaving the airport, terrible road conditions where the actual road time took more than 5 hours. Got back in time to have Christmas with the family on Christmas Eve, and make it into work early on Christmas day, which was chaos.
In game:
After everything is settled, can I get an OOC post about all the clues and the mission so I got it in one place?
In game:
After everything is settled, can I get an OOC post about all the clues and the mission so I got it in one place?
Glad you made it. Our family Christmas on the 23rd was snowed out. Trying again on New Year's Day.
Good luck!
Mission summary:
Figure out why Lone Star is losing traction with the community in an area roughly reaching from the Fremont to the Green Lake districts, up as far as the fringes of Shoreline.
Find and assist/extract if necessary, an undercover officer by the name of Daisy.
Establish what is happening with shop security cameras that are no longer connected to the Lone Star information grid, ideally including why they are disconnected, where else they may be connected, if at all, and whether this has anything to do with the putative reduction in crime as opposed to a hidden rise in crime.
Those items are with 10,000NY, except for bringing Daisy back whole which is 50,000NY.
The data pack:
* list of businesses that de-linked
* records of city council contract discussions
* criminal activity reports
* known local criminals
* a screamsheet on each local council member
* recent business openings and closures
* personal description of Daisy and her last known undercover work
Figure out why Lone Star is losing traction with the community in an area roughly reaching from the Fremont to the Green Lake districts, up as far as the fringes of Shoreline.
Find and assist/extract if necessary, an undercover officer by the name of Daisy.
Establish what is happening with shop security cameras that are no longer connected to the Lone Star information grid, ideally including why they are disconnected, where else they may be connected, if at all, and whether this has anything to do with the putative reduction in crime as opposed to a hidden rise in crime.
Those items are with 10,000NY, except for bringing Daisy back whole which is 50,000NY.
The data pack:
* list of businesses that de-linked
* records of city council contract discussions
* criminal activity reports
* known local criminals
* a screamsheet on each local council member
* recent business openings and closures
* personal description of Daisy and her last known undercover work
thanks
QUOTE (Bastard @ Jan 1 2023, 11:05 PM)
"""Can you get me in contact with her handlers then?"""
Alright! Negotiation/Interrogation/Etiquette skills to the fore! Go for it!
"Who the F$%^ are you, and who told you about us?"
"Well, you see, it's like this ..."
Hey, Koekepan. Looking over Blue's character sheet, I see I spent one Build Point more than I had, as his Edges/Flaws add up to -4, not -5.
If it's OK with you, I could amend his Skills by dropping Pistol from 3 to 2. He hasn't used that skill once yet, so it seems the likeliest one to take a hit.
I'll edit his stats in post #546 if you OK this.
If it's OK with you, I could amend his Skills by dropping Pistol from 3 to 2. He hasn't used that skill once yet, so it seems the likeliest one to take a hit.
I'll edit his stats in post #546 if you OK this.
Works for me.
Thanks. Edit done.
Milk that Negotiation skill!
QUOTE (Koekepan @ Jan 9 2023, 09:17 AM)
"""It's an advance. I only got so much in my slush fund, and you're getting the whole kitty, if you can do this. Tell you what, I can give you temporary access to our internal bounties list, in case you want to supplement your take that way. You're bound to see a few interesting faces."""
Woohoo! Blue done get to be a bounty hunter!
"Blue the Bounty Hunter comin' to your favourite Trid channel this fall. He'll knock 'em out an' drag 'em in!"
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Jan 8 2023, 10:50 PM)
Milk that Negotiation skill!
As my character sees it, she should be getting offered top dollar from this contact. But she may have other plans with the information received during this run.
No kidding! That bounties list must be gold to someone in Karmakaze's line of business.
Quick clarification request: where are the gruesome twosome driving now? Up through Fremont into the Green Lake area, or somewhere else?
Google tells me:
7:26 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 2060 (PDT)
Sunset in Seattle, WA, USA
I don't actually know if Daylight Saving Time is still in effect in 2060. If not, sunset is 6:26.
I figure we are at about 5:30, so there is a bit of time before Blue gets his Night-time Power-up. I believe we are heading north towards Fremont. Maybe the two can grab some fast food and few more burner phones and talk over plans. That OK with you, Bastard?
Blue will suggest Billy as a hacker contact, once they figure out what the hacker should do for them.
7:26 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 2060 (PDT)
Sunset in Seattle, WA, USA
I don't actually know if Daylight Saving Time is still in effect in 2060. If not, sunset is 6:26.
I figure we are at about 5:30, so there is a bit of time before Blue gets his Night-time Power-up. I believe we are heading north towards Fremont. Maybe the two can grab some fast food and few more burner phones and talk over plans. That OK with you, Bastard?
Blue will suggest Billy as a hacker contact, once they figure out what the hacker should do for them.
While your point on astronomy is well taken, and quite appropriate, just in terms of environment there are two factors that screw that up to some extent:
a) local topography and meteorology tends to make it get darker sooner
b) local public lighting facilities in well-to-do areas mean that it doesn't really get all that dark.
But for Owl's purpose, call it around 6PM (because the hell with DST, and because of local topography).
a) local topography and meteorology tends to make it get darker sooner
b) local public lighting facilities in well-to-do areas mean that it doesn't really get all that dark.
But for Owl's purpose, call it around 6PM (because the hell with DST, and because of local topography).
Hmmm. Does topography really have any effect on when the sun sets, especially in the astral sense?
OK, 6 pm-ish it is.
OK, 6 pm-ish it is.
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Jan 13 2023, 03:26 PM)
I figure we are at about 5:30, so there is a bit of time before Blue gets his Night-time Power-up. I believe we are heading north towards Fremont. Maybe the two can grab some fast food and few more burner phones and talk over plans. That OK with you, Bastard?
Blue will suggest Billy as a hacker contact, once they figure out what the hacker should do for them.
Blue will suggest Billy as a hacker contact, once they figure out what the hacker should do for them.
I figure we find a spot to go over the details, eat, contact Jaxx for gear and possibly a decker, until Billy is suggested.
I worded that poorly. see my next IC post.
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Jan 14 2023, 10:08 PM)
I worded that poorly. see my next IC post.
For future ref, I have no problem editing IC posts for misunderstandings, if Koekepan doesn't.
SKILLS
DATA
WHAT DOES KARMA KNOW?
Using memory as well as comlink-matrix to research, Karmakaze goes over the data pack.
[1] List of businesses that de-linked
[2] Records of city council contract discussions cross-referenced with [5] A screamsheet on each local council member
[3] Criminal activity reports cross-referenced with [4] Known local criminals
[4] Known local criminals
[5] A screamsheet on each local council member
[6] Recent business openings and closures (Kind of a repeat of the first roll.)
[7] Personal description of Daisy and her last known undercover work
This would be much easier if we had a picture of Daisy.
These are also the same questions I am going to pass onto a decker.
[*] 4 (6) Police Procedures / Seattle Lone Star
[*] 3 (5) Police Tactics / Seattle Lone Star
[*] 4 (4) Criminal Justice System
[*] 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
[*] 3 (3) Fences
[*] 3 (3) Security Companies
[*] 3 (3) Sprawl Life
DATA
[1] List of businesses that de-linked
[2] Records of city council contract discussions
[3] Criminal activity reports
[4] Known local criminals
[5] A screamsheet on each local council member
[6] Recent business openings and closures
[7] Personal description of Daisy and her last known undercover work
WHAT DOES KARMA KNOW?
Using memory as well as comlink-matrix to research, Karmakaze goes over the data pack.
[1] List of businesses that de-linked
RESEARCH: Do any of these companies have ties to criminal organizations?
SKILL: 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
ROLL: 4d6 = (2, 4, 1, 3) https://orokos.com/roll/965633
RESULT: 1 Success
[2] Records of city council contract discussions cross-referenced with [5] A screamsheet on each local council member
RESEARCH: Do any of these council discussions mention something that may have ties to criminal organizations? This will take some time to research
SKILL: 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
ROLL: 4d6 = (5, 2, 5, 2) https://orokos.com/roll/965634
RESULT: 2 Successes
[3] Criminal activity reports cross-referenced with [4] Known local criminals
RESEARCH: Do any of these reports or participants have ties to known criminal organizations?
SKILL: 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
ROLL: 4d6 = (1, 4, 5, 4) https://orokos.com/roll/965635
RESULT: 3 Successes
[4] Known local criminals
RESEARCH: Are any of these criminals known to Karmakaze?
SKILL: 4 (4) Criminal Justice System
ROLL: 4d6 = (3, 4, 4, 6) https://orokos.com/roll/965636
RESULT: 3 Successes
[5] A screamsheet on each local council member
RESEARCH: Do any of these council members have a record?
SKILL: 4 (4) Criminal Justice System
ROLL: 4d6 = (3, 1, 5, 6) https://orokos.com/roll/965637
RESULT: 2 Successes
RESEARCH: Do any of these council members have ties to criminal organizations? (Kind of a repeat of the second roll.)
SKILL: 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
ROLL: 4d6 = (5, 2, 1, 4) https://orokos.com/roll/965638
RESULT: 2 Successes
[6] Recent business openings and closures (Kind of a repeat of the first roll.)
RESEARCH: Do any of these businesses have links to criminal organizations?
SKILL: 2 (4) Criminal Organizations / Seattle
ROLL: 4d6 = (5, 3, 6, 1) https://orokos.com/roll/965639
RESULT: 2 Successes
RESEARCH: Do any of the employees, management or ownership (or previous) have criminal records? This will take some time to research
SKILL: 4 (4) Criminal Justice System
ROLL: 4d6 = (6, 2, 3, 3) https://orokos.com/roll/965640
RESULT: 1 Success
[7] Personal description of Daisy and her last known undercover work
RESEARCH: Does Daisy match anyone in the criminal database (maybe as part of her fake ID)? This will take some time to research
SKILL: 4 (4) Criminal Justice System
ROLL: 4d6 = (2, 4, 4, 1) https://orokos.com/roll/965641
RESULT: 2 Successes
RESEARCH: Does Daisy match any police officer that Karmakaze may have known?
SKILL: 4 (6) Police Procedures / Seattle Lone Star This is the closest skill I could manage, but it can be cross-referenced with who she knows is on the force, and who is missing from their staff pictures.
ROLL: 6d6 = (1, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5) https://orokos.com/roll/965642
RESULT: 4 Successes
This would be much easier if we had a picture of Daisy.
These are also the same questions I am going to pass onto a decker.
All the data is digital, right?
Is there an investigation skill? That is something I did not take, and really, really should have!
Yes, all the data is digitally provided.
There isn't an investigation skill as such; it depends on what you're investigating and precisely how.
There isn't an investigation skill as such; it depends on what you're investigating and precisely how.
If you want to try to recruit a decker to the player team, I'm open to it.
Oh wow. I just re-read Computer Skill (Blue has a 1), and realized Blue knows more about decking than I've been crediting and playing him.
Yeah, Carlos at the beginning was a good fit. We can advertise.
Yeah, Carlos at the beginning was a good fit. We can advertise.
I will catch up this week... been working through the weekend and it has been mentally challenged.
Is somebody waiting for something from me?
Nope, waiting for Bastard, who has been swamped with work so while my trigger finger is itchy I'm not pulling it just yet.
Sorry... I was waiting on further detail. I don't really understand the data given.
So the cameras turn off. Then the business has some minor legal trouble and/or visits from local gangsters? Then the business goes under and closes up shop.
Then the cameras stay off? Businesses cameras or law enforcement CCTV?
So the cameras turn off. Then the business has some minor legal trouble and/or visits from local gangsters? Then the business goes under and closes up shop.
Then the cameras stay off? Businesses cameras or law enforcement CCTV?
I think it is the CCTV link to the police that is shut off.
No, you have the order of events wrong.
Some local gangsters vanish, and some business on the block has trouble with the law. Then, roughly a block-sized are of businesses sever their information ties with Lone Star.
Some local gangsters vanish, and some business on the block has trouble with the law. Then, roughly a block-sized are of businesses sever their information ties with Lone Star.
QUOTE (Koekepan @ Feb 16 2023, 11:11 AM)
No, you have the order of events wrong.
Some local gangsters vanish, and some business on the block has trouble with the law. Then, roughly a block-sized are of businesses sever their information ties with Lone Star.
Some local gangsters vanish, and some business on the block has trouble with the law. Then, roughly a block-sized are of businesses sever their information ties with Lone Star.
Okay, thanks for clearing that up.
So, how much time from the start of our meal till the sun sets?
You have about an hour until sunset; somewhat longer until the sky is as dark as city lighting lets it ever get.
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