being good at social stuff is important...just imagine the troll trying the meet?

The IC post will contain the wrapped up meet and the all of you bumped safely back home. There's basically a full day cleared in the bump, if there was something specific, like wards, spirits, sprites, whatever that you wanted to do in that day, post here. I don't want to disrupt the flow of the IC thread.

Welcome to a new week, ladies and germs.

July 9th - July 15th

Finish up legwork for Omnidome tradeshow run. We'll start the actual run on the 16th. I'll make sure I respond as quickly as I can to legwork requests.

For those of you that don't know, in my games I do karma a little differently. Basically, everyone receives 1 point of karma per week just for being active in the thread. Currently everyone should have 3 points of extra karma. Every Monday when I bump you'll get an additional point. I award extra points at the end of an actual completed "run", or whenever during the thread I feel is appropriate

@Fenris

Question on karma -- I've never gotten any in SR4 before, so I'm not sure how much it takes for this question to even matter, really, but -- are you using any house rules for how to spend it (training time, etc)? Or can we just toss you a PM or something if there happens to be something we can afford with 3 karma, and are interested in (and whatever rules for spending karma I find in the big book, when I get around to looking)?

I need one of those credsticks from the advance money to buy binding materials. Is that ok with the team?

EDIT: I also need Vertigo and Billy to assist with creating a ward (BBB pg185).

@Fenris: What are the dimensions of the warehouse as a whole and of just the office area?

@ Redjack - As a quick note, according to the rolls above I'm counting 10 net hits on the last F3 Air Elemental, not 9.

The warehouse is approximately 18,900 sq. ft. The offices consist of 4 spaces with approximately 256 sq. ft. each, for a total of 1024 sq. ft. for all four offices combined.

@ Critias - No house rules on training time. Feel free to just send me an updated character sheet anytime you update the character. The only limitations I put on are no updates once we've rolled initiative in combat until the combat is over

I figure that's what the up-front pay was for, wasn't it? Have at it. Billy ain't hording 'em (as much as a lesser man might be tempted to do so) or anything.

No can do on the wards thing...but...well, here. I'll just respond IC. That's what we're all here for, right?

EDIT -- and, for the record, I'm making a big deal out of his morning workout because it's something he'd have done every morning, and because, well, I have to. I'm not just trying to be a show-offy jerk. For a Negative Quality to matter, it has to come into play, I've always figured. So I'm not going to interrupt my morning routine, even for a conversation with another PC. Gotta earn my ten points.

@Fenris

While you're here, Red, to the best of your knowledge I AM correct about the astral sight thing, right? For an Adept to help out with that stuff?

Howdie y'all. Greetings from Puerto Rico.

As it turns out the resort isn't as all inclusive as we thought. 15$ a day for internet access, but I should drop in to post a few times over the next week.

@Red- sorry about the warding, but I'm cool with Ammon using some of the cred.

@ Redjack - Ah, good of you to point out. I missed the "additional net hits beyond the first" thingy. Anywho, just wanted to make sure you were getting all your services

Walls are a standard 8' tall. 8172' cubic feet total, and yes that includes the bathroom and storeroom together, which is basically the size of the one of the other offices.

@ Method - Sorry to hear about the non-all-inclusiveness. I'll make sure you're around for knowledge checks and the like.

So anyone make a leader type character? Now would be an excellent time to see someone step into that role.

ME ME ME!!!! I did!!!!
ME ME!!!

I was thinking the same thing today, but I don't envision Vertigo as being the leader type (even though I tend to be in RL) so I'm trying to refrain.

It seems like we are getting bumped ahead just before we come to any consensus or develop any kind of plan. Maybe it would be prudent to have an OOC conversation each week about what we want to accomplish within the context of Fenris's stated goals and then make that happen IC.

I for one would like to figure out how our team is going to operate together- discuss things like op sec, networking comms, data sharing, etc. I don't know the Martix rules very well, so I'd hate to blow the whole game because Vertigo's comm is laughably easy to hack or something...

As far as the immediate job goes, we could hit them 1.) at the con, 2.) in their hotel or 3.) en route. Do we want to discuss this IC or OOC?

@Buddha72
Well as those things go, Ammon has both leadership and etiquette at a 1 (plus a 5 CHR) and he has security procedures at a 2 (plus a 5 logic) as well as the electronics group. All in all making his knowledge pretty well rounded to the abilities and needs of most of the team. That said, he is also ok with following the lead of anyone who steps up and can coordinate the team.

@Method
While I prefer en route for a snatch a grab, since this is a replacement, one of the other locations would work best. Also, the later the better to minimize chances that it is discovered.

what about instead of swapping the inside we just make the comm fail simply by overloading the number of programs it is running.
you know...a replicating virus! have it ramp up the CPU usage to unmanagable levels during the timeframe of X-Y which happens to coincide with the launch, so all the tests before that are flawless and all the tests after that are the same, except for the burnt out CPU, they'll have to replace and can't do that at the convention.

@djinni: That would be an easy trick to pull off, but...

if we swap it out as soon as one of their techs open it up they'll know.
unless he wants the prototype, there's no reason to steal it, especially since he's most likely not that savvy in the tech department (as normal for most users). his Idea for teh run is not always looked at from all angles.
but the big guy just does what he's told....unless he doesn't...

I'm hoping the specs they gave us might give our tech-gal some idea of what the guts should look like -- and that's why she's got a couple days to work on it (to work up a good mock up). I mean, we DO have to steal it (unbroken), because that's what our job is. Not just to make their demo suck, but to get the super-snazzy prototype for our temporary boss. Otherwise we could just hide in the rafters with a rifle and be all POW and blast the thing when some geek got on stage and told everyone it was time to show them the future.

Which, I mean, could still be fun, don't get me wrong. But it'd mean not getting paid, and some corp crawling up our butts for not following orders despite taking our 1/3 up front cash.

And, for the record, Billy COULD be a decent leader type, I guess. He's got the skills for it, at least (last I checked, Leadership was covered in that Social Group, right?). He's just...not really motivated to be a leader, and I'm still so ass-backwards on rules and stuff I don't want to step up, take charge, and send people to their doom because I don't realize what some fancy-schmancy tech gizmo does or how a combat rule works in SR4.

This most recent post is sort of what I mean. I like to THINK 9 dice for sleight of hand (when compared to an average Intuition + Perception) is pretty solid, since I'd assume something as small as a commlink would have a nice low threshold for sleight of hand. But, well, I honestly just have no idea how good that really is, practically speaking.

@ Method - I'm sorry you felt that way. I've tried, when the situation has changed, to make sure I'm providing info every week on what I expect done.
For instance:

we couldn't just shoot the comm because he wants the prototype to just fail. he needs them to think it'll work, and I've not been to a convention where before the big presentation they don't have the prototypes up and running before the big revealing, even then they are going to turn it on, and check it before walking on stage. if anything doesn't check out they cancel the presentation, the Johnson said he wanted them to fail not just cancel right? any Ideas on how to make a broken machine appear to work?

@fenris - I like the quickstep bumps...and took that into account when making the character i'm prepared XD

Fenris: I didn't mean to imply that your bumbs were the problem. I actually like the idea because it keeps the thread from dying due to lack of activity.

More so I was lamenting our collective lack of direction as players.

Critias: Vertigo has a counterfeiter contact, but we would probably need a stolen pass or at least a picture to give him.

I might also have him whip me up a new identy for Vertigo that has solid credentials in house keeping for rich people and see if she can't get a job at the hotel. If she could get into their room by "accident" and get a look at the comm it would give us some idea of how difficult it will be to make the switch, and what kind of close protection the developers have in their service.

I do agree with Redjack though. We need to time the actual switch such that they have very little time to realize whats happened.

@ All - I believe Buddha mentioned a thought of switching out the comms, and using registered machine sprites to simulate the abilities of the prototype, and then just have them fade back into the ether when the time came for the actual presentation.

Yep that's the plan I have put forth. Widget can make the fake comm but she doesn't have the skills to get in unseen and switch them out. That would be for someone else to do and we need to know how they are testing the comm before the presentation so I know exactly what kind of sprites I need to pull off the hoax so we need someone to physically eye ball their set up at the convention.

Hiver has a decent knowledge skill of hacking protocols with a hardware bent, and better than average perception. The problem is going to be getting him into the show without MAD sensors and Cyberware scanners alerting security. We'll need a solid cover story for him.

Method--For the record, Hiver is non-awakened and unable to assist in Astral Scouting as put forth.

@All
Ammon erects a F6 Ward around the office areas of the warehouse. It will last 4 weeks before dissolving.

* Has anyone gotten cots and the like?
* What about food (beyond the waffle cakes)?

Bishop- thanks for the clarification, but I was refering his role as a bodyguard. IIRC you mentioned that he worked with magicians and hackers doing out of body work?

I like Buddah's idea of using machine spirits to fake the demo. I think we should run with that, but we still need to figure out how to make the switch. Are we all agreed that the switch should occur at the con to minimize the possibility that we are discovered?

Possing as tech developers or reporters sounds like a good idea, if we can secure the passes we need and (as Bishop has suggested) come up with plausible explainations for some of our more questionable gear. In such a case, it seems like someone possing as a tech developer would have greater need of a bodyguard.

As far as the hotel goes, my thinking is that if we can infiltrate their room in some kind of unalarming way we might be able to place a camera or small drone. Then we would know:

1.)how they are transporting the comm (locked briefcase, on someone's person, etc)
2.) their level of personal security (body guards, personal armament, etc)
and most importantly
3.) what kinds of tests they are running leading up to the demo.

We might also be able to identify one of the developers who we could "replace" prior to the demo.

Any thoughts?

Sound like we need a low-down on the Expo team and the company from Widget...

Method--Got it. I thought you were thinking he'd go projecting...I can handle the protection angle along with some medical knowledge to start patching the mage back up if they run into resistance.

I don't know about cots, Hiver has a sleeping roll. Food I had presumed would be covered by lifestyles, none of us are squatters so it's safe to say that we can get the appropriate items at the necessary times.

Can Widget or someone else with the appropriate skills and program, run some Data Searches to find out information about notable guests, as well as, arrangements for private security. The Expo will probably have contracted security (most conventions do) and that agency may have specialized rules about who is allowed to have private bodyguards and what they can carry. Getting that info will help us create a plausible back story for our tech developer if we go that way.

Infiltration into the room sounds like a great job for our intrusion experts, or depending on whether the hotel uses drones for maintenance and cleaning or a living staff, we can change things up.

With drones, it may be possible to hack into one, give it a stealth tag with the appropriate sensor package have it implant the device and then wipe the log.

Fleshies, we can have one of our faces distract the cleaning crew after they have opened the door (how many hotels have you been in where the door to the suite is left open during cleaning, with the cart in the hallway?) and have a stealthy type place the device.

Once we have eyes on the prize, coming up with a more concrete plan will be easier.

*prod, poke*

Is there any information that you guys need from me to start legwork? I'll be out all day tomorrow and probably Fri and Sat too, but should be back online starting Sunday.

Time to kick this thread back into gear. I think we need Widget to research the questions in the last few posts. I like the approach of infiltrating the/a private security firm. That will kill a number of birds with one stone. (1) Get us onsite & (2) reduce opposition security.

Redjack: just to clarify, you are suggesting we try to get a gig guarding someone who is legitimately attending the con? That seems like a good idea.

We could all put the word out to our fixers that we are offering cut-rate prices on close protection for the con...

For the record, Vertigo is also good at slight of hand (9 dice) but in terms of making the actual switch I think Billy's social adept powers might be better suited (using Con to get him close to the target) than her Stealthy approach due to the public nature of the convention. But she might be useful as part of a contingency plan.

@Method: That is correct. Now... where is our hacker?

@Method - Though I'm thinking we sleaze our way into the personnel list of some security company rather than through a contact. If things go wrong we simply melt away into the night...

Our hacker, like Fenris, is on vacation, with some internet access but not as full as at home.

I'd recommend building a list of questions, that way we can just have the data search rolls drop right into them and Fenris can let us know what we are able to learn.

As I see it we need from Widget:
Registration Guidelines for Personal Security (Bodyguards)

Key Note Speakers and Notable Guests

Our infiltration/face types:
Discover whether the hotel uses human or drone cleaning crews

If Human, then see if we can run some social engineering to get into the hotel room where the prototype is going to be and plant a stealth tag with the necessary sensors.

If Drones, then we will need to run an exploit/reprogram on the drone.

For the record, I am completely, one hundred percent, all engines full, damn-the-physics-give-me-ramming-speed-Scotty, for just about any plan anyone wants to cook up.

I mean, worst case scenario is we flub it and gunfire erupts, right? Compared to the game stagnating and all our characters "dying" anyways, that's just fine with me. At least if the plan goes poorly and things get violent, we'll get to roll some dice first. So let's get this majama rollin'.

@ All - Just a quick reminder, if there's any additional information in terms of legwork you want before the run starts on Monday, you should post rolls OCC or roleplay very quickly IC

Ok here goes the rolls.

Compiling a Data Sprite Rating 5
01 02 03 03 05 05 06 06 06 (5 hits)

Data Sprite
01 02 04 06 06 (2 hits/3 hits remaining)

Fading
02 03 03 03 04 05 06 06 06 (4 hits soaked)

It's first task is to look for information on the trade show (location, security, etc) and it's second task is to look for information about the company whose prototype we're messing with. Ok I am going to compile and register five Machine Sprites Rating 6. I talked with Fenris and he is using the rule where you can buy hits to speed play so I am going to use it for this part. So I will have five sprites, each with one service ready to go for the hit. I will be at this for 25 hours. That's me for the next bit at least.

I forgot what everyone's nicknames were...dernnit!
except for getting the text/E-mail message sent (sorry completely forgot about it). that's all fer me...

And, no, for the record, Billy really hasn't got any terribly appropriate contacts or anything for this. But he sees "take off and make some phone calls" as getting a couple hours off work, so he's gonna go pretend to be doing useful stuff.

As stated in IC, Ammon would like to do perform a recon of the hotel where the company reps with the chip are staying. Then, Vertigo and Ammon will perform physical recon of the hotel with physical masks (after using Fashion to change their clothes).

Associating the biomonitor with my commlink, and routing the information to a small screen on my image link.

Hello.... ello....lo.... *tap, tap* Is this thing on?

I concur