Ok, just because I just HAD to get this out of my head.

Vending machine drone (Generic): Size large/Device rating 3
cost 1,500
Handling-0 Accel-0 Spd-0 Pilot-3 Body-4 Armor-3 Sensor-1

Camera sensor for recording anyone in front of machine and so agent can see people.
Atmospheric sensor to know to raise or lower prices based on the weather (not kidding they have these in Japan right now)
Anti-Theft System- 2 verbal warnings and then a 5S electric shock
Holo-projector- Shows ads of corporate spokesman. Agent can appear through this interface in non-AR.

Agent:3 (this is the pilot program that handles interaction and protection as well as performing diagnostics and inventory management)
Personality software (Hi I'm Fizzy Fur, you look thirsty!)
Scan: 2 (It can look for customers to send an AR visit from it's resident Agent)
Blackout:3 (Lets face it you don't want to kill people, but how many free sodas you want to give out)
Armor:2


I'm going to go talk to the head doctor now.

I'd give it Analyze, and Attack (useful against all icons), rather than Scan and Blackout. All devices come with limited Scan, which should be more than good enough, and Analyze is important in spotting hackers and data tampering.

Thanks for the sugestions. I haven't used agents much or deckers in the new rules.

...thanks...

Yeah, Scan seems a little pointless, since there is no test to detect active or passive PANs (BBB p.225) and people in hidden mode are hidden because they don't want an obnoxious Fizzy Fur bunny icon trying to sell them soda, or candy, or NERPS or whatever.

Actually mobile vending machine drones is quite a "Why did I not think of that" Definitely going to include a few as background in my next game.

hmm, can they be turned hostile, jamie style?

Mobile vending machines = creepy.


i just had this image of a Vending machine moving around on its own on four spider legs then settling down.

They had mobile vending machines in Macross... over 25 years ago. They were dumb, but hey, they worked.

If they dispensed a grenade or a forward facing claymore if you messed with them it would give a pretty clear signal not to mess around with them... although I like the idea of rigging one of them with explosives to kill off a Johnson when he goes to use his SIN to purchase a soda.

"One soda please ID code 8254:281-25-242-2553."

"Code approved Mr.... Bill Johnson." He goes down to get his soda and take a claymore to the face.

thats why every good johnson have a troll or orc to do that kind of stuff for him/her...

the not so good ones? *points at the headless corpse in front of the vending machine*

I can personally attest that Japan has at least 1 vending machine for every man, woman, and child.

I have not seen a pantsu machine though, even if I've heard reports for years.

While Japan seems unwilling to dispense food from vending machines the variety of beverages available is far superior to what you'd find in America. In a world where Brisk was once my fall back plan I can now get hot coffee or aloe vera juice if the mood strikes me.

And how big is this thing? The idea of a fullsize vending machine toddling down the street is freaky and probably a huge pain in the ass. Something smaller that could circulate in big crowds during hot weather, now that might be pretty freaking handy.

Vending machines are as big as they are to prevent theft. With drone technology and Troll strength, it would be more efficient to just equip them with guns.

Or just make them heavier to compensate? Maybe just bolt them into a wall?

or anti-theft electro shock. if one want to steal it one have to move it first

Or have the vending machine call for help. See the look on someones face when they look up from messing with the vending machine to see five more circle around him.

Every vending machine should come equipped with a minigun. Its funny seeing the look on a thief's face when his arm is stuck half-way up the machine trying to reach a candy bar as a gatling gun is pushed against his head and the vending machine quietly informs him that stealing is against the law (then fires, of course).

The ability to call for help is cool, too. I imagine that getting beat up by a gang of vending machines is embarrassing. Perhaps the two should be combined.

hmm, ED-209 style?

The machines could also call for help from Lone Star. I know that if I were a civvy in the SR universe I would NOT want a vending machine with a gun. Some hacker might decide that he wants to go on a shoot spree... 5 vending machines with guns later he's gotten his fix for this week... next week, CONCERTS!

I never said guns. I just said it would be humorous to see a guy get surrounded by vending machines. I left the violence if any up to the person reading.

Sorry others were wanting to put gatlin guns on a pop machine... bad news for a world where hackers are VERY dangerous.

I want rogue vending machines roaming the grid, terrorizing very slow moving people.

But remember kids... guns don't kill people, vending machines with guns kill people.

There is a lawsuit in there somewhere... I just know it...

you know, with grid guide.... the concept of 'Vicious gangs of keep left signs' is sounding more viable. which is why we dont go to London, and thats not even mentioning the gangs of little old ladies roaming the streets....

really, disguising a combat drone as a vending machine is a creative way to get them hidden in plain sight, at the heart of the action. i can see corps doing this as a part of security. especially as you already EXPECT to see a node there and dont consider it worth worrying about.

I would think that would only work once because EVERYBODY would know about the 'runners who got shot up by the "Uber Assault Cannon of DOOM Fizzy Pop machine". Other runners would hack the fizzy pop machines hoping for an extra cannon or two to throw at the Bad Guys.

Personally I'd want to contract a rigger to give me a couple of escape pod vending machines. If I'm being pursued I can shoot a quick command to an otherwise functioning machine, take it into a back alley and dive inside, rolling away to safety at it's leisure.

Plus I'd get free drinks of course.

i swear, that could very well be slang for finding a hooker...

Free drinks?

And...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkgQFOOr7ug...feature=related

That's exactly what I think would happen . I also think that's exactly what the vending machines should look like too.

The one I stated isn't mobile (see speed and accl). However I'm picturing drones loaded with cassets of soda and snacks and whatever that drive around the city restocking the machines. Maybe with little repair kit so riggers can fix the broken machines while jumped in.

Then as "decoys" or as a version of a HTRT some of these drones carring 2 steel lynx's instead of treats... I figure that people in the Barrens would jump these things every chance they can, probably carry enough food and drink for a small community for a week.

or
As the are everywere and nice and anonomus having smugglers or organ jackers using them to move product around...

...OK that would most definitely be one of the defences. The machine saying "you want a FizzytPop that bad, here, have another, and another, why not two more...?" as it pelts the would be thief with full cans at high velocity.

Bah what's the fun in a stationary smart drink machine Give that guy some tank treads, it's all good.

Who would have thought that a drink machine could indulge in a little of the ol ultra violence. Being killed or disabled by a drink machine would surely ruin any rep a runner might have. It would make for an earth shaking funny video on Jackpoint.

Also, cyborg stationary drink machine: Why brains in jars don't make waves.

Heee.... That would make for a GREAT run. Several "Barrens Worthy" vending machine prototypes were accidently sent out to AA locations. The attempts to shut them down were seen as "attacks" and they are now runnning in hidden mode on alert. The Johnson needs the runners to discreetly disable them and return them as quickly as possible... Before someone trys to vandilize or get a free soda and are meet with deadly force.

There now everyone can have their gattling gun, black IC, high shock, can trowing monsters on treads in a situation where the runners can't just nail them with a Panther.

I can just picture it:

"Tonight on the news, this shadowrunner claims to have been mugged by a vending machine."

Goodbye streetrep, hello lifetime supply of Fizzy Pop.

ah, the jamie hyneman design

...so many good ideas. This could even be trouble for a mage as well as the VendBots™ would be complex machinery & could be made of refined materials.

...boy are my players going to hate me for this.

I envision the vendor bots of rival soda machines battling it out when the crowds are thin. Two or three working in concert to shove a competitor out into traffic to be nailed by the sponsoring company automated delivery truck...oops... Must have been hackers working in concert.

Oh god... the idea of semi-sentient drink machines finding ways to off one another is too terrible to even consider.

...now you know where some of this "missing parts" of Deus ended up.

Breaking News!

The trapped minds of first generation otaku and fragments of the notorious AI Deus engaed in open warfare today at Liberty Square.

*cut to trideo of 10 drink machines trying to "circle of death" one another. The distinct pppHLUNK sound will haunt children for years*

...when AIs and soft drinks collide...

Obey Your Thirst

Is there a way to stuff a spirit into something? Demonically possessed, mobile, armed soda machines of DOOM.

Rogue sprites? Do those exist?

I also see a dwarven TM riding around in one of those, much as my buddies dwarven rigger had a hot dog stand/dodge scoot getaway vehicle.

And Drop Bears! Specially trained Vending Machines Ninja Drop Bears!

Posession-based traditions should have little problems with that, even though preparing the machine might be difficult, since it could easily mistake the houngan for a vandal.

But a F5 guardian spirit, with the exotic ranged weapon (soda can shot) skill, would be awesome.
I've always wanted an army of plasteel homunculi with portable railguns, now i have found something better.

err, where is that from?

Star Wars? But my Google-Fu is not the strongest today.

Imagine one of those Japanese vending machines that dispenses unwashed used women's underwear accidentally getting lost in the UCAS and restocking itself by breaking into middle-class suburban homes and grabbing undergarments from their laundry hampers, forcing the PCs to give chase cross country following a trail of stolen lingerie.

Star Wars, indeed. From the X-Wing books written by Aaron Allston: Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist, Solo Command (which have some absolutely wonderful Shadowrun flavor to them, in the area of Wraith Squadron being a commando/pilot squadron that is encouraged to think of "non-standard" tactics).

Anyway, as for the quote, in exchange for giving the squadron's mechanic some piloting lessons, Garik "Face" Loran's R2 unit, Vape, was modified to be an bottle dispenser (the panel up on top--where Artoo-Detoo stored Luke's lightsaber--retracts, there's a sound like an airgun firing, and a bottle leaps a meter up into the air). It was only supposed to work for Face, but Wedge, being the commanding officer, could get the droid to give him a nice, chilled Ebla Beer... even if it was the last one in stock.

...Yes!