Speed Wraith
Oct 27 2008, 05:09 PM
To start off the "second season" of my current 4e campaign, my characters find themselves in Kenya preparing to trek across the Serengeti and eventually climb some Rwandan mountains. I've been scrounging sources from various editions, but only have access to a few of the dozens (hundreds maybe?) of SR books my group and I have compiled over the years. The rest of the books are packed away...so before I go tearing up my storage space looking for any minor mention of critters, diseases, hostile tribes/spirits, corporate influence and simple geography I'd like to see if anyone here has any clue where I should be looking.
So, does anyone remember off-hand where I can find anything relating to Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Lake Victoria, etc.? Links, books, adventures, heck even novels and short stories could be useful for me...
Prime Mover
Oct 27 2008, 05:15 PM
Pirates book probably has the most African info.
Edit:"Cyberpirates"
Heres a pic of cover
Backgammon
Oct 27 2008, 05:20 PM
The novel "Nosferatu" has some action in Africa.
As mentionned, Cyberpirates details Africa extensively. When I ran an Africa campaign, that was the basis of most of my setting. It covers the regions you mention, I believe.
Larsine
Oct 27 2008, 10:31 PM
Nath
Oct 27 2008, 10:52 PM
Cyberpirates covers former Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, South Africa/Azania and Madacasgar, so you won't find a lot, if any, things of interest for you. The only mention pertaining to your area would be the fact that the Zulu Nation in Africa took over the economic niche of "eco-tourism" currently occupied by Kenya.
Target : Awakaned Lands and Corporate Enclaves features information respectively about the Kilimanjaro space launching facility and Nairobi. AFAIR, there were small updates about the ongoing events at that time in Loose Alliances and SOTA:2064.
Earlydawn
Oct 27 2008, 10:59 PM
I've always wondered how GMs for mostly undeveloped areas like Africa manage to keep hackers relevant. Thoughts?
AllTheNothing
Oct 27 2008, 11:01 PM
Cyberpirates and Corporate Enclaves have been already pointed out so I'll add only Runner Havens, if my memory doesn't betries me there's something among the minor places at the end of the book.
Backgammon
Oct 27 2008, 11:37 PM
QUOTE (Earlydawn @ Oct 27 2008, 05:59 PM)

I've always wondered how GMs for mostly undeveloped areas like Africa manage to keep hackers relevant. Thoughts?
Depends. If you're running Africa as it is, a war zone, then hackers are indispensible for informaiton warfare against enemy units. The mercs and other armed forces units operating around are all high-tech units, which means vehicules, drones, electronic equipement, etc. These things are essential for survival and combat effectiveness and must be defended while the enemie's must be attacked. Mages are everything is Africa, but hackers come a close second.
If you don't have skirmishes, then no, you cannot hack the lions.
Tiger Eyes
Oct 28 2008, 12:40 AM
Rumors are there may be a few updates on a few countries (territories? areas?) in Africa snuck in the Lagos section of
Feral Cities.

Otherwise:
Cyberpirates covers mostly West Africa. In SR4 so far,
Corp Enclaves has a small update on Nairobi.
Runners Companion has a similar update on Cape Town.
Ghost Cartels mentions Africa, as well (a small bit). And, um, did I mention
Feral Cities?
FlakJacket
Oct 28 2008, 01:19 AM
Hhmm, who's writing for Feral Cities I wonder?
Ancient History
Oct 28 2008, 01:20 AM
The possibilities are limited.
Tiger Eyes
Oct 28 2008, 03:31 AM
QUOTE (FlakJacket @ Oct 27 2008, 08:19 PM)

Hhmm, who's writing for Feral Cities I wonder?

You don't want to get AH and I started on the "Which city is more dangerous, Chicago or Lagos?" question...
masterofm
Oct 28 2008, 05:36 AM
I have been to Southern Africa (Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Botswana.) There are bugs there the size of my camera and they kind of look like crazy prehistoric crickets. Something tells me there would be a lot of bug spirits in Africa, or at least awakened termites (and if you look at their hives... insanity.) In Africa those termite hives are everywhere. I would probably throw for paracritters in that area awakened chimps/apes/monkeys, bugs, possibly elephants with an odd strain of the HMVV virus for kicks, daemon hyenas with red glowing eyes, awakened thorn trees that will attack anything close to it (but can be used as a low grade magical compound,) stealth attack hippos and cyber crocks might need to be thrown in there somewhere.
Fuchs
Oct 28 2008, 04:02 PM
My take on Africa is that most of the continent is gangland without cops. Tribes, bands and pirates roam the countryside, taking bribes and "tolls" from travellers, or outright rob them, cults and mobs forming and fading. "Regular soldiers" are often acting like those gangs, or part of them. Strange magic is present, and it's hard to tell what's superstition from an uneducated populace and what's real magic. Most of the high-tech gear is weapons, heavy on the metal, light on the matrix, and most of the rest of the high tech gear is in the hands of those with the biggest weapons. Corp guards, merc units and other big hitters can do whatever they want where they go, and often abuse that, but their victims will do the same to those weaker than them. In the cities, crime is rampant, not just the usual low-tech crimes, but information crime as well, like today's laos' scams, just worse. Corps will sell almost any hardware to anyone with the cash, milspec or not, so heavy weapons - at least those which cheap ammo, and cheap spare parts - are common.
hobgoblin
Oct 28 2008, 06:22 PM
QUOTE (Backgammon @ Oct 28 2008, 12:37 AM)

If you don't have skirmishes, then no, you cannot hack the lions.
i would not be so sure. there is a intriguing new tech on the rise, biodrones

lions with diamond edge claws, dermal armor and move-by-wire, backed up by a handler with all manner of targeting sensors...
Nath
Oct 28 2008, 06:48 PM
QUOTE (Tiger Eyes @ Oct 28 2008, 01:40 AM)

Runners Companion has a similar update on Cape Town.
Runner Havens. A distinction that does not matter that much considering that Cape Town is about 4,000 kilometers aways from the area Speed Wraith wanted info on
hobgoblin
Oct 28 2008, 07:39 PM
hmm, i guess those elven relatives, wakyambi, are also a located a bit to far south?
more more likely that one bump into the odd hobgoblin or other middle-eastern export i guess

that is, if i have my geography and stuff in anything near straight...
Cang
Oct 28 2008, 08:43 PM
Target awakened lands has some info on Africa, Target Wastelands has stuff on deserts and Africa, but the problem and the beauty of this is that you can have anything you want, even with experienced Shadowrun players. I have been always sad that South America and Africa never got the love they needed.
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