Siege
Jan 11 2004, 05:03 AM
It's cold...it's wet...and you're on a roof. Why, the frag, is anyone parked on a roof in Seattle when a drone could the same bloody thing and not bitch about getting wet?
Your spook is on the roof, maintaining a tight surveillance on target.
He's got a high end digital telescope hooked to a recording module. Also hooked to the recording module is a listening book: laser/shotgun mic to provide audio to the recorded video.
The plan -- to download the recorded video and analyze the show, frame by frame with the best analyzing package your decker could muster.
The adept is wired to the sensor suite with a trode rig to monitor the feed.
He's outfitted with a thermal damper cloak and water-resistant tights and a transceiver to growl over.
What else would you schlump along and why?
-Siege
Fresno Bob
Jan 11 2004, 05:06 AM
Ruthenium, a Sandwich, something silent to do while waiting, a bottle to whizz into.
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 05:11 AM
A pair of HUD glasses, a battery for them, and a nice collection of DVDs. As well as some burned optidisks of music.
Crusher Bob
Jan 11 2004, 05:14 AM
Water bottle, Snickers bar, cushion (stakeouts are long and hungry).
Radio and cell phone taps?
A pair of street clothes in case you need to disappear.
A backup camera to take pictures of license plates (or whatever) without needing to take your camera off the 'main event'.
Van Eck device (to read what on the monitor/TV/etc).
Plan of the room/building you are watching, so you know how people are going to move around the apartment/house/wahtever.
If you can manage it, running some mikes into the plumbing of the building to help increase your chances of catching what it being said while to toilet is flushed (via sound subtraction). (at least, it sounds good)
Linguasofts in likely languages.
Local flight schedule (jumbo jets make windows rattle, reduces sound pickup).
mfb
Jan 11 2004, 05:15 AM
an AOD tracker on the adept, with the tracking system linked into an orientation system (cyber or non, as you prefer). this allows you to help the adept keep track of the situation, and the tracker doubles as a backup means of locating the adept in case of Bad Things Happening.
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 05:17 AM
A datajack, a transducer, and a music player.
~J
Crusher Bob
Jan 11 2004, 05:18 AM
A Great Dragon ATGM or too, if things get really out of hand (are they still conceal 4?, or did they fix that)
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 05:19 AM
@ Bob: Dang, you're better at this than I am...
@ Kagetenshi: Never thought of using a transducer with a CD player.

Rock on.
@ Bob again: ROFLMFAO!!!
kenji
Jan 11 2004, 05:32 AM
i thought a Van Eck's device depends on reading the field changes on a CRT?
ie: not LCDs or LEDs or any derivative technology... and what if it's a weird LE-Polymer display or something?
---
a panicbutton for when your energy emitting Laser Mic get's detected on the las-aware glass the paranoid fragger installed? (if it's good for the auto, it's good for the home, omae.) ok, actual suggestion, a "quick exit" plan. even if it's "run like frag-all."
just in case Mr Targét gets wise.
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 05:42 AM
I say a sniper rifle in that option, Kenji.
Arethusa
Jan 11 2004, 05:51 AM
How do you guys get past the fact that using a person on a roof is impossible to keep magically invisible and is about as innocuous as a sign that says "We're Watching You?" If the opposition is even remotely competent, you will detected rather easily. Which is one of many reasons astral perception is one of the worst things to ever happen to the game.
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 05:54 AM
..................................*facepalm*
Dammit, you're right!
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 06:09 AM
By putting the person inside the building somewhere, or by having the person on the roof be good at hiding (even astral perception won't spot someone if they have a small enough profile).
~J
Fortune
Jan 11 2004, 06:24 AM
Caffeine and
nicotine! Don't leave your squat without 'em.
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 06:26 AM
Aye!...'cept in my case no nicotine. <.<
Siege
Jan 11 2004, 06:28 AM
Desperately trying to avoid the "grassy knoll" jokes, couldn't a character use plant matter as an astral cover?
Although that would probably draw more attention than simply hunkering down and minimizing an existing profile.
Although living things do end up on rooftops from time to time -- teenagers drinking and making out if nothing else.
-Siege
Crusher Bob
Jan 11 2004, 07:02 AM
Easy then, bring a teammate to make out with. Solve both your 'what are you doing there?' and 'how are you going to pass the boring hours of the stakeout?' at the
same time!

...and if aforementioned teammate is an attractive troll in a catholic schoolgirl outfit, even better!
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 07:04 AM
Best part of the CD player/transducer combo is that since there's no actual sound vibrating your eardrums, you ought to be able to hear your surroundings just fine.
Though making out with a partner is more fun, usually

~J
mfb
Jan 11 2004, 07:30 AM
well, you're still distracted by the 'sounds' in your head.
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 07:37 AM
Oh yes, of course, but IMO it beats A) having headphones or B) zoning out from boredom.
~J
Fresno Bob
Jan 11 2004, 07:37 AM
QUOTE (Crusher Bob) |
...and if aforementioned teammate is an attractive troll in a catholic schoolgirl outfit, even better! |
I'd still hit it!
You might want to take a chemical toilet if you think you'll be there for a while. Maybe a Playboy, or somethig, if you think you're going to be there for a loooong while. Food is a definate must. As is drugs. Mmm, lots of yummy drugs. Like Long Haul if you get sleepy.
Fortune
Jan 11 2004, 07:37 AM
QUOTE (mfb) |
well, you're still distracted by the 'sounds' in your head. |
Speak for yourself.
Sunday_Gamer
Jan 11 2004, 07:45 AM
I'd bring my skateboard, the ultimate surveillance tool!
Kong
Fresno Bob
Jan 11 2004, 07:46 AM
Until it gets out from under you on a failed kickflip, and sails into your target's window. Oh man that would rule.
Munchkinslayer
Jan 11 2004, 08:54 AM
I'd just as soon my overwatcher wasn't listening to "Darwin's Bastards" (or whatever) on the CD when he's supposed to be spying/watchin' my ass. Headsets were always a major no-no whenever I pulled sec-watch for my Uncle Sam. I never had a problem with it cuz it made sense. Whoever's coverin' me better be sober and attentive.
Sunday_Gamer
Jan 11 2004, 03:31 PM
I'm pretty sure I could talk my way out of my skateboard flying through their window =)
Other than the fact my deck just doesn't do things like "go where I don't want it to" I've found the best cover for surveillance is everyday street life, such as say, a streetkid skateboarding nearby, I don't have to hide, there's nothing terribly conspicuous about it. Unless of course we happen to be conducting said surveillance in a AAA rated area at which point, I'd have the Star crawling up my butt with termal scanners looking for evidence of my involvement with Alamos 20k.
But for standard city surveillance, they send me, a street kid, on his skateboard. Snuggly behind my masking which is pourdly exclaiming "regular kid here! no magic for miles!"
Works for me at least.
Sometimes it's good not to be a 7' monster with more cyberware than bones.
Kong
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 04:02 PM
I think you'd rather your overwatcher was listening to Darwin's Bastards than starting to nod off because they've been watching absolutely nothing happen for the last six hours.
~J
Zazen
Jan 11 2004, 04:52 PM
A few porno mags and some lube is all I'd need. I'd never suffer from boredom, that's for sure.
Phaeton
Jan 11 2004, 05:03 PM
...But for 6 fragging hours, Zazen?!...Ummmmm...
Austere Emancipator
Jan 11 2004, 06:03 PM
QUOTE (Zazen) |
A few porno mags and some lube is all I'd need. I'd never suffer from boredom, that's for sure. |
Are you certain? Staring at a black, silent landscape in slight rain for 6 hours can be a bit . . . dull. Even if you do it to the sound of *fap fap fap*
Arethusa
Jan 11 2004, 06:05 PM
That's some impressive stamina. You'd think it'd hurt after six hours, much less the kind of surveillance I run.
Anyway, the issue of astral perception has yet to be solved. You can't really surveil in the middle of making out (it's more a cover tactic when you're on the street than something that works for astral). And hell, if you get assensed and your overriding emotion is, say, calm, that's bad. A lot of plants just gives your position away. In fact, all you can do is put someone inside the building, as there is absolutely no way to reliably avoid detection on a rooftop when all the mage has to do is sit down and project, at which oint he can check rooftops up close. Again, perception and porjection are probably the two single worst things to ever happen to Shadowrun; they made stealth obsolete.
Austere Emancipator
Jan 11 2004, 06:34 PM
QUOTE (Arethusa) |
That's some impressive stamina. You'd think it'd hurt after six hours [...] |
You just got to keep it slow and gentle. On the edge, you know? Six hours ain't that bad. But it's still really... fucking ... boring.
Doesn't physical Stealth (as in the skill) work against Astral Perception, and against spotting things while Projecting? Does in my games.
Arethusa
Jan 11 2004, 06:40 PM
As far as I know, there's no way to hide in the astral, and the only stealth that's available on the astral is stuff that hides what you really are, not stuff that makes you actually invisible. As far as I knew (and played), everyone was a shining beacon of life, and all you could do to hide was blend in with more life.
Anyway, six hours is going to begin to get sore no matter how slow. Maybe not five, but six? Come on.
Siege
Jan 11 2004, 07:12 PM
QUOTE (Arethusa) |
As far as I know, there's no way to hide in the astral, and the only stealth that's available on the astral is stuff that hides what you really are, not stuff that makes you actually invisible. As far as I knew (and played), everyone was a shining beacon of life, and all you could do to hide was blend in with more life.
Anyway, six hours is going to begin to get sore no matter how slow. Maybe not five, but six? Come on. |
Come on...what? Maybe Zaz should bring a towel to cover all emergencies.

-Siege
Austere Emancipator
Jan 11 2004, 07:47 PM
QUOTE (Arethusa) |
As far as I know, there's no way to hide in the astral, and the only stealth that's available on the astral is stuff that hides what you really are, not stuff that makes you actually invisible. As far as I knew (and played), everyone was a shining beacon of life, and all you could do to hide was blend in with more life. |
I'm just going to continue playing it so that life is clearly distinguished from unorganic or dead matter, but it doesn't shine. That way using Stealth to hide yourself from physical senses won't help against Astral Perception/Astral Projection, but if you use Stealth with the Astral in mind it will.
QUOTE |
Anyway, six hours is going to begin to get sore no matter how slow. Maybe not five, but six? Come on. |
A bit sore perhaps, but it's certainly possible. Not difficult at all, in fact, if there's enough stimuli (read: porn).
Diesel
Jan 11 2004, 08:11 PM
Maybe stealthy character are actively suppressing their aura just by being sneaky. Like what happens to certain parts of anatomy after a cold swim, only for the whole aura. It's there, the mage is just going to have to look harder.
Game mechanics wise, I'd just make the mage have to hit the same TN as a standard person would to perceive the stealthing character.
RedmondLarry
Jan 11 2004, 08:15 PM
QUOTE (Austere Emancipator) |
QUOTE (Arethusa) | [on the astral] everyone is a shining beacon of life |
I'm just going to continue playing it so that life is clearly distinguished from unorganic or dead matter, but it doesn't shine.
|
Austere Emancipator, you can surely play that way, but your post might be interpreted wrong by those who don't remember the following from SR3:
p. 173 Astral Senses: "The astral plane is lit by the glowing auras of living things..."
p. 171 Astral Perception: "You ... see glowing auras surrounding living and magical things..."
Zazen
Jan 11 2004, 08:18 PM
Six hours is nothing, I was figuring multiple days here. It's just a matter of
variety.
RedmondLarry
Jan 11 2004, 08:27 PM
Sounds to me like you need an ally spirit. You can use Karma to teach them skills you know and like. Some thermaturgical experts believe that an ally is made from a piece of yourself, and is just an extension of your own mind, body, and desires.
Herald of Verjigorm
Jan 11 2004, 09:18 PM
QUOTE (Arethusa) |
You can't really surveil in the middle of making out |
Well disguised cameras, sublte wires, and that little plug on your head. Depending on your subject, it may be difficult to enjoy making out while watching the target region, but technology makes it possible.
Diesel
Jan 11 2004, 09:25 PM
Haha, Skillwires chipped with Makeout - 4.
Meanwhile you're rigging a camera.
Xirces
Jan 11 2004, 09:55 PM
QUOTE (Zazen) |
Six hours is nothing, I was figuring multiple days here. It's just a matter of variety. |
I can't believe I actually clicked on the link. How will I explain that to my wife..?
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 09:59 PM
Tell her it's for trips when you're thinking about her and you just can't wait to get home.
~J
Xirces
Jan 11 2004, 10:08 PM
QUOTE (Kagetenshi) |
Tell her it's for trips when you're thinking about her and you just can't wait to get home.
~J |
Actually, I was tempted to e-mail the URL to her, but couldn't find a reasonable explaination of how I found it in the first place...
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 10:35 PM
The truth is too strange to be believable?

~J
Zazen
Jan 11 2004, 10:59 PM
QUOTE (Xirces) |
QUOTE (Zazen @ Jan 11 2004, 08:18 PM) | Six hours is nothing, I was figuring multiple days here. It's just a matter of variety. |
I can't believe I actually clicked on the link. How will I explain that to my wife..?
|
Just tell her you were thinking about
her excellent cooking
Siege
Jan 11 2004, 11:04 PM
QUOTE (Xirces) |
QUOTE (Kagetenshi @ Jan 11 2004, 09:59 PM) | Tell her it's for trips when you're thinking about her and you just can't wait to get home.
~J |
Actually, I was tempted to e-mail the URL to her, but couldn't find a reasonable explaination of how I found it in the first place...
|
Which is more embarassing:
"Honey, I found this link about jacking off"
-or-
"Honey, while perusing a gaming board, I found a link to jacking off...stop laughing...no, it's not...would you please stop...honey...can you breathe?"
-Siege
mfb
Jan 11 2004, 11:52 PM
ha. like any of the losers who post here ever actually
talked to a girl.
wait, caught myself in that one...
Kagetenshi
Jan 11 2004, 11:56 PM
If I didn't talk to girls, I wouldn't have to deal with my girlfriend stealing my copy of Harlequin's Back to run it in her game.
~J
Fortune
Jan 12 2004, 12:03 AM
QUOTE (Kagetenshi) |
I think you'd rather your overwatcher was listening to Darwin's Bastards than starting to nod off because they've been watching absolutely nothing happen for the last six hours. |
I was thinking the exact same thing.

As to Stealth on the Astral: as far as I know, Stealth works just fine. You could even have a specialization in Astral Stealth.
Oh, and mfb: If I didn't talk to girls, I'd have a lot less kids, and a lot fewer problems than I do at the moment.
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