Karma
1 point for playing this week

BobRoberts/Chance359 - Troy Anderson - 5 6
Chance359 - Tinker - 6 7 8
Drips - Sphinx - 6
Ears - Rob - 7 8
Green Eyed Monster - John Stone - 6 4 5
Xiuhaun - Knuckles - 6 7

Nominations for individual awards?

Is Drips with us? I didn't see any posts for him this last week, threw him some action of healing, but didn't see a IC post about it or an OoC telling me I missed something.

I want to make a perception test to look over my roomate, Intelligence: 7.

Quick OOC player question - what are we doing with the cash from the bikes? I recall some people took ownership of some of them before they were sold...

I'd kinda vote for splitting the cash around us all evenly, but not that fussed - anyone have strong opinions one way or the other?

TN4 +2wound = 6
20 07 05 04 03 03 01 = 2succ
She's an elf, looks about 20, but who knows how old an elf really is, has long, honey blonde hair, brown eyes, and a perpetual grin. Wears chains of gold in different lengths and sizes, and several gold rings. One finger shows a tan line where a ring used to be. There's a folded long coat, leather pants, heavy moccasins, and a destroyed leather shirt arrayed on the chair beside her bed.

Split it. Keep the van for the group.

I'm kind of in favor of giving individuals stuff they need. Like the Spirit focus I offered Sphinx. Weapons we find, if it is something someone would use or is better than what they carry, let them have it, but sell the rest and divide.

I can also see building a team fund to pay for bribes, doctors, stuff someone needs to pay that they are incurring on behalf of the group. I can see paying for encryption on drones to make sure they don't get taken over and used against us. Or replacing destroyed drones.

I'm wondering how everyone is feeling toward the magic items. We have 2 people that may use them, but they are always expensive. On the flip side, when we have to buy them to make things easier, the whole team benefits. Like the Treat spell, I'm learning, I do not plan on using on myself unless it's a last resort (because the injury modifiers are counterproductive and you only get one attempt) yet I risked my life on the Astral Quest to learn it easier (and less costly) and at the highest force I thought I could realistically succeed. I can count on one hand the number of times I have willingly gone on Rating 6 astral quests, but after seeing how I had hit so many Places the previous times, it looked like I was due for a short quest and luck was with me.

Some part of Redmond, the exact area depending on how much his superiors hate him at the moment. Given how nosy he is, he probably will have heard of the killings anyway.

Oh and Rob'll go visit his fence debbie and try and sell her the Pred (Predator I, with 3 clips regular ammo) he looted. His willpower and negotiation both are 5.



I'm in favour of splitting the money evenly and keeping the van "for now".

Been out for a few days, tried to catch up in IC. Tisoz, if you need more description about whats going down, let me know. Will fill in the missing details tonight when I get home from school.

Been going on four nights with nine dead. Lone Star is hassling street sams and increased patrols, but hasn't gotten any leads.


450
60 bullets *2*=120
3 clips *5=15
450+120+15=585
585*.3=175.5 > 175
Negotiation vs I+2
Rob's roll
05 05 03 01 01 - 0succ
Deb's roll - used the fence archetype MJLBB
05 05 04 03 01 01 01 01 - 0succ

Settle on 175

Description is fine, more is usually better, though.

I am assuming Pair-a Dice is a casino or gambling establishment? (So is Green Eyed Monster) He posted and is trying to avoid going through wards and getting thrown out or losing his enchantments. I'm hoping you were just in a hurry and skimed that part, not insisting on meeting in the casino bar. If it's not a casino, or not likely warded, let me know. I'll have himchange his IC post to not seeing any wards, and he'll probably not have a problem meeting there.

Ears, in your IC post, it looks like a "/"got omitted to close a bold tag.

Going to channel the gnome owing 4 services when I get to Pair-a-dice parking lot. If I have to quit channeling and sustainng spells, this is the spirit I would just as soon lose first.

Center for Success, Power Focus for Success. F2 PF, 6 Conjuring, 7 Willpower, Currently 9 Charisma (feel the love)
L Drain at most which Trauma Damper will handle.

Drain test is after channeling ends and is F D Stun.

Channeling test TN = (2*F)-Init Grade = 2*4-3=5
15 10 05 05 05 04 03 03 - 5succ > 50 minutes

Actually, given the nature of the game, it was more a play on words (Paradice Bar), but it seems we ran with it If its a gambling establishment, just let me know.

Hey, its your world, I just live in it.

Ah. I actually looked in the Seattle Sourcebook and New Seattle for the name. There are some casinos in the midwest and Mississippi, I think, called that. I see the billboards all the time.

I would say it is a bar, except that would now mean two players changing their posts, whereas having it be a casino means just one changing his post, Xiuhaun. Plus, IC, it makes everybody that much more distrustful of Green Eyed Monster when he changes the meet.

I like the idea of Pair-a-dice being a yakuza controlled gambling joint.

The coffee shop can be The Daily Grind, or Celestial Nuyens.

Not expecting trouble at the meet, but figure there's no scanners at a coffeeshop, so Troy has taken his slivergun along. Under a secure longcoat and in a concealed holster, think it's a ((6+2)+50%) 12 concealability, although I have not got my books here as I'm sat here on my work PC.

On the replacement list - should be ready this evening!

Tisoz, I would like to spend 4 of my 8 karma to learn the Search Operations specialization at level 7.

I'll make a few more computer tests and ask Sara for Knuckles comm number so I can call him.

Also I'll send a message to my Plain Clothes cop contact to what she knows about the killings. Her name is Lynn Goren, she usually works in Vice.

Ok, I'm guessing this is a specialization of Decking that you have at 6. Decking is already a Specialization of Computers, so you can raise Decking to 7. It also costs 7*.5=3.5 > round down to 3 points. Like I said, I am guessing this is what you intended because the skill isn't the same or the karma cost.


I assumed everyone exchanged contact info. I would even let it go if Rocky doled out the throw away cell phones so the group could contact one another even if they don't fully trust each other yet. (Hint, hint, GEM)


You find out from her that Lone Star is not having much luck. With the two new killings last night, and the first male victim, Lone Star is posting a 50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of what the media has dubbed "The Ripper". Last nights bodies were not found within the 3x5 block area Rachel said the other girls worked from. There is rumor that The Star is thinking of hiring "consultants" to solve this problem.

Sounds fine to me, I never even wrote them on my character sheet. (See, I can take a hint.)

Does anyone have a plan for finding "The Ripper"? We can search the 3x5 area. I'd say send in a decoy, but none of us look very feminine. There is that "good looking and knows it ork". How would Knuckles look in drag? Actually, I could probably be the bait. I'm thinking someone in my magic group should know the mask spell and be able to cast it on me (or other volunteers) and sustain it. If they won't do it as a favor, a little nuyen should swing it. The problem is it will take a bit more time setting up.

Why I "want" to volunteer, is I can channel a spirit and get Immunity to Normal Weapons. That combined with leather pants and a leather shirt/jacket, and maybe some other inconspicuous armor will hopefully keep me from getting killed.

Search Operations is a specialization of Computer, so Tinker's new skill breakdown would be:
Computer: 4
- Decking: 6
- Search Operations: 7

I thought that karma costs rounded up not down.

Ok, but then you need to pay each step, not just the last.

4>5 = 5*.5=2.5 > 2
5>6 = 6*.5=3
6>7 = 7*.5=3.5 > 3
2+3+3=8 karma

Knuckles is at the meet with the same gear as before, though his t-shirt has changed and now says "_ETA_L_C_"

HPistol in holster, underarm, loaded with gel round clip (live ammo in pocket) and light pistol in lower back loaded with exex (no spare clip)

Good lordy. Knuckles in drag - the horror!

I think putting a ringer in there isn't a bad idea and the mask spell would work well, although it could be awkward if one of the usual red light district customers tries to hire said ringer?

Think trawling the area on foot and questioning the locals could be worth a punt?

I could set out some surveilance gear, but I still need to finalise the last of my list before I can do that.

Was going to do so yesterday evening, but I got drunk instead - Japanese beer had more of a kick than I expected. Work today is rather painful... at least it's not just me feeling grey!

Regarding "the always at night" inquiry, yes, all the attacks have occurred at night.

Hopefully I made this clear but I'll try again, the bodies have shown up all over Tacoma and one in Puyallup. Knuckles contact, last he checked, knew the regular working area of the victims and the regular work area was all in a 3 block by 5 block area.

It looks like drips/Sphinx is AWOL. He hasn't posted anywhere on DS since his last post in these topics on the 19th. If he's experiencing some RL problems and returns, just figure he had some IC problem that took up some time. Maybe he offered to hold on to the van, so he'd have a secure place to sleep, and decided that was pretty nice and left with it. (That is, if he never returns.)

May have another couple players joining us, too. Had an inquiry and character type, which sounded like a good fit.

For now, I would plan with the PCs that have responded, and maybe check back with the guy at the doc's, or Tinker could give you guys a call with anything he picked up.

Pretty much all the information that is known is public, except the 3*5 area has been ignored.

Tinker, your research will show where the bodies were found, all female victims until last night, all died at night as far as time of death can be determined. The murders seem to follow the MO described in the recent bestselling book on the historical Jack the Ripper. The book supposedly got access to the original coroners/funeral homes descriptions of the bodies. The new murders seem to use these accounts as blueprints for how they are mutilated.

I want to make some computer tests, while decking to hack into at least one of the other group members phones so I can hear and communicate during the meeting.

Then I'm going to mask my LTG access point, then hack every security cam, ATM cam, anything with a lense on it and archive the footage over the last 4 days based around when and where the killings took place.

I'm going to send messages to both of my electronic store contacts and ask what a Commlink program and a base code dumbframe will cost me.

If you are going to communicate with them, I would suggest just calling them. I think they set the time of the meet at the Doc's and included you in swapping contact info. Troy even went and got you your deck.

I suggest this to avoid decking with wound modifiers.


How are you masking it?


Sounds like Locate Slaves which uses Browse. Control Slave (when you get logged on and to the camera) which uses a Spoof utility. Then Download Data which uses the Read/Write utility. Locate Files uses Browse to find useful info.


Commlink has a multiplier of 1.

Dumbframes depend on size. Their size multiplier is 3. Cost is in Matrix.94.


What are you doing with raising the specialization? Spending all the Karma?

I was just looking through my sheet and noticed something that can solve a problem and get us going.

In preperation for whoever gets designated "bait", I command the F6 to conceal the "bait" if it is attacked and confuse everything that decides to attack "the Team". I Guess that means I designate "The Team" as being myself, itself, the "bait", Troy, Knuckles, Rob. If it can only affect 6 beings, that is it, if it follows the nature spirit rules for GF, then it should be able to affect 6 groups of up to 6. In that case, the next group is the GF spirits (4) and the City Spirit. All the F4 GF spirits and the City spirit are to attack until subdued everything that attacks any member of "the team". [If we have new players join "the Team" I'd like to adjust this.]

I'll probably be watching from astral space. I can command the spirits from there and not too likely to be spotted. If spotted, then the killer is magically active and I'll go after him on the astral. Will try to find a safe place for the meat, maybe Doc Sarah's or just stowed safely in a vehicle.

It would be funny if the male victim was by a copycat and we catch him and pin all the murders on him. Of course we'd still need to stop the real Ripper, but wouldn't have to worry about getting him arrested or convicted. (Yeah, I noticed the fine print.)

Good thinking there. And I must admit the ripper copying did make me thing of 'occult shenanagins'. I'll be happy as long as there aren't too many tentacles flying around?

On an earlier point, I am in favour of looking into the pool for team costs... seems there's a fair bit of helping the rest stuff out there and some of it is horribly expensive? Treat focii, bribes, etc. I'd be keen to have a look at that after we get the big payouts for the ripper.

Will be 'afk' for about 24-30 hours now - going out and about round town! Hope there is not another surge of action overnight tonight!

I guess we have a bit of Cash for Karma and a version of Karma for Cash, at least by what has been allowed so far.

As I pointed out IC, I've been allowed to use the rules for hiring magicians and paying for the Karma to help bond foci. I still need to pay at least a point. I will pay if anyone wants to feed Karma to the Free Spirits I bound. It will help keep them happy, thus hopefully, also keep them from plotting my demise and their freedom. You will be amazed at what benefits some fat, happy spirits can bring.

If you are not familiar with the rules for donating karma to free spirits, this is basically it: Full magicians give at a 1:1 ratio, Adepts or Aspected give at a 2:1, and Mundane 3:1. This means to give the spirit 1 point of karma is going to cost the mundane character 3 points. You declare how much the spirit is going to get, usually 1 point at a time, and the spirit takes it. As I also mentioned IC, one can use Conjuring to improve the ratio to Full magician 1:2, Adept/Aspected 1:1, Mundane 2:1. It is a Conjuring test vs. the Force + Spirit Energy of the spirit. (In another game I used this to surreptitiously try to find out the Force of a Free Spirit to see if I had any chance of binding it - rolled an 11 and didn't improve the ratio.) Currently, I have a pretty good chance of hitting the TN of 4 or 5 depending on the spirit. I guess we could "cheat and give it to the lower Force spirit and then command that spirit to give it to the higher Force spirit, but I'm sure there would be negative consequences of exploiting this "cheat" so I'd rather not. (Just pointing out how I'm trying to play fair, tisoz. )

We have 2 more PCs, both female. They are finishing up a couple issues. Right now, they are twins (which I don't see changing) named Anderson. Troy, it's your long lost cousins! I pointed out that we have an Anderson, and they may or may not choose to change the name. (They also throuw in that extra u, so maybe Anderson where y'all are from is as common as Smythe or Jounes is here. [See how I tried making it odd?] )

I gave them a rundown on maybe knowing Rocky/GEM, Troy/Bob, Knuckles/X, probably not Sphinx, and I don't remember Tinker's response to knowing people. If they know someone, I am going to ask that PC, to say they asked them to join in solving this current problem as it needed female "bait" touch.

I'll let them divulge as much about their PC as they want to share.

I need to run, so later.

This weeks Karma awards

Green Eyed Monster - John Stone - 2
BobRoberts - Troy Anderson - 2
Xiuhaun - Knuckles - 1
Ears - Rob - 1
Chance359 - Tinker - 1

1 for staying with us and 1 for putting together a plan

Karma (Total Earned) Current
Green Eyed Monster - John Stone - (9)7
BobRoberts - Troy Anderson - 8
Xiuhaun - Knuckles - 8
Ears - Rob - 9
Drips - Sphinx - 6
Chance359 - Tinker - (9)1?

So, do I get that right, that everybody gets 21k / 6 = 3.5k from the sold bikes and we still have the van around? If so, when do we hit the next dumb-ass gang?

I'll put that in ICly as Rob visiting the temple again when it's more appropriate, but what would a set of books (as in real, probably used college books) covering magic theory up to about skill rating 3 cost?

Well, if you put a plan into action...

Actually, if there were not new Players about to join, I would put what you guys have for a plan into play. As it is, I'm waiting to hear from BobRoberts and get their final Character sheet.


At first, I would say it's a Rating 3 Magic Library, which runs 9000 , on chip. I don't have access to my older edition books to see what hardcopy costs, but I know it was higher. Used textbooks though... Figure 60 each, 2 required a semester, 2 semesters worth a Rating point, so 3 years/6 semesters = 12 books, round to 10 because may have used a couple in 2 classes, *60 = 600 . All are probably available in a public or university library.

Ears, why don't we just cruise the area (3*5) pick up the hookers for 20 a piece (maybe per hour) and get them stowed away for a few hours. I don't think just going to the pimps is going to work because there are bound to be independents. Hire ourselves on as bodyguards to the stubborn ones to offset the cost and use them for bait.

If we have more than one available bait, I am also in favor of splitting the group into two groups of at last 3. This is to improve the odds of "our" bait catching something, and I think 3 on one is decent odds, we can always alert the other group which is going to be within 5 blocks.

Magic user
ork
Rob

Magic user
ork
adept twin

I'd say the twins would prefer working together and their ork of choice may as well be Troy. (Keep the Andersons together)

Leaves - Rocky, Rob, Knuckles. This also puts an overwatch (rigger/Rocky) in each group.

Each group will also have spirit back-up.

If we include Sphinx, put him in either the weaker looking group, or the one where he covers skills they are missing.

@tisoz Bought.

@GEM now, that sounds like my kind of plan: short. Let's roll.

I also like the simplicity of the plan. Plans rarely survive first contact, so here is hoping for some good luck!

I like GEM's idea of the Anderson Trio working as a group.

I guess at least one of us is going to have to go sans armour (yes, I use the extra 'u' like most Canadians), which will have to be me. Even without armour and my katana, I can put up a nasty fight. So, Terry will be wearing her nicest, skimpiest Tres Chick outfit that she usually reserves for those special clubs. I have a micro transceiver that I can keep in contact with the rest of the group with - hidden by my hair. I suggest Carry follow close in Astral in case this 'Ripper' is magically active.

Rocky Channeling Drain 4D Stun
07 05 05 05 04 04 02 02 01 - 6 succ > L Stun > Trauma Damper absorbs

You break into the two groups, Rocky has the F6 Concealing everyone but the 2 "pieces of bait", including other spirits, along group lines, meaning everyone in a group doesn't get a +6 modifier to detect others in the group. Bait won't see them unless astrally perceiving, which the Elemental does automatically.

Well, I'm not sure what the rundown on possibly knowing other chars is, all I got from Dra is that the possibility exists of us knowing one or more chars in advance, that one also has the same last name and wouldn't it be cool if we were his cousins.

Carrie is not going to like following in Astral if Terry suggests it to her in that way - she would rather find a hiding place to watch from at the scene. She could watch the Astral as part of her keeping an eye on her twin and move into Astral for combat if needed, but she'd want to be able to fight and sling spells on the mundane plane if the target turns out not to be on the astral. And if Terry, or anyone else, gets hurt she wants to be close by at end of any combat with her medkit to do healing.

That can work. I used Dranem for a middle name, as a full name seemed required in the situation. Let me know what you'd rather have it, and I'll edit it.

I posted IC to get everyone out of the planning and into the saving part. Introduced the new PCs. GEM can call his car around and let Troy rig it if you want. Or use the autopilot and just use it as a place to hide and/or chase. Just wanting to get you into two vehicles/groups and get on with the story. You can decide where you want to observe from and where you want the bait positioned, and so on.

I rolled 2D6 to see how many hookers would be out in the area.
01 01 - critical failure > add 2 more women PCs
Also rolled to see what they would take to stay with you. I figure if you pay them and let them do as they please, they will turn right around and be back on their corner. Lucky for the GEM group, there is not room in the vehicle for more than 4.

I figure you can post IC introductions, the plan, and split and get yourselves set, then the action can begin.

Well, I would rather Marie as a middle name if you don't mind. Giving the initials TMA - or Too Much Attitude as she was called in the group/foster homes.

Nice picking up on exactly what I intended for introducing you. I kind of forgot to tell you OoC what I was doing, but based it on what you said you were planning. One thing I would ask you to do (and editing is easy) is bolding peoples names. It makes it easier to find posts later when I'm checking to see who did what or where they are, stuff like that. (It might make people feel important, too.)

We are putting thoughts in italics, and turning off signatures in the IC thread. Since we now have someone actively subvocalizing, or capable, I think putting it in <<< Italics >>> should differentiate it enough. I saw something about someone saying there was an almost standardized code for posting, used a bunch of colors though. If people want to switch to the standard or make ours up as we go, I am open to either.

Anything you want to ask/tell me and not have everyone know, just send in a PM. Like plots against the rest of the party, little things like that.

A reminder, the year is 2054, the UB is still your buddy, Chicago has not had a tac-nuke set off, Dunkie for Prez!

When Dra wakes up I'll make sure to mention that the post needs a few tweaks for formatting

Yes that's sounds about standard for some of the games I've played. The only difference was that location was in orange, Timestamps were in cyan, and communications over radio/comm/phone were in yellow with << >>, over even single <>. It was the colour that was important more than the brackets. I'll edit my post.

As for how my opening pose came out.. well the girls are into B&E, cat-burglary and general property theft, not prostitution. If I'm walking the streets as a joygirl, then it was reasonable to deduce that we're trying to track down the killer by being bait.

By the way, I'll pay for the hooker with the credsticks I was letting the free spirits use.

And welcome to the new players.

"The group" is all us PCs, our spirits and drones, up to 36 in that order. Like I said before, I'll have the F6 Sylph concealing "the group" other than the bait, and providing Magical Guard to "the group". I'll have the Manitou with 7 services go with the Andersons and the Manitou with 8 services stay with our group. Their orders are to conceal "the group" if attacked, confuse any attackers of "the group" and use Guard power on "the group"

Bob, it looks like you need to replace < > with [] here:

Do we want to rename the threads? We are past Food Fight! It might help the pages load faster if I start new topics/threads. I'm thinking OoC Dairy Dash, and IC Dairy Dash with whatever segment we are on in the description line. Like this could be Ripper.

It would make it convenient to then download "finished" segments for storage and reference on personal Computer. Then can be viewed offline. I do this a little right now, but the threads keep getting added to, so it is hardly ever current.

Ideas/comments/suggestions?

The Andersons are on a corner in front of a Universal Brotherhood Chapter House. The Rocky/Knuckles/Rob group is centered around the drone repair building which is 2 blocks over and a block down (unless the mapquest map I find really contradicts things.) Most buildings are storefront, side by side with no gaps until the alleys and cross blocks. There is on street parking, but few cars. The buildings are mostly 2 and 3 story, a store at ground level and living quarters/apartments over them. There are some single story and 3 and 4 story buildings scattered through the area as well as vacant and parking lots.

I hope you can imagine this because I'm having a hard time finding a map.

New threads certainly wouldn't upset me! Figure a linky to the old thread in the first post clearly marks the progression of the story. Likewise, cap these threads with a link.

Now I'm just trying to nail down Troy's relationship to the twins... cousins? Sisters? That accident must have addled his brain a little bit! Any preferences out there before I make an IC reply?

While making an OOC post, I want to have my Condor up and circling, complete with an ad for Larry's fine garage. Will be keeping an eye out through it from time to time. Ideally would like to have the other drone assembled and ready to launch at short notice. Probably under a tarp in the back of the van.

Dra and I were thinking you probably have your background set up already not including our chars - our backgrounds have us as the only children of our family..
So we were waiting for you to come back to ask if you'd mind us being cousins through our father being brother to your father, or something along those lines (hence the same last name). Things have simply been flowing and its fun going along with the flow LOL.

*hugs*
Kart

The OoC thread for this campaign continues in OoC - Dairy Dash! The Night of the Ripper