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Belvidere
What's your Vice?


The word's hit the street like a nuclear bomb and people are moving for cover faster than most can say, "Knight Errant Raid." In the past seventy-two hours Vince "Numbers" Ciarniello has put the word out that he and his made men are gunning for blood when it comes to Yaks. The Yaks have responded by kidnapping the reigning capos Enrico Marcello and Lorenzo Orazio in Everett and Snohomish respectively.

Nobody is sure as to where the Triads stand in this and nobody wants the Vory to get involved but it's only a matter of time. Blood on the streets has proved that it is bad for business. And players are moving in the shadows to clean this up before it turns into another war.

Out of Character Info
What's your Vice is a street level PbP game that I tried to get started at an earlier time. It fell apart because of some serious real life drama that hit me over the last few day. But I'm back and out for blood. (Just kidding... or am I? ork.gif ) It will be taking place in everyone's favorite catch-all metroplex. Seattle.
All forms of crime are going to be heavy in the game, but mostly on the street level, seeing as I have recently read Vice and finally understand organized criminal organizations. It is going to be a standard 400bp game, though I'm highly encouraging street level characters, so quite a bit more generalized and capable of working outside of a group.
I also heavily encourage people answering the 20 questions out of Runner's Companion if they can. My player limit is six and I'd need a minimum of three to run the game.

Players
Slot 1: Chance359 / Devin "Big D" Delarosa
Slot 2: Martin_DeVries_Institute / Peter "Clef" Vasilyev
Slot 3: Combat Mage / Furio "Fury" Balducci
Slot 4: Thanee
Slot 5: Dr Zaius / Bill "Big Train" McCann
Slot 6: Traul / John "Hickory" Timber

Backup Players
Slot 1: Mr. Mage
Slot 2: Drace
Slot 3: noonesshowmonkey
Slot 4: Gortrek Bloodsplatterer

Thanks to any and all who are interested!
Belvidere
I will be taking the first six players who apply for a PC Slot. I'll also be taking 4 Backup slots. I'm not in a rush to get started but if you want a spot, tell me now. Reserve it and we can talk about character concepts and backgrounds.
Chance359
I'm interested, I've got an ork sam with a grudge against the yaks a mile wide
Belvidere
QUOTE (Chance359 @ Jun 26 2010, 11:01 PM) *
I'm interested, I've got an ork sam with a grudge against the yaks a mile wide


Cool, run it by the 20 questions in Runners Companion if you have it. What kind of Samurai we talking here? Super heavy cybered? Or just in concept?

Just curious, cause I'd most definitely want to know where your 'ware came from. Maybe second-hand? Ect. But I'm making assumptions. grinbig.gif You might not even be cybered.
Martin_DeVries_Institute
Belvidere, I still have my TM Ork with Vory ties from the first thread, as well.
Belvidere
QUOTE (Martin_DeVries_Institute @ Jun 26 2010, 10:27 PM) *
Belvidere, I still have my TM Ork with Vory ties from the first thread, as well.


Sounds good to me. grinbig.gif
Combat Mage
I'm interested with a Pistolero Adept.
Thanee
Also voicing my interest here! smile.gif

Looking at what we got already, I would go with a Street Shaman.

Some questions...

I suppose (and hope) we are meant to work together?
I further assume that we are generally meant to be independent (i.e. taking contracts from the organizations, but not belonging to them)?

Bye
Thanee
remmus
4th edition...damn, well I´m interested but only have the book for 3rd edition.
Belvidere
QUOTE (Thanee @ Jun 27 2010, 08:08 AM) *
Also voicing my interest here! smile.gif

Looking at what we got already, I would go with a Street Shaman.

Some questions...

I suppose (and hope) we are meant to work together?
I further assume that we are generally meant to be independent (i.e. taking contracts from the organizations, but not belonging to them)?

Bye
Thanee


You would be correct in your hopes and assumptions. Though relations on a personal level to an organization or two is encouraged. If you've got a cousin the mob who gets whacked it makes taking a job from who did it alot harder.
Belvidere
QUOTE (remmus @ Jun 27 2010, 08:09 AM) *
4th edition...damn, well I´m interested but only have the book for 3rd edition.


Are you familiar with 4th edition rules, setting (which hasn't changed too much), so on and so forth?
Combat Mage
I'm deciding between making my adept korean with some connection to a seoulpa ring or italian with the goold old mafia. Leaning towards the mob because I'm watching The Sopranos at the moment. biggrin.gif
Belvidere
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 27 2010, 08:56 AM) *
I'm deciding between making my adept korean with some connection to a seoulpa ring or italian with the goold old mafia. Leaning towards the mob because I'm watching The Sopranos at the moment. biggrin.gif


Can't ever go wrong with the mob. grinbig.gif

I'll have the 20 questions for people to answer up at some point today. But I'm running around all day and I'll be hopping on only when I get wi-fi on my laptop.
DrZaius
I'd like to use my guy from the other thread, if that's cool. I'll post him on here later today.

-DrZaius

EDIT:

Bill "Big Train" McCann

[ Spoiler ]
Traul
Is there still room for a former Lone Star cop with a twist?
Belvidere
Okay, all six slots are full at this point, anyone who is applying will be placed on the backup list. If anyone wants to talk to me about character concepts, PM me or post here.
Belvidere
For all of those who want to know what I want with your character's background this pretty much covers everything but recent events in their life that I want from my PCS. grinbig.gif

1) We are shaped by our heritage. Facial features, skin tone, height,
build, metatype, even aptitudes are influenced by the genes
passed from parent to child. Attitude, too, is taught by parents,
informed by their own lives and their cultural heritage. Where
does your character come from, what is her lineage, who were
her parents, and what did she inherit from them?

2)Parents can be proud of their children or regret ever bringing
them into the world. Some are loving, and some are indifferent.
All of them are only metahuman and have their own opinions
of their children. Assuming they could speak, what would each
of your character’s parents say about her?

3)Many people remember certain historical events for the rest of
their lives. For those alive in the first decade of the 21st century,
it could be the assassination of John F. Kennedy, or the
Tiananmen Square protests, or the fall of the Berlin Wall, or
the attacks of 11 September 2001. People remember where they
were, and what they were doing when they first heard of these
events. Shadowrun history has significant events as well, such as
the assassination of President Dunkelzahn, the Crash 2.0, and
the emergence of technomancers and artificial intelligences.
Pick a few events from recent Shadowrun history and ask where
the character was at the time, what does he remember about the
event, and what was he doing at the time?

4)Very few people choose to become shadowrunners. More
likely, they are thrown into the life by a chaotic and uncaring
world. Even if she made a conscious decision to enter the
shadows, her decision is influenced by the world around her.
How did your character get into shadowrunning, and why did
she take that path?

5)People have control over their own living arrangements. From
the child young enough to use crayons and tape all the way up
to the elderly shut-in who plasters her walls with family photos
and cat pictures, everyone makes their living spaces more personally
pleasing. What is your character’s living space like, and
what has he added or changed to make it his own?

6)Everyone has beliefs, and many have beliefs strong enough to
be convictions. Some are religious, some are political, some are
social, and some are just about why people are here. What does
your character believe in, what are her convictions (if any), and
why does she hold them?

7)Everyone has aspects of their personality that grate on someone.
Even the best of friends annoy one another from time to time.
The flaws in a person’s character are as important as the qualities.
What do you dislike most about your character’s personality?

8)The Sixth World is considered by many to be spinning out of
control. If anyone could exert control over it, it would be the
“Big Ten” triple-A megacorps. These transnationals exert a lot of
influence on everyday life in the 2070s. Which of the Big Ten
does your character hold in the highest (or least low) regard,
which does he like the least, and why?

9)People make acquaintances and friends; we’re hardwired for it.
Humans are social animals. This is especially true in the shadows,
where often it is not the power you have, but the power you
can borrow, and not who you, are but who you know. There’s a
story behind each and every one of these relationships. What is
the story with your character and her contacts?

10)It’s Sunday morning, and your character has no commitments
until tomorrow afternoon. What does she do for the day?

11)Your character has a specific skill set, a list of Active and
Knowledge skills that define what she knows and her areas of
expertise. How did she come to learn those skills, and how did
she develop them to those levels?

12)Everyone has their limits. People can be dark, but most people’s
instinct is to draw the line at certain actions and thoughts, and
they keep to their own moral convictions. Is there a moral limit
that your character enforces on the jobs she takes, and in what
shadow work would she refuse to engage?

13)If you have an Awakened or technomancer character, consider
your character’s tradition and streams. Even within the major
established magical traditions and the recently emerged technomantic
streams, there is room for personalization. Ask yourself
what drew her to that particular paradigm, how does it effect
the way she views the world and her magic, how does it translate
into choice of mentor spirit or paragon, and how does it affect
the appearance of the spirits or sprites you conjure or compile?

14)While acceptance and bias vary from place to place, augmentations—
be they bio-, cyber-, gene-, or nanoware—are increasingly
common and available in the Sixth World. However, personal
technological enhancement is rarely cheap, and many implants
that runners possess are restricted. How did your character
come to have the enhancements she has, how were they paid
for, and what motivated the choices she made (if she did make
the choices)?

15)Life as a shadowrunner is by definition outside the bounds of
“normal” life. Shadowrunners do not truly fit into the lives of
ordinary people, whether they live in slums or mansions. What
does your character think of ordinary life, mainstream culture,
and those who abide by it?

16)Everyone has nightmares. Sometimes, we forget the dream
completely on waking. Sometimes, the nightmare haunts us or
even recurs. If your character had a lingering nightmare or a
deep-rooted fear, what would it be, and why does he find it so
terrifying?

17)People tend to attach sentimental value to items in their possession
or people they are close to. They make an effort to
keep these close by and safe. What is your character’s “sacred
object” or “close one,” and how did they come to be so important
to him?

18)One of metahumanity’s greatest assets is its ability to look toward
the future and imagine a better life. Even small children
have dreams about what they want to be when they grow up.
What did your character want to become when he was a child,
and what are his goals now?

19)A person’s appearance can say volumes about him. From fashion
sense, to the colors he prefers, to the way he walks and speaks.
Sometimes, his personality determines his appearance, and,
sometimes, the appearance he chooses to present the world effects
his personality. What does your character look like, and
what inspired his choices?

20)Everyone has a name, but a runner’s street name is a representation
of his connection to the shadows. Sometimes runners
choose their own moniker, but more often it is given to them as
a nickname or earned through some (mis)adventure. How did
your character come to be known by his street name?

Abschalten
God damn it. Did I really miss this?
Belvidere
QUOTE (Abschalten @ Jun 27 2010, 06:05 PM) *
God damn it. Did I really miss this?


Possibly. But maybe not. Chance 359 posted yesterday that he's interested but I've yet to hear anything else from him. So if I don't get anything else from him by tomorrow I wouldn't be against giving his spot away. And you could most definitely be on the back-up list if you'd like.
DrZaius
QUOTE (Belvidere @ Jun 27 2010, 08:22 PM) *
Possibly. But maybe not. Chance 359 posted yesterday that he's interested but I've yet to hear anything else from him. So if I don't get anything else from him by tomorrow I wouldn't be against giving his spot away. And you could most definitely be on the back-up list if you'd like.


You could put Mr. Mage on the backup list as well. He was interested in the original game, but I think he might be just a week-day poster.
Chance359
Sorry worked for 9 hours then had my own game to run.

Terrance "Monster" Hodgins, ork street razor


Attributes:
[ Spoiler ]


Qualities
[ Spoiler ]


Active Skills
[ Spoiler ]


Bioware
[ Spoiler ]


Cyberware
[ Spoiler ]


Gear
[ Spoiler ]


Contacts
[ Spoiler ]



I've got about 5K left to spend. Probably diversify and modify the weapons. As for background and 20 questions, will have it to you tomorrow (Monday).
Combat Mage
I should have my Character up sometime tomorrow.

@Chance359:
I'm pretty sure Enhanced Articulation doesn't apply to Combat Skills in SR4.
Thanee
That's a lot of Essence... grinbig.gif

Bye
Thanee
Traul
"Lieutenant" John "Hickory" Timber

BACKGROUND
[ Spoiler ]


SHEET
[ Spoiler ]
Combat Mage
I don't want to nag too much but I thought this was a street level game. Now we have two people with the Born Rich quality and massive amounts of augmentations, including some with availability 20. Doesn't seem to fit in my opinion.

But it's not my call so I'll shut up now.
Doc Chase
An olfactory booster in the leg?

That just seems...off to me.
Abschalten
Yeah, it pretty much takes Born Rich to make a full-body replacement sam on 400 BP. However, I've done it before. I asked the GM to let me use "Born Rich" to represent the fact my sam got injured on-duty and got a big settlement from his old corp before they discharged him.

If you wanted to save some cash and possibly not need Born Rich, I'd recommend asking the GM to let you have your full-body prostheses as a cybersuite. Not only will you get an Essence reduction for future growth but it lowers the overall price by 10%. However, any "aftermarket" additions like Strength/Agility increases and sensors and other goodies, I'd charge standard price for. That's just my 2 bits.

Also, Traul: I'd highly recommend not dropping Body to 1. Sure you use the Body of your prosthetics in Damage Resistance tests, but if you have to resist disease, toxins, infection, or physical addiction you are pretty boned. You can dump Agility and Strength, sure, but not Body and Reaction. Or at least I wouldn't recommend it.
Traul
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 28 2010, 11:40 PM) *
I don't want to nag too much but I thought this was a street level game. Now we have two people with the Born Rich quality and massive amounts of augmentations, including some with availability 20. Doesn't seem to fit in my opinion.

But it's not my call so I'll shut up now.

I could ditch Born Rich if that's a problem. There are almost 100 000Y spent in alphaware that is not necessary, at least in the short term: even with standard ware it would still fit within 6 Essence. The character was ready before the campaign announcement, and I usually like to keep some space for buying ware in game.

QUOTE (Doc Chase @ Jun 28 2010, 11:53 PM) *
An olfactory booster in the leg?

That just seems...off to me.

Why? It is nothing but an implanted chemsniffer. If it needed the natural nose to work, it would not have a Capacity rating at all because it would take Essence even in a cyberskull. If cybereyes can fit anywhere, why not cybernoses?

QUOTE (Abschalten @ Jun 29 2010, 12:21 AM) *
Also, Traul: I'd highly recommend not dropping Body to 1. Sure you use the Body of your prosthetics in Damage Resistance tests, but if you have to resist disease, toxins, infection, or physical addiction you are pretty boned. You can dump Agility and Strength, sure, but not Body and Reaction. Or at least I wouldn't recommend it.

Edge and pray cool.gif Given the background, it would not make sense that all his physical attributes got splattered against the wall except Body. But thanks for the advice, you are probably right from a tactical point of view.
Belvidere
As to the discussion about characters power levels. I really would like to keep it more at a street level. I still need to go over all of the character submissions I've gotten, but I would like to keep it more generalized and low power. You;re going to be taking on yakuza and the mob. Not Ares and Renraku HTR squads.
Doc Chase
QUOTE (Traul @ Jun 28 2010, 11:52 PM) *
Why? It is nothing but an implanted chemsniffer. If it needed the natural nose to work, it would not have a Capacity rating at all because it would take Essence even in a cyberskull. If cybereyes can fit anywhere, why not cybernoses?


Because the leg bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone is connected to the ass bone, and the olfactory booster is going to give you a false methane read every time you try to take a sniff. wink.gif
Combat Mage
Sorry to have brought this discussion up. It's probably just my inherent dislike of the Born Rich quality. Wasn't meant to offend anyone.

Furio "Fury" Balducci

Description:
[ Spoiler ]


20 Questions
[ Spoiler ]


Sheet:
[ Spoiler ]
Chance359
Devin "Big D" Delarosa

Ork Gang Member (from the sample character archive)

[ Spoiler ]


20 questions:
in progress.
Traul
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 29 2010, 05:42 AM) *
Sorry to have brought this discussion up. It's probably just my inherent dislike of the Born Rich quality. Wasn't meant to offend anyone.

No problem, it's cool cool.gif

Might as well put the 20 questions here too.

HICKORY: 20 QUESTIONS
[ Spoiler ]


Reading this again, the alphaware does make sense. Without it, Timber would be left with 0.4 Essence, and the last thing Lone Star wanted was him to crash from TLE-x or Cyberpsychosis in front of the cameras. The safety was worth a bit of extra nuyen.

On a separate note: tasers are legal but not stun batons? That tells you a lot about the 6th world law makers...
Thanee
QUOTE
(from the sample character archive)


biggrin.gif


I'm still putting everything together. Will post a sheet over the next couple days. smile.gif

Bye
Thanee
Traul
Here is a toned down version without Born Rich. A bit less attributes, a bit less armor, just the alphaware it takes to reach 1 Essence, and the spared 20 BP went into skills and contacts.

"Lieutenant" John "Hickory" Timber

BACKGROUND
[ Spoiler ]


SHEET
[ Spoiler ]
Traul
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 29 2010, 05:42 AM) *
Accessories: Laser Sight (Underbarrel Mount)

You know they don't stack with the smartlink, don't you?
Belvidere
Hahaha, I just realized, as of right now, we've got three Orks. No real problem there, but it makes me laugh a little.

And as a side not to everyone who currently has a character slot, I'd like to start this Friday. We are all good at the moment, save we are missing one character. That's right Thanee! I'm talking about you! grinbig.gif
Combat Mage
QUOTE (Traul @ Jun 30 2010, 12:49 AM) *
You know they don't stack with the smartlink, don't you?

Yeah they are for when I don't have access to my smartlink contact lenses for some reason.

I've seen you took each criminal organisation as a single knowledge skill. You could just take Seattle Crime Syndicates as one skill and specialize in one of the organisiations. Would save you a few points.

@Belvidere
I'll be out of town Thursday and Friday without internet so my first post will go up very late friday night at the earliest or more likely Saturday.
Traul
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 30 2010, 08:56 AM) *
I've seen you took each criminal organisation as a single knowledge skill. You could just take Seattle Crime Syndicates as one skill and specialize in one of the organisiations. Would save you a few points.

That' GM call, but I have always played that you get what you pay for: the more specific a knowledge is, the more accurate. Also, the rules specifically warn against too wide knowledge skills, which "Seattle crime syndicates" sounds to me in a syndicate based campaign. It would be like taking "Knowledge: Campaign setting".
Combat Mage
Hmm I see your point. But the knowledge skills presented in the core rulebook are equally generalized in my opinion, for example Seattle Gangs or even broader like Military or Business.

But that's for our GM to decide, I can always switch Seattle Crime Syndicates out for Seattle Mafia.
Thanee
QUOTE (Belvidere @ Jun 30 2010, 05:23 AM) *
And as a side not to everyone who currently has a character slot, I'd like to start this Friday. We are all good at the moment, save we are missing one character. That's right Thanee! I'm talking about you! grinbig.gif


Ok, will put the character together until tomorrow, then. Got most things figured out already, just need to write it down.

At least I don't need much equipment... that speeds up character creation significantly. smile.gif

Bye
Thanee
Thanee
QUOTE (Traul @ Jun 30 2010, 11:25 AM) *
"Knowledge: Campaign setting"


biggrin.gif

Bye
Thanee
Belvidere
QUOTE (Traul @ Jun 30 2010, 03:25 AM) *
That' GM call, but I have always played that you get what you pay for: the more specific a knowledge is, the more accurate. Also, the rules specifically warn again too wide knowledge skills, which "Seattle crime syndicates" sounds to me in a syndicate based campaign. It would be like taking "Knowledge: Campaign setting".


I agree with that one hundred an ten percent. The more descriptive your knowledge skills are, the less hits you're going to need. To figure out who the capo of downtown is for the mafia might be 3 or 4 with Seattle Crime Syndicates. But if you had Seattle Mafia, it would be only 1 or 2.
Belvidere
QUOTE (Combat Mage @ Jun 30 2010, 12:56 AM) *
@Belvidere
I'll be out of town Thursday and Friday without internet so my first post will go up very late friday night at the earliest or more likely Saturday.


Not a problem Combat. grinbig.gif
Belvidere
So now I'd like to ask all who are playing, what they would like to see most in the game. How Pink Mohawk do you all want to play? Or do you want it to be heavier roleplay? I like to leave this stuff up to my players, because no matter what I enjoy it. So what do you all think?

1) How dark do you want the game to be?
2) How pink mowhawk do you want it?
3) Any canon faces you'd like to see/meet?
4) What do we want the post timer to be before people get bumped? I was thinking one a day.
Martin_DeVries_Institute
Well, we're dealing with the Syndicates here, so I have to imagine there's going to need to be some darkness here. So as long as we get into some of that I'll be happy, but it doesn't need to be soul-crushingly bleak either.
I can take pink mohawks, and I can take straight roleplay. I've no preference there either way so I'll let others speak out on that. Posting every day might be a bit much but definitely at least twice a week I think, RL permitting of course.
Canon characters? IMO they probably should not be very present, if they're going to be around at all, and only where it would logically make sense. Appearances from such ought to be few and far between in any game, unless the characters become big cogs in their machines.

Here are my twenty questions for Clef.

[ Spoiler ]
Traul
QUOTE (Belvidere @ Jul 1 2010, 12:58 AM) *
1) How dark do you want the game to be?

I see it more gritty than really dark. On the Scorcese scale, somewhere between the Godfellas and Taxi Driver. No need to go all the way up to Cape Fear. Although the inspirations for my character were more between Dick Tracy, the Spirit and Who framed Roger Rabbit? silly.gif
QUOTE
2) How pink mowhawk do you want it?

There will have to be some. Can't play small fry gangsters like ice cold pros.
QUOTE
3) Any canon faces you'd like to see/meet?

Don't really care, I don't know much of the 70s setting anyway. My gang contacts are canon (Seattle 2072, p.182-3), except I could not dig a canon name for the Crimson Crush boss.
QUOTE
4) What do we want the post timer to be before people get bumped? I was thinking one a day.

Same as Martin here. Once per day sounds like a good target, but maybe too much for a hard threshold.
DrZaius
QUOTE (Belvidere @ Jun 30 2010, 06:58 PM) *
So now I'd like to ask all who are playing, what they would like to see most in the game. How Pink Mohawk do you all want to play? Or do you want it to be heavier roleplay? I like to leave this stuff up to my players, because no matter what I enjoy it. So what do you all think?

1) How dark do you want the game to be?
2) How pink mowhawk do you want it?
3) Any canon faces you'd like to see/meet?
4) What do we want the post timer to be before people get bumped? I was thinking one a day.


1) I'd say pretty dark. Part of what I think of for a Syndicate game is tough choices: Do you help the guy whose family is going to be killed, or go for the quick payday? So lots of moral questions and grey area are to me what define these types of games.
2) I don't see this as a group of slick professionals. To me, it's people who are working for the syndicates more out of necessity than choice. So more mohawk than not, at least for my guy. In my mind, there are three levels of games: Street, Syndicate, Runner; with each being more professional than the other.
3) Don't care.
4) I'd say one a day is too harsh. Some people only post during the week, others only can post on weekends, etc. I'd say a hard and fast rule might be beneficial, but maybe start something less strict; 2-3 posts per week, and if you feel it's going too slow, start a warning in the OOC thread or kick players after. Definitely boot people after a week though.

-DrZaius
Belvidere
Glad to here it all! Thank you for you responses and it was something I kind of expected, but I just wanted to be sure of it. So I'm thinking we start friday night. I know Cqombat Mage won;t be able to post until saturday, but that is okay. grinbig.gif Does friday sound good to everyone?
Combat Mage
A quick reply before I leave the house for two days:

I mostly agree with DrZaius on the darkness.

As for pink mohawk, some is certainly in order but I would like to keep a certain sense of realism and grittiness.

One day as posting treshhold is way to harsh in my opinions. There are some days that I don't get home and I don't want to worry every day how I get my post in, that feels too much like a job.

About 2-3 posts a week seems fine to me. Normally I will post more anyway since I'm at the the computer a lot of time, learning.

Gotta go now, will be back saturday. I'm in GMT + 1 timezone btw, just to avoid confusion.
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