So I'm building a new campaign and I was thinking of having a mission where the team has to break into as Talismonger's shop and finda particular item...
I'm pretty sure I'm good on the rules for what to send after the players, but as the topic says, I'm wondering about what to put in and around the shop.
So I'm just wondering, what do you think would be in your average Talismonger/Magic shop in SR 4th ?
Full Version: Talismonger Shop
Quite a few very securely locked safes, and a security drone or two.
Translation from sarcasm:
There really shouldn't be anything of value left open (assuming the runners are breaking in outside of normal business hours). I would have quite a few random crystals, maybe a dowsing rod or two...y'know, various new age crap. Make sure to include AR signs advertising the "Newest And Most Effective Homeopathic Simsense Yet!" and "Learn To Love Your Inner Ork! New Trid Explains How!".
Now, if this is a more legit job than the average, expect a lot of bare counters and extensive well guarded store rooms behind the counter. There would most likely still be a bit of hack goods for the mundane enthusiasts, but other than some crystals and maybe a few oriental statues, not a whole lot.
~R~
Translation from sarcasm:
There really shouldn't be anything of value left open (assuming the runners are breaking in outside of normal business hours). I would have quite a few random crystals, maybe a dowsing rod or two...y'know, various new age crap. Make sure to include AR signs advertising the "Newest And Most Effective Homeopathic Simsense Yet!" and "Learn To Love Your Inner Ork! New Trid Explains How!".
Now, if this is a more legit job than the average, expect a lot of bare counters and extensive well guarded store rooms behind the counter. There would most likely still be a bit of hack goods for the mundane enthusiasts, but other than some crystals and maybe a few oriental statues, not a whole lot.
~R~
Have you ever been in an actual Wiccan supply or Magick store? Not the stage-magician type, but one with various stones & minerals, magickal books, incense, ect.? If you haven't, start looking locally or within an acceptable travelling distance & check one or two out. This would give you a fairly good idea.
I've been to a few in NYC, such as Stick Stone & Bone, Enchantments and the (now long since gone) Magickal Childe. To me, they alwyas bore the scent of fresh baked cinnamon & had wares such as lodestone chips, crystals, hematite rings & necklaces, symbolic pendants, herbs, spices, ect. Also, see if you can find an herbalist or apothecary (yes, they do exist outside of California), or even a Voodoun or Santeria shop.
In my view, a Talismonger shop would have just about everything you could think of for a magickal supplier; herbs, talismans, rare earth compounds, crystals, and all of the above-mentioned. Many 'low-end' or commonly-affordable shops will have most of their guides or tomes on AR- or E-format, and some of the more up-scale will have actual printed books (but most liely locked up in armoured-glass displays). Some will have items dangling from the ceiling or an overhead display (mind your head, you don't know where that cockatrice's claw or black wasp's stinger has been...or can do).
I've been to a few in NYC, such as Stick Stone & Bone, Enchantments and the (now long since gone) Magickal Childe. To me, they alwyas bore the scent of fresh baked cinnamon & had wares such as lodestone chips, crystals, hematite rings & necklaces, symbolic pendants, herbs, spices, ect. Also, see if you can find an herbalist or apothecary (yes, they do exist outside of California), or even a Voodoun or Santeria shop.
In my view, a Talismonger shop would have just about everything you could think of for a magickal supplier; herbs, talismans, rare earth compounds, crystals, and all of the above-mentioned. Many 'low-end' or commonly-affordable shops will have most of their guides or tomes on AR- or E-format, and some of the more up-scale will have actual printed books (but most liely locked up in armoured-glass displays). Some will have items dangling from the ceiling or an overhead display (mind your head, you don't know where that cockatrice's claw or black wasp's stinger has been...or can do).
Hrm, you might give the area an aspect count to make it more difficult for the groups magician to operate. Also, instead of going bare like Raiki suggested maybe put in a bunch of *trap* items. Things that would have an astral aura but not necessarily be of any value. Things that project strongly too, that way its like looking for a needle in a haystack for the actual artifact of value.
I'm thinking there are a ton of inhabitation spirits with aura masking so they look like "normal magical tools". Make them do bad things to players who pick them up without being sure they are safe. Think something like the room with the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade only with a heaping dose of Shadowrun. Anybody Astrally Perceiving should be blinded.
Of course we'll want patrolling spirits too, along with a mediocre tech security system (the guy is a magic specialist not a techie, he'll build to his strengths).
--
As far as Flava - There should be Tonnes of books, things with names like "Gnashers Guide to Spirits", "The Metaplanes and You", "Beginner's Guide to Healing" etc.
Magical Lodge materials would be basically anything and everything you could think of, we're talking all colors of candles under the sun, incense, herbs, idols, figures, chalks, paints, cloths and more.
I'm thinking there are a ton of inhabitation spirits with aura masking so they look like "normal magical tools". Make them do bad things to players who pick them up without being sure they are safe. Think something like the room with the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade only with a heaping dose of Shadowrun. Anybody Astrally Perceiving should be blinded.
Of course we'll want patrolling spirits too, along with a mediocre tech security system (the guy is a magic specialist not a techie, he'll build to his strengths).
--
As far as Flava - There should be Tonnes of books, things with names like "Gnashers Guide to Spirits", "The Metaplanes and You", "Beginner's Guide to Healing" etc.
Magical Lodge materials would be basically anything and everything you could think of, we're talking all colors of candles under the sun, incense, herbs, idols, figures, chalks, paints, cloths and more.
I skimmed, so I don't know if any one else mentioned Wards. Wards, Wards, Wards, Wards. Considering it's going to be a magician's shop, they would damn sure have wards. Could probably even write it off as a business expense, heh.
I like the Spirits on duty, too. Get some bound, some to patrol and deal wirth intruders, and maybe a couple to take completely different routes to report to the owner in the case of said intruders. Toss in the drones to do the same (though the drones whose job it is to report would just call or trigger a panic button sort of thing, obviously).
I got an NPC who runs a shop, basically as a legit front. It's in an old building, and he has the whole place, so he just lives up top. Depending on how difficult you want to make it, could go a similar route, so it might not even require an alert from other sources when they break in, the mojo dude could hear it themselves.
I like the Spirits on duty, too. Get some bound, some to patrol and deal wirth intruders, and maybe a couple to take completely different routes to report to the owner in the case of said intruders. Toss in the drones to do the same (though the drones whose job it is to report would just call or trigger a panic button sort of thing, obviously).
I got an NPC who runs a shop, basically as a legit front. It's in an old building, and he has the whole place, so he just lives up top. Depending on how difficult you want to make it, could go a similar route, so it might not even require an alert from other sources when they break in, the mojo dude could hear it themselves.
As mentioned previously, wards.
Talismonger shops attract Shamen (Spirit of the hearth, if you guys still remember SR3
) but you could mix it up, depending on what "flavour" you decide to give the place.
But for ambience? Nothing says, "Magic be here" than a whole busload of unicorn posters, polished glass "crystals", strange little pots of oddly-smelling goo, "organic" produce harvested by the light of a full moon, whalesong and/or pan pipes as musak, dreamcatchers made by starving 4th world children, genuine tibetian prayer flags, some strange hide/skin of some unidentifiable animal, heavy locked cases with small and cheap-looking jewelry inside, self-help books for every personal, professional or social disease, some horrid wooden carvings, lip and belly piercing bars with mystical sigils on them, "smoking impliments", rolls and rolls of incense that smell like someone's dying grandmother, sad pressed dried flowers, knitted magical juju bags, miniture prayer wheels, a peeling silver-coated abacus and a large floor-safe set into the structure of the building or shop.
And maybe the owner, with a trained hellhound and a Ruger Warwawk loaded for troll.
Mention the almost-organic smells, like somethings trying to rot, but there's too much sugar to succeed.
Have fun,
-Tir
Talismonger shops attract Shamen (Spirit of the hearth, if you guys still remember SR3
) but you could mix it up, depending on what "flavour" you decide to give the place.But for ambience? Nothing says, "Magic be here" than a whole busload of unicorn posters, polished glass "crystals", strange little pots of oddly-smelling goo, "organic" produce harvested by the light of a full moon, whalesong and/or pan pipes as musak, dreamcatchers made by starving 4th world children, genuine tibetian prayer flags, some strange hide/skin of some unidentifiable animal, heavy locked cases with small and cheap-looking jewelry inside, self-help books for every personal, professional or social disease, some horrid wooden carvings, lip and belly piercing bars with mystical sigils on them, "smoking impliments", rolls and rolls of incense that smell like someone's dying grandmother, sad pressed dried flowers, knitted magical juju bags, miniture prayer wheels, a peeling silver-coated abacus and a large floor-safe set into the structure of the building or shop.
And maybe the owner, with a trained hellhound and a Ruger Warwawk loaded for troll.
Mention the almost-organic smells, like somethings trying to rot, but there's too much sugar to succeed.
Have fun,
-Tir
I would also like you to consider this: is it REALLY a talismonger, or someone that plys off of new magicians into THINKING they've got real stuff when most of what they have is junk? or maybe, a bit of both? the "storefront" has nothing but baubles and fakes for the posers but their secret stash is hidden for the "real" clients?
QUOTE (Aku @ Dec 13 2010, 04:50 PM) 
I would also like you to consider this: is it REALLY a talismonger, or someone that plys off of new magicians into THINKING they've got real stuff when most of what they have is junk? or maybe, a bit of both? the "storefront" has nothing but baubles and fakes for the posers but their secret stash is hidden for the "real" clients?
That's how I see most talismongers.
To satisfy the poseurs and wannabes, have plenty of 'power' stones that look shiny, bird feather amulets, a wall of incense sticks, jars of 'ritual herbs' and other sundry items. Maybe a few of those mass-manufactured 'wicked-looking' blades on the walls for display/sale as ritual tools.
Have a guy/gal with a little table doing tarot readings for the masses who come in. Maybe they're legit. Maybe they're not.
Have drums for sale with authentic synthetic animal-skin covers that people can try out. Statues made from stone and crystal (and made in Myanmar). Bookshelves with New Age tomes (or racks with the optical chips). Wind chimes.
TL;DR: Think of all the kitschy shit that makes you'd see in a New Age store, a head shop, and a curio - then go from there.
I think that first you need to think what kind of store it is. There are lots of Talismongers, who ctaer to lots of clients and the store front and décor varies according to that.
Now, let's start by lifestyles with a simple exaplanatory example:
Squatter: "Storefront?" The lisping Ork opens her trenchcoat where you see dangling some pendants, a rolled awakened marihuana cigarrette and a wand. She chuckles: "You get what you see, most of it is real mojo... Now, you buyin' chummer, or should I look for another customer?"
Low: She is the old woman of the block. That grandma who knows home medicines made with some tarditional herbs and maybe some reiki. She might be real or not -Maybe she has enchanting at 1- and can sell some basic stuff, like fetishes. Her storefront is her home's living room, with some watchers looking around and some incense being burned up as an offering and trying to increase the background count favorable to her. Feng Shui is amptly used from matrix-downloaded manuals.
Middle: A regular store that caters to the largest market. Most of it is cristals and self-help books. Essentially this is what the unawakened think a "real" magic shop is. Maybe tehy have some fetishes, maybe some enchantment materials and basic and legal foci: None is higher than rating 1 and all are generic. The vast majority are sustaining foci for health or illusion spells. The first are sold only to some customers who provide a license to offer magical medical practice.
High: Go into a jewelry store. Think Cartier, not the highest end of those, but good ones. The real foci are sold here and they are artitscally enhanced and can be customized. Nice high-charisma elven and human sales-girls and guys follow each customer around offering him wares that would suit their current haircut or dress. They know which are good customers and they pamper these: free real coffee, and if making a big purchase free single malt real whiskey while they discuss the best pricing and the power of a particular piece. Pieces of up to rating 2 can be found here. Maybe a single rating 3. Certainly those displayed can be the lowest end pieces, and a couple of the good ones in very highly secured cases. Wards are integrated into the decor and watchers inform the customers of new sales and low prices. Good taste, and no self-help books, is the norm.
Luxury: Think this:
http://blogs.gmanews.tv/robert-ja-basilio-...ious-store.html
or even:
-Harrod's in London
-maybe one of the most luxurious chocolate stores in New York can be some inspiration.
-by invitation only, like some diamond stores in Antwerp.
-let your imagination run free: A free spirit salesman, megacorp front, an independent designer...
Now, let's start by lifestyles with a simple exaplanatory example:
Squatter: "Storefront?" The lisping Ork opens her trenchcoat where you see dangling some pendants, a rolled awakened marihuana cigarrette and a wand. She chuckles: "You get what you see, most of it is real mojo... Now, you buyin' chummer, or should I look for another customer?"
Low: She is the old woman of the block. That grandma who knows home medicines made with some tarditional herbs and maybe some reiki. She might be real or not -Maybe she has enchanting at 1- and can sell some basic stuff, like fetishes. Her storefront is her home's living room, with some watchers looking around and some incense being burned up as an offering and trying to increase the background count favorable to her. Feng Shui is amptly used from matrix-downloaded manuals.
Middle: A regular store that caters to the largest market. Most of it is cristals and self-help books. Essentially this is what the unawakened think a "real" magic shop is. Maybe tehy have some fetishes, maybe some enchantment materials and basic and legal foci: None is higher than rating 1 and all are generic. The vast majority are sustaining foci for health or illusion spells. The first are sold only to some customers who provide a license to offer magical medical practice.
High: Go into a jewelry store. Think Cartier, not the highest end of those, but good ones. The real foci are sold here and they are artitscally enhanced and can be customized. Nice high-charisma elven and human sales-girls and guys follow each customer around offering him wares that would suit their current haircut or dress. They know which are good customers and they pamper these: free real coffee, and if making a big purchase free single malt real whiskey while they discuss the best pricing and the power of a particular piece. Pieces of up to rating 2 can be found here. Maybe a single rating 3. Certainly those displayed can be the lowest end pieces, and a couple of the good ones in very highly secured cases. Wards are integrated into the decor and watchers inform the customers of new sales and low prices. Good taste, and no self-help books, is the norm.
Luxury: Think this:
http://blogs.gmanews.tv/robert-ja-basilio-...ious-store.html
or even:
-Harrod's in London
-maybe one of the most luxurious chocolate stores in New York can be some inspiration.
-by invitation only, like some diamond stores in Antwerp.
-let your imagination run free: A free spirit salesman, megacorp front, an independent designer...
Kevin Andrew Murphy wrote a pretty solid bit for the Mage: The Ascension game that featured a good magic shop. He's got the whole thing posted at http://www.sff.net/people/kevin.a.murphy/s...olden_pear.html , so I think I can get away with posting the setup for the talismonger shop. If you have time, you should go check out the whole thing, I remember it fondly.
[ Spoiler ]
QUOTE (Inncubi @ Dec 13 2010, 01:45 PM)
I think that first you need to think what kind of store it is. There are lots of Talismongers, who ctaer to lots of clients and the store front and décor varies according to that.
Now, let's start by lifestyles with a simple exaplanatory example:
Squatter: "Storefront?" The lisping Ork opens her trenchcoat where you see dangling some pendants, a rolled awakened marihuana cigarrette and a wand. She chuckles: "You get what you see, most of it is real mojo... Now, you buyin' chummer, or should I look for another customer?"
Low: She is the old woman of the block. That grandma who knows home medicines made with some tarditional herbs and maybe some reiki. She might be real or not -Maybe she has enchanting at 1- and can sell some basic stuff, like fetishes. Her storefront is her home's living room, with some watchers looking around and some incense being burned up as an offering and trying to increase the background count favorable to her. Feng Shui is amptly used from matrix-downloaded manuals.
Middle: A regular store that caters to the largest market. Most of it is cristals and self-help books. Essentially this is what the unawakened think a "real" magic shop is. Maybe tehy have some fetishes, maybe some enchantment materials and basic and legal foci: None is higher than rating 1 and all are generic. The vast majority are sustaining foci for health or illusion spells. The first are sold only to some customers who provide a license to offer magical medical practice.
High: Go into a jewelry store. Think Cartier, not the highest end of those, but good ones. The real foci are sold here and they are artitscally enhanced and can be customized. Nice high-charisma elven and human sales-girls and guys follow each customer around offering him wares that would suit their current haircut or dress. They know which are good customers and they pamper these: free real coffee, and if making a big purchase free single malt real whiskey while they discuss the best pricing and the power of a particular piece. Pieces of up to rating 2 can be found here. Maybe a single rating 3. Certainly those displayed can be the lowest end pieces, and a couple of the good ones in very highly secured cases. Wards are integrated into the decor and watchers inform the customers of new sales and low prices. Good taste, and no self-help books, is the norm.
Luxury: Think this:
http://blogs.gmanews.tv/robert-ja-basilio-...ious-store.html
or even:
-Harrod's in London
-maybe one of the most luxurious chocolate stores in New York can be some inspiration.
-by invitation only, like some diamond stores in Antwerp.
-let your imagination run free: A free spirit salesman, megacorp front, an independent designer...
Now, let's start by lifestyles with a simple exaplanatory example:
Squatter: "Storefront?" The lisping Ork opens her trenchcoat where you see dangling some pendants, a rolled awakened marihuana cigarrette and a wand. She chuckles: "You get what you see, most of it is real mojo... Now, you buyin' chummer, or should I look for another customer?"
Low: She is the old woman of the block. That grandma who knows home medicines made with some tarditional herbs and maybe some reiki. She might be real or not -Maybe she has enchanting at 1- and can sell some basic stuff, like fetishes. Her storefront is her home's living room, with some watchers looking around and some incense being burned up as an offering and trying to increase the background count favorable to her. Feng Shui is amptly used from matrix-downloaded manuals.
Middle: A regular store that caters to the largest market. Most of it is cristals and self-help books. Essentially this is what the unawakened think a "real" magic shop is. Maybe tehy have some fetishes, maybe some enchantment materials and basic and legal foci: None is higher than rating 1 and all are generic. The vast majority are sustaining foci for health or illusion spells. The first are sold only to some customers who provide a license to offer magical medical practice.
High: Go into a jewelry store. Think Cartier, not the highest end of those, but good ones. The real foci are sold here and they are artitscally enhanced and can be customized. Nice high-charisma elven and human sales-girls and guys follow each customer around offering him wares that would suit their current haircut or dress. They know which are good customers and they pamper these: free real coffee, and if making a big purchase free single malt real whiskey while they discuss the best pricing and the power of a particular piece. Pieces of up to rating 2 can be found here. Maybe a single rating 3. Certainly those displayed can be the lowest end pieces, and a couple of the good ones in very highly secured cases. Wards are integrated into the decor and watchers inform the customers of new sales and low prices. Good taste, and no self-help books, is the norm.
Luxury: Think this:
http://blogs.gmanews.tv/robert-ja-basilio-...ious-store.html
or even:
-Harrod's in London
-maybe one of the most luxurious chocolate stores in New York can be some inspiration.
-by invitation only, like some diamond stores in Antwerp.
-let your imagination run free: A free spirit salesman, megacorp front, an independent designer...
The best part of the luxury link? the numerous "WoW gold" links in the comments
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