Spar-tee-ates. The spartiates were the upper class of ancient Sparta. But in Sparta, upper class didn't equate to a cushy lifestyle. HELL NO! All spartiates were required to join the military at the age of seven. That's right, seven. They learned to fight, march in formation, and run 40 km a day by the time their balls had dropped. They were such kickass warriors, that 300 of them held off a 100,00 man Persian army at Thermopylae, the Gates of Fire, for 3 days, killing thousands and so thoroughly bitch-slapping the rest that the Persians gave up a few days later. Then they conquered Athens and half of Greece. If he survived long enough, a Spartiate might graduate to a support role by the age of 70. How kickass is that?

Also, where are the parachuting rules? And does fast-roping from a chopper use the parachuting or athletics skills?

How about we brain out the team name IC so some of us can express our innate displeasure with the name.

Dun get me wrong, though, I love the Spartans. Thermopolyae, yo. But it seems a little too pretentious, ya?

Anyway, check out CC for drop rules. Fastroping and stuff falls under Athletics, I think.

*peers in, wondering what, if any, roles are still free*

I think a little boastfulness is expected of a merc outfit. Of course, we could always be the Roughnecks. Rico's Roughnecks!

I have no problem if we use the name Spartiates...as long as we never ever again discuss the descending testicles of seven-year-old boys.

I can promise you that, with the exception of the possibility that we may someday play a run involving the Catholic church.

This has to be a record. The game hasn't started yet and people are already balls-ing things up.

Ah, I hate myself. Stupid, stupid puns...

That should mix well with my Catholic sniper.

Hmmm... I would like to play too. Maybe the British Royal Marine Commando SBS or some obscure Asian unit. Remember there are no Canon Asian Spec Ops units yet!

Probably point man or scout, specialising in maritime work. Azerbaijan is close to the Caspian SEA!

For the record, I was thinking of playing a former Tir Ghost specialized in silent kill, projectile weapons, throwing knives, unarmed... and, as is my tendancy, he/she would be an adept...

Maybe the name could be Wild Card Inc

or Global Executive Resources and Management (GERM) for a more corporate feel

or simply Soldier of Fortune Inc

Very interested in this, I'll try and get some background in tonight.... I'd be going for either magical support (seeing as the medic slots gone) or a gun bunny, although that's gone to *8-> so mage it is.... Got a nice human lover shaman kicking her heels so I'll get the background put together and over to you as soon as I can ronin *8->

Oh she'll be ex UK para's so the parachute bit shouldn't be a major biggie *8->

Wow...I didn't expect to get this much interest in this game. That's good, though.

So far, I have 11 charcter requests. Here's what I've gotten so far:

Sniper/Wps Expert, Catholic ala saving pvt ryan (Grey)
Sniper/Stealth, Ork (Shadow)
Combat Decker/Commo, asian female (Cardboard Armor)
EW + Commo, Russian Ork (Clockwork Lime)
Medic (Limping Jacob)
Sorcerer, Japanese Korobokuru (Panzergeist)
Combat Rigger, human UCAS (BGMFH)
Jap Imperial Marine + SF Adept (Beast of Revolutions)
Silent Killer Adept, Tir Ghost (Digital Heroin)
Royal Marine/Asian SpecOps (Toturi)
Magic Support (Callidus)

I'm no stranger to SR, having been GMing since the early 90's, but this will be my first PbP game, so I don't want to over burden myself. I think 11 players is too many, but I'm not sure. Any veteran dumpshock gamers out there that can tell me anything about the logistics of running an 11 person PbP game?

Also, none of the slots are really taken. I've only officially approved 1 character so far, and I'm okay with some overlap. I just want to make sure that we don't end up with two characters who have the exact same skillsets. However, I am willing to work with you guys to make sure your characters cover the bases.

For now, my limit is 8 characters. Since I've only approved 1, that means there are seven slots left. For those of you who end up missing out on this game, I promise you I will do another one soon after this one, and you will have priority for game slots.

I'm going to set the deadline for character submissions at Tuesday, April 6th. And even if it seems that someone has already claimed a slot that you want, submit your character anyway. If your background/history is more fitting than the other character's, you might get the slot.

And on a final note, you can never have too many SHOOTERS in an SF team.

So do we send in the character background write up first, then we go do the stats or do we send both in at the same time?

If we send in both simultaneously, how many BPs do we use?

Here some things that may help you guys when putting together your character concepts.

The Team Leader can be from any background, and can have skills that duplicate another characters, as long as he has a good charisma, and high leadership/SMUT/social skills. But if you take on that role, you need to be ready to LEAD/COMMAND.

Looks like the Commo slot is the hot one right now. Some suggestions on how to divide it up. First, one person can focus on the actual radio/satellite communication and EW part. Secondly, someone can be a Cryptography expert. Third, someone can be the surveillance/counter surveillance/intelligence expert. There will be some skill overlap, but each of you would have your indepentant focus.

Also, this will not be entirely a field mission. There will be parts where you will need to interface with the local populace. Perhaps a character who's specialty is dealing with indigenous populations would be a good concept. Of course, he/she would be SF trained (maybe CIA or NSA as well) and well rounded. In fact, such a character might well be the most valuable in the whole group.

Active skills are going to be very important, but Knowledge skills will be your bread & butter. Most likely, I will give your characters extra BP for knowledge skills. Also, you will likely have more than the Int x 1.5 in language skills.

And to round out your characters, I'm thinking everyone will probably be in their early to middle 30's. Ork players, don't fret...I don't buy into the whole "orks only live until 50" crap. At worst, and ork with a good standard of living might have 90-95% the lifespan of a normal human. So no middle age penalties. For height and weight averages, download The Shadowrun Supplemental #13 and use the charts in there...they are much more realistic.

Shoulda been more specific with old Flattie's skill focus, ah well, regrets and all.

Where could we find SS #13, for reference?

Let's hear it for uniqueness. Woo.

I'll get the official add-on to the given write-in later today, I was just going to add in specifics on what she did within the Ghosts, specifically just junk on cyberwarfare and whatever other things she did for them. I might make a grab for Crypto/CounterIntel along the way.

Here's a little background on your team's history together.

February 6th, 2059: Tblisi, Georgia

In a bloody coup, national radical Giorgi Gachechiladze takes hold of the Georgian capital. Several MegaCorps (including Ares) as well as several national governments have a significant presecence in Tblisi because of their vast telecommunications infrastruture, and the fact there are no laws regulating any data/information flow. This has resulted in the creation of SEVERAL datahavens, used extensively by the Corps and Governments alike.

After the coup, Gachechiladze declared all data and hardware in the Georgian Telecom network to be property of the new Georgian Government. Of course, the corps and countries were scared shitless...they couldn't have this madman in control of their data. So several countries and 4 MegaCorps assembled a multinational task force who's aim was to topple Gachechiladze and restore the former Georgian regime.

This is the operation in which the characters met.

One of the Corp experts attached to your team was a Texan by the name of Deke Cantrell. Deke worked for Ares, and handled much of the coordination and planning of the missions you guys did. He was a really friendly and straightforward guy, and was well liked by the whole team. After the operation was over, Deke offered the whole team a job working for Ares. Of course, all of you declined, preferring to return to your respective branches of service.

Deke understood, but gave you his contact info if you should ever change your minds.

A couple of years later you got disillusioned with your current service and decided to contact Deke. As usual, he came through for you.

Deke worked up a contract where Ares basically "bought out" the rest of your term in your chosen service. They also reimbursed your government/corp for the cost of your implants, as well as providing you with the legal permits to possess said implants. The terms of the contract required you to go through a 4 week "Civilian Contractor" training course and committ to a 2 year retainer with Ares. After that two year period, you would be completely independant, but still have the option of picking up Ares contracts if you wanted. Ares would also provide discount housing in their Seattle Townhouse Tower.

It was at the beginning of your first contract that you met up with the rest of the people you worked with in Tblisi. Apparently Deke knew talent when he saw it, and it was his goal to get you guys together this whole time.

Your first contract was in Indonesia, second in Pakistan, and most recent in the Ukraine. Your 3rd contract finished up right around your 2 year mark with Ares, so you guys are now totally independant. Over the past two years, your contract work with Ares has earned the entire 8 person group about 2 million nuyen. That's easily covered your cushy standard of living, plus given you plenty of money left over for savings/investments and gear purchases.

The start of this game will be early February, 2064...right around the 5 year anniversary of the Tblisi coup. All of you are living in Seattle, and in the second month of R&R from the Ukraine operation.

Nice lead in story Ronin.... one question, where'd you want the backgrounds and character outlines to go?

oh.... second question.... can we initiate at char gen and if so is from the starting spell points? or are we going to do it a different way?

FYI to everyone. Because Shadow is putting up a Sniper as well, I've decided to change my character from Sniper and I'll be throwing my hat in as the Team lead. He has a CIA and Intel background. Primary focus will be social, second is small unit tactics, with a few combat skills to back him up. He'll also be a master linguist. I'm still sticking with the same general personality and background, I'm just reworking the skill set.

Is there an item of cyberware or bioware that could make slight changes to a persons facial features and skin tone? I've a great idea that my character has something along these things, plus a voice modulator that makes it very easy for him to blend into just about any culture around the world.

Sadly, no. But Disguise is an active skill as of State of the Art: 2063. You can get a Disguise toolkit (multiplier 1 if memory serves) to aid with it. More details forthcoming.

Oops, no toolkit is mentioned in it's description, but I imagine that you'd need one for any major changes to your appearance. You might want to get a Voice Modulator with Tonal Shift (from Man & Machine) as well as the Retinal and Fingerprint modification implants if/when you start working on your character, too.

There is a piece of bioware that lets you change the color of your skin, even your iris, to any color you want!

There is a piece of cyberware, a 'voice modulator?' that lets you change your voice...

I am sure on the bioware maybe 50/50 on the cyber.

The bioware is a one-time treatment. Nanoware (which is cyberware) has a retina modifier that can let you change your iris, but it takes time and itches like a bitch. Pretty useless if you have cybereyes, though. You might be able to talk Ronin into a variation of the Retina Duplication implant for cybereyes that lets you shift colors on a whim, though.

I think the Sprawl Survival Guide has a few make-up related items, too, including body dyes and the like.

isn't there a Nanoware that is a tattoo that can be programmed to change from time to time? How about a skin treatment that changes the skin tone?

Okay, here's a quick run-down of what's available now that I got my books out.

Cyberware: Cybereyes (Cosmetic Modification and Retinal Duplication), Dermal Sheath w/ Ruthenium Polymer (way obvious though), Voice Modulator w/ Tonal Shift.

Bioware: Clean Metabolism (helps against pheromone detectors and the like), Hair Growth, Skin Pigmentation (changes your skin color, but only to a single color per operation, and it can treat your iris, too) and Bio-Tattoos (which are just normal tattoos that can move slightly over time).

Nanoware: Fingerprint Mappers (duplicates fingerprints, duh), Nanotattoos (Bio-Tattoos that can change more rapidly, but still requires a lot of time), Retinal Tailors (custom eyes in a jiffy, and more effective than Retinal Duplication cyberware).

Are you sure on the skin pigmentation? I thought it let you change the color of your skin at will...

Nope, its a one time only thing, I just looked it up.

<shrugs> I can always go with a Disguise skill.

Completely.

Damn, that's a load of hooey.

Did you just say hooey? Thats so cute!

Hum... I had looked over this thred last night and started thinking and then writing a background for a good group leader.... damn you grey, could you make up your mind ? I was thinking that he could have a UCAS/CIA () background and that he could basically be a well-rounded infiltrator as well. I thought he would be good at demolition (destroying objectives undercover) and as sort of commando-like missions leader. What we could always do is that my guy will end up being an engineer or that your guy ends up being a relationist of some sort (even though mine could handle that part on his own), but either way, one of our characters would be mad at the idea of not leading .... We'll see how it goes, but the competition is ON !!!

Nobody ever said that slight redundancy wasn't good in SpecOps teams. Besides, the classic idea behind operators in elite units is that they generally don't have to be led; they take the initiative and act on their own if needed. All the team lead is there for is to sort of regulate and direct the talents along a (fairly) linear path on a timetable to achieve maximum results with minimum fuss. Also, they get to call in airstrikes. I doubt we get to play with those, though.

In essence, I see the team lead as more of the face of the team. Not that we all shouldn't make an attempt to be chummy with the locals, it's just that s/he's a better chum due to their knowledge of how people react, cultures, etc.

Still, though, when the op goes to pot (and it will eventually go to pot) the team looks to the leader for direction. Not a responsibility I'd personally like, but then again that's why I'm playing the Trix rat.

Also:

Ronin, any specifics on what hapened post-Tblisi in Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Ukraine? Break-in, wetwork, datasteal, buy the corp exec some milk from the local Stuffer Shack or can we make up as needed and you'll pick whatever story sounds the coolest?

Okay guys. Sorry I've been off the boards since this morning...I've had some baby trouble. Newborns have no respect for Shadowrun games.

Let's see if I can answer some questions:

Callidus: You can PM me the character backgrounds, which is what just about everyone else has done so far, or you can e-mail them to me (chris.louviere@ieminc.com). Either way is fine. As for as initiation, I'll allow it, but it will be separate from your BP. I'll most likely give you some karma to spend afterwards, though I doubt I'll let anyone initaite past grade 2.

Gobogen: You can work it out with Grey if you want to fight over leadership, but you can also play second-in-command, and be the bravo team leader if you guys have to split up. Also, no one has filled in the Engineer/Demo expert slot yet, so your character would almost be guaranteed a spot.

Cardboard Armor: You know, I was brainstorming about the contracts that you guys did for Ares in the past, but I think you hit on a great idea. Once the team roster is finalized, I'll let you guys decide what happened in those ops. Probably the best way to handle it is through IC comments and references to those past missions. As long as it isn't too insane, I'll consider it legit.

For those of you working on your character stats, basically the BP assigned will be for everything put gear. Yes, you will need to spend BP for money to cover Cyber/Bio, but don't spend any on gear. I'll give everyone a starting budget for equipment before the game takes off.

Working on character stats? Have some people been assigned BP allocations already?

Well, I'm not so sure if that's a good idea, gobogen. As professionals, you guys understand the importance of following the chain-of-command. And trying to disrupt that will certainly effect team efficiency. I'm okay with you having him be eager to offer suggestions or push for being responsible for planning certain aspects of the mission, but trying to trump the team commander's leadership would cause friction. If it was a real military op and you did that to me, I'd have you transferred out of my unit ASAP.

Or shot, depending on the military...

Going to eat and get a haircut, then will be submitting history for my proposed character.

Shot lol. There are always 'accidents'.


"I told him not to play catch with the grenade sarge, damn fool wouldn't listen to me..."

<background sent>

Yo, Ronin, should I figure Deck costs when springing for cyber/bioware or will that cost be drawn from the stippend for 'gear' later on?

Decks will fall under the "Gear" category and will come along later.

Also, again for those of you who have already been assigned BPs, when picking languages you do not have to spend any points on your native tongue.

Okay, I'm going to put this here so I don't have to PM it 1000 more times.

The max rating for any skill will be 8. Also, Cultured/Beta ware is totally available. Though if you want Delta grade stuff, you'd need to give me a DARNED good reason.

Here's some details on what I'm trying to accomplish with this. I want the characters to be seriously well-trained and very experienced...the kind of group that's way beyond the scope of normal shadowrunners. My first plan was to say "Just make the characters however you want with as many BP as you need," but I figured that would probably get out of hand. So this way, I get you guys to put 110% into character background, and I can still make sure that everyone has the right skills for their job.

Game balance is not an issue here. You guys, need to be better than everyone else. That's why you get the kind of jobs you do.

Honestly, the amount of BP I'm giving out is probably a good bit less than you need to really make an accurate SF type character. I tried making an SFC Special Forces 18B (weapons sgt.) right after reading the Tom Clancy book on Special Forces and I'll be damned if it didn't take me almost 150 BP.

What I'm looking for is some well put together characters with a good selection of skills and abilities. Honestly I will probably add skills that your characters may or may not have on their sheets. For example. UCAS/CAS Army Special Forces will have the Instruction skill, at leat at rating 4. And I'll probably be dumping a bunch more points into your collective laps for Knowledge skills.

I hope that helps you guys out a bit.

Edges and flaws, boss? What's your stance on them?

You haven't replied to the latest version of my history yet. Do you want me to revise it any?