I've been lurking here for a while, but I finally have something useful to say. My secret identity is Amy Veeres, and I was just recently hired as a freelancer for Shadowrun! I'm super excited to work on this game, and I haven't been officially contracted for any books yet, but I'm on the freelancer group and everything. Everyone's been super nice and I wanted to introduce myself to one of the larger fan communities, so hi!
Bull and Patrick Goodman also say hello, but they were kind of laughing when they told me to relay that. I don't know why...
Full Version: New SR freelancer!
Welcome... and Good Luck. 
Bull and Patrick would of course be laughing - Dumpshock is kind of like an ornery uncle who you can never truly please, and who has absolutely no qualms about sharing very negative and cynical opinions on everything.
I still love DS for all its flaws, but when dealing with the community from a position of even remote authority such as freelancing, a bit of personal distance from everything and an expectation of dealing with at least mild hysteria and moderate misanthropy would not be amiss - as sad as it is to say that.
...alternately, Patrick at least might have been laughing because certain individuals among us (myself included) have a tendency to poke at the rules with a stick until they break down sobbing. The grief and confusion we must have inflicted on Patrick over the topic of the Infected alone is probably enough to drive anyone to distressed and somewhat unhinged laughter.
So yeah, "Good Luck" indeed.
Just remember that beneath it all, we're just deeply passionate weirdos who care perhaps a bit too much about our shared hobby, and want the best for it. The only problem is no one can cagree on what's best. (Other than to crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of the dice gods, of course.)
~Umi
I still love DS for all its flaws, but when dealing with the community from a position of even remote authority such as freelancing, a bit of personal distance from everything and an expectation of dealing with at least mild hysteria and moderate misanthropy would not be amiss - as sad as it is to say that.
...alternately, Patrick at least might have been laughing because certain individuals among us (myself included) have a tendency to poke at the rules with a stick until they break down sobbing. The grief and confusion we must have inflicted on Patrick over the topic of the Infected alone is probably enough to drive anyone to distressed and somewhat unhinged laughter.
So yeah, "Good Luck" indeed.
Just remember that beneath it all, we're just deeply passionate weirdos who care perhaps a bit too much about our shared hobby, and want the best for it. The only problem is no one can cagree on what's best. (Other than to crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of the dice gods, of course.)
~Umi
Sweet! Looking forward to good things from SR5
Hello, and good luck. I suppose you cannot tell us about what you're writing yet?
QUOTE (hermit @ Mar 20 2015, 06:11 PM) 
Hello, and good luck. I suppose you cannot tell us about what you're writing yet?
If I was on a book, I wouldn't be able to talk about it until it's announced.
But seriously, nothing just yet. Soon, though!
I have to say this is really pleasant. They had me believing you guys would eat me alive, like I'd wake up and you'd be calling for my head on a pike, lol. Very happy to see that's not the case!
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 21 2015, 12:07 AM)
If I was on a book, I wouldn't be able to talk about it until it's announced.
But seriously, nothing just yet. Soon, though!
I have to say this is really pleasant. They had me believing you guys would eat me alive, like I'd wake up and you'd be calling for my head on a pike, lol. Very happy to see that's not the case!
But seriously, nothing just yet. Soon, though!
I have to say this is really pleasant. They had me believing you guys would eat me alive, like I'd wake up and you'd be calling for my head on a pike, lol. Very happy to see that's not the case!
It's called "Hazing the newbie"
Plus, give it time. They're all kind of in hibernation right now, I think...
QUOTE
It's called "Hazing the newbie"
or, Maybe , we ARE friendly after all
getting to know somebody who's working at the Game I like so much is (for me ) a joyous occasion.
I for my part really like to get to know the People .
And when I'm having a Diskussion about Rules or Fluff it's mostly about the Rules, never about the Person behind it.
When I think something is wrong (with the Rules or with some Fluff) I want to disuss about that , never Insult somebody.
Otoh When I like something I also write a Post about it.
With a welcoming Dance
Medicineman
Welcome
Dumpshockers can be very vocal about what they dislike, and since the vocal majority over here is somewhere between hostile and cautious about SR5, this makes it easier for SR5-haters to speak freely.
And while we won't eat you alive, if you write rules or fluff that makes no sense people won't be very nice about them.
Dumpshockers can be very vocal about what they dislike, and since the vocal majority over here is somewhere between hostile and cautious about SR5, this makes it easier for SR5-haters to speak freely.
And while we won't eat you alive, if you write rules or fluff that makes no sense people won't be very nice about them.
We also have a tendency to do things like...
Nuh uh!
Nuh uh!
Oh yeah? RW, p. ABC!
No way! Running Wild was published later, it supercedes any previous rulings that conflict with it!
Then the errata was written by someone who had no clue what they were doing, because it directly contradicts the far more substantial and detailed RW rules in order to correct an "error" in the more basic, earlier SR4A ruling! And it doesn't even make sense! That's not how that sort of thing would ever work in a rational universe!
No, it's hackwork banged out without any QC checking by someone who evidently doesn't understand either the system or even basic physics!
You don't get to decide what is and isn't a legitimate way of playing Shadowrun!
-----
Et cetera, et cetera.
(Apologies, Blade, for jokingly putting very silly words in your mouth.
)
~Umi
QUOTE (Blade @ Mar 21 2015, 03:25 AM)
Dumpshockers can be very vocal about what they dislike...
Nuh uh!
QUOTE (Blade)
Yeah huh!
Nuh uh!
QUOTE (Blade)
Yeah huh!
Oh yeah? RW, p. ABC!
QUOTE (Blade)
Pssh. That RAW is flat out wrong. Just check SR4A, p. XYZ!
No way! Running Wild was published later, it supercedes any previous rulings that conflict with it!
QUOTE (Blade)
Wrong! This ruling is from an errata that is more recent than RW, so there!
Then the errata was written by someone who had no clue what they were doing, because it directly contradicts the far more substantial and detailed RW rules in order to correct an "error" in the more basic, earlier SR4A ruling! And it doesn't even make sense! That's not how that sort of thing would ever work in a rational universe!
QUOTE (Blade)
Doesn't matter if you think it's rational, it's still the authoritative RAW!
No, it's hackwork banged out without any QC checking by someone who evidently doesn't understand either the system or even basic physics!
QUOTE (Blade)
Whatever dude, if you want to houserule it to match your personal whims and interpretations, that fine - you just aren't actually playing Shadowrun at that point.
You don't get to decide what is and isn't a legitimate way of playing Shadowrun!
-----
Et cetera, et cetera.
(Apologies, Blade, for jokingly putting very silly words in your mouth.
)~Umi
QUOTE
I have to say this is really pleasant. They had me believing you guys would eat me alive, like I'd wake up and you'd be calling for my head on a pike, lol. Very happy to see that's not the case!
Can't speak for everyone, but with me, if I post bad reviews (see the stickied Dark Resonance thread above for an example), it's about the product. Itry to avoid getting personal, though admittedly I usually fail when I'm angry.
QUOTE
And while we won't eat you alive, if you write rules or fluff that makes no sense people won't be very nice about them.
This. Discussions here can become pretty rough, though it's usually about the product, not the writer themselves. But there is less overt pleasantry and sugarcoating going on here.
Ha. That's great. I want to be ripped to shreds if I do something wrong.
I love Shadowrun as much as you guys and if I do badly, I want to hear it, don't worry. I can't promise I'll post a lot, but I'll be here.
I love Shadowrun as much as you guys and if I do badly, I want to hear it, don't worry. I can't promise I'll post a lot, but I'll be here.
Lies, all lies. Ren is actually one of the Battletech Freelancers who wandered by one day, and now they're trapped and are being forced to write Shadowrun.
(Not really)
(Pretty sure)
(Maybe?)
(Can I stop now?)
(Please?)
(Someone kill me.)
(Call my mom.)
(Send help!)
(The little men in the white coats say keep injecting me with stuff.)
(It's kinda dark in here and I'm scared.)
(Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp.....)
(Not really)
(Pretty sure)
(Maybe?)
(Can I stop now?)
(Please?)
(Someone kill me.)
(Call my mom.)
(Send help!)
(The little men in the white coats say keep injecting me with stuff.)
(It's kinda dark in here and I'm scared.)
(Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp.....)
I'm so scared ;_; I just wanted to write about robots!
Then i guess you are in for a bit of a disappointment with the shadowrun universe i fear.
Shadowrun has never done robots particularly well if at all. Neither in fluff nor in crunch.
And we usually are nice to freelancers who come talk to us on their own.
Well, unless they decide to do stuff like BOGOTA!
Shadowrun has never done robots particularly well if at all. Neither in fluff nor in crunch.
And we usually are nice to freelancers who come talk to us on their own.
Well, unless they decide to do stuff like BOGOTA!
Howdy, Ren. Welcome to the party. Grab a can and pull up a bench. Barbecue's over there, shooting's in the quarry over the rise, you can use the tools in the workshop for your truck as long as you put them back.
You'll be working on the long-awaited rural shadowruns expansion, right?
You'll be working on the long-awaited rural shadowruns expansion, right?
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 21 2015, 12:44 PM)
I'm so scared ;_; I just wanted to write about robots!
Then You should rather change to Drones which is kind of a equivalent to Robots but not yet the same
AND You should read about what happened in Seattle in December 2059 ( in the Renraku Arcology)
and realize that People are kinda afraid of (Human looking) Drones because of this incident
with a fearful Dance
Medicineman
"Androids", Med.
Human looking robots/drones are called "androids".
~Umi
Human looking robots/drones are called "androids".
~Umi
But Robots are cooler.
mind you, I don't recall most of the drones in the renraku shutdown being human-shaped, so I have no idea why humanoid robots in particular would be fired. I seem to recall a tiny insect-like drone (which are now common as dirt and not feared at all afaict), and one that was described as having a sort of spinning top for a drive system... don't recall particularly humanoid ones though...
Then there was the Kangaroo like one if i remember correctly.
And the problem with the humanoid part was not that they were robots but humans taken over and acting like robots.
And the problem with the humanoid part was not that they were robots but humans taken over and acting like robots.
Welcome to the show. I think we're all reserving our rage, uh I mean our strong opinions until we see what you actually produce and then if it is fine, we'll look for something to nitpick about. Or Catalyst will distract us with something we don't like.
Anyway, Bull and Patrick are just trying to haze you. We're all kind and sweet people here. Never a bad word. Really. Here, have some Koolaid.
Anyway, Bull and Patrick are just trying to haze you. We're all kind and sweet people here. Never a bad word. Really. Here, have some Koolaid.
QUOTE (Jaid @ Mar 21 2015, 03:40 PM)
mind you, I don't recall most of the drones in the renraku shutdown being human-shaped, so I have no idea why humanoid robots in particular would be fired. I seem to recall a tiny insect-like drone (which are now common as dirt and not feared at all afaict), and one that was described as having a sort of spinning top for a drive system... don't recall particularly humanoid ones though...
I don't remember either. There where the Medusa and there where these Bee Likes Drones That I can remember,
But If You read the description/fluff of the Renraku manservant Drone it says that they're purposedly shaped hunchbacked, docile and frail because the People are afraid of tall humansized Drones ( Page 130 in the German SR4A Arsenal )
with a not-so-hunchbacked Dance
Medicineman
Welcome to the 'shock, Ren! We don't bite. Much. Your shots are up to date, aren't they? 
I'll be looking forward to whatever you get contracted to work on, if only because it seems like the release schedule is way too slow for my patience in my old age!
I'll be looking forward to whatever you get contracted to work on, if only because it seems like the release schedule is way too slow for my patience in my old age!
..."the 'shock"...?
~Umi
~Umi
QUOTE
mind you, I don't recall most of the drones in the renraku shutdown being human-shaped, so I have no idea why humanoid robots in particular would be fired.
Skelbots, maybe? Though admittedly that's more like T-800s.
QUOTE
I seem to recall a tiny insect-like drone (which are now common as dirt and not feared at all afaict), and one that was described as having a sort of spinning top for a drive system... don't recall particularly humanoid ones though...
There also were Arachnoids, those super creepy barbie dolls (that are, by now, real, with Hello Barbie), and the centipedes from Arsenal. And larger, weirder things like Medusas, or the Dervish (the spinning top thing).
Also, Ren, a typical phenomenon: canon discussion can happen anytime, anywhere, anyplace. Shadowrun is a system with 20+ years of baggage, pretty daunting for a new writer to write in. I don't suppose you can read German? If so, I could forward you some lists that might come in handy.
Hi
GL
And all I know is that every time I see a post by Medicineman I see Kevin Costner in my head dancing with a wolf....
GL
And all I know is that every time I see a post by Medicineman I see Kevin Costner in my head dancing with a wolf....
QUOTE (Medicineman @ Mar 21 2015, 04:42 PM)
I don't remember either. There where the Medusa and there where these Bee Likes Drones That I can remember,
But If You read the description/fluff of the Renraku manservant Drone it says that they're purposedly shaped hunchbacked, docile and frail because the People are afraid of tall humansized Drones ( Page 130 in the German SR4A Arsenal )
with a not-so-hunchbacked Dance
Medicineman
But If You read the description/fluff of the Renraku manservant Drone it says that they're purposedly shaped hunchbacked, docile and frail because the People are afraid of tall humansized Drones ( Page 130 in the German SR4A Arsenal )
with a not-so-hunchbacked Dance
Medicineman
i don't recall it specifically mentioning human-shaped. my understanding is that it was designed to look as harmless as possible because, unlike, say, construction drones or guard drones, it was a drone you would buy for yourself to put into your home. where you sleep. and especially to help care for the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable.
QUOTE (AR, p.121)
It seems that Renraku learned from the mistakes that led to their Arcology disaster. Most of their household drone lines took a dive after reports about what really happened inside the arcology leaked out, so they reinvented their whole household drone line, now relying on weaknesses and limitations instead of strengths and capabilities.
The Manservant is a humanoid walker drone made to look slightly smaller than the average human and showing a humble posture. It is limited to a slow walking speed by the design of its leg joints, so that any ambulatory person can outrace it. Its hand and arm strength is on the lower end of human average, but it can lock its arms and lift with its legs to obtain a higher lifting capability as a human, while still being unable to strongly strike. It also cannot use its leg strength offensively, with hip joints designed to prevent it from kicking. To suit even higher needs of security, the Manservant-3 sold in Seattle and other parts of North America is also equipped with a shut down button built whose location is adjusted to fit the owner’s desires. By hitting it, the drone shuts down. With another press, the standard panicbutton function kicks in and calls the local law enforcement with the code for a possible rogue drone.
This way of “putting a human face onto drones” and reassuring the owners of their safety has proven quite successful around the world, especially in Japan, the country with the highest household drone ownership in the world. Another advantage of the Manservant is its capability of working around the clock doing domestic tasks, such as laundry, cleaning, food prep, and so on, without ever getting tired or worked up. Manservants are also quite quiet, so they can continue to work even while the owners sleep.
The Manservant is a humanoid walker drone made to look slightly smaller than the average human and showing a humble posture. It is limited to a slow walking speed by the design of its leg joints, so that any ambulatory person can outrace it. Its hand and arm strength is on the lower end of human average, but it can lock its arms and lift with its legs to obtain a higher lifting capability as a human, while still being unable to strongly strike. It also cannot use its leg strength offensively, with hip joints designed to prevent it from kicking. To suit even higher needs of security, the Manservant-3 sold in Seattle and other parts of North America is also equipped with a shut down button built whose location is adjusted to fit the owner’s desires. By hitting it, the drone shuts down. With another press, the standard panicbutton function kicks in and calls the local law enforcement with the code for a possible rogue drone.
This way of “putting a human face onto drones” and reassuring the owners of their safety has proven quite successful around the world, especially in Japan, the country with the highest household drone ownership in the world. Another advantage of the Manservant is its capability of working around the clock doing domestic tasks, such as laundry, cleaning, food prep, and so on, without ever getting tired or worked up. Manservants are also quite quiet, so they can continue to work even while the owners sleep.
~Umi
See, they take a fun "hello" thread, and turn it into a deadly grim serious discussion about robots. Bah, humbug.
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes and take it for a spin. I'll show them all "Robots".
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes and take it for a spin.
I'll show them all "Robots".
The thread derailed because I'm like Water my Friend, I can flow, but i can also crush ( IF you know who said that first
You'll get an Internet cookie ). so my posts sometimes Flow in another direction.
( and maybe because I hate railroading so much, who knows )
naaah, the next step is Walkers
Isn't there an Evo Ripley Walker Suit in SR5 ?
in SR4A they had at least some Modells
He who dances with the Alien Queen
(better than a Wolf, ain't it PraetorGradivus ? )
Medicineman
looks down to Stahlseele.
Right here ya go .*HandsoverCookie*
(but You're a Spoilsport. I wanted to see if Bull knew this)
You'll get an Internet cookie
). so my posts sometimes Flow in another direction.( and maybe because I hate railroading so much, who knows
)QUOTE
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes
naaah, the next step is Walkers
Isn't there an Evo Ripley Walker Suit in SR5 ?
in SR4A they had at least some Modells
He who dances with the Alien Queen
(better than a Wolf, ain't it PraetorGradivus ? )
Medicineman
looks down to Stahlseele.
Right
here ya go .*HandsoverCookie*(but You're a Spoilsport. I wanted to see if Bull knew this)
Bruce Lee.
QUOTE (Bull @ Mar 22 2015, 02:31 AM)
See, they take a fun "hello" thread, and turn it into a deadly grim serious discussion about robots. Bah, humbug.
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes and take it for a spin. I'll show them all "Robots".
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes and take it for a spin.
I'll show them all "Robots".to be fair, an instant derail into a discussion of canon is a fairly accurate introduction to the dumpshock forums. all we need now is to have a giant argument about 5e wireless bonuses, and you've got dumpshock in a nutshell
We can't have one of those yet, we're saving it up for when Data Trails comes out and we see if the design team is so resistant to feedback as to double down on nonsensical wireless bonuses. 
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 20 2015, 03:57 PM)
Bull and Patrick Goodman also say hello, but they were kind of laughing when they told me to relay that. I don't know why...
Ahhh, the long tradition of hazing continues.If they were really out to break you, they would have sent you straight to Frank.
But where are our manners?
Greetings and Salutations Ren.
Make yourself welcome, the soyscotch is in the cupboard.
May you find your time here entertaining if not always sane.
QUOTE (Bull @ Mar 22 2015, 01:31 AM)
I think Kane's next step is to steal one of the big ridiculous stompy Ares Battlemech Prototypes and take it for a spin. I'll show them all "Robots".
Just remember if he gets one, /dev/grll will nag him to get her one too. I'll show them all "Robots".QUOTE
If they were really out to break you, they would have sent you straight to Frank.
I'm shocked, Sendaz that was a mean Post !
Ren, Never (never ever) get in Touch with Frank T.
It will do You NO GOOD !
With a Dance of Warning
Medicineman
QUOTE (Ren @ Mar 20 2015, 04:57 PM)
I've been lurking here for a while, but I finally have something useful to say. My secret identity is Amy Veeres, and I was just recently hired as a freelancer for Shadowrun! I'm super excited to work on this game, and I haven't been officially contracted for any books yet, but I'm on the freelancer group and everything. Everyone's been super nice and I wanted to introduce myself to one of the larger fan communities, so hi!
Bull and Patrick Goodman also say hello, but they were kind of laughing when they told me to relay that. I don't know why...
Bull and Patrick Goodman also say hello, but they were kind of laughing when they told me to relay that. I don't know why...
Congratulations! It's like you joined the Justice League or something.
I look forward to enjoying what you write.
QUOTE (Bull @ Mar 21 2015, 04:13 AM)
It's called "Hazing the newbie"
Plus, give it time. They're all kind of in hibernation right now, I think...
Plus, give it time. They're all kind of in hibernation right now, I think...
They mostly come out at night...mostly!
Technically I'm crepuscular!
TheMoreYouKnow*
~Umi
TheMoreYouKnow*
~Umi
QUOTE (Umidori @ Mar 23 2015, 06:11 AM)
Technically I'm crepuscular!
TheMoreYouKnow*
~Umi
TheMoreYouKnow*
~Umi
Canīt tell you why I risked looking that up, but not creepy and safe for work.
Oh, hi there. Or should I say sup. Nice to see you make an appearance, Ren.
As for robots, I started writing a fan supplement for these after my cyborgs one, you know, going with essentially Shirow's different sized mobile suits, from ones hardly larger than a power armour to ones where the pilot fits entirely into the cockpit in the body. Even ripped some very nice pictures from the old CP2020 books on the subject. But it all stalled once I got past fluff (pointing out the suits' experimental nature and saying they were used for the more outlandish sports, in the Desert Wars, and in security of the particularly posh geek malls) and into the crunch section, trying to represent the weight/power/speed/customizability balance, as well as the problems a biped walker is bound to face when walking over softer terrain. Basically, it turned into establishing its own rules subsystem to track the weight at the very least, which meant the whole thing became clumsy, inelegant, and hardly needed.
As for robots, I started writing a fan supplement for these after my cyborgs one, you know, going with essentially Shirow's different sized mobile suits, from ones hardly larger than a power armour to ones where the pilot fits entirely into the cockpit in the body. Even ripped some very nice pictures from the old CP2020 books on the subject. But it all stalled once I got past fluff (pointing out the suits' experimental nature and saying they were used for the more outlandish sports, in the Desert Wars, and in security of the particularly posh geek malls) and into the crunch section, trying to represent the weight/power/speed/customizability balance, as well as the problems a biped walker is bound to face when walking over softer terrain. Basically, it turned into establishing its own rules subsystem to track the weight at the very least, which meant the whole thing became clumsy, inelegant, and hardly needed.
So like a Robot.
Do-ho-ho!
No, seriously, I just like that old-school art with all these jump jets and padded cockpits and whatnot. And combat robots, of course, too. Who doesn't?
Sadly, with the 4AE rules as they are, I don't think you can make a working customization system without bringing in a bunch of new rules.
No, seriously, I just like that old-school art with all these jump jets and padded cockpits and whatnot. And combat robots, of course, too. Who doesn't?
Sadly, with the 4AE rules as they are, I don't think you can make a working customization system without bringing in a bunch of new rules.
Humanoid Drone with "6" limbs and flight mode. You CAN build the Steel Clan if you really really want to . .
Or Spiderkillers.
Or Spiderkillers.
Bah hambugh, you can with GM fiat stat up a vehicle that'd represent a particular model of a combat walker more or less consistently, that I don't doubt.
The trick is having tools to create custom walkers from stock parts, give them abilities and vulnerabilities while balancing the costs, etcetera. What's the fun in having, what, half a dozen or even a dozen of stock things to work with?
Hell, even if you go with pregens, once the player wants to customize them using the standard rules, problems begin. For instance, I do not believe even a troll-sized walker shouldn't be facing problems with the floors supporting its bulk if it's modified with armour 20 and a few extra weapon mounts.
The trick is having tools to create custom walkers from stock parts, give them abilities and vulnerabilities while balancing the costs, etcetera. What's the fun in having, what, half a dozen or even a dozen of stock things to work with?
Hell, even if you go with pregens, once the player wants to customize them using the standard rules, problems begin. For instance, I do not believe even a troll-sized walker shouldn't be facing problems with the floors supporting its bulk if it's modified with armour 20 and a few extra weapon mounts.
Welcome Newbie, Slot and Run
I need android drone roboty rules so I can re-create Jack the Pink Mohawk Pixie, with her Mobile Suit Human exo-frame, for Missions Prime Runner games so I can give Bull another reason to facepalm. Also need more rigger-focused adept powers.
Hello new person! Welcome! You wouldn't happen to be working on android drone roboty rules, would you?
-k
Hello new person! Welcome! You wouldn't happen to be working on android drone roboty rules, would you?
-k
QUOTE (Ryu @ Mar 22 2015, 11:53 PM)
Canīt tell you why I risked looking that up, but not creepy, and safe for work.
Fixed that for ya.
~Umi
Makes you wonder is something not creepy by definition not not safe for work?
Welcome, and make sure that when you are talking about firearms to use the words clip and magazine interchangeably, preferably in the same paragraph.
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