Well, get into it if you like.

Similarly if Bongo has the 5 karma to join the group and still initiate think about what you'd get. Ditto any gear etc.

And pitch what you want for drones Koekepan. You're also free to just ask me to propose something.

Still working on it. My main problem is that Arsenal isn't very good for "this, but less of it." Maybe I'm blind, but trying to spec a bare-bones wheeled drone the size of a coffeemug with a single arm and a tiny, basic sensor package doesn't seem to be in their rules.

Bongo doesn't have enough karma points to join and Initiate, but he can spend the 5 points to join, raise Locksmith to level 2, and save a bit for Initiating later.

Joining the group probably will be a fair bit of RP. If we want to get into the next run, I'd be happy just to raise Locksmith now and spend some time after the next run to Initiate.

Not even the usually impressive Rigger 3 will give you something like that. They figure shadow runners are willing to pay for a little more capability, so what you can get is some is something more capable, but it'll cost you a grand.

You're looking for something closer to a toy, but with enough electronics to follow the proper drone rules. I'd be willing to come down to 250 new, but Paul with some searching can find a broken one for a hundred that he can then fix up.

So...

Con + Charisma 4 hits
Judge Intentions (Defense) 3 hits
Judge Intentions 4 hits

Bye
Thanee

OK, I'll go for that. In a milieu that includes the Bust-a-Move mini walker, that seems eminently plausible.

For the arachniform, what would the price be for legs off, say, scrapped anthroforms? Or if full-size is impractically expensive, something along the lines of off-brand, larger Bust-a-Move drones? Or would it be easier for him to just set his van workshop to the purpose of leg manufacture, perhaps using off-the-shelf hardware for a few standard items like actuators? I'm hoping for at least two foot (maximum extension) legs, and six inch pedipalps, giving (body included) a five foot maximum leg span that can fold up into roughly a two-by-two-by-two package. Then the fun will come with add-ons like gecko feet, sensory packages, and all the rest of it. But it hinges on what he could fabricate/purchase. Bearing in mind that an individual leg segment would have a diameter of a few inches at most, and a length of maybe a foot at most, making it pretty easy to fabricate on an automated lathe or CNC mill.

Now this is the sort of thing that seems well within RAW. I think you're just talking about taking your pick of small drone and then putting the walker mod from Arsenal on it to get a spider. Gecko feed and sensors are pretty standard add-ons too.

I suspect the real question is how cheaply can you get it. But using the above gives the statline and an idea of base price. The discount for doing the mods yourself is in there too.

Though Paul does have the dayjob "disadvantage" so his time restricted, but you'll have extra funds from that coming in that could cover something.

Again I could try and pitch something if you'd like, but you might enjoy working something out.

Here's what I'm thinking so far:

A junkyard torso from an MCT Housekeeper (medium sized household anthroform drone, new price around NY2500), used as a basis for modifications and upgrades:

Level 1 amphibious operation (i.e. water resistant).
Body Stabiliser
Level 1 armour
Chameleon Coating
Gecko tips
Improved sensor array
Touch sensors
Walker mode

On paper, this would involved many slots but I would argue that the armour is really the only one that wouldn't be integrated into the initial design. Does this seem reasonable so far?

Well shit. You are making it easy to make the jump. I will consider Bongo's next step.

Sometimes things just click together. This bit wrote itself.

For an origional design maybe something pre-Renraku shutdown that didn't have the safety conscious limitations of the Housekeeper/Manservent designs. So a bit more free with movement, and able to look like a Drider if I'm understanding you right.

As a utility drone I could see Walker mode and arms included in the manservant price and statline, and perhaps body stabiliser, gecko tips, and improved sensor array as standard, slot wise, though still raising the price.

Touch sensors and armor would be an add on, but I could see a company offering those as a combined product to be added to drones.

This isn't supposed to look like a Drider, but just a sort of electromechanical scale up of a Goliath tarantula.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goliath_tarantula

If the junkyard torso is too unsuitable he'd just start from zero with a basic tubular space frame for the basis and build it as an entirely new device.

My thinking is that most of these would therefore be integrated from the start - amphibious operation could be designed in, as could the improved electronics and gecko tips, for example.

Well, maybe let's take a step back and ask what is it that the drone is supposed to do?

When I understood the torso to serve as the top of a drider with arms I could see it being used for all sorts of utility functions, and it could easily switch to a shadowrunner's needs.

Just something crawling around isn't very useful for anybody. There are smaller drones able to do that better. So it feels like it needs hands on the front legs, a tool mount on its mouth, or some kind of Tachikoma thing going on.

It's supposed to be a viable ride for smaller drones, a carrier for random crap through crummy conditions, and capable of crawling pretty much anywhere. It should also be capable of grabbing with its paws, which is a normal arachnid capability, and at need biting although it's not intended to be much of a combat drone. However, it should be a great monitoring platform (possibly with some upgrades) and a great way of scaring the crap out of people (especially people with arachnophobia). It should move a lot faster than his crawler drones, so having a shankworm or a daddy sniperlegs hitching a ride should be entirely viable.

And on top of all that, it's a proof-of-concept for constructing more leggy things as time goes on. It's a learning experience! With legs. Very many legs.

Sorry for the delay. Time's been totally full of family stuff.

Merry Christmas!

It's allowed. Merriment to all.

Well, Ok, I could see that. I could even see something of a spider type courier drone being a standard thing, based of a statline conversation from the base you're talking about to an eight legged variety. Maybe with the gecko tips, amphibious operation, a special storage space (in the "abdomen" ), and the very light armor as standard. Perhaps one could be gotten at a discount after being hit by a truck while on a job and Tubesnake could fix it up and see about adding some of the other mods.

Alternatively it might really be more of a personal growth project. Maybe tied into Paul's work with "soft" droids. Like the legs end in soft grippers, and it's generally a hydraulic system (which I think it spider accurate ). Paul has some software skills, so while new droid development is indicated as something that takes substantial effort, he might be linking together software for things like a crawler to walker mod and some industrial gripper code etc to get a homegrown beast made.

Now an issue with all of this is time, and mostly that's an issue of the day job disadvantage. But depending on choices made maybe it wouldn't be much of a problem.

I might also be willing to let the latter option something he's been working on a while already, and maybe has already put some cash into. Part of that might hinge on me doing a character audit. I remember thinking you might have overpaid, and so have a little nuyen lying around from chargen, now that there's something he wants. Or maybe draining how much lifestyle he prepaid.

The purpose here is very much character development. This would motivate raises in various skills including knowledge in, for example, physics, chemistry and related materials sciences as well as software, hardware and to some extent cybertechnology. As a bonus, he ends up with a cool and useful drone.

As for driving forces, there is a number of options including closed loop pneumatics, and electrically-driven artificial muscles.

The idea is definitely de novo construction, with junkyard finds mostly saving money on things that he'll be tearing down anyway rather than going to CyberTech Supplies Inc for a bulk order of actuators.

As far as cost is concerned, it could be pro-rated based on how things go. With his machine shop he could outright fabricate most of the parts from trashed items, picking out what is still in spec and what is only fit for recycling.

It's straying into house rules, however since you aren't trying to wrangle a fleet of freebie Steel Lynx I'm guessing the other players will be OK.

In part because he's already done work in the area, and some special skills, I could see leaning into the soft thing. Maybe instead of just the feet grippers the storage space of the abdomen could be a bunch of long "soft" hydraulic grippers. Allowing it to enclose things ("small" or smaller drones and things of that size) in a spider looking abdomen, concealing the item if there is any webbing between the grippers, or gently conformally gripping much larger things as soft grippers do.

Curse my creativity leading me into the houserule trap!

Frames and such are probably the cheap bit of drones these days. Actually, that's probably mostly true of real drones in our days. It's the electronics and such that are a problem. Well, and stuff like gecko tips would take more advanced fabs than we have.


Though, on the issue in the caves, I do think it reasonable that Paul could make some made to fit bearings. Maybe needing his truck though. It does seem a bit much for a drone with standard tools. He should just have oil though. Maybe a variable transformer he can dial in for sake of convenience. It might come up as an issue with some regularity.

Anyway is what you want the "soft spider" with the grabber abdomen, shorter leg grabbers, and manservant stateline as the base or has that gone too afield?

Paul could probably fabricate a simple set of sleeve bearings, and would have a small stock of standard size roller and ball bearings on his cart, but if it were a really weird size he'd have to fabricate them, and that would have to be in the van. A fall-back might be crafting an additional set of shims or bushings to let a standard size fit an odd gap.

I'm ok with the grabber abdomen, perhaps using a simple tubular spaceframe for a rigid structure as a baseline. For the rest, I'm mostly thinking of rigid structure with light composite legs and joint structures, which then contain within them the conduit for power transfer (whether hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical or other). The cephalothorax can be rigid construction, as can the pedipalps. No centaurian shape, just an oversized spider in external profile. Gecko tips should be off-the-shelf, and in fact likely salvageable from a junkyard, as should most of the other components. In principle, there's nothing new here except for the configuration and the software work.

So I'm forgetting the edition the rules were in, but at least one of them had the concept of a more dumpster diving approach to vehicle construction, or at least more on used vehicles. The idea was that while wear and tear was normally ignored in the game, in these cases you'd start adding in disadvantages. Something like gremlins being the primary one I think. Which I think operated like Paul's own "bad luck"

Gecko tips are probably the sort of thing you'd just want to get new and properly made, because they're cheap.

So I guess the question is would you be up for cheap and characterful.

At this stage, absolutely. The idea is that whatever becomes too troublesome gets an upgrade from his own machining. Thus for example a leg joint that gets too wobbly owing to wear in the bearing surfaces will simply be refabricated.

This also lets him get some use out of any sort of equipment that he salvages from cyberwear upgrades that he does for anyone.

I'm not quite sure where to go with that one. But a thought that popped into my head is that Willie might have an angle on a clinic that maybe could use someone to help with cyber, which Flatline would be useless for.

I'll make a pitch for the drone soonish. I still hold that the software is the tricky bit, and overall that basic structure in vehicles is the cheap part. I like that as it meshes well with how the game deals with damage versus the relatively low cost of repair. One just has to assume bullets are tearing into things that can stop the vehicle, and might at least require an engine swap today, but that a skilled mechanic can work through in the 2070s.

Yup, Paul isn't a major cyberdoc, but with cybertech and medicine, plus his high Logic, he should be quite capable of routine work at a fairly high level. He's a functionally very useful street doc, if he wanted a shadow career. Patching up bullet holes and burns is definitely in his field of capability.

Well, how you play that out is in your court in terms of whether or not you want Paul to talk to Willie about maybe being able to mess with his cyberware, and Willie dropping info about a guy he knows who maybe could use someone like that. Though Paul would also have other channels to find angles on demand for less-than-licensed cyber-medical care.

In terms of the drone there is the RAW but you're looking to push beyond that, and besides the intervals might get substantially excessive.

My pitch is this. It's been a project of Paul's for quite a while. He's been working on a plan, but hasn't got all the bugs worked out of his arachnid.

The base is a drone made in no small part out of fabricated or junked/damaged structure, using the manservant statline.

It's got your list of things except for the body stabilizer, and in addition has a custom rating 2 maneuver program. Paul has the coding and marine skills for that and the other mods. All the things it has now are in the plan, and do not take up any slots.

It can use his soft drone skills, relying on hydraulics, little soft feed working with gecko pads, the flexible basket, and a special soft "skin" that incorporates the chameleon, touch sensor, and just that little bit of armor.

The cost is the three months of low lifestyle (so Paul would need to pay something if he wants a separate lifestyle this month in game time).

The drone also has gremlins 2. However to make that more engaging when the gremlins hit (i.e. glitching only because of the disadvantage), its exposed an issue the plan. Paul would need to spend some time in an extended test reviewing logs, working on the plan, and doing the equivalent of a mod, maybe some cost for replacing some bits. Doing so lowers the gremlin disadvantage by 1 each time. Eventually resulting in a properly functional innovative design and Paul having a unique AR plan.

Paul could spend time or money on other mods, such as installing the stabilizer, adding sensors taking advantage of the array, upping the rating on the maneuver program, or some other mod.

How does that sound?

I'm happy with that. It fits the need, and gives Paul more of a specific reason to hustle for what he wants to achieve.

The cyberdoc thing I'll keep in my back pocket until it comes up.

The drone itself would fit into a locker, with the legs all folded, so it's a thing that he can work on in off hours at the van.

Seems like we're at a good spot to sort out remaining final details and spin time.

That's a bit less clear for Thanee, but it'd be pretty easy for Selina to dance the evening or head back with Mike if she wants to move that along. I think she's sorted out karma and the apartment and maybe could just have a post introducing us to her ward while introducing the ward to the apartment.

The Vex situation is something that Bongo could really run with or could also be handled in a few overview posts to get everyone in the same place. I guess Bongo could have a break off thread, but that's a whole extra thing. Or maybe a Vex thing for everybody down the road.

OK, so as I understand it, Bongo can raise his Locksmith Skill to 2 for 4 karma. He has yet to do the thing that needs to be done to join the Initiatory group which will cost 5 karma.

Is that right?

Edge Refreshes.




I think the 5 karma is form more magical group efforts. Actually I think it even comes down to a roll too if I remember correctly. Also some dues, though Bongo doubts Vex is high rent. What he needs is permission to go through that. Upping a skill shouldn't be a problem.

Joining (or founding) a Magical Group is what costs the 5 Karma. That is, basically, the price you pay for getting the benefits.

Selina will learn that spell, that I had mentioned somewhere above, and save the rest of her Karma for now (she also still needs to look into a Magical Group to join).

She will also do some summoning and binding with the materials she has since the beginning.

I can make some rolls for that later or tomorrow.


I am pretty sure, I asked this before, but cannot remember... what year/month do we have?

And are we still within the first month, or did we have to pay for another month of living expenses, yet?

Bye
Thanee

Selina is in the early AM hours of Saturday May 3rd 2070. The others were a little fuzzy on when they were setting out, but that would be a reasonable date for them as well as they make their way through the well lit "L" into the more dim streets where the safehouse is.

IC Your characters wouldn't know when work would suddenly hit, but for OOC planning you get a full month for purposes of triggering lifestyle expenses, day job "disadvantages" and various training needs.

While it's weird to say, there are more banal magical groups that can be found using the legwork type rules.

Though unless you're looking to do ritual magic or something, it isn't so useful to have a group until you have enough karma to join and initiate, which is more expensive for Selina since it would be to second grade.

Yep, that is what she will do when it is time. Not quite yet, though.

Bye
Thanee

Hmmm. Thanee brings up a good point. We could also found a group ourselves. Something to think about. And yes, Vex looks like fun, though Bongo will need to learn what Customs and Strictures apply. One Custom I suspect will be doing occasional "actions". In fact, I think Brevis' suggestion will be part of Bongo's demonstration of suitability.

So, seeing as there is a month to play with (less two days, I believe, so about 4 weeks),

1) I'll think up a quick little solo run to impress Vex,

2) Bongo will learn Arcana both for short term and long term reasons

3) Bongo will upgrade Locksmith to 2

4) Bongo wants to keep his friendship/teamwork with Rose going

Since these take time, here's the order in which I would like him to do things (Humph, Bongo coulda used those two remaining Edge points before the refresh. Well, Willie had none left so maybe it works out for him if he needs it to gain his new level in Blades.)

A) Reply to Rose (will do so IC) saying he has some work to do that should take a week after which he should be free for some jamming. he will tell her he has found a group who may not be all that good, he has to test them out. The college idea will sound good to him. Maybe she can set something up.

The work will be learning Arcana at Skill Level 1. He will pump a lot of midnight oil into the study and give it his best, so use of Edge.

Extended Intuition + Skill Test, Interval 1 week, Threshold 1X2=2
INT 5 + Skill 0 + Edge 6 = 11 dice, threshold 2: 2 hits Bongo gets a grasp of the material in that week. (Hurrah for exploding sixes!)

B) Take some time to jam with Rose, and also set up a demonstration for Vex. Willie will be the Trideographer (What, rent a recording unit? I'm not sure cybereye implants do trideo.)

C) Upgrade Locksmith from 1 to 2, so threshold is 4
INT 5 + Skill 1 + Edge 6 = 12 dice, threshold 4: 6 hits Works in a week!

This should leave time in the 4 weeks for jam sessions and Vexactions.

#####

Might as well do Willie here as well.

Upgrade Blades 3 to 4, so threshold 8
INT 5 + Blades 3 + Edge 5 = 13 dice: 5 hits First week
INT 5 + Blades 3 = 8 dice: 1 hit Second week
INT 5 + Blades 3 = 8 dice: 3 hits Third week does it.

Looks like Willie won't be available for Bongo's escapade for Vex. I'll work on that.

Both Willie and Bongo have 4 Edge points left.

Hmmm. Interesting choice.

In terms of the Tourmaline it does offer some opportunities to show off gymnastic skills. I'm specifically thing of the framing around the elevators, which Bongo could climb up. It's mostly people's houses underneath the building. Though if Bongo got some special equipment he could probably figure out a way get up the main support columns coming through the streets. Or just jumping over the fence around the park where Nari had been staying .

In terms of egress Bongo did notice some manholes and things, and Paul seems to have a way with those.

I wasn't thinking of climbing the building. I fear getting away would be hard if Bongo had to climb down first before running.

I was thinking more of a performance out front of the main elevator after scouting escape routes around the side. Disguised in such a way as to be able to ditch the disguise easily to foil pursuit.

I have an idea to use The Police's "Every Breath You Take" with a few "Frank"s thrown in. Maybe his apartment number too. Keep the guy in the public eye.

Ideas and opinions from teammates are welcome.

Asking for ideas might be a way to keep things rolling IC. Also it's helpful in general if characters share enough that you don't have to put too much mental effort into the delta between IC and OOC.

Maybe you could somehow get a big screen in the background (or using some kind of projector) with the video showing, especially parts where Frank is visible (don't remember whether he wore his mask the whole time).

As a song you could also use: Who Let The Dogs Out.

Bye
Thanee

He wore the mask until the party was over, but you do have video of him taking it off.

No, but he would have. Nevertheless, he started with two. He has nanopaste, too.

Well, he might be looking into buying some nanopaste now. But from Gatsby's to the party at his place in the Tourmaline he hadn't been using any nanopaste. Well, barring being in a witness protection plan or something an always using it.

While possibly there are some aspects of a masquerade to their party, as far as any of you are aware they just really like putting on the fur suits and make up.

Oh, sorry. When you said 'he' I thought you meant Bongo. As in, Bongo using a mask to conceal his identity. But, no. He didn't do that. Angel took care of the visual records of the team's intrusion. I think I'm caught up now.

I'm going on a business trip soon, and so won't be able to manage more than what I could do on a phone in limited time.

Though I'm tempted to start dropping some of the longer posts to kick things off on the next job in a new thread while you guys tie things up in the current one.

Barring Selina getting killed by a spirit while trying to bind them or Bongo having a wrong turn at the Tourmaline you might be able to start there while wrapping things up here. Or would you rather just wait?

Seems fine to me. Most things that are still ongoing during downtime are pretty clear at this point, I would say.



Let's not jinx things!

Nah, should be fine. She isn't going to try that on spirits that would cause physical damage.

Bye
Thanee

Bongo's thing doesn't have to happen immediately. He can do legwork over the course of multiple breaks between runs to figure out the best path for doing a demonstration for Vex. And, compared to 'down time', a run takes negligible time to do. Well .... usually.

There is the thing with Rose, but that can be done the way you suggest, sunnyside.

It seems to me the side, off-run material would be better put into a separate thread that can be dropped when that stuff is done. Keeping the shadow jobs all in one thread would help me keep things straight.

The wife has some medical issues, so that's going to take up some time before my trip. Maybe I'll just write stuff up so it's ready to go when I get back, or maybe I could e-mail myself the text.

In any case, do feel free to post in the IC thread everyone.

Also I'd be up for letting PB work through their Tourmaline stunt with more player control than you'd see in a run. If he sets up in the park or houses he'd mostly have to worry about Orcs angry about him messing with business at first. Closer to or on the elevators he'd eventually get hassled by the tourmaline guards. If more on the street he might first have to deal with the Baltimore Police Union. However so long as he doesn't attempt something that seems like a move on a resident or an attempt to break in the Tourmaline guards aren't going to come out guns blazing. Just looking to give him the shove off and maybe the butt of a rifle or some tasering.

Though what Vex is in part looking for is Bongo's athletic/Parkour skills, in addition to musical skill and audacity.

Take care of the important stuff.

I'll work on a stunt for Bongo.

Also not everything needs to be handled "on screen".

I think there are things for people to post IC at the moment.

But if you don't feel like it they could also be glazed over and sorted ooc. Like Angel has the little drone we discussed. So my plan is to give you guys a week while I'm on travel, during which time I'll do what I can with my thumbs as I have time, and then I'll just jump into Brewster calling the team up next Sunday.

OK, Bongo is going to take his time. Probably not going to do his "Vex Entrance Exam" during this break. He is (I am?) doing some exercises to also hone protocols for runs as well. This will take days. No problem. No hurry. I built Bongo to be a scout, so this kind of thing should be right up his alley, and I should know how to play him.

He has several days in the middle of things during which he will do a serious reconnoitre of Frank's building and surroundings. He can buy meals at vendors, walk around, look things over. He can set up some drums and do some busking (no magic) on occasion to get a few coins and look like he is harmless. While doing all this he has Multi-tasking to recce while being innocuous and yet observant.

He has Survival (urban) to help this out.

He has Hawkeye, vision enhancing contact lenses, Eidetic Sense Memory, Three Dimensional Memory; and Artisan up the wazoo to create detailed plans of the area that he can draw up in private. Doors, climbing places, where Frank's window is, alleyways, taxi stands, times of day when there are crowds and when there are few people. Where the guards are. Where the thugs are. Where the back doors of businesses are. Where the garbage bins are.

He has Voice Control to test echoes etc. on various walls. (range 12 meters)

Throughout it all he will suss out people/stalls in the open area who might be helpful, amenable to shenanigans.

He has Disguise Skill if he needs to be someone different on occasion.

If no one is looking, he can pick one of those back door locks to get the feel of it.

Just takin' it easy, not botherin' nobody. But always having in mind that he wants to do a hit-and-run demonstration to bring Frank back into the public consciousness.

Oh, and he will keep an eye out for Vex members checking him out.

If you want to see some dice rolls, let me know sunnyside. Or just take some bought hits if you like. Or just wing it!