shadd4d
Jul 19 2004, 08:03 PM
Back in the DotSW discussion, some things about Proteus and Shockwaves came up. Sometimes I do wish that everyone had access to Schockwellen. As a seim-civic duty (wondering if I'll get banned from 2 forums for this), I'm here to give you the references in SoE just to show how Shockwaves did influence the current picture of Europe (not all that much, but some). I'm not explaining them though.
Not to spoil too much, but that's the first half of the Shockwaves campaign, if you know what you're looking for. I let you all make whatever guesses you want.
Don
PS. Any admin who takes offense at this, feel free to bleep it out.
[ Spoiler ]
Here are the Shockwave references. It's really a "you have to know what you're looking for."
[ Spoiler ]
p.26-27, 28, 43, 57, 164.
Crimsondude 2.0
Jul 19 2004, 10:05 PM
Paranoid?
shadd4d
Jul 19 2004, 10:14 PM
Not really. It's the question of am I exposing too much of an official product solely based on my ability to read it. Am I giving out info that shouldn't be given out? That's one brings one pause when posting.
Don
Synner
Jul 19 2004, 10:21 PM
At this point Shockwaves has been out for quite a while and giving a heads up on the various shockwaves shouldn't be a problem - I mean explaining it all is unnecessary but pointing out that the Real Cold War ties into Shockwaves isn't giving anything major away. Both books are now out and if you can find the links go ahead. The problem isn't so much us writers (the links are there for you guys to catch in the first place), but rather the people who haven't played the campaign.
In a way, it's sort of like London, Tir Na nOg and the original Germany sbs, those who've got them will probably get an extra kick out of the book by tracing the links and developments from the material presented therein but they are by no means necessary to understand any of the fundamentals or use the material. SoE is fully self-contained.
shadd4d
Jul 19 2004, 11:12 PM
QUOTE |
At this point Shockwaves has been out for quite a while and giving a heads up on the various shockwaves shouldn't be a problem - I mean explaining it all is unnecessary but pointing out that the Real Cold War ties into Shockwaves isn't giving anything major away. Both books are now out and if you can find the links go ahead. The problem isn't so much us writers (the links are there for you guys to catch in the first place), but rather the people who haven't played the campaign. |
I imagine that to be rather unlikely, given that it is published solely in German as is DidSII.
Then here goes.
p. 26-27: FBV Entry,Reference to the 1st Shockwave adventure "Wetterleuchten" (Sheet lightning).
p. 27 Maersk Shadowtalk: Refers to 3rd Shockwave adventure "Die Söhne Lokis" (The sons of Loki)
p. 28 Proteus Shadowtalk: Again, refers to what lead to Shockwaves, 1st and 3rd adventures.
p. 43 & 57 & 164, Shadowtalk and normal text: All of these refer to the events and the fallout of the 5th Shockwave adventure, appropriately entitled "Frankfurt Offline."
p. 57 text: Refers to the 2nd Shockwave adventure entitled "Ein Sturm zieht auf" (The storm breaks).
Those are pretty much the only ones.
Don
FlakJacket
Jul 19 2004, 11:48 PM
Speaking of Shockwaves, wasn't someone on the boards doing a brief guide on what happened/was in the book? Or am I on crack again?
mfb
Jul 19 2004, 11:49 PM
i was about to ask the same question, and also suggest that if someone weren't already working up such a guide, someone ought to start.
shadd4d
Jul 19 2004, 11:53 PM
It's a question of people playing the campaign. Actually, the book itself is pretty brilliant in the fact that the reader has no idea how it finishes except for all the little pieces that finally make sense in the end.
How would one keep it in that format and not "read the last page" to everyone?
Don
FlakJacket
Jul 20 2004, 12:06 AM
Well since this would be mostly for an English speaking audience that is likely to never run the adventures in the book- since they've said they wont be translating it- that wouldn't really matter greatly would it?
mfb
Jul 20 2004, 12:23 AM
no kidding. slap in a spoiler warning and lay it out--it's already been made clear by the developers that Shockwaves will never see an official english translation.
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 12:28 AM
Point.
The campaign begins in June 2062. Nachtmeister has died, leaving the Proteus concern high and dry. There are a few factions in play as one sees in the openning fiction:
[ Spoiler ]
1) a group of people are running Proteus and have links, if not outright control, of at least 2 AAAs and 1 AA. Because Nachtmeister was their...bank consultant, among other things, he made it possible for money to get to the Proteus AG. In order to make sure that that stays happening, they decide to take over the Frankfurter Bankenverein, which was Nachtmeister's corp. They hire runners, which is the 1st Adventure, which draws the runners in (Sheet Lightning). They want to buy out the FBV cheap and need runners to drive the prices down. Honestly, you could streach it out to 10 runs. They need to take over the FBV before Lofwyr goes and invokes "to the winner goes the spoils" dragonic tradition somehow someway. Proteus does not like SK or Lofwyr.
2) Some old man sees his opportunity. Another older man tells him to wait.
3) A woman goes to Nachtmeister's lair and with the help of deckers starts going through Nachtmeister's things. The president is trying to keep the corp afloat, especially in response to Proteus' runs. That's where the reference comes into play.
4) Some unknown man is spying upon Proteus.
5) Ares really wants to get into Proteus' space station for some reason.
So that's the first chapter
Good night.
Don
mfb
Jul 20 2004, 12:34 AM
sweet.
FlakJacket
Jul 20 2004, 12:38 AM
You might also want to give a brief overview of how Proteus is set up. I know most of it thanks to early SoE stuff but a lot of the English language crew are still mostly in the dark AFAIK.
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 12:42 AM
That's one of the mysteries you find out along the way. Not going to spoil it.
Mysteries along the way:
1) How it was set up
2) How it makes money
3) What it actually does
4) Who is really behind it
5) What it really controls
Don
Sepherim
Jul 20 2004, 12:52 AM
Thans a lot, Shadd. Will you explain a bit even the rest of the chapters?
Crimsondude 2.0
Jul 20 2004, 01:31 AM
Trans-Latvia? The corp that owns like 20% of Novatech.
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 08:26 AM
Hmmm. Where are you getting this about Trans-Latvia?
Don
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 10:33 AM
The Official History of the Proteus AG (abridged from Shockwaves, Smuggler Havens, Germany Sourcebook, Chrom und Dioxin, Walzer, Punks und Schwarzes IC, Deutschland in den Schatten II, and Wunderwelt #49 and #50).
Proteus is founded on January 1, 2049. There are some rumors that the corp had to have massive backing, probably through shell companies, because it appeared to have emerged fully grown from nothing. There were already staff offices, factories, etc. belonging to the corp when it was founded. For the most part, the corp has focused on building arkoblocks and arcologies in hostile or dangerous environments and has built quite a few. It has multiple arcologies in the ADL alone, including its headquarters Helgoland, an arcology in the SOX rad zone, and has taken over and further secured the former Fuchi arcology in Berlin. Proteus has usually been a very silent and mysterious corporation. According to company policy, which is reflected in the management, no worker for Proteus is married or has any relatives where they are stationed. Employees must sign a 10 year contract, which does include some perks such as health care and plenty of space, given that the Proteus Arcologies are underpopulated (each one holds less than the possible 3 million they could hold). Proteus also requested extraterritoritality from both the ADL and Corp Cort and is a solid AA corp.
Although mysterious, this has not stopped Proteus from making some steady gains. They already have their own private army based out of Helgoland. They also own quite a few subsidiares, including the Genom company in Africa. This previously mentioned private army was also a part of the corporate task force that subdued West Berlin in response to the anarchists and the bugs. This private army also valiantly defended Proteus during a hostile takeover attempt by AG Chemie, which did cause some damage to the Helgoland headquarters. Following mediation (and the murder of Chango-Chao) by Nachtmeister, joint ventures and peace seem to have restabilized between Proteus and AGC. Proteus also, surprising for a AA corp, took part in the probe race to Halley's Comet. It is also probably the only AA corp that has its own orbital facilities, parts of which are leased to lesser corporations such as Transys Neuronet, AGC, and ECC. At the beginning of 2062, it seems like Proteus is a comet that will most likely achieve AAA status at some point in the foreseeable future, probably when the next election of Justices comes up.
Proteus is more or less SOTA on biotechnology, aquatechnology, building, heavy industry, drone production, computer programming, cyber and biotechnology, vehichle production for acquatic use, and space technology and nanite technology. Not bad for a corp that seemed to spring fully grown from nothing on Jan 1, 2049.
That's the official history. The truth is much, much scarier.
Don
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 12:54 PM
Let's go on to part 2: Ein Sturm zieht auf:
[ Spoiler ]
First, let's look at the events that have lead up to this moment. Proteus, through the players and others, has been conducting a lot of runs against the FBV in order to bring down its share price so that it can cheaply buyout the FBV. It has also aided those who would like to depose the president, Monika ...Waffenschmidt (Weapon smith) in order to maneuver more favorably toward its ultimate objective: takeover of the FBV. The big thing Proteus has to worry about, aside from SK snatching up the FBV, is that Nachtmeister owned the stock and he hasn't left a will, as he believed that was a weak humanization by Dunkelzahn. So someone has to have the stocks. That someone ends up being President Monika, who announced before the board meeting to dipose her that she actually owned 86% of the FBV. An elf as well as a shrewd businesswoman, it looks like the FBV is on an even keel for the moment. She publically says nothing about takeover bids.
Having done multiple runs for Proteus, although they don't know it, the runners are now engaged by a Johnson, who promises a perfect set-up for them to pull off the run. Everything is worked out to make sure the run will go off; all the runners have to do is be there, fulfill the job, and do so in a competent manner. The job: kidnap the President who will be at a certain spot at a certain time when the runners will be there to collect her from her bodyguards (who are none too shabby). As stated in SoE, this doesn't quite work out according to plan, as Monika is also a powerful magician, aside from other hidden talents. She escapes while the runners deal with several powerful spirits. The real downside is that she escapes with Mr. Johnson in tow. At the end of the run, the runners know they screwed up and probably know Monika's secret, which means they're probably better off dead.
End Result: A perfectly good run is blown, and the runners are probably in a lot of danger if they survived dealing with all the spirits and the bodyguard team they had to take down. I think the adventure is good, as it's going to hook the runners in for the rest of the campaign. It does however have a railroading flavor that perceptive players might pick up if the luck of the dice isn't with the GM. Really tense adventure, but you ain't seen nothing yet.
Also as a result of this run, the FBV now knows who is behind trying to take them over and can start planning a defense. A lot of this defense will be undertaken by the runners in the next 8 adventures as well as a large part is discovering the truth about Proteus so that a defense and offense can be successful.
That's not everything but it's the gist of the adventure. Somethings should remain secrets.
Don
Nath
Jul 20 2004, 01:24 PM
QUOTE (shadd4d) |
It is also probably the only AA corp that has its own orbital facilities, parts of which are leased to lesser corporations such as Transys Neuronet, AGC, and ECC. |
Actually, no. It is established both Hisato-Turner Broadcasting and Trans-Orbital have their own stations in geosynchronous orbit, and according to T:WL most of the 40 or 50 stations in low orbit are small ones owned by corps who rely on space corps for logistic. Also, Federated-Boeing has a launching capacity, and Shibata runs all of Aztechnology spce assets, so they might have some orbital facilities on their own as well.
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 01:27 PM
QUOTE (Nath) |
QUOTE (shadd4d @ Jul 20 2004, 12:33 PM) | It is also probably the only AA corp that has its own orbital facilities, parts of which are leased to lesser corporations such as Transys Neuronet, AGC, and ECC. |
Actually, no. It is established both Hisato-Turner Broadcasting and Trans-Orbital have their own stations in geosynchronous orbit, and according to T:WL most of the 40 or 50 stations in low orbit are small ones owned by corps who rely on space corps for logistic. Also, Federated-Boeing has a launching capacity, and Shibata runs all of Aztechnology spce assets, so they might have some orbital facilities on their own as well.
|
Okay. Thanks for the correction. I don't have T:WL, so I didn't know that.
Thanks,
Don
Jon Szeto
Jul 20 2004, 02:35 PM
QUOTE (Nath @ Jul 20 2004, 09:24 AM) |
QUOTE (shadd4d @ Jul 20 2004, 12:33 PM) | It is also probably the only AA corp that has its own orbital facilities, parts of which are leased to lesser corporations such as Transys Neuronet, AGC, and ECC. |
Actually, no. It is established both Hisato-Turner Broadcasting and Trans-Orbital have their own stations in geosynchronous orbit, and according to T:WL most of the 40 or 50 stations in low orbit are small ones owned by corps who rely on space corps for logistic. Also, Federated-Boeing has a launching capacity, and Shibata runs all of Aztechnology spce assets, so they might have some orbital facilities on their own as well.
|
Technically, Trans-Orbital is only an A-level corp (barely). Most of its facilities reside in Kansas and upstate New York, but it has some launch and maintenance facilities co-located with Novatech and Proteus offshore from Kenya and French Guyana respectively. Trans-Orbital only has a sort of de facto extraterritoriality, in that there really is no overriding jurisdiction in outer space beyond the corp's.
As Nath mentioned, there are many unspecified AAs (not to mention some AAAs) that own or lease orbital workpods in space, but don't have the means to support them. Only a small handful of AAs (HTB, FedBoeing, Shibata, Proteus) actually have the means to transport materiel and personnel up into orbit. All the others rely on these few for resupply, maintenance, and transportation.
Nath
Jul 20 2004, 03:19 PM
QUOTE (Jon Szeto) |
Technically, Trans-Orbital is only an A-level corp (barely). Most of its facilities reside in Kansas and upstate New York, but it has some launch and maintenance facilities co-located with Novatech and Proteus offshore from Kenya and French Guyana respectively. |
... only because they closed that launchpad on Matagorda Island in late 61 or early 62
Crimsondude 2.0
Jul 20 2004, 07:34 PM
QUOTE (shadd4d) |
Hmmm. Where are you getting this about Trans-Latvia?
Don |
It was mentioned in Corp Download as owning a chunk of Novatech, yet no one knows who runs it because it somehow fell away from Villiers' control while he was forming Novatech.
FlakJacket
Jul 20 2004, 08:47 PM
QUOTE (shadd4d) |
That's not everything but it's the gist of the adventure. Somethings should remain secrets. |
No they shouldn't. Spill yer guts man!
shadd4d
Jul 20 2004, 08:56 PM
QUOTE (FlakJacket) |
QUOTE (shadd4d) | That's not everything but it's the gist of the adventure. Somethings should remain secrets. |
No they shouldn't. Spill yer guts man! |
That's a no-can-do, mostly because I plan on running this given an opportunity. Should this thread get archived, I'd rather that my players couldn't peek here and spoil the campaign.
But here's a tidbit: Monika Stüeler-Waffenschmidt is special for a lot of reasons, not to mention that DotSW is also a book recommended for use in the campaign.
Just to highlight how ueber the characters should be, let me not that there are stat blocks for the opposition. Of the 8 NPC mages, only 2 are not initiates and the lowest grade initiate in the whole bunch is grade 2.
Just to take a look at the books more or less required for the campaign: DidSII, SoE, DotSW, T: WL, M&M, R3, MitS, CC, SR3.
That's to get everything.
Don
Sepherim
Jul 21 2004, 12:36 AM
So, a campaing for true pros. Seems interesting, and very well built, at least until here. Pity I don't know german...
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 07:33 AM
QUOTE (Sepherim) |
So, a campaing for true pros. Seems interesting, and very well built, at least until here. Pity I don't know german... |
That's an interesting point you make there. In the flavor text (say it to their face sections), that is a very important undertone that gets highlighted constantly.
And it's very important. Only true pros, both in terms of ability and also in terms of behavior and mannar of carriage, are really going to make it through this campaign.
Don
booklord
Jul 21 2004, 05:15 PM
A little bit of of conjecture on the first two chapers. I'll put my speculation in spoiler tags.
[ Spoiler ]
Proteus AG always seemed a little off to me.
1) Their main projects don't seem profitable. ( at least in the short term ) Since Nachtmeister kicked off they seem to be having financial problems.
2) They have an unhealthy obsession with developing bioware and cyberware designed to help (meta)humans surive in otherwise unhealthy environments.
3) Their construction efforts seem to be designed to act as giant arcologies.
4) I remember at least one reference to them performing medical experimentation on captive metahumans.
5) Proteus AG is a massive polluter even compared to other heavy industry megacorps.
Perhaps Proteus AG was preparing for a time when (meta)humanity is forced to flee to the safety of arkoblocks and similar structures to avoid some (possibly ecological) disaster? Perhaps Proteus AG was planning to take an active role in seeing that disaster take place? Maybe Nachtmeister felt that mankind had developed an overpopulation problem that required correction?
I realize this is Winternight level stuff but I don't think Nachtmeister liked us very much.
[ Spoiler ]
Who and what is President Monika?
1) She's a powerful mage.
2) She has spirits that work for her.
3) She suddenly owned 86% of FBV stock. (stock we can assume used to belong to Nachtmeister )
4) She has a big secret that might come out if you engage her in a fight.
Personally it sounds to me like she's a drake. But whose drake?
If she was Nachtmeister's drake it might explain how she got her hands on the stock and his lair. But then why would she not continue to support Proteus AG? Perhaps Nachtmeister financed Proteus through means she did not inherit? Perhaps because she has decided she doesn't want to support Proteus? Perhaps she didn't know that Nachtmeister was supporting Proteus? ( Though that dragonfight during the attempted takeover by AG Chemie kind of makes that unlikely ).
Perhaps she is Lofwyr's drake. Perhaps Nachtmeister truly was a dragon of his convictions and Lofwyr inherited the stock when he killed him? He might not want to publicly claim the stock ( the corporate court may disagree with draconic tradition and nullify his ownership ) arranges for a proxy to vote the stock for him. But this theory has a hole in it as well. Wan't Monika president of FBV before Nachtmeister died? Unless Lofwyr inherited her as well.
Garland
Jul 21 2004, 06:16 PM
That first spoiler by booklord makes me so much more interested in Proteus...
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 06:43 PM
Answer to the first:
[ Spoiler ]
There is an idealistic reason behind Proteus and why they're doing what they do. Take your answers and look at them from an idealistic point of view. Also remember that Nachtmeister was not in charge, but was an equal partner in Proteus. Proteus is a fusion of multiple persons' goals, not just his, as it did serve many goals for multiple people. It also becomes clearer when you know where Proteus really came from.
1) Yes, due to Nachtmeister
2) Think idealistic application.
3) Again, idealistic application.
4) Applied knowledge can have beneficial goals. The suffer of the few for the prosperity of the many.
5) Not completely true, although they do their fair share. They also have lots of advance tech for cleaning it up, on the magical, physical, chemical, biological, and nanotech level.
And no, they don't have any connection to Winternight (if anything, they are crusaders against Winternight for various reasons).
Answer to the 2:
[ Spoiler ]
Yes and yes. Good suspicions. But a Magic rating of 14 tends to come across as that. But....what would you do if 1) you didn't know, 2) your loyalty to your master was so great, that you would see his legacy as your inheritence (another main theme)? Remember, she is the person who is closest to him and for all her knowledge, Lofwyr killed him for no reason (actually a couple of reason rolled into usefulness and justification). Who said that "they" don't have their own plans and desires?
QUOTE |
Perhaps she didn't know that Nachtmeister was supporting Proteus? ( Though that dragonfight during the attempted takeover by AG Chemie kind of makes that unlikely ). |
[ Spoiler ]
She knows what he did, but not why. In the opening fiction, there is actually a great deal that Nachtmeister kept to himself (such as the stuff in DotSW, who really had the idea for Proteus (it wasn't Nachtmeister), how he helped set it up, etc. for instance). One of the main things that continues to gall her is that she doesn't know why Lofwyr killed Nachtmeister.
Good conjecture though. That's thinking like a player. Now if only I can run this when I get to U of Chicago.
Don
Synner
Jul 21 2004, 07:18 PM
As to Ms. Stüeler-Waffenschmidt's possible alleigences I suggest taking a peak at the Widow-Weaver dialogue in DotSW again. There's a comment in there regarding the FBV which may or may not shed some light on Monika's ascension.
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 07:27 PM
Not possessing DotSW, I'm going on what's in Shockwaves. Could someone explain the gist of that comment?
BTW, we do have you to thank for the FBV logo, do we? Although I'm slightly curious, which came first: the logo for SoE or its use for Shockwaves?
Don
Synner
Jul 21 2004, 08:47 PM
Otaku Mike and I designed most of the logos in SoE a while back, and at the time the FBV logo was in the works but I hadn't finished it. I also helped out the German crew with ironing out some of the German and US canon and when it came up I offered to do it. The one printed in Shockwaves came out in lighter tones than it should and you can't really see the faint outline of the right side, haven't seen the SoE version yet, but I like the way it came out. You have to picture it in black red and yellow though.
booklord
Jul 21 2004, 08:48 PM
Interesting......
[ Spoiler ]
Proteus is idealistic? I was leaning in a more sinister angle myself. Well then I can't help but think that Proteus is then a survivalist organization. A group of individuals who believe a disaster is or may be coming that will require massive arkoblocks and biological modifications to survive. A group dedicated to the survival of the human race.
It was mentioned that Proteus AG is supported by people who control at least 2 AAA megacorps and 1 AA megacorp. (as well as probably others) It would help explain how the corporation went from unknown to SOTA in 15 years. The only canidate I can think of would be Damien Knight of Ares. Ares has a lot of the know-how and experience that Proteus would need. ( Ares has multiple space stations and a big underwater base in the Carribean )
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 08:54 PM
[ Spoiler ]
You are correct on the first, but way wrong on the second. It takes some quite a few more pieces to see how they are idealistic. Oh, btw, what other companies, aside from Ares and SK could they borrow stuff from? Actually quite a few.
Reminds me, I should put up the summary of chapter 3.
Don
Basileus
Jul 21 2004, 09:26 PM
[ Spoiler ]
Mother of God, call me crazy, but is Proteus building modern-day Kaers?! According to Earthdawn, the Horrors enter the world at the height of the magic-cycle and the only way Name-Givers (Metahumanity) survived last time was to retreat into self-sufficient underground fortresses until the magic cycle started to wane and the Horrors had to retreat from the world. We know Dunkelzahn was trying to prepare metahumanity for their arrival, its possible that he played a part in Proteus's creation, and that they are working towards making sure the world is ready. Which means that Proteus is playing a really looooong term game, since it should be a couple of millennia until the magic levels are high enough to allow the Horrors access to the world. Just a crazy thought.
Garland
Jul 21 2004, 09:36 PM
[ Spoiler ]
Even worse, what if they are like Aztechnology but without the death wish? They might be preparing for the end, but they're not really bothering to make the time between now and then any more pleasant. [\spoiler]
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 09:44 PM
Let's move on to Chapter 3. As I've slightly forgotten, I should mention the authors.
Prologue: Lars Blumenstein (wrote part of DidSII, and Switzerland in SoE. Also helped on Czech Republic.)
Chapters 1 and 2 are by Tilo Hörter (another DidSII author)
Chapter 3: Die Söhne Lokis (the sons of Loki) by Frank Werschke (who doesn't have a popup at the SARs-Team homepage)
[ Spoiler ]
Remember that the previous run didn't go off as planned. The target, Pres. Monika Schüeler-Waffenschmidt of the FBV, escaped with the Proteus Johnson in tow. The runners, maybe having met the Johnson's bodyguards who survived, have no clue who hired them and probably want to lay low. This is where they get a job: go meet Fredrik Jensen (sociology professor in Aalborg, Denmark) and he will help them get into an arkoblock run by Proteus and Maersk, who are working on producing a mobile arkology. The job: make sure that they disrupt this joint venture and aren't caught doing it. Plane from Frankfurt to Aalborg leaves tomorrow morning at 8 am sharp. Remember you can't bring much with you on the flight.
Remember what I said about being professional? You really have to do that. Upon arrival, the runners have to find their contact man. Well, he's not been to his office in about a week, as he's afraid of being killed by the Cons for being an eco-terrorist. He, not having his pocket secretary and not knowing about the runners, decides to give them a "hand" out, namely by supplying them with a rubber raft and a couple of pistols. You can imagine where that goes (getting picked up by the coast guard).
After being picked up, the runners probably want revenge. Going back to Jens' apartment, they find him with others, the Sons of Loki. Now he is able to help them get in and get them good equipment, as long as they return it. After sneaking into the arkoblock, the runners forge some data and find out about the head of Proteus' joint venture team. The good doctor has a private computer, which is a good place to check out. Upon arrival, they find the computer, aside from having some interesting data, has an interesting and never before seen interface which hooks into a special datajack. This interface is for the Virtual Therapist 3.14, which helps out the doctor when he's stressed. It connects to a delta implant in his brain which takes over and lets him talk with a mental image despite what is going on around him. Unfortunately, there seems to be a malfunction, which occurs when the doctor comes to his room.
The doctor, believing that one of the runners is his therapist, talks about what he has to do and how much stress he is under to do it. He relates that his function is to make sure that money from Maersk is going to Proteus. He also relates that Proteus has had its eye on Maersk for some time and has already set up cells of agents to infiltrate Maersk into helping Proteus. These agents made their way into Maersk under the guise of joint ventures. With all this information (money to Proteus, infilitration agents, joint venture personnel have cyberimplants to keep them silent and surpress stress with limited RAS overrides, the runners escape.
The runners return to Frankfurt and their Johnson reveals who their real employer is: Frau Presidentin Monika Schüeler-Waffenschmidt. She admits that she knows they worked for Proteus during her kidnap attempt. She offers the runners some complements on their professionalism and asks that they be ready to do some runs for her against Proteus for the FBV. Remember, she knows that the runners know a few secrets about her. This is really the run that reals in the runners for the remainder of the campaign.
Personally, I like this one. It gives a few ideas about what is going on and also what will happen. Plus it provides a few puzzle pieces of what Proteus is really doing.
Don
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 09:49 PM
@Basileus:
[ Spoiler ]
imagine what would happen if you had the ideals for building kaers but not the mystical know-how. The idealistic ground for the kaers are there. They aren't, however, building actual kaers (although that could have been a sub-thought in Nachtmeister's head. Something to remember is that Nachtmeister agreed with the goals of Proteus, both before and after the Con came to be.
@Garland:
[ Spoiler ]
Sort of. Again, this is the idealism inherent to Proteus. A logical extension of their efforts is, of course, the kaers. But think 1) what is the Shadowrun environment like?, 2) what would idealist do that isn't eco-terrorism?
Don
Kanada Ten
Jul 21 2004, 09:57 PM
And remeber they are interested in Space. Arcologies, space, pollution clean-up technology... They are building bubble wolrds, Earth Seeds.
shadd4d
Jul 21 2004, 11:52 PM
QUOTE (Kanada Ten) |
And remeber they are interested in Space. Arcologies, space, pollution clean-up technology... They are building bubble wolrds, Earth Seeds. |
That's actually more in line with their goals than you know!
Don
Crimsondude 2.0
Jul 22 2004, 12:05 AM
Are the spoiler tags really necesasary? This whole thread is a spoiler.
That said... I am shocked, simply shocked to have seen it take so long for someone to type "kaer." That's been a general expectation since Proteus was first really exposed (at least, amongst my circle of playing associates. But then again, they include folks who figured out the end to Brainscan within days of RA:S being released.).
QUOTE (booklord) |
It was mentioned that Proteus AG is supported by people who control at least 2 AAA megacorps and 1 AA megacorp. (as well as probably others) It would help explain how the corporation went from unknown to SOTA in 15 years. The only canidate I can think of would be Damien Knight of Ares. Ares has a lot of the know-how and experience that Proteus would need. ( Ares has multiple space stations and a big underwater base in the Carribean )
|
Well, going along with my previous posts. Novatech has a significant Aerospace division inherited from Fuchi, which also had a significant aerospace division. But Villiers is a bastard. Why'd he care?
There are so many suspects, but they are all American-centric. The Villiers, Thomas Roxborough, Arthur Vogel (who has his own questionable financial dealings), forces in the PPC, Dunk's ghost. IT's enough to drive a person mad.
Basileus
Jul 22 2004, 12:07 AM
shadd4d: I realize that you don't want to post the major spoilers for Shockwave to the forum because you plan on running the campaign in the future and don't want your players to see anything that will spoil it. However, at this point the hints you have dropped are driving me mad, I MUST KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON! Is there any chance you would be willing to either PM or e-mail me a brief rundown of the major spoilers associated with the campaign? I don't have the pleasure of speaking German, and since there are no plans to translate the adventure, you represent my one available source for finding this stuff out. I would be eternally in your debt. Thanks.
Synner
Jul 22 2004, 12:29 AM
QUOTE (Crimsondude 2.0) |
There are so many suspects, but they are all American-centric. The Villiers, Thomas Roxborough, Arthur Vogel (who has his own questionable financial dealings), forces in the PPC, Dunk's ghost. IT's enough to drive a person mad. |
Funny you should say that. First time I was told I nailed 2 of the candidates and none of them were American. As shadd4d has suggested this is bigger and cleverer than it seems even at this point.
FlakJacket
Jul 22 2004, 01:37 AM
Oh stop teasing the poor man Peter.
Crimsondude 2.0
Jul 22 2004, 01:51 AM
Well, my perspective happens to lie on a different side of the water's edge.
Hell, Lofwyr sounds like a pretty good contender given the impression I have of his ends justify the means mentality.
booklord
Jul 22 2004, 03:15 AM
I'm confused. part 3 has a lot of scenarios that I find would be quite difficult to set up.
[ Spoiler ]
Getting picked up by the coast guard in a rubber raft and a couple of pistols? Wait a minute, how do you set this up? First if the runners actually attempt the run in a rubber raft with no real plan on how to avoid things like the coast guard then they deserve to be eaten by a megladon. My runner group would probably have used some sort of water spirit to give the raft some speed (possibly arrange for a fake distress call to keep the coast guard busy if they were being really clever) and come in under the cover of stealth. They also would have gotten themselves better gear. If all the contact was willing to give is a few pistols they would have gone elsewhere for the gear.
After getting burned once. ( and it really is their own fault if they went in without a plan ) the runners are supposed to go looking for their contact. What if they don't want to? What if their idea of revenge is to spread vicious rumors that will get him fired? And if they did go to his apartment and find the Sons of Loki why would they trust them? The runners have no reason to approach him with the Sons of Loki there. ( an aesir society group? ) They might even assume they were set up. Needless to say if the runners felt their contact was not only incompetent but betrayed them then the response would not be pretty.
So the good doctor believes the runners are his virtual therapist. How do you keep the runners from knocking him out, roughing him up, etc. as soon as he enters the room? The runner group I GM would never have been caught off guard like that. (Most likely a pair of cyber-ears would have alerted them to his impending arrival) They'd have been waiting in hiding, and caught him by surprise as soon as he came in. Then they would have interrogated him. ( or just mind probed him ) They would not just stand there long enough for him to confuse them with his virtual therapist program.
I hate to be a critic, but these things feel like the group has to be put on "GM-pilot" to set up some of these highly unlikely situations.
Now onto my latest guesses into who is involved in the proteus conspiracy...
[ Spoiler ]
So Ares is no good. Hmmm. I thought someone as ruthless as Damien Knight would be a perfect match for Proteus's survivalist agenda. I figured they had to have a AAA megacorp covertly helping them with their space efforts. But S-K and Novatech seem even less likely. I don't see Aztechnology at all. Yamatetsu is possible but it only recently got involved in space. Besides the most likely suspect there would be Buttercup. and I just don't see the "metahuman rights spirit" involved in something like Proteus.
How about Hamilton Grimes of Universal Omnitech? That corp has lots of the nanotech, genetech, and biotech that Proteus drools over. In addition it might help to explain why Proteus built an arkoblock outside of Salish Shidhe land.
How about Korin Yamana? He was head of Fuchi Europe and now is part of Shaiwase. Proteus took over the Fuchi Arcology in Berlin. Is it possible he let them have it rather than let it fall into the hands of either of his rivals?
shadd4d
Jul 22 2004, 07:57 AM
[ Spoiler ]
you have no idea. I'll admit that my description is trying to be bare bones without ruining too much, but generally, think about the fact that the runners have to complete this job. There are a few senarios on when they only have a rubber raft, namely fighting off a megladon, getting picked up by Proteus and then released, getting picked up by the coast guard, smugglers, etc. One bad part about Shockwaves is a decent amount of railroading.
The runners did have a plan, but it's supposed to demonstrate their tenacity as well as their professionalism in that they can go back and try again. Of course, if they can convince Jens to get his pocket secretary, which he left at his office, then it is possible to skip that part. Remember, Jens hasn't checked his pocket secretary and is more paranoid than Dirk Montegomery due to being an eco-terrorist.
Not knocking out the doctor is one of the main things that Shockwaves says the GM has to watch out for in this adventure. Optimally, the runners see the doctor walk in, he sees them, collapses and starts babbling to one of them.
Hm... Looks like I have to break it down to a scene by scene breakdown without giving away too much.
[ Spoiler ]
The big dogs behind Proteus are not bigshots in their corporations. If you have T:WL, you will, however, find mention of one of the big shots if you know where to look, namely undersea arcologies.
On the Yamana: close, but not quite. Remember, the boss doesn't know everything that everyone inside the corp does.
.
Hmmm, I think I will have to rewrite some of the 3rd chapter, perhaps.
Don
shadd4d
Jul 22 2004, 09:31 AM
BTW, I really like the cover of
Shockwaves. If you look at the art in SoE, basically in the Intro to Europe and the AGS(ADL) then you get to see examples of this artist, Klaus Scherwinski (also helped on SOTA 2063).
Don
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