Running in the Shadows...

I've always had an affection for Cyberpunk, and I was recently looking over the core rulebook and some supplies for an RPG known as shadowrun.

Basic short-story:

Elves, trolls, dwarves, humans and everything fantasy, meets dystopian high-tech sci-fi. Elves with machine guns, trolls with rocket launchers, dwarves controlling a fleet of remote bots with machine guns, the whole nine-yards. Magiwurms (dragons), megacorporations and below all of that, are the shadow-runners, deniable assets that "The man" utilizes so they don't get their hands dirty.

If there is enough interest I would consider putting together some basic stuff to get things started and maybe run a campaign if people show interest. Let me know/post here...

This would be during the week, probably on Thursdays.

Ive always been interested in the game, but havent had the money to buy the book. Count me in!

Im In sir

I played in a shadowrun campaign over a summer in college, I have very fond memories and I love the setting.

I'll be in for it, however I have to warn you from what I recall the system is prone to min-max jankyness and exploitation. Which can be a pain/annoyance to the gm.

We would be playing 4E, which incorporates a lot of the newer technologies of todays world (stuff like wireless access points for example). This doesn't seem take the edge off the idea that jacking into the "matrix" is still a dangerous proposition, but it allows some cool stuffs, like tactical networks amount shadowrunners and such.

Main campaign setting would be 2070 (I believe, still coming up to speed), in the notable sprawl of Tampa.

I would be starting the characters a little bit below full shadowrunner status, leaving the starting "origin" up to the players, whether they are ex-gangers, brought together by a fixer looking to build a custom team for his needs or what have you. Basically shadowrun light and let the players build into the full shadowrunner origin.

If anyone has interest or access to a PDF for the core rulebook, you can go that route, otherwise the rulebook is only 40 bucks so rather cheap (comparatively). I'm looking for 3-4 players for a well rounded group... maybe adding more if we have more interest.

I'll see, I'm still trying to decide how low I want you guys to be, I'm thinking basic equipment, some cool initial runs that kind of "introduce" core concepts, and get you guys started and earning some nuyen to get down to the cool equipment and such. The campaign would be true shadowrun, deadly, but not stupid. If you make a mistake, you can possibly pay for it, but as a shadowrunner being a professional always comes with the chance of the shit hitting the fan, so, it won't be over the top and enjoyable.

Shadowrun is awesome...I played in 3rd Edition and love the changes in 4th Edition as well. It's a great setting and with proper guidance the min/max of characters can be held in check. I wish you the best of luck in putting your group together and hope you will have a good time

forgot it was reset into D20, i played in the old system

Pruto wrote:forgot it was reset into D20, i played in the old system

System isn't d20 based, runs on d6's as far as I know, could be wrong though, still a reading.

I don't mean to take the wind out of your sails, so don't take this the wrong way. I'm not not really interested in learning and running another system right now. I'm DMing a DnD 4th edition campaign and that same group got chosen to help playtest DnD 5th edition, so we've been doing that as well.

Now, playing in a campaign and DMing one are two seperate things, and I would REALLY like to play in another campaign (because, while I don't consider myself a bad DM, It's not something I particularly enjoy doing solely. I feel like I need an outlet to play a meaningful character, and fleshing out NPC's while fun, does not quite do it for me). The thing is, I'm not really prepared to financially or logically invest myself into a system that I don't know. I get to do all my fun "figuring stuff out" stuff with the DnD 5th edition playtesting, so for the system I PLAY in, I want it to be something very fluent and comfortable for me.

On that note, I know Corey was talking several months ago about doing an L5R campaign... I'd REALLY like to get that going (since I'm comfortable with the system and INCREDIBLY comfortable with the lore). It'd be pretty cheap to get into as well, since we all have the sourcebooks for that, and the system is remarkably simple.

From the looks of it, you already have 3 players interested in Shadowrun, and that's fine, hopefully you can get one more to round out a good 4 man group (makes it easier for when one player can't make a session). Just giving you an explanation for why I'm not going to be a part of it. I do know that the setting and fluff for Shadowrun is very awesome, and I'm sure you guys would have a blast.

Sleep wrote:I don't mean to take the wind out of your sails, so don't take this the wrong way. I'm not not really interested in learning and running another system right now. I'm DMing a DnD 4th edition campaign and that same group got chosen to help playtest DnD 5th edition, so we've been doing that as well.

Now, playing in a campaign and DMing one are two seperate things, and I would REALLY like to play in another campaign (because, while I don't consider myself a bad DM, It's not something I particularly enjoy doing solely. I feel like I need an outlet to play a meaningful character, and fleshing out NPC's while fun, does not quite do it for me). The thing is, I'm not really prepared to financially or logically invest myself into a system that I don't know. I get to do all my fun "figuring stuff out" stuff with the DnD 5th edition playtesting, so for the system I PLAY in, I want it to be something very fluent and comfortable for me.

On that note, I know Corey was talking several months ago about doing an L5R campaign... I'd REALLY like to get that going (since I'm comfortable with the system and INCREDIBLY comfortable with the lore). It'd be pretty cheap to get into as well, since we all have the sourcebooks for that, and the system is remarkably simple.

From the looks of it, you already have 3 players interested in Shadowrun, and that's fine, hopefully you can get one more to round out a good 4 man group (makes it easier for when one player can't make a session). Just giving you an explanation for why I'm not going to be a part of it. I do know that the setting and fluff for Shadowrun is very awesome, and I'm sure you guys would have a blast.

That's coo bud, I'm kinda just looking for something to bridge the gap, or have available when we decide to finish up a campaign and wish to try something different. We'll see.

I need to work on the scroll of water for my l5r article on the children of the wind forum sometime this week.

I'll be putting together more information on the game sometime this weekend (since I'll be at my parents for the weekend).

Expect a PDF, basic setting info, background on the Tampa area, etc.

Sweetness!

Please post your emails so I can get you a PDF to start reading...


Chummer character builder: http://www.chummergen.com/dev/chummer/Chummer.zip

Pat, if you need another, I would probably be into this. I have very fond memories of this universe from the SNES and Genesis games. Read one of the books a long time ago too, dragon presidents are cool with me.

Jakenorton2003 at yahoo.com

Weird, thought I had posted my email :p

yobo93@hotmail.com

Send a link to you guys for the core-rulebook. For right now we are looking at the core rulebook (suggest you pick up a physical copy if you can, cheap off ebay, I am seeing some for 20).

For now we will only be using the core rulebook and when I decide to step it up a notch I'll include a couple of others (probably more toys for the boys).

Right now:

Looking at some slight rule mods and some restrictions on skills (bit more realistic in terms of stats etc). I'll be bringing you guys in smoothly with some basic runs and tasks.

I'll probably begin looking at building the campaign and character building then once you guys have perused the books a bit we can find a time to start and get basic questions (type of campaign, goals, character types) out of the way.

jasondowling38@hotmail.com

So I've been slowly plugging away at the rulebook and thinking of the initial concept. From what I see:

Myself (Probable GM)

Jake
Paul
James
Jason
Possibly Anthony

I see a 4 man team. Once everyone starts feeling comfy with the rules we can have an initiation meeting to discuss what kind of campaign we want to run, characters, and ideas about the campaign. I tend to like my campaign to cater to the interest of the players, so I'll pitch my idea and any changes you guys suggest we can implement.

As far as supplies, I do suggest the base rulebook and a stack of d6's. That's about all you need. I'll be looking into plexy-glass for our board, we have a hex-based chart. We can also look into miniatures, just about any sci-fi or cyber miniature will do if people want something in particular.

Looking forward to getting this set up guys =)

Really enjoying the rulebook. Pat, I know you said you just wanted to use the Main book, which is 100% cool with me, but do you have any more sourcebooks for me to read? Thinking I may want to play a magic character.

Shoju wrote:Really enjoying the rulebook. Pat, I know you said you just wanted to use the Main book, which is 100% cool with me, but do you have any more sourcebooks for me to read? Thinking I may want to play a magic character.

I do have more source books, but I'm not gonna be sending them out, if you would like give me a USB next-time you see me and I can give it to you. If you have torrent access you should be able to find them out there.

I'm looking at initially running the base rulebook, the extra source books are cool for small stuff. Any equipment or etc out of those rulebooks will be introduced, I wouldn't mind using qualities (the positive or negative things for your character) from those books.

Let me know what you prefer.

p1uto@hotmail.com

I like killy stuff, ok go.

That's cool, i'll try to remember a usb next time. I only wanted more to read for a fluff perspective, there's a LOT of stuff to remember about how the world has changed, and the more I can immerse myself, the better off I'll be at the whole roleplaying thing. Things like Aztecnology, Renraku or Dunkelzahn get small paragraphs, but I need more!

As far as mechanics go, unless there's something that makes for a better story, more fun etc. I say there's more than enough in the main book.

Shoju wrote:That's cool, i'll try to remember a usb next time. I only wanted more to read for a fluff perspective, there's a LOT of stuff to remember about how the world has changed, and the more I can immerse myself, the better off I'll be at the whole roleplaying thing. Things like Aztecnology, Renraku or Dunkelzahn get small paragraphs, but I need more!

As far as mechanics go, unless there's something that makes for a better story, more fun etc. I say there's more than enough in the main book.

yeah I need to snoop around, I believe I have some source books with info on the major corps, and magic. Get me a USB and I'll be happy to load the PDFS up on them =).

http://www.therpgsite.com/showthread.php?t=6411

The above link contains a short-writeup that I'll probably be using for the majority of the info on Tampa Bay, some small changes, but I should be good.

If you guys would prefer a more foreign land-scape like Seattle we can do that. Either way, just some short fluffy write-up on someone you guys will probably be seeing a bit of, seeing as how you might find yourself working for him shortly.


A stiff breeze blows Kraye's leather duster as he approached the small tea shop along Fowler avenue, it was raining, as common for the warm summers of Florida. Cars zoomed by the four lane road specifically expanded to accommodate the large corporate research and training park that was formerly the University of South Florida.

Surrounding the shop stacked layers of metal, wood, filth and people made up the area between Bruce B Downs known as suit-case city, a prime-time warzone and living area for a large chunk of the lower class and gangers. As he approached the Tea shop, a group of tattooed gangers watched from their perch by the nearby stuffer shack, a lithe female with a pink mohawk clearly licking her lips as she watched the man enter the small tea shop, a known yakuza joint.

As Kraye entered his AR vision was filled with the delicate motes of tea leaves and a dragon holding up the menu for tea, he quietly selected a frozen mixture red-beans, vanilla and soymilk, and the dragon flew from his view. An older gentlemen with a small dataport trailing wire from the back of his skull looked up from behind the counter, a wire running from the back of his neck to a small port in the wall. The man greeted Kraye in English before looking too a small group of youngsters in the back of the shop that were gambling. One of them, tattooed heavily in dragon and tiger motif with obvious cyber-arm implants crossed his arms and locked eyes with Kraye before nodding, finished his bets then exited the group, drawing looks from the other members. Joining him were two larger members of the group, and they flanked him as he approached.

At this point Kraye had taken a seat and was checking his mail, a young server girl came by and dropped off the tea, before bowing and retreating to the kitchen.

Crossing his arms again, the lead Yak spoke directly, "How can I help you Gaijin?", an slang-slur for foreigner, this may not be home but Kraye was foreign here.

Kraye sent a signal to his implanted sunglasses to recede, as his cybernetic iris focused on the yak he spoke in a clear and polite manner so as not to offend.

"I was sent here to pick up something for a friend, when the monkey sleeps his paw may get away from him..."

The lead yak narrowed his eyes before saying something in Chinese to one of his bigger friends. Kraye quietly sipped his drink, never taking his eyes off the lead man. Before-long the yak returned with a small
case, cracking the case, Kraye reviewed its contents, quietly nodded and tapped his temple, transferring the funds to the Yakuza account. The Lead yak, waited for a moment, nodded and gestured to the door. "Business is business Gui-lao, just remember that just because you come here on it does not mean you can come back without."

Without a word Kraye left, a metallic brief-case at his side, his drink left on the table half full.

As he left the store there was a chuckle, it seems that the ganger-group had taken interest in Kraye when he had come in, as he stepped across the rain-soaked parking lot towards his sleep purple and black streaked car, the girl with the mohawk approached. Her compatriots wielded chains and clubs, the clink of pistol slides could be heard above the din of the rain. As the cyberized female approached the metal of her heels clinked on the blacktop, long stiletto's replacing what was once meat. "Good evening handsome... I see you picked up some merchandise, perhaps something for little ol me? a BTL maybe?"

Most of the gangs on this side of town enjoyed the taste of Better than life chips, some of her friends were twitchy, a sign of BTL use among the augmented. As she circled the man Kraye, he leaned down and
placed the case on the floor, "Nothing for your boys I assure you... just a cyber part...". As she approached she eyed the man and slide a lithe arm around his shoulder, she leaned in close, breathing on his neck. "Well maybe, you give it to me, and I repay you in kind." She licked his cheek and giggled as she reached down for the case with her other hand.

In one fluid motion Kraye wrapped his arm around the women drawing her close and away from the case, spinning and kicking the case towards his car he flared his overcoat out revealing a large revolver at his waist, extending from his cyberized leg. The gang immediately advanced, several taking aim but refusing to shoot with the female in harms way. As he drew the revolver the cylinders on the smart-linked revolver rotated off the single deadly round to the gel rounds loaded in the 6 other cylinders. The first round took the lead ganger in the leg, knocking him clear off his feet and inverting his knee. The second round hit the gun of one of the gangers, sending it smashing through the glass window of the stuffer shack. The clerk inside scrambled to hit the "panic button" to send word to the lone-stars.

The lead ganger approached wielding a large pipe, as he swung it Kraye Leaned forward dipping and supporting the female, she seemed to enjoy the dance. Watching as the pipe narrowly
missed her partners skull. As the ganger prepared to swing again the blast of a third round went off, the hard gel round hitting him square in the skull, knocking him unconscious instantly and spinning him backwards to crumple on the concrete.

"I have to go, but do try to stay safe in case we run into each other again..." The ganger blushed visibly, the entire display so out of character with what she expected to happen. The thunk and jerk of Kraye's arm, followed by the sound of a micro-grenade landing near her remaining partners, jerked her back to reality. The small cylinder burst in a bright flash of light and chocking smog. Kraye stood upright releasing her before nodded his head. Allowing his eye-lenses to extend from their hidden slots in his temples, he proceeding to grab his package and slide into his vehicle. The car had been running for 10 seconds now, activated remotely during the whole fire-fight and the sound of sirens could be heard in the background, the man known to most as Kraye, formerly a SINNER corporate dog lone-star meatstick, now a fully augmented shadowrunner slammed his vehicle into gear and peeled out of the parking lot. A call was placed, "I have the package, I'll be pulling into your place within the hour my friend".

The female ganger watched as the light of the vehicle faded in the rain, she bite her lips as she held up a small swatch of synthpaper, a number scrawled on it... One of her boys yelled to get her attention, she withdrew the blood covered cyberblade into her wrist and smirked. She thought to herself, "Maybe she should of killed him, but this was more fun..."

HOI CHUMMERS! Update!

If you want more reading material, please bring a USB to the normal Tuesday L5R games.

For those who have the base book, make sure to read through it understand the rules, if you have questions let me know and start thinking about the concept for your character. You may also use a sample character if that looks like what you want. Let me know if you have any questions.

Within the next couple weeks I want to set up for a evening of sitting down, having a discussion of the campaign, characters, and watching something over some pizza... Right now I'm torn over blade-runner or one of the ghost in the shell animated movies. Let me know...