[Looking for Players] Ace in the Hole (SR3) [Closed]

[Charybdis Richelle]

I am looking for 4-6 players for a new Shadowrun 3rd edition game. I am am just posting the teaser now. If I get enough interest, I will post the game FAQ.

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Ace in the Hole (AIH) Teaser

Ace in the Hole is a low-powered Shadowrun (3rd edition) campaign setting. The player characters are not full-fledged Shadowrunners yet. They are wannabes and newbies who are just breaking out onto the shadow scene. But, they do seem to have potential. Moreover, these PCs are those who have a reputation for restraint, for knowing when to use diplomacy and when to use force. These are not the types who go off half cocked or who kill for sport. Or at least that's what their street reps say. If they are more violent or impulsive, they have somehow managed to conceal it from the fixers and Johnsons they have dealt with.

All of the player characters live and operate out of Tukwila, a small lower- class neighborhood in the southern part of Downtown Seattle. While they may not all know each other at the outset of the game, they know many of the same people and places, and thus should feel a sense of connection to one another. To aid in this sense of connectivity, all of the player characters will receive an additional two contacts for free.

The first of these free contacts is Bill Sikes. Sikes more or less runs most of the seedy operations in the Tukwila area. He is primarily a loan shark, but he also runs the local protection racket. Sikes also charges the local street kids, joy girls, and boy toys a registration fee to do any business in his domain. Sikes himself is a swarthy Caucasian human who more or less epitomizes the image of white trash. He has beady dark eyes and dirty blond hair which he generally wears in a short ponytail. Sikes is short of stature and of patience, often resorting to violent means of resolution. When such measures are called for, Sikes usually sends 14 Week Freddy, his preferred leg breaker, out to handle matters for him.

The second bonus contact is Falstaff. Falstaff is a low end fixer who operates in Tukwila. He is basically reliable, if not truly "trustworthy". He stays bought and offers fair goods at only slightly outrageous prices and fences hot goods without pointing any fingers. Falstaff is also extremely paranoid. He rarely meets with anyone face to face, preferring to conduct business over the phone (with the vid off) or through intermediaries. Therefore, few people, and the PCs are no exception, actually know what Falstaff looks like.

[Juramenta]

Here is my official application.

Never played an adept or streetsam before in any edition.
So I'll be going for one of those.
It has been a very long time since playing shadowrun tabletop, especially 3e.
Reading the pdf's now, so it'll be fine.

[Charybdis Richelle]

Never played an adept or streetsam before in any edition.
So I'll be going for one of those.

Sounds good. I have not quite finished the FAQ, but I will post it if I get at least 3 more interested. A team of four to eight is what would work for this campaign.

I am probably only going to allow one magician (of any tradition)... Magicians are supposed to be rare. If we have a group of 8, I might consider 2, but that would be pushing it... and, no, a PhysAd does not count. I mean casters and conjurers.

[shaidar]

Oh, what sort of posting rate are you expecting?

I'm a little stretched, but I've always said to myself I'd sign up for a SR game if one ever turned up. I played some SR2e over 20 years ago and always enjoyed it.

[Leitz]

Oh, what sort of posting rate are you expecting?

I'm a little stretched, but I've always said to myself I'd sign up for a SR game if one ever turned up. I played some SR2e over 20 years ago and always enjoyed it.

Hey shaidar, check out her DM Bio. Probably 2-3 per week. You'll see more in the bio, so that might flavo(u)r your decision.

[shaidar]

Hey Leitz, thanks for the pointer

[Charybdis Richelle]

Oh, what sort of posting rate are you expecting?

I'm a little stretched, but I've always said to myself I'd sign up for a SR game if one ever turned up. I played some SR2e over 20 years ago and always enjoyed it.

Hey shaidar, check out her DM Bio. Probably 2-3 per week. You'll see more in the bio, so that might flavo(u)r your decision.

It is in my GM bio, which I tried to handle all of my expectations... But every 2-3 days is good.

SR3 is very similar to SR2, so you should have an easy time transitioning. Honestly, sometimes I mix them up in my head and have to verify which rule is to which version.

[Charybdis Richelle]

I noticed that somehow all of the links in my GM section are borked... I don't think I highlighted the wrong information, but maybe I did. Anyway, if anyone wants one or more of those links, let me know, and I will report them here.

[shaidar]

I noticed that somehow all of the links in my GM section are borked... I don't think I highlighted the wrong information, but maybe I did. Anyway, if anyone wants one or more of those links, let me know, and I will report them here.

Did you put the URL bbcode around them? Its the icon with the little chain, between the 'picture' icon and 'droplet' icon, 10th from the left. If you don't then the forum tries to interpret them but often gets it wrong.

My first thoughts to a character was a rigger, or some kind of tech guy, but not a decker.

[Charybdis Richelle]

I noticed that somehow all of the links in my GM section are borked... I don't think I highlighted the wrong information, but maybe I did. Anyway, if anyone wants one or more of those links, let me know, and I will report them here.

Did you put the URL bbcode around them? Its the icon with the little chain, between the 'picture' icon and 'droplet' icon, 10th from the left. If you don't then the forum tries to interpret them but often gets it wrong.

My first thoughts to a character was a rigger, or some kind of tech guy, but not a decker.

Yes, I did put the around them. So, I don't know what happened. Some of them, oddly, have ellipses in them like they are missing information in the middle. It's no big deal, really. I can try again if anyone wants to see the logs I linked.

I rigger would be great! A transportation person will come in very handy. It's really hard to build a rigger with 80 points and only 90.000 nuyen. But a PC can have dreams of someday.

[archolewa]

Hmm. Everything I know about Shadowrun, I learned from the Shadowrun Returns CRPGs (which is to say, I don't think I know anything about Shadowrun). But I loved the vibes from the games, and I agree with Charybdis about how awesome text-based RPG's are. So I'd be interested in playing, so long as folks are ok with having a total Shadowrun newbie along.

Maybe I'll bring in some version of my PC from the Shadowrun Hong Kong CRPG: a street samurai named Baby Blue. She was fun and intriguing, and it'd be interesting to explore her in a less rigid format.

[Charybdis Richelle]

Hmm. Everything I know about Shadowrun, I learned from the Shadowrun Returns CRPGs (which is to say, I don't think I know anything about Shadowrun). But I loved the vibes from the games, and I agree with Charybdis about how awesome text-based RPG's are. So I'd be interested in playing, so long as folks are ok with having a total Shadowrun newbie along.

Maybe I'll bring in some version of my PC from the Shadowrun Hong Kong CRPG: a street samurai named Baby Blue. She was fun and intriguing, and it'd be interesting to explore her in a less rigid format.

Newbies are fine... Everyone was a newbie once, and it means you come to the game with no preconceptions.

Old as I am, I still remember my very first SR session... after a month of sitting at the table, silent, because the GM required any new players to watch for a month before joining in. I was so overwhelmed because it was so different from AD&D, CoD, and GURPS which were the only systems I had played back then. I decided that my character would be totally ignorant about magic just so I didn't have to read the magic section. Man, it was fun the first time he encountered a fire elemental because neither he nor I knew that bullets don't work on the fragging things. But SR very quickly became my favorite system of all time... I even miss SR1 and the Turn to Goo and Turn to Tree spells...

Baby Blue sounds fun although you would need to figure out how, when, and why she moved from Hong Kong to Seattle and specifically to the Tukwila neighborhood.

[Charybdis Richelle]

I am nearly done with the FAQ. I just need to sleep on it, so I can revise and edit with fresh eyes. I also am getting a few friends to beta-read it.

For those who keep track of politics, history, and current events, the game will start on June 7, 2059. Dunklezahn was assassinated roughly two years ago. Tensions are heating up on the Corporate Council. Last night’s headlines read, “Fuchi Industrial Electronics sues Renraku Computer Systems in the Corporate Court.” Those who bothered to read the ezine or watch the trideo broadcast know Fuchi claims that Renraku is illegally using former Fuchi employee Miles Lanier’s trade secrets. Not that this matters much to you on the gritty streets of Tukwila.

[Gremlin]

I'm definitely interested in this. As I mentioned in the other thread, I'm more familiar with 2nd and 4th editions, but I'm sure 3rd won't be a problem once I brush up on it.

For character type, street shaman would be my first choice. I tend towards sneaky characters with a variety of utility when possible, so I wouldn't be making a character that's exclusively combat focused.

As for the 'metaplot', to be honest I never really kept track of the published material. The games I played in before were always pretty heavily customized by the GMs anyway. I do remember the broad strokes (Dunklezhan was a dragon, Fuchi and Renraku were megacorps, and I think Renraku build an arcology in Seattle?) but the metaplot kind of went off the rails with Night of the Comet in my opinion.

[Charybdis Richelle]

I'm definitely interested in this. As I mentioned in the other thread, I'm more familiar with 2nd and 4th editions, but I'm sure 3rd won't be a problem once I brush up on it.

For character type, street shaman would be my first choice. I tend towards sneaky characters with a variety of utility when possible, so I wouldn't be making a character that's exclusively combat focused.

As for the 'metaplot', to be honest I never really kept track of the published material. The games I played in before were always pretty heavily customized by the GMs anyway. I do remember the broad strokes (Dunklezhan was a dragon, Fuchi and Renraku were megacorps, and I think Renraku build an arcology in Seattle?) but the metaplot kind of went off the rails with Night of the Comet in my opinion.

Cool. Right now, of the players who have expressed interest, no one else has asked to be a caster. So, first come, first serve, you have it.

I set this game at the date I did specifically because it is about a game year before my personal SR Universe diverged from the main line. I hated Night of the Comet, so around then, I started evolving things my own way. But at the time frame I set this campaign, I was still in line with what was then still FASA. That's less new information for me to have to give to new players who don't know me well.

Now, if we keep playing long enough or I eventually start a game later in the timeline, my games would slide into my Free Seattle plotline, in which Seattle fights to become independent of the UCAS... But that's for another time.

Besides, in this low level of play, I doubt the PCs will be dealing with anything political -- unless someone takes Politics as a Knowledge Skill or a Hobby.

[archolewa]

Newbies are fine... Everyone was a newbie once, and it means you come to the game with no preconceptions.

Old as I am, I still remember my very first SR session... after a month of sitting at the table, silent, because the GM required any new players to watch for a month before joining in. I was so overwhelmed because it was so different from AD&D, CoD, and GURPS which were the only systems I had played back then. I decided that my character would be totally ignorant about magic just so I didn't have to read the magic section. Man, it was fun the first time he encountered a fire elemental because neither he nor I knew that bullets don't work on the fragging things. But SR very quickly became my favorite system of all time... I even miss SR1 and the Turn to Goo and Turn to Tree spells...

Man, you had to sit for a month without playing? I'm impressed by your patience.

Baby Blue sounds fun although you would need to figure out how, when, and why she moved from Hong Kong to Seattle and specifically to the Tukwila neighborhood.

Well, in the game she was originally from Seattle who went to Hong Kong to find her adopted father, but I'm not thinking the literal character from the game. More inspired by her, maybe steal some of the basic backstory. A street kid who ran with a gang, somehow got adopted by a volunteer at a local civic center. Left the gang, got mostly cleaned up, but in her late teen years couldn't pass up a chance to get back at someone who'd wronged her. Got caught, thrown in prison for a few years. Just got out of prison (maybe six months to a year ago?). Baby Blue is her old street name, and she dusted it off, figures that now she's got a record, more "honest" doors are pretty well closed to her. Probably early twenties.

[Charybdis Richelle]

Newbies are fine... Everyone was a newbie once, and it means you come to the game with no preconceptions.

Old as I am, I still remember my very first SR session... after a month of sitting at the table, silent, because the GM required any new players to watch for a month before joining in. I was so overwhelmed because it was so different from AD&D, CoD, and GURPS which were the only systems I had played back then. I decided that my character would be totally ignorant about magic just so I didn't have to read the magic section. Man, it was fun the first time he encountered a fire elemental because neither he nor I knew that bullets don't work on the fragging things. But SR very quickly became my favorite system of all time... I even miss SR1 and the Turn to Goo and Turn to Tree spells...

Man, you had to sit for a month without playing? I'm impressed by your patience.

Baby Blue sounds fun although you would need to figure out how, when, and why she moved from Hong Kong to Seattle and specifically to the Tukwila neighborhood.

Well, in the game she was originally from Seattle who went to Hong Kong to find her adopted father, but I'm not thinking the literal character from the game. More inspired by her, maybe steal some of the basic backstory. A street kid who ran with a gang, somehow got adopted by a volunteer at a local civic center. Left the gang, got mostly cleaned up, but in her late teen years couldn't pass up a chance to get back at someone who'd wronged her. Got caught, thrown in prison for a few years. Just got out of prison (maybe six months to a year ago?). Baby Blue is her old street name, and she dusted it off, figures that now she's got a record, more "honest" doors are pretty well closed to her. Probably early twenties.

That sounds great! Run with it.

[shaidar]

A rigger would be great! A transportation person will come in very handy. It's really hard to build a rigger with 80 points and only 90.000 nuyen. But a PC can have dreams of someday.

That's great. I guess the biggest issue is the cost of the cyberware. Best start saving.

[Juramenta]

I don't mind seeing party funds focused on getting certain players to get their 'must-have' gear first to make their role playable. We can always adjust the nuyen difference later, once they are good to go. I've settled on a physical adept. The concept will probably revolve around being an orc who is a graffiti artist. Lean on infiltration so I can paint at places I am not allowed to. I am still fleshing out the details.

[shaidar]

I'm thinking my character's family have had a mechanics business in the area for generations.

Gives him a reason not to cause too much trouble.