Shadowrun Pub
Shadowrun RPG => SR3 (Shadowrun 3rd Edition) General Discussion => Topic started by: Pimp-Boy 2000 on November 15, 2005, 01:35:54 PM
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Wordman put out a world map PDF file. That's where I got my "open-ended super campaign" idea.
Open-ended super-campaigns are the bread and butter of the post-apocalyptic genre. It takes a huge, huge, huge amount of effort and preparation on the part of the GM to pull off really believably, but it's totally worth it -- the world feels more alive, I think. And you can design campaigns and adventures within the structure of your super-campaign just as you would without having one.
Definitely my preferred method. It would be great for Shadowrun.
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Well, If someone else has the time to build a whole world, I wouldn't mind stealing it. I did it a couple of times in high-school... had teraign maps, individual kingdoms, countries, etc... was a whole lotta work; but it was nice.
-RuskiFace
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Well, I just read up on all the source material and design between sessions. I mean, the idea isn't to create a whole campaign, just keep track of the elements the players are looking at. I mean, Morrowind was a beautifcul game, but it didn't render the whole world at once, if you follow my analogy.
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Well, I'm pretty learned in the nature of Shadowrun's plot so such a thing is not difficult. It's really all about knowing which Source to read. Granted, I've read almost every sourcebook in print before 2003 which I imagine is not the case for you Pimp-boy. I've been falling behind lately, though.
I've also altered the nature of the Shadowrun contact system to allow for player influence. So a player gains influence points with an NPC which are added to dice rolls (like contact levels) but the number can change quickly based on the players actions and the personality of the NPC. The number can be negative as well, giving the NPC more dice to resist. This replaces the modifiers for NPCs being neutral, friendly, or hostile. NPCs who are highly influenced (Influence rating higher than Willpower) by PCs also change their behavior based on perceiving the PC's actions. So you could eventually turn Mr. Evil Wizard into Gandalf or drive a Shaman towards the Toxic path (though, it would be hard, because most magicians have high Willpower ratings, which are reinforced by the nature of their traditions)
The primary problem with SR3's contact system is that it doesn't allow for power levels. So instead, I simply give a number of different ratings for the NPCs abilities. Players can choose to have high-powered contacts but those contacts will always have higher rates (prices) than those that the player intentionally creates with lower stats. So if the player takes the time to "train" an NPC doctor fresh out of med-school with his money (NPCs gain Karma too, you know) his rates will stay lower for that player rather than a flash-and-chrome doctor with rating 9 Biotech who charges by the spoken word. In a sort of meta-gaming aspect, the players can force NPCs to challenge themselves and in essence improve them. This applies in reverse, whereby, the players spare their enemies so they can grow and pose a greater Threat to the players and increase their Karma as well.
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*shrug* flying by the seat of your pants is a must-have skill for any halfway decent GM.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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True. Knowing a little bit about what's going on adds a little more atmosphere. though.
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There are problems when things get too detailed and you start forgetting small but crucial details .
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I don't recommend smoking pot and playing any pencil and paper RPG... ever.
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*shrug* flying by the seat of your pants is a must-have skill for any halfway decent GM.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
Yeah, but doing it 100% is truly a gift, and that's certainly not where my talents lie. I'm good at believable and fairly consistent improvisation, but not quite stellar, if you know what I mean.
That pretty much is how I do most of my campaigns.
Mind you, if someone spots an inconsistance (and they are rare), they can usually get incorporated into the rest of the story, as a 'clue'.
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Well, If you are happy with it; why not!
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Yeah, maybe as a player, P-Boy, but a GM that's stoned cannot function properly. Ever.
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well, if the rest of the players were high, no one might notice.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Well the group I started playing with only allowed very specific consumables in the game area: Red Hot Fireballs, pretzel rods, Pepsi (not Coke), beer, and any baked good known to man.
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I tryed this 'eating while wearing rubber gloves' thing once for thoes... didn't work out.
same thing for not touching any of them and just dumping the bag into your mouth... removing the erant cheeto from your nose is a difficult task to do without
1) touching it
or
2) 'sneezing' it acrost the room.
-RuskIFace the Pirate
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You could designate a feeder position whereby they never touch any of the goods and feed each of the players?
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I don't think they follow a uniform dimension consistancy that would be necessary for a feeder system to operate without constant 'plugging'
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Just remind them that the alternative is an IV. Placed by untrained personel, and with no garantee as to it being a clean IV.
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LOL
"What do Gamers and Crack-Fiends have in common?"
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Uh... not much considering I don't like to smoke my Fritos...
Most people don't take Crack intraveinously(sp?)
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Or dead, one or the other :P
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*shrug* well, I was thinking more of 'any' vector to get a fix.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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(I just realized this post might get deleted, so I wanted to post to keep it open)
-kv
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Nice save, Kid_Vid.
Gabriel
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yea... we wouldn't want to have accidently flushed any holy crap down the drain when cleaning the system!
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Hehehehehe... holy crap.
Gabriel
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actually, that makes me want to make up a PC on D&D Online, named 'crap'
a human paladin.
he's holy... he's crap... he's... "Holy Crap!"
anytime someone calls his name: he's there to help! LOL
with fiber! and Muslex! and exlax!
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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lol.
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LOL, so what would his holy sword be named????
Gabriel
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the Enemaizer!
+5 Holy Prostate Inspector!
LOL
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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And his Shield? Armor?
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Depends!
HAHAHAHAHAH!! Get it??? ;D
Gabriel
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hahaha
-RuskiFace the Pirate
poop is funny.
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And he'd be sworn to protect the Porcelain Throne?
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and the lords and ladies of 'blue flush'
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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And has connection with Captian Tidy Bowl of the royal blue navy???
Gabriel
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that's a level 2 contact.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Aye, Lord Holy Crap! We be needin' yaer halp! A great threat of offal has come! With thy DuPont/Clorox taflon armor we naed yae to defeat thas mahnahce!
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We have nothing to fear but corn it's self! ask not what your fiber can do for you! I have a dream! 4-ply quilted in every outhouse!
(that should be worth +1 moral or something)
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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All of his vassals are janitors... Ahem! Custodial Protectors.
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Sanitation Engineers. (Gotta love Roger Wilco)
-kv
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would their space program use solid waste booster rockets?
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It uses magic green crystals.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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That smell Pinetree fresh. The good-smelling space program.
Gabriel
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yup. the aliens apriceate it too.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Well, they don't call it a poop deck for nothing. . .
And the sword should be "Holy Crap on a stick!"
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Nah, that's what they use to swab the deck.
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Or anoint the blessed. :-\
Gabriel
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"With this Tidy-Bowl, I thee Wed."
-kv
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burried in a landslide of urinal cakes.
-Ruski
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Would that be heaven or hell?
-kv
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Well, after a life of Drek... what would you expect?
-Ruski
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No, it just reminded me of an old Calvin and Hobbes, where Calvin asks Hobbes where he thinks we go when we die. Hobbes responds "Cleveland." and Calvin asks "If we're good or bad?"
-kv
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I remember that one. I think I have the book.
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Calvin also thinks the Earth should impose a cover charge to keep out the riff-raff.
I recall a bud whose character became so powerful that he managed to accidentally make himself a god, since he was too lazy to really do up a church and a following and since he preferred the life of a rake hell he figured his churches should be brothels and his mantra: at least we mop.
Bet they had a cover charge ;D
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well, I don't think he'd have any shortage of followers in seattle.
-Ruski
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Now that sounds like my kind of religion. I wonder what kind of prayers they offered up to him???
Gabriel
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just recite any spice-girl song you can think of.
-Ruski
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Probably not anything articulate, just a lot of grunting and moaning no doubt
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LOL.
Gabriel
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It ingenious really if gods count strength on prayers - every moan, every grunt thats a prayer to this guy :) Like eating deity popcorn
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You know, I don't think I want to eat THAT flavor of popcorn. So was he just the god of sex or was he a god of vice???
Gabriel
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He claimed brothels - that way he didn't have to establish anything and the client base was in place.
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Well damn, that's actually pretty good. Did he actually TELL anyone he was the new god of brothels??? Kind of hard to pray to a namelss diety.
Gabriel
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Well he told us....but then he and one other of aour party were the only ones to make those kinds of friend....
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Cover charge?
That's tithing. . . Gotta support the clergy. . .
So. . . did he have Pimp-Paladins?
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Nope just a pair of scoudrels doing scoudraly things. The paladins did paladin things, and I established an orphanage. Well, ya gotta spend the loot somehow.
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well that was nice of you.
ya' know, every most evil superhero ever has to forclose on an orphanage. it's good to see that you got a decent start.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Well I also bought a disgustingly huge house and a stable full of nice horseflesh....
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horse always tasted kinda stringey to me.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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LOL She was way past the need to eat them, but she did hunt dragons for the hell of it.
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well, everyone's got to have a hobby.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Yeah, right up until the dragons start holding a grudge.
Gabriel
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can dragons hire ninjas? I think they have enough money to...
-RuskiFace the Pirate
watch out for ninjas!
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Beware ninjas delivering hamburgers...
Gabriel
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If honorable customer does not tip, then they must be prepared to face the consequences. . .
You are in a fast food resturant.
There is a sign here.
>Look sign
The sign reads
"Just shout your order.
We will hear you.
The cost of the meal has
already been deducted from
your wallet."
The sign continues
"You meal is in the bag on the counter behind you.
Thank you for shopping Ninja Burger!"
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I thought they were cutting back on the delivery bit?
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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If honorable customer does not tip, then they must be prepared to face the consequences. . .
You are in a fast food resturant.
There is a sign here.
>Look sign
The sign reads
"Just shout your order.
We will hear you.
The cost of the meal has
already been deducted from
your wallet."
The sign continues
"You meal is in the bag on the counter behind you.
Thank you for shopping Ninja Burger!"
LOL! You know, I just bought this game and haven't had a chance to play it yet.
Gabriel
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I read the synopsis on it, but didn't buy it. any good?
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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I will refer you to the previous text in which I state that I haven't played it yet. ;)
Gabriel
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I gathered that. I was hoping to hear from someone who had.
-Ruski
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I remember a tale of an SR team that actually took a gig from a dragon. When they showed up to collect their fee the dragon said he would rather fry them. Head runner leveled his smg at the pricless chinese porcelin collection and tells the dragon he bets he could take out more than their fees worth before he goes down. The dragon paid and the runner got karma.
Cranky bastards those dragons but they do make spiffy boots....
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hahahaha... I bet thoes runners spent some quality time in hiding though...
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Then again, I could see some respect coming from the dragon in that case. Respect being a relative term. . .
To have the Chutzpah to meet the dragon, and walk away with your reward, that says something. Not to mention the fact that you threatened the dragon's possessions (Not unlike threatening the dragon itself. . . )
If I were the dragon, I'd hire those runners as personal staff. . .
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Or personal appetizers. ;) But that is a wiz story.
Gabriel
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Dragons have an unusual way of dealing with the Young Races, insofar as they are puppets and only tend to destroy those who actually frag them over. One way to sucessfully deal with a dragon is to bring along a magician and have the dragon and the runners swear an Oath. Even without blood magic, a dragon literally swearing an Oath is often enough to make them see through on their bargain.
Just be careful how you word it... Monkey's paw and all...
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"there's nothing in the bargin about me letting you live AFTER I pay you! MUHAHAHAHAHAHA" *chomp*
"Hmm... thoes runners never did withdraw their certified funds..."
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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Precisely. Unless the dragon promises not to frag them over.
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but his secretary didn't get the memo, and pushed the trap door to the lava-pit as they walked through her office.
pitty.
-RuskiFace the Pirate
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"I didn't frag them over, but those unfriendly looking troll gangers sure did. . ."
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LOL...good one.
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Right, but if the runners did a good job, then that would be like throwing away a tasty lollipop before you get to the yucky center, ya know?
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Well, the dragon could always make the runners sign an exclucivity (is that a word?) contract.
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I think you mean "exclusive", but we know what you mean ;)
The secret to dealing with dragons, is that if you can wing it, hide C4 under your coat. More than you need, more than you can pay for. If all goes well, you can return it/sell it and be OK.
Then again, if you are Fire-breathed, or lightning blasted, then it's not your problem anymore, now is it. . .
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C-4 has to be detonated. An eletrical current might set it off, but fire wouldn't. And I'd hate to live through the lighting bolt only to be blown up by my own defenses.
It doesn't say "Deal with a dragon cautiously." The Phrase is: "NEVER DEAL WITH A DRAGON!"
My Dad said it was like playing chess with a grand master who hates you.
Whatever that means.
-kv
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Hey, there is no big secret to dealing with one of the wizworms. Just don't do it if youcan help it. And if you can't, then try to enjoy it while you can.
Gabriel
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Topic, people.
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So the wiki sites on SR, I saw them before I found this site. Nicely set up, but it's nothing new if you have read the books. . .
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Topic, people.
Oh come on, like the first words out of your mouth if you ever met a dragon wouldn't be HOLY SHIT!!!!!!
Gabriel
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More likely 'My Apologies Sir", and back out...
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"Or madam. . ."
Course if you know enough about Dragon physiology and anatomy to know the difference, you're probably better off dead. . .
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You could use the terms "almighty" and "fearsome"- they're gender-neutral, and probably would stoke dragon egos. ;D
-kv
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No, I think I'll just stick to "oh drek."
Gabriel
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There are similiar rules, used with zombies and dragons. . . Save a bullet for yourself. . .
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Yeah, just don't say the words "O Great Dragon" to a regular dracoform. It's demeaning and insulting, you know.
Better off using whatever name they tell you. Mostly because you might offend a Dragon using their Dragon-to-Dragon name, like Doll-Maker or Gold Master.
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Or worse yet, hey you Big Fraggin' Dragon. Might go over well, and might get you deep fried.
Gabriel
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all depends on how badly you fragged up on the mission im sure if you pulled off a flawless victory they will let you get away with it
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Maybe. Of course it all depends on the dragon I suppose. I think if I ever had to MEET Lofwyr, I'd just go ahead and shoot myself in the head and save everyone the trouble.
Gabriel
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I doubt you would ever directly meet him. He's probably cooped up in his super-communications room micro-managing his corporation.
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I certainly hope you're right.
Gabriel