[Shadowrun] Agents of the Dragon

[Krul]

Shadowrun: Agents of the Dragon - 2075 [current date in the game line]

- Prime Runners

Been craving a shadowrun game for a while, a few years back I tried it before here, and the game died when I was unavailable for more then a month...

However, after some thought, I don't want it to be a regular SR game either, I prefer something a bit more unifying this time... so, I was going to create another corporation but after some thought decided to stick with already established groups, but one that doesn’t have a lot of established information with regards to it.

Welcome to the Draco Foundation's covert branch, your handler (IE: Fixer, Johnson, Talsimonger, Emergency and Chief Contact), is the a Dryad by the name of Gwen, a Druid (With Great Mother Mentor Spirit), Dryad and a Drake (Feathered Serpent), to guide you in your actions working for the Foundation

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Now, if folks are interested:

character creation.. I completely despise the race costs, seeing no balance in them especially the variants and while I fiddled with using the Build Point system and revisiting the race costs, it came out to be to much of a pain, so I fall back to the Karma system once more, but after a bit of more thought, I decided I preferred Characters further developed then the base characters for this, so as agents of the foundation, your characters are more powerful then the norm [Prime Runners] - This is the chance to create powerful characters, or bring back old favorites of yours from past editions, etc.

Starting Karma: 1600 [build Point Equivalent: 800 - Yes, your a bit more powerful then the average starting character, by 100% in the case of the standard, and 75% case of the 500 BP version - making you folks Prime Runners]

Allowed Races(and no costs here): Any Metahuman (or variant there off, I see Changlings and Drakes as a Variant), any Metasapient

Not Allowed: Infected, Shapeshifters, AI's, Free Spirits [these are too much of a pain], no Latent Drake or Awakened either

NOTE: I'll accept a concept for a infected or shapeshifter character for review, but with provisions, PM me or talk with me in chat if your concept requires this..

Additionally, I will not accept either with cyber-ware, if you go this path, but I won't reject it out of hand, I am likely to have some requirements for qualities.

Further note, I will not accept a party of these either, there is a limit of one such character from either category... and it must have a good and detailed backstory.

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Changlings - You still have to stick to a theme regarding the Class of SURGE - Class One shouldn't be significantly different looking, Class Three should look dramatically different to the point of not entirely being certain as to what your original race was... but should still be based on a theme.. Your fine to pick up extra racial qualities beyond what your given if you like, but this does cost Karma.

Limits: No limits on Maximums, if you can afford it in terms of Karma, you can start with it, I don't care if you max out a dozen attributes and skills, or have twice the number of spells you should have, etc. || This doesn't mean you can exceed maximum stats for your race, just that you can have multiple stats at maximum and you still need magic/cyberware to reach above the Maximum. [Example: Human Max attributes are 6, Augmented is 9.. you can start with mutiple attributes at 6 and you still need special methods to reach their augmented maximum]

However: Avaliblity Index and Qualities are limited to double the normal.. 24A max for Avaliblity, and 140 Max Karma spend on qualities

Drawbacks: Because your being given so many extra points, I'm limiting points from drawbacks to 50 total [And no taking drawbacks that have no effect, also no drawbacks that would hose a shadowrun team]

Required: Do to advanced training and active field work, no attribute can be less then Average[3], this includes edge, and you must have a basic skill of 2 in Etiquette, Infiltration and Perception [or the group skills that use them], and 3 in dodge or gymnastics [or their group skills]. Furthermore, NO LONERS, you must be willing and even favor working together with your team [the other players].. Knowledge/Language Skills [Must spend a minimum of 30 Karma on these]

Initiation/Submersion: Yes, you can start with this, if you can pay for it out of Karma, Max levels is equal to your Essence [6], if you use the group and ordeal mechanic's, you must group with other PC's.. IN other words, if your essence is 6 you can raise your initiation level to 6, but not any higher at character generation, it can go higher later in play.

Alphaware, Betaware, Deltaware: Sense I'm allowing initiation for emerged/awakened characters, for Mundane's, if you can pay the cost (x2 for Alphaware, x4 for Betaware, x10 for Deltaware) that's fine, I'm willing to allow it, but this only applies to non-Awakened/Emerged Characters [though they can still purchase Alphaware as normal]

Special: As valued agents of the Draco Foundation, you folks get Medium lifestyle for free, as long as your willing to hang out at the Draco Foundation's provided living spaces.. if you want more or better, you'll have to pay for it.

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So, to make it easier, here's the costs at character generation

New Specialization - 2 Karma

New Knowledge/Language Skill - 2 Karma

New Active Skill - 4 Karma

New Active Skill Group - 10 Karma

New Spell - 5 Karma

New Complex Form - 2 Karma

New Positive Quality - BP cost x 2

Improving a Knowledge/Language Skill - New Rating

Improving an Active Skill by 1 - New Rating x 2

Improving an Active Skill Group by 1 - New Rating x 5

Improving an Attribute by 1 - New Rating x 5

Improving a Complex Form by 1 - New Rating

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Contacts: (Connections + Loyality) x 2

Resources: 2500Y per 1 Karma

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Sprites/Spirits: 2 Karma per Service Owed

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Bind Foci (And yes, you also have to purchase it)

- Power Focus - Rating x 8

- Summoning & Spellcasting Foci - Rating x 4

- Other Foci (Including Weapon Foci) - Rating x 3

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Questions?

[SalmonMax]

First, do we -have- to use Karma?

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Second, are there any qualities that are inappropriate for this game's setup, or that are required? Like, do we have to be SINners? Are there any stipulations on types of magic practiced, limits on available hardware? In particular, questions of cyberware quality aside, what about the Availability rating of gear? Still standard, or can we buy more sensitive/controlled stuff too? Just saw that part.

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No AI's? Aw.

[Krul]

Most of the qualities inappropriate to this setting are drawbacks.. there's no point in some of them, and others like - Borrowed Time, and Judas will be outright vetoed by me.. if it creates short term or long term problems for an long established team.. I'm going to disallow it..

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As to the character generation system.. I suppose, if folks prefer.. I could just give you double the BP's, but the Karma system comes with a 0 cost to races, and balances better with the eliminated cost..pure humans take the hardest hit in a 0 race cost BP.. at least in the Karma system, they get a little better, though not perfect even there. Also karma already has the costs of submersion/initiation built in, in terms of Karma.... though I could find a way to finagle that also, likely 1/2 the karma cost, rounded up..

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As to the disallowed character types, I disallowed them because of the problems they create, though I considered allowing everything but infected, but decided against it.. mainly cause of the problems they create... no reason you can't take an AI, Shapeshifter or a Free Spirit as a contact though.

[SalmonMax]

Okay, karma it is. My program looks like it handles both simultaneously, so it's okay.

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Hm...doesn't seem to have initiation or anything in it though. It seems designed for beginning characters. Well I'll figure it out.

[Sgt. Yseult Moreau]

Max - If you are using Chummer, using the Karma option for Character creation, you should have the option for Initiation, once you buy the Adept, Magician Adept, or Magician quality.

[Krul]

Overnight I had another consideration or two.. while metasapients are allowed, I think I'm going to limit it to Sasquatch and Pixie, some aspects game I have in mind will not lend well to Naga or Centaurs.

[Dave ST]

The problem with metasapients is that everyone gravitates towards those and what you end up with is a circus side show of seductive furry freaks, pixies, and fuzzy fools with automatic weapons.

[Jordan]

That sounds like the one and only Con I ever went to...

[Krul]

fair enough.. though I'm not going to allow that either.. I don't mind a pixie or two, but am not interested in a circus party for this.

[SalmonMax]

In fairness, I wasn't going for metasapient. I had a vague notion for an AI, but really, I prefer human characters for cyberpunk. And I see Shadowrun as cyberpunk first...fantasy second. Or even third.

[Justin OOC]

I'll see if I can work up something for this.

[Sailor OOC]

This is too juicy to ignore. Just a fluffy-type question before I start buying the Panther Cannon...

Are we going to be legit civilians (or legit civvies allowed) trained in things that would place us at this elite level before being placed into this organization?

Oh, and would anyone mind a combat trained support character to help the team? To keep it simple I am avoiding being the group hacker, rigger, mage, or sammy. I'm split between enhancing myself using magic as an adept or using bioware/cyberware though.

I also know we are covert, so, I will remember the little paranoia stuff like RF tag erasers and other annoying quibbles.

And yes, I can be reasonible and work with folks. I just got my favorite niche, and I think this time as we need to be a team I can cover my role very well. The character will also be scary competent in combat. Be sure of that.

[Krul]

Your background is up to you, as part of the covert ops arm of Draco Foundation, you can be legit and heavily trained, or former shadowrunner comming clean, or a drake taking refuge in the one group powerful enough to tell Great Dragon's to leave you alone.. or anything else that fits.

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With regards to characters, at the moment, Long is interested in a ranged combat focused character, so Fire Support, a mundane with cyberware/bioware, and perhaps some stuff more advanced then that.

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I think Max is thinking Matrix, based on what he's said, I think a technomage is what he's looking at, but I can't be completely sure yet..

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Others have piped in, but not with any particular intend to play anything yet..

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I'm not sure what anyone else is thinking, but there is plenty of room for further concepts, but I suggest going the adept with your concept, as it will avoid to much overlap with long's concept, and allow you to deal with things like spirits and other magical threats easier.

[SalmonMax]

The test workup I have so far is an adept stealth/infiltration specialist, but I can make a hacker if someone else wants to be an adept.

[Krul]

There is no reason we can't have more then one adept, as long as they aren't going for the same niche

[AceWildcard]

I am interested as well. I have a few ideas. Well two main ones. I been thinking magical/firearms basically heavy combat. Or someone who mixes stealth and combat.

[Sailor OOC]

My character will be more of a finesse-type that is both nasty with firearms and can patch the team up when necessary. Also as a tertiary consideration, be a mechanic. The concept is embryonic, I may do trimming or more detailing as time progresses. It'll be a week or two before it's set. At least I hope I got about two weeks time.

I see this as a chance for redemption for me in terms of SR on this site, and in general. Also it'll be a chance to bring a character into play I've tried to get working but never really got off the ground.

[Krul]

You have plenty of time..

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I am going to add a few house rules though

• Only pure (non-changeling) humans can take Type-O system (and to clarify, I take it to mean it doesn't effect cultured bioware), as human's are the baseline
• Only Mundane [characters without magic or resonance stats] characters can start with Deltaware.
• Maximum number of metasapient characters - two [first come first serve]
• Fomori - background says that they are more attractive and less intimidating, but stats don't bare this out, so I'm raising maximum charisma to 5 in their case, this is not a metagenic improvement, they still start with 1 in charisma, they just can get up to a 5 instead of a 4 in the case of most troll subspecies... they are also linked to Celtic background, so that should be part of your genetic heritage if you chose to be one of these... I realize this makes them the most powerful troll subspecies, but that doesn't bother me at this point.
• For Initiation/Submersion, once your Initiate/Submerged rating is higher then essence (meaning only after character creation at the earliest), you may chose to take a +1 Magic/Resonance instead of a new Metamagic/Echo.
• Again, for Initiation/Submersion, you may learn up to (Initiate Rating + Magic) Metamagic techniques/Echo's, but a teacher is required for such learning outside of the regular gain for Initiating/Submersion, and it costs 15 xp
• Drakes - starting breath weapons (as it's silly for all of them to breath fire, especially sea drakes so ) - Fire for Common, Lightning for Oriental, Frost for Sea, Acid for Feathered Serpents
• Shapechanging: A Note: All forms of shapeshifting do not work well with clothing, if your wearing armor and turn into a form bigger then your clothing (like a drake) your going to destroy the clothing/armor.. and a smaller form will become entangled in it.. this also applies to things like flesh to stone or turn to goo, both of which only effect flesh. What this means for a drake, is that magic based armor is the only thing that will stack with your nature armor in drake form
• NOTE: This isn't really a rule, but the Draco Institute is a bit more altruistic then the average shadowrunner, so your characters are likely a little more idealistic then most shadowrunners, just something to keep in mind.

[SalmonMax]

Hm. Casper might work for this after all... Adept McNinja.

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No one doing cyber/bio though? No one doing haxxor?

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Considering the possibility of a technomancer nao.

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lol

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I know, I know...I'm hopeless.

[Sailor OOC]

I had a giggle when I found this comment about shadowrun somewhere...

"The two axises of shadowrun alignment are pink-neutral-black and mohawk-neutral-trenchcoat.

pink-black is the CONCEPT, mohawk-trenchcoat is the ACTIONS.

A pink trenchcoat character can be defined as a character who has a concept that is 'wacky' or 'outrageous'--a wolf shapeshifter wandering swordsman, a troll luchadore, whatever; but who ACTS with a level of professionalism and subtlety that is, generally speaking, expected of the setting. THey do legwork, minimize casualties, and otherwise act as professionals should act.

COnversely, a black mohawk character is a character with a serious concept, that skips right to the 'blow everything up, kill all the witnesses, skip off to payment and quite possibly drugs and whores afterwards'."

"Red: It's unusual but not hugely crazy. The Mage of AMERICA, the Miko, the Native American Shaman

Suit: Generally pretty competent...but think Burn Notice. Micheal Westin will plan carefully...then he'll still thermite a guys car and get in a car chase."

Then someone posted up a good old "allignment chart" for it.

So... where would our game fit? Or your characters for that matter?

[Krul]

In terms of the game -

• Most Likely Pink - cause I'm allowing almost everything, and I've already heard from some people, that have some interesting concepts..like a Troll Mage/Face/Jack of All Trades
• Actions depends partly on players, but your employer would prefer the Trenchcoat path, however, success matters as well.

[SalmonMax]

Finished a very preliminary build for my technomancer, Death Otter.

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It's kind of sick what 1600 karma will buy. It makes me fear very much what more skilled/focused builds will be able to accomplish.

[Krul]

I have decided on a change, after a very long talk the other day on chat, that some of you were there for...

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I'll accept a concept for a infected or shapeshifter character for review, but with provisions, PM me or talk with me in chat if your concept requires this..

On a note, I will not accept either with cyber-ware, if you go this path, but I won't reject it out of hand, I am likely to have some requirements for qualities.

Further note, I will not accept a party of these either, there is a limit of one such character from either category... and it must have a good and detailed backstory.

[The Red Man]

Dibs on a vampire with a thing for females in uniform...

[Gabe OOC]

Guess I'm looking into some characters... still debating ideas.

[Sailor OOC]

Dibs on a vampire with a thing for females in uniform...

Depends on what you're meaning by "Uniform".

[The Red Man]

The Red Guy, as he is known, is on call for the Foundation as a supernatural extermination and containment expert. People aren't sure how old he is, what he is, or even whether he's a mage or an adept. He is a mystery wrapped up in a riddle enclosed in an enigma... with a huge expenses bill for nazi-themed hookers.

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... with big titties.

[AceWildcard]

How much money = karma do we used for buying items and such?

[Krul]

1 Karma = 2500 Nuyen

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spend as much Karma as you like, but remember that you'll need it for other things as well.

[Dave ST]

Hmm... if there's a Red Man... there needs to me a Method Man.

[Sailor OOC]

Just so everyone knows, I am trimming my concept a bit. I mean, now I feel what it is like to have a huge budget. You got all these ideas.

Anyways here is how it's going to go.

I will take up the mantle of being the Vehicle Rigger/Team Medic with melee re-enforced pistols. Yes, I'm taking levels in the firefight martial art. Also I'll nudge in some infiltration stuff.

I could explain how I can use pistols in melee... but never the less, pistols when re-enforced for melee are friggin' scary. Particularly when you chain a strike into some BLAM at point-blank ranges.

I'm also still debating on getting a shotgun to add to the close-in madness.

Aaaaanyways... off to building...

Oh... seriously thinking of being an Elf, although a Human can take Type O... Type-O + Biocompatability (Bioware) makes even Alphaware essence friendly...

[Vivi OOC]

Former Lone Star specialist, a human female majoring in longarms and heavy weaponry with minors in stealth and demolitions. Graduated magna cum laude from the university of Turn You Into A Fine Red Mist.

[Gabe OOC]

Going to do a ninja PC of some kind...

[Dave ST]

My PC will be a troll mage of some sort. Big, black, angry, and bald. He will not have a uniform or big titties. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause other players.

[SalmonMax]

You always ruin EVERYTHING!

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*storms off*

[Dave ST]

LOL! Ass hat.

[Krul]

So... I have names for the following..

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Max: Death Otter - Elven Technmancer, deeply submerged

Long: Ryan "Teach" Church - Heavily Augmented former Ares Security Chief, Gunner

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For the rest.. just a vague concept

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Revenant: Troll Mage Badass

Red Man: Vampire with a Thing for Chicks.. I expect something awakened as well.

Gabe: PC Ninja of some sort

Vivi: Maker of the Red Mist..

Tommy: Combat Rigger? Maybe?

[The Red Man]

Vampire with a Thing for Chicks in Uniform.

[Vivi OOC]

Viktoriya Orlov. Daughter of a Vory accountant and his mistress, she cut ties with Lone Star when both were killed in a raid. She has a few high-quality bioware augmentations, a somewhat limited grasp of English, an unsettling aptitude for large weaponry, and no apparent interest in acquiring the vast wealth many other runners crave. In her spare time, she studies architecture and the art of the Neoclassicists. Though not musically inclined herself, she does enjoy a good operatic aria- particularly when she's on a run. Wagner is a perennial favorite.

[Viktoriya Orlov]

Очень приятно.