| From: | "Gurth" <gurth@******.nl> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | (Fwd) Lone Star |
| Date: | Thu, 18 Apr 1996 11:41:38 +0100 |
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 1995 05:51:29 -0500
Reply-to: nerps@********.itribe.net
From: "Gurth" <gurth>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nerps@********.itribe.net>
Subject: Lone Star
PEE CEE COPS
Shadowrunners and laws have a love-hate relationship, most of the time biased heavily
toward
hate's side. But what if some enterprising player wants to be one of the "good
guys," or to
put it in other words, a police officer? No rules or even guidelines for that in the
Shadowrun
rules, quite rightly so too, considering the background of the game. Yet, it might be an
interesting experiment nonetheless.
Very important is that the gamemaster at least has access to the Lone Star sourcebook,
FASA
number 7115, in order to get a good grasp of what it's like to be a cop in the Sixth
World.
Probably also useful, although I have never seen it up close (or from a distance, for that
matter), would be R. Talsorian's Protect and Serve, which details the police in the
Cyberpunk
2020 RPG. Articles, books, documentaries, and possibly even cop shows on tv or those
reality-tv
thingies, about American police can also be quite handy for ideas--both for playing your
character and for ideas for adventures.
Starting A Campaign
First of all, it should be stressed that all characters should be law enforcement officers
for
a "cop campaign" to work. If we take, for instance, four players, and one wants
to play a street
samurai, the second a combat mage, the third a merc, and the fourth a cop, things will
most
likely not work out very well--one of the characters would either be busting the others
all
the time (probably not good for inter-player relationships), or she'd get into _deep_ drek
with his superiors for aiding known felons (probably not good for player-GM
relationships).
There are some solutions, though, so you don't need to give up just yet. One is to go
ahead
as described above, and see where the ship runs aground. Go with the flow, until the flow
stops.
Then either try to save the mess, or quit and make new characters.
Another option is to make all characters law enforcement officers even though they may be
street
samurai, combat mages, and whatnots. Street samurai? Chromer cop. Combat mage? DPI combat
mage.
Merc? FRT trooper. For nearly any kind of regular shadowrunner, a Lone Star equivalen can
be
found if you look hard enough. And if that still doesn't work, make them "irregular
assets" that
get called in when the Star can't be seen handling a certain situation.
The last option mentioned here is the one that requires good thought, good roleplaying,
and a good gamemaster. It is to make one (or more, but preferably only one) of the PCs an
under-cover cop infiltrating in the shadowrunners' little world. Why he would do this is
up
to the player and gamemaster to ponder about, but once a plausible reason has been
invented,
only the player actually playing the cop should know what his or her character really is.
Then
have him go along with the players, acting like a regular shadowrunner, and at the same
time
double-crossing them so his superiors can get a fix on who to arrest. The superiors might
even
be tempted to help along, making life easier for the shadowrunners without them knowing
it, in
order to keep the agent undercover with a false identity instead of underwater with
concrete
shoes on. (Such as shipments of narcotics into a certain country on the North Sea...)
Wages
People working for a corporation get paid for it. They wouldn't if they didn't, would
they? So
players playing the role of police officers should receive a paycheck each month from
which
they will have to try and live like good citizens do.
[Note: I need info here on how much cops would make in SR...]
All police officers naturally have a SIN, like any other citizen. Without a SIN, it would
be
rather hard to become a police officer in the first place (although there might be some
private
security firms that don't have such a silly requirement...).
Other Law Enforcement Agencies
Although this article focuses on Lone Star, the main security provider in Seattle and many
other
North American cities, there is no reason why it could not be adapted to other
corporations.
Knight Errant, Eagle Security, and so on could all very well be represented. The
gamemaster
needs to make up his or her own requirements for those; base them on NPCs published in
FASA's
adventures and you're on the right track already.
THE CHARACTERS
Career
What will from now on be referred to as a "career" in this article, is a short
way of defining
a policeman: foot patrol officer, DED trooper, etc. To make things easier, we'll assume
all the
NPCs on pages 126 to 132 of the Lone Star sourcebooks represent a career within Lone Star.
Race
It's recommended not to use the More Metahumans optional rule, seeing that more than 80%
of the
Lone Star street cops are humans, a figure that's even higher in administration. Senior
management (admittedly, not many players will be here from the start) even has 98% humans.
Magic
Since Lone Star employ magicians, there is no trouble with playing a magically-active cop
character. These will nearly invariably end up in the Department of Paranormal
Investigations
(DPI, or "Dips"), except for the few that become SWAT team members or perform
similar functions.
Skills
All Lone Star officers must take the following skills; these are learned as part of basic
training.
Etiquette (Corporate): 2
Firearms: 3
Police Procedures: 3
Unarmed Combat: 2
Some additional skills must be taken for a number of careers. This makes some careers only
available to characters with a certain number of Skill Points, as indicated.
Resources
Although it is tempting for many players to start with 400,000 or even 1,000,000 nuyen, it
is recommended that the gamemaster prohibit this unless the player in question wants to
play
a chromer cop, or an other kind of cop characters who needs lots of money or Force points.
Ordinary beat cops rarely accumulate gear and vehicles worth several hundred thousand
nuyen
without winning the lottery at some point in their lives.
Must-Buy Equipment
All Lone Star player characters start with the following equipment, which they must buy
from
their Resources money. This list has been compiled by looking at the main text and the
NPCs
in the back of the Lone Star book, and simple common sense.
If players want to start with less nuyen than required to buy this equipment, the
gamemaster
has the option of either not allowing the player to make a cop character, or to allow him
or
her to buy the equipment from the 3D6x1000Y each character receives at start-up.
-Basic equipment: belt, flashlight, holster, uniform, etc. (all-in price: 450Y)
-Helmet in Lone Star style (SRII p.257, 200Y) with integral commlink (500Y), total
helmet cost 700Y
-Life signs monitor/Medical beacon (LS p.117, counts as Basic DocWagon Contract, 5,000Y)
-Low lifestyle (1,000Y) or higher
-Pistol or revolver (cost varies) with 3 full reloads of regular ammo (cost varies)
-Stun Baton (SRII p.254, 750Y)
-Vest with Plates (SRII p.257, 4/3 armor, 600Y)
Total cost (including Low lifestyle): 8,500 nuyen + weapon & ammo cost
All this equipment is that required for "the job," except maybe the lifestyle.
The reason for
that one is that Lone Star does not hire people without a reliable way of contacting them
at
their home address. Coffin #15184, Novelty Hill Sleep & Eat, Redmond is not the place
to live
if you aspire a law enforcement career.
Characters can buy any other equipment, for personal use, from any money left over. They
should,
however, think pretty hard about buying items that are outright illegal, or about permit-
required items without buying a permit. If the boss finds out they could very well be in
trouble.
Some careers require additional equipment which must be purchased at character creation.
Note that police characters do not need to buy vehicles except for personal use; these are
issued by Lone Star when needed--a cycle patrol officer will be issued with an
Electraglide-
1000 and all the stuff the machine carries when she's on duty.
Contacts
All cop characters must take a Street Cop contact, or any contact from the Lone Star book.
This contact is one of the two free contacts the character receives. A Gang/Tribe is also
recommended, representing the police department as a whole, although gamemasters may find
this creates problems for characters with little Resources money. In such a case, either
disregard the Gang/Tribe contact requirement for all players (not just for the ones with
too
little money), or start those characters who can't afford it off as new recruits who
haven't
really got to know the corporation's way of working yet.
Apart from these restrictions, the players are free to choose contacts as they like,
although
it should be clear that some contacts would be frowned upon by the brass--a street cop
having
close relations with the Yakuza might find himself having to explain just what those
relations
really are...
CAREERS
Following are short descriptions of each career, including any required skills, Attribute
values,
and/or equipment. Unless otherwise noted, all careers require the basic skill package and
the
basic equipment package mentioned above in addition to the skills and equipment listed
below.
Skills listed are the minimum required--they are learned in training at the level
indicated.
Many officers have higher skill levels. If Attribute minimums are indicated, this is for
humans.
Metahumans should apply their racial modifiers to the values--if Body 4 is required, an
ork
should have Body 7 for the same job.
The "total costs" are only for the required skills and materials; the optionals
have not been
included. The basic packages have been included, however.
Airborne Patrol Pilot
Skills: Rotorcraft 3 (preferably specialization inWasp or Yellowjacket at higher level).
Cyberware: none required, but vehicle control rig recommended.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: Armed Combat and Etiquette (Street) skills recommended. Wasp or
Yellowjacket helicopter issued when necessary.
Total cost: skill points 13, monetary 8,500Y
Auto Patrol Officer
Attributes: Body 3, Quickness 4, Strength 3.
Skills: Car 3.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: Armed Combat and Etiquette (Street) skill recommended. Ground
vehicle issued when necessary.
Total cost: Attribute points 13, skill points 13, monetary 8,500Y
"Chromer Cop" Patrol Officer
Skills: no extra required.
Cyberware: any desired by individual.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: Armed Combat and Etiquette (Street) skill recommended.
Heavy cyberware recommended. Additional weaponry recommended.
Total cost: skill points 10, monetary 8,500Y
Corpsec Officer
Skills: Interrogation 1
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Beretta Model 70 with 3 clips, Partial Heavy Armor (6/4)
Extra notes: Car and Etiquette (Street) skills recommended.
Total cost: skill points 11, monetary 19,607Y
Cycle Patrol Officer
Attributes: Body 3, Quickness 4, Strength 3.
Skills: Bike 3.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: Armed Combat and Etiquette (Street) skill recommended.
Ground vehicle issued when necessary.
Total cost: Attribute points 13, skill points 13, monetary 8,500Y
DED Trooper
Attributes: Body 4, Quickness 4, Strength 3, Intelligence 4.
Skills: Firearms 4, Stealth 2.
Cyberware: Smartlink, wired reflexes (1).
Equipment: Full Heavy Armor (8/6), H&K MP-5 TX with 3 clips
Extra notes: pistol recommended.
Total cost: Attribute points 17, skill points 16, monetary 86,985Y, Essence 2.5
Division of Investigation Detective
Attributes: Intelligence 4.
Skills: Computer 2, Electronics 2, Etiquette (Street) 3, Interrogation 3,
Police Procedures 5, Psychology 2, Sociology 2.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Armor Jacket (5/3)
Extra notes: Armed Combat skill recommended. Various intrusion gear recommended.
Total cost: Attributepoints 9, skill points 29, monetary 9,400Y
D.P.I. Combat Mage (Astral Back-Up)
Skills: Conjuring 4, Magical Theory 4, Sorcery 4.
Spells: Clairvoyance 3, Confusion 3, Control Actions 3, Detect Enemies 2, Manabolt 4.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: no cyberware recommended. Various foci recommended.
Total cost: skill points 22, monetary 8,500Y, Force points 15
D.P.I. Combat Mage (Special Ops)
Skills: Conjuring 5, Magical Theory 5, Sorcery 5.
Spells: Bullet Barrier 4, Clairvoyance 3, Detect Enemies (Extended) 4, Mob Mind 3,
Spell Barrier 4, Stun Bolt 4, Wrecker 4
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Full Heavy Armor (8/6), Uzi III with 3 clips
Extra notes: no cyberware recommended. Most are initiates and cannot be created as
beginning characters. Various foci recommended.
Total cost: skill points 25, monetary 29,259Y, Force points 26
D.P.I. Combat Mage (Standard Back-Up)
Skills: Conjuring 4, Magical Theory 3, Sorcery 4.
Spells: Bind 2, Clairvoyance 3, Confusion 3, Mana Bolt 3, Personal Combat Sense 4.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Armor Jacket (5/3), Uzi III with 3 clips
Extra notes: no cyberware recommended. Various foci recommended.
Total cost: skill points 21, monetary 10,144Y, Force points 15
D.P.I. Mage Detective
Skills: Conjuring 3, Magical Theory 5, Sorcery 4.
Spells: Analyze Device 3, Analyze Truth 4, Clairvoyance (Extended) 3, Detect Life 3,
Mind Probe 2.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: no cyberware recommended.
Total cost: skill points 22, monetary 8,500Y, Force points 15
Foot Patrol Officer
Attributes: Body 3, Quickness 4, Strength 3.
Skills: Etiquette (Street) 2.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: Armed Combat recommended.
Total cost: Attribute points 13, skill points 12, monetary 8,500Y
FRT Trooper
Attributes: Body 5, Quickness 6, Strength 4, Intelligence 4.
Skills: Car 2, Firearms 5, Stealth 4.
Cyberware: Smartlink, wired reflexes (1).
Equipment: Full Heavy Armor (8/6).
Extra notes: Weapons issued depending on current function in FRT (see pages 33-35 &
130,
Lone Star).
Total cost: Attribute points 21, skill points 21, monetary 28,500Y
Highway Patrol T-Bird "Jammer"
Skills: Vectored Thrust 3 (preferably specialization in GMC Harpy at higher level),
Vectored Thrust B/R 4.
Cyberware: Vehicle control rig (3).
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: vehicle issued when necessary.
Total cost: skill points 17, monetary 308,500Y, Essence 5
Riot Control Constable
Attributes: Body 4, Strength 4.
Skills: no extra required.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Armor Jacket (5/3), Large Riot Security Shield (+2/+0), Net Gun, Scorpion
Machine Pistol with 2 clips Gel ammunition
Extra notes: Etiquette (Street) skill recommended.
Total cost: Attribute points 12, skill points 10, monetary 13,500Y
SWAT Combat Mage
Skills: Sorcery 5, Stealth 1.
Spells: Clairaudience 4, Clairvoyance 4, Mana Bolt 4, Stun Ball 5
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Armor Jacket (5/3), Scorpion Machine Pistol with 2 clips
Extra notes: no cyberware recommended. Various foci recommended.
Total cost: skill points 16, monetary 10,250Y, Force points 17
SWAT Decker
Attributes: Reaction 5.
Skills: Computer 5, Computer B/R 3, Computer Theory 5, Electronics 3, Stealth 2.
Cyberware: Datajack, headware memory (30 Mp)
Equipment: Partial Heavy Armor (6/4), Scorpion Machine Pistol with 2 clips, Sony CTY-360
cyberdeck.
Extra notes: cyberdeck is usually highly modified.
Total cost: Attribute points 14, skill points 28, monetary 123,750Y, Essence .5
SWAT Rifleman
Attributes: Body 4, Quickness 5, Strength 3.
Skills: Firearms 4, Stealth 2
Cyberware: Wired reflexes (1)
Equipment: AK-97 with 3 clips, gas vent 2, and laser sight, Armor Jacket (5/3)
Extra notes: none.
Total cost: Attribute points 15, skill points 13, monetary 11,278Y, Essence 2
SWAT Sniper
Attributes: Reaction 5.
Skills: Firearms (Sniper Rifles, Ranger Arms SM-3) 6, Stealth 3.
Cyberware: Smartlink.
Equipment: Ranger Arms SM-3 with 20 rounds regular and bipod.
Extra notes: none.
Total cost: Attribute points 14, skill points 14, monetary 15,440Y, Essence .5
SWAT Spotter
Skills: Stealth 3.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: Thermographic binoculars.
Extra notes: none.
Total cost: skill points 13, monetary 8,850Y
Undercover Agent
Skills: Acting 4, Disguise 2, Stealth 3.
Cyberware: none required.
Equipment: no extra required.
Extra notes: civilian clothes, equipment, etc. required, but left to the agent's
discretion here.
Total cost: skill points 17, monetary 8,500Y
Watcher
Skills: Computer 3, Electronics 5, Electronics B/R 3, Etiquette (Street) 3, Stealth 5.
Cyberware: Radio, vehicle control rig (3)
Equipment: Beretta 200ST with 2 clips.
Extra notes: other equipment issued as necessary.
Total cost: skill points 28, monetary 9,354Y
--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
there's a hope please send it faster don't forget to pass a riot
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-
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--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Maybe I'm all messed up. But this is the only time I really feel alive.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Character Mortuary: http://huizen.dds.nl/~mortuary/mortuary.html <-
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