| From: | "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Changing the Shadowrun Paradigm (Was Re: Prime Runners) |
| Date: | Fri, 4 Sep 1998 00:04:28 -0400 |
harder
>to make NPC's that are Equal or Superior to the group, as well as design
>adventures that would interest them.
I've found that this is only true if you stick to the "Get Hired. Do Job.
Get Paid" school of Shadowrunning.
If the PC's are only in it for the money, then of course they will get tired
of running.
Once you have a few million nuyen, why should you risk your life for any
more?
Why not play the market and make cash that way? Or start a bussiness, become
a fixer, etc.
Changing the "Run Paradigm" will allow you to challenge your players.
>(If you've ever heard one of your players
>say "Why bother? I don't need the money." you know what I'm talking about).
>Their abilities and skill levels tend to send things out of control (though
I
>am considering framing them for a murder, having Lone Star freeze their
assets
>pending investigations [all the characters have *at least* one good SIN],
and
>making them run the border with only the clothes on their backs)
You've come to the right conclusion.
Making the runs "personal" will add a new level of tension to the game, and
allow the players to stick with those beloved PC's a while longer.
Ask Bull when the last time he got paid for a run was! (About a year ago,
IRL, moreso in game time IIRC.)
Most of Bull & Co's runs are dealing with complications from their wildly
successful shadowrunning careers.
I'm running a BIG (10 player) game this weekend that revolves around a PC's
wedding, another's wife and son, a Horror marked Munchkin, 2 "dead" clones,
and the pizza boy that kicked a shaman's ass in the first run he ever went
on!
At no time will the runners be paid for anything they are doing. The goal of
the game is mere survival
Living out the lives of those who have made their money on the mean streets
can be IMO more enjoyable that simply geeking yet another sec-goon and
taking the latest chip design from R&D.
After all when B&E and P&E become SOP you're SOL ASAP you SOB. ;-)
A FEW WAYS TO CHANGE THE SHADOWRUN PARADIGM
Give a runner a debilitating disease/curse - center the game around the
expensive search for a cure.
Offer the runners a chance to go legit - maybe Novatech needs some hot new
security consultants?
Concentrate on the runner's personal lives - that waitress you slept with a
year ago has a three month old that looks a lot like daddy.
Some things can't be solved with money and guns - The runners pissed off the
mayor oin their last run. Martial law is declared and heavy gun control
ordinances have turned the streets into a warzone between cops and gangers.
There's no biz while the battle rages. What do the PC's do?
Take their toys away - An old shaman tells a power hungry sammy that he has
the potantial to become a truly mighty magician ... IF he first removes his
cyberware and purifies his remaining essence.
Acts of God - Lightning hit the safe house. It burned down along with a LOT
of gear. Where do you find another Panther Cannon or Ares MP Laser when the
old one's a melted pile of slag.
Money Troubles - You bumped a guy in the street and he died. His family
wants 3.6 million nuyen in damages. Do runners have insurance? ;-)
Living Large - OK, you have a ton of cash and no desire to run anymore. How
do you enjoy those millions? Party Hearty and follow Mercurial around on
Tour? Finance a new Combat Biker Team?
Age - Most runners don't make big bucks fast. Age takes it's toll sooner or
later, even if the biz doesn't kill you. Your wires are so out of date
they're starting to short. No more SOTA upgrades sez the Doc. They gotta
come out.
Hobbies/Collections - If I had a few million, I could collect new cyberdecks
ever week, own a mansion staffed by swedish masseurs, and drive a gold
plated Nightsky. What would you do?
Benefactors - Most runners could have gotten off to a better start on their
careers if they had someone to guide and bankroll them. Maybe your PC's "pay
forward" by teaching some newbies the ropes. (This works especially well
when you add new players into an established team, right before the "Old
Guard" retires.)
Hope these ideas help. They've all served me well.
Steven A. Tinner
bluewizard@*****.com
http://listen.to/Tinner
"Save the whales! Trade them for valuable prizes."
