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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: frontendchaos@**********.com (Jim Montgomery)
Subject: magical encounters during a run
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 10:36:23 -0400
So I started running a solo campaign for my wife, who is playing an
ex-ganger shaman. The way I'm working it is that she has hooked up with
a "lowbie" shadowrunner team that mainly operates out of the Seattle
Barrens and runs there as well. The team consists of an NPC physad,
rigger, and decker, and now that they have some magical support, they
hope to actual make names for themselves. They've told their fixer(s)
they can handle more magical jobs now, and so their runs have that
aspect to deal with.

What I've been doing, and would like to continue doing, is fiatting the
different parts of the missions relegated to the NPCs. The results of
the decker vs decker stuff, the rigger vs external security, and adept
vs intrusion obstacles, are completely story based (weighted with
relative skill levels and whatnot). The main action in the scenario
focuses on the PC vs spirits/security mage/astral stuff. This keeps the
dice rolling down on my end and focuses the action where it matters.

So my question is, what kind of challenges would be good to present for
a shaman given this setup? It doesn't have to be strictly magical, the
character over time could definitely become hybrid shaman/shooter or
something (and will eventually be a drake, but not for a while, the
comet has not arrived yet). The opponents are not AAA corps or anything,
more like low rung Mafia/Yakuza families, gangs or local corps, and
possibly the bottom levels of a growing supernatural conspiracy
(revolving around Aztechnology using Theran blood magic augmentation
techniques to create corrupted super-soldiers). Ideally this means
magical opposition is equal, or rarely, superior to the PC, but given
the rarity of awakened spell casters, at these levels there's rarely
more than one magical opponent. This doesn't count summoned spirits or
paranimals, of course, just the defending mage or shaman.

Basically I'm getting to the point where I finally have a solid handle
on the magic rules, but now I could use examples of how those rules are
actually applied in the Sixth World. Any examples, or pointers to other
resources that might help, would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind
the framework I'm working in, though, and not so much a strict canonical
interpretation. My wife really doesn't have much context for the
intricacies of the SR universe, so I'm definitely tailoring it to be a
fun challenge on which to hang the soap opera framework she enjoys more
than anything else.

Thanks in advance!
Jim
Message no. 2
From: valeuj@*****.navy.mil (Valeu, John W. EM3 (AS40 R-3))
Subject: magical encounters during a run
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 17:52:35 +1000
<let's see... snip the interesting background>

>What I've been doing, and would like to continue doing, is fiatting the
>different parts of the missions relegated to the NPCs. The results of
>the decker vs decker stuff, the rigger vs external security, and adept
>vs intrusion obstacles, are completely story based (weighted with
>relative skill levels and whatnot). The main action in the scenario
>focuses on the PC vs spirits/security mage/astral stuff. This keeps the
>dice rolling down on my end and focuses the action where it matters.

>So my question is, what kind of challenges would be good to present for
>a shaman given this setup? It doesn't have to be strictly magical, the
>character over time could definitely become hybrid shaman/shooter or
>something (and will eventually be a drake, but not for a while, the
>comet has not arrived yet). The opponents are not AAA corps or anything,
>more like low rung Mafia/Yakuza families, gangs or local corps, and
>possibly the bottom levels of a growing supernatural conspiracy
>(revolving around Aztechnology using Theran blood magic augmentation
>techniques to create corrupted super-soldiers). Ideally this means
>magical opposition is equal, or rarely, superior to the PC, but given
>the rarity of awakened spell casters, at these levels there's rarely
>more than one magical opponent. This doesn't count summoned spirits or
>paranimals, of course, just the defending mage or shaman.

First off, what totem does your wife's character follow? In the run itself
could lie the challenge (prolonged indoor run for and Eagle, Horse or
Unicorn shaman), could be in the OpFor doing a lot of physical damage to the
team, but no kills (Bear and other healing totems), or maybe the site's
built on a Toxic area (You are in the barrens).

>Basically I'm getting to the point where I finally have a solid handle
>on the magic rules, but now I could use examples of how those rules are
>actually applied in the Sixth World. Any examples, or pointers to other
>resources that might help, would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind
>the framework I'm working in, though, and not so much a strict canonical
>interpretation. My wife really doesn't have much context for the
>intricacies of the SR universe, so I'm definitely tailoring it to be a
>fun challenge on which to hang the soap opera framework she enjoys more
>than anything else.

I remember reading that there are very little if any corp shamans, ("You try
telling Coyote he only has an hour for lunch.") so work the Hermetic angle.
So to keep it low.... no cyber para-critters, mages that are actively out in
the field instead of behind reinforced steel doors and walls and guarded by
bound spirits, and probably young ones that are head strong and tend to
screw up.

But if this is a one-on-one campaign, I say screw the rules and go for
style/story.
Message no. 3
From: frontendchaos@**********.com (Jim Montgomery)
Subject: magical encounters during a run
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 09:33:47 -0400
> First off, what totem does your wife's character follow? In the run itself
> could lie the challenge (prolonged indoor run for and Eagle, Horse or
> Unicorn shaman), could be in the OpFor doing a lot of physical damage to the
> team, but no kills (Bear and other healing totems), or maybe the site's
> built on a Toxic area (You are in the barrens).

Actually, I picked the Wise Warrior Idol for her (she really didn't
build any of the character beyond personality and appearance). It was
urban, feminine, and mechanically had good bonuses for her roleplaying
style.

> I remember reading that there are very little if any corp shamans, ("You try
> telling Coyote he only has an hour for lunch.") so work the Hermetic angle.
> So to keep it low.... no cyber para-critters, mages that are actively out in
> the field instead of behind reinforced steel doors and walls and guarded by
> bound spirits, and probably young ones that are head strong and tend to
> screw up.
>
> But if this is a one-on-one campaign, I say screw the rules and go for
> style/story.

I'm with you on the above, the environment is good for having young
magician opponents. While corps may not have shaman, the Mafia and
Yakuza certainly could.

Jim

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Thwap!