Shadowrun
Shadowrun General => The Secret History => Topic started by: farfromnice on <01-15-15/0956:00>
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In the third (and I think somewhere in the 4th but only a little bit) they talk about a Network of good deeds
I didn't found more information about it other then wild conjectures. Does some of you have more information on this ?
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Target: Matrix I think was the first appearance of it. (pg 98-101 for the fluff, pg 130 for the crunch)
It's an interesting plot tool and if you want some ideas on how it can play out, check out "Maneki Neko" short story in A Good Old-Fashioned Future (http://www.epiphyte.net/SF/old-fashioned-future.html) as Mr Sterling does something similar and is a fun read.
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I put that on my list, many thanks
I presume (and hoe) they will talk about in the incoming Matrix book. But for now, does some of you have stories about the eXchange. Good integration in a game
and maybe how it will work in the 5th matrix version ?
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It's less a matter of a matrix thing than it is something you can do with any player. They get the commlink with the red-embossed X (not just tape, but custom-made), and when they start using it, whomever is behind it starts tracking what they do. And then it starts asking for certain minor things, promising that the carrier - be he decker, rigger, samurai, or mage - 'karmic reward'. And often, later on, you can put in a request and voila', it will help you out.
But screw them over even once, and your life will become a living hell, at least for a little while.
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The way I did it in my game, is that the players can spend a point of edge to "call on the exchange" in a pinch (assuming that they are members and can access some means of communication), and then so long as they are in an accessible location they get a little help from the exchange. The tradeoff is that the more they use this service, the more the exchange expects them to do in return, which is a fun way to introduce odd side-jobs and new npc's.
My group also got tangled up with some AI's who may or may not be involved with the exchange (I read in one of the sourcebooks that it was rumored to be run by an AI, but I cant remember which one), which has been a lot of fun to play around with. They haven't chosen to betray or refuse the exchange yet, but there is some growing distrust of AI's among some of the players, though the consequences of messing with the exchange have been made clear to them (through in-game rumors that they've heard and researched and such).
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I have used the exchange a few times in my games. Usually as the red herring or a bait and switch of the main objective. (amazing how often that players fall for this)
Usually they receive a strange message on the commlink usually along the lines of:
"Leave a heavy pistol clip (15 rounds) of APDS ammo in the trash bin on 63rd and Heston St for a karmic reward in life"
"Buy the man in the green jacket in the ally way of 6th and 28 ave a Soycafe for good luck tomorrow"
If they do what is asked a few times, then suddenly things they need start showing up (or are guided to them by the commlink)
For example, they needed into a building, but the building used an old style tumbler lock and not a maglock...... Well, lo and behold, on the top of the door is an Auto-picker!
AS long as the players do what the exchange asks for (and it is usually pretty minor stuff) then the exchange also helps them out (again with pretty minor stuff). Basically it allows me as the GM to make sure they have that easily missed piece of equipment that is needed to advance the game that the players forgot... (No, they never get "good" stuff. Like a thunderstuck, or assault rifle... just useful, small cheap items)
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Ooo, I like that use of Edge, cyclopean.
And for the more expensive stuff, the Exchange has been known to provide an introduction - not always to a seller, but at least to someone who knows someone who's a seller.
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Ooo, I like that use of Edge, cyclopean.
And for the more expensive stuff, the Exchange has been known to provide an introduction - not always to a seller, but at least to someone who knows someone who's a seller.
I could see that.... and, I think it's a good option to include.
However, our table's social agreement limits what I will give them.
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Yeah, they've mostly used it to get introduced to the "right people" when they find themselves in a town where they don't have contacts. Been pretty handy!
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IMO, best way to use the X - if you gotta use it. There's been some question as to whether or not its goals are good things, though ...
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Anyone here watch the 'Person of Interest' TV show? Sounds like the Machine in 50+ years. Can't wait to use that as a fun plot device for my upcoming game. After all, why make Deus the only 'bad' AI around? ;)