[Artemis Entreri]

Hi folks!

In two days I'll have to demonstrate Shadowrun at our local convention. We are pretty experienced players, I'm the "usual dm" but still, I'd like to hear some advices and hooks for this first run of our lives.

I've created 4 ready to play-street level characters (Trideogame-nerdy Decker, Efl Shooter with a little child to mantain, female Human Face with hidden weapons everywhere and a "mind-field" controlling magician).
The idea is to create something around the idea of a group of appearently well-mannered guys, with actioneer business clothes and hidden weapons (with proper licenses and Fake SINs, obviously )... I wanted to create something like a "high society party" that degenerates during the night.

Couple of questions about this:
- should I create tham as "standard" character for full immersion and more believable capabilities? I thought lettin' them play the street level runners would have helped, but I don't know if it fits this type of run actually (I know I can tweak, but still...not totally convinced).
- the basic idea was "escort that important guy and take a look at him" during the party, so that they basically can socially interact with everyone, but still takin' a look around for possible dangers, that will eventually come.

Hooks? Ideas?

Thanks A LOT!
AE

[Namikaze]

I would say that for a street-level campaign, if these guys are being brought in it's to either be a distraction or (at best) as bodyguard detail.  There's no Mr. Johnson on the planet that would want the street rabble mingling with the rich and famous without a reason - and that reason should be a distraction for a different team.  Maybe the degradation of the night's event is the distraction for a stealth team that's working in a different part of the same building?

[LionofPerth]

I think you actually need to go to the other end, if you want my honest opinion. At that level, you don't get people who are inexperienced, or can't dress for the situation. They'd simply stand out too much, not just visually, but professionally as well. They wouldn't have the thousand yard stare, the constant, relaxed awareness, of professionals. The lingo would be beyond them. This is why you need the Prime level Runners here.

Yes, it certainly means more skills, but I think that's one of the strong points for this game. These characters if they're operating at the rich and famous level are not just going to be skilled, but capable of blending in, in a way that street levels punks simply couldn't.

I suppose without more details on just how you plan to run it and what you're trying to do, this is all I can say.

[Sternenwind]

I can think of 4 reason why some rich man should patronage some scums ... ähm shadowruner.

- To test, train and bind them, for a special job he cannot trust to some random scums
- To use them in a scheme as a scapegoat.
- For prestige. It could be that it is chick in his circle to have some shadowruner on back and calling.
- For entertainment. SR4A S.77ff Give every runner some free cyberware and a deltaware simsin recorder. The last on is not recorded on the character sheets.