[hinchy58]

Hi all,

I was talking to a player tonight, they are building a character with a snake obsession (fine no problem). They mentioned they will be taking one of their snakes (possibly awakened critter, not sure but most people wouldnt be able to tell difference assuming).

Now the thing that has come up, I believe that most places would refuse entry and Johnsons would look at Runners bringing a snake to a meeting (being worn like a scarf) would be rather unprofessional. So I guess my 2 questions are.

1) Do people believe they would be refused entry in most places (even runner bars where people are armed)?
2) Will Johnsons consider it rather unprofessional and get treated as such?

[Coyote]

The Awakened World is more weird than ours is.

And the shadowrunning world is even moreso.

Yes, a snake as a scarf would be considered pretty weird, and also unprofessional by most Mr Johnsons. But in many places, probably not enough to refuse entry, and many Johnsons are at least somewhat inured to the weird. I mean, there are Nagas, Centaurs, and Pixies doing shadow work, humans who are half-mechanical, and crazy-eyed drug-using Voudoun mages across the table from the Johnson. One more snake-wearing weirdo just means that the group may not be the type to smoothly insert themselves into high society for a fashion heist... but if it has to be done, it's easier to leave the snake at home than for the other weirdos to appear normal.

My opinion as a GM is that anything reasonable that makes characters more interesting, makes the game more interesting and therefore fun for everyone.

[hinchy58]

I'm all up for making it more fun and stuff, I was just trying to think of the likely hoods since it was my initial reaction and probably something to be considered. How would you think people would look at it. Assume its a power critter, or even poisonous or just ignore it? Because most people (to me) are unlikely to be able to tell and will assume things which is where alot of this is coming from.

The fixer I was planning on using for this campaign was a high end, high society clients.

[Medicineman]

Hi all,

....
1) Do people believe they would be refused entry in most places (even runner bars where people are armed)?
2) Will Johnsons consider it rather unprofessional and get treated as such?

1) quite possible
2) also quite possible.
But maybe it depends upon the Char.
a black Mage or Voudoun would be more accepted with his Snake

As a GM you could give that Char a Freak Factor (like certain surgelings have) or make it a distinctive style ?

Question from me:
 how much is the Snake ?

He who dances with Snakes
Medicienman

[Reaver]

Well, Legally he's not getting into any restaurants, bars, or anywhere else they make and serve food.

(Reptiles contain Salmonella on their skin naturally. Which leads to HUGE cross contamination issues and even possibly DEATH when consumed by humans)


And good luck trying to hide/fit in! No everyone walks around with a Snake scarf you know. And those that do, tend to stick out in people's memory!

[farothel]

I would say it's a distinctive style at least.  On the plus side, as mentioned before, leave the snake at home and nobody will remember you.

[hinchy58]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, it definitely gives me stuff to work with. I hadn't thought about distinctive style, which I'll speak to the player about.

To answer the question about snakes, for generic mundane ones, I priced at 425 neyen, with 5-8 (r) for awakened ones I haven't worked out a formula for price yet but have done availability taking into account where the snakes are, how powerful, how intelligent, how wanted and how hard they are to get.

[Medicineman]

Just fyi
in SR4a Running Wild a nonpoisonous Snake is 100 ¥ and you need at least a low Lifestyle plus 25¥ a Month for support .
there's a table and also Rules for training them (in the German Wildwechsel its at Page 43 ).
  SR5 Howling Shadows won't help you much (unless CGL makes up its Mind, which I hope for )

HokaHey
Medicineman

[firebug]

Your "generic" Mr. Johnson, the white-collar managerial type probably would find bringing a pet very unprofessional--  Think about what it implies.

Unwillingness about small inconveniences; a bad sign for someone expected to do a difficult and dangerous job if they're not even willing to leave a snake at home.  Unprofessional to say the least.

Cares to little or too much about appearing tough.  Perhaps this person doesn't care at all how they appear.  Let's hope the job doesn't require subtlety, because someone who brought a snake to a meeting probably thinks subtlety is overrated.  Or maybe they're the other side--  Focused on looking cool or tough.  Even worse.  This means they're trying to intimidate (in a positive way) the Johnson, feeling otherwise insecure.  Probably loud, immature, so on.

Very attached to their pet.  A liability.  Animals are dumb.  Snakes aren't really trainable either.  Nor are they particularly tough when it comes to being shot at, even taking potential armor into account.  This person is likely to have something happen to their pet they stubbornly brought with them, and then compromise the mission in order to protect/save their pet.  The kind of person you want to avoid hiring.

Now, if they're a more "style over substance" Johnson, like some non-corp people (or an Evo guy...) then they might be as negative.  And of course, if they're a particular fit for the mission, then this doesn't matter anywhere near as much.

[hinchy58]

Thanks for the update on that Medicineman, I was not aware of that.

Thanks for the indeepth way of looking at this also firebug this will help alot for explaining this to the player(s) I think.