[Bull]

Thirdly, does the karma that we get at character creation count towards retirement as a Prime?

No.  that's part of your starting character, so doesn't count toward your overall total, even if you carry some over from Chargen.

[Bull]

Unfortunately, in Sprawl Wilds, Ashes is the only mission with connection ratings included, which also creates difficulties when using contacts gained from those modules.  (We have 1 filled in for Bull's connection rating, even though it's very likely higher than that.)

Yeah, generally the older CMPs don't give out new contacts.  Mostly to prevent contact clutter, since often the NPCs only show up once (generally).  It got really frustrating in earlier seasons for me personally when we'd get tehse cool contacts, but then never see them again.  And by the end of the season you have like 50 of these little contact sheets, most at loyalty 1 still.  That's one reason we tried to establish a core "Cast" for each season starting in 4.  But since we know we'll be handing you a dozen or so contacts fairly early on, and we design them to cover a spread of types and specialties, more contacts weren't really needed from the CMPs.

With the newer CMPs that serve as little mini-story arcs set in various locations, we add in a couple Contacts to those to serve as a bridge between the adventures.

Anyway, Tosh and Bull's information can be found in many of the Season 4 SRM's.  You can also get background and connection ratings here:  http://www.shadowruntabletop.com/missions/seattle-season-4-contacts/

[ZeConster]

But my character is Athabaskan Council Mounted Police - he first came to Chicago on the trail of his father's killers, and for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, decided to remain, on unpaid suspension - and I'm pretty sure you don't get to be a mountie unless you have a real SIN. So it can't be helped.
Also, I find SINners fun to roleplay.

Do you have a wolf?

That's my great-grandfather, although I might pay 10 Karma for Mentor Spirit (Wolf) after my first Initiation.

[KarmaInferno]

There was a "SRM Season Four Contacts.pdf" file at one point but that seems to have disappeared when the website got updated.



-k

[Michael Chandra]

Bull put those back it seems, check his post two above yours.

[Ricochet]

Yes.  That link was very useful to get the stats for a couple of relevant contacts.  We assumed connections 1 any time nothing else was specified.  Bull is probably the one that is most relevant to carry over into Season 5 from Sprawl Wilds since he has knowledge of Chicago and Bugs, and he's a decker.  I doubt I'll be able to use many of the other local Seattle contacts even if we are in a position to contact them with the crappy Chicago Matrix.

Of course, it sounds like the season 5 CMP's don't actually take place in Chicago anyway, so maybe I'll get sent back to Seattle.

[Michael Chandra]

Yeah, but on the other hand season 5 involves fresh characters so can't carry over unless you're playing a freeplay home game.

[Bull]

Outside of the stuff in the recent CMP compilations (Which are older CMPs that actually predate Season 4.  They were originally a "preview" for what was coming, or sorts.) only one of the 2013 CMPs takes place in Seattle, and that's the culmination of three other adventures that take you to Denver, Germany, and neo-Tokyo.

Bull would have some use as an informational contact, but keep in mind he won;t step foot inside Chicago or anywhere near it.    

[The Masked Ferret]

Also, Simon Andrews apparently up and moved from Seattle to Chicago. Following the opportunities, or the runners?

[DWC]

Also, Simon Andrews apparently up and moved from Seattle to Chicago. Following the opportunities, or the runners?

Why not both?

[ZeConster]

Also, Simon Andrews apparently up and moved from Seattle to Chicago. Following the opportunities, or the runners?

It would be pretty hilarious to run into Simon while he's hiding behind a bush, wistfully staring at a runner from the previous season who moved to Chicago and is having dinner in a restaurant across the street. Bonus creepiness points if there's no bushes in that street and he brought it himself.

[Kincaid]

Thirdly, does the karma that we get at character creation count towards retirement as a Prime?

No.  that's part of your starting character, so doesn't count toward your overall total, even if you carry some over from Chargen.

This might be overly optimistic on my part, but is retirement still 150+ karma at the end (or beginning) of a season?

[Ricochet]

Outside of the stuff in the recent CMP compilations (Which are older CMPs that actually predate Season 4.  They were originally a "preview" for what was coming, or sorts.) only one of the 2013 CMPs takes place in Seattle, and that's the culmination of three other adventures that take you to Denver, Germany, and neo-Tokyo.

I know I'm not running that set unless I can get a pickup session though.  Out of the 30 or so I signed up for when "rope drop" happened, I think I only have CMP5.  After that it will be up to free tickets and my con skills to get more sessions.

Bull would have some use as an informational contact, but keep in mind he won;t step foot inside Chicago or anywhere near it.

Information is exactly what I figured he'd be good for.  He's experienced with Chicago and Bugs.  That will be my only contact I can say that about.  I figure none of my contacts are good for actually doing anything for me in Chicago, but since Bull is a decker, distance isn't as big an issue for getting hold of him for legwork.

[Ricochet]

This might be overly optimistic on my part, but is retirement still 150+ karma at the end (or beginning) of a season?

Bull had said in a previous post that 150 may no longer be the retirement number. 

I'm assuming that "running for the man" wouldn't count towards whatever number is set. 

Even with those caveats, I'm assuming I'll be retiring the character at the end of season 5 anyway, when things move to a new venue instead of Chicago.  I kind of like the idea of a fresh start for everyone when each season comes around.

[ZeConster]

Regarding disallowed negative Qualities: one player in our Ashes game (at my suggestion, I admit) got Codeblock (Check Overwatch Score), instead opting to use the Baby Monitor program. Our GM gave us a frowny face, though, so I might as well ask: does the Baby Monitor (which requires either allocating a program slot, or using 2 Free Actions to switch it in, then out again after checking your OS) disqualify Check Overwatch Score from being applicable for Codeblock?