[Longshot23]

Notice I said 'Jackpointers', not Jackpoint (which is covered or at least implied, I think).

First off, I'm guessing this might well be a house rule situation, but I thought I'd ask: what would named individuals, like those who regularly post to Jackpoint (or the Nexus), be worth in terms of contact BPs?

[Crimsondude]

Do you mean in terms of their Connection ratings?

Most should start out around Level 4, though given the international experience many (or at least the most vocal) show, a good number would be at 5 (Picador, Hard Exit, Thorn) or 6 (Kay St. Irregular, Fianchetto, FastJack).

OBTW, since the Group Contacts don't have numbers associated with them, and JackPoint isn't given as an example, let me help you all out there.

JackPoint (Virtual Connection 18/ Loyalty 2-3)
Uses: Shadow news, jobs, fencing

Virtual Connection Rating: 18
Connection Rating: 6
Membership (20-99): +2
Area of Influence (Global): +6
Magical Resources (A minority have significant magical talents): +3
Matrix Resources (Active Matrix Presence): +1

[Longshot23]

Well, I was kind of considering Jackpoint itself as not viable, because it's an invite-only VPN.  But surely the individual posters would be viable, subject to GM rulings.

I thought the Connection rating related to between a PC and their contacts, not how connected a given Contact is?

I was thinking more somebody's PC maybe having the likes of Slamm-0! or Pistons or (time out to check Street Legends  ) Elijah, partially because SR players are likely to have heard of these people.  Of course any GM who allows Hestaby or the like as a contact probably deserves what they get, unless their ability is right up there - I can think of a couple who could handle that, but none who would allow it in the first place.

(What is OBTW?)

[Mirikon]

One version of Iceblade I played in a game on another site actually did have a dragon as one of his contacts. When I went into describing how he got the dragon as a contact, the DM wanted to confirm I knew what I was doing three times, letting me know that he WOULD be making use of this. That was a fun campaign.

What can I say? I like creating lots of plot hooks for DMs to use.

[FastJack]

Well, I was kind of considering Jackpoint itself as not viable, because it's an invite-only VPN.  But surely the individual posters would be viable, subject to GM rulings.

I thought the Connection rating related to between a PC and their contacts, not how connected a given Contact is?

I was thinking more somebody's PC maybe having the likes of Slamm-0! or Pistons or (time out to check Street Legends  ) Elijah, partially because SR players are likely to have heard of these people.  Of course any GM who allows Hestaby or the like as a contact probably deserves what they get, unless their ability is right up there - I can think of a couple who could handle that, but none who would allow it in the first place.

(What is OBTW?)

Connection is how connected the contact is to everyone else. Loyalty is whether or not they will sell you to the Megas when you slip up.

OBTW = Oh, By The Way.

[Longshot23]

Tks FJ. +1 from me.

In your opinion are Jackpointers acceptable as Contacts?

[CanRay]

So, Kane's and Clockwork's loyalty never goes above 1, gotcha. 

Well, Kane's might, if he likes you.  He's probably going to airship bomb the hell out of Clockwork (Ala Red Alert 2 & 3) if he ever catches up with him.

[Longshot23]

Well, let's consider Frosty.  At the end of the Dawn of the Artifacts quad, IF a PC made it all the way through without screwing up in more than minor ways, couldn't Frosty be considered a contact for such a PC?

Now if that's what it takes to gain a Name as a contact, in her case fair enough, considering what she gets into and who she (in turn) knows.  So another Name could be gained for as involved but different reasons - and presumably they would be discriminating about who they let into their circle. Someone like Thorn would have their own qualifying criteria, as would Kellan Colt, Haze, Kane or [insert Name here].

Now I'm wondering what I've started . . .

[FastJack]

Yes, Frosty can be a contact through the team's actions through Dawn of the Artifacts. At the end of Dusk, she is a Loyalty 1, Connection 5 contact. Her loyalty can increase as the adventures go on. By the time of Artifacts Unbound, and the runners play their cards right, I can see her Loyalty being a 3 or even a 4. And, with Ehran being in the mix, you may be able to get a Loyalty 1 contact out of him.

[All4BigGuns]

Well, let's consider Frosty.  At the end of the Dawn of the Artifacts quad, IF a PC made it all the way through without screwing up in more than minor ways, couldn't Frosty be considered a contact for such a PC?

Now if that's what it takes to gain a Name as a contact, in her case fair enough, considering what she gets into and who she (in turn) knows.  So another Name could be gained for as involved but different reasons - and presumably they would be discriminating about who they let into their circle. Someone like Thorn would have their own qualifying criteria, as would Kellan Colt, Haze, Kane or [insert Name here].

Now I'm wondering what I've started . . .

I'd imagine that Kellan would probably be the easiest named character that's been mentioned so far to get as a contact (and would be very hard to lose with how loyal she is once she considers someone a friend).

[Crimsondude]

Well, I was kind of considering Jackpoint itself as not viable, because it's an invite-only VPN.  But surely the individual posters would be viable, subject to GM rulings.

Of course, but I'm not going to deprive other people of the opportunity. That's a 20 BP contact, minimum, at chargen. But the benefit is that the PCs would "know" everything in the sourcebooks, especially stuff that wouldn't make it into ShadowSea or the Puzzle Palace, e.g. that Evan Corcoran is a master shedim and the feds know, or that Daviar owns Reality Inc.

(What is OBTW?)

Now I feel like Old Man Meiers.

[CanRay]

Now I feel like Old Man Meiers.

Come up to the porch with Bull and me, there's a Rocking Chair and a shotgun waiting.

The Eternal September, we remember it well, for we meet it every day.

[FastJack]

Now I feel like Old Man Meiers.

Come up to the porch with Bull and me, there's a Rocking Chair and a shotgun waiting.

The Eternal September, we remember it well, for we meet it every day.

I even made lemonade. And not that sugared-down crap them kids is drinking, neither. This stuff's got some lightnin' in it!

As for JackPointers as contacts, the team in my game is working towards that after taking on a run to track down an old deck that used to belong to a certain Cap'n...

[RelentlessImp]

Now I feel like Old Man Meiers.

Come up to the porch with Bull and me, there's a Rocking Chair and a shotgun waiting.

The Eternal September, we remember it well, for we meet it every day.

I even made lemonade. And not that sugared-down crap them kids is drinking, neither. This stuff's got some lightnin' in it!

As for JackPointers as contacts, the team in my game is working towards that after taking on a run to track down an old deck that used to belong to a certain Cap'n...

Is it white lightnin'? I do enjoy me some white lightnin' lemonade. You old timers mind another on the porch?

[CanRay]

Why do I get the image of whatever character I ever make, talking smack on the Matrix, and ends up getting Slamm-0! as a contact out of respect?