[TennyJaden]

Hey guys!

I was just wondering, are there any guidlines or could you give me some pointers, on how much money a Johnson usually would be willing to pay for typical shadowruns?

Thanks!

[Mirikon]

Short answer: It depends.

Long answer: A lot of factors go into it, depending on the length of the job, the length of prep time the runners have, the strength of opposition, the nature of the run, the reputation of the runners, the skill level of the runners, and so on.

The Missions series is a good benchmark for low-mid level runners on short runs. High profile runners take on higher profile runs, for higher paydays at higher risks.

[CanRay]

It ranges from 25¥ to run a package down a couple of blocks to 250,000¥ to get a package out of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

From the CENTRE of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

[Zilfer]

It ranges from 25¥ to run a package down a couple of blocks to 250,000¥ to get a package out of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

From the CENTRE of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

Psh just show up as a pizza delievery boy.... xD

[JustADude]

It ranges from 25¥ to run a package down a couple of blocks to 250,000¥ to get a package out of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

From the CENTRE of the Aztechnology Pyramid.

Given how my guys are, they wouldn't even do even the "couple of blocks" job for less than 1000¥ each, with a 10% retainer

Of course, if you're calling in a walking tank of a Heavy Weapons Troll, a Hacker rolling on a Cybernaut, and a chromed out Street Sam, who roll in a modded SUV that is probably slightly harder to take out than a Citymaster and have overwatch via a Sniper that can shoot down an attack chopper with two bullets (and has... twice), that package is going to have to be either really valuable, or really dangerous.

[CitizenJoe]

Take 1/7th of what the Johnson expects to make or lose.  Open your negotiations at 1/10th of that. Game mechanics will average this to about 1/2 of that number, with good results getting up to 75%.  In order for the PC's to get maximum payment, they need to come up with extraordinary circumstances.

[Mirikon]

JustADude, that's what I mean by taking the runners' reputation into consideration.

[JustADude]

JustADude, that's what I mean by taking the runners' reputation into consideration.

Just illustrating the point. 

[CanRay]

JustADude, that's what I mean by taking the runners' reputation into consideration.

Just illustrating the point. 

And I was demonstrating just how down on the list you are when you're starting.

The Sega Genesis game demonstrates this very nicely, actually.  Fighting hard to get that money for your brother's belongings at a Coffin Motel can be quite difficult starting out.

[Crimsondude]

ALL THE NUYEN

Seriously, though. It depends in part on how much you their expenses are expected to be, their experience, their risk, and so forth. A starting group should not be earning more than five to seven thousand nuyen each per run. I used to pay fairly generously, though, and for decently experienced characters (or later those who were run by experienced players and who were especially dangerous in using tactics and just being badass runners even with zero karma) I would easily pay in the ten to fifteen-thousand range, and for 100+ karma they were getting ¥20,000+. Bigger the risk, bigger the reward.

[All4BigGuns]

JustADude, that's what I mean by taking the runners' reputation into consideration.

Just illustrating the point. 

And I was demonstrating just how down on the list you are when you're starting.

The Sega Genesis game demonstrates this very nicely, actually.  Fighting hard to get that money for your brother's belongings at a Coffin Motel can be quite difficult starting out.

Not really. Just enter ABBACAB at the start screen. 

Take 1/7th of what the Johnson expects to make or lose.  Open your negotiations at 1/10th of that. Game mechanics will average this to about 1/2 of that number, with good results getting up to 75%.  In order for the PC's to get maximum payment, they need to come up with extraordinary circumstances.

All well and good unless you have a GM that always has the Johnson make a hard offer that can't be increased.

[CitizenJoe]

Take 1/7th of what the Johnson expects to make or lose.  Open your negotiations at 1/10th of that. Game mechanics will average this to about 1/2 of that number, with good results getting up to 75%.  In order for the PC's to get maximum payment, they need to come up with extraordinary circumstances.

All well and good unless you have a GM that always has the Johnson make a hard offer that can't be increased.

You know that you don't have to take every run.  If his offer isn't enough, tell him to pound sand.  Or better yet, take 10% as a finders fee and direct him to some gutter punks that will work for that level of pay.

[raggedhalo]

There's also the meta-game element: you've sat at the table to play Shadowrun, not Grand Theft Auto. So you have a responsibility to design a character who thinks that 'running is the best (or least worst) way to get what they want.

[CanRay]

There's also the meta-game element: you've sat at the table to play Shadowrun, not Grand Theft Auto. So you have a responsibility to design a character who thinks that 'running is the best (or least worst) way to get what they want.

Great, you just renewed my wish for a GTA-RPG!  Just when I got rid of it after playing Saints Row The Third.

[All4BigGuns]

Take 1/7th of what the Johnson expects to make or lose.  Open your negotiations at 1/10th of that. Game mechanics will average this to about 1/2 of that number, with good results getting up to 75%.  In order for the PC's to get maximum payment, they need to come up with extraordinary circumstances.

All well and good unless you have a GM that always has the Johnson make a hard offer that can't be increased.

You know that you don't have to take every run.  If his offer isn't enough, tell him to pound sand.  Or better yet, take 10% as a finders fee and direct him to some gutter punks that will work for that level of pay.

There is that, but there is one problem there. The GMs who do that for some reason think it's "overpowered" to give more money than what they do offer, and a lot of them believe that there should be almost no time when you're not scraping the bottom of the barrel and losing lifestyle aspects every month. (That and they don't want you to ever be able to upgrade your 'ware or equipment.)