Tensided SDN2 Campaign Discussion Thread

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2004-11-18 02:36am

*does math on hands* PST is -8... Brisbane is +10.... 1pm PST =... ... ... *thinks* 7am Brisbane? Erm... would that be saturday, sunday or monday for me?

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-18 03:50am

Stark wrote:*does math on hands* PST is -8... Brisbane is +10.... 1pm PST =... ... ... *thinks* 7am Brisbane? Erm... would that be saturday, sunday or monday for me?

Sorry, I should have been more clear.

The meeting in order to decide what the next campaign is going to be will be at 4 pm PST on Saturday (which works out to 10 am Sunday for you, Stark). This meeting will be for Art, me, Alyrium, Hotfoot, frigidmagi, Eleas, and Stark.

The last session of the SDN2 Cyberpunk campaign is still up in the air. I would prefer to have it around 1 pm Sunday, but only if everyone is free. This will involve Art, me, Alyrium, CorSec, Hotfoot, and Marcao.

Both meetings will be using OpenRPG. The server, room, and if necessary, password, will be posted in this thread at or around the time of the meeting. Please post in this thread, or PM me or Art with any questions.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-18 04:20am

We need to split the current campaign (and upcoming follow-up) from the new campaign to avoid confusion. I'll start a new thread. All talk about the new campaign (that being the one with Gerard, Alyrium, Eleas, Stark, frigidmagi, and Hotfoot) will go there.

CorSec · Post by **CorSec** » 2004-11-18 07:19am

Sunday at.... **does math** ...4 works for me, but, duh, you already knew that.

That said, I have good news. But I'm not sure when it'll be good, so to speak.

Almost a year ago the position I held at work was eliminated (damn dirty budgets!). I was more or less forced to take a manufacturing position elsewhere in the company. I have applied and been accepted for my old position, which I hope to be back in by year's end. What does this mean to you, or more appropriately, why should any of you care? The whole headache of the every-other-week schedule is all my fault. Returning to a "real" job means I also get a "real" life. That means, eventually, Monday through Friday with weekends off (save for special needs, which should be rare). And for those not doing the math on this, that means I'll be available on weekends for game sessions. I would love to join whatever flavor of Tensided (All the Dwarves, 1/2 the Die) you decide on next. That is, if no one objects. However, at this point I'm not sure when my schedule reverts so I may or may not be available at the head of the campain.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-11-18 09:05am

*peers at Alyrium, Hotfoot, and Marcao*

Not sure, my schedule comes out tomorrow.

But I also have good news. I just got ppromoted from courtesy clerk to Deli. This means of course that, due to the safeway union, that in 2 weeks time, I will be able to pick my shifts.

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-18 02:58pm

That is great news, guys. More flexible schedules are always a good thing.

CorSec wrote:I would love to join whatever flavor of Tensided (All the Dwarves, 1/2 the Die) you decide on next.

That's a great tagline. In fact, it's going in my sig.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-18 03:58pm

Great news about the schedules! It will make things a whole lot easier. Maybe we'll end up doing both campaigns every week, one on Sat and one on Sun, or something of that nature. The SDN4 campaign has to be from 3 to 6 PM PST, though, because any earlier and Stark has to get up unreasonably early. Any later and Eleas has to go to bed unreasonably late. 3 to 6 PM PST (unless I counted wrong) is 9 AM to noon on Sunday morning for Stark, and midnight to 3 AM on Saturday night for Eleas. The SDN3 campaign is much more flexible since all the players are within 3 time zones of each other.

In any case, I look forward to seeing the SDN4 (that's the new campaign) people on Saturday at 4 PM PST to decide on the setting, and the SDN2 people tenatively on Sunday at 1 PM PST.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-18 04:01pm

CorSec wrote:I would love to join whatever flavor of Tensided (All the Dwarves, 1/2 the Die) you decide on next. That is, if no one objects. However, at this point I'm not sure when my schedule reverts so I may or may not be available at the head of the campain.

That would make 7 players in that campaign. Maybe if someone from the upcoming campaign wanted to switch and join the follow-up campaign? Then there'd be 6 players in each.

Of course, if you pull an Alyrium and beg, I'll probably capitulate.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-18 04:14pm

That reminds me, if anyone has any gang ideas they want in OKC, now is the time to post them.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-18 04:41pm

frigidmagi wrote:That reminds me, if anyone has any gang ideas they want in OKC, now is the time to post them.

I know nothing about Oklahoma, so I wouldn't know where to start. Not that I know anything about New York either, but hey.

Btw, since you're making a supplement for the cyberpunk setting, does that mean you would be more interested in cyberpunk than something else? The reason I ask is that if you switched from the SDN4 campaign to the follow-up to the current campaign, which continues the story of the current campaign but with new characters, then CorSec could join the SDN4.

If you want to stay where you are, though, that's OK. Don't want you to feel pressured or anything.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-18 05:26pm

I'm head GM and a player in a Shadowrun campaign, while I like writing out world information, I'm kinda full up on Cyberpunkish action thank you.

And a massive local knowledge of Oklahoma wouldn't be necessary, I'm mostly looking for names and such.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-18 06:54pm

frigidmagi wrote:I'm head GM and a player in a Shadowrun campaign, while I like writing out world information, I'm kinda full up on Cyberpunkish action thank you.

Ah ok.

And a massive local knowledge of Oklahoma wouldn't be necessary, I'm mostly looking for names and such.

How about the Dangling Roosters?

Seriously, I'm bad with names. I won't be much help.

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-18 07:03pm

Arthur_Tuxedo wrote:
frigidmagi wrote:And a massive local knowledge of Oklahoma wouldn't be necessary, I'm mostly looking for names and such.
How about the Dangling Roosters?

Seriously, I'm bad with names. I won't be much help.

Hehe. Hmm, how about the DustBustaz? Or Hinton's Heroes? Or the Black Gold Families?

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-18 11:31pm

I edited the thread title to conform with Art's naming convention, and to prevent any confusion. This thread will likely die in the very near future, as the SDN2 campaign ends this weekend. I guess I should create a "Tensided SDN3 Campaign Discussion Thread."

CorSec · Post by **CorSec** » 2004-11-19 08:04am

Okay, color me confused. There are now two SDNTen campaigns in the works? If they're both "full", then I'm okay with that. When talk of the future started I was still on my screwed schedule and didn't feel like making people wait two weeks to play. I got dibs on SDN5, then. 8D

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-19 10:07am

CorSec wrote:Okay, color me confused. There are now two SDNTen campaigns in the works? If they're both "full", then I'm okay with that. When talk of the future started I was still on my screwed schedule and didn't feel like making people wait two weeks to play. I got dibs on SDN5, then. 8D

There are two campaigns in the works. You're already in SDN3, the followup to the one we're doing right now, and then I put you in the other one, too (once you're free every weekend, of course).

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-19 07:43pm

Alyrium, did you find out your schedule for this weekend yet? Everyone has to be here for the last session, and while I'd like to do it on Sunday, if you won't be able to make it then, we have to do it on Saturday. Please post as soon as you know.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-11-19 11:39pm

I will be free on Sat at 3 PM my time(2 PM pacific)

ANd I am free all of sunday

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-20 12:53am

Excellent, so the last session will take place this Sunday, at 1 pm PST.

I'm just getting finished cleaning up the final chat log. I'm going to put all the sessions together into one, smooth, flowing document (in PDF format, so if you don't have Word you can still read it) for your perusal.

The last session was fucking awesome, and it's even better with everything reorganized chronologically and all the OOC spam gone.

The complete (as of Session 10, the one from 2 weeks ago) chronology of events can be downloaded right here in PDF format. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, get it at www.adobe.com The log is nearly a half a meg, and weighs in at a whopping 89 pages. For your convenience, I added bookmarks that take you right to the beginning of each session.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-21 03:23pm

Room's up. File on in! Mature Concepts, Tensided, cyber

CorSec · Post by **CorSec** » 2004-11-21 08:24pm

Sad to say the final session wasn't as exciting as the previous one. As much as I was hoping for it to be, I expected it to be a fizzler. But on the whole I had a great time. Sometimes I wish I'd ported Blaine over as it would have made it different and interesting, but que sera, sera. Everyone put their epilogue in the chat but I missed my opportunity. So, here it is:

Jack's Epilogue:

Jack awoke with a start. He hadn't had a good night's sleep in weeks. Not since the Event. Jack wasn't stupid. He knew that murderers and madmen roamed the streets at night. Heck, he'd run into his share of them over the course of his life. But after witnessing first hand the actions of three of them he wondered if he'd ever sleep right again. The hard part was over. The world was saved, but not because of the heroic action of a selfless few. The nightmare was that Jack could never be sure whether or not he'd receive a surprise visit and not see another sunrise. Those were the dreams that wouldn't let him sleep. Someday they might subside, but not yet.

He looked out his window at the street. It was early morning but there were still a few people rambling about. By the looks of them, they were juice freaks. Most likely they were on their way to or from a robbery. He still had a lot of the money from the job but he still worried where his next job would take him. His routine had gotten back to normal but now that he'd tasted adventure – and as much as it scared him – he wanted more.

Gerard_Paloma · Post by **Gerard_Paloma** » 2004-11-21 09:26pm

I can't speak for anyone else, but I had fun, lots of fun. While I don't think it topped the energy level of the last campaign, I still enjoyed it. Also, like I said in the chat, a better ending couldn't have been orchestrated. I had M6 do everything in his power to try and make Ernesto and Mikal dead, and they got away anyway. I thought the manuevering behind the scenes from everyone was spectacular.

Near the beginning of this campaign, I forget who said it, but it was an uneasy peace. None of our characters knew each other, we weren't friends, and we didn't become friends. Ultimately, our mission was accomplished, but only through sheer dumb luck, essentially. Needless to say, the group was demolished, and will never work together again. Anything less than that would have been hackneyed and cliche.

Again, I can't speak for anyone but myself, but that was one of the best campaigns I've ever been a part of, if not the best. I know I grew as a roleplayer, and I suspect everyone else did as well. Art said it in the session from 2 weeks ago, that just because our characters came to blows didn't mean we had to. There may be hard feelings. If that's the case, it's too bad, because that was one hell of a ride.

I'll get the final PDF of the complete SDN2 campaign up in the near future, in case anyone's interested. I had a great time, every time.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-21 10:16pm

Questions: Sweeps, flips, trips are covered in the wrestling concenration of HTH skill?
The Poor Character flaws, is this meant to be like a vow of Poverity or just starting off poor? I ask because it mentions paying back the XP if the flaw no longer applys.

Marcao · Post by **Marcao** » 2004-11-22 01:05am

United States
New York City, Upper Manhattan

Ernesto Vega packed quietly.

The entire process did not take long; his possessions were meager allowing him to drift in and out of any location at a moment’s notice. His clothing was sturdy and utilitarian meant to last like the man himself. His arsenal however had increased dramatically over the last week. He had retrieved all of it, taking his van back from Carlos’ base of operations with little words. He had done all that he could have, and had the information about the bunker been accurate to begin with he would have rejoiced as Carlos gained an army capable of facing the corporates on even terms. In the end, it had been a lie; Nothing more than a dream, a dream that his revolutionary heart could not have resisted.

Mikal had recovered from his ordeal, the treachery of M6 not forgotten. Irritation fluttered in his heart as he remembered M6 laying unconscious before him. He could have killed him, he should have killed him but Jack had intervened. He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Jack had been an idealistic fool, and Mikal had nearly paid for that stupidity with his life. If he saw Jack, he would be nothing more than another human sharing his air. The mistakes of the past could not be forgiven. He gathered his belongings quietly, having arranged for his implements of war to be moved to secure locations. Some were scattered in secret places, waiting for him to return to the country and reclaim them. Others had been smuggled by sea to his island of birth.

He remembered their plan; Mikal had agreed to do his part while he did his own. They would scatter for the moment, each man having their own desire to spend their money and needing time away from the memories of the past. They would meet again; it was the way of things. Mikal was his blood brother and he felt that when it was his time to die it would be in his company. But not yet, not yet. He had made calls, skillfully utilizing his network of contacts to place an assassination contract upon M6. Five thousand American dollars, a sum that would guarantee that the treacherous dog would find no respite in the NYC area. This money would be funneled from an unmarked account through various intermediaries. The contract bore with it the suggestion to not approach the man, but to kill him at range, through the use of Sniper Rifles or High Explosives. M6 was far too dangerous a creature to tangle with, and while he knew that the warning would scare away some of the more careful bounty hunters, there would be many others that would rise to the challenge.

He left Jack and Xak to Mikal. His idea of how to handle the situation had possessed his usual elegance. Mikal was not someone that should be crossed and his anger had not been limited to simply his would be assassin. M6 had attracted both their ire, and they both had taken different ways of lashing out. He sighed softly, shaking his head and picked up his twin bags. It was time to leave. As he walked down the stairs and into his vehicle, the shadows of New York City seemed to writhe and twist, a name carried in hushed whispers from one darkened corner to another. M6…M6…M6…all throughout the city, the contract was analyzed, dozens of smiles glittering like knives.

Cuba
Matanzas

Ana Rosario Vega walked down the dirt road towards her home. The district of Matanzas was not known for its wealth, but it was relatively peaceful and it was out of the way. Closer to Havana than the shit hole that was Guantanamo. Her home was shared with three other people, and unlike the vast majority of houses which were made of wood with tin roofs, her house was made of cement blocks hinting at her status within the area. Even though the area was peaceful, she had a Kalashnikov rifle on her back, no one moved without some sort of gun and this weapon had…sentimental value. It also worked very well, as the last pendejos that had tried to enter her house with bad intentions had attested to.

As she walked, her head turned her wrinkle faced could no longer be considered attractive, but it was hard like watching a stone wall. As she moved, her eyes which were getting worse every year caught sight of children climbing a mango tree, a pack of scooters moving past her and disappearing down a hill. Her eyes slid to a light post, a frown gracing her lips as she noticed that they still did not have electricity. This would make this black out the longest in a week, 13 hours so far without electricity. Irritation flared within her as her lips parted and she spoke. “malditos ladrones! Trece horas sin electricidad. Un abuso!”

She reached the front of her house, her left hand disappearing into a pocket as she withdrew her keys, the five locks which protected her home undone one at a time. Her house looked like a prison she admitted, with all the bars covering the windows but it was for security. It was the times that they were living in. The corporates took everything they wanted, promising their stooges beautiful apartments and fine dining while the people of Cuba, the people that the government claimed to serve slid deeper and deeper into poverty. There were no blackouts in the corporate sponsored towns, there were no shortages of water there, and disease did not run rampant.

She sighed, pushing the thought aside as the last lock was undone. She moved within her home, closing the gate and locking all the locks once more. The door was closed behind her and locked as well, her keys placed in a little wooden table to her right. She moved towards the living room and came to a stop, an unusual smell reaching her nostrils. It was the smell of tobacco, and while it was common enough there was something else in the air. Her eyes narrowed, her hands reaching back and pulling the Kalishnikov from her back and to his hands. Why was the door leading to the living room closed? She had left it open.

She walked slowly towards the door and gathering herself, pushed it open in a rush. Her assault rifle held steadily in a manner that suggested that she was proficient in its use. Her eyes slid right and then left, coming to rest on a back. It was obviously male, the candle which burned in the center of the table lighting covering the room in a dull glow. Her response to the stranger’s presence was immediate.

”suba sus manos! Ahora mismo! Que hace usted en mi casa?!” her words were spoken sharply. The man raising his arms slowly until they were facing up to the ceiling.

”Señora por favor disculpe. Yo nada mas la estaba esperando.” Each word burned into her mind. She blinked the voice utterly familiar.

”Como? Por que usted me esperaba? Que usted quiere en mi casa?” The assault rifle was held firmly, aimed at the man’s back and yet there was something about him that set her at ease.

“Por que hoy es el dia de las madres.” With those words said, his body turned slowly. His face revealed to her a moment later in the dim light of the candle glow.

”Ernesto! Mijo!” Ana Rosario Vega cried, her weapon placed aside before she moved to her son who had stood and embraced him in a hug.

Ernesto held his mother gently. His eyes watching the small woman closely, a rare feeling swimming in his heart. Here alone with his mother, surrounded by the smells and sounds of Cuba he was at home. His right hand moved, gently moving her mother away in order to look at her more closely. “no has cambiado madre. Te ves bien. Tengo un regalo para ti.” As he spoke, he retrieved and envelope from a pocket and offered it.

”Un regalo? Ernesto! Tu has volvido a tu casa! Eso es el major regalo en el mundo para mi!” She accepted the envelope, opening it without hesitation. Her eyes widening at what she saw there. “Dios Mio! Cuanto dinero hay aqui?!”

Ernesto grinned. “Veinte mil dolares.” His mother’s eyes widened even more at the sum. His hand offered to her. He had a story to tell her, and the money would go a long way to help both his mother and his family. The day became night as his mother prepared for him strong black coffee just the way he liked it. It was good to be home.

~~~

FIN

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2004-11-22 01:12am

Well, Gerard enjoyed the last session, so at least that's one person. I myself did not. There was a lot of quibbling in the previous session, but people managed to enjoy the conflict and it turned into the best session of the campaign. This time people got angry and stayed that way, and the anger was directed as much toward myself and Tensided as the adversarial players. One person left as soon as his character was incapacitated (not even waiting for the results of the willpower check to see if he stayed conscious), the other said he stopped caring about the rest of the session and just wanted to get it over with, then said he was withdrawing from SDN3. This was on top of thinly veiled hints that I wasn't going by the rules. All this over an incident where both characters ended up surviving, for Christ's sake!

No one likes being ambushed by surprise. I can understand that. I cannot understand the severity of the reaction, not after the previous session, and not from the calibre of players involved (still not naming names).

To be honest, I'm feeling a little sour toward GMing right now. In this session, the players managed to stop the inevitable robot invasion before it happened, so there's no storytelling need for a follow-up campaign. I still want to have an SDN3 as something completely new, but it can wait.

Chat log is here. Alyrium and CorSec will especially want to look at it, as they were twiddling their thumbs a lot, wondering what was going on via whisper. Also, here is the chat log from last session.

Overall it was a great campaign, much better than SDN1, which was run via this forum (not a good format for an RPG, IMO).