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[Let's Play] Shadowrun Returns: The Dead Man's Switch
cj iwakura
The Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
The Rhythm RegentBears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
Wait, my bad.
There we go.
Created almost 25 years ago, Shadowrun remains one of the most original and cherished role-playing settings. The game world’s origin story mashes-up the dystopian Cyberpunk future of a Blade Runner with the high fantasy creatures and races of a Lords of the Rings in an organic way that produces iconic characters, environments, and situations.
According to the Mayan Calendar (and lots of tabloids), the world will end on December 21, 2012. It’s part a 5,200 year cycle of death and rebirth that, in Shadowrun, actually charts the ebb and flow of magic from the Earth. So, on 12/21/12 magic will return, end this world, and wreak holy havoc while starting the next. Aboriginal cultures, who maintained their mystical traditions, are the first to feel the return of magic and use their newfound power to reshape the political, financial, and physical world around them. As the magic increases, Elf and Dwarf babies are born to very surprised parents who carry the right combination of long-dormant genes. But all of these events pale in comparison to the horror of "goblinization", which painfully reshapes the teenage bodies of those unlucky enough to carry dominant Ork or Troll genes. And then the first Great Dragon rises from its 5,200 yearlong hibernation and circles over Tokyo, signaling that the world has truly AWAKENED.
Fast forward two generations, to a world transformed not only by the growth of magic but by the acceleration of cyber technology—a continual effort to improve upon the gifts that nature gave humanity; by the inevitable maturation of the World Wide Web into the Matrix—a network directly accessible by the human brain; and by the near elimination of governments as they are replaced megacorporations—monolithic entities who see only customers, not citizens.
And moving through the dark shadows cast by the gleaming towers of the corps, are Shadowrunners – disposable assets and corporate pawns scratching out a living using a combination of technology, magic, and street smarts. Shadowrunners live between the cracks and operate outside the law, doing the dirty work that corporate wage-slaves won’t soil their hands with and occasionally acting as the only protection the citizenry can turn to.
Welcome to the world of Shadowrun, where man meets magic and machine.
Shadowrun Returns was made in 2013, as an apology of sorts for many years without a proper Shadowrun game since the SNES game... or somewhat less if you spoke Japanese and owned a Sega CD.
The first campaign that kicked off Shadowrun's revival, known as Dead Man's Switch, is where our journey begins.
Life isn't easy for a runner. Especially not one living off the slums of Seattle.
But just who IS our runner, anyway?
That's where you all come in.
Please decide on our runner's gender, race, and archetype.
(Male/Female)
(Human/Elf/Dwarf/Troll/Orc)
(Street Samurai/Mage/Decker/Shaman/Rigger/Physical Adept
There'll also be a ton of avatars to pick from. That should be fun!
The thread could always put together a consensus and I'll try to find an avatar to match.
+2
Posts
I've always liked the portraits for such character.
"We have years of struggle ahead, mostly within ourselves." - Made in USA
But let's go with troll physical adept, or at least, someone without shotgun skills for no apparent reason.
So that you can avoid spending on weapons. Just put your fist through people.
I had a Dwarf Physad. It was a little weak but not awful.
I vote for female human shaman.
I'm trying to make character creation fit an Adept as best as possible, but I think it's a good idea to get group input on this choice.
Leaning towards Academic.
Also, our Lady Fair needs a name.
So... let's go with the generic Shadowrunner.
Well, Lady Fair would probably be alright.
As for the name, I'm reminded of the Marvel villain known as Poundcakes.
"We have years of struggle ahead, mostly within ourselves." - Made in USA
Usually good to try and get out as clean as you can, but if this is like dragonfall, shooting your way out is probably gonna still be necessary a lot of the time.
And yeah I agree with cB, try to be smooth, but be prepared to punch things to death. Because nothing will ever go smooth.
Lady Fair
If I go by awesome/agrees, it's kind of a tie. :P
"We have years of struggle ahead, mostly within ourselves." - Made in USA
Welcome to the beginning of Dead Man's Switch. A joyous tale of friendship, Seattle, and mutually beneficial business arrangements that always go exactly as planned.
This is Lady Fair, our Troll Physical Adept.
Returns offers five points of Karma to allocate at the start.
I attempted to keep a happy medium of Physical Adept-friendly stats and some social skills.
The weapon skills here will likely not be needed, but here they are for posterity.
I did put two points towards Dodge, which is always useful.
As well as a point in Unarmed.
Other stats that aren't particularly Adept-useful:
I do give Lady that extra bit of Charisma, which takes up our last two character creation points.
Which allows her one point of Etiquette, which I allocate to Shadowrunner, because what else would she have intimate knowledge of?
And now we begin:
It's not much, but it's home.
(Jessica Rabbit?)
Considering how expensive rent is in Future Seattle, I imagine that's a decent amount by our standards, but drek to a runner.
Who can help get our girl some work?
Not many people.
Not living, anyway.
That's a good sign!
Probably not using Google Voice then.
Upon answering, a familiar face...
Where've you been, Sam? Haven't heard from you in months.
Heheh. Don't bother with your side of the conversation - I'm not really here.
Just one reason for this vid - someone finally geeked me. I'm dead.
I probably had it coming. When you're an unsavory character like myself, you tend to associate with other unsavory characters who often partake in unsavory business...
Like you, for example. So why am I dead? Who knows. Probably my fault.
Wonder where you are right now. I bet you hit a big payday and you're living high on the hog somewhere.
I wish.
Some of us are born winners and some of us are... me.
Wish I didn't...
It literally takes her back.
Way back, to a meetup after a Renraku run gone way past south...
Shut your screamer about the rain. We lost a man tonight.
Sou ka, sorry. I'm just really ready to go home. Portland's way more my speed.
Something smells funny. Look at where he set the meeting. This was supposed to be a public place.
Cut the drek, Sam. We both know why Dowd went down and it wasn't the Fixer or some other paranoid chip-dream of yours.
I've been waiting for this all night. New Larry has something he wants to say, don'tcha, Larry? Go ahead, spill it.
You were sloppy.
No, I didn't miss a beat. I was on my game the whole time. Remember, I was on point. New Larry was supposed to cover Dowd.
Did you keep us here long enough, Larry?
Looks that way. Sorry, Lady Fair. I kinda like you. I just like money better.
We've got incoming!
My new Renraku friends are finally here. They're gonna take that hard drive off your corpse... buddy.
We should choose your friends more carefully, Fair.
At least we have each other.
You'll miss me when I'm gone.
Like the sellout says, we have company.
This is a tutorial mission, so it isn't particularly difficult. In fact, presumably to prevent a time paradox, Sam and Lady literally can't die.
Shadowrun Returns is basically a grid-based SRPG. It also has cover mechanics, somewhat like X-COM.
Our party is effectively an adept, a sniper, and... whatever Sam is. Another gun, I imagine.
Renraku sends quite a few visitors, but we have a solid foundation, so our good buddy Larry is the first to go, c/o Sangoma's rifle.
With good knowledge of where to hide, it doesn't take much to turn the tables.
Accuracy varies based on weapons, but if an enemy is out in the open, they're pretty much doomed.
They send a few more backup troops, but they go down in short order.
Even the shaman they bring in.
He manages to call up a spirit, but when the summoner dies, so does his summon.
That's their last trump card, so the rest is a cinch.
You were born for this gig, Fair. Me, not so much.
I think I'm gonna hang it up - find a nice brothel somewhere. Stay drunk until I croak. What about you?
I'll find a safehouse out of town and lay low. Renraku has a long memory.
That was the plan, at least...
I had your back that night, didn't I? Now, I'm asking myself - who would care if I die? Who would give a rat's ass?
For better or worse, your name is at the top of the list. Maybe it's the only name on the list.
So, I set up a dead man's switch to send you this call. I got a hundred thousand nuyen insurance policy, payable when you find who creased me.
Alive with a conviction or in a body bag with justification - either works.
Contact my law firm -Rogers, Mengert, and McCain- when the job is done. They'll know what to do.
Chet?
Look, Fair... I've had a drek life and I probably left a drek corpse. I've hurt people... hurt myself... I don't know.
Maybe I just want the last word. Maybe I just want someone to give a crap that I sucked air for a while.
What do you say?
I'd say my schedule's pretty clear right now.
Well, it doesn't really matter what you say, does it? I've got a locator chip stored in my head these days.
If... when... my heart stops, it'll activate. That's how you'll find me.
See you on the slab.
Well... Seattle can't be any worse than this.
We'll see about that.
Next time: The Undead Runner
Ah, good to know. This is my first time using one(I played Mage in all three campaigns).
Yeah. We have, in some respects, lead you down a Karma perilous path.
You will need Karma for Body, Strength, Dex and Will. As well as Chi casting and Unarmed. And Charisma.
If you just wish to stick with punching things in the face, you can focus on Body, Strength and Unarmed for a while.
The nicest thing about being a troll Phys Adept is with enough strength, you can pretty much make firearms users weep at the damage you are able to do.
And watch as you drop one person per turn, always.
Our lady's headed to the main destination for the unwanted dead in Seattle.
Welcoming.
We only have one host of note:
Sorry, didn't expect any visitors at this hour. And some asshole at corporate took my receptionist.
What can I do for you, ma'am?
Are you the coroner?
I'm John Dresden, the Organ Grinders Branch Manager here. So yeah, that makes me the coroner too.
And you are?
Lady Fair. I'm here about Sam Watts.
And what makes you think I know anything about that?
Sam had a locator chip embedded in his skull. I followed it here.
I see. Well you're right, he's here. Not too many people know about the murder yet, though...
The press haven't caught wind of it yet, what with it being all the way out here in the Barrens.
So who told you he was here?
Sam did. When his heart stopped, Y100,000 was wired to a secure account in my name.
I find the killer, I get paid.
A dead man's switch, eh? Fascinating! I was working on him earlier. He's over here.
It's not a pretty sight.
He's my second Emerald City Ripper victim. The third one was downtown.
Emerald City Ripper?
*sigh* Not my title. That's what the Seattle press insists on calling the killer. All I know is like the original Jack, our Ripper knows how to handle a scalpel.
But this one's even more twisted... he or she always removes an internal organ from the victim.
What prize did the Ripper take from Sam?
Watts' liver was cleanly cut out.
What about the other lucky contestants?
The first victim's heart was cut out. The third had his spleen removed.
And we got company.
Gives us a chance to look around.
And peruse the evidence he left behind, namely a business card.
And some cash.
Stealing from a dead friend strikes me as low.
Apart from a bloodied shirt, there's a note:
Cryptic. Let's go say hi to the new guest.
So this new Ripper vic, Watts... name's familiar. Didn't his mother kill herself a while back?
So you insisted at the time.
C'mon, she offed herself. I had it on very good authority.
Now let's go, Dresden - give me something to work with here. This Ripper case is my ticket to a Lieutenant's badge.
I've already posted everything I know. The killer stuns the target with a combination of drugs and magic, then removes a single internal organ while they're still alive.
The perpetrator is most likely right-handed, with a slim hand that knows its way around a scalpel. Has a decent understanding of human and metahuman anatomy, too.
So... I'm looking for a whacked-out surgeon?
Not necessarily. I don't know any surgeons who still use scalpels anymore. These days it's all done with computer-controlled lasers.
Could be anyone from a military field surgeon to an antique medicine aficionado.
You're no damn help, dwarf.
Eventually he catches on to the eavesdropping.
Who the hell're you?
None of your business, Lumpy.
You're funny, troll. Maybe we'll find another time to do a little dance later, you and me.
Dresden, get me more. I am putting someone in a cell or a box THIS week and claiming my promotion!
Thankfully, he leaves before things get ugly... er.
Do you always make friends that easily?
Well, he didn't really seem like my type.
Be straight with me. You really gonna work for the dead man?
I'm going to bring his killer to justice. At least street justice.
What can you tell me about the Seamstresses' Union?
It's a nearby club in the Barrens that attracts lowlifes. You'd probably like it.
Me, I'm not really the going-out type. Always too much to be done around here. Plus, the dead are just easier to get along with.
You said he was on the take. Who's paying to hold his leash?
I don't know, but someone with some major pull has been looking out for McKlusky's career. And wallet.
What was that he said about Sam's mother?
The official report is that she committed suicide about a year ago.
Sounds like you disagreed with the findings.
My name's on the report, but my actual findings left some... doubts.
I can't say that it wasn't suicide, but there were some unusual bruises on her upper arms, and she didn't use her dominate hand to pull the trigger.
I was told to drop it, so I dropped it.
What are organs worth these days?
A whole healthy body can be worth a bunch of nuyen, but individual organs? Not worth as much anymore, what with all the synth and cyber stuff on the market these days.
Organ Grinders only deals in the recently deceased. There's plenty of other chop shops that aren't as picky, though - and they don't care where the bodies come from, either.
Who still uses scalpels?
Doctors still learn how to use them in their first year of medical school - as do coroners - but neither profession uses them much anymore.
It's possible some of the slimier chop shops still use scalpels, but I wouldn't know where to look.
I just need to know one more thing. Where was Sam killed?
You know, I might be able to do you one better. Why don't you poke around those body lockers in the back and see if you find anything... useful.
Umm... okay then. I'll go... do that.
Doesn't take long to find the area in question, along with some medkits. Always handy!
And something odd.
Let's take a looksee.
Whoa! Easy there.
(Fun fact: this is the protagonist from Shadowrun SNES.)
I told John to wake me up at six in the morning. Is it six yet? It doesn't feel like six yet.
Sorry, didn't expect you to be so... alive.
Don't tell me you haven't considered it. Cheaper than a coffin hotel, and the service is just as good.
Well, so much for a good night's sleep. On the plus side, I notice you haven't killed me yet, so... That's good.
If you aren't after me, then what's your story?
I'm looking into the death of Sam Weiss. The coroner seems to think you can help me out.
Sam, eh? Glad somebody cares. We used to drink together every now and then at the Union.
Decent enough guy... always in trouble over something or other though.
JOHN! Is this lady cool?
Yeah, she's on the level. Working for Sam, believe it or not... some sort of dead man's switch.
I thought you could help her out. Maybe even stop moping around the shop all day.
Thanks for volunteering me. Alright then, the name's Jake, and you are...?
Nice to meet you, Jake. I'm Lady Fair.
Nice to meet you. Well, it sounds like you're taking a dive into the deep end here. John's right, I might be able to help you out.
I was with Sam the other night, the night of the murder... poor guy. He was hangin' at the Seamstresses Union that night, tripped out and rowdy.
I'd been laying low there for a few days after a bad run. Mrs. Kubota asked me to throw Sam out, so I did, but some alley gangers got the jump on me.
Damn, maybe I need some soykaf after all. Jake, you got a cup?
Sam stumbled off during the fight, though, and that's the last I saw of him. Until he turned up here, dead on arrival.
Reminds me of my last stay in this place.
You've done this before?
It's a long story. I end up in the morgue more often than the average guy.
Yeah, Jake here's a regular. Should've started a rewards card, Jake - a few more visits and you'd get a free night's stay.
Tell you what. You look like you can handle yourself in a fight. I could use some backup to settle the score with those Halloweeners out there.
Their leader's got the whole gang searching the Barrens for me. I need to get rid of that asshole.
In return, I'll take you to the place where Sam was murdered. It's not safe to hit these streets alone at night, trust me.
...and maybe I'll throw in some decent supplies while we're at it. What d'ya say?
I do like a bit of street justice every now and then. Alright Jake, count me in.
Great, I've been hiding out here ever since that run-in with those Halloweeners. Whiny bunch of gangers, but this stretch of the Barrens is their turf.
Hell, I'm surprised you even made it to this morgue in one piece without packing some heat.
So, you need a weapon?
No guns for me. Melee's my game.
So, ready for an evening on the town?
If you're buying...
Hey, I already brought the party favors.
What could possibly go wrong?
Next time: Trick Or Treat