[Shadowrun] OOC Thread :: CLOSED [calling Shalimar, Gramcrackered, Mike DF]

[DrZombie]

Even in seattle things aren't as happy as that, in one of the novels Kham, an orc, looks at the destruction the gangers caused in his hometown. They're an all-elven gang, wich means some racial bias, at least, and, let's face it, they smuggle and sell BTL-chips to dealers, who sell it on to whoever buys'em, prostitutes, little children....
They make their money by running protection rackets, meaning they beat up shopowners who won't pay. Face it Thanee, they're gangers, not the red cross.... They make a living hurting people. Just as shadowrunners do.

 

[Thanee]

Heh. Never said, they are the samaritians, they are criminals after all... it just doesn't seem to fit their picture (at least from what I have read so far) that they randomly assault or kill people just for fun or something like that.

Bye
Thanee

 

[DrZombie]

Could've been a drive-by against another gang, whatever.. a few innocents got shot, drek happens I guess.

 

[Thanee]

Collateral damage is always possible, and they will get into fights with bigger rival gangs every now and then. Just saying that the implication, that they are like an "elven humanis policlub" and the "random violence" doesn't really fit my view of them, that's all.

I think such a behaviour would only hurt their professional face, which the gang certainly tries to achieve and which is important for their operations (I think I had read somewhere, that they are heavily into weapon smuggling, but of course, if you are looking for something you don't find it ). They are too smart and the real money (extortion and such are only small-scale operations for them) lies there, to risk that with such stupid and unneeded behaviour. And they don't need it either, they don't need to show how strong they are, everyone knows that already and with the mysteries and rumors around them and their connection to the elven lands, they are much more feared than the average street gang, that rumbles through the block beating up every passerby. I mean, they are not an average street gang, they are highly structured and organized, have chapters in all major cities and are probably more akin to a lesser crime syndicate than a street gang. Certainly not the nicest persons, but not the worst either.

Hope that doesn't sound too much of a glorification , but that's roughly how I envision this particular gang.

Would be interesting to hear, how Andrew sees them, since that will be how they are, actually.

Anyways, what is a "protection racket"? Is that the same as extortion? I think so, but never really heard that term (only seen it in the New Seattle sourcebook).

Bye
Thanee

 

[DrZombie]

Basically it means that the shopkeepers, barowners and pimps pay them "protection money", so that they have the funds to keep the other gangs out of the shop/bar/brothel and to make sure nobody burgles or robs the shop/bar/brothel. All sounds very noble, but it comes down to a selffulfilling prophecy : if you don't pay you're gonna get hurt, bigtime. Never mind that the people doing the hurting are the same people you didn't wanna pay to get "protected".

Anyway, I'm not gonna try to start a circle of suspicion,and my character sure as hell is professional enough not to have personal dislikes for certain gangs get in the way of doing business, it was just a way of roleplaying his background, wich basically evolves around racism and ostracism in the Japanese society. Wich is why he's a bit sensitive about it. Wich is why he very carefully removes any trace of emotion from his demeanor.

And I'm used to a very dark version of shadowrun myself, so if I were to master it they would've done some serious violence in the past . Gamesmaster call really. Hell, it could've been some humanis goons dressed up as elves trying to stir up some racial violence between metahuman gangs, just so that they can sit back and watch the slaughter. Look Mr Gamesmaster Sir, me an' Thanee 've just given you a very nice adventure hook. Isn't that very good of us? Now hand over some karma.

 

[Thanee]

Heh.

Bye
Thanee

P.S. Ok, then I got that right with the protection racket... thanks!

 

[Thanee]

Vacation

I'll be on vacation for about two weeks. Don't wait on me, Kayla and Bull can do the scouting inside the university (Kayla is more likely to have a bodyguard, anyways). If Siren's astral skills are needed, like checking out the astral security from a safe position outside of the campus, just use her like an NPC for so long, Andrew.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mike D F]

Sorry for the absence. My internet died, and right now I'm using a friend's.

I'll keep up as able, but if I can't, that's why.

 

[Velmont]

Yeap, I am leaving for Africa. My plane leave October 19th. I am going to work with Oxfam-Québec in Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso (West Africa). I am going to do some database and web design (yeah, they have computers and internet over there...). I am leaving for 4 to 5 month.

So, why I am telling you that, simply that I dunnot know yet what will be my internet connection. I will have acces to one for sure, as I am suppose to do some web design, and there is a lot of internet coffee over there. Now, I don't know how frequently I will be able to log on the board. I hope for every other day, but it could be as bad as 1/week...

So, for my activities on the board, here what will happen.

Until the 19, I will be active as usual. After that, I may be some day without being on the board. Until I am fixed on my connection.

So what that mean for this game? After my departure, put MAD on autopilot, and I will try to give you a final answer during my first week over there, as I will be fixed on my situtation only once there.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Just a friendly neighborhood bump to see who's still with us, regroup, and formulate plans.