Some Shadowrun Troubles

[Iron Dragon]

I DM for my group a fair amount, was on break but the other guys who DM have had various problems so I'm back in the saddle. I'm planning to do a shadowrun game, and I'm mostly good on the rules. using 3rd edition as that is the one I am most familiar with even if it has been a while. My big problem (aside from fully understanding decking rules) is an idea that a player gave that I really like, but am not sure how to engage.

Said player wants to own a club, essentially he's doing a face that functions as a pimp and club owner. He wants to use the club to set up meetings, work as a base, as well as a way of meeting new contacts, and giving him a certain amount of deniability and means of moving funds. He has said that he doesn't need the club to actually turn a profit, just be able to break even. The idea intrigues me and I can see some definite potential for stories with it. My problem is I'm not sure how to handle it in terms of if I how to handle it mechanically. Would it count as multiple lifestyles? Would it work as him taking the dayjob flaw? Part of it is I don't necessarily want to give him something for nothing and am trying to find a good way of handling this. Any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated.

 

[Umbran]

The power behind that concept is significant, so I think you're right to wonder about how to handle it.

On the other hand, the power is also negligible. You can imagine in the fictional world that shadowrunners would have to do significant work to actually get jobs. So, this would make a whole lot of sense. But, really, when was the last time a PC shadowrunner didn't have work coming to them, falling in their laps? Have you, as a GM, ever made PCs scrounge around and work hard just to find work? If not, then the club isn't actually useful, in and of itself. It is merely background dressing.

What is the difference between the character owning the club, and the character having a long list of contacts he's bought, and he just hangs out at the club so folks know where to meet him? Figure out how the player's suggestion would differ from how you normally run the game, if at all, and base the cost of the setup on that. You might just tell him, "Sure. You still have to buy all your contacts, but we can frame it as they all know you through this club..." You might tell him, "you have the equivalent of a day job - you have restrictions on when you can go on runs, but you get some base income in return," or you might impose some significant costs if it is going to be a big deal in terms of game effect.

And, whatever you choose, let the player know how you're running it.

 

[Bagpuss]

If you don't charge him anything your are more free to do things like burn it down or have some other problems like a gang dealing drugs in there and a police raid, etc.

 

[Derren]

It really depends on how much he and the other players want to pay attention to it.
If it is just window dressing for having some contacts keep the initial cost very small. Dayjob flaw (lowest rank) including the benefits. If on the other hand the players want to actively use the club in the game like having their rep as club owner open doors for them etc. then the cost should be higher the flaw + maybe a minimum lifestyle or a initial nuyen investment "burned" for the club and the occasional adventure or situation with it.

If all players agree the club can be a rather major part of the campaign or at least serve as a source for side missions during downtime. In that case the club itself is cost enough.
In any case make it clear that the club is not immune and when they anger the wrong persons and they manage to track down the identity who owns the club bad things happen. How much they have to anger someone fro things to happen (with the club) should depend in how much detail they spend on the club.

 

[Iron Dragon]

Thanks, we're currently doing some custom work with the sprawl survival guide, it's going...interestingly so far, especially given the way the club is now looking. One other question, if I can get an answer on it, though I know it's different. In Rigger 3 there are rules for vehicle customization, do all of the rules there also apply to drones? I think they do, but I want to be sure, sorry for all the questions.