STALKER7

More RPG game prep last Tuesday evening. We finished up Character Creation then read through a bit of game setting fluff on New Hong Kong in 2069. After, we ran through another simple scenario to hammer out the combat mechanics. (It’s taking me a bit to wrap my head around the granularity and pace of a RPG game)

The fight took place at the Docks in Lower New Kong with the Ebony Hand crew fending off the Trade and Transit Security forces for four turns. The TTS outnumbered the EH slightly, plus they were kitted out with Kevlar. While vicious as wharf rats, the gangers’ main advantage was their hacker, who could splice into the docks loading array and shift Conex containers to block or funnel the security into EH lanes of fire.

Here are some pictures.

Long story short, the Ebony Hand made quick work of the Dock rent-a-cops, blasting away and using the Conex containers to shove them aside or even squish them on a couple occasions. (Shaken cops who couldn’t crawl away fast enough were turned into tarmac pizza. Eeeew.)

Easy win for the chrome and mirror shade punks.

First RPG session is in two weeks.  For now, here’s the New Hong Kong fluff and a short list of cyberpunk slang to get you in the mood.

Til then, have a large one, omae.

 

 

NEW HONG KONG IN 2069

Considered Asia’s premier ‘International City’ and the financial capital of the Eastern Hemisphere, New Hong Kong was originally conceived in 2027 as a large-scale urban expansion to the original city. However, explosive population growth and increasing market dominance from the development of advancing technologies ensured the new metropolitan area received formal recognition as a separate municipality in 2041.

With an estimated population of 8.3 million between the Upper and Lower sector in a total area of just over 900 square miles, New Hong Kong (or ‘NK’ as it is known) is literally a ‘City of the Future.’

The Ground Sector, or Lower City, is constructed on existing landmass south of old Hong Kong with parts extending over the South China Sea. The Sky Sector, or Upper City, is built on a massive platform called the ‘Terrace’ which rests 7,000 feet (2 kilometers) above sea level. The Terrace is supported by twelve gigantic pillars called spindles, each one covering twelve city blocks. Internationally, New Hong Kong’s dual sectors are designated LNK and UNK for Lower and Upper New Kong.

UNK is home to the world’s largest and most prestigious corporate, commercial, and financial entities. With available space at a premium, residence on the Terrace is restricted and possible only to the world’s most famous, well-connected, and affluent individuals.

LNK is divided into twelve numbered districts, designated by the Terrace Spindle inside its zone. While the Lower City contains numerous upscale residential areas and exclusive corporate arcologies, it is primarily home to a vast multitude of laborers, merchants, wage-slaves, and workers who either make the daily commute as service personnel in the Terrace, or are employed in one of the hundreds of factories and dock-related industries on the ground level. Because large portions of the Lower City are in shadow most of the day, LNK is nicknamed ‘Dark Town’ and it lives up to this moniker in more ways than one.

Aside from the usual range of carnal entertainment and distraction like casinos, bars, pharma-dens, brothels of every type, and simsense arcades, Dark Town also specializes in illicit Gray and Black Market cyberware, biotech, robotics, and nanotech. Traditional Triad families keep a tight rein on all criminal and semi-legal activity, although recently both the Japanese Yakuza and Russian Bratva have been stepping up their attempts to gain control of the docks and airports.

The team operates a legitimate cover business registered as ‘Blue Rose Import Export.’ They maintain a nice but standard virtual office staffed with a commercial level business A.I. and they lease a mid-sized warehouse near the LNK North Docks. They also have a safe house in District 5 behind the Hong Ying Rice and Noodle Shop on Shenghua Street. This safe house is reasonably secure and is equipped with additional gear, medical supplies, weapons and ammunition. The Blue Rose is fronted by Matt’s character, a Human 2.0. It falls then that this small trade and transport company operating in LNK would employ a Repair Android, a Cybernetics Technician, and a Security/Bodyguard.

The crew has a solid working relationship with the local Triad boss, having done a number of security, delivery, and exchange jobs for them over the past two years. The team, while new, is considered reliable and enjoys a reputation for quick, clean work and while having scruples, doesn’t hesitate to get stuck in if necessary.

***

CYBERPUNK SLANG (Mostly Shadowrun ‘verse)

• Angel: usually an (unknown) benefactor
• Biz: Business
• Buzz: go away
• Chipped: Senses, skills, reflexes, muscles, and so on, enhanced by cyberware.
• Chummer: Pal, Buddy
• Cleaner: assassin (or team) used to eliminate all traces of a mission, including the participants.
• Comm: any device that allows direct communication
• Corp: anything related to corporations
• Dataslave: Corporate decker or other data processing employee.
• Datasteal: Theft of data from a computer, usually by decking.
• Deck: Cyberdeck or its use.
• Decker: Cyberdeck user.
• Deckhead: Simsense abuser; anyone with a datajack or chipjack.
• Drek: Shit
• Dumped: Involuntarily ejected from the Matrix.
• Dumpshock: Nausea and disorientation from being dumped out of a simsense interface (usually the Matrix or a remote control rig)
• Exec: Corporate executive.
• Frag: Common swear word; Someones (desired) death in a disrespectfully rejoicing context.
• Geek: To kill. (outdated)
• Go-go-go: A bike gang or gang member.
• Heatwave: Police crackdown.
• Hoi: Hi/Hello
• Hose: Screw up.
• Ice: Security software. “Intrusion Countermeasures,” or IC.
• Jack In: enter cyberspace
• Jack out: to leave cyberspace.
• Jander: to walk in an arrogant yet casual manner
• Kobun: Member of a Yakuza clan.
• Mr. Johnson: an anonymous employer or corporate agent.
• Nutrisoy: Cheaply processed food product, derived from soybeans
• Nuyen: World standard of currency.
• Omae: Friend
• Oyabun: Head of a Yakuza clan.
• Panzer: Any ground-effect combat vehicle.
• Paydata: A datafile worth brouzouf on the black market.
• Plex: A metropolitan complex, or “metroplex”.
• Poli: A policlub or policlub member.
• Razorguy: Heavily cybered samurai or other muscle.
• Samurai: Mercenary or muscle for hire. Implies honor code.
• Sarariman: From “salaryman.” A corporate employee.
• Screamer: Credstick or other ID that triggers computer alarms if used.
• Seoul Man: A member of a Seoulpa ring.
• Seoulpa ring: A small criminal gang with connections to others like it.
• Shaikujin: “Honest citizen.” A corporate employee.
• Simsense: ASIST sensory broadcast or recording.
• SINless: Lacking a System Identification Number.
• Slot: Mild curse word.
• Slot and Run: Hurry up. Get to the point.
• So ka: I understand. I get it.
• Soykaf: Ersatz coffee substitute made from soybeans.
• Sprawl: a metroplex
• Squatter: to fraternize below one’s social level.
• Suit: A “straight citizen.”
• System Identification Number (SIN): Identification number assigned to each person in the society.
• T-bird: Low-altitude vehicle (LAV), usually vectored thrust.
• Trid, Trideo: Holographic animated media; Three-dimensional successor to video.
• Vatjob: A person with extensive cyberware replacement, reference is to a portion of the process during which the patient must be submerged in nutrient fluid.
• Wetwork: Assassination. Murder.
• Wired: Equipped with cyberware, especially increased reflexes.
• Yak: Yakuza. Either a clan member or a clan itself.
• brouzouf: monetary unit
• schway: cool
• shazbot: dickhead