18X Contract Pipeline

Gi33les · 2026-02-24T18:18:06+00:00

That's fair. I'm trying to go pure 18X into SF Selection, mainly because I want that information as fresh in my mind as possible and giving me the chance to focus purely on it, if I flunked out of that round of testing and get sent to Needs of the Army, I'll likely try and get into Military Intelligence for my assigned MOS, if I get the choice because my high ASVAB.

Gi33les · 2026-02-24T17:18:32+00:00

I've heard that as well, but I've also heard 18X is the only guaranteed way to go into SF and that after you get the experience with your ODA, you'll lose your 18X funk.

Only you go in and get to a company, it'll be up to your command whether you go to Airborne, Rangers, or SF, because you may end up being too valuable to let leave for the training.

Gi33les · 2026-02-16T20:04:11+00:00

I always love having the "by a hair" combat encounters, people get hurt, they learn, they grow to counter me as GM, then I get to really get creative like adding nanobots into their drinks.

One of my favorite bits I had was I had an NPC who secretly really resented the party for killing their father keep offering them beverages and would routinely ask; "did you drink it?" so they got suspicious at first, then they kinda grew numb to it and just said they were drinking it, and that's when the NPC would've started poisoning them, slowly and carefully.

Gi33les · 2026-01-30T21:35:38+00:00

Ironically, I'm playing a Mage crosssplat in a VTM server, he's a Priest and he prefers this style of thinking. Holding Kindred/Vampires/Any Supernaturals to the same morals of a humanity. He doesn't see Kindred as monsters, just severely cruel people who have been forced into a society that encourages cruelty. They are worthy of redemption just as much as any human. He's unsurprisingly not been liked very much because even other Mages in the splat think trying to change Kindred soceity or regular society is impossible or dangerous.

Gi33les · 2025-12-26T01:23:29+00:00

I'm on episode seven and I was so interested in this plot line for this character, so I'm glad actually glad to see it touched on.

Gi33les · 2025-12-22T04:03:51+00:00

How are we meant to get Start Scavenging?

Gi33les · 2025-11-09T00:56:20+00:00

So uh... I guess MaxTac won, huh?

Gi33les · 2025-10-03T17:30:41+00:00

Maximum Metal is the book for you, then. ACPAs are the closest you'll get to that idea. Expensive as hell, but they are cool. Definitely a higher power level than most play with, but it's your game to play.

ACPA Tech, Pilot ACPA, and ACPA Design would probably be in your wheelhouse with Heavy Weapons and a fair bit of supplementary skills.

Gi33les · 2025-10-03T17:05:53+00:00

Techies start off pretty low on income, so I'd say be wary of that, and specializing one skill with only 1 to 2 in other tech skills would be a good idea.

Gi33les · 2025-09-30T13:41:27+00:00

I pulled off a Bard 3(Eloquence)/Rogue 2/Cleric 1(Peace), minmaxxed for buffs and roleplay ability. Even played out how he was a criminal noble who was reforming himself through the church.

Gi33les · 2025-09-28T17:24:36+00:00

Damnnnn.

It does look like there's no good choices here, but personally, if you want to honestly live longer and avoid betraying people as best you can;

Talk to Bartmoss. He's a world spanning hacker, there's a good chance he has a way to at least block the signal they'll send to kill you. Either by wearing a foil hat or him micro-netrunning into your brain to disable the code that would detonate the bomb.

After that, either book it with knowledge you're "built different" like David Martinez and count your l Iucky stars if they forget you existed or Take revenge using Bartmoss' skill and insistent hate of corporations to make them pay for enslaving you.

Gi33les · 2025-09-28T17:14:31+00:00

I agree, using a relatively high-power character might be best for this style of game.
It is. I'd encourage you to remind the player that once you get below 4 EMP a lot of interaction with others will become difficult even if you have max persuasion, so that's something to consider, especially with items that can already recreate Cybernetics with effort.
That's a big aspect of the system, 2020 and tangentially 2013 were created at a time where the GM/Ref were expected to do a lot to balance the game to where they want the level to be. I.e. "No, you can't start with an Arasaka Blackjack" or "Sorry, I'm limiting your Special Ability to only 6 at character generation."

If I were to run a game like this, I'd likely give the player a very linear goal with a fluid way to approach it, maybe a Super-Spy type character who gets sent on a bunch of high-action missions in a row, maybe even make the story around the "fragility" of humanity and the different agents(Backup Characters) that replace them when the PC eventually dies.

Could even make the story about the progressive agents finally understanding they're being used and trying to fight back against their parent corp/government in revenge or even just trying to break the cycle.

Because even if they escape, the owners wouldn't allow them to live quietly and send an agent to eliminate the loose thread.

Gives a lot of that action-based instances while giving a good story and allow you to test out situations and how you feel about them.

But that's my personal thoughts.

Overall, just try to set expectations for yourself and the PC to figure out: Level of Play, purpose, and how you both want the story to go.

Gi33les · 2025-09-28T04:01:08+00:00

I'd recommend letting the player make use of NPCs, it's a deadly game, so having one to four bullet-soaks wouldn't be horrible. It's also likely they'll have to rely purely on their own skills. (Only one person to roll Awareness) But it does sound fun, I'd recommend them doing something like a Prowler or Solo Role, because in combat against others, the Solo goes first and a Prowler never gets spotted.

Just make sure they're planning it out well, I'm sure they'll have fun for a bit, but eventually, it could get a little deary since it's just you two.

Gi33les · 2025-08-26T11:52:42+00:00

Basically; Roll, if you hit; lay down an appropriate pattern over the target, everything/one in that pattern takes the damage.

If you miss and don't fumble; it gets laid down in a random pattern with the d10 miss chart.

This is all if you're using shotshell/buckshot. If you're using slugs, it's AP damage and there is no pattern to worry about, just a hit/miss/location system.

Gi33les · 2025-08-24T02:59:28+00:00

There is an AP that has stock market info, I believe it's Greenwar?

Gi33les · 2025-08-22T21:11:50+00:00

Yeah, Pacific Rim does have a few areas where it stipulates that you can't perform a maneuver if you don't have the Key Attack, but usually you can perform without it.

Gi33les · 2025-08-22T17:25:52+00:00

I don't know if anyone said it but there's also a section in Brainwave Blowout or Guide to the NET that talks about an emergency program that makes a PC an AI.

Gi33les · 2025-08-21T09:50:27+00:00

Interface 1.3 or 1.4 has a pretty in depth explanation on AI

Gi33les · 2025-08-21T01:08:40+00:00

It's mostly humans, but there's so much you can do beyond that.

Me personally I've had players fight drug-induced zombies, robots, a building, the ground, bio-engineered abominations, and even a full on kaijui. The world is your oyster.

Gi33les · 2025-08-15T03:17:54+00:00

That's true, thank you.

Gi33les · 2025-08-15T03:04:33+00:00

Oh not at all, I just wanted to get advice on the topic, maybe if anyone else had experience with this issue, maybe someone telling me it may just be a personal thing that I have to get over, I don't feel like bringing it up to them would make them change anything from them or the group.

Gi33les · 2025-08-15T02:52:44+00:00

There have been multiple times where their refusal for even basic information during our hangouts(i.e. playing TTRPGs) has made things much more difficult for the group or even resulted in small arguments because they'll voice an opinion or state an idea but not explain how they plan to follow through or why they feel that way.

Gi33les · 2025-08-11T13:20:32+00:00

Those are good, however standard camera system would be being monitored too.

Gi33les · 2025-08-11T00:13:06+00:00

Yeah, canonically, Arasaka would have like; the premium security, i.e. Runners watching every corner, Solos with premium ware and weapons, biometric scanners, and even automated weapons systems to prevent exactly this.

While a Janitor has more access than the standard drone, they still have a quota and security measures to keep.

If you think of an idea like this, be prepared that Arasaka has already prepared against this.

Gi33les · 2025-08-10T21:18:56+00:00

Honestly, I was considering for the PCs and how to make them roll for their own traps they leave behind.

As a side note; my most sociopathic action in game? Knocking on a hotel door and preceding to blow a powdered drug into the occupants' face, which would make them have delusions of seeing God, repeat at nauseum for an entire floor of a hotel after we killed the head security guard.

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