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My eyes protectively slid off that block of text the moment it mentioned uzi-wielding ninjas.
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Nov 8, 2017 20:31
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Xander77 posted:My eyes protectively slid off that block of text the moment it mentioned uzi-wielding ninjas. The prose isn't the most well-put together fanfic, but it's really not that bad. Fits well within the universe.
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Nov 8, 2017 21:20
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Xander77 posted:My eyes protectively slid off that block of text the moment it mentioned uzi-wielding ninjas. Were they at least dual-wielding nipponjin ninjas? There should be some standards in my pulp fiction of magic elves and neon cyberspace. OutofSight fucked around with this message at 17:15 on Nov 12, 2017 |
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Nov 8, 2017 22:02
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Man, Shadowrun ain't for you if you can't buy into the ridiculousness.
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Nov 8, 2017 22:39
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The whole point of Shadowrun is to take these cyberpunk themes all the way and add elves to them. Of course there will be ninjas with uzis. The world currency is the Nuyen, which is like saying new yen except more radical.
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Nov 9, 2017 00:10
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Xander77 posted:My eyes protectively slid off that block of text the moment it mentioned uzi-wielding ninjas. Yeah, they really should have been using submachine guns.
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Nov 9, 2017 00:55
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painedforever posted:Right. So that's all fluff explanations. Is there a mapping in it for crunch as well? A jack in the video-game means giving up 0.5 essence (0.3 if you're using the eyeball jack). I assume you can use the 'trode thingy without giving up on essence? Yes, although in the tabletop game the essence loss for a datajack is actually minor. It's 0.1 essence, and because it's so cheap, it's pretty easy to get an alphaware jack which would cut it down to 0.08. The way essence works in the tabletop is amusing because there's a ton of ways to reduce the essence cost of stuff. My favorite, and the most hilarious one, was Type-O Body from the fourth edition. Basically, the fluff was that you were some sort of super-rare universal organ donor and universal recipient, which meant you were hyper-compatible with biotech upgrades. The standard mass-produced biotech, for you, was only as invasive (and cost only as much Essence) as the top of the line, custom-grown stuff. If you combined it with Biocompatibility (Bioware), you could get 1 essence of biotech upgrades for 0.4 essence loss. Also, if people found out they could make a sizable amount of money selling your organs on the black market, so you know, you probably need all that biotech compatibility. What's interesting about this is that until the more recent editions (4th and 5th edition), Adepts were generally underpowered without taking at least some biotech in them. Amusingly, Hong Kong models this to some extent-an adept is just so much more effective with some cyber-affinity and bioware in them to boost movement and stats.
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Nov 9, 2017 01:18
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There's also a character quality called Prototype Transhuman, in which case you were literally made in a megacorp lab somewhere and you have bioware incorporated into your body from birth, and since it's a part of you it doesn't affect your essence.
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Nov 9, 2017 01:24
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Woudn't they have no essence from the start, though? Being in a way artificially created?
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Nov 9, 2017 02:25
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Ze Pollack posted:similarly, one of the better tools in the game, and what makes a good wage-mage terrifying, is magesight goggles. Well, no. The mage still makes the fireballs. So, yeah, they can still shoot fireballs at you if they want to punch through the building in the process, but all the magic that doesn't shoot physical things from the mage to you can still get dropped on you.
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Nov 9, 2017 02:42
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Glazius posted:Well, no. The mage still makes the fireballs. So, yeah, they can still shoot fireballs at you if they want to punch through the building in the process, but all the magic that doesn't shoot physical things from the mage to you can still get dropped on you. A team of security shamans throwing spirits and debuffs at you from the other side of the complex will really ruin your loving day though.
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Nov 9, 2017 03:33
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paragon1 posted:Yeah, they really should have been using submachine guns. https://shadowrun.gamepedia.com/Uzi_III you mean like the ... Uzi? 
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Nov 9, 2017 04:14
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HardDiskD posted:Woudn't they have no essence from the start, though? Being in a way artificially created? Essence loss (as I understand it, anyway) is the result of removing a part of yourself, not whether or not what's being installed is synthetic. It's your soul rejecting what it recognizes as being not you, which causes it to unstick from your body, for lack of a better word.
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Nov 9, 2017 04:14
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This is correct. It's also why even if you take the cybernetic out, you're not getting that essence back, but you can put the essence you've already paid towards a new, fancier cybernetic.
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Nov 9, 2017 05:07
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Glazius posted:Well, no. The mage still makes the fireballs. So, yeah, they can still shoot fireballs at you if they want to punch through the building in the process, but all the magic that doesn't shoot physical things from the mage to you can still get dropped on you. Security mages pulling this kind of poo poo are usually much better off using stunbolts and stunballs from a drain mitigation perspective anyway.
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Nov 9, 2017 10:26
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Glazius posted:Well, no. The mage still makes the fireballs. So, yeah, they can still shoot fireballs at you if they want to punch through the building in the process, but all the magic that doesn't shoot physical things from the mage to you can still get dropped on you. If they wanted to manifest a fireball in their hand then throw it at you they'd only need line-of-sight to their hand. Being able to see you with their own eyes means they can put magic on your directly.
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Nov 9, 2017 11:53
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Psion posted:https://shadowrun.gamepedia.com/Uzi_III That's a machine pistol with a bunch of extras stuck on. The description is incorrect.
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Nov 9, 2017 15:44
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The Lone Badger posted:If they wanted to manifest a fireball in their hand then throw it at you they'd only need line-of-sight to their hand. Being able to see you with their own eyes means they can put magic on your directly. No, they're saying that the fireball and similar indirect combat spells require the spell to travel from the mage's body to the target, in a line or arc. As opposed to a bunch of other spells (that usually don't do physical damage) that just appear on the target in question.
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Nov 9, 2017 15:47
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Part 30 - Final Preparations.jpg)  This is going to be a pretty brief and straightforward update, mostly consisting of us asking everyone present a whole bunch of questions. We'll start our grand tour of inquiry from the mysterious magic vendor nearby.  This is the last opportunity to shop in the game, so there's no sense in saving up if you're still in need of something.  I have some questions first. Speak them. Were you spying on me at the Seamstresses Union? [His eyes widen at the question.] You mistake your importance, Amazon. No, I was not spying on you. Until Mr. Telestrian's summons, you were beneath my notice. I saw only a customer.What happened to "I've been impressed with you for some time"? Why do you have to be such a jerk, Aljernon? Are you really here?[Aljernon's face takes on a dreamy expression.] Are any of us? Yes, Amazon, I am here. And at the Seamstresses Union. And a myriad of other places. Who exactly are you? I am a peddler of magical spells, spirits, and foci. Nothing more. Truly? Aw to hell with you. We need to find someone more reasonable and less arrogant to talk with.  Like Lofwyr here.  How did the insect spirits get here? Unpleasant. Guess Jessica isn't just your run-of-the-mill crazy, the bugs have been literally taking over her mind.  Eventually, the shaman completely succumbs, choosing the contentment and sense of clear purpose that being part of a hive provides. Perform your role. Serve your queen. That is all. And where do they come from? As the level of magic in the Sixth World grows the - for the lack of a better word - the *distance* between the various planes of reality decreases. When the membrane between the planes is thin enough, ritual magic may be used to draw beings from one to another. If Lofwyr had seen this before and knew another was coming, why didn't he move faster? Based upon previous cycles of magic, the first insects are not due to appear for another 700 years. My lord Lofwyr believed he was well ahead of schedule. But something is different this time. It iss... concerning. Why do you think it's different this time? Perhaps it is due to the population of humans and meta-humans on Earth being so much higher than in previous ages. As a result, the volume of magic created by sentient beings is correspondingly higher. Or perhaps it is the density of the population coupled with the advances of society and technology that has altered things. I kind of love this hilariously dreary idea that people have become so aware of the misery and meaninglessness of their garbage lives that it actually manifests as a supernatural force affecting the world. So what's it like to serve a Great Dragon? [The German man's eyes narrow.] Do not misconstrue my relationship with Lord Lofwyr. I do not serve.They drop a few hints about Brackhaus' true identity here and there, if you know to keep an eye out for them. Alright, I should go. Yes. Good luck. Telestrian has returned to his office and can be found at his desk.  Tell me more about Project Aegis. Telestrian Industries Corporation has been working on Project Aegis for two years without fully understanding its use. Lofwyr did not trust me with the information. My engineers finally met the Dragon's specifications 3 months ago and had just begun the production process when my cousin Lynne hired shadowrunners to destroy the lab and the factory - leaving us only the sample you stole.Pretty impressive that Lynne knew to blow the place up when even the people making the stuff apparently didn't know what it was for. Why was Marie-Louise taken by the Universal Brotherhood? How exactly do I use Aegis? My people have weaponized the Project Aegis formula by creating shells which, when fired, propel a high-velocity cloud of the material which should be effective at killing exposed insect spirits. There are more effective ways to deliver Aegis - obviously - but time was of the essence and I needed to improvise. Right. I should go. Indeed. The good detective is still around too.  We're all gonna die, McKlusky. Yeah, but you're gonna die screaming.I think he secretly likes us.  Marie-Louise is hanging out in the main hall.  Yep. Thank you. For everything. Could be worse. Could be raining. [She smiles.] It's Seattle. But you look like you have questions. Why were you locked up at the Universal Brotherhood? This particular incident is covered in a short story from the Shadowrun Returns Anthology which I posted in the thread but which probably won't be included in the archived version. My aunt Lynne told me the truth about Harkeem and how my father lied. She preyed upon my anger. I was so disgusted with him, it was easy for her to get me to leave and join her new family at the Universal Brotherhood. And what did she and the UB want with you? I know that feeling, I've played through multiple Bethesda games. Was it Harkeem who helped you in the Matrix? I wonder if the sample we stole was already in launcher form or if Samedi was planning on having us gently spray it on the spirits' faces or something. Though let's be honest, he probably never planned that far. So, what did Harkeem tell you about us breaking into your father's office? Nothing. I haven't spoken to him since last night. Why? What happened? It went as planned until your father's people found me and brought me in.Not exactly true, but she doesn't need to know the grisly details.  We could've also told her the truth for a very different reaction: quote:
But a more interesting option is being an rear end in a top hat and lying to her: quote:
Of course we never heard such a thing. I find this interesting because it's just about the only time in the game you can be a cruel jerkass for no good reason to someone who doesn't deserve it. It's not uncommon in many other RPGs but here it kinda stands out.  Quoth the butler can be found near the fireplace in the same hall.  Unfortunately we don't get to know the red-eyed elf better as he only serves as a vendor. His selection covers pretty much everything but magical stuff which is available from Aljernon instead. He even does cyberware installations which is quite impressive.  One thing of note is that Quoth is the only vendor in the game to sell Smartlink weapons, otherwise only available to hireable runners. We obviously don't need one, but we do resupply and upgrade our healing items while we're here.  Having come full circle, we finish our tour with Harley here.  I have a few questions first. Of course you do. So, who are you? I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.With an intelligence check of 5 we'd be able to catch these hot Beatles references ("You're the walrus?"), but we don't need to play the clown's games. Sounds like a load of drek. This way I can point out the nice little touch that Harlequin actually swears like normal - after all, why would he use the local slang? Also I believe the "fights duels with assholes" part is referring to this guy:  Ehran the Scribe, another immortal elf against whom Harlequin lost both a duel and his left ear back in Renaissance-era France (the ear visible on Harlequin's portrait is actually a prosthetic). He got back at Ehran a few centuries later in 2050 and they started getting along a bit better after that, but even so the term "long-time rivalry" is definitely taken to a whole different level with these two. How do we kill an insect spirit again? Rinse, repeat. And what's the connection between the bugs and the Universal Brotherhood? They're thinking big! They set up shop in every major city, created a major marketing campaign, and then began aggressively recruiting the drop-outs, the disaffected, and the deranged - just like any good cult! If Aegis fails... if we fail, the world will be absolutely overrun by bugs. It's brilliant!One of these major cities is Chicago which later down the line ends up with a serious bug problem. Because of that particular incident, many people with prior familiarity with Shadowrun knew what was coming the moment Shane namedropped the Universal Brotherhood for the first time way back when. Does Brackhaus really work for a Great Dragon? This is the biggest hint given in the game about the man's true nature, though many probably dismiss it as Harlequin's usual nonsense. Alright, I'm ready. Let's go stomp some bugs. [His eyes light up.] I thought you'd never ask!  So here's the bad news: the Aegis launcher is indeed a shotgun which we're bad at using. But wait - here's the good news: it doesn't actually count as a shotgun in the game despite being classified as one, meaning the Shotgun skill doesn't affect it. In fact, I don't believe the Aegis launcher takes any of your skills or stats into account in any way. In other words, whether you're the greatest shotgun-wielder the world has ever seen (not us) or someone who'd have better luck using one as a bludgeon (totally us*), your effectiveness at swatting spirit bugs with this thing is on the exact same level. It doesn't really make any sense, but from a gameplay perspective it's a very good thing as it avoids screwing over non-gunners like pure mages. As there won't be any Matrix runs in the game from this point on, we can safely swap out our cyberdeck here. (*Not actually true as our Melee Weapons skill is even lower than our Ranged Weapons skill)  This isn't exactly the most well-rounded lineup but we're stuck with Harlequin, the Ghost of Tir Tairngire provided by Telestrian is unique and provides us with an extra Aegis launcher and not bringing Coyote after everything we've been through with her would just feel wrong.  This is it, the final job. It's been a, well, not that long a journey to be honest, but this is where it ends one way or another. Let's get it done and hopefully finally get our big payday. Kanfy fucked around with this message at 12:10 on Dec 6, 2017 |
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Nov 9, 2017 18:01
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Kanfy posted:This isn't exactly the most well-rounded lineup but we're stuck with Harlequin, the Ghost of Tir Taingire provided by Telestrian is unique and provides us with an extra Aegis launcher and not bringing Coyote after everything we've been through with her would just feel wrong. This is always, always my lineup for the exact same reason.
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Nov 9, 2017 18:34
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I like how the security guard is charging for his service.
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Nov 9, 2017 18:59
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HardDiskD posted:I like how the security guard is charging for his service. He's actually one of the elite special forces soldiers from Tir Tairngire, which is a bullshit elf nation occupying Oregon that has a silly timeline and an economy propped up by outside forces.
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Nov 9, 2017 19:04
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God, so many nyuyen left over! And the final team is so cheap. And there's really nothing left to buy. It's... bothersome. This mission. This mission is a slog. I don't know how everyone else felt about it, but I thought it got a bit tedious... until the end, which was tense.
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Nov 9, 2017 19:21
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They don't warn you that there won't be any more matrix runs. I noticed that there weren't any cyberdecks or programs for sale here, but I didn't realize I could have left my deck behind. The extra slot would have been useful. There's something else they don't warn you about concerning the use of aegis, but that might still be considered a spoiler at this point so I'll wait and see if Kanfy covers it. For now let's just say I really wish I'd taken the guy with the third launcher...
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Nov 9, 2017 19:31
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It is odd, that there is a "Ehran the Scribe" portrait (it is named after him) in the DMS content files. Forgotten cameo in the plot? The Aegis behaves like a (terrible) shotgun with a two-shot magazine. And you won't gain anything from the weapon specialization, because crits don't work with that thing. Both of these "features" cause much frustration, but some build like Amazon with whopping 3 points in ranged combat you can still hit with a good close positioning and a aim buff from Mr. Harlequin. Works even on ultrahard (Main-Rigger, Harlequin, Coyote and Alexander Falk) That is the other reason i can't hate that elf in this game. Guy really pulls some weight in the last mission.
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Nov 9, 2017 19:31
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painedforever posted:God, so many nyuyen left over! And the final team is so cheap. And there's really nothing left to buy. It's... bothersome. In the original version of the game Quoth didn't actually sell healing items, which means the last opportunity in the game to buy those was back at the Union before the Telestrian run. Combined with the fact that you couldn't save manually meant that the final mission could potentially get real bad if you ended up running out of supplies. How good or bad the mission is now is obviously subjective, but it's at least better than it used to be.
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Nov 9, 2017 19:38
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This is the point I gave up on the game.  I'm looking forward to seeing what I missed.
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Nov 9, 2017 20:44
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I like the combination of "secret identity" and "I don't care about mortal opinions enough to be consistent about a secret identity" that Brackhaus has.
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Nov 9, 2017 20:52
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Poil posted:This is the point I gave up on the game. A lot of bugs. And a genuinely funny ending to a long running plot thread.
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Nov 9, 2017 22:45
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Are you going to do the other two games?
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Nov 9, 2017 22:50
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Randaconda posted:Are you going to do the other two games? Maybe? I started this one pretty much on a whim after I noticed nobody had done one yet, but those two are a bit more of a commitment and if I start one I want to be sure I can also see it all the way through. I do kind of like the idea though, and I definitely feel like they deserve to be shown off by at least someone. For now I'm just going to focus on finishing up here, see how things look like after that. If you or someone else feels like giving the other two a shot then by all means, I'm definitely not going to try and stop you from freeing up all those hours for me.
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Nov 10, 2017 00:49
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Kanfy posted:Maybe? I started this one pretty much on a whim after I noticed nobody had done one yet, but those two are a bit more of a commitment and if I start one I want to be sure I can also see it all the way through. I do kind of like the idea though, and I definitely feel like they deserve to be shown off by at least someone. I'm not good or entertaining enough to do a LP. 
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Nov 10, 2017 00:55
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Keeshhound posted:A lot of bugs. And a genuinely funny ending to a long running plot thread. It's a Shaggy Dog story. The ending certainly makes up for any problems I had with the final mission... by first making me froth with rage, then reducing me to giggles as I caught on to the joke.
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Nov 10, 2017 01:14
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Randaconda posted:I'm not good or entertaining enough to do a LP. That's absolutely not an issue, the trick is to pick a game with a cool enough setting to let you coast on its merits instead of needing to rely on your own. Also no ending chat yet. 
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Nov 10, 2017 01:22
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Kanfy posted:
By pure coincidence, the first time I played DMS was with a shotgun spec'ed sam. I thought for sure that would turn me into a Aegis-wielding monster. Okay, maybe not, but the last level was still a lot of fun. Also, Kanfy, if you felt moved to do the next two games, I'd happily be along for the ride. This has been a great LP, and I'd love to see Dragonfall get the completed LP it deserves.
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Nov 10, 2017 02:11
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painedforever posted:It's a Shaggy Dog story. The ending certainly makes up for any problems I had with the final mission... by first making me froth with rage, then reducing me to giggles as I caught on to the joke. Actually, not what I was referring to, but anything further than that would be spoilers. I trust Kanfy will show it off.
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Nov 10, 2017 02:21
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Now that we’re drawing toward the end, I just wanted to say that this has been a phenomenal thread for its wonderful combination of gameplay and lore. Truly enjoyable to read whether there has been an update or not. I can’t say that about many LPs, so well done!
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Nov 10, 2017 02:30
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This thread was my first real introduction to the shadowrun universe and it has been a wild ride. Thanks for LPing.
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Nov 10, 2017 03:22
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paragon1 posted:That's a machine pistol with a bunch of extras stuck on. The description is incorrect. Not in the context of Shadowrun and not really in the context of real world classification, but the former matters more here. 
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Nov 10, 2017 03:31
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Psion posted:Not in the context of Shadowrun and not really in the context of real world classification, but the former matters more here. Yeah I know I'm just being obstinate because calling something a thing when its clearly another thing with a bunch of accessories slapped on irks me
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Nov 10, 2017 06:16
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