#cyberpirates

The Harlequin mini-adventures are not meant to be run back to back, so it’s only fitting that I break up my posts about them with some other material, so...

What have I not talked about?

I read the Shadowrun 1st Edition Core book like I am a Benedictine monk reading the King James Bible, and that’s why I’ve been able to write so much about Archetypes, Totems, Spells, Weapons, and the Eight-Titted Devil Dog. 

Mammae.

Like a monk, I’ve been in a period of intense contemplation and study to determine what I haven’t talked about yet. And I found a couple things.

Ritual Sorcery. Will have to take on that.

And boats.

The metroplex of Seattle exists in the midst of the Salish-Shidhe Council as an enclave of another sovereign nation. This gives it a status similar to that of Berlin during the Cold War, except that as a major port, it receives goods from all over the Pacific basin.

Right? We all know Seattle is on/near/connected to the Pacific Ocean, and while I’ve still never been there personally, I hear Puget Sound is kind of cool looking. The present-day city of Seattle is 41% water by area, so it’s not ludicrous to think nautical travel might play a role in a Shadowrun campaign.

Except, as those who have played Shadowrun, we know it’s ludicrous. ABSOLUTELY ludicrous.

Why? Because this isn’t Venice. You don’t have go-gangs on jet-skis, after all. Seattle might be 41% water but that means its 59% land which is where they have things like people and buildings and stuffers and everything else. And your runners can’t rely upon their Aztech Nightrunner to get to their meet in the Redmond Barrens, no matter how many canals, inlets, or fjords they search for.

“In this house we do not speak ill of Knightboat!”

But that might be the old, grumpy, landlubber in me. I didn’t use boats much in Shadowrun because I don’t use boats much in real life. You could, of course, just to spite me, make a campaign entirely centered on the water. The Earth, you say, is 70% by surface area, so there is lots of space out there. Finally get a chance to use the kraken!

To which I say, good like finding support for that kind of game…

“I didn’t know pirates were still a thing…”

Fragdammit…

Cyberpirates is a 2nd Edition sourcebook, so I’m bending my own rules talking about it here. I can’t say this is the most absurd Shadowrun supplement there is – that shall ever be allotted to Shadowbeat. And it’s not that bad: it’s mostly a location sourcebook covering such areas as:

Caribbean (and the Carib League – remember from the maps that south Florida is not part of the CAS!)

Philippines – relevant given its tumultuous history with Japan and what used to be the United States

West Africa – the only, ONLY, coverage of Africa in Shadowrun (as of 3rd Edition). Shadows of Asia covers the Middle East but stops at the Red Sea.

So there’s this, if that’s your thing. You can even get a Hook Hand (0.1 Essence, costs 30¥), Peg Leg (0.2 Essence, 50¥; get both to piss away 5% of your precious Essence at less than the cost of a Medkit), and, I dunno, an Awakened Parrot or something to complete your Treasure Island-style cosplay. Or make a version of Captain Jack Sparrow with Wired Reflexes and an even more annoying personality. Or make this guy:

Que font les cyberpirates ? Ils dupliquent des sites web pour essayer de tromper les consommateurs et les amener à donner des informations précieuses. Heureusement, là où il y a des pirates, il y a nous. Notre programme de sécurité des réseaux et de cyberpiratage éthique vous prépare à faire face à ces menaces et à aider à protéger les entreprises contre elles aussi ! Voyez cela comme du piratage pour les gentils. Posez votre candidature pour janvier 2021 dès maintenant !

BW's "Yesterday's" Comic> Robotech II: The Sentinels--Cyberpirates #4

“I think there’s something wrong with this hairdryer.”

Robotech II: The Sentinels: Cyberpirates #4

FINAL ISSUE

“The Last Flight Of Cobra 5”

WRITER: Bill Spangler

PENCILER: Thomas Tenney

INKER: Angel de Miochie

COVER ART: Barry Blair

LETTERER: Michael DeLepine

EDITOR: Dan Danko

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BW's "Yesterday's" Comic> Robotech II: The Sentinels--Cyberpirates #1

Heavy metal? At an airport for fighter jets? No, really?

Robotech II: The Sentinels–Cyberpirates #1

Eternity Comics (March, 1991)

“The Hardwired Coffin”

WRITER: Bill Spangler

PENCILER: Thomas Tenney

INKER: Fred Perry

COVER COLORIST: Paul Mounts

LETTERER: Michael DeLepine

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INQUIÉTANT ! CYBER-TERRORISME : pour DÉTOURNER et FAIRE S’ÉCRASER un AVION, MONTER A BORD n’est plus NÉCESSAIRE

Si le grand public se focalise sur les scénarios catastrophe, les entreprises ont surtout en tête des cyberattaques plus immédiates et concrètes. Image: Keystone

Les cyberpirates, une menace nouvelle pour les avions.

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