Session Zero

Hello all and welcome to Technoir!

If you don't have it already the PDF rulebook can be found at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/93378/Technoir

Mechanically, the main points of character generation are:

1. Select three training programs
2. Determine verb ratings
3. Select adjectives
4. Select three connections
5. Assign relationship adjectives
6. Purchase objects using kreds
7. Finish the protagonist

I think that the first real step for us here is to discuss what character archetypes and styles of group that people want. We are playing in Singapore, which is first and foremost a dock town in the setting, so perhaps think about any cargo or shipping relevant information

I wasn't sure about the Transmission, so I'm missing connections and some objects right now, but other than that, I'm done. :D
Are we going to have initial connections between protagonists?

Hey everybody! Here I am, doing what cool people do on Friday nights!

Stoked to be here, especially since I don't believe I've had the pleasure to have gamed with any of you yet. Looking forward to it.

I don't particularly have any sort of vision for the group as a whole... I guess maybe not like dirt-level street-ganger types, but also not hardened professionals? Somewhere in between on that spectrum? RE: archetypes, I'd be interested in playing some manner of hacker, maybe something like: Courier, Criminal, Investigator. Though if someone else was interested in hacking, I'm really just looking forward to seeing this system in action and will play anything.

Also, may be worth noting there is a free Player's Guide on the game's website, to make things a little more accessible in the short term?

I went with the character who isn't a hardened criminal, but did some information selling and maybe forgery anonymously, as his side source of income. One unlucky scheme went south and now he's under threat of being blackmailed and looks for resources (or other means) to deal with that before everything goes up in flames.

His archetype would be something like Observan Doctor, since he's Doctor x2, Investigator x1. I debated about taking Engineer to make him implant surgeon, but that doesn't really sit well with the idea of not-very-influential characters. Thanks to programs, he's semi-decent at Stealth and Hack, but nowhere near professional.

I can adjust all that, of course, if we have some set theme for the group as a whole! :D

I'll be playing as a masked vigilante who was once a police officer who had enough of the growing corruption he sees in his city. He has a connection with a doctor who does splicing. I'm thinking that he has already some cyber augmentations done by the doctor as both a way to recover from a terrible accident and to fight injustice in his own way.

Let me know if I can use up favours pre-game. Also, how does upgrades work? Can I apply upgrades together with my base cybernetics? Does each upgrade tag cost 1 kred?

According to core rules, you can use favours during character generation, but each character from Transmission can only perform two favours for the entire table during generation. If we're following that rule, we'll need to account for that as a group. (I'd like to maybe reserve one shark/splice favour for myself, but neither is very important, I can let others have it.)

You can upgrade each item separately for 1 kred per upgrade tag - so it's base cost plus the number of upgrades. I was going to buy this for 6 kreds:
"Specs (display, gesture input, linked, sound, firewall, encryption)".

Sorry, I do not have the core rules. My connections must be from the transmission right? Or can I make my own npcs?

According to rules, connections should be someone from Transmission (probably to limit the number of NPCs and favors), but I assume it can be changed by GM's will.
I'd actually prefer if we could add our own NPCs, but that's up to our GM. XD

KettleandClock, how are we going to add relationship adjectives? :D

Well before we get to that, can we go around the metaphorical table and call out the training programs you’re taking and the verbs and adjectives you’re going for, and what kind of equipment you will be getting

Also, for creation we’ll stick to the transmission connections, but I’m going to be fairly open in play for players to create new npcs

White Rabbit is in the library, I'll update him as we move along, feel free to read through his sheet!Equipment kinda depends on connections - debts, splice and all that, - but I listed what I was thinking to get on his sheet as well. If no one has their sights on shark favor from Krishna, I'd certainly like to utilize it to get medikit and a gun. (The vehicle and cybernetics are just an idea, but they are of lower priority.)
With gun, I was wondering if I can add a custom upgrade of "tranquilizer" to it - or just create an entirely new object "tranquilizer gun". Actually, can I have a drone that shoots tranquilizer darts?.. My Operate is way better than Shoot. XD

Anyways, here is The Merlion's sheet.Posible equipment: (May not get to have all)
Specks(it is built in my helmet)
Cyberarms with Claws and Matched Pairs
Barker gun
Katana

Here's where my PC is at.

I was waiting for the other players to make sure no one else has their heart set on being a hacker, but maybe I should just proceed at this point?

Courier, Criminal, Investigator - strong Prowl, decent Hack, competent Move, Fight, Shoot, Detect
Adjectives, agile, analytical, and dextrous (generally aligned to boost my above verb/Action set).
Was planning on getting a Headjack but having a Connection with Splice where I can leverage that pre-game is an absolute necessity for that to work for me...

So Roaries can you please stick to the connection npcs for character creation? There’ll be times for custom npcs but for setting up the situation from the transmission it’s important to keep it all inside to start.

If I’m reading this correctly we’ve got a doctor, a bruiser and a tech...er... sounds good.... cyber-thief?

So, to tie you all in together,

White Rabbit, what secret about you got discovered that you then had to hire a hacker to retrieve/destroy?

The Merlion, what injury did you sustain whilst in the force that you had to seek out medical attention from White Rabbit rather than the police doctor?

Unnamed hacker, what did you say or do that The Merlion let you off on a misdemeanour rather than charging you for the full federal offence?

Someone who didn't wish good upon James discovered his persona and his entire scheme (both information deals and forging papers), and maybe found out about one specific forgery that can be considered worthy of police's close attention.
It is likely that they managed to record Rabbit while he was dealing with one of his underground clients, and then followed him back to his actual clinic, somehow avoiding detection by the doctor. In any case, it's probably video and photographic material that White Rabbit wishes gone, and gone quickly.
He despises the idea of his two lives mixing together - although they already are, just not so closely, - and has no faith in his ability to avoid the law should it come knocking, so anyone who has proof that James is Rabbit is already a threat.


So about connections:
Emsquared needs Splice (only Anje can do it).
RoAries probably needs Shark (Cheyne or Krishna) or Fix (Krishna for gear) for all the items, and maybe Splice for cybernetics (Anje).
I'd like Shark (from Krishna), and maybe Fix/Chop (from Suey).
Right? :D

Here! :D