Panopticon: A Game of Posthumans, Perniciousness, Paranoia, Politics, and Plasmaguns

[Garlak]

The hypercomputer and car seem like they might be the most desireable.

But the small arms package and powersuits are also desireable -- they very straightforwardly give us more firepower and manpower, which is something we could make use of.

Hm. If we picked the Hypercomputer and SuperSpyCar, is there any reason we couldn't just install the Hypercomputer into the Car so we have an excellent hacking/intel/counter-intel/EMW suite on the move?

[ ] Spectre Limousine + Armament/Gear Kits (counts as 2 choices)
The Spectre Limousine is a NWO limousine designed for field command and control purposes. Heavily armored and reasonably armed, the Spectre is similar to the LX-4 Executive Limousine you've acquired, but it replaces most of the 'bigger on the inside' and 'sexy executive suite' parts with "high-tech command system to coordinate agents" and "hidden computer-controlled pop-out machineguns". It has a single fold-out mattress and a toilet for creature comforts. But it's also significantly cheaper and it's comfortable enough. Well, enough. Also, they still have a minibar (even if the selection is much worse).
Correspondence 3/Prime 3 Remote Procedure Support System
Correspondence 2/Forces 2/Mind 2 C3 Coordination System

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You can have any drink you want, so long as its Vodka.

 

[MJ12 Commando]

And for the people who wonder why the armory was so incredibly sadly stocked: You let Kessler at it (and then the VAs looted it, and then you had to turn in a bunch to the Russians, who had first pick).

I'm mostly giving you the major loot and the loot that you can use. Stuff like "a smartphone which happens to be able to play Crysis" and whatnot is pretty much boring stuff that you can assume you can get your hands on reasonably well", or "railgun-AK-74s that deal slightly more damage" (admittedly the Valkyries are sort of like that but the Valkyries also glow orange and have things like 'underbarrel flamethrowers' or 'underbarrel gauss rifles'). Similarly, there's stuff that was probably used in demon summoning and/or has EDE taint, that you aren't going to be using except to throw into the fusion reactor, and there's stuff which are literally just foci.

Also, you have the superbike and the four HITMarks (mostly because the VAs aren't going to steal HITMarks which might secretly have traitor codes in them! They're not that stupid!). Minions! Go and wreck things.

 

[Cornuthaum]

Two pieces out of the entire raid rates a solid 6/10 on my personal disappointment scale for what we get to keep.

However, we have appropriated four HITMarks, two IIIs and two Vs

Let's be super blunt here.

I do not want to have HITMarks around when we're going up against the specters of CONTROL. Barter them to the local union for a share of the loot THEY receive, because there's no CONTROL override for a stabby murder knife.

 

[Candesce]

The hypercomputer and car seem like they might be the most desireable.

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Alas, if we pick the car that's all we get. A permanent C&C asset is still quite nice, of course.

The hypercomputer + one of the equipment bits is a decent option, too.

I'd certainly prefer to get either the car or the hypercomputer over any option that doesn't give either, though.

Edit: Whoops, it seems we can pick both. Nice.

 

[MJ12 Commando]

Alas, if we pick the car that's all we get. A permanent C&C asset is still quite nice, of course.

The hypercomputer + one of the equipment bits is a decent option, too.

I'd certainly prefer to get either the car or the hypercomputer over any option that doesn't give either, though.

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I actually edited it.

Two pieces out of the entire raid rates a solid 6/10 on my personal disappointment scale for what we get to keep.

However, we have appropriated four HITMarks, two IIIs and two Vs

Let's be super blunt here.

I do not want to have HITMarks around when we're going up against the specters of CONTROL. Barter them to the local union for a share of the loot THEY receive, because there's no CONTROL override for a stabby murder knife.

Click to shrink...

If you want to drop the HITMarks on the Russians, they'll be perfectly willing to trade you 2 extra bits of kit on the first list for them, or a pair of basic Alansons (6B/6L soak, 4 Armor HLs, +2 Strength, +1 Dex, no special features) and a pair of underbarrel plasmacasters you can stick on any Russian assault rifle, including the Valkryies (8d Enlightenment pools, Enlightenment 4, Forces 3/Prime 2 aggravated damage), or three amorophous diamondoid chainmail vests (+5B/5L soak, 4 Armor HLs) and an Arc Projector (Enlightenment 6, Forces 3/Correspondence 3 multi-target damage, vulgar).

Note that the vests and the Alansons may need Henriette to fix them, due to issues like "having holes in them" and "requiring the former wearers to be squeegeed out". The British Lion thinks this is a fitting task for her, being a woman and all.

Henriette: "I will personally throw you. Into. The. Sun."

 

[Garlak]

I dunno -- the HITMarks could come in damn useful for their firepower and sheer fact of having more people around when assaulting a place.

If it comes to directly opposing Panopticon or CONTROL, we could probably trade the HITMarks in then. Do it before we make our big move or whatever; trade in HITMarks for gear or other assets or something.

And for the people who wonder why the armory was so incredibly sadly stocked: You let Kessler at it (and then the VAs looted it, and then you had to turn in a bunch to the Russians, who had first pick).

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So does that mean Kessler now has flamethrowers and all sorts of even more neat toys? More than he did before, anyway.

 

[prometheus110]

[X] IXC-152 Hypercomputer:

IXC-152 Hypercomputer

Early quantum computer (circa 1960)
Mass: 80 kilograms
Enlightenment 6
Requires dedicated programs to use​

IXC-152 programs

Chaos Theory (shows minimum adjustments to create potential negative consequences to victim, Entropy 4)
Counter-Statistical Modeling (wards against Time/Entropy predictions, Time 2, Entropy 2)
Database Trawl (localizes a target's location via database correlation, Correspondence 2)
Decrypt (breaks through mundane security, Forces 2/Entropy 2)
Overload (enables Halt/Spontaneously Combust code in target electronic device, Forces 3/Correspondence 3)​

[X] Spectre Limousine + Armament/Gear Kits

The Spectre Limousine is a NWO limousine designed for field command and control purposes. Heavily armored and reasonably armed, the Spectre is similar to the LX-4 Executive Limousine you've acquired, but it replaces most of the 'bigger on the inside' and 'sexy executive suite' parts with "high-tech command system to coordinate agents" and "hidden computer-controlled pop-out machineguns". It has a single fold-out mattress and a toilet for creature comforts. But it's also significantly cheaper and it's comfortable enough. Well, enough. Also, they still have a minibar (even if the selection is much worse).

Correspondence 3/Prime 3 Remote Procedure Support System
Correspondence 2/Forces 2/Mind 2 C3 Coordination System​

This choice includes the Matter 3 Polymimetic Alloy outer shell, the Energy Shield system, a Deployable Autocannon/ATGMs, and a Submersible Kit for your limo.​

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I like these. We should go for these.

 

[Cornuthaum]

[x] Power Suit
Amazingly versatile social tool.

[x] Barnes-Sykes Combat Knife
Brilliant, subtle murder tool.

I have been provisionally swayed to ES' argument (bees, man, how can you argue with that?). Still don't really think it's worth it but the mental images are hilarious.

 

[Cavalier]

[X] Spectre Limo
[X] H/Aug Exoskeleton
[X] Imperator Executive Reserve Power Suit
[X] Barnes-Sykes Combat Knife

Obviously, trading in the HITMarks to the Russians seems like it's going to get a certain degree of support. And to be fair we mostly operate out in the field, whereas the HITMarks are of somewhat more use to a settled Construct. And I suppose there may be legitimate concerns about the ghost of Control using them to screw us over. I'm not entirely convinced it would be as easy as uploading Order 66, but hacking combat constructs is definitely a thing we have done before.

One thing I might also suggest is seeing about trading the Superbike to the Virtual Adepts for the Hypercomputer. The superbike is pretty flashy for our purposes, but it might be just the thing a budding cyberpunk action protagonist would look for.

 

[HIMP_Dahak]

[X] Spectre Limo
[X] H/Aug Exoskeleton
[X] Imperator Executive Reserve Power Suit
[X] Barnes-Sykes Combat Knife

Obviously, trading in the HITMarks to the Russians seems like it's going to get a certain degree of support. And to be fair we mostly operate out in the field, whereas the HITMarks are of somewhat more use to a settled Construct. And I suppose there may be legitimate concerns about the ghost of Control using them to screw us over. I'm not entirely convinced it would be as easy as uploading Order 66, but hacking combat constructs is definitely a thing we have done before.

One thing I might also suggest is seeing about trading the Superbike to the Virtual Adepts for the Hypercomputer. The superbike is pretty flashy for our purposes, but it might be just the thing a budding cyberpunk action protagonist would look for.

Click to shrink...

I'll support this, yeah.

If we pick up the limo, we'll have two permanent cars I think, which means the bike is just overkill also.

Changed.

 

[Emy]

[X] Imperator Tailoring Executive Reserve Power Suit

A few things. First, this option is stylish as fuck. I realize that's a superficial rationale for supporting an equipment choice, but I can't deny the suit's appeal. Second, it has a few other nifty features. The attribute enhancement is to attributes that are probably not going to raise many eyebrows. Let's say it pushes Jamelia past the human limit for Manipulation. There's not going to be any "wait a minute, that's obviously superhuman", because no one's even going to notice. Jamelia's also been using a lot of social maneuvering and negotiation (not that there hasn't also been shooting), so I feel like it improves her core strengths. There's also the fact that the suit could be worn by anyone on the team, and it grants the ability to throw around medium-sized sums of money like it's nothing.​

[X] Barnes-Sykes Combat Knife

One of the things that pushes me towards this option is the idea of a potential excursion to North Korea. The knife is one of the few items that would be just about unaffected by the consensus-driven genre shift.​

Assuming we trade in the HITMarks (which I think is a reasonable trade to make, even if I'm not as worried as others might be about easy subversion by Panopticon):

[X] Spectre Limousine + Armament/Gear Kits

It doesn't seem to have built-in disguise devices. While conspicuousness could be a disadvantage for a mobile command unit, we also have people with Matter. If she's acting in a support capacity from the limo, Henriette could not only drive like fuck, she could also disguise its nature. Or kill people with it very efficiently, if it gets found by hostiles.​

​

[X] H/Aug Exoskeleton

Like the executive suit, this could be traded around among team members on an as-needed basis, to protect our squishier team members or enhance someone's field capabilities. This is the one I'm least sure about. I kinda also like Cornuthaum's idea of installing the hypercomputer into the limo. As long as it doesn't send Henriette into a mental breakdown, the combination of those two sounds like it could give is some pretty rad sigint capability.​

 

[Garlak]

I don't know about picking 4 items. I am, however, more sure on what 2 items I want:

[X] Hypercomputer
[X] Spectre Limousine

Get the computer and the car.

 

[Strypgia]

Keep the HITMarks, but have Henriette wipe them entirely clean and reprogram from there. The extra bodies and firepower are more useful than a plain pointy knife. The Spectre and the H/Aug Suit will be useful for C3 and combat both here and in the presumable future action in Pyongyang. The suit especially will be good for covering Jamelia's relative squishiness in the kind of fight's we've been seeing. Though if the vote goes that way, grab the computer and the Exec Power Suit as the secondaries.

[X] Spectre Limousine + Armament/Gear Kits
The Spectre Limousine is a NWO limousine designed for field command and control purposes. Heavily armored and reasonably armed, the Spectre is similar to the LX-4 Executive Limousine you've acquired, but it replaces most of the 'bigger on the inside' and 'sexy executive suite' parts with "high-tech command system to coordinate agents" and "hidden computer-controlled pop-out machineguns". It has a single fold-out mattress and a toilet for creature comforts. But it's also significantly cheaper and it's comfortable enough. Well, enough. Also, they still have a minibar (even if the selection is much worse).
Correspondence 3/Prime 3 Remote Procedure Support System
Correspondence 2/Forces 2/Mind 2 C3 Coordination System
This choice includes the Matter 3 Polymimetic Alloy outer shell, the Energy Shield system, a Deployable Autocannon/ATGMs, and a Submersible Kit for your limo.

[X] H/Aug Exoskeleton (1)
Hey remember the P-Series's kit? This is it. It's light powered combat armor made out of carbon nanotubes and a clip-on exoskeleton built for a NWO operative. This one has seen some pretty heavy cutting down and some serious modifications. It has Enlightenment 4 and has a serial code that implies that it may have belonged to one of the guards of the Moscow museum before its being 'borrowed'.
Hypermedical Injection System (Life 2 healing)
Shape Memory Alloy Self-Repair (Matter 3 self-repair)
Wall-Climbing capability (Forces 2 adhesion)
Strength/Agility Augmentation (+2 [1] Strength, +2 Dexterity)
Advanced Sensor Suite: IR/NV/T-Wave/EMF (Forces 1, Life 1, Matter 1 sensors)
Mobility Augmentation (double jump heights, + [2] to Athletics rolls for chases)
7B/7L soak, 5 Armor HLs

 

[EarthScorpion]

Keep the HITMarks, but have Henriette wipe them entirely clean and reprogram from there. The extra bodies and firepower are more useful than a plain point knife.

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Yes. Very much agreed there. One of our big weaknesses as a team is the way we're somewhat lacking in moderate combat assets. We have a few very dangerous enlightened combatants, but we don't have any "elite mooks". We normally have to salvage forces in the field and that always comes at a cost. Just for once, I'd like to be able to deploy four HITMarks + whatever we can get from Requisitions + whatever we can find in the field if we need to go assault some place.

And we always seem to end up having to assault some place.

Not least, we have Henriette and we have Kessler and we have Serafina. Between them, we have a moderate chance of being able to salvage any HITMarks we lose in combat and patch them up, without even having to Requisition too many spare parts. That's worth something alone. And Rose won't feel bad if HITMarks die.

Plus, you know, these HITMarks are old models (hence, we'd be expected to upgrade them anyway) which would be ours, and we have a bunch of pretty good mages at modifying things. Those things are walking hilarity as foci for our Iterators and once Serafina's packed some biomods into their surrounding layer of meat, we can have them be a Progenitor focus too. Basically, what I'm saying is "And then the Terminator released a swarm of beeeeeeeeeees".

 

[ckk185]

We still have to be very throuough in cjecking them. Considering they can be subverted by panopticon or the technocracy vampire lovers who previously had them.

 

[Garlak]

Actually, I'd like to know -- how big a deal/threat is that really?

I mean, the ex-Technocrats had them. Presumably, they would at least have considered the possibility of loyalists having CONTROL override and codes and trying to shut down their HITMarks. Would they have decided to rip out the CONTROL overrides? Or would they have assumed that CONTROL was well and gone and they needn't bother?

 

[Cornuthaum]

ES - my issue is that they're two Mk III and two downgraded Mk V Security variant (less primium, less weaponry, less everything) HITMs. Vastly outdated and pretty inferior and we'd have to field deploy them erry time (getting in two operatives is oftentimes much easier than 6).

Basically, what I'm saying is "And then the Terminator released a swarm of beeeeeeeeeees".

Click to shrink...

That is however highly appealing logic.

 

[EarthScorpion]

Actually, I'd like to know -- how big a deal/threat is that really?
I mean, the ex-Technocrats had them. Presumably, they would at least have considered the possibility of loyalists having CONTROL override and codes and trying to shut down their HITMarks. Would they have decided to rip out the CONTROL overrides? Or would they have assumed that CONTROL was well and gone and they needn't bother?

Click to shrink...

Assuming we do wipe them and when reprogramming them we don't use an off-the-shelf package (which we don't need to, given the spheres available to the party, and we have reason to believe there are EDEs out there which know the standard codes so paranoia there is Jamelia-OK), then an "I use the override codes to control them" effect is just the focus for a Mind or maybe Forces hacking attack. If the attack succeeds, it turns out we didn't get everything; if it fails, the firewalls protect them.

HITMarks come with primium, unlike that Etherite knock-off in Hong Kong, so we have some defence there.

ES - my issue is that they're two Mk III and two downgraded Mk V Security variant (less primium, less weaponry, less everything) HITMs. Vastly outdated and pretty inferior and we'd have to field deploy them erry time (getting in two operatives is oftentimes much easier than 6).

Click to shrink...

Yes, but the current mission has shown us pretty comprehensively that our support agents spend quite a lot of time quite close to the front lines and Serafina has nearly been taken captive twice in one night. A bunch of Terminators can still do a pretty good job of protecting our squishy support agents. Even when we're not using them directly offensively, they can still be of use.

Plus, it'll be hilarious when people go "Oh, look, five obsolete HITMarks" and then one of them goes "HO HO HO I'M KESSLER SAY HELLO TO MINIGUN".

(and then Kessler draws two shotguns and shoots the target while the distraction HITMark postures)

 

[Alratan]

We should probably also think about whether we want to hold the Construct, as that may influence our choices of what to take.

If we have a secure base, then we don't need the car as much, and can leave our support operatives behind rather than having to deploy them in the field. That of course, requires having a secure base.

Talking of the Construct. We should probably make it defensible again. Donald may be able to rent some extra-high quality construction drones with built in nano-fabs that Henrietta can pilot to repair and upgrade the base. This will hopefully allow them to able to make Matter 4, Forces 3 Gadgets to serve as weapon emplacements and armour. To pay for the rental and fab feedstock (i.e., get the Tass for this) for this, Donald can asset strip Molok and its dead employees/operatives.

We probably also want to cover up what's happened. Donald can probably help with sorting out the legal change of control, but we might want Serafina and Jamelia to replace the employees with some force grown clones to impersonate the dead based on the memories of the survivors and publicly available records.

 

[MJ12 Commando]

As a note, given that literally nobody else wants the HITMark Telepresence System, if you guys keep the HITMarks you can have that for "free".

Also, Rose has purchased Academics:Economics 2 and Primal Utility 1.

 

[EarthScorpion]

Also, Rose has purchased Academics:Economics 2 and Primal Utility 1.

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Goddamnit Rose we leave you alone for less than a week and you pick up the skills of a trainee hypereconomist which would normally take a new inductee into the Syndicate a year's training.

Clearly we can't leave you alone like that. Next time, we might leave you doing back office work for the Void Engineers and come back to find that you're now the captain of a Qui La Machina.

 

[MJ12 Commando]

Goddamnit Rose we leave you alone for less than a week and you pick up the skills of a trainee hypereconomist which would normally take a new inductee into the Syndicate a year's training.

Clearly we can't leave you alone like that. Next time, we might leave you doing back office work for the Void Engineers and come back to find that you're now the captain of a Qui La Machina.

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I know right? It's terrible. She's so useless :<

(Especially because she could have purchased something useful with that! Like Dimensional Science 4 and another dot of Str/Sta/Dex!)

 

[Strypgia]

Basically, what I'm saying is "And then the Terminator released a swarm of beeeeeeeeeees".

Click to shrink...

"And now on TLC, angry ticks fire out of my nipples..."

We should probably also think about whether we want to hold the Construct, as that may influence our choices of what to take.

Click to shrink...

Same logic as for the divvying up of the loot applies here: Give the Construct to the local Union, and 'rent out' space for the period we'll be here. Once we're gone the place will have to be in Ivan's hands anyway.

Goddamnit Rose we leave you alone for less than a week and you pick up the skills of a trainee hypereconomist which would normally take a new inductee into the Syndicate a year's training.

Clearly we can't leave you alone like that. Next time, we might leave you doing back office work for the Void Engineers and come back to find that you're now the captain of a Qui La Machina.

Click to shrink...

I think I've seen that anime. If we'd known this was going to happen, we should have left you with your big brother and he could have taught you how to fight like he does, plus you could have come back to the party when he dropped in. The whole 'family', fighting together; it'd be cute.....in a weird 'Technocratic Union Christmas Special' way....

 

[Alratan]

Same logic as for the divvying up of the loot applies here: Give the Construct to the local Union, and 'rent out' space for the period we'll be here. Once we're gone the place will have to be in Ivan's hands anyway.

Click to shrink...

Whether it would be owned by the local technocracy or not, I don't really see a big difference to the effect it has on our decision making regarding loot and what needs to be done to secure the place. We have to hold it against anyone that wants to take it off us in any case.

 

[drake_azathoth]

...Yeah, giving away the HIT Marks is not a good idea. They're bar none the best combat asset we looted, and if we keep them on staff we don't have to worry so much about recquisitioning mooks in the future. And, as ES stated, they can be double-checked and modified by Henriette.

Looking at the loot, I think we should aim towards things which give us Procedures we'd otherwise have trouble fueling and loot which is easy to explain as coincidental but which also offers some firepower. Right now, the hypercomputer is a shoo-in, and I'm kind of torn between the Limousine and the Small Arms Package. Frankly, while the Limousine would be very nice with it's armor, weapons, and especially 'Remote Procedure Support system', I think the small arms are a better bet for their general ease of transport and overall utility. The AKs are overall excellent weapons, the SMGs probably make even elder vamps take notice, and the rocket launcher is a great 'first strike' breaching tool.

There are some other good options, but the Stalins and exoskeleton attract too much attention, the executive power suit just isn't beefy enough to be useful, and the combat knife while an incredible weapon for Rose is inferior to a whole armory of superguns.

[X] Hypercomputer
[X] Small Arms Package

[X] See if you can recall Rose and Donald ASAP, if so put Kessler and Serafina on leave to recover from injuries and exhaustion.