CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE-Sample Adventure-Arcade Part 2

CYBER-PULP FANTASY CORE

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

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Overview Index 

Adventure Index

The Arcade Floor

While it bears some resemblance to an old-fashioned arcade, Lynn’s features immersive simulation tubes.  Spectators can watch the players through the clear walls of the tube, as well as the simulation action on video boards.  There are sets of stands for big events.  The floor is also as loud as a rock concert and filled with flashing lights, day or night.  There is a bar and a kitchen and bathrooms in the rear.

At night, the place is packed with players, spectators, and employees.  During the day, it’s mostly deserted with a few hardcore players and a couple of disinterested employees.  (All of these people are non-combatants.  Gunfire or explosions will drive everyone to the exits in a rush.  The employees will be calling the police when outside.)

Either way, if the group is looking for “Smack” the Orc, he’s in one of the more expensive simulators playing a fighting game.  (At night, there’s crowd watching him play.)  There’s no problem identifying him.  He’s is wearing a sweatshirt with his name printed on it in large letters.  (Alternately, the characters might ask an employee about him.)  Assuming there are a couple of dangerous looking hombres in the character group, any crowd around Smack will quickly disperse, once they start talking to him.   

He’ll want to talk somewhere quiet and go for his gym bag.  DC 12 Detection to notice that he’s got a shotgun in there.  He’s easily intimidated if the characters get the drop on him instead.  Otherwise, he’ll point the barrel out of the bag and tell the characters to follow his lead and not make any sudden moves.  If any of these actions result in gunfire, it’s going to be pandemonium as everyone else clears the floor.  The police will be arriving in 2 turns.

If the group isn’t looking for Smack, they might instead see Mazzy up in the office window. She’ll wave to them before being quickly being taken away from the window, and which suddenly goes black. 

Otherwise, the group is just there looking for trouble, and it finds them.  After describing what the group already knows about the arcade, they’ll probably be looking to either get in the office or in the computer room.  Neither area is open to customers.  Once the group makes its move, the AI, who’s been observing them, will make its.  The Combat Android (wearing a keycard around its neck) will be deployed, brandishing weapons. 

Any customers there will think it’s a cool promotion, right up until the point when the shooting starts.  In this case, the police will NOT be called.  The AI wants the characters dead without any interference. The other people there will be a problem, getting in the way of either side shooting (In other words, either Called Shots (natural 18) to hit or the Crack Shot skill.)  The Android won’t care about additional casualties.  Figure 1 rd of panicked crowd during the day and 3 rds when it’s crowded at night.