Friday, 14 June 2024

Gangs of Titan City (solo game): session #3 (Fallout phase)

At time of writing it is still uncertain as to whether tomorrow (14th June) will witness a return to the City of Ghosts sandbox, and while I'll definitely be running ANOTHER session of GoTC if it doesn't happen, I feel like I want to run through the fallout element while I have some spare time just to get the wheels turning ahead of the next operation.... so: it's time to spark up an imaginary plasma-cig, chuck some Cryochamber in the headphones and see what's going down in Plutogia!

Not actually Plutogian, but Necromundan.. still, an obvious touchstone!

step 1: operation clean-up

RESOLVE OBJECTIVES

The gang have recovered two jet bikes and a load of high value spirits. The jet bikes have essentially gone from the Misshapers to them, while the spirits represent loot stolen from The Bullet Boys. The Bullet Boys have also lost out on their dray truck, but that's currently in the hands of Kayvan's Misshaper off-shoot. 

No claims changed hands, but Smiler's People now have an ally in Kayvan Hoo, who is the capo of the "eager hopefuls" claim.

I'm not treating the booze as an asset, instead I will use this to increase their income by "1" in step 2. 

CLEAR GEAR

None of the gutters picked up any additional gear, though they all discarded their mutant/aberration disguises somewhere in Kayvan's turf.

TREAT WOUNDS

Only Tarquin picked up a few scratches, these are removed without any cost as they are minor injuries. 

Their new vehicles are relatively undamaged.

DETERMINE NOISE 

This probably sits somewhere between "contained" and "loud and chaotic": there was a bit of a shoot out, at least one death and a minor explosion... but most of the action occurred on the outskirts after the gang crashed the Bullet Boys barricade... so let's call it a 1 for now. HOWEVER, the operation began in a highly visible area next to the enforcers' precinct... so let's ratchet that noise up to 2. 

Next, I have to roll 1d6 against this number: there are consequences if I roll equal to or lower than the noise... and I rolled a "2"! The book suggests adding “Authority Crackdown” or “Gang Retaliation” to the Danger Table as appropriate. On this occasion, I'm adding "Authority Crackdown" as while The Bullet Boys were the ones affected, they're going to be blaming the Misshapers, at least until they get a handle on the situation. Meanwhile the Enforcers are going to be building up to making their presence a little stronger, as this occurred right on their doorstep.

I also need to add "Bullet Boy retaliation" to the Danger table in any case, as they've lost an asset (their Dray truck). I decide to add "Bullet Boys connect Smiler's People to the truck heist" at the bottom of the table: it can't come up this session, but it may well in future.


Additionally, Ezra's use of his psi powers increase psionic noise by one, so I need to make a separate roll against that.... unbelievable! I scored a "1", meaning I add PSI-SQUAD INTEREST to the Danger Table!

ROLL ON THE DANGER TABLE 

The Danger Table now looks like this:

    1. Wavelength move to locate and ultimately abduct Ezra
    2. Willy Latif resolves to reclaim his bar
    3. Carmen's secret is out: all the gang know that she is Sujo's ex-lover
    4. Agent Colm tracks Ezra to New Eden 
    5. Lead from Rennia Ren: The Enforcers have set up a hidden listening station somewhere in Arcology 23... destroy it!
    6. Enforcers crack down on all gang activity in the sector
      -
    7. Bullet Boys retaliate against Misshapers
    8. Bullet Boys connect Smiler's People to the Dray Heist
    9. Psi-squad interest...
It roll 1d6: entries that are rolled are removed (and resolved), and all other entries bump up one place...

... I roll...

...6! Enforcers crack down on gang activity across the sector. I'm going to let that stew: I think it's going to set the tone for the next "cycle" of play, once the rest of the fallout has been resolved. 

step 2: claims and  income

INCOME INVESTMENT

Wealth/income is abstracted in quite a nice way: at the end of a cycle, income is totted up and then "Invested" in one five areas:

    • Debt Management
    • Whisper Networks 
    • Medical Auctions
    • Tactical Bribery 
    • Temporary Acquisition

The gang gain one income from their claim, (cooking the books at Blind Willy's bar), but have also been able to increase that some what by shifting all the stolen liquor they picked up in the heist. Income is invested in a particular area and a die rolled against it: if it's  equal to or lower than the amount invested, they gain the benefits of that option.

The gang's income is being used to clear their current debt: I roll 1! This means the income is successfully used to clear some of the gang's debt, they now just have one point. The operation was totally worth it!

step 3: experience

GUTTER EXPERENCE

Each gutter gains 1 XP for...
    • Surviving the operation 
    • Doing something counterproductive because of a Trauma
    • Using their class prompts (1 XP for each prompt used to a maximum of 3 per Cycle)
    • As a result of certain Advancements (see the conditions of each specific Advancement)

Evangeline Lily as Kate from Lost  Carmen 

 Carmen

    • Survived +1 
    • Class prompts +2 (ambush, deliberate planning)
    • +3 XP TOTAL
    • Gained 2 desperation this cycle

Ezra

    • Survived +1 
    • Class prompts +1 (display of psychic power)
    • +2 XP TOTAL
    • Gained 2 desperation this cycle

Smiler

    • Survived +1 
    • Class prompts +1 (tactics, the plan was his doing)
    • +2 XP TOTAL
    • Gained 1 desperation this cycle
Tarquin

    • Survived +1 
    • Class prompts +1 (disabling security)
    • +2 XP TOTAL
    • Gained 2 desperation this cycle
None of the gutters get an advance this cycle, but how about the gang as a whole? 

GANG EXPERIENCE

The gang gains 1 XP for...

    • Advancing their personal agenda or completing a goal +1 XP
    • Earning a new enemy or gaining a new ally +1 XP
    • Using their archetype prompts (1 XP for each prompt used to a maximum of 3 per Cycle) 
      • Implicate another party for their actions +1
      • Leave no trace +1
    • +4 XP TOTAL
    • Gained 3 debt this cycle but have been able to invest their income to leave them with just 2 debt

Summary

That's it, first cycle down! Not sure what happens next but we'll deal with it next session. Really enjoying the danger table already.

Links


City of Ghosts one-hour sandbox play reports

Tineidae & Sole Massif - Remnants of War [ FULL ALBUM ] (on Cryochamber)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYbV-AfdnGs


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