Stand Alone Complex

In the future, life between the digital and physical world has been blurred. The boundary of technology and humanity has been stretched beyond imagination with lives being led in both the electronic and physical worlds. With the melding of man and machine - a new cybernetic level of existence is being created - An existence that continues to redefine mankind.

Setting

Japan, in the year 2035. Technology has advanced to the point where cyberware is commonplace. Anyone who can afford to can improve on the hand that nature dealt them; can become faster, stronger, more agile. Ladies and gentlemen, we have the technology and we are not afraid to use it. Now, it isn't only the body that can be upgraded. Thanks to the IOSHI corporation, anyone can realise the full potential of their mind without spending a lifetime in study. And the technology continues to advance, with human and machine being combined to create... what? Something more than human? Less? Other? Only time will tell.

(For those of you familiar with the Stand-Alone Complex TV series, the game is set approximately 5 years after the end of the first series. The events of that series have happened in the game timeline, and your characters may or may not know something of them, depending on their background. Your team probably hadn't been recruited into Section 9 by that point. If you haven't seen the series, I'll just tell you the significant events that your characters are likely to know about.)

Premise

Even in the fast-paced world of 2035, some things haven't changed. Society still has laws. And, where there are laws, there are those who would break them. The technological breakthroughs just mean that there are more crimes to commit, and more ways in which to commit them. That is where you come in. You are a team of agents working for Public Security Section 9, the counter-terrorism unit specialising in cyber-crime. Section 9 recruits the best. And now, thanks to an arrangement between the government and the IOSHI corporation, the best can be made better. You have been, your natural abilities augmented by tailor-made IOSHI training packages.

Now, it's time to put those formidable -- and expensive -- skills to use.

Game Material

Definitions of some terms

Character Creation Guidelines

You're welcome to make up your own characters, but I would like to look them over before the first session, if possible. I'm also happy to make up characters for anyone who'd prefer. Just let me know what kind of character you want to play, and I'll translate it into numbers. The following guidelines are more for those creating their own characters.

• This game uses the Tri-Stat d8 system, which can be downloaded at: http://www.guardiansorder.com/downloads/
• 150 point characters. (This level represents someone at or near the top of their field. The PCs are supposed to be good: it's why they were recruited.)
• 27 points are spoken for with basic cyberware, organisational ties (Section 9) and Servant: Tachikoma.
• No more than 10 in a stat without cyberware or IOSHI training.
• No more than 16 in a stat even with cyber or training packages. If a bonus would increase a stat above 16, just remove the it from the package and reduce the cost accordingly.
• One of the PCs is going to be the team leader. I'll let you fight that one out among yourselves. The lucky winner will have to spend an additional 6 points on organisational ties (you can spend more if you want), but will have more authority, higher security clearance, greater command of resources and so on.
• Forbidden IOSHI packages: knife-edge and fire-aspect
• Restricted IOSHI packages: librarian training. This is usually restricted to IOSHI employees, but I'm willing to allow it if you have a good reason.
• You may take multiple IOSHI packages, but only one of them can be at genius level. This represents a natural aptitude being supplemented by the training.
• No biotech. There may be some restrictions on the cyberware implants, but I can't think of any offhand.
• I would like all the PCs to have their own niche within the group. You're supposed to be a team, so your skill-sets should complement each other to some degree.
• Part of the PPS9 training would include being able to handle yourself in a fight.