Merctown iconic events

[Rifter11]

My game is taking the players to Merctown and I was about to go through the book and look for things they can do that will make the trip memorable when it occurred to me that y'all might like to help. I know the Juicer will want to watch a game of Deadball at the Battledome and the dragon hatchling will want to visit the Collegiate Arcane but the gunfighter and power armor pilot I'm at a loss for. Their employer is planning on staying three days but might be talked into staying longer. He will advise the players to stay away from the Warren's which means they will almost definitely wind up there.

So what do you think would be iconic for Merctown that they should experience? I promise to update you after they leave!

[taalismn]

At least one bar brawl, I should think, followed by a mutual running from the fuzz.
Bar fights in MercTown would be that much more intense because just about EVERYBODY'S got combat training, or accessories to heavy weaponry.
On the other hand, as long as everybody keeps their hands away from the shooting irons, and pays a damage deposit to the bar owner, the authorities may be inclined to let folks have their fun, though serious disputes will be referred to the arena so people can place bets.

[Orin J.]

getting hired on the street for a job that ends up being a LOT worse than advertised by a crud mrec outfit and ending up with less money and gear than you started because you didn't read the fine print.

[Mack]

A juicer going through the 'last call.' Bonus if it's a Mega-Juicer who might explode at any moment. Likewise, some teenager who's desperate to become a Juicer (or Borg, or Crazy...) but doesn't have the funds.

As part of my head-canon, Merc Town is also a bed of intrigue. The major players on the continent (CS, Lazlo, FQ, FoM, Psyscape, Order of the White Rose...) have agents there to keep track of all the merc units coming and going. Some agents might operate in the open, where others are covert, depending on their relationship with Merc Town. Any one of these might try to recruit your players for some "simple observation, while you're doing other things..."

[taalismn]

Getting a great deal on some equipment(ideally hard to get and very useful to the party).
Then, while wandering around with the new purchase(s), being accosted and accused of being in possession of stolen property(of course, the seller is either nowhere to be found or else denies the PCs got the gear from them).

[Rifter11]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[SolCannibal]

The PCs get ad hoc contracted, in exchange for TW-gear, to serve as security for a secret meeting of several local Techno-Wizard business, who seem to be hashing out some sort of alliance, consortium or guild, as a way to pool resources in mutual defense against some group trying to charge protection or strongarm through mercs into their business. Main suspects are the Black Market, Stormspire or Atlantis.

(They are all wrong, the Armageddon Unlimited merc company is the real culprit, trying to start a conflict between the TW outlets large and small as a smokescreen to better hide and distract them from the tainted demonic nature of Angrar Robotics' wares)

[taalismn]

The PCs get offered a job as dog-walkers, pet-sitters, or flower-waterers. Easy money, no? Of course not...
The 'dogs' are hellhounds, the pets are dinosaurs(the owners thought illusion-collars would make them easier to take out in public without raising a fuss from the neighbors), or the houseplants are giant carnivorous plants that prefer being watered with blood.


In the alternative, the PCs get hired to escort a young person around, while the parents are conducting business or just having some private time. Or maybe it's a family member new to the city or who has some sort of personal problem they need not to do("Keep Uncle Bizoo away from booze, gambling, and hookers while he's in the city.").
Naturally the escortee gets into trouble, slips the leash to hook up with friends, tries to seduce one of the PCs, wipes out some vendor's storefront(or swipes merchandise), or just HAS to visit the red light district. It's a constant routine of patting down the client for contraband, steering them away from card games, and bouncing prostitutes out of the person's rooms. Who needs kidnappers or assassins when just walking the straight and narrow is hard enough?

One fo the PCs tries an innocuous-looking drink or foodstuff and discovers that it's accidentally or deliberately highly addictive/slowly poisonous. The race is on to find a cure or withdrawal treatment.

[Dustin Fireblade]

The gunfighter should be like a kid in a candy store with all the gun stores there. Depending on where he is from (New West? - just guessing since it's a "New West OCC") there is the "Lone Star Saloon" I think it's called.

I thought the Battledome also had other competitions too, so might earn some money in a shooting match?

The PA pilot should be pretty much the same - the NG store alone should have him spending time there.

[SolCannibal]

The gunfighter should be like a kid in a candy store with all the gun stores there. Depending on where he is from (New West? - just guessing since it's a "New West OCC") there is the "Lone Star Saloon" I think it's called.

I thought the Battledome also had other competitions too, so might earn some money in a shooting match?

The PA pilot should be pretty much the same - the NG store alone should have him spending time there.

Not to mention that even if one doesn't fight in the Battledome there will be a large variety of giant robot models and their pilots from a variety of origins for one to see and exchange gossip and crazy tales with. Mass-produced, kitbashed homemade ones, TW, recovered and refitted pieces of golden age tech, alien units of the transdimensional sort and more are all possible and sure to attract curiosity.

Also, it's good to remember heavy military hardware, such as rail guns, missile launchers, power armor, and combat vehicles, including Automatons and giant robots, is not permitted within city limits, except by special permits which are hard to come by - they are usually issued only to allow for repairs, sale, etc., and the weapon systems must be unloaded and/or taken off-line (page 19).

There's also a Titan Industries Showroom (page 63) in the Arms Bazaar, what is quite unusual for this elusive robot manufacturer, specially outside of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

In the same part of the city, one may find Vannor's Weapons Repair (page 65), best place in MercTown to get a damaged weapon or robot parts fixed for a good price. Run by a ex-mercenary who worked as a field Armorer for Robot Control.

Meanwhile on Dockside one may find Retrofit Robots (pages 111-112), that sells previously-owned, rebuilt or repaired robot drones, power armor and combat vehicles. The place to go for power armor suits and vehicles for mercs on a shoe-string budget it is.

[Rifter11]

So they visited the Collegiate Arcane as planned the first day, spent the 2nd in the flea market where they made several purchases and spent the third.....most surprisingly.....hanging out at the hotel. They had no interest in exploring further. (The Juicer's player was absent so he spent the time at the Battledome)

[SolCannibal]

So they visited the Collegiate Arcane as planned the first day, spent the 2nd in the flea market where they made several purchases and spent the third.....most surprisingly.....hanging out at the hotel. They had no interest in exploring further. (The Juicer's player was absent so he spent the time at the Battledome)

Out of curiosity, is the hotel a locale from the book or just one you made on spot? Depending on level of the hotel and location, who knows what kind of people one might meet among other guests...

[Rifter11]

They stayed at the Ambassador Suites (#33)

[SolCannibal]

They stayed at the Ambassador Suites (#33)

Posh but not too fancy like the Palace Hotel & Casino. Calm, relaxed atmosphere compared to the constant bustle and intrigue of The Palace - what's not to say that it is free of shady deals and trouble, since it is popular among mercs and mages on a budget - but it is more dignified and peaceful.


I also find curious that while stated Rockford's wife is D-bee, we get no details or description except for being "an attractive humanoid". For some reason i had it in my mind that she had green skin - and though of making her a disgruntled mentor of the youths of the gang of same name - but rereading the book it seems to have been wholy my imagination.

(Might still use the idea of Mrs. Rockford as "cool mom" of sorts to the remaining Greenskins and some of them doing part time work in the hotel - what could led into unintended complications with the Red Terror vigilantes. That said i've just noticed that, name notwithstanding, the gang has no Orcs, "normal" Goblins, lizardfolk or races that might justify the gang name...)