So here's the deal. I am an Oldschool GM, and have played RPGs on PnP and even CLASSICS for gaming systems or PCs as far back as Ultima I or even Zork if you want to get all technical on me.

I have a BIG project in mind involving Chicago and before I get into what I need, let me tell you why this campaign will be awesome.

1 . I live in Chicago, and know it like the back of my hand. I did real estate for 3 years all over the city - have been to about every area good and bad, and know the ins and outs of the city and can easily bring authenticity to a campaign I create there.

2. I have a vivid imagination and already have several stories in mind that need to be told. They are begging me to create them, and I know that the more I create the more my mind will create with me. I think I have enough in my mind right now to keep any self-respecting runner busy for a long time, and I don't even have the ending in mind yet - but don't you worry, it will come as I create.

3. I have played and studied so many RPGs in my day it's not even funny. I am in my very early 40s now and to give you an idea how long I have been playing or creating or DM/GMing (on and off of course) let's just say since BEFORE the day in 7th grade when some friends of mine, including the class valedictorian, got accused by nuns of trying to summon Demons with D&D books in the cemetery of the Catholic School we attended. (It's far LESS exciting when the story is explained but let's just say they wanted to confiscate all our books so they could BURN them. Funny enough, I found out just a month ago that Gary Gygax was a Christian. Oh the Irony. But I digress....)

Anyway the point is I have a lot of experience on the good, the bad and the ugly of campaigns. Add to that I have read QUITE A FEW Shadowrun novels. One of my favorites being "Fade To Black" and another being "House of the Sun". Add to that a whole lot of NOT Shadowrun Fantasy I have experienced from Greyhawk to Forgotton Realms to Ravensloft, to HP Lovecraft... the list goes on and on...

4. As you can see I can write and write and write and write and write like it's no big deal. I don't even think when I write, it's about as natural to me as talking, if not SLOWER. So coming up with things like Stories and Dialogue are going t be pretty easy for me.

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But where my weakness lies is that I have NO EXPERIENCE with the Shadowrun Editor whatsoever. I have watched 2 videos and fully intend to learn it because the adventures in my head are DEMANDING to be created. Yes, I could go it alone, but I know there are probably some people who have created maps that are just lying around wanting to be used, or maybe enjoy creating maps but don't want to just have them go to waste.

Well, if we work together I will be happy to use what you have already, and also coordinate with you to create some new awesome Chicago Based maps..

Also, if anyone can help me crash course the editor live over skype or something one evening or so, that would be pretty badass - or just point me in the Direction of Shadowrun Returns Editor for Dummys ;)

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THE STORY:

Ya, it will be in Chicago. It will be awesome. But what will it be about? I don't want to give too much away, and like I said, the story is still creating itself in my mind, but I will say this.

It will be Chicago FOR REAL. Some will be right on to the sources I've read about Chicago (so far...)

Here: http://shadowrun.wikia.com/wiki/Chicago

and

Here: http://www.shadowrun.com/forums/discussion/26571/interactive-chicago-map/p1

... Some will be about BUG City, but not HEAVILY because... Well...

...I'm going to rock the boat a little and play like this:

"What you hear about Chicago on the trids... I mean... Come on... You know the mainstream media isn't telling you straight, chummer. If you believe that Rot they'd have you believe the 6 corners in Wicker Park, one of the most Fashionista-hip places in the city, is inside the Noose. Ya sure, those thrilljoys will hang out at Big Star Taco, who's back wall is actually part of the wall to the Noose, and call it being "edgy" but you and I both know that it's one of the safest places in the city... Slot all that! Newsnet had a story on just last night about elves stepping up their Lakeview and Lincoln Park, and I'm thinking to myself, "Well you probably wanna inform the Humanis littered all around Wrigleyville then who would geek an elf just for crossing Clark and Addison, let alone let them "Control" anything.... Sure maybe things are different in Boys Town but...."

So you DIG?

Ya, I will keep a lot of the Sources in Check but I will throw in some curve balls that make more sense to the authenticity of what I think Chicago would be in the future with a natural progression from where it is now, assuming there was the Awakening and advances in Technology and Corps and blah blah blah that Shadowrun is.

A couple Ideas I have.

1. Trials of the Spirit Walker - not to give too much away, but this will be my first. This is going to start out with a REVISIT of the Curse of the Billygoat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Billy_Goat

But the problem with that is, now WRIGLEY FIELD is HAVEN - and a lot of people are drek-scared to think that someone is going to kill the whole lot of every man, woman, and child inside - and they will have good reason to.

So to get some help with some powerful entities our Runners will have to complete several Trials involving some powerful spirits to get allies against this threat.

That's a start, and trust me, it wont be all "hoodoo" magical overload. Because there are plenty of megacorps, Cosanostra and Yaks, war with Catherine the Terrible and Vlad, an Adult Dragon or Wyvern lurking somewhere in the noose and some other surprises I wont mention.

2. Well if I tell you what 2 is, which will tie nicely into the BUG city theme it will ruin the surprise so - Let's just get 1 up and finished. The good news is 2 will be for more advanced Shadow Runners so you can use imports you have lieing around.

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Anyway you can see I have a lot on my place. And this could take me a while to accomplish. But if I were to gather a TEAM and we could all work together..

Not just map makers, but even guys who want to fill in the stories for me as I make them - or give me a hand in figuring it out for myself.

In the long run, I just want this to be EPIC.

So the 2 issues I would like for you all to address is:

1. Create this on "Returns" or "Dragonfall" format and WHY?

2. Do you want to pitch in and what would you like to do - plus throw in a little sample of experience of your work.

3. Suggestions of any adventures you may have about Chicago that you have played in the past or maybe your brain came up with or you read about that you would ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY WANT to be included, maybe as side quests or whatever.

Can You Dig it????