How is Rogue the top fixer?

[id795078477]

I'm at a huge disappointment. I skipped Rogue almost completely last time in favor of PL, but now I decided to see what's the fuss about Rogue and how she is the top of the top in NC.

And.. nope? Her jobs are just the usual low-level "hit the scraps", "steal the car", "smack some face" plain and boring things targeted at random nobodies with run of the mill losers as clients?

So - what the heck, why even add those jobs to Rogue of all characters? If it's like that, then getting those jobs from someone like Dino would make much more sense (and bump Dino's low jobs counter along the way). Even Regina and Capitan are way better because at least Regina has a unique job line (cyber physchos) and Capitan gives unique delivery missions.

I just don't get it? Are all Rogue jobs that plain and low level? Or I need to do some secret stuff so that she starts giving jobs that correspond to her "queen" status?

[Silverbane7]

Part of the problem is.... Rogue is the top fixer in a computer game here.
A game that can't act like it should.

You can't DO the gigs she should be giving out. To anyone.
None of the gigs, other than the heist itself, are real cyberpunk jobs. And even that, is baby's first mission.

When you do the Corpo start, you hear what Jackie says about what your boss wants, right?

A driver with wheels from hell. A Techie, maybe two. Netrunner with a gold plated brain. And a Solo.
That's a smallish team for a basic run.
David's crew was a small team too. And edgerunners was, from what I can tell, a little closer to what cyberpunk was supposed to be.

Don't get me wrong. I love the game. Got close to 1k hours in it already after just a year.
But what we got....does NOT match how it works in tabletop.

Rogue gives us what the quest writers can work into the game.
Its a single player game, and V won't work with npc people outside of scripted set pieces.
That's why it feels like "why is this woman top of the city? All she gives out is fetch/kill quests?!"
That's all they CAN give you.

Fixers set things up.
Techies and Netrunners do their thing in your group. Nomads scout out if you arerunning an op outside the urban sprawl, or work with your muscle. The Solo's of the group kick down doors and make things bleed. Med-Techies patch up the survivors.
Then, the Fixers get back to work.
If you have Corpo's in your party (rare, but sometimes it happens) they work their contacts, like your fixer does.
Fixers main skill isn't 'Street Deal' for nothing.

Your average group can be 5+ and go up to the teens even, depending on how high risk a run is.
And you better believe, you will be lucky if half of that number make it back in one piece, rather than in pieces.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by blimsoon:

Originally posted by id795078477:

Looking for a good writing and plot devices in an RPG.

Good luck with that, players who are roleplaying as a merc in this game won't ask about the plot, or Rogue's personal data though.

A professional merc need to know only a few things: his role, and his cut.

I fail to see what role-playing "as a merc" has to do with an expectation of a good plot in the game. Player is not the character he plays and he sees the game from multiple viewpoints. We are not seeing the game through only the PoV of the MC, we as players have a unique perspective on the game world and can analyze and interpret the game world, think it through and connect the dots.

I am not solely focusing on one character and ignoring everything else (and even if I did, I would fail since by the virtue of me being a player - I will inevitably "know more" and have access to information that the MC does not). RPG does not mean one character plays its role. It means all characters play their roles - ideally, with a high quality narration and consistency. Which seems to be missing here. But - eh, not the first game, not the last.

[shoopy]

None of the side gigs are a big deal in my opinion. Even if they say it's because you're the best, realistically that's a lie to cover up whatever their real intentions are for hiring you. Which probably would be because you are desperate, cheap and disposable.

What has V even done to be considered a pro? Nothing.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by blimsoon:

Originally posted by id795078477:

I fail to see what role-playing "as a merc" has to do with an expectation of a good plot in the game. Player is not the character he plays and he sees the game from multiple viewpoints. We are not seeing the game through only the PoV of the MC, we as players have a unique perspective on the game world and can analyze and interpret the game world, think it through and connect the dots.

I am not solely focusing on one character and ignoring everything else (and even if I did, I would fail since by the virtue of me being a player - I will inevitably "know more" and have access to information that the MC does not). RPG does not mean one character plays its role. It means all characters play their roles - ideally, with a high quality narration and consistency. Which seems to be missing here. But - eh, not the first game, not the last.

Here in this game, you can only play one role: a merc. Other roles are not playable.
Trying to make any sense from a video game? Goodbye dude, I'll leave this discussion now, wasted too much time already.

Don't let the door hit you on your way back.

Originally posted by shoopy:

None of the side gigs are a big deal in my opinion. Even if they say it's because you're the best, realistically that's a lie to cover up whatever their real intentions are for hiring you. Which probably would be because you are desperate, cheap and disposable.

What has V even done to be considered a pro? Nothing.

Not really? I would say - even if the jobs given by regional fixers aren't "top jobs" - if V went above and beyond and never failed, always delivered on any expectations? That sort of reliability goes a very long way. It's not a simple "failed once, it's over". The folks for whom it worked like Swiss clock are many and I doubt they will believe one muddy story against literally a hundred of success stories.

Besides, V can become a legend in some circles. To name a few:

1. Street gangs. If you annoy them too much they pursue you - and then you can find and read their "love letters". It will tell a lot about V's standing, i.e. while they hate the merc, they also treat him as a very high threat

2. Folks around town. Best evidence - when you get a side job with a food stall owner and you decide to take his side against the goons who take his bike - if you have hit the street gangs enough / built good street cred - the goons will recognize you immediately and talk between each other how dangerous V is ("because he's put hundreds of gonks into dirt")

3. Fighting club? V can literally become a legend of the fighting ring and that will be recognized by people like Viktor, Fred and the entire fighting club. The fight is also on the show and a lot of relevant folks of the fighting crowd congregate there.

None of these groups have any reason to lie to V about his standing. Even more - when signals are coming from different and independent directions, they compound exponentially if we're talking IRL. If you did all the jobs perfectly and finished all the possible side quests by the time you talk to Rogue - if rumors and fame worked even just close to how they are IRL - then V would be very well known. If not a living legend then at least an extremely respectable merc. One fail would not cross that out, especially given that the track record V has after that thing.

[Bogmore]

She sees herself in you, you both lost people close to you.

[shoopy]

Thing is there are probably many mercs just as good as V or even better when it comes to the stuff you actually do in the game. The boxing thing is impressive but that's boxing.

Doing your job without screwing it up should be considered par, not amazing. It's about what you do more than how well you do it. V does something that is worthy of legend, which is killing Adam Smasher, but that's the end of the game.

[Pieshaman]

i dont think rogue is more powerful than dakota or mr hands.
I bet in china and japantown, Wokako is more powerful than rogue.
her power is merely reputation and old connections. her only turf is the Afterlife and not like a whole area

[Pieshaman]

Originally posted by shoopy:

Thing is there are probably many mercs just as good as V or even better when it comes to the stuff you actually do in the game. The boxing thing is impressive but that's boxing.

Doing your job without screwing it up should be considered par, not amazing. It's about what you do more than how well you do it. V does something that is worthy of legend, which is killing Adam Smasher, but that's the end of the game.

poor smasher,
I was walking around with the pistol of Reed, which sucks hard on this fight cause smasher goes all over the place.
luckily I picked up this light machine gun from dakota's yard sale before final battle. tier 5++
so I switched to that.
I dismembered both arms and adam smasher only had this rocket launcher on his shoulder left and he tried jump on me and head butt me, this armless gonk had just no chance anymore.

[GoreTiger]

Originally posted by Pieshaman:

i dont think rogue is more powerful than dakota or mr hands.
I bet in china and japantown, Wokako is more powerful than rogue.
her power is merely reputation and old connections. her only turf is the Afterlife and not like a whole area

Rogue has more power and influence then both of them. Hands isn't even in charge of his own sector, Kurt is. Hands is just the little jackel running around behind the scenes trying to make shady deals to undermine the Lion who owns the territory.

Wakako may have more influence in her specific sector, But rogue has more influence overall in the city.

Rogue has something they both lack: A heightened reputation. Rogue is known for being efficient and vindictive. She's known for covering her angles. She has connections with big name players others don't. She has friends in Arasaka, connections in major shipping lanes, Her network of informants, spies, and inside men are way above what anyone else has. Rogue could probably have all the other fixers killed if she truly wanted to.

[Pieshaman]

Originally posted by GoreTiger:

Originally posted by Pieshaman:

i dont think rogue is more powerful than dakota or mr hands.
I bet in china and japantown, Wokako is more powerful than rogue.
her power is merely reputation and old connections. her only turf is the Afterlife and not like a whole area

Rogue has more power and influence then both of them. Hands isn't even in charge of his own sector, Kurt is. Hands is just the little jackel running around behind the scenes trying to make shady deals to undermine the Lion who owns the territory.

Wakako may have more influence in her specific sector, But rogue has more influence overall in the city.

Rogue has something they both lack: A heightened reputation. Rogue is known for being efficient and vindictive. She's known for covering her angles. She has connections with big name players others don't. She has friends in Arasaka, connections in major shipping lanes, Her network of informants, spies, and inside men are way above what anyone else has. Rogue could probably have all the other fixers killed if she truly wanted to.

in my playthrough Kurt died pretty fast and Hands rules things now (thanks to all me).
also the dude in Arasaka's pocket, no more in Arasaka's pocket, cause I look too scary with a cigar lol
I really think rogue is passed her prime, like an old football player that still populair, but only average at best now.

[GoreTiger]

Originally posted by Pieshaman:

Originally posted by GoreTiger:

Rogue has more power and influence then both of them. Hands isn't even in charge of his own sector, Kurt is. Hands is just the little jackel running around behind the scenes trying to make shady deals to undermine the Lion who owns the territory.

Wakako may have more influence in her specific sector, But rogue has more influence overall in the city.

Rogue has something they both lack: A heightened reputation. Rogue is known for being efficient and vindictive. She's known for covering her angles. She has connections with big name players others don't. She has friends in Arasaka, connections in major shipping lanes, Her network of informants, spies, and inside men are way above what anyone else has. Rogue could probably have all the other fixers killed if she truly wanted to.

in my playthrough Kurt died pretty fast and Hands rules things now (thanks to all me).
also the dude in Arasaka's pocket, no more in Arasaka's pocket, cause I look too scary with a cigar lol
I really think rogue is passed her prime, like an old football player that still populair, but only average at best now.

Doesn't matter how quick kurt died gameplay wise, He was king of dogtown for years.
Hands doesn't rule anything. Notice how he never uses his name and influence alone to make things happen? Because he doesn't have that power. His whole play is using V to accumulate a larger reputation and more influence, Because he barely has any in his own district besides base level work. He has to Fake a much more powerful player (the cartel) just to influence anything. At Kurts party, Notice how Hands is off sitting in the corner with barely anyone around him? He doesn't have many allies.
Hands is a jackal trying to influence the flow of the sea behind the scenes, if one day things turned against him he probably doesn't have the power to stop something like Barghest ousting him from dogtown if they got fed up with him.

[yahboi1988]

She literally tells you why when you ask her in game and here we are still debating it.