Hola, chummers! I thought I'd give you a few updates and some useful information that some of the docs on Shadowland may have left out. We'll start out with some easy bits on the weather and roads, just in time for your B&Es.
The shadow docs on the Denver metroplex touch on the weather,roads, and nature here in the Front Range Free Zone, but they left out a few critical pieces of information for those of you traveling the shadows of the Mile High City.
1. Snow: Sure, they mentioned the relative sunshine here in Denver, and the snow. What they didn't mention is that your weather is relative to where you are. The Denver Metroplex spans 3 big cities and is several hundred kilometers in length. That means, omae, that while it may just be cold where you are, there is a foot of snow elsewhere. While Denver proper is the Mile High City, there are in fact locations all around and within the metroplex that are much higher than that, and that will in turn affect your weather. The heart of the UCAS sector might be clear but you need to check the sats and trix for weather reports, because there could be a foot of snow in Monument, which is going to put a crimp on your escape route through the CAS or Pueblo sectors. Natives of Colorado keep a good eye on the weather, and if you tune past the porn and mindless chatter on your trid you'll see that there are weather reports about every half hour. The old comment about not liking the weather and waiting for it to change is very true in Colorado.
2. Wind: Another factoid for you first time visitors to the FRFZ, especially you rigger-types, is the amount of wind that the city receives. It is not uncommon for the daily wind to kick around 20 MPH (32 KPH) and for gusts of 45-50 miles an hour (72-80 KPH) to be reached, especially outside the main built-up areas of downtown. This tends to make it seem colder than it might otherwise be, but also plays havoc on anything in the air. Keep that in mind if you are fond of glider approaches to buildings, flying via magic, or trying to keep your balloon drones steady.
3. Roads: Knowing the road numbers and letting the autonav handle the main driving is well and good, but when it comes to escaping a high speed patrol, it pays to know where you are going and what the roads are like. The closer you get to the mountains (along the western side of the city), the more treacherous the roads can become. Roads carved into the side of a mountain are quite common, as well as steep grades (both up and downhill), and these can eat into your speed and maneuverability. Rock slides and rockfalls are common in areas along the western outskirts of the city.
4. Nature: Welcome to the Rocky Mountains! Although the Denver Metroplex (and indeed, much of the FRFZ) has been built up over the years, pressure from the Native American Nations, shamanic groups, and ecological interests have kept large areas clear of the presence of man and machines. It has been additionally postulated that after the Awakening many species in wilderness areas have had an increase in birth rates. This, coupled with special interest groups helping to repopulate the wild, gives the FRFZ an assortment of wildlife. While you are unlikely to run across such in the middle of the city, it never hurts to be aware of what is living just outside the city lights. Unscrupulous (or nuyen-pinching) corporations have been known to snare bears, wildcats, and other wildlife as well as new Awakened and paranormal species to supplement their security forces.
| «OOC: This information is taken from a first hand experience with the FRFZ. It is not staff-approved by any means, but it may help you get a feel for the city and the environs you are playing in.» |
