NYC Locations
February 27th, 2008 — maxmahem
Central Park - An oddity in the increasingly urbanized sixth world, Central Park retains is dignity as one of the most pleasant and remarkable locations in the city. A massive and ancient park in the very heart of NYC, Central Park remains a special location to most New Yorkers. Its still popular among Manhattan residents and workers as a place to relax, date, exercise, and unwind from the tensions of the Big Apple. A large amount of business takes place in the park as well, as its public presence, security, and lack of surveillance make it an ideal meeting ground for a number of groups. These same features make it a popular location for a number of Shadowrun meets as well.
Central Park is also unique as one of the few public places in Manhattan that is relatively free of surveillance, at least of the electronic sort. Indeed while the NYPD runs the occasional drone-overflight, the park is entirely free of surveillances devices of any sort, and regularly patrolled to ensure it remains so. Likewise while the entire park is easily in range of countless Matrix nodes, the park itself is relatively clear of AR tags and other AR spam. This includes the AR graffiti which is seeming endemic to Manhattan. While (as in the rest of Manhattan) an active commlink is required, excessive Matrix, or excessive signal strength is forbidden. In game terms this means that no commlink with a signal or system active at a level greater then 2 are permitted within the park.
As one of the few non-astrally polluted locations in NYC, Central Park is also a hot bed for magical activity on Manhattan. Magicians from many traditions frequent the park, looking for a good place to center themselves, project, or to summon untainted spirits. A large number of free spirits also call the park home, and are, for the most part, harmless. The Astral space around Central Park is also generally a buzz, with countless watchers, bound spirits, and other astral entities. And while electronic surveillance may be forbidden within the park, astral surveillance is down-right common. A lot of talismongering also occurs, which is officially forbidden, but hard to prevent. A few awakened critters also call the park home as well, but these are notoriously shy and hard to find. At this time no squatters or homeless are allowed to reside within the park.
The Park is managed in a rather unusual fashion. Rather than being managed by the parks department (now mostly defunct) or a for-profit service contractor like Gia-Tech, the park is managed by a ‘public’, ‘volunteer’, non-profit group known as the Central Park Conservatory. At least theoretically its public. In reality access to Manhattan is still semi-restricted, and becoming a member of the Central Park Conservatory generally requires a careful vetting process and a substantial donation of money. Though there are exceptions. The Conservatory is always in need of of magicians and adepts to help keep the park clean and enforce order. There is also a rumor that behind the public facade of leadership by city philanthropist and corporate benevolence is a powerful magical initiatory group who really runs things.
The Conservatory handles all park services, from security to maintenance. Most of this is done magically and so is very unobtrusive to the parks consumers. Mages, watchers, and bound spirits patrol the park round the clock for signs of trouble. Since they are active astrally, a bound spirit is generally the first response to any sign of trouble, generally with an Astrally projecting magician on hand for better handling. If this is not sufficient the Conservatory will call in for help from the NYPD, or even an Ares Firewatch team if necessary. Additionaly the Conservatory also has agreements in place with some of the various free-spirits whom are residents of Central Park to help handle security issues if necessary. A small but dedicated team enforces the Parks Matrix regulations. All this adds up to a very quick and seamless response to park issues, which is part of what makes it such an attractive and vital part of NYC.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Similarly on the upper west side you have Fort Tryone Park built onto the palisades at the northern end of the island, facing onto the Hudson River. Fort tryone park’s outstanding feature is the Cloisters, a reproduced monastic style chruch/museum with small gardens and cunningly carved and covered walkways. So few poeople know of it that it gives amazing levels of seclusion.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hmm… not sure yet on the fate of the other parks. More than likely they have been mostly re-developed or are privately owned at this point. On Manhattan at least that is. Private parks requiring memberships is defiantly Shadowrunish.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Magical Childe- the ultimate talismonger shop. Originally started in the 1960’s it disappeared breifly at the end of the 20th century but soon returned with the awakening. On 19th street just on the edge of the artsy areas on lower Manhattan, it is THE place for focus’ supplies and books. They are also a place for connects, to hire mages or do enchanting you’re not up to yourself. BUt it is all for money. They are goosd but expensive. You pay for what you get and do NOT try to stiff them. For over a century they have had and deserved the reputation for beinmg the best magical supply house on the east coast but also for being just a bit dark. This might be if seen through the more fluffy view of some shamnistic types who do not approve of chasing the dollar/nuyen, but the place is willing to deal in less saavory magics, if the price is right. The store is narrow and dark with walls one side lined with books and other supplies. manufactured goods are at the back, behind all the secutity