In this case, I pitched the players as having had been burned--no high-end open assets left. So no nuyen, Squatter's lifestyle at best. That was pitched as part of "This is the Shadowrun campaign I wish to run." They'd been told that pretty much when Shadowrun was even brought up as a potential game. They narrowed it down to two--that one, or a Space Opera game we'd communally built the setting elements for but hadn't chosen a system. One player said "well I wanted to play a smuggler!" in Shadowrun, which he alleges ruined the possibility for said character. Now, I've examined the concept as its one of the examples character types in the core book--and its completely doable for them to have been burned, and having to rely on the elements I worked into the campaign to help them get back on their feet. (Though we used PACKS, which I should have told them to NOT take equipment from too, lord it overloads things a bit.) First "run" style adventure they netted guns for their local arms dealer, and a pickup truck.

So far they've done them and made money. Not a LOT. But sufficient to split between the players to cover costs and have some left over. This wouldn't have been the first time the player had sat out a game. Though totally by choice previously (and WOW was more important.) Then realized he was missing some fun, and begged to play later.

In Shadowrun arent all the players essentially smugglers when you get down to it? Smuggle goods, smuggle people, smuggle data, smuggle bullets into your gun so you can shoot someone, smuggle smuggles! :eek:

aheh. Sounds like your player had a concept and got in in their head that starting from the ground up did not fit their concept.

Had a similar issue come up in Star Frontiers, except the player wanted to own a business. I would have explained to the player that this concept is perfectly attainable. It is just this campaign starts at the beginning and the first few adventures will build up to attaining that goal. Look for opportunities to make connections, save every dime and keep an eye out for a great deal on your first transport and start upgrading that into the core of your biz.

Most players will be on board for that. Some wont and just want all the power and infrastructure without the effort. Or starting from the basics and working up to the goal just doesnt fit their concept. Such is. Either they will come around and try. Or they wont.