EP: Scum Swarm

[TMayesing78]

I'm planning out another try at an EP game.  I believe at some point, preferably the end of the first act, the players will probably become exposed enough that they'll need to leave Mars discreetly.  I am planning on presenting a scum swarm moving towards Mercury as an option. 

I'm tentatively calling the swarm Nuevo Vegas.  The concept a mobile transhuman Las Vegas run by the Night Cartel as a mobile above board gambling den and below board smuggling operation. (Mostly people and contraband).  I'm trying to come up with how to integrate the feel I'm looking for in swarm of richly decorated refurbished transport ships.  Suggestions?

[trinite]

You could take a cue from the real Vegas, and have the various different casino ships each be themed after a different place, similar to the "New York New York, "Paris," "Venetian," etc. If you want it to be like Vegas, you can't skimp on the cheese.

Oh, and lounge singers and elaborate musical acts, too.

[TMayesing78]

I kind of had that thought I my head.  I'm kind of struggling with the "community" & economics of the "swarm". I'm not even totally sure it would qualify as a scum swarm.

[trinite]

Maybe it's an internal rep-based economy, with rep awarded based on how committed each person is to performing their chosen role of a Vegas-type person: dealers, bouncers, high-rollers, cocktail waitresses, elaborate stage magicians, mobsters, heist-runners -- everything's basically one huge collective LARP.

[Alethea]

I'd play.

Another aspect or attitude could be the conman attitude of everyone who comes on board to gamble is a 'mark', to be taken for all they can be, while other swarm members are their partners in crime / thieves code kind of thing.

[TMayesing78]

My thought is that the gambling is mostly above board.  At least as above board as Vegas in the 1960's.  I'm thinking that besides smuggling the Night Cartel uses the swarm to launder money and to exchange credits and rep between different Night Cartel crews.  Then when the swarm comes near Luna they send a shuttle out to deposit physical currency.  The swarm's shareholders being the "inner circle" of the Night Cartel.  I could even have the party attempt to avert a major criminal war by thwarting another group's attempt to divert/destroy the lunar deposit.  Or steal the deposit to fund Firewall.