Shadowrun

Shadowrun Play => Character creation and critique => Topic started by: ZeroSum on <10-14-19/1003:00>

Title: SR6 - First attempt at a street samurai / razor
Post by: ZeroSum on <10-14-19/1003:00>

Having built a Decker (https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=30244.msg526968#msg526968), a Magician/Face (https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=30335.msg527948#msg527948), a Rigger (https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=30263.msg527149#msg527149), and a Weapons Specialist (https://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=30318.msg527682#msg527682), I decided to try my hand at a street samurai / tank.

Unlike the Weapons Specialist, who focused on ranged combat first and melee combat second, my intention behind the Street Samurai was to be able to do as much damage as possible in melee and to be able to take a serious beating before going down.

With this design goal in mind, the obvious choice was going for a Troll unarmed combat monster. With an extreme amount of cyberware balanced between offense and defense, this character is always ready to go (no weapons to ready) and packs a Panther XXL sized wallop in his unarmed attacks.

Description
Standing just under 3m tall and weighing in at almost 400kg, Malak is big even for a Troll and about as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oat meal. Despite his enormous frame he carries himself with preternatural grace and moves with a fluidity that seems almost impossible for someone his size.

Malak has almost no obvious signs of long-term damage such as scars and burn marks, and even the normally obvious dermal deposits that are common to his metatype are barely visible. On the other hand, he has long since given up trying to file down his horns because they just kept growing back too fast, and now wears them as a proud symbol of his heritage.

As a semi-legitimate professional bodyguard he more often than not dresses in simple, inexpensive flats with a heavily armored jacket adding to the armor provided by his naturally tough hide and augmented body; he also carries a helmet strapped to his belt and a large ballistic shield on his back that he uses for protecting himself and others.

While the amount of 'ware he has had installed has dulled his previously jovial humor he is still something of a joker. Quick to smile and always ready with a throaty laugh, Malak wears his emotions on his proverbial sleeves. He doesn't believe in using his size for intimidation, however, so if you cross him you had better hope that you can outrun 800 lbs of solid muscles augmented by top-of-the-line cybernetics and bioware.

Background
Malak grew up as an only child in the Redmond Barrens; he was just a teenager when both of his parents were killed after a gang war spilled over from the industrial sector and into the hab district they called home. The young troll was seriously injured, but despite the tragedy and pain inflicted by these events Malak swore off vengeance; instead, he promised himself that he would fight to protect those in his community that were unable or unwilling to do so themselves.

In a surprising turn of events, Malak got back on his feet in just a few days instead of the weeks or even months the street doc had predicted. Once the doc explained that he had been born with an incredible capacity for healing, Malak put himself to work in earnest. After almost a year spent bulking up, and boosted by rapid growth spurs that catapulted him well beyond the average range of most Trolls, his friends nicknamed him "Mack" because he certainly looked like he was built like a cargo hauler and he definitely hit like one.

Eschewing the normal armaments of gangers in his neighbourhood, Mack focused on hooding for the people in his community. Through simple determination and sheer brutality, aided by judicious application of guile and stealth and the few pieces of 'ware he could afford, he managed to single-handedly push elements of the Rusted Stilettos out of his neighbourhood and back into the Glow. For a while he ran the streets he had grown up on, a street samurai in his own right serving up justice to those who dared cross his path.

When the Human Nation rolled through the Barrens in the late-70s, following Kenneth Brackhaven's resignation and incensed by what they saw as a metahuman plot to overthrow Seattle's rightful human mayor, Mack stood his ground. But this time the odds were too great as he was vastly outnumbered, outgunned, and outwitted; the damage they inflicted on him could have leveled a building. The only saving grace was the fact that the policlub goons left his broken body for dead, unaware that his body was still desperately clinging on to life.

He miraculously survived, aided in no small part by the local street doc who had patched him up so many times before. After being nursed back to health Mack asked the doc for help to become stronger, faster, and harder. Over the next few years he struck deals with unsavory elements of the criminal underground in order to afford the equipment that would achieve his goals, and before long he had been transformed living, breathing, walking tank.

While the extensive modifications to his body had stripped him of some of his humanity, he still cared about people first and foremost. He managed to get his hands on a high-quality fake SIN and went into the protection business, while spending time and efforts standing up to the gangs in his home in the Redmond Barrens. People in the shadows of the Emerald city quickly took notice, and reached out surreptitiously to inquire about hiring him for his services.

Priorities
Metatype C Attributes A Skills D Magic E Resources B

Karma Expenditures
Starting Karma 50
Positive Qualities 28
Negative Qualities 22
Attributes 10
Skills 30
Resources 4
Remaining 0

Personal Data
Name/Primary Alias Malak / Mack
Metatype Troll Ethnicity

Age Early 20s Sex Male Height 2.9m / 9' 6" Weight 375kg / 825 lbs
Reputation 0 Heat 0
Karma 0 Total Karma 0 Misc

Attributes

Attribute Description.....	Value....	Attribute Description.....	Value
Body	8	Essence	0.10
Agility	5 (7)	Magic/Resonance	NA
Reaction	4 (7)	Initiative	12+4d6
Strength	7 (9)	Matrix Initiative	6+2d6 ()
Willpower	5	Astral Initiative	7+2d6
Logic	2	Composure	7
Intuition	5	Judge Intentions	10
Charisma	2	Memory	7
Edge	4	Lift/Carry	810 kgs
Movement	10/+5	Defense/Surprise	12
Damage Resist	8 (+4)	Defense Rating	13 (+3)

Notes: 9 adjustment points spent on Strength Body (-6) and Edge (-3); 16 attributes points spent on Body (-1), Agility (-4), Reaction (-3), Strength (-6), Willpower (-4), Logic (-1), Intuition (-4), Charisma (-1 2). 10 Karma spent on Logic 2.

Core Combat Info
Primary Armor Armored Jacket (DR4), Helmet (+1), Ballistic Shield (+2)
Primary Melee Weapon Unarmed (DV 8P, AR 19)
Primary Ranged Weapon Ruger Super Warhawk [DV 5P, SA, AR 9/12/9/-/-, 6(cy), w/Laser Sight, Quick-Draw Holster, Explosive Rounds]

Condition Monitor
Phys 16
Stun 11
Overflow 16

Skills

Active Skill Name .....	Specialization .....	Rating .....	Dice Pool
Athletics	Sprinting	3	10 (+2)
Close Combat	Unarmed Combat	5	12 (+2)
Con		0	1
Electronics		0	1
Engineering		0	1
Firearms		0	6
Influence		0	1
Outdoors		0	4
Perception	Urban	5	10 (+2)
Piloting	Groundcraft	1	8
Stealth	Sneaking	3	10 (+2)

Language Skills: English N
Knowledge Skills:
Notes: 16 Skill Points used on Athletics 3, Close Combat 5, Perception 5, and Stealth 3. Piloting 1 and 5 specializations purchased for 30 Karma

Qualities
Positive:
Built Tough 4 (8 karma spent to increase racial quality)
Quick Healer
Toughness

Negative:
Uneducated
Weak Immune System

IDs/Lifestyles/Currency
Primary Lifestyle: Low [2 months pre-paid]
Nuyen: ¥400
Fake IDs / Related Lifestyles / Funds / Licenses
Fake Sin [R5 w/Fake License x5 (R5, Cyberware, Drugs, Firearms, Licensed Bodyguard, Pilot License)]
Fake SIN [R1 w/Fake License (R1, Cyberware)]

Contacts
Bartender (C2/L4), Beat Cop (C2/L3), Street Doc (C2/L5)

Weapons
Ruger Super Warhawk [DV 5P, SA, AR 9/12/9/-/-, 6(cy), w/Laser Sight, Quick-Draw Holster, Explosive Rounds x20]
Unarmed [DV 7P, AR 19]

Armor
Armored Jacket (DR4)
Helmet (Ballistic Mask, DR +1)
Ballistic Shield (DR +2)

Matrix Stats
Primary Device: Erika Elite (DR4) w/biometric reader
Attack 0, Sleaze 0, Data Processing 0 (+1), Firewall 2
Attack Rating: 0, Defense Rating: 3
Matrix Condition Monitor: 10
Programs (Running): Signal Scrubber, Toolbox

Augmentations
Bone Density Augmentation [R4, Alpha]
Damage Compensator [R3, Standard]
Muscle Replacement [R2, Alpha]
Platelet Factories [Used]
Wired Reflexes [R3, Used]

Gear
Worn:
Armor Jacket [w/Chemical Protection (R6), Electricity Resistance (R2)]
AR Gloves
Biomonitor
Contacts [R3 w/Flare Compensation, Vision Enhancement]
Earbuds [R3 w/Audio Enhancement, Spatial Recognizer]
Quick-draw Holster [w/Ruger Super Warhawk w/Laser Sight, Explosive Rounds x6]
Respirator [R6]
Subvocal Mic
Trodes

Carried
Ballistic Shield
Credstick [Standard, Silver]
Erika Elite
Helmet
Nitro x2
Slap patches [Antidote x2, Stim Patch (R6) x2]
Speed Loader x2 [w/Explosive Rounds x6 each]
Zen x2

Vehicle (Motorcycle saddlebags)
Chisel/wrecking bar
Explosive Rounds x2
Lock [R6, Mechanical]
Plastic Straps x10
Survival Kit
Zen x20

Vehicle

Vehicle Name .....	Handling .....	Acceleration .....	Speed Interval .....	Top Speed .....	Body .....	Armor .....	Pilot .....	Sensor .....	Seat
Gaz-Niki Titan	3/5	16	30	200	7	6	1	1	2

EDIT:
Changes in v2
Corrected editing mistakes
Decided to swap throwing stars for a Ruger Super Warhawk, some explosive rounds, a laser sight, and a quick-draw holster, so dropped the 5 karma specialization in Piloting and added Firearms 1. Also added another license for Firearms (but no concealed carry as I'm happy to leave the sidearm behind), and a couple plastic straps for subduing opponents.

Changes in v2
As pointed out by @CigarSmoker, Dermal Deposits changes the base unarmed DV to STR/2 +1, which stacks with the +2 from Bone Density Augmentation R4. Base unarmed DV is now 8P.

Title: Re: SR6 - First attempt at a street samurai / razor
Post by: Tecumseh on <10-14-19/1345:58>

Quote from: ZeroSum on <10-14-19/1003:00>

Notes: 9 adjustment points spent on Strength (-6) and Edge (-3); 16 attributes points spent on Body (-1), Agility (-4), Reaction (-3), Strength (-6), Willpower (-4), Logic (-1), Intuition (-4), Charisma (-1).

You actually adjusted Body with adjustment points, not Strength.

Your attribute points sum to 24 (as expected from Attributes A), but your karma log indicates that you spent 10 karma on attributes. You SHOULD buy either Logic 2 or Charisma 2 with 10 karma so that you can get Reaction 5. If you have enough karma to do the other attribute, then put the spare attribute point into Body and move one of your adjustment points to Edge.

I personally don't allow the Prejudiced quality to be taken against Humanis, especially by metahumans - "I hate people who hate me!! 8 karma plz" - but every table is different.

Looks like you're skipping guns, which is fine. But don't you want some throwing weapons to go with your Athletics skill? Throwing knives and shuriken need a little love (i.e. house rules) to tie their damage values to the user's Strength, but I'd pack a handful for when charging like a bull isn't prudent.

Title: Re: SR6 - First attempt at a street samurai / razor
Post by: ZeroSum on <10-14-19/1756:56>

Quote from: Tecumseh on <10-14-19/1345:58>

You actually adjusted Body with adjustment points, not Strength.

Your attribute points sum to 24 (as expected from Attributes A), but your karma log indicates that you spent 10 karma on attributes. You SHOULD buy either Logic 2 or Charisma 2 with 10 karma so that you can get Reaction 5. If you have enough karma to do the other attribute, then put the spare attribute point into Body and move one of your adjustment points to Edge.

Spot on. Mistake down to editing my post while still changing the character.

Quote

I personally don't allow the Prejudiced quality to be taken against Humanis, especially by metahumans - "I hate people who hate me!! 8 karma plz" - but every table is different.

That's a fair point. I too subscribe to the "it's not a negative quality if it does not affect you negatively" doctrine; replaced Prejudiced with Weak Immune System instead as this has the same Karma value but a pure mechanical disadvantage instead.

Quote

Looks like you're skipping guns, which is fine. But don't you want some throwing weapons to go with your Athletics skill? Throwing knives and shuriken need a little love (i.e. house rules) to tie their damage values to the user's Strength, but I'd pack a handful for when charging like a bull isn't prudent.

Another editing mistake; I have in fact spent 1600 nuyen (!) on throwing stars, just for those encounters where the opposition is more than 15 meters away. Even without Strength affecting throwing knives and stars, I think they are a valid backup. Added to sheet.

I'm debating adding a Ruger Super Warhawk just for that Clint Eastwood "Do you feel lucky, punk?" vibe. It's that or a couple of Stun Grenades, just so I have something to use at range.

EDIT:
I pulled the proverbial trigger and replaced the throwing stars with a Ruger Super Warhawk instead.

Title: Re: SR6 - First attempt at a street samurai / razor
Post by: CigarSmoker on <10-16-19/1055:55>

You forgot the Trolls free "Dermal Deposits" thats another +1 unarmed DV.

Title: Re: SR6 - First attempt at a street samurai / razor
Post by: ZeroSum on <10-16-19/1113:35>

@CigarSmoker
You are absolutely right. For some reason I didn't think they would stack with Bone Lacing/Bone Density Augmentation, but they definitely do.

Quote from: SR6 p.70, Dermal Deposits

You gain 1 level of natural Armor. Your Unarmed Melee attacks have a Base Damage Value of [(STR/2) + 1]P.

Since Bone Lacing and Bone Density Augmentation both provide +X to DV, these would stack with Dermal Deposits. That's somewhat frightening: Mack now hit's harder than a Panther Assault Cannon...