Shadowrun

Shadowrun Play => Character creation and critique => Topic started by: PapaR on <10-12-11/2152:58>

Title: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: PapaR on <10-12-11/2152:58>
Pixies are tiny tiny meat bags, how can I avoid being taken down with a fly swatter? I have 2 body and 2 str, besides cyber and bio ware (I'm a magician), what are my options?
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: FastJack on <10-12-11/2158:21>
Quickness. Dodge. Increased Reflexes sustained spell.

If they can't hit you, you can't be squished.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Glyph on <10-12-11/2207:45>
Pixies have some advantages - they have Concealment (self only), they are small sized, and they can fly.  In other words, they are sneaky little buggers.  High soaking ability is nice, but a good dodge and reaction (to not get hit at all) is better, and good stealth abilities (to not get attacked at all) are even better.  Plus, don't forget that you can always summon spirits instead of fighting in the front line yourself.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Preacher on <10-12-11/2320:42>
Note also that there's an optional rule in Arsenal where, as long as you're wearing only one set of armor, you don't suffer encumbrance penalties.  See if your GM is using that rule, and if so consider a Chameleon Suit or another full-body set of armor applied with Ruthenium Polymers.  That, coupled with Concealment and Invisibility will make you very difficult to spot.

I also make extensive use of Holographic Projectors with my pixie, having him place them in areas where he needs to be "in the flesh," such as at a meet with the Johnson.  That way he can stay hidden elsewhere (even in another area if he has the appropriate gizmos), but still project either an image of himself or someone else he poses at.  'Course, my pixie is more of a Fastjack style hacker (the "no one has ever seen him in the flesh" variety), which he successfully pulls off with that sort of trick.  But it works equally well for any pixie character, really.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <10-12-11/2324:58>
Adept Pixies with Martial Arts.  You don't swat them, they swat you.  Yes, even you Mr. Troll.  ;D

Which reminds me, I have to make my Mossad-trained Pixie with Throwing Stars of David.   :P

Yes yes, I know, The Special Hell.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: rasmusnicolaj on <10-13-11/0152:52>
Increase Attribute spell(s) in sustaining foci to give you a boost.
And use your abilities that gives you an edge to survive. Stay hidden and as far away from danger as possible and use your spells from a distance. It's okay yo be a coward when you are the size of an infant human child. I think illusions spells would suit a pixie well. Misdirection and confusion rather than brute force.

Rasmus
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: KarmaInferno on <10-14-11/1114:03>
Stick them in a rigger cocoon?

:)




-k
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: wylie on <10-14-11/1142:01>
high melee skills and shock frills
drop them before they drop you
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <10-14-11/1142:11>
Stick them in a rigger cocoon?

:)

-k
With eight other Pixies and a midget with a camera.  ;)
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mason on <10-14-11/1144:57>
Make an adept pixie unarmed combat specialist with maxed Critical Strike and Mystic Armor, and have custom fitted body suits and other good armor sized to fit pixies if possible. Make a Pixie TANK!
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <10-14-11/1146:46>
Make an adept pixie unarmed combat specialist with maxed Critical Strike and Mystic Armor, and have custom fitted body suits and other good armor sized to fit pixies if possible. Make a Pixie TANK!
And make the Pixie Russian.  "In Russia, Pixie Tanks YOU!"
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: UmaroVI on <10-14-11/1147:32>
MilSpec armor pays off heavily for characters on the very low end of STR/BODY. You'd have to pay +50% on an already-expensive item to get it in Pixie size, but it's very good (albeit not subtle and very distinctive...but you're already a pixie, a pixie in milspec armor isn't really much worse).
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mason on <10-14-11/1245:04>
Make an adept pixie unarmed combat specialist with maxed Critical Strike and Mystic Armor, and have custom fitted body suits and other good armor sized to fit pixies if possible. Make a Pixie TANK!
And make the Pixie Russian.  "In Russia, Pixie Tanks YOU!"

Not cool! I left to build this character and came back to make the same joke...Anyway, an uncybered pixie tank turned out to be difficult, still tweaking, but it might need some initation to be truly effective as a tank/unarmed monster.I was considering Distance Strike, but had to leave it for later :'(

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 7 ( 4 )
REA: 6 ( 8 )
STR: 2
CHA: 3
INT: 6
LOG: 5
WIL: 6
EDG: 2
MAG: 6

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                12 (14)
IP:                        1 (3)
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills ==
Athletics: 4
Perception: 1
Intimidation: 3
Unarmed Combat: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Seattle: 4
Combat Tactics: 4
English: 4
French: 4
History: 2
Ritual Combat: 4
Russian: N
Shadow Community: 3

== Contacts ==
meh, example character, 6 BPs

== Qualities ==
Adept
Distinctive Style (Pixie)
Exceptional Attribute (BOD)
Incompetent (Con)
Incompetent (Etiquette)
Incompetent (Instruction)
Incompetent (Leadership)
Incompetent (Negotiation)
Incompetent (Navigation)
Poor Self Control (Braggart)
The Warrior's Way

== Powers ==
Critical Strike Rating: 6    -WAY DISCOUNT
Improved Reflexes 2        -WAY DISCOUNT
Killing Hands
Mystic Armor Rating: 6    -WAY DISCOUNT

== Critter Powers ==
Concealment
Enhanced Senses (Astral Perception)
Sapience
Uneducated
Vanishing

== Armor == 19/19 or 6/6

ASSUMING A PIXIE CAN GET ARMOR CUSTOM MADE:
Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit 11/7
   +Fire Resistance 6
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Nonconductivity 6
SecureTech Forearm Guards 0/1
   +Radiation Shielding 6
SecureTech Helmet         0/2
SecureTech Leg and Arm Casings1/1
SecureTech Shin Guards    0/1
SecureTech Vitals Protector1/1

== Weapons ==
Unarmed Attack
   DV: 7P   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Hermes Ikon (4, 3, 2, 3)
   +Mangadyne Deva
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <10-14-11/1308:22>
Well, at least his/her arms don't have to worry about radiation.  Too bad about the rest of the body.

I think it was a Heinlein novel that had a character with a lead jockstrap.

EDIT:  Also, due to Uneducated, the character needs "Computer" in order to run the CommLink, IIRC.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mäx on <10-14-11/1538:12>
ASSUMING A PIXIE CAN GET ARMOR CUSTOM MADE:
Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit 11/7
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
   +Gel Packs
I really doubt your ever gonna find a GM who allows multiple gel packs in same armor, especially a FFBA.
Also those PPP piece's but you way over the encumbrance limit.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mason on <10-15-11/1131:53>
Yeah, encumbered by three. Doesn't matter. Though i thought it was by 2 til I looked again, may drop both scores by 1 each and make the encumbrance only -1.

The Shielding is for fun. I picture the character holding up the armguards as the blast of radiation comes forth. Also, it was a way to spend some extra nuyen, since I wasn't getting a gun or grappling gear or anything like that. Not like i intend to PLAY this character.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: UmaroVI on <10-15-11/1146:12>
I think Mason is trying to stack all of those Gel Packs onto the FFBA, and then halve the total (11/7 -> 5/3). All I have to say is good luck getting that one past a GM.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mason on <10-15-11/1205:05>
It isn't forbidden by RAW, and I never have to sneak it by a GM. I won't play this character XD
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mirikon on <10-18-11/1703:20>
Custom sized armor is a good thing. You also have Increase Reflexes. And really, nothing says love like a tiny monofillament whip. But yes, your best option is to try and avoid getting hit, meaning dodge and concealment are your friends.

For a character with 2 body, your armor options are rather limited. If you can afford it, this is how I'd go:
Strict-9 Jacket holowear (2620) - 4B/1I
**YNT Softweave Armor modification - Allows someone to reduce highest armor rating by their STR for purposes of encumbrance.
**Carbon-boron infusion - +1B/+2I
SecureTech PPP Shin Guards (150) - +0B/+1I
SecureTech PPP Forearm Guards (200) - +0B/+1I
SecureTech PPP Vitals protector (200) - +1B/+1I

Gives you 6B/6I armor without encumbrance. And the jacket comes in at availability 11 with the mods, meaning you can get it at chargen without the Restricted Gear quality.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mäx on <10-18-11/1946:05>
Gives you 6B/6I armor without encumbrance.
Actually he's still encumbered by his impact armor rating of 6(assuming he has 2 strength to not be encunbered by the Ballistic armor too)
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: UmaroVI on <10-18-11/2004:57>
Let's try that again. Use a H-Jumpsuit, Softweaved (3/2, counts as 1/2), FFBA (6/2, counts as 3/1), and any 0/1 PPP item of your choice. That's no encumbrance at 2 strength and 2 body, and is 9/5.

MilSpec can get you significantly more armor, of course. But the above is cheap and less distinctive, since you can holo yourself a human appearance.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Katrex on <10-23-11/1512:17>
Also why on earth would you take mystic armor 6 when you could take improved body 3 which lets you wear six more armor and gives oh yea 3 body...
Don't try to make them in to a combat monster don't get shot in the first place.

Best use for them is for stealth Conceal and chamelion suit is like -8 to perception to notice you,  they are small so they can get in most places and great mental stats mean that you can probably make them either your face or hacker, specialy when you need to hack private nodes which require you to infiltrate to get access.

You can always fall back on nervestrike to disable your oponents.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: UmaroVI on <10-23-11/1702:54>
IPA is double cost past your normal maximum, and it's probably better to spend 15 karma buying Body from 2 to 3 rather than .75 pp buying it from 2 to 3.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Glyph on <10-25-11/2334:48>
I don't have the supplement with that Mind over Matter adept power (which I believe lets you essentially use a mental Attribute in place of a physical one?).  How does this work in conjunction with normal Attribute maximums and modified limits?  Would a pixie with, for example, an 8 Charisma be able to use it in place of Body, or would the 3/5 maximums for a pixie's Body still apply?
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Tsuzua on <10-25-11/2358:26>
I don't have the supplement with that Mind over Matter adept power (which I believe lets you essentially use a mental Attribute in place of a physical one?).  How does this work in conjunction with normal Attribute maximums and modified limits?  Would a pixie with, for example, an 8 Charisma be able to use it in place of Body, or would the 3/5 maximums for a pixie's Body still apply?

It's from War! Basically it lets you use a chosen mental attribute's value in place of a specific physical attribute for the purpose of roll.  An example is that Logic can only be used to replace Agility and can't be used to replace Body. 

Using your pixie, if he had Mind over Matter Charisma -> Strength, he could use his 8 Charisma in place of Strength for all Strength rolls.  That means a 1 Strength 1 Running Pixie gets to roll 9 dice (8 from Charisma + 1 from Running) instead of 2 (Strength 1 + Running 1) for Running test, but only has 1S punches and not 4S punches.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Katrex on <10-26-11/0119:39>
Willpower would be body, it would be used for damage resistance tests, but wouldnt improve you encumberance as encumberance isnt a test. Which I guess would tank you up to a degree. But logic to agi is better because you could use any armor you want (ignore the agi penalty) and stack yourself up to an insane level form fitting with pps 8/8 with riot armor and zoe executive line, 17/17.  You're a pixie so go for all the edge and magic you can, It's tempting to get 6 points in mystic armor. puts you up to 23 damage resistance dice.8 sucesses usualy, then reroll with edge another 7 sucesses 15 damage resist when you need it. You shouldnt though because you'll be using infiltrate high logic, chamelion coating and concealment right?

Genetic heratige (optimisation logic) 8/12 natural/aug
5 points in logic
Way of the artisan.
0.75p in logic boost (up to 8)
4 points in pistols (holdouts)
4 points in infiltrate
get chamelion coating#
Up your reactions
4 points in dodge
Improved reflexes 3 either by mystic adept with focus or way of artisan for 3 pp.
Up your edge

You cant get bioware so spend that 50 bp on making yourself an excelent hacker/ rigger. Alternitively up her charisma will and critical strike and astral combat to suport with that side of things. Its better for you to hack but if you have a dedicated hacker astral combat is usefull and if you have too many mages too then put up charisma and face skills. Highest natural logic, Highest natural social skills (ignoring intimidation), Highest natural stealth, highest natural will. You pick what to abuse.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: darkmentat on <11-06-11/2133:43>
use the mage trick to summon a big spirit and channel it adds it force to all physical stats and use services to use it's powers to help you or sustane your spells
 
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: JustADude on <11-07-11/1041:50>
Gives you 6B/6I armor without encumbrance. And the jacket comes in at availability 11 with the mods, meaning you can get it at chargen without the Restricted Gear quality.

Why not just take a standard Urban Explorer Jumpsuit? It's 6B/6I for 750=Y= by itself... or, since money isn't an object for most Pixies at CGen, perhaps a Chameleon Suit plus the PPP Shin/Forearm guards to get 6B/6I and an extra -4 to be detected, on top of your Conceal(Self)? Magic 5 and you've got a -9 penalty to be spotted. -11 in a combat situation.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Mirikon on <11-07-11/1329:26>
I chose the Strict-9 because holowear can be fun.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Crash_00 on <11-11-11/0433:21>
Quote
It isn't forbidden by RAW, and I never have to sneak it by a GM. I won't play this character XD

An object can only have one of any given modification. It's on pg.129 of Arsenal. So, you can only put Gel Packs on a piece of armor once.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Dino on <11-26-11/2126:44>
Since you are a magician you could learn the Increase Body spell and use a sustaining focus. (Works great for Willpower too.)
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Katrex on <12-04-11/0031:31>
Yep, i prety much make every pixie like this. Genetic heritage increased body, body to three, and increased attribute body spell with a force three health sustaining focus. Giving a lovely 6 body. Give yourself full form fitting, full ppps and full steam punk line. I'd still play an infiltration concealment character though.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: All4BigGuns on <12-04-11/0206:25>
Yep, i prety much make every pixie like this. Genetic heritage increased body, body to three, and increased attribute body spell with a force three health sustaining focus. Giving a lovely 6 body. Give yourself full form fitting, full ppps and full steam punk line. I'd still play an infiltration concealment character though.

What about Exceptional Attribute on top of that? Tanky Pixie!!!  :o
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Katrex on <12-04-11/0218:04>
A waste of 20 BP IMO, 20 bp of qualities can do so much its not even funny.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Crash_00 on <12-04-11/0252:23>
Ya, I really only recommend Exceptional Attribute for one shots where you just gotta play a character that rolls more than a cube of dice.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <12-04-11/0845:11>
How the hell do you hide behind a Pixie Tank?  Troll Tank is easy, the CAR can hide behind the Troll Tank.  :P
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: Katrex on <12-04-11/0857:25>
Trolls aren't THAT big.  The point is theres a flying pixie, they are all going to think she's a mage, so she'll get targeted first. People see a troll and go, well he wont die very fast but he also can't do that much damage because he's slow, lets kill the lightly armoured dangerous things first.
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: CanRay on <12-04-11/0906:58>
1:  Geek the Mage First.
2:  Geek the Ork with the Big Gun.
3:  If you're an Ork with a Big Gun, get a Magician for a friend.

;D
Title: Re: Pixie, how to not be swattered down like a fly
Post by: SwampFox on <12-07-11/1447:40>
1.  Go after the pixie, ignore the troll.
2.  The pixie is the decker.
3.  The Troll is a channeler mage.
4.  PAIN