Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Character creation and critique => Topic started by: Ajax on <03-30-12/1633:33>
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Street Name: Grey
Concept: "Retired" Shadowrunner
== Concept ==
Grey has become an old man in a profession where most don't live more than a few years. He's done a lot and seen a whole lot more. The secret to his success has been working with specialists while avoiding the tempation to specialize himself. Grey is based on UmaroIV's "Generalist" archetype, meaning that: Grey can hack (but not as well as a true hacker), Grey can fight (but not as well as a true samurai), he can sneak around (but not as well as a proper sneak-theif), and he can talk (but not quite as well as a fulltime Face). Thus, Grey works best supporting more focused `runners, but can also fill in missing roles in a shadowrunning team. He has the knowledge and the expereince needed to identify those missing roles as well.
Note: References to Seattle, UCAS, etc. are "place holders" and can be switched to appropriate locale based on actual setting of the GM's campaign.
[Spoiler="Attributes & Basic Info"]
== Info ==
Street Name: Grey
Name: Richard Drake, Jr.
Movement: 10/25, Swim: 5
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Metatype: Human Age: 47
Height: 6'2" (1.88 m) Weight: 180 lb. (82 kg)
Composure: 8
Judge Intentions: 10
Lift/Carry: 5 (15 kg/10 kg)
Memory: 9
Nuyen: 900¥
== Attributes ==
BOD: 3 (4)*
AGI: 2 (4)*
REA: 4 (5)
STR: 1*
CHA: 5
INT: 5
LOG: 5 (7)
WIL: 3
EDG: 5
* Right and Left Arm have effective BOD 6, AGI 8, STR 3, for tests only using arms.
== Derived Attributes ==
Essence: 1.30
Initiative: 9 (10)
Init Passes: 1 (2)
Matrix Initiative: 11
Matrix Passes: 2
Physical Damage Track: 12
Stun Damage Track: 10[/spoiler]
[spoiler="Skills & Qualities"]
== Active Skills ==- Influence Skill Group 2
- Con 2 (Pool: 12)
- Etiquette 2 (Pool: 12)
- Leadership 2 (Pool: 12)
- Negotiation 2 (Pool: 12)
- Computer 2 (Pool: 10)
- Data Search 2 (Pool: 10)
- First Aid 2 (Pool: 10)
- Hacking 2 (Pool: 10)
- Hardware 2 (Pool: 10)
- Infiltration [Urban] 5 (Pool: 8 [10])
- Longarms [Sporting Rifles] 2 (Pool: 10 [12])*
- Perception 1 (Pool: 6)
- Pilot Ground Craft 1 (Pool: 6)
- Pistols [Semi-Automatics] 5 (Pool: 13 [15])*
- Unarmed Combat 2 (Pool: 5)
* Right and Left Arm have effective AGI 8 for tests only using arms.
== Knowledge Skills ==- Language English (Native)
- Language Japanese 3 (Pool: 8)
- Academic History [Underworld] 2 (Pool: 10 [12])
- Academic Security Tactics [Corporate] 2 (Pool: 10 [12])
- Interest Alcohol [Beers] 1 (Pool: 6 [8])
- Professional Security Design [Corporate] 1 (Pool: 9 [11])
- Street Area Knowledge: Seattle [Downtown] 4 (Pool: 10 [12])
- Street Shadow Community [History] 6 (Pool: 12 [14])
- Street Underworld [Money Laundering] 4 (Pool: 10 [12])
== Qualities ==
+ Ambidextrous
+ Blandness
+ Common Sense
+ School of Hard Knocks
- Bad Luck
- Hung Out to Dry
- Vendetta[/spoiler]
[spoiler="Equipment & Other Purchases"]
== Lifestyles ==
Sea-Tac Coffin Motel (Low) (1 month prepaid)
== Cyberware/Bioware ==- Cerebral Booster Rating 2
- Datajack
- Enhanced Protein Exchange, PuSHeD
- Synthacardium Rating 3
- Synthetic Full Arm (BOD 6, AGI 8, STR 3) (Right)
- + Customized Agility Rating 5
- + Enhanced Agility Rating 3
- + Enhanced Body Rating 3
- + Commlink
- Synthetic Full Arm (BOD 6, AGI 8, STR 3) (Left)
- + Customized Agility Rating 5
- + Enhanced Agility Rating 3
- + Enhanced Body Rating 3
- + Armor Rating 1
- Tailored Pheromones Rating 2
- Wired Reflexes Rating 1
== Armor ==- Final Armor Value (12/10)
- Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit (6/2)
- + Chemical Protection Rating 5
- + Nonconductivity Rating 5
- SecureTech Forearm Guards (0/1)
- SecureTech Leg Casings (0/1)
- SecureTech Shin Guards (0/1)
- SecureTech Vitals Protector (1/1)
- Vashon Island: Synergist Short Jacket (Ensemble) (4/3)
- + Ruthenium Polymer Coating
== Weapons ==- Ares Predator I (Heavy Pistol)
- Accessories:[/b] Concealable Holster; Silencer; Smartgun System, Internal
- Modifications:[/b] Heavy Barrel; Incompatible; Personalized Grip; Skinlink; Melee Hardening
- Ares Predator I (Heavy Pistol)
- Accessories:[/b] Concealable Holster; Silencer; Smartgun System, Internal
- Modifications:[/b] Heavy Barrel; Incompatible; Personalized Grip; Skinlink; Melee Hardening
- x4 Spare Clip (Ares Predator I; Ammo: EX-Explosive Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x10 ea.)
- x4 Spare Clip (Ares Predator I; Ammo: Regular Ammo (Heavy Pistols) x10 ea.)
- x2 Spare Clip (Ares Predator I; Ammo: Subsonic Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x10 ea.)
- Morrissey Élan (Holdout Pistol)
- Accessories:[/b] Concealable Holster; Smartgun System, Internal
- Modifications:[/b] Electronic Firing; Silencer
- x2 Spare Clips (Morrissey Élan; Ammo: Hi-C Plastic Rounds (Holdouts) x5 ea.)
- Remington 950 (Sport Rifle)
- Accessories:[/b] Imaging Scope; Smartgun System, Internal; Sling
- Modifications:[/b] Firing Selection Change (SA); Easy Breakdown, Manual; Silencer; Personalized Grip; Skinlink
- x10 Loose Rounds: (Remington 950; Ammo: Subsonic Rounds (Sport Rifles))
- x45 Loose Rounds: (Remington 950; Ammo: Hollow Point Rounds (Sport Rifles))
- Shock Glove
- Modifications:[/b] Personalized Grip
- Survival Knife
- Grenade: Flash-Bang (x3)
- Grenade: High Explosive (x2)
== Commlinks ==- Meta Link with Vector Xim OS (Res: 1 Sig: 2 Sys: 1 Fire: 1)
- Runs in "public" mode broadcasting fake SIN and lifestyle.
- Novatech Airware with Custom OS (Res: 5, Sig: 3, Sys: 6, Fire: 6)
- Implanted; Runs in "hidden" mode to manage PAN and runner persona.
- + Customized Interface
- + Optimization (Exploit)
- + Analyze Rating 6 [Copy Protection 6, Ergonomic, Optimization 1, Registration]
- + Browse Rating 6 [Copy Protection 6, Optimization 1, Registration]
- + Command Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + Data Translation Rating 6 [Copy Protection 6, Ergonomic, Optimization 1, Registration]
- + Defuse Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
- + Disarm Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + ECCM Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
- + Edit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + Eurosoft Clavicula [Decrypt 5, Encrypt 5]
- + Exploit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 6, Mute, Registration]
- + Scan Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + Sniffer Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + Spoof Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
- + Stealth Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Ergonomic, Registration]
- + Track Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
- + Empathy Software Rating 3
- + Tacsoft Software Rating 2
== Gear == - Fake SIN (UCAS) Rating 3
- + Fake License (Firearms Ownership) Rating 3
- Ex-Ex Rounds are illeagal and unlicensed.
- + Fake License (Concealed Carry) Rating 3
- + Fake License (Matrix Programs) Rating 3
- + Fake License (Wired Reflexes) Rating 3
- + Fake License (Private Investigator) Rating 3
- Medkit Rating 6
- Tag Eraser
- Earbuds Rating 3
- + Audio Enhancement Rating 3
- + Spatial Recognizer
- + Microphone, Micro Rating 1
- + Skinlink
- + Skinlink
- Contact Lenses Rating 3
- + Image Link
- + Smartlink
- + Vision Magnification
- + Skinlink
- Glasses Rating 3
- + Flare Compensation
- + Vision Enhancement Rating 3
- + Low Light
- + Skinlink
- Micro Sensor (Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6)
- + Skinlink
- Micro Sensor (Motion Sensor)
- + Skinlink
- Micro Sensor (Cyberware Scanner Rating 2)
- + Skinlink
- Satellite Link
- AR Wristboard
- Simrig
[/spoiler]
[spoiler="Description & Background"]
== Description ==
Grey has carried his streetname with him for close to two decades, it has nothing to do with his age. Just his general lack of any distinctive traits on which to hang any other nickname: he is only a bit taller than average, but not remarkably tall. He is physically fit, but not especially athletic. He isn't ugly or unattractive, but isn't especially handsome or sexy. In 2050, he was every other young sarariman on the street... today, he's every middle-aged sarariman on the street, Grey works very hard at this.
== Tactics ==
Grey will never be the best in any given role, and knows this, so he tries to back up more skilled teammates or to handle jobs that none of them have the skills for. He will not try to do everything himself.
In combat, he prefers to shoot people with his vintage Predators, although he can fire both at once reasonable effectivly he prefers to alternate to conserve ammo. The Predator is as good all-around gun in 2070 as it was in 2050, but the ammo capacity is limited so Grey should rely more on accuracy than volume of fire. The Elan is meant as back-up and will only be his sole weapon in those areas where its ablity to sneak past security is essential. He carries a survival knife as a tool and a shock glove for emergencies, but both are much less effective than his pistols.
When filling in as a hacker, Grey prefers to work from AR (since you get 2 initiative passes anyways, and is less vulnerable to Black IC). Don’t get bogged down in cybercombat - focus instead on breaking past the firewall quickly with your Exploit program, and then grabbing the goods and running before the alarm sounds (since Mute will delay it). If you get through unnoticed, you can also try Disarming the node’s Analyze program so that you can’t be found later.
== Background ==
Grey was born in the sleepy bedroom community of Vashon Island, Seattle in 2025. His father was a union boss at the docks, back when the longshoremen were still a potent part of the scene (thus "connected" with the mafia) and not just skillsoft-laden unskilled dregs. In his teens, Grey started breaking kneecaps as low-level mob/union muscle. Eventually, he got chrome, attitude, a pair of predators and by 2052 had started calling himself a Shadowrunner. Eventually, he got enough brains to match his bravado. With time, the bravado faded and he became a true professional, he never rose to the vaunted ranks of the prime runners, but he worked the the shadows for close to fifteen years. He had respect, he had connections, and one day he even pulled the mythical "one last job." Scoring enough nuyen to set himself up for life. He retired. He got out of the game in `67.
He spent the first few years of his retirement with his hand in the game, but not active. He pointed out a few new kids to old partners. Fenced some old gear to old freinds. Put one or two teams together for an old Johnson with new work. He became something not quite a mentor, not quite a fixer. But that too ended after a few years. He was out for good by `70. Done. Finished.
But, as they used to say back in his day, "Never relax. Just when you've finished your run. Someone, somewhere, is starting their own." Grey left someone or some group in his past that has come forward with a vengence. His old partners are dead or missing, he has become persona non grata to his contacts and old freinds. He wanted out, but he's being pulled back in.[/spoiler]
[spoiler="Twenty Questions"]Q1) What country are you from?
A1) I was born here in the Seattle metroplex, came up in the `burbs out on Vashon Island. Dad was a union honcho with with longshoremen. Being from Seattle is kinda like being from the UCAS, but kinda not.
Q2)How would you describe yourself physically?
A2) I work very hard at making sure people can't describe me physically... Hell, they starting calling me "Grey" back in the day, because Slim and Too-Troll couldn't come up with any other nickname: I'm only a bit taller than average, but not remarkably so. I keep myself fit, but I'm not too athletic. I'm not ugly, but I;m not sexy.
Q3)Do you have any recurring mannerisms?
A3) Just as hard as I work at making sure people can't describe me physically, I try to avoid being memorable for other things too. I guess I tend to use outdated slang sometimes, but I didn't use much slang when I was young, so I don't use to much now. You grok my feed, chummer?
Q4) What is your main motivation?
A4) Up until very recently, my life was quiet and as bland as my business suit. For some reason, these last few months, nothing has gone smooth. I mean to find out why, which is to say I mean to find out Who. Then I plan to kill them dead and go back to my quiet retirement.
Q5) What is your greatest strength? Greatest Weakness?
A5) I've been at the game a long time, I've become an old man in a world that eats young men every day. I did this by having no single strength. I can fight, but razorboys fight better. I can talk, but the face talks faster. I can sneak, but I'm no ninja. I can crack a computer, but can't cut ice like a decker... I mean a hacker. What I can do is back-up my betters, fill gaps in my team, and make plans so that we don't have gaps in the first place.
Q6) What are your most and least favorite things?
A6) A few months ago, my favorite would have been my nice, quiet condo in Outremer. My least favorite would have been the neighbor who kept letting her dog shit in my yard... These days? (Looks at the pair of vintage Predators on the table) No comment.
Q7) What about your psychology?
A7) Psychology? Seriously, what is this a Voight-Comp test? As a teenager, my dad taught me how to kneecap a guy for breaking a picket line or how to stomp a trog for taking a non-union gig. When I was twenty, I paid a guy known only as "Chop Suey" to hack off my right arm with a chainsaw and replace it with 5,000¥ in hydraulics and gun-metal colored plastic. I spent twenty years shooting people in the face for money and got rich doing it. You want to ask me about psychology? I'm not as crazy as some of the folks in this biz... but I'm porbably not as healthy upstairs as I should be.
Q8) What is your single greatest fear?
A8) Magic. Goblinization. Dragons. Bugs. Ninja. The Comet. Rampant AIs. Wars. Gangs. Drugs... I've seen a lot of crazy drek in my day, but you know what scares me the most? Some snot-nosed kid with a streetline special, bad timing, and good luck. That's how Too-Troll got taken out... Four years in the business, best damn combat decker I'd ever seen, I'd watched this guy take frag grenades to the chest and buy us beers later that night. Then one night before the Super Brawl, we hit the Stuffer Shack for pretzels and brew. Some kid comes in looking to knock the place over for, what, 100¥ and smokes? Kid gets nervous. Starts shooting. One round into Too-Troll's left eye. Just like that... Some day, my luck is going to crap out too.
Q9) What are your highest ambitions? Greatest love?
A9) Find the sombitch or sombitches that burned me. Set them on fire. Drink a cold beer. Next question?
Q10) What is your opinion of other Shadowrunners?
A10) Yeah, right, like anyone could have one opinion on all shadowrunners. Show me three `runners, I'll have three opinions on each of them. My ideal team is made up of guys like me: polite, professional, and just as prepared to kill you with a roll of duct tape or with a pound of C4. But, then again, sometimes it can be best to pair a guy like me up with someone as different as possible, pink mohawk, panther cannon, the whole package. I like a smart runner, I hate a dumb runner. A more detailed opinion then that, I can't give.
Q11) Do you have any prejudices?
A11) Not really. I've seen too much weird drek go down to be able to keep up with who I'm suppossed to be prejudiced against. Magicians? Metas? Trogs? That sort of bias was quaint when I was a kid. Non-Metahuman Rights? Please, even my grandad voted for Dunklezhan. Technomancers? Just sounds like another flavor of wiz-gang to me. I mean, I guess I find the idea of people being genetweaked or vatgrown a little weird... but it's not like I'm sporting 100% OEM equipment myself.
Q12) Where do your loyalties lie?
A12) You give me a job and I'm loyal as long as your credit clears.
Q13) Are you in love? Are you married or betrothed?
A13) I... well... No comment.
Q14) What about your family?
A14) I said no comment.
Q15) How would your parent's describe you?
A15) Who the frak cares? Look, Dad died of liver failure back in `48... Two rounds of .38 hollow point into your liver at close range will cause liver failure, did you know that? Don't skim from the mob. Anyhow, Mama was taken care of by me until `53, when she wrapped her Jackrabbit around a lightpole outside O'Malley's. Vodka ain't good for the liver either.
Q16) Do you follow a code of chivalry or honor?
A16) No. All that bushido drek does is get you stabbed instead of shot. Is this interview almost over?
Q17) How religious are you? Do you follow a magical tradition?
A17) Did I tell you I was a mage? No. I didn't. I've seen too many religious whack-jobs of all stripes to buy into the idea that any one religion is right or that any of them are wrong. I'm a bad man, I do bad things for bad pay... When I die, I'm probably going to a bad place. Is that traditional enough for you?
Q18) Where do you live? Do you have a day-job?
A18) Jebus. You're a dense one. I've told you enough already... I'm not telling you where I squat. This interview is over. Go call DangerSensei. He loves to talk to snoops and would probably love to be on the trid.
<< End of File | Play Again? [ Yes / No ] >>[/spoiler]
As I said earlier, Grey is based on UmaroIV's "Generalist" archetype and I do like the concept of an "omae of all trades" shadowrunner... but, have I perhaps spread myself too thin?
Update: The above is now the second third verision of the character, see below for a change log.
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I think you're fine. You could squeeze out a few more dice here and there or be slightly more karma-efficient, but you're not Captain Rolls 6 Dice At Everything and I assume you made the slightly suboptimal choices like using the Ares Predators for RP reasons.
Minor notes:
That Exploit program is over the availability limit.
Your arms are actually 9 agility, 9 body, not 6/6. You have them customized to 6/6 and then have Enchancements.
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- Exploit program corrected to Rating 5, freeing 1,000¥
- TacSoft Software program corrected to Rating 2, freeing 3,000¥
- Glasses and Contacts had enhancments juggled to get under Avail 1, freeing 125¥.
- Several Specialties removed for more effecient purchases with Karma, freeing 4 BP.
- Removed Biocompatibility Quality (.4 Essence not worth it), freeing 10 BP.
- Spent 10 BP to increase LOG to 5 (7).
- Influence Group reduced to Rating 2.
- Hacking and Hardware reduced to Rating 2 each.
- First Aid, Data Search, and First Aid all increased to Rating 2 each.
- Added some new equipment and a new weapon.
I'm not certain I follow you on the cyberlimbs, Umaro. Far be it for me to doubt the greatest yeti in history of the Final Fantasy franchise... but if "All standard cyberlimbs come with Body, Strength, and Agility attributes of 3" (SR4A p.343) and I add to them Enhanced AGI 3 and Enhanced BOD 3... isn't that an effective BOD (3+3)=6, AGI (3+3)=6, and STR (3+0)=3?
I'm basing my math on having six "limbs" Head, Torso, two Legs, and two Arms. This matches the math behind the sample characters, best I can figure, and seems to be how the programs of Chummer work it. That gives me an overall:
- BOD 4 because ((3+3+3+3+6+6)/6)=4.00
- AGI 3 because ((2+2+2+2+6+6)/6)=3.33
- STR 1 because ((1+1+1+1+3+3)/6)=1.66
Oh, and yeah, the 2050s vintage Predators are carried for pure roleplaying/style purposes. Apart from ammo capacity (and the necessary emulation software) the Predator I and IV are identical in all other stats. Normally, I gravitate to the Savalette Guardian as my "go to" heavy pistol... but I like the idea of an old-school `runner hitting the streets with his vintage irons. I very rarely find myself in situations where I need more than ten rounds, let alone twenty, if drek gets that hot it's time to switch to heavier weapons.
To that end, I've added a Remington 950 to Grey's loadout, again the ammo capacity is limited, but range and power should make up for that limitation. The Remington 950 is as much a generalist as Grey himself: not as long ranged as a true sniper rifle, not as rapid fire as a true assault rifle, and not as easily concealable as a pistol. But it has durability a sniper rifle lacks, range and power an assault ridle lacks, and can be stored in a breifcase.
The dedicated Hacker gets backup. The Rigger gets someone to ride herd on extra drones. The full-time Face gets a wingman. The close-combat Samurai and kung-fu Adepts gets a guy with a pair of pistols nearby for crowd control. The ranged support Mercenary with the light machine gun or the Adept Sniper gets a spotter. Everybody gets a guy who knows where all the best bars are located in Seattle. Win-win.
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Oh, whoops, I was misreading you on the arms then. You should very strongly consider getting Customized cyberlimbs, then. At the very least, cough up 4500Y for Customzing your right arm to Agility 9.
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Ah-ha! I get it now... So, let's go back to the store (I saved the receipt!) and go shopping for a few new items.
- Dropped the motorcycle, freed up a pile of cash...
- Purchased Customized Agility (Rating 5) for each cyberlimb...
- Blew the change on a new Microsensor, and some rifle ammo.
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You can't get enhancement over rating 3 without having a cybertorso.
Get an extra point of armor instead.
Rasmus
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I don't think he has enhancement over 3. He has Customization to 5, and then Enhancement 3, if I followed his changes right.
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Yep, both arms have: Customized Agility Rating 5, Enhanced Agility Rating 3, Enhanced Body Rating 3... one has a Commlink, the other has Armor. Customized attributes don't use up Capacity and don't require a Cybertorso. Umaro has openned my eyes. ;)
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For my (personal) taste his skills seem a tad too low for his age and experience.
But that might just be me, given your attributes aren't too bad he actually has decent dice pools.
Should you want to keep that i'd suggest lowering charisma by 1 and raising the influence skill group by 1. That way your dice pool on social skills "offense" doesn't drop, but your "defense" gets better, given your relatively low Willpower. That of course depends on how your group plays out social skills.
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For my (personal) taste his skills seem a tad too low for his age and experience.
But that might just be me, given your attributes aren't too bad he actually has decent dice pools.
There really isn't much of a way around this, everybody gets the same 400 BP regardless of building a young gangbanger or a verteran black ops triggerpuller. C'est la guerre...
Should you want to keep that i'd suggest lowering charisma by 1 and raising the influence skill group by 1. That way your dice pool on social skills "offense" doesn't drop, but your "defense" gets better, given your relatively low Willpower. That of course depends on how your group plays out social skills.
That's not possible, as I've spent 200 BP on Attributes. I've met some GMs who will bend on the "no two Skills at 6" or "no more than 50BP on Resources" before for very good character concepts, but I've never met anyone who would allow a player to break the Attribute cap. Willpower 3 isn't strong, but in my expereince it isn't much of a weakness either... at least not Socially. If I need to punch a Spirit, I've already done something worng.
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Will 5 would be nice, it's just hard to afford. The main things are the extra stun box, and defense against spells (yeah, on its own, it won't save you, but with Counterspelling from a teammate and Edge it can mean the difference between getting punked or not because of how binary spells are).
The one thing you might consider cutting for that is Reaction. The reason is that, in the long run, it's reasonable to shoot for Move By Wire 2, Reaction Enhancers 3, and Genetic Optimization: Reaction. That's a +7 bonus, so if you start with 2(3) reaction you can eventually hit 2(9). That said, it's a pretty serious drawback right now, and in the short term 2 more reaction will help you more because Initiative is really important.
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Should you want to keep that i'd suggest lowering charisma by 1 and raising the influence skill group by 1. That way your dice pool on social skills "offense" doesn't drop, but your "defense" gets better, given your relatively low Willpower. That of course depends on how your group plays out social skills.
That's not possible, as I've spent 200 BP on Attributes. I've met some GMs who will bend on the "no two Skills at 6" or "no more than 50BP on Resources" before for very good character concepts, but I've never met anyone who would allow a player to break the Attribute cap. Willpower 3 isn't strong, but in my expereince it isn't much of a weakness either... at least not Socially. If I need to punch a Spirit, I've already done something worng.
Wait... i spoke of LOWERING charisma from 5 to 4 and RAISING the influence skillgroup by 1 to 3.
This way your dice pool stays the same for opposing test, but you actually gain 1 dice when trying to "defend" yourself against leadership. I know it's not much but it's something. The same would be even more true had you chosen intimidation (which you should probably get anyway).