Thanks Bush, Kyoto, Marcus, and Whiskey for the feedback!
I'll post one more version for now. She's a dwarf changling in point buy. Decided to give her some cyberware that looks legit enough (at least not restricted), so that if a mage assenses that she has less essence than the mage, the mage will be able to see the 'ware in question and maybe not give it more thought, instead of wondering why a seemingly 'wareless person has lower essence and start checking for signs of bioware. I also liked astral hazing for this regard, as it keeps her from being assessed as effectively. I brought her essence down below 2 so that astral hazing only has a 2 meter range, as to give a team's magician space to work if needed. She took Glamour/Distinctive Style, but could get by without it if it would bring too much attention. I figure she wins enough but is well liked enough in her more typical hangouts and would be recognizable anyway. Edge is decent for a dwarf. She'll have to pick up some skills post char-gen (etiquette and escape artist are up there). She'll also have to learn complex forms after char gen (or have her disguise skills wait till later) Most armor fitted with shock frills to stun folks who may try to apprehend her for anything illicit and give her a chance to make a getaway. Has drugs to use on runs if needed but she can only handle infrequent use. In all, she is able to use some edge for bigger social/palming/sprite rolls when needed, and still have some edge to help get her out of a jam. She can use Diagnostics to help sneak and for social tests when used on her various armor. Contacts/Knowledge Skills same as earlier.
== Info ==
Street Name: Lazy Susan aka Queen of Diamonds aka Slick Vick
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 10/20
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Dwarf
Composure: 11
Judge Intentions: 10
Lift/Carry: 6 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 12
Nuyen: 2275
== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 3 (5)
REA: 3
STR: 3
CHA: 6
INT: 4
LOG: 3
WIL: 5
EDG: 5
RES: 2
== Derived Attributes ==
Essence: 2.99
Initiative: 7 + 2d6
Rigger Initiative: 7 + 2d6
Astral Initiative:
Matrix AR Initiative: 7 + 2d6
Matrix Cold Initiative: 4 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative: 4 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track: 10
Stun Damage Track: 11
== Limits ==
Physical: 4
Mental: 7
Social: 9
Ballistic Mask [+1] (Only for intimidation, Must be visible)
Glamour [+2]
Mortimer of London: Argentum Coat [+1] (Must be visible)
Mortimer of London: Berwick Dress [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral: 9
== Active Skills ==
Compiling : 6 Pool: 8
Con : 4 [Seduction] Pool: 11 (13)
Disguise : 2 Pool: 6
Negotiation : 6 [Bargaining] Pool: 13 (15)
Palming : 6 [Legerdemain] Pool: 11 (13)
Perception : 4 Pool: 8
Registering : 6 [Machine] Pool: 8 (10)
Sneaking : 3 Pool: 8
Software : 3 [Resonance Veil] Pool: 6 (
Unarmed Combat : 2 [Touch Attacks] Pool: 7 (9)
== Knowledge Skills ==
Bars and Clubs : 2 [Casinos] Pool: 8 (10)
Data Havens : 6 Pool: 12
English : N Pool: 0
Gambling Games : 6 Pool: 12
Math : 5 [Probability] Pool: 10 (12)
== Qualities ==
Addiction (Mild) (Gambling)
Astral Hazing (non-Awakened)
Changeling (Class III SURGE)
Consummate Professional
Critter Spook
Distinctive Style
Friends in High Places
Glamour
Human-Looking
Impaired Attribute (BOD)
Impaired Attribute (STR)
Jack of All Trades Master of None
Metagenetic Improvement (WIL)
Nocturnal
Pacifist I
Photographic Memory
Poor Self Control (Thrill Seeker)
Prejudiced (Specific, Biased) (Wage Slaves)
Quick Healer
Records on File (Neonet)
Resistance to Pathogens/Toxins
School of Hard Knocks
Technomancer
Thermographic Vision
Vomeronasal Organ
== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Boosted Reflexes (Alpha)
Cyberfinger (Credstick) (Used)
Flex Hand (Alpha)
Mnemonic Enhancer Rating 2
Muscle Toner Rating 2 (Used)
Neuro Retention Amplification
Reception Enhancer
Smart Articulation (Alpha)
Tactile Sensitivity (Used)
Tailored Pheromones Rating 2 (Used)
== Armor ==
Armor Jacket 12
+Drag Handle
Ballistic Mask 2
+Respirator Rating 6
Chameleon Suit 9
+Drag Handle
+Faraday Pocket
+Shock Frills
+Thermal Damping 5
Mortimer of London: Argentum Coat 4
+Concealability
+Custom Fit (Stack)
+Faraday Pocket
Mortimer of London: Berwick Dress 8
+Concealability
+Custom Fit
+Faraday Pocket
+Shock Frills
== Weapons ==
Shock Gloves
Pool: 7 Accuracy: 4 DV: 8S(e) AP: -5 RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
Pool: 7 Accuracy: 4 DV: 3S AP: - RC: 2
== Commlink ==
Living Persona (ATT: 6, SLZ: 4, DP: 3, FWL: 5)
MCT-3500 (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 3, FWL: 3)
+Fake SIN (Susan Bates) Rating 4
+Fake License (Weapon License) Rating 4
+Fake License (Concealed Carry Permit) Rating 4
+Subvocal Mic
+Micro-Transceiver
== Gear ==
Glasses Rating 2
+Flare Compensation
+Vision Magnification
Laced Lipstick
Novacoke x5
Polychromic Lens
Psyche x3
Smart Wig
Stimtouch Hosiery
Survival Kit
Tool Kit (Disguise)
I did also want to explore 6th world gambling/casino security, to help get better ideas of how to make a character, if not settings/contacts that have to deal with gambling/casinos.
I was looking for source material re: casino security, and all I found was some info in the Plots and Paydata from the alphaware box (pg 54). There is some bits about gambling in the 2070s, but not much:
Looks like the cheaper casinos/gambling dens have soundproofed walls that are made with cheaper material. Without physical currency, security is less focused on burglary and more on cheating. Security includes cameras, security guards, a "centralized matrix security device" (I guess a host), but with each game running as its own device with its own Patrol IC. Astral security is probably lighter and probably provided by an offsite projecting mage who will materialize to the security team to let them know if there is any magic trouble.
This is a little different from what I had in mind. Here is what I was thinking re: Shadowrunner important security in 6th world legal casinos:
'Ware/Gear:
I was assuming that casinos and gamblers would be anti-ware, but at the same time, 'ware has a place in a lot of popular sports that people bet on and enough people are chromed that having a chrome free environment would seem too discriminatory if not unprofitable. So perhaps specific kinds of cyberware would be scanned for with MAD and cyberware scanners and if detected, would be required to be turned off. Definitely illegal 'ware and restricted 'ware w/o a license would be a no go. I agree Kyoto Kid that Math SPUs would be frowned upon, as well as perhaps attention co-processors and skillsofts. I might think that Imagelink/soundlink, commlinks/decks, particularly implanted ones, would also be disallowed, but AR/commlinks are so commonplace and are so useful in casinos (AROs about big jackpots, more spectacular AR decore, etc.), they must be allowed in. I suppose cameras would be checking for any active use of commlinks for gambling advantage purposes, or maybe part of entrance with a commlink is that you invite a mark from security so they have more access to your matrix goings on (but this seems unlikely too). Would running silently be a giveaway? If 'ware/gear icons are supposed to be either off or easily spottable, a matrix perception test that comes up with icons running silently might alert security to a big issue. Any hacking done with a non-silent wireless device that fails a roll would have the host mark the device.
Security would also be looking out for illicit drugs, and perhaps some of the bigger tournaments would require drug tests. However, this feels odd to me too, as it is a way to get your DNA catalogued real easy and a big giveaway to anyone using a fake sin.
Are there any other legal 'ware gear that would be questionable in a casino? How would casinos deal?Matrix:
I assumed that each casino would run on a powerful host with game/devices slaved to it. As the access points to individual games would be protected (either by physical security/employees or remotely with camera), directly connecting with your datajack would be very difficult and wireless hackers would have to deal with powerful host defenses and probably many patrolling and worse IC. However, casinos might invite marks so patrons can access more of the cool AR content and matrix enabled games. This could get hackers, especially technomancers, entrance into a host where their sprites can then help with some dirty work. Skin link would be less conspicuous for things like slot machines where there is touch devices and may be a way to subvert matrix security. I presume a spider and other matrix professionals would be onsight to monitor network security, as well as IC.
As mentioned above, regular hacking of a casino house would be difficult, so a technomancer may have the best options for potentially doing casino matrix work with their Resonance powers and sprites. However, hacking potential may be more for hacking other patrons. Is someone's cybereyes/visionware hackable to see their hand in a poker game? That could be useful. Is checking people's bank account statements doable through their commlink? Perhaps knowing other gambler's pocket depth so to speak could also be useful.
Magic:
I thought casinos would have onsite magic security, but I suppose Magic really is supposed to be pretty rare and many places wouldn't bother with 24/7 onsite security. Patrolling astrally projecting mages/spirits would do the trick. These mages might also be able to detect previously missed cyberware, bioware, and potentially technomancers/geneware/nanotech. It seems assensing is a big no no, and any patron who slips into astral is going to be picked up by security. Spellcasting/spirits are going to be seen pretty easily too. Active foci are going to light up, but are there foci that are going to be helpful for gambling that security would be pissed about (perhaps eidatic sense memory? Super Perception?)? Passive adept powers would probably be ok. Is the only real workaround for magical security Masking or Flexible Signatures? I kind of liked the changeling negative quality of Astral Hazing here, it's rare, but any astrally projecting mage assensing nearby would get a dice pool hit to their assensing tests. Anything else to change a background count without raising too much suspicion?
Is there anything I'm missing about casino security? What about ways to do some more covert work not directly against the house, but other gamblers? How would less illicit casinos/gambling dens organize? Would magic/boosted 'ware be fairer game? What about for things like underground poker tournaments or sports betting?
