[kyoto kid]

...so under the description of Metatype Modification Biosculpting Chrome Flesh (P 107-108), in passing it mentions that Elf to Ork mods are rare but not impossible. 

I've been working on a Elf Face character who has the Biosculpting Mod but from Elf to Human.  However I thought for a moment, there are a lot of Orks one deals with (particularly in the current Missions season) and as the character already has excellent skill in Or'zet and comes form Poland (which has a large Ork population, at least according to SoE), I thought about making the metatype change to Ork instead. it would also mean having to shuffle a few physical attributes and get some bio mods to at least have the base physical values for the race.  However, the thought of an Ork with an 8 CHA who could charm the pants off of someone is just too crazy not to try.

[Tecumseh]

Sure, why not? The Ork Poser quality from SR5 explicitly states that elves can be ork posers.

An ork shaman sustaining Increase Attribute (Charisma) is another way to get there, although you can get spread pretty thin if you're trying to make an ork magician in the Priority system (especially if you're trying to add face skills).

[kyoto kid]

....yeah another way would be to go the Social Adept route but like using a mage with spells it would limit other areas like skills and attributes as well as the ability to use augmentations (the current mundane version has Rating 3 Tailored Pheromones, the Trustworthy Quality, as well as other augmentations to make her a little more survivable and useful should the lead start flying). Also this is a Missions character and awakened suffer a -2 penalty to spellcasting/adept powers due to the persistent Background count in Chicago.

The way the full procedure is described it includes not only appearance but other nuance scent & such so she'd pretty much be indistinguishable unless some kind of genetic scan was performed.

[Sterling]

Is it a silly idea? Yes.

Is it a bad idea? No.

The world could use more silliness.  Go for it, it's a fun way to get the character you want.

[Rosa]

It's all very Star Trek, where they sometimes go undercover by having operations that turn them into other races. However being able to pull it off is another matter. Speaking Or'zet is a big help for sure, if i were the GM though i would require several more Ork oriented knowledge skills in order to pull it off convincingly...i.e. all the Little things that we learn growing up as part of a specific culture and do and refer to without even thinking about it on a daily basis. So in essence acting like an Ork is just as important as being able to speak like an Ork.

[Dinendae]

It's all very Star Trek, where they sometimes go undercover by having operations that turn them into other races. However being able to pull it off is another matter. Speaking Or'zet is a big help for sure, if i were the GM though i would require several more Ork oriented knowledge skills in order to pull it off convincingly...i.e. all the Little things that we learn growing up as part of a specific culture and do and refer to without even thinking about it on a daily basis. So in essence acting like an Ork is just as important as being able to speak like an Ork.

Specialize the Or'zet in Ork slang, knowledge ranks in Ork cuisine, Trog rock, etc.

[Redactedguy]

I'm imagining someone having all of those skills and being TOO stereotypical. "Did you see that trog rock band last week? Man I LOVE that stuff. And this trog beer. And this trog food"

Mwhuhahahaha.

[Dinendae]

And now I have the lyrics for the song "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" going through my head. Time to share I guess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AltMeuPkWRs

[Rosa]

>>Starts humming..."Pretty Trog for an Elf guy..nananana.."<<

[kyoto kid]

It's all very Star Trek, where they sometimes go undercover by having operations that turn them into other races. However being able to pull it off is another matter. Speaking Or'zet is a big help for sure, if i were the GM though i would require several more Ork oriented knowledge skills in order to pull it off convincingly...i.e. all the Little things that we learn growing up as part of a specific culture and do and refer to without even thinking about it on a daily basis. So in essence acting like an Ork is just as important as being able to speak like an Ork.

...like "Ork Culture". that is a good one.

[BrysenBlue]

Wouldn't your charisma be reflective of an Ork's maximum charisma?



I mean, I'd probably throw her one on a lonely night but I'd much rather...



This...



This guy could probably convince me it was safe to approach him in a dark alley against my own first instincts.



This could not.

[Novocrane]

You chose a troll to reflect orkish charisma, and probably one sporting troll reduction.

What you're experiencing otherwise is probably closer to a social modifier. If your brothers, sisters, cousins, parents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, etc are predominantly thickset, muscled, with fangs, that probably won't phase you so much.

[Glyph]

Charisma is primarily a mental stat, although they muddied the waters when they introduced troll reduction as a procedure that actually raises ork or troll maximum Charisma.  So while they explicitly state that metatype modification remains a purely cosmetic change, they have also set the precedent that cosmetic procedures can  affect maximum Charisma.

Personally, I would favor leaving the normal elven maximum Charisma in place, and assuming that the character is a pretty ork.  If metatype modification can potentially lower an Attribute maximum, it should be explicitly stated, not inferred.

That said, an orkish-looking character would have slightly different social modifiers than an elven-looking one.  An elf-turned-ork would find intimidating people to be slightly easier but schmoozing into an upscale restaurant without a reservation more difficult.

[kyoto kid]

....yeah I can see that, though part of gaining confidence hinges on Etiquette (which the character has a very high pool for) to effectively "fit in" to a given social situation, and of course, grooming and appropriate attire for the occasion.

Yes it would require a higher degree of roleplay to pull it off, but that would be half the fun.