[Jarrod]

Analytical Mind costs 3 karma and doesn't say anything about losing the bonus Edge point if you don't spend it.

Photographic Memory costs 12 karma and does say you lose the bonus Edge point if you don't spend it.

Is that on purpose or should you lose the Analytical Mind point if you don't spend it?

[Michael Chandra]

We're assuming some unbalanced qualities will be errataed but we don't know what they'll be like.

[Ajax]

I’ve been operating under the assumption that any Quality that gives a bonus Edge when you make X test, it is intended that the bonus Edge be used on that test.

[Xenon]

When it comes to Analytical Mind (which only cost 3 Karma) I suspect that it will be changed from 'any Logic-based test' to 'any Logic-based test involving pattern recognition, evidence analysis, clue hunting, or solving puzzles'.


Adding snippet from 5th edition (for reference):

SR5 p. 72 Analytical Mind
...to any Logic Tests involving pattern recognition, evidence analysis, clue hunting, or solving puzzles.

[Ajax]

Frankly, I think the idea of having “Analytical Mind” as a Quality is kind of silly to begin with... Surely the best way to represent someone being rational, analytical, and logical is just to give them a high Logic Attribute, right?

But, well, here we are...

[Michael Chandra]

Under that logic, the best way to represent someone who's good at first impressions is someone with a high Charisma, so... And if you want someone who's gutsy, just give them a high Willpower. Good at soak? Body.

[skalchemist]

Under that logic, the best way to represent someone who's good at first impressions is someone with a high Charisma, so... And if you want someone who's gutsy, just give them a high Willpower. Good at soak? Body.

Its off topic here, but I will just say that the whole game would be a heck of a lot simpler if this was the attitude taken.  Simple does not necessarily equal better, but for a new player like myself having all the bonuses and penalties rated in the same units (i.e. extra or reduced dice on a roll) instead of in different sets of units (dice, attack/defense ratings, edge point discounts, etc.) would make the whole game a lot more comprehensible.

I don't mean that as a serious suggestion because that would involve a far more radical change to the corpus of Shadowrun rules that have developed over time than the designers ever contemplated.  Its just an observation.

[GuardDuty]

Something...like...+ or - to your target number, for instance?   

[Michael Chandra]

Something...like...+ or - to your target number, for instance?   

Yuck.

[Ajax]

I just tend to dislike “Win More” mechanics in general. The sort of character concept that is likely to take Analytical Mind probably has a high Logic Attribute to begin with; the sort likely to take Guts probably already has a high Willpower; and so forth...

[Noble Drake]

I just tend to dislike “Win More” mechanics in general. The sort of character concept that is likely to take Analytical Mind probably has a high Logic Attribute to begin with; the sort likely to take Guts probably already has a high Willpower; and so forth...

Usually, I see these kind of qualities pop on characters that have moderate or low ratings in the stat(s) called for and the player wants a boost in a specific area.

I've seen way more 2-4 Willpower + Guts characters than 6+ Willpower + Guts characters, for example.

[Ajax]

Well, unless CGL decides to throw a giant sack of money at me and ask me to rewrite the game, it is what it is. I’d prefer it work differently, but it works just fine the way it is... I prefer redheads, but I’m not turning down a date with a cute brunette.