[user-unknown]

I haven't had a chance to actually play SR yet, but apparently my gaming group will be running a campaign pretty soon

I've had a look at creating an elf hacker with some face ability, hopefully haven't missed anything out?  First character so comments/criticism about things I have missed are welcome

EDIT: Build in this post is old - new one is up in Post #10 (http://forums.shadowrun4.com/index.php?topic=3641.msg45842#msg45842 for the lazy )

Code: [Select]


Emily "Epsilon" Caernarfon
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METATYPE: 30BP
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    Elf

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ATTRIBUTES: 180 BP
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    Body 3
    Agility 4
    Reaction 3
    Strength 2
    Charisma 4
    Intuition 4
    Logic 5
    Willpower 3

    Edge 2
    Initiative 7
    Essence 3.05

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ACTIVE SKILLS: 154 BP
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    Electronics Skill Group 4 (Computer, Data Search, Hardware, Software)
    Influence Skill Group 1 (Con, Etiquette, Leadership, Negotiation)
    Hacking 6
    Electronic Warfare 4
    Cybercombat 4
    Pilot Ground Craft (Bike) 3
    Perception 3
    Pistols (Semi-Automatics) 2
    Dodge 2
    Unarmed Combat 1

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KNOWLEDGE SKILLS:
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    Still to sort out, think I get 27 free?

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QUALITIES: -15BP
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    Analytical Mind
    Chatty
    Codeslinger (Hack on the Fly)

    Combat Paralysis
    SINner Criminal
    Media Junkie (Mild)

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GEAR: 37BP
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Cyberware:
    Commlink
     - Base: Fairlight Caliban
     - Response Upgrade 5
     - Hot Sim Module
    Datajack
    Math SPU
    Cybereyes 3
     - Inclusive Eye Recording Unit/Image Link
     - Low-Light
     - Thermographic
     - Image Link
     - Smartlink
     - Flare Compensation
     - Vision Enhancement 2
    Cyberears 3
     - Inclusive Ear Recording Unit/Sound Link
     - Damper
     - Spatial Recognizer
     - Audio Enhancement 2
     - Select Sound Filter 2
    Control Rig
    Fiberoptic Hair

Software:
    OS: Novatech Navi, upgraded to System 5, Firewall 6 (1500+2500+6000)?
    Common (all Rating 6): Analyze, Browse, Command, Edit, Encrypt, Reality Filter, Scan
    Hacking (all Rating 6): Armour, Attack, Biofeedback Filter, Blackout, Decrypt, Defuse, ECCM, Exploit, Medic, Sniffer, Spoof, Stealth, Track
    Agents: 2 x Rating 3
    Other: 5 x Datasoft Rating 6, Tutorsoft (Unarmed Combat) Rating 3, Mapsoft Rating 6, random VR games, AR programs, etc.

Equipment:
    2x Sony Emperor disposable commlinks
    AR Gloves
    Biometric Reade
    Holo Projector
    Subvocal Microphone
    Tag Eraser
    Flashlight (Infrared)
    Medkit (Rating 6)

Weapons:
    Yamaha Pulsar (Taser)
     - 5x Spare Clips (Pulsar)
     - 2x Taser darts (10 shots)

    Ares Predator IV (Pistol) - Integral Smartgun, Silencer, Concealable Holster
     - 6x Spare clips (Predator)
     - 9x Standard (Pistol) rounds (10 shots)
     - 9x Stick-n-Shock (Pistol) rounds (10 shots)
     - 3x Explosive rounds (Pistol) rounds (10 shots)

Armor:
    Urban Explorer Jumpsuit
    Urban Explorer Helmet
    2x Regular Clothing
    Armor Vest

Vehicles:
    Yamaha Growler

Drones:
    MCT Fly-Spy with Clearsight Autosoft (Rating 3)

Misc
    2x Fake SIN (Rating 4)
    2x Fake Licenses (Rating 4)
    1 month paid Low lifestyle

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CONTACTS: 16BP
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Still haven't quite decided but probably:
    Fixer (high loyalty)
    Bike Mechanic (very basic)
    AI? not sure what this could give me that I couldn't do myself though...



[Triggvi]

I see you have make the first of many rookie mistakes. You need to pay attention to your dice pools. a 15+ is good for your primary role, 12+ for your secondary role and anything less is functional but not exceptional.

There are cyber enhancement that would make your elf a cyber nightmare, but right now the character needs a huge make over.

Combat paralysis will get your character killed in either cyber combat or physical combat.
only having 5 or 6 dice for social skills is not even a backup face.

 A response 5 comlink can't have a rating 6 hacking programs on it at start up, with out the restricted quality for each program.

[Xzylvador]

Software: You can save Nuyen/BP by buying Rating 5 hacking programs, you can't run then at rating 6 anyway.
The common programs: get the Optimization Software Option for them, it costs 100Y per program, but lets you run them at <System>+1 instead of just <System>.
Hacking softs, by getting them R5 instead of 6, you can also get some software options on them.
Option I like the most (other than Optimization) is the Ergonomic option: Put it on the 5 programs you're likely to run the most (or all of the time, like Analyze & Stealth), and they won't count towards the program limit for lowering response.

Don't think you need to buy an OS if you're buying System and Firewall seperately. 1500Y saved.

You can also buy the Optimization option for your commlink too, will give you a +1 with one software. (Unwired, again)

See if you can squeeze in PuSHeD and/or Encephalon. (Augmentation)
If short on Nuyen/BP, it might be better -cheaper- to drop the Hacking skill to 4 and get Cracking skillgroup at 4 and then boost with 'wares/treatement.

-- Unlike Triggvi, I'd keep the social skills. I agree that 5 dice isn't enough to be a secondary Face, but that doesn't mean you'll never use those skills. The Face can't always be covering for you.
A makeover required? Not at all. 15+ dice make sense for streetsams and high-power games, for a hacker things are a lot different. You don't have a secondary role, but imo hackers don't need it at all, they already do all the matrix legwork.

Oh, one more thing, you've got that Rigger Coccoon, if you're planning on hijacking drones, get gunnery.

[Triggvi]

I never said get rid of the influence group. I just commented that he was not secondary face.

[user-unknown]

Thanks for comments- I was pretty sure I had made some stupid mistakes

I was mainly making this char to try and learn the rules - wasnt quite sure what style the game was going to be, however GM has just told me we are going to be special forces type characters so will have to remake significantly! I'll incorporate the suggestions about cyberwear and software for next version, hadn't seen that rating 6 wouldn't work on commlink.

Regarding face comments, I knew she was useless at it - gave her Chatty to compensate in VR but would only ever have been backup . To be honest, will probably ignore this part when remaking and just increase weapon skills instead.

[baronspam]

I see you have make the first of many rookie mistakes. You need to pay attention to your dice pools. a 15+ is good for your primary role, 12+ for your secondary role and anything less is functional but not exceptional.

There are cyber enhancement that would make your elf a cyber nightmare, but right now the character needs a huge make over.

Combat paralysis will get your character killed in either cyber combat or physical combat.
only having 5 or 6 dice for social skills is not even a backup face.

 A response 5 comlink can't have a rating 6 hacking programs on it at start up, with out the restricted quality for each program.

Might I suggest sharing some of those cyberenhancements, and the book they come out of?  That would go a long way toward helping a newbie build a better character, rather than just saying "need better cyberware".

[Xzylvador]

Augmentation's the book.
For hackers: PuSHeD & Encephalon (II) are by far the best upgrades available. (total +3 to most matrix tests)
Cerebral Booster (Corebook) can be useful, but since Logic is only really used for non-matrix things, less useful than the previous two.
There's Simrig Booster & Booster Nanites... a third thing too, but I forgot which. You can get up to 5IP's in VR. Don't have my books at hand, quite sure I'm missing something.

[user-unknown]

Hmm, Encephalon does indeed look good but think I may have to only go with level 1 due to price.

I'm a bit confused about the differences between sim module/simrig/trodes stuff though.  If I have an implanted commlink and a hot sim module, is that everything I would need for hot sim, or do I still need a simrig or trodes?

[Triggvi]

Hmm, Encephalon does indeed look good but think I may have to only go with level 1 due to price.

I'm a bit confused about the differences between sim module/simrig/trodes stuff though.  If I have an implanted commlink and a hot sim module, is that everything I would need for hot sim, or do I still need a simrig or trodes?

That is all you need.

[baronspam]

Hmm, Encephalon does indeed look good but think I may have to only go with level 1 due to price.

I'm a bit confused about the differences between sim module/simrig/trodes stuff though.  If I have an implanted commlink and a hot sim module, is that everything I would need for hot sim, or do I still need a simrig or trodes?

I was looking at this last night, trying to figure out the rules for hackers.  If I got it correct, the implated sim module is all you need.  The more expensive version lets you do hot sim as well as standard cold sim.  Trodes are a way for a person without a direct neural interface like a datajack or a implanted comlink to do VR,  if you head is wired you don't need them.  A simrig(I think, doing this from memory) lets you record simsense images.  Its not needed to play back Simsense programs or experience VR, but it is a good way to make accurate records if you are doing recon/intel gathering.  Aslo the way the way all those simsense entertainment chips get made.

[user-unknown]

OK, I have adjusted her into something which is hopefully more competent, more fitting to the campaign theme and also less likely to die horribly in the first round of combat.

Main changes:
* better cyberwear (for both hacking, and combat)
* no combat paralysis
* more approriate software
* more combat ability
* removed rigger abilities - other player said they wanted to try a rigger so avoiding overlap.  I can alwasy remote control or send a Pilot anyway.
* removed social skills, may add back either group at 1 or a single skill at 2 with spec if I can find another 10 points (either by adding more negative qualities or remving an attribute point)

Code: [Select]

Emily "Epsilon" Caernarfon:  Elf Hacker

== Stats ==
=== Attributes ===
* Body 4
* Agility 4
* Reaction 4
* Strength 2
* Charisma 3
* Intuition 3
* Logic 5
* Willpower 3

* Edge 3
* Initative 7

=== Qualities ===
Positive
* Analytical Mind

Negative
* SINner
* Thrill Seeker
* Records on File
* Weak Immune System

=== Skills ===
* Electronics group 4
* Cracking group 4
* Automatics  4 (Semi-Automatics +2)
* Unarmed Combat 2 (Parrying +2)
* Pilot Ground Craft 3
* Infiltration 2
* Dodge 2
* Perception 1

=== Gear ===
Will be 250k worth (current list is at 225k-ish so still have stuff to buy)

Cyberwear:
*Commlink (Fairlight Caliban, Hardened 6, Stealth Optimization, Response Upgrade 5)
*Datajack
*Bone Lacing: Aluminium
*Muscle Replacement I
*Hot Sim Module
*Encephalon I
*Cybereyes 3 (Flare Compensation, Low Light Vision, Smartlink, Thermographic Vision, Vision Enhancement 2, Vision Magnification)
*Cyberears 3 (Damper, Audio Enhancement 3, Spatial Recognizer, Select Sound Filter 3)

Biowear:
* PuSHeD

Software:
* System 5
* Firewall 5
* Analyze, Browse, Command, Reality Filter (Rating 6 w/ Ergonomic & Optimisation features)
* Edit, Encrypt, Scan (Rating 6 w/ Optimisation feature only)
* Armour, ECCM, Sniffer, Stealth (Rating 5 w/ Ergonomic feature)
* Attack, Biofeedback Filter, Black Hammer, Blackout, Data Bomb, Decrypt, Defuse, Exploit, Medic, Spoof, Track (Rating 5)
* Agent (Rating 3)
* IC (Rating 3)
* Pilot (Rating 3)
* Clearsight, Targeting (?), Covert Ops, Manuever, Electronic Warfare (Rating 3)
* 10 x assorted datasofts tbd
* mapsoft tbd

Weapons:
* Ares Crusader
* HK-227X
* Ares Alpha
* mods and ammo for above tbd

Armour:
* Chameleon Suit

General:
* AR Gloves
* Biometric Reader
* Satellite Link
* Holo Projector
* Subvocal Microphone
* Flashlight (Infrared)
* Medkit (Rating 6)
* Jammer, Area (Rating 4)
* Jammer, Directional  (Rating 6)
* Disposable Commlink
* Micro-Tapper Bug

=== Contacts ===
10 points left to go here - TBD based on other characters in group.

Gear not quite finished yet, I know there are some things I am missing.  I may also have missed things while copying out.

Few things which I wanted to check though:

• program optimisation option means that higher rated program can work on device with lower system stat, whereas commlink optimisation increases rating of single named program? So, I have to buy individual Optimised programs at level 6 and they will work on a Response 5 commlink, whereas with the commlink optimised for Stealth, I can have a rating 5 Stealth program and it will run at rating 6 equivalent.
• Agent/IC/Pilot are separate program types so have to bought indidivually - you can't run an Agent program as an IC program or stick it into a drone to make it a Pilot?
• You can run as many copies of a program as you like (within system Response limits) - i.e. I could have 3 Agents running with different programs and only have to buy a single Agent program?

[Maelstrom]

The answer to your questions is yes.

You can run Firewall 6 as it is not limited by System.  Consider the ECCM program to help overcome jamming, and a R2 Tac Net (Unwired page 124).

Agents and IC are basically specialized pilot programs that run common use (and hacking, once modified) programs.  Unwired has agent autosofts on pages 113-114.  The Homeground autosoft is especially good for IC.  The autosofts you listed below are for Pilot programs.

Pilots are for autonomously-controlled vehicles, which includes drones and modified weapons.  Pilot programs are essentially equipment-specific so you need to identify what they are for.  Drones come with pilot programs as reflected in their stats (you don't need to buy one separately unless upgrading).  The micro-tapper bug has pilot R3 and can use the Clearsight, Covert Ops, Manuever, and Electronic Warfare autosofts, but that's a big expense starting out.  Remember Pilot R3 run only 2 programs at once before response drops.

Your R3 agent and IC can't use any of your programs.  You'll need optimized programs and/or a R4 agent/IC with appropriate rating programs.

Talk to your GM and clarify their ruling on copying programs.  Some GM allow copied programs to be used on multiple platforms and others don't.  Drones become expensive fast.

Take First Aid-1 so you can add your Logic to the tests.

If you want more drones, consider starting with Pilot: aircraft and the Control Rig cyberware.  Buy ECCM and TacNet (max R3 due to sensors) for your drone(s) in-game when you can afford it and upgrade their sensors.

Drop the specializations for now to give yourself more BP and get them after your first or second run.  There's no BP benefit to buying them now.

[user-unknown]

Thanks for the help - I know I'm probably asking a load of really dumb questions

You can run Firewall 6 as it is not limited by System. 

Excellent

Consider the ECCM program to help overcome jamming, and a R2 Tac Net (Unwired page 124).

I already have ECCM I think, may have missed it when copying - hadn't noticed TacNet though, which looks awesome Definitely taking that.

Your R3 agent and IC can't use any of your programs.  You'll need optimized programs and/or a R4 agent/IC with appropriate rating programs.

D'oh, hadn't noticed that either - I thought that you could run programs of a higher rating, you just wouldn't be able to use them to their full extent.  You say Optimisation would work  - looking at the rules for the modification, it doesn't mention Pilots/Agents specifically, so Pilot/Agent rating is effectively equivalent to System?  This means I could add another two levels of Optimisation to the common programs (for Optimization 3 with Rating 6) which would let my Agents run the full power versions?

Take First Aid-1 so you can add your Logic to the tests.

Sounds like a good idea, you can never have too many medics...

Drop the specializations for now to give yourself more BP and get them after your first or second run.  There's no BP benefit to buying them now.

I probably will, but unfortunately I think the lifespan of this game is going to be quite limited - it has been billed as 'a five session game' as a break from our existing ongoing games (we have three which cycle weekly - this has been going on for about two years...).  I'm not sure how much advancement we are going to get, and knowing the GM and other players, I'm expecting that it will be mostly combat

Regarding drones and things, I originally had a control rig in the char, but one of the other players has expressed an interest in playing a rigger so I was trying to avoid too much overlap - my plan was that I would try and take over any enemy drones and then just either let them act autonomously or use Command while I was either doing Matrix actions or getting into the ground combat.  The autosofts I had selected were a spread of ones I expected I would probably find useful - they weren't all for the micro bug thing

[Maelstrom]

Thanks for the help - I know I'm probably asking a load of really dumb questions

Not at all; you're welcome.

This means I could add another two levels of Optimisation to the common programs (for Optimization 3 with Rating 6) which would let my Agents run the full power versions?

As I understand it, yes.

knowing the GM and other players, I'm expecting that it will be mostly combat

Have fun

[Tenh]

Quick question about the Stealth program - you have optimization stealth on there.

If I'm reading the description right, Optimization adds +1 to the DICE POOL with a particular program.  Stealth doesn't actually have a dice pool associated to it, it's just a target number (more or less).

That being the case, would optimization work with it??

Building a hacker myself, that's why I'm curious.