[jonathanc]

Inspired by a recent watching of Breaking Bad, I'm wondering how other people might go about building a character in the vein of Walter White, a brilliant chemist turned suburban schlub turned increasingly vicious druglord.

This isn't so much about statting Walt specifically (his physical stats are abysmal, and he has no mods; he has a mastery of chemistry) as thinking about what the stats of a middle-aged suburbanite thrust into shadowrunning might look like. How would it happen?

- A brilliant corporate programmer finds himself suddenly in need of money, or simply can't take the soul-draining corporate grind anymore, and starts applying his cutting-edge expertise as a hacker?

- A wimpy, put-upon family man awakens late in life?

Any more ideas? I'm thinking about cooking up some stats for these guys. Could be an interesting NPC, or perhaps an extra PC sheet to keep around for wandering players who want to jump into the game.

[CanRay]

*Cough*

[jonathanc]

Ah, that's the spirit! I'll try to work up stats for one of my concepts at lunch today.

[CanRay]

I actually can't role play him, I'm far too emotional.  The guy is damned cold.  Doesn't take interrogation well (Low Willpower), but in all other situations, he's more like a machine than a man.  But he can fake being emotional very well.

I describe him as the world's scariest Money Launderer.  And, yes, "Heisenberg" was who I had as an idea when I created him.  Along with a few other people (Including "D-FENCE", the Protagonist from Falling Down.).

[Digital_Viking]

Heisenberg? I'm uncertain about this

[jonathanc]

No, not that Heisenberg; This Heisenberg. Or this one, if you prefer.

[CanRay]

The second example defines the character that much better.

He only gets meaner from here on out.

[jonathanc]

He's almost super-heroic in the second example; sticking up for his business partner. The first example is just him scaring the crap out of his wife by showing her what he's turning into.

[CanRay]

He's almost super-heroic in the second example; sticking up for his business partner. The first example is just him scaring the crap out of his wife by showing her what he's turning into.

More like Anti-Heroic.

And the name of the show is "Breaking Bad", what did you think he was turning into?  A boy scout?

[jonathanc]

He's almost super-heroic in the second example; sticking up for his business partner. The first example is just him scaring the crap out of his wife by showing her what he's turning into.

More like Anti-Heroic.

And the name of the show is "Breaking Bad", what did you think he was turning into?  A boy scout?

I think you're missing my point. I didn't think he was going to end up as anything but a criminal. I just think that he seemse worse in the first clip than in the second clip, as his behavior is less justifiable. I mean really, who cares if he blows up a meth dealer's hideout?

I think the show makes a good compare/contrast with Weeds, which has a similar setup (bored suburbanite enters the drug trade, hijinks ensue), except with a female protagonist and a somewhat daffier sense of humor. Breaking Bad is clearly the better written of the two, of course. Weeds went off the rails after Season 2-3.

[Neurosis]

Inspired by a recent watching of Breaking Bad, I'm wondering how other people might go about building a character in the vein of Walter White, a brilliant chemist turned suburban schlub turned increasingly vicious druglord.

This isn't so much about statting Walt specifically (his physical stats are abysmal, and he has no mods; he has a mastery of chemistry) as thinking about what the stats of a middle-aged suburbanite thrust into shadowrunning might look like. How would it happen?

- A brilliant corporate programmer finds himself suddenly in need of money, or simply can't take the soul-draining corporate grind anymore, and starts applying his cutting-edge expertise as a hacker?

- A wimpy, put-upon family man awakens late in life?

Any more ideas? I'm thinking about cooking up some stats for these guys. Could be an interesting NPC, or perhaps an extra PC sheet to keep around for wandering players who want to jump into the game.

I'm not sure if it's a gramatically appropriate response to this, but OMG yes.

I will totally stat a Shadowrunified Walt if I can find the time.

Statting Gus or Mike would be even better. Mike is one of the most universally competent present-day Shadowrunners I have ever seen portrayed in fiction, whereas Gus...so amazing...poor Gus. : (

My girlfriend and I are huge fans of Breaking Bad (and need I say obviously Shadowrun) so the SR comparison has come up a LOT as we watch the show. Good to see someone else is thinking along the same lines.