[Ajax]

I had assumed the "I am GOD!" was either the poster summarizing his GM's actual response and/or had been offered "tounge in cheek" by the GM. I agree whole heartedly that the only time the GM should be shouting Kneel before Zod! is during a particularly memorable sesion of Mutants & Masterminds. Clearly, I wasn't at the table and don't know exactly what happened.

However, he did say that the entire group is new to the system, he also said (and this, I beleive, is key) they all had fun. Sure, the GM made a bad call... I get that. I firmly beleive his players ought to bring it up with him before the next session and he should listen to their feedback.  Several years ago, I wrote my Batgirl's Gamemastering Tips for the M&M message board. I still stand by my ideas in that post, although I recognize the higher degree of "crunch" in SR4 makes it a little less applicable... but all GM's will make mistakes, that's life.

I would hate to see new players get turned off by a bad ruling from a GM, and I'd hate to see a new GM get turned off because of a bad reaction from his players.  Be polite, point out the error, and have another go next weekend.

[Noctem]

sounds like a plan Ajax   Next weekend we will be assaulting the base of the kidnappers of ork women.  We had our hacker get into their residential network without any problems.  So now I'll go by the back door infiltration style, get the hacker to turn off the lights inside and then go in with some surprise !  With this character darkness inside a house is a no-issue (elf, micro sensors, etc)  So I should be able to down at least one of the two, maybe even both in one full turn.  I have 3 IP's after all using a pistol and simple actions I can shoot twice per IP right ?  And each time I hit the target gets -1 to defending against my shots during the rest of the full turn ?  From your experience, how many stick n shock bullets does it take to bring down a human civilian ?  I have 22 dice + surprise + call shot as an example.  I can bring one down easy right ?  I just don't want to go in and get killed because i can't down the guy haha

[UmaroVI]

A good general policy: Call a shot for extra DV, shoot, and if they don't go down, shoot again. If they do, shoot someone else. Remember you get -2 for target-switching within an IP like that, so you want to call the first shot so as to spread out the to-hit penalties. You can theoretically down two people per pass, and it's pretty reasonable if they are really weak; one per pass is more typical. You should be able to drop 2 human civilians a pass, though.

It's actually that if someone gets attacked, they defend with 1 less die against the next attack. This only lasts until they act again, though; it's a relatively minor thing but good to know. If you hit someone with Stick-n-Shock and they don't go down, though, the electric damage gives them -2 to everything (and they also may have wound penalties) which is part of why it's so good.

[JustADude]

It's actually that if someone gets attacked, they defend with 1 less die against the next attack. This only lasts until they act again, though; it's a relatively minor thing but good to know. If you hit someone with Stick-n-Shock and they don't go down, though, the electric damage gives them -2 to everything (and they also may have wound penalties) which is part of why it's so good.

So, does the -2 stack if they manage to stay up through two or three of 'em?

[UmaroVI]

Nobody knows - there isn't a general rule about whether or not things stack with themselves and it doesn't say. Probably it stacks. It's not too relevant, since it's unlikely for people to actually take two hits and stay standing.

[JustADude]

Nobody knows - there isn't a general rule about whether or not things stack with themselves and it doesn't say. Probably it stacks. It's not too relevant, since it's unlikely for people to actually take two hits and stay standing.

Two words for you: "Possessed Troll."

Make that six words: "Possessed Troll With A Pain Editor"

[Noctem]

Ok so I have another question for you guys.  The GM now warned me that it would be easy for someone using a bio scanner to find my Suprathyroid Gland and Muscle Toner 4 bioware.  From the description of the "Ghost", that should not be easy.  Could anyone explain to me how it would be possible to find the bioware ?  He seems to be under the impression that it would be as simple as having a portable bioware scanner and just say "hey, you have some illegal stuff"...   help ?

Edit :  He's also saying that because of my extensive bioware / cyberware, that it's visible and that via a perception check it would be possible to see it ?

[All4BigGuns]

Ok so I have another question for you guys.  The GM now warned me that it would be easy for someone using a bio scanner to find my Suprathyroid Gland and Muscle Toner 4 bioware.  From the description of the "Ghost", that should not be easy.  Could anyone explain to me how it would be possible to find the bioware ?  He seems to be under the impression that it would be as simple as having a portable bioware scanner and just say "hey, you have some illegal stuff"...   help ?

Edit :  He's also saying that because of my extensive bioware / cyberware, that it's visible and that via a perception check it would be possible to see it ?

I don't know your GM or your group, but it sounds to me like he's just looking for ways to screw with you. To my knowledge, bioware is rather difficult to detect. As to the 'bio scanner', I wonder where he's seeing this. I know the cyberware scanner is listed for purchase in the core book, but it specifically says it detects cyber and say nothing about detecting bio, and there is no 'bioware scanner' listed.

[Noctem]

that is the impression that I got as well.  I think i'm going to have to have a serious talk with him about what the problem is really about.  He keeps trying to paint the character in a negative light or trying to create problems that don't actually exist..  But anyway if someone has any idea what he's talking about I would appreciate it if you could explain it to me..

[All4BigGuns]

that is the impression that I got as well.  I think i'm going to have to have a serious talk with him about what the problem is really about.  He keeps trying to paint the character in a negative light or trying to create problems that don't actually exist..  But anyway if someone has any idea what he's talking about I would appreciate it if you could explain it to me..

From the comments you've gotten on this character so far, I shudder to think what he'd say about the adept I recently posted up...

[Noctem]

oh that's easy, he's banned magic using characters as a whole.  No adept's allowed

[All4BigGuns]

oh that's easy, he's banned magic using characters as a whole.  No adept's allowed

Yeah, I think I remember you saying that, but I was more talking the likely scandalized look at seeing a monster that punches at 12P and -3 AP

[Noctem]

hm, you know that gives me an idea that I could always give him examples of more powerful builds that eclipse the one I am using just to point out to him that I am playing something I enjoy and not something that's overpowered.  sigh, i just want to play you know ?  Why all the drama -_-

[Ajax]

A good general policy: Call a shot for extra DV, shoot, and if they don't go down, shoot again. If they do, shoot someone else. Remember you get -2 for target-switching within an IP like that, so you want to call the first shot so as to spread out the to-hit penalties.

This isn't a bad plan of action; but I prefer to go with a more traditional Mozambique Drill.  In my first Initiative Pass, I will fire a SA pistol twice, without calling the shot. If the target is still in the fight, he gets a Take Aim + Called Shot for Extra DV. I do prefer your method with anything other than a pistol.

[Noctem]

i appreciate all techniques that you guys can give that are proven to be effective.  Both Umaro's and Ajax's examples are rock solid for me to put to practice during sessions.  If anyone can think of any other strategies / plans of actions then for sure hook me up !!! haha!