[Twitchy D]

Hey. Nice to meet you folks. I'm trying to get out of a three year dry spell from being unable to play tabletop games, and I figured I might as well try getting out of it with Shadowrun. So, thus, here I am! Pleasure to talk to you folks!

(intimidating silence)

...I'll try not to bother you folks too much...

Anyways, I'm trying to figure out character creation, and I think I've got a basic hand on it, but I'm not quite sure. I'm working up a Getaway Driver sort of character, using http://shadowrun.nerps.net/ I've been working on it for a while now, and I'd like to get some feedback, criticism, reccomendations, ect.

So without any further ado...

Conrad Seidel
Male 32 year old Human
Getaway Driver/Gun-for-Hire
210 lb, 5’ 11”

-----Attributes----- BP -190
Body      3
Agility      5
Reaction      4 (+2)
Strength      2 (+1)
Charisma      3
Intuition      5
Logic      3
Willpower      2
Edge      3

-----Calculated Stats-----
Initiative      11
Astral Init      10
Virtual Init      13
Condition (Stun)   9
Condition (Phys)   10

-----Derivate Stats-----
Composure   5
Judge Intentions   8
Lifting & Carrying   5
Memory      5

-----Qualities----- BP +15
<Positive>
Cyberware Compatibility         +10
Genetic Heritage            +10

>Negative<
Day Job (1000/10 hour)   Combat Cab Driver   -5
Allergy (common/moderate) Nuts-Hives      -15
Addiction (mild) Alcohol         -5
Enemy 1 (Former squad captain)                         -5
SINner, Standard            -5

-----Skills-----   BP -164
Skill Groups   BP -20
_________________________________
Cracking      2      5

Skills      BP -144
_________________________________
COMBAT   BP -28
Automatics      3   SMG      8 (10)
Dodge      2         6
Longarms      4   Shotguns                      9 (11)
Pistols      4         8

SOCIAL      BP -20
Con      2   Seduction   5 (7)
Negotiation      2   Bargaining   5 (7)

VEHICLE   BP -40
Gunnery      2         7
Pilot Aircraft   3         8
Pilot Groundcraft   5         10

PHYSICAL   BP -12
Navigation      1         5
Perception      2         6

TECHNICAL   BP -16
Automotive Mechanic   2         5
Computer      2         5
Cybercombat   2         5
Electronic Warfare   2         5
Hacking      2         5

KNOWLEDGE   BP 0
Street Drugs   3
UCAS Military   4
Border Patrol   3   Tactics      +1
Criminal Outfits   3   Smuggling Rings+1
Gambling      3   Card Games   +1

LANGUAGE
German      4
English      6   Military Jargon   +1

-----Contacts----- BP -11
6 Free BP                  Connection   Loyalty
Vory Smuggler (Mr. Grey)         6      3
UCAS Army Supply Sergeant (Stephen Lacoski)   3      5

Lifestyle: Low for 1 month = 2,000

-----Wealth/Gear----- BP -50
Cash:   1,290


Gear:
~~~~~SINs~~~~~
Conrad Seidel:   Former UCAS Army Specialist, Light Armor. Combat Cab Driver   Real SIN!
Samuel Dunn:   UCAS Citizen, Mechanic, Former UCAS Army Private 1st class.   Level 5
Eddie Callameno:   UCAS Citizen, unemployed.            Level 3

~~~~~Licenses~~~~~
Samuel Dunn       Ruger Thunderbolt                  Level 6
Samuel Dunn      Franchi SPAS-22                  Level 6
Samuel Dunn      Concealed Carry                  Level 6

~~~~~Melee~~~~~
Survival Knife
Ceramic Knife

~~~~~Firearms~~~~~
Ruger Thunderbolt w/Smartgun +Silencer. 12 clip
Colt Cobra TZ-118 w/Smartgun +Suppressor. 32 clip
Franchi SPAS-22 w/ Smartgun + Laser sight. 20 clip
Taurus Multi-6. 6 shot
Defiance EX Shocker. 4 shot

~~~~~Ammo~~~~~
Pistol: Ruger Thunderbolt.      120 regular, 60 SnS, 36 EXex.
SMG: Colt Cobra TZ-118.      320 regular, 160 EXex
Franchi SPAS-22.         50 flechette
Taurus Multi-6         30 regular
Defiance EX Shocker         12 tazer

~~~~~Commlink~~~~~
Transys Avalon with Novatech Navi   Response 4, Signal 4, Firewall 3, System 4
Cusomization         Response 4, Signal 4, Firewall 4, System 4
Total            Response 8, Signal 8, Firewall 7, System 8

~~~~~Software~~~~~
-Legal Use-
•   Analyze         6
•   Browse         8
•   Command         5
•   Edit         8
•   Encrypt         7
•   Reality Filter      5
•   Scan         7

-Hacking-
•   Armor         4
•   Attack         4
•   Biofeedback Filter      5
•   Blackout         3
•   Decrypt         4
•   ECCM         4
•   Medic         4

-AutoSoft-
•   Clearsight         4
•   Defense         4
•   Electronic Warfare      3
•   Maneuver (Ground Craft)   3

~~~~~Vehicle~~~~~
Hyundai Shin-Hyung (14 Slots)
•   Turbo Charger
•   Motortuning (Speed)
•   Concealed Armor rating 5
•   Run-Flats
•   Morphing License Plate
•   Additional Fuel Tank
•   Manual Control Override (Drive-by-Wire)
•   Termination System (Enhanced w/Gamma Scopolamine)
•   Smuggling Compartment (Shielded, Airtight)
•   Rigger Adaptation
•   Chameleon Coating
•   Nitrous Injection
•   ECM

~~~~~Armor~~~~~
Industrious Line Coverall         Ballistic 5, Impact 4
Form-Fitting Body Armor Half-Body Suit      Ballistic 4, Impact 1
Industrious Line Hard Hat         Ballistic 1, Impact 2
Total               Ballistic 10, Impact 7

Extra Stuff
Gas Mask
100 Plastic Restraints
2 Plasteel Restraints
Chisel
3 Stimulant Patches (Rating 6)
Medkit (Rating 6)
Flashlight (on Hard Hat)
Kit (Mechanical)
Shop (Mechanical)
2 Stimulant Patches (Rating 4)
Biomonitor
Subvocal Microphone

~~~~~SkillSofts~~~~~
Data Search       3
Software                         3
~~~~~KnowSofts~~~~~
Spanish         4
Russian         4

===Cyber===
Cyberears LEVEL 4 [16 Capacity]
•   +Audio Enhancer (Rating 2) [-2]
•   +Damper [-1]
•   +Increased Sensitivity [-1]

Cybereyes LEVEL 4 [16 Capacity]
•   +Low-Light Vision [-2]
•   +Smartlink [-3]
•   +Flare Compensation [-1]
•   +Eye Laser System [-3]
•       +Eye Laser Microphone(Rating 2) [-0]

Modular Cyberarm, Obvious Lower
•   + Armor +3 [-6]
•   +Scanner System [-2]
•   +Cyber Safety [-1]
•   Jackhammer Plug-In



Headware
•   Datajack
•   Control Rig
•   Orientation System
•   SimRig (Cold Only)

Bodyware
•   Reaction Enhancer (Rating 2)
•   Touch Link
•   Skillwires (Rating 3)

Biotech
•   Muscle Augmentation I
 
Genetech
•   Reakt

So, how did I do?

[Jackleg Rooster]

I did a build similarish to this, strangly also named conrad,i don't have the ability to link it on this old phone but should be searchable under the title 'wheelman/sam with a dash of face'. the best thing i learned is that its super easy to get a beefy command program for excellent driving dice pool. optimization command and codeslinger command device. that sorta thing. worth looking into

[Scarecrow71]

My quick 2 creeds, seeing as I only have a couple of minutes:


1.  Drop the cyberears and get earbuds instead.  It's cheaper.
2.  Drop the cybereyes and get glasses/contacts instead.  Again, it's going to be cheaper in the long run.
3.  Now that you've saved yourself some essence...if you are going to have a cyberlimb and at least partially be in the matrix at times (you have the control rig), get a nano hive and some neocortical neural amplifiers.
4.  Datajacks are almost pointless.


Again, that's the quick 2 creds.

[rasmusnicolaj]

I agree with scare-Crow and
Your attributes are kind of average. You should probably get Willpower 3 for an extra condition box and softcap Reaction as that is your driving linked attribute.
Drop specializations from the start. They are really cheap to buy with karma.
You are most efficient int your BP distribution with one skill a 6, your important ones at 4, and the ones you can’t live without (in example skills you can’t default to) at 1.
I’m not sure Cracking is a good choice for you. It is 20 BP for being a mediocre hacker. I don’t think it is worth it. Just get Electronic Warfare.
Get Automatics or Pistols or Longarms at 4 and drop the other 2 – you don’t need to spend 44 BP on 3 different ways to shoot people – just be good at one. Drop Dodge – Dodge isn’t that good a skill. Con and Negotiation should just be one or get the whole group. Gunnery either 1 or 4. The same with Pilot Aircraft. Pilot Groundcraft should be 6. Perception 1. Your mechanical skills should be one (you will never be a wiz mechanic with 3 Logic anyway). I don’t really think you need Computer at all.
Your Commlink isn’t legal. You can at most raise an Commlink Attribute by 2.
Your allowed starting ratings is maximum 6.
I would personally drop the cybereyes and cyberears. They are expensive and cost essence. You can get almost the same sensory package in normal wearable gear for a lot less.
The armor in your cyberarm is over the allowed starting availability.
Muscle Augmentation 1 isn’t worth it. You don’t need strength and rating one is a case of either you don’t or you do it to the limit. If you wan’t to save BP it is cheaper to get rating 2 and lower your starting Strength to 1.
I would try and get some ware that gives more than 1 IP.
If you wanna go the technical route you could get cerebral boosters and genetech to boost your Logic.
Rasmus

[Twitchy D]

Hey, I'm back! Lets see here...

1.  Drop the cyberears and get earbuds instead.  It's cheaper.
2.  Drop the cybereyes and get glasses/contacts instead.  Again, it's going to be cheaper in the long run.
3.  Now that you've saved yourself some essence...if you are going to have a cyberlimb and at least partially be in the matrix at times (you have the control rig), get a nano hive and some neocortical neural amplifiers.
4.  Datajacks are almost pointless.


Again, that's the quick 2 creds.

1. Alright, then. Removing the cyberears makes sense. They seemed a bit much, anyway.

2. I'm still going to keep the cybereyes. My idea behind that story wise is that it would be required surgery for the military, and he couldn't opt out. For gameplay, I figured that the Low-Light and the Flare Comp would be useful. I am getting rid of the Eye Laser System; that seems to be
alot less useful then I thought.

3. Truth be told... I kinda took a bit from the smuggler premade. The more I went over it, the less the character made sense. Honestly, what I want to do is less computer hacking, more high speed excaping.

4. Got it.

[Twitchy D]

I agree with scare-Crow and
Your attributes are kind of average. You should probably get Willpower 3 for an extra condition box and softcap Reaction as that is your driving linked attribute.
Drop specializations from the start. They are really cheap to buy with karma.
You are most efficient int your BP distribution with one skill a 6, your important ones at 4, and the ones you can’t live without (in example skills you can’t default to) at 1.
I’m not sure Cracking is a good choice for you. It is 20 BP for being a mediocre hacker. I don’t think it is worth it. Just get Electronic Warfare.
Get Automatics or Pistols or Longarms at 4 and drop the other 2 – you don’t need to spend 44 BP on 3 different ways to shoot people – just be good at one. Drop Dodge – Dodge isn’t that good a skill. Con and Negotiation should just be one or get the whole group. Gunnery either 1 or 4. The same with Pilot Aircraft. Pilot Groundcraft should be 6. Perception 1. Your mechanical skills should be one (you will never be a wiz mechanic with 3 Logic anyway). I don’t really think you need Computer at all.
Your Commlink isn’t legal. You can at most raise an Commlink Attribute by 2.
Your allowed starting ratings is maximum 6.
I would personally drop the cybereyes and cyberears. They are expensive and cost essence. You can get almost the same sensory package in normal wearable gear for a lot less.
The armor in your cyberarm is over the allowed starting availability.
Muscle Augmentation 1 isn’t worth it. You don’t need strength and rating one is a case of either you don’t or you do it to the limit. If you wan’t to save BP it is cheaper to get rating 2 and lower your starting Strength to 1.
I would try and get some ware that gives more than 1 IP.
If you wanna go the technical route you could get cerebral boosters and genetech to boost your Logic.
Rasmus

H'okay, then...

What IS the legal maximum for cyberlimb armor?
And since I don't really want to go the technical route, what would you reccomend I do? Do I even NEED this software, then?

Pardon the slow response time. Just recalculating.

[Scarecrow71]

I just went to the site you posted, and I'd have to download the program you used to verify stuff, but I'm going to recommend that if you are using an application for character creation you should really use Chummer, which is a fantastic and useful character creator for 4th edition.

[Twitchy D]

Downloaded Chummer before using the site I posted. I tried, but I couldn't get it up and running. More specificly, it brings up an error screen stating "Could not load default language file!"

[Operator]

What IS the legal maximum for cyberlimb armor?

Starting characters may only purchase gear up to Availability 12*. The legal maximum is rating 2, as its Availability is Rating x 5.

* - The positive quality Restricted Gear allows a character to purchase one item per 5 BP invested in the quality beyond Availability 12, up to a maximum of 20.

[rasmusnicolaj]

The archtypes in the book are less than optimized. Try and look on Umaro's archtypes (one of the two sticky threads above this one).

If you don't wan't to be a techie then drop the skills etc. for it. If you have a low dicepool for something it is probably better not to get it at all and use the saved points for your specialized areas.
So deside if you wan't to be good at driving in the flesh, via your mind or with Command program.
And find a secondary thing you can do. If you only if the driver guy you will not be that useful on a team. Supplementing with drones are a good way to go, but rigging and hacking tend to go well together.
If you keep the eyes then stuff them full of stuff. If you have them then they should be as good as possible. Low-Light, Thermographic. Flare Compensation, Magnification, Vision Enhancement and what have you :-)

Rasmus

[Ethan]

Downloaded Chummer before using the site I posted. I tried, but I couldn't get it up and running. More specificly, it brings up an error screen stating "Could not load default language file!"

According to Nebular, the dev of Chummer:

"There are two ways you can fix it. One is to download the entire zip file with all of its updated content (http://www.dndjunkie.com/dev/chummer/Chummer.zip) and replace everything with the contents of the zip. The other is to download the English language file (http://www.dndjunkie.com/dev/chummer/lang/en-us.xml) and place it in your Chummer\lang directory. The application made the move to supporting multiple languages a while back so I had to move all of the language information into an external file."

Chummer's great.

A summary of your intent and goals would be nice to have. Some of us may suggest something that runs counter to your concept.

[Twitchy D]

If that's the case, I'll see how well I can work him for drones. I'll need some backup firepower, eventually.

[A summary of your intent and goals would be nice to have. Some of us may suggest something that runs counter to your concept.

Ah, sorry. The point of Conrad...
He's intended to be a wheelman sort of character. Drop off the Bank Robbers in front of the bank, drive around the place looking like Johnny L.Taxpayer to avoid suspicion, drive screaming up the bank stairs five minutes later to pick up the guys, and outrun the Police with supierior driving skills by, I don't know, driving into a subway tunnel? Just remember the car chase scene from The French Connection, or the Bourne series if your feeling modern. That's kind of what I thought of when I came up with him. Plus, with corp extraterratoriality being commonplace, driving into and out of corpzones should be pretty fun, 'specially when Lone Star or Knight Errant has to backpedal to avoid driving into Aztechnology Terratory.

[Twitchy D]

Chummer's still being a finicky little SOB... Still trying though.

[UmaroVI]

So, aside from pimping my signature, some general points:

1) A guy who is purely a manual wheelman is not a thing in Shadowrun. There are two reasons for this:
a) Being just a driver, and nothing else, is not a sufficient role. You will have nothing to do a large amount of the time.
b) Manual driving is what you do because you are a street samurai or adept or something with a huge Reaction, and you can thus be a pretty good manual driver "for free." But you can never really compete with a rigger.

I'd start by thinking about what you want to actually spend time doing during shadowruns. You could easily go in a couple directions:
-The guy who does getaway driving as part of his main job in SR is a rigger. You easily be a rigger.
-Someone who is a good manual driver and also good at other things is a thing. One of those other things should be physical combat. You can easily make a street samurai or combat adept who can drive well. You can, with some work, stretch to street samurai/face/driver.

[Twitchy D]

Yeah, I think I'm headed towards a rigger. I'm already replacing the smuggling compartment, ECM and the termination system with a pair of small drone racks. Also making the concealed armor, um, not concealed. My excuse with that is, "Hey, I drive a Combat Cab, I'm not driving tourists into Beverly Hills, now, am I?"

Working over a pair of MCT RotoDrones right now. Any others you guys recommend?