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How viable is this build? SR5 Dwarf Adept

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8-bit

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« on: <12-03-14/2229:59> »
-- Priorities --
Metatype C (Dwarf)
Attributes A
Magic B
Skills D
Resources E

-- Karma Expenditure --
50 Total
-14 in Qualities
-10 for 20,000 nuyen
-10 for Charisma 2
-5 for Athletics 1
-2 for Sneaking 1
-9 for Contacts

0 Left

-- Attributes --
Body 7
Agility 5
Reaction 4
Strength 7
Willpower 7
Logic 1
Intuition 5
Charisma 2
Edge 2
Essence 6
Magic 6

Initiative - 9 + 1d6
Initiative w/ Kamikaze - 9 + 3d6
Physical Condition Monitor - 18
Stun Condition Monitor - 18
Overflow Boxes - 10
Physical Limit - 9
Mental Limit - 5
Social Limit - 6

-- Qualities --
Mentor Spirit - Eagle (-5 Karma)
Will to Live 3 (-9 Karma)
Allergy - Pollutants, Mild (Mentor Spirit)
Combat Junkie (+7 Karma)
Social Stress (+8 Karma)
Distinctive Style (+5 Karma)
Incompetent - Acting (+5 Karma)

-- Skills --
Blades 6 (+2 Swords) - dice pool of 11 (13)
Etiquette 6 - dice pool of 8
Perception 6 - dice pool of 13
Sneaking 1 - dice pool of 6
Throwing Weapons (+2 Blades) - dice pool of 11 (13)

-- Knowledge/Language Skills --
TBD - 12 points

-- Adept Powers --
Combat Sense 1 - Free from Mentor Spirit
Supernatural Toughness 6 - 6 Power Points

-- Gear --
Armor Jacket w/ Nonconductivity 6, Chemical Protection 6 - 4,000 nuyen
Custom Ballistic Mask w/ Biomonitor, Trodes, Micro-transceiver, Vision Magnification, Gas Mask, Flare Compensation - 1,470 nuyen
Katana - 1,000 nuyen
50 Shuriken - 1,250 nuyen
Rating 6 Medkit - 1,500 nuyen
3 Renraku Sensei Commlinks - 3,000 nuyen
AR Gloves - 150 nuyen
5 doses of Kamikaze - 500 nuyen
Survival Kit - 200 nuyen
Capactiy 1 Contacts w/ Image Link - 225 nuyen
5 Silver Credsticks - 100 nuyen
Rating 3 Fake SIN w/ Rating 3 Fake License (Katana), Rating 3 Fake License (Shuriken), Rating 3 Fake License (Registered Adept) - 9,300 nuyen
1 Month of Low Lifestyle - 2,400 nuyen

Remaining Money - 905 + (3d6 x 60) nuyen

-- Contacts --
Fixer - Connection 4, Loyalty 3
Street Doc - Connection 2, Loyalty 3



The idea was to have someone with a lot of condition monitor boxes. I think I succeeded in that. The real question is, will he be able to survive with no other Adept powers and such a low Initiative (it pains me to not have Improved Reflexes 3)? I feel like he would survive, and he's certainly not amazing, in fact, he'll probably get outscaled in combat really quickly. Still, I think it's a somewhat unique build that could be fun.

firebug

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« Reply #1 on: <12-03-14/2242:41> »
With Kamikaze, his initiative is decent, though with only blades as his combat option, his AGI and relatively low dice pool could hurt.  They're not low, but if that's all he's doing they would need to be really good to make up for the lack of flexibility.

His attributes are decent, but with "only" 14 armor, he'll take too much damage.  21 dice is an average of 7 hits, but that's with no AP, and a lot of things can do at least that much base.  It's good if you're a secondary combatant, who can be behind cover and stay near the back and sides, but as a primary combatant and a melee specialist, you'll get focused down too easily.  Keep in mind that any character can have 14 armor, too.  Even the wimpiest computer nerd can wear a helmet and armor jacket with no penalties.

So I would say that as-is, the character would struggle to contribute enough in combat and end up going down against any real force.

However, if you did something relatively small, it'd be a surprising increase in his survivability.  Switch to pistols, and pick up a riot shield.

You have 6 more armor available before you take encumbrance penalties.  With a pistol, you can fire with one hand and have a shield, and also make use of cover.  This would bump your average damage soaked to 9 and make it harder to hit you, resulting in less net hits.  It doesn't sound like much, but that's a significant boost in survivability.  You could go sword and shield if you wanted to, but it would be less effective.  Ideally you'd have both-- Probably by ditching the Etiquette skill.
I'm Madpath Moth on reddit (and other sites).  Feel free to PM me errata questions!
Jeeze.  It would almost sound stupid until you realize we're talking about an immortal elf clown sword fighting a dragon ghost in a mall.

8-bit

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« Reply #2 on: <12-03-14/2250:11> »
Those are all good points.

My main problem with the shield and pistols is the cost. I'm already going in with fairly minimal gear. I just don't know if I can afford the nuyen. Plus, the riot shield seems sort of ... obvious to me. And unrealistic to wield a sword with (although I suppose it's possible). I can definitely see where you're going though, and those are good suggestions. I'm just not quite sure how to fit those in.

Tarislar

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« Reply #3 on: <12-03-14/2258:45> »
Those are all good points.

My main problem with the shield and pistols is the cost. I'm already going in with fairly minimal gear. I just don't know if I can afford the nuyen. Plus, the riot shield seems sort of ... obvious to me. And unrealistic to wield a sword with (although I suppose it's possible). I can definitely see where you're going though, and those are good suggestions. I'm just not quite sure how to fit those in.

Curious.... Why is Sword & Shield unrealistic.  I mean, its kind of traditional.
I don't think its any better/worse off than all the "Samurai's" carrying around Katanas or Trolls w/ Combat Axes.

I'm not at my books, what does Supernatural Toughness do?  I'm assuming something good if you dumped all 6 points into it.

firebug

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« Reply #4 on: <12-03-14/2301:25> »
That is a bit of a problem.  This character needs better gear to make up for his lack of versatility in skills and powers, but he's also not got a lot of cash.  Oh, I'd also suggest upgrading the armor jacket with gel packs, because you have such a high physical limit that the penalty they give won't be a noticable impact.

I'd say you can replace the shuriken (and their license) with a pistol and some ammo.  It honestly could end up cheaper.  I'd then remove one of the commlinks (no reason to need to start with more than one extra) and get rid of the med kit.  Imagine the character isn't going solo (he really couldn't anyways), there will be someone more qualified to use one or possibly with the heal skill.

That's enough for the riot shield if you want it.  I do agree that it's not terribly subtle, but neither is a dwarf with a sword (that is likely the size of him, just with a different handle).

To Tarsilar:
Sword and shield is traditional, but a riot shield it bigger than most fantasy shields are shown to be, so I could imagine the confusion.  Though actual large shields were at least as big, so it'd probably be fine.

And Supernatural Toughness is +1 Physical and Stun Condition Box per level.  It's rather costly at one point per level.  That's why this dwarf has a massive 18 boxes for both.
« Last Edit: <12-03-14/2303:55> by firebug »
I'm Madpath Moth on reddit (and other sites).  Feel free to PM me errata questions!
Jeeze.  It would almost sound stupid until you realize we're talking about an immortal elf clown sword fighting a dragon ghost in a mall.

8-bit

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« Reply #5 on: <12-03-14/2315:18> »
@Tarislar

Well, it is traditional, but a Riot Shield is a gigantic, incredibly noticeable thing. That also happens to cover a huge portion of your body, even more so if you are a Dwarf. Still, you have a point.

Supernatural Toughness, as firebug said, adds 1 box to both Condition Monitors per level of the power. It costs 1 Power Point per level. It is by no means worth it, and I understand that it would be better to replace it. It's just a concept to tinker around with; it may not end up being playable.

@firebug

Yeah, by no means is this guy very well min/maxed. I just thought it would be fun walking around with 18 boxes on both Condition Monitors.

I would drop the Shurken and their license for the Pistol and Ammo, but the thing is, it still costs stuff for the ammunition and any weapon mods (plus a license for ammo). It's still a good idea, just haven't worked the math yet.

As for dropping a commlink, that's fine. The medkit, well, I suppose I could. It's just a standard thing I run on my characters.

Dwarf with a Katana is only slightly more subtle than a Dwarf with a Riot Shield; I suppose I should go big or go home  ;D

Rift_0f_Bladz

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« Reply #6 on: <12-04-14/0213:12> »
Riot shields are about the same size as a tower shield, which was commonly used with a spear or short sword. Modern riot shield users carry and use riot sticks with them (and effectively too). While a two handed style sword would work with a shield a machete sized blade would. But, 6 point dumped into hit boxes and that low of armor and dodge pool, all you will have is penalties. Also, dice pool of 13 is to low for primary offensive skill, especially melee that can't cut defense pools as well as burst/automatic firearms (at best -4 with troll with a pool arm).
Quote- Mirikon on 7/30/2019 at 08:26:51
Agreed. This looks like a 'training wheels' edition, that you can use to introduce someone to the setting, and then shift over to something like 5E or 4E. Like how D&D 5E is best used as training wheels for D&D 3.X.

Turned in Toxshaman for ¥1 million/4 once.

firebug

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« Reply #7 on: <12-04-14/0215:14> »
Since you don't have anything with a smartlink, and won't really need it, getting something like a Browning Ultra-Power (640¥) would be a solid choice.  Since you were okay with having no stun-damage options before, I'd just get three clips (30 bullets) of APDS for another 360¥.  That's a pretty solid damaging choice.  Your sword would still do more, but it'd give you a long range option to use with the shield.  You could also go with the Ruger Super Warhawk, which is cheaper and does more damage with 1 more AP, but as a revolver has a smaller "clip" and that could get in the way.

You don't need any other gun mods.  Your STR will provide some recoil compensation too, though recoil is completely ignorable.
I'm Madpath Moth on reddit (and other sites).  Feel free to PM me errata questions!
Jeeze.  It would almost sound stupid until you realize we're talking about an immortal elf clown sword fighting a dragon ghost in a mall.

ZeldaBravo

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« Reply #8 on: <12-04-14/0432:25> »
Ruger Super Warhawk is also a SS weapon so it lacks some firing options. Keep that in mind too.
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Rift_0f_Bladz

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« Reply #9 on: <12-04-14/1408:59> »
But it ignores all recoil (especially if you use pre-errata recoil rules). But without an awesome dice pool, I can greatly see the value in firing modes.
Quote- Mirikon on 7/30/2019 at 08:26:51
Agreed. This looks like a 'training wheels' edition, that you can use to introduce someone to the setting, and then shift over to something like 5E or 4E. Like how D&D 5E is best used as training wheels for D&D 3.X.

Turned in Toxshaman for ¥1 million/4 once.