[JoeNapalm]

So, I built my street merc on the premise that he is the team's tank. His design has everything that he needs to make him tough as a coffin nail.

Titanium Bone Lace, Orthoskin 3, Toughness, BOD 5...all this making him the equivalent of BOD 9 vs damage. Which is impressive...for a Human.

Or, of course, he could just have been an unaugmented Ork for 20BP.

I'm not trying to munchkin him, but it's a 500BP campaign - we are supposed to be a fairly elite team of specialists. His character's specialty is taking hits so that the soft squishy team mates don't have to.

Seems like, other than oppressive discrimination and a heavily truncated life expectancy, it is a no brainer to drop the 20BP for a 60% boost in BOD and STR. Actually, as he already has some impulse control issues, I could even make him a Hobgoblin.

Anyway...not so much a question as I guess looking for feedback/constructive criticism. Seems silly to dedicate so much of his BP and Essence to being tough, if he's just going to stack up as average to an Ork Street Samurai...

Or am I over thinking this?

-Jn-
City of Brass Expartiate

[FastJack]

You're overthinking it.

Orks have the toughness, but the lose out on other abilities. So, he may be "just-as" tough as an Ork, but he's probably a good deal quicker than one too.

[JoeNapalm]

Quicker? He's Texas fast...maximum Augmented Human REA.

(His Essence is a bit on the low side  )

But...Orks are just as fast as Humans, aren't they?

Or did you mean mentally? 

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[baronspam]

There is no doubt that ork is a bargain at 20 BP.  The advantage to human is that there is no meta cost and the extra point of essence.  That frees up build points for more skills or more contacts.  From a purely metagame perspective humans are great if your character concept is skill heavy, or if you need decent stats in more than one area.  But if your goal is to focus on a tank character then ork or even troll is the way to go.  You will end up with a more focused character, but the higher body helps.

Also, you took the classic of a skin mod+ a bone mod, which is a good start for a tank.  Can you find enough build points for a heavily armored cyberlimb?  This can be a big investment, as it can take a restricted gear quality or two, but customized cyberarm to match you stats and then using the capacity for 4 extra points of armor that don't count toward encumbrance is a great way to run up your defense totals.

[JoeNapalm]

He is fairly skill heavy, but it would almost be an even trade for him to drop two points of Atheletics Skill Group and gain two points of STR...in effect, he'd pick up the Metatype for free (losing some dice in Gymnastics, but TANSTAFL).

The Cyberarm is a great idea, in terms of stackable armor, but I wouldn't want to give up his Move- by-Wire to scrounge the Essence.

RP wise, I would likely go Hobgoblin. His current backstory is a Human of Russian descent who has Self-Control issuses after some very bad combat tours with the UCAS military. Hobs are typically Central Asian, and are Vindictive. I lose 10BP from taking a big Negative Quality for "free", but it opens the Metagenic Qualities...I could trade Guts for Bad Vibe (he wants to draw fire...being scary is a good way to do so).

[baronspam]

He is fairly skill heavy, but it would almost be an even trade for him to drop two points of Atheletics Skill Group and gain two points of STR...in effect, he'd pick up the Metatype for free (losing some dice in Gymnastics, but TANSTAFL).

The Cyberarm is a great idea, in terms of stackable armor, but I wouldn't want to give up his Move- by-Wire to scrounge the Essence.

RP wise, I would likely go Hobgoblin. His current backstory is a Human of Russian descent who has Self-Control issuses after some very bad combat tours with the UCAS military. Hobs are typically Central Asian, and are Vindictive. I lose 10BP from taking a big Negative Quality for "free", but it opens the Metagenic Qualities...I could trade Guts for Bad Vibe (he wants to draw fire...being scary is a good way to do so).

The fact that you have move by wire I think indicates that you are building more of a combat generalist than a pure tank.  Those that go all in on tank often have trouble finding more than one extra initiative pass, usually via level 1 wired reflexes, when all is said and done.  That is not a criticism, just an observation.

Do you have dodge or are you relying on gymnastics for your dodge?  That is something to consider before sacking the Athletics skill group.

[John Shull]

You may be overthinking it.  You have a really good human street sam who is orc tough to boot.  You like the character but saw their was a points shortcut that fundamentally changes the character for some math releif.  Don't get seduced by the dark side.  Enjoy your math imperfect character.  Maybe if you ever have someone else join in your game they can play a Hobgoblin thumper of a sort and team up with you as the toughest human they know.  Once you like the essence of the character your home, enjoy.

[Kontact]

Orks make better front line combatants than humans.  It's a fact, and a perfect reason for any team to hire on an ork as a front line combatant.

[John Shull]

Orks make better front line combatants than humans.  It's a fact, and a perfect reason for any team to hire on an ork as a front line combatant.

Orc are fine, trolls are great, and dwarves have some advantages.  If the player likes his character, play the character.  Don't change it up to appease the calculator.  If his character decides to hire back up in game then he can adjust his bias accordingly as cold hard math is want to make any in Shadowruns your betting your life scenarios.  You don't have to be a cliche to be effective or fun.  I am not an advocate for anything but playing what you want to play, even if it is a stupid human.

[Tsuzua]

While orks do get a lot for very little, you can still make human work.  If you can leverage the +1 edge of a human to have an edge of at least 6, you don't have to cry yourself to sleep (as much).  Edge is really handy for a tank since your soak pools are so large.  Also edge is just generically useful.

[JoeNapalm]

All good points. Thanks.

I am still mulling it over, but I appreciate the feedback. Talking it over with the group, and I won't make the decision just on the numbers (I applaud your reminder of that, Mr. Shull).

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[John Shull]

Thanks for the thanks.  Everyone on the board are good gamers and are happy to help when they can. Hope you do to in the future.  Enjoy your character and have a good game with your crew.