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(SR4) suggestions please . . .

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cr4kp0t

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« on: <12-04-13/1815:52> »
Hello there chummers. I'm looking to create a new character for a potencial game. I've decided to try somechig a littledifferernt after some really fun experiances recently. So down to business ... I want to create a completly mundane i.e. no cyber at all and no magic. General theme is to be an occult investigator. So what sort  of skills should i be using etc and hints to help out are welcome (other than cruchiness the group is rp heavy and we like it that way) so what are your suggestions chummers?
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Darkstar

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« Reply #1 on: <12-07-13/0500:30> »
Without knowing which build system you're using, I can only really say general things.  It's difficult to build a really competitive 'completely mundane' character, but it's damn fun to try.  If you plan on keeping the build mundane forever (i.e. after he's survived a while) then it's even tougher cause you have to really think about future karma spending in CharGen cause you won't have the the luxury of fixing all your problems by just adding some ware (e.g. "just slap some muscle toner 3 on him") or initiating.  With that useless monologue out of the way, I guess it's really a question of what kind of investigator you want to be, so I may not be thinking what  you're thinking here.

As far as main attributes I would think Intuition & Willpower.  Intuition for the skills perception, shadowing, possibly tracking, and possibly assensing (see below). Willpower because, let's face it, the second that 'occult' thing you've been 'investigating' decides to make your soul a snack that's your main method of defense as a mundane.  If you're using a BP system, Logic might be a investment you have to make to get all the knowledge skills a good occult investigator would have (e.g. magical threats, conspiracy theories, parazoology, etc...).

If it doesn't break your concept, consider taking the astral sight quality (SM 24), this would enable your character to actually see if there are spirits in the area, otherwise your character could only just 'have a bad feeling' about a haunted house or something (reference: Every episode Ghost Hunters and Scooby Doo).  Astral sight quality gives you access to both the assensing and astral combat skills.  Other positive qualities to look into: magic resistance, analytical mind, perceptive, common sense, fame ("the famous ghost hunter"), & day job. Bad qualities that might be fun: cursed (if you take astral sight), bad luck, delusion, distinctive style ("the tin foil hat wards off wendigos"), phobia, paranoia, hallucinations, and will to die.

Useful skills: perception, stealth skill group, tracking, assensing, astral combat, data search

If you do go the astral sight route look into getting a weapon focus.  Get vision enhancers and audio enhancers of some sort with at least their respective enhancement mods at 3.  If you're using a gun, get ammo that can actually hurt magical things (e.g. ex-ex, stick-n-shock, silver bullets).  Decent commlink with a browse program. 

Anyhow that's just some thoughts, so hope you find a good build.  And if you're doing a BP build and you haven't already read emsquared's guide (http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=10206.0) do, it'll help you squeeze out some extra points.

Csjarrat

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« Reply #2 on: <12-07-13/0655:32> »
if you're going complete mundane, but on the occult theme, how about a "failed mage" maybe build someone with the astral perception trait (as darkstar suggested), like they nearly awakened but didnt quite make it through?
he could do assensing and would have a greater ability to be an occult investigator but still fits within the theme of being mundane and un-augmented.

you'd need to compensate for the lack of augs and magic through decent base stats and high skills. i'd focus in on a few key skills you want to be good at, darkstar mentions some good ones. essentially you're going to be needing to do a lot of digging, questioning people and getting to the bottom of things so a good amount of CHA will be needed and a few ranks in social skills.

darkstars points are all excellent, i just wanted to add that drones can be useful for a player of this type. for very little investment you can get a decent rating command program (rating six with a couple ranks of optimisation) and say 2 ranks of pilot aircraft skill and have a small fleet of recon drones to help shadow your targets, do surveillance and record record their misdemeanors as evidence against them.
god luck with it mate, have a crack at building one up and post him on here and we'll give you some more direct tips and tricks.
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cr4kp0t

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« Reply #3 on: <12-07-13/1635:56> »
here a first draft for you guys to have a look at:

[spoiler]== Info ==
Street Name:
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 10/25, Swim: 5
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human
Composure: 10
Judge Intentions: 9
Lift/Carry: 6 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 9
Nuyen: 0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 2
REA: 2
STR: 3
CHA: 5
INT: 4
LOG: 4
WIL: 5
EDG: 3

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                6
IP:                        1
Matrix Initiative:         5
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 3
Animal Training            : 0                      Pool: 3
Arcana                     : 4                      Pool: 8
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Armorer                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Assensing                  : 5                      Pool: 9
Automatics                 : 0                      Pool: 1
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 1
Chemistry                  : 3                      Pool: 7
Climbing                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 1
Computer                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Con                        : 3                      Pool: 8
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 3
Data Search                : 3                      Pool: 9
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 3
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Dodge                      : 0                      Pool: 1
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 1
Etiquette                  : 3                      Pool: 8
First Aid                  : 0                      Pool: 3
Flight                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 1
Hacking                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 1
Infiltration               : 0                      Pool: 1
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 4
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 4
Leadership                 : 3                      Pool: 8
Locksmith                  : 1                      Pool: 3
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 1
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 3
Negotiation                : 3                      Pool: 8
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 2
Perception                 : 5                      Pool: 9
Pilot Ground Craft         : 0                      Pool: 1
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 1
Pistols                    : 1                      Pool: 3
Riding                     : 0                      Pool: 1
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Shadowing                  : 4                      Pool: 8
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 1
Tracking                   : 4                      Pool: 8
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 1

== Knowledge Skills ==
Biology                    : 2                      Pool: 7
Chemistry                  : 2                      Pool: 7
English                    : N                      Pool: 0
Literature                 : 1                      Pool: 5
Magic Traditions           : 3                      Pool: 8
Magical Theory             : 4                      Pool: 9
Magical Threats            : 4                      Pool: 9
Parazoology                : 4                      Pool: 9
Shadow Community           : 2                      Pool: 6
Underworld                 : 2                      Pool: 6

== Contacts ==
Antiquity Dealer (1, 3)
Beat Cop (2, 2)
Forensic Pathologist (3, 4)
Local Fixer (3, 1)
Talismonger (2, 3)

== Qualities ==
Analytical Mind
College Education
Latent Awakening
Magic Resistance (Rating 4)
Prejudiced (Common, Biased) (Awakened)
Sensitive System

== Lifestyles ==
Low  1 months

== Armor ==
Mortimer of London: Berwick Suit Jacket (Ensemble)5/3
   +Natural Fiber

== Weapons ==
Colt Manhunter
   +Spare Clips
   +Laser Sight
   Pool: 4   DV: 5P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Defiance EX Shocker
   +Concealable Holster
   +Laser Sight
   Pool: 3   DV: 8S(e)   AP: -half   RC: 0
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 1   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Disposable Commlink (1, 2, 1, 3)
   +Disposable Commlink OS
Hermes Ikon (4, 3, 3, 3)
   +Iris Orb
   +FTL Matrixware Net Wizard [Analyze 3, Browse 3, Command 1, Edit 2, Purge 3]

== Gear ==
Ammo: Regular Ammo (Heavy Pistols) x30
Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) x20
Fake SIN Rating 4
   +Fake License (Lockpick Set) Rating 4
   +Fake License (Colt Manhunter) Rating 4
Forensic Thaumaturgy Kit
Forensic Tool Kit
   +Luminol
   +Fingerprint Dust
Forensic Tool Shop
Lockpick Set
Lucifer Lamp
   +Lucifer Lamp Bulb Rating 1
Metal Restraints x2
Plastic Restraints x10
PocketMage Library Rating 3
Polygraph Rating 1
Professional Camera
   +Macro Lens
   +Infrared Film (25 shots)
Quicksilver Camera
   +Quicksilver Camera, Manasensitive File Plate[/spoiler]
PbP Legend:
Narrative | Thought | Speech | Matrix | Astral

Csjarrat

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« Reply #4 on: <12-07-13/1902:00> »
as far as i'm aware latent awakening just means the gm decides when you become an awakened character. if he doesn't decide this for ages then you can't use half the skills you have invested in. the astral sight quality is much nicer as you start the game with that perk.
also, you have practically no skills in combat which is dangerous to say the least! realistically you want about 10 dice to be able to defend yourself well, ie: agi 4, pistols 2 (semi auto 4) + smartgun 2 for a pool of 10 with a standard heavy pistol. you can stick some specialist ammo like silver rounds or stick n shock in there to deal with magical beasties.
REA 2 is not that great. it forms your base dice pool for dodge rolls and initiative in combat as well. your char would need agi more than str so i'd drop str down and re-distribute that point. likewise with the extra point of edge. agi 3, rea 3 is more useful in sr4 as edge doesnt refresh unless the GM says so.
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