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Silver Tongued snake

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fseperent

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« on: <05-09-16/1101:34> »
Here's the new Ares Seattle based Johnson.
How do I make him even more of a pain in the hoop for runners to deal with?
Currently 748/750.

Silver Tongue
METATYPE: NAGA
B 4, A 1, R 3, S 4, W 5, L 5, I 5, C 7, ESS 6, EDG 2, M 3
Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 11
Movement: x2/x4/+2
Armor: 8
Limits: Physical 5, Mental 7, Social 9
Physical Initiative: 8+1D6
Active Skills: Arcana 2, Close Combat Group 1, Computer 4, Con 2, Electronics Group 2, Etiquette 7, Influence Group 3, Intimidation 2, Negotiation 7, Perception 7, Pilot Ground Craft 1, Pistols 1, Stealth Group 1
Knowledge Skills: Administration 6, Ares 3, Ares 3, Corporate Johnsons 4, Corporate Politics 4, Economics 6, History 1, Law 4, Magical Theory 5, Philosophy 3, Psychology 8, Seattle 4, Shadow Community (Personalities +2) 6, Small Unit Tactics 3, UCAS 1
Languages: English N, Japanese N, Or'Zet 2, Spanish 3, Sperethiel 2
Metatype Abilities: Armor (+8), Dual Natured, Guard (3 characters), Venom
Qualities: Adept, Bilingual, Cold-Blooded, Day Job (2,500¥/month, 20 hrs/week), First Impression, Mentor Spirit: Snake, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (National SIN): UCAS
Adept Powers: Cool Resolve (3), Kinesics (2)
Vehicles:
   Dodge Xenon [Handling 3/2, Speed 4/3, Accel 2, Body 8, Armor 8, Pilot 2, Sensor 2, Seats 4]
      Gear:
         Amenities, High
         Armor, Concealed (2)
         Enhanced Image Screens
         Gridlink
         Interior Cameras
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
         Metahuman Adjustment: Naga
         Rigger Cocoon
         Rigger Interface
         Run Flat Tires
   Saeder-Krupp Direktionssekretar [Handling 4, Speed 4, Accel 2, Body 4, Armor 3, Pilot 4, Sensor 4]
      Gear:
         Drone Arm (Strength 4, Agility 4) w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Arm (Strength 4, Agility 4) w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Leg w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Leg w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
         Rigger Interface
Gear:
   Diagnostics
   Encryption
   Goggles (6) w/ Image Link, Low Light Vision, Thermographic Vision, Vision Enhancement (1)
   Headphones (6) w/ Audio Enhancement (2), Select Sound Filter (2)
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (0 months) Day Job, License: Adept, License: Commlinks, License: Driving, (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Mapsoft: Seattle
   Meta Link
   Meta Link
   Meta Link
   Naga Business Suit w/ Chemical Protection (3), Electrochromic Modification, Insulation (6)
   Subvocal Microphone
   Toolbox
   Transys Avalon
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Bite [Unarmed, Reach -1, Acc 5, DV 3P, AP -2]
Contacts:
Corporate Administrator (Connection 3, Loyalty 2)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
News Reporter (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Silverscale (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Starting ¥: 5,000 + (3D6 × 60)¥

Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Shadowrun © 2005-2016 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.

Whiskeyjack

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« Reply #1 on: <05-09-16/1127:16> »
I mean, it's sort of unreasonable as a Johnson unless your premise is "I never want to let runners negotiate for more pay or other bonuses."
Playability > verisimilitude.

fseperent

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« Reply #2 on: <05-09-16/1153:47> »
I'll admit the dice pool for negotiation is high for a starting johnson.
The premise I had in my head is an upper grade johnson that only dealt with established teams, not amateurs.
With established teams, you can reasonably expect the faces to have tricks (magical or mundane) to produce large dice pools of their own.
Going to start working on rebalancing for hiring more conventional teams.

Edit: This should be more reasonable.
Silver Tongue
METATYPE: NAGA
B 4, A 1, R 4, S 4, W 5, L 5, I 5, C 7, ESS 6, EDG 2, M 2
Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 11
Movement: x2/x4/+2
Armor: 8
Limits: Physical 6, Mental 7, Social 9
Physical Initiative: 9+1D6
Active Skills: Arcana 2, Close Combat Group 1, Computer 4, Con 2, Electronics Group 2, Etiquette 7, Influence Group 3, Intimidation 2, Negotiation 6, Perception 4, Pilot Ground Craft 1, Pistols 1, Stealth Group 1
Knowledge Skills: Administration 6, Ares 3, Ares 3, Corporate Politics 6, Corporate Rumors 6, Economics 6, History 1, Law 4, Magical Theory 5, Music 4, Philosophy 3, Psychology 8, Seattle 4, Shadow Community (Personalities +2) 6, SOTA Technology 6, UCAS 1
Languages: English N, Japanese N, Spanish 3, Sperethiel 3
Metatype Abilities: Armor (+8), Dual Natured, Guard (2 characters), Venom
Qualities: Adept, Bilingual, Cold-Blooded, Day Job (2,500¥/month, 20 hrs/week), First Impression, Mentor Spirit: Snake, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (Corporate Limited SIN): Ares, SINner (National SIN): UCAS
Adept Powers: Analytics (2), Improved Sense: Low-Light Vision, Improved Sense: Vision Magnification, Kinesics (2), Maintain Warmth, Sustenance
Vehicles:
   Dodge Xenon [Handling 3/2, Speed 4/3, Accel 2, Body 8, Armor 8, Pilot 2, Sensor 2, Seats 4]
      Gear:
         Amenities, High
         Armor, Concealed (2)
         Enhanced Image Screens
         Gridlink
         Interior Cameras
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
         Metahuman Adjustment: Naga
         Rigger Cocoon
         Rigger Interface
         Run Flat Tires
         Special Armor Modification (Chemical Protection) (2)
   Saeder-Krupp Direktionssekretar [Handling 4, Speed 4, Accel 2, Body 4, Armor 3, Pilot 4, Sensor 4]
      Gear:
         Drone Arm (Strength 4, Agility 4) w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Arm (Strength 4, Agility 4) w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Leg w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Drone Leg w/ Drone Limb Agility (4), Drone Limb Strength (4)
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
         Rigger Interface
Gear:
   Diagnostics
   Encryption
   Goggles (6) w/ Image Link, Thermographic Vision
   Headphones (6) w/ Audio Enhancement (2), Select Sound Filter (2)
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (0 months) Day Job, License: Adept, License: Commlinks, License: Driving, (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (2), (1 month) Low Lifestyle
   Mapsoft: Seattle
   Meta Link
   Meta Link
   Meta Link
   Naga Business Suit w/ Chemical Protection (3), Electrochromic Modification, Insulation (6)
   Subvocal Microphone
   Toolbox
   Transys Avalon
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Bite [Unarmed, Reach -1, Acc 6, DV 3P, AP -2]
Contacts:
Corporate Administrator (Connection 3, Loyalty 2)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
News Reporter (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Silverscale (Connection 2, Loyalty 2)
Starting ¥: 1,945 + (3D6 × 60)¥

Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Shadowrun © 2005-2016 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.
« Last Edit: <05-09-16/1221:10> by fseperent »

Whiskeyjack

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« Reply #3 on: <05-09-16/1232:24> »
What changed?

What I'm thinking is...an optimized starting face is going to have a Negotiating dice pool between 14-18, give or take, with nice clothes adding about 2 more, with a +2 at the first meet from First Impression, and a social limit in the range of 9 before clothes. Wired are going to have more in all likelihood bc of Tailored Pheromones, and the cost and diminishing returns of tons of Authoritative Tone and Cool Resolve (my adept mage face doesn't bother, I have better things to invest PP in). Nobody but a fool is going to try sustaining a spell to improve their negotiating with a Johnson because of the implications it could involve to any astral monitor.

I think if you wind up looking at sample Johnsons in modules they're going to have lower dice pools but have advantages with the social modifiers. Combing both a higher than average dice pool with the social mods is pretty much saying "runners you take what you get" and that's not entirely fair to someone who builds a dedicated face IMO. It's hard to get much further beyond the pools I've mentioned because CHA caps and buying skills above 6 are almost never worth it unless you're playing like Wyrm and have thousands of karma built up. I.e. Not something that matters in a typical game that is lucky if you get to 150 karma earned.
Playability > verisimilitude.

fseperent

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« Reply #4 on: <05-09-16/1900:24> »
1 MAG point, the bought point for Negotiations, and Cool Resolve were traded in for other adept powers and other knowledge skills.

Decided face has between 10-15 starting dice pool for Negotiations, depending on chargen and race before modifiers.
Base for Negotiations for Silver Tongue was 14 now 13.
No Tailored Pheromones and no social modifiers on clothes.
Rarely meets with runners face to face, preferring to use teleconferences while having the Xenon drive around on autopilot.

Haven't looked at the sample Johnsons in modules yet.
In truth, I would expect any face worthy of the name to use fancy clothes to level the playing field.
I will grant that Johnsons using powers or spells while runners can't is unfair, but having to sustain them with a background count would reduce if not eliminate the bonuses for the effort.
Your last sentence I will agree with 100%.

bangbangtequila

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« Reply #5 on: <05-10-16/1255:59> »
IMO the average solid-rep Johnson should be pulling around 14 dice, with a face that's not a social sorcerer pulling 16-18 if it is a primary skill. Any team with only secondary skill faces (shamans, infiltrators, anything that makes use of charisma  really, is likely sitting somewhere in the range of 12-16 depending on how heavily they invest nuyen into it. This gives the runners an advantage if they are prepared and make a good pitch, which is how it should be in my mind, with situational modifiers (the Johnson knows they are desperate for work, them being desperate, any kind of public awareness or notoriety) generally favouring the Johnson to varying degrees, evening out the pools or giving them the edge. The runners are playing against the house, after all.

The concept is really cool though.

Glyph

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« Reply #6 on: <05-10-16/2253:04> »
The Johnson in the core book also has 13 dice for negotiation.  The main difference with this one is that teleconferencing will nix the opposing face's tailored pheromones (although adept powers should still work assuming full audio/visual).  A decent face will be competitive with this at least.  A dedicated adept face who goes all in can get significantly higher dice pools, but not every table will have characters focus on one role like that.  Looking at the stats for Silver Tongue, the second version is typical Johnson dice pools, while the first version would be a Johnson likely to deal with higher-echelon runner teams.