Shadowrun
Shadowrun General => Gear => Topic started by: boongeebee on <08-25-16/1112:18>
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I recently got access to Chrome Flesh and I was wondering what you all thought were some of the best things in there.
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Striking Calluses
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Cyberpenis
HougH!
Medicienman
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Narco. Even if you have low Addiction Test you can easily avoid Test for most Drugs. If your GM allow custom drugs from Chrome Flesh that's even more insane.
I'm also a big fan of Synaptic Acceleration and Boosted Reflexes, they are cheap way (the first in Essence, the second in nuyen) to raise your Initiative a bit and can be easily completed with Cram/Jazz.
False Face is insane on a Face and extremely useful on anyone else that isn't a troll. It only takes 1 minute and everyone will think that some random Wageslave did the crime.
Savior Medkit. A Rating 6 Medkit that work by itself and will stop you from bleeding out.
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Radar Sensor.
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Cyberpenis
HougH!
Medicienman
As the cyberpenis is technically classified as a cyberlimb, modular cyberpenis. Possibly paired with a modular cybervagina, for the gender fluid.
Or, as a cyberpenis is a cyberlimb, you could arguably give your cyberpenis a rating 1 bulk modification to fit a finger pistol.
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Narco and Striking Calluses have already been mentioned (really great gear. Narco alone can obviate the need for many other expensive pieces of cyber-/bioware)
So I'd say: Retractable Climbing Claws
They are 100% legal but act as hand razors with -1 Limit (Physical limit can get ridiculously high with high strength, so this isn't really a problem)
If you take 4 (2 hands, 2 feet) you gain +4 Climbing Limit and +2 Climbing DP.
If your GM is reasonable, he'll also allow you to gain +1 Reach if you own a pair, since there really isn't any reasonable difference to bioware claws
There are also a few very nice qualities:
Biocompatibility is great - especially with used ware (1.25 Essence becomes 1.15),
Prototype Transhuman and Striking Callusses + a few grades of Bone Density Aug are a godsend for unarmed adepts
Revels in Murder is a borderline broken quality, making edge kills sustainable
Finally, superhuman psychosis is a neg. quality with lots of goodies for all those near cyber zombies
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Biocompatibility is great - especially with used ware (1.25 Essence becomes 1.15),
Since it rounds down to the tenth, it actually becomes 1.1 ess. And I'd argue that it gets better with higher grades. If you pick it while having Delta implants, their ess price goes from 0.5 to 0.4, a reduction of 20%. Biocompatability with Used grade gives a 12% reduction.
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Biocompatibility is great - especially with used ware (1.25 Essence becomes 1.15),
Since it rounds down to the tenth, it actually becomes 1.1 ess. And I'd argue that it gets better with higher grades. If you pick it while having Delta implants, their ess price goes from 0.5 to 0.4, a reduction of 20%. Biocompatability with Used grade gives a 12% reduction.
The rounding on Biocompatability was clarified to sanity. Jack has it right, it's just another 10% reduction, no free rounding.
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Where was this?
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The Freelancer that wrote it, either Wakshaani or Backgammon clarified in a post and then made a funny about players keeping track of Essence down to the hundredth. I don't know that it made the official Errata, but it's been stated.
You can go stalking Freelancers and find the post if you'd like. My quick search didn't find it, sorry.
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I recently got access to Chrome Flesh and I was wondering what you all thought were some of the best things in there.
The best thing in Chrome Flesh is "Invisible Wounds" (p.44-48).
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Cyberpenis
HougH!
Medicienman
As the cyberpenis is technically classified as a cyberlimb, modular cyberpenis. Possibly paired with a modular cybervagina, for the gender fluid.
Or, as a cyberpenis is a cyberlimb, you could arguably give your cyberpenis a rating 1 bulk modification to fit a finger pistol.
Wait, does it give you an extra dmg box? Does it have it's own stats? Is it prehensile?
some of those questions were serious
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the cyberpenis is technically classified as a cyberlimb
It's no more a cyberlimb than an LED tattoo. Wasn't in 4e, either.
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As the cyberpenis is technically classified as a cyberlimb, modular cyberpenis. Possibly paired with a modular cybervagina, for the gender fluid.
Or, as a cyberpenis is a cyberlimb, you could arguably give your cyberpenis a rating 1 bulk modification to fit a finger pistol.
Wait, does it give you an extra dmg box? Does it have it's own stats? Is it prehensile?
some of those questions were serious
Page 73:
"Available for both male and female parts, cyber genitals might well be considered a cyberlimb, but doing so opens the door for a lot of uncomfortable discussions."
So, by RAW? It might well improve your damage track. Because they chose to use words that mean things in the rules without qualification in the description.
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As a someone who's playing a rigger the control rig booster nanoware and the control rig optimization genetech look pretty good to me. the genetech adds +1 to vehicle tests while jumped in and the nanos add their rating to the dice pool for vehicle test while rigging.
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Smart Corrosives. Intruders. O-cells. Hurlg.
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So, by RAW?
::)
By RAW, Cyberlimb Cyberware starts on CF86. What you're referring to is listed under the heading 'Cosmetic Cyberware', and the text is not rules; it's fluff.
I like Spider Eyes, myself.
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Narco was mentioned..
However nephritic screen was not. Which would combine nicely with narco.
So here's looking at you, Kamikaze (or K-10 heavens forbid) fiend.
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I'm also a big fan of Synaptic Acceleration and Boosted Reflexes, they are cheap way (the first in Essence, the second in nuyen) to raise your Initiative a bit and can be easily completed with Cram/Jazz.
Boosted reflexes doesn't stack with anything if you use Bull's quote about how "augmentation bonus is any kind of bonus" and can never be removed... But I use them a lot for Face characters and other secondary combatants that are fine with just 2d6 initiative.
My favorite is definitely Biocompatibility, but that's not gear. I love the return of the Move-By-Wire System though... Anyone who can manage one gets an absolutely massive bonus. I made a character who had one before... Don't recall what rating (just know it was higher than 1). May have been 3. That, a Skillsoft Network subscription, and a few other minor things... And bam, that character is awesome. I think it was Sum to 10, so I ended up with like, EAECA spread. High attributes made up for low extra augmentation space, and the skillsoft network meant I was free to blow my skillpoints on a small number of high-rating skills (with specializations). She was a combat-biker.
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So, by RAW?
::)
By RAW, Cyberlimb Cyberware starts on CF86. What you're referring to is listed under the heading 'Cosmetic Cyberware', and the text is not rules; it's fluff.
The jackpoint commentary below is fluff.
The plain text right after they name the 'ware is where they put all the rules of what it actually does. That they put fluff in rules and rules in fluff to the point where they aren't actually separate anymore is, in fact, a recurring issue.
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The plain text right after they name the 'ware is where they put all the rules of what it actually does. That they put fluff in rules and rules in fluff to the point where they aren't actually separate anymore is, in fact, a recurring issue.
Can you find an example where the fluff and rules occur in the same sentence? More specifically, where they start with rules-fluff, then continue with fluff?
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A number of the pieces of 'ware that don't actually do anything concrete tend to mix fluff and rules. Like the dreamlink. The Math SPU has a number of features up front mixed in the fluff.
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Narco! Especially for your awakened/emerged types, it is definitely on the list for what to fill 1 point of essence with that has a lot of bang for your buck.
Tetrachromatic Vision is nice/cheap particularly for humans. (+3 to visual perception and basically low-light vision).
There are a lot of fluff' 'ware, but I have actually gotten some use out of some. Ex. Safely riding in the back of a pick-up in because a few cyberlimbs had magnetic systems, a telescoping cyberlimb on a dwarf that evened out reach (in exchange for less damage) against bigger opponents in melee. A used partial cyberskull with a bulk modifier can fit in some nice gadgetry that would cost a lot of essence othewise (attention co-processor, radar sensors, etc).
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Telescopic Limb + Shock Hands, Stun Baton or Monofilament Whip can do wonders.
Troll Reduction is amazing, +1 max CHA for 15 000¥ or +2 for 25 000¥, allow you to play a face with 10 STR for the fun of it.
Some of the poison on critters from Howling Shadows are nasty: Physical Damage, Disorientation, Paralysis, Nausea… you name it. Install a Chemical Gland + Stinger for some stealthy killing in the middle of a crowd. And since it's all bio it doesn't show on MAD scanners. If you want to hurt you can use Spurs with the Gland.
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Centaur liminal body <--Cyber penis + bulk 1 <-- Beer dispenser <--poison injector! Now you're set to go to bachelorette parties! 1. go to parties. 2. have fun. 3. get everyone drunk. 4. poison target's drink. 5. leave the party. 6. collect money from Mr. or miss. Johnston.
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A number of the pieces of 'ware that don't actually do anything concrete tend to mix fluff and rules. Like the dreamlink. The Math SPU has a number of features up front mixed in the fluff.
Dreamlink has no hard rules, and Math SPU has a separate paragraph for rules.
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The genemods in general (baring a few shitty trap-options like the one that reduces Essence cost) are great. I especialy like Synch, seeing as its basically +1 to all combat Skills in every occasion where you need it (read: you don't firstshot your enemy) and its cheap on both nuyen and Essence.
The Genemod that is basically a platelete factory for stun damage is also great.
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Dreamlink has no hard rules, and Math SPU has a separate paragraph for rules.
The Math SPU also has other rules on what it does outside of that paragraph of rules. Namely, the four sig fig built in clock and ten-channel tracker.
The fluffier the 'ware gets, the less clear they are on where the fluff ends and the rules begin.
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That's fluff. How do you tell the difference? Fluff has no mechanical effect or relevance to game rules.
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It's more than fluff. Those are functions of the 'ware, and potentially useful functions. They're more open ended than "+4 to a user's Mathematics Knowledge," but it's definitely a rules effect. There are some very definite uses you can devise for a ten-channel timing tracker that doesn't require your attention. And by the rules, if you have a Math SPU and you get knocked out cold, when you wake up, you immediately know exactly how long you were out down to the ten thousandth of a second.
Open-ended rules are still rules.
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I (still) disagree there's any foundation for that argument. If it were a rule, then it would affect a test or action.
As is, it's less coarsely grained than a rule or mechanical effect; a detail. Something you can use to justify what you're doing, but of no greater importance to rolling dice or the game system than the colour of your underwear or the position of pluto.
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Of course, there is more to the rules than just rolling dice.
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I think quite a few of the genetic modifications are really nice but my absolute favourite is the visualizer. I have an AR/VR graffiti artist who specialises in the use of the visualiser to create his unique artwork.
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There are a number of pieces of 'ware in Chrome Flesh that fall into a certain pitfall.
There's an old rule in RPGs. If you make something an ability you need to buy- a feat, a skill, a class ability, an augment- it stops being something you can just do.
The visualizer is one of those things I thought you could pretty much just do with DNI and some sort of computer, such as your commlink.
It's cool, but gating a 3D graphic design program that you control with your mind when there is a super cheap piece of gear whose function is "control your computers with your brain" behind an essence cost seems silly to me.
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^ So much this
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Edit File allows you to create, change, copy, delete, or protect any kind of file.
Each action is enough to alter one detail of a file—a short paragraph of text, a single detail of an image, or two or three seconds of video or audio (you and your gamemaster can work out what exactly “one detail” means).
Just because there's now a way to create images directly from your memory, that doesn't mean the way of Computer skill is no longer valid. You guys need better air breathing mermaids.
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There are a number of pieces of 'ware in Chrome Flesh that fall into a certain pitfall.
There's an old rule in RPGs. If you make something an ability you need to buy- a feat, a skill, a class ability, an augment- it stops being something you can just do.
The visualizer is one of those things I thought you could pretty much just do with DNI and some sort of computer, such as your commlink.
It's cool, but gating a 3D graphic design program that you control with your mind when there is a super cheap piece of gear whose function is "control your computers with your brain" behind an essence cost seems silly to me.
I take a slightly different view of this.
There's nothing stopping you using a normal computer program to create the images but if you do then you need the relevant skills to do so. The visualizer allows you to do this without having to buy additional skills as at it's base form you just need a memory check to use it.
As an example you have a run in with a gang member, or anyone else for that matter, in a bar who you later need to track down, for whatever reason, and are now looking for. You don't have any pictures of this guy as you didn't have a camera when you first met so it's either try and describe him to everyone or somehow get a picture of them. If you have a visualizer you can do this by making a memory check and you can generate the image. If you don't have a visualzer you will need the artisan skill to be able to do this, as you have to be able to actually draw to create the image, or you'll need to hack the bar to find the security footage, if it exists, and then search through it to find a usable image.
Then take it as am emerging art form (the character I talked about even has visualizer as a speciality of the artisan skill for this). This piece of cyberware allows you to create whatever you want, as an AR/VR file, limited only by your own imagination and which will be completely unique as they are generated by your own though processes. This would make it next to impossible to recreate/forge such artwork as it is such a personal piece. You could of course create the same artwork using a computer program but then there is no individualism in the creation and anyone with the skill could create the exact same piece. Admittedly this is my personal interpretation of this and is not written anywhere in the rules but to me it makes sense.
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You guys need better air breathing mermaids.
Missions Season 5, Episode 6: Take a Chance.
:D
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Internal router, so that your wired reflexes/reaction enhancer combo isn't hacked by the opposition.
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Radar Sensor.
I'm torn between this and skimmers. Running at 80mph is awesome, so is the power to see through walls.
Maybe I'll compromise by putting a radar sensor in my character's cyberleg.
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Can I add a medium drone rack into the centaur liminal body augmentation? I might want an F-B Bumblebee or a Ares Cheetah Drone to come out of a character's body?
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The Genemod that is basically a platelete factory for stun damage is also great.
Double Elastin, yeah it's pretty much a must for every tank.
Pushed is pretty good for Hackers and Riggers, as it give +1 to all logic skill tests(so nearly all of them),but it's rather Nuyen expensive.
Also, why does +1 Logic costs 0.1 Essence but +1 Intuation(both only for skill test) 0.4 Essence?
Seems weird considering Intution has significantly less skills than Logic.
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The Genemod that is basically a platelete factory for stun damage is also great.
Double Elastin, yeah it's pretty much a must for every tank.
Pushed is pretty good for Hackers and Riggers, as it give +1 to all logic skill tests(so nearly all of them),but it's rather Nuyen expensive.
Also, why does +1 Logic costs 0.1 Essence but +1 Intuation(both only for skill test) 0.4 Essence?
Seems weird considering Intution has significantly less skills than Logic.
Intuition adds to arguably the most universally-useful skill in the game (Perception), your initiative, and your Defense Test.
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Intuition adds to arguably the most universally-useful skill in the game (Perception), your initiative, and your Defense Test.
Characters with this modifcation receive a +1 dice pool modifer to all Intuition-linked skill tests.
Neither Initiative or Defense Tests are skill based, they are attribute based and as such not affected, while it costs as much essence as a level 2 Cerebellum Booster which gives a straight +2 Intuition.
And while Perception is one of the most usefull skills, apart from Disguise and Assensing there arent't alot of usefull skills in Intuition(and Assensing is at odds with spending essence) and Perception can very easily be improved via Vision/Audio Enhancement and even Cybereyes/Ears would give you more bang for a lot less Nuyen.
Meanwhile Logic is nearly exclusively used for for Skill tests(some Matrix and Magic Defense tests are not), and there are a lot of them. For a Decker it simply gives +1 to all his main skills and Riggers get +1 to several main and secondary skills(depending on how you play your Rigger of course).
Maybe the limitation for "skill tests" only, didn't exist in the beginning and it was never corrected, but with the current limitation, it's nearly useless for a lot of essence.
Or someone just switched the costs for Logic and Intuition, because 0.1 essence for +1 Logic(even if it is only skill test), is a bargain. Then again it does costs 63k, and Riggers and Deckers need all the Nuyen they can get.
edit: fixed the quotes, maybe i should hit the preview button instead of post next time ::)
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Apologies--I saw the Essence cost and thought you were talking about Cerebellum Boosters when I posted for some reason. My guy has Rating 2, so the .4 cost is seared in my brain.
Qualia is pretty pricey, especially when you consider the costs associated with a nanohive that does largely the same thing. I wonder if that's an edition holdover thing.
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Well you do get a bonus for Tracking as well, but if Perception is your main reason for getting it, just buy Synch. Some very niche users might have use for it, but those are few.
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Or tetrachromatic vision. +3 dice for that price and that essence cost on the overwhelming majority of perception rolls? Very handy. And you can see into the UV spectrum.