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Critique / Discuss my proposed house rules list.

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voydangel

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« Reply #15 on: <11-08-10/0149:22> »
Yea, those are some good points. I've been doing some thinking about this stuff, but I think I need to do some more before I can really weigh in. And I do appreciate that. I mean, technically it's all just house rules so no biggie, but I do like seeing the different perspectives, so - thanks for that. :)

Anything (or anyone) else? :)
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Chaemera

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« Reply #16 on: <11-08-10/0701:28> »
4. Starting characters receive (Charisma + Etiquette)*4 extra BP to buy contacts with.

5. Starting contacts maximum Connection is = the characters Etiquette, and max Loyalty = Charisma.
The more I've built NPC's, the more I've liked the idea of doing something like this, but I'm adding my agreement to the pile of people who say "Connection capped at Etiquette" tells people to either buy 6 etiquette or hate themselves. The most bored people at my table are often the ones who (for myriad reasons) have poor to no contacts to get a helping hand from. Maybe legwork goes quicker in your group (or your guys never need it), but in mine we probably spend a third of a session scouting out the night's job & asking anyone/everyone what they know. Low connection ratings really cramp that, badly.

6. Assensing and Astral Combat are default-able for magicians (and adepts capable of astral perception).
Me likey, enough said.

7. Characters are allowed a total of ±35BP from qualities at character creation. (So you can have 50 BP of positive qualities, as long as you also have at least 15 BP of negative qualities [50-15=35]).
I'm with Bradd:

While there are times that I wish I could stretch a few more PQs, I don't think extra NQs is a good way to balance that. That tends toward increasingly freak-specialized characters. I think it would be more reasonable to simply say that PQs beyond 35 BPs cost double.
Then again, so are you:

@ #7 That's a really good idea, I just might use that.

9. Change DV of Stick 'n' Shock ammo from 6S(e) to xS(e), where ‘x’ is equal to the weapon's normal base damage.
Am I the only person wondering to myself "Why?" Personally, my house rule runs as follows: "Stick 'n' Shock can only be used in shotguns, arrows, and bolts." Granted, this is in part because, as an electrical engineer, I have a very difficult time seeing enough capacitance for 6S(e) in anything as small as a pistol or rifle round, as well as to add a little balance to the deal.

The only reason I can see for xS(e) is that you don't like it bringing up damage from light weapons. Of course, the flip side to 6S(e) is that it also brings down damage from shotguns, sport rifles, and sniper rifles. I can think of a few players in my group that would love to go to town with a 9S(e) round from their sniper rifle, talk about one-shot, one-seizure.

12. When using the Karma creation system from the runners companion, increasing attributes costs [New Rating*5]; you must pay the BP cost for your meta-type in Karma; the bonus Karma you get for contacts is [(Charisma + Etiquette)*4]; the amount of Karma available to be spent on starting attributes is [(starting karma/2) + (meta-type cost*2)] and includes mental, physical and special attributes.
Earlier you were listing rules in terms of the BP build system.

My 2¥? Pick one of the three systems, and stick to it, especially if any of your players are new to the game. It never made sense in my mind to let one person use one system of char gen and another use something else. Sticking to one system results in more closely balanced characters (at least, as balanced as SR4 gives you) and keeps new players from being over-whelmed by unnecessarily included options. There just doesn't seem to be a reason to use both systems (or all 3, if you also allow the priority system).
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Nomad Zophiel

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« Reply #17 on: <11-08-10/0722:30> »
Yea, those are some good points. I've been doing some thinking about this stuff, but I think I need to do some more before I can really weigh in. And I do appreciate that. I mean, technically it's all just house rules so no biggie, but I do like seeing the different perspectives, so - thanks for that. :)

Anything (or anyone) else? :)

No problem. At the end of the day its your game. Its interesting to me to consider how these rules will shake things up down the line. #5 is the only one I have a really strong opinion on. After all, even low CHA combat street gang Trolls deserve a friend.  ;D

Which actually gives me a suggestion:
Quote
#5 Starting contacts maximum Connection is = the characters Etiquette, and max Loyalty = Charisma. You may have one contact with a greater Connection than this and one with a greater Loyalty. These need not be the same Contact.

Two implications to consider, though:
There's kind of an implied rule here that if max Connection=Etiquette then its ok to have several contacts with that level of Connection. Personally, I rarely take Connection 6 Contacts and think very carefully about the background reasons for any Connection 5 contact whose loyalty is more than 2. #5 could be taken as implicit permission not to worry about that as much.

When using advanced Contacts in Runner's Companion is the Connection maximum counted just against the base Connection value for groups or the modified connection value (including group size, area of effect, access to magic etc)?

Having a sliding scale of contact bonus points may wind up being a pretty big deal. A thoroughly average character may have 20 points worth while a good Elf Face will have 52. The former may know four Connection 2, Loyalty 3 guys. The latter can have five CEO's (Connection 6) or equivalent who are all good friends (Loyalty 4-5) or two large street gangs (Modified Connection at max of 14) willing to die for him (Loyalty 6) with a few points to spare for two friendly specialists like a Street Doc and a Mechanic. Consider what 32 BP will buy you anywhere else in character creation. That's a lot of power and a lot of encouragement to play high CHA, high Etiquette characters. If you're planning to do more intrigue, cloak and dagger social stuff that will work great.
« Last Edit: <11-08-10/0734:11> by nomadzophiel »