Power Level: Standard, with 10 extra points to put into knowledge skills for character rounding purposes. To reflect that you've been at your job for awhile now, I'll also add somewhere in the range of 10-15 karma to put into your character post-gen. For running purposes, each PC will be outfitted with 1 rating 4 fake SIN, with matching Bounty Hunter License (rating 4) and Weapons or Magic License (rating 4). It would still be advantageous to have another fake SIN or two for other purposes.
I'd like to keep this group fairly small so that the story can continually move forward. Whichever role(s) are not filled by players will be covered by NPCs. I could see us going as high as 4 players, but definitely not higher than that. I could also see us moving forward with 2, but it's probably more wise to have at least 3 PCs.
I'm considering doing away with the Automatics Skill, having Pistols, Longarms, and Heavy Weapons cover all of your firepower needs.
can you elaborate on what "Code of Honor: Fundamentalist Christian" means to you, besides don't shoot the fetus?
now, correct me if im wrong, but this is two people who have been vamp hunters for a while, cause of the money, but now the money is starting to dry up and other teams of vamp hunters are dropping like flies. Into this mix, comes sister rebecca, defender of the light, and slayer of demons, who mis-identifies this team of mercs as persecuted foes of darkness and rushes to their aid?
Am i seeing this correctly, so far?
Any feedback on the draft I put out there? Needs more of something, less of something else? I can tailor it to the game style and setting, once we know more.
Availability 15 is the limit. Happy toy hunting.
@All, I'm going to with a total of 15 bonus karma to use to augment your characters. Note that these are 15 post char gen karma, so you can start the game with more than 1 specialization for a given skill, etc.
Right now I'm toying with the possibility of having either 1 GMPC character to cover tech needs or having a stable of runners y'all can contract for jobs. Any ideas?
Last items on the agenda
1. Location. I'm still not sure about this. Leaning more toward globe-trotting runners, but Manhattan, Winnipeg, or Seattle all seem like natural candidates. There's not much on Winnipeg that I can find, though.
2. Contacts. At your convenience I'd like to see some write-ups on who y'all know. I'll be creating a fence, a fixer, and an information broker who are all somehow involved in the vampire hunting game, or are at least knowledgeable about it. I'll post those shortly.
ETA: not stakes per se, but I'll allow wooden flechettes for firearms. You don't really need stakes to put a vampire down. Wood will make it lose regeneration, and then a steady application of bullets should put it in the dirt for good. Silver bullets will indeed be handy for Banshees, so those will be available for regular APDS, and Explosive ammo to the tune of an extra ¥150 per box.
Also, might be an interesting story element if 8-bit is the grizzled leader trying to repopulate his team after recent "losses" due to increased competition. I was thinking my character would be not a rookie but still junior to 8-bit. Enough experience to explain ¥450k of resources but maybe second-guessing himself/herself after recent casualties for which I may or may not feel responsible. (This would tie into either Bear or Dog as a mentor spirit.) Feeling threatened and hitting the combat stims harder as a result, but also open to Sister Rebecca's faith to hedge my bets.
Also, might be an interesting story element if 8-bit is the grizzled leader trying to repopulate his team after recent "losses" due to increased competition.
I was thinking my character would be not a rookie but still junior to 8-bit. Enough experience to explain ¥450k of resources but maybe second-guessing himself/herself after recent casualties for which I may or may not feel responsible. (This would tie into either Bear or Dog as a mentor spirit.) Feeling threatened and hitting the combat stims harder as a result, but also open to Sister Rebecca's faith to hedge my bets.
Are we playing that Cram/Jazz would stack with other initiative boosters or are they incompatible?
Did we decide if we're collapsing Automatics into Pistols and Longarms?
I might drop Randori (Vitals) if it's only for melee since it costs a good deal of karma and I'll have a weapon focus to address a vampire's Regeneration power. Shooting-wise I still might use the Sharpshooter quality to go for headshots, although the value of that is somewhat dependent on what dicepool modifier rednblack requires to hit the brain or spinal cord.
Again, I vote for chicago, but I know I'm the only one who loves that city.
Also, would anyone mind if I re-did sister rebecca? Keeping the theme the same, just jiggling some of the numbers. I just realized im missing a couple skills im gonna need.
Also, can this 15 post char gen karma be spent on contacts?
2. Contacts. At your convenience I'd like to see some write-ups on who y'all know. I'll be creating a fence, a fixer, and an information broker who are all somehow involved in the vampire hunting game, or are at least knowledgeable about it. I'll post those shortly.
We all have Logic 2. How are we still alive?
I figure 8-bit spent all his essence so that the vampires wouldn't get any of it if and when they finally get him.
I figure 8-bit spent all his essence so that the vampires wouldn't get any of it if and when they finally get him.
You see, the thing I've learned in the last 40 years of being in the business is that if you aren't food, they don't eat you!
Does that sound like Logic 2?
I can't wait!
I figure 8-bit spent all his essence so that the vampires wouldn't get any of it if and when they finally get him.
You see, the thing I've learned in the last 40 years of being in the business is that if you aren't food, they don't eat you!
Does that sound like Logic 2?
Yay or nay on the betaware? Should I drop it?
Just for curiosity's sake, can you use the 15 Karma post-gen to Initiate? It doesn't affect me, but just curious.
Can we cash in any of the bonus Karma for more money? If not, that's fine, just making sure.
Are those wooden flechettes more expensive?
Are we allowed to have Betaware?
Finally, are we expecting to get jobs from employers, or just being on the lookout for Infected? Browsing sites for heads-ups on recent Infected activity (which would probably have competition) or what? Just curious.
Edit #2: Just one more that I forgot. What is your ruling on Fake Licenses? I assume a Restricted Cyberware and Restricted Bioware License are fine, as is Concealed Carry for Ammo and stuff, but what about Smartgun systems and Gas-vent Systems? Do those need to be separately licensed? Also, what about Bug Scanner, and Tag Eraser? Normally I would group them under a "Security Consultant" license, but that's not really ideal here.
Betaware is a yay, as long as it stays within the Availability 15 threshold.
Betaware is a yay, as long as it stays within the Availability 15 threshold.
avail 15?
not 12?
Quick question on Kamikaze and Autoinjectors. Since it's an inhalation drug, what about putting it into my ballistic mask? Would that work?
Also, what with the extra karma and the increased availability that you're just kind of having us make prime runners.
Should we just make prime runners?
Also, what with the extra karma and the increased availability that you're just kind of having us make prime runners.
Should we just make prime runners?
I'm AFB. What changes would that make to the builds?
Also, what with the extra karma and the increased availability that you're just kind of having us make prime runners.
Should we just make prime runners?
I'm AFB. What changes would that make to the builds?
Also, what with the extra karma and the increased availability that you're just kind of having us make prime runners.
Should we just make prime runners?
I'm AFB. What changes would that make to the builds?
Availability 15; Charisma x 6 for Contacts; Modified Resources for Priorities (E: 100,000; D: 150,000; C: 210,000; B: 325,000; A: 500,000), 35 Karma to Start (Maximum 35 Karma Positive Qualities; 35 Karma Negative Qualities); May Convert up to 25 Karma to nuyen (up to 50,000 nuyen); Device Ratings at 6 or less.
It's actually interesting that the largest jump in money is at Priority D (+100,000).
Yeah, I would enjoy playing a Prime Runner, but I'm pretty satisfied with how my character sheet currently looks, so it's up to rednblack.
It's actually interesting that the largest jump in money is at Priority D (+100,000).
Yeah, I would enjoy playing a Prime Runner, but I'm pretty satisfied with how my character sheet currently looks, so it's up to rednblack.
oh yeah, im happy with Becca how she is now, but i think I could make her WAY cooler...
It's actually interesting that the largest jump in money is at Priority D (+100,000).
Yeah, I would enjoy playing a Prime Runner, but I'm pretty satisfied with how my character sheet currently looks, so it's up to rednblack.
oh yeah, im happy with Becca how she is now, but i think I could make her WAY cooler...
But she's a street rat!!! Nah, let's just go prime runner. This is why I might fail as a GM: I like the cool toys too and want my PCs to have them ;)
It's actually interesting that the largest jump in money is at Priority D (+100,000).
Yeah, I would enjoy playing a Prime Runner, but I'm pretty satisfied with how my character sheet currently looks, so it's up to rednblack.
oh yeah, im happy with Becca how she is now, but i think I could make her WAY cooler...
But she's a street rat!!! Nah, let's just go prime runner. This is why I might fail as a GM: I like the cool toys too and want my PCs to have them ;)
Well, don't say you didn't know the consequences ... Might take me a few more days now that I have so many contact points.
I suppose I should ask; are all those other things (betaware allowed; 15 Extra Post-gen Karma) still present, or are we just switching to Prime Runner?
yeah, we'll see what happens. Betaware is still allowed, but let's do 10 Extra Post-Gen Karma instead of 15.
yeah, we'll see what happens. Betaware is still allowed, but let's do 10 Extra Post-Gen Karma instead of 15.
All right, cool. I just needed at least 10, as I was like 7 Karma over.
So, are we about ready? Anything else we need to square away before I start the OOC and IC threads?
So, are we about ready? Anything else we need to square away before I start the OOC and IC threads?
Working on my backstory and contacts; it's going really slowly at the moment with schoolwork coming up before Christmas break. I'll try to get stuff done tonight, but I can't guarantee it.
Usually I play low-Resources Awakened characters, so I'm not accustomed to having all this nuyen to spend.
I think Poindexter is good to go, is that right?
| Weapon | Accuracy | Reach | Damage | AP | Avail | Cost |
| Gunstock Club | 5 | 1 | (STR+3)P | -2 | 9R | 900¥ |
I like the bug-out lifestyles for Sister Rebecca. They just might come in handy. Skills, knowledge points, and spell list all reflect character concept well. What kind of a contact is Marcus? Also, we need to figure out exactly how Code of Honor will play.
Cool. I like that a lot. When sister slips how about a -2 dice pool modifier until she can confess (for sins against The Lord) or confess and make restitution (for sins against The Lord and meta)?
Cool. I like that a lot. When sister slips how about a -2 dice pool modifier until she can confess (for sins against The Lord) or confess and make restitution (for sins against The Lord and meta)?
I was thinking more serious shit than that. Like, certain spells stop working, certain spells have a higher drain code, the focus looses a level or three temporarily, an adept power dun work anymore, that kinda shit. HEAVY fire and brimstone shit. :)
Improved Scent: You can identify scents in the same way as a bloodhound. You can identify individuals by scent alone, and can tell
if someone whose scent you know has been in an area recently with a successful Perception Test. The strong smells of most sprawls impose
modifiers on the use of this sense.
Olfactory Booster: This cybersnout enhances, identifies, and records smells, and can play them back later.
The massively enhanced olfactory capabilities of a sniffer open up a whole new world of sensory data to you—
you’ll be able to sense things that ordinarily only a scenthound would. You can smell people’s emotions in their
sweat (and if applicable, the maker’s mark of their tailored pheromones), traces of ammunition propellant, explosives,
or biological and chemical warfare compounds—the list goes on and on. A cut-off function allows you
to completely ignore intense odors, possibly the most convenient feature for use in your daily life. The olfactory
booster can even be used in VR to create an even more immersive experience. Add the booster’s rating as a dice
pool modifier to your scent-based Perception Tests.
Char Sheet Notes
@8-bit, with your low essence, it's a good thing your CHA and WIL are so high. Composure tests will come into play should a vampire get you alone and try to feed. This is especially dangerous to you given your low ESS, but being able to throw 13 dice into the mix there is a great boon in your favor.
I love that you have Knowledge skills directly related to the infected. Those will be very helpful. While I think Infected Behaviour will be a "Street" skill, I think Infected Theory and Infected Physiology are probably Academic or Professional Knowledge skills, which key off logic.
Also, good to have a few safehouses built in for when we start.
And, speaking of chameleon suits, there isn't a good chameleon coating option for carried items like there was in previous editions. So does wearing a non-coated ballistics mask and carrying around a non-coated club just completely defeat the purpose of a chameleon suit? Ruthenium Polymer Coating seems close but it's damnably expensive (¥5k to ¥20k) and Availability 16F. 8-bit has a ton of Electrochromic Clothing mods on his armor. Is that an accepted convention?
Has anyone grasped the functional differences between shock frills and shock weave? Shock weave can't be used offensively, costs more, and takes up more capacity. It mentions its use cases more explicitly (resisting clinch and grapple) but those seem to be equally applicable to shock frills. Am I missing something?
The ballistic mask has trodes. Is a micro-transceiver better for certain things? I figured I would just be DNIing everything, which would fit with the stealthy/silent theme. They cost about the same but I suppose the trodes take up more capacity (2 instead of 1).
Is YNT Softweave a legitimate modification for a ballistic mask? I guess the rules don't really say it wouldn't be, but the "weave" in the name made me think it might be more for jackets and suits and the like. But if rednblack OKs it I'll try to find the nuyen for it.
Are there situations when it is better to subvocalize than text?
Bioware
Adrenal Regulator: These modified adrenal medullae modify the hormones produced during panic situations. As a result, the augmented character is less subject to the physiological effects of stress and panic. This effect translates into a reduction of the threshold of all Composure tests by 2. While the adrenal regulator reduces the panic a person might have, it does nothing for the shock of the experience. It does not alter the effects of a glitch or critical glitch during a Composure test (p. 136).
Cultured Bioware
MPC Bridge: This network of cultured neurons bridges the medial prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus to give these parts of the brain more control over the amygdala. This grants the user a +1 dice pool bonus when resisting Intimidation and other emotional manipulation. Additionally, the user may ignore normal glitches when making Composure tests and may treat critical glitches as normal glitches.
Bioware Essence Availability Cost
Adrenal Regulator 0.1 8 9,000¥
MPC Bridge 0.1 10 14,000¥
@8-bit, don't feel obligated to buy a contact, though you're certainly welcome to do so. It would provide a good in-world explanation of how Stake gets by in the area, but it is by no means necessary. I'm not in the habit of robbing from my players unless there's a good story reason to do so. I'm amenable to the bioware that you list in your last post. One thing to note about Composure tests and vampires, it will be nearly impossible for a vampire to feed on you in the heat of combat, at least if you're able to make the vampire fear for its life and you've got teammates nearby. The feeding process is a long one and best done when the vampire is in control of the situation -- something not likely happening in combat. Of course, they may opt for less-than-lethal tactics so you can be dragged back to their lair and feasted on later. I mean, that's what I would do if some nosy shadowrunners came knocking at my door. Composure tests will absolutely come into play when coming into contact with vampires, though when the team is not in control of the situation. These are scary, nasty, creatures, and it's next to impossible to know what they're capable of until they do it. Even for seasoned pros, going into the hunter's maw can be terrifying.
As for Run Faster, I don't have that book yet, so I'm not sure how keen I will be on including any content from it. But, I would like to know, what kinds of things for the Infected are there? I'm hoping Santa might bring it to me, so there's a chance I'll be able to digest it before we get started.
EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT
BONUS: 5 KARMA
The character has an irrational emotional attachment to a piece of gear. The character will always use this item,
even if presented with a “better” option. Furthermore, if lost in some manner, the character will do everything in
his power, up to and including risking his life and that of his teammates, to retrieve his item. If the piece of gear
is irretrievably lost or damaged, the player must either immediately spend Karma to buy off the quality or suffer
a –1 penalty on all tests that would have used that piece of gear for a six-month period. After that time,
they learn to love a replacement piece of gear, and the quality transfers to that item.
HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN
BONUS: 10 KARMA
The character has survived on the streets for so long that anything else makes them distrustful and suspicious.
The character will not choose to stay in accommodations above Squatter. If, for example, the team
elects to spend the night in a Middle Lifestyle hotel, or even a squalid Low Lifestyle motel, the character
will walk out and find a comfortable alley to sleep in rather than bear this “luxury.” If forced to stay somewhere
above Squatter, the character will be at –2 to all his Mental attributes as he becomes confused, erratic,
and agitated until such a time as he is able to spend a day in a Squatter or Street lifestyle to rezone himself.
PIE IESU DOMINE.
DONA EIS REQUIEM.
BONUS: 2 KARMA
The character is a flagellant, believing in causing himself pain to serve a greater good. Perhaps they seek
clarity through pain; perhaps it is a constant act of contrition for their deeds. Whatever the reason, the
character gains High Pain Tolerance 1 but always starts the day with 1 box of Physical damage. This box can
be healed, but the character will seek to cause himself another box of damage as soon as possible. Note that
the character’s wounds may cause questions in certain social settings, should anyone notice.
@8-bit: I was planning on taking a gang leader as a contact because it ties into my backstory that I am formulating. I was also planning on either a very simple (Low) lifestyle or a safehouse (Squatter) in gangland. I was thinking that our characters, having been on the team together, could conceivably share a team lifestyle, or at least coordinate our lifestyles and contacts so that they don't overlap too dramatically. Let me know what you think.
| Body | Agility | Reaction | Strength |
| 3 | 5 | 5 (7) | 5 |
| Logic | Intuition | Willpower | Charisma |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Edge | Magic | Essence | Initiative |
| 3 | 6 | 6 | 3d6 + 13 |
| Physical l. | Mental l. | Social l. | Astral l. |
| 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Physical box | Stun box | Overflow | |
| 0/10 | 0/10 | 0 |
| Name | Notes |
| Catlike | +2 Sneaking |
| Guts | +2 resist fear and intimidation |
| Mentor Spirit (Dog) | +2 tracking, improved senses, loyalty |
| Sharpshooter | +2 called shots, -1 all other shots |
| Name | Notes |
| Addiction (Mild) (Stimulants) | Woooo! |
| Allergy (Common) (Mild) | Chocolate (real and fake) |
| Dependent (Nuisance) (Mild) | Holy Trinity Lutheran Church |
| Loss of Confidence (Leadership) (Mild) | -2 to Leadership tests |
| Prejudice (Specific, Biased) (Trolls) | -2 to social interactions |
| SINner (National) | Salish-Shidhe |
| Name | Cost | Notes |
| Attribute Boost (Agility) | 0.00 | Qi Focus, 7 dice = hits equal boost |
| Combat Sense | 0.50 | +1 defense, can always roll for surprise |
| Commanding Voice | 0.00 | Qi Focus, +1 opposed Leadership or Intimidation tests |
| Critical Strike (Clubs) | 0.50 | +1 DV clubs |
| Danger Sense | 0.25 | +1 surprise checks |
| Enhanced Accuracy (Clubs) | 0.25 | +1 Accuracy |
| Improved Reflexes 2 | 2.50 | +2 Reaction, +2d6 Initiative |
| Improved Sense (Bloodhound Scent) | 0.00 | from mentor spirit |
| Improved Sense (High-Frequency Hearing) | 0.00 | from mentor spirit |
| Magic Sense | 0.50 | Detect Magic, range = 60 meters |
| Motion Sense | 0.50 | Perception + Magic [Mental] vs. threshold, range = 6 meters |
| Sustenance | 0.00 | Qi Focus, one meal per day |
| Traceless Walk | 1.00 | -4 Perception checks to detect with hearing |
| Name | Rating | Notes |
| Influence skill group | 5 | |
| ...Etiquette | 5 | |
| ...Leadership | 5 | -2 Loss of Confidence |
| ...Negotiation | 5 | |
| Athletics skill group | 1 | |
| ...Gymnastics | 1 | |
| ...Running | 1 | |
| ...Swimming | 1 | |
| Outdoors skill group | 1 | |
| ...Navigation | 1 | |
| ...Survival | 1 | |
| ...Tracking | 1 | +2 Mentor Spirit |
| Name | Rating | Notes |
| Automatics (Assault Rifles) | 6 (8 ) | smartlink, Sharpshooter |
| Clubs (Gunstock War club) | 6 (8 ) | +3 weapon focus |
| Locksmith (Maglock) | 6 (8 ) | |
| Perception (Hearing) | 6 (8 ) | improved adept senses (scent, high-frequency hearing) |
| Sneaking (Urban) | 6 (8 ) | +2 Catlike |
| Armorer (Melee Weapons) | 2 (4) | |
| Artisan | 1 | |
| Computer | 1 | |
| Disguise | 1 | |
| Escape Artist | 1 | |
| Free-Fall | 1 | |
| Heavy Weapons | 1 | smartlink |
| Intimidation | 1 | |
| Palming | 1 | |
| Pilot Ground Craft | 1 |
| Name | Rating | Category |
| Security Design (Homes) | 4 (6) | Professional |
| Area Knowledge: NAN (Salish-Shidhe) | 2 (4) | Street |
| Area Knowledge: Seattle (Puyallup) | 2 (4) | Street |
| Music (Classical/Baroque) | 2 (4) | Interest |
| Christianity (Protestantism) | 1 (3) | Academic |
| Street Drugs (Stimulants) | 1 (3) | Interest |
| English | N |
| Or'zet (Speak) | 3 (5) |
| Spanish (Speak) | 1 (3) |
| Contact | Location | Profession | C/L |
| Lola Lustytush | Loveland, Seattle | Stripper | 2/3 |
| Megedagik | Cascade Ork, Salish-Shidhe | Entreprenuer | 3/2 |
| Rusty | Puyallup, Seattle | Gang Leader | 4/3 |
| Pastor Paul | Los Angeles, PCC | Pastor | 4/3 |
In other thoughts, I am reminded that there are two different versions of Commanding Voice. The one in Stolen Souls is about 10x less powerful than the one in Street Grimoire. I went with Street Grimoire because that's what is in Chummer 5. I wasn't intending to use it much, largely due to the Loss of Confidence negative quality, but if rednblack prefers the Stolen Souls version then I'll switch out that power for another one.
It also occurs to me that I didn't put my adept powers on the sheet I just posted. I'll add them now. Edit: Added.
I'm ready to go whenever as well. Amped up and ready to go.
Got that kinda clarity of focus that only white hot rage can give ya, y'know?
I'll get a placeholder post up. What's the character limit for a post? I'm probably going to hit it if I post sheet+gear+contacts+background. Might have to trim a bit, or include links leading back here.
| Species | UCAS | CAS |
| Bandersnatchii | ¥7,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Banshees | ¥5,000 | ¥5,000 |
| Dzoo-noo-qua | ¥2,500 | ¥3,000 |
| Fomôraig | ¥1,500 | ¥1,500 |
| Ghouls | ¥1,500 | ¥1,500 |
| Goblins | ¥4,000 | ¥4,000 |
| Loup-garou | ¥2,500 | ¥3,500 |
| Nosferatu | ¥15,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Vampires | ¥7,500 | ¥6,000 |
| Wendigos | ¥15,000 | ¥15,000 |
Sister Rebecca's Code of Ethics seems pretty brutal. It's like Dependent and Allergy and Pacifist all rolled into one, plus a bunch of others that aren't easily categorized. And, yes, krill are shellfish. To play devil's advocate, how does Sister Rebecca reconcile "no lying" with the Fake SINs?
I presume the "no lying" is based on "Thou shalt not bear false witness." There ancient, and more literal, interpretation of this is "no false testimony". In other words, no lying about others, but there's nothing explicitly forbidding you from misrepresenting yourself.
okay it's midnight game on