[Comrade Wolf]

Ahoy the forums, etc etc. I'm a first-time GM looking for players for a play-by-post game, which you'd probably sussed out already. I've played Shadowrun, participated in forum games, and GMed DnD and suchlike, but this is my first time combining the three, so I'll make no promises about the quality of my gamerunning skillz, although you do have my personal guarantee that I'll be sober while writing at least 60% of my posts*. (*Joking. (Probably.))

Since I'm a noob GM and I figure we'll probably have a new player or two, I was thinking of doing Shadowrun Classic, basically -- no mucking around with metaplots or hidden fictions, no excessive wackiness, just getting to know the setting and enjoying ourselves. (That way we'll be good and comfortable with 4e just in time for SR5 to come out. Dragged kicking and screaming into the Century of the Fruitbat, you might say.) My very first Shadowrun campaign ended up floundering due in part to a very enthusiastic GM who had us dealing with dragons before we'd knocked over our first Stuffer Shack; this is my attempt at a do-over.

We currently have a nonzero number of players that is less than or equal to three, so I'm hoping to score a few more people off this thread. I don't expect a character sheet instantly, but maybe drop me a line so I've got a general interest gauge to go off? In particular:

• What the hell do I call you? Because otherwise I'm stuck trying to pronounce usernames, and you can do yourself an injury that way.
• Experience level? ('None' is kosher.)
• Game tone? ie: Where do you prefer your games to be, on the sliding scale of Die Hard ---> The Manchurian Candidate? Mostly roleplaying, or heavy on dice rolling?
• Character ideas: role, plus metatype/backstory/whatever if you've got it.

[Crunch]

You can call me Crunch.

I've been playing SR since first edition and have solid but not extensive experience with 4th.

I prefer a more cyberpunk feel, perhaps verging on Pink Mohawk, but I can fit into any setting. I'm a fan of RP, but I can get my RP jollies in cinematic combat as easily as I can in negotiated drama.

I'm willing to play anything, but my first pitch will always be Mr. Fabulous, Troll Physical Adept, boxer and Jazz aficionado with mafia ties.

[Reiper]

What the hell do I call you? Because otherwise I'm stuck trying to pronounce usernames, and you can do yourself an injury that way.
Experience level? ('None' is kosher.)
Game tone? ie: Where do you prefer your games to be, on the sliding scale of Rambo ---> The Manchurian Candidate? Mostly roleplaying, or heavy on dice rolling?
Character ideas: role, plus metatype/backstory/whatever if you've got it.

To be called: Reiper (prounounced Reaper), or by my character name once I make him/her
Experience: Quite a bit of 2nd and 3rd ed, very little 4th atm (starting an online live game Friday (see you then) and part of a message board game currently). I'm part of two other freeform RPs (a lord of the rings and a star wars one, message board, no dice), and have some VTM, custom RPs using SR and VTM rules, and D&D.
Tone: I like a lot of RP. I tend to try to avoid combat when possible (trying to come up with clever ways to avoid it within making the GM's life hell). But I usually adapt my playstyle to the group.
Character: Contemplating a mage (haven't played one in ages), potentially a shapeshifter (fox or eagle). I tend to be able to RP a more feral type of character fairly well. If that doesn't pan out, then either a mage/face or an archer/medic

[RHat]

What the hell do I call you? Because otherwise I'm stuck trying to pronounce usernames, and you can do yourself an injury that way.

Just go with RedHat - that's what the 'R' is short for anyways.

Experience level? ('None' is kosher.)

Just 4th for Shadowrun, and a pile of other systems.

Game tone? ie: Where do you prefer your games to be, on the sliding scale of Die Hard ---> The Manchurian Candidate? Mostly roleplaying, or heavy on dice rolling?

I've played and enjoyed games all over that spectrum, though I find RP heavier games more satisfying.

Character ideas: role, plus metatype/backstory/whatever if you've got it.

Probably a mage or combat-primary adept, don't have quite as much experience with those rules as I'd like.  Not to sure past that at this stage.

[Bewilderbeast]

Staking a claim while I can! I'll play anything.

Got a character started here: http://forums.shadowrun4.com/index.php?topic=9968.0

•What the hell do I call you?
Eh, Bewilderbeast is fine. Beast. Or just refer to my character's name.
•Experience level? ('None' is kosher.)
Very little. I play and DM D&D 4e, but I'm new to Shadowrun. I played a few games here, but then my computer crash. I lost my Shadowrun PDF and basically forgot about the whole thing. But then I found it again! So I'm back and want to play real bad.
•Game tone? ie: Where do you prefer your games to be, on the sliding scale of Die Hard ---> The Manchurian Candidate? Mostly roleplaying, or heavy on dice rolling?
I'm big on roleplaying, that's a big part of the fun for me. But I also really want to try out some combat... that's something I never got to do before, and I'm still new on the rules and want to get into some fights just so I can get into the mechanics of the whole thing and try to understand it. So an action-heavy game that still gives us a chance to roleplay would be ideal.
•Character ideas: role, plus metatype/backstory/whatever if you've got it.
I want to keep it simple for now. As much as I badly want to play a mage of some type at some point, I like the character I linked above for right now.

[Comrade Wolf]

oh geez stop this is happening too fast

So! Apparently this place is not as sleepy as I thought. That's five and possibly six, if the bloke whose thread we jacked in the first place is still interested. I think that sounds about good; too many people in a forum game and things get bogged down. It looks like so far we've got a good selection of physad murderers, magic support, and possibly some kind of street sam, plus whatever All4BigGuns feels like playing, which works great for a stripped-down game. If nobody feels like hardcore decking I am 300% okay with fudging it, probably by providing a pet NPC. (I think I am the only person on this board who actually enjoys messing with the Matrix rules?)

Other pertinent notes:

• First, getting my authoritarian tendencies out of the way: A4BG brought up karma gen, which is the best kind of gen, so that's what we're doing. Muahahaha, etc. Does 1000 starting karma sound alright with everyone? If you're not familiar with karmagen, it's awesome and also I can provide various nifty programs to do the math for you. (Reiper, if this ends up being the case we might have to talk about the eagle shifter thing; they really rely on that big racial penalty to stay balanced.)
• Standard starting availability. Maybe clear any restricted gear with me, so I don't get too lonely while you're all creating away? I will almost definitely say yes, though, so no worries if you forget or something.
• Because the high starting karma tends to skew things toward mages, we will be using the optional rule of adding net hits to Drain for direct combat spells. However, net his get added to Force before dividing by 2, so it shouldn't be too vicious.
  
  
• I'm not going to require 10000 words of referenced backstory, but it would be nice to have something quick worked up. Might award a few karma for extra details, ionno.
• [Charisma + Etiquette skill] x 2 in free Contact points.
• You'll get a free fixer contact, so don't worry about that.

And... that's it, I think?[/list]

[Aryeonos]

I am... Aryeonos!!!!
Most people pronounce it Ary-on-nose (Soft "S" as in noose) by always invisioned it as aRe-rAY-NOse (Soft s again.)

Experience: I've GMed 4th ed for the last year, and played GURPS before that, I'm really trying to actually play this game now, because I'm almost sick of GMing.

Game tone: I'm not big on fireballs and cliches, so, I'd be closer to "Republic Commando: 000" or on the more free side of the spectrum Mirror's Edge in what I expect shadowrun to be like. I like the cyberpunk atmosphere, and I like playing like professionalism matters, but I'd rather not go so big brother that the setting feels claustrophobic.

Character Ideas: I almost exclusively play changelings, the only character I have that isn't one is a full body cyborg that looks like a robot changeling. I can play my street sam, or my more light hearted hacker, I'm not a magic type so adept is the most mystical I go, and then you get my Throwing Pistol adept. So, I'd have to see the direction the group is going to have a feel for the exact character I'd pen down, or pull out. So either way, I'll probably go Gunny Bunny or Street Sam, or even hacker.

-Sorry I thought this thread was allot slower.

[RHat]

I like the Matrix stuff, I just already have a technomancer going on in New Beginnings and would rather play something different.

Reiper, would you rather go mage or adept?

[Comrade Wolf]

I am... Aryeonos!!!!
Most people pronounce it Ary-on-nose (Soft "S" as in noose) by always invisioned it as aRe-rAY-NOse (Soft s again.)

Experience: I've GMed 4th ed for the last year, and played GURPS before that, I'm really trying to actually play this game now, because I'm almost sick of GMing.

Game tone: I'm not big on fireballs and cliches, so, I'd be closer to "Republic Commando: 000" or on the more free side of the spectrum Mirror's Edge in what I expect shadowrun to be like. I like the cyberpunk atmosphere, and I like playing like professionalism matters, but I'd rather not go so big brother that the setting feels claustrophobic.

Character Ideas: I almost exclusively play changelings, the only character I have that isn't one is a full body cyborg that looks like a robot changeling. I can play my street sam, or my more light hearted hacker, I'm not a magic type so adept is the most mystical I go, and then you get my Throwing Pistol adept. So, I'd have to see the direction the group is going to have a feel for the exact character I'd pen down, or pull out. So either way, I'll probably go Gunny Bunny or Street Sam, or even hacker.

-Sorry I thought this thread was allot slower.

Oh geez, sorry. D: Do you want me to message you if someone ends up dropping out?

I like the Matrix stuff, I just already have a technomancer going on in New Beginnings and would rather play something different.

Reiper, would you rather go mage or adept?

So, uh, not to be a huge creeper or anything, but I've actually been stalking New Beginnings for a while. Fionn is the best.

[Aryeonos]

I suppose, I was just sitting there spellchecking my post when I sent it in, I'll be a little bit pushier than usual to get a spot though, I've gotten to fire one in character bullet over the last 13 months.

[RHat]

I like the Matrix stuff, I just already have a technomancer going on in New Beginnings and would rather play something different.

Reiper, would you rather go mage or adept?

So, uh, not to be a huge creeper or anything, but I've actually been stalking New Beginnings for a while. Fionn is the best.

Oh, good, so I'm not failing miserably!  That is excellent! 

I have noticed that both the IC and OOC threads have something of an audience when I check the Who's Online page.  I choose to assume that's a good thing.

[Reiper]

I like the Matrix stuff, I just already have a technomancer going on in New Beginnings and would rather play something different.

Reiper, would you rather go mage or adept?

I'd rather go straight out mage (shamanistic eagle shapechanger once we determine the karma cost for that).

I'll see what I can do with the chargen, Wolf if you are talking about something other than chummer can you link me to it.

PM me on what you think should be the right Karma cost and I'll start out neg that much. Just toying around with it now since I haven't karma'd one since SR3

[Bewilderbeast]

I have no idea what karma gen means, and I didn't use the free contact points, but this is the character I've been working on since I rediscovered my Shadowrun PDF. Now with entirely too much frickin' background!  Posting this before I hit the sack for the night, please point out any glaring mistakes and let me know what I need to change for your game!

[spoiler]Name: Rebecca Kinnaird
Alias: Tink
Race: Human
Sex: Female (originally male)
Nationality: UCAS
Lifestyle: Low
Karma Spent: 0
Physical Description: Tink is petite and wiry. Reasonably attractive if a little rough around the edges, only the very observant suspect that Tink was not always female. She was a rather square-shaped jaw and a bit of an Adam's apple, but otherwise has unremarkable but feminine features and a rather cute upturned nose. She changes her hair and cybereye color as frequently as her clothing, but favors bright pink and pale blue respectively.
Definitely her most memorable feature is her sleek, bluish-black cyberarm, which she affectionately refers to as "Rosie." It's the best right arm a runner could hope for, and and it's pretty much Tink's prized possession.
Personality/background Tink was born Alexander Kinnaird, but from a young age, Tink knew she was female. Transgenderism is pretty ho-hum in this day and age, and Tink was able to begin transititioning in her teens. Every now and then she encounters a bigot, and has developed a thick skin and a decent right hook as a defense mechanism.
Ever since she was little, Tink had a fascination with guns and action movies. She became an avid fan of Ares products in particular. She spent her teenage years learning how to shoot and act tough with some small-time street gangs before she got her big break and was accepted into a training program for Ares security forces, something she considered to be a dream job.
She was upgraded with heavy cyber augmentation, including "Rosie," her cybereyes, and her wired reflexes. She discovered she had an allergy to certain rare earth elements that limited her options in cyberware a little bit and forced her to invest in some expensive alphaware, but the Ares recruiters assured her that her salary would be more than enough to work off the debt in a few years time.
And then her SIN was mysteriously erased. Getting a new one and re-applying to Ares proved to be a collosal beaurocratic headache, so eventually Tink was forced to find another line of work. On the one hand, the erasure of her SIN removed any record of her debt to Ares for the fine cyberware, but on the other hand, the poor timing of the loss of her SIN left her virtually no chance of ever joining the corporation. Tink still hasn't made up her mind whether losing SIN was the best or worst thing to ever happen with her, and she has a love-hate relationship with Ares to this day.
With no job, no savings, but over 50,000 nuyen worth of undocumented cyber loaded into her petite little frame, Tink had no choice but to start running. Aggressive and confident but also even-tempered and cautious, Tink prefers investigation and bodyguarding but will tackle any job her teammates require her for. A tinker in her spare time, Tink can repair pistols and automatics to a certain extent and is a hobbyist locksmith, but she considers her main assets to be her cyber augmentations and her above-average shooting abilities.
Tink's current goal is to save up enough money for sexual reassingment surgery. Cheap options are available to her now, but she wants only the best and is willing to wait for it. She's acutely aware of the fact that her cyber augmentations could have paid for the surgery several times over by now, an irony that never ceases to irritate her whenever she stops to ponder on it too much. In her spare time, she works as "private security" for a well-regarded street doc named Dr. Silas, with whom she has become very good friends.

Attributes

Body	Agility	Reaction	Strength
4	5	5(6)	2
Charisma	Intuition	Logic	Willpower
2	4	2	4
Edge	Magic/Resonance	Essence	Initiative
3	N/A	2.45	9(10)

Positive Qualities
N/A
Negative Qualities
Mild Allergy to Certain Rare Earth Elements (+5 BP)

Active Skills

Infiltration Skill Group	3
Athletics Skill Group	2
Automatics	5
Pistols	4
Dodge	4 (Ranged Combat Specialization)
Armorer	3
Perception	3
Lockpicking	2
Con	2
Etiquette	2 (Street Specialization)
Unarmed Combat	1

Knowledge Skills ( [Logic + Intuition] x 3 free points)

Firearm Design (Logic)	4
Local Street Gangs (Intuition)	4
Ares Corporate Culture (Logic)	2
Local Squatter Hangouts (Intuition)	2

Language Skills

English	N
Spanish	3
Japanese	3

Cyber/Bioware

Cyberware	Essence	Cost	Notes
Alphaware Wired Reflexes 1	1.6	22,000¥	No notes
Customized Obvious Cyberarm	1.25	34,000¥	Strength 6, Agility 5, Body 4, Shock Hand, Cyberarm Slide and Gyromount
Cybereyes 3	.4	9,250¥	Smartlink, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification, Flare Compensation, Low-Light Vision, Thermographic Vision

Reaction Enhancers 1	.3	10,000¥	No notes
Cosmetic Modification	0	1,390¥	Fiber-Optic Hair, Plastic Surgery

Gear (110,000¥)

Yamaha Pulsar w/ Concealable Holster and 20 Darts	325¥
Ares Predator IV w/ Smartgun (Included), Silencer and 10 Regular Ammo	750¥
Ceska Black Scorpion w/ Internal Smartgun, Concealable Holster, 5 Gel Rounds and 10 Regular Ammo	1,525¥
Ares Alpha w/ Smartgun (Included), Recoil Compensation 2 (Included), Shock Pad and 5 Regular Ammo	1,850¥
6 Smoke Grenades	180¥
6 Flashbang Grenades	180¥
Lined Coat with Nonconductivity 6	1,900¥
Hermes Icon Commlink w/ Iris Orb OS and Subvocal Microphone	4,050¥
Fake SIN	4,000¥
Fake License 6 (Obvious Cyberarm, Shock Hand, Cybereyes Smartlink)	1,800¥
Fake License 5 (Concealed Carry, Motorcycle License, Ceska Black Scorpion, Yamaha Pulsar)	2,000¥
Fake License 2 (Autopicker and Gel Rounds)	400¥
Medkit with 4 Medkit Supplies	800¥
Autopicker 5	1,000¥
Key Lock 5 on Apartment Door	50¥
3 Months Low Lifestyle	6,000¥
Motorcycle Helment	50¥

Vehicles
Suzuki Mirage Racing Bike

Handling	Accel	Speed	Pilot	Body	Armor	Sensor	Availability	Cost
2	20/50	200	1	6	4	1	-	6,500¥

Contacts Contact C/L Dr. Silas (Street Doc) 2/5 Mr. Twist (Fixer) 3/2 Hotzenplotz 2/1 Build Point totals: 400 = 210 (Attributes) + 153 (Skills and Qualities) - 37 (Gear and Contacts)[/spoiler]

[RHat]

Then I'll start running with adept ideas, until I've got something I like.  If you decide you can't make it work with the Karma costs and want to switch to Adept, let me know and I can switch to playing around with Magician ideas.

Or I might just wind up going for a Mystic Adept, who knows.

Bewilderbeast:  Karmagen is an alternative method of character creation where you have a certain amount of Karma to work with instead of using BP.  It is detailed in Runner's Companion, so you'll need to read up on it there.

[Comrade Wolf]

I have no idea what karma gen means, and I didn't use the free contact points, but this is the character I've been working on since I rediscovered my Shadowrun PDF. Now with entirely too much frickin' background!  Posting this before I hit the sack for the night, please point out any glaring mistakes and let me know what I need to change for your game!

-snip-

Wait, really, trans lady runner? You are the best, let's be friends, etc. Build-wise she looks aight apart from a couple of small issues, but we can get those evened out. As Red said, it's just a different method of character creation, using karma, which is how you progress in-game. If you have a PC, Chummer is a really nice fan-made program that will keep track of all the math for you, so you do not even have to learn this wack karma gen thing if you don't feel like it. If you've got a mac, here's an excel generator that does much the same thing. We're starting with 1000 karma instead of the usual 750, so you get to give her even more things.

I'd rather go straight out mage (shamanistic eagle shapechanger once we determine the karma cost for that).

I'll see what I can do with the chargen, Wolf if you are talking about something other than chummer can you link me to it.

PM me on what you think should be the right Karma cost and I'll start out neg that much. Just toying around with it now since I haven't karma'd one since SR3

My first thought is to convert racial cost like everything else, as BPx2, instead of karma cost = BP cost as is standard. (Eagle shifter is... sixty...? BP off the top of my head, so 120 karma.) Maybe try it, and if you think it's too heavy of a penalty we'll talk about something else. That Will/Cha combo can really get out of hand given high starting karma, which is why I'm worried about it. (I promise I'm not just picking on you for no reason.)

I have to sign off, but it's been great to meet everyone, and I'm really looking forward to getting this thing off the ground.