High Life [SR5] All welcome, room for freeformers

[AndyZ]

For those unfamiliar, Shadowrun is a magical cyberpunk game set in the year 2075.  Megacorporations run everything, and the PCs are independent contractors called Shadowrunners who perform illegal missions for under-the-table cash.

Pages 354-355 in the Core book have what's called the High Life alternate.  These are the characters that have built themselves up and enjoy the good life.  "Private jets, real food and custom-ordered companionship" is how the book puts it.

I want both system-generated Shadowrunners for this and freeformers who enjoy the Shadowrun setting who are interested in making some of the NPCs.  Initial suggestions would be for high-class escorts, fixers and the like, or whatever might help flesh out the game more between missions.

System-wise, characters can either be AABCC or AAABE, to allow for mundane characters with lots of augmentations.  Clarification: I figured that the only real reason to go AAABE is to put the E in Magic/Resonance if you want to be heavily cybered up, though if someone really wanted to go that route for another reason, we can discuss it.

Initial skills cap at 8 instead of 6.  Each character will begin with 50 karma but negative qualities will not give any points.  Allowing betaware and deltaware at chargen.  Prime Runner nuyen table as per page 64 of the Core.

For Attributes, C ranks can have 1 attribute at max, B ranks can have 2 attributes at max, and A ranks can have 3 attributes at max.

Each individual mission will probably only have 3 or so runners, keeping groups down and stopping a particular mission from getting overwhelmed.

Questions are welcome if I forgot anything.

[Muse]

*poucne!*  Please sign me up, Andy! 

[Pretty in Pink]

Zips in and leaves a card behind

Card reads: Pippy One, Shadowrun Player Extraordinaire; SIGN ME UP

[kckolbe]

Shadowrun newb here, definitely interested in checking it out.  Just got the book.

[Sain]

Uu proper system SR5th and high power at that. Do want :-) Don't have any finely tuned and optimized builds for this start though so making the character is going to take a bit.

[Muse]

  I don't know much yet, would like to hear a bit more about the game concept, but I'll probably pitch a mystic adept. 

  If a girl, I don't know yet, but she'll be cool. 

  If a guy, a sharp dressed man who goes by ZZ. 

[Pretty in Pink]

I'll probably pitch a Rigger.  Haven't actually gotten to play one yet.  I mean, I've got two Technomancers with Grade 1 Control Rig Submersion, but that's not a real Rigger.

[kckolbe]

Probably leaning toward a low level magician (B or C) with a semi-well-rounded build, most likely human male.

[Sain]

Think I'll go all out with ware. The final concept will reveal itself to me once I browse the shopping catalog. Kind of want to play a lady in a fine suit sometime.

[AndyZ]

Kckolbe has made an interesting point, and I'm going to ramp the starting skill level up to 8.

[kckolbe]

Glad to see that my vast Shadowrun experience has come in handy. ~ducks~

[Pretty in Pink]

Flings something at Kc's legs

[Drowdeviant]

Oooo another shadowrun game. Question is do I want to play a face or an infiltrator...maybe even a combination of both  ;)

[Drowdeviant]

Anyone want to PM me and hash out the relationships between our characters?

[kckolbe]

I am all for shared backgrounds, especially being new to the setting, but don't know enough about your char.  Still hammering down my own char.  He'll be a magician (C priority), but I want him to have had a skilled job prior to discovering that. 

EDIT: He'll still be a magician, but will have a magic of 1 or 2 due to essence cost.  He's mainly a combatant.

[Drowdeviant]

Well mine might be a sneaky elven face. Two goals she might have is have to distract people while the group gets down to business and or how to go about separating all the good people of their nice hard earned Nuyen. The worst thing anyone can do around her is not know where her hands are. ;)

So expect her to possibly have performance(might pass herself off as a stage magician, lounge singer, etc.), social skills and stealth skills in her wheel house. She'll likely fill an infiltrator role as well to some degree(don't know how much yet).

Maybe someone is interested in sharing the face role, one would play "bad cop" to her "good cop" or vice versa.

[AndyZ]

Another request has been put out for being able to ramp Attributes to have more than one at max at creation.  I want to put this one out to the group for preference.

[Drowdeviant]

I'll vote yes.

[Pretty in Pink]

Well, if I were playing a Technomancer, my vote would be a resounding "HELL YES PLEASE" since all four mental stats add in to your Living Persona.

I'll still vote yes.

Because I may just stick with what I know.  XD

[Kimmy]

This really does sound delightful. Now, I know my shadow run experience is a little outdated, but what does AABCC etc mean? I will have to read up on the more currents books when I'm home tonight... Right after I purchase some... (Feel free to recommend a particular book or two besides the basic system book)

When I get a moment I will try to type up a idea- it's a shadow run tale for The Princess and The Dragon. Just to be a touch different. :P

[AndyZ]

While 4e went towards a point buy, 3e used the priority system of ABCDE.  5e does the same, dividing metatype, attributes, magic/resonance, skills and nuyen.

Instead of ABCDE, I'm giving AABCC, meaning two of the A picks, one of the B picks and two of the C picks.  If you don't want any Magic or Resonance (probably because you intend to be heavily cybered), you can just take AAABE.

What other books beside the core you want will heavily depend on what you want to be, but Run and Gun tends to be good for everyone, and Run Faster has some decent stuff.

[Drowdeviant]

True Andy, though if you choose to play an Adept you kinda need most of the books (they give you more choices for powers to spend your power points on).

Chrome Flesh is 5E's version of "Augmentation"(gives you more bio and cyberware as well as re-introducing nanoware and gene therapy).

Gun Heaven 3 is good for giving you more sniper rifles and introducing sporting rifles(also gives you the best semi auto assault rifle).

Sorry, forgot which Gun Heaven book was the 5E one :P

[AndyZ]

Note that the only Gun Heaven book you want for SR5 is Gun Heaven 3.  1 and 2 only have 4e stats.

[Sain]

Oh there's already a new ware book out? Awesome ;D

So are we based on Seattle or an international group? I'm all for making individual ties to other PCs, but wit so many already we could also consider some sort of events that may have brought the group as a whole together before. Maybe they're all part of the same generation runners, they all participated in the same series of events that raised them to this level of success or just they've hung out at the same club for long that the runner community kinda already considers it theirs?

[AndyZ]

Regarding Seattle or elsewhere, I haven't honestly decided.  What sounds fun to everyone?

[Drowdeviant]

Oh there's already a new ware book out? Awesome ;D

So are we based on Seattle or an international group? I'm all for making individual ties to other PCs, but wit so many already we could also consider some sort of events that may have brought the group as a whole together before. Maybe they're all part of the same generation runners, they all participated in the same series of events that raised them to this level of success or just they've hung out at the same club for long that the runner community kinda already considers it theirs?

It gives you the ability to have roller skates in your cyber feet X3. If you red the 4E book Augmentation it's pretty much the 5E version of it with some more stuff thrown in. You get get any non rifle gun as a cybergun as well. ;)

[kckolbe]

Rough concept: My character was an intel agent and briefer of some kind, either for a corporation or military.  Through a combination of sneaking, cons, and firearms combat, he could get most simple places, forging documents to help when feasible, where his impressive perception and analytic mind would tell him much.  He would then return to base, office, etc, and brief his findings, being an amazing briefer.  He did not, however, possess hacking, infiltration, or advanced combat, so would sometimes have to work with specialists.  In order to be more effective, he was provided a small cyberware upgrade.

Eventually, he came to philosophical disagreements, a falling out, etc and left the organization, taking some things of importance with him.  The sale of these contents allowed for major cyber/bioware upgrades, which he knew he would die soon without.  After all, he'd made an enemy, one that knew he wasn't the best fighter.  Somehow, in the process of modifying himself, he discovered he was gifted with magic, the small cyberware he'd had since a young man keeping him from realizing it.

He is very weak as a magician, almost completely ineffective, but he possesses a very keen mind, a deceptively tough body, and is rarely out of his depth.

[Sain]

international could be fun. Shadowrun has so many cool areas aside from Seattle and the international politics can be fun.

It gives you the ability to have roller skates in your cyber feet X3. If you red the 4E book Augmentation it's pretty much the 5E version of it with some more stuff thrown in. You get get any non rifle gun as a cybergun as well. ;)

Is it back to the good old days of cybered up trolls having runspeed of 120kmph? It was glorious in 4th ed how you could achieve and sometimes top vehicle speeds but maintain perfect maneuverability. Probably not playing a troll though. I want to get high edge.

[Drowdeviant]

international could be fun. Shadowrun has so many cool areas aside from Seattle and the international politics can be fun.

Is it back to the good old days of cybered up trolls having runspeed of 120kmph? It was glorious in 4th ed how you could achieve and sometimes top vehicle speeds but maintain perfect maneuverability. Probably not playing a troll though. I want to get high edge.

The world demands to have something to challenge Usain Bolt. :3

I want the rigger book to come out so we can have sports cars on train tracks again X3

[Kimmy]

Thank you for the knowledge and the book suggestions, it's always good to know where to start. I played a point buy system that would be 4th ed related with heavy home brew for the gems setting. But the books I own are a mix of 1st ed on so a bit of a grab bag for usefulness but usually helpful for flavour and ideas whatever the system :P

Let me throw my idea into the ring to see if the GM likes it. Drow Deviant is interested in being her rescuer and partner, if she's suitable as a PC.

The Princess and The Dragon

The dragon in this is a patient villianiious type who rivalled for love (and profit) with her father. Losing two love,the dragon settled into a patient plan for revenge spanning 2 decades of careful thought. The princess is the heir to the family corporation and thus a 'princess from her noble house'. I know, I like cheesy iconic stories too much :) Isolated and lonely, the princesses friends are chatty servants and master tutors. Her school was not one of children learning to play, read and count. But one that taught corporation finance, English law and recess was time to in on recordings of staff meetings and corporate negotiations. Outside of school, her playtime was equally manipulated. A 'freedom', where she was encouraged to explore the digital world and master it's secrets. Her toys became the latest cyberware whilst her games became spying and hacking on their corporate staff... Routing out the corrupt and incompetent to ear himself her parents acclamations and pride! But despite her confidence within the digital world, she rarely met people so our princess carries a shy child's innocence about her- a trait that lends her much charm despite her pampered nature.

The defining event is the dragons kidnapping of the princess- but unlike most, he choose her situation to be very deliberate and carefully maintained. No ransom demand was made, nor was the child brutalised in any way. Instead her dragon locked her away, depriving her from all contact. Isolated, more so than ever before, our princess was cared for by simple robots and servitors. Inhuman machines incapable of personal contact. And slowly, her mind was reworked. Seeking to deepen her isolation until it maddened her. Subtle music hid subliminal messages about love, companionship and desperate need. Nanites within her meals worked at her mind, altering the chemistry to open her susceptibility to her loneliness and the messages slowly consuming her. All this was to prime her, to reshape her mind about the concept of devotion and love - reworking a lonely maidens heart into a overpowering need to devote herself completely to one - one dark dragon who she could never afford to be separated from again... And thus his revenge would be complete. For what harm can one do to the dragon, without the maiden herself reflecting his wounds in her desperate maddened despair?

But then a hero stepped into view. Not a dragon nor a parent, not even a man. A shadow runner hired to return a lost jewel. And so her mind settled itself about her heroine, devoting herself with all she could give. And perhaps, just perhaps, her love mind discover a heart to make whole.

The concept is a worldly inexperienced girl who has the best tech and skills to utilise it. She can even demonstrate a self defence skill- since her parents worry so. but she lacks the worldly experience to expect a dirty trick or trap. Breaking into a corporate server might be playful but sweet talking her way past the security guard is a frightful challenge. Household chores and microwave cooking are troublesome new skills to acquire- or perhaps, dreadful disciplines to endure. But then so is stepping outside into the world, seeing it's strange shops and dancing through its dirty streets like a child in a neon rain!

And of course there is her love. Her undying love and devotion to her rescuer. She can be shaped and grown by that person's words. Their respect, pride, fear and disappointment will elate and crush her spirits. Their rule is absolute- not even a president can overshadow her loved one! But so to comes her childish need for that love to be returned. To make their relationship grow, to build their love, to be together... To long when their apart, it's also a part of who she and what she will become.

As for the Gm, there are three tools to utilise. The vengeful patient Dragon will plot once more. Her overbearing parents will try to reassert themselves within her life- but they are no longer needed, thus their needs and no longer respected. Leaving them with troublesome grief and misplaced anger at her misfortunes heroine. And then there are the needs of their corporation - corporate ambition is a powerful tool - but their next heir cares nothing for them. Why she would turn them all to charitable works should her heroine declare such a desire... Manipulation, intrigue and plain old assignation should be called for :)

Meanwhile Drow deviants word on the characters lead me to believe in a childish innocent in their bond and a beautiful explorative flirtation... With just a little kink from a femme fatale to make the delightful desireful...

Let me know what you think as a Gm! I do love to pick the more unusual concepts i know...

And forgive my typing, this iPad isn't the best place to type.

[HopeFox]

You know I'm up for some Shadowrun!

A high-powered shadowrunner sounds awesome, but I'm also very intrigued by the idea of other character types, since I've always been more interested in the Shadowrun setting than in the actual shadowrunning. A high-class escort with some SURGE changeling features to make her appeal to... particular clientele could be a lot of fun. (Muse knows what I'm talking about!)

In fact, why not both? A super-hot escort with technomancer powers would be great for the odd mission, and still lots of fun outside of the run.

[Sain]

So do we use the regular resource table or the one presented on p.64 of pdf in the prime runner play?

[AndyZ]

Kimmy, I'm reading through everything but it'll take a bit.  ADD and all that.  It's a freeform concept, not a shadowrunner, right?

I guess the Prime Runner nuyen table can work.

[Drowdeviant]

Kimmy, I'm reading through everything but it'll take a bit.  ADD and all that.  It's a freeform concept, not a shadowrunner, right?

I guess the Prime Runner nuyen table can work.

Andy that is Kimmy's runner idea. :3

Also yay for more Nuyen!

[HopeFox]

Okay, this character is coming together surprisingly quickly in my head...

An elf with jaguar-themed SURGE who started out doing MeFeed shows for furries and other people who liked the catgirl look, eventually got picked up by Aztechnology, first to advertise their cat food and cat accessories on her show, and then as someone to represent the jaguar god Tezcatlipoca in religious ceremonies, and now she's living the high life as a socialite and arm candy to some very important people. Megacorporate Fame and Friends in High Places, for sure. She might be a technomancer on the side, so she can do the occasional shadowrun, but she might be plenty of fun just as a non-runner.

EDIT: So we're using the Prime Runner nuyen table... what about the other Prime Runner stuff? In particular, the Charisma x 6 worth of Contacts? Or the higher Availability limit?

[Kimmy]

Kimmy, I'm reading through everything but it'll take a bit.  ADD and all that.  It's a freeform concept, not a shadowrunner, right?

I'm sorry if my concept is rather longer than I had thought it might be... I do get wrapped up when I'm writing. But I'm learning to make myself more concise & on topic. ^_^ My character is intended to be made with a sheet. I mean, I can do much the same with freeform, but will it matter much? You've given us very generous character limits I think. Plenty enough for her.

And I totally need a name... I'd love a street name related to bunny rabbits but I'm totally flatlining on creative names.  :'(

I really hope she works for your Evil GMliness... Let me know when you settle enough to get your head about her.

[Blobbe]

Just clarifying; are you looking for Freeform Player Characters here? Your opening post is a bit unclear.

[kckolbe]

Man, some really interesting concepts came in while I was asleep.  Great stuff!

[Sain]

Going to go with monofilament whip dual wielding one elf army and aim for the ability to bypass most security checkpoints while fully armed.

[Drowdeviant]

Ok I would just like everyone's opinion cause I kinda can't decide. What race would make a good face infiltrator hybrid in your mind?

[Sain]

Fluff and crunch wise its got to be elf, though humans aren't that bad in 5th ed either. Depends. If you go full ware and no magic/resonance then you're gonna cap edge anyway so might as well pick the more expensive of the two races i.e. human.

[Drowdeviant]

Ah. I'm actually going to be an adept actually. Elf with the human looking quality should do nicely though ;)

[AndyZ]

Just clarifying; are you looking for Freeform Player Characters here? Your opening post is a bit unclear.

To better explain: The majority of characters will be system-created shadowrunners, but I'm also looking for non-shadowrunner freeform PCs who would like to help flesh out the setting.  If you're interested in such, by all means join in ^_^

Although, given the number of people we're getting already, I may end up needing an assistant GM...

[AndyZ]

Kimmy: how well does the princess actually understand the dragon?  I can see a few different ways for this to go, but the motivations of the dragon probably won't follow the expectations of simple vengeance. 

Giving a little bit of OOC info, I would imagine that your character is now going to be manipulated by said dragon behind the scenes now that you've been honed into a proper tool.

[Drowdeviant]

Kimmy: how well does the princess actually understand the dragon?  I can see a few different ways for this to go, but the motivations of the dragon probably won't follow the expectations of simple vengeance. 

Giving a little bit of OOC info, I would imagine that your character is now going to be manipulated by said dragon behind the scenes now that you've been honed into a proper tool.

Ooo manipulation. >:) I think that dragon may be facing resistance to that. My character is likely gonna have friends in high places. ;) Our princess will have a black knight watching out for her. :)

[HopeFox]

To better explain: The majority of characters will be system-created shadowrunners, but I'm also looking for non-shadowrunner freeform PCs who would like to help flesh out the setting.  If you're interested in such, by all means join in ^_^

Although, given the number of people we're getting already, I may end up needing an assistant GM...

My concept may work well as a bit of both? I expect that she would mostly be a social figure, serving as social lubricant between runners, corps and governments. But if I make her a technomancer (since that's really the only kind of runner you can be when you're so famous), she can occasionally go on runs, especially if there isn't another PC hacker to do hacking stuff for a given mission.

I miiiiight be able to help out as an assistant GM, if the workload isn't too great. I do want to run things, I just have not much time.

[AndyZ]

Ooo manipulation. >:) I think that dragon may be facing resistance to that. My character is likely gonna have friends in high places. ;) Our princess will have a black knight watching out for her. :)

I don't want to say much more else.  Gears are turning.

My concept may work well as a bit of both? I expect that she would mostly be a social figure, serving as social lubricant between runners, corps and governments. But if I make her a technomancer (since that's really the only kind of runner you can be when you're so famous), she can occasionally go on runs, especially if there isn't another PC hacker to do hacking stuff for a given mission.

I miiiiight be able to help out as an assistant GM, if the workload isn't too great. I do want to run things, I just have not much time.

Well, the plan for this one is to have small groups going on missions while the rest are partying and living it up.

Weeks can go by between missions, after all.  It just tends to get glossed over the way that it's possible to play out hours of downtime in a D&D session but it rarely happens at the table.

Freeform PCs might be a 2075 version of Paris Hilton, or a lower level executive, or whatever else might be interesting to have as connections and contacts.  Just that, because they're PCs, you don't have to buy them.

If I can have people in a mansion/restaurant/VR Host/whatever, I don't have to worry quite as much about keeping everyone entertained all at once.

[HopeFox]

Well, with that in mind, I think I'll make her fully legit, rather than a runner, but she can serve in a fixer or Johnson role, supplying jobs to the runners. That will let her serve as a plot mouthpiece if you want me as an assistant.

I think I'll make her Awakened in that case, as befits a scion of the gods.

[Blobbe]

To better explain: The majority of characters will be system-created shadowrunners, but I'm also looking for non-shadowrunner freeform PCs who would like to help flesh out the setting.  If you're interested in such, by all means join in ^_^

Although, given the number of people we're getting already, I may end up needing an assistant GM...

Okay. Never mind then. Only interested as being a freeform Shadowrunner PC

[wander]

Just wondering, is there room for my SR4 Runner?

They're a Facey Street Sam, specialising with their assault rifle and an Elf Changeling. Their character sheet is in the cyberpunk part of my request thread. I know they're SR4, though hoping that's okay to still Run in this game.

[AndyZ]

Yeah, trying to have freeform or SR4 Shadowrunners going on missions is only going to cause a host of problems.  It could work really well outside of missions, though, just as friends and allies.

HopeFox, I'll have to see about getting a messenger program with you.

[kckolbe]

So I've got my guy nearly finished.  Very high body score, above max, but has essence 4 due to cyberware, so his magic isn't great (since essence hits affect magic).  He has the skills to be part of a spy team and inflitrate in plain site (forgery, some con), and has enough sneak to get by, but isn't anything special.  His high defense is an asset.  I would like some advice on weapon.  He has agility 4, and enough points for a 6 in whichever firearm he uses.

[Drowdeviant]

So I've got my guy nearly finished.  Very high body score, above max, but has essence 4 due to cyberware, so his magic isn't great (since essence hits affect magic).  He has the skills to be part of a spy team and inflitrate in plain site (forgery, some con), and has enough sneak to get by, but isn't anything special.  His high defense is an asset.  I would like some advice on weapon.  He has agility 4, and enough points for a 6 in whichever firearm he uses.

At what range do you think he'll typically fight at? Short, medium, long, extreme?

[kckolbe]

With his high body and armor, I can't imagine him being anything but short or medium, though really depends on the team comp.

[Drowdeviant]

With his high body and armor, I can't imagine him being anything but short or medium, though really depends on the team comp.

Well mine is likely gonna fill a part time sniper so I'm long to extreme cause of the mods available(I might get her a winchester and have her do target practice from the the roof by shooting cans put by the front gate. :3) Really how close of quarters are we're operating in will determine how she fights( heavy weapons will not be seeing much use)

[kckolbe]

So based on all that, what would you recommend for my char?

[Sorrow Singer]

If there is still room for players i would like to express my interest.

[Drowdeviant]

So based on all that, what would you recommend for my char?

Does he have high strength? If so I would say machine guns, melee weapons(chainsaws and highlander claymore) and cyber weapons(especially the junkyard jaw), and shotguns...so basically close to medium.

If not then shotguns, chainsaws, monofilament whips and assault rifles...so close to medium still.

What kind of armor will he have?

[Drowdeviant]

If there is still room for players i would like to express my interest.

Ask andy sorrow.

[kckolbe]

Does he have high strength? If so I would say machine guns, melee weapons(chainsaws and highlander claymore) and cyber weapons(especially the junkyard jaw), and shotguns...so basically close to medium.

If not then shotguns, chainsaws, monofilament whips and assault rifles...so close to medium still.

What kind of armor will he have?

Strength 2.  So with assault rifles, they all seem forbidden.  How big a deal is that? 

As for armor, probably just the jacket and helmet, but he gets +7 armor from orthoskin and bone lacing.

[Drowdeviant]

Strength 2.  So with assault rifles, they all seem forbidden.  How big a deal is that? 

As for armor, probably just the jacket and helmet, but he gets +7 armor from orthoskin and bone lacing.

Well strength 2 doesn't mean assault rifles are out of the question. Use heavy and machine pistols along with shotguns as well and I think you'll do fine. You're built like a tank after all. ;)

Wait which jacket? Armor jacket or lined jacket?

[kckolbe]

That's 3 different weapon skills.  Not a big fan of machine pistols, so I guess I'll just go with heavy.

[kckolbe]

And armored jacket

[Drowdeviant]

That's 3 different weapon skills.  Not a big fan of machine pistols, so I guess I'll just go with heavy.

Pick what you think fits him the best.

[AndyZ]

If there is still room for players i would like to express my interest.

We should be able to fit a few more.

[Sain]

My build is almost ready too. Didn't come out with the numbers I would have wanted, but think it'll work still :/ Can't link here because my doc has my name and this is part of public forum, but I'll start looking pics and finalizing fluff. Those genitalia mods look pretty tempting if only to create a futa or install poison dart firing weapons in them  ;D

Summary: the character is this crazy melee machine that is capable of cleanly decapitating two goons a round (sometimes four depending on init score). All of the ware on him/her that is detectable is legal and only cubereyes (which will likely be made to look just like normal eyes) will even hint that the chara has any ware as most of it is bioware. Okay social skills, awesome driver, capable in stealth and athletics. Basically has just enough social and subterfuge to get by though they're not the main lure. Can do both close and long range combat with assault rifle and melee combo.

Questions:

1. I noticed that for both race options at B (for when taking AAABE) you bleed one extra point of edge out, can I puts it in there if I buy the appropriate lucky quality or is that 1 point forever lost?

2. Luxurious lifestyle is that 100 000 nuyen bulk sum per month. Want us to pay that before chargen or can we start on last days of rent or something similar?

[AndyZ]

Admittedly I'm not doing a great job of keeping track of who is playing what.  Still, since we won't all be one big group, it's not necessary for people to be completely disparate; if we have two hackers, for example, they'll just not go on runs together.

1. I noticed that for both race options at B (for when taking AAABE) you bleed one extra point of edge out, can I puts it in there if I buy the appropriate lucky quality or is that 1 point forever lost?

For human/elf?  Seems fair.  Just take Lucky then.

2. Luxurious lifestyle is that 100 000 nuyen bulk sum per month. Want us to pay that before chargen or can we start on last days of rent or something similar?

Hmm...

Do people want to all waive the Luxury costs and just say it's set but that you still have to go on runs, just nixing out that particular cost?

If we do that, and people have already paid for a Lifestyle, it can be set up as a safehouse in case things go crappy for a while.

[kckolbe]

I always like having to deal with money, personally.  I say treat it like gear and account for the cost.  Individual luxuries can be dismissed, maybe.

[Blobbe]

Yeah, trying to have freeform or SR4 Shadowrunners going on missions is only going to cause a host of problems.  It could work really well outside of missions, though, just as friends and allies.

HopeFox, I'll have to see about getting a messenger program with you.

Fair enough. Won't waste your time any further then

[Muse]

   I'm working on the idea of a satyr girl—Shanna Wainwright.  Fairly young—maybe still a teen depending on how I spin her—but very fit and very lucky. 

   The idea is that her father Greg “Red Dot” Wainwright—an orc adept—was a very successful runner who did work for Dunklezhan and later the Draco Foundation.  He saved money for a retirement for himself and  family. 

   Not long after the Year of the Comet, her Greg went missing, leaving Shana with a trust fund and a few tutors.  Greg didn't want his daughter to go into the business, but he was an ork.  Even though his daughter had recently become something else, something a little less weird, he knew she would have trouble fitting in and have violent passions, so he made provisions. 

   Though very curious about her father, Shana tried to honor his wishes.  She focused on athleticism, the arts, and education.  She took her martial arts and her magic very seriously.  She didn't like the way some people treated her—the way a lot of people treated others who were different even less. 

   Boredom sent Shanna out and about a lot.  She did parkour in the old parts of town.  She danced at clubs, fought in underground fighting rings. 

   It was when security camera footage of a run showed what looked to be her father in the middle of a gunfight that she broke into Running, wanting to know if he was still alive and—if he was—give him a good hoof in the face for letting her think he was dead! 

A   Magic
A   Atributes
B   Satyr
C   Skills
C   Resources


Advantages: 
20   Lightning Reflexes
5   Mentor Spirit: Dragon Slayer
15   Trust Fund (High Lifestyle +1,000)

Important sKills: 
Artisan, Gymnastics, Unarmed Combat (Taekwondo)
Assensing, Astral Combat, Counterspelling, Ritual Magic, Spellcasting,

[Muse]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IWCcBzcSouOGgV8S7uUb6o8_HdMrCqGd2eZS6I4n-5A/edit

[Sain]

Kind of on the fence with that lifestyle question. Free luxury is tempting, but I also like counting money in these kinda games. Don't mind that much so long as we can support luxury lifestyle with the missions.

[Kimmy]

Kimmy: how well does the princess actually understand the dragon?  I can see a few different ways for this to go, but the motivations of the dragon probably won't follow the expectations of simple vengeance. 

Giving a little bit of OOC info, I would imagine that your character is now going to be manipulated by said dragon behind the scenes now that you've been honed into a proper tool.

Shes being manipulated before she's even written up... And has a black knight already to protect her! A perfect princess indeed. *whirls* I'm so happy to inspire! That's where the beauty in everyone's writing comes to life!

For the dragon, I had forgotten that Shadowrun actually has real dragons. I was imagining a half-dragon type from D&D. But he could be a real dragon if you like (or any other metatype for that matter. It was story semantics. Apparently there are real pixies & centaurs! So shiny!). I expect her dragon will keep a very close eye on her & her parents - probably even hiring our team just to test & mess with them (& probably also hiring the team that will betray/interfere in our mission). I expect devious plans & stealthy things like discovering that her online friend & contact is actually a puppet for the dragon... Despite being the one who helped them defeat the dragon last mission... Or something else totally evil.

I imagine her parents as owning a large corporation or perhaps one approaching an A or even AA rating. Something on it's way up but not a name most would know outside of business circles. So they have more nyuen than you'd care to imagine. But it's not really about their money at all. Their on the verge of becoming a name that everyone knows. And they can't afford mistakes. Especially bad PR - they can't afford to have an embarrassing daughter, especially one that cares absolutely nothing for the corporation... What's nyuen when you have that special person that matters to you most?

I imagine I'll have to buy the biggest contact you can just to represent her parents. And give them the biggest flaw I can think of as well. Calling her parents would probably result in the next mission being to break out of their custody & regather the team somehow. And then dealing with the upset Mrs Johnson from the last mission or even redoing that mission or worse...

I'll post up a sheet or at least some of one tonight/tomorrow.

[AndyZ]

I'm good with it being a dragon unless some other PCs have some preference against having a dragon taking an actual interest in the protags.  If we go with a dragon, though, I'll let you have the parents as a plot device contact for free.  The two should about balance out overall.

Though I do need to know what could cause two people to upset an actual dragon enough to want vengeance...

[HopeFox]

So I've got my guy nearly finished.  Very high body score, above max, but has essence 4 due to cyberware, so his magic isn't great (since essence hits affect magic).  He has the skills to be part of a spy team and inflitrate in plain site (forgery, some con), and has enough sneak to get by, but isn't anything special.  His high defense is an asset.  I would like some advice on weapon.  He has agility 4, and enough points for a 6 in whichever firearm he uses.

I think you can't go past the Ares Predator V for this situation. (Or any other. Ares Predator. Accept no substitutes!) It's got damage 8, and can be given 3 points of recoil compensation via gas venting. It only fires in semi-automatic mode, but that will let you fire a semi-automatic burst on one action, then Take Aim and fire a semi-automatic shot on your next action, without taking any recoil. It's also fairly concealable, being a heavy pistol. Importantly, it uses the Pistols skill, which means you can also use other pistols, such as light pistols or even holdouts when you need something ultra-concealable.

If you were less stealthy and infiltration-based, I would recommend the Ares Alpha assault rifle, but that uses the Automatics skill, and really, if you only want to spend points on one combat skill, that skill should be Pistols.

[Sain]

You never know with dragons as their machinations are almost lovecraftian in their obscurity. Its best if you keep it mysterious.

Since we're going with dragon level things I might just dare to add some cheese as well and take that "experimental transhuman" quality from the chrome book.

[Kimmy]

I'm good with it being a dragon unless some other PCs have some preference against having a dragon taking an actual interest in the protags.  If we go with a dragon, though, I'll let you have the parents as a plot device contact for free.  The two should about balance out overall.

Though I do need to know what could cause two people to upset an actual dragon enough to want vengeance...

Can dragons take human/metahuman forms? Because I can imagine one that lives within our world under a facade would get caught in *mundane* affairs like rivalry, love (even if it's more of a game to win & discard rather than anything true) & of course, business. Who says a dragon starts with a mega corp? They have to build up their wealth like everyone else. Especially if they woke up late or were only recently born? Sure being made of magic, immortal & revered/feared makes everything easier - but they still have to work up their wealth & status. And some businesses might refuse to work with dragons out of fear or loyalty to other dragons - so someone else will get those opportunities... Her parent might have a rival as a dragon without ever realizing it. The might even be 'friends'. And if the dragon has found this one thorn to be a constant challenge... They might dedicate their time to a slow, truly evil revenge. Something crueler than death. Death is cheap. But revenge... Revenge is worth savouring.

And now I'm left thinking that the dragon wants to use their daughter as the means to collapse their corporation somehow. Use her runner team to slowly unravel their wealth & shares, working the runs to build up their rivals & setup the dominoes so that when they fall, her parents are the ones who find the world collapsing beneath their feet.

Another thought is do dragons actually do fall in love with regular people? Maybe he feels they ought to have been his wife & eventually, his daughter? Kinda twisted... But hey, where did those stories about dragons originally come from? Are dragons actually talked about in the books anywhere?

[Muse]

  I know the Greta Dragons can.  I'm pretty sure the normal ones can too? 

[Sain]

There's plenty on dragons. I seem to recall one [ur=http://shadowrun.wikia.com/wiki/Lofwyrl]Greater dragon[/url] owning a megacorp in Germany at least at some point and openly acting as its director. Then one dragon was the president of UCAS for a brief while until he got assassinated. If your character is dealing with some smaller dragon who sees A and AA corps as a challenge maybe the parents incurred its wrath by risking the dragons identity so that its publicly known they're a dragon (or some runners/corps got that info on their hands as blackmail material now). A smaller dragon might be afraid to have their identity exposed and known to other dragons or powers that don't want them.

I bet there's also some mentions of dragons getting emotionally involved with metahumans somewhere in the lore too.

[AndyZ]

The 5e book doesn't have info on Great Dragons, but I just checked the 20A and it looks like Great Dragons have that capability.  It seems kinder to give the ability to a non-great dragon for which I have 5e stats rather than attempt to throw a Great Dragon into the game.

Attempting to reveal the identity of a dragon when that dragon wants to stay hidden would certainly provoke its ire, and I could easily see someone using revenge as a way to let the word spread never to do that.

As far as plans with the dragon, I've already talked with HopeFox about it.

[kckolbe]

I think you can't go past the Ares Predator V for this situation. (Or any other. Ares Predator. Accept no substitutes!) It's got damage 8, and can be given 3 points of recoil compensation via gas venting. It only fires in semi-automatic mode, but that will let you fire a semi-automatic burst on one action, then Take Aim and fire a semi-automatic shot on your next action, without taking any recoil. It's also fairly concealable, being a heavy pistol. Importantly, it uses the Pistols skill, which means you can also use other pistols, such as light pistols or even holdouts when you need something ultra-concealable.

Does the recoil compensation apply to all pistols, though?  They all have recoil 0.  Can the smartgun feature be added to any weapon?  If so, I kind of like the Colt models, as they have the highest base accuracy. 

[AndyZ]

Recoil in SR5 is kinda funny.

Every bullet you fire until you take an action that isn't firing adds to your recoil.  Note that Taking Aim is an action that also resets your recoil.

You automatically get one point of recoil compensation, then another for every three points of Strength, rounded up.  Some modifiers give them also.

If you don't want to deal with recoil at all, take a Single Shot (SS) weapon, as opposed to SA, BF or FA.  SS weapons completely ignore recoil rules.  The Ruger Super Warhawk is SS, a heavy pistol revolver.  I'd at least strap a laser sight onto it, though.

[kckolbe]

Thanks!  How about the smartgun feature?

[Sain]

You can add smartgun to all. There's integral and underbarrel versions.

[Kimmy]

As far as plans with the dragon, I've already talked with HopeFox about it.

The GM has cohorts to plot against me already? It only took 72 hours this time! ^_^ I like the sound of not-great dragons... Since I thought dragons as a whole were scary enough. I didn't know you could get greater than normal dragons... *whimpers* I don't want to know the difference. Ignorance is bliss sometimes...

Does anyone know where I can find the trust fund trait? I'm guessing its a 4th ed reference (though I did find it mentioned in the 5th core book) It just seems appropriate to take.

On my character (I really need a name, I'm trying to hash that out) I've looked through the core book completely now. I think cyberware isn't something I want to focus on really (maybe a jack & some of the bioware looks pretty fun) but I can't really see a need nor interest in cyberware for my charrie. I have settled quite well with the idea of a rigger though. Maybe with some matrix hacking skills. I like the idea of a lonely girl breaking out of her isolation by 'borrowing' corporate equipment & exploring the city a little, spying on ordinary people & corporate staff like it's reality TV & such. Plus I can imagine her parents agreeing to buy her drones like they were just toys. And well, tinkering would be the next step. Though her mother certainly won't approve of oil stains on her dress at the dinner table.

[Drowdeviant]

I'm good with it being a dragon unless some other PCs have some preference against having a dragon taking an actual interest in the protags.  If we go with a dragon, though, I'll let you have the parents as a plot device contact for free.  The two should about balance out overall.

Though I do need to know what could cause two people to upset an actual dragon enough to want vengeance...

Insult them? Try to steal one of its' scales? Try to assassinate it? Make a deal to give it their daughter in exchange for a business partnership? (that has obviously fallen apart at the seams ;)).

One of the cardinal rules of shadowrunning after all is never cut a deal with a dragon. ;)

[Drowdeviant]

The GM has cohorts to plot against me already? It only took 72 hours this time! ^_^ I like the sound of not-great dragons... Since I thought dragons as a whole were scary enough. I didn't know you could get greater than normal dragons... *whimpers* I don't want to know the difference. Ignorance is bliss sometimes...

Does anyone know where I can find the trust fund trait? I'm guessing its a 4th ed reference (though I did find it mentioned in the 5th core book) It just seems appropriate to take.

On my character (I really need a name, I'm trying to hash that out) I've looked through the core book completely now. I think cyberware isn't something I want to focus on really (maybe a jack & some of the bioware looks pretty fun) but I can't really see a need nor interest in cyberware for my charrie. I have settled quite well with the idea of a rigger though. Maybe with some matrix hacking skills. I like the idea of a lonely girl breaking out of her isolation by 'borrowing' corporate equipment & exploring the city a little, spying on ordinary people & corporate staff like it's reality TV & such. Plus I can imagine her parents agreeing to buy her drones like they were just toys. And well, tinkering would be the next step. Though her mother certainly won't approve of oil stains on her dress at the dinner table.

Go to the run faster book Kimmy, its' one of the traits in there.

Pretty much it gives you a certain level of lifestyle and a certain amount of excess Nuyen you get as an allowance. Only two downsides is that you can't share the lifestyle you get with other PCs and the GM could take it away from you for story reasons(such as you get a warrant for your arrest due to a run).

[Drowdeviant]

You never know with dragons as their machinations are almost lovecraftian in their obscurity. Its best if you keep it mysterious.

Since we're going with dragon level things I might just dare to add some cheese as well and take that "experimental transhuman" quality from the chrome book.

Greatest example of Dragon scheming and their ability to be one of the scariest things in Shadowrun: Dunkelzahn's will(the only dragon to become president >:)). This passage says it:

For a period of ten days beginning on 14 February 2057, Lars J. Matthews will cease to possess any legal status. He will be stripped of all evidence of legal existence, including SIN, credsticks, DocWagon contract, bank accounts and so on. To the individual or group who ends Lars J. Matthews’ physical existence during those ten days, I leave all of Matthews’ assets and 1 million nuyen for a job well done. If Mr. Matthews survives and can prove his identity, his legal status and all possessions will be restored to him. Haven’t you heard? Never deal with a dragon, Lars.

Oh I'm thinking of taking experimental transhuman as well Sain.

[Sain]

Glorious. I'll link my WIP, tell me if you wanna sync anything.

S50 the monofilament assassin (Anyone's also free to copy the sheet if they wants to, though note that attributes only works for elf and skills only for rating A)

[kckolbe]

Trying to decide which corporation (or government) my char previously worked for and betrayed, and which org he "sold" to.  Room for tie-ins there.

[Empyrean]

I'm interested. I'm just reading up on the system now and I'm new to it. Ideas that have occured to me so far from skimming some of the books are an elven technomancer and a dryad ecoshaman of some kind. Or a pixie. They sound interesting. Lots of charisma and some useful skills. But I'm still learning the system and open to suggestions. :)

[Kimmy]

Thank you for all the help Drow Deviant! ^_^ I found what I'm chasing :)

Prototype Transhuman could be a theme for a runner group if it keeps being popular?

[Muse]

  HAven't encountered this yet.  ^_^  What is it? 

  Oh, Andy, it crossed my mind that, since Red Dot worked for Dunklezhan, and later the Draco Foundation, maybe his disapearence had to do with a rival dragon. 

[Drowdeviant]

  HAven't encountered this yet.  ^_^  What is it? 

  Oh, Andy, it crossed my mind that, since Red Dot worked for Dunklezhan, and later the Draco Foundation, maybe his disapearence had to do with a rival dragon.

It's a 10 karma trait that has you pick out 1 essence point worth of bioware that doesn't have an essence cost(though you have to pay for them and take a negative quality in return)

[kckolbe]

That does sound promising.  What kind of negative quality?

[HopeFox]

Hey guys! So, as AndyZ has said, I'll be helping him to run the game as an assistant GM.

To that end, my character, Ocelotl, will be acting mostly as a social intermediary, helping characters to get into the top tier social circles that the social side of the game is intended to focus on. She's an elf changeling with jaguar features (yellow and black spotted fur and a big kitty tail), who has been living the high life as a PR figure for the Aztec church, being touted as a "child of Tezcatlipoca". In between public appearances, she's a very well paid escort, and in between those jobs she sometimes arranges jobs for shadowrunners, as a combination fixer/Johnson. Anyone who wants to know her at the start can easily do so. She has a High lifestyle with all the trimmings, and no shortage of friends in high places who will let her tag along on Luxury outings, so I'm open to her having housemates! (I believe we've already been discussing that, Drowdeviant?) Oh, and she's Awakened, probably as a shaman focusing on Enchanting.

[kckolbe]

"In between public appearances, she's a very well paid escort, and in between those jobs she sometimes arranges jobs for shadowrunners, as a combination fixer/Johnson"

So in between being a johnson fixer, she works as a fixer/Johnson.  Got it.  Working tie ins right now with Sain/Drow for my character's corp betrayal.  Also looking at mutual instruction with Muse.  I imagine Muse's char will know yours, so I'll likely have an indirect tie there.

[Kimmy]

A name and a race are next on my list to sort out. Suggestions are welcome for a young charming rigger.

P.S. Hi Muse! It's good to see you poking your head in here :P

And here is that quality for those without the book:

PROTOTYPE TRANSHUMAN

(COST: 10 KARMA)
There are always rumors in the shadows of this or that megacorp or organization working to build an army of super soldiers. Those rumors always seem to persist, always seem to be around. Some choose to believe, others don’t, but for them, it’s a matter of opinion. For you, it’s a matter of fact. You are an extremely rare, genetically crafted, experimental post-human prototype. Unfortunately, this has its ups and downs. You were built better than a normal human, so you may pick up to 1 point of Essence of bioware (not cyberware). While you must pay the normal cost in nuyen of the bioware and otherwise follow all character creation rules, you do not incur any essence cost. So, essentially, you gain up to 1 point of free Essence to be used exclusively on bioware. These special organs were genetically grown into you from your inception—they are as much a natural part of you as your liver or heart.

However, the downside of being a rare, one-of-akind transhuman prototype is that, well, something is wrong with you. As part of this Quality, you must also pick one of the following negative qualities: Wanted, Allergy (Common, Mild), Astral Beacon, or Insomnia (10). You do not get the Karma bonus for this Negative Quality. This additional Negative Quality represents that you are either wanted back by your manufacturer, or that there is something wrong with you (them’s the breaks for being a prototype).
This quality can only be taken during character creation.

[kckolbe]

I think I'll pass on being trans, already low on money.  And my char is older, perhaps before it was even less common.

[Drowdeviant]

Hey guys! So, as AndyZ has said, I'll be helping him to run the game as an assistant GM.

To that end, my character, Ocelotl, will be acting mostly as a social intermediary, helping characters to get into the top tier social circles that the social side of the game is intended to focus on. She's an elf changeling with jaguar features (yellow and black spotted fur and a big kitty tail), who has been living the high life as a PR figure for the Aztec church, being touted as a "child of Tezcatlipoca". In between public appearances, she's a very well paid escort, and in between those jobs she sometimes arranges jobs for shadowrunners, as a combination fixer/Johnson. Anyone who wants to know her at the start can easily do so. She has a High lifestyle with all the trimmings, and no shortage of friends in high places who will let her tag along on Luxury outings, so I'm open to her having housemates! (I believe we've already been discussing that, Drowdeviant?) Oh, and she's Awakened, probably as a shaman focusing on Enchanting.

Well Ocelotl will have to let my character bring her sister(Sain's character) and her new plaything(Kimmy's character) along too. ;)

Maybe Ocelotl will have a fellow escort to either compete or team up with for all we know.

[HopeFox]

Well Ocelotl will have to let my character bring her sister(Sain's character) and her new plaything(Kimmy's character) along too. ;)

Maybe Ocelotl will have a fellow escort to either compete or team up with for all we know.

Oh, I'm not worried about competition, honey. There are plenty of men and women who can't afford me. And as weird as this sounds, some people aren't into the whole catgirl look. I know, hard to believe. I'm more than happy to share my expertise and my customer list. And to have your sister and pet as roommates.

[Drowdeviant]

Oh, I'm not worried about competition, honey. There are plenty of men and women who can't afford me. And as weird as this sounds, some people aren't into the whole catgirl look. I know, hard to believe. I'm more than happy to share my expertise and my customer list. And to have your sister and pet as roommates.

Mhmm ;). I think she'll like that very nicely. I think they'll all make quite group of dangerous women. >:)

[kckolbe]

So 2 elves, 1 catgirl, 1 satyr, all female, and all hot.  My char will be all kinds of distracted.  By the way, Drow, you should have a PM from Sain and I, feel free to chime in.

[Empyrean]

If I get accepted that might increase to 3 female elves, one female Dryad, or one female pixie. :p

[Drowdeviant]

If I get accepted that might increase to 3 female elves, one female Dryad, or one female pixie. :p

I for one vote for a pixie. Never know when you might need someone small to do all sorts of mischief >:)

[Empyrean]

Hm. I'm still learning the rules. Can Pixie technomancer be a thing? Or pixie mage?

[AndyZ]

Empyrean, let's put you as the last one on board.

Where do people want the threads?  Exotic looks necessary.

[Muse]

  I humbly request NC Exotic System, but I'm perfectly happy with light or bondage.  Extreme wouldn't' chase me away, either. 

Empyrean, Pixie's make GREAT mages, but cant' be technomancers.  If Pixie's haven't changed too much, they're best played as mages or adepts. 

They have some really high stats (not strength or body of course) and are just as lucky as humans. 

[Drowdeviant]

Empyrean, let's put you as the last one on board.

Where do people want the threads?  Exotic looks necessary.

Extreme >:)

[AndyZ]

Okay, not going to get any higher requests than Extreme.

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=234672.0