I've discovered that my character concepts seem to run more with the mohawk crowd than the sunglasses, though I'm perfectly willing to play an odd character in a pro style.

What sort of odd? Other players and the GM have given me a rough time about the fact that my current char has raptor legs, scale styled dermal plating, and a balance tail. Other concepts I have been considering, stand out about as much.

Any suggestions on how to better integrate a visually striking character such as obviously cybered, or a changeling, into a 'professional' looking group?

Well, considering the pros are doing it wrong? I mean, seriously..what the heck is punk about them?
If they have an issue with it, just point out that Shadowrun is a cyber*PUNK* setting, and they
should quit giving in to The Man, call 'em sell outs, stuff like that...I mean, that is what I do.

Well by fluff the striking look is actually not all that uncommon anymore, the people who have the money and the will will look like what they want, so not as hard as you might think, I mean fiberoptic hair is so common by 2070 no one even looks twice at it, for instance- and SURGElings are all about.

Sure you're going to get looks, and you won't have an easy time pretending to be say a normal sec guard to infiltrate a building, but thats the kinda stuff body modders deal with even today. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Shadow skulking and 'look an obvious distraction!' duties for you, and you know.. much more likely if you get spotted on a job, and they're alive and unbribed, you can be fingered for it.

I can see it now:


Orc with a glowing, fiber-optic mohawk, lots of tattoos, and leather with spikes in all the wrong paces runs into the lobby of the building, dances around and yells, "HEY LOOK, I'M A DISTRACTION! WOO-HOO!"

And as the CorpSec stands there having their WTF moment and staring at the orc, the rest of the group hurriedly walks through...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I wasn't thinking quite this blatant.

So what is wrong with your look? Mechanically your GM has nothing to say that your character stands out more in anyway than the others, the only thing left is GM discretion and personal bias. Nobody can really do anything about another person's bias.
Even someone like your PC who is fluff wise visually striking should not stand out anymore than black sunglasses suited sararimen. You did not get a Distinctive Style Negative Quality, did you?

Cardul not all of us care about the punk part of the game, so while yours is one option-it's not the only. In my own game Teknodragon would stick out like a sore thumb, and pretty much no one would take his character seriously. However that's not the issue here. Assuming the other players in your game and the GM are willing to work with you I'd say you have some options Tek. Just because your character likes to recreationally hang with the extreme body modification crowd, doesn't mean while on the job you have to act like a little kid.

A long duster, poor lighting, and good comm can mean you hang back alittle while the face character does their work. A calm professional demeanor in front of potential employers can help. "Mr. Johnson I understand your concern, please understand that I can't comment on why I've decided I need this particular set of personal upgrades, but please accept that they help me do my job."

In the end however it comes down to fun. Can your version of fun be compatible with everyone elses?

Are you playing SR4?

If so, the raptor legs are modular and you got the replacement ones when you bought the limb. So your legs can keep a low profile if they need to.

As for the balance tail, I have always thought of it having a retracted position when not in use, if only to make your sitting in a plane or car comfortable. A guy with a SURGEd tail would not be so lucky.

This only leaves the dermal plating, but it is a false problem: don't tell me your so-called professional buddies go on a run without a hood anyway? Once you're dressed, it doesn't show up.

@toturi:

I think Augmentation states that non human-looking modifications can bring social modifiers in the same way as obvious SURGE.

It depends on where you play, but if you play in Seattle, it's clearly stated that there are a lot of freaks out there. Having raptor legs, balance tail and scaled dermal plating won't get you any weird looks. The only drawback is that it might make it easier to identify you but people won't be looking for you too often (once the run is over, people will rarely spend all the resources it takes to find a runner) and when it happens you can always change or hide your style.

Being a professional isn't about looking like one, but acting like one.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^this!!

i'd trust the freaks more than i would trust the suits, man. they run around acting all cool and professional, but that's shady, like they got something to hide. hell its kinda hard to tell them apart from the cops sometimes, ain't it? but the guy with the tail, man, you know he's legit. what kinda cop has a tail dude?

i remember back when your "raptor" cyberlegs used to be called Kid Stealth legs, and for a good reason. Kid Stealth was a slick machine, man, and maybe some people cared that he looked like a FREAK and all, but whether or not they CARED didn't mean he killed people any less good.

check out warren ellis's short comic series "Mek," it's a good exploration of cyber-fetish culture that makes it all seem not-so freaky. because it shouldn't be.

Each to their own. Luckily this is just a play-style thing, which all boils down to personal preference. And luckily Shadowrun has room for a variety of styles.

SR4 specifically says that infected freaks get a big social penalty whenever dealing with someone who knows they are infected and is afraid of it. Even this just comes down to like 4 penalty dice.

You dont look as freaky as an infected, and your problem is not contagious. On the contrary, on the streets I would think obvious mods may help you gain a little credibility if you are selling your services as Muscle.

As a GM, if your character was trying to fit in at an upperclass party he may get a 4 penalty, or maybe a 2 penalty when trying to fit in with average folks, but in the Barrens and when dealing with Street and Criminal NPCs, it would not be a bad thing to be raptor-leg-tailed-scaley.

I'd trust the guys running about in body form armor, preferably with ruthenium coating, more than I'd trust the freak. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I get odd characters to fit just like I get odd objects to fit.

If force doesn't work, I get a hammer. If that doesn't work, I get a bigger hammer.

If that doesn't work, I get a heavier hammer, and a Troll Weightlifter.

Sure you might get distinctive style and the freak flaw, but otherwise go for it.

No one says everyone has to see your entire group and truthfully that is why you have a face in the group to handle social interactions. Your face is the professional side of the group. It may mean you pass up some jobs or left out of others, but overall if stealth and discretion are required then if you sneak around carefully enough there shouldn't be a problem.

To reply in general...

The character's attitude is the team's most professional, next to the samurai. He doesn't do blatantly stupid drek, aside from the sometimes newbie mistake. I plan on continuing to play that way, regardless of character looks. As a number of you have pointed out, cyberpunk and professionalism is about attitude, first and foremost. As a mix between hacker and melee brawler, he'll not be doing face-work. His job is to stay in his van and provide Matrix overwatch, an armored getaway, or a backup brawler.

The next character I'm working on, while odd, will be playing down their differences. Strange in a 'this is what I am,' but not the sort to just wave it at everyone. My idea is to have the actual character with history, step away some from the flat archetypes and typical looks, so it feels less like an MMO or the like.

Regarding raptor legs in specific, I've even been given grief for the fact that I /can/ swap them out for more normal looking limbs!

Perhaps the better question I should be asking, then, is how best to project a character's professional attitude with regard to shadowrunning, supporting the semi-noir atmosphere that seems to be preferred and respected.

Just make an AI character that uses a Tachikoma as its home node.

Honestly from this it sounds like you're doing fine, and its the rest of your group that has the problem.
~TDG

Show them some of the artwork from older editions and tell them that they are having bad-wrong-fun by not bowing before the altar of the Pink Mohwak. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

Odd characters?

What a weird idea... that characters in Shadowrun can be "Odd".

Its a Transhumanist/ Cyberteck/ Magical setting. Elves Dwarves Orcs Trolls and "Furries" are among the avalaible races. Yes your character is recognisable but so everyones DNA and without hair you'll be leaving less of that behind then the rest of the team.

Yes you can be distinctive, but if you think you are the only runner with the infamous "Kid Stealth" legs you are high on the Nova Coke. Scales might be a bit odd unless they are currently in fasion - this peaks during the summer. Fur is favour in the moding crowds in winter with the fall seeing feathers in use with many of the moders going for good old skin come the spring as a kind of "rebirth".

Ok this is alot more transhumanist then I tend to run with it but the point is its a matter of taste. I think I'm changing the way I'm running it... this sounds AWESOME!

The prime rule of Shadowrun is "Thou Shalt Not Get Caught".

Frankly, even if they're recognised, it would just be another reason for the Corporation that got hit to hire them anyhow. They ARE part of the 'Runner's Resume.

I really have to wonder... would claiming to be a distraction be a good way to create a distraction for yourself? They guards would instantly run off looking for who you are trying to cover for... and leave you all on your own (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

As for looking out of place... it really depends on where you are. If your trying to sneak into a business place you might really stand out, but most other places... mods are common enough that it'll just be "Some guy with some mods, I don't remember, I saw like a hundred of them on my way to work this morning."

I had it work to my advantage in a graded fencing match I was in. I pointed and yelled, "Hey look: a distraction!"... and he looked... Try it sometime, the point is to be convincing with the "hey look." It's a fun social experiment.

Just get a mage friend with trid phantasm. Then you can appease both sides of the argument (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Or show them the art at the beginning of SR4A (I don't remember the exact page) and tell them that you can have both a pink mohawk AND a black trenchcoat.