SR5 Preview #3, In which is discussed character generation Options

[Patrick Goodman]

Here it is.

This should be interesting to watch....

[BigMrE]

I'll be honest, I'm sooooo not excited about the return of the priority system. I never liked it previously. Kind of just glanced over the preview after I saw that.

[Black Swan]

I'll be honest, I'm sooooo not excited about the return of the priority system. I never liked it previously. Kind of just glanced over the preview after I saw that.

I'm totally opposite. I loved it.

[The_Dood]

Love that the priority system is back and overall it looks like a solid character generation system will be in 5E.

Any word on if the 21 questions will be back?

[Seerow]

Just reading through, but had to stop to comment on this:

Trolls pay 50% more for all gear, including cyber/bio?

lmao, goodbye troll characters.

[BigMrE]

I'm just hoping it's not going to lead to a lot of cookie cutter type characters that I remember from the other priority system.

I have to say that I really liked the flexibility that the point buy system gave, not being limited to where or how I could spend my points based on the priority system. But that's just my opinion.

[Black Swan]

I'm just hoping it's not going to lead to a lot of cookie cutter type characters that I remember from the other priority system.

It was only a cookie cuter type character generation system if you let it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Black Swan]

The more I look into it, the more I like it. It's starting to feel more and more like old Shadowrun....


I think I messed myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)


Can I hope for a return of the skill web and alocatable dice pools?

[BigMrE]

It was only a cookie cuter type character generation system if you let it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That's true, but I don't like that you're told how many points you can spend where. That's really my main objection to it.

[Black Swan]

That's true, but I don't like that you're told how many points you can spend where. That's really my main objection to it.

Don't look at it as being told what to do, but rather someone just trying to help. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I suspect there will be qualities that you can buy that may adjust this.

[Black Swan]

My guess is that a lot of players complained about taking too long to make a character with the point system, so they made the priority system the default system again, and the point buy system will come back in a companion. Unfortunately you will have to wait. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Mantis]

I also don't like the priority system. It was innovative when it first came out in 1989. There have been better ways to do it since. I hope they include an alternative build system in the book or else get an alternative build system out pronto. For me this is a big turn off. And here I was getting excited by what I saw in the previous preview. Blah.

[Black Swan]

OK, I'm seeing grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Who do I inform?

Pg. 62

"The sidebar Common Character Concepts and their
Roles Explained gives you a snapshot of the character
types your most likely to find in the shadows."

Should read: "The sidebar Common Character Concepts and their
Roles Explained gives you a snapshot of the character
types you're most likely to find in the shadows."

[BigMrE]

But I am, by what priority I put certain things at. If I make Skills my highest priority, I get the 46 points there, and now I have to decide between attributes, racial bonus and nuyen (or magic if you want to play a mage).

And by cookie cutter previously, I meant that all spellcasters that make Priority A have a magic of 6, 2 magic skills at 5 and 10 spells. I no longer have the choice of making a non-aspected mage with a magic of 5.

I understand that it makes it easier for new players to get going and in the game faster, I (like I stated before) just like the level of customization that point buy offered.

[BigMrE]

I also don't like the priority system. It was innovative when it first came out in 1989. There have been better ways to do it since. I hope they include an alternative build system in the book or else get an alternative build system out pronto. For me this is a big turn off. And here I was getting excited by what I saw in the previous preview. Blah.

Same here. Love the idea of limits, but really don't like the priority system.

[BigMrE]

My guess is that a lot of players complained about taking too long to make a character with the point system, so they made the priority system the default system again, and the point buy system will come back in a companion. Unfortunately you will have to wait. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

It is also the system that will be used for Missions as well, according to the Shadowrun Missions Facebook page.

"Want to start thinking and planning your new Shadowrun 5th Edition character? The new SR5 Preview has a large portion of the new Priority Chargen system that Shadowrun (And Missions) will be using. YOu won't be able to completely build a character, but it'll give you a much better idea of what you're looking at. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) "

[Seerow]

Okay so guys, am I reading this wrong, or are Mystic Adepts totally awesome now?

You give up Astral Perception (can be bought back) and Projection, but in exchange you get to gain 1 PP for a 2 karma expenditure, capped at your magic. I'm not seeing any other downside. This is a huge buff compared to having to split your magic between casting and adept PP. Is there something here I'm missing?

[The_Dood]

But I am, by what priority I put certain things at. If I make Skills my highest priority, I get the 46 points there, and now I have to decide between attributes, racial bonus and nuyen (or magic if you want to play a mage).

And by cookie cutter previously, I meant that all spellcasters that make Priority A have a magic of 6, 2 magic skills at 5 and 10 spells. I no longer have the choice of making a non-aspected mage with a magic of 5.

I understand that it makes it easier for new players to get going and in the game faster, I (like I stated before) just like the level of customization that point buy offered.

From my understanding you can make a non-aspected mage with magic 5 with this system as the metatype choice comes with special attribute points. e.g C for Magic / D for Human(3)

[Black Swan]

Okay so guys, am I reading this wrong, or are Mystic Adepts totally awesome now?

You give up Astral Perception (can be bought back) and Projection, but in exchange you get to gain 1 PP for a 2 karma expenditure, capped at your magic. I'm not seeing any other downside. This is a huge buff compared to having to split your magic between casting and adept PP. Is there something here I'm missing?

I'm hoping there's something you are missing. Sounds crazy powerful. All I can picture is a group of mystic adepts. lol

[Black Swan]

It would be nice to see it come with a character generation program.

[Patrick Goodman]

It would be nice to see it come with a character generation program.

It's my understanding that the nice people at Wolf's Lair are working on the SR5 package for Hero Lab just as fast as they can.

[Seerow]

Also is there any explanation in the packet of what the skill column means? The first number is most likely number of skill ranks you have, but the second number that only kicks in at high end I'm curious about. Is that maybe skill groups? (So priority A skills gets 10 ranks in skill groups plus 46 ranks in skills).



Also anyone else notice that they mention the limits but still managed to avoid giving us the limit formulas? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/indifferent.gif)



Unrelated: I do like the idea of metatypes gaining bonus "special" attributes if you buy them above their value. Being able to get Human at C and put 5 extra points into Edge is kind of cool. Not sure however how I feel about Dwarf starting automatically with 1 special attribute because they were overbudgeted for the D ranking. I'd rather see them either buffed so they don't need that +1 attribute to be balanced at C, or nerfed so they can fit in at D.

[Bull]

Also note that while yes, your basic points are determined by your Priorities, you do get "Freebie Points" (to borrow a White Wolf term) in the form of extra karma to modify your character with at Chargen. This is primarily used to buy Qualities, but any negative qualities increase your freebie Karma as well. So if you need an extra point or two in something, you can dip into that pool. (Page 64, and page 71)

(And as a note, this is a far from complete Chargen chapter. There's a bunch of stuff after Qualities that isn't in the preview).

Bull

[Patrick Goodman]

Also is there any explanation in the packet of what the skill column means? The first number is most likely number of skill ranks you have, but the second number that only kicks in at high end I'm curious about. Is that maybe skill groups? (So priority A skills gets 10 ranks in skill groups plus 46 ranks in skills).

Got it in one.

Also anyone else notice that they mention the limits but still managed to avoid giving us the limit formulas? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/indifferent.gif)

It comes up later. They have to save something for later....

[Black Swan]

Also note that while yes, your basic points are determined by your Priorities, you do get "Freebie Points" (to borrow a White Wolf term)

I thought of the same thing as soon as I read it. The great thing is, this is cool Shadowrun and not lame White Wolf . lol