Beginning Shadowrunner Needs Advice..., Chargen Theory 101? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Rad]

I've been playing various RPGs for many years, but I'm still new to shadowrun. One differance I've noticed about the characters in SR4 is that they seem to be created with little room left for advancement in their primary abilities.

Mages are an exception, with initiation allowing them to raise magic pretty much indefinitely, but most mundane builds I see--including the sample characters--are pretty close to the maximum in their primary stats and skills right out of chargen.

For example, the street samurai on page 101 of the BBB (kudos to whoever arranged that, by the way) has his Agility, Automatics, and Unarmed Combat all at one point shy of their natural maximums--and he's already got some 'ware boosting those dicepools as well.

There's still some room for improvment through better equiptment, but it seems to me karma isn't going to make this guy much better at shooting or beating things up than he already is. Maybe +4 dice total, which averages out to a little more than 1 additional hit on tests?

That's another question I have. It seems like even with a thouroughly maxed-out dicepool, the total number of hits you're likely to get are obscenely low. A starting character with a skill and attribute of 5 is going to roll 10 dice, averaging a little more than 3 hits. Even at the upper limit, an average of 5-6 hits seems about all you can hope for, without spending edge. Considering how many things in SR4 are opposed tests dependent on net hits for the result, I have a hard time seeing how you can accomplish much of anything unless your opponent either rolls poorly or is seriously outclassed.

Since I'm going to be starting my first game soon, I wanted to get some input from more experienced players about how character design and advancement works in SR4. Is it normal to be "the best of the best" right out of the can and improve through gear and diversification rather than continuing to boost your primary abilities? Or do characters just not live that long in shadowrun? The rules seem to make improving your character through karma a much slower process than other rpgs, and the combat system is incredibly lethal, so are shadowrun characters just not expected to live long enough to get more than one or two bumps to their attributes/skills?

More importaintly, if I try to play a character who isn't a horribly min/maxed specialist (by other RPG's standards) is he going to get his hoop kicked and/or be absolutely useless compared to everyone else in the game? At what point does a character's dicepool hit the "you shouldn't be trying to do this" range?

For a system that claims to have no character classes, it sure seems hard to design anything other than a dedicated "hacker", "rigger", "face" or "ass-kicker" and maintain decent dicepools--though I guess that preserves the desperate, bleeding-edge feel of the game. ie: You've got to do one thing, and do it better than anybody else--you ain't got time for other interests.

[Ryu]

Play an ork with an ethnic background not present in the group so far. Judging from my group, hispanic will be a good choice. Call it a very weak form of a network of contacts.

One tour of duty in the military can provide most of the skills you might want / can get at 400 BP. Your one attempt at getting your own ass of the street, after previously being some kind of mini-fixer. Now you are back (unhonourable discharge?)

Look at Firearms 2 / Influence 4 / Electronics 3 / Stealth 2 / Athletics 1 / Outdoors 1 as a base, and consider starting with less than 200 BP in attributes. Cracking is notably absent, because at low levels of hacking you can use a mook instead. Bio-muscles and synthacardium are anyones friend; Martial Arts I (your choice, Sweep and Throw as Maneuvers) might be interesting, too.

Ork: 20 BP, Attributes 170+, Skills 130+, Ressources 50... should be workable. Interested in doing a complete build?