Optional Rule: Building the Metavariants (In Progress), A flat, objective build system to create the various races Options

[Jhaiisiin]

So there's been a lot of talk on Dumpshock about the varied races and options introduced in Runners Companion, and a number of people have felt as if the costs associated were too arbitrary or subjective. Often amorphous factors were "Rarity" or to others "cool factor" or sometimes just how overpowering something felt. I made mention of the idea of tooling up the races based on their pure attributes and abilities. Harder than I thought at first, because many things were associated with different races as powers, or native abilities or whatnot. Not to mention there is no system in place for choosing to have a racial maximum on a specific attribute go up or down significantly. That said, I present to you the Optional Rule: Building the Metavariants.

I've tried to be as objective as I can, weighing the importance and power level of each ability, power or whatever. If you disagree, feel free to say so. However, I'll be honest on one major point. If you disagree just because you don't like it, but offer no reasonable, logical explanation as to why, I'll ignore you completely and move on to the next person. I don't mind being proven wrong on things, nor do I mind changing the information presented herein, but I frankly won't listen or tolerate people whining because I didn't make the cost 0 for being uber.

That said, here comes the information. I'm going to try to reserve the first few replies on this topic so that I can present all the information without breaks. If you see that I haven't posted "That's it!", please refrain from responding yet. I appreciate it.

Build your Metatype

In an effort to build a more fantastical world, you can instead choose to base metatypes off of predetermined abilities, creating the varied metatypes in game with different costs, or even giving slight variations to existing types (Such as an Elf with Thermographic instead of Low-Light vision). Each race will have standard “abilities� represented by metagenic qualities. These qualities do not count toward the 35 point maximum positive and negative qualities selected during character generation, but instead count as regular items to be purchased with build points. Where appropriate, I have simply adopted abilities and their values from the books, and those are noted with page references to assist players and gamemasters with using them.

Realize that these rules make selecting a race potentially more time-consuming and complex, due to having to select what you want on your race. There are predefined races, with predefined abilities. A simple retooling of the existing core and variant races in Shadowrun to date, if you will. You will also note that a race may now be more expensive before, given the vast abilities it possesses. Others, by contrast, may be far less expensive, due to a lack of the “rarity� component, described below.

One component that the SR4 core rules include are a hit or bonus based on the relative rarity of a race in the Shadowrun universe. This rarity is more a subjective thing, and thus much harder to quantify. You will however find some rules below that will help you create or lessen that rare effect on a race.

First, the races available and their abilities, then I’ll get to the abilities themselves with either explanations or page references to those already in existence.

Basic Races

CODE

BP    Metatype      BOD      AGI      REA      STR      CHA      INT      LOG      WIL       INI        EDG     MAG*

0       Human      1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   2/7(10)   0/6
    Human Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Edge), Common

35      Ork       4/9(13)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)  3/8(12)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)    0/6
Ork Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodyx3, Strx2), Metagenic Deficiency (Cha, Log), Low Light Vision

35      Elf        1/6(9)  2/7(10)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)  3/8(12)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)    0/6
Elf Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Agi, Chax2), Low-light Vision

50      Troll     5/10(15)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)  5/10(15)  1/4(6)   1/5(7)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   2/11(16)   1/6(9)    0/6
Troll Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodx4, Strx4), Metagenic Deficiency (Agi, Chax2, Int, Log), Thermographic Vision, Dermal armor (1) , Improved Reach

55      Dwarf     2/7(10)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/7(10)  2/12(18)   1/6(9)    0/6
Dwarf Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Body, Strx2, Will), Metagenic Deficiency (Rea), Thermographic Vision, Resistance to Pathogens/Toxins (2)

*Note: Any non-magical creature will start with a magic rating of 0, unless they buy an appropriate magical quality granting them their first point. Magical creatures start with a base 1 point which can be raised normally. They do not get the bonus magic point from magical qualities, as it’s already included in the cost of the creature.

Metavariants

The Metavariant races all begin with the same basic stats as the basic race they’re spawned from, though there can be some difference as to the actual abilities possessed by the metavariant in question.

CODE

BP   Metatype       BOD      AGI      REA      STR      CHA      INT      LOG      WIL       INI       EDG     MAG*

**Human Metavariant**
20   Nartaki       1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   2/7(10)  0/6
Nartaki Metatype Abilities: Metagenic Improvement (Edge), Shiva Arms, Striking Skin Pigmentation

**Dwarf Metavariants**
55   Harumen       2/7(10)  2/7(10)  1/5(7)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/7(10)  2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Harumen Metatype Abilities: Metagenic Improvement (Body, Strx2, Will, Agi), Metagenic Deficiency (Rea), Low-Light Vision, Monkey Paws, Prehensile Tail, Unusual Hair (Body Hair)

55   Koborokuru    2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/5(7)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/7(10)  2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Koborokuru Metatype Abilities: Metagenic Improvement (Body, Strx2, Will), Metagenic Deficiency (Rea), Thermographic Vision, Celerity, Resistance to Pathogens/Toxins (2), Unusual Hair

60   Gnome         2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/5(7)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/7(10)  2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Gnome Metatype Abilities: Metagenic Improvement (Body, Strx2, Will), Metagenic Deficiency (Rea), Thermographic Vision, Arcane Arrester, Neoteny

60   Menehune      2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/5(7)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/7(10)  2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Menehune Metatype Abilities: Metagenic Improvement (Body, Strx2, Will), Metagenic Deficiency (Rea), Thermographic Vision, Resistance to Pathogens/Toxins (2), Underwater Vision

**Elf Metavarients**
15   Night One     1/6(9)   2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Night One Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Agi, Chax2), Low-light Vision, Allergy (Sunlight, Mild), Keen-eared, Nocturnal, Unusual Hair (Colored fur)

20   Xapiri Thëpë  1/6(9)   2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Xapiri Thëpë Metatype Abilities:  Allergy (choose pollutant, Mild), Allergy(choose 2nd pollutant, Mild), Low Light Vision, Photometabolism.

40   Dryad         1/6(9)   2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Dryad Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Agi, Chax2), Low-light Vision, Glamour, Symbiosis

45   Wakyambi      1/6(9)   2/7(10)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Wakyambi Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Agi, Chax2), Low-light Vision, Celerity, Elongated Limbs

30   Hobgoblin     4/9(13)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Hobgoblin Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodyx3, Strx2), Metagenic Deficiency (Cha, Log), Low Light Vision, Fangs, Poor Self Control: Vindictive

**Ork Metavariants**
30   Oni           4/9(13)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Oni Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodyx3, Strx2), Metagenic Deficiency (Cha, Log), Low Light Vision, Striking Skin Pigmentation

40   Ogre          4/9(13)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Ogre Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodyx3, Strx2), Metagenic Deficiency (Cha, Log), Low Light Vision, Ogre Stomach

45   Satyr         4/9(13)  1/6(9)   1/6(9)   3/8(12)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)   1/6(9)   1/5(7)   2/12(18)   1/6(9)   0/6
Satyr Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodyx3, Strx2), Metagenic Deficiency (Cha, Log), Low Light Vision, Satyr Legs

**Troll Metavariant**
40   Cyclops      5/10(15)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)  6/11(16)  1/4(6)   1/5(7)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   2/11(16)   1/6(9)   0/6
Cyclops Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodx4, Strx5), Metagenic Deficiency (Agi, Chax2, Int, Log), Improved Reach, Cyclopean Eye

50   Giant        5/10(15)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)  5/10(15)  1/4(6)   1/5(7)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   2/11(16)   1/6(9)   0/6
Troll Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodx4, Strx4), Metagenic Deficiency (Agi, Chax2, Int, Log), Thermographic Vision, Dermal Alteration (Bark) , Improved Reach

55   Minotaur     6/11(16)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)  5/10(15)  1/4(6)   1/5(7)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   2/11(16)   1/6(9)   0/6
Troll Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodx5, Strx4), Metagenic Deficiency (Agi, Chax2, Int, Log), Thermographic Vision, Improved Reach, Goring Horns

75   Fomori       6/11(16)  1/5(7)   1/6(9)  5/10(15)  1/4(6)   1/5(7)   1/5(7)   1/6(9)   2/11(16)   1/6(9)   0/6
Troll Metatype Abilities:  Metagenic Improvement (Bodx5, Strx4), Metagenic Deficiency (Agi, Chax2, Int, Log), Thermographic Vision, Improved Reach, Arcane Arrester