The Sample Character Archive REDUX, Karmagen and SR4A Options

[Tyro]

The old character archive used BPgen, which I hate, and originated before the Anniversary Edition. Once more with feeling, people!

Please feel free to suggest improvements to my (or others') builds. I'll repost the final versions up front. If for some reason I fail to post or update your build, send me a PM.

Build should be one of the following:

* 750 Karma with German errata.

* 600 Karma with German errata, max avail. 8, no restricted gear, max natural attributes 5 + racial modifiers, max skill 3 with two 4's or one 5, max base starting cash 150k (no born rich, in debt allowed but gives no points), max magic 4, max edge 4/5 for humans, max Connection rating for contacts of 3 (the low power option)

I don't want you to worry about equivalent power levels. In fact, I want a good spread - show people different approaches to building characters, including the use of house rules. Just don't get too cheesy, and document any deviations from RAW as it's commonly understood.

State any special rules you used when building (for example, I use SR3 availability modifiers for 'wares - you can start with Beta, but Alpha is +2 availability, Beta +4, and Delta +10; remember that delta clinics have an Availability of 24).

Instead of just updating old archetypes, I'd like to start fresh. Here's one of my personal favorites:


The Rigger Samurai (Credit to Tyro):

"Say hello to my little friends."

"Bogeys at five o'clock, 150 meters and closing fast. Intercepting."

"Target identified. Engaging now."

[ Spoiler ]

In the shadows, paranoia is a survival trait, and having someone else between you and the other guys improves your life expectancy dramatically. In most teams, that someone is the party's combat monster, usually an ork or troll who can take a few hits and hopefully kill the other guys before he goes down. This ork wants to live long enough to retire, and is smart enough to have realized he doesn't have to be a bullet sponge in order to protect his friends. Instead of focusing on combat alone like a typical sammy, he uses augmented senses, drone recon, and finely honed paranoia to avoid combat altogether when possible.

DESIGNER NOTES: The stereotypical street samurai is good at combat and not much else. This leads to a very boring time out of combat, and spotlight hogging when combat breaks out. The rigger samurai isn't actually a rigger per se; he's a sense-sammy who uses drones to augment his recon and combat capabilities. This one uses a Steel Lynx named Fenrir for combat support and ruthenium-coated Dragonflies to spy ahead.

Built with the following houserules:

*SR3 ware availability modifiers (Alpha +2, Beta +4, Beta allowed at chargen)
*Race as BP cost x 2
*Free knowledge skill karma equal to 6 x (INT + LOG)
*Black market pipeline gives a +4 boost to allowed starting availability
*In Debt gives no Karma (0-point Quality)

BREAKDOWN (750 Karma)
Core Attributes: 255
Special Attributes: 45
Race (Ork): 40
Active Skills: 226
Knowledge Skills: 38 (110/72 free)
Qualities: 0 (70/-70)
Contacts: 34
Resources: 120

=Attributes=

Body: 6
Agility: 4
Reaction: 4 [6]
Strength: 4
Charisma: 2
Intuition: 4
Logic: 2 [4]
Willpower: 3
Edge: 4

Essence: 0.580
Initiative: 8 [12]
Initiative Passes: 2
Physical Damage Track: 11
Stun Track: 10


=Qualities=

Biocompatability (Cyberware)
Black Market Pipeline (Wares)
Born Rich
School of Hard Knocks
------------------------
In Debt (30k)
------------------------
Addiction (Moderate; Betameth)
Compulsive (Mild; checking his surroundings for threats, both with his own enhanced senses and through drone feeds)
Cyberpsychosis
Paranoid
Weak Immune System


=Active Skills=

Athletics Group 2
Armorer 2
Automatics 3 (Assault Rifles +2)
Automotive Mechanic 2 (Drones +2)
Close Combat Group 2
Commputer 2 (Command +2)
Demolitions 3
Dodge 3 (Ranged +2)
Electronic Warfare 1 (Jamming +2)
First Aid 2 (Combat Wounds +2)
Hardware 3 (Maglocks +2)
Infiltration 4 (Urban +2)
Influence Group 2
Perception 4 (Olfactory +2)
Pilot Ground Craft 2 (Wheeled +2)


=Knowledge Skills=

<Languages>
English: N
Japanese: 2

<Street>
Corp (Security Companies) 2 [3] (Freelance Security Gigs +2)
Criminal (Mafia) 2 [3]
Criminal (Vory) 2 [3]
Criminal (Yakuza) 3 [4]
Hangouts (Criminal) 2 [3]
Politics (Underworld) 4 [5]
Procedure (Security) 2 [3]
Regional (Seattle) 3 [4]

<Academic>
Chemistry 2
Medicine 2 (Transhumanism +2)
Economics 2
Physics 2

<Professional>
Engineering 2 (Electrical +2)
Magic Knowledge 2
Psychology 2 (Applied +2)
Security Design 2 (Improvised +2)

<Interests>
Conspiracy Theories 1 (Credible +2)
Security Systems 3 (Corporate +3)


=Cyberware=

Attention Coprocessor R3
Datajack (Engraved)
Dermal Plating R3
Internal Air Tank [Alpha]
Move-by-Wire System R1
Tooth compartment, breakable + 1 dose Nitro

Eyeband R3
>Eye Light System
>Flare Compensation
>Image Link/Recorder
>Low-Light Vision
>Microscopic Vision
>Protective Covers
>Thermographic Vision
>Vision Magnification

Cyberears R1
>Damper
>Increased Sensitivity
>Sound Link/Recorder
>Spatial Recognizer

Modular Synthetic Lower Arm, Left
>Snake Fingers
>Olfactory Booster R3
>Scanner System R2

Built-in Medkit Lower Arm, Left R6 (a houseruled variant of the Built-In Medkit Hand at the same price)
Built-in Utility Kit Lower Arm, Left

=Bioware=

Bone Density Augmentation R2
Cerebral Booster R2
Reflex Recorder (Dodge)
Trauma Dampener


=Contacts=

Arms & Equipment Dealer (Guns, ammo, drones, vehicles, drone & vehicle parts, etc.) L4/C4
Shadow Doc/Drug Dealer (A reliable connection for both high-end cyberware and high-purity drugs) L5/C4 [Black Market Pipeline]


=Lifestyle=

Total LP: 7 (1100/month)
Paid up for 2 months

Comforts 2
Entertainment 2
Necessities 3
Neighborhood 1
Security 3

Network Bottleneck -1
Rough Neighborhood -1
Trigger-Happy Landlord -1
Worse Neighbors -1


=Equipment=

<ID/Credsticks>
Fake SIN R4 w/ Fake Move-by-Wire Registration R4 (Has real biometrics on file; shows him to be a former merc)
Fake SIN R3 (False biometrics)
Fake SIN R2 (False biometrics)

<Armor>
FFBA Half-Body Suit
Urban Explorer Jumpsuit
>Chemical Protection 2
>Gel Packs
>Nonconductivity 3
Helmet (1/2)
Forearm Guards
Leg & Arm Casings
Shin Guards
Vitals Protector

<Weapons>
Ceramic Knife
Hardliner Gloves
Survival Knife
Vibro Blade Knife

Ares Alpha ("Vera")
>Adv. Safety Electro Shocker
>Airburst Link
>Folding Stock (Powered)
>Gas Vent 3 (Barrel)
>Skinlink
>2 clips of 42 normal bullets

FN P93 Praetor E ("Backup")
>Adv. Safety Electro Shocker
>Easy Breakdown (Manual)
>Folding Stock (Powered)
>Gas Vent 3 (Barrel)
>Skinlink
>Smartgun System, External Top Mount
>1 clip of 50 normal bullets

Ares MP-LMG ("Fenrir's Tooth")
>Smartgun System, External Top Mount
>Smartgun Camera Ultrasound Upgrade
>Underbarrel Weapon (Ares Antioch-2 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher)
>1 box of 250 normal bullets
>8 Mini High Explosive Grenades

<Vehicles>
Renault-Fiat 264 "Fattorina"
>Anti-Theft System
>Drone Rack (Large)
>Morphing License Plate
>Run Flat Tires (4)
>Smuggling Compartment, Shielded
>Spoof Chip
>Used (Degradation)
>Vehicle Tag Eraser

Steel Lynx ("Fenrir")
>Ammo Bin
>Nonconductivity R6
>Smoke Projector
>Extra Autosofts: Clearsight 4, Covert Ops 4
>Ares MP-LMG ("Fenrir's Tooth")

Cyberspace Designs Dragonfly x2
>Chameleon Coating
>Extra Autosofts: Maneuver 3, Clearsight 3, Covert Ops 3

Lone Star iBall (Offensive Model)

<Commlink & Software>
Novatech Airware w/ Magadyne Deva
>Response 5
>Signal 5
>Firewall 6
>System 4
>Armor Case 4
>Biometric Lock
>Environmental Resistance
>Optimization (Encrypt)
>Self-Destruct (Local)

Data Bomb R4
ECM R4
Analyze R3
Browse R3
Command R4
Edit R3
Encrypt R5
Scan R4

<Other>
Smart Jammer, Area R4
Automotive Mechanic Kit
Demolitions Kit
Hardware Kit
Betameth Pills x12
Biomonitor
Medkit R6
Antidote Patch x4
Stimulant Patch R4 x6
Stimulant Patch R6 x4
Trauma Patch x1
Standard Rope 100m x3
Stealth Rope 100m x2
Catalyst Stick
Climbing Gear
Mini Smoke Grenade x3
Mini Thermal Smoke Grenade x1
Smoke Grenade x3
Thermal Smoke Grenade x1
Plastic Restraints x20
Glue Sprayer

The Face (Credit to Glyph):

"I can help you with that. I know someone who knows someone."

"Come on. There's no need for this hostility. I'm sure we can come to a working arrangement that everyone will be happy with."

"He was lying to us. Yeah, I know. Biiig surprise."

[ Spoiler ]

The most successful runners know how important it is to have someone personable and non-threatening to represent the team for delicate negotiations. The face is a social chameleon who can blend in anywhere. Digging for information, bartering for favors, and soothing ruffled egos, the face helps his team negotiate the treacherous terraign of the shadows. When intrigue, double-dealing, and betrayal lurk at every turn, it's good to have the face on your side.

DESIGNER NOTES:
This is a face who is more concerned about blending in, so I didn't take things like glamour (very distinctive), or tailored pheromones (illegal 'ware). This is a traditional face, combining social skills with lots of languages, the ability to disguise himself, high perception, decent data search ability, and an extensive network of contacts.

BREAKDOWN (750 Karma)
Core Attributes: 295
Special Attributes: 70
Race (Human): 0
Active Skills: 180
Knowledge Skills: 55
Qualities: 0
Contacts: 100
Resources: 50

=Attributes=
Body: 3
Agility: 3
Reaction: 3
Strength: 2
Charisma: 5
Intuition: 4
Logic: 3
Willpower: 5
Edge: 2
Magic: 5(4)

Essence: 5.00
Initiative: 7
Initiative Passes: 1
Physical Damage Track: 10
Stun Track: 11

Current Karma: 0
Total Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Noteriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0

=Qualities=
Adept
Analytical Mind
Erased (Level: 1)
First Impression
Linguist
Perceptive (Level: 2)
------------------------
Allergy: Silver, Moderate
Combat Paralysis
Nano-Intolerance

=Active Skills=
Computer: 1
Data Search: 3
Dodge: 3
First Aid: 2
Influence Skill Group: 4
Intimidation/Interrogation: 2/+2
Perception/Visual: 4/+2
Pilot Ground Vehicle/Wheeled: 1/+2
Pistols/Semi-Automatic: 2/+2
Stealth Skill Group: 3

=Knowledge Skills=
Languages>
English: N
Japanese: 4(6)
Korean: 4(6)
Spanish: 4(6)

Other>
Corporate Politics: 2
Psychology: 4
Underworld Politics: 3

=Adept Powers=
Commanding Voice
Facial Sculpt: 3
Kinesics: 3
Linguistics
Melanin Control
Multi-tasking
Sustenance

=Cyberware=
Commlink (details under Gear)
Cybereyes II with:
>Flare Compensation
>Low-Light Vision
>Vision Magnification
>Visual Enhancement: 3
Datajack
Sim Module

=Bioware=
Clean Metabolism
Mnemonic Enhancer: 2
Vocal Range Enhancer

=Contacts=
Arms Dealer (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 3)
Bartender (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Cascade Ork Smuggler (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Club Hopper (Connection: 1/Loyalty: 1)
Company Man/Horizon (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 1)
Data Broker (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Fixer (Connection: 5/Loyalty: 4)
Gang Leader (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Mafia Consiglieri (Connection: 3/Loyalty: 3)
Mechanic/Chop Shop Operator (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Street Doc (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 3)

=Lifestyle=
Custom: all Middle, except Entertainment and Security (both High); Quiet Neighborhood and Hasty Exit qualities: 10,000 Nuyen/Month (1 Month prepaid)
Starting Money: 1200 Nuyen plus 4d6 x 100 Nuyen

=Equipment=
ID/Credsticks:
Fake SIN (Rating: 4) with Fake Gun Registration (Rating: 4) and Fake Concealed Carry Permit (Rating: 4)
2 spare Fake SINs (both Rating: 2); 4 Certified Credsticks.

DocWagon Contract:
Basic (1 Year)

Vehicle:
Rover Model 2068 SUV

Weapons:
Yamaha Pulsar Taser with concealable holster, 40 taser darts.

Morrissey Alta heavy pistol with concealable holster, 120 rounds of gel ammo, and 8 spare clips.

Armor/Clothing:
FFBA shirt, Actioneer Business Clothes, Synergist Business Line (suit jacket, slacks, and high collar shirt - 5/3); 5,000 Nuyen of assorted clothing.

Commlink/Software/Simsense:
Hermes Ikon commlink (internal) with Firewall: 4 and System: 4; hardening: 6, optimized - browse, utilities - analyze (rating: 4), browse (rating: 4), command (rating: 4), edit (rating: 4), and encrypt (rating: 4); linguisofts - Cantonese dialect of Chinese (rating: 4), Or'zet (rating: 4), Salish (rating: 4), Sperethiel (rating: 4); Agent (rating: 3).

Other:
Duffel bag (100 Nuyen cost), medkit (rating: 6) with 5 refills, tag eraser, disguise kit, survival kit, bio-monitor.

The Cybered Thug (Credit to Glyph) [600 Karma]:

"You're on my turf, here. Best watch the attitude, before it gets you ganked."

"Yeah, I can lean on the punk for you. He'll be begging to pay you back once I'm done with him."

"Hey, I'm not just some street punk. I got connections around here. I know the players. I AM a player."

[ Spoiler ]

These days, it seems like all of the company men, underworld enforcers, and upper-echelon runners are turning more and more to bioware and genetic augmentation for that all-important edge. But cyberware is still out there. In fact, it is more common than ever on the mean streets of Seattle. As implants have become cheaper, more and more street punks are sporting 'ware that, 20 years ago, you would only see on a street samurai.

The cybered thug is one of those chromed street punks. You can tell by his bling, by his swagger, and by the obvious augmentations that he wears as a badge of pride. He may not be at the level of the tweaked-out vatjobs working for the megas and the syndicates, but he is still tougher than you would expect a greasy street punk to be. Don't underestimate him.

DESIGNER NOTES:
This character demonstrates just how cheap and available cyberware is now. The shadowtalk in Augmentation talks about cyberware being increasingly common among gangers and other lowlifes, so I made this character to show that. He is similar to the sprawl ganger archetype in the book, in that he is a big fish in a small pond, looking for ways to move up the food chain.

BREAKDOWN (600 Karma)
Core Attributes: 260
Special Attributes: 10
Race (Ork): 20
Active Skills: 208
Knowledge Skills: 32
Qualities: +20
Contacts: 60
Resources: 30

=Attributes=
Body: 5
Agility: 4(5)
Reaction: 4(6)
Strength: 6(7)
Charisma: 2
Intuition: 3
Logic: 2
Willpower: 3
Edge: 2
Magic: -

Essence: 1.30
Initiative: 9
Initiative Passes: 2
Physical Damage Track: 11
Stun Track: 10

Current Karma: 0
Total Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Noteriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0

=Qualities=
Guts
Martial Arts (Karate) x 1
> +1 DV for unarmed attacks
------------------------
Addiction: Hurlg, Mild
Braggart
Dependent (10 Karma): long-term (and long-suffering) girlfriend
Scorched

=Active Skills=
Athletics Skill Group: 2
Automatics: 3
Dodge/Ranged: 3/+2
First Aid: 2
Infiltration: 2
Influence Skill Group: 2
Intimidation/Physical: 3/+2
Perception: 3
Pilot Ground Vehicle/Bike: 3/+2
Pistols/Semi-Automatic: 4/+2
Shadowing: 3
Survival/Urban: 1/+2
Throwing Weapons: 1
Unarmed Combat/Karate: 4/+2
> maneuver: kick

=Knowledge Skills=
Languages>
English: N
Or'zet: 3


Other>
Gang ID/Ork: 3/+2
Ork Underground: 3
Street Crime: 2
Trog Rock: 1
Underworld Politics: 2

=Cyberware=
Cybereyes II with:
>Flare Compensation
>Low-Light Vision
>Smartlink
>Vision Magnification
Datajack
Dermal Plating: 1
Muscle Replacement: 1
Plastic Bone Lacing
Reaction Enhancers: 1
Wired Reflexes: 1

=Contacts=
Arms Dealer (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 1)
Bartender (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 3)
Data Broker (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 1)
Fixer (Connection: 3/Loyalty: 3)
Mechanic/Chop Shop Operator (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Seoulpa Ring Stringer (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 2)
Street Doc (Connection: 2/Loyalty: 3)

=Lifestyle=
Custom: all Low, except Entertainment and Security (both Middle); Easy-going Landlord and Hasty Exit qualities: 5,000 Nuyen/Month (1 Month prepaid)
Starting Money: 3d6 x 50 Nuyen

=Equipment=
ID/Credsticks:
Fake SIN (Rating: 2) with 2 Fake Gun Registration (Rating: 2 each), Fake Concealed Carry Permit (Rating: 2), 4 Fake Cyberware Permits (Rating: 2 each), Fake Drivers License (Rating: 2), Fake Bounty Hunter's License (Rating: 2), 2 Certified Credsticks.

DocWagon Contract:
Basic (1 Year)

Vehicle:
Yamaha Growler off-road bike with pimped ride: 1.

Weapons:
Ares Predator IV heavy pistol with skinlink, concealable holster, 150 rounds of regular ammo, 150 rounds of gel ammo, and 3 spare clips.

Ingram Smartgun X submachine gun with skinlink, 320 rounds of regular ammo, and 2 spare clips.

Shock Glove.

2 Flash-bang Grenades.

Armor/Clothing/Accessories:
Armor Jacket, FFBA half suit; 2,500 Nuyen of assorted clothing, 1,500 Nuyen of tattoos and piecings.

Commlink/Software/Simsense:
Renraku Sensei commlink with Renraku Ichi OS; utilities - browse (rating: 2), Command (rating: 2); sim module (modified for BTL/hot sim), skinlink, subvocal mic, trodes, electronic paper, mapsoft (Seattle sprawl, rating: 6), virtual surround music, virtual weather, wall space, 4 VR games, 10 - 40 Nuyen BTL simporn recordings.

Other:
Duffel bag (100 Nuyen cost), medkit (rating: 6) with 3 refills, tag eraser, survival kit, monofilament chainsaw, gecko tape gloves.