Magic Monowire, Making the Most of Weapon Foci 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+

[FrankTrollman]

There's nothing in SR4 to even suggest that weapon foci would have a hard time being made of high object resistance materials, so the Monowhip Weapon Focus is totally in for SR4.

That being said, Monowhips have a reach of 2, and in the new edition having an extra point of reach is just an extra die in combat - which means that it is literally interchangeable with having an extra force point. But the cost of weapon foci includes the force times the reach bonus. So having a weapon focus with reach is eventually a bad deal.

The line is at Force 3. At Force 3, your weapon focus pays as much for having point(s) of reach as it does for having additional force instead. At Force 2, the dice that come from reach are cheaper than the dice that come from Force, and at force 4 or greater the reach is a flat terrible deal.

So if you have 15 Karma to burn on a weapon focus, it's mostly a question of style. Do you want a wickedly powerful knife or a slightly less mystical monofilament wire? Either are good options. If you intend to spend any more than that, get a knife because it is better.

An interesting note is that a monowire or halberd-style weapon focus is the way to go at Force 2 or less. And the cap for a starting character's weapon focus is... you guessed it... two. So starting characters who want weapon foci should invest in high reach weapons. Prime runners should get shorter weapons late in their careers.

Thoughts?

-Frank