 Whats a new GM to do? |
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 Nov 17 2005, 04:49 PM
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#26
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Free Spirit  Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,950 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Bloomington, IN UCAS Member No.: 1,920  |
On Big D or nipples?
:) Ok, check out the Dragonheart trilogy. I'm pretty sure it goes into a bit of description there. |
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Nov 18 2005, 04:09 AM
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#27
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
Thanks for the responses guys, I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something.
More questions I've been mulling over: Are modifiers, like vision modifiers, strictly additive? Example. Johnny the Human gunbunny is firing his smartlinked Ares Predator at a target in short range. It complete darkness, (and for simplicity those are all the factors I'll bring into play) thats base TN 4, minus 2 for the smartlink, plus 8 for complete darkness = 10. So does that then mean that Johnny can spend 8 simple take aim actions and have the TN back down to 2? Or are some modifiers resolved in a specific order? What Cyberware can you turn on and Off? Bone lacing obviously not, and the text states clearly that Cyber Thermo, ect., can with a free action. The existence of the reflex trigger is pretty clear evidence that wired can't, but how about the VCR?Or the Balance Augmenter? And what is the determining factor? On the SIN question, any clear reason so many people don't have one? Is everyone born in UCAS territory entitled to one, but only get into the system if they are born in a UCAS hospital?. Obviously Shadowrunners don't want one, so If you were born into upstanding circumstances but fell into the shadows, are you trying to get yours erased, or just hope to wear a ski mask all the time. And why don't paranoid runners simply wear ski masks all the time, on runs? (doesn't fit the Trogs horns maybe?) For a characters overflow, is it based on natural or augmented body? The way I'm reading it, it does seem to be based on the augmented body attribute, but that feels a bit off somehow. How do runners get their cred off that one registered credstick the johnson gave them and onto several smaller, more manageable ones they can spread around? If you have a spell library in data form, what form is it in? Do you have to pay for the library with (rating squared x 1000 :nuyen: ) then buy (rating squared x 100 megapulses) worth of some memory medium (Optical Memory Chips maybe a .5 :nuyen: per mp?) or does it come on some form for the original price? If the the Decker is trying to rip a spell formula off the Matrix for his Mage buddy, whats the multiplier on spell formulae? If you place a magical thesis in data form on a knowsoft, is it the chip, then, that is astrally linked to the originating mage? What if the data is transferred to a different medium, or in an act of incomprehensible stupidity, uploaded to the matrix and made opensource? and Yes, I have to be prepared for these and like questions from my circle of bitter, pedantic friends, who can't just suspend disbelief and enjoy a game! :grinbig: |
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Nov 18 2005, 04:10 AM
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#28
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
Because between the 5 possible players, we have two shadowrun Rulebooks. We almost got a game going earlier under another friend's GMing, but after 4 weeks of the books migrating around trying to get characters built, I couldn't keep their enthusiasm up, and that game fell through. I'm now trying to put together a dozen or so competent characters of the main archetypes so my players can pick one. Then I can get them to ACTUALLY TRY THE SR SYSTEM, and see if they like it. If not, we can move one; if they do like it I'll have them flesh out the background as they like, and then develop as they like. And if the get cacked right out the gate, I have a backup or two to keep things moving. |
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Nov 18 2005, 04:48 AM
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#29
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Freelance Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 7,324 Joined: 30-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 6,714 |
Take Aim actions are limited by a character's related skill, with a cap of 1/2 that skill's worth of Take Aim actions (Pistols of 6, can aim for at most 3 actions, and a -3 tn mod). So, I mean, if Johnny had a Pistols skill (or even an appropriate Predator specialization) of 16, he could aim 'till he was blue in the face (but would need to quite a bit less).
Common sense. VCR? Just don't plug it in -- it doesn't automatically send out a wireless signal to every car within a few feet of you, does it? Balance Augmenter, I'd say is always on (otherwise the penalty, requiring a Will roll to fall down on purpose, would be largely meaningless). Most of these are just common sense based -- if it actively does something, it can probably be told not to do that something. If it has a drawback, odds are good, though, it can't be turned off at a whim. Just read over the descriptions, they'll normally make it pretty clear, or at least give you a good idea.
SINs are a hairy issue, and there are benefits and drawbacks to having/not having one. It can go either way, and often does, even within a small group of 'Runners. Don't sweat it too much, just keep track, as GM, of who wants to have a legit one and who doesn't. And, well, yes. Many Shadowrunners do wear ski masks, on the job.
I beleive it's augmented Body rating -- but remember that a lot of cyberware, etc, only adds to Body for damage soaking, specifically (even a Troll's dermal plating, for instance), so it's not as bad as you thought.
Credstick readers, maybe, or just credstick to credstick interfaces -- much like pocket secretary's, it's hard to pin down exactly what a credstick can and can't do. It makes sense for the magical electronic credit card/IDs to be able to interface with one another and transfer money over, right? So why not just say it's possible (it might even be, by canon, I don't remember).
And....this one I'm leaving to someone else. Sorry. I got nothin'. |
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Nov 18 2005, 05:01 AM
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#30
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
Thanks Critas, but I do have to wonder if you aren't running the matrix over my shoulder. You have been the first to respond to both parts of this post even though its midnight where I am. Get some sleep man! =)
Aside, that does remind me to note I am using SR 3 rules. What do you mean Cyber Bod mods only add to the damage resistance test? I know they specifically don't apply for the rolls to avoid being maimed by deadly wounds, where else don't these mods apply? |
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Nov 18 2005, 07:40 AM
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#31
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Free Spirit Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,950 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Bloomington, IN UCAS Member No.: 1,920 |
When designing a character it says use the augmented rating unless otherwise noted. When determining overflow boxes, no exception is noted, so go with augmented.
The decker can have a credstick reader added to his cyberdeck, or the Johnson could bring multiple credsticks, after all, how does he know exactly how much he is going to have to fork over until forkin' over time rolls around?
Data form is up to the character, and I include the form in the library cost, not extra. But that's just me. If you buy a skillsoft, you don't pay for the soft then a chip worth "x" Mp.
Who knows? A fudged & kludged together way would be determine the value of the spell formula from the gear section, then go to Matrix page 50 and decide what type system they are swiping it from and roll based on the table until you have data worth the same or more. Then see how much memory it took up.
Yes, both, all. |
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Nov 18 2005, 07:45 AM
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#32
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 143 Joined: 28-August 05 Member No.: 7,631 |
Cybernetic mods to the Body score (i.e. bone lacing, dermal plating/sheath) don't apply to Body tests to resist toxins or disease, to Body-based skills (like Athletics, Parachuting, etc.), and I would presume test to resist fatigue. They only count for the tests to soak damage.
EDIT: A bioware mod to body (from the superthyroid gland) would count towards all those things. It's considered a change to the character's "natural" attribute score. |
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Nov 18 2005, 09:45 AM
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#33
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Freelance Elf Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 7,324 Joined: 30-September 04 From: Texas Member No.: 6,714 |
I get up about 11pm and go to work around 12:30. Third shift, for me -- hitting a few forums and such is how I wake up and get re-acclimated to looking at a computer screen, before heading to my cubicle. No loss of sleep, here, just weird hours.
And SOME cyber mods might apply -- but there are many that don't. A lot of body-influencing cyberware (dermal plating, bone lacing, that sort of thing) is just sort of "armor for your body." If you've got some kevlar plates grafted to your pecs, great; it'll help against incoming bullets, right? But how's that gonna help you when someone slips a roofie into your drink, or sticks a syringe into the side of your neck? Some stuff only helps with soaking damage, and it'll normally be stated pretty clearly in the write-up for that piece of gear (IE, it'll state "+2 body for damage soaking purposes only") or it will be noted under the write-up for the Body test itself (IE, when it discusses rolling Body to heal wounds, or something like that, it will specify "unaugmented Body score," or similar). Pay special attention to any bioware that augments Body -- much more commonly than with cyberware, bioware counts as "natural" Body, for a lot of tests. Likewise, magical augmentations (Adepts, for instance) will normally count as "natural," so would help in situations that having metal bones isn't a big bonus. |
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Nov 18 2005, 04:31 PM
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#34
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Note that technically it wouldn't actually be a Knowsoft, as they are 'skill chips'. It would be a Datasoft, as it contains raw data, but no actual ability to use it. |
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Nov 19 2005, 03:53 AM
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#35
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
Thanks Fortune, I was thinking of a thesis in a form like a scuplture, with a simsense model so you could touch it, although that still isn't a "knowsoft" so I'm just nuts. On knockdown tests, do wound modifiers apply? How about stun modifiers from a stun baton or similar weapons? How about the same to the wound test, to see if a wound will heal without medical attention? I'll have to pay closer attention to the discriptions of cyberware, but let me ask this: When a directed combat spel,l like powerbolt, targets the body attribute, I assume that includes cyberbonuses, correct? Any advice on what are really good published SR adventures that I should look at letting my runners try? |
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Nov 19 2005, 06:29 AM
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#36
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Target Group: Members Posts: 54 Joined: 29-May 05 Member No.: 7,419 |
Well, there's always Harlequin's Back...
Hehehe. |
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Nov 19 2005, 06:45 AM
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#37
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 745 Joined: 26-July 03 From: Montréal, QC, Canada Member No.: 5,029 |
Dreamchipper's a classic and offers a good mix of old-fashioned investigation and a variety of interesting fights. Eyewitness is well-written and asks PCs to solve a mystery. It went over really well with my group and allowed me to introduce some interesting recurring NPCs. There's also a couple of ethical dilemmas which create good roleplaying possibilities. Finally, Silver Angel--an oldie but goodie--is a nice, clean, straighforward datasteal. Ideal for rookie gaming groups; I've run it three times with three different groups and it's never failed. |
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Nov 19 2005, 02:05 PM
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#38
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 903 Joined: 7-February 03 Member No.: 4,025 |
Make sure you familiarize yourself with as many of the sourcebooks as you can. It's the richness of the sixth world that makes SR really good.
For starters, I recommend New Seattle. There are also a bunch of not-yet-fleshed-out adventure scenarios in there. Maybe not Harlequin's ("Screw it, you're dead.") Back, but the first Harlequin campaign, despite its production flaws, would make good intro runs. BTW It would be interesting to create a thesis in the form of a knowsoft (or for that matter, a skillsoft) wouldn't it? About SINs. I don't think they ever really nailed down the specifics of how SINs work, although there are a few decent overviews published. Don't get too tangled up in the legal stuff. Or make up your own rules. :indifferent: |
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Nov 20 2005, 03:47 AM
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#39
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
Now for the real mindtwisters, questions about Astral interaction?
So, two projecting mages can talk to each other, and a manifested mage can talk and be heard on the physical plane, but does the quoted rule also mean an unmanifested mage can overhear the conversation between two mundanes on physical plane? (if so, that seems mighty useful) Say an Astrally perceiving Character and and An Astrally Projecting Character square off in Astral combat. If the Astrally Perceiving (Dual Natured) Character is unarmed, He uses he Unarmed Combat skill against a TN 4, and he deals (Str) M Stun to the Astrally Projecting Character. If the Astrally Perceiving Character had a Stun Baton instead, can he use his Clubs skill in the same way and deal 6S Stun, or a Sword and (Str+2) M, to the Astrally Projecting Character? Using the Astral Attributes for the Projecting Character, he would resist this damage with Willpower + any astral pool dice, and he obviously has no armor to reduce the TN. OTOH, the Astrally Projecting character can use and armed combat skill or sorcery to deal Charisma M Stun, or if he has a weapon focus, Charisma + weapon Damage. So the real question becomes, how does the Astrally perceiving character resist this damage? SR3 says worn armor does not apply, ok, straightforward. It then goes on to say that natural armor (like a trolls) does apply..... OK, so what happens if my troll adept has Aluminium bone lacing and a second level of Dermal Armor? does he resist with BOD+1 For his dermal plating, or does he get the benefit of his second level of dermal plating and the aluminium bone lacing and/or does he get any bonus from the additional armor? I think this rule is meant to apply to creatures like Trolls, or paracritters who have cyber-like bonuses that aren't cyber, it just throws me that this is referred to as "Armor" here, and that worn armor is specifically excluded, but not cyber. How does this fight end? If either character takes deadly damage, thats all she wrote. If the Projecting character takes Deadly Stun he is disrupted, slams back to his meatbod unconscious, and has to check for magic loss. What happens if the perceiving character takes deadly stun? Is he also disrupted and has to check for magic loss? If you cast a mana spell, say manabolt, at an astral object like a focus and deal Deadly Damage, the enchantment is destroyed, but is the physical component of focus affected? If not, could you cast a physical spell at the focus and destroy both the enchantment and the physical component? |
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Nov 20 2005, 03:56 AM
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#40
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
I think the stock disclaimer about implants that someone's paid essence for counting as part of their body would apply here too. |
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Nov 20 2005, 04:43 AM
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#41
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
So you think the Implanted impact armor would count as well?
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Nov 21 2005, 03:18 PM
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#42
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Free Spirit Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,950 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Bloomington, IN UCAS Member No.: 1,920 |
Correct.
No, the stun baton or the sword has no astral presence.
He could have an Astral Armor Spell, mystic armor, or natural armor.
As normal with Body and pool dice. Astrally perceiving doesn't change your attributes.
The perceiving character is not projecting so is not subject to disruption, they are subject to the rules of the physical plane.
Mana spells can affect magical targets, the focus itself is magical, so yes.
You can not cast physical spells while astrally projecting. |
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Nov 21 2005, 03:58 PM
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#43
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,070 Joined: 7-February 04 From: NYC Member No.: 6,058 |
I've actually always felt that - logically speaking - things like dermal sheathing actually ought to apply to Body tests to stage down toxins that use certain delivery systems (basically, anything that has its power reduced by 1/2 impact armor, like darts, capsules, splash weapons) - and that perhaps at least some of the bone lacings should apply to any of these toxin delivery systems that use darts or needles. If the toxin is affected by an armor jacket you're wearing, it also ought to be affected by armor you have grafted onto your skin - and a dart that might inject a toxin could glance off or break on a bone that had been coated in armor. Though inconsistently designed rules, like dermal plating/sheathing and orthoskin being very similar conceptually but completely different mechanically, or some bone lacing actually providing armor mods that technically apply to anything - even stuff that simply needs to break the skin - don't help the matters any. |
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Nov 21 2005, 08:19 PM
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#44
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
By the time the needle glances off or breaks on bone, it's already inside your body. Unless you're keeping your bonelaced bones on the outside for some strange reason. As soon as the needle hits the body and starts to decelerate, the toxin that it is supposed to deliver is carried down the needle into the body by its own inertia. Even if the tip of the needle were to ricochet on a bonelaced bone, and bounce straight back out of the body, the inertia of the toxin means that it's still wanting to travel forward and will remain in the body even as the needle around the toxin is backing out of the body. |
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Nov 21 2005, 08:32 PM
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#45
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,070 Joined: 7-February 04 From: NYC Member No.: 6,058 |
Well, I guess most characters with titanium lacing do keep it on the outside, then, since it provides a bonus to ballistic and impact armor ratings? And if all you need for the drug to have a full effect is for the needle to enter the body, then why do the rules specifically let impact armor reduce the power of certain toxins by 1/2 of its rating? Clearly, the provisions for varying the effect of toxins based on whether something was present to interfere with the delivery already exist... and a needle prevented from penetrating as deeply as it normally would by dermal sheathing, or one breaking on synthetic bone lacing would not deliver the dose in an optimal way. |
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 Nov 21 2005, 08:44 PM
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#46
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
Bullets are asumed to do damage by massive trauma to the body's tissues, including bone tissues. Bones covered in a titanium mesh are better at resisting this damage.
External impact armor slows the needle down before the tip has pierced the skin, causing the dart to deliver a portion of it's dose outside of the body, hence the reduced power. By the time dermal sheathing or bonelacing get to affect the needle, the needle is entering or has entered the body already. |
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Nov 21 2005, 09:17 PM
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#47
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,070 Joined: 7-February 04 From: NYC Member No.: 6,058 |
Um... Dermal sheathing is on the inside of the skin, now? Does that include the kind with built in scanners and ruthenium?
Second, a needle getting stopped or deformed by bone lacing might be inside the body, but arguing that this has no effect is kind of like arguing that a dart from a tranquilizer gun that hit your cheek and broke on a molar or got stuck in the jawbone would have the same effect as if it hit an inch or two lower, right next to the various blood vessels in the neck - because it entered the body already. |
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Nov 21 2005, 09:28 PM
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#48
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
No, it is the skin. |
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Nov 21 2005, 09:40 PM
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#49
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,070 Joined: 7-February 04 From: NYC Member No.: 6,058 |
It's a less bulky and obvious version of Dermal Plating, with some ability to repair itself. It's not Orthoskin. |
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Nov 21 2005, 11:19 PM
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#50
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
Still, by the time it's interacting with the dart, it's too late.
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