Creative specializations Options

[Eryk the Red]

I don't much care for most specializations in shadowrun. They tend to be pretty bland. I'm especially irked by specializations for combat skills, which usually are a specific weapon type (which is usually all that the character would have used the skill for anyway). They make sense, but they're boring.

So I like to encourage players to come up with more interesting, different specializations for their skills. Some of the ones I've offered have been Dual Wielding (for Pistols or Automatics; only applies to split dice pools), Quick Draw (which benefits both the roll to draw the weapon and the shot that follows) and Elemental Magic (for Sorcery; applies to any spell with an elemental effect). A player came up with a neat one for Unarmed Combat: First Strike. He gets the bonus for his first attack against a target who has not had an action yet in this combat. He's a sucker-puncher, so it's stylistically fitting.

Does anyone else have any creative specializations to share? I wouldn't mind a list of ideas to show the group.

[bibliophile20]

Skateboarding/Rollerskates (for gymnastics)

[Nasrudith]

How about Con (Technical Truths). A creative runner can get pretty far with that one. "What are you doing here at Seattle Ares Research Institute?" "
"I'm a just a cleaner, its my job to take out the garbage."

[Eryk the Red]

I had another player come up with another good Con specialization: On the Fly (or, as I prefer to call it, Pulling One out of your Ass). A character can get substantial bonuses when he's got a well thought-out con with supporting evidence. Sometimes, you're making it up as you go along. This specialization applies then. This one only works if the GM is pretty hardcore about the social roll modifiers. It should almost never actually be better to not have a plan, even with this specialization.

[Ryu]

Counterspelling (tradition, not your own). Due to population sizes bound to bring back the mage vs. shaman battles.

Repair skills (by manufacturer). Reflects who trained you.

Automatic Weapons (FA mode). Now ammo capacity really counts.

[Fortune]

Unarmed Combat {Large Opponents/Trolls} is one I have used.

[Ophis]

[Riley37]

Perception:
- vs. Stealth in opposed tests (if you train ninjas)
- watching people's eyes, hands and hips (if you're a martial artist)
- tech events (you're an engineer and you habitually keep an eye to see that everything's running smoothly, even gadgetry that isn't yours)

Disguise:
- using uniforms eg disguising self as janitor, guard, courier, medic
- face masks for impersonation
- elf or ork disguising themself as human, or vice versa

Software:
- can a TM specialize in Threading? (there are still other uses eg cracking copy protection)

Gymnastics:
- Gynastic Dodge?

Longarms:
- Aimed Shots (as in, only if you Take Aim)

[Fortune]

[Cain]

Why? Dodge is pretty much useless as a skill as is.

[Fortune]

[WearzManySkins]

HMM from what I can tell Gymnastics Dodge is not listed as a valid specialization of gymnastics.

Now Gymnastics Dodge is a option for a action of dodging.

Where did you all read about it being able to be specialize so?

WMS

[Fortune]

I'm thinking that this thread is for proposing (creative) new Specializations. ;)

[Cain]

[Fortune]

Not really. For character concepts like couch potato mages and hackers and the like ... the ones that don't normally do backflips off walls as part of their daily routine (or even have any kind of decent hand-to-hand combat skill), the Dodge skill makes a lot of sense.

Admittedly it is almost a flavor choice the way it is, but if you give Gymnastics every single benefit that the Dodge skill has, then even that little bit of flavor will inevitably die ... and everyone will be doing handstands and cartwheels as a matter of course.

[Fortune]

I also recall Dodge being somewhat useful for vehicles and riggers and the like ... but that area of the rules is not really my forte. :)

[Glyph]

Gymnastic dodge sucks for melee combat - you only get it when using full defense, and for full defense, you don't get to double it like you do for dodge or a close combat skill. It's really only good for combat specialists who have a close combat skill, and only need something for ranged combat defense.

Even then, it's not as all-around good as dodge, which has a ranged specialization - plus, while there's nothing in the rules, I would think gymnastics flips would be harder while carrying things. Is the troll going to backflip out of the way of return fire, LMG and gyromount harness and all?



For specializations, there's one boring one I'd like to see: attack, as a specialization of unarmed combat. I hate how they have blocking, cyber-implant combat, subdual combat - all well-defined uses of unarmed combat - then "martial arts", with no rules for handling it whatsoever. And never mind that unarmed combat is martial arts. :S I would like an attack specialization, because it is the only option not covered.

Then, players can pick specializations based on their individual martial arts style. And while some styles would favor certain specializations, I wouldn't like to pidgeonhole a style. Kempo might normally be an attack specialization, but a martial artist could certainly focus on the defensive side of it instead.

[Narse]

Some of these aren't too creative but how about:
Archery(Zen) - yes +2 when you cant see.
Blades(point) - using the point of the blade, its a stylistic thing.
Clubs(improvised) - for when you forgot your stun baton at home. After all, REAL men use rocks.
Automatics(recoil) - applies when you have uncompensated recoil. Of course its also a works with Heavy Weapons
Pistols(double tap) - applies whenever you fire 2 rounds via 2 normal Semi-auto firing in one initiative pass (I think this is what SWAT members would actually have, only they'd have it for automatics)
Throwing Weapons(random sh*t) - out of ammo? throw your gun! your comlink! that ruby the size of a birds egg! essentially this applies to anything not intended for use as a thrown weapon.
Unarmed Combat(eye gouges) - for those who grew up in the rougher parts of the sprawl where the opposition typically didn't have cybereyes.
Astral Combat(dual natured opponents) - ghouls got you down? worried about cyberzombies? Make their dual natured flaw worth its full value!
Banishing(attacks of Will) - who wants to resist drain anyway?
Binding(free spirits) - cause you really don't want to glitch on this test
Counterspelling(the unexpected) - only applies to spells the magician is unaware of/has no reason to expect (e.g. doesn't work for dispelling or when in combat with a known/suspected magically active entity)
Counterspelling(Dragons) - cause when your going up against something with sorcery 8 that "know[s] most spells", you need all the dice you can get.
Counterspelling(Ritual Sorcery) - cause ritual sorcery can ruin anyone's day, even if they can't see you.
Ritual Spellcasting(symbolic link) - cause voodoo kicks ass.
Spellcasting(voluntary subjects) - Be the ultimate Band-Aid.
Climbing(ceilings) - avoid those pesky pressure sensors all together.
Climbing(glass walls) - surprisingly useful for corporate offices.
Climbing(glass ceiling) - For the up and coming Troll.
Disguise(odor) - great for not alerting those pesky paracritters when you already have invisibility and stealth cast on you.
Diving(Pearl) - WTF else are you going to use it for?
Escape Artist(ventilation shafts) - I think this is the skill used for fitting into confining spaces.
Gymnastics(dance) - cause artisan isn't good enough [I didn't make it up, its listed in the BBB]
Infiltration(mages) - must stay out of LOS!
Navigation(lost) - only applies when you don't know where you are. (note: mapsoft bonuses are at GM discretion in these cases)
Palming(coping a feel) - no one's gonna notice right? (also can be used to collect genetic material such as hair)
Paracheuting(life raft) - you've seen Indiana Jones right? It could* work. (*= might if we're in holywood)
Perception(sensors) - great for riggers.
Perception(passive) - applies when not observing in Detail
Running(away) - Its a Tactical Retreat.
Survival(Free Food) - only applies to checks to find food, may allow you to reduce your lifestyle cost
Swimming(holding your breath) - yes this is the skill you use for that test, after all you don't want to get a lungful of Nerostun.
Tracking(stalking) - use this specilization to find the love of your life who for some reason thinks of you as their ex.....
Con(distraction) - Oh my god, Lofwyr's right behind you!
Etiquette(social gaffs) - for the player who doesn't know when to keep their mouth shut.
Intimidation(salarymen) - cause shadowrunners are scary!
Negotiation(Mr. Johnson) - he's lying, but you already knew that.
Automotive mechanic(pimping) - cause style can be just as important as function.
Demolitions(tripwires) - yes, this skill governs setting up tripwires.
Demolitions(buildings) - use this for structure hits.
First Aid(drain) - encourages overcasting.
Pilot Aircraft(urban) - for flying in the city

[Whipstitch]

[Fortune]

[Fortune]

[Narse]

I assumed the improvised speciallties would just help negate some of the modifiers for using improvised weaponry, so an explanation would be that your training with a new random improvised weapon each day makes you just as good with improvised weapons as with actuall weapons (can't remember the actuall penalty associated w/ improvised weapons but I think it is around -2).

As for the Unexpected specialization for counterspelling, I thought you could write it off to a reflexive subconscious cancellation of mana effects or something along those lines. Even if its not realistic, its still cool, I think playing someone with that specialty could be a lot of fun. After all magic is mysterious and not fully understood....

[Ghost in the Mac...]

Most piloting skills offer "Remote Operation" as a choice. What exactly would that cover? And, would "Rigging" be a viable specialization?

~GitM

[Fortune]

[Simon May]

I've always enjoyed really obscure/flavorful specializations. Like:

Blades (letter openers)

or

Thrown Weapons (cherry bombs)