Updated SR Archetypes - Old Editions to New, I have a strange urge to update the old SR1/2 archs to 4e Options

[Colin Chapman]

Hey all,

I have this sudden and bizarre urge to revise, update, and post all of the old SR 1e and 2e archtypes (such as the Former Tribal Warrior, Burned Out Mage, etc.) to SR4e. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silly.gif) The problem is, while I still have a copy of Sprawl Sites, I no longer own a copy of SR1e itself, or of any of the other SR1e/2e sourcebooks that featured the usual full page ready-to-use archetypes (typically full colour, IIRC, illustrated by Laubenstein in nearly every case).
So, anyone out there know where I can find the old archetypaes from the various old supplements, or (if nothing else) the Laubenstein images of the various archetypes (some art would be better than none), please?

cheers!
Colin

[Synner667]

A man after my own heart. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I think SR is much poorer for not having the variety of archetypes it used to have.


I'll be keeping an eye on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[nathanross]

Here's the names of the Archetypes, if you need something else, PM me. (I don't have SR1, btw)

SR2:
Bodyguard
Combat Mage
Decker
Detective
Dwarf Mercenary
Elven Decker
Former Company Man
Former Wage Mage
Gang Member
Mercenary
Rigger
Shaman
Street Mage --> Synner667
Street Samurai
Street Shaman
Tribesman

SR3 (Luckily these pages haven't fallen out yet!):
The Adept
Combat Decker
Combat Mage
Covert Ops Specialist
Drone Rigger
The Face
The Investigator
The Mercenary
Sprawl Ganger
Street Mage
Street Samurai
Street Shaman
The Tech-Wiz
Tribal Shaman
Vehicle Rigger
Weapons Specialist

[paws2sky]

Funny you should bring this up, I've been working on a SR4 update of the Burned-Out Mage to use as a SRM character.

I have SR1, Sprawl Sites, and so on. If you need info, let me know.

[suppenhuhn]

oooh would you probably be able to post the burnout mage's stats/gear?
i lost my 1st edition and only remember he had wired reflexes 1, muscle replacement 1, cybereyes w flare and ir, dermal plating 1 and skillwires 3. could be wrong grade wise with the last 2 tho.
as weapon he had a fichetti 600 iirc and the only spell i remember was stunbolt 3.

[paws2sky]

I'm sure something can be arranged.

The SR1 and SR2 versions are a little different.
SR2 version (from the Contacts book) has a power focus, for instance.


Moderators: What are the limits on reposting stuff like this?

[vladski]

I'm sure something can be arranged.

The SR1 and SR2 versions are a little different.
SR2 version (from the Contacts book) has a power focus, for instance.


Moderators: What are the limits on reposting stuff like this?

As I recall, aren't the Archtype pages "special" in that they can be reproduced for use for non-profit? I don't see the mods probably slapping someone's hand for posting their stats and posessions here, to be upgraded for the new edition. Those books are all out of print and it's not like printing the "characters" is in, anyway, gonna allow somoeone to play the game without purchasing the material. It would be like saying you couldn't post an original character because someone might use it to play the game without buying the book. People post the stats of 3rd and 4th edition character archetypes here all the time as they twink and twiddle and moan about balance and illogical builds.

True, I am not a lawyer, but I imagine the mods would probably overlook someone doing this unless Catalyst actually got a complaint and then complained themselves and then they would probably jsut delete the post(s).

I, too, am interested in seeing an "update" of hte old archetypes.

Vlad

[Fortune]

There were more Archetypes (like the elven street samurai, etc) in the Street Samurai Catalog.

[the_dunner]

A reposting of the original SR1/2/3 materials would be a substantial problem.

A posting of the SR4 conversions of the SR1/2/3 materials would be a novel work and would also be totally cool.

The one SR1 archetype that I notice missing off the top of my head is the Rocker.

[paws2sky]

That's what I figured. Thanks.

[paws2sky]

Okay, so, in the interest of keeping this alive and preventing people from duplicating each other's work, I suggest anyone interested in this post up a couple ATs they want to work on.

Dibs on:
Burned-Out Mage
Tribesman
and... hmm... Detective

Goal here should be to remain true to the original concept, but with 2070's sensibilities/gear/etc. Min/Max at your discression, but avoid things that are blatantly out of character or weird.

[It trolls!]

The Archetypes from Cybertechnology aren't something for the players like anything from the core books but they need to be mentioned for awesomeness:

Cyber Runner
Special Forces Trooper
Cyber Assassin
Six-Million-Nuyen-Streetsam
Cyberzombie
Cyberlogician

The latter 3 being cyberzombies of course.

[nezumi]

You're not going to be able to legally reproduce the images. You can reproduce the stats I imagine, but why bother? SR1 archetypes use gears, skills, stats and build systems which are not compatible with SR4. I'd recommend taking the concept and rebuilding the archetype from scratch. Just converting won't work (for instance, no one will have the dodge skill or comm links, obviously).

But definitely a noble goal. I'd love to see what you accomplish.

[Whipstitch]

May want to throw this in with this: Sample Character Project

[Colin Chapman]

Hey all,

Blimey, didn't realise there'd be this much interest. In short, yep, it's not about straight conversion, but about taking the old and revamping it for the new (while staying as close to the original concepts and designs as possible).

All I still have of the early old stuff at present is Sprawl Sites (containing the Bodyguard, Combat Mage, Dwarf Merc, Elf Mage, Former Mage Detective, Former Military Officer, Former Tribal Warrior, and Troll Bounty Hunter). So, I basically need decent colour scans of the various other archetype images from 1e/2e and its supplements, and the appropriate text and stats for the archetypes as well. If anyone can help with that tall order, cheers, stuff can be e-mailed to me: oaklynx at yahoo dot co dot uk

As a teacher, I get a nice long Summer holiday in which to put together a nicely formatted pdf containing the old pics and flavour text, but with all new 4e stats. Appropriate copyright for the images and fluff would be included, etc. of course (along with links for Catalyst), so I can't see anyone bitching about the use of old edition illustrations, which (let's face it) will never see the light of publication again. Plus, I'll have finished my current freelance rpg assignments by then, so I can relax and do it properly.

If Catalyst would have a problem with this, I'm sure they'd let us know before things got started anyway.

cheers!
Colin

[Chance359]

Dont forget the Trid Reporter, Cybersnoop, Elvine rocker, Rocker Star, and Rocketing Rtings Rocker from Shadowbeat. And the Houngan (mambo), Street Warrior, Street Sorcerer, and Ghost Hunter from Awakenings.

[Kyoto Kid]

.... yeah good ol Shadowbeat.

Dibs on the Cybersnoop and Trid Reporter. (had a Cybersnoop character back in 3rd ed, I think I can rebuild her pretty close to the original concept)

[Thistlewaite]

Archetypes listing

[SR1 BBB] (all were human unless noted)
Burned-Out Mage
Decker
Detective
Elven Decker
Former Company Man
Former Wage Mage
Gang Member
Merc
Ork Mercenary
Rigger
Rocker
Shaman
Street Mage
Street Samurai
Street Shaman
Tribesman

[SR1 Street Samurai Catalog]
Dwarf Street Samurai
Elven Street Samurai
Ork Street Samurai
Troll Street Samurai

[ElFenrir]

Ahh, this sounds. good. I call dibs on the Elven Street Sam and the..ah, not sure yet. But the elven street sam i can work on a bit.

EDIT: I'd also like the Troll Street Sam. BTW....when you say revising, i guess we can take a few liberties and perhaps put some attributes/points where they are lacking? I mean the poor troll has a willpower of ONE. He's like, asking for a 5 year old to cast a force 1 Mana Carrot at his brain to fry him. Of course, there needs to be skill adjustments, as the skill style in SR1-2 was different(thought not TOTALLY...they sort of did have Skill Groups, in a way, that many of the skills were whomped together, like Firearms.)

if i decide to take a third, gods help me, it might be the Rocker, unless anyone else wants it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[suppenhuhn]

aww i wanted the burnout as well *sniffsniff*
oh well then i 'll call dibs on the dwarven sammie as i have the sammie catalogue still

and will also make my own burnout (IMG:style_emoticons/default/vegm.gif)

[ElFenrir]

Hehe, with the burnout as popular as he is, im wondering why they never included it past 1e? He certainly seems to be the ''Guy to Be'' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[paws2sky]

The Burn-Mage Out was just so wonderfully pathetic. Every gaming group had that one guy that loved that archetype. Overall, he seemed kind of unpopular though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You know, I'd forgotten, but looking at him last night, he has an insane number of spells (back when spell points were directly tied to your starting nuyen).


Which brings up a SR4 question: Do you use your starting or modified Magic attribute for determining max number of starting spells?

[Drogos]

Which brings up a SR4 question: Do you use your starting or modified Magic attribute for determining max number of starting spells?

Magic rating has nothing to do with spells available at character creation. It is the highest of your spellcasting or ritual sorcery skill x2. Knowledge, it would seem, is power (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[suppenhuhn]

Which brings up a SR4 question: Do you use your starting or modified Magic attribute for determining max number of starting spells?

luckily it's not tied to magic but to spellcasting (2x spellcasting or ritual spellcasting skill whichever is higher)

[ElFenrir]

Ah, i remember those days. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

My buddy of mine made a cyber-mage for a campaign. Sorcerer. Resources A, Magic B. Others didn't matter, the attributes just got bought up anyway. (I think it was Attributes C, skills D if i recall). Picked up a load of cyber/bio til Magic dropped to 2(which was a damn lot). Level 3 power focus, bound with 15 force points. Still had 35 force points to buy spells.

of course, back then, you had Expendable Fetish spells, so you could take some regular, force 4-5 spells not linked to fetishes just incase(say, heal, a combat spell like Mana Bolt or Mana Missile, and a stealth or detection spell) but then a load of force 2 and 3 spells linked to expendable fetishes. You then had mounds of spells, cyberware, and the only problem was the force 3 power focus...which could have a spell ground through it back then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Still, was a price to pay for that sort of insanity.