[X] My Assistant

[the_dunner]

Are we going to have an errata thread or should we just post here? The survival tips section introductory fiction on page 20, fifth paragraph last sentence seems to just stop in mid-sentence.

That's on me. I've just double checked the original word document, and I apparently never finished the sentence, and never noticed it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarrassed.gif)

The missing words are "their stun batons."

[hobgoblin]

strange that something like that was not picked up in any checks either. 1-0 for murphy i guess (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Cardul]

Buying one of the three levels of the SURGE quality (5 to 15 BPs) enables you to spend the additional BPs values listed on Positive and Negative Metagenetic qualities (and those alone). Note that gamemasters may reserve the right to assign your Negative Metagenetic quality BPs themselves to ensure balance.

Actually, they read like you are required to take those, not that it allows them to take that many. Or am I reading that completely wrong?

[WearzManySkins]

Hey Devs or Freelancers where is:

Disease Carrier detailed for point costs and descriptions?

It is listed as negative quality for metagenetics page 110

Other Negative Qualities: Allergy, Asthma, Albinism, Biosystem Overstress, Disease Carrier, Gene Freak, Low Pain Tolerance, Nano Intolerance, Reduced (Sense), Sensitive System, Uncontrolled Metastasis, Weak Immune System

Also can you stack quality Biocompatibility with Metagenetic Quality of Biocompatibility?

WMS

[Muspellsheimr]

Disease Carrier may be referencing Carrier (p.82), but I would suspect it is referring to a variant that functions the same way, but with mundane diseases.

Otherwise, I cannot find any reference to "Disease Carrier" in Runners Companion, and I do not believe it is in any other book so far released.

Actually, they read like you are required to take those, not that it allows them to take that many. Or am I reading that completely wrong?

After a metatype is chosen, transforming the character into
a changeling is as simple as choosing one of the 3 levels of the
Changeling Positive quality (next column). This quality counts
towards the character’s limit of Positive qualities (p. 77, SR4),
but unlocks a number of additional Build Points to be used exclusively
to select Positive and Negative Metagenic qualities (see
Metagenetic Qualities, p. 110).
Depending on the level taken, the character must choose a
number of Positive and Negative Metagenetic qualities (p. 110),
though gamemasters may chose to take on Negative Metagenetic
qualitiy selection to ensure balance. Metagenetic qualities chosen
in this fashion do not count toward the 35 BP cap on qualities, as
long as they remain within the totals defined by the Changeling
quality.

Emphasis on the words I believe important.

EDIT: I still have not received any comment on potential balance issues with my proposed Winged Metagenic quality. Does this mean it looks fine?

[WearzManySkins]

Disease Carrier may be referencing Carrier (p.82), but I would suspect it is referring to a variant that functions the same way, but with mundane diseases.

Otherwise, I cannot find any reference to "Disease Carrier" in Runners Companion, and I do not believe it is in any other book so far released.

That may be true but neither of the infected negative qualities are listed in the Master Quality listing in the back or on page 120.

WMS

[Muspellsheimr]

New question regarding Arcane Arrester. It says "though the spellcaster could still add hits to improve the effect." The meaning seems fairly obvious - the spell is resisted as normal, with the caster's Net Hits functioning as normal. What is unclear is if the reduced Force of the spell limits the Raw Hits the caster may get, or the original Force. From the wording of the quality, I can see it either way.

[NightmareX]

Just got Runner's Companion last night and still reading, but so far I have just one thing to say:

MADE OF WIN!

I knew SR was in good hands when I heard Synner was taking over, and I'm certainly not disappointed. Kudos guys!

[knasser]

"Oh frag! Why didn;t someone tell me GI Joe's gun is only PLASTIC!!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

It's 2070. GI Joes are probably fully animatronic and capable of blowing each other up with plastique. After all, it's good for Aztechnology's Toy Division if you keep having to buy more. And I dread to think what Barbies are capable of by this point.

[Synner]

New question regarding Arcane Arrester. It says "though the spellcaster could still add hits to improve the effect." The meaning seems fairly obvious - the spell is resisted as normal, with the caster's Net Hits functioning as normal. What is unclear is if the reduced Force of the spell limits the Raw Hits the caster may get, or the original Force. From the wording of the quality, I can see it either way.

My ruling on this is that it the adjusted Force should limit hits as normal, however, the ambiguity of the writeup allows gamemasters to rule the other way if they want Arcane Arrester to be less powerful.

[Synner]

Otherwise, I cannot find any reference to "Disease Carrier" in Runners Companion, and I do not believe it is in any other book so far released.

Disease Carrier was accidentally cut during editing and was a new mundane Negative quality that gave the character a chronic contagious disease. I'll post it to DSF later and it will be included in future Errata.

[CanRay]

Yay for Birthday money!

Bought the PDF!

Wait for the Hardcopy at the FLGS!

[imperialus]

I've just been skimming through the PDF here. I Quite enjoyed the nod to Total Recall on p. 29. Weird little esoteric details like this were one of my favorite things about the old sourcebooks, particularly stuff like the Neo Anarchists Guide to Real Life. Just coming up with strange ways to insert it into your PC's lives is a lot of fun. It can be as mundane as "you see a vaction add" all the way up to some run on a MCT 'relaxation facility' where everyone has to pretend to be middle class vacationers just because their target happens to be taking a couple weeks off. It's great for a gonzo one off where everyone just wants to have a goofy time.

I remember a run I came up with for a street level game where the PC's needed to assassinate a fry cook at a McHuges. The PC's had just come through a nasty gangwar that lasted about a year in real time and needed to blow off some steam. It was a personal thing, this fry cook had ratted out one of the team members to the cops and although he wasn't charged, the PC was ticked off and out for blood. The whole thing was inspired by the McHuge's writeup from Neo A's.

[Abschalten]

I will say that RC is making it awfully tempting for me to create a troll with Shiva Arms and call him Goro.

[WearzManySkins]

Heck with the Troll.....go with a Naga with SURGEd Shiva Arms. Talk about the Type V Demons of Old DnD. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

WMS

[darthmord]

Keep in mind... even if a dragon's Magic is reduced to zero, he can still treat you like a snack.

He would still be incredibly strong and very well armored. With their movement rate, it wouldn't take long to cover several city blocks to escape whatever is reducing the Magic rating to zero (assuming it was done with a man-made contrivance).

Reducing a Dragon's Magic rating to zero is one of many concerns when fighting against one. Sure you wiped out the magical power, but what about the Physical power of said dragon? Eh grease smear?

[Isath]

Uh I guess, in most situations, it might be "easier" to simply kill the dragon (that is if you manage), than to null his magic.

[raverbane]

After taking a quick look through the new PDF, I have a question.

Why does the cost of being a Changeling count against the 35 points of positive qualities allow at character generation when no other racial package counts against that same restriction?

[Wanderer]

Ok, after eventually finding the time to make a read of my Runnner's Companion PDF, I happily state I'm most happy with my buy. This really looks like really interesting, useful, and well-written. Team roles, shadowrunner survival tips, Karma character creation, additional character concepts, new Qualities, Lifestyle rules, pretty much any chapter gave me ideas or looked potentially quite useful. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

And now, of course, come the questions:

Lifestyle: let's suppose my character has the money to maintain a cozy home with Middle/High Necessities, Comfort, and Entertaintment, but since he doesn't want to bother with police patrols, broadcasted SINs and IDs, and nosy law-abiding neighbors, he wants to set it up in a Squatter or Low Neighborhood. What kind of Security would be appropriate/necessary ?

Infected Characters: Am I correct in assuming that since (IC) HMHVV-I can create magical aptitude in characters where none existed before and the Infected are Awakened, the player (OOC) can buy the Magician/Adept/Mystical Adept Qualities when the character gets Infected, even if Latent Awakening wasn't bought at character creation ?

Similar question for latent Drakes: if a character is such, since drakes are Awakened, can the player buy Magician/Adept/Mystical Adept when the dracoform manifests, even if he didn't buy Latent Awakening at character creation ?

From reading the Infected chapter, I am left with the strong impression that the Infection Power, effectively, is nothing more than the HMHVV-I character sharing her blood fluids with the subject when it hits 0 Essence. Therefore, I wonder, is the actual presence of the Infected really necessary to "turn" someone, or a sample of Infected blood, or a purified sample of the virus suffices, if it's administed to a character before or just after it hits 0 Essence by whatever means ?

Following the same line of reasoning, is it possible for a 0.1+ Essence character to come in contact with HMHVV-I virus and become a carrier, and transform to a vampire or nosferatu if and when the character is drained to 0 Essence by whatever means, even much more later (from days to years) ?

Assuming the two points above are true, what cost and availability would have a viable sample of vampire or nosferatu blood, or a sample of purified virus ? I assume it would be rather valuable for would-be (amoral) hunters of power and immortality. Everything has a price in the shadows, so what would the one for "immortality in a vial" ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Assuming, for flavor reasons, I want to create a vampire/nosferatu/banshee character with retractable claws (how many vampire characters do you see without claws in art ?), could I create the virus variant by using the changeling rules, or just add a Negative Quality of equivalent value to the template ? Which Negative Qualities would be an appropriate balance ? I was thinking of Berserker, an extra Allergy (something the Infected metatype does not have, but is typical of another one, or a psychosomatic one: Wood, Silver, Ferrous Metals, Garlic, Holy Objects, Salt) or Critter Spook.

PS I've found a typo: on p. 164, the separation space is lacking between the Network Bottleneck and No Forward Address Lifestyle Options.

[Ancient History]

Infected Characters: Am I correct in assuming that since (IC) HMHVV-I can create magical aptitude in characters where none existed before and the Infected are Awakened, the player (OOC) can buy the Magician/Adept/Mystical Adept Qualities when the character gets Infected, even if Latent Awakening wasn't bought at character creation ?

No. Unless specifically stated, the character does not gain or can buy those Qualities just from being Infected.

Similar question for latent Drakes: if a character is such, since drakes are Awakened, can the player buy Magician/Adept/Mystical Adept when the dracoform manifests, even if he didn't buy Latent Awakening at character creation ?

Also no, see above except with "touched by a Dragon (pun intended)" instead of "Infected".

From reading the Infected chapter, I am left with the strong impression that the Infection Power, effectively, is nothing more than the HMHVV-I character sharing her blood fluids with the subject when it hits 0 Essence. Therefore, I wonder, is the actual presence of the Infected really necessary to "turn" someone, or a sample of Infected blood, or a purified sample of the virus suffices, if it's administed to a character before or just after it hits 0 Essence by whatever means ?

You need the Infection power to create HMHVV-I strain characters, as it requires a specific test to pass along the infection. Further details on the infection process may be forthcoming in the critters book some time down the line.

Following the same line of reasoning, is it possible for a 0.1+ Essence character to come in contact with HMHVV-I virus and become a carrier, and transform to a vampire or nosferatu if and when the character is drained to 0 Essence by whatever means, even much more later (from days to years) ?

No. Read the Carrier Negative Quality again; only one of the Infected with the Infection power can become a carrier for an HMHVV-I strain.

Assuming the two points above are true, what cost and availability would have a viable sample of vampire or nosferatu blood, or a sample of purified virus ? I assume it would be rather valuable for would-be (amoral) hunters of power and immortality. Everything has a price in the shadows, so what would the one for "immortality in a vial" ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

About nine pints of blood, one soul (slightly used), and 12,000 nuyen (plus 10% finder's fee, 3% commission on the sale, 7% sales tax, and 15% manager's fee).

[WearzManySkins]

No. Read the Carrier Negative Quality again; only one of the Infected with the Infection power can become a carrier for an HMHVV-I strain.

Points to Synners statement above in reply about Disease Carrier

Disease Carrier was accidentally cut during editing and was a new mundane Negative quality that gave the character a chronic contagious disease. I'll post it to DSF later and it will be included in future Errata.

WMS

[Ancient History]

Please note I said "Carrier" quality, not "Disease Carrier." It's in the Infected chapter, and I wrote it, so I know wherefore I speak.

[Wanderer]

Thanks for your answers.

You need the Infection power to create HMHVV-I strain characters, as it requires a specific test to pass along the infection. Further details on the infection process may be forthcoming in the critters book some time down the line.

Since the critters book won't come for a significant amount of time, excuse me if I pester, but I find the issue quite relevant for plot hooks concerning HMHVV-I characters.

I understand the test, what I do not understand is what it represents, biologically and magically. Is Infection mundane or magical ? Is it something the Infected must do, voluntarily, in person, or does it represent just the check whether the virus from the Infected character's blood "catches" (i.e. is there a necessary active use of a magical power, in Infection, or is it just the character sharing some of its blood) ? If the nosferatu drains someone to 0 Essence, then drains an appropriate amount of his blood in a cup, then leaves the room, someone else picks the cup and empties it in the victim's throat or open wound, what happens ? Can the test for Infection still be made, even if the Infected character himself isn't present ?

Settling this issue is absolutely necessry to establish whether a story involving a HMHVV-I strain character "turning" other people must be run with the necessary presence of the guy himself, or you can also do it with vials of blood and such. You can do it well either way, but this is a point that needs to be settled. After all, the ways to bring a character to 0 Essence are several and manifold. E.g. if you want to make a story about a wealthy socialite willing to buy immortality from a vampire or nosferatu, if the Infected character's presence is always necessary, you can set uo a story where the runners are hired to escort the Infected from her usual lair to the buyer's residence, and ensure safety and privacy while the act is done (say a persky vampire hunter has been on the tracks of the donor...). If only blood is necessary, the story may insteade involve the characters being couriers for the sample of blood (say another immortality-seeker hires a rival runner team to steal the sample). See the difference ?

Now, if this is an issue whose discussion and clarification the developer has already and absolutely reserved for the Critters book, in order to beef it up, and there some kind of NDA around, I'll understand (and houserule for the time being). But I'd rather prefer it clarified now, since it's a key issue of the Infection power.

About nine pints of blood, one soul (slightly used), and 12,000 nuyen (plus 10% finder's fee, 3% commission on the sale, 7% sales tax, and 15% manager's fee).

1/20 of ONE Age Rejuvenation treatment ??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[Ancient History]

Thanks for your answers.

De nada.

Since the critters book won't come for a significant amount of time, excuse me if I pester, but I find the issue quite relevant for plot hooks concerning HMHVV-I characters.

I understand the test, what I do not understand is what it represents, biologically and magically. Is Infection mundane or magical ? Is it something the Infected must do, voluntarily, in person, or does it represent just the check whether the virus from the Infected character's blood "catches" (i.e. is there a necessary active use of a magical power, in Infection, or is it just the character sharing some of its blood) ? If the nosferatu drains someone to 0 Essence, then drains an appropriate amount of his blood in a cup, then leaves the room, someone else picks the cup and empties it in the victim's throat or open wound, what happens ? Can the test for Infection still be made, even if the Infected character himself isn't present ?

The Infected straddle the border between pure science and pure magic. Some operations of the strains are clearly the same behavior you'd expect from a retrovirus, others most definitely are not, and frankly the manipulation of metagenes is muddled somewhere in the middle. The elves certainly believe there's a spiritual element of corruption to the process, which jives with some folklore, but it is probably safe to say that no one knows all the details of Infection...or at least, aren't talking.

Re: Infection, the rules clearly state that Infection is a physical power with a range of touch. Ergo, you need the Infected character, not just their blood or other bodily fluids. No catching vampirism from a toilet seat, shadowkids.

Now, if this is an issue whose discussion and clarification the developer has already and absolutely reserved for the Critters book, in order to beef it up, and there some kind of NDA around, I'll understand (and houserule for the time being). But I'd rather prefer it clarified now, since it's a key issue of the Infection power.

There is an NDA, but really I feel the Infection power is very clear on the matter for the nonce.

1/20 of ONE Age Rejuvenation treatment ??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

What can I say, it's a buyer's market.

[Wanderer]

What can I say, it's a buyer's market.

Pardon me my deepest disbelief about this, especially since you have established that the seller herself must be present for the process. HMHVV-I strain carriers savy enough to set up an occasional commerce of vampirism don't grow on trees, and this is the only other reliable way to *permanent* immortality in 2070, besides a Spirit Pact. There are expenses to place reasonably safe Contacts network (Physical or Matrix) that won't bring hunters on your doorstep, travel expenses (how likely is it to find a willing and available nosferatu seller in your sprawl...) I'd expect it charge at the very least as much as a Leonization treatment. Yup, there are all the drawbacks of the Infected Lifestyle, but it's also once ever, there are the powers, and it can be done in a couple days. You're the author, tip of the hat, and you made a truly excellent work about this issue, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif) but I sense some seriously skewed economics here. Vampirism cheaper than Digestive Expansion... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)