800 Point Characters...want to make one?, Pregens for a potential submission... Options

[Coldhand Jake]

Oh, the psycho-hacker? He's pretty badass; I like him a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) In my head, I almost picture him looking like the Terminator without his skin, hooked into some chair with dozens and dozens of wires, eyes staring rather blankly. Almost in some kind of strange-computer room with screens everywhere and dark lights. But wait, are his cyber-parts obvious or synthetic? If synthetic, I can sort of get in my mind a half-normal but half....machine looking guy with said wires sticking out of him everywhere. Possibly one from his eye or something. I can see his house with all kinds of security things, naturally, taken care of on the inside.

As for the electronics...I admit I'm not really in the know about programs. I know how they work on a very, veryt, basic level(enough to run an NPC hacker sort of on the fly), but I don't know all the cool stuffs. The AI sounds cool; just some thing that keeps him from being completely and totally disassociated.

BTW: is the fellow I put up too weird, or would he wash? I figured, in a world that has seen a free spirit CEO, a dragon president, a dragon CEO and countless other weird things, a changeling prime runner might not be that out there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Judas' cyberskull is synthetic and cybertorso is obvious, but human-shaped, and flesh-toned. His arms and legs are unapologetic machinery, designed with the style of casemodder sensibilities. His datajacks are reminiscent of the feedplugs from the Matrix.

And no, changelings really don't set off my OMG sensor.

[ElFenrir]

That sounds pretty cool, all mixed up. The datajacks give him a kind of old-school feel since these days they seem kind of archaic. His essence is about as low as low can be, too, without going to cyberzombie territory(I think you have to be 0 or less for that? I can't quite recall.) Any particular inspiration for this guy that you drew from? Mine was simply an amalgamation of four different characters I have, with bits taken from each of them and mixed together into the end result.

'OMG Sensor', heh. Nice name for it. Just curious, if changelings, drakes, free spirits, nosferatu or AIs don't set it off...what does?

[Coldhand Jake]

In general, pixies, and other awakened critters, AIs and free spirits. People who have to have -massive- rules kits just to be something "cool" or people who just can't blend in. Compared to that, a girl with elf hips, troll tits and butterfly wings ain't much...

[ElFenrir]

Yeah, AIs I actually like in concept a lot, but as a player, just can be a pain. Fitting in, well, they're not...meat, or flesh...they could be living in a commlink, or a car, or a radio, or the sam's gun might be talking like Gilbert Gottfried...Changelings I suppose can ''fit in'' just fine. Just a few odds and ends that you could buy with cyberware a good 70% of the time, if I went down the list. You could modify yourself artificially to about anything these days. Drakes seem quite simple as well, since they're just...people who can change to drakes and have some breath.

Pixies also strike me as strange. I'm not sure what it is. It's that they're...pixies, perhaps. I can't say that their size and sneaking ability with a set of poison darts wouldn't be nasty or wouldn't be very useful, but there is something just weird there.

[Bobson]

Hmmmm...

So, I see four potential PCs here, Azael, Basher, Celestial Servant and Uncle Zola (where did characters D to T go?), none of whom appears to have vehicle or Matrix skills.

The sample opponents presented possess both Matrix and vehicle skills.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

Peter

I'm currently working on two characters. One's built to be able to survive anything (some better than others, but very little should be able to seriously injure him). Currently, the only two physical things that give him pause are the ship-mounted Gauss cannon that halves armor before applying -10 AP, and several (read 4+) kilos of rating 12 explosive exploding at point blank range. Magically, I think he's reasonably resistant, but not on the same level (I don't have him in front of me right now - but he's not done yet or he'd be posted here). I'm going for the Implacable Man image. Offensive ability's only going to be average - but average & nearly invulnerable will beat uber & fragile any day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The other one is less well defined, but it's going to be an updated version of a SR3 edition character I played. A fairly typical rigger type, with two primary vehicles. A highly tricked out van and a walker drone that's loaded to the bolts. The version I had before had two arms with assault weapons, and had another chest mounted... The one time he fired all three off on full auto at once (unaimed), it took out the supports for half the building we were in. How well that'll translate over to SR4 I don't know, but I'm hoping it works out well.

If I get those two done, I have an idea for an adept/hacker that might, possibly, be able to challenge Judas on his home ground. Probably not win, but if the build doesn't crash and burn, it might be good enough to keep him busy while the rest of the runners do their meat-bag thing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[ElFenrir]

Hmm....while we're at it, we are also lacking a dedicated, 100%, Face character. an 800 BP adept face ought to be able to talk bullets out of the air. Would be cool to have another less-combat oriented character, too, in the group. I'm sure someone here can put together a Face. (i thought about it but i got caught up answering Bull's 50+ questions with my character, even though I already wrote a few paragraphs on him. What can I say, I got into him. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

[Glyph]

I liked the hacker and the AI, although I'm not too up on the nuts and bolts end - good backgrounds, though.

I'm working on a face, but it won't be a mono-focused dicemongering build like the pornomancer - she will be a bit more well-rounded, but, like Basher, still plenty good at her primary area of expertise.

[ElFenrir]

It's funny that in the case like the Pornomancer, I sometimes don't see them as a classic ''face''. Sort of like the gunbunny who is die-loaded on Pistols but not on other guns, compared to the gunbunny who is good with all guns, and I always liked the Face that was good with all social skills. The Face, to me, is good at fitting in, social stealth, if you will, the disguise, the knowledges, the being able to work their way into any social circle at all. Pornomancer is a fun ''gimmick'' sort of build but I always liked the face who had loads of social and ''hide in plain sight'' skills than that, and who only needed to draw a gun as a last resort. (Though for some reason, a sniper rifle always goes good with a Face in my mind somehow.) The Pornomancer to the Face is sort of the Pistol Adept to the Gunbunny, only...a lot more extreme.

With the face, we'll have a really nice group; two up-close heavy hitting doods with ranged ability, a gunbunny with vehicle skills, two mages with a wide variety of abilities, and we're getting the ''team tank'' and a rigger with lots and lots of toys. We got the combat thing VERY well taken care of, the face and the technomancer should take care of the non-combat aspect fairly well. (Well, unless you count Social Combat and Matrix Combat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

[Mickle5125]

So we've got a rigger being built? I'll focus this TM on the hacking side of things, then.

[pbangarth]

Given his backstory, I changed Uncle Zola's Knowledge Skill in Elven Wines to Cuban Cigars. Sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Peter

[Mickle5125]

Name: Chaos Theory
Metatype: Human

Stats

[ Spoiler ]

Bod: 4
Ag: 4
Rea: 3
Str: 2
Cha: 5
Int: 5
Log: 6
Wil: 5

Edge: 5
Ressonance: 8
Initiative: 8 (12 VR)
IP: 1 (5 VR)
Essence: 6.00
Karma: 0
Nuyen:


Positive Qualities
Technomancer

Negative Qualities
Wanted (Made some very big, very public hacks)
Records on File
Vindictive
Paranoia
Bad Rep (known TM)
Reality Impaired
Sensitive System
Allergy [mild, shellfish]

Active Skills

Skills
Cracking (Group) 6
Electronics (Group) 6
Tasking (Group) 4
Infiltration 4
Etiquette 3
Perception 5
Pistols 3
Dodge 3
Pilot Ground Craft 2


Knowledge Skills
Datahavens 4
Matrix Security 5
Known Technomancers 4
Hacking 5

English N
Sperethiel 4
Or’zet 4
Japanese 4
Italian 3

Contacts
Fixer 4C/4L

Complex Forms
Analyze 8
Browse 1
Command 5
Edit 6
Encrypt 6
Reality Filter 1
Scan 6
Armor 8
Attack 6
Black Hammer 6
Decrypt 1
Defuse 1
ECCM 1
Exploit 6
Sniffer 1
Spoof 6
Stealth 8
Track 1
Smartlink

Stream
Singularitarians
Fading: Logic + Resonance
Sprites: Courier, Crack, Data, Tutor, and Tank

Submersion Rating: 5
Echoes
Overclocking
Advanced Overclocking
Defragmentation
Swap 2

Gear (92 karma)
GUNS
Colt Government 2066
- Quick Draw Holster
- Internal Smartlink
-Safe Target System
-- + 1 RFID marker
-Weapon Personality
-9 spare clips
-Chameleon Coating
-Gecko Grip
-Personalized Grip
-Pilot Upgrade rating 6
-Integral Silencer
-20 round APDS
-30 rounds Ex-ex
-30 rounds normal
-30 rounds Stick-n-Shock
-30 rounds Subsonic

ARMOR / MELEE WEAPON
Armor Jacket
Chameleon Suit
-Thermal Damping 6
Full Body FFBA
Light Milspec armor
-helmet
-Chem protection 6
-Fire Resistance 6
-Insulation 6
-Nonconductivity 6
-Radiation shielding 6

COMMLINK
Fairlight Caliban
-20 datachips
-Custom OS (6 Sys, 6 firewall)

TOOLS
Medkit 6
10 Kamikaze
2 Smartpacks
3 ammo pouches
Combat Load Vest

SINS & LICENSES & LIFESTYLE
3 months High
Fake SIN 6 (Tony Danza)
Fake SIN 6 (Mickle James)

VEHICLE
GMC Bulldog Step-Van
-Normal Armor 6
-Smart Armor 6
-GridLink
-GridLink Override
-Passenger Protection
-Personal Armor
-Rigger Adaptation
-Enhanced Rigger Cocoon
-Signature Masking 6

I think I have everything. On a side note, I have a strange feeling that the upgrades to the van are totally screwy, I'm just not really feeling up to figuring it all out right now.

[AngelisStorm]

Are you allowing the customized armor for encumbrance option on pg 44 of Arsenal? And if so, what would the cost modifier for such armor be?

Added: So double checking your posted characters (Snowman and the AI), DAMN. How does one end up with all 6's in skills? Justification in game, that is.

So, we're building characters (using your guidelines given), that would be called out to fight such a monster, yes?

[pbangarth]

The 'monster' is one man and his AI buddy/lover. There could be several like him rounding out an opposing team. How's that make your day?

Peter

[Coldhand Jake]

Are you allowing the customized armor for encumbrance option on pg 44 of Arsenal? And if so, what would the cost modifier for such armor be?

Added: So double checking your posted characters (Snowman and the AI), DAMN. How does one end up with all 6's in skills? Justification in game, that is.

So, we're building characters (using your guidelines given), that would be called out to fight such a monster, yes?

He's a genius with good customized cyberware. And has been running since 2nd edition.

[Coldhand Jake]

The 'monster' is one man and his AI buddy/lover. There could be several like him rounding out an opposing team. How's that make your day?

Peter

Actually the team is one near toxic urban Wolf shaman, a greek neopagan magician, a troll cybertank, and a physad/technomancer. And yes, I realize she's illegal. Eh.

[ElFenrir]

So it's a technomancer with the ability to have Improved Ability: All Kinds of Computer Skills Because They're Really Cheap?

So what are the point of these guys again? Just an example of prime runners that take on jobs like this, including going against the odd ''shouldn't exist'' type of character? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Are they friends of the PCs, foes, or could be either, depending?

[Coldhand Jake]

So it's a technomancer with the ability to have Improved Ability: All Kinds of Computer Skills Because They're Really Cheap?

So what are the point of these guys again? Just an example of prime runners that take on jobs like this, including going against the odd ''shouldn't exist'' type of character? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The guys you are building are basically made to take out ancient PCs, GMPCs, Mary Sues, and other things that WERE NOT MEANT TO BE. And no, Jenna's more of the Killing Hands + Critical Strike + Resonance Trodes + Black Hammer IC directly into your brain.

[pbangarth]

Ooooohhhh... Jenna has Killing Hands, so Uncle Zola's Immunity to Normal Weapons doesn't work. Come on, baby, let's see whatcha got!

Peter (Now known as the player with PC deathwish.)

[ElFenrir]

Deadly Attack? I don't remember that power, unless it's a Techno thing. Hmm, I have to read up more on Technomancers to see how they dump IC directly into someone's brain, as well; I'm not SUPER learned on all of the little Techno tricks. Well, that's what good tactics are for...we do have two people on this team that hit for the equivalent combined DV of three Panther Cannons at once and who have armor in the mid to high teens with lotsa soak to take care of that, along with two rather deadly kickass mages, a badass Technomancer in his own right and a Gunslingin Dude...well, they are a team of Prime Runners.

All of that being said though...I wonder if we should be twinking our characters more. It can be done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I really would like to play with a cyber/adept build of Azael, but I just don't want him to be a copycat of Basher. I guess with a little tweaking i can come up with something that keeps his super-high unarmed DV which is part of him, but branch him off enough as well to be somewhat different.

[pbangarth]

Uncle Zola is (OK. I am ) REALLY interested in responses to this question in the Possession FAQ thread:

http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?s=&a...st&p=738678

The possibilities are endless.

Peter

[EDIT] Never mind, Tarantula straightened me out about the Essence loss making an implant part of the person. @^@^@&$#@#

[ElFenrir]

Damn. Well, Zola is still going to be a force and a half to be reckoned with. Hell, with Zola's magic and possession, he's going to be one of our ace-in-the holes, easily. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I think i'm onto something, with an Azael retool. (Yep, it's happening. It happens Every. Time. I make a character.) I managed to find a way to mix him up with adept and cyber, but still make him different enough from Basher, I believe. He lacks some of his powers due to a few others I bought; he's going to be fairly well-rounded still, but he's basically going to be a straight-up Juggernaut sort of style of ''If it's in the way, it goes smash.'' I forgot how cool the Smashing Blow power was. (BTW Glyph, I'm not trying to step on your toes here, but adept + cyber = very much prime runner). And after seeing a toxic wolf shaman on the list(the one that scares me the most by far, to be honest...though the other mage sounds awful nasty too), it made me sort of want more...comfort. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

And dear god, he's going to be cleaning his legs off a lot. Portable steam-cleaner, perhaps? o.O

EDIT:

Ok, here's the retool of Azael. He lost a couple of things from the original-but, IMO, gained a whole lot more, with more focus. I realized, as cool as flavor active skills are in a regular game, in a situation like this where these guys are called upon the uber-jobs dealing with toxic crap and megacorps...a more solid focus might be desireable.

[ Spoiler ]

Name: Sachiel Kisev
Alias: Azael
Height: 2.5m
Weight: 200kg
Race: Elf(Changeling)
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Hair: Long, reddish-black(well past shoulders)
Eyes: Orange-red(lava-colored)
Skin: Stark White

Race: 30

+ Qualities: 70

Adept(5)
Surge Lv. 2(10)
Exceptional Attribute-Strength[20]
Horns[5]
Claws[5]
Satyr Legs[10]-+2 Strength of kicking attacks, running mod x 1.5, +2 dice Gymnastics Tests(including Gymnastics Dodge)
Savate Lv. 2[10]-+2 Dv Unarmed
Metahuman Traits[5]-size(troll-height)

- Qualities: 70

Combat Monster[10]
Mild Allergy/Sun[10]
Spammed[5]
Flashbacks[5]
Nano Intolerance[5]
SINner[5]
Signature[10]
Critter Spook[5]
Mood Hair[5]
Astral Beacon[5]
Enemy[5]

Surge Qualities:

+: Metagenic Improvement(Strength)
-: Extravagant Eyes
Striking Skin(Stark White)

The Numbers:

Attributes:

Core: 290
Special: 80(Magic bought to 5 at start, lost 4 points due to cyber)
Magic from 1 to 6: 60
Initiate 2 times: 29

Body: 5[6, +3 dmg]
Agility: 6[10]
Reaction: 5[9]
Strength: 9[13]
Charisma: 5
Intuition: 5
Logic: 2
Willpower: 5
Edge: 5
Magic: 6
Initative: 10/1[14/4]
Essence: 2

Active Skills: (142)

Unarmed Combat(Martial Arts): 6(+2) [9(+2)]-+3 Improved Ability
Gymnastics: 4[6] +2 Improved Ability
Climbing: 1
Running: 1
Intimidation(Mental): 4(+2)
Infiltration(Urban): 4(+2) [6(+2)] +2 Improved Ability
Perception: 3[4] +1 Improved Ability
Shadowing(Tailing): 2(+2)
Etiquette(Street): 3(+2)
Longarms(Shotguns): 2(+2)
Heavy Weapons(Assault Cannons): 2(+2)


Knowledge/Language Skills: (21 Free)

AK: Seattle: 4
Safehouse Locations: 4
Shadowrunner Haunts: 3
Techno-Metal Music: 1
Gory Fighting Techniques: 4
Corporate Hosts: 2

English: N
Sperethiel: 3

Maneuvers((IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Kick Attack
Riposte
Finishing Blow
Set Up

Contacts(21):

Jaina(Mage/Enchanter, 24 year old elf): C2 L6
Hampton(22 year old troll hacker): C2 L3
Fixer: C5 L3

Resources: 700,000-140

Implants:

Muscle Augmentation Lv. 4(Beta-Grade)-112,000
Muscle Toner Lv. 3(Alpha)-48,000
Suprathyroid Gland(Alpha)90,000
Synaptic Boosters Lv. 3-240,000
Synthacardium Lv. 1-10,000
Titanium Bone Lacing(Alphaware)-80,000
Genetic Optimization(Strength)-45,000

Adept Powers(8 Power Points-6 from magic and 2 from initation)

Smashing Blow(1)
Mystic Armor Lv. 2(1)
Killing Hands(.5)
Penetrating Strike Lv. 3(.75)
Improved Ability(Unarmed Combat) Lv. 3(1.5)
Improved Ability(Infiltration) Lv. 2(.5)
Improved Ability(Gymnastics) Lv. 2(.5)
Enhanced Perception Lv. 1(.25)
Critical Strike Lv. 6(1.5)
Combat Sense Lv. 1(.5)

Gear:

18 LP Lifestyle(all High except for Security/Neighborhood at 3, which is Middle)
Fake ID Rating 6
2x Fake Licences, Rating 6

Unarmed: 18P(Kick 19P, +1 Reach)
Claws: 8P(hands), 9P(feet, +1 reach)
Franchi-SPAS 22 Shotgun(Personalized Grip, Gas Vent 2, Meta Custom Large, Custom Look 1), w/ 100 rounds regular, fletchette, APDS rounds, 50 AV rounds-4250


Armor:

Armor Jacket(900), 8/6-w/ Fire Resist/NonConductivity 3, Insulation,Chem Protection and Thermal Dampening 2
Forearm Guards: 0/1, 250
Shin Guards: 0/1, 150
Vitals Protector, 1/1-200
Titanium Bone Lacing: 1/1
Form-Fitting Body Armor: 4/1-900

Total Armor(w/bone lacing and mysic armor): 16/13


Survival Kit(100)
Medkit(6)/4 refills(800)
Climbing Gear(200)
100m. rope(50)
Sony Emperor Commlink/Redcap Nix OS, Skinlink, Subvocal mic(1200)
Earbuds w/ Audio Enhancement 3, Spatial Recognizer, Select Sound Filter 3: 1010
Contacts w/ Thermographic, Smartlink, Flare Compensation, Vision Enhancement Lv. 3 and Vision Magnification-1050

More Gear As Appropriate.

Full Heavy Military Body Armor(Heavily Customized) with Helmet: 47,500 nuyen

-Hydraulic Jacks Lv. 6
-Mobility Upgrade Lv. 2
-Strength Upgrade Lv. 3
-Quick Release

Total Armor(w/bone lacing, mystic armor and helmet) : 21/19

Unarmed DV in Armor: 19P(Kick 20P)

Ok, so he's still no slouch...I'd say he's much more ''Elite Prime Dood'' material like this. His Firearms skills look low, but the fact that he throws 16 dice with his smartlinked Franchi Spas with no recoil problems is not bad at all; and he can throw 16 dice with a smartlinked Assault Cannon. That's typically good. I mean, even in supernatural situations, it's good. These guys DO have limits, after all; they aren't going to be absolutely perfect at everything. He still throws good Perception dice, and while his social skills tool a small hit, his 10-11 die specialties make him perfectly viable to ''hang'', so to speak. He knows where things are, in any case. He took a little hit with Running/Climbing, but with a 13 strength and a level of synthacardium, his DP is 15, which is still more than a fully human Olympic runner or climber. Fine with me.

With the Adept Powers, he got all kinds of neat stuff. 2 extra Infiltration dice means the huge fragger sneaks around cities with 18 dice, allowing him to get a drop on people rather effectively. A level of Combat Sense helps his defense, and the extra Unarmed gives him 22 dice when he throws one of his kicks. Mystic Armor helps prevent damage, and I even tossed in a point of Perception to make up for the skill point he lost. In his soft armor, he has an armor rating of 16/13, and in his heavy, he's at a whopping 21/19, and he gets 9 extra dice to soak with. So he's well protected, to say the least. Not to mention his rather healthy defense pools(Improved Unarmed helped his melee pool out, too.)

As for his damage? Well, he kicks for 19P, or 20P in the Strength-boosted armor, and this has -3 AP attached to it. With Smashing Blow, his damage vs. barriers is...38-40, so perhaps kicking through blast bunkers isn't out of the question. Killing Hands helps grandly vs. the spirits, which was one of his weaknesses before. He lost a couple of maneuvers, but with Kick Attack, Finishing Blow, Riposte and Set Up, turning anyone into a gooey, red paste is not too hard, and those pesky barriers won't be a problem for the team. Oh, even if he's not kicking, it's 21 dice to attack and 18/19P damage, so it's not like his arms are useless, he just prefers to attack with his legs most of the time; having a shotgun in his hands is another plus to this. He moves fast enough(15 walking/37 running due to his leg bonus) that closing distances won't be a problem, either-and again, he's no slouch with guns anyway, and his full-defense Dodge of nearly 20 ranged and around 30 melee(plus Riposte to turn any would-be attacker to said paste) helps close the distance, too. Removed his mental negative qualities so he isn't a walking target for mind melting, and gave him a few others.

I dunno, but I think this version actually works out a bit better. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) He's a bit twinkier, but he still has enough ''character stuff'' to keep him going(I didn't NEED to buy horns, claws, or size, but I wanted to for the character, basically.) I'll just adjust Bull's 50 questions to fit the modified version with background bits about the magic.

[Coldhand Jake]

Deadly Attack? I don't remember that power, unless it's a Techno thing. Hmm, I have to read up more on Technomancers to see how they dump IC directly into someone's brain, as well; I'm not SUPER learned on all of the little Techno tricks.

Editted to use the actual names of the Adept Powers and Echoes, as well as the correct complex form.

[Coldhand Jake]

PPpppbht! Double post

[ElFenrir]

Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, I have to read on the Echoes and Resonance Trodes a bit. Wait a minute...by the sound of that the blasted Complex Form itself has the ability of Critical Strike and Killing Hands, or else I can't figure out how you smack someone upside the head with Resonance Trodes and inject an IC into their brain. I need to dig into Unwired more.

Heh, posted just as I edited my dood. I think he's more prime now.

[AngelisStorm]

Fair enough. I can go with "been around forever" (for high skill ranks). I was actually curious, not pickin at the character. *smile*

So, armor. Important question, given that it's a team worth of those sample characters. Customized armor for the Bx3 encumbrance max? And did we get an answer on how to handle spirits (such as invoking great form)?