Recruiting (SR3): Brave New World, Living and learning in Bug City Options

[crizh]

SOTA, Level 2, 4 Point Edge

(I've no idea what level one was, might have provided access to Alpha in SR2...)

The character is already an established customer of a Beta-Clinic. He may purchase Cyberware and Bioware up to Availability 12, including Cultured Bioware, and up to a Rating of 9 during character generation. After the game has started he may purchase any implants of Beta grade or lower using the usual availability rules.

(The second benefit is a bit irrelevant but that is what I recall. The numbers I've put in there are a bit arbitrary, they're a 50% increase to the usual limits.)

[krayola red]

Looks good, go for it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[krayola red]

Glyph: I think you spent 164 karma on Attributes, not 174, which means you have 10 extra karma to play with. I was statting out Doc in NSRCG and there's a 10 karma deficit.

[crizh]

Cool, I'm nearly done I think. I'm just using Point Buy because I'm lazy and that's how the original was built...

It'll take a while to type up and I'm ready for my bed now.

Watch this space.

Coming soon..

Robert Carlotti aka Frank Cutler aka Giblet.

[Glyph]

Glyph: I think you spent 164 karma on Attributes, not 174, which means you have 10 extra karma to play with. I was statting out Doc in NSRCG and there's a 10 karma deficit.

You're right - looking at my scratch sheet, I have it totalled up at 164, but put 174 in the column. I think I might have been thinking about raising Charisma to 5, but then forgot I had added points for it. But I think I'll spend the 10 Karma on some Edges, instead. Stats have been edited.

[Toptomcat]

Point Breakdown

[ Spoiler ]

130 bp
130/130
Attributes: 56
Skills: 32
Edges/Flaws: 12
Resources: 30

Stats

[ Spoiler ]

Metis
Human male

Strength: 4
Quickness: 5
Body: 5 (7)
Intelligence: 9
Willpower: 4
Charisma: 4

Reaction: 7
Essence: 0.66
Essence Index: 3.66
Bio Index: 1.4
Magic: 0
Initiative: 7 + 1d6
Combat Pool: 9
Task Pool: 1

Skills:
Pistols 5
Unarmed Combat 3 (Kick Attacks 5)
Stealth 5 (Alertness 7)
Etiquette 4
Electronics 6
Athletics 4

Spycraft 6 (7)
Biology 6 (7)
Magic 6 (7)
Physics 5 (6)
Chemistry 5 (6)
Engineering 5 (6)
Parazoology 4 (5)
Parabotony 4 (5)
Vintage Guitars 4 (5)
Cybertechnology 3 (4)

Language:
English 6 (9)
R/W English 3 (6)
Russian 3 (6)
R/W Russian 1 (4)
Japanese 3 (6)
R/W Japanese 1 (4)

Edges/Flaws:
Bonus Attribute Point/Exceptional Attribute (Intelligence)
College Education
Technical School Education
Perceptive
Photgraphic Memory

Resources:
1,000,000 nuyen

Alphaware Cyberear Replacement with Dampener, Hearing Amplification, High Frequency, Low Frequency, Recorder, Level 5 Select Sound Filter (0.7 Essence)

Alphaware Retinal Mods: Flare Compensation, Image Link, Low-Light, Opticam, Thermographic, Electronic 3 Mag, Eye Light System, Microscopic Vision, Ultrasound Vision (1.0 Essence)

Alphaware Chemical Analyzer and Gas Spectrometer with Rating 6 chemical reference program (0.16 Essence)

Alphaware Rating 6 Olfactory Booster (0.16 Essence)

Alphaware datajack (0.16 Essence)

Alphaware Internal GPS, Orientation System, and Spatial Recognizer (0.44 Essence)

2x Alphaware Obvious Cyberleg (1.6 Essence)

Cerebral Booster level 2 (0.8 Bio Index)

Mnemonic Enhancer level 3 (0.6 Bio Index)

Alphaware DNIs for optical memory chip, radio scanner, laser microphone, shotgun microphone, signal locator, bug scanner, chem sniffer, cyberware scanner, MAD detector, and Geiger counter (0.8 Essence)

Alphaware router (total 0.16 Essence)
Alphaware ports for Recorder, Image Link, Opticam, Chemical Analyzer/Gas Spectrometer, Olfactory Booster, Datajack, Internal GPS, orientation System, Spatial Recognizer, other router

Alphaware router (total 0.16 Essence)
Alphaware ports for optical memory chip DNI, radio scanner DNI, laser microphone DNI, shotgun microphone DNI, signal locator DNI, bug scanner DNI, cyberware scanner DNI, MAD detector DNI, Geiger counter DNI, other router

1,500 Mp optical memory chip, DNI-linked: in right cyberleg

Rating 6 radio scanner, DNI-linked, with Rating 3 ECCM and Rating 6 Broadcast Decryption: in right cyberleg

Rating 6 laser microphone, DNI-linked: in right cyberleg

Rating 6 shotgun microphone, DNI-linked: in left cyberleg

Rating 6 signal locator, DNI-linked: in right cyberleg

Rating 6 Bug Scanner, DNI-linked: in left cyberleg

Rating 6 Cyberware Scanner, DNI-linked: in right cyberleg

Rating 6 MAD Detector, DNI-linked: in left cyberleg

Geiger counter, DNI-linked: in right cyberleg

Background & Contacts

[ Spoiler ]

Contacts:
Level 1: Bruno, a powerful and enigmatic Free City spirit that takes the form of a titanic St. Bernard with a miniature barrel around his neck. He erratically visits perhaps a dozen people in Chicago, of whom Metis is one. His barrel sometimes contains food, sometimes brandy, sometimes bizzare magical oddities, sophisticated electronics, or random assemblages of junk: whatever it is, it is always exactly what the recipiant needs at that exact moment.

Level 1: Megami, female elven CIA counterintelligence officer and the reason Metis is still alive and running after his unfriendly termination from that agency. Rather than being unsubtle and just 'losing' the records pertaining to his case, she just kicked it into a beuracratic subcommittee of a subcommittee of a bunch of outside academics who aren't cleared for anything that could help find him. Obcessed with old flatvid anime.
"That Evangelion boxed set you got me is worth its weight in gold these days. Don't thank me for getting the Agency off your back- I should be thanking you."

Appearence:
A short, brown-haired man of about thirty, Metis looks more like an accountant than a shadowrunner. The whites of his eyes are shot through with silvery lines, a product of his extensive retinal modification. He has two artificial legs, and an instrument occasionally pops out of one, surveys his surroundings on an extendible probe, and then retracts.

Personality:
Careful, meticulous and extremely intelligent, Metis is used to knowing everything about his current situation, and a variable that remains persistantly unknown despite his abilities can upset him quite a bit. He chose his shadowrunning nickname, an ancient Greek word for wisdom in battle, because it seemed to him quite apt.

History:
Senseware, cybernetic implants that expand the senses, are widely known and used but not traditionally a primary focus of cyberware. Senseware is typically used as a sort of secondary agumentation for those dedicated to something else: for example, image magnification could obviate the need for a rifle scope, and thermal vision could help a soldier tremendously in a night-fight. However, an innovative CIA think-tank produced a concept for a new kind of spy, one who could use an intense loadout of senseware to do the job of a battalion of SIGINT experts with specialized instruments. Project Cordemanon, named for a Celtic god of knowledge, was then born, and three of the Agency's best and brightest were chosen for the implantation of previously unprecedented senseware, as well as some brain modifications to assist in the interpretation of the data gathered.
Metis, then John Corbine, was one of those three. He served well, putting in three solid years with the Agency that quickly vindicated the expense of Project Cordemanon and produced several intelligence coups for the CIA. However, in November of his third year, he saw too much. A screw-up in communication resulted in him being within spitting distance of an unthinkably secret prototype assasination drone during field testing. His government-installed senses did their job, delivering a minutely detailed schematic of the drone that, by the nature of his altered brain, he could never forget. The Agency brass went ballistic, and after brief debate resolved to have Corbine quietly 'dissapeared.' Subtly assasinating a man engineered to see all and know all proved extremely difficult: thanks to his nice shiny implants, Corbine was able to avoid several attempts handily. This kicked off a six-month manhunt, and Corbine has been forced DEEP underground. Megami's helping to keep the heat off, but even with his abilities and her help he's barely staying one step ahead of the Agency. His own fragging government is hunting him down for being smart enough and sharp enough to figure out their precious toys- just like they made him. His credit sticks are in lockdown, his SIN revoked...his straight-arrow demeanor marking him as a target in the horrible neighborhoods he's forced to hide in.
Corbine was considering how best to leave the country when all Hell broke loose in Chicago. It sure as Hell isn't how he'd have chosen to go off the grid, but it works- his old problems are pretty much irrelevent now. He just has to survive the new ones...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Basically, this started off as a theoretical exercise- can I really spend a million nuyen on senseware?- and when I ended up with a quasi-playable character, I decided to run with it.

Metis is pretty squishy so far as combat goes, but can still contribute a very great deal to a group in combat: "Those drums will explode if you shoot them!" "This wall's thin enough for Señor Ubertrog to bust down!" "Comm traffic says their backup is inbound in five minutes!"
If alone, he's pretty sneaky and knows exactly which direction to run away in, which might very well be worth more than Move-By-Wire 4 in a game like this.

It might end up making things difficult for you from a GMing point of view- having to write Perception test results for someone like this could get tiring, and it may make it difficult for you to keep secrets you'd depended on to keep the planned narrative running. This in mind, I'm absolutely willing to submit a different character or tone down the extreme degree of focus displayed here.

Still, I thought I'd submit an oddball and see if you liked it, especially given your professed yen for creative characters and the acts of ingenuity, planning, and tactical maneuvering that this guy will facilitate in others and rely on himself. There are some plot hooks in here for you, as well. If you wanted to make us even MORE hunted than we already are in a Bug City game, the Agency could still be trying to find and terminate him despite the difficulties involved. Alternatively, there could have been just *one* assasin on Metis' tail, who's now as trapped as everyone else and must choose between attempting to fulfill his mission or joining him and his friends in an attempt to survive the nightmare. Bruno could provide a save for you if some challenge you expected to be easy sends the group into a tailspin.

[Glyph]

Toptomcat, don't forget that humans get an extra 5 BP under Krayola's house rules.

[crizh]

Bit of a work in progress here.

Frank Cutler is a member of a Firewatch special forces team who happens to be in Chicago on leave when the balloon goes up. Cut off from support and supply he is making do, living off the 'land' and attempting to build up a power-base of weapons and ammunition. His long term plan is to create some sort of secure enclave that can be defended until the boys come in and clear this mess up.

[ Spoiler ]

Frank wasn't in Chicago by accident. Frank has a past in Chicago.

He was once Robert Carlotti an up and coming made-man in one of Chicago's minor crime families. He made enemies with his sense of honour and duty to family. Enemies who raped and tortured his little sister to death. Enemies that were too powerful for him to take revenge against.

So Robert Carlotti became a snitch.

The Feds outfitted him with the latest in cutting edge cyber recording gear and when all the fish that could be caught in the net were well and truly snared Robert Carlotti testified against them all from behind a screen in closed court.

Witsec placed him in the military of the fledgling Ares Macrotech and arranged a fatal accident for Robert Carlotti.

When rumours started spreading among the upper echelons of Ares that something bad was happening in Chicago where his mother and surviving sisters still lived he wasted no time applying for some of his accumulated leave and hopping on the first sub-orbital back to the Windy City.

Frank Cutler has served in Knight Errant with distinction for over 20 years. He has a fearsome reputation as a deadly tunnel rat, his combat and infiltration skills are second to none and he is chipped to operate as a field armourer and medic amongst other skills. He has much experience operating behind enemy lines for months at a time and is a masterful guerilla tactician.

Point Breakdown

[ Spoiler ]

125 bp
125/125
Race: 5
Attributes: 60
Skills: 30
Edges/Flaws: 5/-5
Resources: 30

Stats

[ Spoiler ]

Giblet

Dwarf male

Strength: 12
Quickness: 4
Body: 6 (7)
Intelligence: 6
Willpower: 6
Charisma: 4

Reaction: 6
Essence: 1.192
Essence Index: 4.192
Bio Index: 3.48
Magic: 0
Initiative: 6 + 3d6
Combat Pool: 8


Skills:

Edged Weapons (Ares Monosword) 5 (7)
Medium Guns (Assault Rifles) 5 (7)
Light Guns 4
Unarmed Combat 4
Stealth 6
Small Unit Tactics (BattleTac) 3 (5)

Criminal Organisations 4
Mafia Politics 4
Safehouse Locations 4
Guerilla Tactics 4
Survival (Urban) 4 (6)
Cybertechnology 4
Elven Society 2

Language:
English 4
R/W English 2
Italian 4
R/W Italian 2
Sperethiel 4
R/W Sperethiel 2

Edges/Flaws:
High Pain Tolerance Level 2 [4]
Natural Immunity: VITAS [1]
Enemy [-1]
Hunted [-4]



Resources:
1,000,000 nuyen

CODE

Synaptic Accelerator II
Muscle Augmentation IV
Enhanced Articulation
Chemical Gland (Gamma Scopolomine)

Skillwires, ASIST Rating IV, 48 MP
Blood Filters VI

Cybereyes, Replacement, Alpha

    - Image Link
    - Flare Compensation
    - Vision Magnification, Electronic
    - Thermographic

Cyberears, Replacement

    - Hearing Amplification
    - Hearing Dampener
    - Select Sound Filter V

Smartlink Components, Beta

    - Limited Simsense Rig

Router, 8 Port, Beta

    - Linking Cyberears, Cybereyes, Smartlink II, Skillwires, Datajacks A-D

Cyberarms, Obvious, x 2


Right Cyberarm

Datajack A, Beta

    - DNI out connected to Router
    - 2000Mp Memory
    - Expert Driver III
    - Knowsoft Link
    - External Port

Datajack B, Beta

    - DNI out connected to Router
    - Laser Target Designator, DNI Adaption
    - Opticam
    - Recorder
    - External Port


Smartlink Components

    - Smartlink II processor
    - Induction Pad
    - Range Finder

Cybersquirt, External Clip Port
Fingertip Compartment
Body Plating, Ballistic V


Left Cyberarm

Datajack C, Beta

    - DNI out connected to Router
    - Battletac Master Controller
    - Internal GPS
    - Orientation System
    - External Port

Datajack D, Beta

    - DNI out connected to Router
    - Personal Tactical Comm 9
    - Transducer
    - Spare Internal Port
    - External Port

Body Plating, Ballistic V


Skillsofts

    - Biotech IV
    - B/R Light Guns IV
    - B/R Medium Guns IV
    - Demolitions IV
    - Launch Weapons IV

edit

Gear. I noticed up-thread that you suggested we describe the characters 'normal' gear.

I didn't bother with gear at all when I was doing this sheet but the load out I had when I played him before was a tricked out M22A2, a Di-koted Monosword and Katar combined with a full set of FFBA and a Secure Jacket. The original had a few more skillsofts but I ran out of cash. Some tools would be handy too.

On the subject of background, does Ares have a military wing that is independent of Knight Errant? I don't really know too much about Ares and I was kinda spit-balling a bit earlier.

[krayola red]

On the subject of background, does Ares have a military wing that is independent of Knight Errant? I don't really know too much about Ares and I was kinda spit-balling a bit earlier.

An extremely, extremely brief scan through the Ares chapter in Corporate Download says no. But as a general rule, if you want to add something cool to your character's background, the game world will shift to accommodate that, so don't let something not being canon stop you from playing the character you want to play.

Also, nix on the Dark Secret. Being a snitch may fulfill the bounds of this flaw in a standard game, but it won't in this one. I thought about Enemy and Hunted, and decided to go with yeah, you can have 'em, but you probably really, really don't want them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/vegm.gif)

Totally digging the characters guys, keep 'em coming. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Also, Rigger 3 is now amongst the list of usable supplements.

[thearistocrat]

Character Image
The Aristocrat

Character Sheet

[ Spoiler ]

Name : James O'Riley
Street Name: The Aristocrat
Archetype : Troll Charisma-Assassin

Vitals

Race Troll
Height 6 feet 10 inches
Sex Male
Weight 280 Pounds

Birthdate Dec 13, 2035
Birthplace Pullayup Barrens, Seattle

Attributes

Body 11(12)
Quickness 4
Strength 10
Charisma 5
Intelligence 4
Willpower 4

Essence 6.00
Run Mult. 3
Magic 6
BioIndex 0
Reaction 4
Init. Dice 1d6

Pool
Spell 4
Combat 6

Active Skills
MA:Pitfighting [6]
Athletics [3]
Etiquette/Street [4/6]
Intimidation/Physical [4/6]
Negotiation/Fast talk [4/6]
Bike [3]
Bike B/R [2]

Passive Skills
IN:Flatvid Movies(KNO)/Classic Hollywood [3/5]
AC:History(KNO)/19th Century [3/5]
Scrounging(KNO) [4]
IN:Classical Music(KNO) [3]
IN:Cuisine(KNO) [3]
Underworld Politics(KNO) [2]

Language Skills
English(LAN)/English Aristocrat [3/5]
English(LAN) (RW) [1]
Or'zet(LAN) [2]
Or'zet(LAN) (RW) [1]

Edges (4) / Flaws(-4)

Bonus Attribute (Cha) 2
Friendly Face 1
Perfect Time 1

Biorejection (Magic Active) -2
Braggart -1
Distinctive Style: Hollywood Gentleman -1


Adept Powers
Name Cost Notes
Cool Resolve [2] 1.0000 sta2.65:Protection against intimidation, manipulation, or fooling in social situations. +1 die per level against any of such rolls.

Empathic Reading [2] 0.5000 sta2.65:The adept senses if someone is lying. Receive -1 on target number per level when talking to someone who lies.

Voice Control 0.5000 sta2.68:The adept can mask her voice, imitate sounds in the range of metahuman vocalisation and even copy another persons' voice.

Killing Hands STR(Serious) 2.0000 sr3.170:This power uses magic to turn unarmed attacks into serious physical damage.

Delay Damage 2 2.0000 mits.149:An adept with the silent form of this power merely needs to bump into, brush against, or otherwise touch the target unobtrusively.

Build Points

[ Spoiler ]

Current Points = 125
Race = 10
Adept = 25
Attributes = 33 x2 = 66
Skills = 29
Money = -5
Edges = 4
Flaws = -4

Biography - 1st part

[ Spoiler ]

0. Name?

James "The Aristocrat" O'Leary

1. What is your characters Sex?
Male.

2. What is your characters physical size?
Tall, heavily muscled. Distinctly Troll.

3. What is the color of the characters Hair, eyes, and skin?
Red hair, green eyes, rather pale skin. Celtic linage before going goblin.

4. What is the character's general appearance (i.e., How does he dress, etc.)?
Late 19th century captain of industry is the look that he is going for. Being a troll in 2055, the look isn't exactly spot on but it is pretty close. He modeled much of his outfit on 20th century flatvid movies he saw as a kid. He is complete with a dapper tophat and cane.

5. Where was the character born (City, State, Hospital Name)?
Pullayup Barrens, Seattle. Hospital, heh.

6. What is the characters date of birth?
December 13, 2035

7. What was the character's family life like?
He was abandoned as a child and was raised in a Pullayup orphanage. He goblinized at the age of 13 and started fighting go-gangers outside the orphanage. A local matchmaker for an illegal fighting arena was watching one day; from that day forward, his pitfighting manager was his family.

8. Has the character begun his own family?
No. Besides, who wants to marry a troll?

9. Where or how was the character educated?
The orphanage had a pretty sizeable flatvid collection donated by someone getting rid of useless technology. These provided the best education a barrens orphan could get in 2035. After watching enough of these movies, James could do a perfect Clark Gabel or James Dean. He also got the idea the society's peak happened to match-up with the Golden Era of Hollywood.

10. Has the character ever done anything else for a living?
Pitfighting. He was really, really good at fighting. He could even hit a guy so hard it took his body a while to realize how much pain it was in, but after a while, nobody else would fight him. An unbeatable pitfighter doesn't keep a crowd for too long, though he went out on top, he was still out of a job.

The character concept for The Aristocrat is a troll adept who has gone through roughly twenty years of his life without realizing that he is an adept. During his teenage years as a pitfighter in Pullayup, he was able to go 32-0 as the undefeated champion of an illegal, pitfighting arena. That's partially because he's a troll and partially because of his adept powers Killing Hands (S) and Delayed Damage (2). He learned that he had the ability to delay damage when he touched an opponent's hands before a fight, and, unfortunately, the opponent's liver exploded as they were meeting in the center of the cage. A lot of chummers wanted refunds that night at the pit.

A fightfixer at an illegal pitfighting arena is usually a shady guy and the guy who managed The Aristocrat was no different. At first he was taking a lot more than his cut, but The Aristocrat eventually wised-up to his lies and stopped getting fooled out of his portion of the fight proceeds. While The Aristocrat believes that he just got good at avoiding lies and the lying, liars who tell them, infact he has just developed the adept powers Cool Resolve (2) and Empathetic Reading (2).

That's all behind him now though, The Aristocrat learned about being a "true gentleman" from Golden Age of Hollywood flatvids during his time in the orphanage before goblinizing & pitfighting, now he's doing his best to live his life with True Grit. His fascination with Classic Hollywood started before all of the blunt trauma from pitfighting, but the blows to the head can't have helped with his mental composure. The years of head blows from cybered gladiators might explain the 19th Century English diction that The Aristocrat has taken up. He's got a great Humphrey Bogart impression, but that doesn't mean that he can't do a good Orson Welles though. He's been trying to better himself lately by learning about cuisine and classical music, as well as 19th century history when he can get the info.

In the day to day, The Aristocrat would much rather use his social skills of Street Etiquette, Physical Intimidation & Fast Talk to diffuse any potential problems. If the particular problem is inconsolable, The Aristocrat will just have to quote a flatvid movie, give the man a firm handshake and walk-away telling him that he is "going to acquire your payment at this very moment, good sir." The Aristocrat might have the knowledge that the man whose hand he just shook will probably die rather soon, but The Aristocrat "just wants to persuade people that he loves 'em so much that they ought to love him back. Only, he wants love on his own terms. Something to be played with according to his rules." Just because The Aristocrat has seen Citizen Kane eight times doesn't mean that he understood the point of the movie.

If The Aristocrat is going somewhere, he's going to take the bike he pieced together from scrap and his fight purses. Generally, he can fix the oil, tires and chain but anything more complicated will likely require a small, squishy friend. He's good enough on a bike to get where he is going, and his long arms are pretty good at taking out rivals, though he only engages in that sort of uncouth behavior against rival motorcycle clubs on Deadman's Pass.

Krayola Red, is it a problem that his adept social skills are coming from State of the Art 2? They are pretty tame powers so I figured that they wouldn't be a problem.

[BlackHat]

Been surprisingly busy at work this week, but I'll have a draft of my character up before I go to bed - midway through the 50-questions (both times I have seen Glyph post them, I have felt compelled to try them, myself). I may just post what I have, and fill in the rest later.

Current concept is a data courier (complete with datalock) who was in Chicago on business when the wall went up. In addition to an exorbitant amount of headware space, this courier comes with a knowsoft link, and skillwire set, so that his skillset can be tailored to each job if the client wishes to load him up with skillsofts as well as data (and then take them back, with the data, presumably). The exchange for the last job will have gone down, successfully, so he'll have access to his own head, again - which is good, because that is where he keeps copies of his own personal skillsoft collection. He'll probably also have a phat paycheck waiting for him in his offshore account, but I am guessing that because he won't have access to electronic funds for the duration of the game, you won't care if I declare that he has a lot of money and then don't back that up with starting cash.

I don't expect the fact that he is/was a data courier to matter much, in this game - since we may have a hard time finding a working computer, and nobody in Chicago is probably going to be worried about trafficking data around - so, for all intents and purposes, his role will be that of a chip-head jack-of-all-trades. Living in Bug City will be a huge lifestyle change for him, and I'm curious to see how he adapts. His skillset should make it easy for him to make himself useful, and his charismatic personality (and good business sense) should help him fit in.

Gearwise, it would be nice to have the original chips that his softs came on, but not strictly required by the concept. It would likewise be nice to have some sort of computer (perhaps with an induction datajack adapter) so that he can access his head - particularly if 'ware connected to a datajack with a datalock is not DNI (ie, if he would be unable to shuffle skillsofts on his own). I sort of like the concept that way - where it is generally the client who shuffles his skills (and maybe personality) at the start of a job, and he looses access to them, entirely, until he completes it... but the lack of electronics (and power to run them) might make this a pain. In either case, without something like a lowly pocket-secretary, having the physical chips won't matter, he doesn't have a chipjack, and so would have no way to get the chips into his headware memory again, if he should need to.

We're not using the Matrix book, but if we were, I would like to have at least claimed at some point, he had both "Encrypt" and "Compressor" programs, and a cyberdeck (or terminal) capable of running them - but since I didn't set aside any money for them (because they're not in the books we're using - and a cyberdeck would be ungodly expensive to purchase just to match fluff), I'm cool with not having them. Maybe the clients prefer to use their own computers to download the data - or maybe this character lost his when he lost his other normal gear. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

...

Since I have a few points (and a few nuyen) remaining, I thought I would ask if the SOTA quality that you previously approved is available to others, and if so, could it be used to exceed the normal rating/availability of non-cyberware gear? I'm interested in buying up the encryption rating on the datalock... which I am fairly confident won't ever matter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But, if the option is there, it sounds awesome to have encryption that can actually stop someone - and would really set him apart from all those other lower-rating data-couriers wandering around Chicago looking for work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[thearistocrat]

Hey Toptomcat,

I'm currently playing an "investigative samurai" character filled with senseware in another game. I have a lot of fun with the character getting extra scene information from the senseware, but he is undeniably squishy without a lot of armor.

You might want to dump the cyberlegs & gps so that you can get boosted reflexes to help in not getting shot.

[krayola red]

Since I have a few points (and a few nuyen) remaining, I thought I would ask if the SOTA quality that you previously approved is available to others, and if so, could it be used to exceed the normal rating/availability of non-cyberware gear? I'm interested in buying up the encryption rating on the datalock... which I am fairly confident won't ever matter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But, if the option is there, it sounds awesome to have encryption that can actually stop someone - and would really set him apart from all those other lower-rating data-couriers wandering around Chicago looking for work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

If it's only that one piece of equipment, you can go ahead and do that without purchasing the Edge, up to a maximum rating of 10.

[crizh]

I wasn't sure whether Dark Secret and Hunted would be compatible. After all you're not being hunted if it is still a secret...

I figured even a minor 'Don' would be a major enemy if you are locked in the CZ with them.

I peeked at the corporate download and it would indeed appear that KE are Ares' Military wing. I'm not going to write membership of Firewatch into my background for fear of overstepping my bounds but if he isn't a member he is gunning for promotion to said elite unit. An old buddy inside Firewatch is probably where he got the heads-up about Chicago from.

He's a career ground-pounder so I'm thinking NCO rather than Officer. Lots of experience in Desert Wars and places like SOX or the Feral Cities. Suddenly I'm thinking of a stunty cross between Jonas Blaine and Clint Eastwood...

[Toptomcat]

Hey Toptomcat,

I'm currently playing an "investigative samurai" character filled with senseware in another game. I have a lot of fun with the character getting extra scene information from the senseware, but he is undeniably squishy without a lot of armor.

You might want to dump the cyberlegs & gps so that you can get boosted reflexes to help in not getting shot.

Being somewhat squishy is a design goal, really- the point isn't to be a investigative samurai or a combat character of any sort. Also, the cyberlegs are actually pretty important, housing a lot of the more exotic stuff.

[Chance359]

Ares does have another para-military division, Hard Corps. They're not as big or well known, they get mentioned in Threats 2.

[Toptomcat]

Also, their whole schtick is being pants compared to Knight Errant. So maybe not the best choice for someone bucking for promotion to Firewatch.

[Critias]

I've always read it, rather, that their schtick is being unprofessional compared to Knight Errant. They tend to send the discipline cases and the too-brutal types over there, not just the inept losers. Insubordination cases, guys written up for unnecessary violence, stuff like that.

[crizh]

Having a vague idea of which bit of Threats 2 Hard Corps are in I think I'll pass.

I think Firewatch is the way to go if it's permitted.

Corp Downloads indicates that Firewatch teams are small (5-7) man units that are very diverse in make-up and tactical doctrine. Presumably each is tailored very specifically to a particular mission profile. The only thing standing between Frank and being in Firewatch is that some of his 'ware is only Standard Grade but then that was a conscious design decision, there is less space in Alphagrade limbs...

[krayola red]

Having a vague idea of which bit of Threats 2 Hard Corps are in I think I'll pass.

I think Firewatch is the way to go if it's permitted.

Go for it.

Also, kick the SOTA Edge off your sheet and take a four BP refund. I've decided to go with a more flexible approach in regards to Availability/Rating - if you want something higher than 8/6, ask and you may receive. Frank's betaware is doctor recommended and GM approved.

Toptomcat:

I'm intrigued by your character concept, but I'm wondering exactly what kind of niche your character would fulfill. Usually most "detection" oriented characters I've seen are awakened, and I'm guessing this is because the most effective senseware items are also usually the cheapest and pretty much everyone has 'em (i.e. cybereyes). I'm questioning the utility of stuff like gas spectrometers and MAD scanners, which, while useful to have in certain situations, aren't essential enough to build a character around. Stuff like radio scanners and laser microphones are pretty much standard gear and I'm not sure if spending the Essence to make them a part of you would provide a significant advantage over just carrying them in a backpack.

Like I said, I'm a big fan of your character idea, but I want to make sure that you would have a role to play in game and contribute something unique to the team dynamic so you wouldn't get bored. If you wish to keep your character as is, sell me on it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[crizh]

OK, made the relevant changes.

I said previously that his preferred weapon of choice was the M22A2 but I can't seem to track down who owns Colt and it seems more likely that he would use an Ares Alpha out of family loyalty.

Not that I imagine that many of those will be lying around in the streets...

[BlackHat]

Any objection to to my character having some exposure to personafix's (or perhaps a peak-controlled facsimile) without ended up an addicted shell of a man after a week or two. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The rules in man and machine are brutal, but I like the idea of the character occasionally being "programmed" meat-puppet style for a job. (Sort of like what I imagine Dollhouse would be like, if I watched it).

He obviously wouldn't be, currently, and would be unlikely to end up being any time soon - but the way the M&M rules work, if you touch the stuff 5 times, you're hooked for life.

is there a non-BTL version of persona-fixes? it seems like that's what a simflick is, except that you're usually watching events happen, rather than going about your business with someone else's personality.

[BlackHat]

Work in progress, but I thought I should make sure I get something in before the deadline so it can be considered (with time for comments and adjustments, if necessary). I'd welcome any comments if peopel can think of more appropriate/useful skills/knowledges/languages to have 'softs of - or anythign else. I haven't made an SR3 character in about 3-4 years, so I'm sure I overlooked some basics.

One, that I am aware of, is the death-sentence that is not having an imitative-boosting method. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I can live with that, though.

Jack "Everyman" Koverman, aka "Renaissance Jack" (or, rarely, "Meat-Puppet" or "The Manchurian Courier")

Here is the breakdown (BeCKS2):

[ Spoiler ]

Human: -25
Resources: 120
Attributes: 196
Skills:102
Magic: 0
Edges: 40
Contacts: 0
TOTAL: 433

Sheet

[ Spoiler ]

Metatype: Human (-25)

Attributes (196)

[ Spoiler ]

- Body 4
- Strength 4
- Quickness 6
- Intelligence 6
- Charisma 6
- Willpower 6

Essence 6 -> 0.221
Magic 0
Reaction 6

Combat Pool 9
Karma Pool 1+1 from Daredevil

Skills (102)

[ Spoiler ]

- Negotiation 6 (30)
- Etiquette 6 (30)
- Tai Chi 6 (36)
- - Focus Strength (2)
- - Focus Will (2)
- - Kip up (2)

Knowledge {90}

[ Spoiler ]

- Data Brokerage 6 (21)
- Compression Techniques 6 (21)
- Encryption Techniques 6 (21)
- Cybertechnology (Headware) 5 (7) (21)
- Data Courier Procedures 3 (6)

Languages {-/-}

[ Spoiler ]

- English 6 (-/-)
- - English R/W 3 (-/-)

Edges (40)

[ Spoiler ]

- Daredevil (15)
- Blandness (10)
- Good Reputation (10) - I know its not likely to come up much.
- Friendly Face (5) - Again, aware that it will only help when getting in with new crowds

Contacts

[ Spoiler ]

- Dr. Nolan Ventris - Legitimate Doctor - Fitted Jack with his initial cyberware, and helped get him started in the business of trafficking data. Later, he installed upgrades as Jack started to make some money and wanted to reinvest it in his new profession.

- Andrew Watcher - Fixer - Acts like an agent or liason for Jack, finding clients and verifying them without Jack needing to know too much about them. Jack has always wondered just how good a job Watcher can do at this, if the client is worried about people knowing too much - but it makes him feel better on those jobs where the data lock needs to be on, and Jack hasn't gotten fucked over by a client too badly yet.

Resources 993,950/1,000,000 (120)

[ Spoiler ]

Permits (Possess and Transport)
- Data Lock, Encryption (1000)

Cyberware {Total: 683,700}

[ Spoiler ]

- Induction Datajack (3K) [0.3]
- - With Integrated ASIST Interface (1K)
- - {1} Data Lock (1K) [0.2]
- - - With Rating 10 Data Encryption System (10K)
- - - And Integrated Data Compactor (19K) [0.125]
- - {1} Data Filter (5K) [0.3]
- - {1} Router, 5 Port (1 bodyware, 3 headware), (2.1K) [0.14]
- - - {1} Knowsoft Link (1K) [0.1]
- - - {1} Skillwires, Rating 6, 162 Mp (486K) [1.2]
- - - {1} Headware Memory, 1 Gp (1024Mp) (153.6K) [3.414]

- Activesofts, Rating 3, Pluscode 2 (7500 * 19 = 142,500) {Size = 513 Mp}

[ Spoiler ]

- - Athletics
- - Stealth

- - Small Unit Tactics

- - Edged Weapons
- - Clubs
- - Pole Arms/Staffs
- - Whips
- - Unarmed Combat


- - Pistols
- - Heavy Weapons
- - Submachine Guns
- - Rifles
- - Assault Rifles
- - Shotguns

- - Throwing Weapons
- - Projectile Weapons
- - Laser Weapons
- - Gunnery
- - Launch Weapons

- Activesofts, Rating 3 (2700*42 = 113,400) {Size = 1134}

[ Spoiler ]

- - Diving
- - Parachuting

- - Computer
- - Computer B/R
- - Electronics
- - Electronics B/R

- - Edges Weapons B/R
- - Clubs B/R
- - Pole Arms/Staffs B/R
- - Whips B/R
- - Unarmed Combat B/R

- - Pistols B/R
- - Heavy Weapons B/R
- - Submachine Guns B/R
- - Rifles B/R
- - Assault Rifles B/R
- - Shotguns B/R

- - Throwing Weapons B/R
- - Projectile Weapons B/R
- - Laser Weapons B/R
- - Gunnery B/R
- - Launch Weapons B/R

- - Biotech
- - Biotech B/R

- - Armorer B/R
- - Demolitions
- - Demolitions B/R

- - Interrogation
- - Intimidation
- - Leadership

- - Bike
- - Bike B/R
- - Car
- - Car B/R
- - Fixed-wing Aircraft
- - Hovercraft
- - LTA Aircraft
- - Motorboat
- - Rotor Aircraft
- - Sailboat
- - Submarine
- - Vector Thrust Aircraft

- Knowsoft, Rating 3 (4050*9=36450) (Total Size = 243 Mp)

[ Spoiler ]

- - Chemistry
- - Psychology
- - Sociology
- - Biology
- - Medicine
- - Megacorporate Policies
- - Magic
- - Sorcery Background
- - Conjuring Background

- Linguasoft, Rating 3 (1350*14 = 18,900) (Total Size = 378 Mp)

[ Spoiler ]

- - German
- - Spanish
- - Russian
- - French
- - Sperethiel
- - Or'zet
- - Hindi
- - Arabic
- - Korean
- - Japanese
- - Cantonese Chinese
- - Mandarin Chinese
- - Italian

I've also got a few nuyen left over (enough to pick up one or two more skillsofts if anyone can think of anything obscure that we might need that nobody wants to use resources having for real).

Bull's 50+ Questions - (I didn't finish all of these, but got some good stuff in there - it is always worth doing)

[ Spoiler ]

1. What is your characters Sex?

Male.

2. What is your characters physical size?

Average. He actually works quite hard to maintain an entirely unremarkable appearance.

3. What is the color of the characters Hair, eyes, and skin?

Short dark hair, dark eyes. Caucasian skin, just a hint of mixed heritage.

4. What is the character's general appearance (i.e., How does he dress, etc.)?

Jack usually dresses up - suits from Armante', Vanshion Island, Zoe and other tres chic lines - due to dealing almost exclusively with corporate or wealthy clients. Even though he may be little more than an errand-boy, he is a firm believer in dressing for the job you want, not the job you have. Additionally, in the circles he travels in, such suits actaully help him blend in and avoid drawing attention.

6. What is the characters date of birth?

September 17th, 2038 (which should make him 27 years old)

7. What is the character's family life like?

Jack was born to SINless parents. They got by, and he never dug too deep to find out how, but his life wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. His parents were not bad, but always hoped for better for him. When his current job opportunity popped up, he took it, and never looked back. He claims that his disconnection to his family is because having people close to you is a danger to both of you - but he really just doesn't like being reminded of his lower-class roots and that his new suit-and-tie lifestyle is all a charade.

8. Has the character begun his own family?

No. He is a charismatic person, but he travels a lot, usually on business he cannot discuss (or doesn't know about himself), and is very focused on his career.

9. Where or how was the character educated?

Jack's education was very limited growing up. He had the good fortune of getting in with some people who thought he would make an inconspicious-looking courier, and has been moving up that ladder ever sense getting an on-the-job education in Shadow-work.

10. Has the character ever done anything else for a living?

His primary occupation is as an independant data courier, but has been known to assist in various other roles for his clients via skillsofts - often as a support role, because (unless the client is providing the 'softs) Jack's skills are often sub-par.

11. What are the characters political and religious beliefs?

Jack is not religious at all, and after loosing the majority of his essence in cyberwar surgery, he seems to have become even less spiritual. Politically, he prefers not to hold strong opinions one way or the other. His loyalty is to whoever is paying for his time.

12. Describe the character's Moral code. Include how mercenary he is, whether or not he'll kill innocents, etc.

Jack's moral delimmas usually involve remaining blissfully ignorant of whatever it is he is transporting, and absolving himself for any responsibility for how it might be used. He has thought about it quite a bit, but this profession doesn't allow for picky couriers. On a few occasions, when the job was particularly sensitive, or the client is particularly paranoid, Jack's datalock has been activated and a peak-controlled persona-soft has occasionally been used to give him a personality agreeable to whatever the client needs done.

13. Does the character have any goals?

His major goal is to make some serious money trafficing data, to pay for cyberware upgrades (alphaware, better skillsofts, etc). Of course, this will soon become a non-issue, to be replaced by goals like survival, and escape.

14. Why does the character run the shadows? (Why does he run the shadows still, rather than getting a "real" job?)

Jack considers his profession a "real" job, and would only consider himself a part of the shadows because of the often shadey clientelle he sometimes deals with.

15. What kind of personality does your character have? This should not necessarily be obviously stated in the background, as it is more important for actually playing the character, but it may colour or add mood to the history.

Jack tends to have a very cool, calculating personaltiy that borders on cold. He feels very detached from the world, and often from the people and organizations he deals with. He's a courier, and has a strict professional code of honor that prevents him from getting too concearned about his clients, or the repercussions of whatever operation he is enabling.

16. What special qualities does the character posess? This does not refer to skills, but rather at other things, such as How he gets along with people, does he plan ahead, etc.

Jack has a very agreeable personality. He is used to working for other, more powerful/rich/influential people, and putting himself entirely at their disposal.

17. Are their certain things the character can't or won't do? Why?

There are certain things Jack would prefer not to have to do - or at least not to have to know that he is doing them. He isn't a violent person, and would avoid wetwork where possible. Of course, when persona-fix'ed, what he will and will not do is no longer up to him - just one of the many reasons why he avoids a personality re-write whenever possible.

18. What things, people, or ideas does the character hate?


19. What things people, or ideas does the character love?


20. What is the character's name? Give both full birth name, as well as nicknames, street names, etc.

Jack "Everyman" Koverman, aka "Renaissance Jack". Occasionally nicknamed "Meat-Puppet" or "The Manchurian Courier", but rarely - his reputation is overall, very good.


21. Determine what your character used to do, before becoming a shadowrunner (very important).

Independant Data Courier - typically corporate (or wealthy, at least), and often involved in shadey deals (information "transfer" between corporations, dealing with organized crime syndicates, etc). That already straddles the line between Shadowrunner and legitimate wageslave.

22. Decide why your character left his or her old job, if he had one (also important).

The major event that caused his job-change was having the poor fortune to end a job in Chicago when the walls went up.

23. Come up with a reason for why the character became a shadowrunner. (This very often will tie in with #22. This is not the same as #14, but rather why he started running the shadows originally. What led him to it?)

Jack didn't have a lot of other options in life. He was born SINless, but had enough raw talent, charisma, and luck to fall in the with right influential people and get himself a gig as a professional deniable asset - and a walking data-safe. He got a corporate SIN, and a really decent commission. Going into the Shadows was a lot better than ending up a burnt-out ganger in the barrens.

24. How did your character come to know his or her contacts? Contacts are an important part of Shadowrun, decide how and why you know them.

Explained in the contacts section.

25. Does the character have a SIN? Does the character actually use it? Or is the character one of the SINless masses? This may be affected by the character's previous employment.

Jack has a valid SIN. He has also used a number of forged SINs during his travels (often provided by the client when one was necesasry). His SIN is registered as a licensed data courier, with a permet to possess and transport heavily encrypted data.

26. Is the character a full-time shadowrunner? Or does the character lead a Batman-like double existence?

Full-time. Jack is almost always working, or working to find work. He likes living large, and that requires a steady stream of clients with a niche he can fill.

27. Which person(s) or group(s) do you love the most?



28. Which person(s) or group(s) do you hate the most?



29. Which person(s) or group(s) do you respect the most?

He respects people and organizations that show a high level of professionalism - even corporate types or organized crime syndicates rank higher than a cop who means well, but goes back on his word.

30. Which person(s) or group(s) do you fear the most?



31. What is your favourite colour?

Chrome or metallic silver.

32. What is your favourite food and/or drink?

He is not particularly picky, but enjoys the prestige of eating expensive food - even if he can't taste the difference. He enjoys the feeling of being wealthy.

33. What place would you most like to visit?

He has done a great deal of travelling. There isn't anywhere he would prefer to be more than anywhere else - unless some exotic location meant an opportunity to add to his already impressive library of knowsofts on somebody else's dime.

34. Which person(s) or group(s) are you most loyal to?

His loyalty is to himself, first, and his client, second. Everything else, including the law, comes third.

35. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the most enjoyment? (Warning: Answering Sex for this question can and will result in penalties to your character!)



36. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the least enjoyment?

Any job that requires the use of his data lock. He had the thing installed because it has become almost a prerequisite for the best-paying jobs - but every time he goes under, he worries that he won't wake up again. Personafixes are just as bad, but a lot of clients require them - so they KNOW they can trust you. One of these days, Jack is sure he'll end up in some Bunraku parlor working for spare change - but luckily, his good reputation, and Watcher's (one of his contacts), have seen that he hasn't gotten double-crossed yet.

37. What annoys you the most?


38. What (if any) is your favorite form of art?

His response would be that he is not particularly taken by the arts. Honestly, though, he enjoys acting (particularly simsense stars) - and is likes the idea of being someone else enough that he has made a living out of it.

39. What is your greatest goal?


40. What do you think is your characters best quality?

Adaptability. He and his "agent" often play up the fact that Jack comes loaded with a library of useful skills that he can bring to bear on your problem - but that if the client wants something specific, they can literally program him to be anyone they want. He is often loaded with skillsofts enabling him to better defend the data, and on the few occasions where personafix software was on the menu, programmed to be a completely loyal employee for the duration of the job - with every confidence that Jack would not and could not remember any of the events. Unlike a lot of other data-couriers, Jack prides himself on being customizable to any particular job.

He has managed to collect a rather remarkable library of personal skillsofts, which he puts to use when not the job (and which he offers to clients at reasonable rates). His collection

41. What do you think is your characters worst quality?

He tends to not take responsibility for anything. He tends to work for other people (even if he is freelance) and prefers to leave the majority of the decisions, moral choices, etc up to them. This makes him someone who is unlikely to take initiative - and even less likely to take responsibility. He prefers his place as a well-oiled, sometimes critical, cog in the machine.

He is also someone willing to sell his body (or at least the implants in them), and sometimes his mind (if the client thinks that a sim-soft or peak-controlled personafix will help him do the job) to anyone willing to meet his price. As he lost more and more essence, he became more convinced that he *is* his job, and has gone out of his way to keep himself anonymous, with few ties to other people.

42. What is the most important thing you have ever done?

Hard to say. He is not usually aware of the repercussions, actual or potential, of what the data he is carrying might be used for. There was at least one time, however, that he was needed for a job, specifically, because he has an unbelievable amount of space in his head - more than almost any other courier, and way more than is usually necessary. He had no idea what it was, but after being put through upload-compression program and his cyberware data-compactor, it still managed to use up almost all of his available memory. Whatever the ten gigapulses of information was about, it must have been important. He was paid handsomly, and had the distinct impression that there were a number of groups after him, but the client had provided him with a security team of shadowrunners who intercepted and dealt with all of the issues.

43. Which religion (if any) do you follow?

None. Even less spiritual, after having a great deal of his head replaced with chrome.

44. What is your most treasured possession (and why)?

His cyberware. Without it, he'd be out of a job, and back on the streets where he group up.

45. What are your three most common dreams?

Normal varied dreams. Instead, listing 3 interesting nightmares.

A bizzare nightmare where he is aware that his datalock has somehow been locked into the "on" position. Even though he remembers the whole dream, he spends the whole time running around, looking foolish, and messing things up in a desparate attempt to reset it. When he wakes up, he goes through some mental exercises to make sure his memory is there before trying to get back to sleep.

Another nightmare where people are hunting him down - presumably for whatever it is he is carrying in his head. This sort of thing is expected, in his job - so he often writes the dream off as nothing important.

A nightmare where he is meeting a client for delivery and download, and they discover that the data has somehow gone missing from his head. This is more of an embarrasment dream - and he spends the dream trying to appease the upset client and appologise for his screw-up.

46. What is the Characters current relationship with his family?

He doesn't really keep in touch with his family at all. He says that the more distant and disconnected he is, the safer they remain - but, in reality, he just doesn't like being reminded of his lower-class roots and that his new suit-and-tie lifestyle is all a charade.

47. If the characters family is still alive, what do they do, and where do they live?

Not sure. He assumes they are in the same city (Seattle) although he hasn't checked up on them in years.

48. Where did the character learn his Skills?

The majority of his skills were learned on the job, once he got himself crammed full of optical memory and started selling his space to the highest bidder. However, due to his reliance on skillsofts, he doesn't actually possess too many genuinely useful skills. He has a knack for social skills, however.

49. Does the character have a good luck charm? What is it, and why?

No. He has been described by others as lucky, but he has a hard time believing in such things.

50. What type of music does the character like?

While he's not overly passionate about music, he likes anything where he can listen, and pull apart the pattern or rythm. Heavily computerised music tends to be more mathimatically precise with its patterns, so he favors those sort of genres.

51. List any past serious relationships that your character has had, and give a brief overview of the relationship.

He has dated, usually no more than once, and no serious relationships.

52. Where does your character live? Why does he live there?

He usually lives out of (generally high-class) hotels, as he tries to stay constantly on the job, and travels a lot.

53. Remember, your Gamemaster likes detail, so if you can think of any other little details, quirks, or whatever that you think might please the almighty GM, then add them in as well. Oh, and your GM won't use any of these details against you at a later date. trust me...

[krayola red]

Any objection to to my character having some exposure to personafix's (or perhaps a peak-controlled facsimile) without ended up an addicted shell of a man after a week or two. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Naw, 's cool. I've always thought the canon rules for addiction were a tad too severe anyway. BTLs can be installed with partial peak controls, which makes them operate at half rating, but also makes them less addictive. When you think about it, a social skill activesoft is a kind of a non-BTL personafix.

[krayola red]

God dammit, I can't believe how many pansies I'm getting with no initiative boosters. I think I might have to actually go easy on you guys for this one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)