[X] My Assistant

[nezumi]

Samson (face, street sam) - effectively sold by his racist father into the urban combat games. As a minotaur of exceptional strength, he was highly effective. He was employed with CAT as an intimidation tool for interrogation and negotiation. He's realized that the only way he can get up the corporate ladder is to start removing the ware and make some friends, however he can't get rid of the ware until he makes it higher up the corporate ladder (hence, he runs so he can afford a bit more leeway). Strength of 28, but prefers to talk his way through situations.

Thomas Benson (mage) - taught thaumatology at Seattle's School for the Talented and Gifted about five years ago. For some reason, he didn't turn into an ork until he was almost 30, however the metamorphisis resulted in his immediate termination (to justify said termination, he was framed as a child molestor, which killed his career). As such, he's been forced to go underground and hooked up with running through a friend at his Ork support meeting.

Phyllis Dyssal III (rigger, decker) - he started rigging as a hobby, and his rich parents happily funded the endeavors. Unfortunately, when he made it clear he'd prefer to become a grand prix driver rather than work under his father as another corper, his parents made it quite clear that he'd receive no further financial assistance until he changed his mind. He's joined up in running for the excitement and until he can get himself accepted as a race car driver. His parents funding has allowed him to dabble in decking as well, but that's not his forte.

Fidelis (dog shaman) - country bumpkin. Dog led him here and he has no idea why. Keeps getting funny looks from the rest of the group when he eats grass or rolls in poo. However, he is as loyal and kindhearted as they get.

Stryker - hot decker, fast shooter, total dork. His parents owned the firm that helped build Zurich orbital, however his father died and his mother disappeared for years. When she resurfaced on the orbital, she reclaimed his inheritance and has resisted any attempts to communicate. As a youth, he admired Dodger above all else, and as such is a serious elf poser (which isn't helped by the fact that he's about 100lbs overweight). Since he was raised alone on his mansion estate in New York state, he has almost no social skills and lacks the cool or confidence to get anyone to believe him more than an acne covered boy who's watched too much trid.

I like Kong's group better. Half of these characters I'm actually using now in games, and none of them are exceptionally insane.

[Tiralee]

[kevyn668]

For the record, I think having just semi-crazed killer in the gorup is fun and adds flavor. Like Billy the Kid ("Young Guns"), Kid Stealth, or Smiley (NightskyFan Fiction. The best I've come across, BTW).

They come in handy :) But when there's more than one, it gets kinda old hat.

[Siege]

Kid Stealth was a professional assassin -- from the various stories I've read, he didn't take any particular pleasure from completing a contact. Except perhaps in technical merit.

Billy the Kid was a gunfighter and a robber, but he wasn't a serial or thrill killer. Insofar as I am aware, he did not kill indiscriminately or wantonly and although sheer speculation on my part, didn't glory in the act of taking life.

Sorry, don't know Smiley.

The point being, there is a fine line between nuts who enjoy their work way too much and experts taking a professional approach to the job.

-Siege

[MrSandman666]

I have to agree that playing with slightly crazed characters every once in a while can be great fun. You just have to be aware that you're game is degrading to a comic series at that point. Now, comic series can be fun! It's all a matter of taste.

Uhm... now why did I post this again? Argh... brain... falling... apart :dead:

[toturi]

I had a group of PCs from GMing during my old army days.

Two of a Kind - Wild Card Inc.

Hannibal - Former mercenary, now returned to the city in order to keep an eye on his daughter(dependent) who is unaware of her parentage. Ex-Desert Wars MVS. Tactical genius with Tac Comp, BattleTac Master etc.

Revenant - A former Spec Ops with few memories of his past(Amnesiac), gets flashbacks from his past every so often. Talented unarmed combat adept and sniper. Service Records: 1 Distingushed Service Cross, 1 Silver Star and Bronze Star with 4 repeats (5), surprisingly only 1 Purple Heart. Chummy with Tir Prince Larry Zincan.

Caesar - Hanni's second in command, rigger. Former HTR pilot for DocWagon. Provides physical overwatch and extraction.

Spike and Emp - SURGED troll bounty hunter and his human otaku sister. He used to hunt bounties for Draco Foundation (Arleesh). His sister Emp is smarter than most geniuses (base Int 9) and decks Z-O for the challenge. Regularly plays chess with the Fates(Z-O sysadmins).

Ama - Human Sun Shaman. Former Doc Wagon trauma doctor and friend of Caesar's. Has a freed spirit ally Kami.

Bishop - Human Fire-bringer Shamanist. Former parish priest in South Alabama until a Humanis firebomb attack burned down his church and killed his family.

Orkov - Cybered Ork bodyguard, helped save Bishop from Humanis.

Slice - Human decker, specialising in on-site data steals. Emphasis on stealth.

Basically, this team has 2 of everything. 2 Sams, 2 Riggers(ok, the other just has a datajack and a Car skill), 2 adepts, 2 deckers, 2 spell slingers.

[Velocity]

What the hell... my hat was just sitting here, I may as well throw it in the ring.

[CAVEAT]
I am most emphatically NOT trying to cast aspersions on the roleplaying abilities of anyone here at Dumpshock, regardless of the types of characters they're discussed and/or posted to this thread. We're all roleplayers of the highest calibre (badum-bum), true thespians of the fantastical. Geniuses, the lot of us.
[/CAVEAT]

The chief problem with playing the role of a "crazy" character (and I use that term loosely) is that nine times out of ten it's an excuse for lazy roleplaying. The unfortunate truth is that many people seem to think that mental illness creates inconsistency. Maybe it stems from a fear of the "insane" (again, a term so broad as to be basically useless) and a need to deny them any real agency or coherency; I dunno.

What I do know is that most people who define their character as "nuts" are looking for a free ride, roleplaying-wise. They want to dodge the need for consistency. The player's logic is that if the character is "crazy," then they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, without having to justify or rationalize the behaviour. No-one can ever accuse these PCs of playing "out-of-character" because there is no real character: just a rampaging id in leather pants.

[cykotek]

I'm going to throw in a little clarification, considering the "good heart buried" comment kevyn tossed out (just keep in mind, I'm clarifying my own description).

In the cases that I've seen in my roleplaying experience (an my case specifically), the people I tend to play with have a good reason. In Uriel's case, he was able to achieve the cognitive disconnect necessary to do what had to be done at the time, and deal with it later. He was doing anything that needed to be done until he could return to his family. In fact, the "dealing with it later" actually resulting in a rather jarring mental breakdown on his part (which was definately an intense roleplaying session). In the end, it was all part of the job, and he paid for it in full, managed to reunite with his family, then had them torn away again. Good times.

[kevyn668]

[MrSandman666]

[kevyn668]

[Tom Collins]

My ideal shadowrunning group is one where the players have half a clue between them. Honestly, almost any mix of PCs can preform runs (certain runs may be more difficult than other depending on their resources) assuming the players are not trigger happy maniacs. The groups that solve everything with a gun are the ones that always seem to end up in trouble, regardless of how cool their PCs are.

[JackWill]

My team is almost perfect.. a litte green behind the ears.. and abit heavy on the melee.. but the better for me.. i can run and do my things.. i tend to make characters that don't fire a gun but only use it to itimidate people and when combat breaks out i finish the job we were sent on!

Right nows its ...
Kalaeb - My decker/rigger get away guy.
Steve Jackson- Combat decker with electronics background
Ichi- A razor child.. he a youngin
Jek - "gun bunny"
Mani- a middle eastern dwarf demo expert
Loki - our troll muscel and heavy weapons support
Nemo - a troll vending machine

We lack a mage.. so i would say scratch the Nemo, Jek, or Ichi for the mage.. or just add the mage in.


It pretty funny we are running for a mafia man and he wants us to make his clients pay up.. they all run shops in a Mall in the carolina megasprawl.. and so far.. we just been quite upfront with it.. some gangers took a chunk out of ichi and ichi caugh some shot gun shot in the back while Nemo unloaded.

[Panzergeist]

I just created 2 characters for the fun of it. One is a mad scientist with an extremely varied array skills and ware. He is an amateur combat decker, but he specializes in electronics, electronics and computer BR, and chemistry. He'll be like a mentally unstable version of Q from James Bond. The other character is a gnome racoon shaman with no weapon skills whatsoever. He has the unarmed skill and shock gloves, and his spells, but couldn't use a gun or melee weapon to save his life. He carries all 5 kinds of fetishes, including a toy squirt pistol enchanted as a combat fetish which he carries in a tiny holster and keeps loaded with tobasco sauce, onion juice, or similarly tear-inducing household chemicals. He's been a bit crazy ever since he tried to astrally travel to Zurich Orbital.

[Nova]

[Mace]

Well, I don't know if I'd call it the ideal team, but the following is the two teams that my players have tossed at me (two different groups, one online, one not.) Personally, I find one balanced, the other not quite so - but both get the job done.

Team 1

Shade - Elf Combat Mage/Face - Charisma out the wazoo girl chasing Amerind. When it's time to whip out the mojo, look out - he could have twice the number of spells he does if he didn't insist on learning what he does have at truly obscene force. Variety of spells but manipulations are his dish - Influence being his favourite. Given half a chance would rather bullshit/negotiate his way through/past things before resorting to 'the other solution'.

Friday - Physad Panther Shifter - (I can hear the groans but actually, done well) - Stealth and Unarmed are her two big things and sneaky as hell. Infiltration expert. Faster than a cheetah with a hot chilli enema - rip your head off and be out the door before anyone has time to blink.

Mace - Troll Physical Adept - Friday's the speed, this is the strength. Bushido type who runs as a way to make enough money to stay out of the Barrens he grew up in. Claymore specialist - good with small arms and unarmed, throwing knives. An all rounder with Smashing Blow for those times you don't have time to pick the lock or be subtle. Endurance freak - also a SNAT. Plays guitar and a qualified massage therapist.

Hornet - Human Mercenary - A long time survivor of many a firefight, bush-war skirmishes and assorted nasty little incidents, got into running after an encounter with the shifter and being hired on. Impressed with his professionalism they took him on as a full team member - after a little thought went with it. Probably the most ruthless of the team and the quickest to turn lethal, still happiest when he puts the guns away unfired. If it goes bang - he knows how to shoot it, repair it and modify it. Gunsmith - explosives - tactics.

Yashmak - Ork Samurai - Originally part of the same Barrens gang as Mace, a cybered up street brawling ork sam with a survival instict. His idea of a good time is getting drunk, visiting a brothel, a nice freindly pub brawl. Almost as fast as the merc to switch to lethal tactics - and categorically refuses to be seperated from his 'lucky' Manhunter.

Fish - Human Decker - Californian surfer dude and general all around computer geek in one. Absolutely no pain tolerance at all and on those rare occassions forced to go physically to work, hides behind the troll. If it involves computers or electronics though, he's the one to deal with it. Compulsive Hacker - and good enough he considers Red 10 to be challenging enough to pay full attention but nothing to really sweat.

Sophie - Human Rigger/Chemist/Technician - Former Ares test pilot who for various reasons got out of the corp. The team pacifist - and the one with the biggest guns. Chemical expert and all her drones pack non-lethal options - usually a squirt and appropriate drugs - pays the price to get the gamma scop and considers it money well spent. Devoted metahuman rights activist - she WILL kill but prefers not to. It's definitly the last choice and only if in doing so prevents others dying. Finds her sleep much less disturbed by the death of Humanis terrorists and other racial extremists though. Still idealistic.

Kitten - Human Cat Shaman/Medic. A child prodigy barely past the age of 20 who has been nicknamed "Doogie" behind her back, a qualified trauma specialist doctor with a more than working knowledge of bioware and cybernetics - including installation and repairs. A more than capable illusionist and health spells specialising shaman. Emphasis on stealth is the teams forte - her spells help as do her spirits. She's also very good at putting people back together when stealth don't cut it. Runs a clinic in the Barrens, does a lot of free health care for those who can't afford it - and runs to help keep the place open - drugs and medical equipment cost.

Of the two teams, this one is the more 'moral' - they'll only take 'wetwork' jobs when they all think the target needs whacking and it's the only viable choice, they don't do datasteals - recovery is another matter - etc. Humanis and nasty little corporate operations are thier meat and drink to go to work against - this team's caused any number of corp PR flacks heart palpitations and massive overtime.


Team 2

Tisha - Human Physad - A former gang enforcer who's turned to running as the next step up. Dragonslayer follower. Avoids killing - beats the ever living hell out of them though she does very well. Unarmed is her gig - and better beat up than dead. Still young - not yet 20 - and a lot left to learn but a street veteran. Pit fights for cash as well.

Raechel - Human Physad - Normal suburban family existance and trained at a dojo till a nasty incident in her late teens left her without a family. After taking out with extreme prejudice the gang responsible sought to end her life but wound up being taken under the wing of an ork fixer. He put her to work - still emotionally withdrawn in many ways she's slowly putting herself back together - the fixer uses her as muscle and gives her work towards her 'redemption'. Melee specialist - unlike Tisha, uses a staff or a No-Dachi for choice. Also like Tisha - refuses to take life unless it's thoroughly deserved.

Wendy - Human Shaman - Seductress Totem. The original 'good time girl' Wendy is a Korean American - a former member of a Sepoula ring which sought to avenge her parents death in the Yakuza purge, co-lead with her sister. Ring made defunct for a while and later gotten out from under the Yakuza thumb again. Stayed working as a runner, while her sister is putting the Ring back together again. Impulsive at times and more inclined to lethality than most in the team.

Crunch - Dwarf Rigger/Tech - If it involves cars, mechanics, drones or electronics, this is the guy the team turns to. Drone rigger, mad keen car driver, former smuggler. A more than dab hand with a computer and a reasonably capable decker to boot - gadget mad. Has a SuperKombi affectionatley dubbed 'The Beast' which the rest of the team insisted he install 'Oh Jesus' bars into for a command vehicle. Team co-ordinatoor and organiser though there's no one 'leader' this is the guy who keeps everyone on track and focused.

Lonely - Human Physad - (Yes, another one) - Gunbunny/Stealth expert - former military who was dragged into spec-ops and then into the spooks. Bad incident and operation gone wrong left him out in the cold and with massive scarring - he's been a long time recovering. Hands down the quickest of the group to turn lethal - ruthless streak. Has a liking of cats but tends to emotional distance - something of a smartass and the quickest to tease the rest of the group. Steady and dependable though - sniper/support tends to be the role though he does insertion with the team as well at times.

Dee - Elven Decker - The teams comp specialist and a passing fair hand from her days in the Barrens growing up and being part of a gang with blade, handgun and shotgun she can hold up her end of a firefight. The smartest of the group but generally content to let others formulate the plans and strategy, then support and steeer if she feels the plan needs nudging. Something of a party girl, likes her booze and drugs - and the other things money can buy. Runs for it - and no real compunctions about whatever it is that the job entails.

SH - Human Sam/Face - A former assassin who has left the East Coast and taken up running in Seattle. Still has no real issues with wetwork - provided the target isn't what he considers an 'innocent'. If you're a criminal or a predator on the Joe Average though, you're fair game - and no problem with taking on other sorts of work. The team clotheshorse who's fashion sense leaves most of the rest of the team blinking he has a thing for synth music - and certain unusual habits. For all his quirks though, this latest member of the team has earned his stripes - and proven handy to have around when it turns to shit.


Much less fussy about the type of work this team still has a few lines they won't cross. Tend to be less stealthy but still employ it liberally - until it's no longer needed or because of the job type when stealth isn't wanted. Wetworks, recoveries, thefts, a bug hunt, surveillance - they'll take it on if the compensation package is worth it and it don't bother thier conscience - some of them are lacking in as strong a one as some of the others but most of them have one.


There you have them. Ideal? Well, that's very dependant on viewpoint. Both teams though differing wildly in method and 'level' of operation have proven determined - and capable of getting the job done. The important thing IMO - we have fun. That's why we all bother, neh?