A:Admin\Sympathy_for_the_Devil\Sign_up.node, <new_game_sign_up> Options

[milk ducks]

Oh, also, before I forget. Is custom fitted armor (Start of the armor section in Arsenal) an option at all? My body is keeping me wearing anything besides armored clothing.

I'm going to say no, but I don't like being heavy-handed arbitrarily, so I want you to understand why: Form-Fitting Body Armour is Power Creep. It's strictly better than any previous armour choices because its ratings stack with everything else worn, and to determine Encumberance, you only add in half the rating (rounded down). If it's available, it essentially becomes a non-choice; every character will use it because it's cheap, additional armour with no real opportunity cost.

-milk.

[Karoline]

I said custom fitted, not form fitting. Custom fitted allows you to get armor specifically tailored to you to allow for Bod x 3 armor without encombrance instead of the normal bod x 2 This is particularly handy for us low bod characters who don't want to die as soon as someone points something sharp in our general direction.

[milk ducks]

Hm, must have missed that part; can't say I like that much either, though. Honestly, I like the Encumberance rules just how they are. Also, this game is intentionally gritty and dangerous (I even considered, briefly, the optional rule of increasing the DV of attacks by +2 across the board, to make combat more lethal). By arbitrarily easing up on armour encumberance, I wouldn't be doing the setting any favours.

-milk.

[DigitalOYABUN]

Interesting character. I don't think I've ever seen anyone take Improved Ability Hardware before.

Question: Nimble Fingers 2? I thought Nimble Fingers only had one rank?

I was going to suggest Quick Draw for your character. Yeah you lose the nifty Free Actions, but you get to throw a hidden knife with only a single Simple Action. Just need a Weapon Skill + Reaction (2) test. So you wouldn't have to Ready the throwing knives before. You can just quick draw then throw them with the same simple action!

My character had that same setup before as an Adept. Same goes for blades, quick draw them and it'll only take one complex action to immediately go and slice and dice.

Good catch on Nimble Fingers ...pick up/change clip etc are free actions, i wonder if ready weapon is? I'll apply the .25 to Improved Ability Palming

I thought of giving him quick draw, but since he's either going to flee or find cover when drek hits...i thought that could wait. Besides, it sort of goes against Rat's nature in that fight only when cornered and then fight to kill, which is why he doesnt carry a gun (that's asking to fight), and why he's incompetent in unarmed (but ok with blades). I'm really trying to draw on the totem for inspiration as to how he behaves.

[Thanee]

...to make combat more lethal...

I don't think you need to make SR combat even more lethal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[Karoline]

Just, kinda an aside... but wouldn't a rat be very good at fighting with its natural weapons? Granted scrounging up something sharp to poke people with sounds like rat style too.

Understandable about the armor thing then, like I said, just thought it might help to create less of a 'body 4 people vs dead people' divide (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Oh, and are you restricting FFBA outright? Because the shirt (3/0) is availability 6.

Edit: I do agree that FFBA is a 'must have' item, but if you think about it, it is the sort of thing that you always see in spy movies and all those sorts of things, it is purpose designed to be a 'must have' item. I mean if you thought you where going to get shot at, and had the option of picking up some body armor, wouldn't that sleek body armor that you can wear under your clothing be one of your first picks?

[cndblank]

I don't think you need to make SR combat even more lethal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bye
Thanee

I'll second that.

SR4 is plenty lethal.

What was that about SR4 character being made of glass and armed with hammers?



BTW, on the Pink Mohawk to Total Professional scale, where do you want your campaign to fall?

[milk ducks]

I don't think you need to make SR combat even more lethal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Hah, yeah. That's why I only considered it briefly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

are you restricting FFBA outright? Because the shirt (3/0) is availability 6.

You know what? I'm going to leave it largely up to you guys. Let's put it to a vote. Counting me, there are 9 people involved in this story, so there won't be a tie. I personally don't like FFBA, and I'm voting to not use it. But if enough of you decide that it's something you want to incorporate, we can do that, no problem. My concern is that it's so widely available and inexpensive (1/10th of 1BP for +3/+0) that I'd be doing the setting a disservice if pretty much every metahumanoid enemy you face didn't have it. It's just too good, and too easy to get ahold of.

But we'll put it to a vote, and we'll do whatever you guys decide is the most fun.

-milk.

[Karoline]

Either way works fine for me. I think it does something like boost my armor from 4/4 to 7/4, so isn't a big change, and not having it would likely make enemies easier as they wouldn't all have the stuff. I should point out though that the 3/0 armor is about the same price as a nice 8/6 lined coat, so I don't think it would be quite so ambiguous as you're saying, but most people who had a fair bit of extra money and figured they're likely to get shot at -would- likely have it.

Since I guess I'm going to be forced to vote (so we don't have a tie) I'll vote for keeping FFBA.

[cndblank]

That is very fair.


I'll second that.


I'll say it again SR 4 doesn't need to be any more lethal.

And as a GM, I agree if the opposition has the cred and expects to need it they would have it.

And that is not all bad. Sometimes you want to keep the opposition in the game a little longer.

[milk ducks]

Actually, I'm just going to allow FFBA outright. Don't worry about voting. I feel like I'm being too heavy-handed regarding gear in a game where combat is already extremely lethal. So don't even worry about it.

Custom-fitted armour rules, no. Form-Fitting Body Armour, yes.

Sorry for being so flip-floppsy.

-milk.

[Method]

I know you aren't asking for votes, but I'll give my input. I say allow it, but make the availability 6 limit a strict one in this case. That limits it to the FFBA Shirt (3/0) at char gen. This doesn't seem unreasonable for low Body characters with limited Edge to go round (per the Gritty rules).

And there is no rule that says the NPCs have the same availability limit, which means (at least at the beginning) including FFBA will actually benefit the opposition more than the PCs... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

[Karoline]

And there is no rule that says the NPCs have the same availability limit, which means (at least at the beginning) including FFBA will actually benefit the opposition more than the PCs... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

I'm fairly sure they're limited to availability 5 or something aren't they... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Thanee]

Too bad, there is no 5/6 armor around. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[cndblank]

I know you aren't asking for votes, but I'll give my input. I say allow it, but make the availability 6 limit a strict one in this case. That limits it to the FFBA Shirt (3/0) at char gen. This doesn't seem unreasonable for low Body characters with limited Edge to go round (per the Gritty rules).

And there is no rule that says the NPCs have the same availability limit, which means (at least at the beginning) including FFBA will actually benefit the opposition more than the PCs... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

Here are a list of common Shadowrun items over 6.

White Noise Generator 7
Silencer 8
Any Fake SIN or License - way over 6
Frag Grenade 10.
Control Rig 8
Nearly any of the B&E gear.


If there is a good reason for your character to have something then ask for it.

[Karoline]

Don't forget a rather large list of drones, vehicles, and vehicle/drone mods. As in most of them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Thanee]

Any Fake SIN or License - way over 6

Oh, those are really quite high.

I thought they were AV Rx2. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Well, but I suppose R3 Fake SINs are still alright, yes?

Bye
Thanee

[cndblank]

I was adding a Spoof chip to my bike and it is 8R.

[milk ducks]

Silencer 8

Nobody has PM'd me yet asking for Silencers or Sound Supressers, but I'll go ahead and take this opportunity to allow them across the board, regardless of availability. I'm not sure how other GMs handle security systems, but I've always imagined that firing an unsilenced weapon inside a building is like just begging the alarm to go off; it's like holding a lighter up to a sprinkler. So feel free to silence your weapons. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

Any Fake SIN or License - way over 6

Fake SINs and Licenses have an availability equal to their Rating x3. So Rating 1 and 2's are fine. Anything higher than that, and you'll need to contact me.

As for grenades and certain gear relating to B&E: contact me. Odds are, I'll give you the all clear.

-milk.

[DigitalOYABUN]

As for grenades and certain gear relating to B&E: contact me. Odds are, I'll give you the all clear.

-milk.

B&E is handled, you might say I have the 'magic touch'. Yuck Yuck lol

[Method]

Updated my character above with Gear (and nothing over Avail 6...) Of course, now I'll have to go back and find the yen for a silencer... doah!

HERE is my roll for starting cash.

Still need to come up with one good contact and then my character will be finished.

EDIT: okay I added silencer/sound suppressors.

[Karoline]

Aww, no availability love for the mechanic. Turns out I actually got a very nice selection of drones that I could play with, I just can't do much to mod them any (With weapon mounts being totally impossible in any form). Oh well, I have a few very very fun things planned for some of my drones. People will learn to fear things that move... and things that don't (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Edit: I was also planning on turning one of my vehicles into my home, how does that work out for lifestyle? Should I just pay for necessities and entertainment, since neighborhood, security, and comforts are all based on my vehicle and where it is?

[DigitalOYABUN]

Edit: I was also planning on turning one of my vehicles into my home, how does that work out for lifestyle? Should I just pay for necessities and entertainment, since neighborhood, security, and comforts are all based on my vehicle and where it is?

Yeah me too. I'm in a van........ down by the river lol

[Karoline]

Yeah me too. I'm in a van........ down by the river lol

Hah! I have a bus (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Marwynn]

I'll acquire my suit of FFBA, or perhaps the half-body suit, during play. It really doesn't go with anything Shotsam has... Well, the half body suit and the Urban Explorer outfit.

Yeah Shotgun Sam and the Hollywood Kid, they should make a trid outta it!

Milk, Shotgun Sam does have Rating 3 Fake SIN and Licenses, I can downgrade them (and buy the FFBA now) if you want. I think I'll keep Latent Awakening as well, until things get finalized and I don't think of something else.