Seeking Seattle runners…, Recruitment thread for a PbP game in Seattle, 2072 Options

[milk ducks]

Character's coming along very well. I had to put the process on pause last night and write up an IC post in Sympathy for the Devil. But I should be finished with this guy in a bit. As long as my 8 week old son remains asleep, lol.

-milk.

[milk ducks]

You WILL be allowed to take FREE Knowledge and Language skills equal to [(LOGic + INTuition) x 6].

Is that instead of the [(Intuition + Logic) x3] we normally get at CharGen, or in addition to it?

-milk.

[Embers]

Is that instead of the [(Intuition + Logic) x3] we normally get at CharGen, or in addition to it?

-milk.

I would think its in place of it, and that its also using the Karmagen rules as well.

The 54 I ended up with got me:
3 rating 4s
1 rating 3s
3 rating 2s
1 specialization

Thats seems about par for the course. If its 54 rating points instead of 54 karma that would be a lot...a whole lot more than I could spend.

[Karoline]

I'm come to you as the voice of our Lady, KerenShara:

That is [(Intuition + Logic) x6] free karma towards knowledge, not free rating points like in BP creation.


So declares Lady KerenShara (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Embers]

Jordan Oakleaf

[ Spoiler ]

Race: Elf
Attributes: 291 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

Body 5 (42)
Agility 6[8] (54)
Reaction 4[6][+2 Combat Sense r2] (27)
Strength 4[6] (27)
Charisma 5(27)
Intuition 5(42)
Logic 4(27)
Willpower 5(42)

Special Attributes: 69 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

Edge 4(27)
Essence 4.11
Magic 3>[1]>4>5 (42)
Initiative 11
IP 3

Qualities: 10 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

10 Adept (Warrior's Way)
10 Mentor Spirit (Mist Lynx) - +2 Infiltration, +2 Gymnastics, -1 to teamwork tests (1 less hit when aiding, 1 less die when being aided)
20 Bio-compatibility (Bioware)
20 Trustfund (Permanent Medium Lifestyle + 500 nuyen a month)
20 Erased Level 2 (One of her father's ex-pupils, an expatriate Tir Noble)
-30 Sensitive System
-10 Sinner
-20 Predjudiced (Outspoken - Specific Group: New Tir Tairngire Government)
-10 Phobia (Mild - Ghouls) - During her training she and her teacher ran across a group of ghouls eating children, and now they scare her

Skills: 227 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

Firearms Group 4 (55)
Stealth Group 4 (55)
Athletics Groups 4[+2] (55)
Influence Group 2 (20)
Unarmed 3(14)
Blades (Swords) 2(+2) (10)
Perception 3(+3)(+3 Visual) (14)
Armorer(Fire Arms) 2(+2) (4 + 6)

Knowledge Skills: 0 Karma, 54 free

[ Spoiler ]

Sperethiel N
English 4 (11)
Elven Politics 4 (11)
Security Procedures 4 (11)
Metahuman Pop. Culture 3 (7)
Ares Macrotechnology 2 (4)
Military Tactics 2 (4)
Magic (Adepts) 2(+2) (6)

Contacts: 40 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

Matthew Ryan - Fixer [Connection 4, Loyalty 5]: Matt is a fixture in the Seattle shadows and has been for years, acting as a fixer and funneling selected bits of info back home. He was one of Richard Oakleaf's proteges, and was hand picked to be one of Tir Tairgire's eyes, ears, and hands in Seattle. A family friend for decades, it was Matthew that helped first Melissa and then Jordan and her mother land on their feet after leaving the Tir. Matt has taken the shake up in his home country rather hard, feeling incredibly betrayed after the decades he spent in service to it to find himself without a country. The only good news is that now, none of his profits have to go to anyone else, and now there are a lot of skilled operatives that he personally knows and can vouch for coming into the area and looking for work.

Melissa Oakleaf - Ms. Johnson [Connection 5, Loyalty 6]: Melissa is Jordan's oldest, and closest, sibling. Melissa left Tir Tairgire shortly after her rite of passage to join Ares Macrotechnology. In the past decade, she has used her force of will and experience with political maneuvering to move quickly up the hierarchy, until she reached her current post handling Ares' shadow operations in the Region, and overseeing most of the operations in the rest of the UCAS.

Melissa is thrilled that Jordan and her mother are now living in Seattle where she can see them more often. She is a little smug about the situation with the Tir, given that her dislike of the system and its stupidity were what caused her to leave in the first place. Melissa takes the role of big sister seriously and is willing to do her little sister favors and look out for her, especially when those favors reinforce just how connected and high up she is, and purely by her own merit as opposed to Jordan. Sometimes Jordan is very glad that Melissa is so busy with work, one family dinner a week with Missy is about all of the well meaning advice and hints that her normally iron will can take, and even that is a testament to the AAA rated food.

Magical Resources: 13 Karma

[ Spoiler ]

Mentor Spirit - Mist Lynx
[13] Initiation 1 (Masking)
6 PPs - Magic Raised to 5 after initiation, 1pp from 2nd Initiation
[.75] Heightened Concentration (ignore a single dice penalty of up to -5 [Geas - Ritual - Must spend 30 minutes/day observing your environment]
[1.75] Improved Senses 7 (Vision Magnification, Vision Enhancement, Flare Comp, Thermo, Audio Enhancement, Damping, Scent)
[1.0] Combat Sense rating 2
[1.0] Critical Strike rating 4
[0.5] Killing Hands
[0.5] Quick Draw
[.25] Commanding Voice
[.25] Sustenance

Initiate Grade 2 - Masking

Resources: 100 Karma + 9 karma after creation

[ Spoiler ]

[1,200]Reserved for Starting Cash
[2,000] Clothing
[600] Contact Lenses rating 3 [Smartlink, Skinlink]
[535] handheld sensor [Radio Signal Scanner r6, Mad Sensor r5]
[16,600] Transys Avalon w/ Custom OS [4/4/4/4 - Ergonomic Agent 3(Ergonomic Adaptability 3), Encrypt 4, Pro User Software (Analyze 4, Browse 4, Command 2, Edit 4), Hardening 6, Simrig, Skinlink, Subvocal Mic]
[4,000] Fake SIN rating 4 (Rebecca Morris) - Security Consultant
[1,400] 1 month life style [Rebecca Morris) - [C(2), E(0), N(2), N(2), S(4); No Privacy - Astral 1, Matrix 1 (-2)]
[2,400] Fake Licenses rating 4 - 6 (Smartlink, Monofilament Sword, FN HAR, Ares Predator IV, Bullets - Regular, Bullets - Gel)
[40] Mapsofts Rating 4 (Seattle), Rating 4 (Salish-Shidhe)
[100] Survival Kit
[1,600] FFBA - Full
[900] FFBA - Half
[900] Armor Jacket
[650] PPP - Forearm Guards, Shin Guards, Vitals Protector
[150] Tag Eraser
[1100] Katana (1 reach, 6P, -1 AP, Personalized Grip)
[150] Survival Knife (4P, -1 AP, Personalized Grip)
[2,175] FN HAR (7P, -2 AP, SA/BF/FA, RC 5, 35 clip, Personalized Grip, Shockpad, Under Barrel Weight, Skinlink, Caseless Ammo, Sporting rifle ranges)
[10] 2 extra clips
[1,500] 150 EX-explosive Rounds FN HAR [8P, -3AP]
[300] 100 Regular Rounds FN HAR
[500] Ares Predator IV (5P, -1 AP, 15 clip, RC 1, Smartlink, Personalized Grip, Skinlink)
[500] Ares Predator IV (5P, -1 AP, 15 clip, RC 1, Smartlink, Personalized Grip, Skinlink)
[300] 30 EX-explosive rounds Predator IV [6P, -2AP]
[200] 100 Regular rounds Predator IV
[300] 100 Gel rounds Predator IV [4S, 0AP]
[20] 4 extra clips
[75] Concealable Holster (Predator)
[400] 2 silencers

Karma: 50

[ Spoiler ]

Initiation 2 (16) - Power Point
Magic > 5 (25) [Quick Draw, Critical Strike > Rating 4, Commanding Voice]
Armorer 2 (4)
Armorer Specialization (Firearms) (2)

Armor

[ Spoiler ]

Armor Jacket + FFBA half + 2 Pieces PPP [12B/9I] For Encumbrance [10B/8I]

Implants 1.89 essence - 88/100 starting resource karma

[ Spoiler ]

Muscle Aug r2
Muscle Toner r2
Synaptic Boosters r2
Synthacardium r 3

Nuyen = 2,900

[ Spoiler ]

[2,400]Starting Cash ((4d6+12)*100=2,400)
[2,900]+500 for first months Trust fund payment

[milk ducks]

That is [(Intuition + Logic) x6] free karma towards knowledge, not free rating points like in BP creation.

Ah, great. Thank you.

-milk.

[pbangarth]

Hey, embers, it looks as if you shortchanged Jordan Oakleaf by 4 Karma points. That's another skill!

[Kerenshara]

OK, do me a favor folks. Pop up to post #29 and look for any empty blanks and let me know what to put in there.

I have 10 people and some of them have already given me some great and detailed information, including whole backgrounds.

I want to see where we stand as it is.

Thanks!

[pbangarth]

Stardust/Male/Human/Counter-magic--protection/Magician/Healing--repair

First post is easier to get to.

[milk ducks]

My character is very nearly finished. Took a bit longer than I'd anticipated because KarmaGen allows for much more robust and dynamic skillsets. All I've got left to do is gear, but I've still got over a hundred Karma to work with AND the 50 karma post-gen. Here, I'll go ahead and post the skeleton of the character here, so everyone can have a look at it. It's not set up to be easy to read by anyone but me, lol, but if you can make sense of it, awesome.

[ Spoiler ]

Ork 750
-
BOD 4
AGI 3 (2x3=6 (6) / 3x3=9 (15)
REA 3 (2x3=6 (21) / 3x3=9 (30)
STR 3
CHA 3 (2x3=6 (36) / 3x3=9 (45)
INT 3 (2x3=6 (51) / 3x3=9 (60)
LOG 3 (2x3=6 (66) / 3x3=9 (75)
WIL 3 (2x3=6 (81) / 3x3=9 (90)
EDG 3 (2x3=6 (96) / 3x3=9 (105)
(750-105=645)
-
Ambidextrous (10 / 115)
Animal Empathy (20 / 135)
First Impression (10 / 145)
Human-Looking (10 / 155)
Spirit Affinity (Beast) (20 / 175)
-
Moderate Addiction (Novacoke) (-20 / 155)
Big Regret (-10 / 145)
Pacifist (-10 / 135)
SINner (-10 / 125)
Records on File (Horizon Group) (-20 / 105)
-
Athletics Skill Group 2 (10 + 2x5 = 20 / 125)
Cracking Skill Group 2 (10 + 2x5 = 20 / 145)
Electronics Skill Group 2 (10 + 2x5 = 20 / 165)
Firearms Skill Group 2 (10 + 2x5 = 20 / 185)
Blades 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 195)
Clubs 3 [Specialization: Batons] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 206)
Dodge 2 [Specialization: Ranged Combat] (4 + 2x3 + 2 = 12 / 218)
Heavy Weapons 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 228)
Throwing Weapons 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 238)
Unarmed Combat 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 248)
Disguise 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 258)
Escape Artist 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 268)
Infiltration 3 [Specialization: Urban] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 289)
Navigation 1 [Specialization: Urban] (4 + 2 = 6 / 295)
Palming 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 305)
Perception 3 [Specialization: Hearing] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 326)
Shadowing 3 [Specialization: Tail Evasion] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 347)
Survival 2 [Specialization: Urban] (4 + 2x3 + 2 = 12 / 359)
Tracking 1 [Specialization: Urban] (4 + 2 = 6 / 365)
Con 3 (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 = 19 / 384)
Etiquette 3 [Specialization: Indie Rock Subcultures] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 405)
Instruction 2 [Specialization: Artisan] (4 + 2x3 + 2 = 12 / 417)
Intimidation 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 427)
Leadership 2 [Specialization: Morale] (4 + 2x3 + 2 = 12 / 439)
Negotiation 3 [Specialization: Bargaining] (4 + 2x3 + 3x3 + 2 = 21 / 460)
Armourer 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 470)
Artisan 5 (4 + 2x3[6] + 3x3[9] + 4x3[12] + 5x3[15] = 46 / 506)
Automotive Mechanic 1 [Specialization: Wheeled] (4 + 2 = 6 / 512)
Cybertechnology 1 [Specialization: Bodyware] (4 + 2 = 6 / 518)
Demolitions 1 [Specialization: Improvized Explosives] (4 + 2 = 6 / 524)
First Aid 2 [Specialization: Combat Wounds] (4 + 2x3 + 2 = 12 / 536)
Industrial Mechanic 1 [Specialization: Electrical Power Systems] (4 + 2 = 6 / 542)
Locksmith 2 (4 + 2x3 = 10 / 552)
Nautical Mechanic 1 [Specialization: Motorboats] (4 + 2 = 6 / 548)
Pilot Ground Craft 1 [Specialization: Wheeled] (4 + 2 = 6 / 554)
Pilot Watercraft 1 [Specialization: Motorboats] (4 + 2 = 6 / 560)
-
36 knowledge
-
Bartender (Connection 2 / Loyalty 2) 4
Bartender (Connection 3 / Loyalty 3) 4 / 9
Blogger (Connection 3 / Loyalty 4) 7 / 16
Blogger (Connection 4 / Loyalty 3) 7 / 23
Fixer (Connection 4 / Loyalty 2) 6 / 29
Fixer (Connection 4 / Loyalty 3) 7 / 36
Mr. Johnson (Connection 4 / Loyalty 1) 5 / 41
Mr. Johnson (Connection 4 / Loyalty 2) 6 / 47 (607)
-

Obviously, the character and his contacts will have names at the end, hah. But this should give everyone a very basic idea of who I'm developing.

-milk.

[Karoline]

Umm.... Wow... is that every skill in the book or something?

[milk ducks]

Nah.

-milk.

[Karoline]

Nah.

-milk.

I'm sure pilot aerospace and parachuting are missing, right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[pbangarth]

I'm sure pilot aerospace and parachuting are missing, right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Funny you should mention.

[milk ducks]

Really, I'm just trying to be as true to the character as I can be. To me, dynamic, multi-talented characters are more interesting and fun to write for than one-trick ponies with very limited skill sets. Just feels more realistic to me; I mean, I'm a nobody from the middle of nowhere, and I know a whole lot about electronics, repair, musical composition, unarmed combat, breaking locks, first aid and medicine, negotiation, etc. A Shadowrunner has to be all those things and more, you know? So that's how I write my characters.

-milk.

[Embers]

Jordan is Melee/Ranged/Infiltration. She can serve as a back-up face, but she wouldn't be great at it.

[Karoline]

Really, I'm just trying to be as true to the character as I can be. To me, dynamic, multi-talented characters are more interesting and fun to write for than one-trick ponies with very limited skill sets. Just feels more realistic to me; I mean, I'm a nobody from the middle of nowhere, and I know a whole lot about electronics, repair, musical composition, unarmed combat, breaking locks, first aid and medicine, negotiation, etc. A Shadowrunner has to be all those things and more, you know? So that's how I write my characters.

-milk.

Well, part of the problem is that multiple skills aren't really very well supported with normal BP, and the other part is that you say you have knowledge of these things, but are you sure that your level of knowledge doesn't fall under a 0 skill? I mean unless you've had actual classes or hospital practice, I doubt you have more than a 0 in first aid or medicine. Same with negotiation. Unless you've taken debate classes or are trying to convince dozens of people a day to do things, you still likely fall under a 0 skill.

[Kerenshara]

Well, part of the problem is that multiple skills aren't really very well supported with normal BP, and the other part is that you say you have knowledge of these things, but are you sure that your level of knowledge doesn't fall under a 0 skill? I mean unless you've had actual classes or hospital practice, I doubt you have more than a 0 in first aid or medicine. Same with negotiation. Unless you've taken debate classes or are trying to convince dozens of people a day to do things, you still likely fall under a 0 skill.

0 Knowledge is just common knowledge of people with no overt exposure.

1 Knowledge can represent passing exposure, some personal interest, or the equivalent. (How much High School chemistry do you remember?)

2 Knowledge is going to represent actual focus.

[Karoline]

0 Knowledge is just common knowledge of people with no overt exposure.

1 Knowledge can represent passing exposure, some personal interest, or the equivalent. (How much High School chemistry do you remember?)

2 Knowledge is going to represent actual focus.

Given that I'm a Chemistry major? Alot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

If you ask me how much high school geography I remember... well, I can find all the continents and a few major countries. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Kerenshara]

Given that I'm a Chemistry major? Alot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

If you ask me how much high school geography I remember... well, I can find all the continents and a few major countries. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Approximately what you'd expect the general populace to have - 0. Now, if you'd focused on that class and retained detailed information but weren't a specialist, that would be the 1 you'd expect from High School equivalency. That's pretty typical. Level 2 is the kind of thing you'd expect from, say, a minor in Geography.

[ravensoracle]

Screen Name _____ / Character Name / Gender / Race / Main Role / Special / Secondary Role

ravensoracle __ / __ ?_____________ / _Male_ / Human / Infiltration / Mundane / Support & Minor Face

[milk ducks]

are you sure that your level of knowledge doesn't fall under a 0 skill? I mean unless you've had actual classes or hospital practice, I doubt you have more than a 0 in first aid or medicine. Same with negotiation. Unless you've taken debate classes or are trying to convince dozens of people a day to do things, you still likely fall under a 0 skill.

By the time I was 14, I was a 2nd-degree black belt in TaeKwonDo; I competed at both State and National levels (unarmed combat). After that, I basically poured all of my focus into music. I've been in more bands that I can remember, both in America and around the world (artisan). Working on my sound has provided me with a very broad understanding of electronics and hardware, and I've done my fair share of repairing them over the years as well (hardware, software, electronics, industrial mechanic).

I've moved from the States to Australia several times, and we're actually planning on heading back down there in a few months; while I was there, I learned an absolute ton about their culture and their history, and now I'm proud to say that I relate to Australia every bit as much as I do to America (etiquette).

Over the years, I've done a lot of work with computers. I had a job working as the assistant network admin for the county I live in, and went on to install wireless internet for a local provider. I've also done a lot of computer repair for people (again, electronics).

While doing some research for a thief character I was creating a few years ago, I learned a lot, not only about how locks work, but also how to subvert them (lockpicking). I still remember a fair bit about it. Negotiation? Man, I'm a musician. Being in a band means constant negotiation, not only with clubs and whatnot, but also with your bandmates. Artistic differences can be a real bitch. Learning how the people around you think can be really advantageous, you know?

As far as First Aid and Medicine goes, I think I do know a fair bit more than most people; several of my relatives are firemen, and I'm looking into being one as well. In fact, I start my EMT training this Tuesday.

That's just a very brief history of me, personally. And again, I'm just a nobody from the middle of nowhere. If I were a Shadowrunner, who lived on the streets, and who's life depended on having a diverse and powerful skillset, I'd know a hell of a lot more. I would never, ever be happy with a character who only had a dozen or so skills. But that's just me.

-milk.

[Karoline]

Sounds cool. The only thing I might counter you on is software skill, as that relates to actually writing programs (Which you may or may not have done). I'd imagine you'd have had to do alot of research to get any skill in actual lockpicking (And likely practice it at least a few times), though I can certainly imagine you got a rank or two of a relevant knowledge skill.

I never got past first degree black belt myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

But look real closely at what you would have.

Unarmed 4
Artisan 3 (Maybe more, I don't know how good you were), you would likely have a specialty here.
Hardware 2 (Music Equipment)
Industrial Mechanic 1 (Electronics)
Etiquette 2 (Australia)
Computer 3
Lockpicking 1
Negotiation 3 (Socializing)
First Aid 1
Medicine 1

And I'm sure a wide range of knowledge skills from mostly 1-3 with a few 4s

One thing to keep in mind is that Shadowrunners aren't runners because they want to be (Usually) but because they have to be. Thus it isn't that Shadowrunners are highly skilled, it is that shadowrunners that have been around for a long time are. I figure a runner with 400 BP represents someone who isn't quite on their first run, but is far from a hardened veteran.

There is a good chance that they came from a bad background, where they didn't have the time and resources to be in a band, certainly couldn't visit other countries to learn their culture, and know enough about hardware to know how to break a maglock properly to get it to open.

And even if the runner came from a 'good' background, a fall from grace sort of guy, keep in mind that work days are far longer in SR than they are now-a-days, and likely pay less, so people have less free time to purse any sort of desires, and less money to chase after any hobbies they might have.

So yeah, you're random guy from nowhere, but you're also very privileged in comparison to most people who live in the SR universe.

You also don't have to limit yourself to an arbitrary maximum of how much you can know either.

Edit: oh, and the reason I listed out your skills was to point out that you have under a dozen or so skills, and then I had intended to go on to point out that someone from SR would actually be quite likely to have a less varied skillset than you would. That point kind of got garbled up there.

[ravensoracle]

Kerenshara what are your rules for licenses. Do we need a seperate license for every piece of restricted gear like each firearm or will just a firearms license and a C&C work. I want to make sure I have all of them I need. I am also looking at getting a PI license is that acceptable.

Maybe it would help to list several licenses you see occuring with the different characters as examples.

[Kerenshara]

Thank you, MilkDucks. That was excellent.

Unfortunately, most of us who play the game and had varied backgrounds couldn't be built with BP without running out of points. *grin* Especially with knowledges.