Activesofts as Freeware, All Skills at 4 for free? Options

[Neraph]

How many runners actually use skillwires? Personally, I don't recall seeing one.

However, I don't think it would be unreasonable to say that each of the activesofts needs to be tweeked for each individual. Unarmed combat is done differently if you are a 4'10 skinny individual compared to a 6'4 hulking brute. For most skills, your own body plays a part.

So, even if two players want to trade actisofts, a GM could still require either time to adjust a lot of points in the software, a cost to do so, or both.

Actually, most characters I play that aren't AIs or Infected have skillwires. AI's with Pilot Origins are better than skillwires.

Also, I think you're confusing a skill and a Personalized skillsoft. Fourteen people of varying weights and heights can all take Tae Kwon Do and use the same movements - but each of them will Personalize their skill with time.

[Mistwalker]

Also, I think you're confusing a skill and a Personalized skillsoft. Fourteen people of varying weights and heights can all take Tae Kwon Do and use the same movements - but each of them will Personalize their skill with time.

Well, I am taking a martial art (Armizare - which includes swords). The young lady, 4'10 or so, 100lbs soaking wet, cannot use the exact same moves as the guy we call the Kraken, who is about 6'4, 250lbs. The Kraken uses his reach and strength to bull thru a lot of moves, even when his form is not perfect, while the young lady not only has to have perfect form, she has to adjust a fair bit to have any chance of succeeding against the Kraken.

Add in things like whether you are right or left handed, natural eye hand coordination, in shape vs couch potato, center of balance, etc.. and you will likely find that a single actisoft will not work perfectly for everyone. Having your shot be off by a fraction can change a perfect hit to a wide miss, the same for a lot of other active skills.

Well, that is my impression and what I would likely use as an explanation as to why not everyone has rating 4 in all actisofts. If I had two players wanted to exchange actisofts, I would likely allow it, but have penalties until they tweeked them (time or money).

[Neraph]

I've been taking nearly 20 martial arts, including weapons forms, for the past nearly 17 years now, and I can tell you that the game streamlines things.

In your examples, the young lady would have a skill, and "the Kraken" (I want to fight him just to humble him) has already specialized his skill. In the game's mechanics there isn't a problem.