Shadow's Dawn: Diving into the past- recruitment, Recruiting reserves Options

[pbangarth]

In the instructions, we are told to drop the ward by 12:15 on the 20th, but we are at 23:58:03 on the 20th. Did you mean 00:15 on the 21st?

[Ol' Scratch]

Okay, I've made the updates for now. I can't find anything suitable to replace Mind Over Matter with, so I've just struck it out until I do. They really don't include very many cerebral adept powers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

EDIT: I ended up switching it to Heightened Concentration and Attribute Boost (Agility) 2, at least for the moment.

[sabs]

Well Earthdawn is very Medeival/Ancient world.. so most people didn't have last names (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) they had origin locations.

I am fond of the Infinity symbology. I'm happy with Ouroboros.

[Ol' Scratch]

Okay, I managed to get all of the meat and potatoes posted. I just have some fluff to add (mostly the descriptions of his metamagic, alchemy recipes, and lifestyle), but I don't know if I'll be able to do that before I hit the sack tonight. I'll do my best, though. I'll also try to get my first IC post written up.

[Alyena]

Hi people. Here is my first draft of my Horror Hunter:

Name Alyena
Race: Immortal Elf
Tradition: Nethermancy (same as voodoo)
Attributes: Body 4, Agility 2, Reaction 3, Strength 1, Charisma 7, Intuition 4, Logic 2, Willpower 5, Edge 4, Magic 9, Essence 5.0
Skills: Astral Combat 6, Counterspelling 6, Assensing 4, Cybertechnology 4, Conjuring - group 4, Spell casting 4, Outdoors - group 1, Athletics - group 1, Influence - group 1, Perception 1, Ritual spell casting 1
Qualities: Class II Surge, Mentor spirit (Adversary: countermagic +2, Manip +2), Magician, Arcane Arrester
Negative Qualities: Impaired Intuition, Impaired Logic, and some still to be picked
Spells: Shatter, Slaughter spirit, Manabolt, Stunball, Increase charisma, Heal, Mob mind, Mana barrier
Knowledge Skills: Magical threat 5, Horrors 4, Archeology 6, Weapons lore 4, Local knowledge 3, General history 4, Geography 4, Fourth Age remnants 5, 13 points left.
Languages: Ancient Egyptian 3, Latin 4, Ancient Greek 3, Mandarin 2
Foci: Power 4, Counterspelling (combat) 4
Metamagics: Masking, Cleansing, Shielding, Channelling, Centering
Cyberware: Synthetic arm (Agility 10, Strength 9, Body 4, smuggling compartment),Internal Air Tank,Attention coprocessor 3
Bioware: Pain editor, Synthacardium (3), Platelet factories
Geneware: Daredrenaline

Karma spend:
Initiation
Spec: Astral combat / spirit (2)
Spec: Counter Magic /combat 2
Spare 1

Important die rolls: Countermagic: Skill 6 + mentor 2 + shielding 5 = 13. Against combat spells spec 2 and foci 4 => 19.

Looking forwards to seeing you all in game.

[Seth]

In the instructions, we are told to drop the ward by 12:15 on the 20th, but we are at 23:58:03 on the 20th. Did you mean 00:15 on the 21st?

Oops I meant quarter past midnight and got the notation wrong: you have 15 minutes.

[Ol' Scratch]

Karma spend:
Centering metamagic (15)

I don't know if it helps, but for the same cost (15 Karma) you can get your 5th grade of initiation which includes a free metamagic technique if you take an ordeal (and assuming the rest of us helped you out in a group). Something to consider. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Big Fella]

Thank you for the advise, I have reduced the combat reflexes and increased body. I hope to get some of the nice suggested metamagics in the future. I think I am going to go with a fairly low unarmed pool, as I am a tank not a hitter, and 14 die on attack should be ok.

Race: Bear shifter
Tradition: Warriors way / Path of the wheel
Attributes: Body 12/15, Agility 3, Reaction 3/6, Strength 7, Charisma 2, Intuition 4, Logic 2, Willpower 4, Edge 4, Magic 10
Skills: Assensing 4, Athletics - group 1, Outdoors - group 4, Stealth - group 1, Perception 4, Unarmed combat 6
Qualities: Class II Surge, Adept, Arcane Arrester
Negative Qualities: Impaired Charisma, Impaired Logic
Knowledge Skills all at 4: Navigation (smuggling), Navigation (Cannadian outback), Navigation (Black Forest), Navigation (amazon), Border Patrols, Parazoology, Zoology, Herbs, Gambling - at 6, Hangouts (safehouses), Pit fighting, Alcohol
Metamagics: Masking
Adept powers:Combat Sense 7, Berserk, Smashing blow, Improved Phys Attribute (body) 3, Critical strike 7, Improved reflexes 3, Attribute boost agility
Metamagics: Masking

Karma: Initiation 5 (15), Spec - unarmed /claws (2), Perception / smell (2), spare 1

Backstory: Bjorn was a horror construct created by an ancient horror that the group defeated. The player group defeated him and freed him from his slavery, and he has been one of them since. Mostly Bjeorn doesn't hang around people: they are so fragile and the noises of the sirens are so loud and distressing. He is not the brightest tool in the box (especially given the company he is in...), but he is nice to have around when the going gets tough.

[sabs]

Not to be Picky but with Intuition 4, Logic 3, and WIllpower of 4.. he is actually pretty freaking smart.
Remember human average is going to be 2-3 on those stats. With the mental stats you have, you could go well in college (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Aria]

As requested here's a work in progress for my contacts (I will update the character sheet too...), hopefully these won't shift too much but I'm not totally convinced by them at the moment (and I'm already squeezed on BPs!)...more description stuff to come too...thoughts anyone?

Stat change:
Current Cha 4, Int 4, Log 5, Will 5
Change Cha 5, Int 4, Log 3, Will 5 (Net 10BPs!) [Drain Cha+Will]?



Contacts (BPs 20+15)

Celedyr (Great Western Dragon) [Loyalty 5, Connection 6]
My sire, the master artificer. I have long served him to the best of my abilities in many guises through the ages. Although I currently work outside of the auspices of Transys they have proved to be a valuable tool in the research into magic and the matrix and I long for the time when they are able to allow me to view the matrix from my natural form.

Desire (Quantum Mage, Stillwater Community) [Loyalty 3, Connection 3]
The Stillwater community is one of the hidden projects in the New World that my master has an interest in and Desire is my contact with them. They are transhumanists dedicated to the merging of magic with technology and represent a potential path for surviving the coming depredations from the Enemy. They have an extensive matrix presence as well as access to cutting edge cybertechnology and some interesting magical techniques and theorems. They were nearly decimated in the height of the anti-technomancer movements of the 70s but with our aid they have managed to cling on and begin to rebuild.

Aria (Infoseeker, Matrix Coder) [Loyalty 4, Connection 4]
She is a creature of the matrix and the source of much of my net knowledge. I met her through the Stillwater community where she is one of a triumvirate with Athena and Operator. Formally the hacker for Balefire she has experience as a shadowrunner but has since stretched her web on a much wider scale and is a source of information on the most disparate of topics.

Balefire (Prime Runner Team – Bale, Silk, Masque, Requiem, Melody) [Loyalty 2, Connection 3 (5)]
While we usually form the basis of any mission to further the goals of the immortals I have always considered it important to cultivate a team of skilled and professional outsiders who are able to facilitate actions that we might not be able to consider due to their political consequences. I originally dealt with their rigger Mother but she was killed at a similar time to the attack on Stillwater, in fact the coincidence was too great and I suspect the machinations of one of my fellow immortals in their downfall. Silk was able to bring the group back together recently with the aid of Bale's older brother, who has assumed the handle of Bale to continue the group's mystique. Masque has since become my lover and I am intertwined with their fate in ways that I might find uncomfortable.

Enemy (BPs -5)

Reynshec (Western Drake of Lofwyr) [Connection 4, Incidence 1]
My nemesis and bane. Reyn was responsible for the death of my lover during the time of the dark ages as a ploy to lure me to him so that I could not complete the plans of my sire. Since then we have crossed paths many times, usually indirectly, as we battle to upset each other’s goals. Each time the conflict escalates and there can be no forgiveness now, only Vendetta.

Factions (BPs 10)

Queen Alachia, High Prince Lugh Surehand, Ehran the Scribe, Prince Sean Lafferty, Prince Jenna Ni'Fairra 0 (dislike)
My attitudes towards the rise of technology has hardly endeared me to the elven immortals. I have ever served the cause of the dragons above all else and their machinations has occasionally led to conflict with the plans of these other elders. I find them to be arrogant, which is to be expected, and full of their own self importance. I am not one to demand that they accept the Dragons as their superiors, although I know there are those of my kind who do, but I despair at their short sightedness and desires to cling to the past.

Harlequinn 3 (neutral-mild like)
Caimbuel is the exception to the rule, as ever, and his anarchic nature and general disregard for the rules of the game have meant we have found common ground on occasion. Although I don’t really recall the time now I know that I served under him as a Lightbearer during the fourth age and I look forward to working with him occasionally on whatever obscure plan that he is following at the time.

Dunkelzahn 4 (mild like)
Mountainshadow was ever the most progressive of the Elders and I have great respect for his vision, as does my master. We were greatly moved when we learnt of his monumental sacrifice to hold the Enemy back.

Hestaby 3 (neutral-mild like)
I believe my master has a fondness for the Orange Queen and I have visited her lair on a number of occasions and been impressed by her gravitas.

[Big Fella]

Thanks for the advice everyone

[Seth]

Nice details there Aria...I am sure I recognise some of the names (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Halinn]

@Halinn. Heavy pistols are bigger than your pixie. Light pistols maximum please.

That's why it's a Hold-Out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Currently working on the details of my character, then I'll pop into the IC thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Seth]

My message box is full: running this game is fun, but involves quite a few PMs. I have tried to delete only uninteresting ones, but I might have deleted some critical fact. If so I apologize in advance. Doing this with 8 people is quite a brain bender

[Ol' Scratch]

Sorry for taking so long to get my post up. Seth has me including something in it, and I'm working to get it sorted out before I post.

[sabs]

Yeah, I just edited my post myself. It's worth a re-read.

[Aria]

Nice details there Aria...I am sure I recognise some of the names (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Really?!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My initial IC post has been updated too...

[Ol' Scratch]

I'm tickled pink that we both have Celedyr as mentors. He's probably one of my most favorite dragons, second only to Perianwyr. Wales got all the cool drakes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[sabs]

My old Favorite was Icewing..

Unfortunately he got turned into Godzilla by the shadowrun guys.

[pbangarth]

Yeah, I figured Dunkelzahn is stuck in the metaplanes, and that's Mandala's playground, so he seemed right for my guy.

[Aria]

Updated my character sheet again...still need to finalise gear but nearly there now...bit concerned about my lack of combat ability but at least I have the heal spell now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Comments still very welcome...help me twink this one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Seth]

Comments still very welcome...help me twink this on

Don't forget PuShEd: +1 to all logic skills

Skills:
I'd drop the cracking group, get hacking at 6, cybercombat at 4, and electronic warfare at 1..4 (your choice). I'd specialize the hacking to be "with exploit" or "with stealth", I'd specialize the cybercombat to be "against people" as the main threats (IMO) are the corporate spiders more than the IC. I'd try very hard to get the electronics group at 4, even if it mean dropping a stat.

Adept powers:
I'd get the adept power improved cybercombat, and would try to get the electronics group to 4. Not that I am hinting or anything but maybe you will be fighting some things in cybercombat. I'd also get the improved computer skill as that is your matrix perception which is very important. |The rest look good

Attributes:
I think intuition is the most important hacking attribute (it affects matrix initiative, and matrix combat is deadly). 4 is good, 5 is better

Equipment
I think I posted some advice on programs and commlink earlier.

Race:
What type of dragon are you: personally I like feathered (because it gets reactions buff) and oriental (those hands are nice).

General:
As far as combat goes, I would get the exotic ranged weapon: breath weapon. Given your magic attribute this is absolutely hideous, and probably more valuable than unarmed (which is always good as its a defensive skill as well). You might want to decide what element it is. The default "fire" isn't bad". I wouldn't worry too much about combat as you are likely to be hacking when the fighting is going on down.

Spells:
For spells have you considered physical barrier (you can hide behind it while you hack), or invisibility (so that you can hack without being attacked). The trid phantasm would be good to make an illusionary wall to hide behind.

[sabs]

Can I recommend that everyone should have:
Artisan 1 specialty something creative

[Aria]

Adept powers:
I'd get the adept power improved cybercombat, and would try to get the electronics group to 4. Not that I am hinting or anything but maybe you will be fighting some things in cybercombat. I'd also get the improved computer skill as that is your matrix perception which is very important. |The rest look good

Another quick question...can I use the optional geas rule to get .75 cost on powers? Would be better than the negative quality and help to offset the drake stuff (which is basically unncessesary for a hacker but cool (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )?

Is cybercombat a .5 power or a .25 power?

Thanks

[Ol' Scratch]

I absolutely love that rule, have since previous editions. Adds so much flavor to adepts, especially if you go thematic with it. (I made a really fun "drunken boxer" character with a condition:intoxicated geas on some of his more flamboyant fighting powers. He's been one of my most beloved characters thanks to it.)

Oh, and Cybercombat is a Technical Skill, so 0.25/level.