[X] My Assistant

[Rubic]

it's doubleplusnotgood?

doubleplusUNgood

[Cain]

Blandness means that you are so "average in height, weight, and appearance, and ... physical characteristics or mannerisms" that it is easy for people to forget you, to the extent that anyone trying to follow or search for you suffers a –2 penalty.

Distinctive Style means that you have "distinctive physical feature or unique mannerism" which makes you stand out, giving anyone tracking or searching for you a +3 bonus.

At first glance they are clearly opposites and would be incompatible. However I can think of two examples of them being combined.

Tom Cruise arguably has a Distinctive Style, and yet he learned Blandness while preparing for his role in Collateral. He worked as a Fed Ex deliveryman, and with practice, no one recognized him.

An even more famous fictional example was based just on whether the character was wearing glasses or a cape.

So I would allow it, but the character would have to focus on being bland during an encounter to get the benefit (strict GMs could impose a penalty to the player like sustaining a spell). Even then the net result would still be +1 die to anyone looking for the target.

I still wouldn't allow it. Distinctive Style only really applies when you're looking for info on the character, so you're easier to track and find. Blandness means you're harder to find. Not compatible. At best, it's a waste of points. At worst, it's an abuse of edges and flaws.

In the case of Tom Cruise, he has Global Fame, which isn't the same as Distinctive Style. Some of the same stuff should apply, though.

I allow trolls to take blandness, in the same way I allow minorities to take blandness: "What's he look like? He was ten feet tall and had horns! How should I know, all trolls look the same to me!"

[CanRay]

"He looked like he wanted to eat my baby! Trolls do that, you know!" "Ma'am, my partner is a Troll, he's never eaten any babies. He did, however, save an entire classroom of first graders by putting himself between them and the bullets." "Well, he's a cop, that's different."

[Blitz66]

I would only allow Blandness and Distinctive Style on the same character in the case of meatbody vs Matrix persona. I doubt Tom Cruise could have pulled off the FedEx gig if Tom Cruise was known for his distinctive facial tattoo, after all. If a Shadowrun character attempted to use a disguise and behavior to prevent himself from being recognized despite Global Fame, I'd call that a Con test, requiring... maybe two threshold successes? Distinctive Style doesn't really work the same way.

Bottom line, Distinctive Style draws the eye while Blandness lets it slide on by, and it would take a really amazing idea for a player to convince me to let them have both together.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Based on the full wording of Distinctive Style, I am pretty sure that every 5 points from it is a single distinctive feature worth the +3 to others search tests, but their cumulative effect is capped at +6 dice.

• 5 pts., 1 distinctive feature, +3 dice
• 10 pts., 2 distinctive features, +6 dice
• 15 pts., 3 distinctive features, +6 dice
• 20 pts., 4 distinctive features, +6 dice
• 25 pts., 5 distinctive features, +6 dice
• 30 pts., 6 distinctive features, +6 dice
• 35 pts., 7 distinctive features, +6 dice

So if a character had 10+ pts of Distinctive Style and Blandness, it would be +6 –2 = +4

You should read it a little more closely then.

You may take MULTIPLE DISTINCTIVE STYLE Negative Qualities...
The Bonus to find you is capped at +6, whether you have 2 or 10 Distinctive Style Qualities.

So, for your FIRST Distinctive Style (Regardless of whether t is at 5 or 30 BP) you get a +3 to being found.
For your 2nd Distinctive Style, that bonus goes up to +6.
Additional Distinctive Style's no longer add any further bonus, but you can add them if you like.

So for only 1 DS NQ, in addition to Blandness, those searching for you get a net +1 to the Roll. If they add another DS NQ, that bonus goes up to +4. It will never rise further than that if you have Blandness.

Anyways... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Aku]

You should read it a little more closely then.

You may take MULTIPLE DISTINCTIVE STYLE Negative Qualities...
The Bonus to find you is capped at +6, whether you have 2 or 10 Distinctive Style Qualities.

So, for your FIRST Distinctive Style (Regardless of whether t is at 5 or 30 BP) you get a +3 to being found.
For your 2nd Distinctive Style, that bonus goes up to +6.
Additional Distinctive Style's no longer add any further bonus, but you can add them if you like.

So for only 1 DS NQ, in addition to Blandness, those searching for you get a net +1 to the Roll. If they add another DS NQ, that bonus goes up to +4. It will never rise further than that if you have Blandness.

Anyways... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You two are saying the same thing...

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

You two are saying the same thing...

Actually, we are not... I can have a Distinctive Style at 25 points, and still only have a +3 to be tracked. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Multiple Distinctive Style Qualities is not the Same thing as a Highly rated Distinctive Style Quality.

[ggodo]

See, and I didn't think Distinctive style functioned as a +3 no matter what. How does one determine whether a style is worth 5 or 35 points?

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

See, and I didn't think Distinctive style functioned as a +3 no matter what. How does one determine whether a style is worth 5 or 35 points?

I would assume that it is highly table dependant. If you are playing a Pink Mohawk Game, you will have less points in the Quality, as Over the top, crazy, distinctive things are the norm. If you are playing Ice Cold Pro, well, Distinctive style will get you killed even at a low rating, becuase you will likely stand out like a sore thumb... At least, that is the way that I see it. Your Mileage May Vary, of Course.

[Aku]

Actually, we are not... I can have a Distinctive Style at 25 points, and still only have a +3 to be tracked. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Multiple Distinctive Style Qualities is not the Same thing as a Highly rated Distinctive Style Quality.

Whatever type of flair the character selects, it must enable
other individuals to easily remember him. Any individual who
attempts to identify, trace or physically locate the character (or
gain information about him via Legwork) receives a +3 dice
pool modifier on all tests made during such attempts (including
Perception Tests). The modifier does not apply to astral or Matrix
searches. This quality may be taken multiple times by characters
that possess multiple distinctive features, with cumulative modifiers.
However, the maximum cumulative modifier is +6 dice.

There is no such thing as a "highly rated" DSQ. Each singular one is 5 points, you can take multiple, however the dice cap at +6.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

There is no such thing as a "highly rated" DSQ. Each singular one is 5 points, you can take multiple, however the dice cap at +6.

You should probably re-read it again.
The Quality Cost anywhere from 5-35 points for a SINGLE instance of the Quality (Dependant upon HOW distinctive the Quality is). You may have multiple Instances thereof.

[Aku]

You should probably re-read it again.
The Quality Cost anywhere from 5-35 points for a SINGLE instance of the Quality (Dependant upon HOW distinctive the Quality is). You may have multiple Instances thereof.

I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree then. No where does it say that an individual characteristic is worth more than another. The way the quality reads is that every abnormality is 5 points. Snakes for hair? 5 points. Glitterdust as skin? 5 points. These two combined? +6 dice. add snake slit eyes that glow purple? 5 points, no more dice. You dont get 10 points for this, 15 for that, and 5 for something else.

[Tanegar]

I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree then. No where does it say that an individual characteristic is worth more than another. The way the quality reads is that every abnormality is 5 points. Snakes for hair? 5 points. Glitterdust as skin? 5 points. These two combined? +6 dice. add snake slit eyes that glow purple? 5 points, no more dice. You dont get 10 points for this, 15 for that, and 5 for something else.

Distinctive Style is explicitly a variable-cost quality, 5 to 35BP per instance. Like so many things in Shadowrun, it could be (much) better written, but there it is.

[Aku]

I take the variableness to be the number of distinctive qualities there, not the "depth" or "extent" of a singular quality.

[Tanegar]

The cost given for every other quality in every single book is per-instance. Are you arguing that in this one, sole, singular case the writers went temporarily insane and included "to 35" because they thought we needed a reminder that 35BP is the maximum possible bonus from negative qualities? That is patently absurd.

[Aku]

The cost given for every other quality in every single book is per-instance. Are you arguing that in this one, sole, singular case the writers went temporarily insane and included "to 35" because they thought we needed a reminder that 35BP is the maximum possible bonus from negative qualities? That is patently absurd.

No, I'm arguing that the writers decided that if a player wanted, they could take up to the 35 points of this quality. As opposed to day job, which says:

Day Job
Bonus: 5 to 15 BP

So, according to the writers, you cant have a 20 pt version of day job.

[longbowrocks]

Must not make hacker named ZOD, will feel need to understand Unwired. . .

Wouldn't that be a level 90+ hacker with rune words on all his equipment?
/gross intermingling of two different games.

[Tanegar]

That's what I'm saying. The maximum bonus for a Day Job is 15 per instance. As in, you could take two 15-point Day Jobs. Not sure why you'd want to, as you'd basically be playing a wage slave at that point, but it's allowable. Distinctive Style (as with all variable-cost qualities) works the same way. You can take a 5-point version, a 10-point version, a 15-point version, etc. up to a 35-point Distinctive Style (at which point, I assume, you basically have your real name and SIN tattooed all over your body in flourescent ink and walk around buck naked, or similar). That's what a variable cost means: one quality, costing between X and Y. Not multiple qualities, all costing X, up to a limit of Y.

[longbowrocks]

The cost given for every other quality in every single book is per-instance. Are you arguing that in this one, sole, singular case the writers went temporarily insane and included "to 35" because they thought we needed a reminder that 35BP is the maximum possible bonus from negative qualities? That is patently absurd.

I can't tell either way from the text, but I agree with you.
I don't think that "must rollerblade to any destination within ten miles" should count for as much as "wears the skin of his victims as clothing with eyeballs as decoration". One will get more attention, and should be worth more points as a single quality.

[crash2029]

I can't tell either way from the text, but I agree with you.
I don't think that "must rollerblade to any destination within ten miles" should count for as much as "wears the skin of his victims as clothing with eyeballs as decoration". One will get more attention, and should be worth more points as a single quality.

I'd have to agree. Rollerblading everywhere is just weird. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Minimax le Rouge]

"wears the skin of his victims as clothing with eyeballs as decoration"

that's not Distinctive style. It's Dementia, Cyberpsychosis, and Wanted. Cumulated.

[Sengir]

And that "stinky" quality from RC.

[CanRay]

"wears the skin of his victims as clothing with eyeballs as decoration".

that's not Distinctive style. It's Dementia, Cyberpsychosis, and Wanted. Cumulated.

Or Richard, from "Looking For Group".

[longbowrocks]

Or Richard, from "Looking For Group".

Ah. Bingo.