John McClane, ...what would this char. need? Options

[CanRay]

Only Eimi mentioned Perception so far, a must for every detective worthy of the name.

John McClane has to have fantastic Perception, as he always notices something isn't quite right, he just can't ever persuade anyone in charge that terrorists are about to do something nasty ... so I guess not so high on Negotiation/Con!

Well, he is a Cowboy cop, neh?

[The Jake]

Well, he is a Cowboy cop, neh?

"Yipppeekiyay motherf**ker!"

- J.

[Medicineman]

"Yipppeekiyay motherf**ker!"

- J.

Damn German PC
Do You want to know what McLane says in German

Yippiyeah bacon-cheek...
....oooO(bacon cheek my Ass (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohplease.gif) )

with a sad Dance
Medicineman

[Yerameyahu]

maine75man, he's tough because that's where he spends all his Edge. He's not tough because he has cyberlimbs and chemicals, or magic. Some of the Qualities are okay, but you can't ruin him by making him *artificially* tough (e.g., Pain Editor, etc.). Just use the Edge.

[snowRaven]

Yeah, Edge all the way.

Maybe start with 7, and instead of 'Lucky' possibly get some extra CM boxes using the 'Tough as Nails' Quality; plus 'Will to Live', 'Toughness' and 'Guts'.

It'll make for a really neat character though, if played right.

[CanRay]

Unlucky, definitely Unlucky.

[snowRaven]

Unlucky, definitely Unlucky.

Nah...he just has a sadistic GM (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[maine75man]

maine75man, he's tough because that's where he spends all his Edge. He's not tough because he has cyberlimbs and chemicals, or magic. Some of the Qualities are okay, but you can't ruin him by making him *artificially* tough (e.g., Pain Editor, etc.). Just use the Edge.

To each his own. The OP called for a tough former cop based on John McClane. It didn't say no ware or magic, in fact the OP asked what augmentations might make the build.

Modeling a character based on another source is tricky. You have to decide what features are important and what role you want them to fill. Then you have to adapt those things to the rules and setting.

Obviously you think being "naturally" tough with qualities and edge is important to a Shadowrun John McClane. My concern is that I see John McClane as a front line fighter. Each game is different but I've found that while a high edge is all sorts of awesomeness it can't by itself keep up with cyberware magic and the like. It's a finite resource, chugging along burning edge to keep up with Street Sams and soaking attacks like a Troll Ganger can burn through even 8 edge fast. I had success playing such a character less front-line and more special teams waiting for just the right time to dump a bunch of edge and do something cool.

My solution was to keep the high edge for lots of action hero stuff but give him ware to supplement and increase it's mileage.

[Yerameyahu]

I know, and I said no ware/magic. What do I care about the OP? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I agree with your concerns, I'm just voicing my opinions. I'd definitely pile on Die Hard, Guts, etc.; I'm not saying 'nothing but Body, Will, and Edge'.

I do think it's realistic that McClane couldn't hack it in 2070, though. The sad reality is that augmentations kinda make nobody special.

[maine75man]

If your going to be buying lucky and toughness you've got exactly 5 points to pile something else on.

My question is would a 2070s McClane even try to make it without cyber. Why would he avoid them. Does he only use 100 year old guns to because the character in the movie didn't use an Ares Predator.

[Yerameyahu]

Not necessarily Lucky, just Edge. But yeah, you'd have to play with the numbers; I'm not sure McClane would have to be a starting/normal chargen char, of course.

It all depends, of course. I'm saying that what made John tough wasn't drugs or a Robocop body; with those, literally anyone could be tough. It wasn't even superior physical fitness, training, or skill! This man didn't even wear *shoes*. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It was pure damned stubbornness.

[Patrick Goodman]

Not necessarily Lucky, just Edge. But yeah, you'd have to play with the numbers; I'm not sure McClane would have to be a starting/normal chargen char, of course.

I'm not sure you could make McClane as he appeared in the movies as a starting character. Someone like him, yeah, though not as good yet. In the first one, he was a 13-year veteran on the NYPD, and judging from what his wife said about him, he was always causing problems. He'd never done a big-time deal like taking on a dozen terrorists in a skyscraper on Christmas Eve before, but he apparently always caused problems and rubbed people the wrong way.

Building him from scratch? Build a nice, tough 400 BP character and then add on a bunch of Karma. That's how I'd do it, anyway.

[Yerameyahu]

Right. Not all concepts work equally as starting chars. That's why we get all those 'ex-spec-ops' without the wide range of solid support skills they *should* have.

[The Jake]

I'm not sure you could make McClane as he appeared in the movies as a starting character. Someone like him, yeah, though not as good yet. In the first one, he was a 13-year veteran on the NYPD, and judging from what his wife said about him, he was always causing problems. He'd never done a big-time deal like taking on a dozen terrorists in a skyscraper on Christmas Eve before, but he apparently always caused problems and rubbed people the wrong way.

Building him from scratch? Build a nice, tough 400 BP character and then add on a bunch of Karma. That's how I'd do it, anyway.

So he needs some Negative Qualities and/or Karmagen? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

E.g.
Intolerance (Bullshit, Mild) 5BP
Intolerance (Authority Figures, Severe) 10BP

?

- J.

[The Jake]

Double post, sorry. Damn this phone.

- J.

[Yerameyahu]

That is totally true. The man has some flaws. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) He may have built up more than 35 BP over the years.

[Paul]

I think Mr. Goodman has the right of it. Build a solid base, and then work your way forward.