Rules questions for 5th Options

[redwulfe]

So, it has been said that SR5 limited edition will possibly be at origins on Friday. I was wondering if one of the lucky customers who was able to make the purchase or others who have read the book, and may or may not be still held under an NDA, be so kind as to answere a few questions for the rest of us?

1. Could you tell me the called shot rules. I'm very curious about it as I was not a fan of it in 4th at all?

2. Could you talk more with us about the matrix rules, specifically deck attribute swapping and do programs have ratings?

3. Is drain actually based on straight force now and not force decided by 2?

4. What is the penalty for reckless spell casting?

Thanks, I'm sure others will have questions as well.

On a side note if any of you picked up a second copy you are willing to part with I would be more than happy to take of you hands. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cube]

Oh! Can I add a question to this list?

Inquiring Minds want to know how Technomancers have changed.

[Critias]

FWIW, I'm trying to get an answer from the Boss-Man, as to just how NDA'ed up we still are since the book has (mostly) hit shelves. I'd tackle 'em all if I could, but the last thing I want to do is trip up this close to the NDA finish line. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

ETA: "The book should be out tomorrow, so hold up until then." Sorry.

[Temperance]

Inquiring Minds want to know how Technomancers have changed.

I'd qualify as an inquiring mind. My current SR4 campaign has only had one game session. I'm playing the TM in the group. My first hacker. :/ There is a *slight* chance we'll move editions, but this question is highly relevant to my interests.

I'd also like to add a multi-part question. Adept/Mystic Adepts: Adepts get their adept powers for free at character creation. MAs have to buy their Adept power points with Karma. Part A: Can Adepts buy additional power points or are they capped at Magic rating in power points? Part B: Post creation, does this balance remain true? IE: MA buys up magic, then pays separately for their power point. Part C: What, if any, do you see as the balancing factor between Adepts/MAs/Magicians? (Cause right now, MAs seem to be holding most of the goodies.)

FWIW, I'm trying to get an answer from the Boss-Man, as to just how NDA'ed up we still are since the book has (mostly) hit shelves. I'd tackle 'em all if I could, but the last thing I want to do is trip up this close to the NDA finish line. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Today, you're my hero. You might not be tomorrow, due to the whims of fate. But today? Yes, sir!

-Temperance

[Critias]

Today, you're my hero. You might not be tomorrow, due to the whims of fate. But today? Yes, sir!

-Temperance

Just FYI, but I added an edit to the above post; I've gotta wait 'till tomorrow. In the meantime, I've got a word document all full up and ready to go, I just can't copy-pasta it over to the forums yet.

[cryptoknight]

The part that sucks is that I couldn't pre-order said book, or even PDF on the battlecorps website.

And yet... it will be out tomorrow... at a con I can't make... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Temperance]

Just FYI, but I added an edit to the above post; I've gotta wait 'till tomorrow. In the meantime, I've got a word document all full up and ready to go, I just can't copy-pasta it over to the forums yet.

Bah! Then I suppose your hero-hood will have to wait a day. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The part that sucks is that I couldn't pre-order said book, or even PDF on the battlecorps website.

And yet... it will be out tomorrow... at a con I can't make... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Right there with ya. I preordered my hardcopy through Amazon. At worst, I pay $36 for a $60 book. I'll probably buy the PDF through DTRPG at full price though.

-Temperance

[Critias]

The part that sucks is that I couldn't pre-order said book, or even PDF on the battlecorps website.

And yet... it will be out tomorrow... at a con I can't make... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

Con exclusives are meant to be rewards to those who are at the con, not punishments for those who aren't.

[Prime Mover]

Con exclusives are meant to be rewards to those who are at the con, not punishments for those who aren't.

And yet.... I feel punished.

[cryptoknight]

Con exclusives are meant to be rewards to those who are at the con, not punishments for those who aren't.

And yet they turn into both.

If I could buy the PDF and not the book... it would feel less like a punishment.

[Cube]

...Anyway, I am sure important rule questions will be answered by tomorrow. I've got so much I want to try out!

How different are Technomancers? Is Karmagen in the core book? Can I still make the prettiest Troll in Seattle?

Granted... we can't exactly switch to 5e until Run Faster is released (The cost of having a party with two shifters, two changelings, 1 Metavariant, a Drake, and an AI in it, I guess). But knowing how Technomancers work will be a big boon. I'm secretly hoping for Matrix Shenanigans.

[Critias]

As promised, here's some basics. Jason told me I could post answers today, with time zones and stuff I imagine the Origins vendor's hall won't be opening too long from now, so here you go. All that said, I'm still kind of erring on the side of not just copying chapter and verse, here, 'cause I don't want to see every single one of my future contracts get torn up and my current projects turn to ash in my mouth. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

1. Could you tell me the called shot rules. I'm very curious about it as I was not a fan of it in 4th at all?

Even with the boss's half-assed permission, I'm not gonna copy-pasta over a big chunk of rules, sorry. What I will do is basically go over the list of the called shots that're available, while staying away from the specific rules. You can shoot stuff outta someone's hand, you can specifically shoot someone (or near someone) in order to give them a pretty hefty penalty on their next action (or to get a big intimidate bonus), you can make a stun attack do lethal damage instead (or make a lethal attack do some stun damage, too), you can specifically try to knock someone off their feet, drop someone's initiative, or you can go for extra damage.

All in all, there's some pretty cool options, I think. And a lot of fun was had playtesting them all to hell and back, just going "Whee, I'll try this crazy thing, now," and then seeing how the list changed week to week.

2. Could you talk more with us about the matrix rules, specifically deck attribute swapping and do programs have ratings?

You can swap your matrix attributes around as a free action, and programs don't have ratings.

3. Is drain actually based on straight force now and not force decided by 2?

The formulas for drain are based on Force (not 1/2 Force), yes. Many of them were heavily changed otherwise, though; they didn't just add 1/2 the drain to everything, don't worry. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

4. What is the penalty for reckless spell casting?

Increased drain.

Hope this all helped!

[Slacker]

Dammit. Now I want my hands on a copy of the game even more!

Good thing I have a friend at Origins right now that is picking me up one and will be sending it to me quickly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[redwulfe]

Thanks for the quick reply. I fully understand not giving the exact rules I don't want less shadowrun writers, need to feed my addiction. On the called shot thing the main thing I was wanting to know is if they kept the part where the armor is the negative modifier. It always seemed odd to me that by putting on shin gaurds suddenly made it harder to shoot someone in the head. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Red

[Cube]

What about Technomancers? How do Complex Forms work now? Are they more like spells?

[Seerow]

What about Technomancers? How do Complex Forms work now? Are they more like spells?

Adding onto this: Are complex forms different from programs the decker can get? If not, are there still large lists of mandatory programs every decker needs, or are you assumed to have the basics and every program/CF you get something actually new/interesting?

[Critias]

Adding onto this: Are complex forms different from programs the decker can get?

"Yes," and that's about as specific as I can (and/or want to) get. I'm not gonna give y'all all the goods on how technos work, it's several pages of text (and, if anyone, the guy that wrote them could summarize them better than me anyhow). But yes, their Complex Forms very much are different than a decker's programs.

[Seerow]

"Yes," and that's about as specific as I can (and/or want to) get. I'm not gonna give y'all all the goods on how technos work, it's several pages of text (and, if anyone, the guy that wrote them could summarize them better than me anyhow). But yes, their Complex Forms very much are different than a decker's programs.

Thanks for the answer. That's something that's had me worried since we saw Technos getting roughly half the spells that a Mage gets with the same investment. I'll wait and see what comes of it.

[Valerian]

Is it possible to have a little explanation on simple and complexe actions related to fire gun, because preview #4 is not clear on that ?

[BishopMcQ]

Hacking follows the Skill + Attribute model that we see with skill tests. Programs provide adjustments--changing DVs, modifiers, etc. Complex Forms are a completely different beast entirely and can provide a slew of effects that REALLY differentiate them from hackers. Also, not all Complex Forms are created equally. The stronger the effect, the bigger the Fading.

I really like the direction the devs went with SR5, Everything has a price and that doesn't always mean nuyen.

[Daedelus]

Can someone give an example of the bonus gained by maintain an active wireless signal. Say for Wire Reflexes, and a non combat oriented item?

[KarmaInferno]

For Wired Reflexes, normally they don't stack with Reaction Enhancers, but if you Matrix connect them both, they do stack.

Non-combat, hmm... Audio and Video Enhancement normally just increase the Limit on Perception skill tests by their rating, but if they are Matrix connected, they also add their rating in dice to the test.

"Wireless" seems more to mean "Matrix Connected", not just "using wireless connectivity instead of wired". It may have been more accurate to call them "Online Bonuses".



-k

[Daedelus]

Cool thanks! What about this matrix noise we are hearing about. Any details?

[Bigity]

For Wired Reflexes, normally they don't stack with Reaction Enhancers, but if you Matrix connect them both, they do stack.

Non-combat, hmm... Audio and Video Enhancement normally just increase the Limit on Perception skill tests by their rating, but if they are Matrix connected, they also add their rating in dice to the test.

"Wireless" seems more to mean "Matrix Connected", not just "using wireless connectivity instead of wired". It may have been more accurate to call them "Online Bonuses".



-k

See, it just seems most of these wifi bonuses are just going to be made up. What possible advantage for reflexes or reaction enhancers could there be that applies connected to the matrix and not just connected to each other (and other cyberware - aka DNI).

It would take me a long time to get used to that - and do these advantages balance out the risk of decking by a hostile decker? Or is the bonus insignificant in the face of, say a decker being able to shut them off completely?

[Tanegar]

See, it just seems most of these wifi bonuses are just going to be made up. What possible advantage for reflexes or reaction enhancers could there be that applies connected to the matrix and not just connected to each other (and other cyberware - aka DNI).

It would take me a long time to get used to that - and do these advantages balance out the risk of decking by a hostile decker? Or is the bonus insignificant in the face of, say a decker being able to shut them off completely?

Bingo. It sounds like this is just a gameplay justification for an augmented character holding the Idiot Ball. I can see having an internal, hardwired network connecting all your cyberware together; that not only makes sense, it's actually a good idea. Having your 'ware shouting to each other in the radio band? That's breathtakingly dumb.