The best class for a face is... ? Options

[Noll]

Let's assume I want to be an ELF with Charisma9 (exceptional attribute).

What would be in your opinion the best combat class I can add to her?

Adept? Shaman? Technomancer? Samurai?


I know that Adept has a better FACE potential (up to +6 dice in CON or negotiation etc...)

But what if I want to use the high charisma for another class? Like the Shaman drain or the Technomancer attack?

Do you think a character like this is viable? How would you put the priorities? (I tried an A skill concept myself but I'm not very good at char build)

[Draco18s]

You can be a shaman face easily and have great spellcasting and great face powers.
Techno would be harder, but might be viable.

[Larsine]

Let's assume I want to be an ELF with Charisma9 (exceptional attribute).

What would be in your opinion the best combat class I can add to her?

Adept? Shaman? Technomancer? Samurai?

There are no classes in Shadowrun. This is not D20.

[Noll]

There are no classes in Shadowrun. This is not D20.

Oh thanks for pointing it out, I really needed it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleepy.gif)

So you want me to call it... archetipe? Even if it's a point based system, you tend to make class of characters. "Face", "Shaman", "Burned Mage", etc...

Class dosn't necessarly transalte to D&D Class system. Thanks for your help.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Let's assume I want to be an ELF with Charisma9 (exceptional attribute).

What would be in your opinion the best combat class I can add to her?

Adept? Shaman? Technomancer? Samurai?


I know that Adept has a better FACE potential (up to +6 dice in CON or negotiation etc...)

But what if I want to use the high charisma for another class? Like the Shaman drain or the Technomancer attack?

Do you think a character like this is viable? How would you put the priorities? (I tried an A skill concept myself but I'm not very good at char build)

What is this Class thing of which you speak? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)
My Mystic Adept (Black Magic Tradition) Face has performed admirably in SR4A. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

And yes, the term would indeed be Archetype. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Sendaz]

There are no classes in Shadowrun.

But we do have night courses at the Runner's U. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

And a Magic Face is probably easier unless you hanker to play on the Matrix as a Techno.

[CanRay]

Shadowrunners tend to be SINless, Classless and Free (to stave to death, or be stabbed in a dark alley for boots, or...).

[Sendaz]

I once considered a Gnome Face, but while they may make good fixers and spies, the whole looking like an eternal 13yr old just makes it hard for people to take you seriously, at least until they get to know you.

Course it can be handy when your pulling out the stops and tugging at heart strings, but again it tends to be situational.

[Glyph]

Adept is the easiest choice, giving you extra abilities that can go directly towards making you a better face. Shaman or technomancer are harder to do, since both of them require not only a mid-to-upper priority spot, but also an entire extra set of skills. You will basically have to choose to be a shaman/technomancer with a touch of face, or a face who is also a suboptimal shaman or technomancer.

[Ryu]

A class-action lawsuit on the court of proper wording? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

You can be a shaman face easily and have great spellcasting and great face powers.
Techno would be harder, but might be viable.

TMs can pull the drone network trick, yet if fight by proxy is acceptable for combat, a summoning shaman has it easy.

For direct combat I´d go with Shaman or Samurai.

[CanRay]

Adept is the easiest choice, giving you extra abilities that can go directly towards making you a better face.

So, the Pornomancer-Build?

[Noll]

Well, thanks for the imput and the help.

I have no experience in SR4, I am a GM of SR3, and a friend of mine is currently GMing a new campaign with the 5ed ruleset.

One thing I noticed with SR5 priority system is that... huh... I don't like the magic column (like Mystic Adept having the same skill and spells of a pure mage)


The first concept of my face char was a human adept with 5 essence. A priority on skills... I spent almost 1point of essence to have a cyberarm, with a cyber holster where I could hide my pistol. (My idea was of an apparent armless face character, well dressed with a pistol always ready for the action when needed, and that hidden inside a cyberarm is a very cool idea, so I gladly lost 1PP.)
With PPs I bought skill enhancements (negotiation, con), voice control, kinesics and initiative.


But then it came to me the idea of an elf face to take advantage of the charisma bonus and mainly cause I've never played an elf. I'm a big fan of awakaned characters (mages, not adepts..) so I thought I might take advantage of both the worlds by having a big charisma. The only problem is... I'm not sure I like the concept of a shaman... face.

I mean, I tend to think of the face like a corporative guy (with my first char I took the SIN disvantage, so the idea was of an ex corporative that's now an outcast, kinda like Samuel Verner, but withouth the magic), and I find it hard to imagine a shaman that is very good at "faceing" things.

So... I guess the ADEPT is the best option...

[Angelone]

You could go mystic adept, for adept powers and spell casting.

[Shemhazai]

The only problem is... I'm not sure I like the concept of a shaman... face.

I mean, I tend to think of the face like a corporative guy (with my first char I took the SIN disvantage, so the idea was of an ex corporative that's now an outcast, kinda like Samuel Verner, but withouth the magic), and I find it hard to imagine a shaman that is very good at "faceing" things.

Etiquette used to require a specialization (corporate, street, tribal, for example). That corp type you're talking about looks like a salesperson to some people and is distrusted by a good chunk of the population. And any corp would be happy to have a shaman on the payroll.

That cyber arm could work against you as an adept face. It's one less power point, as well as a potential reduction to your social limit. ((Charisma x 2) + Willpower + Essence) / 3 (round up)

[FuelDrop]

My favorite archtype for my face? That would be Face.
A face with all social skills (minus instruction) has two skill groups plus intimidate.
Add to that the fact that you are going to want disguise at a decent level. Also, Palming is very useful for a fast-talker (Watch Leverage/A-team/Burn notice/Hustle and see how often their talky characters distract the target with words while they pick their pocket or steal ID).
On top of THAT you're going to want multiple high language skills, because it's hard to impersonate a Russian mob boss when you don't speak Russian. Likewise, Knowledge skills can save your butt on a regular basis if someone gets talking and you don't want to blow your cover.

For this reason I highly recommend going tech. Tailored Pheromones, Voice modulator, Skill jack... all these things are awesome for a Face.

Oh, and you'll also need your general skills like at least basic ranged and melee combat, sneaking, perception.
I recommend skill A,
Attributes B,
Resources C,
Metatype D,
Magic E.

[Shemhazai]

While the Charisma/Willpower synergy is very tempting, by choosing Magic for a priority you're taking a huge hit to skills and attributes. I'd like to see a magician/face build that isn't stretched too thin.

[PraetorGradivus]

While the Charisma/Willpower synergy is very tempting, by choosing Magic for a priority you're taking a huge hit to skills and attributes. I'd like to see a magician/face build that isn't stretched too thin.

It depends what you want from your Magician....
You can get an Aspected Magician or Adept with a Magic Rating 3 by using D/E for Magic/Race.
That still leaves A/B/C priorities for Attributes, Skills and Money (not necessarily in that order).
If you go for Aspected Magician, stick to one class of spells and take a mentor spirit that gives bonus dice to that class of spells.
If you go Adept, I'd suggest Improved Reflexes 2 and a half point of something else... You can work on your gunfu as you initiate.

[kerbarian]

What would be in your opinion the best combat class I can add to her?

I think shaman is probably the strongest option. In particular, spirits are very strong in SR5 and being able to summon big ones is mostly about being able to handle the drain. An exceptional Charisma works directly towards both that and being a face.

However, there's plenty of room in the build system to combine a face with almost any other role. For example, I put together a face/rigger/spy I'm pretty happy with.

[Elfenlied]

Mystic Adept with Shaman Tradition and Raven Mentor spirit.

Slap on Decking, and you combine the most hated elements of SR5 in one character (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Sendaz]

Mystic Adept with Shaman Tradition and Raven Mentor spirit.

Slap on Decking, and you combine the most hated elements of SR5 in one character (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

And finish it off with the Corp SIN to really feel the love. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Thanee]

The obvious answer to any question regarding "Archetype" and "best" in SR5 is "Mystic Adept". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[Manunancy]

My favorite archtype for my face? That would be Face.
A face with all social skills (minus instruction) has two skill groups plus intimidate.
Add to that the fact that you are going to want disguise at a decent level. Also, Palming is very useful for a fast-talker (Watch Leverage/A-team/Burn notice/Hustle and see how often their talky characters distract the target with words while they pick their pocket or steal ID).
On top of THAT you're going to want multiple high language skills, because it's hard to impersonate a Russian mob boss when you don't speak Russian. Likewise, Knowledge skills can save your butt on a regular basis if someone gets talking and you don't want to blow your cover.

For this reason I highly recommend going tech. Tailored Pheromones, Voice modulator, Skill jack... all these things are awesome for a Face.

Oh, and you'll also need your general skills like at least basic ranged and melee combat, sneaking, perception.
I recommend skill A,
Attributes B,
Resources C,
Metatype D,
Magic E.

For going the impersonation route, a skillwire set can be very handy to get the skills you're lacking. If you're impersonating the plumber, being able to actually fiw the leak can be a lifesaver.

[Jhaiisiin]

Understanding that you like the flavor of a gun in a cyberarm holster, you may want to think about the logistics of that. Unless it's a hold-out pistol, it likely doesn't fit into an elven arm. Legs are far better for concealing those things. I did at one point have a troll with a cyberholster in an arm, but they were obvious arms with a little extra bulk, so there was plenty of room to stash a gun there.

[binarywraith]

The obvious answer to any question regarding "Archetype" and "best" in SR5 is "Mystic Adept". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Bye
Thanee

Yup. This is, at the moment, entirely true.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Yup. This is, at the moment, entirely true.

Sadly... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)