 Help me build my Rigger?, Or, what am I missing? |
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 Jul 31 2005, 12:10 AM
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#1
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Horror  Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445  |
Okay, I'm trying to make a rigger character. The problem is, I don't really know how.
So far, she's an Elf with the following stats and skills: Body 3 Quickness 6 Strength 2 Charisma 6 Inteligence 6 Willpower 4 Skills: Car 6 Rotor Aircraft 6 Rotor Aircraft B/R 6 Electronics 6 Electronics B/R 6 Gunnery 6 Launch weapons 3 Pistols 6 Etiquette 6 Knowledge skills are: Background: Rotor Aircraft 4 Fixed Wing 3 Vector-Thrust 3 NAN Border Patrol Tactics 6 Prostitution rackets 4 Smuggler Havens 3 Smuggling Routes 3 *ahem* 3 Languages are English 6 and Salish 3. My ware, all Alpha, is a: Vehicle Control Rig 2 Orientation System Smartlink II Datajack MEmory (60 mps) Ear dampener Ear recorder Eye, Image link Eye, camera Eye, flare comp Maths SPU 3. I have 571,750 :nuyen: left to spend. What should I get? Work on getting? Anything in super-particular I need? I blew 85,000 on a permanant Luxurious-sized 'lifestyle' with luxury security and Street everything else possible. |
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Jul 31 2005, 12:51 AM
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#2
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,032 Joined: 6-August 04 Member No.: 6,543 |
If you ar using build points I would go human. It would save you 4 build points and if you really want bad karma you can get 5(6) points for it as a flaw.
With those points you could get some skills for driving,or other types of drones. |
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Jul 31 2005, 03:21 AM
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#3
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 316 Joined: 18-July 03 Member No.: 4,963 |
There's a thread just like this over here. Note that my advice only applies to a pure rigger. Riggers that also want to fill some other role should definitely keep that in mind when reading what I write.
What generation system are you using? I tried to rebuild your char with 123 point and priority, neither of which makes the math work out. Race: What the guy before me said. Mechanically, you're not getting anything out of being an elf. Skills: No Athletics or Stealth? As it looks like you're trying to make some sort of pseudo-rigger-infiltrator char, those are pretty important skills. I'd also be nervous about the lack of negotiation. Equipment: What rating is the VCR? 1? Most of your vision and ear stuff isn't very synergistic with being a rigger. Virtually all drones can record audio and video. ---- More importantly, what do you want to DO? Do you want to sit back from the team and remotely operate drones? Do you want to just sort of rig on the side and otherwise be a physical infiltrator? Do you want to blow shit up? Do you want to ask your GM the price for neon lights and spinning hubcaps? |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:52 AM
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#4
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
135 point buy.
And yes, I know going Human nets me 10 more build points. I wanted to play as an Elf for a change, without going the cliche and making a Face or a mage. Race: Going Human would be, I feel, metagaming my butt off. Besides, I want to be an Elf. Skills: No, no Athletics or Stealth. The eye and ear recorders and such are pretty much just impulsive buys, something to make her not completely useless outside the van, without risking anyone dragging her out to crack maglocks. Likewise with Pistols 6. Equipment: It's a VCR 2. I missed typing that. I originally wanted this character to be able to fly fixed-wing and choppers and VCR and LTA, with varying degrees of proficiency (6, 6, 3, 3), as well as cars 6, but that completely was too many build points. So I scrapped everything but cars and chopper 6, and bought Electronics B/R and rotor-wing B/R. |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:58 AM
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#5
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
Oh yeah. I want to be a drone rigger, but a competent - dangerously so - chopper pilot as well. Am I missing something for those tasks?
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Jul 31 2005, 03:50 PM
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#6
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
Aiiigh. I just realized I've got less than a day for the game to start, and my character's only half-finished.
The DM's not allowing any custom vehicles before the game starts, but we can customize our vehicles. I have 500,000 or so available, and I need at least the traditional van, some rotor-drones, and hopefully a chopper. Help? Ideas? What should I look into owning? |
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Jul 31 2005, 03:59 PM
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#7
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
Despite the cliches, how about a dwarf? Especially since you want to be a drone rigger. Drone riggers are usually more exposed to dumpshock than other single vehicle riggers. If you are dead set to being an elven rigger, then the best play I can see is that you leverage the Quickness(somehow) for a better Reaction. Another advantage I can see would be to pimp Etiquette and Connected for lots of cheap ass drones, YMMV.
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Jul 31 2005, 04:43 PM
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#8
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,032 Joined: 6-August 04 Member No.: 6,543 |
I hate to break it to you, but you are using out of game knowledge to make your character so you are meta gaming already. But if you want to play a races that is rarely played a rigger go Troll. I have never seen a Trollish rigger. But if you are really dead struck on playing a daisy eater. Don't get launch weapon, get a higher will and some edges and flaws. A three point combat skill is nearly pointless. |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:22 PM
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#9
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
Connected?
I am confused, but I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. So far I have Good Looking and Knows it, Vehicle Affinity, and a 4-point Dependant. |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:28 PM
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#10
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,032 Joined: 6-August 04 Member No.: 6,543 |
Connected a 3 or 5 point edge that lets you havebuy or sell items for whole sale prices, if the that prices is better than the street index.
Three points is one way and fives points goes two ways. It's great. |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:43 PM
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#11
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
yeah, it sounds like it. Especially with expensive stuff like a rigger's gear.
But that only covers after-game-start aquisitions. I need stuff to start with. I don't have a clue. |
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Jul 31 2005, 05:51 PM
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#12
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,032 Joined: 6-August 04 Member No.: 6,543 |
Well, as a drone rigger you want at least 3-8 spy type drones, 3-4 drones that can pass for being legal and have light weapons, 1-3 heavy combat drones, and 1-2 drones for jamming and messing around with other riggers and radio shit.
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Jul 31 2005, 05:53 PM
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#13
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
Ummmm. Damn, that's a lot.
I mean, I don't know where to even begin looking for that kind of stuff... x.x |
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Jul 31 2005, 06:42 PM
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#14
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Running, running, running Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,220 Joined: 18-October 04 From: North Carolina Member No.: 6,769 |
and as the GM for him, i have my own question, we're having this debate on his launch weapons. I say it's un-needed, because as far as i can read it, ANYTHING you attach to a vehicle automagically falls under gunnery, he's argueing it's not so with LW. The only thing that could convince me otherwise, in the BBB, is the line about regardless if its manual or sensory enhanced gunnery.
So can anyone shed some light on this? |
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Jul 31 2005, 07:19 PM
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#15
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Grand Master of Run-Fu Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,840 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 178 |
For your standard van, I'd suggest a Bulldog model, with transponder library and morphing license plates. That's just required equipment for any shadowrunner's vehicle. I'd also suggest photovoltaic paint, so you can have complete disguises at the flip of a switch.
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Jul 31 2005, 07:47 PM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 470 Joined: 2-January 05 From: Quebec Member No.: 6,924 |
All weapons on a vehicle is Gunnery.
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Jul 31 2005, 09:14 PM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,286 Joined: 24-May 05 From: A 10x10 room with an orc and a treasure chest Member No.: 7,409 |
Can't get a much better starting vehicle like that for a rigger. Other interesting vehicles to get is an RV, like the Ford- Canada Bison. Those things have tons of room, can carry alot, and have good unmodded armor, it's basically a street legal APC. Unfortunately it has an Availibility of 8 so no go for starters if you use the max 6 avail. to start out. For drones I'd get a Ferret to scout. It's fairly cheap, hard to detect, and has an excellent sensor array. The IWS DLK MK 6 is a great all around drone. It's fairly hard to detect, can mount weapons, a good sensor array, and mechanized arms. Those are the two I usually get when starting out and later on I get Hedgehogs, Steel Lynxs, Wandjinas, and Strato-9s. Firebirds are a good choice if you plan on using Battletech FDDM (which you should). You unfortunately can't start with helicopter unless your GM is very kind. You want to go this route so I'll tell you right off the bat Wasps and Yellowjackets are junk even their buffed up varients are trash. There's a reason they're so cheap. The Hughes Stallion or Ares Dragon is the way to go helicopter-wise. The Stallion's about half as expensive, but has less bod, load, and CF, but with all the money you save you can mod it something fierce. It's also the most common copter in the world which does wonders for fitting in and finding repair parts. Go with whatever race you want too they're all good. EDIT- Oh, and don't do what I did when I made my first rigger and forget to buy a RCD. |
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Jul 31 2005, 10:45 PM
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#18
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 470 Joined: 2-January 05 From: Quebec Member No.: 6,924 |
You can buy Availability 8, you just can't buy anything with a rating of over 6.
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Aug 1 2005, 01:51 AM
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#19
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
OK, if you are going by only the SR3 (corerules), gunnery would be the correct answer. However, if you are using the Vehicle-Mounted Rockets, Missiles and Torpedoes under the New Toys section in Rigger 3, then Launch Weapons should be necessary since those weapons follow the standard rules for rockets and missles (p120 SR3) and missle combat (p101 CC). In both sections, only the Launch Weapon skill is referenced. So despite Gunnery being the catch-all skill for vehiclular combat in SR3, Rigger 3 has some rules that may prove to be an exception. |
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Aug 1 2005, 03:34 AM
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#20
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
Also, if you plan to be a drone rigger, decide if you want 1 drone to basically be your 'combat alter ego' where you spend a lot of your time directly controlling the drone, and using your control pool to look after it. Of a fire support drone rigger with several drones running at onces, in captains chair mode.
If you go with the drone alter ego idea, then just get one or two combat drones (steel lynx, a combat rotordrone, something like that) and deck them out. If you plan to go the captains chair route, keep your combat drones as cheap as you can mange. A AV rocket can easily take out a drone without a rigger controling it, they just don't have the armor to resist. |
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Aug 1 2005, 03:41 AM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 256 Joined: 24-October 04 Member No.: 6,784 |
I'm in the same boat as ShadowDragon. I've finally convinced my group to play SR, so I'm getting a chance to play my first character. Since (aside from our DM) I have the best grasp of the rules, I volunteered to play the rigger (and I think they are cool!), but I'm still trying to get a feel for how Riggers work.
So far I have: Priorities A: Resources B: Skills C: Attributes D: Dwarf E:Magic EDIT: (Yea, I know its Cliche, its my first rigger!) B: 4 Q: 6 St: 3 Ch: 3 Int: 6 Wil: 6 skill-wise I have: Pistols 2 (Ares Pred 4) Gunnery 6 SUT 4 Computers 4 Electronics 5 Car 5 Roto Craft 5 Vtol 5 etiquette Military 3 Cyber: VCR 2 Alpha 1.5 Essence, 120000 Smartlink-II .5 E 3500 Microvision .1 E 5000 2x Datajacks .4 E 2000 Chipjack .2 E 1000 Chipjack Expert Driver Rating 3 .3 E 15000 Cyber Eyes .2 E 5000 Imagelink .2 E 1600 Lowlight .2 E 3000 Flarecomp .1 2000 (built in) Thermo .2 E 3000 But now I'm kinda stuck as to what else to buy Is there any reason I would want cyber radio/scanner when I can just get this and normal gear? Same question on internal GPS or Orientation system, and cyber version of Rigger gear (Deck, IVIS?) Or Bioware, damage compensators maybe? Not sure what drones to get either, my GM has suggested making a Stealth blimp as for a command vehicle and run drones in with the team, but I'm not sure what drones to get, any advice? |
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Aug 1 2005, 03:48 AM
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#22
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,598 Joined: 15-March 03 From: Hong Kong Member No.: 4,253 |
you got the essence on the VCR wrong. 3 * .8 = 2.4, also you can save a tiny bit of essence buying your smartlink by parts, as you are paying for an image link already. And why 2 datajacks?
Also, you might want some skill in stealth and athletics. Specializing your electronics in electronic warfare (if you are going to use the EW rules) might not bee too bad an idea either. |
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Aug 1 2005, 03:55 AM
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#23
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 316 Joined: 18-July 03 Member No.: 4,963 |
No. With a few exceptions, you never want to take cybernetic versions of stuff you can have externally. Exceptions include some vision enhancements(It's very useful to not need to bolt things to your gun to use it optimally) and a low-rating remote control deck(Emergency backup deck really). I don't understand the rest of your cyberware choicse either. You're a dwarf and a rigger, why would you want to ruin your natural thermo with inferior cyber eyes and such? It's not like you'll be using any of them very much as a rigger. I know micro-vision is nice and all, but no Elec B/R to go with it? You have a chipjack, a CED, and x2 datajacks, yet no knowsoft link for either datajack or skillwires. Even if you did have a set of skillwires, skillwires don't work when rigging either. Why not save some nuyen and essence and just buy a knowsoft link for one of your datajacks? I think the math on your VCR-2 is off. 3*.8 = 2.4. |
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Aug 1 2005, 10:10 AM
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#24
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Horror Group: Members Posts: 5,322 Joined: 15-June 05 From: BumFuck, New Jersey Member No.: 7,445 |
Well, I made my GMC Bulldog / Rigger Tank. I got a pop-up small turret with an Ingram Valient, a Grand Dragon ATGM, and a white light floodlight.
For drones I went with the reccomended package (by one of my fellow players) of a pair of Steel Lynx, a Lone Star Strato, and a retrans. |
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Aug 1 2005, 10:23 AM
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#25
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,925 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 948 |
Hmm, get a car skill, it's ALWAYS useful, and perhaps lowering your B/R skill and/or lowering your Rotorcraft skill - having a skill of six in all of them might be a bit excessive since such skills are awfully high since an above average pilot has a skill of 4 and a good pilot has a skill of 5, a skill of 6 is what is found amongst the REALLY gifted (ok skill 7-9 is possible but damn rare).
For a cheap car (and silly vehicle for the little pirate that resides in all of us) get the following. Skill: Submarine (say 3) Skill: Boat (3 here as well) WW Eurocar (that little european combi RV for 51K) 51000,00 Amphibious Propulsion system 15000,00 Concealed Armour (6) 12000,00 Enviroseal 3300,00 Grid propulsion system 1000,00 Life support (40H) 4800,00 Photovoltic Paint 5000,00 Rigger Adaption 250,00 Runflat Tyres 1000,00 Sensor / Sonar 1 10000,00 Theft Protection V9 11000,00 Removal of 1 Bucket Seat (Still got 4 seats) 0,00 Mini-Turret - Underwater / Surface function (cost?) -Anti-Air modification (cost?) -Gyrojet Pistol X3 (Count as BF) 3000,00 (can't cost more) -Ammo Bin (cost?) Transponder chip / Morphing Plate (cost?) Roll Bars (cost?) Now you have a cheap car/submarine/boat with the Gyrojet pistols as mini-torpedoes that function quite good both on land and at sea - and only for roughly 130K-150K that is immune to basically all small arms ammunition. If you want you can always dress up like james bond whilst driving it. :grinbig: :D :grinbig: |
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