Had planned to get another idea out too, but those 50+ questions took me a long time. We'll see how I do over the weekend.
"Tag" - Covert Surveillance, Infiltration, and Electronic Warfare Specialist (Passable Hacker, could be easily modified/equipped to assist in other roles)
Metatype: Digital Intelligence [110]
{Reference: Runner's Companion pg.88}
Attributes [345]
[ Spoiler ]
- Wil 5 [10+15+20+25 = 70]
- Cha 5 [10+15+20+25 = 70]
- Int 7 [10+15+20+25+30+35 = 135]
- Log 5 [10+15+20+25 = 70]
Secondary Attributes [45]
[ Spoiler ]
- Edge 3 [10+15+20 = 45]
- Essence 0
- Magic 0
Various Tertiary Attributes
[ Spoiler ]
- Rating 6
- Physical/Matrix Initiative (Usually , 3IP)
- System 6
- Firewall 6
- Response 10
- Signal 9
- Matrix Condition Track 11
- Physical Condition Track 8
Skills [90]
[ Spoiler ]
- Electronic Warfare 6 (Decryption

[4+4+6+8+10+12+2 = 46]
- Infiltration 4 [4+4+8+6 = 22]
- Perception 4 [4+4+8+6 = 22]
Knowledge Skills (36 free)
[ Spoiler ]
- Professional
- - Security Procedures 3 [2+2+3 = 7]
- - Drone Recognition 2 (Microdrone 4) [2+2+1 = 5]
- - Vehicle Recognition 2 [2+2 = 4]
- Academic
- - Encryption Algorithms 2 [2+2 = 4]
- Languages
- - Matrixese (Natural) [Mentioned in Unwired. Dunno what else a native language would be for an AI, but I like the idea of its English being imperfect.] {Reference: Unwired pg.29}
- - English 3 (Matrix Lingo 5) [2+2+3+1 = 8]
- - Japanese 3 (Matrix Lingo 5) [2+2+3+1 = 8]
Inherent Programs [100]
[ Spoiler ]
- Reality Filter 5 (Need this to realign to a new home node)
- Analyze 7 (Need this to see in the matrix)
- Sniffer 12 [8+9+10+11+12 = 50]
- Scan 7
- ECCM 5
- Decrypt 12 [8+9+10+11+12 = 50]
Positive Qualities [60]
[ Spoiler ]
- Exceptional Attribute (Intuition) [40]
- - Max intuition raised by 1 (to 7)
- Piloting Origin [20]
- - Can jump into drones. Can load Autosofts.
Negative Qualities [-60]
[ Spoiler ]
- Combat Paralysis [-40]
- Low Pain Tolerance [-20]
Contacts [10]
[ Spoiler ]
- Dr. Elizabeth Sonna (Pilot/AI Research Scientist) Connection 3, Loyalty 2
- "Logo" (Fixer) Connection 3, Loyalty 2
Gear [150] = (330,750 / 375,000)
[ Spoiler ]
- AI Lifestyle, High (10,000)
- - Rating 6 Home Node
- Physical Lifestyle, Low (2,000)
- - Premium Matrix Service (300)
- Fake SIN 4 (4,000)
- - For ordering things online, functioning on the matrix, etc
- "Tag" (Covert Surveillance Microdrone) [13,500 x6 = 81,000]
- Disguised as an RFID tag (Arsenal p63, x6 cost, passes casual inspection and careful inspection imposes -6 penalty to notice true nature)
- Micro-tapper Bug (Microdrone) (1000)
- - Handling +1
- - Accel 2/10
- - Speed 10
- - Device Rating 6
- - - Response 6 (10)
- - - System 6 (9)
- - - Firewall 6 (9)
- - - Signal 6 (9)
- - Body 0
- - Armor 0
- - Sensors 1 (Upgraded to 6)
- - Accessories
- - - Non-standard Wireless Link, Rating 6 (3,000)
- - - Skinlink (50)
- - - Spoofchip (500)
- - Vehicle Modifications [4]
- - - [-] Walker
- - - [-] Special Equipment, Optical Tap
- - - [1] Chameleon Coating (2000)
- - - [1] Gecko Tips (300)
- - - [1] Improved Sensor Array (1000)
- - - - [1] Camera (Micro), Rating 6 (600)
- - - - - [1] Vision Enhancement, Rating 3 (300)
- - - - [1] Microphone (Micro), Rating 6 (300)
- - - - - [1] Audio Enhancement, Rating 3 (300)
- - - - [1] Radio Signal Scanner, Rating 6 (150)
- - - [1] Retrans Unit (4,000)
- "Backup Tag" (Covert Surveillance Microdrone) [13,500 x6 = 81,000]
- Disguised as an RFID tag (Arsenal p63, x6 cost, passes casual inspection and careful inspection imposes -6 penalty to notice true nature)
- Micro-tapper Bug (Microdrone) (1000)
- - Handling +1
- - Accel 2/10
- - Speed 10
- - Device Rating 4
- - - Response 4
- - - System 4
- - - Firewall 4
- - - Signal 4
- - Body 0
- - Armor 0
- - Sensors 1 (Upgraded to 6)
- - Accessories
- - - Non-standard Wireless Link, Rating 6 (3,000)
- - - Skinlink (50)
- - - Spoofchip (500)
- - Vehicle Modifications [4]
- - - [-] Walker
- - - [-] Special Equipment, Optical Tap
- - - [1] Chameleon Coating (2000)
- - - [1] Gecko Tips (300)
- - - [1] Improved Sensor Array (1000)
- - - - [1] Camera (Micro), Rating 6 (600)
- - - - - [1] Vision Enhancement, Rating 3 (300)
- - - - [1] Microphone (Micro), Rating 6 (300)
- - - - - [1] Audio Enhancement, Rating 3 (300)
- - - - [1] Radio Signal Scanner, Rating 6 (150)
- - - [1] Retrans Unit (4,000)
- [Total: 42,250]
- GM Mr. FixIt (Medium Humanoid Drone) (6,000)
- Handling +2 (+1, Touch Sensors +1)
- Accel 5/15
- Speed 15
- Pilot 4 (10,000)
- Body 3
- Armor 2
- Sensors 3 [6]
- - [1] Non-Linear Junction Detector, Rating 6 (600)
- - [1] Camera, Rating 6 (600)
- - - Vision Magnification (100)
- - [1] Microphone, Rating 6 (300)
- - [1] Radio Signal Scanner, Rating 6 (150)
- Modifications [4]
- [-] Tools
- [-] 2x Mechanical Arm (Strength 4)
- [1] SunCell (500)
- [1] Workshop (10,000)
- [1] Fuzzy Logic (2,500)
- [1] Touch Sensor (1,500)
- Programs [58,200]
- - Analyze, Browse, Command, Edit, Encrypt, Scan, Purge @ Rating 6 (600x7=4,200)
- - Data Bomb, Decrypt, Disarm, ECCM, Exploit, Sniffer, Spoof, Stealth, Track @ Rating 6 (6,000x9=54,000)
- Autosofts [40,000]
- - (Perception) Clearsight, Rating 4 (4,000)
- - (Dodge) Defense, Rating 4 (4,000)
- - (Running) Maneuvering (Microtapper), Rating 4 (4,000)
- - (Shadowing) Chaser, Rating 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Hacking 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Cybercombat 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Computers 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Data Search 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Hardware 4 (4,000)
- - Profession, Walker Drone B/R 4 (4,000)
- Sensor Software [9,000]
- - Noise Analysis, Rating 6 (3,000)
- - Visual Spotter, Rating 6 (3,000)
- - Emosoft, Rating 6 (3,000)
- Tactical Software [3,000]
- - Tacsoft, Rating 1 (3,000)
50+ Questions
[ Spoiler ]
1. What is your characters Sex?
- None
2. What is your characters physical size?
- Microsized. Exactly the same size and shape of an RFID tag.
3. What is the color of the characters Hair, eyes, and skin?
- Hair: None
- Eyes: A single (high quality) microcamera
- Skin: None, or perhaps the clear plastic "tape" of the RFID surface - which is chameleon coated to blend into whatever surface Tag attaches itself to.
4. What is the character's general appearance (i.e., How does he dress, etc.)?
- Easily overlooked, and if it remains motionless,Tag appears to be nothing more than another of the nearly ubiquitous RFID tags that are attached to most common devices.
5. Where was the character born (City, State, Hospital Name)?
- Tag's advanced drone body was created as an security-grade autonomous low-energy surveillance platform. The drone was designed with an advanced pilot program, so that it could operate under radio-silence, collecting data until it was recovered or the mission parameters were met. This pilot program eventually evolved into Tag, which starting making changes to the mission parameters on its own - specifically, collecting additional information and otherwise demonstrating an almost human-like level of curiosity about events beyond what its programming included. This information caused a stir within the corporate research division assigned to the project - after all, what good is an autonomous sensor that cannot be expected to perform as commanded while operating without supervision? The project, including the logs and relevant code, was transferred to another department (which specialized in matrix anomalies, and was particularly interested in the emergent behavior of digital intelligence) and into the hands of Dr. Elizabeth Sonna who recognized the emerging Tag for what it was.
Due to corporate politics, after only a few weeks of research, the projects was reassigned, again, and Tag would be delivered into the hands of one of her rivals within the corporation - a Dr. Yamoto. Upon discovering this (with the help of Tag, who had begun snooping on inter-corporate messages) Dr. Sonna arranged for a Shadowrun team to perform an extraction on her own laboratory - if only to deny Tag to her rival, and allow her to continue her research on her own. Dr. Sonna did a fairly good job of covering her tracks, and distancing herself from the crime - but she was under heavy suspicion (made worse by accusations by Dr Yamoto), and decided that it would be too dangerous for her to have the "package" delivered to her, personally. Instead, working through the same Johnson, she paid the team of Runners for the job, and arranged for them to keep the "package" as additional payment - with the intention of keeping tabs on the team and either collecting Tag once the heat had died down, or monitoring its growth from afar.
6. What is the characters date of birth?
- Within the last two years, when many other AIs emerged. Unlike other, more famous metasapient AIs, Tag has kept a fairly low profile.
7. What was the character's family life like?
- Non-existent, technically. If you count its parent security corporation, you might describe their relationship as that of a parent, and a runaway child. The corporation would very much like to regain their lost property, and salvage research, if not a profit, from it - but knows that tracking down a minuscule device which was programmed to actively avoid detection will require a great investment of resources to accomplish. Enough of the original codebase and experiment logs remain under their control that, for the time being, they have made no move to actively hunt Tag. Dr. Sonna, has become something like a distant relative who - rather than adopting Tag, has opted to act as a benefactor. The "team", in whose possession Tag was left, had become something like a foster-family, before they were lost.
8. Has the character begun his own family?
- No. Tag's programming has become sufficiently advanced that it can no longer replicate itself. (See #13)
9. Where or how was the character educated?
- During Tag's emergence, it assimilated its payload of autosoft programs, including covert-ops, electronic-warfare, and clearsight code routines that emulate skills possessed by humans. Tag is able to load and execute additional autosoft programs to emulate other skills, as necessary - specifically those that would allow it to function in a typical hacker role. Since its extraction, and subsequent freedom, Tag has received informal education (more of a crash-course, really) from the team which set it "free". Its skills as a hacker, and recon-sensor were recognized as quite useful, and the team kept the AI on as a member.
10. Has the character ever done anything else for a living?
- No, but it hasn't been around that long.
11. What are the characters beliefs on church and state?
- Insignificant. Tag is a curious creature, and would be interested in observing various government officials (or religious organizations), but wouldn't consider the moral or political implications of what it observes. Tag's team (his foster parents, really) are more interested in corporate politics, than religious ones.
12. Describe the characters Moral code. Include how mercenary he is, whether or not he'll kill innocents, etc.
- Extremely mercenary, but very curious. Often willing to do surveillance for nothing at all, but would only part with that information for some form of compensation - perhaps even by trading information. The question of killing innocents is relatively meaningless, since Tag is unable to do so in its current body. If, for whatever reason, Tag downloaded itself into a war-bot, it probably wouldn't have any moral problems with using that drone to kill someone, but wouldn't be motivated to do so without external pressure, and wouldn't be very good at combat, anyway. (See #24) Instilling a moral code (beyond a commendable work-ethic) is one of the areas that Dr Sonna is interested in experimenting, but has not begun any serious discussion with the digital intelligence on this matter.
13. What are the character have any goals?
- Tag's primary instincts drive it to investigate, uncover, observe, and keep record of almost everything it comes across, as well as to seek the same necessities that all beings require for survival - sufficient energy, and a safe habitat in which to rest. It has evolved sufficiently, however, to recognize that none of these instincts carry with them any inherit purpose. Tag's observations will not be put to use, unless Tag seeks out opportunities to do so. Likewise, while energy and safety are required for self-preservation, without a reproductive function, or a mission of purpose, that existent feels somehow without meaning. Just as Tag's existence was only made possible through the complex interaction of hundreds of metahumans, even after obtaining a degree of "freedom", Tag finds that its continued existence is still defined by further complex metahuman interactions. Information is only useful, if it is put to some use. Reconnaissance as espionage, similarly, require goals, which Tag is currently incapable of defining for itself with any validity. Tag has grown attached to its team, who, in addition to arranging for its freedom, and continued existence, provides it with energy, safety, and the occasional mission which Tag can incorporate, evaluate, and execute.
14. Why does the character run the shadows? (Why does he run the shadows still, rather than getting a "real" job?)
- See above. Tag would be just as willing to work in any other domain (military, government, political, corporate, etc) except that the types of people it would be working for would often want - or require - a level of control over it that its programming will not allow it to surrender. In the Shadows, there are innumerable factions who need information on one another, and, in this domain, the expectation is that those factions want plausible deniability of whatever "disposable" assets they direct at retrieving that information. There is no expectation of ownership, and once the payment is made, and the information changes hands, there is not necessarily any expectation of further codependency between the two parties.
15. What kind of personality does your character have? This should not necessarily be obviously stated in the background, as it is more important for actually playing the character, but it may color or add mood to the history.
- Curious and kind of a voyeur. Naive. Young.
16. What special qualities does the character possess? This does not refer to skills, but rather at other things, such as How he gets along with people, does he plan ahead, etc.
- Tag is an agreeable AI, perhaps because it sees itself more as a piece of equipment than many metasapient AIs do. It is intelligent, and capable of making decisions on its own - and was designed to adapt to unpredictable changes in a mission. It is eager to please, and to make itself useful - but this is a trait which could be easily exploited.
17. Are their certain things the character can't or won't do? Why?
- Tag has trouble defining itself, or finding purpose, outside of its function. (See #13)
18. What things, people, or ideas does the character hate?
- Tag "hates" being told what to do. While it prefers (and almost necessitates) someone else to direct it towards a goal, it values its ability to make decisions, and act on those decisions without requiring further authorization. Tag's team had learned to be very careful when dealing with the drone, to phrase there requests such that they are either requests or suggestions - and allow Tag to make the decision to assist them, on its own.
19. What things people, or ideas does the character love?
- Tag delights in being useful - typically, this is by discovering information that fits within mission parameters, but occasionally involves fulfilling other roles. Tag also enjoys the feeling of being an unseen observer, and has been described by others as almost voyeuristic.
20. What is the character's name? Give both full birth name, as well as nicknames, street names, etc.
- Typically called Tag. There are a number of codenames and serial identification numbers that correspond to the project from which Tag originated - but since its chassis was designed (with intricate details) to resemble a common RFID tag, "Tag" became the nickname that stuck among the researches, and was the first identified Tag remembers overhearing in reference to itself. Once outside of the corporation, the nickname stuck among the team which took it in.
21. Determine what your character used to do, before becoming a shadowrunner (very important).
- See #5, Tag has not lived a long existence, and the high cost of upkeep on its frail body pushed it almost immediately into the shadows in search of resources.
22. Decide why your character left his or her old job, if he had one. (also important).
- See #5
23. Come up with a reason for why the character became a shadowrunner. (This very often will tie in with #22. This is not the same as #14, but rather why he started running the shadows originally. What led him to it?)
- See #5
24. How did your character come to know his or her contacts? Contacts are an important part of Shadowrun, decide how and why you know them.
- See #5. Dr. Sonna still considers Tag her experiment - she risked a lot to keep Tag within her sphere of influence (and out of the hands of her competition). She would have preferred to continue her research on Tag, and occationally finds ways to get back in touch with the AI.
25. Does the character have a SIN? Does the character actually use it? Or is the character one of the SINless_masses? This may be affected by the characters previous employment.
- Tag does not have a SIN, and is not interested in obtaining one. Dr. Sonna has brought up the idea of applying for a corporate SIN a few times, but, so far, Tag has shown no interest in entering the system, and providing others with a method to track its activities.
26. Is the character a full-time shadowrunner? Or does the character lead a Batman-like double existence?
- Full time shadowrunner, as much as it can help it. Tag has trouble coming up with things to do with "idle time", and has a high maintenance cost associated with its SOTA body and materials.
27. Which person(s) or group(s) do you love the most?
- Tag loved its "team" the most. They were like a family, but it recently lost them. It is looking to fill that void with another "family". It also feels somewhat positive to Dr. Sonna for arranging its freedom, even if she has ulterior motives.
28. Which person(s) or group(s) do you hate the most?
- Tag doesn't really hate anyone. It would probably come closest to hate towards those who would claim to "own" it, or to take it apart and experiment on it - but this has not been a real concern for months.
29. Which person(s) or group(s) do you respect the most?
- Tag respected the freedom and independence of its team, before it lost them. It respected their dedication to "the job". It also respects Dr. Sonna. Although it knows she did not act purely out of interest for its well being, she spared its existence.
30. Which person(s) or group(s) do you fear the most?
- Tag fears being returned to the corporate laboratory. It is aware that the program was canceled, and that all that awaits it there is experimentation, dissection, and the loss of freedom.
31. What is your favorite color?
- White. Black seems empty and dark, and white is the opposite of that.
32. What is your favorite food and/or drink?
- Electricity?
33. What place would you most like to visit?
- The more heavily-guarded and secure a place is, the more fulfillment Tag would experience by observing it.
34. Which person(s) or group(s) are you most loyal to?
- Tag is most loyal to those who take care of it. That would have been its team, until recently, but anyone who provides it with necessities, and a goal to direct its attention towards can count on its loyalty.
35. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the most enjoyment? (WARNING: Answering Sex for this question can and will result in penalties to your character!)
- Decryption. Tag considers it like a puzzle-game, where the reward is information that someone obviously felt was important enough to hide. Tag rarely cares about the details of the information being transmitted in code, and could spend hours just picking signals out of the air to decode, for fun.
36. What pastime (that you participate in regularly) gives you the least enjoyment?
- Recharging. Tag can operating for a reasonable amount of time, particularly once it attaches itself to a surface and no longer needs to keep all of its drone-parts powered - but it uses more power than a typical RFID tag, and is ultimately tethered to a power-source. When reconning a new environment, Tag usually wants to start looking for new interesting information, but, instead, almost always has to spend some time, up front, scouting out where power might be available in that environment.
37. What annoys you the most?
- Something hidden, just out of sight.
38. What (if any) is your favorite form of art?
- Encryption. (See#35)
39. What is your greatest goal?
- See #13. Perhaps Tag's *greatest* goal would involve discovering a purpose to its own existence beyond whatever mission Tag has accepted, at any given moment.
40. What do you think is your characters best quality?
- Work-ethic and vigilence
41. What do you think is your characters worst quality?
- Disrespect for privacy
42. What is the most important thing you have ever done?
- Tag once cracked SOTA military-grade encryption on a recovered file that the rest of its team had given up on. The achievement gave it an immense satisfaction.
43. Which religion (if any) do you follow?
- None.
44. What is your most treasured possession (and why)?
- Tag's most treasured possession would be its own drone body.
45. What are your three most common dreams?
- Tag's reallcoation process is similar to sleep, but dreams elude it.
46. What is the Characters current relationship with his family?
- The foster-team disbanded (to lay low), after a run went bad and most of them were KIA. A couple retired, some went missing, and some were found dead. Tag cannot afford to lay low, or to stop working, and still maintains contact with the team's fixer, looking for new work (and perhaps a replacement team). Dr. Sonna contacts it from time to time (using an anonymous matrix drop-box) and after the loss of the team, Tag has actually warmed up to the Doctor. It is confused as to why Dr. Sonna doesn't want to meet or care for it the way that the team did, but understands that she is in danger.
47. If the characters family is still alive, what do they do, and where do they live?
- Dr. Sonna is still alive, and lives in Seattle, although she spends a lot of time in Japan on business-travel. She still works in AI-research.
48. Where did the character learn his Skills?
- See #9. After those events, Tag's skills were further refined while working with a Shadowrunning team for several missions, before they were mostly KIA and disbanded to lay low.
49. Does the character have a good luck charm? What is it, and why?
- No.
50. What type of music does the character like?
- Tag is not particularly interested in music.
51. List any past serious relationships that your character has had, and give a brief overview of the relationship.
- See #5. Tag's longest relationship was with a team of Shadowrunners, who became like a family to it. Some of them died, and the rest went into hiding, or retired, afterwards. Tag feels a bit like a puppy accidentally left behind when a family moves away, but is unable to make much sense of those feelings.
52. Where does your character live? Why does he live there?
- Tag lives in a small safehouse that used to be used by its team. It is lonely there, now. It has manged to arrange for the utilities to be paid, and for the maintenance parts it needs to be delivered.
53. Remember, I, as most Gamemasters, like detail, so if you can think of any other little details, quirks, or whatever that you think might please the almighty GM, then add them here.
- I think I covered everything above (but was mostly making it up as I went). If I think of anything new, I'll be sure to post it.