What is the fastest (i.e. highest Initiative and highest IP) mundane character that you can build using standard chargen rules? A full build isn't necessary, just every non-Awakened trick you can think of to twink out Initiative and IP.

...nice challenge

Lemee see what I can cook up when I get home from work...

[edit]

<== ...just noticed I made it to the next rung woohoo! Closing in on that "Bushido Cowgirl" status... (IE is such an insult).

I've done this before; you need Optimized Attribute genetech for both Reaction and Intuition along with Exceptional attribute (well, OK, I skipped Exceptional attributes and hardcapping) for one of them, and then you need a Move-By-Wire system paired with Reaction enhancers (which, unfortunately, results in less passes than you would get with Wired 2). Beyond that, about the only ways you're going to get faster is with experimenting with combat drugs, infusions and an Adrenaline Pump. Anyway, initiative is important but honestly, I wouldn't really recommend shooting for anything much higher than 12 out of chargen; it gets expensive and difficult to get much farther than that and people can still force the issue with Edge, so it's often better to invest in other areas at that point.

Congrats on the prime runner upgrade. What level were you before? What are the progressions?

Human 0bp

Rea:8(10) 85bp
Int:6 50bp

Ini:18

Qualities:
Genetic Hereitage (Genetic Optimization Intution) 10bp
Exceptional Attribute Reaction 20bp

Gear:
Genetic Optimization (Reaction) 36k
Wired Reflexes 2 32k
Adrenaline Pump 2 60k
Jazz drug
Psyche drug

All said and done. Base reaction of 10, intuition of 6. Kick on the adreanaline pump for +2 reaction. Take some jazz for +1 reaction +1 IP. Take some psyche for +1 int.

Total with all that on is is Reaction 13 Intuition 7 for base initiative of 20 with 3 IPs.

Wired Reflexes are not compatible with Reaction enhancers; you need a Move-By-Wire 1 system for that. That doesn't change the initiative total, however, you just end up with less passes. Cram and Jazz are good for the Reaction boost but not the extra passes because of the same compatibility issues; I'm pretty sure the "fastest" non-awakened chargen build is limited to 2 IPs.

Reaction enhancers are compatible with all other initiative enhancers. You're right on the drugs, I just get the reaction and intuition bonuses from them not the extra pass.

Final total is 22 init w/3passes.

Reaction enhancers are compatible with other forms of initiative enhancements but Wired Reflexes and Synaptic Boosters are not. Move-by-wire is the only other form of 'ware that can be combined with other stuff, and then only with Reaction Enhancers.

Hmm, coulda sworn.... Well, -2 reaction then, 20 and 3passes.

Yeah, the SR4 corebook is a bit of a tease.

IE is the highest (as it damn well should be!), with Great Dragon and then Dragon next down the list.

Not happening!

Human 6 Natural Rea Maximum 0BP
Genetic Optimization: Reaction 45,000 +1 Natural Rea Maximum -0.2ESS
Exceptional Attribute: Reaction 20BP +1 Natural Rea Maximum
Rea 7; 60BP
Chemical Gland: Cram (Constant Internal Release); 31,000 +1Rea +1IP -.3ESS
Chemical Gland: Jazz (Constant Internal Release); 31,000 +1Rea +1IP -.3ESS
Chemical Gland: Kamikaze (Constant Internal Release); 31,000 +1IP +1Bod +1Agi +2Str +1Wil, High Pain Tolerance 3 -.3ESS
Chemical Gland: Novacoke (Constant Internal Release); 31,000 +1Rea +1Cha +1Perception, High Pain Tolerance 1 -.3ESS
Reaction Enhancers 2; 20,000 +2REA -.6ESS

(189,000 )/(5000 /BP) + 60BP = 38BP +80BP = 118BP

(6+1+1) Natural Rea Max = 8 Natural Rea Max

8(3/2) Augmented Rea Max = 12 Augmented Rea Max

7 Rea + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 7 + 5 = 12 Augmented Rea

1IP +1 +1 +1 = 4IP

____________________________________

225BP

Attributes 145BP

1 (2)Bod
1 (2)Agi
1 (3)Str
7(12)Rea
1 (2)Log
7 (9)Int
1 (2)Wil
1 (2)Cha

Special Attributes 0BP

1 Edge
3.8 ESS

Positive Qualities 30BP
Exceptional Attribute: Reaction
Genetic Heritage: Inspiration
(High Pain Tolerance 3)


Negative Qualities 0BP

Active Skills 0BP
Perception 0 (1)

Knowledge Skills

Resources 50 BP 250,000 -247,000

Bioware/Genetech
Genetic Optimization: Reaction
Genetic Optimization: Intuition
Chemical Gland: Cram (Constant Internal Release)
Chemical Gland: Jazz (Constant Internal Release)
Chemical Gland: Kamikaze (Constant Internal Release)
Chemical Gland: Novacoke (Constant Internal Release)
Chemical Fland: Psyche (Constant Internal Release)

Cyberware/Nanotech
Reaction Enhancers 2


Gear

Contacts




Literally maxed speed with plenty left over. Constant dosage means that he will never suffer crash effects from his drugs. He probably won't live very long, however.

Edit: Added Intuition Enhancement

Edit: Final Version 20Int 4IP 225BP Cost 3000 nuyen left over

So, how many posts does it take to move up?

Chris

uhhh... hyzmarca? highest *initiative* and IPs.

not reaction =P

Check out these threads for info on titles.

Ranking System
Running/Moving Target

@hyzmarca: nice work.


I'm shooting for "Immoral Elf" status, though I doubt I'll reach it.

And for the record, I don't have boobs.

...yeah that would be more fitting from the Short One's viewpoint.
(#32)

Then you would think that the FAQ would reflect that. Fortunately some semblance of sanity remains, and there is no mention.

There is nothing wrong with the wording in the SR4 rule book. It specifically states that Wired Reflexes are incompatible with other Initiative enhancements. And Reaction Enhancers do not on their own directly enhance Initiative (and more than the Suprathyroid Gland does ... which is not listed as incompatible).

I agree. I was just arguing a case could be made that since they use the same barring language, they'd be incompatible with the same ware.

All I know for sure is that the FAQ is silly; I had no reason to question anything about Reaction Enhancers until I saw that FAQ, and then the first thing out of my mouth was "Huh!?" which is really more of a sentence fragment than a question.

If I had to guess I would say the basis is that Synaptic Boosters is additional tissue, Reflex Enhancers is a machine replacing tissue, and wired reflexes replaces part of the same tissue that WR replaces. So, WR and RE won't work together, but RE will work with the additional tissue from the boosters.

Chris

whatever. I allow any combinations of such in my games...
Keeps people from getting confused.

Cheers,

Max

So do I, I'm just theorizing over here.

Chris

I think it's probably obvious that I ignore that little gem from the FAQ.