Full Version: Need help with a Noir character
My friend is running a Noir campaign setting in Hong Kong. I'm not to familiar with Noir my self so i was asking for character builds that would be useful in this setting.
Well, classically, you'd make a Detective character. A Noir campaign really works best with low-key, low power characters. Wouldn't go so will with typical B&E special operatives.
But to put it in simple terms, focus on these Noir themes:
* You try to help people but it always turns badly. For everyone.
* You do bad things to good people in order to further what you think is good (but turns out to suck, as per above)
* You sacrifice your ideals, one at a time
* You get drunk a lot on hard liquor
* You really, really hate yourself at the end of every day
Here's an excerpt from what the wiki-god has to say about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir#Plo...2C_and_settings
But to put it in simple terms, focus on these Noir themes:
* You try to help people but it always turns badly. For everyone.
* You do bad things to good people in order to further what you think is good (but turns out to suck, as per above)
* You sacrifice your ideals, one at a time
* You get drunk a lot on hard liquor
* You really, really hate yourself at the end of every day
Here's an excerpt from what the wiki-god has to say about it:
QUOTE
Crime, usually murder, is an element of almost all film noirs; in addition to standard-issue greed, jealousy is frequently the criminal motivation. A crime investigation—by a private eye, a police detective (sometimes acting alone), or a concerned amateur—is the most prevalent, but far from dominant, basic plot. In other common plots the protagonists are implicated in heists or con games, or in murderous conspiracies often involving adulterous affairs. False suspicions and accusations of crime are frequent plot elements, as are betrayals and double-crosses. Amnesia is far more common in film noir than in real life, and cigarette smoking can seem virtually mandatory.
Pursued (1947): A Western adopting noir style, or a film noir set in the Wild West?
Film noirs tend to revolve around heroes who are more flawed and morally questionable than the norm, often fall guys of one sort or another. The characteristic heroes of noir are described by many critics as "alienated"; in the words of Silver and Ward, "filled with existential bitterness."[30] Certain archetypal characters appear in many film noirs—hardboiled detectives, femmes fatales, corrupt policemen, jealous husbands, intrepid claims adjusters, and down-and-out writers. As can be observed in many movies of an overtly neo-noir nature, the private eye and the femme fatale are the character types with which film noir has come to be most identified, but only a minority of movies now regarded as classic noir feature either. For example, of the nineteen National Film Registry noirs, in only four does the star play a private eye: The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Out of the Past, and Kiss Me Deadly. Just two others readily qualify as detective stories: Laura and Touch of Evil.
Film noir is often associated with an urban setting, and a few cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, in particular—are the location of many of the classic films. In the eyes of many critics, the city is presented in noir as a "labyrinth" or "maze." Bars, lounges, nightclubs, and gambling dens are frequently the scene of action. The climaxes of a substantial number of film noirs take place in visually complex, often industrial settings, such as refineries, factories, trainyards, power plants—most famously the explosive conclusion of White Heat. In the popular (and, frequently enough, critical) imagination, in noir it is always night and it always rains.
Pursued (1947): A Western adopting noir style, or a film noir set in the Wild West?
Film noirs tend to revolve around heroes who are more flawed and morally questionable than the norm, often fall guys of one sort or another. The characteristic heroes of noir are described by many critics as "alienated"; in the words of Silver and Ward, "filled with existential bitterness."[30] Certain archetypal characters appear in many film noirs—hardboiled detectives, femmes fatales, corrupt policemen, jealous husbands, intrepid claims adjusters, and down-and-out writers. As can be observed in many movies of an overtly neo-noir nature, the private eye and the femme fatale are the character types with which film noir has come to be most identified, but only a minority of movies now regarded as classic noir feature either. For example, of the nineteen National Film Registry noirs, in only four does the star play a private eye: The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Out of the Past, and Kiss Me Deadly. Just two others readily qualify as detective stories: Laura and Touch of Evil.
Film noir is often associated with an urban setting, and a few cities—Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, in particular—are the location of many of the classic films. In the eyes of many critics, the city is presented in noir as a "labyrinth" or "maze." Bars, lounges, nightclubs, and gambling dens are frequently the scene of action. The climaxes of a substantial number of film noirs take place in visually complex, often industrial settings, such as refineries, factories, trainyards, power plants—most famously the explosive conclusion of White Heat. In the popular (and, frequently enough, critical) imagination, in noir it is always night and it always rains.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir#Plo...2C_and_settings
That's a hard one, because there really isn't a commonly accepted definition of what is, and what is not "noir".
It's probably safe to say that your character should be self-destructive is some manner, a drug addict or alcoholic is good, and 'tough', both physically and emotionally. His/her history should probably be littered with lost loves and dirty deals and he or she should be financially poor or struggling. Don't be surprised if there is a undercurrent of sexual tension with a major or re-occurring NPC and you should pretty much expect there to be widespread corruption amongst the authorities/professionals as well as a general aura of mistrust between just about everybody. There will be violence, but how bloody that violence is, is hard to predict without knowing your GM's style.
If that just sounds like Shadowrun, then you're not wrong. Shadowrun is derived of a combination of Cyberpunk and Fantasy, and Cyberpunk is derived from the earlier "hard-boiled" fiction and noir of the mid-to-early 20th century.
So, for a "noir" campaign, I'd suggest a character archetype with the word "ex-" stuck in front of it. Ex-cop, ex-reporter, ex-company man, etc. Shy away from gang bangers, rockers and covert-ops specialist and the like. Look towards an older character, late twenties at the very least, noir isn't really a 19-year-old flavor. I'd suggest slightly outdated, but well used and proven equipment/cyberware, not obsolete mind you, just not 'cutting edge'. Revolvers, pump-action shotguns, bolt-action rifles and essence-wasting cyberware would not go amiss.
Not required, but if your character is older than say his/her mid-thirties I'd consider being untrusting of RFIDs, augmented reality, or AI's more advanced than auto-driving programs.
I don't know what I'd do with a TM, hacker or spell slinger for a noir flavor. Maybe a conjuring adept or astral perception specialist, or perhaps an old hacker (is there such a thing?) with lots of low level programs (cuz they're dated) but lots of cyberspace knowledge skills like "Renton cyberspace jackpoints" or "matrix legends and folklore".
I don't know if that's any help or not.
It's probably safe to say that your character should be self-destructive is some manner, a drug addict or alcoholic is good, and 'tough', both physically and emotionally. His/her history should probably be littered with lost loves and dirty deals and he or she should be financially poor or struggling. Don't be surprised if there is a undercurrent of sexual tension with a major or re-occurring NPC and you should pretty much expect there to be widespread corruption amongst the authorities/professionals as well as a general aura of mistrust between just about everybody. There will be violence, but how bloody that violence is, is hard to predict without knowing your GM's style.
If that just sounds like Shadowrun, then you're not wrong. Shadowrun is derived of a combination of Cyberpunk and Fantasy, and Cyberpunk is derived from the earlier "hard-boiled" fiction and noir of the mid-to-early 20th century.
So, for a "noir" campaign, I'd suggest a character archetype with the word "ex-" stuck in front of it. Ex-cop, ex-reporter, ex-company man, etc. Shy away from gang bangers, rockers and covert-ops specialist and the like. Look towards an older character, late twenties at the very least, noir isn't really a 19-year-old flavor. I'd suggest slightly outdated, but well used and proven equipment/cyberware, not obsolete mind you, just not 'cutting edge'. Revolvers, pump-action shotguns, bolt-action rifles and essence-wasting cyberware would not go amiss.
Not required, but if your character is older than say his/her mid-thirties I'd consider being untrusting of RFIDs, augmented reality, or AI's more advanced than auto-driving programs.
I don't know what I'd do with a TM, hacker or spell slinger for a noir flavor. Maybe a conjuring adept or astral perception specialist, or perhaps an old hacker (is there such a thing?) with lots of low level programs (cuz they're dated) but lots of cyberspace knowledge skills like "Renton cyberspace jackpoints" or "matrix legends and folklore".
I don't know if that's any help or not.
QUOTE (Browncoatone @ Feb 12 2009, 09:20 PM) 
I don't know what I'd do with a TM, hacker or spell slinger for a noir flavor.
Funny you should say this. I'm GMing for a friend of mine, and he's playing a very hard-boiled, noir-type technomancer character in my take on Caracas. He loves it, says it feels like pre-Revolution Cuba. We spend lots of time in La Rinconada and Nueva Caracas. His character is a non-optimized technomancer (mainly, the character is just learning how to be one) and he has to resort to ingenuity, deception, coercion, and plain dirty tricks in order to get what he wants done. None of the NPCs he's met are completely virtuous -- even his first "on camera" meet with his Catholic Priest contact had him bumping into the muneca the priest had just got done with - in the back of a church no less!
BTW: When your player's character takes a 6P damage throwing axe to the chest and has to use his last point of Edge to make the Body+Willpower (2) test to stand back up (after rolling the 1d6 for Bad Luck) so he could get up and run before the Olaya Cartel enforcers descended on him like locusts to kill him... yeah, great dramatic tension there.
as previously mentioned, characters in Noir are self-destructive, either through vice, love, or their own arrogance. Noir is also the home to the femme fatale, which is also an interesting character.
these essays on film Noir from the 40s may help you.
these essays on film Noir from the 40s may help you.
Blade Runner has some noir elements, and the setting gels really well with Shadowrun, while The Big Sleep is pretty much noir canon. These are both examples of the archetypal hard boiled detective. Good social skills, especially intimidation, are pretty essential. Perception should be high. Unarmed combat is also a good one, as they often resort to their fists. A good way to make a hardboiled character is to not have huge dicepools. Characters in noir fuck up a lot of the time, which gives them a lot of opportunity for introspection of their short-comings. At least a mild addiction is essential, preferably to alcohol.
On the magical side, if you can ever find a Hellraiser comic or graphic novel (libraries tend to stock graphic novels these days), John Constantine is a perfect example of an awakened hard-boiled detective. He often summons or comes into contact with spirits far more powerful than he is, but manages to outwit them.
A hacker or technomancer could make a great character too, especially with the access to Data Search and online contacts. The Chatty quality comes to mind, because following leads and talking to contacts is a big part of noir (well, detective stories).
Generally, Noir sticks to the streets. It's all about the shady characters to meet, and often characters in noir are thrown out of establishments on their arses. This also helps illustrate the impression of helplessness that is essential to a noir setting.
Also, don't forget that noir is the french word for dark. So no fluffy bunnies.
On the magical side, if you can ever find a Hellraiser comic or graphic novel (libraries tend to stock graphic novels these days), John Constantine is a perfect example of an awakened hard-boiled detective. He often summons or comes into contact with spirits far more powerful than he is, but manages to outwit them.
A hacker or technomancer could make a great character too, especially with the access to Data Search and online contacts. The Chatty quality comes to mind, because following leads and talking to contacts is a big part of noir (well, detective stories).
Generally, Noir sticks to the streets. It's all about the shady characters to meet, and often characters in noir are thrown out of establishments on their arses. This also helps illustrate the impression of helplessness that is essential to a noir setting.
Also, don't forget that noir is the french word for dark. So no fluffy bunnies.
This is Noir.
Sort of.
Really, Noir is about the setting as much as it is about the characters, probably more. You could have a good Noir game with a that consists entirely of minigun dual-wielding Trolls if the GM knows what he is doing. Amorality is an important part of the genre, yes, with the good guys often find themselves in situations were all actions are futile or would make things worse. But that doesn't many that the PCs can't try.
Over the top insanity can distract from it, but not necessarily.
Remember, Dick Tracy is noir, even when he had an atomic powered spaceship. And his villains were always over the top. Batman is Noir as well, (possibly excluding the campy 60s and 70s version).
Hellblazer is the title that you're looking for. There are Hellraiser comic books, but Constantine isn't in them, and Pinhead isn't exactly the best rolemodel for an awakened detective.
Sort of.
Really, Noir is about the setting as much as it is about the characters, probably more. You could have a good Noir game with a that consists entirely of minigun dual-wielding Trolls if the GM knows what he is doing. Amorality is an important part of the genre, yes, with the good guys often find themselves in situations were all actions are futile or would make things worse. But that doesn't many that the PCs can't try.
Over the top insanity can distract from it, but not necessarily.
Remember, Dick Tracy is noir, even when he had an atomic powered spaceship. And his villains were always over the top. Batman is Noir as well, (possibly excluding the campy 60s and 70s version).
QUOTE (Sir_Psycho)
On the magical side, if you can ever find a Hellraiser comic or graphic novel (libraries tend to stock graphic novels these days), John Constantine is a perfect example of an awakened hard-boiled detective. [Emphasis added]
Hellblazer is the title that you're looking for. There are Hellraiser comic books, but Constantine isn't in them, and Pinhead isn't exactly the best rolemodel for an awakened detective.
QUOTE
This is Noir.
Sort of.
Sort of.
Loved Noir!
But Mireille and her adventures seem a bit out of place for the dark and self destructive world of the hard-boiled crime story. Maybe if she smoked, or drank, or lived in London instead of Paris. Mireille makes an excellent example for a shadowrunner, but just not for the actual Noir elements of shadowrun.
Of course, that's just my opinion- your mileage may vary.
From my interpretation or what noir should have, everyone seems to of hit the nail on the head. But to me a good noir character MUST smoke...alot. Be self-destructive. And have a very jaded view of life and ethics/morals. To me those are a must.
With that being said as a player who will soon be playing in a Pac-Rim Noir game based out of Hong Kong as well. With what can be a very devious GM who tends devise treacherous plots. I've gone with a amnesiac who has no intention of finding out his past since it nearly killed him. That being said those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it in the future. Now that he is starting his new life and has realized he is very good looking and charismatic and women love him especially the neglected women of powerful men. He has picked up the hobby of entertaining them in various fashions.
With that being said as a player who will soon be playing in a Pac-Rim Noir game based out of Hong Kong as well. With what can be a very devious GM who tends devise treacherous plots. I've gone with a amnesiac who has no intention of finding out his past since it nearly killed him. That being said those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it in the future. Now that he is starting his new life and has realized he is very good looking and charismatic and women love him especially the neglected women of powerful men. He has picked up the hobby of entertaining them in various fashions.
Nobody in anime is more noir than this guy. I will not argue this.
Damn, i was reading the thread hoping that I'd get to plug Coyboy beebop, but you beat me
There are two main ways you can go:
* The archetypal noir detective (Philip Marlowe): "If I wasn't hard, I wouldn’t be alive. If I wasn't gentle, I wouldn't deserve to be alive." He's big, tough, alcoholic and witty. He's very sentimental, and even chivalrous but hides it behind a tough-guy mask (hence the alcoholism and witticism). He's pretty good in a fight but not that good either as he gets beaten up regularly. He's curious and will do everything to protect his client, as long as the client is square with him. If the client isn't, he'll try to get the client to explain him everything, and if that doesn't work he'll try to find for himself in order to carry out his job.
* The femme-fatale: "She smelled the way the Taj Mahal looks by moonlight.". She's sexy and she knows it. She might be a victim or a predator, but she often ends up destroying others, and herself in the process. Oh, and she's witty too.
If it's neo-noir you can move a bit outside those boundaries, but not that much: you can just be a bit less witty and a bit more violent (think Max Payne).
* The archetypal noir detective (Philip Marlowe): "If I wasn't hard, I wouldn’t be alive. If I wasn't gentle, I wouldn't deserve to be alive." He's big, tough, alcoholic and witty. He's very sentimental, and even chivalrous but hides it behind a tough-guy mask (hence the alcoholism and witticism). He's pretty good in a fight but not that good either as he gets beaten up regularly. He's curious and will do everything to protect his client, as long as the client is square with him. If the client isn't, he'll try to get the client to explain him everything, and if that doesn't work he'll try to find for himself in order to carry out his job.
* The femme-fatale: "She smelled the way the Taj Mahal looks by moonlight.". She's sexy and she knows it. She might be a victim or a predator, but she often ends up destroying others, and herself in the process. Oh, and she's witty too.
If it's neo-noir you can move a bit outside those boundaries, but not that much: you can just be a bit less witty and a bit more violent (think Max Payne).
QUOTE (loadsol @ Feb 12 2009, 05:41 PM)
My friend is running a Noir campaign setting in Hong Kong. I'm not to familiar with Noir my self so i was asking for character builds that would be useful in this setting.
I'm GMing the group both Loadsol and Gnat are in. All your guys's advice about character building in terms of flavor is pretty spot on. I'm looking to keep the game pretty street level with alot of intrigue and local flavor. Gun battles being low key things. Granted that's hard with 400 BP characters, and build being what it is. But I respect my players enough to let them make their own choices in that regard. The premise of the game is that they're PIs in Hong Kong backed by a guanxi of investors. The group consists of 6 people with a possible expansion of two more, I had asked previously about limiting BP or gear but it was ultimately told to me that I ought not. Also I think alot of the spy gear which have a pretty high rating in some cases is very appropriate for the type of thing the group'll be doing. Also while I have a PI premise, I don't want 6 John Constantine styled faces with a flair for surveilance, I'm going to try to spice the runs up a bit to give levity to more variety in the characters. Of course the tone will be noir noir noir, with all it's grittyness, moral dillemmas, self-destruction, intrigues, and myteries.
The first run is inspired by the Maltese Falcon, cause come on, if you're going to do noir you have to start there.
QUOTE (Whipstitch @ Feb 13 2009, 01:57 AM)
Nobody in anime is more noir than this guy. I will not argue this.
Anyone who did argue that would have to be completely out of their mind, IMO. Remind your GM that every noir story needs a 'hooker with a heart of gold' or a crazy kid who saves the day. Consequently, Cowboy Bebop has both. Plus those old guys who're always playing cards and saying they were there when...
Does anyone know Thraxas by Martin Scott? (Free Sample) The finest piece of Fantasy Noir I know. I created a private eye character based on Thraxas. Some dwarf refugee from Portland, Ex-security rigger now down and out private investigator with an affectation for betting on combat biking games and old fashend herbal drugs (just dope). Unfortunately our online game (centered around a detective agency) never made it very far.
QUOTE (Tachi @ Feb 13 2009, 12:59 PM)
IMO. Remind your GM that every noir story needs a 'hooker with a heart of gold' or a crazy kid who saves the day.
Most of Chandler's novel don't have either. Are you saying that Chandler's novel aren't noir?
(But I agree that Cowboy Bebop borrows a lot of elements from Noir).
QUOTE (Blade @ Feb 13 2009, 06:12 AM)
Most of Chandler's novel don't have either. Are you saying that Chandler's novel aren't noir?
(But I agree that Cowboy Bebop borrows a lot of elements from Noir).
(But I agree that Cowboy Bebop borrows a lot of elements from Noir).
Don't read so much into it, it was just a remark about overused noir cliches.
QUOTE (Thadeus Bearpaw @ Feb 13 2009, 05:58 AM)
I'm GMing the group both Loadsol and Gnat are in. All your guys's advice about character building in terms of flavor is pretty spot on. I'm looking to keep the game pretty street level with alot of intrigue and local flavor. Gun battles being low key things. Granted that's hard with 400 BP characters, and build being what it is. But I respect my players enough to let them make their own choices in that regard. The premise of the game is that they're PIs in Hong Kong backed by a guanxi of investors. The group consists of 6 people with a possible expansion of two more, I had asked previously about limiting BP or gear but it was ultimately told to me that I ought not. Also I think alot of the spy gear which have a pretty high rating in some cases is very appropriate for the type of thing the group'll be doing. Also while I have a PI premise, I don't want 6 John Constantine styled faces with a flair for surveilance, I'm going to try to spice the runs up a bit to give levity to more variety in the characters. Of course the tone will be noir noir noir, with all it's grittyness, moral dillemmas, self-destruction, intrigues, and myteries.
The first run is inspired by the Maltese Falcon, cause come on, if you're going to do noir you have to start there.
The first run is inspired by the Maltese Falcon, cause come on, if you're going to do noir you have to start there.
I'm actually running pretty much exactly the same thing (Detective Noir(ish) campaign), but in Manhattan.
What I did is give 350 BPs, but removed the restriction on Flaw BPs limit (within reason). Worked out pretty well.
QUOTE (Backgammon @ Feb 13 2009, 05:43 PM)
I'm actually running pretty much exactly the same thing (Detective Noir(ish) campaign), but in Manhattan.
What I did is give 350 BPs, but removed the restriction on Flaw BPs limit (within reason). Worked out pretty well.
What I did is give 350 BPs, but removed the restriction on Flaw BPs limit (within reason). Worked out pretty well.
That's actually a really good idea. I'll see how things work with standard BP chargen and if it ends up being too much, I'll ask for a redesign. As I said I trust my players to be responsible in upholding the tone, for the most part (Loadsol I'm looking at you and your comrade in arms
For anyone interested in Cyberpunk Noir, go read Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan. It will literally grab you by the balls and pull you into the cyberpunk underworld more thoroughly than you can imagine.
A Hard-boiled detective (Ex-Special Forces) more well fleshed out than characters in most novels I've read
Violence the like of which is seldom seen in a book of such quality writing
A highly philosophical protagonist who can be a brutal killer when he needs to be, but is really very human underneath
Cybertechnology - not just what the character has, but also his analysis of his opponents' implants. Seldom done.
I guarantee a good read.
And to the OP - this book would be my #1 guide to cyberpunk noir if I were to GM it.
A Hard-boiled detective (Ex-Special Forces) more well fleshed out than characters in most novels I've read
Violence the like of which is seldom seen in a book of such quality writing
A highly philosophical protagonist who can be a brutal killer when he needs to be, but is really very human underneath
Cybertechnology - not just what the character has, but also his analysis of his opponents' implants. Seldom done.
I guarantee a good read.
And to the OP - this book would be my #1 guide to cyberpunk noir if I were to GM it.
The anime titled Noir has nothing to do with the genre. It's only named that because it's set in France, and the word means "black," and it's about assassins. But yeah, assassins are not part of the genre, definitely not as main characters anyway. Nor are deadly schoolgirls with amnesia, or freemason style conspiracies dating back to the middle ages. Also, I wouldn't really consider a lesbian love triangle between three assassins (chosen to be such before birth) to be within the genre. So yeah... neither here nor there.
One of my favorite pieces of noir fiction has been Max Payne -- not the retarded movie version where a hard boiled detective becomes the last line of defense against demons, or some shit. I'm talking about the one that involved organized cirme, drugs, and a coverup by a big corporation. The game is actually very well done, totally cliche, but it has the greatest line -- it's not a cliche when it happens to you. That's what great noir fiction does, it plays all the old cards, but makes it feel real, so you're drawn in even though you're aware that it paints and unrealistic, shadowy picture of the world.
One of my favorite pieces of noir fiction has been Max Payne -- not the retarded movie version where a hard boiled detective becomes the last line of defense against demons, or some shit. I'm talking about the one that involved organized cirme, drugs, and a coverup by a big corporation. The game is actually very well done, totally cliche, but it has the greatest line -- it's not a cliche when it happens to you. That's what great noir fiction does, it plays all the old cards, but makes it feel real, so you're drawn in even though you're aware that it paints and unrealistic, shadowy picture of the world.
Well, there's this guy, kind "Noir-Light", IMO, but it does a good job of portraying the incredibly good and bad luck that typifies a noir detective.
Hmm, I'll have to go back and redo that build sometime, now that I'm more familiar with the system...
Hmm, I'll have to go back and redo that build sometime, now that I'm more familiar with the system...
If you have the time it would be worth finding the French film Le Samourai which is very noir and hits a lot of the notes which define the genre and its heroes.
Just to throw my two cents in:
Depending on how your GM runs it, you probably want to make a character that is NOT crazy combat monkey. Don't make him a tank either. Investigate and social skills are the staple of Noir-ish characters.
A stereotypical Noir guy will be a private eye who will have:
-A decent body
-High Intuition
-Average-to-high logic, charisma, and reaction.
-Edge. Noir characters survive by the skin of their teeth. I view that as Edge, not skill.
-Good Social skills and Investigate, as well as perception.
-Pistols skill. Some Noir villains use tommyguns, but usually not protagonists
-Knowledge skills involving current events, mob big wigs, and the city they operate out of.
Now, like I said, above is a stereotype, and you can play with what that means to you. Ask your GM what you can do, and try to mix it around until you find a build you like that works within the campaign.
Other Noir archetypes include:
Lady in the red dress: (A femme fatale, a girl who is good at lying and seducing, usually has very week willpower.)
Mob 'stiff': (Super Loyal mobster who always dresses in a suit and follows orders to the letter. The cliche is to have a tommygun in a violin case)
Cops: (Cops are always present in noir scenes, either as protagonists or the ultimate law that lacks the recourses to investigate the crime personally)
Face (Club owners or other people who are up on the the current talk of the city, both legitimate and illegitimate. Well connected.)
Stretear(Both similar to and opposite to the face, the streetear is a weasly little worm with no sense of decency that is still somehow up on all the latest news around town, legitimate and otherwise.)
Depending on how your GM runs it, you probably want to make a character that is NOT crazy combat monkey. Don't make him a tank either. Investigate and social skills are the staple of Noir-ish characters.
A stereotypical Noir guy will be a private eye who will have:
-A decent body
-High Intuition
-Average-to-high logic, charisma, and reaction.
-Edge. Noir characters survive by the skin of their teeth. I view that as Edge, not skill.
-Good Social skills and Investigate, as well as perception.
-Pistols skill. Some Noir villains use tommyguns, but usually not protagonists
-Knowledge skills involving current events, mob big wigs, and the city they operate out of.
Now, like I said, above is a stereotype, and you can play with what that means to you. Ask your GM what you can do, and try to mix it around until you find a build you like that works within the campaign.
Other Noir archetypes include:
Lady in the red dress: (A femme fatale, a girl who is good at lying and seducing, usually has very week willpower.)
Mob 'stiff': (Super Loyal mobster who always dresses in a suit and follows orders to the letter. The cliche is to have a tommygun in a violin case)
Cops: (Cops are always present in noir scenes, either as protagonists or the ultimate law that lacks the recourses to investigate the crime personally)
Face (Club owners or other people who are up on the the current talk of the city, both legitimate and illegitimate. Well connected.)
Stretear(Both similar to and opposite to the face, the streetear is a weasly little worm with no sense of decency that is still somehow up on all the latest news around town, legitimate and otherwise.)
Don't forget: Contacts.
Half of a good noir detective story is often pressing your contacts for information/help/ect.
In fact, if all your characters are detectives, you might want to take a bruiser type as a low-connection, high-loyalty contact to help you out when the drek hits the fan.
The PI in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole novels has a borderline-psychotic ex-cop, ex-merc contact named Joe Pike. Ostensibly his partner, Joe really functions more like a contact--he hangs out in the gun shop he owns until Elvis calls him up and asks for his help, at which point heads get broken.
Bear in mind though, even Joe Pike isn't a straight asskicker-type--he's special forces with alot of training in stealth and tracking, and half the time that's more important than his ability to charge a house full of Yakuza rambo-style, wielding a combat shotgun with a bandoleer of shells strapped over his chest.
Half of a good noir detective story is often pressing your contacts for information/help/ect.
In fact, if all your characters are detectives, you might want to take a bruiser type as a low-connection, high-loyalty contact to help you out when the drek hits the fan.
The PI in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole novels has a borderline-psychotic ex-cop, ex-merc contact named Joe Pike. Ostensibly his partner, Joe really functions more like a contact--he hangs out in the gun shop he owns until Elvis calls him up and asks for his help, at which point heads get broken.
Bear in mind though, even Joe Pike isn't a straight asskicker-type--he's special forces with alot of training in stealth and tracking, and half the time that's more important than his ability to charge a house full of Yakuza rambo-style, wielding a combat shotgun with a bandoleer of shells strapped over his chest.
If you're the typical Noir "PI" you'll need LOTS of contacts. Contacts coming out of your ears.
You know the bartenders at many different clubs; you know snitches and dirty politicians, cops and street docs, deliverymen, mobsters (usually low connection), the owner of the local chop shop, other PI's, fixers, fences, forensic scientists, coroners; probably an organlegger or two.
I would bring my physical stats to 3's, with Logic and Willpower at 4 and edge 4 or 5. I'd buy the Pistols skill at 4, some Perception and Infiltrate, and the social skill group at 4. Then i'd spend nuyen on a low lifestyle, my pistol and some ammo, and a banged up old medkit. I'd buy a car for tailing, and the only mods I'd give it would be to make it as anonymous as possible. Armored duster.
I'd probably buy a positive quality or two like Common Sense or something to make me more lucky.
Every single BP left would be spent on contacts.
You know the bartenders at many different clubs; you know snitches and dirty politicians, cops and street docs, deliverymen, mobsters (usually low connection), the owner of the local chop shop, other PI's, fixers, fences, forensic scientists, coroners; probably an organlegger or two.
I would bring my physical stats to 3's, with Logic and Willpower at 4 and edge 4 or 5. I'd buy the Pistols skill at 4, some Perception and Infiltrate, and the social skill group at 4. Then i'd spend nuyen on a low lifestyle, my pistol and some ammo, and a banged up old medkit. I'd buy a car for tailing, and the only mods I'd give it would be to make it as anonymous as possible. Armored duster.
I'd probably buy a positive quality or two like Common Sense or something to make me more lucky.
Every single BP left would be spent on contacts.
QUOTE (Degausser @ Feb 14 2009, 08:19 AM)
Depending on how your GM runs it, you probably want to make a character that is NOT crazy combat monkey. Don't make him a tank either.
Unless his name is Marv.
A noir PI doesn't have to have that much contacts. Some do, but not all. Phillip Marlowe has a cop contact, but that's his only contact I can remember.
Another source of inspiration for noir in Cyberpunk would be the novel Noir by K.W. Jeter... The main character has some kind of always-on ARE that makes him see the world as in a black and white Noir movie and a brain modification that makes him stay calm in every situation.
EDIT :
A very good movie that has inspired The Killer and Ghost Dog. Actually, most of Melville's movies are pretty good Noir movies.
Another source of inspiration for noir in Cyberpunk would be the novel Noir by K.W. Jeter... The main character has some kind of always-on ARE that makes him see the world as in a black and white Noir movie and a brain modification that makes him stay calm in every situation.
EDIT :
QUOTE (The Neutronium Alchemist @ Feb 14 2009, 02:41 PM)
If you have the time it would be worth finding the French film Le Samourai which is very noir and hits a lot of the notes which define the genre and its heroes.
A very good movie that has inspired The Killer and Ghost Dog. Actually, most of Melville's movies are pretty good Noir movies.
So htis comes down to does the original poster mean
Film Noir
or the Japanese anime Noir?
I think the anime tends to miss the film noir feeling because it's too clean a world.
A good film noir anime, with a nice Sr feel is Witch Hunter Robin.
Film Noir
or the Japanese anime Noir?
I think the anime tends to miss the film noir feeling because it's too clean a world.
A good film noir anime, with a nice Sr feel is Witch Hunter Robin.
A PI should also have shadowing. No exceptions.
For an excellent example of noir in a true Shadowrun setting, one needs not to look any further than the now classic SR novel (#4 in the original line) "2XS" by the late Nigel Findley.
The book is out of print but can be found handily on Amazon or Ebay or possibly in your local library. Also, depending on your scruples, an Ebook version can be found online as a torrent with a collection of other out of print SR novels.
The entire tale is loaded with noir cliches, including a down on his luck PI protagonist in way over his head, a femme fatale, a murder and loads of twists and turns. Dirk Mongomery, the PI is bruised and abused and lives and succeeds? ("noir success" really has lowered expectations
) in his world mostly by his wits, his contacts and to some degree, his luck.
I consider it a must read for every single newbie I have ever introduced to Shadowrun and award 5 points of karma to each player's character that does so.
Vlad
The book is out of print but can be found handily on Amazon or Ebay or possibly in your local library. Also, depending on your scruples, an Ebook version can be found online as a torrent with a collection of other out of print SR novels.
The entire tale is loaded with noir cliches, including a down on his luck PI protagonist in way over his head, a femme fatale, a murder and loads of twists and turns. Dirk Mongomery, the PI is bruised and abused and lives and succeeds? ("noir success" really has lowered expectations
) in his world mostly by his wits, his contacts and to some degree, his luck. I consider it a must read for every single newbie I have ever introduced to Shadowrun and award 5 points of karma to each player's character that does so.
Vlad
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