QUOTE (bannockburn @ Sep 24 2012, 08:23 PM)

Your credibility wanes rapidly when quoting something that is a) referring _clearly_ to NPC prime runner creation and b) _in relation_ to created player characters. Sometimes it really helps to look at the context in which rules are presented. E.g. p. 284-285 are nowhere _near_ the chapter on character creation.
So, an actual quote for you, from page 80, of the same rulebook:
Now, how would you describe 'high-powered elite operatives' in another word? Prime Runner maybe?

Prime Runner is a relatively wide category. I use, as a general statement for a primer runner team (what the PC group is) "Has the skills to make a raid on an AAA zero zone facility actually possible, not likely to succeed and still requiring tons of planning and a good dose of luck but still possible." Even playing a Z-zone to the greatest difficulty that can be done under the rules a new build PC team can do that.
For gun bunny's and combat characters my criteria for being listed as a prime runner are "Would the character be at home on a Delta Force/SAS combat team?".
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Now, to address the rest of your posting: You state here that Ancient gangers are in the majority over 50 years old and have had time to advance sufficiently to become very elite indeed, while only recruiting the best of the best. I find this highly doubtful. A ganger's life is usually not one that promotes old age. Reeks a bit of elf love, tbh

Look at rating 4 "Go-gang boss". The Ancients require, as a standard, a level of ability higher than the best individuals in other go-gangs.
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Your perception of what is an 'acceptable' rigger is, to me, severely skewed as well. But we have already established that your game world is really really different than mine, so that may be where this perception comes from.
Frankly, I usually use Agent's with a good skill soft for my driving needs. It's usually better than wasting a PC's actions driving and can reliably produce the same results in most situations.
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Now, another example: Red Samurai Detachment, Tir Ghosts, all from the core book, Triad Lieutenant, standard NPCs, the whole lot of them. ALL have multiple core skills at 5, sometimes even boosted to 6 through ware.
Tough cookies, all around, meant to represent hard opposition. But, in my eyes, by no means 'prime runners'. And I didn't even mention all those NPCs in published adventures and campaigns who would all, according to your definition, qualify as such.
Yes, those are all prime runner level. Look at all the PC's with "was special forces for X corp or nation". The thing is, relatively few individuals of that skill level ever 1) decide to go rogue and act independently and 2) successfully break away from their current organization. Are these people legends? No, but they are far better than most everyone in the shadows.
It's like in real life, one of the most deadly, capable, and dangerous street gangs in the world is Los Zetas. They were a former Mexican Military special operations detachment trained by USSOCOM at Fort Bragg. Even basic military training makes you one of the true elite on the real life streets. Spec Ops makes you the best of the best. An entire spec ops unit, well they would be running all crime at least on a city level.
So when you have a well balanced team covering all critical specialties that is willing to break the law for money, has few morals, and where every single member would be at home on a spec ops team; yes they are prime runners.
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Sorry, I can't support your position.
*shrug*
Fine with me.
QUOTE (All4BigGuns @ Sep 24 2012, 08:42 PM)

@Tippy: You do realize that the "prime runner" from the section of the core rule book you're referring to is different from "Prime Runner" level Shadowrunners, right? I know it can be muddled, but in that section, it's just referring to custom built NPCs rather than stock out of the book NPCs.
Edit- Look at it like the difference between unarmed combat and Unarmed Combat.
"Prime Runner" is mentioned a grand total of 24 times in the core book, 22 of those times come in the section of the book I referenced and the other 2 are 1) in the dracoform description and 2) in the index.
If you want to provide a better rules/published reference please do so, but in the core rules my statement is completely accurate (PC's a day out of char gen qualify as prime runners).