I know most of this thread is discussing non-lethal from the perspective of runners taking down security guards and the like. But what I've been really wondering is if Lonestar ponies up for stick-n-shock for daily carry or is regular ammo still preferred simply because it's about four times cheaper?

Battle rifles are good. That was about it for stuff I didn't dislike.

Probably specialty riot control ammo, not standard. A stun baton is cheaper in the long run for most uses.

Personally I'm more likely to use non-lethal now. Now that is an actual choice, giving up some effectiveness for the non-lethal route, it actually feels like your character is making a moral choice.

Your average Lonestar/KE beat cop rolls with a taser and a stun baton- if you are causing enough trouble for them to pull out their Predator, I imagine they're using it to put you down.

-DrZ

Everyone has their preferences...
I too like Battle Rifles...

Why wouldn't you? They're stupidly good, pretty much a straight upgrade with minimal downsides. (Which is actually why I personally dislike them...)

~Umi

I am very careful whether to use "WAR!" or not because I think it largely impacted the power scale, which can ruin the game if not used carefully. That said, there's a lot of equipment and even some parts of settings that I actally like and kinda miss in my game

Back to topic (just so this does not derail much further, though I played my part): I favor to have both options at hand. My current character carries pistols as main weapons, so having a pistol with live ammo in the main hand and a taser in the off-hand comes in, well, handy. the taser might get swapped for a gun with non-lethal ammo if range is to be considered. Sometimes there are people coming at you who are not really a threat (e.g. most mall cops) or you want to see them live through this (e.g. VIPs, children trying to pummel you with their lunchbox).
Short: The less the threat, the less lethal is the response.

Then again, once the real guns get to be drawn, that character jumps straight to heavy weapons...

Sorry, bad habit from playing too much 40k. Basically, asscannons do buttloads of damage



They're also more expensive and require FA Fire mode upgrade if they want to compete with ARs damage wise. Price should be a consideration, since some runs require you to get rid of the evidence afterwards. Cheap, disposable weapons have their use in this game, and BRs are definitely not among that category.

Well I was finding a positive from WAR!. That's what I had. Makes me have fond memories of the custom, extended mag, burst fire, shortened barrel, bull pup, "sport rifle" I created when Cannon Companion came out.

It was sweet.

Though I like them, they are unwieldy for a Shadowrunner 99% of the time, so I rarely use them (hell, I don't even use AR's all that much, and for the same reason). But I DO like their addition to the game. *shrug*

There are also some other gems in there... but then, it is not for everyone, so...

Ah yes I think that makes sense. Taser darts are cheaper than stick-n-shock and tasers are cheap relative to heavy pistols. Most of the time a Lonestar/KE cop will be using the taser within 15 meters. So I guess this means both financially and mechanically that stick-n-shock is mostly reserved for tactical police units who are more likely to be firing from a half a block away but still need to ensure a capture instead of a kill. Probably also useful for detectives.

Also, if a cop gets his taser taken away, it can't be converted to fire lethal rounds by simply dropping the mag and swapping them.

Well, the cop should have a biometric lock on his gun to start. Also, KE uses the Cavalier as their standard piece still, yes? I know it would be "expensive" but why not set them up all have smart cylinders. Then you can carry a couple rounds of gel, a couple of stick n shock, and a couple of hollow point.

The Cavalier is a Horrendous Choice for KE.

Biometric safties aren't free, you know.

Mind you, I have no idea what they cost these days, because despite being brought up in the fiction pieces in the book they don't actually have an entry in SR5.

I was going off the gear for a "Police Patrol" on pg. 383. Actual setting weapons may be different entirely.

-DrZ

KE uses the Cavalier Deputy? Is that official? The Ares Predator makes more sense IMO.

Indeed...