I'm very new to Shadowrun and I'm attempting to create my very first shadowrun character (which I must say is much more involved and complicated than I thought.) Anyway, here's my dilemma ... correct me if I'm wrong here:

All weights in SR3 are shown in kilograms. To help me make better sense of things I convert them to pounds but it doesn't always look right to me. For example, the listed weight for regular ammo is .5(kilograms) for every 10 rounds (according to the core rulebook). 1 Kilogram converts to roughly 2.2 pounds. So if I had two Ceska Black Scoprions fully loaded (35 x 2 = 70), the weight of those 70 bullets would be 35 kilograms (70 x .5 = 35) and converted to pounds would be 77 pounds!? (35 x 2.2 = 77) That CAN'T be right!!!

Now, I know my math is not the greatest so I'm hoping I made an error in calculations somwhere but I've ran it several times and I keep coming up with the same results. Can someone clarify this for me please? This can't be right.

here is the Kilograms to Pounds converter calculator I used.

Thanks

The designers of Shadowrun did not have a clue what a kilogram actually was when making the gear. They also had a number of random choices for weights beyond that. Most of the weights given only actually make sense as pounds, and some are still overstated for no good reason.

Our houserule is to take any weight listed and divide it by 2. It seems like they weighed everything in pounds and said, "Hey, in 60 years we won't be using pounds, we'll use those other things ... kilograms!" *search: pound* *replace all: kilogram*
This is why the standard system of measurements is A Bad Thing ™

Yeah, to clarify what Zazen said, divide your final result by 10. Still, 7.7lbs is rather heavy, but not quite as ridiculously so as you first thought.

As a side note, I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that it took 3 responses to correct that math error.

Yes, Jason, it's amazing. The guy posts that his math isn't the greatest, and he hopes he's got an error in his calculations, and he wants some help.

One guy says to flush his brain and knowledge of firearms.
One guy says the designers didn't have a clue.
And one guy gives a house rule for less encumberance from ammo.

Thanks, Zazen, for posting something helpful to the new guy.

The calculation again: 70 rounds, at .5Kg per 10 rounds, is 3.5Kg. Or 7.7 lbs.

Hell, I didn't even look at his math. Luke's right: 70+ lbs of ammunition in a machine pistol doesn't phase anyone familiar with canon's other, ahm, eccentricites.

Ahh ... forgot to divide by 10. I knew I had to have goofed somewhere. Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it. Say, would anyone be interested in helping me create my first character? Maybe ... kinda walk me through it ... step by step? This is pretty complicated to me and I have noone to ask for references. I'm hoping if I can understand what I'm doing well enough to fell comfortable with playing, maybe I will go to the local game shop here in Mufreesboro, TN and see if there are any games I could possibly join. Anyways. Thought I would ask, don't really expect any takers though.

Thanks again.

I'd love to see a walk through of character creation in action too, actually. I guess the start of it would be

"what kind of character do you wish to play?"

JaronK

This is a very common type of thread, actually. You need to have a solid premise for the character and then start a thread called "Help me make a <insert type> character." Inside the thread lay out the basic character ideas and things you'd like to incorporate. There will be a lot of ideas flung around so go easy and ask questions.

Weight of ammo and some more weight of ammo. Just in case someone cares.

He already created a new thread.

Yeah, yeah, I just saw it and posted there. Stupid meat eyes...

It's an old debate that the weight system is hopelessly screwed up and has been form the get go. Don't try and make it realistic, just accept the kg's system because at least they're all balanced.

My own (RL) Berretta Cheetah has a 10 round clip and no way is it 2.2 pounds.

In a thread on one of the previous versions of Dumpshock Forums, I participated in a comparison study of RL vs SR weapon weights.
IIRC, all pistol and machine pistol weights listed in the book are accurate in pounds, while 75% of submachineguns, all rifles, shotguns and assault rifles were relatively accurate in kilograms listed in the book, anything bigger we couldn't find accurate weights of the RL comparison.

As for ammo weights we didn't bother. And all of the 7 Shadowrun GM's I've played under completely ignored the ammo weights, or did once I proved them as total bullshit.