Character Creation

by Kai Ruhl

Shadowrun 2nd Edition Rules

Type description

Priority	Magic	Race	Attr	Skills	Tech
5	Wizard	Meta	30	40	1000K/50P
4	Adept / Meta Wizard	Norm	24	30	400K/35P
3	Meta Adept	Norm	20	24	50K/25P
2	Mundane	Norm	17	20	5K/15P
1	Mundane	Norm	15	17	0.5K/5P

Magic type

Name	Type	Sorcery	Conjuring	Astral	Special
Hermetic, Shaman, Druid	Wizard	x	x	x	-
Ki Adept	Adept	-	-	-	x
Sorcerer	Adept, Hermetic	x	-	-	-
Conjurer	Adept, Hermetic	-	x	-	-
Totem guy	Adept, Shaman	Totem	Totem	x	-
Elemental guy	Adept, Hermetic	Element	Element	x	-

Races

Name	Attributes	Special
Elf	+1 Q, +2 C	AmpEyes
Dwarf	+1 B, -1 Q, +2 S, +1 W	InfraEyes, +2 B against diseases
Ork	+3 B, +2 S, -1 C, -1 I	AmpEyes
Troll	+5 B, -1 Q, +4 S, -2 C, -2 I, -1 W	InfraEyes, Range +1, Dermal (1)

Skills

BATTLE
Firearms
Heavy Weapons
Projectiles
Throwing
Armed Fight
Unarmed Fight

MAGIC
Sorcery
Conjuring
Enchanting

TECHNIC
Computer
Electronics
Biotech

KNOWLEDGE
Explosives
Magic Theory
Computer Theory
Cyber Technology
Military Theory
Nature Science
Biology
Psychology

BODY
Athletics
Stealth

SOCIAL
Leadership
Negotiation
Interrogation
Etiquette

VEHICLE
Car
Bike
Hovercraft
Vector Machine
Rotor Machine
Jets
Watercraft

Allergies

Type	Examples	Factor
Seldom	Silver, Platinum, Artificial Leather, Herbs	x 1
Usual	Sunlight, Plastics, Pollution	x 3
Rating	Effects	Karma
Annoying	Spots, scabies	1
Minor	+1 all rolls	5
Medium	+2 all rolls	10
Serious	+2 all rolls, light body damage	15

Shadowrun 3rd Edition Rules

Type description

Priority	Magic	Race	Attr	Skills	Tech
5	Magician	-	30	50	1000K
4	Adept / Aspect	-	27	40	400K
3	Mundane	Elf / Troll	24	34	90K
2	Mundane	Ork / Dwarf	21	30	20K
1	Mundane	Norm	18	27	5K

Races

Race	Attributes	Abilities
Elf
Basic Elf Wakyambi (africa) Night Elf (europe) Dryad (only females)	+1 Q, +2 C +2 C, +1 W +2 Q, +2 C -1 B, +1 Q, -1 S, +3 C	lowlight - light sunlight allergy light urban allergy, animal empathy
Troll
Basic Troll Cyclop (greece) Fomori (irish/celtic) Giant (nordic) Minotaur (mediterran)	+5 B, -1 Q, +4 S, -2 C, -2 I +5 B, -1 Q, +6 S, -2 C, -2 I +4 B, -1 Q, +3 S, -2 I +5 B, -1 Q, +5 S, -2 C, -2 I +4 B, -1 Q, +3 S, -1 C, -1 I	infrared, reach +1, dermal 1 no dermal, +2 TN ranged combat no dermal no dermal -
Ork
Basic Ork Hobgoblin (middle east) Oni (japan) Ogre (europe) Satyr (mediterran)	+3 B, +2 S, -1 C, -1 I +2 B, +2 S, -1 C +3 B, +2 S, -1 C, -1 I, +1 W +3 B, +2 S, -1 I +3 B, -1 Q, +2 S, -1 C, -1 I, +1 W	lowlight - - - all magicians are Bacchus shamans
Dwarf
Basic Dwarf Koborokuru (japan) Menehune (hawaii) Gnome (middle europe)	+1 B, +2 S, +1 W +1 B, +2 S, +1 W +2 B, +2 S, +1 W +1 B, +2 S, +2 W	infrared, +2 B against diseases no quickness loss - all magicians are shamans

Active Skills

PHSYICAL

Body

Athletics

Diving

Strength

Edged Weapons
Clubs
Polearms/Staffs

Cyber-Implant Combat
Unarmed Combat

Throwing Weapons

Projectile Weapons

Heavy Weapons

Underwater Combat

Quickness

Pistols
Submachine Guns
Rifles
Assault Rifles
Shotguns

Laser Weapons

Whips

Stealth

MENTAL

Intelligence

Aura Reading

Demolitions

Gunnery
Launch Weapons

Computer
Electronics

Biotech

Build & Repair

Knowledge Skills

Language Skills

Charisma

Etiquette

Instruction

Interrogation
Intimidation

Leadership

Negotiation

Willpower

Conjuring

Sorcery

SPECIAL

Reaction

Bike

Car

Hovercraft

Motorboat
Ship

Sailboat

Winged Aircraft
Rotor Aircraft
Vector Thrust
Lighter-Than-Air

Submarine

Background Skill

Like Active Skill

Knowledge Skills

Street	Academic	Sixth World	Interests
Mafia Establishments Safehouse Locations Gang Identification Yakuza Territory Lone Star Tactics Criminal Organizations Smuggling Routes Prostitution Rackets Fringe Cults BTL Production Police/Security Procedures	Art Biology Zoology Botany Literature Medicine Engineering Physics Chemistry Geology Psychology Anthrophology Archaeology Politics Philosophy Economics History Music	Cybertechnology Paranormal Animals Elven Society Megacorporate Policies Metahumanity Magic Dragons Atlantis Research Data Havens Legendary Deckers Humanis Policlub	Opera Troll Trash Metal Bands Elven Wines Sim Starlets Sci-Fi Simchips Poetry Conspiracy Theories Combat Biking Urban Brawl Woodworking Roleplaying Games Flatvid Movies

Skill Improvement

New skill rating is...	Active Skill	Specialization	Knowledge/Language
Lower Equal attribute rating Lower Equal (2 * attribute) Greater (2 * attribute)	1.5 2 2.5	.5 1 1.5	1 1.5 2

Edges And Flaws

Edge	Value	Flaw	Value
Attributes / Skills
Exceptional Attribute Additional Attribute Point Exceptional Skill Additional Skill Point Intimate Terrain	2 1 2 1 2	Incompetence	-2
Physical
Adrenaline Flush Fast Reflexes (3) Ambidexterity Gum Joints Night Vision Fast Healing Natural Immunity Pathogene Resistance Toxine Resistance High Pain Tolerance (9) Toughness Will To Survive (3)	2 2L 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1L 2 1*L	Allergy Deafness Total Blindness Color Blindness Night Blindness Borrowed Time Immune Weakness Immune Repellment Immune Sensibility Low Pain Tolerance Physical Weakness (5) Paraplegic Hard Paraplegic	-2 to -5 -3 -6 / -2 -1 -2 -6 -1 -5 / -2 -3 / -2 -4 -L*1 -3 -6
Mental
Technical Exam High School Exam College Exam Attentiveness Fotografic Memory Courage Common Sense Inner Clock Orientation	1 1 2 2 3 1 2 1 1	Analphabet Uneducated Inattention Amnesia Flashbacks Phobia Forced Action Combat Paralysis Pacifist Total Pacifist Berserk Impulsivity Revenge	-1 -1 -2 -2 to -5 -4 -2 to -5 -1 to -5 -4 -2 -5 -1 -2 -2
Social
Flexibility Good Reputation (2) Friends Abroad Mighty Friends Human Look Inconspicuousness Animal Empathy Additional Connection	3 1*L 3 2 1 2 2 1	Addiction Obvious Style Uncouth Elf Poser Firm Job (3) Obligation Dark Secret Cold Shoulder Bad Reputation (4) Additional Enemy	-2 to -4 -1 -2 -1 -L1 -2 to -4 -2 -4 -L1 -1
Magic
Concentration Magic Resistance (4) Bad Link	2 1*L 2	Bad Karma	-5
Miscalleanous
Registered Equipment State-Of-The-Art (3)	6 2*L	Escape (3) Cranial Bomb Mysterious Cyber/Bioware Conviction Register	-2*L -6 -3 -6

Pools

Pool	Calculation Formula
Combat Control Hacking Spell	(Qui + Int + Wil) / 2 Reaction (VCR included) (Int + MPCP) / 3 (Int + Wil + Magic) / 3

The Kain Rules

Brainstorming on alternative Methods

Well, lets see... we start with a null-character, all attributes at 1, all skills at 0. All leveling is done by paying something multiplied with the *current* value.
We want to let normal characters have 30 attribute points maximum (ever in life), adepts 29, full-wizards 28 maximum (all lifetime maximum). Metahumans get their benefits (so 31-33 maximum). Average case: all attributes go up to five (mundane). Costs (1+2+3+4)*6 =60 karma points.
Ok, now he wants to have skills. Let us allow him to have 8 skills at 4. Costs (1+2+4+6)*8 = 104 karma points.
Money. Well, whats the karma worth ? 1000 so one wanting to have 1 millon Nuyen has to spend 1000 karma points ? 10000 so to spend 100 karma ? And the magician spents 3 karma points on money ? No, lets have something non-proportional. Lets say...
(karma^2)*500 Nuyen. Spending 40 karma points results in 800 KNuyen. Spending 20 results in 200 K. Spending 10 is 50 K. Spending 5 results in 12.5 K. Quite okay. For all the nuts: spending 200 karma results in 20 million... So lets say no one is allowed to spend more than 44 karma points on money.
Spells... may be resoluted instead of money.
Races and magic have to cost something. If 800 K cost 40 karma points, and 8 skills at 4 cost 104, lets say that being full wizard costs 40. Being adept costs 30, and being metahuman costs also 30 (reduce to 20 if you want to have more metahumans).
So a average being could get 60+104+40+"Something to round up"=220 karma points. Thats okay, I think, but you can rule this your way, of course. If you are a GM.

Kain-I-Method

So this is the result: Start with a null-character. Give him 220 karma points. All skills are at 0, all attributes at 1. Being metahuman costs 30 karma points, being adept also costs 30, being wizard costs 40 karma points. Money you get is ("karma you spend"^2)*500 Nuyen, maximum karma spent is 44 points. For allergies use table above.

Skill Improvement Cost
G2: 3	G4: 13	G6: 31	C2: 1	C4: 8	C6: 21	S3: 1	S4: 4	S6: 13

Kain-II-Method

Thats my preferred method: Start with a null-character. Give him 30 attributes so everyone can create one's final attribute monster. Wizards/Adepts subtract 2/1, metahumans get their benefits *after* setup. No attribute may fall below 1.
Give him 120 karma points on skills. Subtract 50 for being wizard, 30 for adept, 30 for metahuman (20 for more metahumans).
If the guy is a wizard, give him 30 karma on spells or foci binding. May be used for initiation. Same for adepts, but give them 40 karma.
All magicians get 200 K money (if they want 400 K but -20 skill karma or 800 K but -40 skill karma).
All mundanes get 500 K money (if they want 750 K but -20 skill karma or 1000 K but -40 skill karma).
Short and painless rules. Creates characters that can do something, but hey, its for advanced groups.

Kain-III-Method

And now, adapting to SR3... Again, we start with a null-character.
Give him 30 mundane attribute points, 29 adepts/aspects, 28 full magicians. Methumans get their benefits. An attribute may exceed the racial maximum by 1, but then, it costs 2 attribute points (so the added maximum lowers to 29/28/27 and so forth).
Give him 160 karma points for skills. Full magicians subtract 60, adepts/aspects subtract 30. Furthermore, Elves/Trolls subtract 30, Orks/Dwarfs subtract 20.
Every spell slinger gets 40 karma for spells.
Everyone has 100 karma for knowledge and language skills.
Everyone speaks his mother language at Intelligence Rating. Other languages must be bought with knowledge karma.
Every skill has automatically a background skill of 1/2 the value. If u want more, spend karma.
Every specialization has automatically the general skill at 1/2 the value (so, if u mastered Browning Ultra Power at 8, pistols is automatically at 4). If u want more, spend karma.
Every character starts with 10 K money. Additional money is (karma^2)*500 Nuyen at a maximum of 44 karma points.

Skill Improvement Cost (lower equal attribute)
G2: 4	G4: 14	G6: 30	S2: 2	S4: 6	S6: 11	L2: 3	L4: 10	L6: 21

Character Profile

History

Born where (and from whom ?)
Social environment in earliest childhood ? Traumatic experiences ? Parent state (social, love, city/rural life) ?
Childhood life (gang, company gang, magick kid) ?
Youth/puberty (change of interaction with environment/parents) ? Formative influence for family/friends/connections ?
Development (gang boss, top of the class, scapegoat (whipping boy), tiny criminal) ?
How did you become a shadow runner (are you one already ?)

Character attitudes

Morality (all the same, crusader, adapted to circumstances) ?
Contact (intro-/extroverted, trustful, suspicious) ?
Attitude towards magic (fear, admiration, hate) ?
Cyber (creepy, fascinating, repelling) ?
Matrix (perverted, better than life) ?
Killing (necessary, cool, repelling) ?
Companies (social, slave-driver, evil, money giver, necessary) ?
Street (scum, compassion, the true life) ?
World (playground, hard life, challenge, always unfair) ?
Possibly: Handling of THE GIFT (donation, burden, matter of cause) ?
Handling the team (dominant, reserved, specialized) ?

Look / Appearance

Clothes (quality, color, consistency) ? Every piece !
Hair (color(s), length, structure, cut) ?
Hygiene (always unkempt/neat, slovenly, pedantic) ?
Facial features (haggard, plumb, hard, fine, rough bones, thickset) ? Flashinesses (scars, freckles, spots, tattoos) ?
Body features (fat, haggard, slim, perfectly trained, old and worn) ? Flashinesses (old injuries (i.e. limping), broad shoulders) ? Take a relation to Body/Strength !
Movement (proud, bent, strenghty, elegant, sliding, sophisticated, urbane) ? Take a relation especially to quickness, and a little bit to Body/Strength !
Talk (polite, arrogant, refined, gutter, mud) ? Take a relation to mental attributes, and to origin !
General mood (cheerful, dangerous, sullen of world) ?

EOF