Shadowrun 3.8 Rules Summary

[fastjack]

First of all, let me mention that I didn't make this. It's Jeremy's, I'm just posting it here for the ease of players who might be looking to join us on Saturdays. I suppose I should mention that it uses mostly SR4 stuff, with the exceptions of Character Creation, Combat, and Magic.




Shadowrun 3.8 Character Creation Rules

[Since I lack the ability to put tables into the forums (or more accurately don't know how yet) I'm going to be having to type the data from the tables into column form. They're all accurate, however.]

1. There are a total of 5 categories that you will be giving letters to (A, B, C, D, or E) based on how important that thing is to your character. The categories are Heritage (aka Race), Talent (Magic/Technomancy decided here), Attributes (the main eight), Skills & Groups, and Resources (including Contacts). Each Category tells what you get with each letter. I am going to print the table information first, but there may be some numbers that are at first confusing. Please look to what follows the table for an explanation of them.

HERITAGE:
A - Human (8), Dwarf (5), Ork (6), Elf (5) or Troll (4)
B - Human (5), Dwarf (3), Ork (3), Elf (2) or Troll (1)
C - Human (3), Ork (0), Dwarf (0)
D - Human (1)
E - Human (0)

TALENT:
A - Magician (Magic 5, 9 Spells), Technomancer (Resonance 5, 35 Complex Form Points)
B - Adept (Magic 5), Magician (Magic 3, 5 Spells), Technomancer (Resonance 3, 23 CFP)
C - Adept (Magic 3), Technomancer (Resonance 2, 9 CFP)
D - Adept (Magic 1), Technomancer (Resonance 1, 3 CFP)
E - Mundane

ATTRIBUTES:
A - 20
B - 17
C - 15
D - 13
E - 12

SKILLS AND SKILL GROUPS:
A - 48 Skill Points, Up to 2 Skill Groups
B - 40 Skill Points, Up to 2 Skill Groups
C - 34 Skill Points, Up to 1 Skill Group
D - 30 Skill Points, Up to 1 Skill Group
E - 28 Skill Points, No Skill Groups

RESOURCES:
A- 250,000 nuyen, 6 Contacts
B - 140,000 nuyen, 6 Contacts
C - 70,000 nuyen, 4 Contacts
D - 15,000 nuyen, 3 Contacts
E - 5,000 nuyen, 2 Contacts


The notes should make everything else clear. If they don't, bring the questions to Jeremy.

HERITAGE: The number in parentheses indicates "extra points" that you can spend towards Edge, Magic, and Resonance.

TALENT: Complex Form Points can be spent to create Complex forms at a cost of 1 per point of rating.

ATTRIBUTES: You begin with your racial minimum in each value for free. You may buy up to your character's racial maximum in one Attribute. There are no other restrictions.

SKILLS & SKILL GROUPS: Skills are extremely important in Jeremy's game. Skills and Skill groups are bought at a cost of one per rating point. This makes skill groups very important. Skill Groups cannot be above 4 during character creation. Skill points can apply to Active, Knowledge, or Language skills. Characters receive (Logic + Intuition) * 2 for Knowledge & Language. There are no other restrictions.

RESOURCES & CONTACTS: Contacts each have Loyalty 2, Connection 3

QUALITIES: You may purchase Negative Qualities up to 35 points. Points earned this way can only be used for Positive Qualities, and Foci, Spirits, Sprites, and Specializations.



After Character Creation, there are some other rules that are different in 3.8. The first big component is Initiative.

You first have to calculate your Initiative Modifier. To do this, count up how many initiative passes you receive BEYOND THE FIRST. For example, with Wired Reflexes 2 you would normally gain two extra initiative passes. Take this number, and add it to 2. Subtract the result from 10, and you will have your Initiative Modifier. To see this in numeric terms: 10 - (2 + IPs) = Initiative Modifier. Using the example above of Wired Reflexes, your Initiative Modifier would be 6 (10 - (2+2) = 6)

To calculate your initiative, Roll 1d6 and add your initiative number to it. That number is when you act first. You act again every time you are able to subtract your Initiative Modifier from the Initiative and still have a whole number. For example, if I have initiative 8, and I roll a 5, I would act first at Initiative 13, then again at Initiative 3, etc.

You have a Combat Pool = (Agility + Intuition + Willpower) / 2
This pool refreshes at the beginning of every phase

The combat pool may be used to add to Combat tests up to the skill rating (4 dice if you have pistols 4, etc), Add to Body Rolls to resist damage, and use for Full Defense/Dodge

Target Numbers for combat are 4 for Melee
For Ranged, Short = 3, Medium = 4, Long = 5, Extreme = 6

Armour contributes by subtracting half from the Modified DV


Magic is also a little bit different. You have a magic pool of (Willpower + Magic + [Drain Stat]) / 3 which refreshes at the beginning of every action.

You can add to magic skill up to rating (4 dice for Sorcery 4), Add to resist drain, Use for counter spelling. Magic Target Numbers are 5

You resist drain using Willpower + Magic Pool exclusively

[Big Mek Adam]

How many points does it cost to get a Skill Specialization? Still 2pts, as in the normal rules, or is it only 1pt now? Since I'm using my Negative Quality points to get it, I'm unsure how it's supposed to work.

Also, wahwahwah, can't be an ork without taking at least Heritage C. Oh well.

[fastjack]

Since negative qualities are in BP, their bonus is spent with BP too - so, itd be two points

[Big Mek Adam]

That makes sense, but it's very slightly frustrating, because there doesn't seem to be a way to get Specializations otherwise. In order to personalize my character with a multitude of specialties, I need to sacrifice some Positive Qualities? That seems...I dunno, a bit restrictive. I guess Specialties can be slightly OP, though, since you're only paying half price for a huge specific bonus in the normal rules. I'll have to rework my skills to make things fit...

EDIT: Am I limited in my Knowledges/Languages by the free points granted in this build system, or can I still spend more points on extras above and beyond my 12 points?

[fastjack]

Actually i would now just sit tight waiting for him to respond - saw the GM poking in over on another topic

[cleggster]

Another thing I should point out is that the heritage points can also be spent on Qualities. ;D Also, just to be nice I am offering your Logic in skill points to spend on a language or language's, for free. This is more of a plot thing than a rules thing.

Also, about specializations. I think I might amend that a little. Think of it this way. The specialization that you have to take negative Quality's for are more enhancements. To actually specialize, you add 1 to the specialty while subtracting 1 from the base skill. In other words you take Industrial Mechanic at 5, then specialize in Robotics. You would have Industrial Mechanic 4 (Robotics) 6.

The enhancement add +2 with no loss to the base skill. But it cost BP. Which you have to take a negative Quality for. Oh, and no, you can't combine the two. Only 1 specialize/enhance per skill.

[cleggster]

Ok, just to clarify. The points you get from taking negative qualities can ONLY be spent on positive qualities. There are no Build Points being used here. The enhancement thing is just something I am throwing out there for people to play with. But that is the exception to the rule.

Also, there is a mistake in initiative up there. Take the extra initiative passes and MULTIPLY it by 2. Not add. Makes each initiative enchantments much more valuable.