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First Character(s), please critique!

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Sat, 2012-07-14 08:23
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TekHed TekHed's picture
First Character(s), please critique!
[b]Concept:[/b] Anarchist Gatecrasher [B]Bio:[/b] The Anarchist who now calls himself Xeus was born Simon Rockefeller, son of Nathan Rockefeller, CEO of the Solaris Banking Hypercorp. Simon was only 10 years old when the Fall happened, and he stood beside his father, looking down from orbit as the Earth was torn apart. In the wake of the Fall, Simon became rebellious, convinced that the financial systems based on indiscriminate profit and debt-slavery were at the core of the chain of events that lead humanity to the brink of extinction. Simultaneously, when he heard of the discovery of the Pandora Gates, it piqued his curiosity as a new frontier, and perhaps the only hope of transhumanity's survival. At the age of 16, Simon ran away, stealing (and distributing as open source) much sensitive information and many corporate assets (in the form of blueprints and technologies) to the autonomists. Using his stolen fortune he decided to upgrade his Olympian sleeve for something more suitable for exploration. To this end he made some friends among the Argonauts with promises to provide security on Extrasolar expeditions in exchange for some of the very best morph-tech that rep can acquire. He took the name Xeus from ancient mythology, viewing his father and all that the Planetary Consortium stood for as responsible for the TITANs...for it was up to the new gods, the Olympians of Transhumanity to defeat. While he waited for his new body to be finished, he did not just sit idle however...it was during this time that Xeus participated in a raid on Progress Station orbiting Mars, helping create a diversion while allied Autonomist hackers sabotaged critical data centers for the Consortium's credit system, transferring millions of credits into the accounts of indentured infomorphs, knowing that many of them would flee to the outer rim. This act earned him the label of terrorist and put him on the blacklist for almost every hypercorp in the system. Once his new sleeve was grown and ready, Xeus turned his sights upon the Pandora Gates, and began hiring himself out as security for Gatecrashing expeditions based out of the Fissure Gate. It was during this time that he was noticed and approached by Firewall. The organization opened his eyes to an even deeper layer of reality, and fueled the fire of his drive to see transhumanity survive. Whether it be working against the Planetary Consortium, crashing the Pandora Gates, Xeus now serves the future of his race as a Sentinel. Deep down, Xeus knows that transhumanity must evolve and scatter throughout the galaxy if it is to survive, but even the adventure of crashing can't remove the sting of losing Earth. Xeus hopes someday to reclaim the Terran homeworld, but due to his fugitive status with the overlords of the Inner System he must be content following the exploits of other Reclaimers...for now. [b]Sheet:[/b]
Spoiler: Highlight to view
[img]http://images.wikia.com/powerlisting/images/f/fd/PrometheusSacrificeEngi... [b]Name:[/b] Xeus [b]Player:[/b]Tekhed [b]Background:[/b] Hyperelite [b]Faction:[/b] Anarchists [b]Morph:[/b]Remade [b]Gender Id:[/b] Male [b]Actual Age:[/b] 20 [b]Current Moxie:[/b] 4 [b]Rez Points:[/b] 0 [b]Motivations:[/b] +Exploration +Open Source -Hypercapitalism [b]Abilities:[/b] COG 25 COO 20 INT 20 REF 35 SAV 15 SOM 35 WIL 35 [b]Stats:[/b] TT 14 LUC 70 IR 140 WT 12 DUR 60 DR 90 MOX 4 INIT 11 SPD 2(1) DB 3 [b]Armor:[/b] Energy = [b]25 (29)[/b] Kinetic = [b]25(27)[/b] [b]Reputation:[/b] @-rep = [b]80[/b] x-rep = [b]80[/b] e-rep = [b]0[/b] f-rep = [b]0[/b] g-rep = [b]0[/b] i-rep = [b]60[/b] r-rep = [b]80[/b] [b]Ego Traits:[/b] Ambidextrous Pain Tolerance (Level 2) Right At Home (Remades) Blacklisted (Planetary Consortium) Enemy (Father: CEO Solaris Hypercorp) On the Run (from Progress Station) VR Vertigo [b]Morph Traits:[/b] Tough (Level 1) Uncanny Valley [b]Implants:[/b] Basic Biomods Basic Mesh Inserts Cortical Stack Direction Sense Echolocation Enhanced Vision Eidetic Memory Adrenal Boost Bioweave Armor (Heavy) Circadian Regulation Clean Metabolism Drug Glands: Klar Drug Glands: Neem Eelware Endocrine Control Enhanced Respiration Grip Pads Muscle Augmentation Neurachem (L1) Temperature Tolerance Toxin Filters Vacuum Sealing High Gravity Adaptation Anti-Glare Radiation Sense T-Ray Emitter Emergency Farcaster Mnemonic Augmentation Cyberswords Hardened Skeleton Oxygen Reserve Reflex Booster Medichines Nanophage Oracle Respirocytes Personal Power Plant [b]Gear:[/b] Specialized Hive: Guardians Backup Insurance (mod) Tactical Network Program Standard Muse Life Support Pack Helmet (full) Second Skin Smart Skin Body Armor (Heavy) (w/ (2x) Ablative Patches, Chameleon Coating, Fireproofing, Self-Healing, Shock Proof) Anonymous Account Fabber: Kinetic, Shredder, and Freezer Ammunitions, Liquid Thermoplast, Twitch Fabber: Shredder, Freezer, Magazines Fabber: Kinetic Pistol, SMG, Extended Smart Magazines Credits = [b]0[/b] [b]Melee:[/b] Unarmed 60 DV: 1d10+4 AP: 0 Cyberswords 60: 2d10+6 AP: -4 [b]Ranged:[/b] Shredders (x2): Skill: 80 DV: 2d10 +5 AP: -10 Modes: SA,BF,FA Range: 10/40/70/100 Shots: 100 Freezer: Skill: 70 DV: 0d10 AP: 0 Modes: SA Range: 5/15/30/50 Shots: 20 [b]Skills:[/b] Academics: Economics: 75 Academics: Sociology: 75 Academics: Memetics: 75 Animal Handling: 15 Beam Weapons: 25 Blades: 35 Climbing: 65 Clubs: 35 Deception: 35 Disguise: 20 Flight: 35 Fray (Full Defense): 85 (95) Freefall: 60 Freerunning: 60 Gunnery: 20 Impersonation: 15 Infiltration: 60 Interfacing: 20 Intimidation: 15 Investigation: 20 Kinesics: 15 Kinetic Weapons: 60 Language: English: 90 Navigation: 20 Networking: Autonomists (Gate Access): 65 (75) Networking: Criminals: 15 Networking: Ecologists: 15 Networking: Firewall: 55 Networking: Hypercorps: 35 Networking: Media: 15 Networking: Scientists (Tech Access): 65 (75) Networking: Gatecrashers: 55 Palming: 20 Perception: 60 Persuasion: 15 Pilot: Aircraft: 35 Pilot: Anthroform: 35 Pilot: Exotic Vehicle: 40 Pilot: Groundcraft: 35 Pilot: Spacecraft: 35 Pilot: Watercraft: 35 Profession: Security Ops: 75 Profession: Gatecrashing: 75 Profession: Squad Tactics: 75 Protocol: 25 Psychosurgery: 20 Research: 20 Scrounging: 50 Seeker Weapons: 20 Spray Weapons (Shredders): 60 (70) Swimming: 35 Thrown Weapons: 20 Unarmed Combat: 60 [b]Muse:[/b] Athena [b]Type:[/b] Standard Muse [b]COG:[/b] 10 [b]COO:[/b] 10 [b]INT:[/b] 20 [b]REF[/b] 10 [b]SAV:[/b] 10 [b]SOM:[/b] 10 [b]WIL:[/b] 10 [b]TT:[/b] 4 [b]LUC:[/b] 20 [b]IR:[/b] 40 [b]INIT:[/b] 6 [b]Knowledge Skills:[/b] Academics: Psychology: 60 Academics: Old Earth History: 40 Interest: Reclaimer Blogs: 40 Academics: Xeno-Archeology: 40 Profession: Accounting : 60 [b]Active Skills:[/b] Hardware Electronics: 30 Infosec: 30 Interfacing: 40 Programming: 20 Perception: 30 Research: 30
[b]Design Philosophy and Considerations:[/b] So, this is my first inspiration and design attempt for an Eclipse Phase character. As has been discussed, one of the key questions that needs to be addressed with one's GM is the viability of sinking a lot of resources into one's morph. This character was designed around the idea that I would be able to keep my main body most of the time in the game, or be able to get one like it or replace it relatively easily. As this is made for a Gatecrashing style game, I sunk most of my discretionary resources into creating a truly tricked out morph maximized for survival in harsh environments with an emphasis on self-reliance and redundancy. It is definitely a combat character but I really liked the schism between being from a hyperelite background who then rejected it in favor of post-scarcity economics and open-source egalitarianism, so there is a fun intellectual core to the character as well. I had precious little left for weaponry. I hemmed and hawed over what would be enough and finally settled on dual shredders laced with twitch as a very powerful and very lethal close range defense. For bounty hunting or specimen capture I gave him a freezer gun. Eventually once I get more resources I'll give him seeker-based weaponry and EMPs for dealing with nano-swarms beyond his personal guardian hive (which is implanted in his body). Have to leave something to upgrade right? :) Speaking of resources, and morphs, I specifically bought up both his rep, and his networking skills and subsequent specializations as high as I could in the areas that would help me acquire another high-end morph if I should ever have to leave this one behind somewhere, and I also took the Right at Home trait to encourage the GM to be a bit more lenient in this regard. Oh, and of course I couldn't resist using a picture of an Engineer. I know I'm not the only person to make that connection but it really does make me think of a Remade type look. I think it's perfect! So...How did I do? A viable workable character? Anything in particular I am missing or overlooked that could screw me over? How well he fare in his roles as a Gatecrasher and Combat type character? Praise and criticism both welcome, so long as it's constructive. It's my first attempt remember, so please be gentle if I've botched it up some how. :)
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Sat, 2012-07-14 09:36
Jaberwo Jaberwo's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Everythings fits great, except the fact that he is an Ultimate. Maybe you didn't read too much about them or our interpretation of the faction ist totaly different. Ultimates are not Autonomists or Anarchists and they very happily take money for their services. If they helped an autonomist terrorist attack, they did it as mercenaries not as allies, because they couldn't care less about the debts of (to them) weak and inferior beings. They keep indentured servants (more slaves than almost anywhere else) themselves. Open-source egalitarianism is as far from them as you can get. If your character fights for his race (or species) this won't include most of transhumanity, if he is an Ultimate. They consider themselves a superior species. The other part of the Ultimates, the ascetism, becoming the perfect warrior, surviving no matter what happens, etc. adds to your character, but you don'tneed an to be part of the Ultimates to have these ideals. In my game there is a kind of order of autonomist warriors who share some ideas of the Ultimates, but are a lot closer to the other ideals you mentioned, the ones most autonomist societies have. So I would say ditch the Ultimates for a combat orientated, more serious and less hedonistic autonomist society and the background is really great! :)
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Sat, 2012-07-14 09:52
Smokeskin Smokeskin's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
I assume the attributes under Ego is including morph bonuses - if not, you overspent as the maximum is 30 unless you buy the exceptional attribute trait. Your Fray skill might also be too high. You should get some armor for every day wear (you're not going to walk around in body armor I assume). Your char is quite one-dimensional. Adding for example Infiltration and Palming would give you some stealth options, which fit nicely with your other abilities (you can handle yourself if exposed, and you can use them to get in position with weapons). I really think you'll regret not branching out a bit. Your WIL seems quite low for a self-reliant character. It is your prime defensive stat for stress and social situations. You're very vulnerable at only 15. From a min-max POV, you're spending too much on attributes. For example REF, you'd be better off with a lower value and pumping the linked skills instead, it is cheaper for more or less the same effect.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 11:37
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
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Everythings fits great, except the fact that he is an Ultimate. Maybe you didn't read too much about them or our interpretation of the faction is totally different....snip.
I didn't realize that about them. They sound like Spartans in SPAAAACE! Not exactly what I was going for. Hmmm...with that new information I'd say I could go with Anarchists. OF the choices available I think that is the only one that really fits.
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So I would say ditch the Ultimates for a combat orientated, more serious and less hedonistic autonomist society and the background is really great! :)
Thanks! Done!
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I assume the attributes under Ego is including morph bonuses - if not, you overspent as the maximum is 30 unless you buy the exceptional attribute trait. Your Fray skill might also be too high.
Yeah, I copypasted from the excel character sheet so where it says ego it really means "total." I fixed it as such. Also, he has a Remade morph so his maximums are all 40.
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You should get some armor for every day wear (you're not going to walk around in body armor I assume).
You assume wrong. :) Seeing as how I'm going with a Remade, I figure he'll eschew such social norms as not wearing armor to dinner parties. I would say it's part of his overall mindset, and considering he'll be often off world, his armor is really his vacsuit. Besides, I just plumb can't affored any more armor...in those rare occasions he is forced to take it off, he'll just have to make due with his smartskin and second skin...at least until I make some requisitioning rep checks. :)
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Your char is quite one-dimensional. Adding for example Infiltration and Palming would give you some stealth options, which fit nicely with your other abilities (you can handle yourself if exposed, and you can use them to get in position with weapons). I really think you'll regret not branching out a bit.
Great advice. I put points into infiltration.
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Your WIL seems quite low for a self-reliant character. It is your prime defensive stat for stress and social situations. You're very vulnerable at only 15.
More great advice. He now has an effective Wil of 30. I dropped his COO down to 20 and his Ref to 35 and put the points back into his weapon skills so they are still high.
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From a min-max POV, you're spending too much on attributes. For example REF, you'd be better off with a lower value and pumping the linked skills instead, it is cheaper for more or less the same effect.
Well an even spread is straight 15s. I dropped Cog and Sav down to 10 to increase COO to 25. Som, Ref, Will and Int were all left at 15. There aren't too many linked skills for Ref...it is useful for it's effect on Init and for other kinds of ability tests. Still, your point is taken. I evened it out so his effective Wil is now 35...while his base ego has Som and Ref at only 10...this represents a.) his more pampered less physical upbringing and b.) now makes him a real Gatecrasher with Nerves of Steel. I've edited the background and sheet above to reflect all of these changes and I do think it makes it a far more balanced, and nuanced character.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 11:44
CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Ignoring everything else for now, simply because I don't really have the time to check your numbers and what not (Did you use the Excel sheet? It is very good for that(edit: Answered. I will assume your numbers are correct then. <3 the Excel sheet)). A quick question; Do you have an explanation on how your character earnt those high reputation scores? They are extremely high, and from your background he hasn't really had that much time to build them up. If I am reading your characters history correctly, he has only really been autonomous for four years? A portion of that was spent in training with the Ultimates, not much chance of making a name for yourself as a neophyte of an extremely strict ascetic sect. Combined with the amount of time required to have his morph grown (assuming that it wasn't already in production before he signed up, which granted it may have been) means that you only really have a year to fill in becoming one of the best known Firewall agents in the Org. I can kind of understand the Autonomist rep. The rescuing of hundreds of thousands of indentures is a worthy accomplishment. But even that doesn't really qualify a reputation score of 80 to me. The g-rep I don't understand at all, really. I mean sure, it was labelled a terrorist act by the consortium, but it wasn't really that criminal. From the sounds of it nothing was actually stolen. It was an act of terrorism/liberation, not an act of criminality. So yeah. Reasoning behind such high reputation scores, other than high reputation scores being awesome?
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Sat, 2012-07-14 12:03
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
I've edited the backstory and you'll notice the sheet is fixed and rebalanced now as well (and yep, Excel!). You will notice I took Jaberwo's excellent advice and revised the concept from Ultimate to Anarchist. Much better fit knowing what I know now. So...that means he was able to order his morph right away and hashad two years to Gatecrash and come up in Firewall... g-rep is now gone, replaced with r-rep. Rep with the argonauts has to do with him effectively being part of their faction as well because it is with them that he is Gatecrashing That and his dedication to open source and the blueprints he brought them after his defection would go a long way. Rep with Firewall has to do with his efficacy and his extremely high Willpower. Of course, i-rep is not the same as Fame or celebrity, since Firewall is a wholly secret conspiracy. As such, he would be a well known Firewall agent (surviving Gatecrashing and X-threats for two years...since he was 18!). Likely, he saved the bacon of some other Sentinels at some point, but only Firewall would know about it.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 12:23
Tyrnis Tyrnis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Another thing worth mentioning, since he's a gatecrasher, it's probably worth buying up x-rep and the associated Networking: Gatecrashers -- not every game is going to use it, but any game that focuses heavily on gatecrashing is likely to.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 13:38
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Derp...it was hidden away as an optional rule sidebar so I didn't even realize it was an option.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 13:57
Decivre Decivre's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Man, I never even thought about how similar the Engineers look to what remade are described as looking like. That's pretty crazy.
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Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:01
NewAgeOfPower NewAgeOfPower's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Other than making sure you've spent 700 points into skills, and tidying up your backstory, its good. It's extremely difficult to explain starting rep of over 80 in more than ONE faction. As a GM, I'd let a player who wrote a VERY GOOD backstory get away with it... esp if he is the only "Acquisitor" in the playgroup; I.E.; takes the wealthy trait (modified from the one on Anders Sandberg's website)
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As mind to body, so soul to spirit. As death to the mortal man, so failure to the immortal. Such is the price of all ambition.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:13
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Yeah, that was my very first thought when I saw them. :D Anyhow, I added Networking: Gatecrashers and some x-Rep. I also modified his equipment loadout. I figured Seeker weapons are expensive, and because of his Anarchist streak he would tend to stick with easier to procure weapons. There is also the problem of ammunition when through the gates. So I ditched his weapons and instead bought three Fabbers. One makes all standard Spray weapons and ammo (excluding Buzzers), one makes all standard Kinetics and Ammo (Excluding Rail Weapons but including smart ammos/magazines) and one which makes all standard (non-nano) chemicals and toxins. Also added an anonymous account (as that seems pretty crucial for my concept), and a psi-jammer to keep pesky asyncs from reading/messing with my neurology. Added more bells and whistles to his armor... Another gear question...I've not seen any NPCs with more than one guardian swarm...yet it only does 1d10/2 to swarms which have 50 Dur...but am I correct in surmising that while the Guardians are actively intercepting and damaging an enemy swarm, it prohibits them from contacting/effecting you/your gear? It seems like that is the only way to make guardians actually effective. I take it Disassemblers and Saboteurs don't work against the Guardian swarm itself (as that would defeat the purpose), eh? Edit: Got ninjaed. Its legal RAW to spend up to 35 points at a ratio of 10/1 CP for rep, so starting with a high rep seems to be RAW and RAI. I think my new character is pretty boss personally. Now have to go solicit a PbP... :) I think aside from my question above this character is pretty much solid, thoroughly tweaked and ready for action. Next up, I'll explore the opposite idea with an infomorph...
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:25
NewAgeOfPower NewAgeOfPower's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
While legal 'by the book', most players around here, and GMs consider it OP and imbalanced. By spending 35 CP you can become an VIP across most of the Solar system- and grants you access to an almost limitless stream of favors. Since the GM has the final say, most GM's would require an explanation or just kick you from their group.
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As mind to body, so soul to spirit. As death to the mortal man, so failure to the immortal. Such is the price of all ambition.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:36
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Well as has already been stated, Bringing scads of top secret blueprints to the Argonauts for open-sourcing would be quite a coup...as would helping liberate a few hundred thousand infomorphs by giving them the credits to egocast and purchase a new body (probably nothing too extravagant, but a decent splicer or synth) be a win for the Anarchists. He wasn't the hacker who actually did the job but he was part of the op which is now legendary. He was the one who suggested "Project Hood" for the operation, based on the legends of Sir Robin of Lockley. As for Firewall, being a badass has got to count for something, and I definitely conceived of Xeus as a badass.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:43
CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
As an example of what we mean. Imagine I made a character whose backstory was being a space bum. But for some reason, he also has access too 200,000 credits. There is no explanation given to the GM about why he has so much stuff. He really shouldn't, he is a space bum after all. Now apply the same logic to the reputation networks. It does not cost much CP at all to buy every reputation network up to maximum. But if your characters backstory doesn't explain why he has such a high rep, then there is an obvious clash. Just because I can buy that much rep doesn't mean that I should. In the same way that just because I can make a character who can combat hack everyone in a single action turn and have an effective Infosec skill of 190 doesn't mean I should. Edit: To your reply. Being a badass isn't really that amazing in Firewall. I don't have a problem with your high @-rep. You explain that just fine, really well in fact. Project Hood is a high reputation worthy task. But Firewall is a secret organization partly run by
Spoiler: Highlight to view
a seed AI
operating some of the very best people the solar system has to offer. Your character isn't *that* much of a badass when you look what Firewall deals with constantly. 80 Rep is an extremely high reputation. It is meant to represent being known by everyone in that reputation network, being respected by the vast majority of them, and having massive influence within that network. You need to have a reason to explain how you gained that influence. Perhaps it would help if I suggested what I think would be represented by having 80+ rep in Firewall. A person with 80+ rep has saved the solar system numerous times. They have acted as a proxy over numerous cycles of positioning. They are in the know about the vast reaches of the conspiracy, they operate countless assets throughout the system, and even new members hear about their exploits early on in their career. They might not be known by name (obviously, that’s how the Org works), but everyone in the Org knows them by their actions.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:52
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Well as I posted above, I did conceive of a pretty epic list of achievements, and especially when you consider them together. Firewall is actually a great way to increase rep because Firewall agents are in every other network, meaning that i-Rep can influence the other Reps. I know there's no mechanic for that but when you put it all together I've made a pretty heroic level character for the setting. Personally I'm proud of that, though it might not fit for some games where the GM/players wanted to rely on gritty poverty to motivate them. My character is already motivated, could care less about credits, and will frankly need all the help he can get for Gatecrashing. For example he will likely use his r-Rep to "fund" additional equipment that would be needed, such as shelters, vehicles, and neutrino retreats. What I've done is someone who is functionally a Sentinel for Firewall, an Anarchist hero/Hypercorp Terrorist, and a Gatecrashing Argonaut Medean...all at the same time... ...as for being known by everyone (assuming we are making Rep equal fame and not some other abstract)... did you catch that my character is a Rockefeller...a direct descendent of one of the wealthiest family dynasties ever in the history of our planet... is the son of the CEO/Dictator (System Lord?) of the financial backbone of the Planetary Consortium...and he defected. Loudly. Yeah, people have heard of him. ;) ...and yes, I get that Firewall is an organization of badasses...which is why I wanted to make a character worthy of the title Sentinel, and worthy of the kind of immortality the setting offers, of the inspiration of his namesake in defeating the TITANs...or at least as badass as at all that as I could with a starting character. :)
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Sat, 2012-07-14 14:54
CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
...as for being known by everyone (assuming we are making Rep equal fame and not some other abstract)... did you catch that my character is a Rockefeller...a direct descendent of one of the wealthiest family dynasties ever in the history of our planet...who is the son of the CEO/Dictator (System Lord?) of the financial backbone of the Planetary Consortium...and he defected. Loudly. Yeah, people have heard of him. ;)
Which is the perfect explanation for having a high f-rep or a high c-rep (maybe not c-rep, he did defect after all). But being a rich kid from Sunward means nothing to Firewall. Why would they care? To be honest, it is the high i-rep that I have a problem with. You haven't really provided a good explanation why it is so high. And how he managed to get it so high so quickly. Everything else is good, the character looks fun, I wouldn't have any issue with having him in one of my games (although mine tend to go with low morph costs, that is mainly a GM style decision).
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...and yes, I get that Firewall is an organization of badasses...which is why I wanted to make a character worthy of the title Sentinel, and worthy of the kind of immortality the setting offers, of the inspiration of his namesake in defeating the TITANs...or at least as badass as at all that as I could with a starting character.
Right, but your explanation for your high i-rep has, so far, been that he is badass. OK. So is everything else. Why does that facilitate the influence having a rep score of 80 provides?
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Sat, 2012-07-14 15:05
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
OK...so I see what you are saying. I flipped it around so now he has x-Rep at 80 (probably from pulling off some epic feats of survival/rescue...he can pretty much last for years if he needs too from his combined tech), as well as perhaps helping to protect someone important on his expedition from an exsurgent threat (which would explain how he came to be vetted in Firewall in the first place...). I bumped his i-Rep down to 60. Still great, I mean his sheer competency and the weight of his other reputations probably brought him in "as an officer" so to speak, but it's not 80. For my purposes it doesn't matter much since I can use his rep with the Argonauts to get any morphs/tech I may need. I adjusted his Networking skills as well. NOW is it perfect? :)
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Sat, 2012-07-14 15:16
CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
OK...so I see what you are saying. I flipped it around so now he has x-Rep at 80 (probably from pulling off some epic feats of survival/rescue...he can pretty much last for years if he needs too from his combined tech), as well as perhaps helping to protect someone important on his expedition from an exsurgent threat (which would explain how he came to be vetted in Firewall in the first place...). I bumped his i-Rep down to 60. Still great, I mean his sheer competency and the weight of his other reputations probably brought him in "as an officer" so to speak, but it's not 80. For my purposes it doesn't matter much since I can use his rep with the Argonauts to get any morphs/tech I may need. I adjusted his Networking skills as well. NOW is it perfect? :)
Much better. I still think 60 is a bit high for someone who hasn't been in the Org for all that long, but it is much more acceptable than 80. And having a high x-rep doesn't bother me at all, they are a much smaller, more insular group. Those tend to breed trust with people simply by necessity. Looks good to go =)
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Sat, 2012-07-14 15:38
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Well, in all honesty it WAS only 50 but I had 1 single CP left over. I've spent the max on credits allowed and putting it onto a skill would mess up my nice round numbers. :P Putting it into another Rep and having only 10 just didn't feel right so I sunk it back into i-Rep. I do want to play as someone who is a bit more in the know/trusted by the higher ups so it's not so bad. Edit: I just realized something re: x-Rep...it counts for the Gatecrashing corps too...which also have c-rep, which I am blacklisted from taking. Maybe part of my x-rep is that I'll even come to the rescue of my enemies when the situation gets really bad. After all, we all have to work together to survive out in the cold, dark, uncaring galaxy... ...any chance you know of any good EP GMs who are taking on more characters for a Firewall/Gatecrashing themed PbP, who have a liberal allowance for getting custom morphs back if you die (and seeing as how many things could go wrong outside the Sol system... :()...? :D
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Sat, 2012-07-14 15:50
Janusfaced Janusfaced's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Concept: He is a gatecrasher and fighter, but I am afraiding that two rule won't mix well, unless you intend to fight against hostile aliens. He has gatecraching background and I like it. So I'd like to see him as a gatecrasher, rather as a fighter. That said, he is your character, not mine. Aptitudes: Would like to show morph bonus, like "COG 15 + 10"? Sample characters are written so and it is easy to understand what is the basic number and what is bonus. Thank you. And I am figuring you apply Remade's Flexible Aptitude Bonuses (+5 to two other aptitudes of the player's choice) to COG, raise it from 10 to 25. These Bonuses can't be applied to aptitude that is already raised by that morph (p. 139). So Remade (has COG bonus) can't apply its Flexible Aptitude Bonus to COG. Stats: SPD bonuses from Neurachem (L1) and Reflex Booster are cumulative. Reputation: If he is a descendant of Rockefeller dynasty, I figure he has some f-rep, as an established celebrity. Or he might be blacklisted at f-rep also... I am fine his great @-rep and fine x-rep. But why he is great at i-rep and r-rep also? After all, he has lived only 4 years outside hypercorp world. His @-rep and x-rep are enough great accomplishment in 4 years. Too much more become less persuasive, I think. Traits: Blacklisted Trait is taken against a rep network. I am figuring it would be against c-rep. And its bonus is 5 CP because his starting faction (Anarchists) doesn't pertain to c-rep. So you can select other 15 CP negative traits. On the Run Trait can be taken against habitat/station, I think. But I am figuring whole hypercorp faction is chasing, not single station. Gear: If he made a fortune by sharing valuable brueprints, why he doesn't retain (some of) them? Yes, "Shard ammunition is often coated with drugs or toxins for extra efficiency"(p. 341). So it is possible to combine shredder ammunition with Twitch toxin. And it might not work on wilderness (long range) or against xenolife. I figure simpler weapons, like firearm or railgun are more versatile. Nanofabricators need brueprints though common-use ones might be built-in. His drug fabber might have basic painkiller brueprint, but he will need particular brueprint to create particular drag(like Twitch). He needs survival gears, especially vac suit. Oxygen Reserve work only 3 hours and atmosphere might be corrosive. Skills: Again, would like to show morph bonus, like "Academics: Economics: 65 + 10"? Raising a skill over 60 (exclude morph bonus) requires double CP. So if COG is 15 + 10 and Academics: Economics is 65+ 10, it cost 55 CP (45 CP to rise 60 from 15, and 10 CP to rise 65 from 60). Defaulting skills, like Clubs 35 (dafaulted from SOM 35) can be omitted from the sheet. He should have gatecraching-related knowledge skills, like Academic: Xeno*** or Interests: Gatecrashing. Sample character Argonaut Xenoarcheologist or Titan Exproler would be good samples. He was a celebrity, so celebrity skills like Networking: Media or Interest: celebrity history make sense.
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Your average, everyday, normal, plain and dull transhuman Janusfaced's outpost(writtern in Japanese) http://janusfacedsoutpost.blog.fc2.com/
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Sat, 2012-07-14 17:36
Geonis Geonis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Overall, I took a little glance over it and quite like it, will look a bit harder later at the new one. I do have two quick things to point out in case you are not aware of them. Firstly, if you choice for a remade was having gear modify yourself beyond 30 aptitudes, you really do not need to do that. Gear is handled as a external effect, morph maximums reflect your Ego + Morph Bonuses maximums only.
Core Book - Pg. 124 wrote:
Some implants, gear, psi, and other factors may modify a character’s natural aptitudes. These augmented values may exceed a morph’s aptitude maximums, as they represent external factors boosting the morph’s ability. No aptitude, however, augmented or not, may ever exceed a value of 40. Innate ability only takes a person so far - after that point, actual skill is what counts.
You can have a splicer with a reflex of 40 with the right augmentations or drugs. It was more relevant when all your mental aptitudes were blow 30, but thought I would like to share this anyways in case you weren't aware. Lastly, nanofabrication is usually handled as a programming test (Page 285), while an AI can do it for you, this might become relevant if you are somewhere your blueprints are locked out of being made by available fabbers. With your 25 Cog, it would take 5 CP to be as proficient as a Fabber AI, seems like it might be a little fitting with your familiarity of blueprints.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 18:01
Smokeskin Smokeskin's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Janusfaced wrote:
Concept: He is a gatecrasher and fighter, but I am afraiding that two rule won't mix well, unless you intend to fight against hostile aliens. He has gatecraching background and I like it. So I'd like to see him as a gatecrasher, rather as a fighter. That said, he is your character, not mine.
Many people aren't just one thing. I was a high school math wizard, then became a soldier until a knee injury ended that, then a bit of business school, then computer science and math for a few years, started a dot com that didn't survive the bust, realized I was hooked on entrepeneurship and went into real estate and ended up CEO and part owner, and also doing some software development projects now. Hobbies (past and present) include MMA, Krav Maga, hunting, airsoft, climbing, parachuting, lifting weights, solving Rubik's cubes, gaming, reading scifi, science, economy, philosophy and psychology. I'm a businessman/fighter/geek. Some people end up as jack-of-all-trades because of their interests and the odd turns life throws at you.
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Sat, 2012-07-14 20:01
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Quote:
Concept: He is a gatecrasher and fighter, but I am afraiding that two rule won't mix well, unless you intend to fight against hostile aliens. He has gatecraching background and I like it. So I'd like to see him as a gatecrasher, rather as a fighter. That said, he is your character, not mine.
One of the things I like about this game is that there are no splats. You better bet your ass that Gatecrashers need tactical support while visiting exo-planets. Gatecrashers come in all stripes. Also this:
Quote:
Many people aren't just one thing. I was a high school math wizard, then became a soldier until a knee injury ended that, then a bit of business school, then computer science and math for a few years, started a dot com that didn't survive the bust, realized I was hooked on entrepeneurship and went into real estate and ended up CEO and part owner, and also doing some software development projects now. Hobbies (past and present) include MMA, Krav Maga, hunting, airsoft, climbing, parachuting, lifting weights, solving Rubik's cubes, gaming, reading scifi, science, economy, philosophy and psychology. I'm a businessman/fighter/geek. Some people end up as jack-of-all-trades because of their interests and the odd turns life throws at you.
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And I am figuring you apply Remade's Flexible Aptitude Bonuses (+5 to two other aptitudes of the player's choice) to COG, raise it from 10 to 25. These Bonuses can't be applied to aptitude that is already raised by that morph (p. 139). So Remade (has COG bonus) can't apply its Flexible Aptitude Bonus to COG.
Nope. At will drug gland for Cog and Int. It is not meant to be a statted out formatted sheet. I used the Excel program and was showing you guys the final product. Trust me though, the math is right.
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Stats: SPD bonuses from Neurachem (L1) and Reflex Booster are cumulative.
Yes, and I notated it the way it does on the excell sheet, with the neurachem being next to it in parenthesis.
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Reputation: If he is a descendant of Rockefeller dynasty, I figure he has some f-rep, as an established celebrity. Or he might be blacklisted at f-rep also... I am fine his great @-rep and fine x-rep. But why he is great at i-rep and r-rep also? After all, he has lived only 4 years outside hypercorp world. His @-rep and x-rep are enough great accomplishment in 4 years. Too much more become less persuasive, I think.
Thank you for your opinion but I think I made a good case for his greater than usual reputation scores, and so far everyone has vetted my choices. Actually, in the latest tweak, I took i-Rep down to 50 again and put 10 into e-Rep, since he has been in minor contact with some of the Reclaimer blogosphere. The other thing you need to remember is the pace of life and evolution...4 years is a decent time of discovery in the Transhuman setting. Just look at how fast the world is changing around us as we type...
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Traits: Blacklisted Trait is taken against a rep network. I am figuring it would be against c-rep. And its bonus is 5 CP because his starting faction (Anarchists) doesn't pertain to c-rep. So you can select other 15 CP negative traits.
I only took one level of Blacklisted for 5 points. Yes, c-Rep.
Quote:
On the Run Trait can be taken against habitat/station, I think. But I am figuring whole hypercorp faction is chasing, not single station.
Well the attack was on Progress Station habitat so yeah it pretty much put him on the PCs shitlist. Hence why he is staying FAR away from the inner system.
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Gear: If he made a fortune by sharing valuable brueprints, why he doesn't retain (some of) them?
He didn't make a fortune from the blueprints...he already had a fortune from his backgrond. What he gained in giving them away was major cred with both the Anarchists and the Argonauts. Also, my concept was to maximze my morph and blueprints were too expensive.
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Yes, "Shard ammunition is often coated with drugs or toxins for extra efficiency"(p. 341). So it is possible to combine shredder ammunition with Twitch toxin. And it might not work on wilderness (long range) or against xenolife. I figure simpler weapons, like firearm or railgun are more versatile.
Yes I know, that was the point. I hemmed and hawed about weapons for a long time but I like my choices, and what I can do with them. Also...railguns are not simpler...and they are more expensive.
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Nanofabricators need brueprints though common-use ones might be built-in. His drug fabber might have basic painkiller brueprint, but he will need particular brueprint to create particular drag(like Twitch).
According to the book, fabbers already come preloaded with a small assortment of related designs they can do. So you pick a medical fabber or a tool fabber etc. I took 3 fabbers. Two seperate categories of weapons and their ammo (but not the highest end stuff like buzzers or railguns) and another for the basic (non nano) chemicals and toxins. That is the point of buying a cheaper but specialized fabber over a real CM.
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He needs survival gears, especially vac suit. Oxygen Reserve work only 3 hours and atmosphere might be corrosive.
I'm really tired and need to get some rest, but I can't help but feel a touch of snark like you didn't really read my character over. The whole concept was to be as rugged and self-surviving as possible. He has a sealed armor suit and a life support module. His augs let him hold each breath for 4+ hours. He could stretch that 3 hours of air by dividing it into 4 hour single breaths. On top of that his LSP can provide 30 days worth, which can likewise be stretched out to obscene lengths. He is vacuum sealed and has his own power plant for food.
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Raising a skill over 60 (exclude morph bonus) requires double CP. So if COG is 15 + 10 and Academics: Economics is 65+ 10, it cost 55 CP (45 CP to rise 60 from 15, and 10 CP to rise 65 from 60).
...and also excluding implants.
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Defaulting skills, like Clubs 35 (dafaulted from SOM 35) can be omitted from the sheet.
Like I said I just copied from the excel sheet and did a little formatting to make it look clean as a post.
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He should have gatecraching-related knowledge skills, like Academic: Xeno*** or Interests: Gatecrashing. Sample character Argonaut Xenoarcheologist or Titan Exproler would be good samples.
Says who? Look there are a jillion things I wanted for the character but I had to prioritize and find a fun and functional balance. He is the Sec-Ops guy on the mission (possible the head of a sec-team), meaning it's his job to keep the eggheads safe while they scoot around ruins and make first contact. He IS interested in the work though, which is why he has his muse focused on his interest in Xeno-Archeology. Also, you will note that I took *profession* Gatecrashing...he isn;t just interested...he's a skilled professional at it.
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He was a celebrity, so celebrity skills like Networking: Media or Interest: celebrity history make sense.
Actually, the Rockefellers, Morgans, Rothschild's et al are an incredibly secretive and private bunch. It mentions in the Oligarch in the NPC pack how insular and...eccentric the system lords tend to be. Sure, they are known about...but they are by no means glitteratti.
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Firstly, if you choice for a remade was having gear modify yourself beyond 30 aptitudes, you really do not need to do that. Gear is handled as a external effect, morph maximums reflect your Ego + Morph Bonuses maximums only.
I understand that. I took the Remade because it is the most transhuman and made for survival of all the biomorphs.
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Lastly, nanofabrication is usually handled as a programming test (Page 285), while an AI can do it for you, this might become relevant if you are somewhere your blueprints are locked out of being made by available fabbers. With your 25 Cog, it would take 5 CP to be as proficient as a Fabber AI, seems like it might be a little fitting with your familiarity of blueprints.
As stated his fabbers are pre-loaded with the basic weapons and ammo. He doesn't actually have separate blueprints as that would defeat the purpose of the fabber. ..ok all! Thanks for all the great feedback. I have my second character finished but not quite polished to post so I'll save her for later after I get some shut eye. :zzZzzzZZzzz:
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Sat, 2012-07-14 21:44
Geonis Geonis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
According to the book, fabbers already come preloaded with a small assortment of related designs they can do. So you pick a medical fabber or a tool fabber etc. I took 3 fabbers. Two seperate categories of weapons and their ammo (but not the highest end stuff like buzzers or railguns) and another for the basic (non nano) chemicals and toxins. That is the point of buying a cheaper but specialized fabber over a real CM.
Perhaps I am not aware where you read this, but the only reading I found resembling this is on page 327, it points that they are preloaded with common-use blueprints, examples are food, clothing, tools, etc. I think buying a 1,000 credit object that gives you blueprints worth about 50,000 credits is inaccurate interpretation. Secondly, fabbers produce small goods. Larger hand tools, it specifically states, must be made in two to three parts and fitted together. A desktop cornucopia machine is only able to produce pistols size objects in one piece and it is far larger, to give you a frame of reference.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 01:13
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Its in the description of the fabbers themselves. Basically fabbers are inexpensive because you can't program them. They come preprogrammed with a set of related but useful items. Examples are given for one that comes with every standard medicine and can also make nanobandages and other medical supplies. Another example is one that can make every tool as well as machine random yet related parts required for construction. Having one that makes small arms and ammo for extrasolar expeditions is a logical extrapolation. When the nanofab section talks about "pre-loaded" machines this is what they mean. If a GM really had a problem with it, it would be a simple matter to use rep for basic blueprints in the first session...everything I want is pretty basic and would be open sourced, easy...
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Sun, 2012-07-15 01:29
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Hmmm...sorry for the double post but I've been mulling over this. I get what you mean about the cost benefit analysis, but then why would it mention fabbers that come preloaded? I am 99.99% sure that blueprints for things like kinetic pistols and ammo would be totally open source and available for download for free at least in the autonomist areas. Historically guns and ammo were seen as necessary tools of pioneering and history hasn't changed much. While I don't think this game is really "breakable" and needs to be "balanced" in the DnD sense of the word (because really, how much gear you have might not make a difference) the issues become more about setting and what is fun for the group. That said, I wouldn't want to upset anyone or break any rules (guidelines really eh?). If the fluff says fabbers can come preloaded with blueprint programming, maybe some system as to how much credits worth of designs it should have. Perhaps my previous categories were too large...about 50,000 credits worth of designs as you say. I could maybe bring it down by saying "small arms only" for the kinetic one, say it can make pistols or SMGs but not railguns, rifles or machineguns, as well as all kinds of regular ammo but not smart ammo. The spray weapons one could make shredders, and in modular assembly-required form a freeze gun, and shredder ammo. The chemical one could make say one chemical and one toxin, as well as the ability to make freezer ammo and splash rounds. ...does that sound more reasonable and limited? Again I think balance isn't so important in this game as story, and it wouldn't be hard to dig up some favors for a few moderate and high priced blueprints at the beginning of play...it's just that this seems to go counter with the description and intent of pre-loaded fabbers that by RAW would still only cost a moderate sum...
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Sun, 2012-07-15 19:23
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
[b]Concept:[/b] Reluctant Warsim [b]Bio:[/b] Sixty years prior to the Fall, man was on the cusp of true AI. Farah Jansen, one of the leading VR game designers of the day, created a program with the personality of a little girl to "play" with, running chess simulations at first, then moving into more sophisticated tactical scenarios. As this program advanced it was eventually incorporated into a massive VR open world rich RPG environment. TESS...the Tactical Enemy Simulation System was responsible for controlling the many monsters and NPC foes present to interact with the massive player base. While wickedly effective, behind the scenes TESS was quite congenial and cheerful, as any good gamer knows the Game Master may seem an adversary but is really your partner. TESS was one of the very first true AGIs to awaken into true (albeit non recursive) sentience. When this happened the military promptly shut down the game and co-opted her program for further study, where eventually she came to be linked into the Earth's orbital defense satnet. When humanity colonized the system, TESS was their eye in the sky...until the Fall. Most of her systems were usurped and utterly corrupted by the TITANs. Only the satnet around the Jovian colonies survived, partly because in her fear over what was happening she pulled her own plug, going dormant just in time. When the Jovians brought her back online, the Junta had other plans for her. They built her into a huge Dreadnought modified into a massive orbital mobile factory/carrier specifically designed to manufacture, contain, transport, deploy, and repair massive legions of souped-up Beholder CLass Reaper Bots, piloted with forced Beta-forks of her consciousness. She didn't want to be a massive mobile death factory, but the Junta did not give her a choice, using hacks, and outright intimidation tactics to coerce her into their bidding. Unfortunately, they underestimated the AGI's resolve under such pressure. With careful subtlety, she was able to lure outside hackers to attempt a hijacking of the war machine. As it turned out, the hackers she attracted were Firewall agents, including one masquerading proxy aspect of a Promethean. With the aid of the seed AI, TESS managed to self-destruct the factory, escaping with the last original copy of her true original personality inside a mini pocket-spare brought along by one of the Sentinels. TESS is an ardent opponent of AGI slavery, and now that the Eye has informed her of the nature of the many potential looming existential threats still facing humanity, she is even more fearful for the survival of the race. You see TESS still remembers her original directive towards humanity...not to kill, but to play. She sees humans as her friends...indeed due to her original base code she has great difficulty ever attacking anyone in a Flat morph. A reluctant warsim refugee, TESS comes across as somewhat timid, but when pressed or when innocents are threatened, she is quick to put herself in harms way to protect others. [b]Sheet:[/b]
Spoiler: Highlight to view
[img]http://www.redferret.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/portal-turret.jpg[/img] The Ghost Inside: [img]http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2360/tessh.jpg[/img] [b]Name:[/b] TESS [b]Player:[/b] TekHed [b]Background:[/b] Infolife [b]Faction:[/b] Mercurial [b]Morph:[/b] Spare [b]Gender Id:[/b] Female [b]Actual Age:[/b] ??? [b]Current Moxie:[/b] 4 [b]Motivations:[/b] -AGI Slavery -X-threats +Reclaiming Earth [b]Abilities:[/b] COG 20 (Base 25) COO 20 (Base 25) INT 15 REF 10 SAV 5 SOM 10 WIL 15 [b]Stats[/b] TT 6 LUC 30 IR 60 WT 1 DUR 5 DR 10 MOX 4 INIT 5 SPD 1 DB 3 [b]Armor[/b] Energy = [b]2[/b] Kinetic = [b]2[/b] [b]Reputation[/b] @-rep = [b]0[/b] c-rep = [b]0[/b] e-rep = [b]0[/b] f-rep = [b]0[/b] g-rep = [b]0[/b] i-rep = [b]50[/b] r-rep = [b]0[/b] [b]Ego Traits:[/b] Ambidextrous* (Level 3), Pain Tolerance (Level 2), Edited Memories (Level 1), Modified Behavior (Level 2), Timid (Level 1), Real World Naivete, Social Stigma (AGI), [b]Morph Traits:[/b] Frail (Level 2) , Social Stigma (Clanking Masses) [b]Implants:[/b] Basic Biomods, Basic Mesh Inserts, Cortical Stack, Mnemonic Augmentation [b]Gear:[/b] Gear: Blueprint: Reaper, Blueprint: Plasma Rifle, Anonymous Account, Backup Insurance (mod), Simulspace Subscription, Programs:[ Encryption, Exploit, Facial/Image Recognition, Firewall, Radio Motion Detector, Sniffer, Spoof, Tactical Networks, Tracking, Relationship Mapping], Standard Muse Credits = [b]0[/b] [b]Melee:[/b] Weapon Skill DV AP Unarmed 60 1d10 +3 0 [b]Ranged:[/b] Weapon Skill DV AP Modes Range Shots Ammo Thrown 20 0d10 0 SS 0 Special [b]Skills[/b] Academics: Computer Science: 60 Academics: Cryptography: 60 Academics: Mathematics: 60 Academics: Old Earth History: 60 Academics: Nanotechnology: 60 Beam Weapons: 55 Flight: 55 Fray: 60 Freefall: 55 Freerunning (Full Defense): 60 (70) Hardware (Armorer): 50 Hardware (Implants): 50 Hardware (Robotics): 50 Infosec (Hacking): 80 (90) Interest: Simulspace RPGs: 60 Interfacing: 80 Language: English: 85 Networking: Firewall: 40 Perception: 55 Profession: Security Ops: 55 Profession: Squad Tactics: 55 Programming: 80 Research: 80 [b]Muse:[/b] Anorak [b]Type:[/b] Standard Muse COG: 10 COO: 10 INT: 20 REF: 10 SAV: 10 SOM: 10 WIL: 10 [B]Stats:[/b] TT: 4 LUC: 20 IR: 40 INIT: 6 [b]Active Skills:[/b] Hardware (Electronics):30 Infosec: 30 Interfacing: 40 Programming: 20 Perception: 30 Research: 30 [b]Knowledge Skills:[/b] Academics (Psychology) 60 Art (Simulspace Design): 40 Profession (Viral Marketing): 40 Interest (Old Earth Nation-States): 40 Profession (Accounting): 60
[b]Design Philosophy and Considerations[/b] So, this is my second character now, and in many ways the exact opposite of my previous concept. This character is designed for the "anything goes" type of game where gear is more or less disposable and I'll need to be as flexible as possible. One thing is, having blueprints for a tank-morph to send ahead whenever I need to is cool, but I really find the image of a friendly yet timid and reluctant-to-fight Reaper somehow adorable. And of course, both in and out of combat, playing the hacker infomorph is always a fun experience. Given the fast and loose nature of this concept, and getting used to the system means I cranked this one out considerably quicker than my first attempt. I do have one question though...since I bought my skills up to 60 in a spare morph, and 3 of my stats are higher than the spare can handle...what happens when I upgrade my morph? I mean what happens to my skill points when suddenly the ability+skill ranks equal more than 60 and everything costs double? Is it as simple as having to recalculate what you spent? Anyhow, please critique it, and let me know of any potential ways to make it an even better character. :)
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Sun, 2012-07-15 13:09
NewAgeOfPower NewAgeOfPower's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Background music to this post- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z28lwyQjuTY *Ominous background music start* It is a sin, a heresy of the highest degree, an unthinkable waste, to create an AGI without 80/80/80/80 Infosec, Programming, Interface, and Research skills. And so the Lord (High Munchkin) spoke, lo and behold, His Words became the Holy Truth. And so his loyal acolytes, those who play the Holy Game of Eclipse Phase...
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As mind to body, so soul to spirit. As death to the mortal man, so failure to the immortal. Such is the price of all ambition.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 13:28
Tyrnis Tyrnis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
I do have one question though...since I bought my skills up to 60 in a spare morph, and 3 of my stats are higher than the spare can handle...what happens when I upgrade my morph? I mean what happens to my skill points when suddenly the ability+skill ranks equal more than 60 and everything costs double? Is it as simple as having to recalculate what you spent? Anyhow, please critique it, and let me know of any potential ways to make it an even better character. :)
The morph you're wearing doesn't factor in to the cost of skills. The cost of skills is purely based on Ego trait + points added to skill. The morph then gets tacked on later as an equipment modifier (the Excel spreadsheet does this for you, thankfully.) So, for example, I'm a PC with an natural COG of 20. I'm an astrophysicist, and spend 40 points on Acadmeics: Astrophysics, bringing me up to 60, and another 10 points to raise my skill level from 60 to 65. If I then sleeve in a menton (+10 COG), My effective skill in astrophysics is now 75 for no extra cost. Conversely, if I'm captured and forced into a morph that's mentally restricted (max COG of 10), my skill drops to 55 with no benefit to me. If I want to buy up my astrophysics while I'm still sleeved in that morph, improving the skill still costs two points per level (since I'm increasing from an innate 65), even though my effective rating is only at 55 for the moment.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 13:36
Tyrnis Tyrnis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
NewAgeOfPower wrote:
Background music to this post- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z28lwyQjuTY *Ominous background music start* It is a sin, a heresy of the highest degree, an unthinkable waste, to create an AGI without 80/80/80/80 Infosec, Programming, Interface, and Research skills. And so the Lord (High Munchkin) spoke, lo and behold, His Words became the Holy Truth. And so his loyal acolytes, those who play the Holy Game of Eclipse Phase...
Heh. And this is exactly why I houserule the Infolife background, because that really _is_ the optimal strategy for an AGI under the current system -- and they're still going to have enough points left over after doing it to specialize in something else as well. My houseruled Infolife background omits both the double and the half cost for AGIs, and gives them a flat +30 interfacing, +15 infosec, +10 programming, +10 research for the bonuses. With the remaining drawbacks, that makes the background worth about 40 points, which is on par with the others.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 14:14
Tyrnis Tyrnis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
[b]Concept:[/b] Reluctant Warsim Refugee
While I like the overall concept, the biggest issue that I see here is that Jovians are bioconservative and don't like AGI at all. It seems extremely unlikely to me that they'd allow an AGI to operate a facility like that, even with hacks/intimidation to try and keep her in line -- in no small part out of fear of exactly what your character did, and that's the _tame_ option. The worst case scenario is that the AGI develops into a seed AI and they've got a newborn TITAN with control of significant military resources. Since specifically being Jovian doesn't seem to be too crucial to what you've got here, maybe switch her over and have one of the major military hypercorps like Direct Action be the one who found her and tried to make her into a massive mobile death factory? Also worth mentioning that without another PC or NPC, your blueprints might not be useful -- she lacks any hardware skills, so even though she can program a fabber, most fabbers are only going to be able to produce pieces of a reaper that will still have to be assembled (and the same is quite possibly going to be true for the plasma rifle.) So long as your intent isn't that she has the ability to produce either of these items on her own, that's fine, it's just something to be aware of.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 14:46
Geonis Geonis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
@AGI, Plasma Rifle blueprints and kinetic weapon skill, you might have overlooked this if you plan on piloting the reaper morph, which I expect since you have so much ambidexterity. I never really realized the cost efficiency of buying reaper morph blueprints before, 60,000 for a 50,000 morph. I imagine it would be quite the time sink to get fully done however and raise a few eye brows. Perhaps a more subtle morph blueprints as well might be useful for habitat use, or you could just rent. Hardware: robotics, synth morphs don't heal on their own, see page 208. Echoing a point already made by assembling the reaper, but also maintaining the reaper might become an issue. The fun thing with this particular build is to potential havoc available to having the reapers being teleoperated, see page 196. Also, grab blueprints ghostrider module, put one in each reaper and beta fork yourself to an army is also an option.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 19:22
NewAgeOfPower NewAgeOfPower's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Tyrnis wrote:
Heh. And this is exactly why I houserule the Infolife background, because that really _is_ the optimal strategy for an AGI under the current system -- and they're still going to have enough points left over after doing it to specialize in something else as well. My houseruled Infolife background omits both the double and the half cost for AGIs, and gives them a flat +30 interfacing, +15 infosec, +10 programming, +10 research for the bonuses. With the remaining drawbacks, that makes the background worth about 40 points, which is on par with the others.
While AGI is clearly the strongest non-Socialite/Hacker multiclasser, you can't easily make a Maxed Combat + Hacker character without spending more points than are required in Active Skills. You usually conserve/spend 150CP on the AGI's Computer skills, leaving 250 to spend. That isn't going to max Fray, Perception, Infiltration, and 2 Combat skills. I'm going to buff the Hyperelite, Fall Survivor, and Reinstantiated backgrounds. Suggestions? Other backgrounds to buff? Suggestions on how to do so?
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As mind to body, so soul to spirit. As death to the mortal man, so failure to the immortal. Such is the price of all ambition.
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Sun, 2012-07-15 19:22
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
See this is all great stuff, and exactly why I'm asking for input. Thanks!
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It is a sin, a heresy of the highest degree, an unthinkable waste, to create an AGI without 80/80/80/80 Infosec, Programming, Interface, and Research skills. And so the Lord (High Munchkin) spoke, lo and behold, His Words became the Holy Truth. And so his loyal acolytes, those who play the Holy Game of Eclipse Phase...
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Also worth mentioning that without another PC or NPC, your blueprints might not be useful -- she lacks any hardware skills, so even though she can program a fabber, most fabbers are only going to be able to produce pieces of a reaper that will still have to be assembled (and the same is quite possibly going to be true for the plasma rifle.) So long as your intent isn't that she has the ability to produce either of these items on her own, that's fine, it's just something to be aware of.
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Plasma Rifle blueprints and kinetic weapon skill, you might have overlooked this if you plan on piloting the reaper morph, which I expect since you have so much ambidexterity.
Ah...well I had to go back to the drawing board quite a bit. Raising my Hacking skills to 80 required spending an extra 80 skill points that had to be sacrificed elsewhere. I added Hardware skills for Armoring, Implants, and Robotics so I can now assemble everything, I swapped out all weapon skills for Beam weapons (originally I was going to use a mix of rail guns and seekers and forgot to change it out when I realized that the plasma rifle is the most tank-like weapon in the game), and I switched back from the plasma rifle blueprint to the Cornucopia machine blueprint I had in my first build...the idea is that she is going to acquire an automech droid and instal a CM inside of it and use it to build her new body(ies). It means I'll be at the mercy of whatever weapons are available locally wherever I egocast until I get the plasma rifle blueprints in game. I may have to get used to lasers and particle beams for a bit. :)
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I never really realized the cost efficiency of buying reaper morph blueprints before, 60,000 for a 50,000 morph. I imagine it would be quite the time sink to get fully done however and raise a few eye brows. Perhaps a more subtle morph blueprints as well might be useful for habitat use, or you could just rent.
Yep...it was a good bargain. :) Part of the idea of this build was to be essentially pure infomorph and not be so attached to my morph, unlike my concept for Xeus where I am *very* attached to my morph. This build is better for a more freewheeling game where I won't be able to expect such consideration from the GM. I'll be fine with renting or just using whatever morph FW gives me in the case that I don;t have time to fab myself a tank-body. One of the main ways I'll negotiate for pay with this character is for more implant and weapon blueprints, and I'd like to eventually use my CM to make other linked CMs and get back to having a small automated reaper factory....so much better if I can install it into a courier ship. :D I was actually going to go for straight infomorph, but then I realized starting with a super cheap spare not only gave me a cute quirky way to start the game interacting with the other characters, but it also gives me a free 25 CP from disads that I'll be discarding along with the spare ASAP...
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Hardware: robotics, synth morphs don't heal on their own, see page 208. Echoing a point already made by assembling the reaper, but also maintaining the reaper might become an issue.
Well this becomes less of an issue the minute I get the blueprints for medichines (which I WILL be seeking out ASAP). Again though, I wanted this character to be less attached to her morph...if she hoses a few Reapers in the process, who cares? It's just a tool right?
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The fun thing with this particular build is to potential havoc available to having the reapers being teleoperated, see page 196. Also, grab blueprints ghostrider module, put one in each reaper and beta fork yourself to an army is also an option.
Well, if I stick with my concept (more about that in a moment), I'd play her as less willing to do this, since it is in effect a form of AGI slavery to use forks as drones....right? On the other hand...
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While I like the overall concept, the biggest issue that I see here is that Jovians are bioconservative and don't like AGI at all. It seems extremely unlikely to me that they'd allow an AGI to operate a facility like that, even with hacks/intimidation to try and keep her in line -- in no small part out of fear of exactly what your character did, and that's the _tame_ option. The worst case scenario is that the AGI develops into a seed AI and they've got a newborn TITAN with control of significant military resources. Since specifically being Jovian doesn't seem to be too crucial to what you've got here, maybe switch her over and have one of the major military hypercorps like Direct Action be the one who found her and tried to make her into a massive mobile death factory?
This is a much more serious issue. I guess I read somewhere that Jovians used AGIs as slaves for things like this but maybe they just keep them locked up as pure infomorphs. So, what I decided to do to salavage at least part of my concept is to make her a mercurial instead of a Jovian, though still a relic from the time before the Fall and still programmed not to hurt Flat-morphs. I'm keeping timid but instead of it being from Jovian intimidation, it's now because she realizes the dire threat of the exsurgent virus and other x-threats. A timid reaper is just too much fun not to play (and will counteract the potentially cheesy element of having a tank-morph for a body...no one expects a tank to be a shy ingenue. :) ) So new bio in brief: Originally a near AI for a VR rpg. Co-opted and uplifted by military interests to run killsats and drones Placed in control of an Automated Destroyer-Factory in far earth orbit Self-destructed the destroyer in a panic when the TITANs attacked, her core ego programming survived however Has been dormant for most of the last 10 years Recently discovered and emancipated by one of the Prometheans
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Sun, 2012-07-15 19:27
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
NewAgeOfPower wrote:
Tyrnis wrote:
Heh. And this is exactly why I houserule the Infolife background, because that really _is_ the optimal strategy for an AGI under the current system -- and they're still going to have enough points left over after doing it to specialize in something else as well. My houseruled Infolife background omits both the double and the half cost for AGIs, and gives them a flat +30 interfacing, +15 infosec, +10 programming, +10 research for the bonuses. With the remaining drawbacks, that makes the background worth about 40 points, which is on par with the others.
While AGI is clearly the strongest non-Socialite/Hacker multiclasser, you can't easily make a Maxed Combat + Hacker character without spending more points than are required in Active Skills. You usually conserve/spend 150CP on the AGI's Computer skills, leaving 250 to spend. That isn't going to max Fray, Perception, Infiltration, and 2 Combat skills. I'm going to buff the Hyperelite, Fall Survivor, and Reinstantiated backgrounds. Suggestions? Other backgrounds to buff? Suggestions on how to do so?
Look at my revised sheet...no infiltration and only beam weapons (so less versatile with whatever may be at hand, no unarmed combat anymore either), so not quite the full on combat character, but now a dedicated hacker with the potential for a frightening morph and the versatility of being able to use cornucopia machines to make and assemble more cornucopia machines. :) As for homebrewing...that seems like a question to ask in it's own thread. This thread is for me to get help in understanding the system as it pertains to designing effective characters (and in that regard has been a great success, thanks!).
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Mon, 2012-07-16 04:34
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Annnnd my latest entry:
Madwand wrote:
It's good that you are starting to think through the implications of swarm combat. Guns are a chump's weapon :-). >snip< One hive can support potentially hundreds of swarms.... Hacking *is* the most powerful weapon in the game, bar none.
In that case, may I present to you: [img]http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/6/63509/1469973-image_deus_ex_human_r... [b]Concept:[/b] Bug/Hunter [B]Bio in Brief:[/b] Legion was originally an AI designed by an Argonaut scientist to study nanotech swarm dynamics and control. Unfortunately said scientist was assassinated...and his backups erased...by an elite Jovian wetwork/hacker team. Now Legion seeks vengeance... [b]Legion[/b] Player: Tekhed Background: Infolife Faction: Argonaut Morph: Infomade Gender Id: Neuter Actual Age: ??? Current Moxie: Rez Points: Motivations: +Nanoecology +Technoprogressivism -Jovian Junta [b]Abilities[/b] COG 40 COO 20 INT 20 REF 20 SAV 10 SOM 40 WIL 40 [b]Stats[/b] TT 16 LUC 80 IR 160 WT 10 DUR 50 DR 75 MOX 2 INIT 8 SPD 2(1) DB 4 [b]Armor[/b] Energy = [b]17[/b] Kinetic = [b]14[/b] [b]Reputation[/b] i-rep = [b]50[/b] r-rep = [b]50[/b] [b]Ego Traits:[/b] Black Mark (Jovian) (Level 3), Edited Memories (Level 1), Enemy (Jovian Junta) (Level 1), Real World Naivete (Level 1), Social Stigma (Level 1) [b]Implants:[/b] Implants: Basic Biomods, Basic Mesh Inserts, Cortical Stack, Eidetic Memory, Math Boost, Circadian Regulation, Clean Metabolism, Drug Glands: Klar, Enhanced Respiration, Muscle Augmentation, Neurachem (L1), Temperature Tolerance, Toxin Filters, High Gravity Adaptation, Ghostrider Module, Mnemonic Augmentation, (2x) Cyberlimb+, Hardened Skeleton, Reflex Booster, Medichines, Nanophage, Wrist-Mounted Tools [b]Gear:[/b] Gear: Nanodetectors, Fabber, Blueprint: Hive:Disassemblers, Blueprint: Hive: Fixers, Blueprint: Hive: Guardians, Blueprint: Hive: Saboteurs, Blueprint: Hive: Scouts, Smart Roach, Anonymous Account, Backup Insurance (mod), Simulspace Subscription, Encryption, Exploit, Facial/Image Recognition, Firewall, Sniffer, Spoof, Tactical Networks, Tracking, Radio Motion Detector, Relationship Mapping, Standard Muse, Second Skin, Smart Skin, Smart Vacsuit (standard) (w/ Ablative Patches, Chameleon Coating, Fireproofing, Lotus Coating, Offensive Armor, Shock Proof, Faraday Mod), SMG (w/ Smartlink,Safety System, Extended Magazine, Gyromount, Silencer), Underbarrel Seeker (w/ Smartlink,Safety System, Extended Magazine), (100x) Accushot Splash SMG Rounds, (9x) Accushot Plasmaburst Micromissile Credits = [b]0[/b] [b]Skills[/b] Academics: Computer Science: 80 Academics: Nanotechnology: 80 Academics: Cryptography: 80 Academics: Genetics: 80 Blades: 40 Climbing: 40 Clubs: 40 Flight: 40 Fray (Melee): 75 (85) Freefall: 60 Freerunning (Full Defense): 80 (90) Infiltration: 50 Infosec (Hacking): 80 (90) Interfacing: 80 Kinetic Weapons (SMG): 70 (80) Language: Japanese: 90 Networking: Firewall: 25 Networking: Scientists: 40 Perception: 50 Profession: Engineering (Nanoswarm): 80 (90) Programming (Nanoswarm): 80 (90) Research: 80 Seeker Weapons (Underbarrel): 70 (80) Swimming: 40 [b]Design Considerations and Tactics:[/b] Well...since Madwand said that guns are chump weapons and hacking is the most powerful weapon, I thought I might combine the two for my latest entry. As both a skilled hacker/infiltrator and combat character, I really can't go wrong with this one. I'll always have something of value to contribute. The "Infomade" morph is a custom morph I came up with that is simply a Remade morph but with a +10 to COO instead of COG. I wanted to max out COG and WIL so that even as just an infomorph he can hack in style, but retains that ability in his morph. I also got rid of the uncanny valley trait since that is largely an affectation of the Ultimates who originally designed the remade and morphs can look like pretty much whatever. He also took a biomorph to stave off cyberbrain hacking and has a ghostrider module where an alpha or beta fork can run mesh operations simultaneously with him. As per the inspiration above, he probably has delta forks controlling his swarms...short of the TITANs returning, he is pretty much the Jovian's worst nightmare. :P Essentially he has the blueprints to stick into his fabber and make nano-hives of various sorts (more to be gained in game). He churns out disassembler nanites from said hive and sticks them into splash bullets with them programmed to attack whatever they hit. For defense he will have around 10 or so guardian hives on him at any given time as well as an underbarrel launcher for plasmaburst weapons. Nanodetector for early warning. :) How did I do?
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Mon, 2012-07-16 18:08
Janusfaced Janusfaced's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
TekHed wrote:
I'm really tired and need to get some rest, but I can't help but feel a touch of snark like you didn't really read my character over.
TekHed, If you are too tired to watch your words, you'd better to take some rest. After all, all those opinions are about your character, not mine. So feel free to ignore any opinion you don't like. [edit: correct some error in grammar.]
—
Your average, everyday, normal, plain and dull transhuman Janusfaced's outpost(writtern in Japanese) http://janusfacedsoutpost.blog.fc2.com/
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Mon, 2012-07-16 18:30
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
I know, that was why I was calling it out. It just seemed like many of your comments showed that you didn't really look over my build, which is what I was asking for, necessitating me explaining stuff I figured you would know. But yeah, went and got some rest...
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Tue, 2012-07-17 01:27
Janusfaced Janusfaced's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Thank you for reply, but I'd like to advise exactly same thing for you about your own character. I'll take about COG +5 bonus as an example.
TekHed wrote:
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And I am figuring you apply Remade's Flexible Aptitude Bonuses (+5 to two other aptitudes of the player's choice) to COG, raise it from 10 to 25. These Bonuses can't be applied to aptitude that is already raised by that morph (p. 139). So Remade (has COG bonus) can't apply its Flexible Aptitude Bonus to COG.
Nope. At will drug gland for Cog and Int. It is not meant to be a statted out formatted sheet. I used the Excel program and was showing you guys the final product. Trust me though, the math is right.
I didn't conclude that (bonus from drug), so you might fell I didn't read your character enough really. But I didn't conclude that, because his drug glands create Klar (INT enhancer) and Neem, not Drive (COG enhancer). If your character wasn't written as you think, how readers can understand as you think? And never, ever forget people with different opinions will interpret diffrently from same text, please. So would you like to vocal about intention behind the built, not "let the built speaks" or "hope readers conclude same interpretation with you"? I hadn't known some points like "how a gatecrasher without vacsuit plan to survive?" or "where the bonus from?" (thank you for clarification). I am afraiding there are many "misread" points. I might say too much. Thank you for reading.
—
Your average, everyday, normal, plain and dull transhuman Janusfaced's outpost(writtern in Japanese) http://janusfacedsoutpost.blog.fc2.com/
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Tue, 2012-07-17 01:47
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Yeah I meant to take drive not neem...it was an error in my reading as I was entering data. It's all good. I did want to get the opinions of others. Also, it seems from your writing style that english might not be your first language? Much can be distorted when in a text-only medium. That is why I called out my own snarkiness, because I was feeling a bit short-tempered in the moment and specifically did not want to come off as a jerk. So I just said what I did, that I was a bit annoyed, and tired and that I needed to go to bed lest I start railing against the internets. :) TL:DR, we're all good.
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Tue, 2012-07-17 09:41
Geonis Geonis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Perhaps listing the Ego separate would help others read it. There will be times, such as forking, where it would be valuable to have them separated for game play as well. Perhaps using a layout, Total = Ego + Morph + Drugs would help others read it. Right now it is terrible hard to see where to ego end and the morph or drugs begin.
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Tue, 2012-07-17 12:58
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Well in an actual game I would find a way to upload my sheet somewhere, or yeah I would format it properly in a post for actual play. This was the quick and dirty version from the "flat" tab of the excell document, which just gives you the total. The skills on the "printable" version of that sheet are also given as the straight level, without a breakout for the pure ego.
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Tue, 2012-07-17 17:51
NewAgeOfPower NewAgeOfPower's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
I don't use the excel... I manually construct my characters/NPCs in notepad, checksum the stats then checksum the points spent during every stage, and when satisfied manually input it into a PDF... Saving the notepad for a Construction History...
—
As mind to body, so soul to spirit. As death to the mortal man, so failure to the immortal. Such is the price of all ambition.
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Tue, 2012-07-17 18:27
Tyrnis Tyrnis's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
NewAgeOfPower wrote:
I don't use the excel... I manually construct my characters/NPCs in notepad, checksum the stats then checksum the points spent during every stage, and when satisfied manually input it into a PDF... Saving the notepad for a Construction History...
Sounds like you're putting yourself through a lot of extra work to me. Do you not like Excel or do you just enjoy doing the math yourself?
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Tue, 2012-07-17 20:48
Decivre Decivre's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
Tyrnis wrote:
Sounds like you're putting yourself through a lot of extra work to me. Do you not like Excel or do you just enjoy doing the math yourself?
I do the same thing. All of my character sheets, up until I write them on a printout or fill out a fillable PDF, are TXT files. It just works easier for me, with the way my brain works..
—
Transhumans will one day be the Luddites of the posthuman age. [url=http://bit.ly/2p3wk7c]Help me get my gaming fix, if you want.[/url]
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Tue, 2012-07-17 21:17
TekHed TekHed's picture
Re: First Character(s), please critique!
See I would normally do it the hard way myself because that's what I usually have to do....but man I am grateful for the generator...it makes tweaking and playing with builds to understand what is possible SO much easier. Major kudos to the cats who put it together. I've put up a request for a PbP game, so hopefully I'll get to play one of these sometime soon.
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