In Dungeons & Dragons and Shadowrun, there are common archetypes the average party contains. With Shadowrun, you have the negotiator, or "Face," the security expert, or "Hacker," the combat expert, or "Street Samurai," and the magical expert, or "mage." No group is required to have these archetypes, and can mix and match skill sets for individual customization, but it's highly recommended for parties to have at least one character adept in such abilities for the game.
What archetypes would you say Eclipse Phase has, especially in regards to Firewall operatives?
Here's what I identified so far for an ideal Firewall group:
The Fabber:
Nanofabrication is an integral part of technological progress and the economy in Eclipse Phase. Cornucopia machines and blueprints can create just about every commonly available item (and many restricted ones as well). A nanofabrication specialist can be an integral asset to a Firewall team for all the gadgets and equipment they can create and customize. The Fabber is also trained in various Hardware abilities and engineering-related Knowledge skills for integral understanding of the various tools he can create.
The Mesh Specialist:
With the omnipresence of the Mesh and millions of people living entirely as software, navigating online is almost a requirement for any sort of in-depth investigation work. And it's not just for sousveillance and computer hacking; understanding memes, online etiquette, and other aspects of Mesh culture can determine whether or not your Firewall agent blends in with the crowd or sticks out like a sore thumb.
The Soldier:
From terrorists to TITAN creations, Firewall's list of enemies is vast. Violent conflict is inevitable in an Agent's career. While most agents are trained in firearms and Fray, the Soldier lives for combat. From reaction-boosting implants to grenade launchers, this archetype's skills and equipment are designed around taking punishment and neutralizing the enemy with extreme force.
The Favorman:
While successful Networking skills are vital to every Firewall agent, the social game's the Favorman's specialty. He's got high Rep in the Hypercorp boardrooms and the criminal underworld, plus several covert, high-security Extropian bank accounts. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he's got no problem using pheromonal implants and drugs to enhance his persuasive talents.
The Survivalist:
Sometimes Firewall must leave the sprawling habitats of transhumanity and set foot in the Martian wilderness or the forlorn terrain of an exoplanet. The Survivalist knows how to set up shelter for freak weather, scavenge workable technology from the bare essentials, plot the day-night cycle and geography of alien planets, and is well-versed in all manner of probable scenarios of possible first contact with new alien species.
The Ghost:
Named after the stealth-based Morph, the Ghost not only infiltrates restricted areas and evades security, they know how to "go off the grid" and assume new identities. With resleeving, chameleon cloaks, social networks and sousveillence, the world of spying and black ops got a whole lot more complicated. Ideally a Ghost will be able to smuggle restricted items past physical security, have enough hacking skills to foil Mesh AI, and well-versed in picking up new identities and personalities through Morphs and software implants (and help others do so, too).
Do you think these provide a good overview of "recommended" Eclipse Phase archetypes?
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"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it."
~George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Mea Culpa: My mode of speech can make others feel uninvited to argue or participate. This is the EXACT opposite of what I intend when I post.