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Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 3:46pm
Character Creation: The human question
Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I have played Shadowrun PnP, and know very little about how character creation and races have changed.
From watching some of the editor made content on youtube, I was wondering what humans now have going for them.
From looking at what little information I was able to find, humans now cap out at a stat value of 9, and get one extra karma point at creation. That doesn't sound all that impressive when you take a look at the other races.
Sure, some cap out a little lower in specific areas, but make up for it with stat caps of 11 or higher in multiple other ones. Elves don't seem to have any disadvantage to them.
Sooo...can someone shed some more light on this?
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Showing 1-15 of 21 comments
stuffedskullcat Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:01pm 
I've played first, second, and fourth editions tabletop. As of fourth edition, humans get +1 to their Edge stat. Other metahuman types cost more BP (Build Points) to 'purchase', so they have fewer BP to spread around other stats. Keep in mind too, that anti-metahuman racism is pervasive and severe, even in the future. Not sure how this will sync up with this games release, or how it might be affected by the upcoming fifth edition. Hope this helps.
#1
Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:05pm 
Hmmm, could you explain to me what an "edge stat" is and works by any chance? Also, back in my day metahumans had to pick a level of special vulnerability towards a certain metal if memory still serves. Has this been dropped?
#2
Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:07pm 
Oh, and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions :)
#3
Procrastinating Gamer Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:09pm 
Originally posted by Achi:
Hmmm, could you explain to me what an "edge stat" is and works by any chance? Also, back in my day metahumans had to pick a level of special vulnerability towards a certain metal if memory still serves. Has this been dropped?
No metal vulnerability in 4e (or mention of it in the character creation preview for 5e). Edge is a bit like what other game systems call Fate Points - you spend them to get some bonuses on a roll or 'burn' a point (permanently dropping the stat by one until you have the Karma to raise it back up, basically) to save yourself from certain death.

The latter got an amusing illustration in one of the 4e core books (can't remember if it was the original or the 20th Anniversary one) - two guys outside a building having exited via a very high window, one plummeting to his doom, the other caught on a flagpole by his trenchcoat with a big grin and giving the other poor bugger a thumbs-up.
#4
stuffedskullcat Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:15pm 
You can (any metahuman/human type) pick allergies as an optional quality, to grant more BP (keep in mind I am using fourth edition tabletop as a reference, and I haven't researched how close the game will adhere to tabletop). Edge is a stat (not attribute) that can be described as luck. Your Edge stat determines the maximum number of Edge points you can pool, but you spend Edge points to enhance gameplay and earn them back through good roleplaying, critical roll successes, or mission successes. Edge can enhance your rolls with additional successes, allow rerolls, negate catastrophic failures, and allow for some pretty amazing cinematic instances. As far as tabletop 4th edition is concerned, the main 'weakness' of dwarves, elves, orks, trolls, is that they have fewer points to spend on attributes, skills, equipment, etc. Not sure how this will (if at all) reflect in the video game.
#5
stuffedskullcat Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:16pm 
^ What B'oh said, he beat me to it. ;)
#6
Procrastinating Gamer Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:19pm 
Originally posted by stuffedskullcat:
^ What B'oh said, he beat me to it. ;)
Now if I could only find the pic I mentioned online somewhere, then it'd have been perfect. :P
#7
Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 4:20pm 
Ah that makes more sense! Thanks for the answers, I appreciate it.
I have to see, if I can look up that picture B'oh mentioned somewhere. I can use a good laugh :)
#8
Wolfgang421 Jul 3, 2013 @ 5:12pm 
It has been mentioned on the official forums that the human bonus in SR:R will be +1 karma point at character creation, though character race CAN be a used as a trigger, and there seemed to be some meta-human racism as of 2054.
#9
Procrastinating Gamer Jul 3, 2013 @ 5:18pm 
Originally posted by Wolfgang:
It has been mentioned on the official forums that the human bonus in SR:R will be +1 karma point at character creation, though character race CAN be a used as a trigger, and there seemed to be some meta-human racism as of 2054.
Well at that point in the timeline, I think the Pope's ruling on metahumans was still "soulless abominations" or something along those lines (French Catholic Church disagreed and split off). Won't be til sometime in the late '60s/early '70s when a new pope changes the ruling to metahumans having souls.

That and natural human bias towards stuff that doesn't look human. Dwarves and elves get off easy since they look mostly human. And let's be honest - most orks and trolls don't exactly look friendly.
#10
Procrastinating Gamer Jul 3, 2013 @ 5:24pm 
Originally posted by Achi:
Ah that makes more sense! Thanks for the answers, I appreciate it.
I have to see, if I can look up that picture B'oh mentioned somewhere. I can use a good laugh :)
Couldn't find the pic online so I copied it out of the 4e core book (the original, not the 20th Anniversary one) and stuck it on photobucket: http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m274/ShadowFighter_15/Edge_zps7e9edcae.jpg
#11
Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 6:31pm 
Originally posted by Wolfgang:
It has been mentioned on the official forums that the human bonus in SR:R will be +1 karma point at character creation, though character race CAN be a used as a trigger, and there seemed to be some meta-human racism as of 2054.

Awwww man. Sounds like my character is going to get the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ end of the stick. :(
+1 karma point at creation really doesn't rock anyone's socks off.
Wanted to remake my first SR character I ever played. Guess I will have to settle for being good at being average! *grumble*
#12
Achi Jul 3, 2013 @ 6:31pm 
Originally posted by B'oh | ShadowFighter88:
Originally posted by Achi:
Ah that makes more sense! Thanks for the answers, I appreciate it.
I have to see, if I can look up that picture B'oh mentioned somewhere. I can use a good laugh :)
Couldn't find the pic online so I copied it out of the 4e core book (the original, not the 20th Anniversary one) and stuck it on photobucket: http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m274/ShadowFighter_15/Edge_zps7e9edcae.jpg

Hey thanks mate! :)
#13
'Science-Fiction' Jul 4, 2013 @ 5:48am 
Humans suck why be a human, You are a Human don't ya wanna be something different lol
#14
Achi Jul 4, 2013 @ 8:03am 
Originally posted by Shadowrun:
Humans suck why be a human, You are a Human don't ya wanna be something different lol

Why not be human? I like being human, so why would I want to be something different? :)
It's the race I can relate to the best. Many say that humans are boring, but that's just because they are made boring. I do play other races in games occasionally, but only if I have a good grasp of their "flavour," something that makes them unique as not being human with a different sense of flaws and strengths.
Most people that i know who play elves or orcs etc. do nothing but play a human with pointy ears and some stat bonuses, because that allows them to min-max their character. That's their idea of being "badass."
Now, that to me is boring.
#15
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Date Posted: Jul 3, 2013 @ 3:46pm
Posts: 21

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