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Message no. 1
From: Ahrain Drigar ahrain_drigar@*******.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 02:40:29 EST
I am starting up a new campaign (no not the aforementioned space campaign).
But one of my players was asking me if he could play a were type character.
No not a shifter but a were type,
half-wolf/half-man type. And yes I know SR doesn't have weres they have
shifters and loup-garou.

But my questions are as follows.

1) The possible validity of said were. His ides was based a little off a
Playstation game "Bloody Roar". Using his character as an experiment from a
corp. Possibly as a genetic testing between shifters and possible breeding
with magically active (meta)humans (if at all possible). If not breeding
then genetic manipulations with shifter DNA.

2) If not an experiment, then what about adding them to the (and yes I know
my world is different, do as I wish) world. Maybe not the slavering,
infectious monsters but a little more intelligent than that. And probably
not anywhere as indepth as WW's Werewolf the Apocopypse. Which I like alot.

I already have a few ideas on how to do this, but I was hoping for some
feedback, and maybe a few ideas.

Thanks
Ahrain.

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Message no. 2
From: Sven De Herdt Sven.DeHerdt@***********.be
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 12:15:49 +0100
Ahrain Drigar wrote:
>
>I am starting up a new campaign (no not the aforementioned
>space campaign).
>But one of my players was asking me if he could play a were
>type character.
>No not a shifter but a were type,
>half-wolf/half-man type. And yes I know SR doesn't have weres
>they have
>shifters and loup-garou.

(IIRC) the shape shifters are called were-creatures in SR.

>But my questions are as follows.
>
>1) The possible validity of said were. His ides was based a
>little off a
>Playstation game "Bloody Roar". Using his character as an
>experiment from a
>corp. Possibly as a genetic testing between shifters and
>possible breeding
>with magically active (meta)humans (if at all possible). If
>not breeding
>then genetic manipulations with shifter DNA.

I would say, yes it's a possibility if you take a few considerations into
account.

First of all the corp has to capture a shapeshifter and wolf being a natural
pack animal, this could easily bring down the wrath of the pack upon the
corp once they discover the loss of their pack-mate. (just like the SR
Novel: 'who hunts the hunter')
I would create a pack of wolf shape shifters and have them wondering around
to find their pack-mate and possibly let the team encounter them from time
to time in future runs.
Once they discovered the truth, somewhere in the future, they would try to
localize the hybrid created 'monster' and this would lead them to your team
off course. Such an encounter could take many forms, depending on how your
team and 'experimental shapeshifter' character would react.

Secondly there is the corp who took a hell of a risk to abduct/capture the
shifter and who spent a lot of time, research and money into the project to
create the 'wolf-man'. And now it's GONE!?
They would spend a lot of time, money and effort to find there experimental
subject and this would off course cause (every quite so often) trouble for
the team when they least expect it (probably they don't even know why).

I would say the character has to have a decent background to motivate his
'wolf-man' and I would (as a GM) spend quite some time in working out the
above mentioned thread.
It could be an interesting issue and game-play though :)))
>
>Thanks
>Ahrain.

-Sven :)
--
Message no. 3
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 09:19:54 EST
In a message dated 11/20/1999 2:41:43 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
ahrain_drigar@*******.com writes:

> I am starting up a new campaign (no not the aforementioned space campaign).

> But one of my players was asking me if he could play a were type
character.
>
> No not a shifter but a were type,
> half-wolf/half-man type. And yes I know SR doesn't have weres they have
> shifters and loup-garou.

Yes, this is true.

> But my questions are as follows.
>
> 1) The possible validity of said were. His ides was based a little off a
> Playstation game "Bloody Roar". Using his character as an experiment from

a
> corp. Possibly as a genetic testing between shifters and possible
breeding
> with magically active (meta)humans (if at all possible). If not breeding
> then genetic manipulations with shifter DNA.

Okay, the basis for the background might be okay ... perhaps the OLD module
DNA/DOA could give you some basis for things as well.

> 2) If not an experiment, then what about adding them to the (and yes I
know
> my world is different, do as I wish) world. Maybe not the slavering,
> infectious monsters but a little more intelligent than that. And probably
> not anywhere as indepth as WW's Werewolf the Apocopypse. Which I like
alot.
> I already have a few ideas on how to do this, but I was hoping for some
> feedback, and maybe a few ideas.

I have some beginning of this in the Critters/Paranormals section on HHH
going on the consideration of the Krieger-strain vampirism is somehow carried
over to the point of infecting a shapeshifter (any of them actually).

Me personally, I guess I could allow a "Ghoul" to get this kind of thing with
a shapeshifter, but the animal stats (as well as the human stats) would be
adjusted, and you would *NEED* to follow the mechanics for making an existing
character into a Ghoul. The one thing I would be very careful of is the
"feral nature" of the shapeshifters true, animal, form. It is likely to
become FAR more so.

As for trying to get something a bit more like the "cinematic/WoD" Werekind,
you may want to consider the individual having some kind of new flaw where
they are highly sensitive to certain types of magical stimuli (aka; phases of
the moon). You would also want to merge the Ghoul/Shaper restrictions in
other ways as well. In this case, bring the "Allergy to Sunlight" that
Ghoul's have into combination with the Shapeshifter. I'd say make the animal
form unable to be assumed in direct sunlight, or something similar.

Again, this does alter the flavor of "Shadowrun" somewhat, but it *IS* within
the reach of the game mechanics IMO. I personally would advise some caution
though. And as always...Good Luck!!!

-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/index.html]
ICQ#-51511837
Message no. 4
From: Justin Berman jberman@*****.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 11:07:43 -0500
Ahrain,
Send me yer email addy, a friend and I got tired of SR shifters and so
modified them to give a middle (read: Crinos for all WW fans) form and id
be happy to send you the info on it if you want it

Sincerely Necron
Message no. 5
From: Ahrain Drigar ahrain_drigar@*******.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 03:32:26 EST
>From: "Justin Berman" <jberman@*****.com>
>Subject: RE: Character concept question
>Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 11:07:43 -0500
>
>Ahrain,
> Send me yer email addy, a friend and I got tired of SR shifters and so
>modified them to give a middle (read: Crinos for all WW fans) form and id
>be happy to send you the info on it if you want it
>
> Sincerely Necron
>
>
>


It is Ahrain_Drigar@*******.com, thanks. This is going to be my next
question.

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Message no. 6
From: Ahrain Drigar ahrain_drigar@*******.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 03:40:51 EST
>From: "Ahrain Drigar" <ahrain_drigar@*******.com>
>Subject: Character concept question
>Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 02:40:29 EST
>
><SNIP> my original questions

My next question is, are there any suggestions on how I would go about a
"middle" (crinos for the WW fans) form for him. I think Attribute Boost or
Imp. Physical Attribute Phys Ad powers might be a little too expensive.
Right now we are tossing up him paying catagory A for race, and B for magic
(a phys ad). He wants his "middle" form to be along the same physical lines
as an ork or MAYBE a troll, but his human to be in a more human normal stat
range.

I imagine I could "build" his "natural middle" form with strenght/body

enhancements and then let him buy Knack (from Steve Kenson's site) of "Human
Form". I was hoping for maybe a few more ideas to bounce around.

Thanks again,
Ahrain

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Message no. 7
From: Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 12:42:56 EST
In a message dated 11/21/1999 3:42:01 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
ahrain_drigar@*******.com writes:

>
> I imagine I could "build" his "natural middle" form with
strenght/body
> enhancements and then let him buy Knack (from Steve Kenson's site) of
"Human
> Form". I was hoping for maybe a few more ideas to bounce around.


If the individual is a magician or an adept, and they are initiated (this
works better for Adepts, but it can work for both), then they can buy a new
"Metamagical Talent" that is literally their own "Crinos Form" IMO.
Additionally, given that Shapeshifters are "humanoid mimics" (remember folks,
in SR...shapeshifters are animals that become humans, not the other way
around), it may be possible for an optional metatalent to actually be "Human
Form" as per the Free Spirit ability.

Again, this would all vary widely according to the game you were playing.


-K
[Hoosier Hacker House]
[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/index.html]
ICQ#-51511837
Message no. 8
From: Ahrain Drigar ahrain_drigar@*******.com
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 01:57:45 EST
>From: Ereskanti@***.com
>Subject: Re: Character concept question
>Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 12:42:56 EST
>
>If the individual is a magician or an adept, and they are initiated (this
>works better for Adepts, but it can work for both), then they can buy a new
>"Metamagical Talent" that is literally their own "Crinos Form"
IMO.
>Additionally, given that Shapeshifters are "humanoid mimics" (remember
>folks,
>in SR...shapeshifters are animals that become humans, not the other way
>around), it may be possible for an optional metatalent to actually be
>"Human
>Form" as per the Free Spirit ability.
>
>Again, this would all vary widely according to the game you were playing.
>
>
>-K
>[Hoosier Hacker House]
>[http://members.aol.com/hhackerh/index.html]
>ICQ#-51511837
>
>

I was actually wanting to start them a little above base archetype level.
Maybe 120 pts or so (I personally prefer the point system, more character
variation available, as well as a little more control), so being an initiate
is out for now (thought the idea sounds good).

I understsand about shifters, which is why I brought up the idea of the Corp
involvement. The shifter would be the characters genetic mother/father.
Trying to isolate the cells that control the "metamorphosis". (I understand
that some GM's view this as either a physical metamorphosis, and some view
this as more of an illusion/masking. I prefer the meatmorphosis myself.)

I think "bioware" is the best way to go for his attribute bonuses. First it
is closer to "genetic engineering" than cyberware, and alot easier to get
the desired effect than adept abilities. Besides the corp wouldn't, IMO, be
able to "tailor" his adept abilities without actual instruction/training.

My idea on the "Human Form" power was, it has a geas (home brewed or
official, I don't know, no books near by) that in his "altered" form, his
stats become what the base attribute template.

Any other ideas or flames about mine? Hoping for something to help spur on
my melting gray matter.

Ahrain

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Message no. 9
From: Bira ubiratan@**.homeshopping.com.br
Subject: Character concept question
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 16:35:08 -0200
On Sat, 20 Nov 1999 02:40:29 EST
"Ahrain Drigar" <ahrain_drigar@*******.com> wrote:

>
> 1) The possible validity of said were. His ides was based a little off a
> Playstation game "Bloody Roar". Using his character as an experiment from
a
> corp. Possibly as a genetic testing between shifters and possible breeding
> with magically active (meta)humans (if at all possible). If not breeding
> then genetic manipulations with shifter DNA.
>
> 2) If not an experiment, then what about adding them to the (and yes I know
> my world is different, do as I wish) world. Maybe not the slavering,
> infectious monsters but a little more intelligent than that. And probably
> not anywhere as indepth as WW's Werewolf the Apocopypse. Which I like alot.
>
> I already have a few ideas on how to do this, but I was hoping for some
> feedback, and maybe a few ideas.

I've done a "half-conversion" of the WoD Werewolves, it's
somewhere in my site. Basically, they require Priority A to Race and B
to Magic (even in SR3, were race priorities are lower), and have access
to the five forms with more or less the same Atribute modification
(Appearance and Manipulation penalties can be shifted to Charisma).
The character is always an Adept or Aspected Magician (to
reflect the natural powers and Gifts). He has Essence 8, and Severe
Allergy and Vulnerability to Silver (which are widely known because of
the werewolf legend! :) ). They heal Physical damage as if it was Stun
(except from silver and "corrupt" magic, which must heal normally).
Normal Clothing and Soft Armor are thorn apart when the
Character transforms, and hardened armor causes damag, because it
resists the transformation.
As an extra drawback, you can always have the character choose
a form for each of his Adept powers, if he is one. The power only works
while the character is on that form.


Bira - SysOp da Shadowland.BR
http://members.xoom.com/slbr
http://www.terravista.pt/Nazare/2729
ICQ# 4055455

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