Merits and Flaws generation table
by Jani Fikouras (feanor@INFORMATIK.UNI-BREMEN.DE) and Brian Angliss (angliss@PHYSCI.PSU.EDU)
Well, since people haved asked, here is my character creation system with the disadvange list made by Brian Angliss included. It tends to be a lot more flexible then the original system and have a little higher 0 point values.
Character Generation table
Points Attritbutes Skills Tech/Force Magic
0 17 17 500Y/5 -
1 17 18 1000Y/7 -
2 18 19 2000Y/9 -
3 19 20 3000Y/12 -
4 20 21 5000Y/15 -
5 20 22 10,000Y/17 -
6 21 23 30,000Y/19 -
7 22 24 60,000Y/22 -
8 23 25 90,000Y/25 -
9 23 26 140,000Y/27 -
10 24 27 220,000Y/29 -
11 25 28 300,000Y/32 -
12 26 30 400,000Y/35 Adept
13 27 32 500,000Y/38 -
14 28 34 650,000Y/42 -
15 29 36 800,000Y/46 -
16 30 40 1,000,000Y/50 Mage
Other point costs
2 access to ShadowTech Bioware + Cyberware
2 access to Alpha Cyberware + Cultured Bioware (if Shadowtech is bought)
4 access to Beta Cyberware + Cultured Bioware (if Shadowtech is bought)
These are still all at their normal prices
All Metahuman Races have the same ability and special bonuses as normal. Humans get +4 skill points and either 3 extra starting contacts , a buddy, a gang or acces to shadowtech Bioware and Cyberware. Also a mage may ask for something special and possibly receive it :)
A normal PC will run in the 35 point range, an NPC will run lower, while and higher level character will run up to 46 points (rather powerful really)
All characters get their native language at int +2, and a further int points of languages. They start off with 1 in there Karma pool and two contacts.
Characters may take allergies or disadvantages for more skill/attr points Brian Angliss’s Disadvantage System is included here as help if needed.
As many of you asked that I post my SR modifications, here’s the first. Use it if you like it, ignore it if you don’t. Comments and additions will be taken in stride and flames will be doused.
ShadowRun disadvantages
based off of GURPS and Hero, but mostly GURPS.
The way I set them up is the character gets a certain number of points for each disadvantage. These points can be used like force points, Skill points, or stat points. These disads do not give extra money for any reason. I also have a small and very incomplete list of advantages that can be purchased with Disad points but nothing else. They are quite powerful and expensive. The maximum number of Disad points I allow in my game is 20, but you can do as you see fit.
| Name | Point Gain | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 1/10 | years over -1Body, Quick, Str per 10 years 40 |
| Odius Personal Habit | 1-3 | +1/3/5 Target Number for social rolls (stuff like farting loudly in public) |
| Social Stigma | 1-3 | +1/3/5 TN for social rolls(reaction varies from person to person) |
| Albino | 4 | Severe Sunlight Alergy, distinguishing feature |
| Deaf | 4 | Neural hearing centers are dead-cyber won’t help. player must use sign language too |
| Epilepsy | 6 | +4 to all TNs when stressed and a Will(11) roll to avoid spasams for 10-Will min. |
| Obese | 2 | -1Quick, +1die swimming, -1 Chr |
| Giant | 3 | +1Bod, +1 Str, -1 Quick, +1 TN for social skills |
| Hemophilia | 6 | +1 box physical damage after even a lite wound per minute until a coagulant is applied Not usable with platelet factories–no Points! |
| Low Pain Threshold | 2 | +1 box stun damage each wound, +1 TN to resist pain(like torture) |
| Mute | 5 | Like Deaf, the player can’t talk either |
| Skinny | 1 | -1 TN to fit through small places,-1Str |
| Stutters | 2 | +2 TN for speaking/language skills, and player must too in tight situations |
| Absent Minded | 3 | +4 TN all memory tests, +3 TN for concentration tests |
| Alcoholic | 3 | +6 TN to resist taking a drink and getting drunk(rate is up to GM) |
| Bad Temper | 2 | Will(5+) roll to resist insulting people who stress him out |
| Berserk | 3 | Will(9) test NOT to fly into an all-out attack of foe until foe is dead/unconscious. Wounds are not felt until Rage wears off. |
| Bloodlust | 2 | Will only go for the kill, never attacks to wound or maim. |
| Bully | 2 | will(4) test to not push people around Code of Honor 1-3 This depends on the GM, but varies on how restrictive the Code is |
| Combat Paralysis | 3 | in combat, make a will(8) test or suffer a -2 to Reaction |
| Compulsive Behavior | 1-3 | GMs discretion, but off of frequency of the behavior |
| Cowardice | 2 | make a will(5) test to not run from all danger |
| Delusions | 1-3 | These vary, but the most common would be of grandeur. They relate to severity |
| Dyslexia | 3 | Can NEVER learn to read. Period. |
| Fanatic | 3 | Self explanatory-cause can be anything |
| Glutton | 1 | Eats all the time, may or may not be Obese too. |
| Greedy/Miserly | 2 | Hordes money/never uses it–this is mostly a rollplaying thing |
| Gullable | 2 | +4 TN to detect Bull S__t |
| Honesty | 4 | will not break the law-ever. A real kicker. |
| Illiterate | 2 | Cant read yet, but can learn. needs to buy off this disad to learn to read |
| Impulsive | 3 | always rushes into things |
| Racism | 3 | self explanatory |
| Jealousy | 2 | always jealous of anyone who is better than the character |
| Kleptomaniac | 3 | Must steal daily, +1 die any stealing skill |
| Lecherous | 3 | makes passes at anything that moves |
| Overconfident | 2 | mostly a roll play device |
| Pacifism | 6 | Won’t fight unless for self defense, and won’t ever kill |
| Paranoia | 1 | pretty normal in the world of SR |
| Phobias | 1-5 | this is based off the severity and type of fear at GMs discretion |
| Pyromania | 1 | Loves to light fires. roll play it |
| Sadism | 3 | enjoys causing pain, +1die to torture |
| Masochism | 4 | likes feeling pain, +1 stun box every wound, stun or physical |
| Shy | 1-3 | based off severity |
| Split Personality | 2/person. | This requires massive roleplaying and also the skill of the character to be split between the multiple personalities |
| Unlucky | 1-3 | Severity (level 3 effects everyone around the unlucky person too) |
| Vows | 1-3 | How strong the person holds thier vows |
| Weak Willed | 1/level | +2 TN/level on all willpower tests |
| Dependant NPC’s | 3/person | children, spouses, etc. |
| Distinctive Feature | 1-3 | Based on what it looks like, how easy it is to hide, and the effect it has on others |
| Hunted and Watched | 1-4 | Based off of who wants you, how badly they want you, what they want you for, and what they want to do to you when they get you |
| Secret ID | 3 | dual identity, one as a real person with a SIN and one as a runner |
| Rivalry | 1-3 | Romantic to professional to both |
| Vulnerablity | 1-4 | Extra damage to specific body parts, or especially vulnerable to a type of attack |
Powers to be purchased only with Disad points:
| Name | Point Cost | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Double Jointed | 2 | +quickness dice to contortionism, +1 die to all build and repair, +1 reaction(like Enhanced Articulation) |
| Ambidexterity | 3 | no modifiers for using two weapons at the same time, can use 2 smartgun links too. |
| Eidetic Memory | 10 | Photographic memory-no memory rolls are necessary |
| High Pain Threshold | 2 | -1box stun, -1 TN to resist pain Astrally Insensetive 3/level -1 TN/level to resist all spells, +1 TN/ level for magician to heal character |
| Peripheral vision | 4 | -1 TN, +1 die all visual perception |
| Speed Healing | 3 | -1 TN for doctor tests and -1/3 base time to heal |

