Backgrounds
All characters have Backgrounds that reflect who they are and or where they've been. Player characters may select 2 backgrounds at character creation to integrate into their back-story. Many backgrounds reflect the current state of the character, while some others make more sense as things that are in a characters past. Some backgrounds can be used in either way, and with some it makes no difference. Some backgrounds have consequences for being inactive, such as an end to ongoing benefits, or even the Hunted flaw depending on the background and back-story. The descriptions should be reasonably clear, but feel free to contact me if there are any issues with fitting backgrounds together or into a back-story.
Arcadia – +1 any stat, +2 perks or 1 initiate grade
You're an agent for Arcadia and have the training and exceptional qualities that come with it. You have access to Arcadia equipment and support, as well as a bonus to your White Hat rating. Paranormals get along with you, and you're far more clued in on who and what they are. +5 to starting White Hat, and +1 to white hat awards.
Tesla – Equipment, +1 intelligence, +2 to any 2 int based skills, +1 Omnitool rating or +1 Perk
Your name is Tesla and you're a member in good standing with the group. You have 2 pieces of Tesla Equipment as well as access to a medium lifestyle at a small private apartment in Arclight, or in the Dorms of Tesla Safe-houses around Seattle.
Your name is Tesla and you're a member in good standing with the group. You have 2 pieces of Tesla Equipment as well as access to a medium lifestyle at a small private apartment in Arclight, or in the Dorms of Tesla Safe-houses around Seattle.
Raider – +1 Strength and Body, +2 Ballistic and impact armor, -2 Charisma, Stigma
You are a former Raider. You somehow managed to come through with your mind intact, but not without the many scars and brands that tell of your past. You're not likely to receive a warm welcome anywhere, but at least you're a tough customer. As for Psycho's long term effects on your mind and body, well... you'll see.
You are a former Raider. You somehow managed to come through with your mind intact, but not without the many scars and brands that tell of your past. You're not likely to receive a warm welcome anywhere, but at least you're a tough customer. As for Psycho's long term effects on your mind and body, well... you'll see.
Criminal – +1 to a melee and ranged weapon skill, +1 to stealth and knowledge underworld
You are or have been a career criminal. You know how to handle a gun and how to handle yourself around society's seedier elements.
You are or have been a career criminal. You know how to handle a gun and how to handle yourself around society's seedier elements.
Street Rat – +2 stealth and Athletics, lifestyles, Hunted or criminal SIN
You grew up as a thief on the streets, frequently fleeing from authorities or even other criminals after acts of thievery. You have a number of free squatter lifestyles equal either to your charisma or quickness, whichever is higher. Either you've been caught and assigned a criminal SIN, or you are hunted for things you've done in the past, either by the police, mobsters or the like and have the hunted flaw with a value of 8- your charisma (minimum 2).
You grew up as a thief on the streets, frequently fleeing from authorities or even other criminals after acts of thievery. You have a number of free squatter lifestyles equal either to your charisma or quickness, whichever is higher. Either you've been caught and assigned a criminal SIN, or you are hunted for things you've done in the past, either by the police, mobsters or the like and have the hunted flaw with a value of 8- your charisma (minimum 2).
Lone Star – +2 firearm skill, +2 investigate, +2 knowledge police procedures
You work for Lonestar, or at least you did. If you're still active then you have a badge and uniform, as well as access to police resources under appropriate circumstances, you receive at least a 10hr day-job however.
You work for Lonestar, or at least you did. If you're still active then you have a badge and uniform, as well as access to police resources under appropriate circumstances, you receive at least a 10hr day-job however.
Investigative – +1 intelligence, +1 etiquette, computers, and investigate
You're trained as a private eye or the like.
You're trained as a private eye or the like.
Conspiracy Theorist – +2 digital stealth and +1 computers, Extra Safehouse
You're a conspiracy nut and maybe a bit paranoid, however, whenever you buy a lifestyle, you also receive a safehouse of one rank lower as a backup this can be useful.
Thrill seeker – +1 body and +2 athletics, can of Mountain Dew
Military – +1 Body, +2 any rifle skill, Medical Care, Education
Your military service has enhanced your conditioning and battlefield skills, furthermore you receive medical insurance in the form of a basic DocWagon contract, and either the College Education or Technical School Education Advantage for free.
Your military service has enhanced your conditioning and battlefield skills, furthermore you receive medical insurance in the form of a basic DocWagon contract, and either the College Education or Technical School Education Advantage for free.
Dilettante – +100K starting wealth, +10k/month, +2 etiquette
You're quite affluent, you probably have a trust fund or the like, though the specifics are up to you. Why you're shadowrunning is probably a good question to be covered in your backstory.
You're quite affluent, you probably have a trust fund or the like, though the specifics are up to you. Why you're shadowrunning is probably a good question to be covered in your backstory.
Bed Hopper – Free lifestyle (1d6 by day for quality), +1 Karma Pool, contacts and debts
You are... amorous, so much so that you never know where you'll wake up or who your partner might be. You couldn't live your lifestyle if you didn't get lucky like clockwork, and fortunately for you you do. Add 1 to your starting karma pool. Each day roll 1d6 to determine if your lifestyle is street, squatter, low, middle, high, or luxury. You may also roll 1d6 to determine whether your partner's charisma is 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, or 1.5 times your own. Most of your one night stands are nobodies, or want to get their walk of shame over with as quickly as you do, but sometimes you meet some keepers. Sometimes you also run into trouble. At the end of the month roll 1d6, on a 6 you gain a new contact, on 1-5 multiply the result by ¥1000 and deduct it from your funds to cover your various recreational expenses and possible medical bills. This roll can explode; if you hit TN 10, then your contact is level 2, and you add 1 permanently to your Karma Pool. You also gain +1 Good Karma per session, though not necessarily per award.
Citizen – Day job 40 hrs/week +2500/month. +2 any nonviolent active and 3 knowledge skills
You're an ordinary citizen with an ordinary job. Sometimes it seems like half of your co-workers at your day job are coming in bandaged, or carrying concealed weapons, and they always have to leave in a hurry! Maybe they're into the Fight Club or something, who knows? At any rate, your actual hard work at your day job earns you the recognition of your superiors and an extra ¥2500 per month on top of the normal ¥5000.
You're an ordinary citizen with an ordinary job. Sometimes it seems like half of your co-workers at your day job are coming in bandaged, or carrying concealed weapons, and they always have to leave in a hurry! Maybe they're into the Fight Club or something, who knows? At any rate, your actual hard work at your day job earns you the recognition of your superiors and an extra ¥2500 per month on top of the normal ¥5000.
Escort +1 Charisma, +2 Etiquette, contacts and income
You're an escort, offering personal entertainment to discerning clientele.You have become acquainted with some interesting clients; you have a number of points worth of additional contacts equal to your charisma score. These points may be divided up between a few very close contacts, a large number of lower level ones, or any combination in between. You earn extra income each month equal to 100 times the square of your charisma but must spend at least half of this on your health and wellness, appearance and lifestyle.
You're an escort, offering personal entertainment to discerning clientele.You have become acquainted with some interesting clients; you have a number of points worth of additional contacts equal to your charisma score. These points may be divided up between a few very close contacts, a large number of lower level ones, or any combination in between. You earn extra income each month equal to 100 times the square of your charisma but must spend at least half of this on your health and wellness, appearance and lifestyle.
Drifter – +2 vs digital trace attempts, +1 body, free squatter lifestyle
You drift from place to place, never setting down roots, and never revealing much about yourself. No one knows your name and your past is dust in the wind. Hell, you're probably hung out to dry too aren't you? God... Did you even buy a phone? Buy a damn phone!
You drift from place to place, never setting down roots, and never revealing much about yourself. No one knows your name and your past is dust in the wind. Hell, you're probably hung out to dry too aren't you? God... Did you even buy a phone? Buy a damn phone!
Mystic – +1 Initiate grade, +1 sorcery and conjuring, Spirit on call
You're keyed into the spirit world and quite good at magic, you get the Spirit on Call Perk for free.
You're keyed into the spirit world and quite good at magic, you get the Spirit on Call Perk for free.
Mercenary – +1 combat pool, +1 any weapon skill, +10% mission pay
You're a pro and you're in it for the money. You get extra mission pay which represents your haggling with the Johnson on your own behalf, or the team paying to keep you around, whichever. How does it work? It just does. If the Johnson quotes the team 10k apiece for the run, you can assume he said 11 to you. If the five-member team splits up a 100k pot, everyone else gets 20k, and somehow you get 22. Maybe you hired Jesus as your accountant.
You're a pro and you're in it for the money. You get extra mission pay which represents your haggling with the Johnson on your own behalf, or the team paying to keep you around, whichever. How does it work? It just does. If the Johnson quotes the team 10k apiece for the run, you can assume he said 11 to you. If the five-member team splits up a 100k pot, everyone else gets 20k, and somehow you get 22. Maybe you hired Jesus as your accountant.
Hitman – +1 any weapon skill, +1 stealth. Weapons and armor have +2 concealability
You are trained in the art of professional assassination. In your possession, weapons and armor are treated as though their concealability scores were 2 higher.
You are trained in the art of professional assassination. In your possession, weapons and armor are treated as though their concealability scores were 2 higher.
Mage – +1 to any 2 magic skills, any Magic Perk
You're a trained professional magician, you must qualify for the perk you choose.
You're a trained professional magician, you must qualify for the perk you choose.
Engineer – +1 intelligence +1 engineering and computers, +1 tech pool
You're a trained professional Engineer.
Adept – +1 any attribute, +1 any 2 physical skills, any perk with attribute prereq.
You're a trained professional Adept, you must qualify for the perk you choose.
You're a trained professional Adept, you must qualify for the perk you choose.
Mafia – +2 Submachine guns, +2 Negotiate, I Know A Guy Perk
You are or were actively involved in the Mafia, in Seattle or elsewhere. You may receive the perk even if you do not qualify.
You are or were actively involved in the Mafia, in Seattle or elsewhere. You may receive the perk even if you do not qualify.
Yakuza – +2 Edged Weapons, +2 Etiquette, Iaijutsu or Ninja Perk
You are or were actively involved in the Yakuza, in Seattle or elsewhere, you may receive the perk even if you do not qualify.
Student Mage
– +8 spell points, +1 Spell Pool, +2 to knowledge magic, and any
other supernatural knowledge skill
You're
currently a student of magic, or have received excellent instruction
in the past, as a result, you know more spells, and more about magic
than many other mages.
Shadowrunner
– +1 Perk, +1 Any attribute, +1 to any 2 skills, Grey Hat bonus
You're
an established Shadowrunner with a tendency and reputation for
professionalism. You know what you're doing; you start with a +5
bonus to your Grey Hat score, and get a +1 bonus to Grey Hat awards.
Jack
of all trades – +1 Perk, +1 to each of 5 minor skills, easier
defaulting.
You're
a prolific dabbler, and as a result, you receive a +1 bonus to each
of up to 5 skills ranked at 3 or less. Penalties for defaulting are
halved for you.
Polytheist
– Additional Totem
You
either follow a peculiar aspect of a totem, or recognize the
influence of two over your magic. You may choose an additional totem.
Similar bonuses overlap rather than stack, but penalties stack, or
occur concurrently.
Exemplar
– +1 to racial attribute bonus, +1 to two linked skills
You're
a particularly extreme example of your meta-type, and exhibit common
traits more strongly. You receive +1 to one of your racial attribute
bonuses, and +1 to two skills linked to it. Humans who take this
trait may select any attribute.
Intellectual
– +1 Intelligence, +1 die to knowledge checks
You've
a tendency to prefer matters of the mind, and have a keener
intellect, and broader knowledge base to show for it. You roll an
additional die on knowledge checks.
Thug
– +1 to Strength or Body, +1 intimidation, +1 to Ballistic and
Impact armor
Whether
as hired muscle, an enforcer, or a bouncer, you've learned to throw
your weight around and become a tough customer. You have a dominating
physical presence, and shrug-off hits more easily than most.
Vigilante
– +1 power to physical attacks, +1 perception die, Hunted flaw
You've
taken the law into your own hands and set out on a personal crusade
for justice. You're ever vigilant, and perhaps a bit paranoid, as one
group or another is certainly out to get you. You've become an expert
in striking hard to bring targets down fast.
Background Edges and Flaws
Diverse Background
Value: 6
You've had an exceptionally storied or cosmopolitan life and may begin play with one additional background.
Limited Background
Value: -6
Your lack of experiences means that you start out with one less background.
