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Neuromancer in Shadowrun (1st Edition). Part 1. Dramatis Personae

Player Characters

Case is a decker.

Take the stock archetype and switch the gender. Or don’t. Give them a single shuriken for flavor.

Molly is a street samurai.

If you really want to follow the text, remove the muscle replacement and dermal plating, give her an Ares Viper flechette pistol.

Riviera is trickier – the image projecting implants he possessed don’t have an equivalent in Shadowrun. Not a cyberware equivalent, which is why…

Riviera is a street shaman.

Deceiver orientation, Rat totem.

Non-Player Characters

Armitage is, natch, Mr. Johnson.

Finn should be a Dwarven Technician – matches his sour disposition.

If you want to use Finn as a PC, there’s the Gadgeteer. I guess.

Wage and Julius Deane are Fixers.

Lupus Yonderboy is a Gang Boss.

You really should make Hideo as a physad, but in a pinch there’s the Former Yakuza Ninja, or, since the only weapon we see him actually use are the bow and arrow…

Hideo is a tribesman.

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Draw someone with extra prosthetic limb/s – not a replacement, but an addition. What is the human form missing?

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William Gibson on Shadowrun

Three days ago, Catalyst Game Labs, the current makers of Shadowrun, tweeted that:

"Something new is coming January 24th…"

along with the following image:

seems buggy...

On the eve of whatever this announcement will be, it seems like a good time to remind everyone that the philosophical father of cyberpunk, William Gibson, hates Shadowrun.

There's a quote from Gibson in 1998 that I've quoted before, but after some digging I found the original source, in an interview with Ben Lincoln.

bottom left corner

For those not in the know, this is from The Peak, the independent college newspaper of Simon Fraser University, which is hands-down my favorite Canadian institute of higher education named after a fur trapper.

A quite dapper trapper, as you can see.

Five years later, Gibson would bring up Shadowrun on his own blog:

I haven't been able to find any further comments from W.G. in the twenty years hence, so apparently kept good on his intention.

So he probably won't care about what I'm planning next...

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Elf Sketch by Misha Sviridenko

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Security employees of the Variant Club, "[DATA NOT FOUND] and Marcus", 2075.

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INPRNT SALE!!! ALL Pet Adventurers and D&D Toads are 40% OFF!!!! Prints

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The Troll Decker, a Better Troll Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Goblinized Teenage Angst and Art by @skullchicken

I cite the ancient texts:

“Suppose you wanted a Troll Decker.” (Charette, Hume, & Dowd, 1989)

So it will be.

It can’t be easy being a troll in 2050.

And despite several advances in the field since 1989, neither is pimpin'

But some "normal" children changed as they grew older, joining the ranks of the so-called Orks and Trolls. These either grouped with their own kind or mated with great-hearted souls who could see past the physical shells. The offspring of such unions were sometimes normal and sometimes produced the new racial types. Not all the "normal" children remained that way, however. Many suddenly underwent gobllnlzation at puberty, and the trauma and its associated maladjustments cycled again through the community. (Ibid.)

Reader, think back to when you went through puberty, and just what a messed-up bag of acne and stress you were. You found solace in the online world, where you could create an image and persona of yourself that was closer to the True You than anyone you knew in your real miserable life.

Then, while waiting for pizza rolls to cook in the microwave, you start goblinizing. Instead of sprouting a few inches, you sprout a few feet. Instead of zits, you have sudden dermal bone deposition and grow fragging horns. And yes, you have the munchies like you wouldn’t believe, but this doesn’t explain the doubling of your body weight.

Suddenly your pre-teen moping seems pathetic – you imagined yourself a hideous monster before.

But now this.

This is our Troll Decker.

Attributes:

Body: 6 Quickness: 2 Strength: 5 Charisma: 1 Intelligence: 4 Willpower: 2 Essence: 5.3 Reaction: 3

Skills:

Computer: 6 Computer Theory: 6 Computer (B/R): 6 Electronics: 4 Etiquette (Street): 2

Cyberware:

Datajack Headware Memory (50 Mp)

Gear:

Microtronics Tool Kit Fuchi-Cyber 4 (Response Increase 2, Active Memory 550 Mp, Storage Memory 1000 Mp) Programs (All at Rating 6): Bod, Evasion, Masking, Sensors, Analyze, Attack, Browse, Deception, Decrypt, Evaluate, Medic, Mirrors, Relocate, Shield, Sleaze, Slow, Smoke

Contacts:

Decker Dwarf Technician Elven Decker Troll Bouncer

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more assorted commission work

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View from the Undercity

Tomoaki Okada

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The Ork Street Shaman, a Better Ork Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Definitely a Coyote Shaman.

Black Hole Cat Sweater and Art by @skullchicken

The core rulebook has the Street Shaman as a distinct archetype from the Shaman, though in the interest of adjective parity, the latter should have been termed the Tribal Shaman. And I’ve already made an Ork Shaman, so here’s the Ork Street Shaman.

You’re welcome.

Attributes:

Body: 4 Quickness: 2 Strength: 4 Charisma: 3 Intelligence: 2 Willpower: 5 Essence: 6 Magic: 6 Reaction: 2

Skills

Conjuring: 5 Etiquette (Street): 4 Firearms: 3 Magical Theory: 2 Sorcery: 6

Spells:

Mask: 4 Chaos: 6

Gear:

Armor Clothing (as seen in portrait) Remington Roomsweeper (currently out of bullets)

Contacts:

Bartender Squatter Talismonger Troll Bouncer

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"Night City" by Sideygitart

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The Dwarf Shaman, a Better Dwarf Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Leonine art by @skullchicken

I’ve made a Troll Shaman, an Ork Shaman, an Elf Shaman, so…

The advantage of being a Dwarf Magician is, as demonstrated in the Dwarf Mage, is the +1 Willpower, the only metahuman to get a bonus to that attribute. The bonuses to Body and Strength also suggests a martial totem like Bear or Wolf, though you could always choose Lion and redeem a lapse in judgement from Queen Euphoria.

Attributes:

Body: 3 Quickness: 3 Strength: 3 Charisma: 4 Intelligence: 3 Willpower: 7 Essence: 6 Magic: 6 Reaction: 3

Skills:

Conjuring: 6 Etiquette (Tribal): 3 Sorcery: 6 Stealth: 2

Spells:

Heal Deadly Wounds: 4 Mana Bolt: 6

Gear:

Armor Jacket Survival Kit

Contacts:

Dwarf Technician Shaman Talismonger Tribal Chief

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The Elf Freelance Troubleshooter, a Better Elf Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Elfin Fisticuffs and art by @skullchicken

Quotes:

“Yeah, I’ve done some business with the O’Malley’s. We both share an appreciation for a job well done. But I’ll never be familia with these pointy sound catchers. Better than the Yak’s attitude, though.”

“I’m sorry, am I not elf-y enough for you? Should I put on a leafy dress and dance for you?”

“Talk to the hand.” *gunshot*

Attributes:

Body: 5 Quickness: 3 Strength: 5 (6) Charisma: 3 Intelligence: 3 Willpower: 4 Essence: 2 Reaction: 3 (5)

Skills:

Car: 2 Etiquette (Street): 5 Firearms: 5 Interrogation: 3 Unarmed Combat: 5

Cyberware:

Headware Radio Obvious Cyberlimb with Increased Strength 1, Built-in Smartgun Link, Retractable Spur, Built-in Ares Predator (Smartgun Variant), 50 rounds normal ammo Wired Reflexes (1)

Gear:

Armor Jacket Fine Clothing Ford Americar Plastic Restraints (10 sets) Platinum DocWagon Contract (1 year) Wrist Telephone

Contacts:

City Official Yakuza Boss Gang Boss Street Doc

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The Troll Neo-Anarchist, a Better Troll Contact for Shadowrun

Art by @skullchicken

Neo-anarchism is the means by which we humans can throw off our chains and live rich, fulfilling lives. Only through neo-anarchism can humanity transcend its current, degenerated state and rise up from the mire. -- Neo-Anarchist’s Guide to North America, 2052

Quotes

"We believe in Law and Freedom without Force. Of course, if Force is how you like it…” cracks knuckles

“You look like you can’t even spell Pareto Optimality, let alone achieve it through non-coercive means.”

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The Ork Influencer, a Better Ork Archetype for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

This recent spate of archetypes was inspired by the art of @skullchicken, and when I saw the above images, your first thought might be “Ork Rocker”, but I opted against that because:

The Rocker is the most useless archetype of all time.

I’ve already made an Ork Rapper.

Instead, I’m stealing an idea from the excellent 2nd Edition Podcast Pink Fohawk and the NPC of Faye Feelzall, who is the Sixth World version of a Social Media Influencer. It admittedly could be better if I included some cyberware from the Street Samurai Catalog, but still sticking with core rulebook. They will be moderately cybered, focusing on cybereye/ears and filling a surveillance niche on the team. In addition, they will be the first character I’ve ever made that has followers:

“As many as five archetypes come when you call. Roll 1D6+1 to see how many are available at any time. They are willing to die for you. They have standard Archetype Ratings and Cyberware, but you supply the gear.”

Emphasis mine.

Because let’s face it – makes sense for an influencer.

Attributes:

Body: 4 Quickness: 3 Strength: 3 Rizz: 5 Intelligence: 3 Willpower: 5 Essence: 3 Reaction: 3

Skills:

Armed Combat: 2 Etiquette (Media): 6 Etiquette (Street): 6 Leadership: 6

Cyberware:

Chipjack Cyberears (with Damper, Low Frequency, High Frequency, Recorder) Cybereyes (with Camera, Flare Compensation, Low-Light, Thermographic Imaging) Datajack Datasoft Link Display Link Headware Memory (40 Mp) Retractable Hand Razors Telephone

Gear:

Armor Clothing Eurocar Westwind 2000 Fine Clothing Language Skillsofts (all Rating 3, choose 3) Tres Chic Clothing Micro-Camcorder

Contacts: (Choose 4 extra, for a total of 6)

Bartender Dwarven Technician Fixer Gang Boss Mechanic Media Producer Metahuman Rights Activist Squatter Street Doc Troll Bouncer

Followers: As many as five archetypes come when you call. Roll 1D6+1 to see how many are available at any time

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The Elf Socialite, a Better Elf Contact for Shadowrun (1st Edition)

Quotes

“My good side? My dear – all my sides are good.”

“Didn’t I see you at the Young Elven Technologists party in Puyallup? That was lit!”

“You know, people say I look like an elven Maria Mercurial…”

Commentary

She seemingly lives a luxury lifestyle with no obvious income and appears at every nightclub with a different hot elf. If you can get her ear, she can get you all sorts of dirt on Seattle’s rich and powerful. Cross her, and you’re never getting into Club Penumbra again.