So, you came to StartPlaying and chose Shadowrun? Smart choice. Let’s forge a character that can be a badass in the Sixth World. Making a character in Shadowrun is not just about skill sets, it’s also creating a personality and crafting a story. I’ll help you through the process and I’ll sprinkle in some StartPlaying game links to help you find a group and get playing.  

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Shadowrun: The Story, The Character and Other Bits

Shadowrun is set in the Sixth World that is a kitchen sink soup of fantasy and tech, mercenaries and corporations, desperate struggles and tenuous alliances and moral ambiguity. Technology is a blessing and a curse; Magic compromises and the character you create is the protagonist of the story. Let’s start with your archetype;

• Decker: The hacker, the master of the Matrix. They infiltrate systems, steal data, and disrupt enemy operations.
• Rigger: They control drones and vehicles. They provide recon, support, and heavy firepower.
• Street Samurai: The combat specialist, skilled in weapons and augmentations. They are the muscle of the team.
• Mage: The spellcaster, wielding magical forces to protect allies, attack enemies, and manipulate the environment.
• Adept: The martial artist, possessing supernatural abilities and honed physical skills.
• Face: The negotiator, the charmer, and the con artist. They talk their way into (and out of)  trouble.
• Technomancer: The living matrix user who can manipulate the matrix with their mind.

Once you’ve decided what your character is, the most crucial thing to decide is your backstory. Where did they come from? What events shaped them into the person they are today? Were they born into a life of privilege and are now using all their influence and privilege to be the savior of the streets? Did they grow up on the streets, hustling to survive? Were they a corporate wage slave turned corporate spy? These details provide motivation and flavor. Think about your archetype in connection with the backstory and don’t be afraid to subvert them.

Example: Let’s create a character named “Quick.”

Quick grew up in the projects of Brooklyn, NY. The youngest of seven, they learned to survive by their wits, becoming a skilled street fighter and fence. Quick is driven by a fierce loyalty to their old crew, a small gang that looked out for them when they were a kid. Wary of outsiders, they have a contact in the local underworld who can get them jobs and information. Quick's defining moment was witnessing their older sibling, gunned down by a corporation cabal for stealing secret tech. Quick has a quick temper and a tendency to act impulsively, often leading them into trouble.

Okay, you have a concept for your character and a backstory. Let’s plug in what we know into the Shadowrun character sheet. Shadowrun characters are defined by Attributes and Skills. Since Quick gives the impression of a Street Samurai, let’s build them using Priority System.

• Attributes: These are your character's core physical and mental abilities.
  • §  Body (physical health), Agility (dexterity and reflexes), Reaction (speed and alertness), Strength (physical power), Willpower (mental fortitude), Logic (reasoning and problem-solving), Intuition (awareness and instincts), and Charisma (social influence).
• Skills: These are your character's learned abilities, they cover everything from combat and hacking to magic and social interaction.

Quick needs to focus on body, agility, and reactions and the need to be high as a Street Samurai. With their contacts in the underworld and his empathy, they’d be able to negotiate and or intimidate. And lastly, all Samurais should have their weapons. Specializing in a particular skill (e.g., "Pistols" under Firearms) grants you an additional die on rolls related to that specialization.

Quick's Attributes (Example using Priority System - Assuming A: Attributes, B: Skills, C: Magic/Resonance, D: Metatype, E: Resources):

• Body: 5 (tough from living on the streets)
• Agility: 6 (Years of fighting have honed their reflexes)
• Reaction: 4 (They’re quick on their feet)
• Strength: 3 (Average strength)
• Willpower: 3 (Determined, but not exceptionally strong-willed)
• Logic: 2 (Not Book Smart. At. All.)
• Intuition: 4 (Street smarts and a gut feeling for danger)
• Charisma: 3 (Has some charm, but is rough around the edges)
• Firearms: 6 (Pistols +1)
• Blades: 4
• Athletics: 3
• Perception: 3
• Intimidation: 2
• Sneaking: 2

Okay, so remember when I said that Shadowrun is a soup of fantasy and tech? Well Shadowrun is a world of Humans and metahumans. Your metatype is going to give your character innate abilities, it’s your heritage. I know, I know, just go with it. The choice you make is going to affect your attribute as well. Choose wisely.

• Humans: The most common metatype, humans are versatile and adaptable.
• Elves: Graceful and charismatic, elves often excel in social situations and magic.
• Dwarves: Sturdy and resilient, dwarves are known for their technical skills and  resistance to toxins.
• Orks: Strong and tough, orks are often drawn to physical professions and can be Intimidating.
• Trolls: Huge and powerful, trolls are the strongest metatype and can be intimidating, but often face prejudice.

Oh, GEAR! You need gear to survive. Gear is essential. Gear is life. Your character will need weapons, armor, enhancements, communication and a bunch of other stuff. This is the fun part, where it doesn’t matter your metatype, because you can also improve physical and mental abilities through cyberware, bioware and software.

• Cyberware: Cybernetic enhancements can improve your character's physical and mental abilities. However, installing cyberware reduces your Essence, which can negatively affect your magical abilities and social interactions.
• Bioware: Genetically engineered augmentations offer similar benefits to cyberware but are generally less invasive.
• Weapons: Your choice of weapons will depend on your character's archetype and fighting style. Street samurai often favor assault rifles and swords, while deckers may carry concealed pistols for self-defense.
• Armor: Armor protects your character from physical attacks. Choose armor that is appropriate for your character's role and the level of risk they are likely to face.
• Drones: Riggers rely on drones for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks. Choose drones that are suited to your character's skills and the missions they undertake.
• Software: Deckers need software to hack into systems and manipulate data. Choose software that is appropriate for your character's hacking style and the type of targets they are likely to encounter.‍
• Magical Foci: Mages use magical foci to channel their magical energies. Choose a focus that is appropriate for your character's magical tradition and the type of spells they cast.

Take this part as the fun part, where you can balance functionality with personality and background. Like any other TTRPG it’s about crafting a story, building a personality with a belief system, habits and uniqueness, all while finding motivations and taking risks. Focus on the narrative aspects of your character that can help you and the GM get excited to play and develop a compelling Shadowrun adventure. Good Luck Runner.

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ClassicSam is your resident Black, neurodivergent Twitch talk show host.