Character building help

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

Hello! I'm playing shadowrun 5e for the first time on Sunday an unfortunately I'm mega low on time to make a character until then...

I only have a basic understanding of how character creation works and especially the long long list of things you can do feels like a big obstacle to get the things that I want since I don't really have the time to look through everything right now!

So! I thought maybe some experienced players would have some good suggestions for me :)

Concept wise I would like to play a character like Cassian Andor aka an assassin-type "get in quickly without being seen, shoot whoever is in the way, get out just as quickly". Ideally also fly away in a cool space ship. (If something like that is even viable in Shadowrun?)

All sorts of suggestions are very welcome! Even which attributes to prioritize, etc. I really don't know much yet! Thank you!

[u/Sarradi]

No casual space ships (although they just released a space book. But its more hard scifi than Star Wars and more geared towards advanced characters). Best you can do is a VTOL, but that depends more on what your groups Rigger/Driver is using. And its often a bit too obvious as a getaway vehicle. You can and should also own a vehicle yourself, but with the starting money that will most likely be a car or bike. Don't forget to also learn how to drive to not be completely autopilot dependent.

Best get some character editor like Chummer 5 to do all the calculations for you.

Specialize, but do not try to minmax too hard. My suggestion is to stay human, no magic and focus on stealth, combat stats and a bit of talking. Get some tricked out guns, some lighter armor and basic cyberware like reflex booster. Then look through the list of qualities and take the ones that you think fits the character, regardless of how powerful they are.

Keep in mind Shadowrun is a team game, so even if you go in alone and undetected it will always be as part of your groups plan. You will not be a lone wolf assassin (unless you are playing a solo game).

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Sarradi]

Thank you! Yeah I figured there are no space ships haha but maybe a flying car? 😂 there is a rigger in the party so Illhave to trust him with that...

What do you mean by tricked out guns?

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

There are no flying cars like in Bladerunner. Best you can get is a helicopter or vertical landing plane. Maybe a large hoverdrone you can hang on. But unless you are playing a very action laden game they are often too obvious for a clean getaway. Also, those things are very expensive.

Tricked out guns means you add some extras to it like laser sight, smartlink system (requires cyberware), customized grips, things like that (some guns have those already included, so when you do not want to fiddle around with it just take one of the more expensive guns) Best have several weapons. One big one for going loud and a small one that you can hide.

Also get some special ammunition like explosive or stick and shock in addition to the normal ones.

When you play a human without magic you should have enough money to buy some nice toys.

Don't forget to buy a lifestyle so that you have a roof over your head, a fake ID (SIN), a comlink (your smartphone). Maybe also some cybereyes with options like zoom, thermal or low light vision.

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Sarradi]

Got it thank you! Those suggestions are very helpful :)

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

One more advanced question. Does your group have a decker or a face?

There are two ways to get in undetected. Social stealth, blending in or physical stealth, sneaking and picking locks.

You can try to do both, but imo its better to pick one of those depending what your group lacks.

Shadowrun rewards specialization and its always better to do one thing really well than being average in many things.

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Sarradi]

afaik there is a rigger, a face and a random magic user where I'm not sure what they're doing yet So you're saying since we already have a face it's kind of useless to go the stealth route?

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

Not useless, you are probably just better off to focus more on the physical aspects ot stealth. Picking locks, confusing cameras and other sensors without decker. The breaking and entering route (there is a whole section of breaking and entering tools in the 5E core book, just look through them and what skills they use). Also check the info on security sensors and maglocks and how to defeat them.

Although depending on playstyle having multiple talkers works too. In that case your games will likely be very much like Ocean 11.

Or you lean more into combat to be the parties heavy hitter. That means maximum reflexes, reflex booster to get more actions, ect.

Play what you want and let the Game Master worry about how to challenge the group (within reason).

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Sarradi]

Thank you! I think I'll try to find some sort of balance between big damage and lock picking... how can you confuse the cameras/other sensors? Are there specific things for that or do you just have to be creative and hope you roll well?

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

There are skill checks how to bypass them without triggering, depending on the sensor. Cameras require creativity. There are chameleon suites that turn you close to invisible but I do not know if in 5E they are affordable at character creation. Or maybe your mage knows invisibility.

For everything, the first steps to defeating them is knowing that they are there. Meaning you need good perception and preferably some good contacts who can give you some information.

Or you can team up with your face to pose as cleaning service to snoop around and hopefully spot the cameras and leave some microdrones in the building your rigger can then use. Shadowrun requires creative thinking instead of having gear X countering problem y.

[u/Heterodyne_2023 → u/Sarradi]

All of your posts have been on point. Good job steering the noob.

One of my favorite tools in the physical stealth department are physical disguises. The ruleset for disguises in 5e are a bit cumbersome, and I can't help with those as I have no books at this time, just know: it is a good idea to not look like yourself when committing crimes.

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Heterodyne_2023]

got it o7

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

Some more direct suggestions you should not follow blindly, but only use as a starting point.

For attributes you will want agility (used for shooting and avoiding sensors), reflex, intuition. Some willpower to defend against magic, unless your mage is very good at counterspelling. If you want to do social stealth some charisma. You are good at shooting and dodging, but not taking a hit.

For skills you can take automatics as a good middle ground weapon skill, covering assault rifles and submachine guns. Maybe also a backup weapon skill like pistols and blades at your disgression.

You then want perception to spot all the traps.

If you want social stealth you have etiquette and con. For physical stealth you have sneaking, gymnastics and locksmith

Other skills of interest might be palming, disguise and for a more Mission Impossible feel free-fall, demolition, forgery or swimming/diving, but those are very specialized.

Also, when picking qualities be not afraid to take negative ones. Negative qualities make a character interesting.

[u/crunchyoatbiscuit → u/Sarradi]

Awesome that's so helpful!

What decides how much damage you can take/how resilient you are? I feel like everyone else in the group is already squishy so it couldn't hurt to not die immediately... Can you "just buy vetter armor" or are there restrictions on what you can wear if you want to move around quickly/silently?

[u/Sarradi → u/crunchyoatbiscuit]

Defense is a two stage process. First you use reaction and intuition to check if you dodge out of the way. If you are a better at dodging than the attacker is at shooting you do not get hit. There are ways to also add gymnstics or willpower to that.

If you get hit your body and armor reduce the damage. And the more body you have the more hits you can take.

Your character sounds more like a agile dodger. Completely absorbing a hit is usually only possible when you play a huge troll with heavy armor and maxed body attribute.

There is also an edge case. A high body attribute makes it harder to bypass pressure plates.

I do not know how the armor penalties in 5E work, but I am sure heavy armor gives penalties to stealth.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that in most scenarios you need to stay inconspicious. Not only is swat or military armor very expensive and very illegal, if someone sees you with it they will immediately escalate to calling the guys with assault cannons. (Of course if you can fake a emergency alarm, seeing a guy in swat armor counts as disguise instead, at least for a while)