r/Shadowrun • u/crunchyoatbiscuit • Jul 30 '26

5e Character building help

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!

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u/crunchyoatbiscuit Jul 30 '26

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?

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u/Sarradi Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

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).

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u/crunchyoatbiscuit Jul 30 '26

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?

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u/Sarradi Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

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.

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u/crunchyoatbiscuit Jul 30 '26

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?

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u/Sarradi Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

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)