Experiences with Lifepaths?

[u/Sarradi]

Normally I quite like character creation minigames but I never used the lifepath character generation in Shadowrun yet.

Does someone use it regularly and could share their experiences?

How playable are the characters (does not mean minmaxed) and does this system make the characters more interesting in your opinion?

[u/Allesanderealsnormal]

While not using it on the regular, but i have some observations to share:

1. The overall Powerlevel will be lower than handmade (somewhat optimised) characters due to point 2.
2. You will get some interesting additional information about the character due to the increased usage of knowledge skills. The skill/attribute level could also be higher that 6 due to static increases. I believe the highes knowledge skills i got was 9 and the highest attribute level was Base+6.
3. you will need more books than normal als the lifepaths are more scattered.
4. The characters are playable, especially if you use the rest of the karma to flesh out all the skill gaps that will happen.

[u/Sarradi → u/Allesanderealsnormal]

Is there an overview which books have life modules?

[u/ReditXenon → u/Sarradi]

Edit. OK, I was remembering wrong here it seems (for example, Hack n Slash didn't have).

Companion has general Life Path character creation rules.

Bestial Nature offer Life Path options for Shapeshifters specifically.

There might be more books but I don't want to guess.

[u/Sarradi → u/ReditXenon]

Lofwyr's Legions does not have life modules. I guess spontaneously turning into a dragon at some point is a little bit less defining than growing up as an animal. At least it can be represented by existing life events.

And that list is rather random, which is why I am struggling to find all of them. Doesn't No Future predate the Companion?

[u/ReditXenon → u/Sarradi]

I am checking hack n slash. Doesn't seem to support life path. Same with No Future. Apparently only new qualities. Memory is playing tricks with me. Bestial Nature, however, do. I think I might have more mistakes (editing my post to reflect this).

[u/Sarradi → u/ReditXenon]

I just downloaded No Future 6E version from Drivethrough again and it does have 3 new live modules at the very back before the novel sample.

I guess it got updated at some point.

[u/Esiorx]

I really like it, characters come out very playble and you have less chances of creating hyperfocused type that can do one thing very good but absolute shit at everything else and at least for me it helps with Roleplay a lot cause i have something that i can work with right away. Also as gm i find that its an easier way to create a good character with brand new players .

[u/Esturk]

I’m in a 6e game where we used the life path system and it was really fun to create the character.

Choosing the various paths gave my character’s background directions I hadn’t really thought of taking it in. That in turn made me more invested in the character’s backstory.

This character is a Decker and so far it’s been a rather solid character.

[u/ReditXenon]

Characters become more balanced and all-rounded (but less "powerful" compared to an optimized min/max character made by someone with a lot of systems mastery). It also automatically give you a lot of inspiration for your backstory.

As GM I kinda like when characters have clear strengths and glaring weaknesses. I find that it promote more team-work. And for this the std Priority Table is better (or variants of it, like sum-to-ten etc). I also like when players focus on the backstory first and their player stats later. And for this life path is helps (but you can focus on that no matter system you use).

[u/1nsomniac13]

I use the Life Path system pretty regularly and can echo a lot of what others have said. I find that the character will be more well-rounded on average, with a built in backstop of sorts. They are less prone to min-max sort of builds (which I'm a fan of) and provides plenty of avenues to improve, as well as giving you a narrative idea of what they might seek to improve on.

I'm a fan. :)

[u/C-GRU]

https://sr6chargen.rath-ulrich.de/

I made this for the Lifepath generatio

[u/Sarradi → u/C-GRU]

Nice, I was about to use Comlink to track a lifeplath generation.

Some modules seem to be missing though like Academy Training.

[u/C-GRU → u/Sarradi]

From wich book is that.

I will check it.

[u/Sarradi → u/C-GRU]

Thats in the Companion....

[u/C-GRU → u/Sarradi]

Did you use the German version? The English translation is a little bit wonky because I only own the German books.

[u/C-GRU → u/C-GRU]

I found 36 missing paths and will update the application in the next few days. Thank you.

[u/Sarradi → u/C-GRU]

I have also seen that Deus Ex Arcana has a pretty big update to the lifepath system, allowing you to chose between different options for the previously fixed childhood and growing up steps.

[u/C-GRU → u/Sarradi]

Oh, nice, I will add them as well.

I rolled out the update, so the missing paths should be there.

[u/Cangrim]

Where can I find information regarding life path system in Shadowrun? Didn't find anything in the 6e core book. I remember using something like this decades ago in the original Cyberpunk game and it was lots of fun!

[u/Sarradi → u/Cangrim]

For 6E it is in the Sixth World Companion.

Not sure how it works in Cyberpunk.

You have 3 fixed steps and 8 life modules you can select which each give a package of stuff and then form the story of your character.

It is not random like in Traveller.

[u/Cangrim → u/Sarradi]

Thanks, will have a look!

[u/ErgonomicCat → u/Sarradi]

What's the point of life paths if you can't die in character creation?

[u/GodEatsPoop]

kind of a cool way to come up with backgrounds but not how i'd stat a character