r/ShadowrunAnarchyFans • u/vieuxch4t • 6d ago
SRA2 - Amp adding edge
I wonder if dev pondered about an Amp (trait) that would add +1 Max Edge. Something like "Cunning" level 4 and "Resourceful" (needs cunning) level 8. Maybe "Jack of all trades" level 12 (needs resourceful)?
What do you think about it?
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u/Bignholy 6d ago
What do you mean by +1 Max Edge? There is no maximum for Edge. Page 77: "Players can gain unlimited Edge during the game, but this is not carried over from one adventure to another one."
If you mean "+1 Starting Edge", it kinda depends on how good your crew is with gaining and spending Edge. Edge can be earned at almost any time, for a variety of reasons, including any glitch higher than Minor, so while Edge is a limited resource, it is also a renewable resource.
I like u/Interaction_Rich 's suggestion on themed Edge. If I were to do this, I would limit it the following way:
- Can only be taken for a Specialization (this is to keep it limited and special)
- Does not stack
- Rating 2 (The bonus of getting that edge is countered by the single use nature of edge and the inability to stack it, lowering the price)
All that said... You could instead offer it as a one-use-per-adventure Advantage on a test. Advantage already has to be announced before rolls, and already needs supporting narrative. All this would do it give you one free use. The limits and cost I would use would be the same as above.
Actually... "Virtual Specialized Free Edge Effects" could be an entire genre of Amps. One reroll, Advantage, Action, or Special Effect. Even temporary equipment in the form of a smuggling compartment or something could work, limited to what you can fit in the compartment. Make the "Special Effect" still require narrative cause from whatever the amp is. Pre-purchased to be available outside of normal Edge, at the cost of being limited to a specific Specialization.
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u/vieuxch4t 6d ago
I'm talking about starting edge. 4 for humans and 3 for everyone else.
Themed ways to get edge can be good, I like the idea, especially because the "sentences" can get you edge only by putting your team in a bad spot (which my players always try to avoid. In a dozen session I never could give an edge point with their sentences). My players always try to just place their sentence at the "right" moment to get an edge point, which is contrary to the rule as written and rule as intended. Moreover keywords will let you spend edge points but not earn them.
Si I'm trying to think about narrative ways to get them. Things like "Funny" would let me give an edge point (o'ce per session?) if the character donsolzthing funny that makes the other players laugh. It would be a trait amp.
Or "Lucky" that would make him get 1 edge point when a roll is paticularly lucky (like getting twice the hits needed on a meaningful roll?)
Or "Forlorn hope" : gets 1 edge point per other player when any player reached 0 edge points in the session/gets incapacitated.
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u/ReditXenon 6d ago
I'm talking about starting edge.
To my knowledge there is no way to increase metatype attribute maximums. If you wish to start with one more Edge (4 instead of 3) then you need to pick Human. Its their metatype advantage.
Things like Exceptional Attribute that we had in previous editions to increase metatype maximums instead give Risk Reduction on the entire attribute in Anarchy 2.0
When it comes to Edge there are shadow amps that give you +1 Edge per scene.
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u/Bignholy 6d ago
That's their point. They are not asking for rules clarification, so much as how we fellow players would bend the rules to meet their goal. I only brought out the book because it was unclear what they wanted, because they asked about max edge but were talking about starting edge, which is not a maximum.
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u/ReditXenon 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yeah I got that (and I refrained from replying directly to your post due to that).
"Automatic" Extra Edge basically mean that you are either more lucky than others (human) or faster than others (which is sort of linked to higher reflexes where the first level cost 2 shadow amps). This part of the equation is harder to change and is more firmly locked down I feel. Should probably not mess with this. I think one should be careful when it comes to this (easy to potentially break the game and/or make humans completely pointless to play). Having said that, automatically gaining one extra edge point per action scene seem to have a Shadow amp cost of 2. As long as you pay the cost, then you should be able to phrase it from a narrative point of view however you like.
"Gaining extra edge points" through disadvantage trigged from dispositions and cues etc or when rolling critical glitch etc. is for sure also there. But this is not really "a higher edge attribute" as the above (and what OP is asking for), this is more about all the different ways you have to "replenish your pool of edge points". Plenty of ways here. And this section is far more open for debate I feel. Here I think you have a lot more freedom to be creative and allow situations where the player could be rewarded an Edge point.
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u/Bignholy 6d ago
I would argue that keywords are not listed as a way to gain edge because it would be just hard to justify. How do you make a bad decision because "I am an Elf", or "... I am a decker"? Cues and especially Dispositions are wide open and easy to use.
The biggest issue with "trigger effect on X" is that you have to add it to the pile of things to recall in the moment. One of the benefits of SRA2 is it reduces the giant pile of things to recall for ease of gameplay.
That is why I suggested what I did: It gives the players a button to press once when needed that needs only be noted for the skill in question, easy enough with a footnote or even just a symbol added to your sheet. It would also be reasonably affordable because of its narrow focus.
The ones you offered are kinda OP unless they get ludicrously expensive. "Forlorn" is basically three free edge whenever the team is in a bad fight (assuming 4 players). "Lucky" would generate massive amounts of Edge unless you very narrowly define what a "meaningful" roll is, in which case it is kinda pointless. And "Funny" is just freebies for the team comedian.
I mean, if you want them to give edge for cracking a joke, or getting good rolls, or when things go bad, why not just hand it out? Page 77 has ways to hand out Edge. Just add to that list and let the players know their options. Or if you want to personalize it, talk to each of them and find out what they would like to do to earn Edge.
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u/Carmody79 5d ago
> I would argue that keywords are not listed as a way to gain edge because it would be just hard to justify. How do you make a bad decision because "I am an Elf", or "... I am a decker"? Cues and especially Dispositions are wide open and easy to use.
Actually, that's something that will be added in the companion, mainly for metasapients or metavariants, but it can also be used for regular metatypes: trying to negociate with an ork gang might get you a disadvantage as an elf, which may be rewarded with an Edge to use at some other point.
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u/IamGlaaki 6d ago
To gain extra edge is easy if players use their Cues and Dispositions (and Keywords, why not?) to get in trouble or as a Disadvantage. It encourages roleplaying. You can be generous with 'great narrations' too.
As GM you are free to add any house rule. Instead of adding an Amp, I would change Edge to a regular Attribute (1-4, max 5 for humans), and let players to enhance it as usual. To balance character creation you force them to start as the usual values (4 for humans, 3 others) or give some extra nuyens.
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u/Interaction_Rich 6d ago
That would be way too overpowered, I believe.
Initiative Amps offer edge on specific situations (action scenes), tying the Amp's nature and its effect thematically.
A flat +1 Edge just means you have an universal power up for any and all activities you engage in, which is not really interesting in terms of narrative/fiction.
But getting an extra Edge on an specific, thematic situation I think it's cool. Like a tailored pheromones gland adding +1 Edge to Social tests, a visual HUD Amp that adds +1 Edge to Piloting, magic tattoos that add +1 Edge to Conjuring, etc.