Runner's Companion.pdf - Free

Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9Critter SpookBonus: 5 BPSomething about the character’s presence or smell seemsthreatening to animals and paranormal critters. Any animalswithin 5 meters of the character will react with fear and hostility(apply a –2 dice pool modifier to attempts to control, soothe, orpacify them). If drawn into combat, the critters will go out of theirway to attack this character first.Cyclopean EyeBonus: 10 BPInstead of two eyes, the character possesses a single huge eyedirectly above the nose, with the same natural vision abilities of hermetatype. Because she lacks binocular vision cues, such as stereopsisand parallax, accurate hand-eye coordination is complicated(such as catching a basketball). In game terms, characters witha Cyclopean Eye receive a –1 dice pool modifier for all CombatTests and all technical and physical skill tests that require precision(at the gamemaster’s discretion).Cyclopean characters lack the cerebral lobe development andneural connections to process binocular vision cues, and so cannotcompensate for this Negative quality with a cybereye.DeformityBonus: 5 or 25 BPA character with genetic Deformity has abnormal and asymmetricalfacial and body features. Given that many characters withthis quality have misplaced sensory organs (for example, both eyeson the left side of the face or the nose centered on the forehead), thecondition is known on the streets as a “Picasso” (5 BP for a severefacial deformity). Significant physical deformities are sometimescalled a “Quasimodo” (25 BP for a severe physical deformity).Even in 2070, characters with this quality who do not hidetheir abnormalities will suffer social marginalization (doublethe modifiers offered in the Freaks sidebar, p. 110). Dependingupon whether the deformation affects sensory or motor functions,the character receives a –2 dice pool modifier to Perception(Picasso Face) or –1 dice pool modifier to Physical Active Tests(Quasimodo). These deformities are too extensive to be correctedwithout (severe) biosculpting (p. 129, Augmentation) or correctivegene therapy (p. 88, Augmentation). If the quality is not boughtoff with Karma first, complications arise during surgery that causethe doctors to halt the procedure.Extravagant EyesBonus: 5 BPThe character’s irises, whites, or possibly even entire eyestake on an unusual color. For example, a character may developbright green irises, both eyes may turn light silver, or one eye mayturn white and one black. Many onlookers will simply assume thecharacter has cybereyes. Altered eye color has no effect on thecharacter’s vision. This effect is incompatible with cybereyes orbioware eyes.Runner’s CompanionFeathersBonus: 5 BPThe character sprouts feathers that replace her regular bodyhair or cover other parts of her body. These feathers may be fineand downy (and water-resistant to a degree, like a duck’s) or fluffyand vibrant. Feathers offer no protective value and are incompatiblewith the Unusual Hair and Scales Metagenetic qualities.Insectoid FeaturesBonus: 5 BPThe character possesses insectoid features such as compoundeyes, mandibles or insect wings (butterfly or dragonfly-type).Though the modifications are merely cosmetic (the character cannotfly, compound eyes have no effect on the character’s vision andare in normal eye sockets), the resemblance to insect spirit fleshforms usually creates a hostile reaction that might provoke an attack(at the gamemaster’s discretion). If drawn into combat, peoplemay attack this character first (to remove the apparent threat).Insectoid Features can seriously affect social interactions (seeFreaks sidebar, p. 110).Mood HairBonus: 5 BPMood hair changes colors according to the character’s emotionalstate (for example, it may turn deep red when the characteris agitated). Because the character’s emotional state is clearly visibleand cannot be hidden, add a +2 dice pool modifier for allJudge Intentions Tests (p. 130, SR4) against the character if theperson is aware of this fact.Mood Hair is incompatible with any hair modification andthe Feathers and Scales qualities.NeotenyBonus: 10 BPNeotenous characters have halted during development andretain the physical traits of a child or adolescent (up to a 13-yearold) even though they are legally adults. They are usually quiteshort and may have underdeveloped sexual attributes (thoughthis is not the case with metavariants). Given the absence of certaintraits common to adults (height, body and pubic hair, facialchanges, deeper voice, and so on), they can easily be mistaken forchildren or teenagers. Gamemasters may modify certain SocialTests depending on how an NPC will interact with the character.People often underestimate children, which may give a neotenouscharacter an advantage.The character’s lack of physical development reduces hisdefault Physical Condition Monitor to 6+ (Body/2, roundedup) boxes, and may result in social modifiers (see Freaks sidebar,p. 110).NocturnalBonus: 10 BPA character with this quality has an abnormal circadianrhythm. Instead of a typical diurnal human bio-cycle, the characterhas the opposite—she normally sleeps during the daytime andis active at night, though a crepuscular schedule (so-called twilightactivity) is also possible. All Mental attributes are reduced by 1during daylight hours.117new qualities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .