Runner's Companion.pdf - Free

Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9Whether opting for a physical approach using heavy firepoweror combat magic, suppressing the opponents, or snipingindividuals, the Fire Support specialist is assigned the dangerousjob of keeping enemies at a distance and eliminating threats beforethey can engage the remaining team members. Fire Supportspecialists are also often called upon for specialized functions,such as ranged assassinations or the use of heavy weapons againsthardened targets or vehicles.Taking the ShotMore than their attributes, Fire Support characters are highlydependent on their skills and the tools of their trade.For mundane characters (and adepts), a high Agility is fundamentalto this role, as is a good rating in the skill(s) used with thecharacter’s weapon(s) of choice. Reaction and Body attributes canalso be useful, although it is possible to make up for deficiencies inboth attributes in other ways. Though largely secondary, the highStrength of some metaypes and augmented characters may proveuseful for recoil compensation.Initiative, while important, is not the be-all and end-all ofthis role. While it is easier to neutralize threats before they can geta bead on you, it is also useful to be able to choose targets after theyhave acted in a Combat Turn. Extra Initiative Passes are highlyuseful in either case.In terms of skill set, weapon skills are crucial. Fire Supportcharacters can either hyperspecialize in one weapon or diversifyaround several. Seeing and identifying targets makes Perception avital skill for this role. Dodge or Gymnastics are also crucial, sincefinding and taking cover during a firefight combat might mean thedifference between life or death. The Heavy Weapons, Gunnery,various Exotic Weapons, and Armorer skills may also prove usefulfor mundane characters taking this role.For a character taking a magical approach to the Fire Supportrole, such as combat mages, Spellcasting and Summoning skills aredecisive, though all the Sorcery and Conjuring skills prove useful.Unlike the Awakened in other roles, Fire Support magiciansbenefit from having balanced Physical attributes too. More so thanother magical types, magicians in this role benefit significantlyfrom augmentations and implants that enhance vision and boostcombat abilities.starting out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Character BuildsThis role can be approached in many different ways from theobvious to the esoteric. Fire Support specialists of all sorts are popular,and different approaches benefit from different advantages.Mundane and augmented characters can benefit from awide array of weapon choices and technological enhancements,both implanted and external, to fulfill this role. Appropriatelymodified and accessorized weapons are highly desireable, as arevarious types of vision enhancements and targeting aids be theyimplants or worn (smartlinks, thermographics, rangefinders, radarsense, etc). Augmented characters can expand their arsenal with aplethora of combat augmentations such as Reaction, Agility, andInitiative-boosting cyberware (and some bioware), implantedarmor, and even attention co-processors.Riggers represent an alternative mundane approach to thiscombat role; one relying heavily on armed and armored combatRunner’s Companion11