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Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9Advanced Lifestyle SystemThe Advanced Lifestyle rules break down lifestyles into fiveseparate categories that replace the single lifestyle system presentedin Shadowrun, Fourth Edition. These categories are Comforts,Entertainment, Necessities, Neighborhood, and Security. Playerspick the value for each category and then add up their associatedLifestyle Points (LP) to determine their monthly lifestyle costs(see Lifestyle Point/Cost Table, at right). There are several valueswhere the Lifestyle Point system lines up exactly with the basiclifestyle costs presented in SR4. This is deliberate. If a player doesnot want the extra detail involved in picking each category, butthe gamemaster wishes to use this expanded system, the player caninstead simply choose one of SR4’s basic lifestyle categories. In thatinstance, each category would be at the level picked. For example, aplayer could simply choose a Middle lifestyle for her character, andshe would then have each of the five categories at a Middle leveland would pay a flat 5,000¥ a month.Note that lifestyles can be customized even further with theLifestyle qualities.Mark is creating a lifestyle for his character, Mitzythe Hacker. He decides Mitzy lives in the CrimsonCrush ork gang-controlled area of Redmond (LowNeighborhood: 2 LP), in a larger loft apartment—sheneeds room for her electronics shop—with dependable accessto electricity and the wireless Matrix through illegaltaps maintained by the gang (Middle Necessities: 3 LP).Since Mitzy wants her gear and electronics shop to besafe, she depends on her ganger contacts for security, plusshe has some good security systems in her apartment(Middle Security: 3 LP). She likes her simsense and herVR games and has to feed her mild simsense addiction(Middle Entertainment: 3 LP). Since she spends mosther time building gear, playing VR games, and immersedin simsense, she doesn’t care about furniture, art, or fancyhousehold drones (Squatter Comfort: 1 LP). Mark totalsthe costs: 2+3+3+3+1=12. Referring to the costs table,Mitzy’s lifestyle will cost 3,200¥ per month. This reflectsthe total nuyen paid to the gang, her landlord, groceryservices, AR/VR subscriptions, and simsense.LimitationsSome categories and selected values have limitations on howthey can be combined, to avoid unbelievable combinations (suchas Luxury Entertainment with Street Necessities—if you’re livingon the street, chances are you aren’t going to have anywhere to putyour elaborate full-VR immersion simsense studio). Gamemasterscan enforce or ignore these limitations, depending on how theybest work within their campaigns. While most luxury neighborhoodsaren’t likely to allow someone to reside there withNecessities: Street, a character may very well have a great backstorythat provides the exception to the rule. In the end, gamemastershave final say over what will work in their campaigns.Lifestyle Point/Cost TablePoints Cost SR4 Equivalent0 0¥ Street1 100¥2 200¥3 300¥4 400¥5 500¥ Squatter6 800¥7 1,100¥8 1,400¥9 1,700¥10 2,000¥ Low11 2,600¥12 3,200¥13 3,800¥14 4,400¥15 5,000¥ Middle16 6,000¥17 7,000¥18 8,000¥19 9,000¥20 10,000¥ High21 15,000¥22 20,000¥23 30,000¥24 40,000¥25 50,000¥26 60,000¥27 70,000¥28 80,000¥29 90,000¥30 100,000¥ Luxury31+ Add 25,000¥ per additional levelSpoofingAdvanced Lifestyle CategoriesSome characters may choose to utilize theLifestyle Spoofing rules presented in Unwired(see Spoofing Life, p. 99, Unwired). To utilizethis with the Advanced Lifestyle rules, the charactermust spoof each category separately. Thethresholds for each category remain the sameas presented in Unwired. However, the intervalsare significantly reduced for each category. Whilethe interval to spoof an entire lifestyle, based onthe basic lifestyle rules, is one day, the intervalto spoof any category of the Advanced Lifestylerules is six hours. Any glitches on any of the testsresult in a Negative Lifestyle quality (to be chosenby the gamemaster). The results are good forone month of living expenses. While the lifestylemay be increased at any time during the month,Negative qualities remain in effect for the durationof the month.advanced lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Runner’s Companion153