[K5pbem] Introducing myself & question

[Logan Darklighter]

Michael P Hopcroft wrote:

Hi Mike.

> Anyway,. I had a basic question. I had a character concept for more of 
> a shades-of-gray character than a hero -- basically a Triad underboss 
> with a sense of basic honor. However, since I don't have a copy of 
> Kazei 5 at the moment I am wondering if there is any cyberwear or the 
> like such a character would have to have gained to have survived long 
> enough to get where he is, or that would be especially helpful, 
> without requiring him to divert too many points away from Skills and 
> Perks.


I don't think there's any cybergear _necessary_ for his position. But 
there are some things desirable.

It depends --  is he the kind of guy who gets in fights a lot? Or is he 
a schemer/manipulator of the "Let's you and him fight" school? I could 
see it as possible for a guy in the Triads to still get by and move up 
the ranks with a bare minimum of cyber upgrafts, such as a direct neural 
interface (DNI). Information is power after all. And a DNI with a secure 
satellite uplink is one of the fastest ways to access said info.

Even if he uses a lot of implanted gear, I somehow can't see a 
sophisticated Triad boss having a lot of _overt_ cybergear. No hulking 
masses of metal and plastic sitting in the big conference chair, dig? 
Besides, that's what minions are _for_ yes?

But if you _want_ him to be a combat machine, then I think basic rule of 
thumb should be - anything that still allows him to wear his 500,000 yen 
tailored suit in style is fine. If he's a Triad boss, he should hardly 
ever _have_ to fight. But he can be _ready_ to fight. And if you hardly 
ever see the man lift a finger in anger, and then when he _does_, he's 
amazingly effective... as in, several corpses lying about when he's 
done... Well, there's a honkin' big presence attack right there!

-Logan