Character Creation

**Welcome to the Quick Character Creation tool of Neomaner!** Now that you know the basic concepts of the game you can create your character. There are 2 ways to do this. The following pages deal with the Quick Character Creation which is recommended when you are playing Neomancer for the first time. As a GM you can copy these pages for your players or use the online version: www.neomancer.wix.com. If you want more control you can use the Expert Rules which will be available in the core rules. Since you are still reading you seem to want to create a character. For this print out a Neomancer Character Sheet and have a pen ready. [[Let’s go!]]

[[A) A gun to the head usually puts things into perspective.]] [[B) An elbow to the nose should do the trick. I don't like it when people touch me.]] [[C) I would convince him that I have an appointment inside. I can be very persuasive.]] [[D) I have already hacked your wifi and put my ID in your system, no problem.]] [[E) My drones have opened a window in the back. I love these little bugs.]]

Set ranged to 5. She laughs. "Yeah, I thought so. Nice of you to let him live, by the way. So, a little birdie told me you might be coming 'round, looking for work, ain't it so? "Probably. Depends on who's offering and what's it about." "That depends on what else you can do. Let’s say your first approach would not be possible? Would you have to give up?” [[Decision 2]]

Decision 2a (choose 2 options you did not chose in Decision 1) A) A gun to the head usually puts things into perspective! Set ranged to 4. B) An elbow to the nose should do the trick. I don't like it when people touch me. Set melee to 4. C) I would convince him that I have an appointment inside. I can be very persuasive. Set interaction to 4. D) I have already hacked your wifi and put my ID in your system, no problem. Set hacking to 4. E) My drones have opened a window in the back. I love these little bugs. Set rigging to 4. F) l would have climbed through the open window on the second floor. Set athletics to 4. G) Sooner or later he will let his guard down for a second, then I would slip past him. Set stealth to 4. H) His gang credentials are obvious to me, I know how to deal with people like him. Set street smarts to 4. I) I have planned this beforehand. We're professionals, he knows that I am awaited here. Set tactics to 4. When you have chosen 2, go on to [[Decision 2b]]

Set ranged to 4 and go back to [[Decision 2]]

*“Okay, and what are your mediocre talents? You know, things you can do without killing yourself, but not at an expert level?”, she smiles and nibs.* Set 3 other traits to 3. *"Interesting. You don't look that way, but then appearances can be deceiving, can't they?" Right on cue, somewhere behind you an argument starts. You turn around to see two man standing before a pleasure pod. You can't catch what this is about, but you have a feeling they're not here to talk with the pod. One is reaching into his jacket, while the other grabs the pod's arm.* [[Decision 3]]

[[A) I have nothing against pods and help her. They deserve to be treated right.]] [[B) I don't' know … pods are somewhat ok, but I didn't come here to be a hero. Not again…]] [[C) Damn pods. They took 'er jobs.]]

*So, this is Los Angeles, you think. According to some people, it is the city if you want to make quick money. According to some others, it is also a place where you can end up dead real quick. You couldn't care less – in your line of work, both possibilities are always really close together. Which is part of the reason you are here now. A new start, new possibilities. Away from all the troubles of the past. Anyway, no time to get sentimental now. (colour: green)[You have arrived at your destination], Carol, your AI tells you. Like you hadn't noticed. The "Dirty Dutch" is not a bar where many ordinary people hang out. Sure, there are always some who go there for thrills or just don't know any better, but they just help keeping the charade up, knowingly or not. The real purpose of the bar is not entertainment. That much you know. It was the last favour from an old friend. "Go to LA, find the Dirty Dutch. They're always on the lookout for capable people." You eye the entry for a while. It is barely ten in the morning, but people are always coming and going. This is Los Angeles, after all. Some of them come with baggages and leave without, some come without and leave with baggages. Yep, you're right here. You cross the street and make it to the entrance. A big guy with a very obvious cyberarm is watching you skeptical. [Probably a bouncer]. Really helpful, these AI's. What would you do without them? When you are only a few feet away from him, he moves and blocks the entrance. "Haven't seen you around here", he growls with a dark voice and puts his cyberarm on your shoulder. "Only for people I know. Piss off." Before you can do something, his eyes go soft for a moment, a sign that he is communicating via AR. "Alright, you're good to go. But don't make no trouble in there, or your ass is mine." You ignore him and enter. The bar is dimly lit, and there are probably around fifty people in here, despite the time. You walk through the crowd of drunks, sexpods, gangmembers and other shady individuals. AR-strippers dance to loud and aggressive music, but they show barely enough to keep you interested. Real strippers - if they're good - can charge much more than they would probably earn here. Anyway, you are not here to watch some virtual babes make out with each other. Or are you? Nah. Maybe later. Since someone must have let you in, you probably should meet that someone. Your first place to go is the counter, where a too young-looking woman with pink hair is cleaning some glasses. Her clothes are torn at strategically chosen places, and her eyes focus on you, one natural, one artificial. She is pretty, but looks too thin. "I see you've made it. Had any trouble getting past Bruno?" She smiles, and you're a little surprised that she has a British accent. "Not really, since you apparently let me in." "Yeah, nice of me, wasn't it? But don't tell me you wouldn't have found another way." "Probably." "I thought so. And that would be?" You shrug your shoulders.* [[Decision 1]]

You are considered Pro-Bot. [[Before anything else happens, a woman appears behind the two man.]]

B*efore they even realize it, she sends the first one flying across the room with an elbow to the head, while the music stops and the bar goes silent. The second one goes for his weapon, but the woman is fast as lightning and has a shotgun pointed at his face before he even has his gun out. "I suggest you pick up your friend and get the hell out of here." Her voice has a slight hint of an accent, but you can't put your finger on it. She speaks very calm, but you are sure she wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. [The data on this is pretty incomplete, but I think it could be some kind of native american accent. I will look further into it if you want me to.] "Yeah, why not", you mumble. Who would have thought that? First time your AI was almost helpful today. If you count the accent of a woman you’ve just seen for the first time. The woman eyes you for a second, before disappearing into the crowd. The music starts again, like nothing had happened. When you turn back to the girl at the counter, she is grinning. "What?" "Oh, nothing, nothing. I don't judge. At least I know now how you feel about pods." Apparently, you should work on your poker face again. "Yeah, well, the thing is..." She interrupts you. "Everything is fine, sweetheart. We are professionals here. As long as you don't let your conviction interfere with your job, we don't have a problem." She nods into the direction where the other woman has disappeared. "That's Raven, by the way. If you stick around here, you might see her from time to time." "Raven? Funny name." "Yeah. You can tell her that yourself if you like, but I suggest you stay clear of her when she's in a foul mood." She sighs. "Nowadays, she's often in a foul mood. She's ex-military or something like that. Anyway, don't piss her off." "Rough times here in LA? I came here hoping it would be better than in … well, from where I came." The girl laughs again, pretty loud this time. "Ah, you're cute, hon'. This is LA. Whatever is going on in the world, it is either starting in LA, influencing LA or ending in LA. Which means, there are always rough times." "Hmm. Great." "Ain't it? Back to business. What is your role in a Team?”* [[Decision 4]]

A) As I said, I kan kill things. Incapacitate at least. I’m trained by professionals and know my way around military grade gear. Give me the tools and the job will be done. **needs Ranged or Melee 5!** [[The Muscle]] B) I already mentioned it, I can hack everything. My AI, as demanding as it is, is rogue and salvaged from an experimental pod. You want to get into something? Call me! **needs Hacking 4 or 5!** [[The Hacker]] C) You open your jacket and a little swarm of drones is moving around. “These are my friends and if there is something I couldn’t achieve, they surely will. **needs Rigging 5!** [[The Rigger]] D) You still don’t know? Maybe we really should get a drink later so I can show you my very particular set of… skills. **needs Interaction 5!** [[The Face]]

You are a killing machine, designed to overcome powerful enemies. You enhanced your body specifically for this purpose. [[Close combat specialist]] You are deadly with everything you can shoot or be thrown. You enhanced your body for this purpose and trained hard to get there where you are. [[Gunslinger]]

*You are the groups technical analyst, the magician of electronics. You open hidden doors, get access codes and implant biometry to enter compounds. Maybe you are a working from further away maybe you dive right into the action. Chose one of the following packages and write down everything into your character sheet.* You know everything there is to know about the digital world and your rogue A.I. has become your best friend, even better than the ones you know made out of flesh. [[Mr. Robot]] You want it all. You are not some lame ass hacker guy sitting in a comfy chair. You go out there and do the job and when there is someone in your way he will suffer the consequences. The combination of a Rogue A.I. and augmentations take a toll on your psyche, though. [[Watchdog]]

*You love technology, you embrace it. You have drones at your disposal to get every possible task done for you. Sometimes you make yourself dirty but most of the time you let the drones do all the work.* You are the master of your drones and they swarm around you wherever you go. You know how to use big drones, fighting drones and even warfare scale robots but you are fascinated by these little machines when they accomplish so much just by working together. [[Lord of the flies]] Swarms? What would I need insects for when I can have a predator? Your drone may draw some kind of attention but it pays off. It really does. [[Dronemancer]]

*You are one sly Professional. You don’t hack doors open or force your way in. They just let you. Because You! Are! Beautiful!* You know how to get people to do what you want. Amoral, unethical, it does not matter when it is you asking the favor. If you had lived a few hundreds years before you could have become king of a land you don’t even know the language. [[Machiavellist]] People need leaders, they need guidance and they need orders. You are trained by the military and even if you are no longer part of it your leadership skills are extraordinary. What you lack in brute force you make up for with your brain. [[Commander]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 2 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher **Cyberware** Melee Augmentation Pay 3 ERG to add to a Melee Check Weapon Upgrade Implanted Melee Weapon Upgrade Weapon with Damage 2 **Skills** Arc dodger When you are Exposed at the beginning of the Action Phase restore 1 INI. Brutal strength Pay 1 ERG to have your Melee attack inflict +1 damage this Combat Round **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 2 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher **Cyberware** Ranged Augmentation Pay 3 ERG to add to a Ranged Check Weapon Upgrade Implanted Handguns (Akimbo) with Damage 1 **Skills** Gunslinger After a successful Ranged attack with two pistols (or Akimbo Cyberware), restore 1 INI. Center Axis Relock When you are Exposed and attack using two handguns (or Akimbo cyberware), pay 1 ERG to inflict 1 additional damage **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

*“Is that so? Well, to each his own, I guess.” Her cybereye starts to glow red, and she winks at you. “I can set you up with an apartment if you decide to stay here. You still have to pay for it, of course. By the way, what is your lifestyle?”, she is really looking interested, “friends, family...a...partner?” she winks playfully.* [[I tend to stay on my own, but that was always so. Most people annoy me.]] [[Well, I’m new here, but actually I have nothing against a few friends.]] [[Outside of business, I’m a party animal. Livin’ la vida loca… you know the drill, baby.]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 2 Credits: 4000c Comfort: Reacher **Skills** Rogue A.I. Increase your Alienation by 1 (already done); add 1 adjective to AI (not yet done, see Hacking on p. 19 for details) False Alarms Pay 3 ERG to make a Critical Hacking Check to add +2 FP and to the Extraction. **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 3 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher **Cyberware** Ranged Augmentation Pay 3 ERG to add to a Ranged Check **Skills** Rogue A.I. Increase your Alienation by 1 (already done); add 1 adjective to AI (not yet done, see Hacking on p. 19 for details) Shoot, shoot, shoot! When it’s your turn and you haven’t acted yet, pay 1 ERG to change your action to “Shoot”. **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Machine Pistol Damage 2, Firewall Points 1, max INI 4 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 2 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher **Drones** Destroyer Swarm Mandible Upgrade The swarm can cut through solid metal Less than lethal drone strike Only outside of Combat: Make a Rigging Check to incapacitate as many enemies as you have unblocked Hits left. **Skills** Rogue A.I. Increase your Alienation by 1 (already done); add 1 adjective to AI (not yet done, see Rigging on p. 19 for details) Advanced Autopilot Set your Autopilot AI to 4. **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 3 Credits: 900c Comfort: Reacher **Drones** Reaper Drone (6 wounds, armor 1, 2 Firewall Points) Protocol: Tactical Analyzer Rigging Check: add 1 for every unblocked Hit to every Operator’s FLOW. Weapon Upgrade Machine Pistol, Damage 2 **Skills** Rogue A.I. Increase your Alienation by 1 (already done); add 1 adjective to A.I. (not yet done, see Rigging on p. 19 for details) Evasive Maneuver When one of your drones gets attacked, pay 1 ERG to add 1 SD to the enemy’s Check. **Gear** Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 2 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher Cyberware Pheromone Augmentation Pay 3ERG to add to an Interaction Check Quality Upgrade I Add 1 HIT instead of to an Interaction Check Skills Black widow Outside of combat: Pay 2 ERG to make a Melee Check with your Interaction trait when the target is not suspicious Social worker Pay 1 ERG to remove from a friendly character’s FLOW in the same stance as yours during the Reveal Gear Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

ERG: 10 REF: 3 INI: 10 Grounding: 3 Alienation: 3 Credits: 1000c Comfort: Reacher Cyberware Tactical Augmentation Pay 3 ERG to add to a Tactics Check Quality Upgrade I Add 1 Hit instead of to a Tactics Check when using the Tactics augmentation Defensive Augmentation Pay 3 ERG to raise your armor by 1 against a single attack Skills My mind is set Pay 2 ERG to remove from any FLOW Regroup Pay 3 ERG to immediately change an Operator’s stance from neutral to exposed or vice versa, including yourself. Choose new action if the Operator hasn’t acted yet Gear Handgun Damage 1, Firewall Points 0, max INI 6 Light Armor Body 1/ Limbs 0/ Head 0 When you are finished writing the informations dow [[go on]]

Set your lifestyle to Family Ties. [[Go on]]

Set your lifestyle to Hedonist. [[Go on]]

Set your lifestyle to Lone Wolf. [[Go on]]

*“Ok, ok. I thought so. None of me business, anyway. Anything else to say? Got any weird personal issues I should worry me loaf about?” “What?” [I think this is called “cockney”. It’s a dialect from London. She is referring to her head.] “I meant, it is good to know what makes you tick.” “Ah. Well… I’m a professional, that’s all you have to really know about me right now.” She smiles again. “Well, we will find out. Don’t worry, I might even keep it a secret.”* *[My latest personal analysis shows that you are…] aggressive/arrogant/bossy/careless/cruel/dishonest/greedy/impatient/materialistic/selfish [but also] adaptable/brave/calm/charming/determined/humorous/loyal/persistent/quick-witted/rational “We might keep that to ourselves, Carol”, you think. [Understood.]* **Choose one adjective as your Virtue and one adjective as your Vice. You may enhance this example list.** [[Go on ]]

*“You don’t wanna answer? Okay, I get that. But what drives you? Why are you even here? I mean, c’mon, being an Operator is so stressful”, she empties the soy schnapps and grunts, “You could work a little bit, get some Soma, be happy. What is your problem?”* [[I saw things I was not supposed to see. And I am surely not talking about putting some drugs in the soy block machine. I mean serious shit. They tracked me, tried to hunt me down but I wasn’t born yesterday. Still, losing my CSC and getting a fake one was weird and I am still feeling paranoid.]] [[You know, there was not really a need for it. I was rich, filthy rich but I was everything but happy. I figured that a lifestyle outside of the system is more...thrilling. I lost everything, spent it actually, and now I am here. With no regrets. Maybe some. [Maybe many.]] [[Things were not going well. My GenEval was not good and my work was boring me out. One day they just fired me, without rhyme or reason. I was starving and did not know where to go. So I signed up to this Megacorporation. 5 years of work, many credits and a Memory Erasing after that. And now here I am. I don’t really know what I have done. I only know my very unique skill set and have to use it.]]

You are hunted. [[Go on!]]

You are a dropout. [[Go on!]]

You are a blank slate. [[Go on!]]

*She nods knowingly and turns her head. “Isn’t that one of your crew?” You look to the bar and she is right. “What brings you two together? Why are you working as a team?”* Choose a connection to one team member. This connection concerns you and the player to your left on the table. [[Hmm, you know I don’t want to talk about it. But this person knows something of me, something....serious and I want to keep him/her close to make sure this little secret goes nowhere.]] [[He/She is my lifesaver. I am not to proud to admit it, I would be dead without that person over there, drinking soy beer like there is no tomorrow. I don’t want to get into details, though.]] [[That is actually quite a story. We were in love with the same person, at the same time. And we arranged a very...satisfying solution. Let’s just say the we had a ton of fun together.]] [[Ha! This person is like a sibling to me. We fought many battles together and I would trust him/her with my life anytime! Anytime!]]

You have a secret together. Invent a fitting one. [[Advance]]

Another Operator saved your life. Think of a good story about that. [[Advance]]

You had a triangular relationship with another Operator. [[Advance]]

You and another Operator are long time companions and worked often together. [[Advance]]

*“Okay, fair enough. I hope it is not only you two, though, I expect a larger group for the next job. What about your network? Do you have any viable connections that can help you during operations?” She leans back and gets another soy schnapps.* [[I know some rough people. They can achieve some serious stuff but I only call for them if I am 100% sure that breaking stuff is not a problem.]] [[I can call up some really nice looking lads and ladies if the job requires a little...honey mouthed interaction. Most people can’t refuse what they offer, if you know what I mean...]] [[There are some clandestine people I know. Shadows, unnoticeable. Can enter buildings without leaving a trace.]] [[I know people, you know. Politicians, Influencer, Stars even. I can get everywhere when I pay the price.]]

Primitives Pay 200c to add 1 OD to Intrusion or Extraction and add 1 Firewall Point to the Firewall. [[Go on.]]

Nice faces Pay 200 to add 1 OD to Intrusion or Extraction. The Operator cannot take gear with Firewall more than 1 with him/her in this Operation. [[Go on.]]

Street ninjas Pay 200 to add 1 OD to Intrusion or Extraction. This Network can only be activated when the Firewall is 0. [[Go on.]]

Local politician Pay 200 to add to Intrusion or Extraction . Pay an additional 200C when DEFCON 1 is reached during the Operation or the Network is blocked in following Operation. [[Go on.]]

*“Allrighty. I think we’ll have something for you. Check back in a few hours, then you can talk to a broker. I’m Ailsa, by the way. Welcome to Los Angeles.”*