Just in another thread where I went off on a tangent about “Different types of Killers,” and thought, hey, maybe it would be cool to share some “different types” of playbook archetypes that I’ve thought of or I’ve seen come up in play. I’ll throw up the Driver. If this is cool/helpful/interesting, let me know, and I’ll work my way through the playbooks.
Hacker’s Best Friend: If your setting chooses to go with diminished wireless connectivity, requiring Hackers and Infiltrators to break in and connect physically in order to make Matrix runs, note that the Driver will have a unique distinction: her Neural Interface with Remote Control Module means she’s reasonably unique in the setting for wireless connectivity. Combine with a +sneaky drone, and she can be the wireless relay to allow Hackers to make Matrix runs without breaking in. This may also be the basis for helping the hacker with their run more directly: try taking the Small drone’s “Satellite Relay” + “Software Analysis”, to justify throwing in a Helping roll on all the matrix runs taken through your drone. Fictionally, the MC may consider having the Driver “jack in” and ride tag-along with the Hacker to actually deploy their software analysis. This helps combat the risk of the driver not having any spotlight while folks are inside on their run.
One Man Army: Riding a one-wheeled motorcycle (I refuse to call it a unicycle) as your cyber-linked vehicle, and Drone Jockey with a pair of drones. You can ride in almost anywhere the rest of the cadre needs to get to, and you’re bringing the firepower: between your own hands, the autocannon cycle at your side, and a pair of armed-and-armored drones, your +multitasking neural interface essentially ensures you’re a 4-man army for the cost of one. Consider a pair of +rugged, +autonomous, +easily repaired, and +armed bears covering two hallways; you laying down autofire on a third, and your cycle dropping the occasional grenade down a fourth. Adding Daredevil as your very next move isn’t a bad idea. The Killer’s Hard is also a reasonable move to aim for. If the 4 of you count as a small gang (and you probably should), consider using Mil Specs to upgrade to a medium gang.
Exfil Specialist: It’s not easy making sure your party gets out in one piece, or that there’s a proper exit waiting for them when they do. Your tiny drone, armed with +thermographic sensors, will help your party slide through a facility while carefully avoiding guards that they can see coming through the other side of a wall. This lets you stay involved on the inside while your PC is on the outside. And, always knowing where they are, you can make sure you’re there to grab their asses: with the Right Tool for the Job, you’ll be there whether it’s in the black sky, on the blacktop, or in the bathyscaphe.
The Leg Man: Sometimes it’s not about the ride: it’s about where to go. This driver’s been riding get-aways for as long as the Sprawl’s shined neon, and she knows where to go and who to talk to. Sweet Ride ensures that your driver always knows who to reach out to. Iceman ensures she’ll usually gets what she wants. This Driver is more of a social power-house: their high cool, high Hit The street, and high Fast talk ability means they never have to pause walking into a situation, they’ll have plenty of different situations to get into, and they’ll usually be able to talk their way out of it again. Picture lots of meetings in empty parking lots at nights, leaning on car hoods or talking from driver window-to-driver window. You can take a fair shot at approximating AW’s Battlebabe with this build.
love it!
Nice!
Hey J Stein! I’m going to link to these posts on ardens.org so they’re all collated somewhere. Are you going to re-do the Killer as a seperate post or shall I find and link to the comment?
Hmm… the Killer comment wasn’t in the thread I thought it was. Do you have a link, J Stein?
Hamish Cameron I haven’t dug it up yet, but I intend on rewriting and expanding it anyway
I’ll wait for the expansion then!