PCs Possessing Vehicle Skills and a Vehicle is a Must in Shadowrun Missions!

All table-top role-playing games have some measure of verisimilitude built into them. Some games such as D&D incorporate as per DM fiat. Other games such as Shadowrun incorporate realistic elements as part of its basic design. Runners operate in the shadows cause how else will they make ends meet? Sure, D&D PCs can own horses. However, horses aren't quite essential when the PCs are within a dungeon. For ease of play, horse ownership is optional. Thus, the DM will fudge travel at times.


Not the case with Shadowrun. Shadowrun has characters that can become one with the vehicle, ie the rigger. Unlike D&D, Shadowrun uses intricate vehicle rules that depending on the edition can be difficult to master. While I much prefer fifth edition vehicle rules to third, I wouldn't call myself proficient with them.


So it's safe to say, modules may very call for some fancy driving or piloting of some kind especially when the drek hits the fan. Self-driving cars or an unskilled chummer won't do either.


Shadowrun is also reflection of modern, well near-future modern anyway, life within a vast urban sprawl. No runner is hiking through the sprawl carrying a grenade launcher without attracting attention. So a vehicle transportation is needed. Particularly when time is of the essence.


I've been lucky to play Shadowrun Missions modules with a relatively stable group of players and PCs. Luckier in that at least one PC owns a vehicle and skilled enough to pilot it when self-driving vehicles won't do. Heck, I made a Smuggler (vehicle rigger) for that very reason! They're like the walking bandages cleric from D&D in that way...


However, at conventions and within my own group, that may not always be the case. Not everyone wants to play the PC that provides transportation to the rest of the group. The group simply could be too large.


As such, my simple advice to any new Shadowrun Missions player is create a PC that owns a vehicle and has at least a rank of one in the respective piloting skill.


Cause when you're entering the fourth and final season of a Shadowrun Missions storyline, you're not going to want to detour from any character advancement plans to buy some vehicle skill ranks for your PC. Maybe if your PC isn't a magician or a technomancer it's an option to spend that karma on though. Still costs karma, time, and nuyen though...


Buying a vehicle shouldn't be a problem nuyen-wise on the bright side...


Happy Gaming!


Next time.