Attributes and skills | Character creation Shadowrun: Hong Kong Guide

Karma points distribution window

In this chapter you will read about the available attributes and skills. Both of them are developed with the Karma points and are related to each other. You can't develop some attributes or skills until you develop the basic attribute (for example, you can't develop using the handgun until you increase your ranged weapons attribute, which depends on the quickness attribute). Some attributes intertwines each other: after distributing few points to an attribute you will be able to buy a skill related to that attribute in the next development field.

Important: As in each turn based game, there are the so called Action Points (AP). Quickness or any other attribute doesn't affect the amount of the AP! They can be increased only by using active skills/spells, and after completing 9 quests you and all your companions will automatically receive +1 AP permanently.

Body

Each body point adds 10 health points. Because of that, it is wise to distribute here at least a few redundant points. Additionally, the body development affects the Cyberware Affinity skill - you can develop it as much as the body attribute. The mentioned skill determines which Cyberware class you can "install in yourself".

Quickness

Quickness defines two skills: Dodge and Ranged Weapons. The attribute itself also affects your accuracy and is making it harder for the enemy to hit you. Ranged weapons affect the weapon accuracy. Other skills related to specific weapon types also spreads from it: rifles, shotguns, handguns, SMG. Developing them might also increase accuracy, but mostly it will add active skills used when shooting from a weapon during a turn.

Strength

Strength is an attribute opposite to the quickness. If you don't intend to fight from close distance - ignore it. You can, if need be, spend some points on Throwing Weapons, it will increase your effectiveness in using, for example, grenades. As mentioned above: strength determines the accuracy in close combat. Two skills spread from it: Throwing Weapons, including grenades and throwing knives; and Close Combat. This one determines the accuracy when fighting with a melee weapon or bare hands. Developing these two skills will improve the active skills used during battle.

Willpower

Obviously, willpower is related to magic. It determines the development of two sub attributes: Spellcasting and Qi Casting, which differ slightly in the type of casted spells. Additionally, willpower increases your resistance to enemy spells and increases the chance of hitting the enemy with a spell.

Intelligence

Intelligence is a pretty specific group. Developing it only increases attack accuracy in the Matrix. It is required for developing the following skills: Decking, Drone Control, Biotech and ESP Control. Decking allows buying new Cyberdecks and gives and improves the targeting skill. Drone Control allows buying your own drone and controlling him so that he fights instead of you. Linked to that is the Drone Combat that permanently increases the statistics of all your drones. Biotech is useful during many conversations. Developing it too much is not recommended - it allows to slightly increase your combat parameters with the first aid kids - but on second level you will receive a very useful skill that allows you to see the health of your enemies. The last skill, ESP Control, improves the expert programs in the Matrix (in other words, it improves the summoning of programs-companions that help you in combat).

Charisma

Charisma is a negotiating ability. Each two points you can select an etiquette which allows you to use various dialogue option and often obtain interesting ways of solving a quest. Main character should have at least 2-3 etiquettes. Additionally, it determines the development of two skills: Conjuring, which is another type of magic, based more on the surroundings, and Spirit Summoning - during almost every harder battle there are special points placed on the arena from which you can summon spirits of the elementals. Develop this skill and they will help you in combat. You can also, after obtaining the third development point, summon totems which, depending on your choice, have various effects on a specific territory (buffs/debuffs). After learning Spirit Summoning you can also invest points in Spirit Control which increases the ability of capturing spirits.