Rules reference
Character creation in Shadowrun 6th Edition
Creation steps and common decision points. Shadowrun, Sixth World is the current edition of the classic cyberpunk-fantasy RPG. It is the 2080s: the Awakening brought magic back, metahumanity (elves, dwarfs, orks, trolls) walks the streets, dragons sit on megacorporate boards, and shadowrunners do the deniable dirty work the corps cannot be seen doing. You play a runner: part criminal, part specialist, part survivor, taking jobs from anonymous Mr. Johnsons in a world where the real power holds an extraterritorial charter.
Key points
Use this as a checklist, then build your character in RPG Stack.
- 5 metatypes: Human, Elf, Dwarf, Ork, Troll
- d6 dice pools: Attribute + Skill, hits on 5s and 6s
- Edge economy: earn and spend tactical advantage every combat round
- 19 consolidated skills covering combat, Matrix, magic, and social play
- Five paths: Mundane, Magician, Adept, Aspected Magician, Technomancer
- Glitches: half or more 1s complicates the roll, with no hits it turns critical
- Choose Metatype and Archetype: pick your metahuman lineage (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Ork, Troll) and the role you play on a runner team.
- Set Attributes: rate Body, Agility, Reaction, Strength, Willpower, Logic, Intuition, and Charisma from 1-6 (metatypes can raise some maximums), plus Edge 1-7.
- Choose your path: Mundane, Magician, Adept, Aspected Magician, or Technomancer, and set Magic or Resonance 0-6 if you have one.
- Distribute Skills: spread ranks 0-6 across the 19 skills, focusing on the handful your archetype lives by.
- Pick Qualities: note the positive and negative qualities that define your edge and your baggage.
- Record Gear, Augmentations, Contacts, and Lifestyle: your equipment, chrome, fixer, and how you live between runs.
Start with a simple concept (role + vibe), then choose attributes/skills that support it. You can fill details later.
Make sure your sheet supports a signature action you want to do often (investigate, intimidate, hack, heal, etc.).
- Mistake: Skipping concept and getting lost in options. Fix: Pick a role, pick 2 strengths, pick 1 weakness, then fill details.
- Mistake: Not aligning your sheet with the campaign. Fix: Ask what kind of scenes you’ll play (combat, investigation, politics) and build for that.