[Flake]

I could use a little help on polishing up my character.
As it says in the subject matter, i've created a dwarf hacker, with some skills in rigging. I think my main attributes are all pretty good, and couldnt really change them at this point any ways. You see, the characters already created and has played a few sessions, as a matter of fact the last time i played, we ended the night with my character RIGHT in the middle of a cyber fight with some spider working for these concert promoters.(some may know which ones )
Anyways my GM is allowing me some leeway in regard to BP. I had to get a crash course in game machenics and got thrown into an existing party, because of the rush i wasnt able to get a real good understanding of everything that would be most important for a hacker/rigger. The rigging being more for fun and (ideally) getting me nodes into places i dont want to go to in the meats.
That all being said, what i'm really hoping to learn the most about is;
1) what kind of contacts would be best
2) which programs do i NEED to have, and at what ratings
3) how soon should i worry about getting a comlink above level 5
4) which weapons are ideal (i actually took hand gun and blade, rocking one of the big revolvers and a katana)

Thats all i got for now, but i'm sure i'll have more questions as i get answers

Thanks in advance for any input

Stay sparky,
Flake

[Flake]

Name: Flake
Dwarf
Age: 22
Lifestyle: High

Attributes:
Body              3
Agility     4
Reaction      5
Strength      3
Charisma      1
Intuition      4
Logic         4
Willpower     3
Edge         3

Initiative      9
Initiative Pass   1/matrix3
Essence         
     

Positive Qualities:


Negative Qualities:
matrix addiction

Skills:
cercracking (Group)   4
electronics (Group)      4
Pilot Aircraft     5(7)
pilot Anthroform     3
Pilot Ground    3(5)
Perception         2(4)
Gunnery       3(5)
Pistols          2(4)
Blades      2


Knowledge Skills:
Matrix Tribes
Operating Systems
Safe Houses
Cororate Matrix Security Proceedures
Elvin Wines


Language Skills:
Japanese
Elven
l33t speak
English

Gear:
Level 5 comlink
Rover 2068
Cyclopes (unicycle)
assortment of drones

Armor:
Urban Jumpsuit /w helmet    6/4      +2imp

Weapons:
Deputy
Katana 
Knife

Other Gear:
cyber googles

Cyberware/Bioware
Sleep deprevation device
Matrix Jack

Contacts:
Mechanic    L:3    C:3

[killer_instinct03]

Well congrats on playing a rigger, many people don't like the money outlay required and just say no. Personally I would go for a technomancer contact to help you out on the hacker side of things and they could act as the calvary of sorts to help you out of a jam. As for programs you will need a boat load of them never below rating six. Off the top of my head I would say Electronic warfare, Exploit, ECCM, Browse, Edit, Command, Attack, Data Bomb to name a few. Personally I don't think you need to worry about a better comlink for a while if you buy the right programs; make sure you get them optimized to go beyond your system and response and ergonomic if you think it will need to be running most of the time and not slow you down. As for weapons I see nothing wrong with pistols and blades. For my money though I would lean towards a one handed blade since you may need the other hand for your commlink so think monofiliment blade coated with narcoject or a vibroblade if you don't want to use poison and for guns I would go with the thunderbolt or the ares viper sliver gun. Both are solid choices and I love the three round burts option on them both. Hopefully this will be of some help.

[Solomon]

Getting level 6 hacking programs with the optimization feature is higher availability than you can acquire at char gen without restricted gear. Get restricted gear and get your comm to level 6 immediately so you can get programs at level 6 without options that put them out of reach. Analyze, Encryption, ECCM and Stealth are required. If you are going VR you obviously need Biofeedback Filter too. Exploit and Spoof you need for hacking and maybe an Agent if you are paranoid and want a guard dog. Weapons are a matter of style and story. If you need to be subtle a katana is a bad idea but if your GM doesnt care about legality or subtle you are fine.  Same with the hand gun, a revolver is a bad idea if you need to go quiet because they dont silence easily.