[cantshutup]

It's my first SR4 game, it's a newbie party, so the GM declared the game core-only. Supposedly we'll "earn" splats later when we show we can deal with the rules as they are. Which I totally understand, but it kinda limits the options...

[Just as an aside, you guys are a treasure trove of data; this board is the only reason I have any idea about anything SR-related]

I want to go for rigging in the future, so the plan for now is a nice all-rounder support with foundations for becoming a true puppetmaster later. I bought her a van and two recon drones; the idea is to scout first, then go in with the rest of the team while the drones keep an eye on our exits.

With that in mind, is there anything I missed/goofed on? And what should my priorities be when it comes to pitching stuff for GM to allow? Arsenal is amazing, but Unwired has a lot of useful infrastructure stuff (optimization, ergonomic software, etc) that will make things a lot easier from the outset.

I cribbed the software from the Mercenary Rigger archetype (UmaroVI is truly the man), but due to aforementioned lack of Unwired and ergonomic software, I hit the processing limit pretty fast. Which programs should I designate as 'always on', keeping in mind that I'll need one slot for 'Command'? I want to say Encrypt+Decrypt and Analyze, but I'm only 3 days into studying the system, so >_> 

One last question and I'll shut up - will Bad Luck screw me terribly? I mean, with EDG 1 it doesn't sound like it, but >_>

== Info ==
Street Name: Argent
Name: Arihi Te'o
Movement: 8/20, Swim: 4
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 2
Public Awareness: 0
Dwarf
Composure: 6
Judge Intentions: 6
Lift/Carry: 14 (120 kg/80 kg)
Memory: 10
Nuyen: 0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 6
AGI: 3 (5)
REA: 3 (4)
STR: 6 (8 )
CHA: 3
INT: 3
LOG: 5 (7)
WIL: 3
EDG: 1

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   2.725
Initiative:                6 (7)
IP:                        1 (2)
Matrix Initiative:         9
Matrix IP:                 3
Physical Damage Track:     11
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Active Skills ==
Aeronautics Mechanic       : 1                      Pool: 8
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 4
Armorer                    : 1                      Pool: 8
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Automatics                 : 0                      Pool: 4
Automotive Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 8
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 4
Chemistry                  : 1                      Pool: 8
Climbing                   : 0                      Pool: 7
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 4
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 8
Con                        : 4                      Pool: 7
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 6
Data Search                : 1                      Pool: 8
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 6
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 5
Dodge                      : 0                      Pool: 3
Electronic Warfare         : 1                      Pool: 8
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 4
Etiquette                  : 4                      Pool: 7
First Aid                  : 1                      Pool: 8
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 4
Gunnery                    : 1                      Pool: 6
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 4
Hacking                    : 1                      Pool: 8
Hardware                   : 1                      Pool: 8
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 4
Industrial Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 8
Infiltration               : 1                      Pool: 6
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 2
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 2
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 4
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Nautical Mechanic          : 1                      Pool: 8
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Negotiation                : 0                      Pool: 2
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 4
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 5
Perception                 : 4                      Pool: 7
Pilot Aircraft             : 1                      Pool: 5
Pilot Anthroform           : 1                      Pool: 5
Pilot Ground Craft         : 1                      Pool: 5
Pilot Watercraft           : 1                      Pool: 5
Pistols                    : 6                      Pool: 11
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 7
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Software                   : 1                      Pool: 8
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 7
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 4
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 4

== Knowledge Skills ==

== Contacts ==
Bartender (2, 2)
Fixer (4, 2)
Mechanic (4, 3)

== Qualities ==
Bad Luck
SINner (Criminal) (Talia Hale)
Thermographic Vision
Weak Immune System

== Lifestyles ==
Middle  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Cerebral Booster Rating 2
Control Rig
Datajack
Muscle Augmentation Rating 2
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Sleep Regulator
Wired Reflexes Rating 1

== Armor ==
Camouflage Suit           8/6
Helmet                    1/2
Lined Coat                6/4

== Weapons ==
Ares Predator IV
   +Concealable Holster
   +Quick-Draw Holster
   +Smartgun System
   Pool: 11   DV: 5P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 4   DV: 4S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim
Transys Avalon (5, 5, 5, 5)
   +Analyze Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Browse Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Command Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Edit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Scan Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Disarm Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Exploit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +ECCM Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Sniffer Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Stealth Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Track Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
   +Defuse Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
   +Spoof Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Skinlink
   +Encrypt Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Decrypt Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]

== Gear ==
Ammo: EX-Explosive Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x100
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Heavy Pistols) x200
AR Gloves
Biometric Reader
Biomonitor
Contact Lenses Rating 2
   +Flare Compensation
   +Skinlink
   +Smartlink
Earbuds Rating 3
   +Skinlink
   +Audio Enhancement Rating 3
   +Spatial Recognizer
   +Select Sound Filter Rating 3
Fake License (Wired Reflexes) Rating 3
Fake License (Ares Predator IV) Rating 3
Fake License (Ammo: Stick-n-Shock) Rating 3
Fake SIN (Lydia Martin) Rating 3
Gecko Tape Gloves
Glasses Rating 4
   +Skinlink
   +Vision Enhancement Rating 3
   +Ultrasound
   +Image Link
Mapsoft (Seattle) Rating 6
Medkit Rating 6
Miniwelder
Nanopaste Disguise (Small Container)
Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
Satellite Link
Sim Module (Hot)
Subvocal Microphone
Tag Eraser
Wire Clippers

== Vehicles ==
GMC Bulldog Step-Van (Van)
   +Firewall 5
   +Rigger Adaptation
   +Signal 5
   +Vehicle Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Motion Sensor
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Firewall 5
   +Improved Takeoff and Landing Level 2
   +Response 5
   +Signal 5
   +Maneuver (Self) Rating 1
      +Copy Protection Rating 2
      +Registration
   +Minidrone Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
      +Olfactory Sensor Rating 6
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Firewall 5
   +Improved Takeoff and Landing Level 2
   +Signal 5
   +Maneuver (Self) Rating 1
      +Copy Protection Rating 2
      +Registration
   +Minidrone Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic, Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
      +Laser Microphone Rating 6

I have 8 BP left, with an option to put one more in nyen, and 10k of unspent money. Ah, and I left choosing Knowledge Skills for later, after I've gone through Runner Heavens and possibly Attitude... Something tells me she's a combat bike enthusiast

[Csjarrat]

I would honestly get your piloting skills in place first and foremost. Get your reaction much much higher!
If going AR then take some wires for extra passes, if VR then don't worry so much.
I'd get a great car in place with all the tools and skills to get mods on it as they become available.
First things you'll want are run flats, spoof chips and morphing plates. Oil slick sprayer and a turbo after that and probably some handling improvement too.
As for drone, most are a bit squishy so outfit them with long range weapons and take a decent recon drone or three!
Arsenal is the first book you'll need access to.

As for software, if you're jumping in its not important but for AR piloting you want the best control program rating you can get. Decent firewall to protect against hacking and a great browse program to find AR plans for your upgrades.

[emsquared]

Starting with stats; your BOD is at a non-optimal level, stick to odds (so 5 here is great), same with STR - odd number. But more importantly why have you invested so much of your limited chargen resources into STR anyway?? You do absolutely nothing with it. No Blades, Clubs nor Unarmed, not even Athletics - drop that to your racial min (3). REA (as mentioned) is so much more important for you, and INT and even AGI as you are focusing on manual shooting here to begin with. A ton of wasted mechanical potential. I'd strongly recommend using the points saved in droppoing BOD and STR towards REA 4, INT 5 (Initiative is so important in SR4) and AGI 4.

Your skill-set is decently aligned towards your attributes and role for the most part, though I would say move the BP from 3 of those ranks in Social Group into either Electronics Group (optimal IMO) or Piloting things. Especially early on, but also as you get more and more into Rigging, you will be so much better served (and better able to serve your group) with better hacking (taking over enemy Drones) than with being able to talk, and initially you could let Drones pilot themselves while you build up your own Skills. It's good to be passable socially (and you would be with 4 dice), but if you're group doesn't have a dedicated Face, surely you must have a Shaman or elf that can more easily (and more effectively) do the harder Social stuff?

A few things about that Mechanic Contact, if you're just getting him to fix your shot-up stuff, I think his Loyalty is much more important than his Connection (you need him to squeeze you in between his regular jobs, not track down the latest and greatest LAV right?) - swap at least a point there, maybe 2? But also, flesh out his abilities with your GM if you can before committing to it, and make sure you aren't (or won't be shortly) a better mechanic than him anyway. Granted you probably won't always have the time to do all the fixing, but still... make sure he can do what you need him to do.

Regarding the fixer, it's the opposite, you want him to be the best Connected chummer you know. You can easily do favors for him later and raise his Loyalty with you, it's much harder to kill off his competition or help him meet and make friends in high places down the road. Consider swapping a point from L into C here.

The Bartender seems like he's just kind of tacked on, what do you envision him doing for you that a good Data Search skill and Browse software can't? Maybe relocate his points into your other two and other things, or make him into something practical?

Regarding Bad Luck, it's not that bad with 1 EDG but having just 1 EDG is pretty bad (if you get attached to your PCs anway). You can't invoke the hand-of-god with 1 EDG. And if you bump EDG up to 2 (which is a good idea if you want to keep this guy alive should something go wrong), that doubles the crappiness of Bad Luck, as you basically just can't count on EDG to do what it's supposed to (save your arse). IMO, there's better NQs to take. Take a couple benign Incompetencies and a Mild, Uncommon (or even Common) Allergy or a Mild Addiction (you have the BOD to resist it), or even Spirit Bane would probably be better IMO. If you're afraid of cheese, it's your GM who chose to limit you to these crappy options, he can't very well say you can't use them without being a hypocrit.

Drop the Muscle Aug 2 and get something useful like a Reflex Recorder instead.

I'd recommend getting a Ruger Thunderbolt over the Ares Predator.Trick it out to have 5 RC (Folding Stock, Personalized Grip, Underbarrel Weight) and whatever other mods you want. Oops, Arsenal.

Pretty sure your Earbuds are way over Availability limit.

Guess that's about it.

[cantshutup]

Thanks guys!  I’m not typically bothered by dying characters (everyone has to die sometime, and it's usually an interesting experience), so I decided to leave Bad Luck for now. Besides, I have no idea where I’d get 10 more points to raise Edge anyway >_>

I changed the attributes as per your advice (honestly, emsquared, I don’t remember what I was thinking having this much STR; it was probably a leftover instinct from when I thought I was going to play an adept with an axe…), dropped muscle augmentation and dropped 2 BP in gear money. That and some reshuffling in the Skills department allowed me to take Electronics Skill Group up to 2.

Also, raised Pilot Groundcraft and also Pilot Watercraft because she’s from Hawai’i and that seemed like the thing to do for background reasons >_> Plus, Seattle is a port. One day it will be useful one way or another.

Filled in Knowledge Skills. She knows Hotel Operation now, also for background reasons Very important knowledge skill!

Changed contacts too. Fixer is C6-L3 now. The story is she ran with a crew in Hawai’i and got into trouble running against ALOHA(something small, obviously, otherwise she’d be toast). After a stint in local jail she got in contact with a Samoan fixer based in Seattle (ethnic enclaves FTW) and moved. They celebrate Hawai’i Independence Day together

I considered it and think the main purpose I have for the Mechanic is getting parts for all the Arsenal stuff when I do decide to build up my own drone fleet, so I changed him to a parts dealer and raised his Influence.

And I have no idea who to have as a third contact… I’m reading Runner Heavens and parts of Seattle 2072 now, so maybe I’ll figure it out from that info. I’m thinking about a street doc, so I don’t have to be the team medic in addition to a rigger.

Oh and I changed some of the gear. Some of it was over the availability limit, thanks for pointing it out, and some of the cameras were also over capacity...

Csjarrat, thanks for gear advice! I’m not sure about the preferred rigging method for now; we’ll see how the group tactics shake out during play. At the moment I only have surveillance drones so I’ll VR Command them (I think rules support that? Or I read somewhere on this forum that the rules support that?) during the legwork phase.

By the way, emsquared, I see Thunderbolt recommended here a lot; is it just because of burst fire?

== Info ==
Street Name: Argent
Name: Arihi Te'o
Movement: 8/20, Swim: 4
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 2
Public Awareness: 0
Dwarf Female Age 29
Composure: 6
Judge Intentions: 8
Lift/Carry: 8 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 10
Nuyen: 0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 5
AGI: 4 (6)
REA: 4 (5)
STR: 3
CHA: 3
INT: 5
LOG: 5 (7)
WIL: 3
EDG: 1

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   2,825
Initiative:                9 (10)
IP:                        1 (2)
Matrix Initiative:         11
Matrix IP:                 3
Physical Damage Track:     11
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Active Skills ==
Aeronautics Mechanic       : 1                      Pool: 8
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Armorer                    : 1                      Pool: 8
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 4
Automatics                 : 0                      Pool: 5
Automotive Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 8
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 5
Climbing                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 5
Computer                   : 2                      Pool: 9
Con                        : 1                      Pool: 4
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 6
Data Search                : 2                      Pool: 9
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 6
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 4
Dodge                      : 1                      Pool: 6
Electronic Warfare         : 1                      Pool: 8
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 5
Etiquette                  : 1                      Pool: 4
First Aid                  : 1                      Pool: 8
Flight                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Gunnery                    : 1                      Pool: 7
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 5
Hacking                    : 1                      Pool: 8
Hardware                   : 2                      Pool: 9
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 5
Industrial Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 8
Infiltration               : 2                      Pool: 8
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 2
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 2
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 5
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 5
Nautical Mechanic          : 1                      Pool: 8
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 4
Negotiation                : 0                      Pool: 2
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 4
Perception                 : 4                      Pool: 9
Pilot Aircraft             : 1                      Pool: 6
Pilot Anthroform           : 1                      Pool: 6
Pilot Ground Craft         : 4                      Pool: 9
Pilot Watercraft           : 2                      Pool: 7
Pistols                    : 6                      Pool: 12
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 4
Software                   : 2                      Pool: 9
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 5
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 5

== Knowledge Skills ==
Combat Bike Schedule       : 2                      Pool: 7
Corporate Security Procedures : 2                      Pool: 9
Engineering                : 4                      Pool: 13
English                    : 6                      Pool: 13
Hotel Operation            : 2                      Pool: 11
Japanese                   : 4                      Pool: 11
Local Area Knowledge       : 3                      Pool: 10
Local Junkyards        : 2                      Pool: 9
Samoan                     : N                      Pool: 0
Seattle Shadowrunning Scene : 2                      Pool: 9

== Contacts ==
Fixer (6, 3)
Mechanic parts dealer (4, 2)
Unspecified Contact to Be Determind Later (3, 2)

== Qualities ==
Bad Luck
SINner (Criminal) (Talia Hale)
Thermographic Vision
Weak Immune System

== Lifestyles ==
Low  2 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Cerebral Booster Rating 2
Control Rig
Datajack
Mnemonic Enhancer Rating 2
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Sleep Regulator
Wired Reflexes Rating 1

== Armor ==
Camouflage Suit           8/6
Helmet                    1/2
Lined Coat                6/4

== Weapons ==
Ares Predator IV
   +Concealable Holster
   +Smartgun System
   Pool: 12   DV: 5P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Ares Predator IV
   +Quick-Draw Holster
   +Smartgun System
   Pool: 12   DV: 5P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Defiance EX Shocker
   +Quick-Draw Holster
   Pool: 12   DV: 8S(e)   AP: -half   RC: 0
Stun Baton
   Pool: 5   DV: 6S(e)   AP: -half   RC: 0
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 5   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim
Transys Avalon (5, 5, 5, 5)
   +Analyze Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Browse Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Command Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Edit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Scan Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Disarm Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Exploit Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +ECCM Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Sniffer Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Stealth Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Track Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
   +Defuse Rating 3 [Copy Protection 3, Registration]
   +Spoof Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Decrypt Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]
   +Skinlink
   +Encrypt Rating 5 [Copy Protection 5, Registration]

== Gear ==
Ammo: EX-Explosive Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x100
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Heavy Pistols) x200
AR Gloves
Biometric Reader
Biomonitor
Certified Credstick, Standard Rating 1000
Contact Lenses Rating 2
   +Flare Compensation
   +Skinlink
   +Smartlink
Earbuds Rating 3
   +Skinlink
   +Audio Enhancement Rating 3
   +Spatial Recognizer
Earbuds Rating 1
   +Select Sound Filter Rating 3
Fake License (Wired Reflexes) Rating 4
Fake License (Ares Predator IV) Rating 4
Fake License (Ammo: Stick-n-Shock) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Lydia Martin) Rating 4
Gecko Tape Gloves
Glasses Rating 4
   +Skinlink
   +Vision Enhancement Rating 3
   +Ultrasound
   +Image Link
Mapsoft (Seattle) Rating 6
Medkit Rating 6
Miniwelder
Nanopaste Disguise (Small Container)
Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
Satellite Link
Sim Module (Hot)
Subvocal Microphone
Tag Eraser
Tool Kit (Automechanic)
Tool Kit (Drone repair/maintenance)
Tool Kit (Hardware)
Wire Clippers

== Vehicles ==
GMC Bulldog Step-Van (Van)
   +Firewall 5
   +Rigger Adaptation
   +Signal 5
   +Vehicle Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Ultrasound, Vision Enhancement 3]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Low Light, Thermographic]
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Thermographic, Vision Enhancement 3]
      +Motion Sensor
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Firewall 5
   +Improved Takeoff and Landing Level 2
   +Response 5
   +Signal 5
   +Maneuver (Self) Rating 1
      +Copy Protection Rating 2
      +Registration
   +Minidrone Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Low Light, Vision Enhancement 3, Vision Magnification]
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
      +Olfactory Sensor Rating 6
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Firewall 5
   +Improved Takeoff and Landing Level 2
   +Signal 5
   +Maneuver (Self) Rating 1
      +Copy Protection Rating 2
      +Registration
   +Minidrone Sensor
      +Camera Rating 6 [Flare Compensation, Thermographic, Vision Enhancement 3]
      +Laser Microphone Rating 6

Thank you again, guys

[emsquared]

Derp. I actually meant Cracking Group, not Electronics. Electronics, many tests you'll use LOG - so you're good with 1 rank (plus they're generally less critical tests). Cracking you'll not have that luxury, so you need ranks. E-warfare to find those Hidden drone Nodes, Hacking to make them yours (this is by far the cheapest way for you to keep drones in stock). Cyb-combat you could probably skip out on and be okay if the Group is too rich for ya.

[cantshutup]

Ah, yeah, that makes more sense. Will change that. I have no idea how I ended up not having Cracking... I swear it was there somewhere at some point >_>