[tblader]

I have been playing Shadowrun (3rd) for a month or two now in a friends once-a-week, and in that time have enjoyed playing around with character creation, and out of the curiosity I have started trying to see how far you can push a characters maximum initiative at character generation.

Now, I know that how many initiative passes and such is not the only thing that matters in a character, this is something I was curious about - using 3rd edition (any book you like from it) and the priority system - how fast a character can I make and what do I use to make it that fast?

[Nomad Zophiel]

I don't have the 3E books handy anymore but I seem to remember being able to push it to where an average initiative roll was good for 4 passes. 3 dice of reflex enhancement plus the one you get starting would average 14. Base of 6 for a human plus 8 for the wired reflexes would be 14 as well.  If you can get AGI and REA both to 9 that'd give you another 3. An Elf with Exceptional Attribute REA could go to 7 without mods and 10 with (net another +1). From there its just a question of shopping for things that provide +x initiative but no bonus dice and that combine with your wired reflexes (or equivalent).

The above comes out to 17+4d6 for a human, 18+4d6 for a streamlined elf. Average rolls are 31 and 32 respectively. If memory serves, that's good for four init passes per round. On the priority system that's Tech A or B to get everything you need.

[The_Gun_Nut]

I believe I once calculated that a character could be constructed to have 5d6 + 20 for initiative with a combination of cyber and bioware.  It was rather robust, as memory serves, and I think just barely possible (or just barely impossible, it stradled the line) at character creation.

[tblader]

So far I have managed to reach a reaction of 17 + 5D6

[Glyph]

I remember it being a combination of boosted reflexes, a synaptic accelerator, reaction enhancers, and enhanced articulation.

[Mercer]

Don't forget the muscle toner and the Int boosts to get the base Reaction up there.

The fastest character I had out of the gate was 16+3d6, and he finished his career at 18+3d6.  Not a world record, but I was happy. 

[Critias]

Don't forget Small Unit Tactics for a little boost, while you're at it.  It can be a fun little wildcard (and with the right gear, a fun big wildcard).

[WitFondle]

I just put a character together who has 21+5d6 Initiative. I think it's the highest possible at creation, and was made possible by buying all Cyberware and uncultured Bioware used. It required 4 edge points for a Bonus and Exceptional Attribute, Level 3 Wired Reflexes, Level 6 Reaction Enhancer, Level 1 Synaptic Accelerator and Level 4 Muscle Toner. The character was of course an Elf and incidentally ended up with 12 Combat Pool and 5000¥ left for Gear.

[Angelone]

Think I got 4d6+39 at one point, but I'm pretty sure it bent the rules like a crazy straw. Deltaware and the old move by wire plus synaptic accel. was involved iirc. I also seem to remember an encepheleon (sp?).

Edit- Not a cration legal character it was purely a how fast can I make something go.