[Chalkarts]

Ok pure mechanics question, since my 5e rule book can't happen just yet.  Are backup softs carried in some kind of disc or thumb drive format?  Essentially how many could a guy carry on his person discretely for switching out on the quick?  How many might fit in a small cyber compartment or bio skin pouch?  I'd love him to have all of his skills on hand all the time so he could change out on the fly.

Also how conspicuous is the actual hardware?  Can it be completely hidden under his hairline or are there bulky sockets that stand out?

[Top Dog]

By default the backup skillsofts are just pure software, and stored on whatever you want (every device is assumed to have basically as much storage as you need, so you could store them all directly on your skilljack, or on your commlink, or whatever.)

If you so wish, you could put them on a datachip which you then slot in (in any device you want). That could be a port on your body (datajack, implanted commlink...) or a connecter on your commlink, which can then send the program on to your skilljack. But by default, it's all stored as software on one of your devices and transmitted wirelessly, if needed.

The skilljack and skillwires themselves are fully internal. I'm not even sure if they can have physical connectors themselves. If so, they would be tiny and easily hidden. Normally external connections would go through datajacks or implanted commlinks, as mentioned, which have bigger connectors as well. But still easily hidden.

[Chalkarts]

So his only visible tech could be a couple of data chips socketed into data jacks under his hair.  A skill wire and cyber skull would cover all tech needs.  Then a little bioware for some stat boosts and armor and he'd be set.  He's going to be a terrible thorn in the side of this party.

[Top Dog]

So his only visible tech could be a couple of data chips socketed into data jacks under his hair.  A skill wire and cyber skull would cover all tech needs.  Then a little bioware for some stat boosts and armor and he'd be set.  He's going to be a terrible thorn in the side of this party.

Wait, why do you want a cyberskull?

[Chalkarts]

Eyes, ears, data jacks and such just seemed economical.

[Top Dog]

Eyes, ears, data jacks and such just seemed economical.

You don't need to install those in a Cyberskull, you just replace the part in question. Cyberskull is seperate from that.

I mean, you can get a Cyberskull if you like the asthetic. But you don't need one.

[Glyph]

I think that he was planning to use the cyberskull's capacity rating for the other mods.  Unfortunately, the other items can only be purchased with Essence, not capacity, so it doesn't work that way.

[Chalkarts]

I'm finally putting this guy on paper as a 5e PC.

I'm prioritizing him as
A: Money
B: Attributes
C: Skills
D: Human(Since skillsofts don't use edge, a low edge is acceptable)

I'm having a hard time deciding what level to start with for my skillwire/jack. 
4,5, or 6.

[FST_Gemstar]

Have you thought of more knowledge/language skill focus for your softs? it may cut down on resources, let you specialize with more "real" skill points, and use your softs for to complilment and for versatility?

[Duellist_D]

If you go Skillwires and not Move-by-Wire:
Restricted gear+Alphaware Skillwires grade 6.
Skilljack should also be Grade 6, so you don't have to swap it out.
Can you use the german rules for the skilljack?
If yes, keep in mind that it is not only cheaper (as stated by the Posters above), but its Essence cost is independent from its rating (another change). Chummer actually does this wrong, so you have to compensate via an Antihole.
Also get a Chipjack for additonal Slots and don't buy any skills with Karma at Chargen if you can avoid it, except at Rating 1.
A Level 2 Skill in a chip only costs you 5 Karma (10.000 cash) compared to the 6 Karma it costs for buying 2 ranks with Karma.
Softmax though, always buy the Chips with the best Level you can get. Don't bother with Chips below Level 4.

[Novocrane]

By Data Trails, every time you use any software while accessing the matrix, it backs up to your persona's cloud. You need special software to stop it.

I think that he was planning to use the cyberskull's capacity rating for the other mods.  Unfortunately, the other items can only be purchased with Essence, not capacity, so it doesn't work that way.

Would obvious cyber skull + bulk mod fit a sensor array? Otherwise, single sensors. Sight & sound for synthetic skull.

[Rooks]

It's hard to pull off. There are a lot of limits with skillwires that make them challenging.

1) They're way, way expensive. Not just the wires and skilljack (the two required devices for skillwire use in 5e which run 20K per Rating for each different piece of cyberware), but the skillsoft themselves (5000 nuyen per rating). At best, you can only get Rating 4 skills at CharGen without a Restricted Gear option or something by purchasing Used R4 skillwires. So, without some very intensive investment in physical attributes, you're going to have a DP of like 9.
2) You can't use Edge on skillwire skills. I can't tell you how many times I've had to put a frowny face in a PbP post when asked "Do you want to spend Edge on that roll"

Ya cause you know 4E had the expert system that let you

[Richtenstahl]

Someone wrote that [5th] ChromeFlesh had one too. But I can't find it in the (German) book.
Can anyone help me out? Is it in there? If yes, where?

[Thanael]

They're not. See the errata thread here http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=21221.165;wap

But check out the chip jack, and Renraku Tradejack bundle.