[Dinendae]

So a while back my GM commented on how hard it is to balance fights for the party, due to my characters being optimized for their jobs. When I make a character, I do it with the philosophy that it's like the A-Team (only with the ability to actually hit people you shoot at!): I focus on getting what I feel is solid skills in my character's profession, try to have at least one decent combat skill, and then pick one or two things that can assist the party that the character will be good at (stealth/perception for recon, lock picking for getting past areas, etc.). The problem seems to be that the others spread themselves out a lot thinner (ooh, shiny!). If he sets the encounter for my characters, the other members start dropping. If he sets the encounter for the others, we end up walking over the opposition with little problem. No one's really doing anything wrong, it's just classing character build philosophies.

After discussing it, I proposed I try building some characters using the Life Module generation method; the hope being that it will help me spread things out a bit more. I am imposing a couple of caveats on myself, since I have read it's easy to make strong characters:

• Any combinations of modules that give me an unaugmented ability or skill above 6 will have the extra point(s) discarded
• The characters I am making using this method will have two jobs (i.e. decker/rigger, caster/face, etc.)

Also, I'm trying to come up with a general background before I start each character, and will try to select modules that fit that where possible; some archetypes don't have a good selection of modules to help fill them out, or at least it appears that way at first glance. As I haven't played around with this life module system before, I am going to need any help/advice I can get: Please let me know if you see something I did wrong.

The first character I'll try is a combination of a decker/rigger; kind of an homage to a SRM 4 character I had (and the only one who actually survived); she was originally a TM Dronomancer, but I'll be playing before the TM supplement comes out. The basic story is she's from Chicago, having grown up around the CZ area. She didn't have much of a standard education, with the only thing formal being some Community College (yay for hacking an acceptance!). Looking for a change of pace after college, she did a tour with a Merc company, starting out as a combat decker, but branching out into rigging after get a taste for it working with the mercs. After her contract was up, she hit the shadows, doing rigger jobs for a start.

I chose human for the race, and the first module I picked was UCAS (General). No Chicago module? I would have thought there would have been one, what with SRM 5 being set there. Oh well, it fits for what I want to do.  That cost 15 karma from my starting 750, for a remaining total of 735.

Next, for the Formative Years module, I selected Part of the Machine. I figure her parents made their income scavenging tech from around the CZ, and selling the fixed second-hand items. As such, she really didn't have a lot of time traditional schooling, and it starts her down the path to being a techie. That's another 40 Karma, for 695 left.

In the Teen Years category I was tempted to have some gang activities, but I can see how quickly you can weaken your character by take too many different types of modules. I chose Hacker Club, to focus her misspent youth on techie shenanigans. That's 50 Karma, for a remaining 645.

For Further Education, I picked up the Community College (Computer Science) module to help out her matrix skills, as well as buff up electronic warfare for her rigging later on. That's 55 karma, leaving 590.

Now we get to Real Life. Looking them over, what I wanted isn't quite represented there; only the Tir actually has a decker corps (Netwatch). Additionally, while this is the only part of the Life Modules where you can select more than one module, you can't take the same choice twice. As I am unsure whether Tour of Duty: Decker and Tour of Duty: Rigger Corps are two different choices, or would count as taking the same choice (Tour of Duty) twice. Besides, I can't take the Merc's Tour of Duty for decking anyway, they don't have it. Instead I will take IT Ace instead; it's generally what a Tour of Duty: Decker job would be. That costs 100 Karma, leaving 490.

I'll pick up Tour of Duty (Mercenary): Rigger Corps for another 100, leaving 390. Finally I'll have her return to Chicago, starting her career in the shadows, by selecting Shadow Work: Smuggler for another 100 karma, leaving 290 before qualities are finished. For negative qualities, I'll leave the National SIN (UCAS) there, and pick up Distinctive Style, Allergy Mild (Air Pollution),  and Code Block (I'm thinking Brute Force). For positive qualities, I'll drop one that the modules gave, and just stick with Codeslinger (Hack on the Fly) and Overclocker. There's more I'd like, especially for rigging, but I just don't have the karma to spare; I've paired the two most expensive archetypes together. That gives me a net gain on karma from qualities of 10 points (yay), leaving me with 300 karma for other things.


== Info ==
Street Name:
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 8/16
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human
Composure: 6
Judge Intentions: 6
Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)
Memory: 9
Nuyen: 5

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 2 (4)
REA: 2 (6)
STR: 2
CHA: 3
INT: 3
LOG: 6
WIL: 3
EDG: 3

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   0.24
Initiative:                5 (9) + 2d6
Rigger Initiative:         9 + 2d6
Astral Initiative:         
Matrix AR Initiative:      9 + 2d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    3 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     3 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Limits ==
Physical:                  5
Mental:                    6
Social:                    4
   Vashon Island: Steampunk [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral:                    6

== Active Skills ==
Aeronautics Mechanic       : 1                      Pool: 7
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 2
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Armorer                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Automatics                 : 1                      Pool: 5
Automotive Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 7
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 3
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 3
Computer                   : 2                      Pool: 8
Con                        : 0                      Pool: 2
Cybercombat                : 6                      Pool: 12
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 5
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Electronic Warfare         : 6                      Pool: 12
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 3
Etiquette                  : 6                      Pool: 9
First Aid                  : 3                      Pool: 9
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Free-Fall                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Gunnery                    : 6                      Pool: 10
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 3
Hacking                    : 6                      Pool: 12
Hardware                   : 2                      Pool: 8
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 3
Impersonation              : 0                      Pool: 2
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 2
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 2
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Longarms                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Navigation                 : 6                      Pool: 9
Negotiation                : 3                      Pool: 6
Perception                 : 6                      Pool: 9
Performance                : 0                      Pool: 2
Pilot Aircraft             : 6                      Pool: 12
Pilot Ground Craft         : 6                      Pool: 12
Pilot Watercraft           : 6                      Pool: 12
Pistols                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Sneaking                   : 3                      Pool: 7
Software                   : 2                      Pool: 8
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 1
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 3
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 3

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Chicago    : 2                      Pool: 5
Border Patrol Tactics      : 6                      Pool: 9
Combat Tactics             : 1                      Pool: 4
Data Havens                : 4                      Pool: 7
English                    : N                      Pool: 0
Foreign Military           : 3                      Pool: 9
History                    : 1                      Pool: 7
Mandarin                   : 3                      Pool: 6
Matrix Design              : 6                      Pool: 12
Security Companies         : 3                      Pool: 9
Small Unit Tactics         : 4                      Pool: 7
Smuggler Routes            : 6                      Pool: 9
Smuggler Safe Houses       : 6                      Pool: 9
UCAS                       : 1                      Pool: 7

== Qualities ==
Allergy (Common, Mild) (Air Pollution)
Codeblock (Brute Force)
Codeslinger (Hack on the Fly)
Computer Science
Data Anomaly
Distinctive Style
General UCAS
Hacker Club
IT Ace
Overclocker
Part of the Machine
Quick Config
Rigger Corps
Smuggler
Steely Eyed Wheelman

== Lifestyles ==
Home  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Active Hardwires Rating 1
Antennae
Control Rig Rating 1
Datajack
Datajack
Datajack
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Reaction Enhancers Rating 3
Wired Reflexes Rating 1

== Armor ==
Vashon Island: Steampunk            10
   +Chemical Protection 6
   +Custom Fit
   +Nonconductivity 6
   +Radiation Shielding 2

== Weapons ==
Remington Suppressor
   +Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   +Laser Sight
   +Personalized Grip
   +Sound Suppressor
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   Pool: 5   Accuracy: 8   DV: 7P   AP: -1   RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3   Accuracy: 5   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Little Hornet (ATT: 5, SLZ: 4, DP: 1, FWL: 1)
   +Program Carrier [Encryption]
   +Program Carrier [Stealth]
   +Bootstrap
   +Browse
   +Configurator
   +Edit
   +Search
   +Shredder
   +Signal Scrub
   +Toolbox
   +Virtual Machine
   +Armor
   +Baby Monitor
   +Biofeedback
   +Biofeedback Filter
   +Blackout
   +Cat's Paw
   +Cloudless
   +Crash'
   +Decrypt
   +Defuse
   +Demolition
   +Detonator
   +Evaluate
   +Exploit
   +Fly on a Wall
   +Fork
   +Guard
   +Hammer
   +Hitchhiker
   +Lockdown
   +Mugger
   +Nuke-from-Orbit
   +Paintjob
   +Shell
   +Smoke and Mirrors
   +Sneak
   +Swerve
   +Tantrum
   +Tarball
   +Track
   +Wrapper
Maersk Spider (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 4, FWL: 5)
   +Autosoft (Clearsight) Rating 5
   +Autosoft (Stealth) Rating 5
   +Stealth
   +Sneak
   +Add Sleaze Modification
   +Increase Sleaze Modification
   +Virtual Machine
   +Toolbox
   +Encryption
Renraku Sensei (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 3, FWL: 3)

== Gear ==
Ammo: APDS (Machine Pistols) x100
Ammo: Regular Ammo (Machine Pistols) x100
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Machine Pistols) x100
Certified Credstick, Gold
Certified Credstick, Silver
Contacts Rating 3
   +Image Link
   +Flare Compensation
   +Low Light
Fake License (Cyberdeck License) Rating 4
Fake License (Firearms License) Rating 4
Fake License (Concealed Carry Permit) Rating 4
Fake License (Drone License) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Jane Smith) Rating 4
Respirator Rating 6
Subvocal Mic

== Vehicles ==
F-B Bumblebee
   +Heavy Weapon Mount
   +Ammo: APDS (Light Machine Guns) x100
   +Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Light Machine Guns) x100
   +Autosoft (Stoner-Ares M202 Targeting Autosoft) Rating 3
   +Minigrenade: Flash-Bang x12
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
      +Smartlink
      +Low Light
      +Flare Compensation
GMC Bulldog Step-Van (Van)
   +Morphing License Plate
   +Rigger Interface
   +Smuggling Compartment (Troll)
   +Spoof Chips
   +Sensor Array Rating 2
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
      +Laser Microphone Rating 1
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 1
      +Camera Rating 1
Shiawase Kanmushi (Microdrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
      +Camera Rating 1
      +Directional Microphone Rating 1
      +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 1

[Dinendae]

After trying to stretch the Nuyen a bit, I couldn't get it to go far enough; losing out on 70,000 more Nuyen (Resources A and trading 10 karma for nuyen) hurts.. As a result, I dropped one point of Edge (from 4 to 3) traded in the full 200 Karma (to get 400,000 Nuyen) I'm allowed to trade in, and dropped the Muscle Toner from 3 to 2. As it  stands, my purchases are the following:

Augmentations:
Datajack (Alpha) 1200
Reaction Enhancers (Rating 3, Used) 29,250
Wired Reflexes (Rating 1, Used)  29,250
Muscle Toner (Rating 2, Used) 48,000

Matrix/Rigging:
Renraku Sensi 1,000
Essy Motors DroneMaster 16,000
Hermes Chariot w/ Program Carrier Module (w/ Virtual Machine), All Common Programs, All Hacking programs 132,950

Personal Gear:
Steampunk (Armor) w/ Non-conductivity (Rating 6), Chemical Protection (Rating 6), Radiation Shielding (Rating 2)  5,650
Respirator (Rating 6) 300
Browning Ultra-Power, w/ Personalized Grip, Silencer, 10 Spare Clips, 50 APDS, 50 SnS   2,290
Shock Glove 550
Vibro Knife  1,000
Certified Credstick (Gold) 100
Certified Credstick (Silver) 20
Contacts (Rating 3) w/ Flare Compensation, Low-light, Image Link 1,375
5x Electronic Parts 250
Gecko Tape Gloves 250
Medkit (Rating 6) 1,500
Miniwelder 250
Satellite Link 500
Tag Eraser 450
Tool Kit, Electronics 500
Tool Kit, Automotive Mechanic 500
Tool Kit, Aeronautic Mechanic 500

Lifestyle:
1 Month Medium Lifestyle, Fake SIN (Rating 4), 6x Fake Licenses (Rating 4) 19,800


Vehicles/Drones:
GMC Bulldog Step-van w/ Rigger Adaptation, Morphing Plates, Spoof Chips, Smuggling Compartment (Troll) 44,500
F-B Bumblebee w/ 100 APDS, 200 Regular Rounds, 100 SnS 26,400
MCT Fly-Spy 2,000
Shiawase Kanmushi 1,000


That all totals out to 367,335 Nuyen by my count, leaving 32,665 to spend on other things, or to convert back to Karma. I tried to get all the important things, but I'm not sure I got it all. What am I missing?

[falar]

Control Rig?

[Dinendae]

Control Rig?

From what I could tell, I don't think you actually need one; it just seems to add dice equal to the rating to rigging tests. I want to make sure there's nothing else I need to get first.

[Darzil]

You need one to jump in, but if you plan to be a drone rigger who uses swarms rather than jumping in or being a driver you don't need one.

[Dinendae]

You need one to jump in, but if you plan to be a drone rigger who uses swarms rather than jumping in or being a driver you don't need one.

That's the thing though; according to the main book, you just need a RCC for that (RCCs, Page 267):

Your RCC manages several parallel connections at once, so you can give a command to one, all, or some of your slaved drones with the same Simple Action. This multi-connection also lets you jump from one slaved drone to another without first jumping out of the drone you’re leaving.

Am I misreading this, or has there been some errata to change it?

[falar]

It makes it faster for you to jump in and out - it does not itself give you the ability to Jump In. That's the purview of the Control Rig.

[Dinendae]

It makes it faster for you to jump in and out - it does not itself give you the ability to Jump In. That's the purview of the Control Rig.

Ah, OK. Yeah, I kind of need that then, as I plan on jumping in.

[falar]

Definitely. One could say you're not even a rigger without a Control Rig. I'm not one of those people, but it's one of the big things to be a rigger who actually becomes the drone, becomes the van, becomes the helicopter.

[Dinendae]

Yeah, the way the RCC description was reading to me, it sounded like you just needed that to jump in. Honestly this character will not be good at combat for awhile, without being jumped in or hacking enemy gear.

[Dinendae]

Huh, I just learned something about Chummer I didn't know before (at least when dealing with Life Modules): If you play around at all with the life module generation, such as adding then deleting modules, it doesn't delete everything that the module gave. I was noticing that there seemed to be a few things (skills mostly) that appeared to be higher than they should have been. Using the work I had listed here already, and making a few tweaks as discussed, here is the rough draft of the final character:

== Info ==
Name: Unnamed Character           Alias:
Human                             Movement: 8/16
                                  Composure: 5
Street Cred: 0                    Judge Intentions: 5
Notoriety: 0                      Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)
Public Awareness: 0               Memory: 9
Karma: 0                          Nuyen: 90
Age:                              Skin:
Eyes:                             Hair:

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3                            CHA: 2
AGI: 2 (4)                        INT: 3
REA: 2 (6)                        LOG: 6
STR: 2                            WIL: 3
EDG: 3                           

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence: 0.54                     Initiative:           5 (9) + 2d6
Physical Damage Track: 10         Rigger Init:          9 + 2d6
Stun Damage Track: 10             Astral Init:         
Physical: 5                       Matrix AR Init:       9 + 2d6
Mental: 6                         Matrix VR Cold Init:  3 + DP + 3d6
Social: 3                         Matrix VR Hot Init:   3 + DP + 4d6
   Vashon Island: Steampunk [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral: 6

== Active Skills ==
Aeronautics Mechanic              Base: 0  + Karma: 1  = 1   Pool: 7
Automatics                        Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 5
Automotive Mechanic               Base: 0  + Karma: 1  = 1   Pool: 7
Etiquette                         Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 8
First Aid                         Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 8
Gunnery                           Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 10
Longarms                          Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 5
Navigation                        Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
Negotiation                       Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 4
Perception                        Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
Pilot Aircraft                    Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12
Pilot Ground Craft                Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12
Pilot Watercraft                  Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10
Sneaking                          Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Chicago           Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 5
Border Patrol Tactics             Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 9
Combat Tactics                    Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 4
Data Havens                       Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
English                           N                     
Foreign Military                  Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 9
History                           Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 7
Mandarin                          Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 6
Matrix Design                     Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12
Security Companies                Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 9
Small Unit Tactics                Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
Smuggler Routes                   Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 9
Smuggler Safe Houses              Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 9
UCAS                              Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 7

== Qualities ==
Allergy (Common, Mild) (Air Pollution)
Codeblock (Brute Force)
Codeslinger (Hack on the Fly)
Computer Science
Distinctive Style
General UCAS
Hacker Club
IT Ace
Overclocker
Part of the Machine
Rigger Corps
SINner (National) (United Canadian American States)
Smuggler

== Lifestyles ==
Home (Medium)  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Control Rig Rating 1
Datajack
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Reaction Enhancers Rating 3
Wired Reflexes Rating 1

== Armor ==
Vashon Island: Steampunk            10
   +Chemical Protection 6
   +Custom Fit
   +Nonconductivity 6
   +Radiation Shielding 2

== Weapons ==
Browning Ultra-Power
   +Laser Sight
   +Personalized Grip
   +Quick-Draw Holster
   +Silencer
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   Pool: 5        Accuracy: 7     DV: 8P       AP: -1    RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3        Accuracy: 5     DV: 2S       AP: -     RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Essy Motors DroneMaster (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 4, FWL: 4)
Hermes Chariot (ATT: 5, SLZ: 4, DP: 4, FWL: 2)
   +Program Carrier [Virtual Machine]
   +Bootstrap
   +Browse
   +Configurator
   +Edit
   +Encryption
   +Search
   +Shredder
   +Signal Scrub
   +Toolbox
   +Armor
   +Baby Monitor
   +Biofeedback
   +Biofeedback Filter
   +Blackout
   +Cat's Paw
   +Cloudless
   +Crash'
   +Decrypt
   +Defuse
   +Demolition
   +Detonator
   +Evaluate
   +Exploit
   +Fly on a Wall
   +Fork
   +Guard
   +Hammer
   +Hitchhiker
   +Lockdown
   +Mugger
   +Nuke-from-Orbit
   +Paintjob
   +Shell
   +Smoke and Mirrors
   +Sneak
   +Stealth
   +Swerve
   +Tantrum
   +Tarball
   +Track
   +Wrapper
Renraku Sensei (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 3, FWL: 3)

== Gear ==
Ammo: APDS (Heavy Pistols) x50
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Heavy Pistols) x50
Certified Credstick, Gold
Certified Credstick, Silver
Contacts Rating 3
   +Flare Compensation
   +Image Link
   +Low Light
Fake License (Firearms License) Rating 4
Fake License (Drone License) Rating 4
Fake License (Cyberdeck License) Rating 4
Fake License (Concealed Carry Permit) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Fake SIN) Rating 4
Gecko Tape Gloves
Medkit Rating 6
Miniwelder
Respirator Rating 6
Satellite Link
Tool Kit (Aeronautics)
Tool Kit (Electronics)
Tool Kit (Automotive)

== Vehicles ==
F-B Bumblebee
   +Heavy Weapon Mount
   +Ammo: APDS (Light Machine Guns) x100
   +Ammo: Regular Ammo (Light Machine Guns) x200
   +Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Light Machine Guns) x100
   +Autosoft (Stoner-Ares M202 Targeting Autosoft) Rating 3
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
GMC Bulldog Step-Van (Van)
   +Morphing License Plate
   +Rigger Interface
   +Smuggling Compartment (Troll)
   +Spoof Chips
   +Sensor Array Rating 2
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
Shiawase Kanmushi (Microdrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3

*Edit: I did have 4,090¥ left over, but I realized I needed a contact to get me started in the Chicago shadows. So I turned 4,000¥ back into two points of karma, to grab a quick and dirty 1/1 contact to introduce me to a fixer.*

[falar]

Honestly, I'd consider ditching the Wired Reflexes. It will only apply when you're in AR/meatspace. When you're in VR, you're going to be rolling VR initiative, so you don't need the boost. Unless you plan to be in a stand-up fight, I don't think this is necessary. If you are going to be in a stand-up fight, your actions should be, "RUN LIKE FORREST TO MY VAN" and then drone it in.

Your qualities ... uh ... let's see - there's something wrong here. I think you've got the name of the Life Module in some of these, but don't have the qualities it gave you. For instance - Hacker Club gives you Data Anomaly (3), but the latter isn't listed. Probably want to look that over.

You don't need that many spare clips. One or two tops. Also, with that low of a dicepool, consider swapping to Automatics and grabbing a Machine Pistol. Putting more bullets down-range reduces the enemy dodge and you're more likely to hit. Or you can just lay down suppressing fire.

Consider picking up an MCT RotoDrone for when the micro/minidrones are too small but you don't want to pull out the cop-magnet that is the Bumblebee. That Forbidden gear, much unsafe. Most of the time you probably have to hide it in your smuggling compartment.

[Dinendae]

Normally I will be jacked/jumped in, but the Wired Reflexes is for those time when I get caught where I can't quickly get to the van (inside buildings, certain areas of the CZ, etc.); I don't want to have the Technomancer's problem of being completely helpless in meatspace. I'll look at trading the pistol for a machine-pistol, or at least the burst-fire heavy pistol (Savette Guardian?). I think I'll go back and rework the gear, changing the deck and RCC around, so that I have more money to play with. Those positive qualities I dropped, in order to squeeze out a few more points of karma; however with the rebuild focusing on new equipment, I think I'll be able to keep them.

[Dinendae]

OK, here is the latest build. Quality-wise, the only quality I did away with was buying off the SINner Negative Quality (which fits the background). Changing the Deck allowed me far more cash to get some other things, such as two more datajacks (noise reduction) and an antenna (also noise reduction). I have 6 karma left, three of which I'll use to get a basic 2/1 low-end fixer ('I know a guy').

== Info ==
Street Name:
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 8/16
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human
Composure: 6
Judge Intentions: 6
Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)
Memory: 9
Nuyen: 3545

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 2 (4)
REA: 2 (6)
STR: 2
CHA: 3
INT: 3
LOG: 6
WIL: 3
EDG: 3

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   0.24
Initiative:                5 (9) + 2d6
Rigger Initiative:         9 + 2d6
Astral Initiative:         
Matrix AR Initiative:      9 + 2d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    3 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     3 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Limits ==
Physical:                  5
Mental:                    6
Social:                    4
   Vashon Island: Steampunk [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral:                    6

== Active Skills ==
Aeronautics Mechanic       : 1                      Pool: 7
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 2
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Armorer                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Automatics                 : 1                      Pool: 5
Automotive Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 7
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 3
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 3
Computer                   : 3                      Pool: 9
Con                        : 0                      Pool: 2
Cybercombat                : 6                      Pool: 12
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 5
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Electronic Warfare         : 6                      Pool: 12
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 3
Etiquette                  : 6                      Pool: 9
First Aid                  : 2                      Pool: 8
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Free-Fall                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Gunnery                    : 6                      Pool: 10
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 3
Hacking                    : 6                      Pool: 12
Hardware                   : 2                      Pool: 8
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 3
Impersonation              : 0                      Pool: 2
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 2
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 2
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 2
Longarms                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Navigation                 : 4                      Pool: 7
Negotiation                : 2                      Pool: 5
Perception                 : 4                      Pool: 7
Performance                : 0                      Pool: 2
Pilot Aircraft             : 6                      Pool: 12
Pilot Ground Craft         : 6                      Pool: 12
Pilot Watercraft           : 4                      Pool: 10
Pistols                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Sneaking                   : 2                      Pool: 6
Software                   : 2                      Pool: 8
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 1
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 3
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 3

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Chicago    : 2                      Pool: 5
Border Patrol Tactics      : 6                      Pool: 9
Combat Tactics             : 1                      Pool: 4
Data Havens                : 4                      Pool: 7
English                    : N                      Pool: 0
Foreign Military           : 3                      Pool: 9
History                    : 1                      Pool: 7
Mandarin                   : 3                      Pool: 6
Matrix Design              : 6                      Pool: 12
Security Companies         : 3                      Pool: 9
Small Unit Tactics         : 4                      Pool: 7
Smuggler Routes            : 6                      Pool: 9
Smuggler Safe Houses       : 6                      Pool: 9
UCAS                       : 1                      Pool: 7

== Qualities ==
Allergy (Common, Mild) (Air Pollution)
Codeblock (Brute Force)
Codeslinger (Hack on the Fly)
Computer Science
Data Anomaly
Distinctive Style
General UCAS
Hacker Club
IT Ace
Overclocker
Part of the Machine
Quick Config
Rigger Corps
Smuggler

== Lifestyles ==
Home  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Active Hardwires Rating 1
Antennae
Control Rig Rating 1
Datajack
Datajack
Datajack
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Reaction Enhancers Rating 3
Wired Reflexes Rating 1

== Armor ==
Vashon Island: Steampunk            10
   +Chemical Protection 6
   +Custom Fit
   +Nonconductivity 6
   +Radiation Shielding 2

== Weapons ==
Remington Suppressor
   +Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   +Laser Sight
   +Personalized Grip
   +Sound Suppressor
   +Spare Clip
   +Spare Clip
   Pool: 5   Accuracy: 8   DV: 7P   AP: -1   RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3   Accuracy: 5   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Little Hornet (ATT: 5, SLZ: 4, DP: 1, FWL: 1)
   +Program Carrier [Encryption]
   +Program Carrier [Stealth]
   +Bootstrap
   +Browse
   +Configurator
   +Edit
   +Search
   +Shredder
   +Signal Scrub
   +Toolbox
   +Virtual Machine
   +Armor
   +Baby Monitor
   +Biofeedback
   +Biofeedback Filter
   +Blackout
   +Cat's Paw
   +Cloudless
   +Crash'
   +Decrypt
   +Defuse
   +Demolition
   +Detonator
   +Evaluate
   +Exploit
   +Fly on a Wall
   +Fork
   +Guard
   +Hammer
   +Hitchhiker
   +Lockdown
   +Mugger
   +Nuke-from-Orbit
   +Paintjob
   +Shell
   +Smoke and Mirrors
   +Sneak
   +Swerve
   +Tantrum
   +Tarball
   +Track
   +Wrapper
Maersk Spider (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 4, FWL: 5)
   +Autosoft (Clearsight) Rating 5
   +Autosoft (Stealth) Rating 5
Renraku Sensei (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 3, FWL: 3)

== Gear ==
Ammo: APDS (Machine Pistols) x100
Ammo: Regular Ammo (Machine Pistols) x200
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Machine Pistols) x100
AR Gloves
Certified Credstick, Gold
Certified Credstick, Silver
Contacts Rating 3
   +Image Link
   +Flare Compensation
   +Low Light
Fake License (Cyberdeck License) Rating 4
Fake License (Firearms License) Rating 4
Fake License (Concealed Carry Permit) Rating 4
Fake License (Drone License) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Jane Smith) Rating 4
Gecko Tape Gloves
Miniwelder
Respirator Rating 6
Satellite Link
Subvocal Mic

== Vehicles ==
F-B Bumblebee
   +Heavy Weapon Mount
   +Autosoft (Stoner-Ares M202 Targeting Autosoft) Rating 3
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
GMC Bulldog Step-Van (Van)
   +Morphing License Plate
   +Rigger Interface
   +Smuggling Compartment (Troll)
   +Spoof Chips
   +Sensor Array Rating 2
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
Shiawase Kanmushi (Microdrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3

[Dinendae]

Ok, with no more comments I went ahead and transferred the last build up to the original post. Unless someone posts a better way to do the character, or points out any problems, I'll consider that build done. Thank you to those who offered comments and suggestions!