[ZeldaBravo]

EDIT: Updated the sheet!
Hello guys!
I've been invited to a new group recently and we're having a first run next week. I've decided to try something new and so I've made a shaman. This is actually the first time I'll play a mage in Shadowrun so I am not sure if I've missed something important.
There are some things that I think I need to tell you beforehand:
- I am the only Awakened member of the team;
- The campaign is going to have very mild rules concerning SINs. Fake SIN 2 doesn't mean that I turn around the corner and my SIN is gone;
- I DO need Pilot Ground Craft. I can't drive without it, our GM won't let me.
I know that Edge is too damn low but is there anything else? Share your thoughts and ideas.

    == Priorities ==
    Metatype: D - Elf
    Attributes: B - 20 Attributes
    Special: A - Mystic Adept
    Skills: C - 28 Skills/2 Skill Groups
    Resources: E - 6,000¥
     
    == Attributes ==
    BOD: 3
    AGI: 4
    REA: 3 (5)
    STR: 1
    CHA: 8
    INT: 5
    LOG: 2
    WIL: 5
    EDG: 2
    MAG: 6
     
    == Derived Attributes ==
    Essence:                   6
    Initiative:                8 (10) + 3d6
    Astral Initiative:         10 + 2d6
    Matrix AR Initiative:      10 + 3d6
    Physical Damage Track:     10
    Stun Damage Track:         11
     
    == Limits ==
    Physical:                  4
    Mental:                    5
    Social:                    9
    Astral:                    9
     
    == Active Skills ==
    Assensing                 : 3                      Pool: 8
    Con                             : 4                      Pool: 13
    Counterspelling       : 6 [Combat]             Pool: 12 (14)
    Perception                 : 6                      Pool: 11
    Pilot Ground Craft    : 1 [Bike]               Pool: 6 ( 8 )
    Pistols                        : 4 [Revolvers]          Pool: 9 (11)
    Sneaking                   : 4                      Pool: 10
    Spellcasting               : 6 [Manipulation]       Pool: 12 (14)
    Influence Group         
    +Etiquette                   : 2                      Pool: 11
    +Leadership              : 2                      Pool: 11
    +Negotiation              : 2                      Pool: 11
     
    == Knowledge Skills ==
21 pts.

    == Contacts ==
24 pts.
     
    == Qualities ==
    Mystic Adept
    Low-Light Vision
   
    Mentor Spirit (Cat)
    Jack of All Trades Master of None
    Quick Healer
   
    In Debt V
    Gremlins (Rating 2)
    Phobia (Common, Mild)
    Poor Self Control (Compulsive I, Personal) (Neat freak)
     
    == Spells ==
    (Tradition: Shamanic WIL + CHA (13)
 
    Analyze Truth              DV: F-2
    Ball Lightning (Limited)   DV: F-3
    Fling                      DV: F-2
    Heal                       DV: F-4
    Improved Invisibility      DV: F-1
    Influence                  DV: F-1
    Levitate                   DV: F-2
    Opium Den                  DV: F-1
    Sterilize                  DV: F-3
    Stunbolt                   DV: F-3
     
    == Powers ==
    Astral Perception
    Attribute Boost (AGI) Rating: 2
    Cool Resolve Rating: 1           
    Heightened Concern                 
    Combat Sense Rating: 1
    Improved Reflexes 2
     
    == Lifestyles ==
    Low  1 months
     
    == Armor ==
    Armor Jacket                       
    Bike Racing Armor                   
       +Biomonitor
    Bike Racing Helmet                 
    Vashon Island: Ace of Diamonds     
       +Concealability
     
    == Weapons ==
    Defiance EX Shocker
       +Quick-Draw Holster
       Pool: 9   Accuracy: 4   DV: 9S(e)   AP: -5   RC: 2
    Ruger Super Warhawk
       +Concealable Holster
       +Laser Sight
       +Speed Loader
       +Speed Loader
       Pool: 9 (11)   Accuracy: 6   DV: 9P   AP: -2   RC: 2
    Throwing Knife
       Pool: 3   Accuracy: 4   DV: 2P   AP: -1   RC: 2

    == Commlink ==
    MCT Blue Defender
       +Sim Module
       +Trodes
       +Subvocal Mic
       +Trid Projector
    Meta Link
     
    == Gear ==
    Ammo: Regular Ammo (Heavy Pistols) x30
    Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) x10
    Bug Scanner Rating 6
    Certified Credstick, Silver
    Certified Credstick, Standard x2
    Earbuds Rating 1
       +Sound Link
    Fake Licenses Rating 2 x4
    Fake SIN Rating 2
    Fetish (Ball Lightning)
    Glasses Rating 2
       +Image Link
       +Flare Compensation
    Medkit Rating 3
    Reagents, per dram x30
    Respirator Rating 6
    Tag Eraser
    Throwing Knife x5
     
    == Vehicles ==
   Suzuki Mirage (Racing Bike)

[Facemage]

Summoning is one of the best skills for mages. Even better if you are the only spellcaster. Binding is also very good. Do your team have a primary face? If not, your face skills are too low (you need at least B in skills).

Authoritative tone + kinesics are essentially the same as cool resolve but their cost is 0.75 pp. Moreover,  I think that authoritative tone is good but kinesics are not necessarily needed.

For mysads one of the best qi focus is astral perception. If assensing is not necessary skill during your first two runs, you should consider qi focus.

I would buy the pilot ground craft with karma.

I think that combat sense is one of the best adept powers, every adept (and mysad) should have at least one level.

[ZeldaBravo]

I... can't believe I forgot Combat Sense. I think I'll go with Auth. Tone and Combat Sense 1 instead of Cool Resolve.
See what mean? I can miss even the most basic things.
I'd love to have Summoning but I only have this much skill points. If I swap skills and attributes then what should I drop?
I have literally zero karma to spend (6pp = 30 karma, ¥20k = 10 karma, PQs = 10 karma). I'd buy Pilot for karma too, if I've had an option. I can't afford to buy or bond a focus too.

Should I really get Skills B?

[Marcus]

I'd drop guns, and get summoning.
I'm also not a big believer in MysAd.
If ya swapped to mage you would have plenty of Karma for stuff.
But I think this will work fine as is regardless.

[Facemage]

I think that you should not go to B skills, if you are not a primary face (or your team has another mediocre face, and you can divide the face skills). For example, 11 dices in negotiation pool is not enough, most Johnsons and fixers have 15 dices in their negotiation pool => you cannot get more money from your run.

In case of B skills, attributes could be:

BOD: 3   
AGI: 3
REA: 2 (4)
STR: 1
CHA: 8
INT: 4
LOG: 1
WIL: 5
EDG: 1
MAG: 6

They are weaker indeed, but you get all necessary skills to high levels (negotiation, summoning, binding, counterspelling, spellcasting, perception, sneaking, con, pistols/automatics). Maybe intimidation, assensing and etiquette.

In debt 1 can give you some money, and frees your karma. Otherwise you can drop jack of all trades, because it does not give you anything during chargen. Buy it later with karma (only 4).

I agree with Marcus, your build works fine.

[Glyph]

To me, the biggest omission is no summoning.  Spirits are very powerful - spells alone means you are only using half of a mage's tools.

[Whiskeyjack]

Does your group have a more primary face?

[Duellist_D]

No, don't lower Attributes even more.
B is borderline for a MysAd and Skills > Attributes is almost never worth the trade.

Try squeezing in a few (not more than 5) levels of "In Debt". You'll have an additional hook for running in the Shadows and can free up a bit of Karma you'd normally would spend on Nuyen.

[ZeldaBravo]

Does your group have a more primary face?

We're creating characters at the moment so I'm not sure. It is quite possible that the we don't.

To me, the biggest omission is no summoning.  Spirits are very powerful - spells alone means you are only using half of a mage's tools.

Yes, that really bothers me too.

Try squeezing in a few (not more than 5) levels of "In Debt". You'll have an additional hook for running in the Shadows and can free up a bit of Karma you'd normally would spend on Nuyen.

That's an interesting idea, I'll give it a try. I usually try to avoid In Debt but it looks like a right way to use it.

[ZeldaBravo]

So I've toyed around with Skills B and it seems that there is no way I can get conjuring skills without losing something important. Low attributes keep my dicepools low too.
In Debt 5, on the other hand, saves me 10 karma for Edge and lets me change my Growler for a Mirage! I'm also dropping Improved Ability to get Combat Sense. In Debt 5 looks like a good quality if you're going to play a metahuman with 0 Special Attributes (like Elf D, Orc C, or Troll B). I was going to drop my first 10 karma to buy some Edge anyway so why not?

[Halinn]

To fit in summoning, consider dropping Counterspelling. Yes, it sucks not to have it, but if you choose one of the Charisma traditions from SG instead, you can summon spirits with it. Aztec, Christian Theurgy, Path of the Wheel and Shinto can all get spirits with Magical Guard.

You can also safely drop the specialization from Pilot Ground Craft, pick up the Fast Talk spec in Con.

[ZeldaBravo]

The spec lets me buy two hits though.

[Whiskeyjack]

Speaking from experience the Aztec spirit choices are exceptionally good.

[falar]

The spec lets me buy two hits though.

If you're not the main driver, you should only be driving doing normal stuff, and therefore only need one hit. Pilot Groundcraft 1 is more than enough to appease your GM's foibles.

[Marcus]

I'd keep the spec, buying 2 is for the best. I still think there is nothing wrong with leaning fully on magic.
SR combat tends to be brutally short, no  reason to complicate your plans. there's never a shortage of shooters in SR teams.
The character can always carry a  hand cannon with out knowing how to use it.
Spells get the job done, nothing wrong with purity of purpose. Trust your build!