[Jack_Spade]

That's correct, but there are ways to raise cash - In debt is one of them, converting Karma the other.
Guns are not necessary - a Defiance Ex with a Laser Sight and a Personalized Grip will make this character mundane and completely legal

But you are right about the wasted attribute point (somehow I thought it was only 5 at B). So you can reduce Edge and raise Money or go wild and go with more skills.

One perk of being completely mundane is that you usually have money to spend on everyday gear other characters have to skimp on.

[dragrubis]

Don't forget the usability of such character, infiltration anywhere just with adapted fake-SIN (And great skills in disguise, impersonation and so on). You can become nearly an everywhere VIP because you don't look like a shadowrunner... If you have contacts and SIN you can enter everywhere to prepare any run...

[Rift_0f_Bladz]

For human mundane Meta A isn't a waste if you take lucky (which you should). Now you have 8 edge, which is a massive advantage for this kind of character. The elf face really, really needs to pretty to hit more than lightning reflexes. Use combat drugs/edge for the needed boost to initiative.

[Jack_Spade]

I feel that drugs violate the "Totally Mundane" vibe.
Lightning Reflexes could be replaced with Adrenalin Surge for a slightly cheaper build.

[Rift_0f_Bladz]

Sadly, drugs don't invalidate (IMO) mundane builds, but actually help them stay a float. Adrenaline Surge is a better option, I case of a any other initiative boosters are ever used/acquire they won't stack with lightning reflexes.

[firebug]

Don't forget the usability of such character, infiltration anywhere just with adapted fake-SIN (And great skills in disguise, impersonation and so on). You can become nearly an everywhere VIP because you don't look like a shadowrunner... If you have contacts and SIN you can enter everywhere to prepare any run...

Not really.  No 'ware at all is far from normal.  If you try to claim you're a successful megacorp employee, and you don't even have a datajack, somebody is going to call BS.  Most of them have a jack, and many have cybereyes, and a lot of them do some kind of drug, usually a stimulant or antidepressant, or both.

[Jack_Spade]

@Rift_0f_Bladz
A matter of taste I guess. But if someone doesn't want cyberware in his body (which is the premise of this build) I find it hard to justify that he would take drugs instead.

@firebug
It's easy to fake having a datajack as well as a drug habit - it's a lot harder to appear as not having them.
Being clean also extends to not having any restricted drugs in or on you - it's a lot harder for Lonestar to stick you with a crime if they find nothing illegal/restricted on your person.

[Rift_0f_Bladz]

If he wants to compete with the other runners, he better have some kind of edge (not Edge). And sadly, when combat finally happens (it always does) he will need some way to stay competitive.  Drugs is one of the most effective ways, but at a cost.

And yes, the runner would be odd not having some kind of 'ware, unless awakened, which is extremely hard to fake. But you can fake a datajack and use trodes and AR gloves.

[Hobbes]

Mechanically Shadowrun is Stat+Skill+Stuff to calculate your dice pools i.e. your actual mechanical effectiveness.  Magic and/or Augments are the most common source for the "Stuff" part of that formula.  If you're good with 10 to 12 dice on most of your pools, with the occasional Edge, then rock on.  I'm going to say though, even for missions games you're going to struggle with such dice pools on every test.  You can't edge everything.

There isn't much fluff reason to be a Mundane character without cyberware.  Physical Adepts are great for the "Purist" concept.  They can even be constructed in such a way that Back Ground Count doesn't impact your character much, if at all.  Improved Reflexes, Critical Strike, Improved Accuracy, Nimble Fingers, ect, ect.  Lots of good powers that are minimally impacted by Background Count, or not at all in some cases, and don't leave a signature. 

Drugs go a long way to even up such characters, but then I really question your "Purist" concept  :  )

http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=23876.msg443317#msg443317   for my own take on a Mundane with low resources.

[MijRai]

Hobbes, you do realize that if you have a Power on in a Background Count, you take the Count's rating as a penalty to any dice-pool affected by the power?  Improved Reflexes on means all of your Reaction-based rolls (like Defense tests) will be taking a dive.  Your Fingers won't be so Nimble when you're in a Background Count either. 

And there's plenty of fluff reason to be a mundane character without 'ware.  Personal reasons, health reasons, financial reasons, etc.  The list goes on.  Just because a person isn't magical, doesn't mean they don't want to replace their eyes with cameras, or stick synthetic weirdness into their body, or have an internal organ replaced with something that has a battery. 

On top of that, not everyone can be Awakened.  Only 1 in 100 have any iota of magical potential, and it only ends up being around 2,500 in 1,000,000 that have an appreciable Magic score with their minds (relatively) intact. 

In the end, there's no thematic reason against making a 'ware-free mundane; there are mechanical consequences to that decision, however.  Some are good (no magic or 'ware to get detected, easier on your wallet and your Karma), some are bad (you won't have some of the nifty abilities and your dice-pools will be a bit shorter).  In the end, you should play what you want, just make sure to factor in the ramifications of your choice beforehand so you have an idea of what you're getting into. 

[iduno]

it's a lot harder for Lonestar to stick you with a crime if they find nothing illegal/restricted on your person.

Why would a little thing like being innocent make it more difficult for the 'Star to pin something on you?

I'll also agree that this would work well for a face or investigator. Or anyone who is more (non tech) skill-focused and less combat-focused.

[firebug]

I'd point out though that say, a new-age hippie or say...  A person so scared by CFD they refuse any augmentation (even bioware), would probably be very unlikely to find work as a "standard" runner.  They'd need to still have something that makes them have an edge over others (like say, the Aptitude quality and thus exceptional skill in something?) or else employers likely wouldn't think you have what it takes.

I know if I was going to hire a runner, unless that person had serious political/social connections to the point that what they are capable of was meaningless, OR they had a few years of experience behind them showing that they can somehow manage with no magic or augmentation...  I wouldn't pick that person.  This is for "being a runner" though, as in, someone who is expected to do crimes for me and go up against security teams.

Maybe if they were a face, especially if they were an elf, then I'd be like "Well, alright, you can probably get your part of the job done if my fixer says you're good."

What I'm saying is, such a character is probably best for a non-standard campaign anyways where it isn't just Mr. Johnson this, Fixer that, getting shot by CorpSec.

[Hobbes]

Hobbes, you do realize that if you have a Power on in a Background Count, you take the Count's rating as a penalty to any dice-pool affected by the power?  Improved Reflexes on means all of your Reaction-based rolls (like Defense tests) will be taking a dive.  Your Fingers won't be so Nimble when you're in a Background Count either. 

Improved Reflexes is there to bump up initiative and it's still adding d6s regardless of the BGC.  Nimble fingers is there mostly for the Action economy, lossing the +1 dice to palming skills is minor.  'tis what I meant by " constructed in such a way that Back Ground Count doesn't impact your character much, if at all. "  There are lots of good Adept Powers that function mechanically just fine with a BGC.  Motion Sense, Traceless Walk, Wall Running, Freefall and so forth.  If you're looking to build an Adept character that simply "Always Works" it can be done.   

In the end, there's no thematic reason against making a 'ware-free mundane; there are mechanical consequences to that decision, however.  Some are good (no magic or 'ware to get detected, easier on your wallet and your Karma), some are bad (you won't have some of the nifty abilities and your dice-pools will be a bit shorter).  In the end, you should play what you want, just make sure to factor in the ramifications of your choice beforehand so you have an idea of what you're getting into.

Sure, like I said, as long as you're good with the resulting dice pools, rock on.  But the mundane individual who chooses not to have cyberware for personal reasons is a pretty special snowflake too.  Especially if they're deciding to be a Shadowrunner for a living.

[Jack_Spade]

Just as a finger exercise, here is Fey S. Mundane

Ini 12+2d6
and weapon skills around 15 dice (AGI 6 Skill 6 Specialization 2 Lasersight 1)
Working as the face and using Leadership to direct as well as Small Unit Tactics.

== Info ==
Movement: 12/24
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Elf
Composure: 12
Judge Intentions: 13
Lift/Carry: 6 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 6
Nuyen: 445

== Priorities ==
Metatype: C - Human, Dwarf, Elf, or Ork
Attributes: A - 24 Attributes
Special: E - Mundane
Skills: A - 46 Skills/10 Skill Groups
Resources: E - 6,000¥

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

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                11 (12) + 2d6
Rigger Initiative:         12 + 2d6
Astral Initiative:         
Matrix AR Initiative:      12 + 2d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    6 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     6 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Limits ==
Physical:                  5
Mental:                    5
Social:                    9
   Zoé: Executive Suite [+2] (Must be visible)
Astral:                    9

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 6
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Automatics                 : 6 [Assault Rifles]    Pool: 12 (14)
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 5
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 5
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 2
Con                        : 6                      Pool: 13
Disguise                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 5
Etiquette                  : 1                      Pool: 8
Free-Fall                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 5
Gymnastics                 : 6                      Pool: 12
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 5
Impersonation              : 6                      Pool: 13
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 6
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 6
Leadership                 : 6 [Direct]             Pool: 13 (15)
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 5
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 5
Negotiation                : 6 [Bargaining]         Pool: 13 (15)
Palming                    : 4                      Pool: 10
Perception                 : 4 [Visual]             Pool: 10 (12)
Performance                : 6                      Pool: 13
Pilot Ground Craft         : 1                      Pool: 6
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 4
Pistols                    : 6 [Tasers]             Pool: 12 (14)
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Sneaking                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 5
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 5
Unarmed Combat             : 6 [[Martial Art]]      Pool: 12 (14)

== Knowledge Skills ==
Business                   : 1 [People Management] Pool: 2 (4)
Magical Threats            : 2                      Pool: 3
Small Unit Tactics         : 6 [Urban]              Pool: 12 (14)
Spanish                    : 1                      Pool: 7
Underworld                 : 2                      Pool: 8

== Contacts ==
; Fixer (4, 3)
; Fence (6, 1)
; ID Manufacturer (1, 6)

== Qualities ==
Consummate Professional
Creature of Comfort (Middle)
Driven
In Debt V
Jack of All Trades Master of None
Lightning Reflexes
Low-Light Vision
Poor Self Control (Thrill Seeker)
Records on File (Saeder-Krupp)
Too Pretty To Hit

== Lifestyles ==
Home  1 months

== Armor ==
Zoé: Executive Suite                12
   +Chemical Protection 2
   +Custom Fit
   +Newest Model
   +Shock Frills

== Weapons ==
Defiance EX Shocker
   +Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   +Laser Sight
   +Personalized Grip
   Pool: 12 (14)   Accuracy: 6   DV: 9S(e)   AP: -5   RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 12   Accuracy: 5   DV: 3S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Martial Arts ==
Krav Maga
   +Called Shot (Disarm)RG136

== Commlink ==
Hermes Ikon (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 5, FWL: 5)

== Gear ==
Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) x20
Earbuds Rating 3
   +Audio Enhancement Rating 3
Fake SIN Rating 4
Glasses Rating 4
   +Flare Compensation
   +Thermographic Vision
   +Vision Enhancement Rating 2
Micro-Transceiver
Trodes

== Vehicles ==
Yamaha Growler (Off-Road Bike)
   +Sensor Array Rating 2
   +Helmet
== Karma Expenses ==

[Bewilderbeast]

Heh. Just to be clear, I'm not saying you can't make a mundane, non-cybered character. You of course can. You can also make a character with 22 dicepool in Artisan  (muffin baking) if you want. I'm just saying it's not a terribly rational or necessary thing to do. And you shouldn't be surprised when Johnsons are hesitant to hire you or other runners are hesitant to work with you.

The other big issue for a 100% mundane character, beyond the ones Firebug and I brought up, is that I question what exactly the guy is going to spend his nuyen on from a character advancement perspective.

If you're magic, you've got foci and reagents (binding is super expensive!)  to blow your money on. If you're cybered, you save up your pennies for betaware. As a guy who's obstinately mundane forever you buy a sweet truck, enough random gear to fill and... then what?

Basically you're forced to rely on Karma for advancement, while every other archetype in the game gets to use both nuyen and Karma for advancement. Except for technomancers, I guess, who as near as I can tell also have no use for nuyen. But saying, "Hey, my character concept is only as gimped as technomancers!" is... not a great defense.

Hmm. If you're not using your nuyen for character advancement, what else could you spend it on? You could save up and buy a nice HQ for your team. You can get jobs done easier by handing out bribes like candy. You can generally fund your team's shenanigans m, springing for a drone when you need more firepower or that particular piece of B&E gear you need to get into that facility.

That might be fun to play, but that honestly sounds like a PC Fixer more than a proper shadowrunner.