[MrParaduo]

I need advice on building a parazoologist character that specializes with a bow. Any ideas on Qualities, Gear, or whether it should be awakened or cybernetic?

[fseperent]

Do you have any ideas on background before I try to make you a sample?
Hawk Eye, Animal Empathy, and Analytical Mind jump to mind immediately.
Astral Chameleon or Magic Resistance could be vital for hunting or training paracriters.
Any other qualites would depend on background and primary settings.

[Kuirem]

First be warned that bow is the worst weapon in term of investment. Not only do you need lots of AGI like any other ranged but you also need a high STR to use properly for damage pretty close to an Assault Rifles.

Now if you want to play a Bowman make sure you have Hard Targets, it makes bow a bit better. Both Cyber and Adept are fine. Adept gets Focused Archery which allow to use a Bow without investing as much into Strength and in general adept are pretty strong. Cyber can be interesting with a Cyberarm build which free some Attributes point to be used elsewhere, a human with a full STR Cyberarm (9) will be able to reach the maximum bow damage using the Overdraw action.

A burnout Adept could be a nice fit for archers, preferably using karmagen. In attachment a quick example of a Human Burnout Archer, there is around 30 Karma left.

[Hobbes]

Parazoologist is easy, it's one Knowledge skill and done.  Throw a few points into Biology to cover regular critters, call it a day.

My standard advice to Bow users is to consider a Crossbow.  Similar thematics, better mechanics.

*if* you go Crossbow then you can be whatever Archetype you want.  Decker, Samurai, Adept, even mage.  Whatever you want, just swap your gun skill for Archery (Crossbow) and you're set.

If it's "Bow or Bust" then you're looking at the more combat focused sorts because now you're pumping Str and it's really hard to build an 8 Str Mage.  Either a Samurai or an Adept of some kind, and you may as well pick up a melee skill while you're at it.  For Cyber'd up sorts you're pretty much a standard  A Resources, B Stats, C Skills, D Meta, E Magic build will work.  Grab 3 levels of Used Muscle Replacement and some bioware to pump initiative and carry on. 

[MrParaduo]

What about with trick arrows? Eg, one that charged with electricity? Or have mono-filament tips?

[Reaver]

There is a thread on the forums that looks into archery already that covers a lot of these questions (would link, but on a phone).

I would suggest you give it a read...

But the short of it is, they exist but get expensive real quick as you have to buy the arrows at the same rating as the bow...

[Bushw4cker]

I need advice on building a parazoologist character that specializes with a bow. Any ideas on Qualities, Gear, or whether it should be awakened or cybernetic?

Challenge Accepted!

I'm going to help you!

[Bushw4cker]

Well So Far I Have...

Priority A: Attributes, B: Skills, C: Race (Dwarf), D: Resources

ATTRIBUTES (24, 10 K)                                 
BOD      5      WIL              6      WLK      14   
AGI            5(7)      LOG      2      RUN      28   
REA      4      INT              6      SPNT      (+1)   
STR      6(      CHA      4      COM      10   
ESS      3.5      EDGE      2      JUD      10   
MAG      0      LIFT      13      MEM      8   
Init: 10 + 1D6   Edge: OO                                 
                                 
PHY      9      MEN      6      SOC      6   
                                 
ACTIVE SKILLS (B, 10 K)               RTG        DP   
Etiquette                        1      5   
Animal Handling                     4      10   
Sneaking                        6      13   
Perception                        6      12   
 (Visual +2)                              15   
Unarmed Combat                  6      13   
 (Subduing Combat +2)                     15   
Archery                                6      13   
 (Bow +2)                              15   
Tracking                                 5      11   
Navigation                        1      7   
Survival                                1      7   
First Aid                                1      3   
Diving                                1      6   
Gymnastics                        5      12   
Running                                5      13   
Swimming                        5      13   

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS                RTG      DP   
Zoology                                6      8   
 (Parazoology +2)                           10   
Trid Shows                        1      7   
 ("Reality" +2)                           9   
Paranormal Animal                              
 Mating Habits                     1      7   
 (Behemoths +2)                           9   
Geography                        2      4   
Botany                                1      3   
 (Parabotany +2)                           5   

LANGUAGE SKILLS                    RTG      DP   
English (Aussie)                          N      -   
Japanese                        2      8   

POSITIVE QUALITIES                  RTG   
Animal Empathy                              -   
Outdoorsman                              -   
Quick Healer                              -   
Hawkeye                              -   
Guts                              -   
                                 
NEGATIVE QUALITIES                  RTG   
Poor Self Control (Thrill-Seeker)                                 
SINner (National, Australia)                              -   
Day Job                              3   
In Debt                              1   

 OUTDOORSMAN                                 
 -1 Perception and Survial in Urban                                 
 +2 Outdoors Skills Group in Rural                                 
or Wild Environment               

CYBERWARE (37,500¥)                  RTG      GRD   
Muscle Replacemnt                        2      U   

RANGED WEAPONS (2200)                              CON      ACC         DAM         AP      RC      MODE               MODS                                                                     
o Traditional Bow (R8)                              8      7         10P         -2      -      SS               Collapsible, Personalized Grip                                                                     
Hold Bow Ready OOOOO Combat Turns                                                                                                                                                      
o Aquadyne Shark-XS                               8      6         9P         -2      -      SS               Personalized Grip                                                                     
Harpoon (Internal Magazine) OOOOO                                                                                                                                                      

               

[Kuirem]

Now that I think about it, Paracritters are often Dual Natured so it could be worth to build a character that can fight on Astral as well. A Hell Hound for example has fairly weak Mental stats and will be much easier to take down from the astral.

So maybe a Magician Archer (if you really want to stick on Archer). Using a Dynamic Tension Bow and a Increase STR spell you can get good damage but also use spells like Calm Pack to study paracritters (assuming that by parazoologyst you mean more of study kind of people than a butcher kind).

The Dog mentor spirit would fit pretty nicely, it would make sense to have high Tracking and a bunch of Detection spells.

[fseperent]

Here's an idea for you


Unnamed Hero
METATYPE: HUMAN
B 3, A 4, R 4, S 3, W 4, L 4, I 4, C 6, ESS 6, EDG 2, M 4
Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 10
Armor: 14
Limits: Physical 5, Mental 6, Social 8
Physical Initiative: 8+1D6
Astral Initiative: 8+3D6
Active Skills: Animal Handling (Training +2) 6, Archery (Crossbows +2) 6, Assensing 5, Astral Combat 4, Computer 1, Etiquette 1, Outdoors Group 5, Perception 5, Spellcasting 6
Knowledge Skills: Magic Theory 3, Magical Threats 3, Parazoology 5, Seattle 3, Zoology 2
Languages: English N
Qualities: Animal Empathy, Day Job (5,000¥/month, 40 hrs/week), Family Curse, Focused Concentration (3), Hawk Eye, Mentor Spirit: Dog, Shamanic Magician, SINner (National SIN): UCAS
Spells: Antidote, Calm Animal, Calm Pack, Cure Disease, Detect Life, Heal, Hush, Stunbolt
Vehicles:
   Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit [Handling 4/3, Speed 3, Accel 2, Body 8, Armor 4, Pilot 1, Sensor 2, Seats 2]
      Gear:
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
Gear:
   AR Gloves
   Armor Jacket
   Armor Jacket
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Chemical Protection (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Fire Resistance (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Ear buds (3) w/ Audio Enhancement (3)
   Glasses (4) w/ Image Link, Smartlink, Thermographic Vision, Vision Magnification, Electronic
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (0 months) Day Job, (12 months) DocWagon Basic Contract, License: Animal Control, License: Animal Training, License: Crossbow, License: Driving, License: Magic, (1 month) Middle Lifestyle
   Narcoject x50
   PULSE Wave
   Subvocal Microphone
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Heavy Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 4, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
   Light Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 6, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
Contacts:
Beat Cop (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Bounty Hunter (Connection 3, Loyalty 3)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Knight Errant Dispatcher (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Parabotanist (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Starting ¥: 5,000 + (4D6 × 100)¥

Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Shadowrun © 2005-2016 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.

[MrParaduo]

Here's an idea for you


Unnamed Hero
METATYPE: HUMAN
B 3, A 4, R 4, S 3, W 4, L 4, I 4, C 6, ESS 6, EDG 2, M 4
Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 10
Armor: 14
Limits: Physical 5, Mental 6, Social 8
Physical Initiative: 8+1D6
Astral Initiative: 8+3D6
Active Skills: Animal Handling (Training +2) 6, Archery (Crossbows +2) 6, Assensing 5, Astral Combat 4, Computer 1, Etiquette 1, Outdoors Group 5, Perception 5, Spellcasting 6
Knowledge Skills: Magic Theory 3, Magical Threats 3, Parazoology 5, Seattle 3, Zoology 2
Languages: English N
Qualities: Animal Empathy, Day Job (5,000¥/month, 40 hrs/week), Family Curse, Focused Concentration (3), Hawk Eye, Mentor Spirit: Dog, Shamanic Magician, SINner (National SIN): UCAS
Spells: Antidote, Calm Animal, Calm Pack, Cure Disease, Detect Life, Heal, Hush, Stunbolt
Vehicles:
   Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit [Handling 4/3, Speed 3, Accel 2, Body 8, Armor 4, Pilot 1, Sensor 2, Seats 2]
      Gear:
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
Gear:
   AR Gloves
   Armor Jacket
   Armor Jacket
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Chemical Protection (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Fire Resistance (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Ear buds (3) w/ Audio Enhancement (3)
   Glasses (4) w/ Image Link, Smartlink, Thermographic Vision, Vision Magnification, Electronic
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (0 months) Day Job, (12 months) DocWagon Basic Contract, License: Animal Control, License: Animal Training, License: Crossbow, License: Driving, License: Magic, (1 month) Middle Lifestyle
   Narcoject x50
   PULSE Wave
   Subvocal Microphone
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Heavy Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 4, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
   Light Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 6, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
Contacts:
Beat Cop (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Bounty Hunter (Connection 3, Loyalty 3)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Knight Errant Dispatcher (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Parabotanist (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Starting ¥: 5,000 + (4D6 × 100)¥

Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Shadowrun © 2005-2016 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.

I'll take it!

[Bushw4cker]

Here's an idea for you


Unnamed Hero
METATYPE: HUMAN
B 3, A 4, R 4, S 3, W 4, L 4, I 4, C 6, ESS 6, EDG 2, M 4
Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 10
Armor: 14
Limits: Physical 5, Mental 6, Social 8
Physical Initiative: 8+1D6
Astral Initiative: 8+3D6
Active Skills: Animal Handling (Training +2) 6, Archery (Crossbows +2) 6, Assensing 5, Astral Combat 4, Computer 1, Etiquette 1, Outdoors Group 5, Perception 5, Spellcasting 6
Knowledge Skills: Magic Theory 3, Magical Threats 3, Parazoology 5, Seattle 3, Zoology 2
Languages: English N
Qualities: Animal Empathy, Day Job (5,000¥/month, 40 hrs/week), Family Curse, Focused Concentration (3), Hawk Eye, Mentor Spirit: Dog, Shamanic Magician, SINner (National SIN): UCAS
Spells: Antidote, Calm Animal, Calm Pack, Cure Disease, Detect Life, Heal, Hush, Stunbolt
Vehicles:
   Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit [Handling 4/3, Speed 3, Accel 2, Body 8, Armor 4, Pilot 1, Sensor 2, Seats 2]
      Gear:
         Linguistics: English (local language)
         Linguistics: Japanese (Manufacturer's Language)
Gear:
   AR Gloves
   Armor Jacket
   Armor Jacket
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Chemical Protection (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Big Game Hunter w/ Custom Fit, Custom Protection: Fire Resistance (6), Gear Access, Holster
   Ear buds (3) w/ Audio Enhancement (3)
   Glasses (4) w/ Image Link, Smartlink, Thermographic Vision, Vision Magnification, Electronic
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (0 months) Day Job, (12 months) DocWagon Basic Contract, License: Animal Control, License: Animal Training, License: Crossbow, License: Driving, License: Magic, (1 month) Middle Lifestyle
   Narcoject x50
   PULSE Wave
   Subvocal Microphone
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Heavy Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 4, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
   Light Crossbow [Crossbow, Acc 6, DV 8S(e), AP -5, 4 (m)] w/ (20x) Injection Bolt, (30x) Stick-n-Shock Bolt
Contacts:
Beat Cop (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Bounty Hunter (Connection 3, Loyalty 3)
Fixer (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Knight Errant Dispatcher (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Parabotanist (Connection 2, Loyalty 3)
Starting ¥: 5,000 + (4D6 × 100)¥

Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Shadowrun © 2005-2016 The Topps Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Shadowrun is a registered trademark of The Topps Company, Inc.

I'll take it!

Did you look at Dwarf?? He's Australian!

That other character doesn't even have Paranormal Animal Mating Habits Knowledge Skill!!! ...and (Behemoths +2) That could save your life..

[MrParaduo]

Yours is great too, but I have to go with my gut.

[Hobbes]

What about with trick arrows? Eg, one that charged with electricity? Or have mono-filament tips?

The Explosive tips for general fire fight use, the Static Shaft plus tips are for a stun damage option.  Barbed or Standard ones for silent take downs.  Mono-filament if you've got cash to burn I guess, you should really only need a few.

[Bushw4cker]

Yours is great too, but I have to go with my gut.

Well when you become part of a Behemoth's Snack to impress it's mate, don't blame me!

Is your Parazoologist even going to be Australian?!

BEHEMOTH
(ALLIGATOR GIGAS)
Terrain: Swamp
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Aggro Index: 6.8/9.6
Length/Height: 5 m/3 m
Mass: 1,950 kg
I’ll admit I’ve never done any in-person close studies
on the behemoth due to its uncanny ability to swallow
items of my size whole. Instead I’ve lost a few dozen
drones, many of them eaten, in my quest to learn about
these kings of the swamp. After the first few drones, I
actually started using bait drones to get the behemoth
to swallow other drones for some internal investigations.
Remarkable scientific knowledge was gained, but more
importantly my research revealed that an Ares Hellion
high-explosive grenade detonating inside the abdomen
of a behemoth will lead to its eventual death, but while
dying it will unleash its pain on anything in its path.
Awakened from the common alligator, the behemoth
actually looks like a giant hippopotamus wearing
an alligator costume. Its legs are extremely long compared
to its progenitor species, leading to overland
speeds similar to a horse despite the claims of poor land
movement offered by less-thorough research. Its lack of
a significant tail limits its swimming speed but still allows
for quick lunges from the water while attacking prey that
is often impaled on the creature’s massive tusks before
being dragged into the water to drown or bleed out.
Tough to figure out which happens first.
The behemoth is both territorial and an aggressive
hunter. Anything entering its domain will be attacked,
even small watercraft. The attack is not directed at destroying
the vehicle, but rather overturning it and spilling
out its delicious fillings. Food taken while defending its
territory will be stored at its nest. During mating season
this stock of food is often used by males to entice
mates. Mating season also spikes their aggression, and
anything that enters their domain will be attacked.