[Fisher]

Well, I've been dark for a while. Trying to get back to work on a nice firm mechanical grounding. Here's a sheet I've been working on for the ultimate detective

Life Modules: UCAS (Denver) > Child of the Shadows > Magical Education (Adept) > Corporate (Security Guard) > Private Investigator > Government Agent

• Attributes: Strength 2/6, Body 2/6, Agility 3/6, Reaction 4/6, Logic 5/6, Intuition 6(7)/6, Willpower 4/6, Charisma 3/6, Magic 4/6
  
• Qualities: Positive; Adept (20), Prototype Transhuman (10) Analytical Mind (5), Photographic Memory (6), Mentor Spirit [Raven/Coyote] (5), Quick Healer (3), Speed Reading (2), Prime Datahaven Membership (7)
  Negative; National SIN, UCAS (5) Insomnia (10, N/A) Code of Honor, Wuxia (15) Phobia, Smell of Roses (Uncommon, Mild) (5pts)
  
• Active Skills: Arcana +2, Artisan +3, Assessing +3, Astral Combat +1, Computer +2, Con +3, First Aid +3, Perception +7, Leadership +3, Negotiation +4, Etiquette +5, Pistols +7, Longarms +3, Automatics +3, Pilot Ground Craft +2, Running +4, Gymnastics +3, Swimming +3, Blades +3, Clubs +3, Unarmed Combat +4, Tracking +3,
  
• Skill Groups: Stealth skill group +3
  
• Knowledge Skills: Academic Knowledge: Magical Theory +5, Academic Knowledge: Law +4, Academic Knowledge: Psychology +4, Academic Knowledge: History +4, Professional Knowledge Ares +3, Professional Knowledge: Security Procedures +5, Professional Knowledge: Government Procedures +5, Professional Knowledge: Law Enforcement Protocols +9, Professional Knowledge: National Threats +4, Street Knowledge: UCAS +1, Street Knowledge: Denver +2, Street Knowledge: Neo Tokyo +2, Street Knowledge: Safehouses +3, Interest Knowledge: Matrix Games +3,
  
• Languages: English (N), Mandarin (1), Japanese (2)
  

Contacts: Jackpoint (Loyalty 3, Connection 5, group contact)

Limits: Physical 5, Mental 8, Social 7 (, Astral 8

Astral Perception: Dual Natured
Enhanced Perception, 2: +2 Perception & Assessing
Enhanced Limit, Physical, Mental: +1 to each limit
Combat Sense: +1 defence against attacks, always get a Perception roll against surprise
Improved Sense, Human Scale, Perfect Pitch: Perception + Int (2) to notice fine details of sound and weight
Traceless Walk, Voice Control: +4 to moving silently, no visible traces, +1 social limit

Cat's Eye, .1e, (Low Light Vision)
Hearing Enhancement, .1e, +1 Hearing
Hearing Expansion, .1e, Can hear Ultrasound
Tactile Sensitivity, .1e, +2 Tactile
Cerebellum Booster, .2e, +1 Instinct
Reception Enhancer, .2e, Ignore distraction penalty
Toxin Filter 1, .2e, +1 vs toxins

Gear
Transys-Avalon commlink, with sim module, Simrig, AR gloves and Trodes (headband)
Sleeping Tiger suit with integrated Medkit 3 & Electrochromium fabric
Steampunk Brilliance Dress with Shock Frills & Concealed Holster
Ares Predator V heavy pistol, with custom grip, quick-draw holster and four spare clips
300 rounds of regular heavy pistol ammo, 100 rounds of ADPS ammo, 100 rounds of explosive ammo
Ares Light Fire 70 light pistol, with custom grip, concealable holster and two spare clips
60 rounds of regular light pistol ammo
1 month Middle Lifestyle: Public Transport, Swimming Pool, Grid Subscription, Patron of the Arts (Rock Concerts)
Glasses 4 w Image Link, Flare Compensation, Smartlink and Vision Magnification
Earbuds 1 w Sound Link
Tiffani-Defiance Protector, with custom grip, 3 spare clips and 12 extra rounds
3 sheets of electronic paper, 2 standard credsticks, 2 silver credsticks
200 + (4d6 x 100) nuyen

[Mestoph]

2/6 body is not good it will kill you faster than you think. Also enhanced limits are shit and you need at least one level in increased reflexes in hard shadowrun times.

[Glyph]

You have a good spread of secondary skills with acceptable dice pools, but your primary specialty is noticing things, which seems too narrow to me.  To me, a primary specialty is something like "I can do magic" or "I am a killing machine" or "I'm good at dealing with people."  This is a good concept character, but with limited playability (unless perception tests are a lot more important in your campaign).

[Fisher]

2/6 body is not good it will kill you faster than you think. Also enhanced limits are shit and you need at least one level in increased reflexes in hard shadowrun times.

*hums* No mileage in trying to boost Stealth through Ryutheum Polymer and Trackless Walk? Was trying to have a character who went to combat as a last resort, but is this a bit too far with that?

You have a good spread of secondary skills with acceptable dice pools, but your primary specialty is noticing things, which seems too narrow to me.  To me, a primary specialty is something like "I can do magic" or "I am a killing machine" or "I'm good at dealing with people."  This is a good concept character, but with limited playability (unless perception tests are a lot more important in your campaign).

That's fair, and something I was worried about. I'll counterargue, but first: any suggestions on things I could shift to be a bit more competitive at something key to running? Different bio, gear, adept powers?

Anyway, while Perception is pretty narrow, I'd argue it comes up more than you'd think. It's Shadowrun: there's lots of stuff that isn't quite what it seems. You have to find a face in a crowded room, spot where the cameras are and where CorpSec's stationed at the party. If there was a clear 'insight' skill, I'd have taken that to get a reading on people, as it stand Assessing fills that role and lets me get an idea on someone's emotional state. If Mr. J is not what they seem, or putting on a front, I'll know. If our opponent's Awakened, or Cybered, I'll have a chance of finding out in advance. So long as I can support the rest of the team at other stuff, this ability seems useful for infomation gathering.

[FST_Gemstar]

As someone working on an occult investigator type now too, I like seeing your build! 

I'm thinking like Glyph though on this one, your primary pools seem a little lacking. 

You already sense pretty good with high intuition, perception, assensing, and adept powers. The extra sensing 'ware seems like it doesn't add much. Can you use some of that karma for other 'ware, or to buy some more contacts, etc.? 

And, there is debate here, but many allow free contacts (and knowledge) in point buy the same as in priority/sum2ten. This may save you some karma for some other investments, as well as get you some more contacts, if your table plays that way. 

[Fisher]

As someone working on an occult investigator type now too, I like seeing your build! 

I'm thinking like Glyph though on this one, your primary pools seem a little lacking. 

You already sense pretty good with high intuition, perception, assensing, and adept powers. The extra sensing 'ware seems like it doesn't add much. Can you use some of that karma for other 'ware, or to buy some more contacts, etc.?

*hums* I could lose Tactile, Hearing Enhancement and Toxin Filter. They're all minor dice buffs. The other stuff's trickier. Low Light Vision, the ability to hear Ultrasound and ignore penalties for distraction in a crowd are all pretty swanky, and stuff I can't get with adept powers. Cerebellum Booster is ultimately a slight buff, but since this build is built around perception and intuition....

FWIW, I think your build is sharper. Don't have enough of a mechanical grounding to give firm advice, but the principle of investigator/mage is sharper. So likely is Investigator/Rigger. This build was a thought experiment around trying to build an Adept Investigator, and seeing if I can make it viable. Maaay have worked better in Sum to 10, not sure.

And, there is debate here, but many allow free contacts (and knowledge) in point buy the same as in priority/sum2ten. This may save you some karma for some other investments, as well as get you some more contacts, if your table plays that way.

*whistles* That would be swanky. I couldn't save on Knowledge as that's integrated into the Life Modules, but having some Contact points would be nice.

[Kuirem]

The others already said it: your contribution to the team is a bit limited. As an Adept, if you don't want to go combat, the best bet would probably be to go Face/Investigator. There is some pretty decent Adept Powers for Face (Notably Commanding Voice but also stuff that allow you to hide your identity or add extra dice).

Low Light Vision, the ability to hear Ultrasound and ignore penalties for distraction in a crowd are all pretty swanky, and stuff I can't get with adept powers.

You can get them with the Improved Sense adept power actually: "Any sense enhancement provided by cyberware or bioware can be provided by this power".

I would likely drop Cerebellum as well, sure the boost is nice but you can get so much stuff with 50k Nuyen/25 Karma.

Anyway, while Perception is pretty narrow, I'd argue it comes up more than you'd think. It's Shadowrun: there's lots of stuff that isn't quite what it seems.

You are right on that point, that's why every Shadowrunner still alive throw around 12 dice in perception. And that's also why it's not really a main role, pretty much everyone is already invested in it. Note that Judge Intention can help to expose a lying Johnson, and it's based on INT + CHA your two main attributes if you play Face/Investigator.

You need Contacts for your concept. You can't keep a track through a big city without some people to keep an eye on the street and on the Matrix for you, even if you are the best in the world.

A final note on Astral perception, I like to take it on a Focus. As an Adept you don't need to always have it on so it's an ideal pick for a focus to save some PP. Traceless Walk could work too.

[ZeldaBravo]

Low Light Vision, the ability to hear Ultrasound and ignore penalties for distraction in a crowd are all pretty swanky, and stuff I can't get with adept powers.

You can get them with the Improved Sense adept power actually: "Any sense enhancement provided by cyberware or bioware can be provided by this power".

And there is also a Hightened Concern power to ignore distraction penalties.

[revolverocelot420]

I would also rid myself of some if the combat skills is well thatll save alot of karma pick to like close mid long mid. Sorry never really gave advice before but I like the idea you have.