[Quatar]

Ok, so for me the need to use an Echo to get a single program for a Technomancer seems excessive. They're usually not that great and a Decker can just pick them up for a handful of nuyen and be done with it.

So I've been thinking of ways to make it a bit easier on the TM. First I came up with this quality:

Technomancer Program (5 karma, does not double during play)

The technomancer has learned to use a single program as if it was running on a cyberdeck, using their living persona attributes as the cyberdeck's if needed.
This quality can be taken multiple times, each time teaching the technomancer the use of another program. A number of (Submersion grade + 1) programs can be run simultaneously like this. They can spend a Complex Action to switch one program they know for another or disable one.

Or maybe this version:

Technomancer Program (5 karma, does not double during play)

The technomancer has learned to use a single program as if it was running on a cyberdeck, using their living persona attributes as the cyberdeck's if needed.
This quality can be taken multiple times, up to (Submersion grade + 1) times. Programs learned this way are always active and cannot be turned off.

And lastly I thought of a Complex Form (I think SR4 did something similar):

Resonance [Program]
Target: self
Duration: S
FV: L + ?? (don't see a reason to thread it higher than level 1 most of the time, so pretty irrelevant)

The technomancer learned to harness the Resonance to simulate the effect of a single program (chosen when you learn this CF). Make a simple Software + Resonance [level] test with a threshhold of 1. While sustaining this Complex Form, you have access to the Matrix Program. This Complex Form can be taken more than once, each time for a different program.

Ok, so here's my questions:
a) Does that seem too crazy? Its still way more expensive than for deckers, but much more managable than using a precious Echo
b) Does 5 karma seem right for the qualities? Too expensive or too cheap?
c) Which of the three options do you think is a better fit for TM?

[Xenon]

If you don't want them to be individual echoes you could make them into individual complex forms.

[CigarSmoker]

Nice "houserule" but you might want to look at CRB page 190 "Emulate (Program)" 

[Iron Serpent Prince]

Nice "houserule" but you might want to look at CRB page 190 "Emulate (Program)" 

Since page 190 of the SR5 CRB is the combat section, I'm gonna guess you didn't read the title. 

a) Does that seem too crazy? Its still way more expensive than for deckers, but much more managable than using a precious Echo

I do not think it is too crazy.  My "kneejerk" reaction is that it is unneccessary, as programs don't do all that much.  Then once that reflex passes, I remember that Technomancers need all the help they can get...

b) Does 5 karma seem right for the qualities? Too expensive or too cheap?

For better or worse, Technomancer "things" are a bit cheaper than Mage spells.  You should probably drop it down to match Complex Forms, or perhaps a bit cheaper - unless you are using the Complex Form version, of course.

c) Which of the three options do you think is a better fit for TM?

I think the first one is the better one, however the third one would segue into Sixth World better, should that ever be a possibility.

[Xenon]

Nice "houserule" but you might want to look at CRB page 190 "Emulate (Program)" 

Since page 190 of the SR5 CRB is the combat section, I'm gonna guess you didn't read the title. 

[Quatar]

Nice "houserule" but you might want to look at CRB page 190 "Emulate (Program)" 

That's SR6, I was asking for SR5. But I wasn't aware SR6 has a CF for it, so thanks. I might just steal that for SR5, its pretty much what I came up with too.

I do not think it is too crazy.  My "kneejerk" reaction is that it is unneccessary, as programs don't do all that much.  Then once that reflex passes, I remember that Technomancers need all the help they can get...

Well, that whole "programs don't do that much" is why the Program echo feels so utterly, stupidly overpriced to me.

b) Does 5 karma seem right for the qualities? Too expensive or too cheap?

For better or worse, Technomancer "things" are a bit cheaper than Mage spells.  You should probably drop it down to match Complex Forms, or perhaps a bit cheaper - unless you are using the Complex Form version, of course.

Good point. I hadn't checked the advancement list, and thought Complex Forms cost as much as spells do. Lowering it down to 4 karma would make sense then.

I think the first one is the better one, however the third one would segue into Sixth World better, should that ever be a possibility.

Thanks!

If you don't want them to be individual echoes you could make them into individual complex forms.

That was literally one of the ideas I posted