[Devil]

Has anyone taken a crack at making a cybernetically enhanced sniper?

My buddy wants to play one, but I haven't figured out a build.

[Codac]

How Cybered are you talking cause I have several sniper characters with augmentations of the Cybernetic kind.

[Kontact]

As cool as it sounds, being a sniper is really impractical in a typical SR sneak and grab.

Could always do a rigger/sniper.  A sniper rifle on a balloon is pretty much the only way to use that kind of range in a city setting.

[Xzylvador]

It's not that hard really if you want it to be just a sniper.
High agi, either natural+boosted with Muscle Toner or 'ware arms with high agi ratings.
Decent Str + climbing skills (or athletics skill group) would be nice to get on top of roofs and other good vantage points.
Preferably some intuition for perception dice.
Longarms(Sniper Rifle)
Disguise (Camouflage)
Perception (Visual)

I'm making one right now for a table game. Making him a behind enemy lines scout/sniper/assassination kind of guy, all bioware, only "unalarming" cyberware like 'eyes and ears.

Sniping's really not all that difficult, considering you're only doing a good job when the target is unaware, they don't roll any defense.
Longarms6+Spec2+Agi9+Smartgun2 = 19 dice
8P, -3AP, Load Ex-Ex for 9P, -4AP (APDS if you have 'em)
Take Aim for another +4 dice, you should have time for that as sniper.
Aim for a vulnerable spot, -4 dice, +4 DV
Roll 19 dice, 6 avg hits = 6 net hits (no defense)
Total damage: 9DV+4DV+6Hits = 19 damage, -4 armor.
Should kill most things pretty good.

But like ^ said, most runs sniping just isn't an option.

[Kontact]

It works alright for an overwatch role like a hacker, but, yeah, just being a sniper basically equates to waiting outside while everyone goes on a shadowrun and then maybe shooting some dudes if it goes poorly.

Though, it's common often that the run goes poorly...

[CanRay]

OK, show of hands:  How many people have had 'Runs go off right?

[James McMurray]

Hand up.

Not all of them by any stretch of the imagination, but sometimes it happens.

But even when runs are going wrong, being a sniper is a bad idea.

1) It has to go wrong in a way that involves combat.
2) That combat has to happen outside of the building or the team has to draw the firefight outdoors.
3) The enemy can usually just step around a corner or behind a car and suddenly you're taking blond fire mods against structural armor while they're still shooting your friends.
4) Your usefulness to the team has to be so low that having you outside instead of inside helping isn't a problem.

You're often much better off stick a drone with an LMG in the spot your sniper would have been sitting and jumping into it if needed. It'll have no recoil penalties, use your dice, and if it gets left behind or caught you're only out some money instead of a PC.

[Sid]

But even when runs are going wrong, being a sniper is a bad idea.

Depends, really.
Do a run with a tacnet and ultrasound sensors. Give your sniper the best penetrating power money can buy, then let them play Silent Scope.

[James McMurray]

Or just have them in the room with you where there's no blond fire, no barriers as armor, and no "sorry guys, they popped a jammer so I'm just gonna walk home now".

[Sid]

Like there's no way to deal with that ...

[CanRay]

Being able to lip read helps with a lack of communications technology in an external area.  Buildings are a no-go due to heavily tinted or mirrored windows.

Of course, a Panther Assault Cannon to the Window will solve that problem quick.  Then shift over to the sniper rifle, and...

[Angelone]

Or do like in Smokin Aces and shine a laser pointer at the window so the sniper knows where to go to town.

[CanRay]

Or do like in Smokin Aces and shine a laser pointer at the window so the sniper knows where to go to town.

Heavily smoked/mirrored glass.  That trick won't work in Shadowrun.

Anti-Magician techniques work both ways. 

[Angelone]

Wasn't it like that in Smokin Aces? Or am I thinking of just the Penthouse?

[Codac]

I think it was Smoking Aces.

Nothing says your sniper has to be "sniping" all the time. With the kind of accuracy a sniper character has he can be in the building shooting targets for you. I had a character once who was room clearing with a Model 121 and I didn't have problems.

And if you don't like the unrealistic feel of using snipers in that close of range give them one of the new battle rifles from WAR they're almost as powerful as a sniper rifle.

And for the Cyber question well you pretty much give them anything.