[ydirbut]

My character's is mostly set in stone, so I'm mainly looking for things I should spend karma on to advance. I'm thinking of getting specializations first, because they seem cheap for their karma cost.

Willis Shearwater is broke. Like, barely a dime in his name broke.
That’s why he’s looking for work with one of his father’s old friends,
a small time fixer. His father died last year, but they hadn’t spoken
in almost 7 years before that, since he left to join a street gang
when he was 14. But that’s in the past, and hopefully it will remain
that way. Also in the past are his drug problems. A particularly nasty
episode with BTLs left him in a coma for almost a month, and still
affects him to some degree, mainly nausea while in simsense.

        He’s done some small time work before for some local unsavory sorts,
mainly intimidation and guard duty, but nothing serious. He knows his
way around with his fists and with a gun, though. He also knows his
way around the Barrens, where he grew up. He spends a lot of time
working out and at the range.

== Info ==
Street Name: Willis Shearwater
Name: Willis Shearwater
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Ork M Age 22
Height 190 CM Weight 120 KG
Composure: 5
Judge Intentions: 7
Lift/Carry: 14 (90 kg/60 kg)
Memory: 4
Nuyen: 250

== Attributes ==
BOD: 8
AGI: 4
REA: 4
STR: 6
CHA: 3
INT: 4
LOG: 2
WIL: 2
EDG: 2

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   5.8
Initiative:                8
IP:                        1
Matrix Initiative:         5
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     12
Stun Damage Track:         9

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 3
Animal Training            : 0                      Pool: 3
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Armorer                    : 1                      Pool: 3
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Automatics                 : 4                      Pool: 8
Blades                     : 4                      Pool: 8
Climbing                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Clubs                      : 4                      Pool: 8
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 3
Con                        : 1                      Pool: 4
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 1
Data Search                : 1                      Pool: 3
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 1
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 7
Dodge                      : 0                      Pool: 3
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 3
Etiquette                  : 1                      Pool: 4
First Aid                  : 0                      Pool: 1
Flight                     : 4                      Pool: 10
Forgery                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Gymnastics                 : 4                      Pool: 8
Hacking                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Hardware                   : 1                      Pool: 3
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 3
Industrial Mechanic        : 1                      Pool: 3
Infiltration               : 0                      Pool: 3
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 2
Intimidation               : 3                      Pool: 6
Leadership                 : 1                      Pool: 4
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 3
Longarms                   : 4                      Pool: 8
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 3
Negotiation                : 1                      Pool: 4
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 7
Perception                 : 6                      Pool: 10
Pilot Ground Craft         : 0                      Pool: 3
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 3
Pistols                    : 4                      Pool: 8
Riding                     : 0                      Pool: 3
Running                    : 4                      Pool: 10
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 3
Software                   : 1                      Pool: 3
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 1
Swimming                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 3
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Unarmed Combat             : 4                      Pool: 8

== Knowledge Skills ==
Football                   : 2                      Pool: 6
Guns                       : 1                      Pool: 5
Machining                  : 2                      Pool: 4
Spanish                    : 4                      Pool: 8
Street Drugs               : 2 [BTLS]               Pool: 6 (
The Barrens                : 6                      Pool: 10

== Contacts ==
Forger (3, 1)

== Qualities ==
Bad Luck
Home Ground (The Barrens)
Scorched
Simsense Vertigo

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Sim Module (Hot-Sim Modified)

== Armor ==
Armor Jacket              8/6

== Weapons ==
Ares Viper Slivergun
   +Sound Suppressor
   DV: 8P(f)   AP: +5   RC: 0
Club
   DV: 4P   AP: -   RC: 0
Survival Knife
   DV: 4P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Unarmed Attack
   DV: 3S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim

== Gear ==
Ammo: Flechette Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x90
Biomonitor
Concealable Holster
Datachip x5
Fake License (Johnanthon Parbor) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Johnathon Parbor) Rating 4
Flashlight
Jazz x5
Respirator Rating 1
Survival Kit

[ydirbut]

Also, does simsense vertigo prevent you from using smartlinks?

[Onion Man]

Also, does simsense vertigo prevent you from using smartlinks?

It does.  Just put it on my newest magician build.

[ydirbut]

OK, that's what I thought.

[eshoup1]

Personally, I would spend my karma on working on raising willpower. I don't think I have ever made a character with less than a 3 in willpower.
I am a big fan of having as many boxes of stun damage as possible.

[baronspam]

Without critiquing the existing character, raise Edge.  Its so bloody usefull.  I hate to start with less than 3, and even then I want more. 

Specializations are a bargain post char gen.  Two karma for two extra dice.  Many people suggest not taking specializations at all at initial character creation because they are so cheap to pick up during play.  The exception I think is the skill that you took at 1 or 2 to keep it cheap and then took a specalization to make it useful, only really intending to use the specialization aspect- something like Hardware 1 (maglocks +2).  You really don't intend to touch a piece of hardware other than a maglock, so its reasonable to have that up and going when you start.  But if you are buying longarms 4 the sniper rifle+2 can wait until after the first run.  Two karma is peanuts.

[ydirbut]

Personally, I would spend my karma on working on raising willpower. I don't think I have ever made a character with less than a 3 in willpower.
I am a big fan of having as many boxes of stun damage as possible.

The reason I gave him a low willpower is that I imagine him as having somewhat of an addictive personality, not very much self-restraint, etc. Is it that big of a malus to have a low willlpower? I've never played SR before, so I don't know.

Without critiquing the existing character, raise Edge.  Its so bloody usefull.  I hate to start with less than 3, and even then I want more. 

Specializations are a bargain post char gen.  Two karma for two extra dice.  Many people suggest not taking specializations at all at initial character creation because they are so cheap to pick up during play.  The exception I think is the skill that you took at 1 or 2 to keep it cheap and then took a specalization to make it useful, only really intending to use the specialization aspect- something like Hardware 1 (maglocks +2).  You really don't intend to touch a piece of hardware other than a maglock, so its reasonable to have that up and going when you start.  But if you are buying longarms 4 the sniper rifle+2 can wait until after the first run.  Two karma is peanuts.

Yeah, I'd really like to pick up some more edge, but I don't know where I would get the points.

[Seeker]

The reason I gave him a low willpower is that I imagine him as having somewhat of an addictive personality, not very much self-restraint, etc. Is it that big of a malus to have a low willlpower? I've never played SR before, so I don't know.

Basically you'll run into an issue of a low Stun track.  Heavy armor and a low stun track finds you unconscious long before a bullet even breaks through.

[ydirbut]

== Info ==
Street Name: Willis Shearwater
Name: Willis Shearwater
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Ork M Age 22
Height 190 CM Weight 120 KG
Composure: 5
Judge Intentions: 6
Lift/Carry: 14 (90 kg/60 kg)
Memory: 5
Nuyen: 0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 8
AGI: 4
REA: 4
STR: 6
CHA: 2
INT: 4
LOG: 2
WIL: 3
EDG: 4

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   5.8
Initiative:                8
IP:                        1
Matrix Initiative:         5
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     12
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 3
Animal Training            : 0                      Pool: 3
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Armorer                    : 1                      Pool: 3
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Automatics                 : 4                      Pool: 8
Blades                     : 4                      Pool: 8
Climbing                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Clubs                      : 4                      Pool: 8
Computer                   : 0                      Pool: 1
Con                        : 0                      Pool: 1
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 1
Data Search                : 0                      Pool: 1
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 1
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 7
Dodge                      : 0                      Pool: 3
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 3
Etiquette                  : 0                      Pool: 1
First Aid                  : 0                      Pool: 1
Flight                     : 4                      Pool: 10
Forgery                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Gymnastics                 : 4                      Pool: 8
Hacking                    : 0                      Pool: 1
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 3
Infiltration               : 0                      Pool: 3
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 1
Intimidation               : 4                      Pool: 6
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 1
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 3
Longarms                   : 4                      Pool: 8
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 3
Negotiation                : 0                      Pool: 1
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 7
Perception                 : 6                      Pool: 10
Pilot Ground Craft         : 0                      Pool: 3
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 3
Pistols                    : 4                      Pool: 8
Riding                     : 0                      Pool: 3
Running                    : 4                      Pool: 10
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 3
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Swimming                   : 4                      Pool: 10
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 3
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 3
Unarmed Combat             : 4                      Pool: 8

== Knowledge Skills ==
Football                   : 2                      Pool: 6
Guns                       : 1                      Pool: 5
Spanish                    : 4                      Pool: 8
Street Drugs               : 2 [BTLS]               Pool: 6 (
The Barrens                : 6                      Pool: 10
Welding                    : 2                      Pool: 4

== Contacts ==
Gun Dealer (3, 1)

== Qualities ==
Dependent (Inconvenience)
Home Ground (The Barrens)
Poor Self Control (Vindictive)
Scorched
Simsense Vertigo

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Sim Module (Hot-Sim Modified)

== Armor ==
Armor Jacket              8/6

== Weapons ==
Ares Viper Slivergun
   +Sound Suppressor
   DV: 8P(f)   AP: +5   RC: 0
Club
   DV: 4P   AP: -   RC: 0
Survival Knife
   DV: 4P   AP: -1   RC: 0
Unarmed Attack
   DV: 3S   AP: -   RC: 0

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim

== Gear ==
Ammo: Flechette Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x90
Biomonitor
Concealable Holster
Datachip x5
Fake License (Johnanthon Parbor) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Johnathon Parbor) Rating 4
Flashlight
Jazz x5
Respirator Rating 1
Survival Kit

Alright, so I modified it somewhat. The main changes:
Cha to 2, Willpower to three
Dropped Electronics and Influence 1 for another two point of edge. Rearranged skill points and negative qualities.

However, now I'm worried that my character is overly two-dimensional and focused on combat.

[UmaroVI]

I think you have too many different ways of hitting people. You're heavily invested in knowing a whoooole lot of different ways of rolling Agility+Skill to do damage; I would suggest you're better off knowing a few ways of doing that and having other skills.

I would drop all your melee skills but Unarmed, and get yourself a Shock Glove.

Longarms are worthless and I would drop those. I would consider pistols, or pistols+automatics, or automatics, or pistols+heavy weapons.

On a further note: what are you trying to do? You're an unaugmented mundane who's fairly focused on combat. Why?

[UmaroVI]

As a side note, the Slivergun is a very bad weapon, please get a better one.

[ydirbut]

I think you have too many different ways of hitting people. You're heavily invested in knowing a whoooole lot of different ways of rolling Agility+Skill to do damage; I would suggest you're better off knowing a few ways of doing that and having other skills.

I would drop all your melee skills but Unarmed, and get yourself a Shock Glove.

Longarms are worthless and I would drop those. I would consider pistols, or pistols+automatics, or automatics, or pistols+heavy weapons.

I just think its weird and unrealistic to have a character that is an expert in one type of gun and totally unfamiliar with other types of weaponry, or a guy who could kill somebody with his bare hands, but has no incentive to use any sort of weaponry because he doesn't have skill in it.

On a further note: what are you trying to do? You're an unaugmented mundane who's fairly focused on combat. Why?

Well, the whole concept is that he's broke, and has been poor his entire life. I plan on buying cyberware as he gets nuyen though.

As a side note, the Slivergun is a very bad weapon, please get a better one.

Is it? I didn't realize the AP penalty was that severe.

[Tsuzua]

I just think its weird and unrealistic to have a character that is an expert in one type of gun and totally unfamiliar with other types of weaponry, or a guy who could kill somebody with his bare hands, but has no incentive to use any sort of weaponry because he doesn't have skill in it.

Welcome to shadowrun and the failure that is the skill group.  It was suppose to stop this sort of oddness, but it really didn't do a good job of it expect of several limited cases. 

As for the slivergun, it's more that it limits your options.  A Fubiki is a better gun.  It's better at burst firing (less recoil comp needed) and can take a selection of rounds *coughstickandshockscough*.  Or you can also start with two guns, a nice light pistol for conceal jobs and a HK227-X (or AK-97) for heavier fights. 

[baronspam]

Longarms are worthless and I would drop those. I would consider pistols, or pistols+automatics, or automatics, or pistols+heavy weapons.

 

I wouldn't call longarms worthless.  They are situational, and less likely to come up in a typcial street fight, but the ability to stick someone on a roof/in a window/in the brush with a sniper rifle in a situation where you can pick and prepare the battlefield is most certainly useful.  I don't think I would recomend them an a hyper-specalization to the exclusion of all else, but having someone in the group that can reach out and touch someone from long range is an asset.  And you can always pack a shotgun for close work.

[Seeker]

Heh.  Made a dwarf once with a super high shotgun ability, and then made him ultra sneaky too.  Then I put him in clown paint.  It was quite possibly the scariest thing ever.