[Comely]

This is my Cyber Adept hacker so far.  He has 20 000 nuyen to spend on gear still and I will have 10 karma from my background.  I cant go higher then 2 initiative passes and I cant take form fitting armour.   Is mystic armour better then combat senses?  Are there different adept powers that would be better?

Ork


== Attributes ==
BOD: 4
AGI: 5 (7)
REA: 5 (6)
STR: 3
CHA: 2
INT: 5
LOG: 3
WIL: 5
EDG: 5
MAG: 4

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   5.00
Initiative:                10 (11)
IP:                        1 (2)
Astral Initiative:         10
Astral IP:                 3
Matrix Initiative:         11
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 4
Animal Training            : 0                      Pool: 4
Archery                    : 0                      Pool: 6
Armorer                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Artisan                    : 0                      Pool: 4
Automatics                 : 0                      Pool: 6
Blades                     : 0                      Pool: 6
Climbing                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Clubs                      : 0                      Pool: 6
Computer                   : 4                      Pool: 9
Con                        : 0                      Pool: 1
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 2
Data Search                : 4                      Pool: 9
Demolitions                : 0                      Pool: 2
Disguise                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 3
Dodge                      : 0                      Pool: 5
Electronic Warfare         : 1                      Pool: 6
Escape Artist              : 0                      Pool: 6
Etiquette                  : 0                      Pool: 1
First Aid                  : 0                      Pool: 2
Flight                     : 0                      Pool: 2
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 6
Gunnery                    : 0                      Pool: 6
Gymnastics                 : 0                      Pool: 6
Hacking                    : 6 [Exploit]            Pool: 14 (16)
Hardware                   : 4                      Pool: 9
Heavy Weapons              : 0                      Pool: 6
Infiltration               : 4                      Pool: 11
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 1
Intimidation               : 0                      Pool: 1
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 1
Locksmith                  : 0                      Pool: 6
Longarms                   : 0                      Pool: 6
Navigation                 : 0                      Pool: 4
Negotiation                : 0                      Pool: 1
Palming                    : 0                      Pool: 6
Parachuting                : 0                      Pool: 3
Perception                 : 1                      Pool: 6
Pilot Ground Craft         : 0                      Pool: 5
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 5
Pistols                    : 4                      Pool: 11
Riding                     : 0                      Pool: 5
Running                    : 0                      Pool: 2
Shadowing                  : 0                      Pool: 4
Software                   : 4                      Pool: 9
Survival                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Swimming                   : 0                      Pool: 2
Throwing Weapons           : 0                      Pool: 6
Tracking                   : 0                      Pool: 4
Unarmed Combat             : 0                      Pool: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==

== Contacts ==
Street Doc (3, 1)

== Qualities ==
Adept
Low-Light Vision

== Powers ==
Combat Sense Rating: 3
Improved Ability (Non-Combat) (Hacking) Rating: 3
Improved Reflexes 1
Sustenance

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Encephalon Rating 1
Enhanced Protein Exchange, PuSHeD
Muscle Toner Rating 2

== Armor ==
SecureTech Vitals Protector1/1
Vashon Island: Steampunk Blouse/Shirt1/1
Vashon Island: Steampunk Corset/Vest2/2
Vashon Island: Steampunk Overcoat3/3
   +Nonconductivity 6
Vashon Island: Steampunk Slacks or Knickers/Petticoat and Skirt1/1

== Weapons ==
Unarmed Attack
   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 0
Yamaha Sakura Fubuki
   +Hidden Gun Arm Slide
   +Smartgun System, Internal
   +Chameleon Coating
   +Personalized Grip
   +Sound Suppressor
   DV: 4P   AP: -   RC: 1

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim
Novatech Airware (5, 5, 5, 3)
   +Iris Orb
   +Customized Interface
   +Analyze Rating 6
   +Browse Rating 6
   +Command Rating 5
   +Edit Rating 5
   +Scan Rating 5
   +Disarm Rating 5
   +Exploit Rating 5 [Mute 3]
   +Biofeedback Filter Rating 5
   +ECCM Rating 5 [Ergonomic 3]
   +Sniffer Rating 5
   +Spoof Rating 5
   +Stealth Rating 5 [Ergonomic 3]
   +Track Rating 3
   +Defuse Rating 3

== Gear ==
Eurosoft Clavicula
   +Decrypt Rating 5
   +Encrypt Rating 5

[Critias]

I'd stick with combat sense, because it's better to not get hit than to have a high soak pool, in most instances.  Every success on the "don't get hit" roll is a success on a soak roll, too, because it removes net hits -- and you've got the potential to outright dodge an attack and not get touched by it.  Win/win, and especially with combat sense being as cheap as it is.

In that spirit, I'd look into either some Dodge or some Gymnastics (one or the other, not necessarily both), just to help with general firefights. 

If your GM allows Way of the Adept, there are some goodies in there that your character should certainly like.

[UmaroVI]

Combat Sense is definitely better than Mystic Armor.

I agree that dodge wouldn't be a bad idea, but I would buy it with karma. I see nothing that's worth dropping for it, really, and honestly if people are shooting at you it means they are probably ignoring someone more dangerous.

Sustenance is really just a fluff ability; I would take something that has practical usage, like Improved Ability for some other useful skill like Hardware. Alternatively, see if you can QQ your GM into houseruling that Improved Physical Attribute (Reaction) and Increased Reflexes are supposed to stack, and drop Sustenance and one Combat Sense for a rank of IPA Reaction.

[Tecumseh]

To start, I agreed with everything Critias suggested.

You didn't include your BP breakout so I can't track precisely where everything was spent but your Magic is 4 and you've spent 4 points on adept powers even though your Essence is 5. Unless you actually took Magic at 5 and the adjusted rating is 4, or you're playing a house-rule where essence loss only affects maximum magic, then your Magic should be 4 (3) and you've overspent on power points.

I like your powers so I would find a point (see below) to move into Magic to make it 5 (4). Sustenance is only fluff if it never comes up in play, which is up to you and your GM. If you decide it's not needed or isn't necessary for your character concept then you could pick up a rank in Improved Ability like Umaro suggests or go for the Analytics adept power. As a GM I would treat it similar to the Analytical Mind quality and apply the bonus to Data Search and Software.

On that note, you have plenty of bandwidth available for new qualities if those are of any interest. Analytical Mind is useful and inexpensive. A geas and/or The Warrior's Way from The Way of the Adept would give you more power points to spend, which is always fun. Picking up some negative qualities could save you enough BP to get that extra point in Magic or another point in Logic. You have five skills liked to Logic so 10 BP there would be an excellent investment.

Overall, I like this build a lot. If you're getting 10 karma for your background then I would look to Dodge and Perception as your next investments. Nice work! Have fun with him.

[UmaroVI]

Actually, yeah, I didn't notice the 0 bp in negative qualities. Embrace the flaws and use that to pay for more Perception and for Dodge. Consider picking up Gunnery too, that's all you still need to be a passable rigger as well which you might find sometimes handy.

Codeslinger (Hacking on the Fly) is something to consider.

[Comely]

I should have put a breakdown of points magic is 4(5) right now and I am 35 points over spent due to expected negative attributes.  Of course because Im a chronic overthinker and I have time I made a big shift from this character as listed and Im trying to make a punchy hacker instead of a shooty one.

I must say looking at a close combat hacker Im a little disappointed its easier to do big damage bare handed then with a sword.

[Mason]

I thought Essence loss only affected the Magic Maximum at character creation? Oh well, it's not like I get implants with a magical character lol.

[Critias]

I think he's a natural fit for the Artisan's Way, myself.  I mean, "cyber adept hacker" is basically his whole character concept, after all. 

And nope, Mason.  Essence loss drops your Magic attribute, at creation, after you've bought it up.  It's kind of a double whammy, because you're outright throwing points away (buying Magic to 5, then dropping it to 3 through getting goodies, means wasting the 20 BP on Magic, for instance).

[Mason]

That is kind of messed up.

[Critias]

Well, it does what it's intended to do -- discourage too much mixing of magic and machine in the same dude, at character creation.  It sucks, but it works like it's meant to work (by making it suck).

[UmaroVI]

Eh, what? Mixing magic and cyberware is already better than going pure magic for adepts, and it's a reasonable but not strictly better option for mages. If it didn't work like that, augmentation would always be a total no-brainer for every mage and adept, even more so than it currently is for adepts.

[Critias]

Well, yes.  That's what I'm saying.  Can you imagine the situation without it working like it currently does (so that Cyber-Adepts and Cyber-Mages only bought Magic up to the level they wanted, not the level they wanted minus their lost Essence)?  You'd just be handing them all twenty or thirty more points to go nuts with.

To the casual player who's throwing a character together, it feels like it sucks because you're pouring points down the drain.  But it does that for a reason, and that reason is because it absolutely has to, or the balance at character creation would be even more out of wack than it already is.

[UmaroVI]

Right, I just object to your saying "make it suck," when it's really "make it balanced rather than overpowered for magicians, and only moderately better rather than infinite win times for adepts."

[Comely]

Here he is again with a few modifications I could drop to 3 edge to up an attribute or something else but I think the character is likely about the best he is going to get here unless I missed something

Zephyr
Ork
Composure: 7
Judge Intentions: 7
Lift/Carry: 7 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 8

== Attributes ==
0   BOD: 4
40 AGI: 5 (7)
40 REA: 5 (6)
0   STR: 3
10 CHA: 2
40 INT: 5
40 LOG: 3
40 WIL: 5
30 EDG: 4
40 MAG: (5)4

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   5.00
Initiative:                10 (11)
IP:                        1 (2)
Astral Initiative:         10
Astral IP:                 3
Matrix Initiative:         11
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills ==
40 Electronics            : 4   
4 Electronic Warfare         : 1           
26 Hacking                    : 6 [Exploit]           
16 Infiltration               : 4               
4 Perception                 : 1                     
16 Pistols                    : 4         
== Contacts ==
4 Street Doc (3, 1)

== Qualities ==
5 Adept
Low-Light Vision
10 The Warrior's Way
-35 negative qualities

== Powers ==
Combat Sense Rating: 3 discounted
Improved Ability (Combat) (Pistols) Rating: 2
Improved Ability (Non-Combat) (Hacking) Rating: 3
Improved Reflexes 1 discounted

30 bp on nuyen
== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Encephalon Rating 1
Enhanced Protein Exchange, PuSHeD
Muscle Toner Rating 2

== Armor ==
Chameleon Suit            6/4
   +Nonconductivity 6
Clothing                  0/0
SecureTech Forearm Guards 0/1
SecureTech Leg and Arm Casings1/1
SecureTech Shin Guards    0/1
SecureTech Vitals Protector1/1

== Weapons ==
Morrissey Élan
   +Concealable Holster
   +Silencer
   +Smartgun System, External
   +Chameleon Coating
   +Personalized Grip
   +Skinlink
   DV: 4P   AP: -   RC: 1
Ruger Super Warhawk
   +Smartgun System, Internal
   +Barrel Extension
   +Firing Selection Change, Small Mod (SA)
   +Personalized Grip
   +Skinlink
   DV: 6P   AP: -2   RC: 1
Unarmed Attack
   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 0
Yamaha Sakura Fubuki
   +Hidden Gun Arm Slide
   +Smartgun System, External
   +Sound Suppressor
   +Chameleon Coating
   +Personalized Grip
   +Skinlink
   DV: 4P   AP: -   RC: 1

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (1, 1, 1, 2)
   +Vector Xim
Novatech Airware (5, 5, 5, 3)
   +Iris Orb
   +Customized Interface
   +Analyze Rating 6
   +Browse Rating 6
   +Command Rating 5
   +Edit Rating 5
   +Scan Rating 5
   +Disarm Rating 5
   +Exploit Rating 5 [Mute 3]
   +Biofeedback Filter Rating 5
   +ECCM Rating 5 [Ergonomic 3]
   +Sniffer Rating 5
   +Spoof Rating 5
   +Stealth Rating 5 [Ergonomic 3]
   +Track Rating 3
   +Defuse Rating 3
   +Skinlink

== Gear ==
Ammo: EX-Explosive Rounds (Heavy Pistols) x20
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Light Pistols) x60
Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Hold-Outs) x10
Contact Lenses Rating 2
   +Skinlink
   +Flare Compensation
   +Smartlink
Earbuds Rating 2
   +Audio Enhancement Rating 3
   +Spatial Recognizer
   +Skinlink
Eurosoft Clavicula
   +Decrypt Rating 5
   +Encrypt Rating 5
Fake License (Gun) Rating 4
Fake SIN (Hiro Protaganist) Rating 4
Gecko Tape Gloves
Glasses Rating 3
   +Image Link
   +Vision Enhancement Rating 3
   +Thermographic
Medkit Rating 6
Micro Sensor
   +Skinlink
   +Motion Sensor
Micro Sensor
   +Skinlink
   +Laser Range Finder
Micro Sensor
   +Skinlink
   +Radio Signal Scanner Rating 6
Miniwelder
Nitro x3
Optical Tap
Overdrive x2
Satellite Link
Scent-masking Cigarette x20
Simrig
Stealth Tags x20
Tag Eraser

[Comely]

Is it worth the loss of a point of edge to bump up logic or take  codeslinger or both?  Should I change my powers so I can get multitasking?  I have also considered losing Encephalon for dermal sheathing just because that will allow me to more easily upgrade the toner in the future but Im not sure its worth the loss to the logic skills.