[Breten]

Well, changed the armour, saving money and 10BP's I used for the last batch, so managed to also nab a Force 3 Sustaining Focus and with 4 BP left, I can bond it, or up the Intimidation to a 4 for 6 dice.  I might also dro it altogether, bond the focus and add a third point of edge which would leave me with 3 BP for more money to spend on gear or another spell.

[Lethe]

I suggest the following armor loadout:
Delta-Ampyoid* Industrious Line Coverall 8/5 1300Y
Complete PPP Set 2/6 1000Y
Full Suit FFBA 6/2 1600Y
Helmet 1/2 100Y
That'll get you 17/15 armor, 14/14 for encumbrance.

Full Suit FFBA includes a, i can only assume, thick protective hood, not sure if there fits a helmet on top.
The Complete PPP Set 2/6 also already includes a helmet.
Plus an extra helmet.

I would give that a -8 vision and sweaty head modifier ;-)

[squee_nabob]

I suggest the following armor loadout:
Delta-Ampyoid* Industrious Line Coverall 8/5 1300Y
Complete PPP Set 2/6 1000Y
Full Suit FFBA 6/2 1600Y
Helmet 1/2 100Y
That'll get you 17/15 armor, 14/14 for encumbrance.

Full Suit FFBA includes a, i can only assume, thick protective hood, not sure if there fits a helmet on top.
The Complete PPP Set 2/6 also already includes a helmet.
Plus an extra helmet.

Full Suit FFBA includes a “hood” and is made of “advanced synthetic materials that breathe and stretch with the body, and is custom-tailored to each individual wearer” (Arsenal 48). I doubt FFBA has a problem with sweat, and with being thick (it sound skintight, but that is an inference).

PPP is “padded densiplast” that is “discreet protection designed to be worn beneath other clothing” (Arsenal 49). It literally fits underneath your stylish steampunk hat.

The helmet comes in “a wide variety of shapes and sizes” (SR4A 327). It sounds like the helmet can be a steampunk hat, which the densiplast fits underneath, and the advanced synthetic material stretches under.

All of these stack, and you can wear them all at once. Welcome to The Future, you can wear 3 hats. Also, we have dragons.

I would give that a -8 vision and sweaty head modifier ;-)

You never mentioned what the -8 vision and sweaty head modifier was to (Perception? Ranged combat?), and I couldn’t tell if they were two penalties or one penalty with a long name. Luckally SR4A includes a visibility impaired table on SR4A 152 for ranged combat (-6 is Full Darkness, literally you can have your eyes closed and take less penalty). Perception modifiers are on SR4A 136. Again -6 is for Full Darkness. I’m not sure why wearing 6 hats is worse for your vision than having your eyes closed.

Remember that, “Helmets are often tricked out with accessories such as trode nets and visual aids” (SR4A 327). Most people aim with the smartgun camera on their gun, and use AR assistance. Shooting with the naked eyes is so 20th century. Welcome to The Future, you can wear 3 hats and see from your gun. 

[Tsuzua]

Full Suit FFBA includes a, i can only assume, thick protective hood, not sure if there fits a helmet on top.
The Complete PPP Set 2/6 also already includes a helmet.
Plus an extra helmet.

I would give that a -8 vision and sweaty head modifier ;-)

As squee as pointed out, many of those pieces are extremely lightweight and non-encumbering.  I see it as a thin hoodie, a light plastic shell in a helmet.  It's no baseball cap, but isn't anything too outlandish. 

However, you can get a Vashon Island Steampunk Line (with one piece delta-amyloid) instead of the coverall.  Then drop one of the +0/+1 PPP pieces and helmet for the same armor.  If you don't go with PPP helmet and FFBA, then I'll pull out the fairy wings and then noone wins.

[Breten]

Lol, no fairy wings in this thread.  Anyhow, here's the final build, I think I'm done tweaking him for now. 

== Info ==
Street Name: Ammut
Name: Shark Shaman
Movement: 10/25, Swim: 5
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Ork (Hobgoblin)
Composure: 7
Judge Intentions: 7
Lift/Carry: 10 (45 kg/30 kg)
Memory: 7
Nuyen: 1050

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

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                9
IP:                        1
Astral Initiative:         10
Astral IP:                 3
Matrix Initiative:         9
Matrix IP:                 1
Physical Damage Track:     12
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Active Skills ==
Binding                    : 2                      Pool: 15
Counterspelling            : 4                      Pool: 9
Perception                 : 4                      Pool: 9
Shadowing                  : 1                      Pool: 6
Spellcasting               : 5 [Combat Spells]      Pool: 14 (16)
Summoning                  : 5 [Water Spirits]      Pool: 14 (16)

== Knowledge Skills ==
Arabic                     : 3 [Read/Write]         Pool: 8 (10)
Arabic                     : 3 [Read/Write]         Pool: 8 (10)
Area Knowledge: Seattle    : 1                      Pool: 6
Japanese                   : 3 [Speak]              Pool: 8 (10)
Spirits                    : 2 [Water]              Pool: 4 (6)
Underworld                 : 4 [Black Magic]        Pool: 9 (11)

== Contacts ==
Talismonger (2, 2)

== Qualities ==
Addiction (Moderate) (Stims)
Allergy (Uncommon, Mild) (Soy)
Bi-Polar
Distinctive Style
Fangs
Low-Light Vision
Magician
Mentor Spirit (Shark)
Poor Self Control (Combat Monster)
Poor Self Control (Vindictive)
Restricted Gear (Rating 1)

== Spells ==
(Tradition: Egyptian, Resist Drain with WIL + INT (10))
Agony (Illusion)           DV: (F÷2)-2
Heal (Health)              DV: (Damage Value)-2
Increase Reflexes (Health) DV: (F÷2)+2
Powerbolt (Combat)         DV: (F÷2)+1
Sandstorm (Combat)         DV: (F÷2)+5
Stunball (Combat)          DV: (F÷2)+1
Stunbolt (Combat)          DV: (F÷2)-1

== Lifestyles ==
Low  1 months

== Armor ==
Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit6/2
Helmet                    1/2
SecureTech PPP Armor (Ensemble)2/6
Victory: Industrious Coverall8/5
   +Chemical Protection 2
   +Delta-Amyloid
   +Fire Resistance 2

== Commlink ==
Fairlight Caliban (4, 3, 3, 5)
   +Iris Orb
   +Subvocal Microphone

== Gear ==
Fake SIN (644 136 879) Rating 4
Power Focus (bonded) Rating 4
   +Fake License (644 136 879) Rating 4
Sustaining Focus (Health) (bonded) Rating 3
   +Fake License (644 136 879) Rating 4

edit: fixed buggy numbers and adjusted SINs

[Lethe]

...

Got confused with SR2, where i am sure it was -8...
Anyway, don't be niggling about some random numbers followed by a smiley. Those were only to stress the absurd imagination of wearing three hoods, hats, helmets, whatever and however thin they might be, on top of each other.

[squee_nabob]

Not a problem, I just dislike random penalties for doing things that are rules legal.

[Captain Karzak]

@OP

How are you getting pools of 18 [20] for Spellcasting [Combat] and Summoning [Water]?

Spellcasting Dice Pools:
General: 5 magic + 5 Spellcasting + 4 Power Focus = 14
Combat: 14 + 2 [Specialization: Combat] + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 18

Summoning Dice Pools:
General: 5 magic + 5 Spellcasting + 4 Power Focus = 14
Water:     14 + 2 [Specialization: Water] + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 18

I don't understand your binding dice pool of 15 either.
General: 5 magic + 2 binding +4 Power Focus = 11
Water:    11 + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 13

Also, your counterspelling pool is a bit misleading. With a counterspelling of 4, you usually just roll 4 dice. With some applications of this skill you also get to add your magic (and hence your power focus) for total dice pool of 13. So you will either roll 4 or 13 dice, but probably never the 9 you have recorded.

Also you have listed the full PPP ensemble [2/6] and a standard helmet [1/2]. The full PPP set includes a helmet so you can't just add this stuff together.
Instead you have PPP w/o helmet [2/4] and standard helmet [1/2]. I guess I would fall into the camp of people who feels that PPP helmets don't stack with other helmets. A PPP helmet is like sports helmet. Like a baseball helmet or something. I'd allow FFBA hoods and helmets (PPP or otherwise) to stack though.

Finally, Rating 2 Fake SINS are worthless. You are just lighting money on fire. Fake SINs in general are not very reliable, but a rating 2 is just really terrible. Plus when a fake SIN get's busted, it invalidates all other fake licenses you have attached to it, like for your foci [you have to specify which fake SIN these licenses are attached to].

[Lysanderz]

Rating 1 Fake SINs rarely get checked at the grocery, going to the movies, you know... Day to day stuff. I keep one on hand just for that, and another obviously fake to put my cash on after runs (if not accepting something physical) and turn that to cash before distributing. They have their uses, just don't expect them to work in a real jam. Like traveling over boarders and the like, though then even the chargen rating 4's do jack shit.

[Tsuzua]

Also you have listed the full PPP ensemble [2/6] and a standard helmet [1/2]. The full PPP set includes a helmet so you can't just add this stuff together.
Instead you have PPP w/o helmet [2/4] and standard helmet [1/2]. I guess I would fall into the camp of people who feels that PPP helmets don't stack with other helmets. A PPP helmet is like sports helmet. Like a baseball helmet or something. I'd allow FFBA hoods and helmets (PPP or otherwise) to stack though.

On the other hand, you can't wear a baseball helmet "as discreet protection designed to be worn beneath other clothing" so there is a very thin version of the PPP helmet available.  Armor in SR is amazingly good for its bulk.  You can look like this* and have the same armor as if you were wearing full body armor. 

*-Steampunk line Overcoat, Vest, Slacks, Shirt with 1 piece with Delta-Amyloid is 10/8 armor.  You can discretely add a PPP helmet under the top hat for 10/10 armor if you want. 

[Breten]

@OP

How are you getting pools of 18 [20] for Spellcasting [Combat] and Summoning [Water]?

Spellcasting Dice Pools:
General: 5 magic + 5 Spellcasting + 4 Power Focus = 14
Combat: 14 + 2 [Specialization: Combat] + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 18

Summoning Dice Pools:
General: 5 magic + 5 Spellcasting + 4 Power Focus = 14
Water:     14 + 2 [Specialization: Water] + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 18

I don't understand your binding dice pool of 15 either.
General: 5 magic + 2 binding +4 Power Focus = 11
Water:    11 + 2 [Mentor Spirit] = 13

I'm honestly not sure about those 20's either.  I'm using the Chummer software and it's added up all the mods itself.  I'll take a look through and see if I can see where it comes from.

Also, your counterspelling pool is a bit misleading. With a counterspelling of 4, you usually just roll 4 dice. With some applications of this skill you also get to add your magic (and hence your power focus) for total dice pool of 13. So you will either roll 4 or 13 dice, but probably never the 9 you have recorded.

I'm aware of this.  Again this is a function of the way Chummer works when it shows the pool summaries.

Also you have listed the full PPP ensemble [2/6] and a standard helmet [1/2]. The full PPP set includes a helmet so you can't just add this stuff together.
Instead you have PPP w/o helmet [2/4] and standard helmet [1/2]. I guess I would fall into the camp of people who feels that PPP helmets don't stack with other helmets. A PPP helmet is like sports helmet. Like a baseball helmet or something. I'd allow FFBA hoods and helmets (PPP or otherwise) to stack though.

Yeah the guys are currently going throug this in a discussion.  In the end I probably won't cheese out the armour like that, but in my mental picture, he does skulk around wih a hood covering his face.  So he could have a hood over the helmet if you wanna be a stickler.  So you could say the standard helmet is an armoured hood.

Finally, Rating 2 Fake SINS are worthless. You are just lighting money on fire. Fake SINs in general are not very reliable, but a rating 2 is just really terrible. Plus when a fake SIN get's busted, it invalidates all other fake licenses you have attached to it, like for your foci [you have to specify which fake SIN these licenses are attached to].

Thanks for the info.  I admit I'm not fully versed on the SINS and licensing.  It's one of the things most of us just quite haven't figured out so to be honest I haven't seem them used a lot at our tables.  I had money left over and just tried to use it on something.

[Breten]

So I played around with Chummer, and unbinded the Power Focus.  When I rebinded it, the numbers adjusted to 14(16) for Spellcasting and Summoning.  Looks like it was a bug in the software and it was adding the bonded focus twice or something.  But it's fixed now.

Also I've dropped the 2 Fake Sins for 1 at Level 4, and then remapped the 2 Fake licenses to the one fake SIN, both also at Level 4.  I'm gonna readjust the numbers in the above post.

[Lethe]

Armor in SR is amazingly good for its bulk.  You can look like this* and have the same armor as if you were wearing full body armor. 

Honestly, i agree with all the armor stacking, except for the helmet. Hood under a helmet, ok. But if you ever wore a helmet, you should know, that they have to sit very tight. And in my opinion, wearing a PPP helmet doesn't offer a real fit for the normal helmet, and if tried probably has to be two sizes larger then. Afterwards, it will look like this. No matter what the rules say, its not logical and they are more like guidelines anyway... ;-)

You can discretely add a PPP helmet under the top hat for 10/10 armor if you want. 

Seriously, how do you think does a helmet look, giving 2 points impact armor. Definitely not a Kippah and thats probably the only thing that would fit under there. The cylinder hat itself is totally useless for combat as well.

[Tsuzua]

Seriously, how do you think does a helmet look, giving 2 points impact armor. Definitely not a Kippah and thats probably the only thing that would fit under there. The cylinder hat itself is totally useless for combat as well.

I think this is where we disagree.  I view a discrete PPP helmet as a skullcap that goes over the FFBA hood.  You can't put a padded helmet like you picked discretely under normal clothing.

And such a thin skull cap providing +2 impact armor is well within SR's material technology.  Even a steampunk suit that's just s normal suit can easily equal full body armor.  You can have underwear that does 1/2 with carbon boron.   The second skin line is see-though armor that provides a point of impact and you can do thicker than that for a skullcap.

Edit- There's also the armor vest that's so thin as to show no bulk and provides 4 points of impact armor. 
Also cleanup

[Lethe]

I think this is where we disagree.  I view a discrete PPP helmet as a skullcap that goes over the FFBA hood.  You can't put a padded helmet like you picked discretely under normal clothing.

Ah good, then i will continue from there. On a side note, i am really sorry for staying quite off-topic ;-)

I agree with you in that the technology is far ahead in SR and you can use those new materials to protect most of the body. But the head is kinda special. You need enough padding. The thicker the padding the longer it takes for the bullet to slow down and its force will be stretched out over time. If you are wearing a strong helmet without padding, even if the bullet wouldn't get through, it would kill you, because the force of the bullet is transferred onto the helmet and then skull in an instant. On other body parts you get heavy bruises through vests, for the head its severe brain bleeding and maybe even a broken neck. That's something no material in the world can change, not even in 100 years. And that's why you need padding on the head.
I know its impact armor in this case, but the physics are the same.