[Dracain]

Fair enough, I keep forgeting that "geek the mage" is the number one slogan of just about all security everywhere.  Also, just out of curiosity, when would manabolt be more efficient than stunbolt?  I mean, if I need to kill them I can just kill the knocked out and completely defenceless body.  I just wanted to ask because I am almost certain I am missing something that allows someone to stay conscious after their stun track is filled. 

[CanRay]

Stunbolt knocks them out.  Not everyone is happy with that, and loves to feel the life essence die away as they hold their neck if a Darth Vader way. 

[Dracain]

So it really is just a matter of lethal vs non-lethal, fair enough.  One more question, is focused concentration 1 even worth it?  I could get 3 more spells plus 5k more nuyen with that...Oh wait, I think I just answered my own question, heh. 

[UmaroVI]

FC is not really very good, no.

Manabolt is an extremely niche spell. The main time you would actually rather have manabolt than stunbolt is if you are facing someone with a Pain Editor.

In general, Mana* spells are a poor investment - take Power or Elemental spells instead.

[Dracain]

Thanks, I knew there was something that did that, good to know, now I just need to figure out what to get, maybe sound, you said that was great for disabling enemies didn't you?  Also, do sound spells need to be made on their own? I see them used in the examples of making elemental spells, but I don't have arcana.   If they do not need to be made, do you suggest that I only get soundwave and skip out on the single target because I have stunbolt?

[UmaroVI]

Yeah, single-target sonic is not really worth it, Stunbolt is generally better. Soundwave is comparable in value to Stunball.

[Dracain]

Thanks again, I thought that would be the case.  But I can just start with soundwave right?  I don't need arcana to make the spell?

[UmaroVI]

Right. The main things you need arcana for are Magic Tea Party, crafting Ally Spirit formulas, and joining magical groups.

[Dracain]

Thanks for the info, but now that I have 10BP left over, any ideas what I should do with it?  I have a couple here. 

Get Focused concentration
or
Drop combat sense+focus for 12 more bp and get aptitude and max spellcasting, leaving 4BP
or
Drop contacts and get aptitude and max spellcasting (probably not the best idea)
or
Get 3 more spells and add 1 to contact
or
Get restricted gear again and drop combat sense+focus so I can have a rank 4 sustaining focus for Increase Reflexes so I can have max on that
or
Pick up sensei, a spell, and throw the last two points into contact

[Tsuzua]

I would recommend more Body.  +1 Body gives you +3 dice to resist damage and that's good when people try to geek the mage.

[UmaroVI]

Yeah, agreed.

[Dracain]

Cool, that deals with that last 10 BP, thanks, it was bothering me what to do with it. 

[All4BigGuns]

Actually, what that puts his Body attribute at brings tears to the eye. No point in having a 4, but as a mage, he doesn't really need a 5, so going back down to 3 would be all around better for him.

[Tsuzua]

Actually, what that puts his Body attribute at brings tears to the eye. No point in having a 4, but as a mage, he doesn't really need a 5, so going back down to 3 would be all around better for him.

The extra box is nice and all, but it's really all about the armor.  That said, I'll say 5 body is really good for pretty much any character. 

I would drop that manipulation sustaining focus if you haven't (and it looks like you're just considering it).  That saves 9 BP right there (30,000Y=6BP + 3 to bind for 9BP).  After that, I'll take a point out of a contact and get Body 5.  After some pretty princess dressup, you should have 13/11 armor and maybe more depending on if you want to use softweave or not. 

[Dracain]

Both ideas are awesome, though if I was dropping the focus for combat sense I am gonna drop the spell as well, so that is 12BP, and if I drop one point off  contacts or gear I can also grab a new spell.  Though if I go the other way and have body at 3, what should I do with the other 10BP, just out of curiosity.