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The GMs Must Be Crazy (First Time Technomancer)

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mannequinhill

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« on: <03-04-12/2019:36> »
Hello there,

I'm pretty new to Shadowrun, particularly the Matrix rules, so I've been cramming and googling to get a character ready to take over full-time hacker duties in the group I'm joining.  Since it sounds like they've got everything covered and really only need a hacker and off-face for when the main face can't make it, a Technoshaman seems like the perfect choice.  I've opted to just use UmaroVI's Technoshaman and play that pretty close to the hilt until I see how this guy runs the Matrix.  The only things that I've changed were bumping edge down to 3 so that I can afford the BP cost for Dryad, and some extra nuyen since I'm not sure the GM will let me put a rigger cocoon in a Doberman, so I've got the cost for a Thundercloud Contrail with legs worked out. Also then I get to pretend that I'm Ravage from G1 Transformers oh wait I've said too much

I've run the basics of the build by another party member, and they expressed skepticism at only having 3 intuition, since it's Matrix Initiative, but that should be alright since I'm just saying no to cybercombat, right?  Anyway, just when I thought the build was nice and polished and done, they remember that they forgot to tell me that although character creation is otherwise standard 400BP, the GM allows for uncapped negative traits.  In fact, one of the guys playing, a close combat pixie adept, has something like 100BP in negative qualities.

...So what on earth do I buy now that I have all the BPs and what negative qualities should I be looking at to stay playable?  I've got a couple fluff ones like Lost Loved One, In Dept 1, and SINner, as well as the standard  Sensitive System, and Poor Self Control (Braggart).  Is Enhanced Metagenetic Quality (Charisma) a no-brainer or are there better things to spend 20BP on?

Danke!

PS.  This group also uses the advanced lifestyle rules, which seem pretty straight forward but I'll ask just because I'm new to them too.  I'm planning on nabbing Quiet Neighborhood and Resonance Well, getting a roommate and never leaving my techno-hovel.  Does that sound good?

Mara

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« Reply #1 on: <03-05-12/0257:05> »
...So what on earth do I buy now that I have all the BPs and what negative qualities should I be looking at to stay playable?  I've got a couple fluff ones like Lost Loved One, In Dept 1, and SINner, as well as the standard  Sensitive System, and Poor Self Control (Braggart).  Is Enhanced Metagenetic Quality (Charisma) a no-brainer or are there better things to spend 20BP on?

Danke!

PS.  This group also uses the advanced lifestyle rules, which seem pretty straight forward but I'll ask just because I'm new to them too.  I'm planning on nabbing Quiet Neighborhood and Resonance Well, getting a roommate and never leaving my techno-hovel.  Does that sound good?

Charisma can be useful, but I would think Code-slinger: Threading would be better. Also, you might want to think what are your
combat skills, and what are you going to do when you are hacking on site. While they mention the hacker in the electric wheelchair,
really..that is nothing more then a target. You want to be able to function in the meat as well as in VR, since most hacking is done
via AR, anyway. Also..sorry, but you likely WILL have to be going places...this isn't 3rd and earlier editions anymore.(Also, the Doberman? it cannot hold a person....)

UmaroVI

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« Reply #2 on: <03-05-12/0705:00> »
The reason you don't care about intuition too much as a hacking-focused technomancer is that Matrix Initiative is (a) a race you can't win, because mundane hackers can casually be way faster than you due to the whatchamacallit that gives +6 initiative to them from Unwired, and (b) rarely relevant, since the matrix is much more about sneaking around then about kung fu. There are times when going first is important, and that's why it is a good idea to have Edge so you can use Edge to go first. It is more important for riggy technos because going first in physical fights matters enormously.

Codeslinger (Threading) is illegal, actually, because Threading is not on the list of matrix actions.

Things I would prioritize with more BP:
If you plan on rolling around in a drone with legs you need Pilot Anthroform 1 (you can't default on that).

If Changelings are OK, Metagenic Enhancement (Charisma) is good times.

More edge

Analytical Mind

Codeslinger (Threading) if allowed, Codeslinger (Hacking on the Fly or Compile Sprite) if not.

Better at Gunnery (if you care about rigging)

Pilot Aircraft 1 (again, not defaultable, so it could be handy to have)

Better at Infiltration (drones can be quite useful for this)

Around here I would look at harcapping Charisma.

More Influence

Perception

Cheesing Negative Qualities (which appears to be the group consensus....)
If you're going to be a changeling, that's full of stupid negative qualities that don't really matter as well.
Bad Rep is a nuisance early on, but eventually your Street Cred will eclipse your Notoriety by at least your Charisma at which point you don't care.
Being a Dryad Changeling is 2 levels of distinctive style, which gives the maximum penalty...but you can take up to 7 levels of it. Another 5 levels, oddly enough, doesn't actually make the penalty works, it just makes you wackier.
Not everyone agrees on how In Debt works - namely, can you "fix" in debt just by paying off the money, or does the universe demand your karma once you pay off the loan? Can you pay your loan down to 10Y and then just keep paying interest to avoid this? Etc. If you don't have to pay karma to fix it, grab In Debt since you care more about points than money, and also because as a techno you don't care a lot about incoming money since it's just for more drones.
You can try to cheese prejudice with stuff like Prejudiced (Racists) or whatever. Or just take an appropriate one at a lowish level and be a dick as appropriate. Prejudiced (Mundane hackers) for example.
Mild Addiction (Betel)
Codeblock (stupid matrix actions like Repair Icon, Jack Out (the way you jack out is Jamming on the Fly if you would need to make a test), Crash Node, Crash Program (Disarm is just a better idea), Disarm Data Bomb (this is something you get sprites to do), Matrix Attack, Reboot, Corrupt Data.
Incompetent (things you don't want to try anyways), like physical combat skills (the litmus test: is not being able to roll actually worse than defaulting for me?)
Scorched is surprisingly not bad. You don't actually make tests to jack out/log off from Black IC, because you can Jam on the Fly. It does hurt you vs. Psychotropic Black IC though, but it is a 10 point negative quality so hey.
Media Junkie

Metagenic Cheese:
If you're going to have an entire motorcycle to make your walker drone, you could always take Adiposis and be the blob. None of the penalties hurt your ability to hack or rig, and the stuff they make you worse at, you sucked at anyways. Depends how often you have actually exist your drone. I am primarily suggesting this because Adiposis+Glamour=lolz
Extravagant Eyes (wear goggles)
Mood Hair (wear a hat)
Neoteny (OK, don't actually do this, but a Neotenous dryad would be a hilarious way to creep the heck out of everyone else)
Impaired Attribute for attributes you didn't want really high. Meaning everything but Charisma.
Vestigial Tail (keep it in your pants)
« Last Edit: <03-05-12/0706:36> by UmaroVI »

mannequinhill

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« Reply #3 on: <03-06-12/0603:45> »
Just the advice I needed.  Thanks to the both of you!