[Relic_Zero]

Hey everyone, going to start playing in a group of all new people (including myself).  I'm going to be filling the Shaman/Face roll, and since I have never made a character I was hoping for some advice.  We have access to the following books; 4th edition core, Augumented, Runners companion, and arsenal.  We are using a 400 rule BP, and nothing with a rating over 6 availablity 12 rule (so cannot use restriced gear quality).  Here's what I have so far.

Race: Elf

B: 4
A: 3
R: 2
S: 2
C: 7
I: 5
L: 2
W: 5

Ess: 5.1
Magic: 5(4)
Edge: 1

Active skills
-Spellcasting 6
-Counter spelling 4
-Summoning 4
-Assencing 1
-Heavy Weapons 3
-Perception 1
-Infiltraion 1
-Influence Group 2

Knowledge skills
-Mixology 3 (Dayjob as bartender)
-Magic Background 4
-Magical Security Proceedures 4
-Underworld politics 3
-Architecture 3

Language Skills
-English (N)
-Spanish (2)
-Japanese (2)

Spells
-Stunball
-Stunbolt
-Flame thrower
-Levitate
-Imp Invisibility
-Increase Reflexes
-Heal
-Mind probe

Pos. Qualities
-Magician (Shaman)
-Mentor spirit (Dragonslayer)

Neg. Qualities
-In Debt lv 2
-Day job (1)
-Incompetent (Banishing)
-Sensitive system

Cyber/Bioware
-Cybereyes w/ Flare comp, Low-light, Thermo, Smartlink, Vision Mag, Vision enhancement (2),  Image link, eye recording, skinlink.
-Tailored Phero (1)

Gear
-FFBA (Full suit). Chem (4), Nonconduct (4), Fire resist (1)
-Actionear Business clothing
-Industrious Line coverall. Chem (4), Fire resist (4), ruthenium polymer coating
-Helmet w/ ultra sound (passive) and gas mask.
-Armored clothing (street style)
-Armtech MGL 6 W/ smarklink, periscope, airburst, skinlink, conceal holster, extended clip, trigger removal, and geko grip
-Morrissey Elan w/ laser sight & concealed holster
-Survial knife
-Mid lifestyle
-Med kit rt 6
-Fake SIN lv 4
-Fake License lv 4
-Geko tape gloves
-Peacoat & leather duster (no armor value, just for conceal and style)
-Flashlight (low light version)
-Certified credstick (2 standard and 2 silver)
-Commlink - Novatech Airware running renraku ichi w/skinlink (for daily use)
-Commlink - Hermes Ikon running Novatech Navi w/skinlink (in hidden for running)
-Earbuds w/ audio enhancement 3
-Autopicker rt6
-Power Focus rt2
-Sustaining focus rt3
-Freezefoam canister rt6 x 3
-Stimpatch rt 3 x3
-Drug: Cram x5
-Motorcycle Thundercloud contrail
-Tag eraser
-Ducktape
-Zipcuffs

Thats about it.  Please let me know what you think.

[Ethan]

Tailored Pheromones don't add to your Charisma. They add to tests using Charisma involving Social stuff, so that's for Face duties. It doesn't add to your Drain resist pool nor does it raise your Charisma score.

I have to ask, is it worth it? Your 'ware doesn't add that much for you; sure you can cast spells in situations with horrible visibility, and you get a whopping +1 dice on social tests... I'd rethink that unless cybereyes are central to your concept.

Why is your Logic so high by the way?

[Relic_Zero]

Ah ok, thanks for the heads up on the Charisma, I edited that. 

Well I didn't wanted to be hindered by visibility issues when casting spells so thats why I went for the cyber eyes, and since I was going to get tailored Phero to help with my Face duties I figured I would just play around with that essence hole, I plan on upgrading in the future when I have extra money.

Also my logic is only 2, that isn't high.

[Ethan]

My bad, I got your Intuition and Logic mixed up. At that point, I'd recommend moving some of that Intuition to Reaction. A Reaction of 2, with just a Body of 4, is going to lead to some serious pain.

Also, you can have 4 more spells. Finding BP for them may be tough, but it's harder to get them once you're playing. That said, I think you have all the necessary spells already. Just something to keep in mind.

Having played a lot of Mages this is what I've found:

1) I've been in situations where cybereyes allowed me to negate poor visibility modifiers and cast spells.
2) I've been in just as many situations where there was poor visibility and didn't have cybereyes... so I used guns instead.
3) It was rare when I needed a subtler spell and had bad visibility. In those cases, I summoned a Spirit of Man to do it for me. "Materialize in front of him and Stunbolt him please."

With Heavy Weapons 3 you can lay down suppressive fire from a machine gun or lob a few grenades in their general direction. And by using guns I could use non-implanted stuff to ignore the visibility mods.

It certainly depends on the game your GM will be running. I used to put cybereyes in as standard, but for me at least, it isn't worth it.