[ShadowSmith]

I'm maybe 2.5 or 3 months into playing my first Shadowrun ... the first 6 weeks was mostly us building our characters. As a matter of fact, when I went to my local "RP'ing" supply store, the chick at the counter gave me a 10% discount because it takes a long time to build a shadowrun character (that or my charisma is higher than I thought my augmented max is).

There's also a LOT to catch up on in regards to the history, the culture, the interplay of magic and technology. If you haven't already noticed it, Shadowrun is kinda like smashing the Matrix, the Avengers, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice together into one world.

One topic of discussion among my group has been which super hero movie character we've realized we were building or how we could build a given super hero, etc. One guy says... so I'm building my backup character as a mage focusing on electrical abilities with a knack for martial arts when I realized I was making Raiden ... 

I'd recommend one of two things... a: start with a basic TYPE of character (Melee Master or Gun Slinger) to get a feel for how the system plays out. After playing your first couple of sessions you'll gain a lot of perspective on what helps, what doesn't, which weaknesses are worth taking and which ones really become a pain to have to RP. The other option would be make an apprentice character of a character of one of the other experienced players. They can help you learn how to use the abilities and skills that you have. Either of these options ought to let the game flow smoothly as you learn, all the meanwhile role playing. The last option is what my group has experienced, more inexperienced players than not. Our first real combat literally took 5 hours for 5 combat rounds. Granted we spent A LOT of time hashing out dice pools, opposition rolls, drone initiatives and handling, and worked through the area damage of 3 frag grenades. In the end an earth elemental died after 3 frag grenades, 2 charges from a minotaur, and lucky slash of a vibro sword. We did have fun...

The last thing I'll tell you is, don't  underestimate the value of lessening your attributes to be able to afford augmentations, magic stuffs, and/or gear. A perfect example is a magician build (some might say a flawed example). If you build out the attributes of a magician to the attribute max, you won't have build points available to get as many spells as you're allowed. Especially, if you want to be able to do things like counterspelling, summoning, or use many/any other active skills. I'll admit magicians are expensive characters to build.

With rigging (technomancy and hacking too unless you're a Jack-In-From-Home type) you compound the amount of number of things to keep track of and account for, multiple drones, their initiatives movements etc. If you're a part of people who're patient and as skilled as they are patient, you'll have no trouble and will have fun. I don't want to dissuade you though, just wanted to share this Newb's experience and perspective with another.

[LastRose]

ShadowSwith, thank you for the long post of concerns, and the like. Luckily, even though I have never stepped into the shadows, as a runner, I have read rather large amounts of material on them. (Tommy Talon being one of my childhood heroes)

 I have lowered my focus a bit, making me more survivable, and better with an assault rifle, more being an assault rifle wielding mechanic. I have a fix-it bot, a hacking toy, one extra gun in a drone (that is hard to see and likes to go up walls), and an ATV to drive around in (along with a garage to place it in).  Though I did go into the adept to replace wired reflexes, went into heavy betaware, boosting my strength and agility, a control rig, and a commlink. My DM didn't like the fact that I had 18 ballistic, and 17 impact reduction, saying I rivaled some tanks as an armored fortress, so I reduced myself down to 8, 7 respectively.

I have played some heavy action people before, mainly a summoner that I had to deal with tactical ways to take down people with losing less summons, when everything that I had was weaker then everyone else, the advantage? Every time they attacked stuff that I could resummon, or in this case repair, they aren't hitting me or my allies, also numbers are always good.



BOD   5
AGI     3 (5)
REA   2 (4)
STR   1 (3)
CHA   3
INT     5
LOG   5
WIL    3
EDG   3
MAG   3

Qualities:

+
Bio-Compatibility
Adept

-
Amnesia
Flashback
Distinctive Style
Allergy (Moderate, Uncommon)


My Mechanics are only 9 across the board.
And my Automatics is at 11.

[shotofentropy]

And, on that subject, I'd recommend at least one rank of the Influence Group and Intimidate. Combined with decent Charisma, it means you're less likely to be "sweet-talked" into doing something stupid by an enemy Face.

What?! What kind of GM doesn't let his players RP their characters (i.e. Instead, roll for the "Face's"  skill, then act it out according to successes.  Just cause a GM character rolls well they shouldn't auto convince).

Take another 10 BP of Negative Qualities. you always want to have the maximum -35BP from NQs.

Wow, even dragons don't allow THIS much meta-gaming.

[emsquared]

Though I did go into the adept to replace wired reflexes, went into heavy betaware, boosting my strength and agility, a control rig, and a commlink. My DM didn't like the fact that I had 18 ballistic, and 17 impact reduction, saying I rivaled some tanks as an armored fortress, so I reduced myself down to 8, 7 respectively.

Again, riggers aren't my thing, but did you weigh out the cost-analysis on this whole, dipping into Adept thing? Wired reflexes 2 costs you 3 ESS and 32K Y. Let's call it 6.5 BP for the cred (since you don't have to buy ESS). To dip into Adept for Improved Reflexes 2 you're paying 5BP for the Adept Quality and what? Depending on how much bioware you have (1-2 ESS points?) 50+ BP for your MAG attribute!?! That's 55 BP(!!) For a single ability that is no more efficient on a MAG:ESS basis!?!?! An ability you will lose if you ever get anymore 'ware. My god, I'm about to swallow my tongue!

Sir/Madam, you have gone coo-coo-bananas.

You could at least just have bought Synaptic boosters 2 for 32BP.