[Mysteris]

Hello. This is my first time creating a character for Shadowrun (any edition) and I thought I'd submit her here to see what could use tweaking or improvements. Thank you for your consideration and a special thank you to whoever created the character generator program.

Name: Natsumi Kinomoto (Street Alias: Ephemera. Online Handle: Otohime.)
Concept: Shy but talented technomancer
Stream: E-scapist
Metatype: Human
Birthplace/Home city: Neo-Tokyo, JIS.
Birthdate: October 15, 2054.



Positive Qualities: Technomancer, Apitutide (Hacking), Photographic Memory, Intutive Hacking (Stealth), Paragon (Idoru)
Negative Qualities: AIPS (rating 3), Flashbacks 2, Records on File (Mitsuhama)


History: Natsumi was born to two corporate wage-slaves one brisk autumn day in late 2054. For the first ten years of her life, all was normal. Sure, there was the scare when SURGE hit in '61, but things settled down eventually. Everything was fine until Crash 2.0. Natsumi's class was doing an assignment by cyberdeck in class that day. Unlike her classmates though, Natsumi's mind was trapped in the Matrix as the chaos washed over it. She didn't come to for three weeks and when she did it was with a severe case of AIPS and technomantic powers. Her parents, both Mitsuhama loyalists, turned her over to one of their mental care facilities. When Mitsuhama began their technomancy research, Natsumi was an easy target to make "disappear" into their secret labs. She spent the rest of the '60s being experimented on in various cruel and inhumane ways. It wasn't until 2071 that she escaped during a breakout coordinated with her fellow research subjects. Lost and terrified, Natsumi took up a homeless existence in her native Neo-Tokyo, trying to hide her powers. She fell into Shadowrunning as a way to get off the streets without selling herself to the gangs, the Yakuza, or the pimps.

Body 1
Agility 1
Reaction 1
Strength 1
Charisma 4
Intution 5
Logic 5
Willpower 5
Edge 2
Intiative 6
Resonance 5
Essence 6

Skill Groups

Tasking 3
Cracking 3
Electronics 3
Influence 3
Firearms 1

Knowledge Skills

Japanese (native language)
English 1
Japanese Politics 2
Matrix Games 3
Gangs 2
Data Havens 3 (with specialization 1 in hacking data havens)
Area Knowledge 2
Yakuza 2
Japanese Corps 3 (with specialization 1 in Mitsuhama)
Pirate Trid Broadcasts 2
Matrix Security 2
Security Systems 2
Magic Background 1
Safe Houses 3 (with specialization 1 in runner safe houses)
Magical Threats 2

Contacts

"Isis" (L: 3 C: 4): Admin of a data haven popular among the hacking community
Takahiro Watanabe (L: 2 C: 3): An I.D. broker and fence.
"Mama" Shoko (L: 2 C: 3): The madam of a prostitution ring. Natsumi has done some work for her in gathering blackmail on her clients and occasionally on some of her more troublesome girls.

Complex Forms

Spoof (5), Edit (5), Command (5), Analyze (5), Shield (5), Armor (5), Exploit (5), Sniffer (5), Decrypt (5), Attack (5)

Equipment

Lifestyle (middle)
Doc Wagon Contract (Basic)
Fake ID (rating 4)-Asami Hitsugaya (University of Neo-Tokyo undergraduate in Computer Science)
Fake License (rating 4)
Fichetti Pain Inducer (with hidden gun arm slide)
Fichetti Tiffani Needler (with silencer, hidden gun arm slide, and 80 flechette rounds)
Chameleon Suit (with Thermal Dampening 4, Nonconductivity 4, Chemical Protection 4, Radiation Shielding 4, Fire Resistance 4, Insulation 4)
Clothing (Regular) x10
Clothing (Chic) x4
Leather Jacket
Suzuki Mirage (with Morphing License Plate)
Commlink: Meta Link (with Vector Sim OS)
Commlink: Fairlight Caliban (with Novatech Navi OS and Hardening 6)
Reality Filter (ratng 6)
Satelite Link
Area Smart Jammer (rating 4)
White Noise Generator (rating 4)
Tag Eraser
Voice Mask
Virtual Weather
Virtual Pet
VR Game x9
Virtual Surround Music
Wall Space
Skinlink
Trodes
Datachip x41
Certified Credstick (Ebony) x35
Keycard Copier (rating 6)
Contact Lenses
Glasses (with low-light vision, flare compensation, and image link modifications)
Sim Rig
Expensive Sim Recording (x6)

[Kat9]

Firstly, just a personal thing but I am not fond of 1s in attributes but that's just me.

Secondly, I don't think you ever need to roll Stealth, its pretty much a threshold roll for them to notice you.

[Crunch]

I'd seriously reconsider the 1s in all your physical stats. A vicious gm (which is most of them) will make you pay for it.

If you're going to be this guy then I wouldn't bother with the firearms skill.

My suggestion would be to drop your mental atts by one each, raise your physical to 2 and find some more points for skills.

[Mysteris]

Okay, I can drop the mental stats by one to increase each physical stat to 2. What would you recommend in place of Firearms? I picture her as the technical support on a run but wouldn't some skill with weapons be required just in case?

[Kat9]

Drop firearms group (10 points) and pick up Pistols (4 points), that frees up 6 points to toss other places. You point out she is shy, so I'd drop the Influence group to 1, that'd free up 20 more build points. No need to have a reality filter program, I imagine you'll be doing your hacking from your bionode. While the Caliban is a nice backup comlink you really don't need one that costly just to be useful. I'll post my technomancer build, which might not be the best may give you some ideas.

As a note because we started a new campaign from one that had gotten pretty big (karma and cash) we had 420 bp (rollover from last campaign) and 20K starting cash.

Mouse (Gnome Technomancer)
B 3, A 3, R 3, S 3, C 4, I 4, L 5, W 5, E 3, Ess 6, R 5, Init 7, IP 1
Condition Monitor boxes (Physical/Stun): 8/11
Disposable Commlink Condition Monitor: 9
Living Persona Condition Monitor: 11
Meta Link Commlink Condition Monitor: 9
Transys Avalon Commlink Condition Monitor: 10
Armor (Ballistic/Impact): 12/10
Skills: Compiling 4, Con 1, Dodge 1, Electronic Warfare 4, Electronics Group 4, Hacking 5, Perception 1, Pistols 1, Registering 1
Knowledge Skills: Area Knowledge: Seattle 3, English N, German 4, Inter-Corporate Politics 4, Matrix Rumors 4, Matrix Security 4, Russian 3, Street Rmors 5
Metatype Abilities: Enhanced Senses: Thermographic Vision
Qualities: Allergy, Uncommon (Mild): Cold Iron, Analytical Mind, Arcane Arrester, Day Job (1000 nuyen/month, 10 hrs/week) (1), Erased (Daily), Neoteny, Pacifist (Self-Defense), Paragon: Black Hat, Sensitive System, SINner, Technomancer
Complex Forms: Analyze 5, Biofeedback Filter 4, Command 5, Exploit 5, Scan 5, Spoof 5, Stealth 5, Track 5
Echoes: (Submersion Grade 1) Sprite Link: Tank Sprite
Gear:
   AR Gloves
   Autopicker (6)
   C-Squared (6) x3
   Chisel
   Concealable Holster
   Concealable Holster
   Contact Lenses (3) with Flare Compensation, Vision Enhancement (3)
   Daihatsu-Caterpillar Horseman
   Data Bomb (5) with Pavlov
   Disposable Commlink
   Earbuds (3) with Audio Enhancement (3)
   Eric Jameson (UCAS) with Converted Warehouse, Fake License: Driver's, Fake License: Smartlinks, Fake SIN
   Flashlight, Thermographic
   Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit
   Glasscutter
   Goggles (2) with Low Light Vision, Smartlink
   Leather Duster
   Light Stick
   Medkit (6)
   Mesh Tags
   Meta Link Commlink with Analyze (6), Firewall (1), Optimization: -Choose-, Vector Xim Operating System
   Miniwelder
   Nanomemory
   Plastic Restraints x10
   Respirator (6)
   RFID Tags x20
   Satellite Link
   SecureTech Forearm Guards
   SecureTech Shin  Guards
   SecureTech Vitals Protector
   Sleeping  Bag
   Smart Canteen
   Smart Pack
   Subvocal Microphone
   Survival Kit
   Tag Eraser
   The Cooperative x2
   Thomas Gibson (Ares) with  – Advanced Lifestyle –, Day Job
   Tool Kit, Operations Cleanup
   Transys Avalon Commlink with Analyze (3), Browse (4), Command (2), Data Bomb (5), Edit (4), Firewall (4), FTL Matrixware Power Suite, Purge (4), Response Upgrade (5), Scan (2), System (4)
   Trodes
   Water Purification Tablets (bottle)
Weapons:
   Cavalier Deputy [Pistols, DV 6S(e) vs. ½I, SA, RC 1, 7 (cy)] with Metahuman Customization, Personalized Grip, Regular Ammo x14, Skinlink, Smartgun System, Internal, Stick-n-Shock x14
   Defiance EX Shocker [Tasers, DV 8S(e) vs. ½I, SS, 4 (m)] with Skinlink, Smartgun System, Internal, Taser Dart x20
   Morrissey Elan [Pistols, DV 4P vs. B, SA, 5 (c)] with Ceramic/Plasteel Components (Level 3), Hi-C Plastic Rounds x10, Stick-n-Shock x10
   Yamaha Pulsar [Tasers, DV 6S(e) vs. ½I, SA, 4 (m)] with Skinlink, Smartgun System, Internal, Taser Dart x20
   Attack of Will (vs. Spirits) [DV 4P vs. I]
   Unarmed Strike [Unarmed, DV 2S vs. I]
   Flash-Pak Grenade [Grenades, DV Flash]


--------------------

Smart 341 Parkour (Daihatsu-Caterpillar Horseman)
B 4, Sen 1, Han +1/+3, Fir 3, Pil 2, Rsp 3, Sig 3, Init 5, IP 3
Physical Condition Monitor: 10
Armor (Vehicle): 8 [4]
Skills:
Gear:
   Anti-theft System
   Gecko Tips
   Pilot (2)
   Rigger Cocoon, Basic
   Smart Tires


--------------------

Pilot (Pilot)
Fir 2, Pil 2, Rsp 1, Init 3, IP 3
Matrix Condition Monitor: 9
Armor (Matrix): 2
Skills:
Knowledge Skills: English N

I went a little overboard on my comlinks but Mouse uses his 'work comlink' for storing important files as well as having illegal (IE: Psychotropic databomb) software, fake SINs and such on it. All that said, I might not be 'the best' or make my characters optimized, but still this is something you can glance over and get ideas.

[Kat9]

Here's the other technomancer I made, Modem. He's 12 karma over chargen.

Modem (Human Technomancer)
B 3, A 3, R 3, S 2, C 4, I 5, L 3, W 5, S 1, E 2, Ess 6, R 5, Init 8, IP 1
Condition Monitor boxes (Physical/Stun): 10/11
Hermes Ikon Commlink Condition Monitor: 10
Living Persona Condition Monitor: 10
Novatech Airwave Commlink Condition Monitor: 10
Sony Emperor Commlink Condition Monitor: 10
Armor (Ballistic/Impact): 12/10
Skills: Compiling 4, Dodge 2, Electronic Warfare 2, Electronics Group 4, Gunnery 1, Hacking 6 (Exploit +2), Longarms 1, Perception 1, Pilot Ground Craft 1, Registering 2
Knowledge Skills: Accounting 4, Conspiracy Theories 4, Emerged Critters 4, English N, Inter-Corporate Politics 4, Japanese 4, Native Matrix Inhabitants 4
Qualities: Addiction (Mild): Betel, Analytical Mind, Day Job (1000 nuyen/month, 10 hrs/week) (1), Dependent(s) (1): Otaku (Emerged Housecat), Erased (Daily), Paragon: Flow, Sensitive System, SINner, Technomancer
Complex Forms: Analyze 5, Biofeedback Filter 4, Browse 5, Command 5, Exploit 5, Scan 1, Spoof 5, Stealth 5
Echoes: (Submersion Grade 1) Biowire
Gear:
   AR Gloves
   Autopicker (6)
   Betel (CorpCandy, Jaw) x20
   C-Squared (6) x3
   Chisel
   Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit
   Cram x2
   Earbuds (3) with Select Sound Filter (3)
   Eric Wilks (NeoNET) with Day Job, License: Conceal & Cary, License: Driver's, Miracle Shooter™ Monthly Subscription, NeoNET Corporate Housing
   Flashlight, Low-Light
   Form-Fitting Full-Body Suit with Nonconductivity (2)
   Glasscutter
   GMC-Nissan Doberman
   Goggles (4) with Camera (4), Flare Compensation, Low Light Vision, Smartlink
   Hermes Ikon Commlink with Iris Orb Operating System
   Jammer, Area (4)
   Leather Jacket
   Light Stick
   Lone Star iBall
   Long Haul
   Medkit (6)
   Mesh Tags
   Miniwelder
   Nanomemory
   Novatech Airwave Commlink with Analyze (3), Basic+ Suite, Browse (3), Command (1), Edit (3), Encrypt (3), Miracle Shooter™, Novatech Navi Operating System, Reality Filter (3)
   Rations x5
   Repeater Drone
   Runner Clothes (Dak Hoodie, Mask, Cargo Pants)
   Satellite Link
   SecureTech Forearm Guards
   SecureTech Shin  Guards
   SecureTech Vitals Protector
   Smart Pack
   Sony Emperor Commlink with Analyze (2), Iris Orb Operating System
   Tag Eraser
   The Cooperative
   Tool Kit, Operations Cleanup
   Vashon Island Outfit (Grey Shirt, Black Slacks, Engineer Boots)
   William Munny (CAS) with Converted Warehouse Apartments, Fake License: Driver's, Fake License: Shotguns, Fake SIN
   Wire Clippers
Weapons:
   Defiance T-250 (short-barrel) [Shotguns, DV 6P vs. B-2, SA, RC 1, 5 (m)] with EX-Explosive Rounds x10, Personalized Grip, Skinlink, Smartgun System, Internal
   Franchi SPAS-22 [Shotguns, DV 8P vs. B-2, SA/BF, RC 2, 10 (m)] with EX-Explosive Rounds x9, Flechette Rounds x20, Folding Stock, Personalized Grip, Shock Lock Rounds x20, Shock Pad, Smartgun System, Internal, Stick-n-Shock x20, Tracker (Security) Rounds x20
   Mossberg AM-CMDT [Shotguns, DV 9P(f) vs. I+5, SA/BF/BF-L/FA, 10 (c)] with Flechette Rounds x50
   Yamaha Pulsar [Tasers, DV 6S(e) vs. ½I, SA, 4 (m)] with Taser Dart x10
   Attack of Will (vs. Spirits) [DV 4P vs. I]
   Unarmed Strike [Unarmed, DV 1S vs. I]


--------------------

Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit (Chrysler-Nissan Jackrabbit)
B 8, Sen 1, Han +0, Fir 3, Pil 1, Rsp 3, Sig 3, Init 4, IP 3
Physical Condition Monitor: 12
Armor (Vehicle): 10 [2]
Skills:
Gear:
   Anti-theft System
   Chameleon Coating
   Engine Customization, Speed
   Improved Sensor Array
   Morphing License Plate
   Racing Tires
   Rigger Adaptation
   Rigger Cocoon, Basic
   Spoof Chips


--------------------

GMC-Nissan Doberman (GMC-Nissan Doberman)
B 3, Sen 3, Han +0, Fir 3, Pil 3, Rsp 3, Sig 3, Init 6, IP 3
Physical Condition Monitor: 10
Armor (Vehicle): 9 [6]
Skills: Automatics 3, Clearsight 3
Gear:
   Clearsight
   Rigger Adaptation
   Targeting: Automatics
   Walker Mode
   Weapon Mount (Turret, External, Remote)
Weapons:
   AK-97 [Assault Rifles, DV 6P vs. B-1, SA/BF/BF-L/FA, RC 3, 38 (c)] with Regular Ammo x48, Smartgun System, Internal


--------------------

Lone Star iBall (Lone Star iBall)
B 1, Sen 2, Han +1, Fir 3, Pil 3, Rsp 3, Sig 3, Init 6, IP 3
Physical Condition Monitor: 9
Armor (Vehicle): 1
Skills:
Gear:
   Rigger Adaptation


--------------------

Repeater Drone (Repeater Drone)
B 1, Sen 2, Han +1, Fir 3, Pil 3, Rsp 3, Sig 3, Init 6, IP 3
Physical Condition Monitor: 9
Armor (Vehicle): 1
Skills:
Gear:
   Directional Antenna (4)
   Laser Link (2)
   Retrans Unit
   Rigger Adaptation


Again may not be the best builds but its something you can look over.


...I love technoamcners..

[Whiskeyjack]

If you want to double as a face, be an elf with a Charisma-based Fade stream. IMO Technoshaman is one of the best streams if you also want to be a face and has great Sprite selection. 

You want Body 3 for damage boxes. Strength 1 is an acceptable choice. Intuition you probably want at 5, along with your relevant Fading stat. You only really need Logic 3 unless you also want to be the B&E expert...which you can only halfway do without Agility and stealth skills since Hardware is just one facet of B&E.  

Too many skill groups, to-wit:

(1) Decompiling is so niche as to be crap compared to just having your sprites go after any enemy sprites or technomancers, though the likelihood is that 99% of corpsec spiders won't be Emerged, they will be hackers and hackers destroy technos (but not their sprites) in cybercombat. In other words you only want Compiling and Registering from the Tasking group. 
(2) Electronics 3...meh. You can't use Hardware particularly well for B&E. You don't need that much EW. Software is more important for Threading. 
(3) Cracking group...meh. Cybercombat is pointless and lethal for you. Hacking should be on its own at 6 if you want to focus on hacking (as opposed to rigging).
(4) If you want to be good at rigging and fighting in drones you need Perception, Gunnery (4 or 6) and Infiltration. 

Get a Paragon. They are awesome. 

Complex Forms: well first you want Resonance 6 for how CF-raising costs in karma are cripplingly high. You want Analyze, Stealth, and Exploit 6. If you want to rig drones you need Command 6. Edit, Armor, Sniffer you can all drop and Thread if needed. Drop Attack. Shield is much better than Armor but I'd Thread when you need it, not pay for it. 

You don't want to be physically present on a run. You want to be controlling a drone. You're honestly crap in meat combat (which is fine).

However you don't need Attack because cybercombat is pointless. If you get attacked on a node, use your combat sprites on it. Don't cybercombat back, you'll probably die in the meat from biofeedback. 

You want an enhanced rigger cocoon (with Valkyrie module) for your main car. If you want to do anything useful other than hack, get some drones... Steel Lynx and Strato from This Old Drone are great. And a skin link is not just one thing, it's a mod on gear. 

Why copy keycards when you could remotely hack into a maglock? As I said if you are physically there for a run, with your super low physical stats, 1 IP in the meat, and low armor, you're just asking to be one-shotted by a rent-a-cop. 

[Crunch]

True. On the other hand making your character a little more flexible might serve you well depending on your GM. I know that when I run most corporate compounds are built with the idea that wireless access is a serious security threat.

A lot of buildings will have some method of restricting wifi or broadcast access and that can seriously limit a drone rigger or hacker who's completely incompetent in the flesh.

[Whiskeyjack]

I had success sneaking into a wireless-paint-covered Mafia safe house using a fiber optic cable attached to a commlink hidden outside the house attached to a microdrone.

It was just as good as being there, let me wreak having on the nodes inside the house that were supposedly safe due to the wireless paint.

[Mysteris]

Thanks for the help so far everyone. I'll post the revisions for review when I'm done.

[Kat9]

Looking forward to it!

[Mysteris]

So here's Natsumi 2.0, now with added rigging capabilities on top of being a hacker. As I understand it, her Intutitve Hacking (Stealth) quality means I don't need to buy it as a Complex Form for her. I wasn't really sure about Echoes either so I left them out. Got rid of the expensive commlink too in favor of a couple of cheap expendables for when she needs to be in Public Mode. Seeing other Technomancer builds was a big help.

Body 3
Agility 2
Reaction 2
Strength 1
Charisma 4
Intution 4
Logic 3
Willpower 5
Edge 2
Intiative 6
Resonance 6
Essence 6

Skill Groups

Influence 1

Skills

Hacking 6
Pistols 1
Software 4
Compiling 4
Registering 4
Software 4
Infilitration 4
Gunnery 4

Knowledge Skills

Japanese (native language)
English 1
Japanese Politics 2
Matrix Games 2
Data Havens 3
Yakuza 2
Japanese Corps 3
Pirate Trid Broadcasts 1
Matrix Security 2
Area Knowledge (Neo-Tokyo) 2
Safe Houses 2

Contacts

"Isis" (L: 4 C: 4): Admin of a data haven popular among the hacking community
Takahiro Watanabe (L: 2 C: 3): An I.D. broker and fence.


Complex Forms

Exploit (6), Analyze (6), Command (6)

Bound Sprites

Sentinel-Tank Sprite (3 tasks)
N-fuse-Fault Sprite (2 tasks)
Slipshod-Crack Sprite (3 tasks)


Equipment

Lifestyle (middle)
Doc Wagon Contract (Basic)
Fake ID (rating 4)-Asami Hitsugaya (University of Neo-Tokyo undergraduate in Computer Science)
Fake ID (rating 4) Midori Oyama (Spare fake ID)
Fake License (rating 4)
Ares Viper Silvergun (with hidden gun arm slide and 50 flechette rounds)
Form-fitting Body Armor (with Chemical Protection, Thermal Dampening, Insulation, Nonconductivity, Fire Resistance, and Radiation Shielding all at rating 4)
Clothing (regular) x10
Clothing (chic) x2
Leather Jacket
GMC Bulldog (with weapon mounts, rigger adaptation, skinlink, and an Ares LMP)
Morphing License Plate
Suzuki Mirage
Morphing License Plate
Shiawase Kanmushi microdrone x3
S-B Microskimmer
MCT Fly-Spy
Steel Lynx (with Ares LMP attached)
200 rounds of regular ammo
Meta Link Commlink x2 (both with Vector Xim OS)
Tag Eraser
Voice Mask
Virtual Weather
VR Game x9
Wall Space
Virtual Surround Music
Satelite Link
Datachip x41

[Whiskeyjack]

What are your positive and negative Qualities? Taking max Negatives is pretty typical for everyone but Technomancers especially need every extra BP.

Don't start with registered sprites if doing so costs BP. Registering is free and just takes time, it's a bad idea to invest BP in that unless your character is for a time-sensitive one-shot. Otherwise doing so in pre game downtime is the best option.

IMO you're going to want at least one point in Computer, Data Search, and Electronic Warfare to be able to Thread CFs keyed to those skills. And you need Perception for rigging. Remember as a Technomancer you don't want to jump into drones. You want to Thread Command to 12 and remote control. And having extra little drones means tossing sprites into them to control them better

You still want a Stealth 6 CF. That allows you to Thread Stealth up to 12.

[Mysteris]

Here are her qualities:


Positive Qualities: Technomancer, Aptitude (Hacking), Photographic Memory, Intutive Hacking (Stealth), Paragon (Black Hat)
Negative Qualities: AIPS (rating 3), Flashbacks 2, Records on File (Mitsuhama)

[Kat9]

Echos are because both my technomancers have submerged (Initiated) and have gained echos (Metamagics).