[The other Bandit]

Quite nice... thank you!

[Landmine]

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I have 2 karma leftover at this point.

Here's my second pass at this character. Let me make sure I understand Essence loss correctly. It can never be recovered, but if I replace ware (for instance Used Muscle Replacement 2 for Alpha grade) then the "recovered" amount goes into a sort of pool that can be used for more ware? So the 0.5 Essence that was previously used in this example would be available, even though my Essence score would never recover.

Notable changes: Skill 1 ranks bought with Karma and major skills bumped up, dropped 1 fake SIN, added Forearm Guards with Auto-injector, dropped some minor gear, substantial ware changes, bumped up Addiction negative quality, dropped Guts, 2 points of Reaction dropped for Intuition, upgraded Contacts, Kept Carromeleg Martial Arts with Iajutsu but dropped Riposte, exchanged Gel rounds for SnS ammo.

Mercy
METATYPE: ELF
B 5, A 7/9, R 3/5, S 3/5, W 3, L 2, I 5, C 3, ESS 0.29, EDG 2
Condition Monitor (P/S): 11 / 10
Armor: 20
Limits: Physical 7, Mental 4, Social 5
Physical Initiative: 8/10+3D6
Active Skills: Athletics Group 2, Automatics 6 (Assault Rifles +2), Blades 6 (Knives +2), Con 1 (Fast Talking +2), Etiquette 1, Palming 1, Perception 5 (Visual +2), Pilot Ground Craft 1, Sneaking 5 (Urban +2), Throwing Weapons 1
Knowledge Skills: Gang Identification 2, Shadow Community 3, Small Unit Tactics 4
Languages: English N, Japanese 2, Sperethiel 3
Qualities: Addiction (Moderate): Nicotine, Agile Defender, Code of Honor: Children (6dicepool vs. 4)
Augmentations:
   Bone Lacing (Aluminum)
   Cybereyes (4) w/ Flare Compensation, Image Link, Low-Light Vision, Smartlink, Thermographic Vision, Vision Enhancement (3), Vision Magnification
   Damage Compensators (3)
   Damper (Alphaware)
   Datajack (Alphaware)
   Muscle Replacement (Used) (2)
   Platelet Factories (Used)
   Synaptic Booster (2)
Vehicles:
   Suzuki Mirage [Handling 5/3, Speed 6, Accel 3, Body 5, Armor 6, Pilot 1, Sensor 2, Seats 1]
Gear:
   Area Scanner w/ Geiger Counter, Olfactory Sensor (4), Ultrasound
   Backpack
   Ballistic Mask w/ Audio Enhancement (3), Gas Mask, Micro-Tranceiver, Trodes
   BDU's (black)
   BDU's (OD green)
   Casual Clothing
   Certified Credstick, Silver
   Certified Credstick, Standard
   Chisel/Crowbar
   Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   Ear buds (3) w/ Select Sound Filter (3)
   Flashlight
   Forearm Guards w/ Auto-Injector
   Gun Belt (1)
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake SIN (3), (3 months) Middle Lifestyle
   Identity: Specify Name w/ (12 months) DocWagon Platinum Contract, Fake License: Augmentation (4), Fake License: Concealed Carry (4), Fake License: Firearms (4), Fake License: Grenades (4), Fake SIN (4)
   Identity: Specify Name w/ Fake License: Augmentation (4), Fake License: Concealed Carry (4), Fake License: Firearms (4), Fake License: Grenades (4), Fake SIN (4)
   Lined Coat w/ Electrochromic Modification
   Medkit (3)
   Medkit Supplies x5
   Meta Link Commlink
   Meta Link Commlink
   Meta Link Commlink
   Meta Link Commlink
   Micro-Tranceiver
   Plastic Restraints x10
   Sleeping Tiger w/ Custom Fit, Electrochromic Modification, Gel Packs, Holster, Newest Model, Nonconductivity (6), Ruthenium Polymer Coating (3), Thermal Dampening (4)
   Stim Patch (6) x2
   Tac Harness
   Transys Avalon Commlink w/ Biomonitor, Sim Module
   Trauma Patch x2
   Trodes
Weapons:
   Ares Crusader II [Machine Pistol, Acc 7, DV 7P, AP -4, SA/BF, RC 2(3), 40 (c)] w/ (200x) APDS, Flashlight, Folding Stock, Gas-Vent System (2), (100x) Regular Ammo, Silencer/Suppressor, Smartgun System, Internal, (10x) Spare Clips, (100x) Stick-n-Shock
   FN HAR [Assault Rifle, Acc 7, DV 10P, AP -6, SA/BF/FA, RC 2(4), 35 (c)] w/ (300x) APDS, Flashlight, Foregrip, Gas-Vent System (2), Improved Range Finder, Laser Sight, (200x) Regular Ammo, Shock Pad, Silencer/Suppressor, Sling, Smartgun System, Internal, (10x) Spare Clips, (100x) Stick-n-Shock
   Combat Knife [Blade, Acc 6, DV 7P, AP -3]
   Combat Knife [Blade, Acc 6, DV 7P, AP -3]
   Flash-Bang Grenade x6 [Grenade, non-aerodynamic, Acc 7, DV 10S, 10m R, AP -4]
   Fragmentation Grenade x6 [Grenade, non-aerodynamic, Acc 7, DV 18P(f), -1/m, AP +5]
   Thermal Smoke Grenade x6 [Grenade, non-aerodynamic, Acc 7, DV Th. Smoke, 10m R, AP –]
Contacts:
Jameson (Connection 4, Loyalty 3)
Lead (Connection 5, Loyalty 2)
Saw (Connection 3, Loyalty 4)
Starting ¥: 60 + (4D6 x 100)¥

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[8-bit]

Here's an example of Essence Loss. Let's say you buy Wired Reflexes 2 at Standard Grade. That takes away 3 Essence. Later on, when you get more money, you take out your Standard Wired Reflexes 2. That leaves you with 3 Essence still, but you now have an "Essence Hole" of 3 points that can be filled with augmentations before you lose any points from your total Essence. You decide to get Deltaware Wired Reflexes 2. Deltaware Wired Reflexes 2 only take away 1.5 Essence. Your "Essence Hole" has a size of 3 points, so 1.5 points are consumed by your new 'ware. You can still put in 1.5 points of 'ware into your body, before your current Essence of 3 begins to drop again.

As for your new build, it looks like you kept Resources A. Nothing wrong with that, just curious if the Priorities are the same. Anyway, I'll take a more in-depth look at it tomorrow, or Monday (Sunday is crazy busy for me), but so far, it looks pretty good.

[Landmine]

Ok, sounds like I have a good grip on Essence loss. The priorities are the same. Between the ware, and her custom rifle and armor, I'm sticking with A.  I forgot to bump Strength though. I will likely rework from skills to free up karma so that I can shift a point of Logic to Strength, then buy Logic back up to 2.

[Tarislar]

Build 1 - Simple, cheap, and effective | 10 Karma into Nuyen should let you get everything else you could want (within reason)
Total Resource Cost: 218,100 nuyen, Total Essence Remaining: 0.08

Build 2 - Wired Reflexes + Reaction Enhancers | Dips very low into Essence for high Initiative Boost (have to give up Cybereyes)
Total Resource Cost: 251,000 nuyen, Total Essence Remaining: 0.0250

Build 3 - Bone Lacing Build | Gives up a few things to fit Bone Lacing in
Total Resource Cost: 244,000 nuyen, Total Essence Remaining: 0.2

I like where your going with this & thought I would add in a 4th option that keeps the resources at A.

Synaptic Boosters-2-Regular = $190K + 1.0 Ess
Bone Lacing-Plastic-Alpha = $9.6K + .4 Ess
Platelet Factories-Used = $12.75K + .25 Ess
Damage Compensators-3-Alpha = 7.2K + .24 Ess
Cybereyes-2  (Flare Comp, Smartlink, Thermographic + Lowlight) = $14K + .3 Ess
Damper-Alpha = 2.7K + .08 Ess
Rt-CyberArm-Used  (Agility-9, Strength-9, Armor-2, Commlink-Avalon-SimMod, Cyberholster) = $76.6K + 1.25 Ess
Reflex Recorders x3  (Automatics, Blades, & Sneaking) = $42K + .3 Ess


Priorities:
A-Cash, B-Attr, C-Skills, D-Human, E-Mag/Res

Attributes
Bod-5 (Rst-6)
Agi-3 (RA-9)
Rea-5 (7)
Str-3 (RA-9)
Wil-3
Log-2
Int-5
Cha-3


Skills:
Group-Athletics-2
Automatics-6 - Assault Rifles+2
Blades-6 - Knives+2
Con-1
Etiquette-1
Palming-1
Perception-6 - Visual+2
Pilot Ground Craft-1
Sneaking-6 - Urban+2
Throwing Weapons-1

Karma Spending: 25 Base + 25-Negatives
7-Catlike
7-Natural Athlete
10-Logic-2
10-Skills  (Con-1, Etiquette-1, Palming-1, Pilot Ground Craft-1, Throwing Weapons-1)
16-Contacts  (16+9 = 25 = 6/1, 4/3, 3/1, 1/6)


Key Items:
Combat Knife w/ Custom Grip
Survival Knife
Sword w/ Custom Grip
Remington Suppressor w/ Custom Grip, Ex-Smartlink, Vision Magnification, & Concealable Holster
Ingram Smartgun w/ Custom Grip & Vision Magnification
AK-97 w/ Custom Grip, Shock Pads, Gas Vent-3, Fore Grip, Ex-Smartlink, Vision Magnification
Grenades (3-HE, 5-FB, 2-CS, 2-TS, 2-Smk)

Argentum LongCoat
Full Body Armor w/ Full Helm + (NonCon-6, Fire-6, Damp-3)

Micro-transceiver
Contacts-3 w/ Vision Enhancement-3
Earbuds-3 w/ Audio Enhancement-3

Medkit-6 w/ Trauma Patch & Antidote-6 Patch

Hyundai Shin-Wang w/ Sensors-7, Morphing Plate, Spoof Chips



Just my take on where he could go. 
It drops the Martial Art but I haven't read up on them so I can't say any of them are worth the karma investment.

[Landmine]

That's a really interesting idea; replacing the Muscle Replacements with a Cyberarm. But wouldn't just one augmented arm screw me up for two-handed tasks? I thought Agility got averaged between all limbs involved in a task, so things like firing her rifle would take a hit. I do like that it squeezes in the Reflex Recorders though.

What is a custom grip? I haven't been able to find a reference to it in my 5th edition stuff. Also, I hadn't looked into vehicle mods at all. I was just looking into a vehicle to enhance mobility. I definitely should take a look at making her bike sneakier though. All in all, some good ideas for me to play with, thanks!

[Tarislar]

That's a really interesting idea; replacing the Muscle Replacements with a Cyberarm. But wouldn't just one augmented arm screw me up for two-handed tasks? I thought Agility got averaged between all limbs involved in a task, so things like firing her rifle would take a hit. I do like that it squeezes in the Reflex Recorders though.

What is a custom grip? I haven't been able to find a reference to it in my 5th edition stuff. Also, I hadn't looked into vehicle mods at all. I was just looking into a vehicle to enhance mobility. I definitely should take a look at making her bike sneakier though. All in all, some good ideas for me to play with, thanks!

1 Arm means you average the limbs used.
So 1 handed = 9,  2-handed = 6,  still a solid attribute rating for your Assault Rifles.

Custom Grip improves Accuracy by 1.  It costs $100.
As much as I like bikes, when you have to haul around a Rifle its just plain nice to have a car.  The Shin is as fast as the Mirage & can has 4 seats.

[Landmine]

Holy hell, 100 nuyen for +1 acc? Can you tell me where to find in sourcebooks?

I was planing on using group transport for toting around the AR, and using the bike to get around otherwise. The additional 20k hurts, but it might be worth it to have my own car. Also, can you tell me what book the vehicle mods come from?

[Tarislar]

Holy hell, 100 nuyen for +1 acc? Can you tell me where to find in sourcebooks?

I was planing on using group transport for toting around the AR, and using the bike to get around otherwise. The additional 20k hurts, but it might be worth it to have my own car. Also, can you tell me what book the vehicle mods come from?

Custom Grip is from Run & Gun, IIRC, however it was left off the cost table,  the $100 & Availability-2 was later added in errata, its the same cost as it was in SR4, or so I've read.

Vehicle Sensors is in the CRB.
Morphing Plates & Spoof Chips are from Stolen Souls.

[8-bit]

@Tarislar

I like that augmentation setup; very nice. All my builds were meant to fit into Resources B, as I've seen some people struggle to fit all the 'ware they need into just Resources B. You can get a lot more creative and versatile with Resources A, which you did.

[jim1701]

It's actually called Personalized Grip.  Cost and availability can be found in the most recent MIssions errata on pg. 20 under Sail Away Sweet Sister. 

[Michael Chandra]

That's a really interesting idea; replacing the Muscle Replacements with a Cyberarm. But wouldn't just one augmented arm screw me up for two-handed tasks? I thought Agility got averaged between all limbs involved in a task, so things like firing her rifle would take a hit. I do like that it squeezes in the Reflex Recorders though.

Firing involves either 1 or 2 limbs, HeroLab follows "you lead with 1 limb so only 1 limb applies", others argue that Assault Rifles and Longarms average 2 limbs.

[Tarislar]

It's actually called Personalized Grip.  Cost and availability can be found in the most recent MIssions errata on pg. 20 under Sail Away Sweet Sister.

Jim to the rescue.  Thanks, yes, that is the one I was thinking of.

[Landmine]

Ok, so it looks like it's just Herolab that is having an issue. There's no option for the Personalized Grip yet. I started checking out other weapons as well. The Ultimax Rainforest Carbine looks really solid, even with just a SA mode. And the Remington Suppressor is a clear upgrade. Melee additions are a disappointment, the Cougar Fineblade is garbage, having equal damage but less penetration than a combat knife. One greater accuracy on the fineblade doesn't really make up for the fact that the combat knife has no restrictions.

I'm going to take a stab at a final build later tonight or tomorrow and see what I come up with. The suggestions have all been extremely helpful. I really appreciate all the input.

[Tarislar]

The Ultimax Rainforest Carbine looks really solid, even with just a SA mode.

Ultimax recently got a major nerf.  IIRC the new stats are 11DV, -2AP, & has a BF mode now.

The Remington is great, as a "Pistol" for "Automatics" users.  The small clip & lack of RC gimp it if your trying to actually use it as a "Machine Pistol"
I keep one concealed on me & use it in SA mode in doors.  But for serious bad guy suppression, I use my Ingram or AK.