[Mara]

If he is joining an existing party, he should be given X amount of Karma and Y amount of nuyen by the GM to be at the same level.  Needing to make a new character shouldn't mean you're drastically behind everyone else.  And possibly be permitted a small number of items up to a certain availability above standard.

The GM for the campaign for which I created Hawatari gave me neither - which would have been 75 Karma,  ¥1,000,000, and little to no restrictions.  Instead, I had a pure game-start character.  Still made them all seriously afraid of crossing me ...

A well-built starting character can be as dangerous as an experience character. I mean, my group's Troll Heavy Weapon Sam? Even
out of the box, I doubt any the group, as they have developed, would want to mess with him....and he has only gotten nastier as
the game went along. Out of the Box: Dangerous, a bit of experience: Scary.

However, I am going to join those in the head scratching "huh?" I mean...seriously..what was that character's role supposed to be?

[Carmody]

Given all what has been said here, I would recommand to restart a new character from scratch with him.
If you want to strip it down it may really disappoint him. On the other hand, a properly optimized character, with BP system can be really competent in its main specialization.
Seeing that people understand his point and are willing to help should be enough to please him, especially if the new "legal" character is far stronger than the one he designed.

[Caimbuel]

If he is joining an existing party, he should be given X amount of Karma and Y amount of nuyen by the GM to be at the same level.  Needing to make a new character shouldn't mean you're drastically behind everyone else.  And possibly be permitted a small number of items up to a certain availability above standard.

The GM for the campaign for which I created Hawatari gave me neither - which would have been 75 Karma,  ¥1,000,000, and little to no restrictions.  Instead, I had a pure game-start character.  Still made them all seriously afraid of crossing me ...

A well-built starting character can be as dangerous as an experience character. I mean, my group's Troll Heavy Weapon Sam? Even
out of the box, I doubt any the group, as they have developed, would want to mess with him....and he has only gotten nastier as
the game went along. Out of the Box: Dangerous, a bit of experience: Scary.

However, I am going to join those in the head scratching "huh?" I mean...seriously..what was that character's role supposed to be?

You asked the right question there, as I understand it. This particular player builds characters to be self-sufficient, 'Do-Anything-Needed' types. He hates being unable to do something, which sort of defeats the point of a party in my eyes, he wants to be a true 'Jack-of-all-Trades', if his character cant do something he gets ornery/upset.

[Caimbuel]

Given all what has been said here, I would recommand to restart a new character from scratch with him.
If you want to strip it down it may really disappoint him. On the other hand, a properly optimized character, with BP system can be really competent in its main specialization.
Seeing that people understand his point and are willing to help should be enough to please him, especially if the new "legal" character is far stronger than the one he designed.

I think thats the core of the problem, His idea of being specialized is being able to do everything needed at a moments notice. We actually had an argument recently in game with many of the players getting involved over being a "Generalist vs Specialist" type. Since I fall into the "Specialist" category, I 'handicapping' myself when something comes up that isnt in my field of expertise, I countered that spreading oneself too thin, means your not skilled enough in anything, to be of much use. These are extreme examples, I mean for example Umaro's Generalist archtype is MY idea of generalist, whereas some players idea of Generalist is, 1 BP per skill so he can do everything.

[Xzylvador]

@OP: I can understand the player not always wanting to be a rookie in-game, but a combat-hardened professional... but imho he (and to be honest, both you and the new GM too) is kind of handling this wrongly.

400BP characters are NOT fresh-out-of-bootcamp, barely skilled, wet behind the ears, rookie runners.
At least not when built correctly.

But when built the way this guy's made his character, even after 500 karma, half a mil nuyen and limittless availability, he'll still be sub-par.

I don't know how good you, new GM or any other of your players are at building characters, but imho, two steps should be taken:
1. Go over the rules again, show him what John Q Public's stats/skills would be, show him what an average ganger's skills/stats would be, show him what average corpsec would be like.
2. Then ask him what he wants his character to be able to do. (From what he built, the only real thing he's got going for the character is Automatics and several IPs and boosts gained from 'ware, so in short: a Streetsam). Then show him a couple of streetsam builds. You can find plenty of examples around this forum. Watch the 'Runner's Black Book' thread, Umaro's char examples and/or pick a couple of the combat builds in the PbP's OOC threads; there's dozens of builds to pick from.
Each and every one of those builds are not only rules-legal (usually either 400BP or 750 karma), but also a lot more capable than the character he built with trice the amount of resources.
Show him their skills/stats (and compare them to 'normal' people or even 'runners with a different specialization) and he should understand: These may be beginning characters, but they are NOT beginning 'runners. They can take on half a dozen corpsec guards without breaking a sweat... and probably three 'streetsams' the way he built them too.

[Carmody]

I think thats the core of the problem, His idea of being specialized is being able to do everything needed at a moments notice. We actually had an argument recently in game with many of the players getting involved over being a "Generalist vs Specialist" type. Since I fall into the "Specialist" category, I 'handicapping' myself when something comes up that isnt in my field of expertise, I countered that spreading oneself too thin, means your not skilled enough in anything, to be of much use. These are extreme examples, I mean for example Umaro's Generalist archtype is MY idea of generalist, whereas some players idea of Generalist is, 1 BP per skill so he can do everything.

My answer to him would be a single word : skillwire!
He does not even need to buy many skillsofts at chargen, only the skillwire. Then, in play, if he needs a specific skill he can ask the Hacker to quickly find the appropriate skillsoft, download and go ! 'a la Matrix'
This way he can feel secured about his ability to do everything with short notice, without having to spend all his BP into useless skills.

[Carmody]

Definitely understand his point. With how much skills and attributes cost to raise in most systems, I hardly ever get to see a character really advance in any game that isn't L5R or Pathfinder/D&D 3.5 (I will not touch that flavorless, bulldrek travesty that calls itself D&D 4th with a 10 foot pole).

In most cases for those issues, it isn't "optimization" that is an issue. It is--as I alluded to earlier in this post--overpriced advancement costs.

Funny how what you consider being an advantage of DnD (fast advancement) I consider being a major flaw (fast advancement, too much difference between starting and advanced characters) 
Note that I fully respect your point of view, it is just that we have different opinions 

[Mara]

My answer to him would be a single word : skillwire!
He does not even need to buy many skillsofts at chargen, only the skillwire. Then, in play, if he needs a specific skill he can ask the Hacker to quickly find the appropriate skillsoft, download and go ! 'a la Matrix'
This way he can feel secured about his ability to do everything with short notice, without having to spend all his BP into useless skills.

Restricted Gear: Move by Wire 2: All the benefits of Skill Wires 4, Wired Reflexes 2...AND a bonus to dodge, for a few more nuyen
and 5 BP.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Next Friday ... call in to work.  Get a babysitter.  Bring your wife.  For the Samurai With No Name is back ...

For A Few Nu¥en More!!

[/i][/b]