Thanks for the help.
In case I didn't mention it, my GM has restricted us to SR4 Book only, so many of the good options from StreetMagic, Arsenal and Augmentations are out. My dilema exists because there are many spells I like, and not nearly enough BP to take them AND build a decent character that isn't entirely one sided. I don't want a guy who a pro with magic, but has to default on everything else.
Also, for those who have read the books, Dresden (book version) is more of a combat mage, but our group already has a Combat Specialist, so I figured I'd go more along the lines of Manipulation/Detection/Illusion focus rather than being just a "combat mage".
Here is the Skills I'm looking at taking (and even with this I feel like I'm still missing others I'd like to have).
MAGIC SKILLS
Spellcasting 6
Summoning 4
Binding 1
Counterspelling 4
Astral Combat x
Arcana x
Assensing x
OTHER SKILLS (Based on what people say is required and recommended in other treads) [In many cases I'd like more points in some of the skills]
Longarms 1 (Could be Pistols)
Perception 1
Etiquette 1
Computer 1
Dodge 1
Pilot (Ground Vehicule) 1
NOT TAKEN BUT WOULD LIKE TO:
Running
Shadowing
Infiltration
Negotiation
I put Binding at 1, because I'd rather have +2 dice on it, should I chose to do it, but I understand that those 4 BP could be spent elsewhere, since I can't really bind a strong spirit with Binding 1. What about the other skills Arcana, Astral Combat and Assensing. Are they worthy of multiple skill points?
My major question remains a little hazy. What are the advantages/disadvantages of summoning a spirit rather than just buying some spells and casting them? I seems like Spirits can do many things that spells can, and don't require you to spend BP on them.
I understand the negative aspect of summoning is that if you do it on the fly your Spirit might resist and you'll end up taking drain and get nothing. But it seems to me like Summoning involves less drain on average than casting. Say you want to cast a Lightning Bolt (DR: F/2+1), at force 6, you'd have to resist a drain of 4 +1/net success. If you summon an air spirit at Force 6, on average he'd make 2 successes and you'd have to resist a drain of 4, and more than likely with 12+ dice you'd get at least 4 successes and end up with 2 services. With 2 services, that Spirit could attack twice with an elemental attack worth 6P+1/net Success (e). Isn't that better? Especially since you can summon him when you wake up in the morning and put him on stand by, then pop him out later. That same spirit can also do other things, AND you don't have to spend as many BP on spells, since your Air Spirit can do Accident, Concealment, Confusion, Search and possibly: Guard, Noxious Breath and Psychokinesis. And all that for ZERO extra BP beyond the normal spent on Magic & Skills.
Maybe I've got it all wrong, and Spirits don't do what I think they do.
Is there some sort of action economy (ie less actions for the same result) that exists from casting spells rather than have a spirit do it for you, or vice versa?
CASTING:
1 Complex to Cast a Spell
DONE!
SUMMONING:
TURN 1 - 1 Simple to Call the Spirit on Standby.
1 Simple to issue it a Command. IE: Perform Elemental Attack on Enemy A.
TURN 2 - 1-2 Simple Actions to Issue it Commands. (I assume it's 1 service per attack, so I'd run out of services quite quickly)
TURN 3 - 1 Complex Action to Summon another Spirit, (I assume I wouldn't have to spend an action to Call it, since it's here now)
TURN 4 - 2 Simple Actions to issue it two Commands. (I assume I'd get at least 2 services with 12 dice vs a Spirit with 5-6 Force)
Repeat and Resummon as needed.
So assuming I get 2-3 Services / Summon, I end up getting 2-3 Elemental Attacks every 2-3 Turns, or 1 Attack per Turn. If I get 4 Services, I get 4 Attacks per 3 turns, and end up ahead of the Sorcery Mage. Does this make sense?
Would I have to spend a Simple to command it to Manifest? Is that where I start losing out, since I doubt it walks around on the Physical Plane with you all the time? Say I command him to attack one guy, I know each attack is one service but would I have to command him again and again to keep attacking each round? Or does he now keep going on his own? Who's IP does he use? Each Spirit has an IP of 2 in the Physical World, so would it be restricted in what I can do based on it own IP or does it use mine?
CYBERWARE/BIOWARE?!
As for the cyberware/bioware - I too AM adamantly opposed to it, but as a human (Logic Tradition) I can't seem to find the points for Magic 6 AND Logic/Willpower 6. I figure I could MAYBE do Magic 6, Logic 5, Will 5, or save points with LOG 5/WILL 5/MAG 5, but I'm scared that a Drain Resistance of 10 is not enough. I find the focused casting Merit at 10 pts per +1 to be very expensive. Just seems to me for 25 PTs (Assuming I do MAG 6 instead of 5) I get +2 Logic/+2 Another Stat and still have .4 Essence for some other enhancements.
At the moment my GM has restricted us to using only the SR4 book, so some of the other good options are out. What should I do to most effectively use my points?