I don't quite understand your comment about stun damage. Would you please clarify what you mean exactly?
I guess he meant that shots don't bounce off your armor if the damage value is less than your Armor value, you still take stun damage (unless you manage to soak all of it).
Another issue I'm having is I want to play an elf but it almost seems pointless because it looks like any race with a cyber hand can have 10 agility for firearms. And if I chose Troll would I be using the cyberarms body as my main body rating? I wish the 4e book was much more clear on all of this. Sorry for so many questions.
The description in the BBB is quite good IMO, but let me rephrase it a bit (this just applies to attributes, Armor is not an attribute and hence simply added, just like a helmet simply adds +2 Armor):
- normally, you use the average of the natural attributes and any cyber parts, rounded down.
- If an action specifically involves a certain limb, use the attributes of that limb
- If an requires involves the coordinated effort of multiple body parts, use the one with the weakest rating.
So for damage resistance, you mostly use the average of your natural Body and any enhanced limbs, since Shadowrun normally does not use hit locations. If damage specifically goes into a certain region for one reason or another, use the Body of that location. When running both legs are required, so you use the attributes of the weaker one.
Which of the three rules applies of course requires some eyeballing. For example, it can be discussed endlessly whether high Agility in the arms is enough for shooting, or whether the torso (and maybe legs) also should be factored in. My personal rule of thumb is that if the action is primarily done with a certain limb, I use the stats of that limb. If it is conceivable that one weak limb inhibits a strong link (like when doing precision work with both hands), I use the lower stat.
To get back to your example, shooting is done with the arms, so use the cyberarms' Agility. However, it involves the whole arm, so just an upgraded hand is not enough.
I also don't understand what the purpose of taking a cyber hand is instead of a cyber arm. Any help on this is greatly appreciated as I can't really resume making my character lol.
Well, maybe somebody does not want/need to sacrifice his whole arm.