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Nuyen vs. Skills: Which character version should I take?

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Fatespinner

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« on: <06-18-19/0242:20> »
Hi all,

I have two version of my DJ/Decker character. They are nearly the same, but one version has Prio A as Ressources and the other skills.

Which of the two character version do you prefer and why? What would you change about the character. The core of the character is, that he is a famous local DJ, who is skilled at AR and device hacking.

(EDIT: I removed the Knowledge Skills and equipment and other duplicate information in the first listing. That is just double information.).

Skills:
=====         

== Priorities ==
Metatype: D,1
Attributes: C,2
Special: E,0
Skills: A,4
Resources: B,3

== Attributes ==
BOD: 2                                 CHA: 5
AGI: 3                                  INT: 3                                 
REA: 4 (6)                            LOG: 6 (7)
STR: 2                                 WIL: 3
EDG: 5                                 

 == Active Skills ==
Computer                                Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 11
Con                                     Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12
Cybercombat                             Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 13
Electronic Warfare                      Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 13
Etiquette (Media)                       Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10 (12)
Gymnastics                              Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
Hacking                                 Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 13
Hardware                                Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 11
Locksmith                               Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 7
Perception                              Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 6
Performance (DJ)                        Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12 (14)
Pilot Ground Craft (Bike)               Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 8 (10)
Pistols                                 Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 9
Sneaking                                Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 9
Software                                Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 11

 == Cyberware/Bioware ==
Cerebral Booster Rating 1
Cyberdeck
Mnemonic Enhancer Rating 1
Reaction Enhancers Rating 2
Sleep Regulator

and the Nuyen variant:
===============

== Priorities ==
Metatype: D,1
Attributes: C,2
Special: E,0
Skills: B,3
Resources: A,4

== Attributes ==
BOD: 2                                  CHA: 5
AGI: 3 (5)                              INT: 4                                 
REA: 3 (4)                             LOG: 6 (8)
STR: 2                                  WIL: 3
EDG: 5                                 

== Derived Attributes
Essence: 4.00                                Initiative:          8 +2d6
Physical Damage Track: 9                Rigger Initiative:   8 +2d6
Stun Damage Track: 10                  Astral Initiative:   
Physical: 4                                     Matrix AR:           8 +2d6
Mental: 10                                     Matrix Cold:         9 +3d6
Social: 6                                        Matrix Hot:          9 +4d6
   Lokale Berühmtheit [+1] (Limited to Single Sprawl)
Astral: 10

 == Active Skills ==
Computer                                Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 12
Con                                     Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10
Cybercombat                             Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 13
Electronic Warfare                      Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 13
Etiquette (Media)                       Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10 (12)
Gymnastics                              Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Hacking                                 Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 13
Hardware (Cyberdecks)                   Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 10 (12)
Locksmith                               Base: 1  + Karma: 0  = 1   Pool: 6
Perception                              Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 6
Performance (DJ)                        Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10 (12)
Pilot Ground Craft                      Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 6
Pistols                                 Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 9
Sneaking                                Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Software                                Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 10

 == Knowledge Skills ==
English                                Native
Salish                                  Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 8
Club music                               Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10
Clubs                                   Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 10
Hermes Eurocom                 Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 12
Matrix Design                           Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 14
Matrix Security                       Base: 4  + Karma: 0  = 4   Pool: 14
Pop culture                               Base: 0  + Karma: 1  = 1   Pool: 7

 == Qualities ==
Code of Honor
Day Job (10 hrs) (DJ)
Fame: Local
SINner (National)

 == Lifestyle ==
Dwontown (High) 1  Month
   + Grid Subscription (Global Grid)
   + Grid Subscription (Local Grid)
   + Grid Subscription (Public Grid)

 == Cyberware/Bioware ==
Cerebral Booster Rating 2
Cyberdeck
Mnemonic Enhancer Rating 2
Muscle Toner Rating 2
Sleep Regulator
Synaptic Booster Rating 1

 == Armor ==
Armor Clothing                           6
Chameleon Suit                           9
   + Nonconductivity 4
   + Thermal Damping 4
Clothing                                 0
   + Electrochromic Clothing

 == Weapons ==
Ares Predator V
   + Concealable Holster
   + Laser Sight
   + Silencer/Suppressor
   + Smartgun System, Internal
   Pool: 9      Accuracy: 5 (7) DV: 8P       AP: -1    RC: 2
Defiance EX Shocker
   + Concealable Holster
   + Laser Sight
   Pool: 9      Accuracy: 4 (5) DV: 9S(e)    AP: -5    RC: 2
Grenade: Flash-Pak
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 4     DV: Special  AP: -     RC: 2
Grenade: Thermal Smoke
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 4     DV: (10m Radius)AP: -     RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 4      Accuracy: 4     DV: 2S       AP: -     RC: 2

 == Commlink ==
Hermes Ikon (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 5, FWL: 5)
   + Commlink Functionality [Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Credstick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Trid-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]
   + Certified Credstick, Gold
Hermes Chariot (ATT: 4, SLZ: 5, DP: 2, FWL: 4)
   + Sim Module, Hot
   + Universal Connector Cord (Meter)
   + Commlink Functionality [Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Credstick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Trid-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]
   + Track
   + Exploit
   + Baby Monitor
   + Decryption
   + Hammer
   + Sneak
   + Stealth
   + Edit
   + Configurator
   + Browse
   + Signal Scrub
   + Encryption
   + Fake SINRating 4 [Fake License 4 (Cyberdeck Lizenz), Fake License 4 (Zulassung für versteckte Ausrüstung), Fake License 4 (Fahrerlaubnis), Fake License 4 (Pistolenschein)]
   + Certified Credstick, Gold
   + AgentRating 4
   + Mugger
   + Lockdown
   + Armor
   + Edit
   + Configurator
   + Browse
   + Signal Scrub
   + Encryption
   + Lockdown
   + Sneak
   + Armor
   + Guard
   + Stealth
   + Mugger
   + Wrapper
   + Toolbox

== Gear: Equipped ==
Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) ×50
Autopicker Rating 6
Bug Scanner Rating 6
Contacts Rating 2
   + Low Light
   + Flare Compensation
Data Tap ×2
Lockpick Set
White Noise Generator Rating 6

== Gear: Available ==
Ammo: Gel Rounds ×100
Ammo: Regular Ammo ×100
Backpack (Good)
Cram ×10
Flashlight
Gecko Tape Gloves
Grenade: Flash-Pak ×2
Grenade: Thermal Smoke ×2
Jammer, Area Rating 4
Novacoke ×10
Restraint, Plastic ×10
Spare Clip (Ares Predator V) ×2
Spare Clip (Defiance EX Shocker) ×2
Tag Eraser
Tool Kit (Hardware)
Tool Kit (Software)

 == Vehicles ==
Yamaha Growler (Off-Road Bike)
   + Sensor ArrayRating 2
« Last Edit: <06-18-19/0404:16> by Fatespinner »

Tecumseh

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« Reply #1 on: <06-18-19/1522:21> »
They're both functional. A lot of it comes down to flavor, like, "How good of a DJ is he really?" or "How many augmentations does he have?"

Personally, I would probably go for the Resources A version for the better attributes (via cyber/bio) and better initiative.

I would skip some of the lower ranking skills, like Gymnastics, Locksmith, and Pilot Ground Craft. Instead, pick up the Jack of All Trades quality and buy them once gameplay has started. Then, take the skill points you saved and reinvest them into higher-value skills, like Perception or Sneaking. Or put them toward character-specific skills, like Con or Performance.

I would go for Automatics instead of Pistols, if only because suppressive fire is great for smaller dice pools. If you think you're going to be hacking in combat and you want Pistols so that you can carry around a taser legally, then that's fine.

How did you spend your chargen karma? You have 25 karma in Negative Qualities but only 4 karma in Positive Qualities, so you should have a lot of karma floating around somewhere. It looks like you dropped 10 karma on Strength 2 but I'm not sure where the rest of it went. Spending another 10 karma on Body 2 to free up an Attribute point for Intuition 5 (good for Perception, Initiative, dodging, and various Matrix actions) would also be pretty wiz.

Fatespinner

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« Reply #2 on: <06-18-19/2250:19> »
Yeah that is true. Often it comes down to flavor. After all it is still a role playing game.

I spent 10 karma on Strength, 10 on Body and 25 on Willpower. So that he is physically only slightly weaker than the average and can still do some stuff.

I have to check the Jack of all Trades quality. I didn't noticed it before. Thanks

Fatespinner

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« Reply #3 on: <06-19-19/1516:14> »
I think I will keep the low level skills, because they add some flavor and avoid that the character becomes to one-dimensional or specialized. The skills are also easy to raise. From a min-max perspective they are a waste of resources, because skill points are much more valuable for high level skills.

The low skill character has the advantage that he is able to better grow, because he can use karma much better.

The high skill character on the other hand feels more complete and sometimes you get more money and less karma.


Decisions are a pain.

Fatespinner

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« Reply #4 on: <06-20-19/0907:56> »
I also have a question regarding TMs.

Can they run cyberprograms and agents without physical deck?

Michael Chandra

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« Reply #5 on: <06-20-19/0928:56> »
No, those only go on Decks. Iirc there's a submersion for a cyberprogram?
How am I not part of the forum?? O_O I am both active and angry!

Arglebargle

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« Reply #6 on: <08-11-19/1934:15> »
I always liked taking high rank skills first and just trying to steal what I couldn't afford