[Zen Gypsy]

Just registered on the Dumpshock forums, awaiting activation at this point.  That being said, I am heading out of town after work today, and probably won't have a post up until late Sunday.

Sorry for delay of game in the Vory vs Merc's situation

[Imladir]

Once you clicked on the link in the mail, don't forget to send a mail to request activation!

[Zen Gypsy]

Yup!  All sent! 

[Imladir]

By the way, do you want me to post your thread on dumpshock? I have it ready, it seems ok so let me know.

[Zen Gypsy]

Yeah, I think I am ready to make the transition, that way I don't have to flip back and forth between two sites.  Thanks!

Though, I do have a question for folks ... since I have been out of Shadowrun for long enough, I am struggling on how to spend my Karma ...

I've made a couple purchases that haven't made it to my OP sheet yet, so here's the Chummer version with implants and augmentations, but sans equipment such as armor, weapons and gear.

[spoiler]== Info ==
Street Name: Echo; Benoit Christianson
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 18/36
Karma: 75
Street Cred: 7
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human
Composure: 7
Judge Intentions: 7
Lift/Carry: 7 (15 kg/10 kg)
Memory: 9
Nuyen: 139451

== Priorities ==
Metatype: D - Human or Elf
Attributes: B - 20 Attributes
Special: E - Mundane
Skills: C - 28 Skills/2 Skill Groups
Resources: A - 450,000¥

== Attributes ==
BOD: 6
AGI: 1
REA: 5 (7)
STR: 1
CHA: 2
INT: 5
LOG: 4
WIL: 5
EDG: 5

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   0.16
Initiative:                10 (12) + 1d6
Rigger Initiative:         12 + 1d6
Astral Initiative:         
Matrix AR Initiative:      12 + 1d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    5 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     5 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     15
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Limits ==
Physical:                  5
Mental:                    6
Social:                    4
   Securetech PPP: Vitals Kit [-1] (Must be visible)
Astral:                    6

== Active Skills ==
Animal Handling            : 0                      Pool: 1
Armorer                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Automatics                 : 6 [Submachine Guns]    Pool: 8 (10)
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Con                        : 1                      Pool: 3
Cybercombat                : 0                      Pool: 3
Cybertechnology            : 1                      Pool: 5
Demolitions                : 1                      Pool: 5
Disguise                   : 2                      Pool: 7
Diving                     : 0                      Pool: 5
Electronic Warfare         : 1                      Pool: 5
Etiquette                  : 2 [Corporate]          Pool: 4 (6)
First Aid                  : 1                      Pool: 5
Forgery                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Free-Fall                  : 0                      Pool: 5
Gymnastics                 : 1 [Parkour]            Pool: 2 (4)
Hacking                    : 0                      Pool: 3
Hardware                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Impersonation              : 0                      Pool: 1
Instruction                : 0                      Pool: 1
Intimidation               : 1                      Pool: 3
Leadership                 : 0                      Pool: 1
Navigation                 : 1                      Pool: 6
Negotiation                : 1                      Pool: 3
Palming                    : 2                      Pool: 3
Perception                 : 5 [Visual]             Pool: 10 (12)
Performance                : 0                      Pool: 1
Pilot Ground Craft         : 1 [Wheeled]            Pool: 8 (10)
Pilot Watercraft           : 0                      Pool: 6
Pistols                    : 1                      Pool: 2
Running                    : 1 [Sprinting]          Pool: 2 (4)
Sneaking                   : 2                      Pool: 3
Software                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Survival                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Tracking                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Unarmed Combat             : 5 [Cyber Implants]     Pool: 6 (

== Knowledge Skills ==
Alcohol                    : 1 [Scotch & Whiskey]   Pool: 6 (
Area Knowledge: Montreal   : 1 [Ville St. Laurent] Pool: 6 (
English                    : 5                      Pool: 10
French                     : N                      Pool: 0
Russian                    : 1                      Pool: 6
Security Tactics           : 2 [Rapid Response]     Pool: 6 (
Small Unit Tactics         : 3 [Urban]              Pool: 8 (10)
Underworld                 : 1 [Drugs]              Pool: 6 (

== Contacts ==
Aisha Chaka al-Baz; Seattle; Renton Office; Street Doc (2, 2)
Ong Jennings; Seattle; Downtown Clinic; Cybersurgeon (6, 1)
Passion DeSimone; Seattle; Redmond Club; Club Dancer (1, 2)
Pedro Mendoza; Seattle; Downtown Hotspot; Fixer (2, 2)
Quentin Raleigh; Seattle; Auburn Office; Thaumaturgic Investigator & Partner (2, 5)
Silvia Osterhagen; Seattle; Downtown; Therapist & Counsellor (1, 6)
Ulyana Khorzikhov; Seattle; Shiawase Complex; Corporate Headhunter (6, 1)
Washington Turner; Boston; Mid-Town; Matrix Intrusion & Surveillance (2, 3)
Yocef Constantineau; Montreal; Ville St. Laurent; Corporate Director; Tetreault (5, 2)

== Qualities ==
Ambidextrous
Amnesia (Surface Loss)
Biocompatability (Cyberware)
Code of Honor (Captives, Civilians, Non-Combatants)
Day Job (20 hrs)
Insomnia (Basic)
Records on File (Shiawase)
Restricted Gear

== Lifestyles ==
Studio Apt; Converted Warehouse Complex  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Adapsin
Bone Lacing (Aluminum)
Cybereyes Basic System Rating 1
   +Image Link
   +Flare Compensation
   +Smartlink
Datajack
Obvious Full Arm (AGI 9, STR 8, Physical 10) (Left)
   +Armor Rating 1
   +Customized Agility Rating 6
   +Customized Strength Rating 6
   +Enhanced Agility Rating 3
   +Enhanced Strength Rating 2
   +Cyberarm Gyromount
Obvious Full Arm (AGI 9, STR 8, Physical 10) (Right)
   +Armor Rating 1
   +Customized Agility Rating 6
   +Customized Strength Rating 6
   +Enhanced Agility Rating 3
   +Enhanced Strength Rating 2
   +Shock Hand
   +Spurs
Obvious Full Leg (AGI 9, STR 8, Physical 10) (Left)
   +Armor Rating 2
   +Customized Agility Rating 6
   +Customized Strength Rating 6
   +Enhanced Agility Rating 3
   +Enhanced Strength Rating 2
   +Hydraulic Jacks Rating 4
Obvious Full Leg (AGI 9, STR 8, Physical 10) (Right)
   +Armor Rating 2
   +Customized Agility Rating 6
   +Customized Strength Rating 6
   +Enhanced Agility Rating 3
   +Enhanced Strength Rating 2
   +Hydraulic Jacks Rating 4
Reaction Enhancers Rating 2
Reflex Recorder (Skill) (Automatics)
[/spoiler]

Any suggestions on where to spend Karma, I am aiming for the role of tank, ie. someone who presents a threat to any enemy groups but can eat damage and such for us.

Now my issue is, and always has been, that magic trumps alot of things in SR.  The mage can, through equipment and gear, plus the judicious use of spells buff up his soak totals as high as a street samurai, hence negating a samurai's ability to threaten him physically.  How does a samurai buff up his magical defenses in the same way?  As that's really Echo's issue, one Manaball and I am soaking with, from what I remember, Willpower only?

Anyways, short of that personal issue, which I typically just overlook and hope to leverage Edge to keep myself standing, what should I be investing in long-term, as far as karma goes?

Thoughts, and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[Imladir]

Done, it's here
For direct spell you only resist with Body (if it's a Physical spell) or WIllpower (if it's a Mana spell). But for direct spells, the DV is the hits on the Mage's Spellcasting roll. So it's not too bad, and you certainly won't go down in one hit.
As for your XP, you should improve your agility and strength a bit. If you're worrying about a Mage, a sprint could be a way to get to him fast with a Running check. In addition, more strength would allow you to stack more armour. A higher Agility would allow you to sneak on people, and of course, be more effective with your gun.
Of course you can put points here and there in your skills (Gymnastic, Running and Sneaking come to mind).

New qualities could be really interesting too, even if the cost is doubled. Drug Tolerant for example, to you use drugs (like Kamikaze) safely. If you want to tank, Redliner (CF, p55) seems counter-intuitive. But more strength allows you to get more armour. And better recoil compensation. High Pain Tolerance could be a good idea. If you're worried about mages, Magic Resistance should be considered. Of course, friendly spells are resisted too so it's not all good (though given our mages, maybe that's for the better ). Natural Athlete is interesting to get to your target faster, but it's not a "get it now" quality. Quick Healer is probably a must have: it's really cheap, and it helps healing the damage you took and since we don't have much downtime, it could be even more important than normal.
Adrenaline Surge is another way to act before anyone else without spending edge, but it's probably a bit expensive. You already have a high perception pool, but the perceptive quality could be useful nonetheless.

So to sum up, I'd increase agility & strength, get new qualities, and raise some skills here and there. Oh and remove Insomnia. Since Echo sleeps in Rowena's arms now, he should be ok (and Insomnia is nasty)

Apart from karma, one thing you could consider is a Synaptic booster. To get it you would have to change some of your existing cyber but from what I see on OP, most of your stuff is Used. Change that and you should get enough Essence hole to get a Synaptic Booster in there. Maybe there are other things to add, but if there's one thing I know less than riggers, it's implants so I can't help much there, sorry

[Imladir]

Careful with the spell Ennui, the gangers would have a perception test with a threshold of Your Spellcasting - Force Spell.
Your best bet here would be to cast it at force 1 with reagents. Unless it's part of the intimidation process of course.

[Ennui]

I'd call it more of a con than intimidation but yeah thats the general idea.

Are you enjoying my story?

[Imladir]

Yeah, it's interesting
I'm glad I didn't meet the vampires though, I don't know how Cynthia would have handled that... Even if something tells me that sooner or later... I'll enjoy my "dream" as long as possible I think

By the way, Vegas, you around? Zen Gypsy hasn't logged in for a week so I suppose he is drowning in work or something, but since you logged in just today, I'm wondering...

[Imladir]

So are Eva and Echo gone?  I haven't seen a post from either one in over a week I think now.

You probably wanted to put that here ^^
Zen Gypsy didn't log in since the 7^th (here or on dumpshock), so I'd guess (hope?) he is drowning in work or something.
Vegas however last logged in yesterday, and quite regularly from what I saw when I checked. So I don't know.

[Stuttrboy]

Yes I did mean to put that here.   I guess I got confused.

[Imladir]

Where do I find this spell so I can see what it is does?

Street Grimoire, p111

[Mercy Merchant]

LOL  I do not have access to that right now.  Can you please tell me what the spell does?

[Imladir]

Sure:

This set of spells provides the spellcaster with an unusual set of non-lethal tools to distract his enemies by forcing great pleasure upon them. Euphoria envelops the target in the stimulating throes of a great high comparable to an empathogenic drug high or sexual climax.
Many magicians utilize this spell in their private lives, granting willing targets a thrilling ecstasy. However, using this spell on unwilling subjects is considered a criminal act by law enforcement officers in many jurisdiction. Spellcasters known to excessively cast this set of spells may gain an unsavory reputation.
Each net hit scored by the spellcaster applies a –1 dice pool modifier to all of the targets’ actions as they are distracted by the sensation. At the gamemaster’s discretion, a character who suffers a dice pool modifier higher than his Willpower is completely incapacitated and preoccupied. Euphoria affects a single target; Opium Den is an area spell.

It's a Mana spell, Realistic, Single Sense, Area. Resisted by Logic + Willpower.

[Mercy Merchant]

Thank you.  Let me edit my post before you respond to it.