[Faber Sabbrin]

Hey everyone.
Just found out about the game and am hoping to get started. I'm wondering the best way to choose a character and am also unsure of which books I should be looking for. I also am looking for a noob game, or someone who doesn't mind teaching a noob the ropes.
Thanks all.

[Charybdis]

Welcome

Choosing a character really depends on what you'd like to see yourself doing in a future Sci-fi setting... Do you want to:

1) Be a cutting edge computer hacker?        (aka Hacker)
2) Control cars and armies of mini-drones with your mind?  (aka Rigger)
3) Fill yourself with chrome, wires and enhancements to make you stronger, better faster and generally a scary combat monster?  (Aka Street Samurai)
4) Be the smooth and social negotiator?  (aka Face)
5) Be an all-round, magically empowered athlete who can compete with the combat junkies of option 3)?  (Aka Physical Adept, or PhysAd)
6) Sling spells and conjure spirits that defy all laws of physics and nature? (aka Magician)

And a plethora of other other options that criss-cross the imagination.

It's all up to you

As for games, I'm not running any online (or anywhere really) but there are a few forum threads on here that may help:

[BSOD]

For what books to look at:

Shadowrun 20th Anniversary/ Standard Core Rulebook : Well its the core rulebook.
Runners Companion : Gives an expansion on several areas but most importantly for you, I imagine, is the plethora of new qualities and the extra metatype options.
Arsenal : Guns, Drones, Mods, and all things explosive. You will find something shiny in here no matter what your character.
Augmentation : Cyberware, Bioware, Nanoware, and Genetech (For when what god gives you, just isn't good enough.). Not as useful for Mages, Adepts, and Technomancers, but then again you never know.
Unwired : If you want to mess with the matrix then this is for you. Lots of extra goodies for Hackers, Technomancers, and some bits and pieces for Riggers.(Depending how dedicated you are to the role)
Street Magic : If you want to sling spells or use adept powers, this is the book for you. Not alot of use for non-magic characters though.

[The Big Peat]

Start with the standard core book, read, get a grip for it, see what you like.

What sort of characters do you usually play in games?

[Fallen]

Typically, you should get comfortable enough with the core rules book to get a gist of what sort of characters people the world you're about to begin adventuring in.  Usually, what the core book contains is in itself enough of a resource that you shouldn't actually "need" anything more.

Published supplements usually allow you to dig a bit deeper on a specific topic of interest, offering more detail into certain aspects of the game as they relate to the individual supplement's main area of concern.

As for what you should do?

Charybdis said it best: it's all up to you.

Allow your imagination to run wild, let yourself be inspired by any fiction that makes that hamster spin its wheel like some crazy juiced-up rabid rodent and go for something you believe will be fun for you to portray.

There's no wrong way or right way to go about it.

Good luck and have fun!

[JoeNapalm]

Non-SR books you should be looking for:

Snowcrash - Neal Stephenson
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Burning Chrome - William Gibson
Rainbow's End - Vernor Vinge

Those are just a primer, of course. 

-Jn-
City of Brass Expatriate

[kirk]

Add Halting State by Charlie Stross, I think.