Decker character worth it?

[Sweetz]

In Dead Man's Switch I decided to play a decker. I was disappointed how rarely decking it was used used though. It wasn't a complete waste because I ended up using drones since I had already put points into intelligence and I liked the drones well enough.

I still like the idea of playing a decker, but if there are still few opportunities to use it, then perhaps I'm better off trying a different character type out.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Far more chances for decking in Dragonfall onward, both in dialogue and actual decking. HBS learned from the feedback from Returns.

Still, drones is a good combo with that since both use the same base-stat, and deckers have about somewhere between zilch and 'the-universe-laughs-at-you' in offensive options.

[Sweetz]

Cool, I'll stick with a decker then, thank you.

I imagine decker is probably a cliché choice on my part and what a lot of people gravitate towards, but I mean come on, if you're going to make a universe that borrows heavily from Neuromancer, what else would you expect people to pick :)

[frdnwsm]

There are indeed more chances to use decking skills in DF and HK, although you do have perfectly competent decker crew members in both games. Using drones for combat turns you into a Blitz clone ... effectively a decker-rigger combo, which has been discussed at length in both the HK and DF forums. You may want to check those out.

Drones and drone repair kits can get expensive in DF, until you finish donating to the Alice Fund. Afrer that, finances become less of a problem. You don't need the best decks in DF; matrix runs aren't that taxing. In HK, matrix combat is a bit quirkier, so you may want to get the Fairlight in that one. (In fact, I tried to use the matrix as little as possible in HK. Rather annoying change in mechanics there).

Karma and NuYen are both limited resources, so be frugal and consider carefully before spending either.

The other thing that deckers do for combat situations is to beef up another attack mode. Pumping up ranged combat and getting a smartlink firearm is popular. Or you could go with thrown weapons and use shurikens and grenades. I seriously can't recall hearing about anyone doing a decker-melee cyber samurai combo; sounds kinky.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

@frdnwsm

I wouldn't say 'clone.' Blitz does bring that option to the table, yeah, but he's rather rotten at rigging.

That being said, rigger-deckers can become amazing combat beasts if you dip into unarmed and physical adapt. Unnarmed to twin slots, chi to stride, and you become this one man/woman avatar of death.

It's quite the balancing act until you've gotten some gear and karma under your belt, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.

[frdnwsm]

Originally posted by Lord Of Dorkness:

@frdnwsm
It's quite the balancing act until you've gotten some gear and karma under your belt, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners.

I have been experimenting with various builds in both DF and HK. There is just enough karma and cash in both games to allow you to construct a character which is strong in two fields, no matter how odd the combination sounds. I mentioned a cybered street sam-decker in my last post, so I went and made one in HK, and ran him through 4 missions. Worked fine. You could equally well make a decker-physical adept combo, just grab some cyber affinity to keep the (eventual) 6 spell slots. Or just be happy with, say, 3 spell slots and grab some cyber augmentation. It's all good.

The one proviso here is that, while trolls shine at close combat builds, a troll decker-adept would be a bit limited since their Int max is 6. Still, decker 6 isn't totally terrible, and you would be mean in melee.

Yes, your decker-rigger character will be more effective than Blitz, because you will have greater flexibility in picking your skills. Just be circumspect in spending your cash/karma.

I usually use the open profession category for these builds, since this alows you the most flexibility in spending your karma. So yes, it would be helpful to have some game experience under your belt before going crazy with eccentric builds.

[Zadok]

"There is just enough karma and cash in both games to allow you to construct a character which is strong in two fields"

Actually many things are strong on a low level, allowing you to combine much more than two. Your main offense is the only thing you need to put at least a third of your Karma into.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Originally posted by Zadok:

"There is just enough karma and cash in both games to allow you to construct a character which is strong in two fields"

Actually many things are strong on a low level, allowing you to combine much more than two. Your main offense is the only thing you need to put at least a third of your Karma into.

Yeah, what Zaduk said.

That's why I tend to argue for a splat into chi and unarmed. Not only does melee have good accuracy compared to the ranged options, but since there are so few chi spells worth having their very front-loaded.

Argubly, you don't even need more then that first killing hands spell, but magic resist is very useful and the same for stride.

[frdnwsm]

I wasn't implying that a bit of dabbling was useless; far from it. But you can only really get good (7 or better) specialization in two skill sets. Stride and magic resistance you mentioned, and they are certainly useful. You could also get three ranks in spirit summoning, and get one of the totems or idols; Bear for it's healing powers, for example, is rather helpful. Or get enough conjuration to access haste. Lots of possibilities.

[frdnwsm]

Ooooh! Now I want to try a troll decker-physical adept combination!

Maybe if I lie down, the fit will go away.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Originally posted by frdnwsm:

I wasn't implying that a bit of dabbling was useless; far from it. But you can only really get good (7 or better) specialization in two skill sets. Stride and magic resistance you mentioned, and they are certainly useful. You could also get three ranks in spirit summoning, and get one of the totems or idols; Bear for it's healing powers, for example, is rather helpful. Or get enough conjuration to access haste. Lots of possibilities.

Hawk on a duel drone rigger is actually really silly if you don't mind being granede bait.

Just bunch up, and see every shot land for three rounds.

[frdnwsm]

"Hawk on a duel drone rigger is actually really silly if you don't mind being granede bait.

Just bunch up, and see every shot land for three rounds."

This is, of course, a DF forum folder; however, I would like to point out that in HK, you can get the Shiawase magnetic cyber arm which conveys immunity to grenades. So the Hawk totem on a rigger who also has the magnetic arm would work even better there.

[Jasina]

Definetly go for a Decker. It may just be my not liking the one provided by the game, but I still think it's worth it.