Good class for first playthrough?

[bati]

I like to play rpgs in a completionist way, which means seeing as much as possible on the first run. I've quickly glanced over some topics and saw decker mentioned a few times as a good choice because of some solo areas. I'd also like to avoid duplicate roles within my team if possible.

I played a Rifle Samurai in SR and I liked it but if locks me out of some side content then I'd rather go with some other class. Hit me with suggestions.

[MattStriker]

Decker. Definitely decker. The NPC decker you get is good (and kinda funny as a character) but if you're really completionist Decker is the way to go since there's a few things that can only be accessed if your character can deck, and none that require other classes (although astral perception can get you extra info and convo options in a few places...try it on Absinthe sometime :P).

[FelixSylvaris]

Decking is only 54 Karma for Int 7, Decking 7, ESP 1 with ephelon should be all right. Which leaves pleanty of Karma to play with. And it is more about having something to do in combat, some optons:
1) Rifles, and deal tons of damage also enjoy heavy cyberware
2) Spellcasting (Mage) - could be blast to play, also Astral Sight.
3) Rigger - having drone control opens some ways, however this build is tight on Karma.

[MattStriker]

The main issue with combining rigging with anything else isn't karma, it's weapon slots. Drones need slots. Cyberdecks, guns and powerbolts all compete for those same slots.

[bati]

Originally posted by MattStriker:

Decker. Definitely decker. The NPC decker you get is good (and kinda funny as a character) but if you're really completionist Decker is the way to go since there's a few things that can only be accessed if your character can deck, and none that require other classes (although astral perception can get you extra info and convo options in a few places...try it on Absinthe sometime :P).

Thanks, just the type of answer I was looking for.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

There's a rather potent combo were you use a rigger/decker and dip into unarmed/physical adapt JUST enough to hold your own in combat besides your drones.

I've tried it, and it's really fun... BUT you end up rather starved for karma AND cash, at least in Dragonfall.

So althought it lets you do much all by your lonesome, I think it might be a bit too advanced a build for a first-time playtrough

[Royal_Tenenbaum]

Decker. My main in Dead Man's and my secondary in Dragonfall are Decker's. I really love Street Samurai, but Blitz is there for you if you want a decker.

[EolSunder]

Decker is a good choice because the plot of the game is revolved around decking and cyber use so you'll fit in perfectly in the theme of this game. There are also plenty of decking conversation options, choices that require intelligence and drone if you pick up drones. Charisma is a nice bonus also, gets you many dialogue choices, free stuff.

I like a melee/decker combo because strength while working good with melee also has a few instances in the game for getting to places, bypassing talks, and other stuff, but of course a good drone combo works nice also due to the game theme. I'm playing a Melee/Decker and love it. I'm not the big damage dealer, I rely on AP draining hits to help my team mop up foes, but the basic health, dodging, quickness, etc isn't bad either, and running up to a couple foes and smacking them and seeing -3 AP pop up and them going snooze town zzzzZZZZzzz is very satisfying.

[Ichthyic]

fwiw, there appears to be a "hidden" weapon slot in the game. You'll notice it when you pick up a weapon when your slots are apparently "full", but it still doesn't give you the option to put it in your stash.

then, next combat, it will show up as a slot for you to use.

not quite sure how to reliably manipulate it, but it shows up on every map level.

in fact, it might indeed be your "naked fist" slot, that you will notice during any combat in the game; it's always there, just doesn't appear until combat starts.

this is why someone mentioned you can go unarmed chi a few levels, and have it work, even if you are a decker/rigger. becaue your fist will always be available, even if your 3 weapons slots are filled with a deck and two drones.

ocassionally, for reasons that aren't entirely clear to me, the game will automatically shove a weapon you pick up into your fist slot.

sometimes, you won't even notice. other times, when you finish a run, it will suddenly look as though it has displaced one of the weapons or drones or deck you actually slotted.

anywho, point being, if you try the unarmed chi route, you should doublecheck your slots when you are finished with a run. if you see a strange weapon there, go to you stash and put everything that is in your weapon slots into your stash, hit confirm, then got back into your stash again. your "missing" weapon will now be back in your hand, and you can put back the items you put into your stash.

and yes, I agree you likely will get the most story value out of being a decker/rigger.

that said, ALL the classes are actually pretty well balanced in this, and your teammates end up not being too shabby. you don't HAVE to have a decker to enjoy the game, as blitz is *just* good enough to do any decking you need done.

the obvious gap early on is the one that Monika leaves,,, and getting back to the OP's rifle build... decker/rifle was what Monika was.

you really cannot go wrong with a basic decker/rifle build in this game.

[Hermit]

Originally posted by MattStriker:

Decker. Definitely decker. The NPC decker you get is good (and kinda funny as a character) but if you're really completionist Decker is the way to go since there's a few things that can only be accessed if your character can deck, and none that require other classes (although astral perception can get you extra info and convo options in a few places...try it on Absinthe sometime :P).

I strongly disagree. Your options for team mates are all dramatically weaker at combat than a good player-built character, and decking is almost entirely useless in combat other than mark target. And no matter how great your conversation skills, there's still lots of combat. I think you might as well let someone else(Blitz) do the decking.

My recommendation would be a rifle shaman. Charisma(+gang/security/corporate etiquettes), conjuring, spirit summoning for the AoE heal totem or maybe creator idol if you want to use summons(it's nice if you bring Dietrich on most of your runs since he gets his fetishes free). Quickness, Ranged, Rifle for your damage, along with body and a bit of dodge for survivability.

You get tons of dialogue options that can make many runs considerably easier. You can get lots of AP with haste buff(and drugs), and rifles make great use of AP with the full auto attack.

Full auto pops targets out of cover, which lets your weaksauce sidekicks actually hit and deal decent damage to them, and of course with subsequent attacks you'll hit them even harder.

Pack a sniper rifle as well, for cheesy turtling tactics when necessary. Even better if you bring along barriers to force enemies through AP damage chokepoints.

It's very good damage, versatile, and you get most of the best dialogue and mission options.

[MattStriker]

Check the OP. This isn't about combat effectiveness. It's about being able to explore every part of every map. And for that, you need to be a decker.

[Hermit]

Originally posted by MattStriker:

Check the OP. This isn't about combat effectiveness. It's about being able to explore every part of every map. And for that, you need to be a decker.

Charisma > Decking for side content IMO.

And I don't think it's possible to access all side content with one build. Any build that even tried would also be pretty horrible for everything other than skill/attribute checks.


Here's a little cheat sheet(spoilers) that shows most of the skill check related rewards and options -

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/727740-shadowrun-dragonfall/68762655

Doing a quick CTRL+F and counting -

Decking has 10, but some of those are still available if you just bring Blitz.

Charisma alone has 17, and specific etiquettes can get you more.

[SupidSeep]

Hermit, one issue with this "cheat sheet" is that it's not for the Director's Cut which has a little extra content.

I do not have full details but IIRC much of these extra content limits party availability so more checks are dependent exclusively on the Player Charactor .

[Rhazer]

Rigger/Decker for me. 2 drones and my keyboard. I hide in the back and send my team and drones to do the dirty work.

[mr Trollmaster Flex (USA)]

Everything is attainable in a single playthrough as a decker with Charisma. I even played as a troll decker/rigger to boot (not recommended - but definitely duoable. Especially with Engineer armor).

What you need to be mindful of are these things:

(1) Ignore your pet when you first interact with him.
(2) Save often, because you can make a decision-- then load to unlock the opposing achievement. Ex. Kill X and Save X.
(3) When you unlock the Lodge Trial mission, do it ASAP. If you do not, you will miss out on a Lodge mission and won't get the Lodge achievement.

#1 is easily the most important, and will not be obvious until you're 80% of the way through the game. If you don't do that, you WILL have to do another playthrough. It's unavoidable. (It's what I'm doing now.)

#3 is another reason why I needed to do another PT.

[Kayeka]

Combine Decker with Spellcasting, and add some points to both Charisma and Biotech. Pick up the Security, Corporate and Academic etiquette.

This let's you see basically everything this game has to offer.