Decker Build?

[Bad Player]

I want to do a decker (it's the coolest-sounding archetype to me), but this is my first Shadowrun game and I have no idea how this works. So... how do you build a decker? I've looked around, and can't really find anything. It seems like decking is just the matrix, so maybe also it wouldn't be a bad idea to throw a ranged weapon into the mix so I'm not useless outside of the matrix.

I don't need a detailed build guide, but what stats/skills do I put points into?

Thanks~

[frdnwsm]

Decking in this game can be a bit frustrating. Have you played Dragonfall at all? The Matrix there is simpler, and you might get a better feel for the profession if you start there. Consider yourself warned.

For decking itself, you need Int and Decking skill, and will want to put some into ESP control as well. Decking is only useful inside the matrix, however. If you want to do anything in meatspace as far as combat goes, you need two more skills, which can stretch your karma out a bit.

I'd suggest ranged weapons for your first run; those are pretty simple. Human might be your best race here, since you get a bit of extra starting karma.

So, picking a human decker as your starting archetype, you might get Int 3, Decking 3, ESP 3, Quickness 4 and Ranged weapons 4. You will have 1 free karma left over; put it into rifle skill. That way you will start the game with a rifle instead of a pistol. Fighting at long range is better for you.

And of course, you can't use a deck without programs. You can buy programs, as well as deck upgrades, from a fellow named Maximum Law. However, you can't buy anything from any merchants except smugglers until you win Kindly Cheng's approval after the first mission you do for her.

[Bad Player]

Thanks for all the info!

So I guess I should continue to pour karma into those skills I'm going to start with?

Like I said, this is my first Shadowrun, so I haven't played Dragonfall. Thanks for the advice.

[frdnwsm]

There are ancillary skills you will need, but you can pick those up later on. More body, for example, will give you more health. You might want to pick up some cyber affinity skill. How much is up to you. You can mix and match skill sets. For example, you might go full cyber route and augment your ranged weapon skills with all sorts of cyber ... which can get expensive ... or you could grab some support magic spells instead. Lots of combinations are possible.

But the bulk of your karma should go into your 4 key skills. Int and Decking, Quickness and Ranged weapons, with a fair amount thrown in for ESPs ... which are programs that create helpers for you while in combat in the Matrix.

Note that at the start, top level gear is not available. As the game progresses and your skills grow, merchants will offer you better quality equipment. Money is limited so you may want to budget and use lesser gear for a while, and save up for the top of the line stuff that shows up later on in the game.

I still suggest starting with Dragonfall to learn game mechanics, but if you find that you keep asking yourself during the game "WTF just happened??", you can always ask for advice here on the forums.

Save game frequently.

[Bad Player]

Got it. Thanks!

[Hope]

Originally posted by frdnwsm:

Decking in this game can be a bit frustrating. Have you played Dragonfall at all? The Matrix there is simpler, and you might get a better feel for the profession if you start there. Consider yourself warned.

For decking itself, you need Int and Decking skill, and will want to put some into ESP control as well. Decking is only useful inside the matrix, however. If you want to do anything in meatspace as far as combat goes, you need two more skills, which can stretch your karma out a bit.

I'd suggest ranged weapons for your first run; those are pretty simple. Human might be your best race here, since you get a bit of extra starting karma.

So, picking a human decker as your starting archetype, you might get Int 3, Decking 3, ESP 3, Quickness 4 and Ranged weapons 4. You will have 1 free karma left over; put it into rifle skill. That way you will start the game with a rifle instead of a pistol. Fighting at long range is better for you.

And of course, you can't use a deck without programs. You can buy programs, as well as deck upgrades, from a fellow named Maximum Law. However, you can't buy anything from any merchants except smugglers until you win Kindly Cheng's approval after the first mission you do for her.

I wanted to do Elf Decker because human races are boring in general, but this leaves me with 2 karma, I guess I can put the floating karma into medpacks or something

This is my first time playing Hong Kong, I have only played the original videogame

[Tola]

I never liked ESPs and rarely had much trouble in Dead Man's Switch or Dragonfall (I always just used Is0bel in Hong Kong), so you could skimp on that if you're having karma troubles.