best story character

[Deklend]

I see a lot of posts for min/max builds but I don't often see many posts about how to get the best story experience from each of these games. I know that can be a bit subjective, but to narrow it down a bit, what sort of build should I go for for the most conversation options, secrets, etc...to really eke out everything from the game without completely gimping combat

[Chigen Atomic]

Charisma is definitely important. A lot of stuff could be done with/by your companions but the game rarely allows a followers input.

[Knightwork]

From what I've seen, you want Academic, Gang, Security, and Shadowrunner Ettiquettes - which means a Charisma of 8. For using all the Karma you can, Human would be the first choice, since it essentially has 1 more point than the other metahumans (Trolls have more, but that 6 Charisma keeps you to only 3 Etiquettes.). Decking and Drone have a couple of options, so that means pouring points into Intelligence. I think pumping those to 4 early on, and eventually 5 or 6 will pay off. Having a drone really helps out in a few runs, plus it's the only way to get Pocket Clams on the Deckcon mission. Building up Biotech is another one which can help you in the game. If you're not a pistol build, running Intelligence up to 7 will allow you to grab the Bad Qi gun. Obviously, all this envisions a Decker/Rigger build - not many points for combat/caster skills, but you should always toss 6 into Spirit Summoning to grab a Totem.

Hope this gives you a good start!

[Knightwork]

Ok, I scurried off to see what a starting character would look like using my advice:

Human

Body 3

Intelligence 4

Biotech 3

Decking 3

Drone Control 3

Charisma 6
- Academic
- Gang
-Shadowrunner

Spirit Summoning 3
- Totem (I really like Leopard; Cobra and Fish are tied for second pllace, followed by Boar)
-- Coyote has a conversation option, but I don't know if it leads to anything.

This would give you a solid start using what I stated before. By doing the three missions in which you can avoid combatWalled City, Outsider, Deckcon, you can gain more Karma for fleshing out your build before you have to get in a serious fight. YMMV.

[Deklend]

right on, thank you guys for the input and will build around that

[smilehigh]

This link might also help you.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=503910261

[frdnwsm]

I'd suggest corporate rather than Academic as far as game utility goes. Academic only opens up a few conversation options; it has a practical application in only one spot, in the Prosperity Tower mission.

[Knightwork]

Academic nets you karma, as far as I know there isn't a karma award for corporate.

[frdnwsm]

"Academic nets you karma, as far as I know there isn't a karma award for corporate."

1 karma, unless I am missing something?

[Knightwork]

Yes, but it also unlocks conversation trees which otherwise would not be as rich. Corrisivechains wanted to get everything out of the game story without gimping combat. Getting the one karma with Academic definately adds to the story.

[Konstantin]

You get although one karma for security in bad karma. You have to speak with the one on the toilet and tell him to tell the guards as security drill to told them about an enemy.

[frdnwsm]

Konstantin means the Bad Qi mission, not the bad karma.

There is 220 Karma in the basic game. I have never managed to get more than 219, however. There's 1 karma kicking around that apparently I keep missing. Sometimes I get less, depending on how much my OCD is kicking in. Sometimes there is extra karma from the same mission for doing things differently. Like the Bad Qi run, mentioned above.

In bad Qi, you get one Karma for fooling the employee into giving you his ID card. You get an extra karma if instead you tell him to raise an alarm. Both methods get you access to the elevator, but the sneakier one gets you 1 more karma.[spoiler/]

Sometimes you get karma doing something that seemingly has no relevance to advancing the game per se. For example, sharing a drink with 10 Arm Ambrose nets you 1 extra karma, for no good reason that I can see.[spoiler/]

[Konstantin]

Where you can give Ten Armed Ambrose one out?

[Chigen Atomic]

The one you may be missing is the pocket clam

[frdnwsm]

Originally posted by Chigen Atomic:

The one you may be missing is the pocket clam

Hah! That's it! Ok, next run, 220 karma!

[frdnwsm]

Originally posted by Konstantin5500:

Where you can give Ten Armed Ambrose one out?

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, but if you are referring to the Karma from Ambrose ... If you have talked with him during the game, and gotten his story, near the end before heading off to Prosperity Tower, he asks if you will share a drink with him. Doing so nets you 1 karma. Maybe as a reward for listening to all his ramblings.[spoiler/]