Best and worst, Which augmentation is your favorite? Options

[Squinky]

I've been thinking on this a bit and thought I would ask folks their opinion as well.

Basically, which piece of ware is your favorite, and which one is a hunk of garbage or not useful to you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My favorite:

Cyberlimbs.

There is nothing in my mind as essence worthy for a samurai to get. Nothing.

Pros: A cyber limb gives you one box of pain resistance, one extra physical damage box, an easy 2 armor and you can get some goodly stats as well. You wanna max that agility out at chargen? No prob. And the options are awesome.

Cons: All or nothing, you get a couple limbs and you restrict yourself from many bonuses of other ware. It's also kinda essence heavy.

My most disliked:

The Adrenaline Pump.

I love the idea, but I have never seen anyone use it. Why? The drain is deadly even on a level 1 pump and unavoidable. It triggers in an uncontrollable manner and takes 10 minutes before you get the opportunity to take more unresisted stun damage again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Looking forward to seeing others (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Summerstorm]

Favourite:
Move-By-Wire.
Even if a bit watered down it is still awesome. You don't move anymore... you GET moved *g*. But really: you are faster, deadlier, use it as a skillwire and can dodge things you didn't even know were coming. I prefer the 3rd ed ones though... with more disadvantages.

Most disliked:
Hm, tough one... the Adrenaline pump IS bugged (but can be easily fixed by houserules). But i think the Skin Pocket... Really... has anyone ever had skin-pocket implanted? The thing is just emberassingly stupid. I would laugh at anyone implanting it in real life... a POCKET?

Honorable mentions for good thingies: Suprathyroid Gland, Nanitesymbionts, a Mender and Symbionts in a pack: 30% more lifestyle costs due to eating like a pig... but you can cure pretty much any problem with a good nights sleep.

[Tanegar]

But i think the Skin Pocket... Really... has anyone ever had skin-pocket implanted? The thing is just emberassingly stupid. I would laugh at anyone implanting it in real life... a POCKET?

I can actually see that being quite handy for a Michael Westen social infiltrator type. Need to steal the paydata from a secure facility that's isolated from the Matrix and the guards impound your commlink to prevent you downloading anything? No problem. Sneak a datatab (or whatever the 2070 equivalent of a thumb drive is) into the compound in your skin pocket, download the paydata, and stroll out with no one the wiser.

[LurkerOutThere]

Well to be honest though there's other ways to conceal such devices on your body without an essence hit or expense.

[D2F]

My favorite:

Synaptic Booster

There is nothing that gives you more inititive per point of essence.

Pros: At 1.5E it makes you the fastest thing on the street, while costing less Essence than level 1 Wired Reflexes. And you can still add Reaction Enhancers...

Cons: Money. They are spendy. Most Runners probably won't ever see that much money in the first place.




the rotten tomato:

Muscle Replacement

Pros: None.
Cons: There is absolutely nothing that could ever possibly jsutify their essence loss. Ever. I hated them since first ed.

[Bugfoxmaster]

Back on topic - my favorite augmentation is probably DNA Masking (Genewpe). I tend to be very concerned about people tracking my character down, and it always seemed like, unless you're a mage with Sterlize, DNA could be a serious component in screwing you over - either via tracking or ritual sorcery.
My least favorite, certainly, is the balance tail. It just seems moronic. I mean, a TAIL?!?!

[Whipstitch]

Well to be honest though there's other ways to conceal such devices on your body without an essence hit or expense.

They're a niche item, but they're so cheap that they're honestly not that bad for people who own small but inordinately expensive small objects, like hackers or magicians. That's right: magicians. Basically, it's virtually a mortal lock that any human mage I play will have cybereyes, and as long as you have more cyber than bioware, the skin pocket ends up costing you a grand total of .05 essence, which makes them pretty dang easy to squeeze into a build. If you have high grade stacked or power focus it can really pay to have someplace secure to stow that baby before trying to bs your way through a security checkpoint.

Anyway, I'm feeling lazy so I'll just stick to two favorites, one obvious, one sneaky good.

Synthacardium: These fall under the "obvious" category for dumpshock dwellers and rpg vets, but for some reason new players continue to overlook them at my table. If you cannot afford great physical attributes or the Athletics skill group, these are the next best thing. Shadowrun is an unpredictable game, and Athletics covers dancing (probably won't come up, but still), climbing, swimming and not cracking your head open when you have to jump out a window or maintaining your balance while running through all the dangerous crap your GM might spring on you. And if you are a good athlete? Then these things just might be your ticket to some good ol' fashioned Gymnastic Dodge munchkinry. At worst, being physically fit is a great luxury for any shadowrunner. Hell, I'm a li'l confused as to why they cost only 10k per point of rating. I'd pay 15k and never look back.

Internal Airtank: These are just so dirt cheap that I always consider cramming them onto any character for whom essence loss isn't a major issue, since they can let you use breathtaker and nausea gas attacks with impunity. They're not amazing and .25 essence hurts, but at only 650 nuyen the price is right. At that price, jumping up to Alpha grade is hardly an issue-- you could reasonably get 'em as betaware for under 3k in play if you really wanted to. Hell, even getting them as Deltaware would be pretty affordable if it weren't for the trouble of getting an appointment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

[overcannon]

Favorite: Pain Editor
Go-Go killing machine!

Least Favorite: Tooth Breakable Compartment
Um, use an auto-injector for less.

[Keats]

My favorite is Enhanced Articulation, it was hit with a nerf bat from SR3 to SR4, but it's still pretty good.

Least Favorite is penile implant, if you can't get it up take drugs don't implant a fake one.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I've been thinking on this a bit and thought I would ask folks their opinion as well.

Basically, which piece of ware is your favorite, and which one is a hunk of garbage or not useful to you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

My favorite:

Cyberlimbs.

There is nothing in my mind as essence worthy for a samurai to get. Nothing.

Pros: A cyber limb gives you one box of pain resistance, one extra physical damage box, an easy 2 armor and you can get some goodly stats as well. You wanna max that agility out at chargen? No prob. And the options are awesome.

Looking forward to seeing others (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Just Curious Squinky, but it is possible that I may have missed it all these years... where exactly does it say that you get a point of pain resistance for a cyberlimb?

Keep the Faith

[AndyZ]

Other than what's been said that I've seen:

Best: Wired Reflexes. If you need to ask why, you lose.

Worst: Chameleon Skin. 1 die to infiltration? 3 if you're completely motionless? And that's only if you're completely naked? Good luck.

[kjones]

Least Favorite is penile implant, if you can't get it up take drugs don't implant a fake one.

Please tell me you're making that up.

[Umidori]

Radar Sensor: Congratulations! You can now detect any motion within 100 meters, even through multiple walls, up to a total Barrier rating of 20 at sensor rating 4! You can also now see through Invisibility and camouflague, and it also operates as a Signal 2 millimeter wave radar system for detecting weapons and cyberware! Toss in an Orientation system and you can instantly create fully accurate 3D maps of any area you find yourself in, to share with your friends!

Dunno about my least favorite though. Prolly something like the Touch Link, which I don't understand the potential usage of.

~Umidori

[Squinky]

Just Curious Squinky, but it is possible that I may have missed it all these years... where exactly does it say that you get a point of pain resistance for a cyberlimb?

Keep the Faith

I phrased it badly, here it is though:

Pg. 33 augmentation Cyberlimb Sensory Cut-off. Pretty much a point of pain resistance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Glad this thread is going so well, It's cool to see different folks take on things.

[Keats]

Please tell me you're making that up.

Nope. Augmentation p. 34

[Neraph]

Nope. Augmentation p. 34

A full cyberlimb replacement person can have 84.... 85 if the person in question is a male. And if everything is delta-grade and suite'd, it can go higher than that.

[Manunancy]

Least Favorite is penile implant, if you can't get it up take drugs don't implant a fake one.

But think of how you can have a variable size, bejewelled, vibrating implant, with a built-in go happy drug injector AND a taser if the goings get rough.....

Not exactly the most useful thing during a run I admit, but it makes a great(?) conversation piece...

[Nows7]

My favorite is Enhanced Articulation, it was hit with a nerf bat from SR3 to SR4, but it's still pretty good.

Least Favorite is penile implant, if you can't get it up take drugs don't implant a fake one.

The penile implant can also be installed with [1]Capacity instead of essence. Meaning you can attach 10 of them to one cyber lower arm. Ladies and gentlemen - Edward Penis-hands!

Auto-injector loaded with brain bleach anyone?

[Ascalaphus]

I think I like Dietware best. Think of the impact it has in society; for 2500 you don't have to worry about obesity anymore. Of course, that outlines the difference between social classes even more; the poor can't afford an easy way out.


I understand just how powerful Move by Wire is, but the concept really fills me with revulsion.. spending your whole life in a constant controlled seizure.. *shiver*


As for usefulness, I think the Radar implant is my current favorite. I'm hopeless with directions, so I took this an Orientation System, and I just tell the GM I want automap or no fuss about directions.

[toturi]

The penile implant can also be installed with [1]Capacity instead of essence. Meaning you can attach 10 of them to one cyber lower arm. Ladies and gentlemen - Edward Penis-hands!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rollin.gif) That gives a whole new meaning to the term "handjob".

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Best: Orthoskin Elektroshock Upgrade.
An implanted weapon undetectable by Cyber Scanners or Assensing (indistinguishable from any, probably cosmetic, skin mod and Orthoskin) that has unlimited charges, works with every part of your skin and deals the best typ of damage in game.

Worst: Increased Sensitivity
Does less than Hearing Enhancement.

and it also operates as a Signal 2 millimeter wave radar system for detecting weapons and cyberware!

The Signal is used for Range and Jamming purposes only (and can be upgraded to 4) - the device itself won't detect cyberware or weapons, it can be used to (it has no database like the cyber scanner, it's just a vision system): You can make perception tests for that.

Toss in an Orientation system and you can instantly create fully accurate 3D maps of any area

Any commlink with a mapsoft will do just fine, no need for an Orientation System.

[Dakka Dakka]

Favorite: Pain Editor
Go-Go killing machine!

But don't forget to wear sufficient armor, because the modifiers from Physical Damage are not negated. Not RAW but Sniping (without a smartgun and trigger removal) may also be difficult since you have a -4 to tactile sensations.
I prefer 6-9 points of damage compensators and a Platelet factory.

As for best and worst, MBW and Muscle replacement have already been mentioned

[Rotbart van Dain...]

I prefer 6-9 points of damage compensators and a Platelet factory.

I prefer a Platelet Factory and a Trauma Damper:

Taking less damage mans less modifiers, too - and you'll live longer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Dakka Dakka]

What I meant was, I prefer those, if I want to have some kind of High Pain Tolerance equivalent.

[Saint Sithney]

A full cyberlimb replacement person can have 84.... 85 if the person in question is a male. And if everything is delta-grade and suite'd, it can go higher than that.

The man with 85 dongs might just have to appear in my current campaign..

I like bone density augmentation. Decently cheap for bioware, completely legal but still adds to damage resistance and punching power.

I dislike cyberfins. I mean, if the plan involves swimming, you can buy flippers.