Hacker Creation 101, Learning to love decking... kinda Options

[JudgeIto78]

Hey everyone,

First off, I'm sure this has been asked and done a million times before. I did a search and could not find anything within the last 2 months about it, so I feel safe asking. Here's my problem...

I have never made a cybered character before, let alone a decker. I have been recently thrown into the role (somewhat willingly) and I'm am trudging through the matrix rules in the Core book as well as the Matrix source. While the thing reads like a Linux code book in ancient Sumerian to me, I am trying to figure out what exactly the basic components (besides deck and datajack) that I will need to be a competent starting decker?

This means what other cyberware, programs, etc, I should be buying and what rating to buy them at. So far I have a custom deck (basically the difference b/w a Renraku Kraftwerk and a CMT Avatar; due to availability issues) an induction jack, and a Math SPU (b/c Encephelon was bit too much money and essence cost, but still rating 3).

Any suggestions or ideas for which way I should be heading would be helpful.

Also, I was wondering whether you all thought that the flaw of "Combat Paralysis" would apply to matrix combat as well.

Thanks in advance