Cyber: (all alphaware)
Datajack(.08e), control rig (.4e), Olfactory booster (.16e), cybereyes r4 (.4e), cyberears r3(.32e). subtotal 1.36 essence cyberware. (0.68e actual)

Bioware: (all cultured)
Bone density 3 (.72e), muscle augmentation 3 (.48e), muscle toner 3 (.48e), orthoskin 3 (.6e), Platelet factories (.16e), synaptic booster 3 (1.5e), reflex recorder (firearms) (.2e). 4.14 essece bioware.

1.18 essence left. about 800,000 spent

what else should be added? orks and trolls can have higher muscle augmentation and bone desity.

what's the point of the rating 4 cybereyes with nothing in them. Same with the ears. you'll spend more money on those cyberware (but probably not more essence).

I think optimal=unlimited ressources (evidence= deltagrade cyberware).

What role do you envision for your samurai?

The original concept is more about attitude and worldview than about the choice of equipment, therefore additional information is required.

The archtypical ranged combat monster would like your list for sure (consider hyperthyroid gland instead of individual upgrades, should be more efficient in the "money doesn´t matter"-league). Where is the enhanced articulation?

Control Rig? Why? And where is the Commlink?

first of all, the eyes and ears are not empty, i was just listing where essence was spent. Ultrasound should be able to fit in the eyes. Commlink may be able to fit in the ears, but we lack any written rule saying if you can or not offhand.

and while you cant start with it all, you can start with some, and add as you go. sometimes its good to have a long-term plan. other times, its good to have some high-end NPCs ready.

dunno if reaction enhancers will help, as synaptic adds 3 reaction already, and the max is 9 for most people.

as for superthyroid, it costs the same essence as one level of. muscle toner+augment & bone density. Theres no reward if your reaction is already maxed from synaptic, only the downside of hyperactivity and needing more food.

well, im working more from the assumption that its either an experienced PC, or an NPC. so it dosent make sense to waste essence on something you can do with karma. The real advantage of cyber and bio is exceeding the normal limits of humanity. Doing impossible and amazing things. With the new hard caps on skill and attributes, superhuman ability is more easily defined. An unaugmented human can only throw 16 dice at a test, plus gear bonus if any. With cyber, an augmented human can get 4 more dice from bioware, sometimes more.

so the question, is how far can we push that limit for one sam? if we assume he has maxed his physical atributes, and the important active skills.

actualy, alpha rating 5 skillwaires would be 0.4 essence loss. so that covers 10 active skills at any one time, with 0.78 esssence left.

don't forget your friend and mine, enchanced articulation!

Which is only cool if he wants to win a marathon, or if he dodges with gymnastics...

It dosen't add to combat skills anymore, so its no longer a must buy, it's character dependent.

Speaking of dodging with gymnastics, did you notice that Synthacardium adds to your gymnastics, and thus to your full defense actions?

That's pretty sweet. I personally find the rating 3 to be fairly pointless, as it doesn't stack with Balance Augmentors or Enhanced Articulation at that point, but the first two levels are strong contenders all around. It makes you stupid fast in sprinting tests, and it raises your gymnastic dodge up into crazy town. Taking the first initiative pass for full defense every round is just plain good sense at that point.

-Frank

if those bioware can add dice to athletics, depends on if the limit you can improve a skill with implants applies. go read the bottom left paragraph of p. 109. Im a bit unclear on what exaclty that rule limits, aside from adepts, reflex recorders, and spells.