I'm sorry, I've been trying to figure out exactly what the phrasing for this power means.

QUOTE

Improved Reflexes
Cost: Variable, see below
This power increases the speed at which you react, just like wired reflexes. For each level, you receive +1 die to Reaction (this also affects Initiative) and 1 extra Initiative Pass. The maximum rating of Improved Reflexes is 3, and the increase cannot be combined with technological or other magical increases to Initiative.

Does it give bonus to the reaction attribute or does it just increase the number of dice rolled for initiative as well as the initiative count?

Perhaps it should be framed as:

QUOTE

Improved Reflexes
Cost: Variable, see below
This power increases the speed at which you react, just like wired reflexes. For each level, you receive +1 to Reaction (this also affects Initiative) and 1 extra Initiative Pass. The maximum rating of Improved Reflexes is 3, and the increase cannot be combined with technological or other magical increases to Initiative.

Usually when something adds bonus dice, it doesn't specify the attribute. Like if it said +1 die to all defense tests, it would be bonus dice. I'm pretty sure it adds to your Reaction directly though. Otherwise, it wouldn't impact your Initiative. I suppose it's possible that what it's saying is that you add +1 bonus die to both Reaction and Initiative. But I think it makes more sense to say that, like every single other initiative booster, it adds to Reaction itself.

In the case of Improved Reflexes adept power, they mean that the Reaction Attribute increases by 1 for every level of the power. You can contrast this with the Improved Initiative spell (or whatever the +IP spell is called), which specifically states that it adds to Initiative directly. Improved Reflexes adds to Initiative indirectly by adding to Reaction.

I've always assumed it works just like wired reflexes, which seems to be it's intent--flawless grammar is not something these rulebooks are exactly known for.

this has always been one of my biggest gripes. Not only the lack of clear grammer, but the poor proofreading. In every book there (with the exception of the BBB's) there are alway multiple small proofreading errors. As an English major it just annoys the bejeezus outta me.
Obviously improved reflexes adds to the reaction stat, I'd say it even counts as unaugmented so when you go to raise it using Karma, it's more expensive. And it can't raise it above your absolute limit.

I have an unrelated question. wtf is a BBB?

It's the core rules book.

BBB = Big Black (or Blue for SR1) Book = SR (whatever edition you care to talk about) Core Rules

Hehe, ok that makes sense. Wanna know why I would have never figured it out? I forgot the second edition core was black. Mine was falling apart a few years back, so I covered it with Silver duct tape (except for the picture on the front), and reinforced it with some posterboard. So really, Mine's more of a BSB

Anyway, thanks. That's been bugging me for a week or so now but I hadn't gotten around to asking

Also, (because of it's insides i suppose) I always think of the 4th ed book as green.

It says right in the entry: "just like Wired Reflexes." You add a die to your Reaction and you get an extra Init Pass. The numbers after attributes (and skills)... that's what those are... numbers representing dice.

Really, I am not understanding the problem here. The way it is written makes perfect sense to me.

Vlad

Limited edition SR3/4 hard backs are called BABYs (Big All Black Yearbooks)

Well I've not played SR since its 2nd incarnation, and when my old gaming group met up to begin playing again, the wording (due to the 2 lawyer rules lawyers) is important.

As I said its the +1 die that causes the confusion.

Anyway, thanks to the quick replies. My, there have been a lot of changes since SR2 hasn't there.

You can say that again! gl adapting.

Thanks, by the way, does the search function here work well? I can't seem to find a thread about skinlink.

The search function and I are not friends, but... try adjusting your date range. There are a number of threads about skinlink if you go back fare nough.