Hello all. I have, after only 3 weeks, managed to put together a SR4 character that I feel pleased with, and wanted to get some input on how this character might work in a group, and any comments, critiques and advice are very welcome. I tried to tie all the numbers together in a way that would get as close to the background as possible.

The idea was for a runner who worked on the "path of least resistance" principle. So while not the best at most things, he can do a number of things without too much difficulty.

Fist, the character concept. He is a former intelligence operative with a rumored history that could border on scandalous. For a quick archetype, think Daniel Craig as Bond crossed with Pierce Brosnan in "The Tailor of Panama". And yes, he's a Brit. I haven't created a full Background story yet, but here are the basics.

Born Thomas Ryan, it is suspected that he is the illegitimate child of British Nobility. Due ot this he led a cushy, yet cloistered life at first. After his mother died, he ended up in private schools due to his inheritance. Once on his own, or his version of it, he was recruited by the British Army and served in the MI division. At first he spent time doing info gathering and support for operations against the Vory in British domains. Sooner, rather than later, he joined the SIS (aka MI6). He was a good operative, but more often than not, a loner. Working in this role, he became friends with Bill Mason, an Ares Company Man. In the intel community, it goes without saying that they shared info.

Later on Thomas, now Randall Forbes, was working with a UCAS operative, Nina Chavez, to gather info around Tír Tairngire. However, things went sideways on an infiltration mission, and people got caught. The orders came down get rid of any "evidence" of British involvement, and make it look like the UCAS was behind it all. Due to Randall and Nina's "working" relationship at the time, he did not feel that course of action prudent. Instead they attempted a rescue of their teammates and clearing of any Tir agents who had info on them.

Little did he know that MI5 had been watching him due to his thickening ties with the UCAS and its "assets". Knowing he was disobeying a direct order, a hit squad was sent to complete the mission as stated. Randall and Nina's plan became the diversion to their own. In the ensuing debacle, most of Randall's team went down, the entire hit squad was killed. Nina and Randall made it out, but the message was clear. SIS deemed him a liability. While his ties to Nina never became closer, she helped him establish an identity inside UCAS territories. The newly established Alex Clarke was appreciative, but knew better to rely on a single lifeline. With Mason's help he also pulled together "Chris Dalton".

Hiding eventually became living in Seattle, and Chris/Alex became "Windsor". His skills made finding work in the shadows easier than living in the light. At least always looking over your shoulder wasn't seen as odd. A year or so after settling into this new life, he began reclaiming parts of his own old life, to include the inheritance his mother left him. Quietly as possible, Thomas Ryan, who had been a ghost for almost 10 years, was moved to Seattle.

Okay now here's the Nuts and Bolts

Name: Thomas Ryan (aka Alex Clark, aka Chris Dalton)
Alias: Windsor
Race: Human

ATTRIBUTES:

Body: 3
Agility: 3[5]
Reaction: 3[4]
Strength: 2[4]
Charisma: 4[6]
Intuition: 4
Logic: 3[5]
Willpower: 3

Edge: 3
Phys Init[P]: 7[8]
Passes: 1[2]
Essence: 1.52



QUALITIES:

First Impression 5
Trust Fund (High) 20
Born Rich 10

SINner(Standard) -5
Data Shadow (2) -10 (Rogue operators tend to make intelligence services nervous.)
Enemy (see below)


ACTIVE SKILLS:

Computer 2
Con 3
Etiquette 3
Pistols 4
Data Search 2
Dodge 3
Perception 3
Intimidation 1
Pilot Ground Craft 2
Infiltration 2
(Urban) (+2)
Shadowing 2
(Urban) (+2)
Throwing Weapons 1
Automatics 3
Unarmed Combat 4


KNOWLEDGE SKILLS:

Corp (Security Companies) 3
Corp (Ares Macrotechnology) 2
Criminal (Vory) 2
Procedure (Security) 3
Procedure (Corporate) 2
Politics (Underworld) 1
Politics (Corporate) 2
Hangouts (Shadowrunner) 2
Conspiracy Theories 1



LANGUAGES:

English N
Russian 1
Japanese 2


CONTACTS:

Fixer L:2 C:3
Corp Security Manager (Ares) L:2 C:3
Intelligence Operative(UCAS) L:3 C:3

ENEMIES:

British SIS (Base Threat:4, Incidence:3)
- Membership: 100-1000 (4)
- Area of Influence: Global (6)
- Magical Resources: Limited (1)
- Matrix Resources: Broad Reaching (2)



CYBERWARE/BIOWARE:

Cybereyes Rating 3 - Alpha
-Flare Compensation
-Low-Light Vision
-Image Link/Recorder
-Smartlink
-Thermographic Vision
-Vision Enhancement(2)
-Vision Magnification

Cyberears Rating 2 - Alpha
-Balance Augmentor
-Sound Link/Recorder
-Spatial Recongnizer
-Audio Enhancer(1)
-Select Sound Filter(1)

Attention Coprocessor(3) - Alpha
Datajack - Alpha
Orientation System - Alpha
Wired Reflexes I - Alpha
Tailored Pheromones(2)
Muscle Toner(2)
Bone Lacing(Aluminum) - Alpha
Cerebral Booster(2)
Muscle Augmentation(2)
Biomonitor - Alpha


COMMLINK:

Hermes Ikon(Iris Orb)
-Personality Software
-Hardening 2
-Armor Case 2
-Sim Module
-Subvocal Mic.

Progams:
Analyze 3
Browse 3
Command 3
Edit 3
Encrypt 3
Purge 3
Reality Filter 3
Scan 3

WEAPONS:

Hammerli 620S (Adv. Saftey Basic System, Custom Look (1), Personalized Grip)
Ares Predator IV (Adv. Saftey Basic System, Chameleon Coating,
Personalized Grip, Ceramic Components (1))
Colt Cobra Z-118 (Gas Vent 3 (Barrel), Personalized Grip, Sound Suppressor)
Steyr TMP (Electronic Firing, Smartgun System, Sound Suppressor)
Ingram Smartgun X (Personalized Grip)


ARMOR:

Daily(6/3 [Enc 3])
- Form-Fitting Body Armor Full-Body Suit (Fire Resist:2 Thermal Damp:2)

Slumming(9/5 [Enc 7.5])
- Lined Coat (Fire Resist:2 Thermal Damp:2)
- Form-Fitting Body Armor Shirt (Thermal Damp:2)


VEHICLES:

Rover 2068 (SUV)
- Run Flat Tires
- Anti-Theft System
- Vehicle Tag Eraser
- Manual Control Override[drive-by-wire])
- Morphing License Plate
- Spoof Chip
- Smuggling Compartment



IDs/LICENSEs:
(Real SIN: Thomas Ryan)

Fake SIN(R4) - For "Alex Clarke", UCAS State Department (Contractor)
Fake License(R4) - Custom Hammerli, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Custom Predator, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Custom Cobra, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Cyberwear(Wired Reflexes, Bone Lacing), Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Rover 2068, Registered to Alex Clarke

Fake SIN(R4) - For "Christopher Dalton" Ares Security Contractor
Fake License(R4) - Custom Steyr, Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Custom Ingram, Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Cyberwear(Wired Reflexes, Bone Lacing), Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Rover 2068, Registered to Chris Dalton

GEAR:

DocWagon Contract(Gold) - 1 year
Concealable Holster (Predator)
Concealable Holster (Hammerli)
Concealable Holster (Steyr)
200 Regular Rounds (Predator)
10 Spare Clips (Predator)
200 Regular Rounds (Hammerli)
10 Spare Clips (Hammerli)
400 Regular Rounds (Cobra)
10 Spare Clips (Cobra)
400 Regular Rounds (Steyr)
10 Spare Clips (Steyr)
400 Regular Rounds (Ingram)
10 Spare Clips (Ingram)
4 Fragmentation Grenades
2 High Explosive Grenades
4 Smoke Grenades
2 Thermal Smoke Grenades
4 Flash-Bang Grenades

Autopicker(R4)
Jammer, Area(R2)
Fingernail Data Storage
Ballpoint Micro Transceiver(R2)
Binoculars (R2)
10 Lae's Cigarettes (In a chic cig. case)
10 Datachips
10 Security Restraints - Plastic
2 Flashlights
10 Light Sticks
GPS
4 Doses Leal (Half in Hypos, other in disolving liquid)
4 Disposable Commlinks
Medkit(R4)
Trauma Patch
5 Mapsofts(R6) - City(Seattle), Regional(Northwest), City(London), City(Denver), City(New York)

hmmm. Reclaiming his old identity seems like a bad move to me. It's not like MI6 wouldn't know what his real ID was, and if his goal is to avoid picking up notice from them. . .

w/ SA pistol, 1 rc or 2 rc is good but 3..exaggeration (IMOO)
RAW,pistols can not have Gas vent, replace it Personalized Grip
(mod. from Arsenal)/Under barrel weight (mod from Arsenal)/
Electronic Firing (mod from Arsenal)(do not work w/personalized grip mod.)
Erased (quality from Runner's Companion would be perfect for ex-intelligence officer)
Look at commlink upgrading modules ,replacing OS w/them can save money
program packages..

Well... If you look at it another way, they ARE MI6. Chances are they already know where he is. I pulled this part from "Casino Royale" where Bond checks into the hotal as... well, James Bond. The bad guys know he's there, he knows they know, so why bother. If they wanted him dead already, he'd be dead.

Also, because the name Thomas Ryan is tied to his "inheritance", and vice-versa, MI6 is being put on a shorter leash than usual. Only his former, direct superior and those under him are likely to risk anything to get to him. This means there is the threat of a large, and merciless organization he has to watch out for. Doesn't mean they are gunning for him while seeing red and frothing at the mouth.

Also, it's less about claiming the identity than claiming the assets tied to it. (aka Born Rich and Trust Fund qualities)

That was my thoughts anyhow.

Not bad, looks pretty reasonable. A few questions:

He's got a lot of alphaware. Any particular reason? Just looking to save on Essence costs? I'm particularly confused by his bone lacing - it's expensive in both nuyen and Essence, and I'm not sure how much it does for you.

When I think "generalist", I think Edge, since Edge can be applied to any check. See if you can boost it by a few points.

This one is campaign-specific, but I'd pick up a few more contacts. Intelligence agents live and die by who they know.

I see a lot of low rank skills, a ton of cyber, lots of general knowledge skills, but I don't know what his primary role is intended to be.

I can't find a single dice pool that would be above about 10. Not that you need it, but I typically try to have at least a 12 if not a 14 in my primary function.*

*Notable exception is my current character who didn't start higher than an 8 in just about anything he did, except possibly an 11 in infiltration. Highest skill was Spellcasting at 4. Next highest was Stealth group at 2.

Woopsy on the Gas vents.
Electronic Firing is a good idea I did not think of.

I thought of Erased, but Data Shadow seemed more in line with him. He's had ties to places, and even rumors. People not in the community may not know him. But those in may have, and may have heard the rumors of his origins. He, no MI6, are saying.





The alphaware, to me, represents the lengths MI6 is willing to go for their operatives. British intelligence has a rep for being one of the best. Also, he's a high-roller. Run-of-the-mill 'ware might be conspicuous. The bone lacing gives a bit of impact armor and damage resistance, but also gives lets me hit a touch harder in Melee. That and doesn't stick out in a fine resturant like dermal plating.

I was trying to go higher on the edge, and do with a Karma build. But for SRMissions I need to build with the standard creation system. Don't I?

I agree about the contacts as well, but the BP system is feels hard on generalist type characters. His being burned in the past kind of makes for the lack of contacts more plausible.



With first-impression, his primary focus is often as a "Face", but can still do okay at other things. I tend to think of operatives as jack-of-all-trade types.

Okay, after considering everyone's comments, and really absorbing the advice given, I've modded Windsor's numbers and background to better suit the concept.

To allow this, I have dropped the supposed links to nobility and the inheritance. So now he really is without SIN.

Thomas Ryan led a cushy, yet cloistered life at first. After his mother died, he ended up in private schools due to his inheritance but that ran out eventually. Once on his own, he was recruited by the British Army and served in the MI division. At first he spent time doing info gathering and support for operations against the Vory in British domains. Sooner, rather than later, he joined the SIS (aka MI6). He was a good operative, but more often than not, a loner. Working in this role, he became friends with Bill Mason, an Ares Company Man. In the intel community, it goes without saying that they shared info.

Later on Thomas, now Randall Forbes, was working with a UCAS operative, Nina Chavez, to gather info around Tír Tairngire. However, things went sideways on an infiltration mission, and people got caught. The orders came down get rid of any "evidence" of British involvement, and make it look like the UCAS was behind it all. Due to Randall and Nina's "working" relationship at the time, he did not feel that course of action prudent. Instead they attempted a rescue of their teammates and clearing of any Tir agents who had info on them.

Little did he know that MI5 had been watching him due to his thickening ties with the UCAS and its "assets". Knowing he was disobeying a direct order, a hit squad was sent to complete the mission as stated. Randall and Nina's plan became the diversion to their own. In the ensuing debacle, most of Randall's team went down, the entire hit squad was killed. Nina and Randall made it out with Ermine Kowalski, their rigger who had been captured, but the message was clear. SIS deemed him a liability. To get some breathing room, Randall went to a small-time reporter, Haley Owen, with the story. MI6 backed off, but he is still on their list of loose ends that need tying.

While his ties to Nina never became closer, she helped him establish an identity inside UCAS territories. The newly established Alex Clarke was appreciative, but knew better than to rely on a single lifeline. With Mason's help he also pulled together "Chris Dalton". Now Ares knows more than Alex/Chris feels comfortable about, but its a lesser of two evils really.

Alex decided Seattle would make a good place to lay low for a while. Ermine, who was also from the area, got him in touch with "Higgins", a fixer. Higgins found the British spy to be rather comical. Of course Higgin's knowledge of old Bond flicks had something to do with this odd behavior. He helped to get as much of Alex's records slashed and burned. From here, a working relationship was formed and Chris got a bit of work in the shadows.

Hiding eventually became living in Seattle, and Chris/Alex became "Windsor". His skills made finding work in the shadows easier than living in the light. At least always looking over your shoulder wasn't seen as odd. The name Thomas Ryan was listed as killed during a training excercise with Tir allies. Randall Forbes went up in smoke. Windsor knows his old employers are gunning for him. His biggest reason to assume so is that they seem to keep erasing anything about him. Of course this is probably so they can "erase" him in person.

Name: Thomas Ryan (aka Alex Clark, aka Chris Dalton)
Alias: Windsor
Race: Human

ATTRIBUTES:

Body: 3
Agility: 3[5]
Reaction: 3[4]
Strength: 2[4]
Charisma: 4[6]
Intuition: 4
Logic: 3[5]
Willpower: 2

Edge: 6
Phys Init[P]: 7[8]
Passes: 1[2]
Essence: 2.36



QUALITIES:

First Impression 5
Erased 5

Records on File -10 (With Ares)
Vendetta -5 (With MI6)
Enemy -20 (see below)


ACTIVE SKILLS:

Computer 2
Con 4
Etiquette 3
Pistols 4
Data Search 2
Dodge 2
Perception 4
Intimidation 1
Pilot Ground Craft 2
Infiltration 3
(Urban) (+2)
Shadowing 2
(Urban) (+2)
Negotiation 2
Automatics 3
Unarmed Combat 4


KNOWLEDGE SKILLS:

Corp (Security Companies) 3
Corp (Ares Macrotechnology) 2
Criminal (Vory) 2
Procedure (Security) 3
Procedure (Corporate) 2
Politics (Underworld) 1
Politics (Corporate) 2
Hangouts (Shadowrunner) 2
Conspiracy Theories 1



LANGUAGES:

English N
Russian 1
Japanese 2


CONTACTS:

Reginald Higgins - Fixer L:2 C:3
Bill Mason - Ares Company Man L:2 C:2
Nina Chavez - UCAS Intel Operative L:2 C:2
Ermine Kowalski - Smuggler L:1 C:2
Haley Owen - Reporter L:1 C:2


ENEMIES:

British SIS (Base Threat:3, Incidence:4)
- Membership: 100-1000 (4)
- Area of Influence: Global (6)
- Magical Resources: Limited (1)
- Matrix Resources: Broad Reaching (2)



CYBERWARE/BIOWARE:

Cybereyes Rating 3 - Alpha
-Flare Compensation
-Low-Light Vision
-Image Link/Recorder
-Smartlink
-Thermographic Vision
-Vision Enhancement(2)
-Vision Magnification

Cyberears Rating 2 - Alpha
-Balance Augmentor
-Sound Link/Recorder
-Spatial Recongnizer
-Audio Enhancer(1)
-Select Sound Filter(1)

Attention Coprocessor(3) - Alpha
Datajack
Orientation System - Alpha
Wired Reflexes I - Alpha
Tailored Pheromones(2)
Muscle Toner(2)
Cerebral Booster(2)
Muscle Augmentation(2)



COMMLINK:

Hermes Ikon(Iris Orb)
-Personality Software
-Hardening 2
-Armor Case 2
-Sim Module
-Subvocal Mic.

Progams:
Analyze 3
Browse 3
Command 3
Edit 3
Encrypt 3
Purge 3
Reality Filter 3
Scan 3

WEAPONS:

Hammerli 620S (Adv. Saftey Basic System, Custom Look (1), Personalized Grip)
Ares Predator IV (Electronic Firing, Chameleon Coating, Personalized Grip, Ceramic Components (1))
Colt Cobra Z-118 (Gas Vent 3 (Barrel), Personalized Grip, Sound Suppressor)
Steyr TMP (Electronic Firing, Smartgun System, Sound Suppressor)
Ingram Smartgun X (Personalized Grip)


ARMOR:

Daily(6/3 [Enc 3])
- Form-Fitting Body Armor Full-Body Suit (Fire Resist:2 Thermal Damp:2)

Slumming(9/5 [Enc 7.5])
- Lined Coat (Fire Resist:2 Thermal Damp:2)
- Form-Fitting Body Armor Shirt


VEHICLES:

Mercury Comet
- Morphing License Plate
- Spoof Chip



IDs/LICENSEs:

Fake SIN(R4) - For "Alex Clarke", UCAS State Department (Contractor)
Fake License(R4) - Custom Hammerli, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Custom Predator, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Custom Cobra, Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Cyberwear(Wired Reflexes, Smart Link), Registered to Alex Clarke
Fake License(R4) - Mercury Comet, Registered to Alex Clarke

Fake SIN(R4) - For "Christopher Dalton" Ares Security Contractor
Fake License(R4) - Custom Steyr, Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Custom Ingram, Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Cyberwear(Wired Reflexes, Smart Link), Registered to Chris Dalton
Fake License(R4) - Mercury Comet, Registered to Chris Dalton

GEAR:

DocWagon Contract(Gold) - 1 year
Concealable Holster (Predator)
Concealable Holster (Hammerli)
Concealable Holster (Steyr)
200 Regular Rounds (Predator)
10 Spare Clips (Predator)
200 Regular Rounds (Hammerli)
10 Spare Clips (Hammerli)
400 Regular Rounds (Cobra)
10 Spare Clips (Cobra)
400 Regular Rounds (Steyr)
10 Spare Clips (Steyr)
400 Regular Rounds (Ingram)
10 Spare Clips (Ingram)
4 Fragmentation Grenades
2 High Explosive Grenades
4 Smoke Grenades
2 Thermal Smoke Grenades
4 Flash-Bang Grenades

Autopicker(R3)
Jammer, Area(R2)
Fingernail Data Storage
Ballpoint Micro Transceiver(R1)
Binoculars (R1)
10 Lae's Cigarettes (In a chic cig. case)
10 Datachips
10 Security Restraints - Plastic
2 Flashlights
10 Light Sticks
GPS
4 Doses Leal (Half in Hypos, other in disolving liquid)
2 Disposable Commlinks
Medkit(R4)
Trauma Patch
5 Mapsofts(R6) - City(Seattle), Regional(Northwest), City(London), City(Denver), City(New York)



Okay, now he has more Edge, some slightly higher skills, more contacts, and an Erased background. Only Ares and MI6 have anything on him.

Maybe it's just me but he feels somehow.... incomplete.

You for instance have both Con and Negotiate, as well as a Cha booster, but lack the other skills in the group.

Same thing for computers and data search.

Infiltration and Shadowing.

It seems almost like you've gone to great lengths to always take 2 of every skill group, and yet not make it an actual group to get a skill for half price, or even one for half price and one for free.

I'd highly suggest going back and trying to make use of skill groups, especially those that have four skills in the group. You could for instance drop a point from infiltration (Taking it down to 2) and grab that and shadowing as part of the stealth group, and basically get slight of hand and disguise for free. Same thing with con and negotiation. Drop a point from con and wrangle up 6 more BP to get con, negotiation, leadership, and etiquette all at 3.

Computer and data search? Grab together 4 BP and make it a group to gain Software and Hardware. Hardware adds utility to your infiltration skill as you can now bypass low grade maglocks.

Once again, with pistols and automatics, may as well drop it down to 3 and make it a group for 2 BP to pick up longarms and Heavy Weapons.

You could basically get a half dozen skills at rating 2-3 for about 10 BP total, this is really something you should look at, as it will round out the 'jack of all trades' sort of thing you have going on. As things stand, it's like you're almost good at something (infiltration, but you lack hardware and disguise, social situations, but you lack leadership and etiqutte, combat but you lack verity of weapons, and so on). Not saying you can't get by in those areas, but you would be greatly improved by having those extra skills, especially given how little they would cost.

If you're hurting for points, consider taking another point off of strength. A 4 is rarely better than a 3, mostly because both do the same damage when str/2 is concerned, and very few skills rely on strength and carry weight isn't generally an issue with most GMs.

Could also consider playing down the melee combat ability a bit too if you're hurting to get a few more BP.

Don't forget the lifestyle. Also, what Karoline said about skill groups (minus the heavy weapons in firearm group houserule.) Make them work for you.

Other thoughts, it's probably for the best that you dropped the bone lacing. It shows up too easily on a MAD scan to allow him past any sort of security. Not a good look for a social type. In fact, you might want to drop the wired reflexes as well, and just rely on stims to give you that extra IP until you can afford something better. Cram is pretty cheap at maybe 20 bucks a dose/run. Just combine Cram with lvl 6 stim patches in the case of an emergency during your crash period.

..RAW: Personalized grip mod. and Electronic Firing mod do NOT work together..
Electronic Firing mod + Under barrel weight mod do ( 2 rc )
Personalized grip mod + Under barrel weight mod do (2 rc )

Willpower 2 in ex-intelligence officer??

Thanks for all the input =)

Here's some changes I made based on new input.

First off, to Karoline.

I modified his attributes and skills to look like so

Body: 3
Agility: 3[5]
Reaction: 3[4]
Strength: 2[4]
Charisma: 4[6]
Intuition: 4
Logic: 3[5]
Willpower: 3
EDGE: 5

Phys Init[P] 7[8]
Passes 1[2]
Essence: 2.24



Electronics (Group) 2
Influence (Group) 4
Firearms (Group) 3
Stealth (Group) 3
Unarmed Combat 3
Dodge 2
Perception 3
Pilot Ground Craft 1


Now I have a whole heaping lot of skills (which I'd originally done in the first draft). I don't have any real high spots, but I do have above average attributes to help with that. Also, still a high edge, and lots of 'ware to help with it.


Now to Saint,

I had already dropped the bone lacing, though I'm not sure it would be a super problem. While a scanner might pick it up, it's still not overtly threatening and, while not as useful, it is much less noticeable than dermal plating. But I dropped it anyhow. Without the born rich, I had to start trimming gear. As for the Wired Reflexes, I can't really see an intel operative who isn't wired or boosted at least a little. For an intel op, combat would almost always be a last resort. But when it comes down to it, a covert operative should probably be able to hold their own. If I could have afforded it, I would have gone with Synaptic Boosters, but 250K doesn't seem to go far.

To Stingray,

Thanks for the helping with the weapon goof. I just dropped Electronic Firing from the Predator. The other doesn't have a Personalized Grip. And yea, a Willpower 2 felt odd. I upped it back to 3, but had to knock off an Edge point.


Including the noted changes, does he sound any better?

Well, it does depend on the type of game you're playing, but it's just that Aluminum Bone Lacing is availability 12F (I don't agree with this rating, but it's RAW.) If you try walking into a fancy party with forbidden, military-grade cyberwear lighting up the door, that will draw unwanted attention. It's one of the reasons that face infiltrators lean towards bioware. Bioware is much harder to detect.

As for the difference between installing Wires 1 and dosing with a ten yen Cram pill, they both up your Reaction by 1 and give you an extra IP. Then, when you suspect a likelyhood of combat, instead of having to activate your Wires, you pop your Cram, get your bonuses for the next 9 hours, and then sleep off the crash. It's way cheaper, undetectable, and basically just as useful until you can afford your synaptic boosters or Move By Wire 2. I can understand if you think popping pills isn't a trait for a suave mofo, but it fits pretty well with the reality of special intelligence.