When SR4 first came out, my GM was enamored of the idea of technomancers, so I, having no prior SR experience (since a one shot in 1st or 2nd some decades prior) agreed to play one. It was an abysmal failure. We didn't know the Matrix rules well enough, we didn't see the potential of threading, and it was generally a disappointment.

Couple years later, GM is starting a new story arc and given us all the opportunity to segue in new PCs, leaving our mains "off camera" (so they don't get snuffed in a potentially world-altering story arc based on a Call of Cthulhu campaign).

After a couple of days browsing the forums here and gathering opinions on TMs and how much "better" they are with Unwired rules in effect, I'm looking to give the TM another try. I don't know the ins and outs of the system nearly as well as most here, so I come to you for advice.

The general question is, which makes a "better" technomancer: 400 BP + 120 Karma, or the equivalent in karmagen using the Runner's Companion rules?

I have no experience with the karmagen system, so I'm looking to pick the brains of those who have used it.

For reference, I'm thinking about a technoshaman with Paragon and Resonance Bond, maybe an elf for the CHA boost. For echoes, I'm liking Mesh Reality and Acceleration.

Thanks in advance!

Interestingly I was just experimenting with TMs (only character type I haven't made) and had the same question: Which makes a better TM, karmagen or BP. And the answer is that they come out remarkably similar. TMs are nearly unique in that they have something that is more cost efficient than the standard 2:1 ratio, and that is complex forms, which are very important to a TM. In karma complex forms cost a ton. 2 for the first point, then 2 more for the second, and three more for the third and so on. If you're working on getting the important stuff (stealth, exploit, analyze, etc) up to 6, you're looking at a cost of 6BP vs a cost of 22 karma.

Because of this and the fact that you need so many stats so high, I'd highly suggest going the BP route. Make sure to get resonance maxed and your fade stat soft maxed, and likely all your mental stats soft maxed. Skimp on skills, though make sure to get something (hacking, software, and compiling are good choices) maxed out at 6. If you aren't going to get it to 4 with BP, then buy it with karma later. You're biggest thing is you're going to want to max out your complex forms. This will be your biggest BP cost behind stats, because this is where you will make up ground over karmagen. Then when you start spending your 120 karma, get your specs, get your low grade skills, maybe raise your physical stats to 2, join a network and submerge several times for all those cool abilities.

If you do go with karmagen, I'd suggest investing in some 'ware and having a slightly lower resonance since your complex forms are going to be too expensive to get past about 3 or 4 anyway. Maybe go with logic based stream and get cerebral boosters for an easy +3 to logic.

Before SR4A, Karmagen produced vastly superior Technos. It seems, though, this has ebbed.

Just due to the cheaper attribute costs? Yeah, it would, since you're basically getting half off your stats, a technomancer wouldn't be BP starved. I can see that.

Exactly. And could invest far more Karma into CFs and Resonance and maybe even start with an Echo or two.

mind you, if you're going for a hard maxed resonance with relatively low stats other than that, BP may have still been the weapon of choice.

sure, but a bit analogous to mages, the 'mancer's real power is echos, sprites and threading.

Agreed. Strait up a hacker will wipe the floor with a techno every time. It is only by use of threading, sprites, and echos that the TM can hope to get ahead. Not too surprising though. Strait up a sammy will beat a mage every time if the mage doesn't make use of metamagics, spells, and spirits.

I think the big thing here is that either BP or Karmagen can work, but you'll end up with two highly different characters, as tends to be the case for most BP vs Karmagen situations. BP tends to max out everything, and Karmagen tends to be a bit more average in way more areas. BP TM will have max resonance and high complex forms, karmagen TM will have lower resonance and forms, but a wider smattering of skills and forms.

But as I said, since you have the 120 karma to work with from the start, I say just go BP since you can mix and match the advantages from both BP and karma that way.

Undeniably this.

Absolutely the BP + 120 karma. BP is by far more efficient in making a starting TM, and then you can buy submersion grades with the additional karma.