Simple Tank/melee DPS guide

Character builder:
https://gitdew.github.io/srhk-builder/index.html

75% of Karma goes into STRENGTH and BODY, and STR will be raised to the maximum.

WHY TROLL?
Because your maximum is exactly that: YOUR MAXIMUM.

When you take an Outfit, Cyberware, or Drug that increase your STR or BODY, it will cap at your racial maximum.
Because of this, Troll is the best option.

Here are the numbers:

10 BODY + MAXIMUM STRENGTH
DWARF --> BOD 10, STR 12 = 177 Karma
ORC --> BOD 10, STR 12 = 177 Karma
TROLL --> BOD 10, STR 15 = 217 Karma

MAXED BOTH
DWARF --> BOD 11, STR 12 = 188 Karma
ORC --> BOD 14, STR 12 = 227 Karma
TROLL --> BOD 17, STR 15 = 315 Karma

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As you level, always leave yourself a KARMA RESERVE which can be spent instantly on:
--2/4/6 CHA (Etiqutte) for more money or story options
--Decking (Same as above. Decking is superior but requires both INT and Decking)
--STR for immediate melee to-hit and damage
--BOD for immediate HP gain (this doers heal you).
--Close Combat for cheap to-hit bonus. [Not generally recommended.]
(I like to leave a Reserve at least equal to my STR.)

DEAD MAN'S SWITCH
[34 Karma to start; plan on 200 before the final mission(s)]
BODY 5
STRENGTH 5
Chi Casting 1
RESERVE: 9

DRAGONFALL [60 Karma to start]
BODY 6
STRENGTH 6
WILLPOWER 3
Chi Casting 3 (4 is possible with beginning Karma)
RESERVE: 13

HONG KONG [55 Karma to start]
BODY 6
STRENGTH 6
WILLPOWER 3
Chi Casting 3 (4 is possible with beginning Karma)
RESERVE: 8

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ADVANCEMENT:
If you are planning on CHA or DECKING you need to go for those ASAP in order to gain the benefits at every single opportunity.
--Or save your Reserve and wait for the right opportunity to invest the Karma, rather than over-spending early.
--Taking these late is a waste of Karma.

EARLY GAME
--Keep BOD and STR equal.
--Raise BOD first because there is a real risk of death (and your medkits are small).

By MID GAME
--Make sure you have Willpower and Chi Casting 3
--If your melee is going fine, go for Chi Casting 4.
--Raise STR before BOD.
--STR can be a little higher than BOD.

LATE GAME
--Max out STR with Karma or equipment
--Only raise BOD if necessary
--Close Combat can now be purchased
--Unarmed Combat can now be purchased

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CLOSE COMBAT
--10 Karma (Close Combat 4) buys +18% to hit and OVERWATCH
--If you are a Troll using a Buffer with good Accuracy buffs, you won't need Close Combat for the to-hit bonus.
--Once STR is maxed, Close Combat 6 grants a defensive buff

UNARMED COMBAT
Do not spend points in Unarmed Combat until STR is maxed.

CHI CASTING
10 Karma = 5 Chi/5 WIL and Counterstrike
22 Karma = 6 Chi/6 WIL, 1 additional spell slot, and improved Magic Resistance
36 Karma = 7 Chi/7 WIL, Quick Strike: 0 AP melee attack at +6 Damage

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ADDITIONAL KARMA SPEND OPTIONS
for more Nuyen and more story/dialog options:

DECKING:
41 Karma = INT 6 + Decking 6
29 Karma = INT 5 + Decking 5
19 Karma = INT 4 + Decking 4
11 Karma = 3 INT + 3 Decking
5 Karma = 2 INT + 2 Decking
--You do not need a Deck or Datajack (0.5 Essence) to pass Skill Checks
--A hired Decker can NOT pass Skill Checks for you (applies to all Skills)
--When in Shadowruns, you cannot do the parallel Matrix run because you are needed in Meatspace
--Taking Decking on your PC is ONLY for extra Nuyen and story information

CHARISMA
20 Karma = 6 CHA (3 etiquette)
9 Karma = 4 CHA (2 etiquette)
2 Karma = 2 CHA (1 etiquette)

3 Etiquette is the maximum for Nuyen, which coincides with a Troll's 6 CHA
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Etiquette

REMEMBER YOUR KARMA RESERVE:
Since you always have a Karma reserve, you can wait to spend it when the game calls for Etiquette or Decking

AT GAME START always take the RIFLE because it sells for the most.

DRUGS: Always buy melee combat drugs which grant AP. Note that your STR and BOD may cap at your racial maximum, so drugs may not function for those attributes late game. But they are extremely useful early game!

You have TWO OPTIONS with this character's equipment:

1. Gain STR through equipment/cyberware (or even drugs) to hit the 15 STR max and save that Karma for something else.
   2 arms + 1 outfit = +3 STR. 12 + 3 = 15 STR (capped).
2. Raise your STR to 15 with Karma, then use your equipment for maximum Armor and other benefits.

75 Karma = 12 STR ... (27 Karma savings)
102 Karma = 15 STR . (Allows for maximum Armor; Maximum Armor means you can spend less on lower BODY.)

You will have OVER 200 KARMA to spend on your character throughout the game (and even more when you hit the story finale missions):
12 STR, 10 BOD, 4 Chi Casting = 146 Karma
15 STR, 8 BOD, 4 Chi Casting (and max Armor) = 169 Karma
15 STR, 10 BOD, 4 Chi Casting = 188 Karma

Plan to buy OUTFITS (Armor) twice: get the first decent upgrade the instant it becomes available, then look for a more advanced upgrade later.
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun_Returns_outfits
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun:_Dragonfall_outfits
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun:_Hong_Kong_outfits

Generally do not buy intermediate CYBERWARE; wait until you have access to the best available.
However, if you have enough Nuyen, you can buy something cheap and then upgrade it later. (Remember that you can only upgrade; you cannot remove.)
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun_Returns_Cyberware
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun:_Dragonfall_Cyberware
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowrun:_Hong_Kong_Cyberware

With an Essence of 2, you keep 3 spell-slots for passive damage, movement, and magic resistance. You can still cast your Chi Abilities with longer cooldowns (and using End Turn repeatedly before entering rooms). *

If you raised Chi Casting to Rank 6 (+1 spell slot), then you can drop your Essence to 1. Just remember to swap out Magic Resistance 1 for level 2.

* NOTE When playing DMS, my Chi Casting cooldowns were NOT impacted by Essence Loss.

Dead Man's Switch

Stay OUT of cover and keep your allies behind cover--enemies will almost always attack you and ignore your allies. Your allies will take some incidental damage, but never enough to risk death.

Save money on Crew
On Normal, you CAN do the missions with just your PC and one ally (preferably a Buffer).
--You can almost always make do with NPCs who cost $1000-something. Coyote is good in just about every mission.

Alexander Falk (Nephilim) $1000 -- Has Haste, Accuracy, Armor, and Heal
Coyote $1200 - Best all around ranged character for the price.

SHOULD you do missions with a light crew? That depends on your playstyle and difficulty level.
--No extra Karma is earned for having fewer allies.
--Missions go faster with more allies.

Once you feel like you are about to solve/confront the main storyline mystery, plan on hiring a 3rd party member for the rest of the game.

NEVER HIRE A DECKER, except:
HEAVY SPOILERS begin where it says "Rewards: The Dead Man's Switch:"
https://shadowrun-series.fandom.com/wiki/Decking

There are 2-3 times you can hire a Decker.
When it says you get a "free" Decker, you can still hire an extra to speed up the mission.
--REMEMBER: Even if you take Decking, you cannot be this 2nd Decker; you will be needed to Tank.

--Make sure to use ESP's to speed up any Matrix run.
--ALWAYS look for a Decker with direct damage and Degrade. AoE is terrible--don't do it!

Somewhere around this "free decker" mission you will likely want to start hiring a 4th party member going forward for the rest of the game. Again, $1000 (or Coyote) is fine.