Hey, so I used to play Seattle when it was still using the SR3 system. I have almost all of the SR3 books still, and now I really want to get myself ready for SR4.

I'm probably going to play an Ork Hacker who will also have some expertise with combat. My only questions are which of the books would I really need for this type of character. I already know I need the core rulebook, augmentation, and unwired.. would any other books help me in the future? Thanks for the heads up!

Arsenal is a good book to have as well.

-Hades

Might as well get Runner Companion too, then you'll have pretty much the core set.

Companion is 100% optional, you can create a perfectly good character without it.  I wouldn't say the same for Arsenal, Augmentation and (for hackers), Unwired.  The #1 thing Companion offers is powergaming with new negative qualities, to be honest.  The #2 thing it offers is flavor, with various new races that are generally not very important system wise but are cool conceptually (except for the underpointed gnome, fomori, and pixie).

Alright, thank you!

I always wanted to play a Decker, only the rules always scared me away and I would always slow things down for everyone, it seems to me that in SR4 they changed that to be much more fluid. I'll pick up the books, and make a character as soon as I can.