I've started SRHK with a shaman. Been playing for almost two hours now, have to do a favor for Kindly Cheng. I assumed, since shamans do not start with any spell (what has my character DONE with her ability her whole life? Nothing?), I'd be able to buy some in the hub. But there is only one merchant, selling exactly one spell - for mages.

My character is essentially useless right now. Halp.

Thanks! I wonder how Harebrained's thought process was in giving a shaman no spells until after two or three combat encounters, though.

Deckers start with no guns. (they do get a machete, but man, shouldn't you keep your decker behind cover as much as possible?)

This is odd. I'm also playing as a shaman but I started out with acid bolt or whatever it is and Haste from the start.

I think it has to do with how much karma you invest. If you don't invest in pistol or something, they graciously give you a machete. If you invest less than a certain amount in spell casting, you get few or no spells. Etc.

I read in another thread that you can choose decker and get no deck. I got a deck, so I assume it has to do with how you choose to go in character creation.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. I put a lot of points into charisma straightaway.

From what I understand, it's also about what you've invested in the most within a given category, not just whether you've bought into it. (IE: Rigging >= Decking will result in you having a drone and no deck.)