Attributes

Whether physical or mental, attributes are increased with exercise. It may look like gym time or a rigorous series of Matrix puzzles, but each attribute needs to be worked on to make it better. 

Spend 5 Karma x new level to advance. This needs to be done for each rank of advancement, so if you want to change an attribute from 4 to 6, you need to pay 25 Karma for rank 5 (5 x 5) and 30 Karma for rank 6 (6 x 5), for a total of 55 Karma. 

See the Attribute and Skill Advancement table for the costs to rise from one rank to another.

Active Skills

Any active skill requires training. This can be range time, dojo time, shop time, driving time, lodge or circle time, or a myriad of other times. You just need to put in the time and effort to see the results and improvements you want. Due to these space and training needs, the gamemaster may also put a price tag on the work to represent range memberships, space rental, or other incidental costs. 50 nuyen per month is a good base, but gamemasters can adjust according to their campaign, and characters can mitigate those costs by getting help from teammates or contacts. 

You have to spend 5 Karma x new rank to advance. This needs to be done for each rank of advancement, so if you want to change a skill from 4 to 6, you need to pay 25 Karma for rank 5 (5 x 5) and 30 Karma for rank 6 (6 x 5), for a total of 55 Karma. 

See the Attribute and Skill Advancement table for the costs to rise from one rank to another.

Specializations and Expertise

Like active skills, Specializations and Expertise take time to learn. While a Specialization can be learned for any skill, there are two prerequisites for an Expertise: first, you need to have a Specialization in that area; and second, your related skill rank needs to be at least 5. 

This means that the months spent gaining a Specialization and expertise are concerted training on top of the education and skill you already have. There is no limit on the number of Specializations a skill may have, but a skill may only have one Expertise.

There is no limit on the number of specializations a skill may have. You are not required to purchase an expertise before taking additional specializations. Expertises are still limited to one per skill.

Knowledge Skills

Through study, schooling, Matrix courses, or just sitting down in a library on a daily basis, you learn.

Gaining Knowledge skills requires study. Learning a new Knowledge skill assumes concerted study: trying to learn on the fly, fitting in study when the character has time. 

New Knowledge skills cost 3 Karma.

Working for the Man

A shadowrunner can convert their Karma to nuyen by Working for the Man. 

In one week of downtime, runners can exchange 1 Karma for 2,000 nuyen (basically, exchanging their energy and expertise for some quick corporate services). 

Working for the People

By Working for the People, in the course of a week they can exchange 2,000 nuyen for 1 Karma (using their cash to help out people on the street, earning them some good vibes, new networks, and other things that can build their skills). 

Working for [...]

A shadowrunner may work for a union of streetdocs or for a magical coven at an adjusted conversion ratio. It is up to the player as to the nature of their work during downtime, but the GM has the final say on the Karma/Nuyen Conversion.

For instance, the game could include a working for the organleggers where the runner is able to convert up to 3 Karma to nuyen at a rate of 4,000 nuyen per Karma point, but the nuyen can only be used on augmentations.