| Body | Agility | Reaction | Strength |
| 3 | 6 (7) | 4 (6) | 3 |
| Logic | Intuition | Willpower | Charisma |
| 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Edge | Magic | Essence | Initiative |
| 5 | 6 | 6 | 3d6 + 11 |
| Physical l. | Mental l. | Social l. | Astral l. |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | N/A |
| Physical box | Stun box | Overflow | |
| 0/10 | 0/10 | 0 |
| Name | Rating | Notes |
| Athletics skill group | 2 | |
| ...Running | 3 | |
| ...Jumping | 3 | |
| ...Swimming | 3 | Haha |
| Outdoors skill group | 2 | |
| ...Navigation | 2 | |
| ...Survival | 2 | |
| ...Tracking | 2 |
| Name | Rating | Pool |
| Con (Fasttalk) | 3 | 5 (7) |
| Etiquette (Street) | 5 | 9 (11) |
| Heavy Weapons (Grenade Launchers) | 4 | 11 (13) |
| Longarms (Shotty) | 6 | 16 (18) |
| Perception (Visual) | 6 | 12 (15) |
| Sneaking (Urban) | 6 | 13 (15) |
| Unarmed Combat | 4 | 11 |
| Name | Rating | Category |
| Area Knowledge: Chicago | 5 | Street |
| Music (Anarcho-punk) | 4 (6) | Interest |
| Sprawl Life (Squats) | 4 (6) | Street |
| Street Drugs | 2 | Street |
| Philosophy (Anarchist) | 2 (4) | Academic |
| Small Unit Tactics | 2 | Interest |
| Corporate Policy (Exploitative) | 2 (4) | Interest |
| Underworld (ABC) | 2 (4) | Street |
| Name | Rating |
| English | N |
| Body | Agility | Reaction | Strength |
| 3 | 4 (5) | 5 | 3 (4) |
| Logic | Intuition | Willpower | Charisma |
| 3 (5) | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Edge | Magic | Essence | Initiative |
| 3 | 0 | 3.20 | 1d6 + 10 |
| Physical l. | Mental l. | Social l. | Astral l. |
| 6 | 6 | 7 (10) | N/A |
| Physical box | Stun box | Overflow | |
| 0/10 | 0/10 | 0 |
| Name | Notes |
| Jack of All Trades | |
| Legendary Rep | |
| Made Man | |
| Privileged Family Name | |
| Rank | Caporegime |
| Speed Reading |
| Name | Notes |
| Code of Honor (Omerta) | |
| Prejudice (Common, Biased) (Elves) | |
| SINner (National) | UCAS |
| Name | Rating | Notes |
| Influence skill group | 2 | |
| ...Etiquette | 2 | |
| ...Leadership | 2 | |
| ...Negotiation | 2 | |
| Acting skill group | 2 | bought with 10 karma |
| ...Con | 2 | |
| ...Impersonation | 2 | |
| ...Performance | 2 | |
| Athletics skill group | 1 | bought with 5 karma |
| ...Gymnastics | 1 | |
| ...Running | 1 | |
| ...Swimming | 1 | |
| Close Combat skill group | 1 | bought with 5 karma |
| ...Blades | 1 | |
| ...Clubs | 1 | |
| ...Unarmed | 1 |
| Name | Rating | Notes |
| Armorer (Firearms) | 1 (3) | |
| Automatics (Assault Rifles) | 1 (3) | |
| Computer (Matrix Search) | 1 (3) | |
| Demolitions (Improvised Explosives) | 1 (3) | |
| First Aid (Gunshot Wounds) | 1 (3) | |
| Forgery (Counterfeiting) | 1 (3) | |
| Gunnery (Ballistic) | 1 (3) | |
| Heavy Weapons (Grenade Launchers) | 1 (3) | |
| Intimidation (Torture) | 1 (3) | |
| Palming (Pilfering) | 1 (3) | |
| Perception (Visual) | 1 (3) | |
| Pilot Ground Craft (Wheeled) | 1 (3) | |
| Sneaking (Urban) | 1 (3) | |
| Thrown Weapons (Non-Aerodynamic) | 1 (3) |
| Name | Rating | Category |
| Area Knowledge: Seattle | 3 | Street |
| Organized Crime (Mafia) | 3 (5) | Street |
| History (Mafia) | 1 (3) | Academic |
| Business (Front Organizations) | 1 (3) | Professional |
| Finance (Money Laundering) | 1 (3) | Professional |
| UCAS Law (Loopholes) | 1 (3) | Professional |
| Underworld (Protection Rackets) | 1 (3) | Professional |
| Name | Rating |
| English | N |
| Italian (Speak) | 2 (4) |
| Name | Notes |
| Cerebral Booster R2 | +2 Logic |
| Mnemonic Enhancer R3 | +3 Knowledge, Language, and memory-related tests, and Mental limit. |
| Muscle Augmentation R1 | +1 Strength |
| Muscle Toner R1 | +1 Agility |
| Pathogenic Defense R1 | +1 Disease Resistance Tests |
| Platelet Factories | Reduce damage by 1P |
| Sleep Regulator | only need 3 hours of sleep per night |
| Tailored Pheromones R3 | +3 Acting, Influence, Social Limit |
| Toxin Extractor R3 | +3 Toxin Resistance Tests |
| Tracheal Filter R1 | +1 Toxin Resistance (Inhalation vector only) |
| Name | Location | Profession | C/L | Description |
| TBD | Chicago | TBD | #/# | TBD |
As proof, I offer the fact that I kinda hate using infected as PCs, yet I trust Ryo enough to do something cool with his infected troll.
For my Troll at least, it's important that everyone knew him and trusted him prior to his Infection. For lack of a better word, that would help humanize him in their eyes, since they would have known him prior to him becoming a man-eating monster.
We'll either be using prime or street + LOTS of karma and money.
Keep in mind, these are people who have been IN the shadows for a while now.
We'll either be using prime or street + LOTS of karma and money.
Keep in mind, these are people who have been IN the shadows for a while now.
Also, what are everyone's thoughts on OP level?
We'll either be using prime or street + LOTS of karma and money.
Keep in mind, these are people who have been IN the shadows for a while now.
All right, so just Priority. That's good to know.
OP level?
Would Baby Hardcore work with a syndicate team or would it go against his Neo-A leanings? Poindexter wants us to trust each other so it doesn't sound like Baby Hardcore should be laboring under the threat of (fratricidal) violence.
We had broad consensus that the street-level nature of the game would lend itself well toward a group of gangers or syndicate men
Would Baby Hardcore work with a syndicate team or would it go against his Neo-A leanings? Poindexter wants us to trust each other so it doesn't sound like Baby Hardcore should be laboring under the threat of (fratricidal) violence.
If Poindexter is ok with it, I'm fine with BH being forcefully "encouraged" to join a team by a group that he's in over his head to. Also, he may be working off a debt, say to leave his corners alone, or something along those lines. If he's been working with that group for awhile, then he'll be totally loyal to the team.
I'm trying to decide whether to just make yall prime runners, or whether I want you to build your "1st level" version of yourselves first, y'know? Get a feel of who yall were and where yall were at back in the day when you first met, THEN giving you a shit ton of money and karma to "fast forward" them 6-8 years in the shadows.
I'm REALLY leaning toward the second. What are yalls thoughts?
I'm trying to decide whether to just make yall prime runners, or whether I want you to build your "1st level" version of yourselves first, y'know? Get a feel of who yall were and where yall were at back in the day when you first met, THEN giving you a shit ton of money and karma to "fast forward" them 6-8 years in the shadows.
I'm REALLY leaning toward the second. What are yalls thoughts?
Ok, that's what we're gonna do then. Here's the character gen rules SO FAR...
1- Everyone make you a street level character. A "1st lvl" version of the character you envision for this game. Where did he/she get his first real experience in the shadows and what was he/she like back then? Make THAT character. Once everyone is done, and we all feel like we know each other, then we'll level em all up to where we need em.
Well, usually yeah, but since we're not actually gonna be playing these guys, Only using them as a jumping off point, i figured it would be cool. If not, we can just use standard.
So, are we deciding on the whole syndicate angle? Because that will likely affect what I'm going to play.
I also second Ryo, I would rather start from Standard as a jumping off point, and then upgrading them.
So, are we deciding on the whole syndicate angle? Because that will likely affect what I'm going to play.
I also second Ryo, I would rather start from Standard as a jumping off point, and then upgrading them.
I don't think anyone has decided on anything yet.
Play what you wanna play, I cannot stress this enough.
EDIT: The motion to start from standard rather than street has been seconded. If we have a third, the motion carries.
Hey rednblack? Won't you tell the rest of the group a bit about baby hardcore, huh?
Only thing Street Level does is harm gear acquisition. Lower Nuyen totals, lower availability and lower rating caps. Ultimately all that serves to do is hamstring mundane builds while awakened characters barely notice. It wouldn't actually affect my troll much at all, since he's an infected adept, but anybody planning to be a decker or street sam, or just not awakened, would be seriously handicapped.
Based on what he's said, Ryo's Infected Troll may be a good fit with The Wicked Atoner.
Based on what he's said, Ryo's Infected Troll may be a good fit with The Wicked Atoner.
Either that or the Swimming brick, depending on which way he plans on going with it.
I'm rolling the Syndicate Kid around in my head but haven't come to any conclusions yet. Theoretically he could fit several of the rolls, from Swimming Stone (his family name driving him toward crime), to Wicked Atoner, or even the Failed Parent. The idea for the last one would be that Ryo's troll was "made" by the Syndicate Kid, and then became infected as a consequence of the Syndicate Kid's actions or orders, and now he feels responsible for the outcome.
@Sgt, they both seem pretty interesting, but the disgraced military ma'am might have more of a street feel.
@Sgt, they both seem pretty interesting, but the disgraced military ma'am might have more of a street feel.
Well, someone got back to me on that. Awesome, thanks for the opinion. I'll finalize on that then: Lyall the disgraced ex-mili mys-ad it is!
....now to better understand how magic works, and then build her. ...and pick a tradition to go with...and spell choices...then gotta toy with the mentor spirit idea XD
...I may need some help before finalizing, I shamefully admit and hope I'm wrong.
EDIT: Quick question, getting conflicting results on searching. For mystic adepts, is it 2 Karma per Power Point, or 5? And can i buy PP after creation if desired (read: during phase 2)?
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
And background counts too. Say, uh, Poindexter, can we spend karma on initiating between our level 1 versions and our ready-to-start chars? It might be a good idea to get Centering -- or whatever it is for physical adepts that reduces background count penalties.
Also, are you going to do any free knowledge skill points for character rounding purposes? I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but, ya know, not enough to not do it :D
My advice is to first come up with what their magic specialty is. Don't try to do everything. Focus on the one or two things you wanna do really well and build off of that.
And it's been errated to 5 karma per point. Yes, you'll be able to spend karma to raise it up during phase 2. If you're not terribly familiar with the magic system, perhaps going STRAIGHT for the trickiest one of them all to make work properly aint the way you wanna go. Aspected mages can be really fun, as can standard mages.
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
And background counts too. Say, uh, Poindexter, can we spend karma on initiating between our level 1 versions and our ready-to-start chars? It might be a good idea to get Centering -- or whatever it is for physical adepts that reduces background count penalties.
Also, are you going to do any free knowledge skill points for character rounding purposes? I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but, ya know, not enough to not do it :D
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
It will depend on how long you've been around. For Baby Hardcore, not much.
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
It will depend on how long you've been around. For Baby Hardcore, not much.
Did I say 18? I meant 81. Baby Hardcore was one of those 20th century punks
I presume Submersion will be allowed as well? Probably settling on a Technomancer.
As for location, I've decided to have it take place in chicago. Don't feel like you need to have your character live there or even ever have been there, but you'll end up there by the end of page 1, one way or another.
EDIT: And I gotta come right out and say that I'm actively starting to look forward to this Troll of yours, Ryo.
Poor Ryo. Here's to hoping there's no FAB that we run into. Should be fun though!
Any thoughts on how much advancement we are getting in phase 2? I'm scoping out a build for phase 1, but just curious.
It will depend on how long you've been around. For Baby Hardcore, not much.
Did I say 18? I meant 81. Baby Hardcore was one of those 20th century punks
How old was he when he took his first job?
How old do you want him to be at the start of the game?
I presume Submersion will be allowed as well? Probably settling on a Technomancer.
Glutton for punishment, eh?
ETA: Ryo, I don't know who Aiden or Henry are, but that sounds awesome.
I presume Submersion will be allowed as well? Probably settling on a Technomancer.
Glutton for punishment, eh?
Possibly :)
I've been wanting to play a Technomancer for an awfully long time now. And I think it could be fun and interesting.
You mention that Data Processing is based on a different attribute depending on your Network. I don't see any other mention anywhere else to Networks. Could you clarify?
Feel free to post them in your placeholder slots and we'll update them as we go along. That way, the most recent version of everyone's character is on page 1.
I have a question about qi focuses, even though it's the example from the core book. Say I have Improved Reflexes 2. I buy a level 4 qi focus for Improved Reflexes at force 4 and then have IR 3? If magic is 6 I have no risk of addiction either, right?
I have a question about qi focuses, even though it's the example from the core book. Say I have Improved Reflexes 2. I buy a level 4 qi focus for Improved Reflexes at force 4 and then have IR 3? If magic is 6 I have no risk of addiction either, right?
Correct; kind of. You have Improved Reflexes 2 always on, but you need to activate your Qi Focus to add that extra level of Improved Reflexes. That will show up on the Astral, can be knocked out (by disrupting the focus), and takes a Simple Action to activate.
Even with Ryo's houserules, Skills C is rough for a Technomancer. Here's to hoping I get a ton of Karma to spend on Skills.
Ah...I thought I put that up. Going off of (I believe) Tecumseh's appraisal of the concept, Lyall would fit into the Fall from Grace role. Had a promising career, misfortune happened, got it all stripped away.
Ah...I thought I put that up. Going off of (I believe) Tecumseh's appraisal of the concept, Lyall would fit into the Fall from Grace role. Had a promising career, misfortune happened, got it all stripped away.
True, but it was a promising career in the military, wasn't it? Not exactly an "ivory tower" as it were. Thoughts?
I have a question about qi focuses, even though it's the example from the core book. Say I have Improved Reflexes 2. I buy a level 4 qi focus for Improved Reflexes at force 4 and then have IR 3? If magic is 6 I have no risk of addiction either, right?
Correct; kind of. You have Improved Reflexes 2 always on, but you need to activate your Qi Focus to add that extra level of Improved Reflexes. That will show up on the Astral, can be knocked out (by disrupting the focus), and takes a Simple Action to activate.
Even with Ryo's houserules, Skills C is rough for a Technomancer. Here's to hoping I get a ton of Karma to spend on Skills.
Yeah, Decker and Technomancer basically can't be done below Skills B. What's your array? Something like:
A - Resonance
B - Attributes
C - Skills
D - Metatype
E - Resources
Assuming you want to be human, you could use Sum to 10 to go with this:
A - Resonance
B - Attributes
B - Skills
E - Metatype
E - Resources
1. Is Sum to 10 a valid char gen option?
OH YEAH, I forgot those new character gen rules just came out in run faster!
Well, i spose if anyone wants to use one of those, i have no problems with that either. I just wanna make sure everyone is on an appropriate power level for their concept to work. NOTE: This does not mean a balanced power level with the rest of the group. I kinda hate worrying balance, actually. It makes it harder for me to really immerse myself in the story, as VERY LITTLE if anything at all in the real world is balanced.
OH YEAH, I forgot those new character gen rules just came out in run faster!
Well, i spose if anyone wants to use one of those, i have no problems with that either. I just wanna make sure everyone is on an appropriate power level for their concept to work. NOTE: This does not mean a balanced power level with the rest of the group. I kinda hate worrying balance, actually. It makes it harder for me to really immerse myself in the story, as VERY LITTLE if anything at all in the real world is balanced.
I took this to mean that Sum to 10 was kosher. I used it too.
2. I'm not sure what firearms skill to have BH use. I know this is Chicago, and a street game at that, so can I pump up longarms and put a few points in pistols for the few times he'll be in polite company, or would I be better off with something more concealable? I'd like to avoid automatics for flavor reasons.
3. For Knowledge Skills, I'd like to take Corporations (misdeeds). From BH's perspective pretty much anything a corp does is going to be a misdeed, but can we make a common sense ruling on when that specialization would apply?
4. Also on knowledge skills, have you made a decision about freebie points? Will those kick in for the player ready version, as opposed to the baseline version of the characters?
5. Is Code of Honor (Ganger) ok to reflavor as neo-anarchist? I'm also considering Made Man but re-flavoring as neo-anarchist if you would prefer.
I've also decided that unless your concept is wrapped up in being a local, I don't think I want any of yall to be from Chicago. Whether your character has ever been there before is up to you, but i'd prefer if none of the PCs actually LIVE there. UNLESS of course, it's part of your whole concept.
As for what group my character is going to be in, I think I'm moving towards Swimming Stone over Failed Parent. Is that all right for you, Ryo?
I wouldn't say that my concept is based around Chicago, but many of the Syndicate Kid's Wicked Atoner goals were.
He sees parallels between the situation in Chicago - where the government declared bankruptcy and most of the officials resigned following Crash 2.0 - and the origins of the Sicilian Mafia, which was formed to provide extralegal arbitration and protection in the absence of a permanent police force in post-feudal Italy. Thus, as part of his "atonement" arc, the Syndicate Kid is beginning to think about how his organization might be used as a vehicle for societal improvement, providing stability and order, instead of just personal enrichment. This arc would make more sense in Chicago than elsewhere, given its nature as a feral city.
I've also decided that unless your concept is wrapped up in being a local, I don't think I want any of yall to be from Chicago. Whether your character has ever been there before is up to you, but i'd prefer if none of the PCs actually LIVE there. UNLESS of course, it's part of your whole concept.
I wouldn't say that my concept is based around Chicago, but many of the Syndicate Kid's Wicked Atoner goals were.
He sees parallels between the situation in Chicago - where the government declared bankruptcy and most of the officials resigned following Crash 2.0 - and the origins of the Sicilian Mafia, which was formed to provide extralegal arbitration and protection in the absence of a permanent police force in post-feudal Italy. Thus, as part of his "atonement" arc, the Syndicate Kid is beginning to think about how his organization might be used as a vehicle for societal improvement, providing stability and order, instead of just personal enrichment. This arc would make more sense in Chicago than elsewhere, given its nature as a feral city.
I plan to owe money to the Yakuza (aka, In Debt). How is this going to work? If I fled to Chicago, I assume they can still find me. Am I able to pay it off in the second stage? Kind of ruins the whole purpose of the quality.
I am also taking the Wanted Quality, but I'm not set on who actually has a bounty on my head. I would be inclined to think the college, or some law enforcement agency, but I could go with the Yakuza as well.
I'm iffy on this. I think of BH as someone who's really into his neighborhood, and I'd like "mom" and "dad" to be important NPCs in his life -- considering making dad a "Sensei" from Run Faster. Also, with how big a presence the ABC is in Chi-town, I like that link for him as well. One possible way I see this playing out is if BH, and mom and dad are trying to bring on "the revolution," and they figure the best way to do that is within the neo-anarchist framework already in place in Chicago. I'm gonna have to think about this.
As for Code of Honor: Ganger, it's on page 26 of Run Faster. The short and dirty is, Must always wear gang colors -- neo-anarchist patches, etc. for Baby Hardcore, and give half earnings above lifestyle to gang, in this case the ABC. I also see Baby Hardcore working security for ABC functions, helping with teach-ins, whether they're of self-defense, urban gardening, or of the radical education variety. While the ABC isn't a "gang" itself, I also see there being some tension between the ABC's self-identified noble aims, and the aims of the gangs that do control various parts of the city.
You could have JUST arrived in chicago with these goals in mind. What do your bosses in the syndicate think about your goals?
Currently, the Chicago mob is split, disorganized, and
feuding. McCaskill’s Milwaukee organization has their hands
full dealing with rival soldati coming in from Detroit, who are
loyal to Don Roland ‘Th e Greek’ Stephanopoulos. With the two
Dons distracted, a number of small crews of made men see the
opportunity to start up their own small operations in Chicago. The
most powerful and influential of these is Capo Jules MacAvoy,
Quinn’s former second-in-command and a native Chicagoan.
After a series of drive-by shootings and example killings, the
fronts hardened, and the families are now competing over the
various markets and districts.
I dig it. What meta is the kid? I kinda like elf or dwarf. Had you thought about it at all?
May I also add something? How bout you were a crappy parent for whatever reason; too much of something, not enough of something else, whatever. Due to this, you two had a huge fight one night where you both said some horrible horrible things to the other. This was around 2 years ago. That'd make her 16, just old enough to know everything and fast enough to ditch you if she wanted to. Which is exactly what she did. She stole something expensive from you and dipped, never to be seen again.
Until the night she showed up to return the thing and apologize to (or seek an apology from) you, at which point, you ate her.
eh?
Note, I have very little clue about how things like vehicles and weapon mounts work. Is a weapon mount externally visible?
Is this the type of thing that causes raised eyebrows in polite sections of town?
Do I need a mount on each side of the vehicle or is one on the top sufficient?
Note, I have very little clue about how things like vehicles and weapon mounts work. Is a weapon mount externally visible?
I think we're all winging it a little bit on the subject, but the way I'm doing it is Yes. The weapon mount IS externally visible UNLESS you spend the extra money to make it concealable. I couldn't tell you what page or even what book thats in, but there's a cost for it in the chummer program. Wish I could do better for ya.Is this the type of thing that causes raised eyebrows in polite sections of town?
Yes, depending. External weapon mounts on a military/police/security vehicle won't even draw a second glance. On an obviously civilian vehicle, yeah, totally will draw raised eyebrows as well as possible calls to the authorities. Now, all that being said, Chicago is a little more hardcore, so ya never know.Do I need a mount on each side of the vehicle or is one on the top sufficient?
Traditionally, weapon mounts are either front facing or rear facing. I suppose you COULD pay extra to have it on a swivel mount, but as for the cost, I haven't a freakin clue.
-Daughter of a corp exec (thinking Ares), raised with a silver spoon and all that. not the firstborn, so known that won't take parent's place in the company.
-Decides to enlist service in local military, gets the royal treatment due to family influence. Gets passed assensing filters by payoff ("my kid isn't Awakened, she doesn't need tested, heres' 20K, blah blah blah)
-Is actually a very exceptional soldier, gets put on a special team right out of boot.
-Team gets wasted on one mission because enemy assensing blew their cover. Truth comes out, huge scandal.
-Cheapest and easiest route is to dishonorably discharge, and get disowned by family. Lyall gets put on streets. Disheartened, turns to drinking and slumming.
-Finds food and shelter at various church establishments. Priests there see her Awakened power, decide to help her hone it and develop it (hence the tradition)
-Turns to shadows for lucrative income and tries to scrape by..
Welcome to critiques or suggestions on that.
Direct spells, on the other hand, require the caster to have Line of Sight, and it must be natural Line of Sight (this means no glasses, contacts, or vision enhancements that digitize the image; basically everything).