Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Character creation and critique => Topic started by: RythmnSylver on <10-17-12/1837:50>
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I need some critique and help polishing this tradition so that its more streamlined and matches the layouts from the books.
Basically my idea is a Tradition where instead of Communing so much with the Living Aspects of the land via Shamanism and the "Scientific" aspects of most Hermetic Mages, The Followers of this tradition are more intune with the components that make up of the trades of most Artisans (like Sculpters and Smiths) and Armorers (like Weapon crafters and Mechanics).
So far I have have settled on the facts that all Manasmiths share the Same Mentor spirits, (Artificer) Which Appear to the newly Awakened who express a unusually strong interest in one of the many Trades of the world but lack either Ability to transfer the form from their minds into their tools and mediums, or Have some sort of Disability that Bars them from truly plying their Craft. Essentially the followers of this tradition are in a sent both a combination of Shamanism and Hermetic magic, and, an Inversion of it. This is due mostly in part that there are more Mystic Adepts who are Mana Smiths then magicians and Adepts. So much so that it is actually an Oddity among Manasmiths who, as a majority, find their path Forging not only their tools but their bodies as well.
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│Combat: │
│Detection:Guidance │
│Health:Plant │
│Illusion: │
│Manipulation:Task │
│Drain:Willpower+Intuition │
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I can't quite settle on what would fit into this for Combat, Detection and, Illusion... so i really need help on that part..
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I think Manasculptor would be more appropriate for the intuition + will, I mean smithing and mechanic thingies are more of a logic thingie... Anyways, I have two things to suggest, but both of them kinda throw the RAW out of the window (to some extent, at least)...
1) Put some sprites in place of spirits. That would require you to be a technomancer... aaand it's impossible per rules. It would add an interesting twist to be able to do it by compiling skill alone, maybe with some new adept power. I know it's completely impossible and blaa blaa, but I as GM would allow it, or maybe use it in some adventure I throw at my players.
2) The drain... I think it could be appropriate to take a geas of gesture and use willpower + agility to resist drain... (I know, it's... well, you know the drill...) It is an artisan tradition, after all. Heck, with a gesture geas, I would allow players to use agility with any good-sounding tradition...
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I think Manasculptor would be more appropriate for the intuition + will, I mean smithing and mechanic thingies are more of a logic thingie... Anyways, I have two things to suggest, but both of them kinda throw the RAW out of the window (to some extent, at least)...
Well the Reason I put Manasmith was cause I was planning on creating a character who's magic was somewhat Themed to old Medieval Blacksmiths, But you are right.. Manasculpter would fit more, OR 2 other ideas are::
Idea A
Manaweavers are Magicians who take this Tradition
Manasculpters are the Mystic Adepts
and
Manasmiths are the Physadepts
OR
Idea B
The Name will just Relate to what craft they ply. Aka Manasmiths are usually weapon crafters while Mage-Mechanics for vehicle modifiers, ((Mana-Mechanics sounds too close to Mana-Mechs which makes me think of Mana infused Robots LOL))
1) Put some sprites in place of spirits. That would require you to be a technomancer... aaand it's impossible per rules. It would add an interesting twist to be able to do it by compiling skill alone, maybe with some new adept power. I know it's completely impossible and blaa blaa, but I as GM would allow it, or maybe use it in some adventure I throw at my players.
Honestly... while I can see what your getting at.. my Original Idea behind this had very little to do with the Matrix...
In fact, while Yes the Mage-Mechanics could and most likely will be Riggers, I really don't see it being so much compatible with Technomancers, as, a way for the Awakened at least in the physical plane to be on par if not Better then Technomancers. given that they can improve it to the best of its mechanical limits then sheild it in a electro static bubble that interferes or potentially BLOCKS other riggers and Technomancers from Hacking your creations.
2) The drain... I think it could be appropriate to take a geas of gesture and use willpower + agility to resist drain... (I know, it's... well, you know the drill...) It is an artisan tradition, after all. Heck, with a gesture geas, I would allow players to use agility with any good-sounding tradition...
O.o the Geas i can understand how it would work...a Manasmith striking the ground/barrier to enact his spells or a weaver who creates a astral Weave in the air as a catalyst for a spell...
But the Drain...No.. it makes no sense...seriously.. IF you were thinking along the lines of the whole Mental+Physical exertion and how the tradition uses the entirety of the practitioner's mind and body then can kind a see but Will+Body would be more fitting Then.... not agility
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Earth certainly fits, and so would Fire if it represented "Energy".
I've toyed with this idea myself, like an offshoot of hermeticism.
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I see the agility in the drain not as much of a physical exertion as the accuracy of the magical gestures. I mean, an artificer mentor would probably be pleased to see some skilfully done symbolism. ;) Well that's just an idea.
And as for the sprites... Well you're right. I could have thought it out in a better way... you could create a completely new "cast" of spirits for a tradition, like a spirit with possession power possibly affecting only machines. Or something. That way the combat spirit could be a "terminator", for example, likely going to possess some combat drone or weaponry. Just another wild idea thrown out ex tempore.
And for the illusion spirit; I think air elemental could be the way to go. And as Ethan already mentioned, earth elemental could to do the job of the combat spirit. Would stay inside the RAW and probably be much easier too. I don't know about fire, I quess it could depend on which kind of artisan you are.
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Earth certainly fits, and so would Fire if it represented "Energy".
I've toyed with this idea myself, like an offshoot of hermeticism.
I yeah I could use those.. Thank you. Though TBH I don't see this Tradition being so much of an Offshoot of Hermetic Magic but more of its own thing.. Namely because to me the way Hermetic Magic is explained that they focus on the Literary knowledge of a spell much like someone making a Theory for a Lecture or an Alchemist balancing out the mass of a feather to a lump of coal. This tradition (still need a solid name for it to encompass all of the followers :-\ (Manacrafters maybe? )) On the other hand is more tied to Technical knowledge of Sculpting, weaving, smithing, etc etc. Honing one's Mind AND Body to create masterpieces that transcend Literal meaning and can sometimes even Evolve with the harshest of Time's blows.
I see the agility in the drain not as much of a physical exertion as the accuracy of the magical gestures. I mean, an artificer mentor would probably be pleased to see some skilfully done symbolism. ;) Well that's just an idea.
Alright, I seem to have been a bit hasty in my judgment, your idea actually does have a bit more merit to it then I thought. Too bad Resiting Drain with Willpower + [(BOD/2)+(AGI/2)] would be either too much work or too abstract.. *Shrugs*
And as for the sprites... Well you're right. I could have thought it out in a better way... you could create a completely new "cast" of spirits for a tradition, like a spirit with possession power possibly affecting only machines. Or something. That way the combat spirit could be a "terminator", for example, likely going to possess some combat drone or weaponry. Just another wild idea thrown out ex tempore.
And for the illusion spirit; I think air elemental could be the way to go. And as Ethan already mentioned, earth elemental could to do the job of the combat spirit. Would stay inside the RAW and probably be much easier too. I don't know about fire, I quess it could depend on which kind of artisan you are.
Hrm I'd have to take some time if i'm gonna work out NEW spirits for this tradition.. As for Combat Fire And Earth could both work for it for all but Manaweavers, who would probably fit better with either Earth or Beast.
Hrm.. My character is Gonna be a Manasmith himself so Earth for combat and Fire for Illusion would be more fitting i think.. as Fire Could be for Heat which can both help your sense in your work or hide and Distort things as well..