[Fenix]

So my girlfriend is making a mage human/vulpine shapeshifter and we had a question regarding magic. As I understand it, if she takes Magic at priority A (giving her a 6), she'll get the full 6 points in her human form, but be limited to the 5 cap in vulpine form correct? The book says "Metasapients and shapeshifters who select Priority A, B, C, or D for Magic have their natural Magic of 1 replaced with their new Magic attribute" (RF, p.102) but I assume that's up to natural maximum for each form?

[ZeldaBravo]

I think that your assumption is correct but I am not 100% sure.

[Overbyte]

I would think that Magic would be conserved between forms.
That is.. your Magic rating is the same in both forms.
Therefore I would rule that 5 would be the max in both forms until raised with initiation, etc.

[Hobbes]

AFB, but I think RAW you are correct.  I doubt most tables play it that way and have both forms use the same Magic.  5 in this case.  Check with your GM.

I can't recall if anywhere Magic gets an exception to the "Separate" stats rule.  If it doesn't it brings up the interesting case of initiating only raises magic for one form.  So either way, unless there is something specific to the Magic stat, you'll wind up with a separate Magic stat for each form.  And for adepts, different powers.

[Overbyte]

I can't recall if anywhere Magic gets an exception to the "Separate" stats rule.  If it doesn't it brings up the interesting case of initiating only raises magic for one form.  So either way, unless there is something specific to the Magic stat, you'll wind up with a separate Magic stat for each form.  And for adepts, different powers.

It just doesn't make much sense for me for your "Magic" to change as you change form. Not to mention the book-keeping issues. As you mention.. if you are an adept which powers do you lose? Things like that. It seems more rational to me that you are a magical creature and your magic is your magic. One of the downsides of being a shapeshifter is the racial magic disadvantage. You can still overcome it with Initiation like everything else. But that's just my opinion (obviously). No real info in the book about it that I can find.

[Hobbes]

"...make sense..." and RAW and RAI and GM interpretation often four different things.  *shrug* you're already keeping two character sheets for a shapshifter, it's not really a hassle to track one more thing.

It isn't a significant balance issue to have different Magic stats, IMO.  Shifters are kinda gimpy anyway and this sorta helps one form, sorta gimps another form so it's kind of a wash.

[Fenix]

I appreciate the replies. I'll just have to check with our GM and see what she wants to do. Carrying over the 5 magic from the fox form (the "main" form) makes much more sense from a rules standpoint. Just seems odd to me that a magical creature would have a lower magic cap than any metahuman. Not to mention, it kind of makes taking A Priority for magic a bit of a wash since you can't use that 6th point of magic. I guess you still get the skills/spells but it just seems like a kick in the teeth for a mage to have to take B Magic to keep from getting shorted. Maybe the GM will let her keep the 6 since she's taking an initiation at chargen anyway?

Thanks guys!