[prismite]

Folks,

I've got a lot of players who are playing magicians that are capable of summoning spirits. Lately, they (spirits) have become a larger part of the game and I would like to expand both their lore and the depth of their presence for our game. So, I have begun creating a more detailed background for them to generate a more 'living' world.

Is there an existing 'manifesto' about spirits and their home planes, heirarchy and general existance? Has anyone thought of this and started working towards it?

[Michael Chandra]

There's not really much known at all about Spirits, and no tradition agrees on it. Street Grimoire even begins on noting that you can throw away everything you know, becaues you don't know a thing really.

[prismite]

Now, is that to say that compiling a set of data about them would be ill advised? By that I mean, are they (and by proxy, we) intending to keep the virtual biography about spirits as a mystery or has it simply not been written yet?

[Michael Chandra]

There is a decent bit of data on them in Street Grimoire, with things to keep in mind and all that, but we basically know nothing about their home planes, hierarchy or even what Spirits really are. Their personality types, why they allow themselves to be summoned and what they take offense to, however, is noted.

[8-bit]

I would suggest starting with the flavor aspects of each tradition. A fire spirit of a hermetic tradition looks and acts much different then a fire spirit of a chaos tradition. We probably can't figure out the minds of spirits, but we can see common aspects and occurrences that we can observe. Many customs traditions are more fleshed out, since people have to think about them more, but I'm sure you have some ideas to add. I'll do a little bit of research and come back with some of my opinions on how stuff works or looks.

[prismite]

I would suggest starting with the flavor aspects of each tradition. A fire spirit of a hermetic tradition looks and acts much different then a fire spirit of a chaos tradition. We probably can't figure out the minds of spirits, but we can see common aspects and occurrences that we can observe. Many customs traditions are more fleshed out, since people have to think about them more, but I'm sure you have some ideas to add. I'll do a little bit of research and come back with some of my opinions on how stuff works or looks.

This is what I'm thinking, too. While it cant be cannon per-se, it would be a good database of information for GM's and players alike.

[cantrip]

IMO it also depends on your GM style as well as your players. I portray most of the spirits in my game with fairly distinct personalities, but I also try to show that human logic, ethics and standards do not apply. Another GM may like the strict  - all 'elementals' act one way and 'spirits' act another way and that's fine! But to factor in the players here, if I have a world where all spirits ruthlessly try to twist commands to the worst possible outcome because they hate being summoned, that won't necessarily be fun for the players unless they signed on for it (think the world of Bartimaes). On the flip side if all spirits are happy brightly colored ones (I choose you Fire Elemental!), that might make some people reach for their handy GM ice pick. 

Though now I am going to have to have a NPC in my game that has a pokemon theme...the best things come out of these threads! 

There is lots of fluff and flavor through the years, but it seems that SR has gone from a more defined spirits and elementals in SR1/SR2 days to an open ended infinite possibilities style. I love the fact that there are spirits on Board of Directors or are advisers to AAA corps now! Even in the early days, my hermetic mage tended to summon elementals with personality because in our game we liked a diverse spirit world. But he also treated them with respect and did his best not to abuse his abilities. Since that was not the thought process of shamans and mages at the time - he was seen as just another nut.

I may have gotten off subject of your question - spirits are very cool! - an unofficial manifesto would also be cool. Or another possibility would be a collection of stories, information and lists that discuss spirits and the theories that surround them. Some postings would be lists of spirits and their abilities, others would be ramblings of hermits and their experience in the spirit meta-realms. Perhaps even a spirit (or something claiming to be one) would "enlighten" humanity and hint at things forgotten.

Good topic prismite! (Also like your shadowrun resource page)

[Michael Chandra]

I had a Spirit of Man really enjoy the whole medieval fantasy theme that the runners were visiting, so he spoke to 'Neil the Ork Barbarian' in a way fitting with the setting, crypticly describing what his summoner wanted him to discuss with the guy. "The dark forces that govern the lands" = Chicago government, stuff like that. And another mage player of mine currently is paying extra lifestyle costs to feed the Air Spirit he has bound that really likes the baking products of the roommate, despite not having tastebuds. Spirit personalities are fun.

[prismite]

I once had a spirit critically glitch on his resist-summons roll ... so I played him as incredibly stupid and with a speech impediment. This guy showed up many times and while the group initially hated him, they grew to like him being around. They were a bit saddened when he got banished.

And thanks for the kind words, Cantrip! I have soooo much custom content that I get overwhelmed when I go to update the site ... as a result, most of it hasnt been posted. And the Mook Sheet has turned into a "Mook Generator" that is coming along slowly.

[cantrip]

Mooks!

Makes me smile just to say it!

Mooks Mooks Mooks! 

[Michael Chandra]

I got a mook spreadsheet around which lets me enter skill/attributes/etc values on page 1 (including some modifiers) and gives me their special stuff on page 2. This includes their attacks, perception, soak, and resistance + soak rolls versus every type of magic there is. But it's a pain to edit up and it looks nasty since it's just an ods file.

[prismite]

That could be useful too, Michael!

For 4th edition, I had this at my service: http://www.prismite.com/home/GMresources/mooks

I started on one for 5th edition, but this is as far as I got before I switched to an actual programmed generator: http://www.prismite.com/home/GMresources/mook5

Note that the Aztechnology Jaguar, Ares Avatar, Evo Skywalker and the S-K Dragoon are all my own creations and stylized after the Renraku Red Samurai.

[Michael Chandra]

It's rather sloppy right now, but this is what I currently have.

It has Initiative/Initiative Dice, Defense/Soak, and then 12 types of Magic resistance/soak. Also Overflow listed, Perception/Sneaking dice, limits, CMP/CMS, etc.

There is a mistake in the recoil compensation: Right now it copies the weapon and adds (Str/3) rounded up, it should add 1 extra from the natural 1 RC.