[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

So a few runs back, I had the joy of coming across an illusionist mage, and the party benefits (if not directly combat-worthy) I think would make for an interesting build. Perhaps a bit obnoxious, but here is my initial pass:

Attributes: B
Magic: A (Spellcasting & Summoning)
Metatype: C (Dwarf)
Skills: D
Resources: E

BOD 3
AGI 3
REA 4
STR 3
CHA 5
INT 5
LOG 3
WIL 7
EDG 2
MAG 6


Automatics 3
Binding 6
Con (+1 from karma)
Counterspelling 6
Perception 5
Spellcasting 6
Summoning 6


Lightning Bolt
Manabolt (debating stunbolt instead, but unsure)
Heal
Chaotic World
Hot Potato
Improved Invisibility
Opium Den
Silence
Trid Phantasm
Levitate

Chaos tradition (?), Chaos mentor, and bipolar (heh) for qualities (for now)

This build leaves a bit to be desired for skills, but it at least looks playable, somewhat. Probably could use a major overhaul, if not outright scrapped, but I'll see what everyone else thinks

[Halinn]

I think I'd change either Perception, Binding or Counterspelling for Assensing. The best argument can be made for changing it from Perception, I think, in that someone else in the group is likely to be good at it, and assensing is unique to magic users, with its own unique benefit. The points could also come from Automatics, since you're not going to have much of a pool with a gun either way.

[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

ah yeah, assensing, i knew i was missing something big. i figure the automatics pool will just be for suppressive fire so i could also do that. 6 assensing, 0 perc, and 2 automatics now. such a weird character

[Strange]

I have a chaos mage build, too, except mine is 1/2 cyber.  And not dwarf!  Why such a high CHA?  Other than that, I like your build (with the extra assensing.) 

[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

initially i had the points in logic and had 2 cha, but i use logic for so little, that I figured I could grab cha and have a slightly larger dice pool for con, since chaos mentor gives that nice +2, plus contacts are always nice. Thematically though the CHA probably makes not too much sense, aside from maybe being someone you can't trust, yet still like to be around (for some reason)

[Whiskeyjack]

Is Chaos an INT tradition? Regardless, you could easily lose 1-2 LOG for more REA/AGI.

[Danny Montanny]

Is Chaos an INT tradition? Regardless, you could easily lose 1-2 LOG for more REA/AGI.

It is indeed INT. You go by your gut and fly by the seat of your pants. These types tend to be pretty Charismatic, so I think the higher score there is a good choice. I agree with Whiskyjack, however. Put the 2 points from LOG into AGI since REA is already soft capped for a Dwarf. Buy LOG up to 2 with 10 Karma.

[Strange]

initially i had the points in logic and had 2 cha, but i use logic for so little, that I figured I could grab cha and have a slightly larger dice pool for con, since chaos mentor gives that nice +2, plus contacts are always nice. Thematically though the CHA probably makes not too much sense, aside from maybe being someone you can't trust, yet still like to be around (for some reason)

Yeah, I get that.  I put my guys CHA at 2 because his chaoticness is annoying and puts people ill at ease.  But I can totally see it going the other way, nice thinking.

[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

Chargen rules don't let me play around much more regarding REA (I guess dwarves are slow) although I could toss points at agility so I can actually shoot things, maybe drop log to 2 and have AGI 4

[drakir]

I would max Intuition instead of Willpower. Better skills and more initiative that way.

I would also skip automatics and take specializations in spellcasting and summoning. Automatics 2 is 6 karma, two specs is 14 karma. And IMO the specs are more useful. Or maybe Con + Fast Talk spec.

[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

yeah, automatics is sort of a throwaway, but i'm already at horrible risk of dying from being an annoying mage and super flimsy. I could probably still realistically fire a weapon without any skill in it, but unsure if I want to deal with just 3 dice for suppressive fire. also upon second thought I think I could probably use a reflexes spell just so i can cast more than one thing per combat pass in combat if necessary, although that takes a bit of restructuring of spells (to discard heal, which is probably a bad idea, or to drop opium den or something). additionally, I think orgy is an amazing spell in concept, although it seems to be gone from chummer so I don't know if ill try custom building it to later. IF i did, i'd probably replace opium den with it since it is effectively the same yet more degrading/hilarious

Also just considered the int vs willpower, considering using drugs for initiative, but unsure how dwarf resistance to toxins affects drugs like jazz and cram.

[Whiskeyjack]

The best way to play a mage and not be immediately outed as one is simply to cast spells that can't be directly traced to you with the five senses.

When you fling a fireball from your hand it's pretty obvious where it came from. When an enemy team's HUDs start to fill with crazy hallucino-gibberish from Chaotic World, or they drop their weapons from Hot Potato, or you nuke them aura-to-aura from cover with Stunbolt, it's not always clear who exactly is doing that.

That said I do like mages being able to shoot, but it's not easy to work it in.

[ryanstark1989@yahoo.com]

hmm, very true on the indirectness of the illusions. Now just to consider whether I'd like to do lots of drugs for initiative, or have yet another spell to think about sustaining