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Hermetic Summoner

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Annulus

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« on: <12-16-15/2118:31> »
I know its weird, But I would like some advice / Help of building a Hermetic  "Shaman" type character, 

We are currently doing a runner group of
Street Sam with a focus on Guns
Adept with a Focus on Melee and "Tanking"
Mystic Adept - with a Generalist Focus
and a Technomancer.

I'm looking to make a traditional Human Mage, I know for fluff I want to be hermetic, But I want to do summoning / Binding much like a shaman would.

Feel free to ask questions if need be ill be around to answer

Squirrel

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« Reply #1 on: <12-16-15/2156:11> »
Well, just build a "shaman" with some logic for drain.
You're lacking a face which is a very common combination with high charisma traditions.

A hermetic is not better or worse at summoning or binding than a shaman with equal stats.
Shamans usually elves just profit from their drain attribute being the same as the one that limits your number of bound spirits. They do not need that much logic.

Hermetics also understand spirits differently. They use them as tools whereas the shaman is enlisting their help on a mutual basis.
What is your character's attitude towards spirits?
Please excuse my English as it is not my first language. Misunderstandings are inevitable and smell peachy enough to be forgiven. Thank you :)

gradivus

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« Reply #2 on: <12-16-15/2232:56> »
Take a look at the Wuxing Tradition.
Very orderly like the Hermatic Tradition but treats spirits more like the Shamanic Tradition.
Of course most Wujen are Asians but not exclusively so since many corporations have adopted this Tradition.
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Annulus

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« Reply #3 on: <12-16-15/2329:50> »
Due to Storyteller we have no NEED for a face, he spoke to us about it, we are playing a more story driven game where our own words and ideas are going to be the "Face" though having a bit of a socialite might not be a bad idea, He wants us all to be face style characters so he is leaning less on the Mechanical Aspect of it, though he expects us to play our levels (Low Cha plays low Cha Ect.)

As for Spirits, My plan is to see them as sentient tools, they still have a bit of thought, feelings and such but they as Spirit have a purpose and to fulfill and follow that is what they live for. Though I'm thinking of having a fascination with "Old Gods" Like how people see Mentor Spirits.
« Last Edit: <12-16-15/2334:37> by Annulus »

Marcus

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« Reply #4 on: <12-17-15/0021:56> »
I always recommend the Chaos tradition, essentially it believe, that magic works they way it does b/c you believe it works that way. So it draw elements from all over, can fit in basically any aspect of magic into chaos tradition.
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gradivus

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« Reply #5 on: <12-17-15/0524:07> »
Due to Storyteller we have no NEED for a face, he spoke to us about it, we are playing a more story driven game where our own words and ideas are going to be the "Face" though having a bit of a socialite might not be a bad idea, He wants us all to be face style characters so he is leaning less on the Mechanical Aspect of it, though he expects us to play our levels (Low Cha plays low Cha Ect.)

As for Spirits, My plan is to see them as sentient tools, they still have a bit of thought, feelings and such but they as Spirit have a purpose and to fulfill and follow that is what they live for. Though I'm thinking of having a fascination with "Old Gods" Like how people see Mentor Spirits.

If it's gods you want then Norse is a LOG+WIL tradition that has plenty of gods.
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Medicineman

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« Reply #6 on: <12-17-15/0546:03> »
What about the Atztec Tradition ?
IIRC it has WIL and CHA  as Drain Attributes and Protector Spirits
And certainly a lots of Old Gods ;)

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Sendaz

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« Reply #7 on: <12-17-15/0551:14> »

 The others have given some good suggestions on how to address your hermetic/shamanic issue and I think you will have some good fun with this.

Due to Storyteller we have no NEED for a face, he spoke to us about it, we are playing a more story driven game where our own words and ideas are going to be the "Face" though having a bit of a socialite might not be a bad idea, He wants us all to be face style characters so he is leaning less on the Mechanical Aspect of it, though he expects us to play our levels (Low Cha plays low Cha Ect.)
This part though, while it can be fun could also be a source of headaches as it can be very subjective on what counts as you playing your particular Cha. 
I suggest you read through the following link to get a heads up on this just to be aware going in.

http://forums.shadowruntabletop.com/index.php?topic=22604.0
Do you believe in a greater WIRELESS, an Invisible(WiFi) All Seeing(detecting those connected- at least if within 100'), All Knowing(all online data) Presence that we can draw upon for Wisdom(downloads & updates), Strength (wifi boni) and Comfort (porn) or do you turn your back on it  (Go Offline)?

Annulus

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« Reply #8 on: <12-17-15/1439:28> »
We have been playing with the storyteller for a few years this is just the first time we are doing SR with him we are usually White Wolf D10 System, but he wanted to Run shadowrun insted.

He is also an Azlan Geek, he loves that Mega-corp.

Annulus

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« Reply #9 on: <12-27-15/1941:59> »
Quote
Magic - A
Attributes - B
Skills - C
Metatype - D
Resource - E

Metatype: Human
Tradition: Hermetic


=Merits=
Mentor Spirit: Raven

=Attributes= 20
Body: 3
Agility:2
Reaction: 3
Strength: 2
Willpower: 6
Logic: 5
Intuition: 2
Charisma: 5  
Edge: 5
Essence:
Magic: 6

Initiative:
Matrix *:
Astral *:
Composure:
Judge Intentions:
Memory:
Life/Carry:
Movement:

Physical Limit:
Mental Limit:
Social Limit:

=Skills= 28/2
Spellcasting 6
Summoning 6
Counterspelling 6
Con 6 (+2 Raven)
Arcana 5
Ritual Spellcasting 4
Binding 3
Assessing 2
Perception 2
Etiquette 1


=Skill Groups =
Gymnastics 1
Running 1
Swimming 1
Disguise 1
Palming 1
Sneaking 1

=Spells=
1: Stun Bolt
2: Levitate
3: Physical Wall
4: Heal
5: Improved Invisibility
6: Chaotic World
7: Increase Reflexes
8: ?
9: ?
10: ?

Thoughts? I planning on following Raven but I want to be a solid summoner

Mestoph

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« Reply #10 on: <12-27-15/2011:31> »
Drop ritual casting, arcana then buff binding(you are a summoner so its core skill), perception.
Make Cha 6 and WIL 5, change  LOG and INT, put one point from STR to REA for more combat optimization.
You need one lethal spell: Ball lighting/lighting bolt  or Fireball are good for aztek, but i prefer ice spear/storm for that nice chilly feeling.
For "merits" you should check spirit whisperer/spirit champion/Spirit affinity
I would put both skill group points into athletics, 3 dices for sneaking is useless because typical police officer has 10-14 dices for perception checks.
"Hard" manipulation spell like Control actions etc are quite useful.
For mentor spirits:
Raven is most cost efficient for any Cha based awakened character, but for me does not feel "right" for an Aztec mage.

edit: Well i checked my grimor.. Aztec mythology book and it mention about priests shapeshifting into ravens, so getting shapechange spell is quite good idea.
« Last Edit: <12-27-15/2030:31> by Mestoph »

bdyer

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« Reply #11 on: <12-27-15/2144:41> »
One of the best things about a heremetic summoner is having spirits of man in the health position.  So even if you have a hardliner gm that says spirits can only take actions in their category, you can still give unbound spirits of man increase attribute spells and have him sustain them on you for free

Whiskeyjack

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« Reply #12 on: <12-28-15/0942:04> »
Swap LOG and WIL.

Your INT is just painful...this is why I have LOG mages honestly, because LOG is not near as useful to anything else as INT or CHA is. You can easily get by with 2 less CHA and putting those into INT.

Dump STR to 1 imo. Put that point into INT too.

You won't need Arcana 5 until you have literally hundreds of karma under your belt. Drop it entirely and buy 1 point with karma, that will see you through a couple initiations. Just drop Ritual Spellcasting or buy 1 point with karma. Take those skill points and raise Binding to 6, Assensing to ~4, and Perception to 6.

A dice pool of 3 to sneak is basically useless, FYI. Just rely on Improved Invisibility if you ever need to do that.

Physical Barrier is a crappy spell.
Playability > verisimilitude.