[dluxcru]

As I recall, there is no risk of foci addiction if the total force of active foci is under your magic rating, correct?

[silentninjadesu]

That is not correct. Even the use of a force 1 foci risks addiction.

[Glyph]

That is not correct. Even the use of a force 1 foci risks addiction.

The addiction table alone might make it seem like that, but you need to read the sidebar on page 319, too.  "Typically, it is not a danger as long as the total Force of your active foci isn't greater than your Magic rating."  Which is enough of a limitation, in my opinion.

[silentninjadesu]

That's hardly definitive. The typically indicates that it's unusual but still happens. By RAW it's pretty clear that all foci risk addiction.

[Glyph]

I would call it definitive, since it both defines foci addiction and gives you a number to avoid.  If you want clear RAW, then you're playing the wrong edition.  Unnecessary qualifiers such as that "typically", ambiguous or even contradictory rules, botched cut-and-paste jobs from the previous edition, and text where shadowtalk and rules are hopelessly jumbled together abound.  But a bit of common sense helps.  Addiction tests for active foci whose total goes above your Magic rating make sense; rolling an addiction test for a Force: 1 focus is absolute nonsense.  Whether the more stringent ruling is RAW or not is immaterial, as any GM worth his/her salt will not run it that way.

[Thanael]

One native language is free (rating:N). Maybe grab Russian, too?

[dluxcru]

Apologies for leaving this topic unattended for a while. College gets the better of you sometimes.


Anyways, this topic has been helpful in narrowing down what order I want to take things in. Here's my thoughts on the subject so far. I've started to do some of the Karma math to see how long this will take to accomplish, but haven't finished yet.

1.   Strength +2 (25 Karma)
2.   Focused Concentration 4 (32 Karma)
3.   Inititation (Centering) Hermit Ordeal
4.   Foci: Power Level 4
5.   Foci: Sustaining Health,  Level X
6.   Foci: Sustaining Manipulation, Level X
7.   (Boost Binding as needed), Initiation (Invocation) Familiar Ordeal
8.   Boost Counterspelling,  Spellcasting, Magic
9.   Astral Chameleon
10.   Initiation "Trees" - Masking, Extended Masking, Flexible Signature, Flux and/or Sheilding, Absorbtion, Reflection
11.   Possible Throwins: Prototype Transhuman and Bioware, Immunity to Age Spirit Pact,  Initiation - Quickening/Spell Shaping/Channeling/Danger Sense/Psychometry, Centering Focus.
 
Something I'm still struggling with are the usefulness of the Masking, Extended Masking, Flexible Signature and Flux. From what I'm reading:


- Masking decieves others on your signature's true nature from assensing (for instance, appearing mundane, or slipping your foci and quickened spells past security).
-Flexible Signature/Flux are useful for avoiding a linkage to the scene of a crime.
I'm not sure which I'd want to take first of these two. All of them have their uses, I'm just not sure if I should pick masking or flex sig first.

What I'd like the most is a bit different - the ability to appear as though you had no aura at all, so that astrally perceiving entities can't detect you when you're trying to sneak around. Unfortunately there is no metamagical technique for this. Any way to do something of the sort? Astral Chameleon seemed the only close match.

Something that may influence my choice: Can you slip past a ward without fluxing?

[Medicineman]

>>>> 11.   Possible Throwins: Prototype Transhuman and Bioware,

What the ?
This is a pos qual you either take at char creation or not at all.
Either you're born with it or tough luck !

Hough!
Medicineman

[dluxcru]

I don't have all the sourcebooks, so I didn't know that bit. What I had found through googling was that it lets you take up to an essence point in bioware (?). I listed it as a possiblity to remind myself to look into it when I come back to this later down the road.

[Medicineman]

ahhh,OK

The Pos qual means that a megacorp made Biogenetic experiments with your char as a foetus to imbue him/it with Bioware even before he was born.
Your char is a Vatjob


HokaHey
Medicineman

[dluxcru]

Which would not fit Hikari at all - definitely rules that out. But do people have opinions on the order of the upgrades, or input on flex sig vs. masking?


I've also updated the profile to reflect some minor tweaks. Added some binding to make getting an ally spirit easier, and bound spirits could be beneficial as well. Marked Japanese as native.



== Info ==
Name: Hikari                      Alias: Hikari
Elf, Female                       Movement: 8/16
5' 8", 155                        Composure: 13
Street Cred: 0                    Judge Intentions: 13
Notoriety: 0                      Lift/Carry: 4 (15 kg/10 kg)
Public Awareness: 0               Memory: 7
Karma: 0                          Nuyen: 45
Age: 17                           Skin: Blue
Eyes: Blue                        Hair: Cyan (Glowing)

== Priorities ==
Metatype: C - Human, Dwarf, Elf, or Ork
Attributes: B - 20 Attributes
Special: A - Magician or Technomancer
Skills: D - 22 Skills/0 Skill Groups
Resources: E - 6,000¥
Bonus Skill: Spellcasting
Bonus Skill: Summoning

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3                            CHA: 8
AGI: 4                            INT: 5
REA: 3                            LOG: 2
STR: 1                            WIL: 5
EDG: 4                            MAG: 6

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence: 6                        Initiative:           8 + 1d6
Physical Damage Track: 10         Rigger Init:          8 + 1d6
Stun Damage Track: 11             Astral Init:          10 + 2d6
Physical: 3                       Matrix AR Init:       8 + 1d6
Mental: 5                         Matrix VR Cold Init:  5 + DP + 3d6
Social: 9                         Matrix VR Hot Init:   5 + DP + 4d6
   Glamour [+2]
Astral: 9

== Active Skills ==
Assensing                         Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8
Automatics                        Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 10
Binding                           Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 9
Counterspelling                   Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 9
Perception                        Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8
Sneaking                          Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 7
Spellcasting                      Base: 6  + Karma: 0  = 6   Pool: 12
Summoning                         Base: 5  + Karma: 0  = 5   Pool: 11

== Knowledge Skills ==
English                           Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Japanese                          N                     
Magical Theory                    Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8
Music                             Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8
Sperethiel                        Base: 2  + Karma: 0  = 2   Pool: 7
Spirits (Water)                   Base: 3  + Karma: 0  = 3   Pool: 8 (10)

== Contacts ==
Jackie Talon (Amerindian Talislegger Johnson, Fixer & Fence)), Seattle & NaN (CON: 3, LOY: 3)
Kyra Ayadores (Talismonger), Seattle & Tir (CON: 6, LOY: 6)
Melvin Zorgo (Armorer), Seattle (CON: 1, LOY: 2)
Nick Duro (Beat Cop (Barrens & Docks)), Seattle (CON: 1, LOY: 2)

== Qualities ==
Amnesia (Surface Loss)
Bioluminescence
Biosonar
Changeling (Class III SURGE)
Critter Spook
Critter Spook
Day Job (10 hrs)
Distinctive Style
Electroception (Electrosense)
Gills (Full)
Glamour
Impaired Attribute (STR)
Low-Light Vision
Magician
Mentor Spirit (Sea)
Nocturnal
Records on File (EVO)
Records on File (MCT)
Reduced Sense (Smell)
Spirit Bane (Fire)
Striking Skin Pigmentation
Too Pretty To Hit
Underwater Vision
Unusual Hair

== Spells ==
(Tradition: Storm of the Waters, Resist Drain with WIL + CHA (13))
Ball Lightning             DV: F-1
Combat Sense               DV: F
Firewater                  DV: F-2
Heal                       DV: F-4
Improved Invisibility      DV: F-1
Increase Reflexes          DV: F
Levitate                   DV: F-2
Mind Probe                 DV: F
Mob Mind                   DV: F+1
Stunbolt                   DV: F-3

== Lifestyles ==
Old Warehouse (Squatter)  1 months

== Armor ==
Chameleon Suit                      9
   +Fire Resistance 3
   +Nonconductivity 3
   +Thermal Damping 3

== Weapons ==
Grapple Gun
   Pool: 0        Accuracy: 3     DV: 7S       AP: -2    RC: 2
Shock Gloves
   Pool: 3        Accuracy: 3     DV: 8S(e)    AP: -5    RC: 2
Steyr TMP
   +Concealed Quick-Draw Holster
   +Gas-Vent 3 System
   +Laser Sight
   +Smartgun System, External
   Pool: 10       Accuracy: 6     DV: 7P       AP: -     RC: 5
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3        Accuracy: 3     DV: 1S       AP: -     RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Meta Link (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 1, FWL: 1)
   +Subvocal Mic
   +Trodes

== Gear ==
Ammo: Regular Ammo (Machine Pistols) x30
Certified Credstick, Silver
Fake SIN (Teresa Attores) Rating 3
   +Fake License (Automatic Weapons License) Rating 3
   +Fake License (Mage License) Rating 3
   +Fake License (Restricted Armor License) Rating 3
Goggles Rating 6
   +Image Link
   +Vision Magnification
Grapple Gun
Musical Instrument (Good)
Scissors (Good)