[Hobbes]

Under 5th Edition, just the Physical Adept.  Previous editions (3rd IIRC) I've had a Shamanic Adept and for a one shot a Sorcery Adept that was mostly buff spells so played like a Physical Adept, just to muddle things.  I'm not a huge fan of 5th editions implementation of Aspected mages.  Pretty sure nobody is.   

[MijRai]

I actually enjoy Aspected Magicians a lot, it just needs a little tweaking (well, the Enchanting Group as a whole needs a fix, while Banishing and Ritual Spellcasting could use some love of their own). 

And Wakshaani, I know you're a writer and all, but you're sort of explicitly disagreeing with canon/mechanics right now (at least for 5th Edition).  There's Adepts, Mystic Adepts, Aspected Magicians and Magicians.  And no method for adepts to Astrally Project.  Not to mention any adept can purchase Astral Perception, and all of those 'Spell Group adepts' start with Astral Projection as well. 

I've played an Aspected Conjurer before; Spook, a Bosnian ex-pat with the Guardian Angel mentor spirit.  Very fun, very useful to the group. 

[Fizzygoo]

For the record, there are six (and a half) types of Adept.

plus Elemental Adept (similar to Shamanic Adept...the hermetic equivalent).

[Dinendae]

For the record, there are six (and a half) types of Adept.

4) The Shamanic Adept. They can both cast spells and summon spirits, but only of their Totem's domains.

This is one I don't know about. Are you talking about the standard shaman build, a shamanic mysad with spirit mentor, or something else (that I have apparently missed)? 

[Fizzygoo]

For the record, there are six (and a half) types of Adept.

4) The Shamanic Adept. They can both cast spells and summon spirits, but only of their Totem's domains.

This is one I don't know about. Are you talking about the standard shaman build, a shamanic mysad with spirit mentor, or something else (that I have apparently missed)?  [size=78%] [/size]

Non 5th edition. If I understand Wakshaani's post it was to make sure everyone knows that in the quotes I quoted about magic using populations that when it said "adepts" it doesn't mean what it means in 5th edition and that it covers all those types of magically active folks who were labeled "adepts" of one kind or another. If that's not what Wakshaani meant, then obviously i'm confuse'd.

[Medicineman]

For the record, there are six (and a half) types of Adept.

1) The Physical Adept, whose category has been expanded to include Social Adepts and others... the key is that all of their magic is internalized, making themselves better, with a few small abilities to go further (such as elemental punching)

2) The Sorcery Adept. They cast spells.

3) The Conjuration Adept. They summon spirits.

4) The Shamanic Adept. They can both cast spells and summon spirits, but only of their Totem's domains.

5) The Astral Adept. They can astrally project.
5 1/2) The Lesser Astral Adept. They can perceive astrally. (Note: These might just be a subset of physical adept)

6) The Alchemist. They do alchemy, Fetishes, and so on.

I'm curious how many of y'all have played one as a PC? I'm certain that the GMs have used several, but, beyond the physad, it's been my experience that the rest are virtually unknown. Anyone have stories of, say, their Shamanic Adept in action? Or have stories of playing a Summoner?

Wakshaani, Chummer,Your Mind is locked in the 80's or 90's
Schamanistic Adepts are from 2nd or 3rd Ed Shadowrun.
and You don't use the Term Totem anymore (at least not in the last 2 Editions ...)
I'm startled that one of the main Freelancers doesn't know about the rules or which chars You can play ....(that's not good , really ! )
and NO Adept can project astrally (IIRC there was once one very remote Ghoul variant from the Caribians who (if Adept) could Project astrally but that must be from 2nd or 3rd Ed.I haven't heard or read from this kind of Ghoul in the last 2 Editions !)

so either you're totally in the wrong edition...
this would be OK If you'd be new in Shadowrun or came back from former Editions, but its not good for a Freelancer....


with an appalled Dance
Medicineman

[Wakshaani]

I actually enjoy Aspected Magicians a lot, it just needs a little tweaking (well, the Enchanting Group as a whole needs a fix, while Banishing and Ritual Spellcasting could use some love of their own). 

And Wakshaani, I know you're a writer and all, but you're sort of explicitly disagreeing with canon/mechanics right now (at least for 5th Edition).  There's Adepts, Mystic Adepts, Aspected Magicians and Magicians.  And no method for adepts to Astrally Project.  Not to mention any adept can purchase Astral Perception, and all of those 'Spell Group adepts' start with Astral Projection as well.   

I haven't dug into the magic book(s) for 5th yet, so I'm actually not sure what all's out there just yet. (D'oh!) ... those are the traditional ones, and I'd think that if any aren't *currently* around, that they'd be around *eventually*. Maybe not, but, again, I'd imagine so.

The six (and a half) I mentioned would all fall under either Adept or Aspected Magician ... which I tend to group together anyway, with Adept being a *type* of Aspected Magician. That's not 100% in alignment with current magical theory I don't think, but it's how I have 'em slotted in my mental Rolodex.

Magicians (Spells, spirits, astral, alchemy)
Mystic Adepts (Spells, spirits, Adept powers, alchemy)
Aspected Magician (Spells *or* spirits *or astral *or* adept powers *or* Totem bonded *or* alchemy)

So, three sets, each with different subsets. (And Adepts have sub-subsets!)

Again, just my personal Rolodex there.

[Wakshaani]

For the record, there are six (and a half) types of Adept.

4) The Shamanic Adept. They can both cast spells and summon spirits, but only of their Totem's domains.

This is one I don't know about. Are you talking about the standard shaman build, a shamanic mysad with spirit mentor, or something else (that I have apparently missed)? 

From the sound of it, it's not around in 5th at this time. Sadface.

The Shamanic Adept was a Shaman who could both cast spells and summon spirits, BUT, only those aligned with his Totem.

So, a Bear Shaman could cast healing spells and summon Earth elementals*, while a Raven shaman could cast Manipulation spells and Spirits of Man*.

Seems that they're not around in this edition, so, I need to slot up my magical tomes for a perusal, it would seem. Sad times.

* Using the 5th ed Totems here, not the older ones. Previous editions had specific spirits per Totem that got a bonus, and those are the ones a Shamantic caster could call up.

And I still use "Totem" as "Mentor" is a copout to let Hermetics off the hook.

[Medicineman]

>>> I haven't dug into the magic book(s) for 5th yet, so I'm actually not sure what all's out there just yet. (D'oh!) ...
Oh YES, a Big D'oh *raised Eyebrow stare*


I'll gladly tell you whats around (even if it makes me sad that I have to tell/write You that... )
since SR4 you only have full Mages ( 20+ different Traditions,Hermetic,shamanistic, Wujen, Chaos,Voodo,Nordic,Christian, etc )
these are the ONLY one that can project astrally !
Aspected mages (either sorcery aspected, they can only fling spells or do Rituals, or conjuring aspected which can only summon ,bind,dispell  . No astral projection)
you have Mystic/Magical Adepts that can use mageskills (Conjuring and Summoning ) and have Adepts powers but can NOT project astrally and Physical Adepts (that can't project either) formerly known as Ki Adepts
these 4 archetypes are the only awakened types there are
All Awakend can have a Mentor (Formerly known as Totems   but a Mentor is more than just a Totem. Bear is a Totem,the Sea or the Adversary are Mentors ).
There is no Domain, no Domain Spirits (like Hearthspirits)
Maybe You should check the UMT (Universal Magical Theory) in a Shadowiki !!
There are NO more shamanistic Adepts.

with a shamanistic Dance
Medicineman

[Wakshaani]

Oh, I know the Universal Theory. I just don't like it.

[Sterling]

Oh, I know the Universal Theory. I just don't like it.

I'm so with you on this!

The Universal Magic Theory took away a lot of the uniqueness and distinction of Shaman vs Mage.  Shamans no longer seem to identify so closely with their Totem, as evidenced by the loss of the Shamanic Mask.

[Medicineman]

>>> The Universal Magic Theory took away a lot of the uniqueness and distinction of Shaman vs Mage.

only ruleswise
Its the darn job of the Player to make & play his Char unique and memorable and not some darn Rules.
The UMT otoh is so easy to use and to learn , now all the Rules apply to all mages alike.
No  more Only Summoning for You and Only Binding but without summoning for You, Domains for You and No Domains for You, etc Etc.
no more different rules for Wujen and for Christians and Mages and Schamans.....

And Spiritmask can still be used as a Fluff !

He who dances with a Spiritmask
Medicineman

[Reaver]

I hear you MM,

But its only us grandpa players that remember the original fluff that made shamans and mages unique.

In an effort of simplify the rules for easier play, a lot of the flavour is getting left by the wayside. And with an ever increasing and vocal call for "More Crunch, Less Fluff", these flavor points are being abandoned.

Mark my words. SR6 will only have 'Awakened' as an archtype, with 'shaman', 'mage', 'adept' being akin to traditions....

[DeathStrobe]

I hear you MM,

But its only us grandpa players that remember the original fluff that made shamans and mages unique.

In an effort of simplify the rules for easier play, a lot of the flavour is getting left by the wayside. And with an ever increasing and vocal call for "More Crunch, Less Fluff", these flavor points are being abandoned.

Mark my words. SR6 will only have 'Awakened' as an archtype, with 'shaman', 'mage', 'adept' being akin to traditions....

I seriously don't have a problem with that. Maybe even toss TMs in there too. It will also allow them to be able to be balanced easier as well, or hopefully make their rules more consistent. I'm working on an SR5 chargenerator and just hit adept powers and they're mind numbingly in consistent with the spells and complex forms they I'm going to have to write a lot of specific one use code to handle all their cases, which I find very annoying. I realize that a pen and paper game is not a video game, so can get away with some of this, BUT I do think consistency is more important than powers that do things completely differently from other powers.

[Sterling]

I hear you MM,

But its only us grandpa players that remember the original fluff that made shamans and mages unique.

In an effort of simplify the rules for easier play, a lot of the flavour is getting left by the wayside. And with an ever increasing and vocal call for "More Crunch, Less Fluff", these flavor points are being abandoned.

This sums up my feelings exactly.  New players coming to Shadowrun without the benefit of the previous 4 editions won't know about the wealth of flavour that is being ignored.  In the ongoing battle to find the "best" character the uniqueness of magic is being lost.

Under the current rules its quite acceptable for an awakened character to follow the Shamanic tradition but have no Totem.  It's unlikely because the Mentor Spirit PQ is so cheap, but rules-wise there's nothing preventing it.  A new player may not realise that Shamans traditionally required Totems to follow.

Dang it, I feel old.  Bring back the 2050s.