[Jack_Spade]

Yupp, asked that one specifically from the dev.

p.30 R5
"All of the following actions are Matrix actions. Yes, you can use them if you’re not a rigger."

[gilga]

@BigSexy
A character can attempt to read an astral signature
with an Assensing + Magic [Astral] 3 Test. So you do not identify any astral signature, you do however know that a signature may be present there due to the story of the spirit, you just do not observe it.

[gilga]

Irris, Kynos Ayato - are you going to clear a manhole, or back track. I am waiting for your decision. No rush, just so we're not on a deadlock.

[Jack_Spade]

Could you describe how much junk we'd have to remove? Could we use the car and a tow rope to clear it quickly?

[gilga]

I assume that there is no technical difficulty in clearing it, perhaps half a hour of hard work. I imagine it like people placing things like old refrigirators, or other heavy appliances that nobody needs now as well as construction waste on these manholes to prevent anyone from opening them from within.  Basically the zombies clearly come from the sewers and this is why the people that still live there are locking them down. (Kynos should know that I think) so while uncovering the manhole is the shortest way inside, it is not going to make you very popular in that hood.

[Mulcarn]

Hey!  You guys found the smugglers Sovereign torched.  Good work!

[Mulcarn]

@Bigs - Psionics can't summon Guardian Spirits.  If you want a combat spirit for your tradition then it'll be a Fire Spirit.  But just about any spirit will help in fights honestly.  It just boils down to preference.

[Stuttrboy]

Your character description seems to indicate it's a possession tradition as well, did you decide against that?

[Kuirem]

@BigSexy Just thought I would mention that while your personalities ("spirits" as the superstitious call them) can't materialize you can still send them to recon in the Astral for you, looking for astral forms for example.

The Guidance spirit also have access to Divining which could help in your research. Also the Search power, assuming you can find a picture of your target.

[Stuttrboy]

Huh I think I may have underestimate the possesion traditions then.  I thought they had to possess, but they only swap out possession with materialization?

[Imladir]

Yep.

[Stuttrboy]

Okay so then how would this work.  as a possession tradition I have a spirit possess me and I have a weapon focus.  If I astrally project that comes with me to the astral right?  Can my body still use it?

Oh and can a spirit use the body's always on  Adept powers?

[Imladir]

If the spirit possesses you, he controls what you do. What you want requires an initiation to get the Channeling power (SG, p148). The spirit cannot use your powers/skills when possessing you, only what he, himself, bring to the table, except that (if I remember right), his physical stats become yours + his Force / 2.
In any case, the spirit is an astral being, so even when possessing something or someone, it is present in the astral (with the dual nature in that particular case).

[Stuttrboy]

You can't astral project while being possessed?  What about VR?

[Imladir]

When possessed, you don't control anything. The spirit is in control, you're just a passenger along for the ride. So basically, you don't do anything but feel, and give mental orders to your spirit.