[theclaw]

Hi guys

As part of my campaign I chose to put some protagonist/antagonists depending on the Voodoo Tradition. I've  created a minor gang called the Baron Samedi and they have some shamans.

However I don't really understand the way this tradition works, I'm just used to the regular tradition and I should have thought of that ahead

an someone give me the Voodoo in a nutshell ? I don't get the possession thing, can't they summon a regular spirit ? Or do they have to allow him possession first ? Of their own body or of someone else ? Can they summon fire spirits ?

Thanks

[Kiirnodel]

Quick Rules Nutshell: Vodou is a Charisma tradition, just like standard shamans. But they do have a different set of spirits that they use. It's similar to how Shamans and Hermetics are different, just more so. They can use Guardian, Water, Man, Guidance, and Task spirits (so no, they can't summon Fire spirits; but then again, neither can Shamans).

Possession spirits: Traditions that are marked as "Possession traditions" means that the spirits that they summon have the Possession power instead of Materialization. You can check out the Possession power on page 197 of Street Grimoire, but the quick description is that they must take over something to affect the physical world. They can't just pop in and have their own body. This is both good and bad, on the one hand, it is harder for them because they have to make a test to take control (opposed by the object or person they are possessing). But it is also possible for them to take over anything you want; one of the enemy combatants for example. The spirits can possess anything, living creatures, corpses (this is one of the sources of the SR equivalent of Zombies), even mechanical devices (although Object Resistance is how they are resisted). Vodou spirits tend to prefer possessing living things, or at the very least things that are mobile so they can move around and "live it up."

If you want to know more about how Vodou works on a more RP-level, or how they might interact with their spirits and the like, let me know and I can get more into that.

[Beta]

Mechanically how it works is covered in Street Grimoire, and is nicely summarized by Kiinodel.

Optionally, for flavor, get your hands on Hard Targets.  It has some coverage of that family of beliefs that include Vodou, with some optional rules for using lesser and greater Loa as specific types of summonable spirits.

[theclaw]

Thanks guys for your answers.

That pretty much covers what I need

I'll have to look at the Guidance and Task spirits, they're new to me (and to my players AHAHAHAHA :p)

[Moonshine Fox]

 I just want to add, if this gang is going to have Baron Samedi as their patron Loa, have some dark humor prepared.

[Reaver]

I just want to add, if this gang is going to have Baron Samedi as their patron Loa, have some dark humor prepared.

I don't think theclaw knows of Baron Samedi's history in Shadowrun

[theclaw]

Actually, being a french player who used to play In Nomine Satanis / Magna Veritas, I have some knowledge about the guy Not in the Shadowrun setup though. Anything particular ?

Also, about powers and such: if the spirit aids a party with Concealment for example, does this mean he has to be on the material plane ? So possessing someone, right ? What if he's bound ? I understand Vodou shamans hate to bind, so is this plain impossible (binding) ?

Thanks !

Ah and also, the possessed individual never retains their own abilities while the possession, right ?

[Iron Serpent Prince]

Also, about powers and such: if the spirit aids a party with Concealment for example, does this mean he has to be on the material plane ? So possessing someone, right ? What if he's bound ? I understand Vodou shamans hate to bind, so is this plain impossible (binding) ?

Just as a note, a spirit can possess and object, not just a person.  So, your Concealment using spirit might have possessed your characters hat (just as an example).  They must be on the material plane (meatspace) to have any affect on people/things/places there.

Binding doesn't alter that in anyway.

Ah and also, the possessed individual never retains their own abilities while the possession, right ?

Correct.  It is only the spirits skills / powers / etc.  Note:  There are some ways around this with having the summoner be possessed by their own spirits, but as far as I remember they are only available with Initiations.

[theclaw]

Thanks !

[Beta]

Ah and also, the possessed individual never retains their own abilities while the possession, right ?

Correct.  It is only the spirits skills / powers / etc.  Note:  There are some ways around this with having the summoner be possessed by their own spirits, but as far as I remember they are only available with Initiations.

Basic possession that is correct -- the possessed person is a passenger in their own head, watching but with no control.  The spirit is driving their body, and has access only to its own skills and powers.

In Street Grimoire there is a very powerful metamagic called Channeling.  This allows a summoner to possess themself, but stay in control, have access to all of their own skills and powers, but still benefit from the increased physical capabilities brought about by spirit possession and to use the spirits powers (at the cost of a service). 


And I'll emphasize the ability to possess objects.  The spirit has to overcome the object resistance, so possessing a drone is difficult.  But the possession mage in my game tends to carry around a stick (natural object) and a silk ribbon (lightly processed) as targets for possession.

[theclaw]

Thanks for that.

So a powerful shaman could channel a powerful spirit in their own body, still be themselves as for using skills and casting spells but being boosted by the loa's attributes. For ex a force 8 Loa would give a +4 to REA, STR, BOD and AGI.

That's neat

[Michael Chandra]

A few important things to keep in mind:

Possession:
- Possession does not grant Immunity, only the attribute-boost (and only to physical attributes below the Force of the Spirit)
- The fixed version of Core makes explicit that the +4 maximum always counts, so a Force 10 Spirit cannot give you a +5
- Possession reduces Wound Modifiers
- A Possessed target cannot use its own knowledge/skills, only that of the Spirit
- A Possessed target cannot operate AR, cybernetic interfaces or active-control augmentations
- There is no Try Again option: If the spirit fails, it cannot try again on that same target until the next sunrise/sunset

With Channeling:
- Magician has access to their own skills and own body
- Magician can grant the Spirit control, but costs a Service
- Magician can use Spirit's Powers, but costs a Service
- Channeling uses the lowest of each mental attribute, rather than that of the Spirit's like with Possession
- Channeling starts during the summoning and cannot be turned off midway

If you frequently want an object to be possessed, consider making it a Vessel with rituals, for a +6 on the Possession attempts

Having Spirits of Men possess your clothing is a nice way to make them physical, so they can cast buff-spells on you

Having Guardian/Task Spirits possess your clothing is a nice way to let them provide Spell Defense

Concealment is a Physical Power so demands the Spirit is Physical during sustaining

[theclaw]

Alright so a Voodoo Shaman could have any kind of token prep'd for possession.

However on a RP level isn't that considered rude to ask a Spirit to go in a bracelet, ring, pendant, hat, etc... ? Is the spirit forced to do it at the expanse of a service ? Or simply forced to because he's been summoned ?

[Carmody]

Well,
Magic rules have been unified since SR4. It means that the same rule set applies to all traditions (with some minor caveats like spirit list, drain attribute, materialization or possession).

In my opinion it would be an error to disregard the tradition fluff. Clearly, Voodoo will not ask a loa to possess an object, save for the most extreme cases. And even in such cases the voodoo will probably try and do something to amend his behavior as soon as possible.

[theclaw]

Well,
Magic rules have been unified since SR4. It means that the same rule set applies to all traditions (with some minor caveats like spirit list, drain attribute, materialization or possession).

In my opinion it would be an error to disregard the tradition fluff. Clearly, Voodoo will not ask a loa to possess an object, save for the most extreme cases. And even in such cases the voodoo will probably try and do something to amend his behavior as soon as possible.

Yeah that's how I understand it too.

So in my case, a NPC Voodoo Shaman's team infiltrating a building the best choice would be channeling.