[Dudesomebody]

I have a few questions on how these things work and rules a player needs to know regarding them.

1. does a summoned spirit leave it's summoner's astral signature every place it goes (simply by being there) or does it have to do something (cast a spell, manifest etc)
2. does maintaining a spell leave an astral signature and does who cast it make any difference (mage casts a spell for the spirit to maintain vs. spirit maintains its own spell)??
3. if the spirit is possessing an item or person does it effect any of the above??

I have looked online for answers to the above but my net-fu is weak

[Michael Chandra]

It's a tricky thing that's not fully specified. I would argue that spells and powers leave a signature on their targets. A self-buff spell won't leave tangible trails. Exceptions apply to things like energy aura I guess?

[Xenon]

As I read it you will leave your astral signature at the location where you originally summoned the spirit. The spirit will also carry your astral signature.

If you drive-by-cast a spell you will leave your signature in the van where you cast the spell from and you will also leave it on the actual victim.

If you sustain a healing spell until it become permanent then you will leave your signature on both the location where you healed your teammate as well as on your teammate.

If you are sustaining an invisibility spell on the street samurai you will leave your signature where you originally were when you cast it as well on the actual street samurai.

If you cast a barrier spell then you will leave your signature from where you were when casting the spell as well on the actual barrier.

[Michael Chandra]

If you sustain a healing spell until it become permanent then you will leave your signature on both the location where you healed your teammate as well as on your teammate.

(Unrelated sidenote: SR5 requires sustaining until become permanent, in SR6 they simply are permanent.)

[Xenon]

Ah, this was a SR6 question?
I was replying from a SR5 point of view.
Don't know SR6 well enough to tell if it changed or not... :-/

[Michael Chandra]

Eh, I don't think it changed so I didn't bother making a difference. I think the question is SR5.

[Dudesomebody]

It was an SR5 question, I need to start specifying but I forget. Only just got all the 5E books, dont want to buy new all over again.