Combat Mage's Rules for a Gunfight
1) Use the right weapon for the right target. Manabolt the sammy, Fireball the men in the chopper, use the Weapon Focus on the spirit.
2) "Geek the mage first" is the first rule of combat. Toss a flash-bang as you find cover. Discourages people from getting too close, and cuts down on collateral damage.
3) Always, ALWAYS have Increase Reflexes sustained. Get a sustaining focus if you need to. All those unawakened people who are looking to geek the mage have wires speeding them up. Don't give them the edge.
4) Geek the mage first.
5) Go for spirits second.
6) Even if you are a close-quarters guy, get a gun. If they don't know you're a mage, you may live longer.
7) Only one thing matters in combat: surviving. If that means using an enemy as a (meta)human shield, having spirits possess bodies to fight for you, mind-controlling your enemy, or using capsule rounds loaded with laes and DMSO, then that's what you do.
A distracted opponent is an easy target. Always prepare a distraction. An illusion of a great dragon breathing fire overhead usually works.
9) The only time you should be staying in one spot is when two illusions of you are running in different directions to draw fire while your team flanks the enemy.
10) Always wear armor. You never know when combat may erupt. Armored clothing is cheap and effective.
11) Dead men tell no tales. Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson knows this too, so expect a doublecross.
12) Winning a firefight means nothing if you're left standing over a pile of dead gangers when the Knights show up. Fight only long enough to get out of there.
13) Do not kill without reason. Do not hesitate to kill when given reason.
14) Shoot straight.
15) Conserve Ammo.
16) Never, ever make a deal with a dragon.
