[JustADude]

Detect [Object] needs to be taken separately for each kind of object you want to detect. Unless your Dresdenesque Shadowrun PC wants to buy a new spell every take he takes a "missing object" case, that's not a viable option.

You can easily use the Street Magic rules for creating spells to tweak "Detect [Object]" into a universal "Detect Object" (note the lack of brackets) spell, at the same DV. Detect [Object] finds every instance of a category of item (guns, bombs, shoes, etc) in the spell's range, while Detect Object would find a single, specific object of any type.

There's also a Detect Individual spell, which does pretty much just that, but for people. It can be used to track any individual that is known to you, chosen each time you cast, for the same DV as Detect [Object]. Just replace a single known person with a single known object, and there you go... same result, derived in two different ways.

Heck, you could up the DV by +1, to a whopping (F/2), and create an unfettered "Locate Target" spell, which would let you do people or objects, since Dresden seems to use the same ritual for both.

[TheNarrator]

True. Still doesn't change the range issue, however. Even the Extended version of a Detection Spell has a radius of only Force x Magic x 10 meters.

Again, the Search power still seems like the best way to find someone or something in SR. The flavor doesn't quite line up with Dresden's tracking spell, but that's inevitable: magic in SR and in the Dresdenverse just don't work the same way.

[JustADude]

True. Still doesn't change the range issue, however. Even the Extended version of a Detection Spell has a radius of only Force x Magic x 10 meters.

Again, the Search power still seems like the best way to find someone or something in SR. The flavor doesn't quite line up with Dresden's tracking spell, but that's inevitable: magic in SR and in the Dresdenverse just don't work the same way.

Oh, I agree, Search is still the best way. I was just pointing out that the target limitation isn't a big problem if you use Spellcrafting rules.

[Mason]

Yeah, but Dresden's spell is a ritual. He finds a piece of the target to use the Sympathetic Linking metamagic with, and then casts the spell ritually. The only real issue is the amount of time ritual magic takes in Shadowrun doesn't match the Dresdenverse at ALL. >_<

See, to make Dresden, he MUST be an initiate. He most definitely has Sympathetic Linking, and he probably has Psychometry.

[Elfarcher]

Yeah most of what he does is a ritual early on. I'm only on book 7 but the little Chicago is awesome. is there anything like that magic-wise in shadowrun?

[TheNarrator]

Nothing comes to mind.


When you translate a character into a completely different setting with completely different rules (literally, in this case) for how magic works, then you have to face the fact that things aren't going to line up perfectly. A Shadowrun character isn't going to do the exact same things in the exact same way as a Dresdenverse character.

Shadowrun mages astrally project. Dresden doesn't.

Dresdenverse mages can open portals to the Nevernever at will. SR mages can't open astral gates to the metaplanes so simply.

Shadowrun mages have no ethical difference between killing with magic and any other use of lethal force. Dresdenverse mages do.

Shadowrun mages conjure casually and their spirits obey them. Dresden wouldn't dare conjure anything without locking it in a magic circle first to keep it from turning on him.

In the Dresdenverse, anyone can make a magic circle with some salt and a drop of blood. In Shadowrun, only the astrally aware can create wards or Mana Barriers.

Dresden has a convenient and simple tracking spell. Shadowrun mages need either a long ritual or to have a spirit use the Search power.

The list goes on and on. You should recreate the capabilities as best you can (but if you want Dresden from the books--except maybe the first--it won't be a starting character), but it isn't possible to do everything Dresden does in Shadowrun in the exact same way he does it.

If you want a magic system designed to emulate the one in the Dresden Files books, then go check out the Dresden Files RPG. I haven't had a chance to play it, but it definitely has the most entertaining rulebook of any game I've ever seen.