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Message no. 1
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lars Wagner Hansen)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Sun Jun 16 17:10:01 2002
Ever since I saw the Ian Miller drwaing on page 125 of MitS, which in my
oppinion clearly shows a machine-spirit, I've been thinking about making a
Techno-mage og Machine-mage.

I would proberly start out throwing it at my players, but knowing me and the
players. It wouldn't take long before somebody would like to try out that
type of mage.

So far I have the following ideas:

1) Not affected in full by essence loss. I was thinking about only
subtracting half the Essence loss from his Magic. Bioware affects him
normally.

2) Summon Machine Spirits, not sure exactly how this is done, but it should
be based on the machine in question. Free machine spirits would act like
Christine or any other machine with intelligence gone mad.

3) Control cyberware: Complex action: Roll Conjuring vs. Willpower+Essence
of target. Target resists with Willpower vs. Mage's Magic. #successe equal
number of simple actions cyberware can be controlled.

Any ideas, suggestions or flames?

Lars
--
Lars Wagner Hansen, Jagtvej 11, 4180 Sorø
l-hansen@*****.tele.dk http://home4.inet.tele.dk/l-hansen
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Message no. 2
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Bira)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Sun Jun 16 17:35:01 2002
On Sun, 16 Jun 2002 23:06:53 +0200
"Lars Wagner Hansen" <l-hansen@*****.tele.dk> wrote:

> Ever since I saw the Ian Miller drwaing on page 125 of MitS, which in my
> oppinion clearly shows a machine-spirit, I've been thinking about making a
> Techno-mage og Machine-mage.
>
> I would proberly start out throwing it at my players, but knowing me and the
> players. It wouldn't take long before somebody would like to try out that
> type of mage.

You could just use the rules for a shaman that gains bonus dice when in
"technological" domains. All his spirits would have a techie element to
their appearances, and his tools and trapping would be much more
modern-looking than those of most other magicians. For example, his
fetishes could be computer disks or chips where the spells are "stored".
This ends up being mostly a set of cosmetic modifications, so you don't
need to keep track of a new set of rules.

--
Bira -- homem saído das entranhas da Terra para mudar o destino da humanidade,
usando apenas um filhote de urubu e um rolo de "silver tape"...
http://www.shadowlandbr.hpg.com.br
Message no. 3
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Christopher Merrill)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Sun Jun 16 19:15:00 2002
The Pyramid on-line zine had an article on techno-shamans. They talked about
Virtual lodges and a techno-shamans doesn't have access to astral space and
so can't astrally project or precieve, and have no access to meta-magic.
They can access the matrix by astrally projecting (or some-such). It was
light on rules (one of the reasons when I was looking at the idea, Meph and
I don't run with it) but it was a cool little read.

Christopher Merrill
A W.H.A.T.T. Member
Message no. 4
From: shadowrn@*********.com (shadowrn@*********.com)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Sun Jun 16 19:20:01 2002
Not sure if this would be of interest to you, but if you're wanting to do a
techno-mage kind of character you might want to read the Babylon 5: Passing
of the Techno-Mages trilogy by Jeanne Cavelos. Might give some kind of
insight as to how a technologically oriented mage might view things. Even if
not it's a really well-written set of books, especially if you happen to like
B5.
Message no. 5
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Lone Eagle)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 04:30:01 2002
The techno mage idea is starting to get very close to the Otaku, I'm
assuming that Otaku aren't what you want (because otherwise I'm sure deep
resonance would have told you where to find the rules by now) but if you are
after them the most current set of rules (I believe) are in Matrix.
If on the other hand if you're after magic with a more physical bent I'd
suggest simply following Bira and going for the cosmetic changes, I've not
read MitS thoroughly enough but is there a path in there which fits the
bill?

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Message no. 6
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Gurth)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 04:55:01 2002
According to Bira, on Sun, 16 Jun 2002 the word on the street was...

> You could just use the rules for a shaman that gains bonus dice when in
> "technological" domains. All his spirits would have a techie element to
> their appearances, and his tools and trapping would be much more
> modern-looking than those of most other magicians. For example, his
> fetishes could be computer disks or chips where the spells are
"stored".
> This ends up being mostly a set of cosmetic modifications, so you don't
> need to keep track of a new set of rules.

One of my old characters took more or less this route, but he was a mage.
The idea was that he used whichever of magic and technology was more useful
in a situation, mixing the two as required. Maybe this is an obvious way to
go, but I get the impression that a great many magician (N)PCs in SR think
magic is king and disregard technology unless there really is no magical
equivalent...

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
Little ever changes, if anything at all
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Message no. 7
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Bira)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 10:05:01 2002
On Mon, 17 Jun 2002 08:32:38 +0000
"Lone Eagle" <loneeagle2061@*******.com> wrote:

> The techno mage idea is starting to get very close to the Otaku, I'm
> assuming that Otaku aren't what you want (because otherwise I'm sure deep
> resonance would have told you where to find the rules by now) but if you are
> after them the most current set of rules (I believe) are in Matrix.
> If on the other hand if you're after magic with a more physical bent I'd
> suggest simply following Bira and going for the cosmetic changes, I've not
> read MitS thoroughly enough but is there a path in there which fits the
> bill?

You can apply the "cosmetic treatment" to any of them :).

--
Bira -- homem saído das entranhas da Terra para mudar o destino da humanidade,
usando apenas um filhote de urubu e um rolo de "silver tape"...
http://www.shadowlandbr.hpg.com.br
Message no. 8
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Bira)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 10:05:03 2002
On Mon, 17 Jun 2002 10:53:27 +0200
Gurth <Gurth@******.nl> wrote:

> One of my old characters took more or less this route, but he was a mage.
> The idea was that he used whichever of magic and technology was more useful
> in a situation, mixing the two as required. Maybe this is an obvious way to
> go, but I get the impression that a great many magician (N)PCs in SR think
> magic is king and disregard technology unless there really is no magical
> equivalent...

A techno-mage would probably belong to a specific hermetic school, if
the GM wants to use this rule from MitS...

--
Bira -- homem saído das entranhas da Terra para mudar o destino da humanidade,
usando apenas um filhote de urubu e um rolo de "silver tape"...
http://www.shadowlandbr.hpg.com.br
Message no. 9
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Da Twink Daddy)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 12:30:00 2002
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lars Wagner Hansen" <l-hansen@*****.tele.dk>


> Ever since I saw the Ian Miller drwaing on page 125 of MitS, which in my
> oppinion clearly shows a machine-spirit, I've been thinking about making
a
> Techno-mage og Machine-mage.

Hmm, I think that drawing is more of a toxic spirit. Summoned "from" the
remains of a old bridge over a polluted river/lake.

> I would proberly start out throwing it at my players, but knowing me and
the
> players. It wouldn't take long before somebody would like to try out that
> type of mage.

Well, I figure the players should "theoretically" have access to any powers
the "bad guys" have.

> 1) Not affected in full by essence loss. I was thinking about only
> subtracting half the Essence loss from his Magic. Bioware affects him
> normally.

Too unbalancing, IMO, but, it all depends on how limited his other
abilities are. Maybe instead give 1 "free" magic point that he doesn't
have to take a geas for, as long as he stays true to the "techo" school.

> 2) Summon Machine Spirits, not sure exactly how this is done, but it
should
> be based on the machine in question. Free machine spirits would act like
> Christine or any other machine with intelligence gone mad.

Target number (and maximum force) based on object resistance table.
Is this in addition to elementals/nature spirits/thought forms/etc.
(depending on your flavor) or instead of? If it's instead of, it could be
quite limiting to only be able to summon a single type of spirit.

> 3) Control cyberware: Complex action: Roll Conjuring vs.
Willpower+Essence
> of target. Target resists with Willpower vs. Mage's Magic. #successe
equal
> number of simple actions cyberware can be controlled.

I would say Will+(6-Essence) [round up] as mages target number. This might
be too powerful though.
Also, this seems like it would make a good spell (group with Control
Thoughts?) rather than some special ability.

Da Twink Daddy
datwinkdaddy@*******.com
ICQ# 514984
Message no. 10
From: shadowrn@*********.com (Soban boris)
Subject: Techno-Mage
Date: Mon Jun 17 15:40:04 2002
Lars wrote:
>1) Not affected in full by essence loss. I was thinking >about only
>subtracting half the Essence loss from his Magic. >Bioware affects him
>normally.
>
>2) Summon Machine Spirits, not sure exactly how this is >done, but it should
>be based on the machine in question. Free machine >spirits would act like
>Christine or any other machine with intelligence gone >mad.

I think this two ideas are good ones. But, not being affected in full by essence loss
could be a little to helpfull. There should be some drawbacks like malus to sorcery test
when in the wild nature, far awway from heavy machines. I already have used such a thing
from one year but as an Edge of cost 3.

As for the spirits, I'll suggest the following caracteristics:
Body P+1; Quickness P; Strengh P;
Charisma P+1; Intelligence P+2; Willpower P+1;
Essence P-2;
Power: Control of machines (test of Power against Object Resistance), Engulf (in
electricity, same damage than a lightning bolt with Serious damage).
Vulnerability: Nature spirits (half up the power of such spirits attacks)
What do you think of that?

By the way, speaking of Mages and new magics, can someone give me the address of the site
where satanism (summoning of demons,...)for SR is explained? I lost it. Thank you.

Boris

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