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Message no. 1
From: Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject: Random shaman idea
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 22:34:11 -0500
Beware, this borders on the munchkin.

I've been thinking about the Shamanic Mask concept, where a shaman's
features take on characteristics of their totem during magical acts. I've
been thinking that it might make for interesting role-playing if the shaman
could "borrow" features of their totem animal from time to time. This works
best as a GM decision kind of thing, where the GM gives a shaman a "power"
(like low-light vision or something) for a short time.

For those who like systems, however, I thought of one. The gist of it is
this: shaman are a special kind of Physical Mage. (Hey, I warned you it was
munchkinesque). All totems have (short) list of physical adept abilities
which the shaman can temporarily use if they so choose. The powers are based
on traits of the totem animal. To use them, the shaman must reserve enough
magic points to "buy" them. The powers last as long as the magic points are
reserved. While the points are reserved, the shaman's effective magic rating
is decreased by the points spent.

Powers available to a sampling of totems (note that some of these powers are
not actually physical adept abilities):

Bear
Attribute boost (Strength)
Suspended state
Temperature tolerance

Buffalo
Attribute boost (Body)
Pain resistance

Cat
Attribute boost (Quickness)
Enhanced coordination
Improved sense (low-light vision)
Improved ability (stealth)
Freefall

Coyote
Attribute boost (Charisma)
Improved sense (smell)

Dog
Attribute boost (Willpower)
Improved sense (smell)

Dolphin
Attribute boost (Quickness)
Attribute boost (Intelligence)
Improved ability (swimming)
Enhanced Perception

Eagle
Attribute boost (Charisma)
Improved sense (long distance sight)
Enhanced Perception

Gator
Attribute boost (Strength)
Attribute boost (Body)
Pain resistance

Lion
Attribute boost (Quickness)
Attribute boost (Strength)
Improved sense (low-light vision)
Improved ability (stealth)

Owl
Improved sense (low-light vision)
Improved ability (stealth)

Snake
Attribute boost (Intelligence)
Improved sense (taste/smell)
Empathic sense
Flexibility

You get the idea. Again, I like the role-playing aspects of this idea. Like
many cool things in Shadowrun, this would be really easy to abuse.

Wordman
Message no. 2
From: "XaOs [David Goth]" <xaos@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 22:49:16 -0600
> For those who like systems, however, I thought of one. The gist of it is
> this: shaman are a special kind of Physical Mage. (Hey, I warned
> you it was
> munchkinesque). All totems have (short) list of physical adept abilities
> which the shaman can temporarily use if they so choose. The
> powers are based
> on traits of the totem animal. To use them, the shaman must reserve enough
> magic points to "buy" them. The powers last as long as the magic
> points are
> reserved. While the points are reserved, the shaman's effective
> magic rating
> is decreased by the points spent.

Pretty neat. Kinda a variant of the Physical Mage from Awakenings.

A few ideas to add to counter the (possible) munchkin aspect...

First off...make the mask REALLY obvious. Maybe even something that gives
off an aura visible at night. (Basically, think like typical Shadowrun art
depictions of magical effects).

The other idea I had was that anytime one of these abilities is 'invoked'
would be for a complimentary negative effect happen. Suppose someone has
enhanced eyesight...make them go deaf (or nearly deaf) when they use it.
(There was a dumb looking movie a few months ago that had the same
effect...forgot the name).

Finally, another way would be make the expenditure of points
PERMANENT...whether the ability was used or not. This might be a little
cruel, but you could also counter it by making the points costs cheaper than
an PhysAd would normally spend. Basically, either way you do it, you're
making the character pay for the flexibility of having a number of different
abilities at their fingertips.

Any, or all the above could also be used in some combination.



-XaOs-
xaos@*****.net
-David Goth-
Message no. 3
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 23:11:24 -0600
On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 22:34:11 -0500 Wordman <wordman@*******.COM> writes:
>Beware, this borders on the munchkin.
>
>I've been thinking about the Shamanic Mask concept, where a shaman's
>features take on characteristics of their totem during magical acts.
I've
>been thinking that it might make for interesting role-playing if the
shaman
>could "borrow" features of their totem animal from time to time. This
works
>best as a GM decision kind of thing, where the GM gives a shaman a
"power"
>(like low-light vision or something) for a short time.
<SNIP Systems>

Wouldn't it be easier to make a "standard" Physical Mage and then buy
adept powers with geasa? (Special Geasa: No Concious Control [Can you
guess the reference? ;] but power cost is 33-50% normal cost?)

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Coffee without caffeine is like sex without the spanking." -- Cupid
re-cur-sion (ri-kur'-zhen) noun. 1. See recursion.

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Message no. 4
From: "XaOs [David Goth]" <xaos@*****.NET>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 02:30:15 -0600
> Wouldn't it be easier to make a "standard" Physical Mage and then buy
> adept powers with geasa? (Special Geasa: No Concious Control [Can you
> guess the reference? ;] but power cost is 33-50% normal cost?)

Probably because by standard geasa rules, you could remove said geas by
initiating. (Although, having to remove each individual one for each
individual power....)



-XaOs-
xaos@*****.net
-David Goth-
Message no. 5
From: jpmumme <Grimlakin@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:37:38 -0500
Wordman wrote:

> Beware, this borders on the munchkin.
> <SNIP>
>
> Coyote
> Attribute boost (Charisma)
> Improved sense (smell)
>
> Dog
> Attribute boost (Willpower)
> Improved sense (smell)
>
> Dolphin
> Attribute boost (Quickness)
> Attribute boost (Intelligence)
> Improved ability (swimming)
> Enhanced Perception
>
> Eagle
> Attribute boost (Charisma)
> Improved sense (long distance sight)
> Enhanced Perception

<SNIP>

>
>
> Snake
> Attribute boost (Intelligence)
> Improved sense (taste/smell)
> Empathic sense
> Flexibility
>
> You get the idea. Again, I like the role-playing aspects of this idea. Like
> many cool things in Shadowrun, this would be really easy to abuse.
>
> Wordman

Ummm I never knew that one could boost intelligence charisma and willpower.
Their are alot of items mentioned that are not available anywhere else as of
BBB3. Are they in one of the many Magic books?

Grimlakin
Message no. 6
From: Lehlan Decker <DeckerL@******.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 13:36:11 -0500
>Ummm I never knew that one could boost intelligence charisma
>and willpower.
>Their are alot of items mentioned that are not available
>anywhere else as of BBB3. Are they in one of the many Magic
>books?

These were house rules that somone was suggesting.
Some of this is related to the earlier books like Awakenings, but
its all house rules.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehlan Decker, Unix Admin (704)331-1149
deckerl@******.com Fax 378-1939
Moore & Van Allen, PLLC Pager 1-888-608-9633
Message no. 7
From: Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 23:57:13 -0500
D. Ghost
>Wouldn't it be easier to make a "standard" Physical Mage and then buy
>adept powers with geasa? (Special Geasa: No Concious Control [Can you
>guess the reference? ;] but power cost is 33-50% normal cost?)

What I suggested was meant to be a standard ability of _all_ shamans. What
you suggest would certainly be a way to accomplish the same effect for a
given character within the scope of the official rules. I was looking for
something more far reaching.

My rules also differ a bit because the powers available to a shaman a very
limited. Using the physical mage system, there is nothing forcing the
character to only buy abilities that are true to the totem, apart from the
GM. I'd say that if the GM was that good, you probably wouldn't need to
bother with a system in the first place.

Wordman
Message no. 8
From: Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 23:52:44 -0500
>Wordman wrote:
> Ummm I never knew that one could boost intelligence charisma and willpower.
>Their are alot of items mentioned that are not available anywhere else as of
>BBB3. Are they in one of the many Magic books?

As I said in the original post, not all of the items listed were actually
Physical Adept powers. For the record, PhysAds cannot officially augment
mental Attributes. Enhanced metal attributes just work a bit better for some
of the totems.

Wordman
Message no. 9
From: K in the Shadows <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 01:31:13 EST
In a message dated 11/10/1998 12:38:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
Grimlakin@**********.COM writes:

>
> Ummm I never knew that one could boost intelligence charisma and
willpower.
>
> Their are alot of items mentioned that are not available anywhere else as
of
> BBB3. Are they in one of the many Magic books?
>
As per the increase <attribute> spells, yes you can. As for the rest of the
abilities, they seem to be either Physical Adept abilities from books like
Awakenings or Grimoire II.

-K
Message no. 10
From: Micheal Feeney <Starrngr@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Random shaman idea
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 11:09:28 EST
In a message dated 98-11-10 00:11:38 EST, you write:

> First off...make the mask REALLY obvious. Maybe even something that gives
> off an aura visible at night. (Basically, think like typical Shadowrun art
> depictions of magical effects).
>
> The other idea I had was that anytime one of these abilities is 'invoked'
> would be for a complimentary negative effect happen. Suppose someone has
> enhanced eyesight...make them go deaf (or nearly deaf) when they use it.
> (There was a dumb looking movie a few months ago that had the same
> effect...forgot the name).

When I first read this, I insatnly thought of an old cartoon, ("EYES OF THE
HAWK"). Then I thought about it again, and realised that in some cases this
would be a valid Idea. Perhaps even taking it a s afar as creating a
"shamantic" pys add using these.

As far as not being to munchy, well, make the ability to call on that power
cost. Drain on such a thing would sem aproprate here as well. Also set
limits on both a) how long it lasts (say no more than 6-12 rounds) and how
often it can be used (Say once / 24 hours, or +1 to drand TN per heach time
used in the precedinghour )

Further Reading

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