NEWS

Charlton Mage

  • 10 Replies
  • 3126 Views

Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« on: <05-10-17/2207:19> »
First Pass at making use of the Charlton Quality from Forbidden Arcana.  "Missions" legal, in a month or two anyway.

"Hey Chummer, wanna see a Magic Trick?"

== Info ==
Street Name: Jailbait - Mission Face Mage
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 0/0, 2m/ hit, Swim: 4, 1m/ hit
Elf
Composure: 13
Judge Intentions: 13
Lift/Carry: 3 (15 kg/10 kg)
Memory: 7
Nuyen: 0
Karma: 5 left

== Priorities ==
Metatype: D,1
Attributes: B,3
Special: A,4
Skills: C,2
Resources: E,0

== Attributes ==
BOD: 2
AGI: 4
REA: 5
STR: 1
CHA: 8
INT: 5
LOG: 2
WIL: 5
EDG: 1
MAG: 6

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                Error finding string for key - String_Initiative
Rigger Initiative:         Error finding string for key - String_Initiative
Astral Initiative:         Error finding string for key - String_Initiative
Matrix AR Initiative:      Error finding string for key - String_Initiative
Matrix Cold Initiative:    Error finding string for key - String_MatrixInitiative
Matrix Hot Initiative:     Error finding string for key - String_MatrixInitiative
Physical Damage Track:     9
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Limits ==
Physical:                  3
Mental:                    5
Social:                    9
   Ballistic Mask [+1] (Only for intimidation, Must be visible)
Astral:                    9

== Active Skills ==
Assensing                  : 5                      Pool: 10
Con                        : 1 [Fast Talk]          Pool: 11 (13)
Counterspelling            : 6                      Pool: 12
Disguise                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Navigation                 : 1                      Pool: 6
Negotiation                : 4 [Bargaining]         Pool: 12 (14)
Palming                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Performance                : 6 [Magic]              Pool: 14 (16)
Sneaking                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Spellcasting               : 6 [Illusion]       Pool: 12 (14) (14 for Manipulation)
Summoning                  : 6                      Pool: 12
Survival                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Tracking                   : 1                      Pool: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Chicago    : 3                      Pool: 8
Fashion                    : 2                      Pool: 7
Gangs                      : 3                      Pool: 8
Sperethiel                 : 3                      Pool: 8
Sprawl Life                : 3                      Pool: 8

== Contacts ==
Bike Messanger; Chicago; Go-Ganger (1, 1)
Lothan; Chicago; Tamanous Member (4, 1)
Nick Ryder; Chicago; Beat Cop (3, 1)
Pack of Street Urchins; CZ; Squatter (1, 6)
Simon Andrew; Chicago; Fixer (5, 1)

== Qualities ==
Computer Illiterate
Gremlins (Rating 2)
Incompetent (Athletics)
Low-Light Vision
Magician
Mentor Spirit (Raven)
Illusionist
Charlatan
Prejudiced (Common, Biased) (Technology)

== Spells ==
(Tradition: Shamanic, Resist Drain with WIL + CHA (13))
Clairvoyance               DV: F-3
Heal                       DV: F-4
Improved Invisibility  DV: F-1
Incubus Shroud             DV: F-1
Influence (Limited)        DV: F-3
Levitate                   DV: F-2
Mana Static                DV: F-1
Petrify                    DV: F-2
Rewind                     DV: F
Shapechange                DV: F-3
Gravity Well (limited)   DV: F+1
Vines    DV: F-1

== Lifestyles ==
Squatter ("Rooftop Squat")  1 months

== Armor ==
Armor Jacket                        12
Ballistic Mask                      2
Body Armor Bag                      8
   +Concealability
   +Restrictive

== Weapons ==
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 3   Accuracy: 3   DV: 1S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Gear ==
Fake SIN (Cathern) Rating 3
   +Fake License (Mage License) Rating 3
Fetish
Fetish
Gas Mask
Prepaid Commlink (Cheap) x5
Reagents, per dram x50
Survival Kit

Basic Concept: Run Incubus Shroud on approach, "Hey Chummer wanna see a Magic Trick?"  Do some quick coin trick or similar 5 Nuyen "Magic Store" thing to trigger the Charlatan, toss Influence as needed at Force 6, only Drain 3 so easily resisted and everyone needs a Threshold 6 Perception check to spot.  Rewind as the team leaves.

For Combat, mostly hide, Invisible and/or Concealed by a Spirit.  Probably have a couple of the team Invisible as well.  Reckless Cast Gravity Well and Vines, drop prone.  Let the team mop up.

Karma Advancement, Edge to 3, Initiate to 2 for Masking and Extended Masking, Masking Focus.  Pile on the "Nothing to see here..."
« Last Edit: <05-10-17/2248:56> by Hobbes »

Myriad

  • *
  • Newb
  • *
  • Posts: 61
« Reply #1 on: <05-15-17/1956:02> »
Nice build.

Not that its optimal, but later on Murder Armor would be nice for this build.

Also, naming them Charlie Tan to wordplay the Charlatan quality would be cool.  Chinese female or male.

Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« Reply #2 on: <05-16-17/1033:25> »
Thank you.  As silly as a lot of the FA options are I think Charlatan is the most disruptive.  Initiate Grade 2 is 4 or 5 runs in and that gets you Masking and Extended Masking.  Combined with Charlatan you're literally tossing force 5 or 6 spells in front of most mages without them noticing.  'tis extremely silly.

drakir

  • *
  • Chummer
  • **
  • Posts: 115
« Reply #3 on: <05-16-17/1129:04> »
I would use 10 karma to buy Log 2 and use the attribute point to get Body 3 (or Agility 5). Since you already have 5 karma left, it would just be starting one less spell (or wherever you can find that karma).

Haven't read Forbidden Arcana yet so can't give opinions on the new qualities.


Myriad

  • *
  • Newb
  • *
  • Posts: 61
« Reply #4 on: <05-22-17/1749:23> »
Hmm, I haven't tried to build it but does it have to be charisma?

I mean, with the influence spell and the option of palming (agility), they could easily be Agi/INT stat, and then lower the charisma need by using the spells and still be 'awesome at disguise' for example.

Tarislar

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1820
  • Uzi's + Fireballs .... Why I love Shadowrun!
« Reply #5 on: <05-27-17/0227:47> »
I would use 10 karma to buy Log 2 and use the attribute point to get Body 3 (or Agility 5). Since you already have 5 karma left, it would just be starting one less spell (or wherever you can find that karma).

Haven't read Forbidden Arcana yet so can't give opinions on the new qualities.

Basically this.   Really needs Body-3 IMHO.

If you don't have the Karma then steel a point from Agi-Rea-Log-Itn, but somewhere to boost Body to 3

Tarislar

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1820
  • Uzi's + Fireballs .... Why I love Shadowrun!
« Reply #6 on: <05-27-17/0251:49> »

== Active Skills ==
Assensing                  : 5                      Pool: 10
Con                        : 1 [Fast Talk]          Pool: 11 (13)
Counterspelling            : 6                      Pool: 12
Disguise                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Navigation                 : 1                      Pool: 6
Negotiation                : 4 [Bargaining]         Pool: 12 (14)
Palming                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Performance                : 6 [Magic]              Pool: 14 (16)
Sneaking                   : 1                      Pool: 5
Spellcasting               : 6 [Illusion]       Pool: 12 (14) (14 for Manipulation)
Summoning                  : 6                      Pool: 12
Survival                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Tracking                   : 1                      Pool: 6

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Chicago    : 3                      Pool: 8
Fashion                    : 2                      Pool: 7
Gangs                      : 3                      Pool: 8
Sperethiel                 : 3                      Pool: 8
Sprawl Life                : 3                      Pool: 8

== Contacts ==
Bike Messanger; Chicago; Go-Ganger (1, 1)
Lothan; Chicago; Tamanous Member (4, 1)
Nick Ryder; Chicago; Beat Cop (3, 1)
Pack of Street Urchins; CZ; Squatter (1, 6)
Simon Andrew; Chicago; Fixer (5, 1)


Clairvoyance               DV: F-3
Heal                       DV: F-4
Improved Invisibility  DV: F-1
Incubus Shroud             DV: F-1
Influence (Limited)        DV: F-3
Levitate                   DV: F-2
Mana Static                DV: F-1
Petrify                    DV: F-2
Rewind                     DV: F
Shapechange                DV: F-3
Gravity Well (limited)   DV: F+1
Vines    DV: F-1


Basic Concept: Run Incubus Shroud on approach, "Hey Chummer wanna see a Magic Trick?"  Do some quick coin trick or similar 5 Nuyen "Magic Store" thing to trigger the Charlatan, toss Influence as needed at Force 6, only Drain 3 so easily resisted and everyone needs a Threshold 6 Perception check to spot.  Rewind as the team leaves.

For Combat, mostly hide, Invisible and/or Concealed by a Spirit.  Probably have a couple of the team Invisible as well.  Reckless Cast Gravity Well and Vines, drop prone.  Let the team mop up. 

Additional notes........

Skills:
To many 1's for my taste.
Its just easier to buy those w/ Karma from 1st mission.

I'd set up the following skills.
Group: Influence-2
Assensing-6
Con-6  (Fast Talk +2)
Counterspelling-6
Palming-6
Spellcasting-6  (Illusion +2  or Manipulation?)
Summoning-6


Contacts:
I think you earn some of those in the missions,  might as well spend the points on some generic NPC with better stats.
Fixer - 6/1
Police Detective - 4/2
Gang Member - 1/3
Pawnshop Owner - 1/6

Spells:
Loose 1 for Logic-2
Loose a 2nd one for some form of real combat spell....... Blast is a great one IMHO.


Hobbes

  • *
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Prime Runner
  • ***
  • Posts: 3078
« Reply #7 on: <05-27-17/0945:11> »
Thanks for the feedback all!

The Murder Armor idea is certainly something to pick up with a bit of Nuyen and works well with the build.

Stats: They're a horrible series of compromises.  Minor tweaks could be done, but overall to get Max Charisma and soft cap Will, Reaction, Intuition, the rest are coming up short.  Welcome to Priority builds.  Body is actually 1 bought to 2 with Karma, but points could be pulled out of Agility or Reaction to raise up the lower stats.  Edge 1 is also very yucky and not something I'm happy with. 

Myriad, absolutely could be done the way you suggest.  I went with Charisma for the Drain stat and other synergies, but it's hardly critical.

Tarislar, the "1" skills are mostly from splitting the two group skill points between Outdoors and Stealth.  Chummer output doesn't display group skills.  Con with a specialty is the only "1" rating bought with skill points since I could get a useful dice pool with 1 + Spec +elf Charisma + Mentor Spirit.  My own priorities were to max out Summoning, Spellcasting, Counterspelling, and either Performance or Palming, then Assensing 5 for the Charlatan Prerequisite.  I've got 2 Group points and 7 Skill points left to cover "Shadowrunner" and whatever Face skills I can.  Could certainly max out Con over Negotiation, or take Palming over Performance.  I may very well swap around Performance and Palming.  Palming is more useful than Performance, but 16 dice in Performance is kinda lulzy in it's own way. 
 
And IME Combat spells are totally overrated.  I'm quite happy to let the team "Kill Check" everything after de-buffing stuff into the ground (literally), but that's a personal choice.   



Tarislar

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1820
  • Uzi's + Fireballs .... Why I love Shadowrun!
« Reply #8 on: <05-27-17/2326:57> »
And IME Combat spells are totally overrated.  I'm quite happy to let the team "Kill Check" everything after de-buffing stuff into the ground (literally), but that's a personal choice.   
I'll take your word for it.   
I need to find out more about your "combat" spell choices.   
Where are Gravity Well & Vines from, I've never heard of either of them.


As for stats how about the following for Attributes.
B3, A4, R4, S1, W5, L1 , I5, C8
Use 10 Karma each for STR & LOG to boost them to 2 each
It will give you  Limits of P4, M5, S9 which should be just fine with your dice pools


Revamped Skills because I forgot Perception,  flipped back to Performance so you can buy Stealth Group later, but for now Influence is better IMHO.

Group: Influence-2      (Leadership also gives you another option for combat IIRC along w/ the debuffs)
Assensing-5
Con-6
Counterspelling-6
Performance-3  (Magic+2)
Perception-5
Spellcasting-6
Summoning-6

Between Influence at 10d+,  Con at 16, and Performance at 11-13+,  I think you can be a fairly effective face, more importantly a serious magical infiltrator as well with all those spells.
I like the concept & I'm officially going to steal some of this to add to my Manipulator Mage that I'm playing in Denver right now :)

Myriad

  • *
  • Newb
  • *
  • Posts: 61
« Reply #9 on: <06-10-17/2258:56> »
And IME Combat spells are totally overrated.  I'm quite happy to let the team "Kill Check" everything after de-buffing stuff into the ground (literally), but that's a personal choice.   
I'll take your word for it.   
I need to find out more about your "combat" spell choices.   
Where are Gravity Well & Vines from, I've never heard of either of them

Forbidden Arcana along with the Charlatan quality.

gradivus

  • *
  • Ace Runner
  • ****
  • Posts: 1130
« Reply #10 on: <06-11-17/0006:33> »
Hey Hobbes- when I first saw the subject I thought you meant recreating Carlton from Fresh Prince  :o
"Speech" Thought >>Matrix<< Astral