[Thrass]

True drakes (clutch of the dragons) have Essence 8, does this mean they can have magic 8 without initiation and thus at character start?

[Crimsondude]

No.


If they could, I'd have stated it outright.

[Thrass]

Thanks for the quick answer.

[Crimsondude]

No problem.

[cotilla]

Is there any benefit to having essence 8 other than rising the time it takes to suck you dry with essence drain?

[Raiden]

More cyber ware and what not is one

[Crimsondude]

There are some advantages of having a higher Essence, but it's also an aspect of their inhumanness. It is arguably the reason they can achieve Edge 8, and definitely one reason. However, two powers True Drake PCs can purchase at chargen are Astral Armor 6 and Hardened Armor 6. I wanted it to be 8 so that Essence, Edge, and their natural powers were all tied together, but I was overruled (and rightly so in retrospect).

True drakes cannot accept any augmentations that cost Essence, nor can they be infected by any strain of HMHVV. True drakes can never possess the Resonance Attribute.

...

This Quality is incompatible with Technomancer Qualities, Infected Qualities, Changeling or Metagenetic Qualities, Positive Augmentation Qualities (p. 20, Augmentation), Lucky, Latent Dracomorphosis, Latent Awakening, or Latent Technomancer.

[Raiden]

never read it yet, was just offering a thought :3

[Thrass]

There are essence tests, rarely but there are...
Also, 8 essence means theres more Essence total for the essence drain power.