[ZeldaBravo]

I think that it is a quite an opposite case. You must know exactly what you do when you choose to play an aspected mage. It is not a foolproof or safe and easy option.

[Strange]

I have only played mages that didn't have summoning, because that never really appealed to me, but now I don't know much about it, so I am hesitant to build on with it.

[Whiskeyjack]

Put together an Aspected Sorceror earlier today that I'd actually consider using. Since I don't mess with rituals, I only needed four magical skills--Assensing, Arcana, Counterspelling and Spellcasting--so he could be good at a few other things. Went kind of a stealthy combat mage, and it turned out pretty decent.

Can you make a thread about it? I'm curious to see the build.

[falar]

Aspected Magicians definitely get less screwed in KarrmaGen and Life Modules. Not sure if they can exceed Mage/Mystic Adept, but they can compete.

[Strange]

Aspected Magicians definitely get less screwed in KarrmaGen and Life Modules. Not sure if they can exceed Mage/Mystic Adept, but they can compete.

I have to disagree, it appears that aspected magicians weren't really thought about much.  Only 2 of the magic options have aspected listed for them, all the rest have no options for them.  The Teen magic one has sorcery and conjuring 1, the higher learning schools are OK if you are a sorcerer, conjurers get the shaft, Wage Mage gets sorcery and conjuring 2.  Law enforcement is fine for sorcerers, Postgraduate studies is fine for any except you would have only sorcery from the colleges, so you would most likely be a sorcerer.  Since most would be, that is OK.  All the tours of duty get conjuring and sorcery.  Street magic address aspected magicians, only to give them the SHAFT.  With street mage you get a +2 on sorcery skill group AND +3 to conjuring.  The aspected gets to choose which one he wants to do, but only gets a +1.  They get totally screwed in life modules when compared to mages.  Odd fact, the alchemist only gets one life module to help him, the magic from teen.

[Strange]

Ok another build, this one using life modules with the Mystic Adept.  Basically just a mage. Or combat mage.  Was super hard balancing karma after life modules.  Can probably build a more streamlined guy with just Karma build, but this guy has a lot of skills.  Perception is junk but his assensing is OK, others will probably be good at the perception.

[spoiler]
Name: Daavereon   Movement: 6/12   Elf Male Age 48  Height 6'2" Weight 178
Composure: 12   Judge Intentions: 10   Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)    Memory: 8
Nuyen: 4775
Life Modules : Tir Tairngire, Rich Kid, Magical Education, Wage Mage, Street Mage
== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 3
REA: 3 (5)
STR: 2
CHA: 6
INT: 4
LOG: 2
WIL: 6
EDG: 2
MAG: 6

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   6
Initiative:                7 (9) + 3d6
Rigger Initiative:         9 + 3d6
Astral Initiative:         8 + 2d6
Matrix AR Initiative:      9 + 3d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    4 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     4 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         11

== Limits ==
Physical:                  4
Mental:                    5
Social:                    8
Astral:                    8

== Active Skills ==
Alchemy                    : 1                      Pool: 7
Arcana                     : 4                      Pool: 6
Artificing                 : 1                      Pool: 7
Artisan                    : 1                      Pool: 5
Assensing                  : 5                      Pool: 9
Astral Combat              : 2                      Pool: 8
Banishing                  : 6                      Pool: 12
Binding                    : 6                      Pool: 12
Blades                     : 1                      Pool: 4
Computer                   : 4                      Pool: 6
Counterspelling            : 5                      Pool: 11
Disenchanting              : 1                      Pool: 7
Etiquette                  : 2                      Pool: 10
Leadership                 : 2                      Pool: 8
Palming                    : 1                      Pool: 4
Perception                 : 1                      Pool: 5
Ritual Spellcasting        : 5                      Pool: 11
Sneaking                   : 1                      Pool: 4
Spellcasting               : 5                      Pool: 11 (13 Combat)
Summoning                  : 6                      Pool: 12
Survival                   : 1                      Pool: 7

== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Tir Tairngire : 1                      Pool: 5
Area Knowledge: Seattle    : 1                      Pool: 5
Charity Shelters           : 5                      Pool: 9
Corporation                : 3                      Pool: 5
English                    : 2                      Pool: 6
History                    : 1                      Pool: 3
Japanese                   : 2                      Pool: 6
Magic Law                  : 1                      Pool: 3
Magic Traditions           : 3                      Pool: 5
Magical Theory             : 5                      Pool: 7
Magical Threats            : 4                      Pool: 6
Music                      : 3                      Pool: 7
Parazoology                : 4                      Pool: 6
Spanish                    : 3                      Pool: 7
Sperethiel                 : 1                      Pool: 5

== Qualities ==
In Debt III
Low-Light Vision
Mentor Spirit (Dragonslayer)
Mystic Adept
Prejudiced (Common, Outspoken) (Poor)
SINner (Corporate Limited)
Trust Fund II

== Spells ==
(Tradition: Path of the Wheel, Resist Drain with WIL + CHA (12))
Ball Lightning             DV: F-1
Chaotic World              DV: F
Heal                       DV: F-4
Improved Invisibility      DV: F-1
Levitate                   DV: F-2
Physical Barrier           DV: F-1
Stunbolt                   DV: F-3

== Powers ==
Combat Sense Rating: 4
Improved Reflexes 2
Spell Resistance Rating: 3

== Armor ==
Armor Jacket                        12

== Weapons ==
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 2   Accuracy: 4   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Transys Avalon (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 6, FWL: 6)

== Gear ==
Fake License (Mage License) Rating 3
Fake SIN Rating 3
Glasses Rating 1
   +Image Link
Qi Focus Rating 4 (not activated)
[/spoiler]

[gradivus]

I'd change rich kid to arcology living... changes some of your non-primary skills but adds +1 logic
you can always pick up trust fund w/karma. Since you'ld be corp citizenry since you were born I'd go up from Limited SIN to Full. You wont be able to get In debt but the extra 10 Karma for going o Full Corporate SIN can easily replace the 15000 you were getting from In Debt.

[Strange]

I'd change rich kid to arcology living... changes some of your non-primary skills but adds +1 logic
you can always pick up trust fund w/karma. Since you'ld be corp citizenry since you were born I'd go up from Limited SIN to Full. You wont be able to get In debt but the extra 10 Karma for going o Full Corporate SIN can easily replace the 15000 you were getting from In Debt.

That's an interesting idea.  Is it legal rules wise to upgrade the SIN?  Changing to Arcology or corp drone, even,  would get rid of prejudiced to poor. That alone will allow me some breathing room.

Ok so I changed from rich kid to arcology living.  Lost trust fund and prejudiced, artisan 1 (who cares), Lead 2 (no biggie) music 3 (just put something random in there, anyways) and lost spanish.  I lost 2 points in computer, but made that up with the group skill electronics 2.  Gained that 1 point of Logic (which upped my logic to 3, but that drained 5 more karma because the price difference of going attribute point 1-2 as opposed to going 2-3), gave me 2 more etiquitte, and some corp knowledge (speaking of which, what would be a good corp from Tir? going to have to look that up.)  Actually upped my in debt to 7  to free up some regular karma that I had used for nuyen, and also got the quality 'did you just call me dumb?'  which fits the character.  I like the in debt to give him a reason to go 'running.  That netted me 8 karma which I used to bond the qi focus (4) to get astral perception. 

Thanks for the idea!

[Strange]

Ok, based on a variety of information, and having to use Life Modules, here is my mostly done character.  He fancies himself a bit of a ninja.  Anyway, spell choice.  Do you think Mind Probe is useful and makes sense for this characters background (former Shiawase wage mage, mostly doing security because he is not very smart.).  Would confusion be a decent add-on, considering he has 13 dice right now (15 when I specialize) in illusions, with already having Chaotic World?  Any comments are welcome.

[spoiler]
== Info ==
Street Name: Zer0 Name: Thomas Hirosuki, Human                                                                                 Movement: 6/12 Karma: 0 Street Cred: 0 Notoriety: 3 Public Awareness: 0
Composure: 7 Judge Intentions: 8 Lift/Carry: 6 (45 kg/30 kg)  Memory: 7
Nuyen: 1585
== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 3
REA: 3 (5)
STR: 3
CHA: 2
INT: 6
LOG: 2
WIL: 5
EDG: 2
MAG: 5
== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   5.01
Initiative:                9 (11) + 3d6
Rigger Initiative:         11 + 3d6
Astral Initiative:         12 + 2d6
Matrix AR Initiative:      11 + 3d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    6 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     6 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     11
Stun Damage Track:         11
== Limits ==
Physical:                  5
Mental:                    5
Social:                    5
Astral:                    5
== Active Skills ==
Alchemy                    : 1                      Pool: 6
Arcana                     : 4                      Pool: 6
Artificing                 : 1                      Pool: 6
Assensing                  : 5                      Pool: 11
Astral Combat              : 2                      Pool: 7
Automatics                 : 4                      Pool: 7
Banishing                  : 5                      Pool: 10
Binding                    : 5                      Pool: 10
Blades                     : 4                      Pool: 7
Clubs                      : 1                      Pool: 4
Computer                   : 1                      Pool: 3
Con                        : 2                      Pool: 6
Counterspelling            : 5                      Pool: 10
Disenchanting              : 1                      Pool: 6
Impersonation              : 2                      Pool: 4
Negotiation                : 1                      Pool: 3
Palming                    : 1                      Pool: 4
Perception                 : 2                      Pool: 8
Performance                : 2                      Pool: 4
Pilot Ground Craft         : 1                     Pool: 6
Ritual Spellcasting        : 5                      Pool: 10
Running                    : 1                      Pool: 4
Sneaking                   : 2                      Pool: 5
Spellcasting               : 6                      Pool: 11
Summoning                  : 5                      Pool: 10
Survival                   : 1                      Pool: 6
Unarmed Combat             : 1                      Pool: 4
== Knowledge Skills ==
Area Knowledge: Seattle (Street) : 6                      Pool: 12
Charity Shelters           : 5                      Pool: 11
Denver                     : 2                      Pool: 8
English                    : N                      Pool: 0
History                    : 1                      Pool: 3
Japanese (Language)        : 2                      Pool: 8
Philosophy (Academic) : 3                      Pool: 5
Magical Law                : 1                      Pool: 3
Magical Theory             : 5                      Pool: 7
Magical Threats (Academic) : 4                      Pool: 6
Parazoology (Academic)     : 4                      Pool: 6
Shiawase                   : 3                      Pool: 5
Spanish                    : 1                      Pool: 7
UCAS                       : 1                      Pool: 3
== Contacts ==
Kinnori-san; Shiawase; Company Man (3, 3)
== Qualities ==
Bad Rep-Yakuza
Distinctive Style (cyberarm, bio-tattoo)
In Debt V-Yakuza
Mentor Spirit (Chaos)
Mystic Adept
Paranoia
SINner (Corporate Limited) (Shiawase)
== Life Modules ==
Denver (UCAS Sector)
Fugitive
Magical Education (Mystic Adept)
Skipped Further Education
Wage Mage
Street Mage
== Spells ==
(Tradition: Chaos Magic, Resist Drain with WIL + INT (11))
Ball Lightning             DV: F-1
Chaotic World              DV: F
Heal                       DV: F-4
Improved Invisibility      DV: F-1
Levitate                   DV: F-2
Mind Probe                 DV: F
Stunbolt                   DV: F-3
Trid Entertainment         DV: F-2
== Powers ==
Astral Perception
Combat Sense Rating: 3
Improved Reflexes 2
== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Datajack (deltaware)
Obvious Full Arm (AGI 8, STR 6, Physical 7) (Right)(alphaware)
   +Armor Rating 2
   +Customized Agility Rating 6
   +Customized Strength Rating 6
   +Enhanced Agility Rating 2
Smartlink (betaware)
Bio-Tattoo-Japanese sleeve tattoo on left arm                                                                                                      == Armor ==
Armor Jacket                        12
Forearm Guards                     1
Helmet                              2
   +Image Link
   +Low Light
   +Thermographic Vision
== Weapons ==
SCK Model 100
   +Folding Stock
   +Gas-Vent 3 System
   +Personalized Grip
   +Sling
   +Smartgun System, Internal
   +Spare Clip
   Pool: 12(14)   Accuracy: 8   DV: 8P   AP: -   RC: 6
Ninja-to
   +Custom Look
   +Personalized Grip
   Pool: 15   Accuracy: 7   DV: 9P   AP: -2   RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 9   Accuracy: 5   DV: 6S   AP: -   RC: 2
== Commlink ==
Novatech NetNinja (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 5, FWL: 5)
== Gear ==
Earbuds Rating 1
   +Sound Link
Weapon Focus (Bonded Foci) (Sword) Rating 3
== Vehicles ==
Suzuki Mirage (Racing Bike)
   +Sensor Array Rating 2
[/spoiler]