As the GM of a small group that is generally new to Shadowrun, I've been spending most of my time creating NPCs that match up with the story I've been building. This is fun of course, and leads to lots of time in Chummer playing around with things. However, I recently realized I haven't sat down and built a Shadowrun character that I'd actually like to play if I got the chance. Normally I'd be gung-ho to build a Street Sam or a Decker character, but lately I've had some interest in a face character.
The concept I have in my head is a Mage with Face skills. He would use spells like Analyze Truth and Mind Probe to get insight on his targets. Then he would use Con or Intimidation to fool the target into thinking their worst fears were coming true. He'd have knowledge skills for things like Psychology, Sociology, Medicine, and Diseases. Ideally he wouldn't have to talk his way past anyone directly. He would use his spells and skills to get NPCs to panic long enough for him to slip by.
This could be aided by sensors in his armor that could reveal more details he could use against the target. If things weren't going as planned he could have the Influence spell as a backup option. The three spells mentioned are the only ones in the CRB that really seemed useful for this. Some spells in Street Grimiore have names that seem like they could be helpful, but I don't have that book yet so I'm just going by a list I found online.
Does this seem feasible conceptually?
I'm also going back and forth on Mage versus Shaman. The latter has more synergy with the Charisma stat being used to resist drain, but the former feels more like what the character would be. His knowledge skills would be Academic, and he would be more of a book learner, even for magic.
Here is what I have put together so far:
== Personal Data ==
Street Name: Swirls
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement:4/8 (2m/hit)
Swim:2 (1m/hit)
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human Male
Composure: 11
Judge Intentions: 10
Lift/Carry: 4 (30 kg/20 kg)
Memory: 10
Nuyen:25,580¥
== Priorities ==
Metatype: E,0
Attributes: B,3
Special: C,2
Skills: A,4
Resources: D,1
== Attributes ==
BOD: 2
AGI: 2
REA: 3
STR: 2
CHA: 6
INT: 4
LOG: 5
WIL: 5
EDG: 2
MAG: 4
== Derived Attributes ==
Essence: 6.00
Initiative: 7 +1d6
Rigger Initiative: 7 +1d6
Astral Initiative: 8 +3d6
Matrix AR: 7 +1d6
Matrix Cold: 10 +3d6
Matrix Hot: 10 +4d6
Physical Damage Track: 9
Stun Damage Track: 11
== Limits ==
Physical: 3
Mental: 7
Social: 8
Astral: 8
== Active Skills ==
Arcana Base:1 Pool:6
Assensing (Psychometry) Base:5 Pool:9(11)
Banishing Base:5 Pool:9
Binding Base:5 Pool:9
Computer (Matrix Search) Base:5 Pool:10(12)
Con Base:6 Pool:12
Etiquette Base:5 Pool:11
Forgery Base:5 Pool:10
Intimidation Base:5 Pool:11
Leadership Base:5 Pool:11
Negotiation Base:5 Pool:11
Perception Base:5 Pool:9
Pilot Ground Craft Base:1 Pool:4
Spellcasting Base:5 Pool:9
Summoning Base:5 Pool:9
Unarmed Combat Base:6 Pool:8
== Knowledge Skills ==
English Native
Disease Base:4 Pool:9
Medicine Base:4 Pool:9
Psychology Base:5 Pool:10
Sociology Base:5 Pool:10
== Qualities ==
Magician
== Tradition ==
Hermetic,Resist Drain with:10
== Spells ==
Analyze Truth DV: F-2
Influence DV: F-1
Mind Probe DV: F
== Armor ==
Urban Explorer Jumpsuit 9
+ Biomonitor
+ Sensor Array Rating 8
+ X-Ray Rating 8
+ Olfactory Scanner Rating 8
+ Ultrasound Rating 8
+ Camera Rating 8
+ Directional Microphone Rating 8
+ Cyberware Scanner Rating 8
== Weapons ==
Shock Gloves
Pool: 8 Accuracy: 3 DV: 8S(e) AP: -5 RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
Pool: 8 Accuracy: 3 DV: 2S AP: - RC: 2
== Commlink ==
Transys Avalon(ATT: 0,SLZ: 0,DP: 6,FWL: 6)
+ Commlink Functionality[Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Credstick Reader, Earbuds, GPS Guidance System, Micro Trid-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]
== Gear: Equipped ==
AR Gloves
Fake SIN (Primary Identity) Rating 4
Trodes
He's still two spells short of his limit, I wasn't sure what else to pick. Currently setup as a Mage. If I switched to Shaman then I would drop the Binding skill and use those points for something else. I didn't get a chance to look up Psychometry yet so that specialization may be pointless, it just sounded useful to the build. The computer spec in Matrix Search is for quickly gathering info on a target. Anything I can use to inspire fear in their minds could be useful. Forgery also goes along those lines, if I can fake something that aids my case then it could help.