[jacx7]

Hoi Chummers,

I've given some thoughts into the concept of a mystic adept with shamanic tradition.
Because of charisma being the traditions main attribute, this character is also very well suited for the work as the face of a team of shadowrunners.
This is why I tried to push him in this direction with choice of qualities.

I think i fleshed out the rough stats, but will put further development into background story and such.

I will try to annotate my thought process while creation and why I made certain choices.

Let me know how you like the concept and your suggestions of how it could be further improved - or what essential gear I forgot to get!


Background

> is not yet quite warm with his magic capabilities but feels some kind of inherent power. feels he does not use his full potential.
> often had bad dreams of spirits in the past not knowing/realizing that he is actually visited by these spirits in his dreams.
> learns to know street shaman, getting lessons in shamanic traditions because shaman recognizes magic running through his veins.
> gets to know 'good' spirit on dream travel with newly found wisdom from shamanic lessons.
> mentor spirit: firebringer
> shaman friend gets beaten up badly by street gang for not paying protection/racketeering money.

> Joshua starts running the shadows to infiltrate & bring down the street gang on his own, longing for the burst of his inherent powers.
> Mentor Spirit questions his intentions and tries to teach him, how he can use his powers for good as well as helping his shamanic friend/mentor to get back on his feet.

Description

Name   Joshua Handar
Alias      Boil
Ethnicity   North/West European
Metatype   elf
Years Old   21
Sex      male
Height   1.9 m
Build      78 kg


Priorities

D   Metatype / 4 > 6 MAG & no need for higher rated Edge actions
A   Attributes / 24 > maximization of main attributes to possible maximum, 8 more points than B is more valuable early than +1 PP from Magic A imho
B   Magic / Mystic Adept(3) > 3 Powerpoints, Spells will be added after first run(s) because MystAdept can only gain PP through initiation and foci. edit: 1x2 Spells, 2 PP.
C   Skills / 20 > max out 3 skills since rating 5/6 are more valuable than low level in terms of karma investment.
E   Resources / 8000 > no need for much more, +4k from karma


Race   Elf > CH max = 8 > Influence/Con/Drain(Shaman)
Magic   Mystic Adept(3): 0 Spells | 3 PP edit: 1 Spells | 2 PP


Attributes

Base / Special / Attribute Points / Final Attribute
1 / 0 / 4 /    5   Body
1 / 0 / 5 /    6   Agility
1 / 0 / 0 /    1   Reaction
1 / 0 / 1 /    1   Strength
1 / 0 / 4 /    5   Willpower
1 / 0 / 0 /    1   Logic
1 / 0 / 4 /    5   Intuition
1 / 0 / 7 /    8   Charisma
         
1 / 1 / 0 /    2   Edge
3 / 3 / 0 /    6   Magic

6.0      Essence
6+1d6   Initiative


Positive/Negative Qualities: 70 spent / 22 gained

   Low-Light Vision(Racial)

+12   Aptitude(Sorcery)
+12   First Impression
+36   Focued Concentration(3) > Concept wraps around this Quality by granting oneself or members of the team the upper hand with Increase/Decrease Attribute and other sustained spells.
+10   Mentor Spirit(Fire-Bringer)

-10   Astral Beacon
-12   Spirit Bane


Skills

lvl   Pool   Skill
6   (12)   Close Combat
1   (09)   Influence
6   (11)   Perception
7   (13)   Sorcery

> no specialism - it stays 5 karma in the future, so no need right now. Use skill points to max out
> 1 influence for negotiation = no -1 penalty on test for untrained test


Language & Knowledge Skills

English (N)
Sprawl Life


Adept Powers (3/3) edit: (2/3)

1   Astral Perception
.5   Enhanced Perception
.5   Voice Control
.25   Kinesics
.25   Mystic Armour
.5   Spell Resistance



Spells (0/3) edit: (1/3)

edit:
+Increase Attribute
+Increase Reflexes

> Get Spell "Increase Attribute" as soon as possible!
Boil tries to find a way to abolish his own and others weaknesses by using magic.



Totems

Fire-bringer - Adept: Sorcery +1, Edge Boosts on Influence cost 1 less > 3 Edge Boost possible for Influence tests.


Contacts

Connection / Loyalty - Type

5 / 5 - Talismonger
4 / 4 - Shaman Instructor
4 / 3 - Fixer
4 / 2 - Hotel Owner
3 / 2 - Puff Mama
2 / 1 - Chauffeur
2 / 1 - Street Doc
2 / 1 - Green War Terrorist
2 / 1 - Lawyer

8 / 6 - Shaman Instructor
8 / 6 - Fixer
6 / 4 - Street Doc
6 / 4 - Dealer


Equipment

900      Remaining Nuyen > probably some juggling required to get required items for lodge(learning spells) and sorcery license(before learning first spell)


7500   Fake SIN rtg. 3
2000   Lifestyle: Low

350      Katana
20      Knife

900      Lined Coat

200      Contacts
+25      Image Link

100      Meta Link

5      Credstick(Standard)


Karma Expenditure 

+50      Starting karma
- 0      Racial Costs
-70      Qualities
+22      Negative Qualities
- 0      Attributes
- 0      Skills
- 2      Resources
0      Remaining


EDIT HISTORY:
edit(191014): Mystic Adept SP/PP ratio & spells
edit(191016): contacts

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

Adepts are kind of in a rough spot right now.  Since you gain Power Points with increases to Magic post-chargen but not during chargen, there's virtually no reason to increase MAG and a very fragging good reason not to:  If you stayed with 3 MAG from your priority, then after character generation you could increase from 3 to 4 for only 20 karma vs 35 karma to go from 6 to 7.

If you don't think you need more than 2 EDG, I'd spend those 3 SAPs you spent on MAG in AGI and/or CHA, and then use the 3 attribute points you didn't have to spend there on REA.


EDIT:  NM, I missed that you were playing a Mystic Adept.  I thought you were playing a regular Adept.  I know, who would, right?   As a MysAd: it's pretty meta-gamey and nonsensical that you have epic spellcasting skill but no known spells and the ability to summon spirits yet no skill at THAT.   Or take away 1 PP worth of Adept Powers to at least start with the one spell that's central to your concept.

[jacx7]

Yeah, raised Magic to 6 in anticipation for the incoming spells

edit: for a 'usual' Adept i totally agree with you, even no need to get higher prio than D for magic.

Isn't it the logical consequence that you basically have to get spells after creation because they errated that you can't karma-buy PP?

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

Yeah, raised Magic to 6 in anticipation for the incoming spells

edit: for a 'usual' Adept i totally agree with you, even no need to get higher prio than D for magic.

Isn't it the logical consequence that you basically have to get spells after creation because they errated that you can't karma-buy PP?

it's only logical in a metagame sense.  Arguably so, even at that.  Because you don't HAVE to split your Magic 3/0.  You could have gone 2/1 and picked at least 1 spell.

In-universe, how on earth did you get 7 ranks in sorcery when you don't even know any spells?  THAT part is illogical

[jacx7]

Good point, I'll add this because you are essentially right. The main mechanic should indeed be implemented from the start - if possible.

edit: and of course your other points are correct and reasonable as well

[Michael Chandra]

*cough*Counterspelling*cough*perfect excuse*cough*

Of course you also have Focused Concentration so...

Your contacts have really high connection ratings, given how state politicians are 6~7 and mid-level execs in big Corps are like a 9. On the other hand, you're not a Face, so you don't have to spread them out as much.

I do think Connection 6 for a Street Doc is rather high, and the same applies to an Arms Dealer. If we look at SR5 for comparison, the default Connection of both is 4, so yours are rather high. Maybe it'd make more sense to have them 4/6 instead of 6/4?

[jacx7]

*cough*Counterspelling*cough*perfect excuse*cough*

Of course you also have Focused Concentration so...

Your contacts have really high connection ratings, given how state politicians are 6~7 and mid-level execs in big Corps are like a 9. On the other hand, you're not a Face, so you don't have to spread them out as much.

I do think Connection 6 for a Street Doc is rather high, and the same applies to an Arms Dealer. If we look at SR5 for comparison, the default Connection of both is 4, so yours are rather high. Maybe it'd make more sense to have them 4/6 instead of 6/4?

Thanks, will work that section about connection ratings in. I don't have a feeling yet for 'the right' ratings but will go with your suggestion for now!
This also gives me the opportunity to diversify my network of connections.

>you're not a Face
What would qualify a character as a face?
What would I have to change to become the face?
I've had the impression the face would be the 'walk in and talk people into doing something' guy.
Sure with a broad network you can become a information gathering machine on a whole new level, which adds a nice touch to being well informed before walking in.

[Michael Chandra]

For Faces, part is dicepool, part is focus. At your Charisma, a single skillrank is already quite nice, so it's a nice secondary role. But your main focus is support-mage and kicking ass, which is what your skills went into.

Then again, if you spend 15 karma after chargen for 1 rank in Con and 1 specialization in each of the social skills, you'll already be at 11 dice and you can add Increase Charisma to yourself for 15 dice as well... So you can easily go for being the primary negotiator / bullshitter with this setup.

In comparison, my current Facebuild is at 6 Charisma, 5 Con/Influence, 3 Used Tailored Pheromones = 14 dice, and that's a Street Level character.

[jacx7]

Yeah, was planning to use the increase attribute for my face adventures aswell.

= CH 12 + Influence 1 = 13
specialization makes an easy Pool of 15 for just 5 karma.
CON Pool of 15 will be an additional 10 karma, since it was not yet raised in favour of Sorcery 7.

For first encounters i can make use of 5 Edge (2 Base, 1 Mentor Spirit, 2 First Impression) .. or did I misread this part and only "gain" 2 edge on first encounter?

After Initiating for the first Powerpoint, which is probably the first Initiation, Kinesics is back, also granting Edge on Social tests.

Sure, all the way up it will become expensive when you want to get Influence up to 9, starting from 1.
I think there is quite some potential and versatility but I first have to run some games with this char to make a final statement

[Michael Chandra]

Your first meeting with someone gains you 2 Edge from the quality, on top of any other gains. It's only a one-time gain, so not each 'turn'.

[jacx7]

ah, well it's a nice thing to have.

At least I always start off a confrontation with an unknown person with at least 2 edge. Unfortunately 'Bring the Drama' is Con.
But thats only a mediocre problem for the first runs.

[Ajax]

Most meetings with "Mr. Johnson" or "Tanaka-san" will be a first meeting, in my experience.

In fact, it's been my experience that the team usually only meets with Mr. Johnson twice infrequently -- hiring the team for the `run, then meeting again for delivery.  Very rarely do you need to meet with Mr. Johnson more often than that... and those are usually babysitting missions where Mr. Johnson is hiring you to be his bodyguard.

[jacx7]

Yeah, but it's actually not the first meeting of the run but CRB p.71

You gain 2 Edge for Social Tests during your first meeting with anyone, and both your Heat and Reputation are ignored for this first encounter.

highlight by me

[Michael Chandra]

Not many Johnsons are repeat customers, though.

[Ajax]

Yeah, but it's actually not the first meeting of the run but CRB p.71

You gain 2 Edge for Social Tests during your first meeting with anyone, and both your Heat and Reputation are ignored for this first encounter.

highlight by me

You misunderstood what I wrote. I meant to say that most meetings with "Mr. Johnson" will be a first meeting with that person. It's pretty rare to have the same "Mr. Johnson" hire a team twice...

...and if they are coming to you for repeat business, chances are (s)he was so satisfied with your previous work that there won't be a need to really pile on with the Influence [Negotiation] rolls.