[Wolfeyes]

So I had this idea for a character that pretends to be magician. Use a lot of slight of hand and hidden devices. I was thinking maybe getting some kind of flamethower built into a cybernetic arm. Sure, he probably doesn't stand up to a lot of scrutiny from a real mage, but maybe can fool average joe and street gangers.

Anyone ever tried something like this? How viable do you think it is?

[Jack_Spade]

Creative use of armor with integrated trid-projector and the Flame Bracers from Hard Targets would be a start.

Also you should be a troll with high intimidation skill, so no one dares to question if you really did magic 

[bdyer]

The nasty vibe quality from run faster will help as well.

While it could be done, what are the characters goals for pretending to be a mage??  Most of the common populace fears them or isolates them while big corps try to recruit them.  So I feel that pretending to be a mage pisses off everyone.

Also note that most mages don't go around casting spells silly nilly.  So nothing stopping you from just conning/intimidating people into thinking that you are.  The first thing with astral perception will clearing see through it tho...

[gilga]

just con them that you have masking initiation and fake a ThD diploma. After assessing you for long minutes and not penetrating your mask what can they do ? Disguise as a mage disguised as mundane.

Fake SIN, magic licence fake ThD perhaps power focus licence.

Come I'll show you my licence to practice magic !

[ZeldaBravo]

I like your idea so much that I'm going to steal it!

[Wolfeyes]

While it could be done, what are the characters goals for pretending to be a mage??  Most of the common populace fears them or isolates them while big corps try to recruit them.  So I feel that pretending to be a mage pisses off everyone.

Also note that most mages don't go around casting spells silly nilly.  So nothing stopping you from just conning/intimidating people into thinking that you are.  The first thing with astral perception will clearing see through it tho...

There are ork and elf possers, why not mage possers? While I have not figured out the whole idea yet, I'm picturing someone that just really wishes they could be awakened, but does the next best thing: fake it. As to the idea that real magic users would see through him, that is not the biggest issue. After all, the first trick every magician learns is to convince you there is a wall where there is nothing.

I think some kind of hologram projector is the ultimate piece of equipment.

[Squirrel]

Maybe they have bragged about it to someone and need to uphold the lie to save their friendship/family bond/honor/whatever.

[Marcus]

It's possible, viability is too relative to make solid determination. But I think it could be viable.
The flame thrower bracer stated in I think hard targets, the tiffani bracer, some crazy tech cloths, nano tech or something similar, light/holo projectors, Slap patches/Autoinjectors and various drug cocktails it will take a lot of skills to pull it off. You can do a lot with computers and micro drones as well.
I think the biggest first step to selling it will be look the part, no obvious cybernetics is a must.
Maybe Elf Poser? Considerable magic lore, if you actually intend to make it hold up pass an ascensing test your gonna have to fake being a decently powerful initiate. So that means the character needs some pretty serious magic lore, and some major dice in Con.

Being an actual techno could help, sprites in drones could be made to look a lot like spirits, assuming the Oppfor, never got too good a look at them.

[gradivus]

You could even get an artificer to use aqua fictus to create a fake foci. Only lasts for 8 days and probably cost too mush to do on a regular basis but if you need it to fool that one special target, well...

[JmOz01]

A small flying drone with ruth(sp) coating---Invisible scouting...sounds like astra projection to me

[Wolfeyes]

I'm picturing this guy as a mix of face and rigger. A whole lot of Con and Intimidate to convince people he is what he says he is. Get drones with trid projectors to create illusions. Probably going to need a whole lot of custom gear. Like a cameleon suit that looks like regular cloths for invisibility. Maybe pay extra to get crome that is nearly undetectable like a shocking hand. Dump a lot of his knowledge into metaphysics.

Role playing wise, just a guy who saw how much respect a fear mages got. Maybe has a family member that is one. So he dresses the part with a hooded cloak and talismans. He plans things out a lot so that he always has tricks ready some place. Think like mysterio from spiderman.

[FST_Gemstar]

has anyone tried to mock up this techno-illusionist yet?

[Hobbes]

While it could be done, what are the characters goals for pretending to be a mage??  Most of the common populace fears them or isolates them while big corps try to recruit them.  So I feel that pretending to be a mage pisses off everyone.

Also note that most mages don't go around casting spells silly nilly.  So nothing stopping you from just conning/intimidating people into thinking that you are.  The first thing with astral perception will clearing see through it tho...

There are ork and elf possers, why not mage possers? While I have not figured out the whole idea yet, I'm picturing someone that just really wishes they could be awakened, but does the next best thing: fake it. As to the idea that real magic users would see through him, that is not the biggest issue. After all, the first trick every magician learns is to convince you there is a wall where there is nothing.

I think some kind of hologram projector is the ultimate piece of equipment.

I'm pretty sure there is a Mage Poser in one of the Shadowrun games by Harebrained schemes.  The Berlin one maybe?  So yeah, mage posers would totally be a thing.  Hell there are mage posers in real life today. 

[FST_Gemstar]

I tried a mage-poser mock-up. I am not thrilled, though I think the concept is really great!

Ertreg goes with the rigger/face-ish approach. He has some background in more illusionist/sleight of hand style magic tricks, using his social skills, stealth,  and technology to enhance his illusions to be more believable. "Invisible" bioware also helps. I went skills A for the general coverage, I'm not sure I could make it work with skills B. Wishlist might include some escape artist and arcana, but I feel like those are more flavorful than practical for this character at this point.

He can convince mooks and rabble that he is an elf and magician without trouble, though more discerning characters may be more difficult to convince, however, he has lots of little ways to try to convince them!

Karma: 10 Nuyen, 10 Strength, 10 Logic, 19 PQs, - 24 NQs = 0 Remaining

== Info ==
Street Name: Ertreg the Magnificent
Name: Unnamed Character
Movement: 12/24
Karma: 0
Street Cred: 0
Notoriety: 0
Public Awareness: 0
Human
Composure: 9
Judge Intentions: 12
Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg)
Memory: 8
Nuyen: 10

== Priorities ==
Metatype: E(0) - Human
Attributes: B(3) - 20 Attributes
Special: E(0) - Mundane
Skills: A(4) - 46 Skills/10 Skill Groups
Resources: B(3) - 275,000¥

== Attributes ==
BOD: 3
AGI: 5 (6)
REA: 4
STR: 2
CHA: 6
INT: 5 (6)
LOG: 2 (3)
WIL: 3
EDG: 3

== Derived Attributes ==
Essence:                   3.97
Initiative:                9 (10) + 1d6
Rigger Initiative:         10 + 1d6
Astral Initiative:         
Matrix AR Initiative:      10 + 1d6
Matrix Cold Initiative:    6 + DP + 3d6
Matrix Hot Initiative:     6 + DP + 4d6
Physical Damage Track:     10
Stun Damage Track:         10

== Limits ==
Physical:                  4
Mental:                    7
Social:                    10
   Mortimer of London: Berwick Suit [+1] (Must be visible)
Astral:                    10

== Active Skills ==
Automatics                 : 6 [Assault Rifles]     Pool: 12 (14)
Con                        : 6                      Pool: 12
Disguise                   : 6                      Pool: 12
Etiquette                  : 4                      Pool: 10
Exotic Ranged Weapon       : 6 [Flame Bracer]       Pool: 12
Impersonation              : 6 [Elf]                Pool: 12 (14)
Intimidation               : 4 [Mental]             Pool: 10 (12)
Leadership                 : 4                      Pool: 10
Negotiation                : 4                      Pool: 10
Palming                    : 6                      Pool: 12
Perception                 : 3                      Pool: 9
Performance                : 6 [Sleight of Hand ]   Pool: 12 (14)
Pilot Aircraft             : 4 [Remote Operation]   Pool: 8 (10)
Sneaking                   : 6                      Pool: 12

== Knowledge Skills ==
English                    : N                      Pool: 0
Magical Theory             : 6                      Pool: 14
Metahumanity               : 3 [Elves]              Pool: 11 (13)
Parazoology                : 2                      Pool: 10
Sanskrit                   : 1 [Reading]            Pool: 9 (11)

== Contacts ==
; Drug Dealer (5, 2)
; Fixer (5, 2)
; Hermetic Academic (2, 2)

== Qualities ==
Addiction (Mild) (Cram)
Addiction (Mild) (Psyche)
Drug Tolerant
Elf Poser
Hawk Eye
Jack of All Trades Master of None
Poor Self Control (Braggart)
SINner (National) (UCAS)
Too Pretty To Hit
Trust Fund I

== Lifestyles ==
Med  1 months

== Cyberware/Bioware ==
Cerebellum Booster Rating 1
Cerebral Booster Rating 1
Mnemonic Enhancer Rating 2
Muscle Toner Rating 1 (Used)
Narco
Nephritic screen Rating 2 (Used)
Tailored Pheromones Rating 3 (Used)
Tetrachromatic Vision

== Armor ==
Chameleon Suit                      9
   +Thermal Damping 6
  +Trid Projector
Mortimer of London: Berwick Suit    9
   +Auto-Injector
   +Custom Fit
   +Electrochromic Clothing
   +Trid Projector

== Weapons ==
AK-97
   Pool: 12 (14)   Accuracy: 5   DV: 10P   AP: -2   RC: 2
Flame Bracer
   Pool: 12   Accuracy: 4   DV: 6P(fire)   AP: -6   RC: 2
Survival Knife
   Pool: 5   Accuracy: 5   DV: 4P   AP: -1   RC: 2
Unarmed Attack
   Pool: 5   Accuracy: 4   DV: 2S   AP: -   RC: 2

== Commlink ==
Essy Motors DroneMaster (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 4, FWL: 4)
   +Autosoft (Flyspy - Clearsight) Rating 3
   +Autosoft (Flyspy - Stealth) Rating 3
MCT Blue Defender (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 1, FWL: 5)
   +Fake SIN Rating 4 [Fake License 4 (Mage License), Fake License 4 (Weapon License), Fake License 4 (Drone License)]
   +Subvocal Mic
   +Earbuds Rating 1
   +Micro-Transceiver
   +Sim Module

== Gear ==
Contacts Rating 1
   +Polychromic Lens
   +Image Link
Cram x5
Disguise Kit
Little Smoke x2
Magical Lodge Materials Rating 6
Medkit Rating 6
Oneiro
Psyche x2
Shade x2
Slap Patch, Stim Patch Rating 4
Smart Wig
   +Trodes
Survival Kit
Zero x2

== Vehicles ==
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
   +Trid Projector
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
   +Trid Projector
MCT Fly-Spy (Minidrone)
   +Sensor Array Rating 3
   +Trid Projector

[Marcus]

I like that a lot. I'm gonna have to work on one of these.