Back in London and suffering from an over-rich shaman.

[fearmeforiampink]

Had a nice week in Exeter, but I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed (and rather soon too). Plan to pop back again in a little while, hopefully to (among other things) have some kind of leaving party, albeit extremely belated. That needs to wait till I've been paid for the current freelancing though.

Currently going "Umm...." in the Shadowrun game I'm in. We're getting quite a bit of money, but I can see very few ways to improve my character (troll shaman using heavy weapons and invisibility/silencing magics) which don't require spending experience. All the cybered characters can just buy new cyberware, or swap out cyberware for versions which take up less spiritual 'room', letting them stick more in, all without spending experience. Whereas everything for casters appears to require both money and experience, meaning I'm sitting on a lot of money and not having much to do with it.

In theory I could improve my weaponry, but what I've got currently seems good enough for anything we're actually likely to run into, and the upgrading choices aren't that wide. I've considered getting a maximum medical covereage where they'll resusitate me loads of times, and come with tanks and air support to get me out... but the general 'ehh' feeling means that part of me hopes that the character dies and thus stuff aimed purely at keeping him alive without improving his capabilities at all.

Ah well, we shall see. Any suggestions from experienced Shadowrun folks for stuff for casters to spend money on other than 'expendable spell foci' would be appreciated.

Time to sleep on it, I think.

Comments

[lokean.livejournal.com]

If it's fourth edition I have no idea at all. If it's any of the previous editions I suggest you fuck with the GM by getting a hold of the biotech rules. They cost a metric shitload (200,000Y for the cheapish stuff), but the genetic alterations *don't cost essence*. Voila!

[dbsurfeit.livejournal.com]

Bzzt! Bioware does cost Essence (geneware doesn't, but is super pants), although it doesn't stack with the Essence loss incurred by cyberware - so you can get double your bang for the same Essence hit.

Now, if you're normally using mundane weapons, you won't actually need that high a Magic - more of your spells will be low Force, you see. Only contested spells require big Force.

So one option is to go chromed mage - tote up on pain editors, cerebral boosters, and smartgunnage.

Your other option is to invest in more and more powerful focii, which I think require small bonding costs. Because 3e is a trainwreck of a system. However, that's a valid investment - you're still getting better.

Or you could see if your GM will let you swap in monies for karma by giving it to orphanages full of poor kiddies, that kind of thing. It sounds trite, but a surprising number of GMs allow it.

[fearmeforiampink]

'Talking to the GM about it' is definitely something I wanted to do, I also just wanted to bitch, and get some options from folks.

Foci-wise, Sustaining foci cost (force) karma, as do specific spell foci, and the others (category enhancing, general enhancing) cost 3 and 5 times as much. So, my current plan is 2 sustaining Foci, followed by enhance aim and a sustaining foci for that. But the bonding costs are sufficient that my cashflow is rather exceeding what I've got the XP for.

Chroming up a bit could certainly be a possibility, I'll think on that.

[(Anonymous)]

Bitching and pulling up ideas I both totally understand. Chromed mages are actually considerably funky, and give you plenty more options to play with. We'll have to go over the books together, but cerebral boosters (extra INT, the good ones give you a universal 1 dice pool) and pain editors (ignore stun damage. Fuck you, drain!) are prime candidates. On the chrome side, there's plenty to beef you up, but reaction boosting 'ware is probably the best.

But yeah, we'll pore over the books and cackle to ourselves sometime soon.

[dbsurfeit.livejournal.com]

*cough* that's me.

[lokean.livejournal.com]

What part of 'genetic alterations don't cost essence' did you fail to register? Besides, some of them are actually very good for a mage, as they offer extra tricks to pull out of your arse in an emergency.

Still, knowing what edition he's playing would help, since I play second.

[fearmeforiampink]

3rd edition.

And all the genetech I can find that's not healing or minor identity change has bio-index, reducing your magic.

[dbsurfeit.livejournal.com]

Sorry, must have been the 'biotech' reference sending me astray. And Draxar has it right for 3e and 4e.

[dbsurfeit.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh!

At risk of being clever, have you tried asking your GM about it?