So, about aspected magicians., More than just Physads, you know. Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Johnny Reb]

This spins off another trhead, where there was discussion of expanding an aspected shaman into a full shaman and teh reprecussions therein. I'll leave that thread on its own, but, it does bring me to the idea of aspected magicians.

As noted in the past, there are ten aspected magicians for every full mage out there. With magical talent being of note in about one in a thousand people (One in a hundred have *some* talent, but only 10% of them have enough to matter), this makes full mages about one in ten thousand, so, a rather valuable resource.

But what about all those aspected guys?

Poor little unloved aspected guys.

Obviously, PhysAds are in high demand. I'll just skip them totally, other than noting, if memory serves, that they're about 40% of the Aspected.

About 20% are Aspected Shamans, being able to both cast spells and summon spirits, but only from those areas where their Totems give sway. Their uses are usually totem-linked (Bear Shamans running magical clinics for healing, for example), and, being Shamans, most aren't part and parcel of the corporate world. Probably well-recieved in the shadows, I'd imagine everyone's seen a Rat or Dog shaman on the streets, scrounging for scraps. When in the Native lands, these would obviously change to Eagle and the like.

Another 20% are Conjurers, leaning heavily towards Hermetic Elementalists over Shamanic Spiritualists, who more likely wind up as 'Totemic Adepts' as noted above. The Hermetics are in *huge* demand at the corporate level, being pirit-specialists who set up assorted Wards, security elementals, Watcher patrols, and so forth. More importantly, they work for a fraction of what a full Magician does. Probably the most common coporate mage.

Spellcasters are the next 10%, also the source of quite a few odd 'Views' on magical theory. Psionicists, for example, are in this category. Not much in demand, but common at the 'Wiz Kid Ganger' level. Most 'Industrial' mages fall into this level, doing things like special effects for sporting events or concerts, waste removal via telekinesis, and so forth. Lower paid than all but Astral Adepts, Spellcasters are generally treated with a level of scorn and pity by 'real' mages. Quite a few have turned to Mage Dueling, revelling in destroying the haughtier magicians' magical energies while others have become a sort of Gunslinger, interested in besting other combat spellcasters.

Lastly are the astral adepts. More are hired in corporate circles than you'd expect, but at a level of menial observers with astral perception more than travellers. While the *real* mage tosses spells or tries out new formulae, several Astrals stand behind shielding, observing and taking notes. There's also quite a few slackers who just lay around and Project, to check out new experiences or new places. With the arrival of the Shedim, these poor guys are victimized on a regular basis. In Seattle, a small agency of ShedimBusters has been set up by several Astral Adepts. Using their meeting hall as a central point for all Astral Adepts to learn, when someone's body goes walking, they know to come to the Hall, where an Adept is always on call, so that it can be tracked down. The ShedimBusters also practice quite advanced Conjuring, specializing in Banishment, to drive away the spirits that they face. If business continues to boom, they both might franchise and look into 'Bughunting' as well.

-- Johny Reb, idly speculating.