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#1
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 689 Joined: 16-September 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 5,623 ![]() |
Am running a game where the players will be running into Horrors (Ala HP Lovecraft). Am working on an idea for Horror Shamans. Currently, they are very reminicent of Insect Shamans but am trying to avoid a blanket copy. Any suggestions on how to make them unique?
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#2
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The ShadowComedian ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,537 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 ![]() |
Turn them Toxic?
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#3
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Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,512 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 392 ![]() |
Shadow spirits fit in with Horrors very nicely.
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#4
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 304 Joined: 23-April 09 From: Canada eh? Member No.: 17,109 ![]() |
Mmm, tasty.
I would suggest basing it loosely off of the Insect spirits as you have done, Inhabitation and alien monster/spirits can make most of the "things" from Lovecrafts works. I might not tie it down to one tradion though - perhaps potent free spirits offering various pacts and teaching a meta-magic that leads down this road, granting inhabitation etc al. Slowly twisting the mage in question from their origional path to the proper way. To revel in the glory of the great master.... you get the idea. Also: Necronomicon - inhabited book full of this lore powerful free spirit/ flesh form merge - influence (to read the book and try "things") and astral gate... cause ya |
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#5
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,546 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 ![]() |
1) Shaman should be absolutely, batshit insane. Like really, really, super crazy. Then make him MORE crazy.
2) High-level shamans should be such that they make the PCs wonder if they too are crazy. Shaman has plucked out her eyes and crawls, spider-like and naked, sometimes passing through walls. 3) Her motivation is either a) suffering or b) crazy 4) For the love of everything that is holy, don't ever, ever, let her complete a summoning. |
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#6
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Target ![]() Group: Members Posts: 26 Joined: 9-March 08 From: FDC Member No.: 15,756 ![]() |
A good thematic visual description using HR Giger like imagery. Focus how things around the shaman just seem wrong or out of place. Shadow facing towards the light source, water dripping upwards out of a pipe, nearby plants withering, visual hallucnations, maybe a cat and a dog laying peacfully next to each other (Sorry Ghostbusters popped in my head). When the shaman finally talks in their presence give the Shaman the voice of cold rational and inevitablity; think pinhead from Hellraiser. Play the voice cold and calm, but make everyword as an early poster put it crazy, super batshit crazy, with a side of crazy over easy. Make the PCs question their sanity. Use the Shaman to inform characters of the half truths and outright lies of their lives by showing it to them from a different perspective. Shake them up as much as you can before they even try to shoot. Make their bullets curve away if they shoot before your done with your monologue.
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#7
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 11-June 09 Member No.: 17,271 ![]() |
Watch the movie Cthulhu. It's enjoyable, and may inspire you. Closer to shadowrun than most of the classic Cthulhu mythos, in my opinion.
The shaman doesn't have to APPEAR batshit insane, but his motivations are clearly inhuman. That's what refines the element of horror in the story. The shaman can appear to be a respectable suit, a regular Mr. Johnson. Sometimes he says weird things, though. Sometimes the more perceptive characters notice something off about him, or about the runs he requests. At some point it should turn into a massive crazy-fest, all subtlety forgotten. And remember, 1d6 explorers per round. |
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#8
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Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,911 Joined: 26-February 02 From: near Stuttgart Member No.: 1,749 ![]() |
Come to my gaming-group. Watch me play. Then you see a horror-shaman.^^
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#9
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The ShadowComedian ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,537 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 ![]() |
Toxic Voodoo-Shaman?
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#10
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 689 Joined: 16-September 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 5,623 ![]() |
I like the idea of some form of free spirit with pact abilities as this allows the "horror" to grant casting abilities to a mundane. Mr. Johnson accidently reads the wrong book and with whispers and dreams the evil spirit changes him into a horror shaman or maybe a better description would be a Horror agent. As I am basing the Horrors off of Lovecrafts stuff, any successful summoning of the guide spirit (Cathulu or other Old One) would pretty much leave the summoner dead or mind blasted. An actual summoning would be the very last thing a Horror shaman did.
Question though, can a mundane granted magical casting through a pact do summoning? |
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#11
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The ShadowComedian ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,537 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 ![]() |
Well, there IS the Precedent of that one Sect . . i forgot the name, and i think the mundane had to be a burnout mage for it to work, but my memory is leaking horribly.
*dribbles knowledge* Aleph Society. |
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#12
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 689 Joined: 16-September 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 5,623 ![]() |
Right,
I remembered the Aleph Society and I believe your right in that it had to be a burnt out mage not a mundane. The pact that made it possible should be in Street Magic, will have to look for it tonight. Still can't remember though if the pact allowed a burnt out mage to summon spirits as that is right out for spirits. |
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#13
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Incertum est quo loco te mors expectet; ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,546 Joined: 24-October 03 From: DeeCee, U.S. Member No.: 5,760 ![]() |
Question though, can a mundane granted magical casting through a pact do summoning? If you're playing with horrors, you can do whatever you please. I did something akin to that. The major difference being, the horror in question waited until the Johnson was dead before using him. That made him complain much less. |
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#14
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Running Target ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548 ![]() |
I like the idea of some form of free spirit with pact abilities as this allows the "horror" to grant casting abilities to a mundane. Mr. Johnson accidently reads the wrong book and with whispers and dreams the evil spirit changes him into a horror shaman or maybe a better description would be a Horror agent. As I am basing the Horrors off of Lovecrafts stuff, any successful summoning of the guide spirit (Cathulu or other Old One) would pretty much leave the summoner dead or mind blasted. An actual summoning would be the very last thing a Horror shaman did. Question though, can a mundane granted magical casting through a pact do summoning? As long as you have the skill and the attribute to use it, there's nothing in the rules stopping you. If the rules say you need Skill A, Attribute B, and X nuyen to perform Action C and you have them from some means or method, then I'd say yes you can do that action. Hmm, I need to review my Street magic book to see if it's allowed to use the Increase Attribute spell to pump Magic up. I don't remember (I don't believe it's allowed) but don't have my book handy to check. |
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#15
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The ShadowComedian ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 14,537 Joined: 3-October 07 From: Hamburg, AGS Member No.: 13,525 ![]() |
No, Magic can not be increased using magic.
Only with initiation and raising through karma. Or in special cases due to draining a victim. |
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#16
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Cybernetic Blood Mage ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 ![]() |
I don't know, I do seem to vaguely remember something about a corrurpted Free Spirit that did virtually increase a Mage's Magic score, albeit only to later take his "gift" back and kill the Mage, and I think I'd allow a Horror to give the gift of Magical Abilities, provided that there was always a cost too horrible to bare.
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#17
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Prime Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,577 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Gwynedd Valley PA Member No.: 1,221 ![]() |
the big thing with a horror based run is confusion. small hints and threats is far better for the game to kepe the players off balance. once they know it's "X" it just becomes a bug hunt, keep them off balance 'what is that thing?" and they are going to enjoyit more.
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#18
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Shadow Cartographer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 ![]() |
I don't know, I do seem to vaguely remember something about a corrurpted Free Spirit that did virtually increase a Mage's Magic score, albeit only to later take his "gift" back and kill the Mage, and I think I'd allow a Horror to give the gift of Magical Abilities, provided that there was always a cost too horrible to bare. You are perhaps thinking of the Aleph Society which is detailed in Digital Grimoire. It involves a shadow spirit with the ability to make a group spirit pact. Nasty. K. |
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#19
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Cybernetic Blood Mage ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 ![]() |
No, I'm thinking of something that was in one of the Threat books.
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#20
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Shooting Target ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 1,512 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 392 ![]() |
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#21
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Cybernetic Blood Mage ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,472 Joined: 11-March 06 From: Northeastern Wyoming Member No.: 8,361 ![]() |
*chuckles* I had to look it up, it was Tutor from Threats 1
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#22
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Moving Target ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 689 Joined: 16-September 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 5,623 ![]() |
Never got Threat 1, but may have to track down a copy now.
The group should encounter its first "what the #%$!" moment this weekend as they uncover an old hideout of the Mark (turned Horror Shaman) they have been chasing. Am thinking the Mark left a couple of his more grotesquely mutated followers behind as he is still focused on working from the shadows and they are very hungry. |
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#23
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Prime Runner ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3,577 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Gwynedd Valley PA Member No.: 1,221 ![]() |
don't bother with Threats 1. but yeah, keep them in the 'what the flock?" phase.
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#24
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Target ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 12-July 09 Member No.: 17,380 ![]() |
Something to maybe throw in from Earthdawn's horrors is the ever present corruption around the shaman, so pretty much everything the shaman comes in contact with, start with things touched by his magic but as the horror's power/influence grows anything the shaman touches may be horror marked. This is not the shaman though it is the horror's doing, the shaman may not even know its going on. And yeah I have to totally agree with some of the previous posters, this man should be crazy to a point of being a complete blasphemy to the very nature of a sane world...like the type of crazy people go after reading robert anton wilson.
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#25
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Street Doc ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Admin Posts: 3,508 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Neverwhere Member No.: 6,114 ![]() |
Horror mark would be cool. I would stat it like a disease- give his astral signature a Power rating make the mage resist nausea effects when assensing the Horror Shaman or anything he has tainted.
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