Pixie..., ...playable for my GM Options

[Machiavelli]

I thought about playing a pixie as my next char, but the GM declines the use of "shapechange" into a human form. Do you know equivalent solutions or do you have some proper arguments that i could use to convince him anyway?

[Irion]

If your GM is not an idiot, you can't convince him, because shapechanging into a human is so cheesy I can smell it through the internet. (I guess to bribe him is still an option)

Physical Mask is one option for social encounters.
You just can't hold anything...

Anyway, I do not see much of a problems beening a pixie. (Sure you are small, but you can fly. Magical fingers or leviate might come in handy.)

[Aerospider]

If using Shapechange to become human (sized, presumably) is too 'cheesey', why not design a spell that does only that? The limitation would counterbalance the utility.

[Irion]

@Aerospider
This spell would still be a "increase any physica attribute by 1 per net hit without the force=attribute limitation".
If you would use a shapchange human spell which just turns you into a human form, attributes are kept from your original form, it would be good, but I guess ok.

[Minchandre]

I don't understand why your pixie would need to shapechange into a human, and frankly I agree with your GM if that's what you want - it smells like you just want the attribute bonuses

[Elfenlied]

Planning in case your Black mage gets whacked again? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Anyway, here's my suggestion: Get a roughly human-shaped drone. Otomo would be perfect, but a manservant will do on a budget. Ride the drone inside a special compartment made for you. Put a physical mask over it. Voila, you appear human and can touch/operate things.

As for Shapechange, there's a way that might work with your DM: Get rid of the attribute bonuses.

[Machiavelli]

I don't understand why your pixie would need to shapechange into a human, and frankly I agree with your GM if that's what you want - it smells like you just want the attribute bonuses

1) Pixies are quite seldom. Therefore you would cause a lot of attention ("ah, the runner team with the pixie? yeah, they ran that way")
2) Pixies have low body and strenght
3) you need to buy adjusted gear and clothing
4) possible racial bias

I could argue, that you lose all metatype-specific abilities (that should also include the concealment-power).

[Elfenlied]

1) Pixies are quite seldom. Therefore you would cause a lot of attention ("ah, the runner team with the pixie? yeah, they ran that way")

Physical Mask should do. Also, you've got concealment. Remember that you don't get a cumulative -2 for that, unlike with spells.

2) Pixies have low body and strenght

Doesn't matter much if you're a permanently concealed mage, right? Consider getting a drone for some personal armor.

3) you need to buy adjusted gear and clothing

Go mage. Foci need not be adjusted. Lack of armor sucks, but you've got a potential Reaction 12 and Edge 7 (8 with Lucky), so just avoid getting hit or use the armor spell.

4) possible racial bias

With great racial power comes great racial bias (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

@Aerospider
This spell would still be a "increase any physica attribute by 1 per net hit without the force=attribute limitation".

Why? Design it so it is not like that. Done.

[HunterHerne]

Why? Design it so it is not like that. Done.

Or, you can try to convince the GM to enforce maximums,, augmented at least (if not restrict it to natural max)

[Paul]

If I were your GM these are some, but not all of the questions I'd ask:

• Why? Why is a Pixie in the sprawl?
• Why would it associate with a group of runners in the first place?
• What is it's status it's own community? Do they accept his or her role as is?
• Would the layers realistically accept you? if not, how then do you plan on hiding your true nature? What about contacts etc...?

Basically I'd prep you for being a possible lab experiment or novelty item until you prove yourself, In Game. I'd definitely, as a GM, consider hanging some flaws on you-nothing absurd but just something to reflect your unique place in the Shadows.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Or, you can try to convince the GM to enforce maximums,, augmented at least (if not restrict it to natural max)

We use a customized Critter Spell (Metahuman). Net hits are distributable amongst the Physical Attributes. Get 3 net hits, you get to distribute 3 points of Attributes. Sort of in the Middle between no boosts and all nets hits to all attributes. Was a nice compromise. Obviously, if you want to assume the forms of all 5 (Elf, Dwarf, Human, Orc and Troll), you would need all five variations of the spells. We also enforce Attribute Maximums. You would also need a Minimum Body of 3 to assume the shapes of all 5 Metahumans (Trolls have an Attribute Minimum 5 for Body after all), as you must still be within 2 Body to assume the Form.

[Machiavelli]

My GM doesn´t care about the additional attributes, he declines the use of the spell because a pixie is quite fragile and flashy, if he changes into a human he has no disadvantages left.

[Ascalaphus]

About the low Strength and Body: suck it up. That's what you get for playing a pixie - that's why you get insane boosts to other Attributes.

About the social implications: if you propose a spell that gives you human form with human racial maximums, but no increases to your normal attributes, then I don't think your GM is going to object. But Physical Mask might be more useful.

[Machiavelli]

About the low Strength and Body: suck it up. That's what you get for playing a pixie - that's why you get insane boosts to other Attributes.

About the social implications: if you propose a spell that gives you human form with human racial maximums, but no increases to your normal attributes, then I don't think your GM is going to object. But Physical Mask might be more useful.

Doesn´t you need at least roughly the same size so that physical mask is working properly?

[Ascalaphus]

Doesn´t you need at least roughly the same size so that physical mask is working properly?

Feh, get a custom version then. That's really a triviality.

[KarmaInferno]

Have the pixie pilot a "human suit" anthroform vehicle. Cast via Mage Sight Goggles.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)




-k

[Traul]

Or have the troll carry you in a sport bag.

[Tanegar]

Or have the troll carry you in a sport bag.

That might get pretty uncomfortable, especially for a winged creature. I think the anthroform drone plus pixie-scale rigger cocoon works better.

[CanRay]

Especially if the troll hasn't taken the socks out from the last time he was at the gym.

[Udoshi]

Planning in case your Black mage gets whacked again? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

Anyway, here's my suggestion: Get a roughly human-shaped drone. Otomo would be perfect, but a manservant will do on a budget. Ride the drone inside a special compartment made for you. Put a physical mask over it. Voila, you appear human and can touch/operate things.

As for Shapechange, there's a way that might work with your DM: Get rid of the attribute bonuses.

+1 on the human-suit. Its much classier than a human-with-better-stats. (If I were doing this, thogh, I'd totally abuse the pixie-technomancer loophole and make a deadalus techno-pixie who just wants to see what its like to be human.)

If you want at transforming critter with good stats, just play an Eagle shifter.

[KarmaInferno]

What pixie-TM loophole?

Pixies have a Magic attribute. Nothing that has a Magic attribute can ever access Resonance. Even if they later lose the Magic point.



-k

[Udoshi]

I seem to recall there was a loophole involving burnt-out pixies that's been shown about a few times on dumpshock.

Something about having 0 magic opening you up to taking resonance qualities, because you don't have any magic, and the specific restriction clause refences qualities that you don't have.

[CanRay]

IIRC, Pixies with no magic are called "Dead". Which means they disappear pretty soon.

[Udoshi]

'Fraid not, Canray.

Dead pixies DO vanish, but no magic pixies don't.

burnt out pixies lose vanishing anyway (RC 84: If a sapient critter’s Magic attribute goes to 0, it loses the use of all its powers except Sapience, Natural Weapons, and Armor, if any. Also same page: Pixie Powers: Concealment (Self Only), Enhanced Senses (Astral Perception), Sapience)

Maybe it worked that way in a previous edition.