Mystic Adept, Shapeshifter 400BP Options

[Ryu]

Sustaining Foci will be very useful, going for 4 in the long run (manipulation/detection/health/illusion). You´ll also want to initiate a few times and take masking/extended masking.

Get Perception 1 instead of Con, buy the Influence group with karma.

[Sinistra]

Sustaining Foci will be very useful, going for 4 in the long run (manipulation/detection/health/illusion). You´ll also want to initiate a few times and take masking/extended masking.

Get Perception 1 instead of Con, buy the Influence group with karma.

I planned on initiating for Both masking and extended masking. Specially since I should have a large chunk of Karma.

[Ryu]

Consider getting the Shapechange spell. Seems redundant on a shifter, but isn´t. Getting something with flight is still great, and with that lowly Body stat you can transform into the ever-present pidgeon. Really mean on a hunter of small vermin, too.

[Sinistra]

Consider getting the Shapechange spell. Seems redundant on a shifter, but isn´t. Getting something with flight is still great, and with that lowly Body stat you can transform into the ever-present pidgeon. Really mean on a hunter of small vermin, too.

"This spell does not transform clothing and equipment. Magicians
in critter form can still cast spells, but cannot perform other tasks requiring
speech." -Shapechange 211 SR4A

Does that above quote mean if I used that spell, all my gear would be left where I once was? While yes I know I am a shpaeshifter and am slightly less gear intensive(Uhhh, I am probably only going to have Foci, clothing, and shock gloves along with a Commlink for non-simsense stuff. Like voice calls), I would not want to have my gear fall into a pile on the ground.

[Draco18s]

Does that above quote mean if I used that spell, all my gear would be left where I once was? While yes I know I am a shpaeshifter and am slightly less gear intensive(Uhhh, I am probably only going to have Foci, clothing, and shock gloves along with a Commlink for non-simsense stuff. Like voice calls), I would not want to have my gear fall into a pile on the ground.

Your gear falls into a pile on the ground.

Or if you assume the...not exactly canon but intended and left out rules regarding shapeshifters and equipment, it's possible that you'll destroy your stuff and/or hurt yourself.

[Sinistra]

Your gear falls into a pile on the ground.

Or if you assume the...not exactly canon but intended and left out rules regarding shapeshifters and equipment, it's possible that you'll destroy your stuff and/or hurt yourself.

So even with a regular shift, any foci would be dropped to the ground also. Assuming human to animal. Animal I would not have the Foci on me at that point unless I gathered them up anyway...Though that gives me an interesting idea for a Foci that is a necklace(For a fox it could in theory stay on in both forms)

[Freya]

So even with a regular shift, any foci would be dropped to the ground also. Assuming human to animal. Animal I would not have the Foci on me at that point unless I gathered them up anyway...Though that gives me an interesting idea for a Foci that is a necklace(For a fox it could in theory stay on in both forms)

There's some precedent for that, actually. One of the adventure hooks in the Neo-Tokyo section of Corporate Enclaves had a fox shifter who wore a power focus as a collar.

[Sinistra]

There's some precedent for that, actually. One of the adventure hooks in the Neo-Tokyo section of Corporate Enclaves had a fox shifter who wore a power focus as a collar.

Good to know it exist in canon then.

[Mantis]

I was actually going to suggest you get exactly that sort of foci. Collars or other things like that that can go around the neck means you can carry the foci with you. Of course if they are all necklaces, you might begin to end up looking like Mr. T in human form.

[Sinistra]

I was actually going to suggest you get exactly that sort of foci. Collars or other things like that that can go around the neck means you can carry the foci with you. Of course if they are all necklaces, you might begin to end up looking like Mr. T in human form.

If I do not have a lot of Foci I should be fine. They are the only real valuable thing that are hard to replace.

[Rubic]

I was actually going to suggest you get exactly that sort of foci. Collars or other things like that that can go around the neck means you can carry the foci with you. Of course if they are all necklaces, you might begin to end up looking like Mr. T in human form.

Alternatively, the collar is one focus, with each gem it has inset as an additional focus. Earrings could ALSO work, though it would make you more noticeable in animal forms (esp. something that doesn't have ears). Another option is to wear a chain necklace, with the foci being links in the chain. This, then again, falls to the Mr. T Syndrome.

[Mantis]

Actually, if they are for fairly low force foci or your GM allows you to remove the limit on stacked foci, a stacked focus may be the way to go. This allows you to get a multipurpose focus in one item. So it could be a force 3 power focus, force 3 health sustaining focus for example. This would be something you'd have to get in game though as I think the price and/or availability would be too high for a starting character. Anyway, something to look into.

[Sinistra]

Actually, if they are for fairly low force foci or your GM allows you to remove the limit on stacked foci, a stacked focus may be the way to go. This allows you to get a multipurpose focus in one item. So it could be a force 3 power focus, force 3 health sustaining focus for example. This would be something you'd have to get in game though as I think the price and/or availability would be too high for a starting character. Anyway, something to look into.

the price is doable, though I would have to see how the availability is effected. I should see if Stacking Foci adds to the cost too. I would think not but you never know.

[Sinistra]

Looking in Street Magic at Stacked Foci, they do not seem to have a lot for it but I do not know if there is Errata somewhere else. Though they are harder to find since a stacked Foci needs a specific formula, not a formulas of each of the seperate foci that make the stacked. So I can understand double cost, and maybe double availability. I will have to see what else I can find on it.

[Mantis]

Try building one in Chummer and see what it does. That can give you an idea on where to go with prices and availability. I think the software is just stacking the costs.

[Sinistra]

After looking between Karma and BP builds for this character if I can convince him to just do Karma instead things will be so much easier and better. I had made different characters through BP, and recently I tried remaking most through Karma and they do seem to be a lot more...effective and get what I want when done through karma.

[Dakka Dakka]

Yes, I think the easiest way to get around only having the one combat pass is just using and sustaining Increase Reflexes. You'd have to overcast it to Force 4 to get the maximum benefit from it, but even if you left it at Force 3 you could still get 3 IP total and use one of your sustaining foci for it.

That is only true if you think the erroneous FAQ is a rule. When you determine the force of a spell (or the maximum possible force) you are not using "Magic-based skills" (SR4A p. 195) that determination is independent of skill. Determining the Force falls under"all other purposes" (SR4A p. 195). So a Mystic Adept with a magic Attribute of 5 and 2 Power Points could cast spells up to MAG 5 normally (overcasting MAG 10) but would only use 3+Spellcasting+modifiers dice to do so.

While this makes the drain a bit less painful, getting 4 hits on the spellcasting test is not easy without a Power Focus. If you are using BP-Gen, take a Force 4 (with Restricted Gear). You will never get it cheaper. 100k¥, 4 BP vs. 100k¥ 32 Karma.

[Mantis]

The only problem I have with the power focus in character creation is cash in creation does not equal cash in career. Spending all those BP on the quality (5 BP) plus the cash (20BP) plus the bonding (4BP) doesn't really work out as cheaper. I know plenty on here advocate doing this but I prefer not to spend BP on stuff that is either one use (restricted gear) or else more easily acquired in game (money). The hardest thing to get is usually karma and if I can spend those BP getting skills or attributes raised or even picking up some of the hard to get qualities, I find that to be a better expenditure of BP. To each their own though.

[Dakka Dakka]

I agree that restricted gear is not a great choice, but unfortunately a necessary one for the F4 Power Focus. As to whether 100k¥ are acquired more easily, highly depends on the gaming group. I doubt that a Karmasink like a Shapeshifter Mystic adept will at any point have 32 Karma lying around. Smaller heaps will most likely go to other necessary purchases. If you only use one spell category, you may get away with a F3 Spellcasting Focus, but the Power Focus will also boost any rolls you have to make with your adept powers (like Attribute Boost).

[Draco18s]

The only problem I have with the power focus in character creation is cash in creation does not equal cash in career. Spending all those BP on the quality (5 BP) plus the cash (20BP) plus the bonding (4BP) doesn't really work out as cheaper. I know plenty on here advocate doing this but I prefer not to spend BP on stuff that is either one use (restricted gear) or else more easily acquired in game (money). The hardest thing to get is usually karma and if I can spend those BP getting skills or attributes raised or even picking up some of the hard to get qualities, I find that to be a better expenditure of BP. To each their own though.

Bonding foci at character creation is MUCH better than getting them in play.

[Mantis]

Like Dakka Dakka said, it depends on your game. I've never found it to be a better place to spend my BP, or at least not a necessity in my games. But this has also been done to death so no point in rehashing it.

[Sinistra]

I don't want to spam up the Forums, but I finally got a consensus on how to do the character. 1150 Karma, Avail 15. So I have some work to do but any suggestions are always nice.

Edit: On a side note another player apparently is doing a similar concept. They are just a human from The midwest somewhere or something of Native decent and a citizen of one of the countries out there. Though they are a Full up Aspected Sorcerer Magician, while I am an Adept. They also plan on being a support caster more than a straight up kick there teeth in combat wise, so in combat I can see us filling two different roles...but we will both be good socially(Myself better because of planning an Adept powers)

[Draco18s]

I don't want to spam up the Forums, but I finally got a consensus on how to do the character. 1150 Karma, Avail 15. So I have some work to do but any suggestions are always nice.

With that much karma you can basically do anything you want and still be good.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

With that much karma you can basically do anything you want and still be good.

Indeed... Just wow...

[Ryu]

Seems like the karma/ressources after chargen got rolled into chargen. Given that unaugmented magicians don´t need much money and the attribute cap is pretty meaningless with 1000+ karma, I hope the other chars have been spending their gains efficiently.