About mages using catalogue spell, And other magic related questions Options

[Traks]

So, people jumped on MiTS as I thought and chose new spells.
Now their mage uses catalogue every time to see what is there to loot. I am too sleepy to think straight, so - does all your mages use that spell regularly too? Or there are some restrictions I haven't seen yet?

Which spells are usually used in defense against bullets? I checked - "armor" is decent, while that other spell in MiTS sucked. Deflection or what - too sleepy to find.

Can shaman choose another totem? (It sounds awful, but nearest comparison is AD&D clerics). I ruled that they can, because I want that particular shaman to give a chance going down in flames (he is lion shaman because of plusses, but have never behaved like one. He accepted Aztlan initiation and now is blood mage. So I decided that blood spirit is now his totem. Not that it is canon in any way, but still freaky and will give him proper death 1,000,000 nyens? Who said 1,300,000? Once, twice, sold :).)

Does mage pay full cost in karma when upgrading Manaball 6 to Manaball 8?
Like, difference is how much karma without fetishes?
Why mostly Lone Star uses Thunderbolt? It's stats are incredible so anyone would use it