 Mage vs. Shaman |
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 Feb 7 2005, 05:18 AM
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#1
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Running Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712  |
Got this idea from a post in another thread. If you had to pick one to play over the other, which would you prefer and why?
Myself, I'm voting Mage. I like being able to keep elementals on call (not hindered by the sun-up/sun-down time restriction). I also like that the method of magic is based more on a mathematical approach, less on a connection with the environment. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:19 AM
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#2
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Here we go.
I went Mage. I just don't like shamans. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:20 AM
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#3
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Mage. Enough of this "faith-based" magic.
~J |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:20 AM
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#4
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712 |
Oh, please elaborate kevyn. Lets heat this thread up. ;)
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Feb 7 2005, 05:23 AM
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#5
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Target Group: Members Posts: 83 Joined: 26-March 03 Member No.: 4,336 |
i voted shaman, but thats because the spontaneous summoning of elementals suits the playstyle of people I run with.
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Feb 7 2005, 05:23 AM
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#6
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 407 Joined: 22-March 04 Member No.: 6,183 |
Mages just seem more fun; I just like playing them better. You get to play them however you want, without following a totem guideline. Plus, elementals are just so darn handy.
I've just now started playing a Wujen. Never done it before, but I like the combination of hermetic and shamanistic elements. That, and it's something new. Can't wait to see how it turns out... |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:27 AM
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#7
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Edit: Wait and see. Wait and see... What? No "Phys Ad vs. Sam" poll? :) |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:29 AM
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#8
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 227 Joined: 18-August 03 Member No.: 5,513 |
Shaman. Sure, you have to drink the Kool-AidTM but if you have a character of modest means a shaman is both a cheap way to go and makes for interesting story.
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Feb 7 2005, 05:30 AM
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#9
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712 |
I have a Wujen PC in my play group that I GM, Cap. We created a Spirit of Metal to fit in with the belief in the five elements that practitioners follow... and we've made extremely fun use of the ancestral spirit summoning angle. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:34 AM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 407 Joined: 22-March 04 Member No.: 6,183 |
So I wasn't the only one to notice the lack of a Spirit of Metal. Good.
Ancestor spirits would be interesting with this character, as she's a fox shapeshifter. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:34 AM
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#11
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
I can make a pretty good mage with 90k. If I don't feel like getting the (practically) obligatory Sustaining Spell Focuse: 1 (Inc Reflexes +3), I could easily go cheaper. Either way, I don't have to ahere to any belief system. Don't get me wrong, I like to run with Shamans but I just don't like to play them. They always seem so...binding to me. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:36 AM
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#12
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 124 Joined: 7-February 05 Member No.: 7,063 |
And on this weeks episode of "The Odd Coven...."
I will usually go with Shaman because I like the Totem interaction. You can get some really good RP opportunities out of that. |
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Feb 7 2005, 05:57 AM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 485 Joined: 25-October 04 Member No.: 6,789 |
Personally I like the Shaman just a bit better than the Hermetic mage, but the the vote is 1001/999.
Shamans are infinitely more flexible, but suffer in that it takes days to erect a decent rating lodge to stop astral intrusion. Whereas in a few hours a Mage can whip up a decent circle. Now for on the spot summoning you can't beat a Shaman. With a decent charisma you can have a powerful ally no matter the location. As for restrictive totems if you read the totem correctly you can always pick one that fits your style of play. Me personally I tend towards Coyote, Dog, and Bear, but I also once played a Gargoyle. |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:05 AM
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#14
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,751 Joined: 8-August 03 From: Neighbor of the Beast Member No.: 5,375 |
Shamans are only as flexible as the totem. TN mods b/c of not being under an open sky or during the daylight, or essence penalties can really suck depending on your situation. |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:13 AM
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#15
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
Shamans are more flexible, even with their totem disadvantages. A good shaman player would avoid using magic when they are at a disadvantage and spam spells/spirits when it is to their advantage. And that does not preclude the shaman from dispelling, spell defense and banishing.
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Feb 7 2005, 06:31 AM
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#16
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712 |
Unless you're a zerker shaman (Badger, Bear, Shark). A good mage player would simply calculate the odds and beat feet out of there when the situation turns sour. |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:32 AM
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#17
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 227 Joined: 18-August 03 Member No.: 5,513 |
I don't know. If you think 90k is 'modest means'... I'm talking 20k at most for a starting character. My favorite rat shaman of all time started in the ghetto and didn't have none of dat book learnin'. Just a strong personal relationship with RAT and silver tongue with the spirits (and the honeys). ...and he had no problem in adhering to RAT's code/belief system either. :D |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:35 AM
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#18
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712 |
For some reason, I don't see a rat shammie as a playah. :D |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:40 AM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 227 Joined: 18-August 03 Member No.: 5,513 |
Shows what you know my man... Why do you think RAT be multi-plyin' all da time? :D |
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Feb 7 2005, 06:49 AM
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#20
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Shaman all the way! I've played my share of Mages, but they never have inspired me as much as the shamanic ones. Especially my Leopard Shaman. :D
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Feb 7 2005, 12:26 PM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 527 Joined: 30-January 04 Member No.: 6,043 |
Shaman. Totems (Idols, whatever) are great hooks. And I like the "spirit anywhere, anytime" thing, too.
And, if you do something stupid, you can always play it off by saying "Dog told me so. Sorry, guys." |
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Feb 7 2005, 12:27 PM
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#22
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
Mages. I think they are more versatile, avoiding those roleplaying guidelines for shamas (who have to act according to their chosen totem in our SR-world). And Elementals rock!
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Feb 7 2005, 12:49 PM
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#23
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Only if they're of the Earth variety. ;) |
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Feb 7 2005, 12:55 PM
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#24
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
A while back the mage i played was well-kwown for summoning the biggest bad-ass fire elementals in whole san francisco. Way cool.
That was 2nd edition, when fireball was a cool spell (i even had a fireball-focus) and "great form" ghosts didn't exist. (forget the name of the ability... ). |
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Feb 7 2005, 01:13 PM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 345 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Leeds, UK Member No.: 4,046 |
Urge. to. kill... increasing..... must not stab Fortune in the eyes. :) |
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