How often, in your experience, do Shadowrun players create their own magical traditions? What are the more interesting ones you've seen?
I had an idea the other day for a magical tradition based on ancient Egyptian mythology. This is my first stab at creating a tradition; constructive criticism is welcome.
Ma'at: Egyptian Theurgy
Concept: Magic is a gift from the gods and a sign of their favor. The ma'ati (the title used for a follower of Ma'at; it is both singular and plural) strive always to promote the divine order and justice in the world. For some ma'ati, this means working in the darker places to bring down a corrupt corporate order; others merely try to alleviate as much suffering as possible. Ma'at rituals are based on the religious rites of pharaonic Egypt, and place particular importance on the uttering of names. In Ma'at, to name a thing is to control it; each object, beast and person has a secret true name, knowledge of which grants absolute power over them.
Combat: Air
Detection: Fire
Health: Water
Illusion: Beasts
Manipulation: Man
Drain: Willpower + Charisma
Fascination with the faith of the pharaohs began in the late nineteenth century with the excavation of the first pharaonic tombs in Egypt. It persisted through the end of the Fifth World, most often as a subject of academic study but occasionally in the form of small cults. When the Awakening came, some of these believers discovered that the rites they had painstakingly reconstructed from three-thousand-year-old fragments suddenly had tangible effects in the physical world. They took this to be a sign that their gods had blessed them for their faith, and the tradition of Ma'at (meaning "truth," "justice," or "order") was born.
Ma'at Mentor Spirits (Note: This is by no means an exhaustive list, and is intended only to provide a few samples of the types of mentor spirit a ma'ati might follow. I may add further examples later.)
Ra
The sun god, creator of the world, bringer of light and warmth. Ra holds dominion over the powers of flame and over the physical world. He is caring and nurturing in a fatherly way; ma'ati who follow Ra tend to treat their associates like favored children.
Advantages: +2 dice for conjuring flame spirits; +2 dice for manipulation spells
Disadvantages: As the principal god of Ma'at, Ra cannot abide challenges to his supremacy. A ma'ati follower of Ra must accept any challenge offered him, or suffer -2 dice to all tests for a day thereafter.
Anubis
The jackal-headed god who conveys souls to the afterlife, Anubis is a fearsome and cryptic figure. As the god responsible for weighing the hearts of the dead against the feather of truth, Anubis has an abiding interest in uncovering lies and deception. His addresses to his followers frequently take the form of riddles, often having to do with death and dying. Ma'ati who follow him often seem detached, even distant, and have generally morbid senses of humor.
Advantages: +2 dice for conjuring spirits of man; +2 dice for detection spells
Disadvantages: Ma'ati who follow Anubis acquire some of their mentor's fearsome presence, exuding an aura which other beings find disquieting at best. They suffer -2 dice to all social tests, except when dealing with individuals involved in funerary rites (gravediggers, embalmers, etc.) or who have an unhealthy interest in the morbid and the macabre (Goths, etc.)
Thoth
God of wisdom, knowledge, and all sciences, ibis-headed Thoth is revered by scholars. He is an endlessly patient tutor, and delights in his students' mastery of some new facet of magic. Ma'ati who follow Thoth are often professorial, occasionally even pedantic, in demeanor. They are always well-read and educated, and happy to display their nearly bottomless reserves of knowledge.
Advantages: +2 dice when learning a new spell; +2 dice for detection spells
Disadvantages: Followers of Thoth find it virtually impossible to resist the opportunity to learn something new. When confronted with such an opportunity, regardless of potential danger, the ma'ati must make a composure (Willpower + Charisma) test or drop whatever he may be doing to pursue it.