Under the new errata rulings I have a sorcerer initiate character who soon be forced to take a geas to compensate for magic loss.

I can't take gesturing since it's already taken as a centering skill (Tai Chi katas), so I'm open to suggestions, and ideas.

Fetish... fetishes for everything...

You can use gesturing to center even if you're using it to fulfill a geas. Nothing should stop you from using your Tai Chi Katas.

Any background on this sorcerer?

-Siege

And in what way is he 'forced' to take a Geas?

geas (worrying): "what am i going to do for a geas? oh, man, i'm in trouble if i don't think of something..."

He's one of those quirky, intelligent creative types, very artisticly creative, and has a penchant for playing cards and tarot cards, and card tricks and sleight of hand. He designs his own expendable spell foci in the form of cards with his own image designs and hodge-podge of magic symbols (Chaos mage). He's already intiated once and has the karma to do so again (just hasn't got the downtime yet). He practices Tai Chi (with the Focus Will maneuver, to help deal with spirits since he can't banish). He's also an active multiple-media artist (Art skill of 5), draws, paints, dabbles in sculpture.

He's forced as a requirement by his initiatory group.

You listed a lot of things that could easily be used as Geasa.

I think it is the Geasa stricture MitS p 63.

Ah, that's cool. I've seen people mistake the 'can't voluntarily discard a Geas' bit to mean 'have to take a Geas anytime magic is lost', which isn't the same thing at all.

Seeing as how your character is good at legerdemain/prestidigitation, you could have him need a deck of playing/tarot/whatever cards on hand and do card tricks/throw cards when using magical skills.

Or maybe vocalization/chanting could be another idea, actually use those extra languages a little more often......

I once took Obvious Magic as a house-ruled, home-made geas for a mage that had a cyberarm. We ruled that all magicla skills/spells were easily visible to mundanes. All of my spells were visible. They could see me conjure spirits. They could see my spirit leave my body when I projected (I was always manifested while projecting, too).

My character was psychologically-scarred because he had an obvious cyberarm, and was ridiculed in the local Awakened community. His obvious deformity led to obvious magic......

Since were on the subject.

What is the difference between a Voluntary Geas and an Involuntary one?

Voluntary- Taking one to reduce the cost of your adept powers
yes/ no?

Involuntary- Taking one to off set magic loss (which seems to be somewhat Voluntary to me)

For Catsnightmare character couldn't he extend the gesturing geas to gesturing with his playing cards so as simple hand/ arm waving will nolonger do it?

I still say your Tai Chi Katas are the way to go. You already have a magical connection to them, after all.

Yes it is the geas stricture, since you couldn't geas bioware previously it wasn't an issue before. Though with the (IC) developement of magical techniques to compensate for magic resistance, he will probably have to learn it (take a geas)

Talisman geas was my first option, since he does actually have a ring taken as souvenier from when he first discovered his talent that he has turned into a fetish for some of his spells. The problem is my GM's have voiced their dislike of the talisman geas specifically so there's a chance I may not be allowed that option.

I've also considered his art skill as well. Since he is highly literate in Japanese, Chinese, and German (including Norse Runes), I thought about haveing him draw as a center. Possibly drawing a quick runic or oriental symbol on a pad or on a surface with chalk.

There is a historical precedent in Asian mythology like scroll magic and in the Norse tradition of Rune magic.

-Siege

Exactly, having seen the drawn paper talismans used in several anime shows, I thought it would tie in well with this character's card-theme.

If your character wears glasses, that could be a geas...

Been there, done that with my physad/cleaner character. He's nearsighted and his glasses serve as the talisman for the voluntary geas on his improved perception power.