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Savar

Nov 21 2017, 04:00 AM

QUOTE

THE AWARE(PRIORITY D; MAGIC 3, ONE RATING 4 MAGICAL SKILL)While most “sparks” have so little magic that they’re not worth consideration, one type, the aware, are. The aware have astral perception as their lone magical ability, a truly minor ability that nonetheless sets them higher than the truly mun-dane. The aware have been known for ages as read-ers of auras, palms, or other forms of psychome-try, but simply being able to see magical activity is power enough to serve them as researchers, ob-serving the magic used by others and taking note. The largest place for them, by far, is in the world of security, serving in personal security details to ensure no magic is used to influence negotiations, to keep an eye out for spiritual intrusion, or to di-rect security details against enchanted intruders. Several have found a place as musicians as well, as being able to read the emotional state of a crowd and adjusting their performance to it is a signifi-cant asset.

What magic skills could this char learn? Arcana, Assensing, Astral combat?

Wakshaani

Nov 21 2017, 05:40 AM

QUOTE (Savar @ Nov 20 2017, 10:00 PM)

What magic skills could this char learn? Arcana, Assensing, Astral combat?

It's intended to be Assensing, but someone might go wonky. You can technically use it for Summoning for the Dispelling option, for instance, of some other oddball use. I figured it was more fun to leave the option to the player instead of a flat "You get Assensing 4". Let people play a bit. Maybe they want to play someone who's always had the Talent but never explored it, so only has Assense at 1 or 2 and stuck the points elsewhere.

You've got options is what I'm saying.

(But your only magical power is seeing the Astral.)

SpellBinder

Nov 21 2017, 05:49 AM

I'd say just go with Assensing and call it good. I'm not sure what an Aware is gonna do if they choose Arcana as they can't actually use foci and spells and the sort that they might make a formula for, and Astral Combat is relatively worthless to them (astral only opponent? switch off your astral perception and make it materialize... if it can).

Hell, I'm surprised they get Magic 3. There was something like this in SR4, and they got Magic 1 which could not be improved at all. Now if you're stuck with Astral Perception, that's all you really need; just avoid implants.

Added: Hell, for that priority level go with Adept, soak the Magic 2 you get, and choose Astral Perception for one of your powers at the start. RP wise you can start off as one of The Aware and then actually grow into your powers as the story progresses.

Wakshaani

Nov 21 2017, 05:55 AM

QUOTE (SpellBinder @ Nov 20 2017, 11:49 PM)

Yeah, we gave a bit of wiggle room this time around, so it wasn't "I'm magical!" *DATAJACK* "... awww..."

There are a few hidden benefits as well, but nothing game-breakingly awesome. The biggest point is that there are as many Aware as there are all other magical types put together (Which still ain't many, but) .... which means that you can run into them in all walks of life. The bartender that's good a good knack for people, the security guard who checks for spirits now and then, the fortune teller lady that a friend of a friend goes to for readings and who can see 'ghosts', or one of Johnson's people who's there to make sure no one tries to slip a social adept into the negotiations.

SpellBinder

Nov 21 2017, 09:34 AM

Too bad the old Assensing Rejection negative quality from SR4 didn't get transposed over (Augmentation, page 163). Would be a great extra to the Aware that don't actually realize what they're doing.

Now by RAW, if you want to be really super disgusting with an Aware character, add on the Astral Bouncer positive quality. Two hits on the test and you're identifying technomancers for MCT.

Wakshaani

Nov 21 2017, 01:23 PM

Yuppers. That's an advantage of the 'thinner' aspected magicians .... there's no reason to not focus on doing something really well. Explorers can pick up several astral boosts without feeling like they're letting down the team, Aware can be really, REALLY good at figuring things out, and so on and so forth. Trading breadth of power for strength in focus can be handy. Not always the best option of course, but sometimes, especially for NPCs, it's dang handy.

Tecumseh

Nov 21 2017, 11:40 PM

QUOTE (Wakshaani @ Nov 21 2017, 05:23 AM)

... especially for NPCs, it's dang handy.

This is a point which I've called out in the past but would like to emphasize again. As a GM, I really enjoy having options that might be sub-optimal for players but make the in-game world more realistic and believable. Boosted reflexes is a good example of this, as it's a way for gangers and other street scum to get some extra initiative without resorting to drugs. The new aspected magicians are the same way; Wakshaani provided several excellent examples.

I also think the new options are entertaining, especially for non-traditional or lower-powered campaigns. I haven't played any PCs or NPCs with them yet, but I think Apprentice, Aware, and Explorer are all fun concepts and look well-designed from a cost/benefit perspective.

Jaid

Nov 22 2017, 08:40 AM

maybe this is just the previous editions talking, but...

isn't arcana available to *everyone*?

(i would also presume they could be quite competent at harvesting enchanting materials).

SpellBinder

Nov 22 2017, 11:56 AM

QUOTE (Jaid @ Nov 22 2017, 01:40 AM)

maybe this is just the previous editions talking, but...

isn't arcana available to *everyone*?

(i would also presume they could be quite competent at harvesting enchanting materials).

I think it still is, since it's a skill not tied to Magic, nor requiring access to another dimension that only a select few can actually experience.

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