Full Version: Shamanic Mask
Early on in the Awakened World (Magic Chapter) of SR4 there is an option for an awakened character to use the shamanic mask, it is for the dice modification for noticeing (percieving spells); are there any other adventages/disadventages for having it?
and on another note, similar to this (sorry for the smi-hijack, but it is linked)
Did the fix the fluff/rules screw up where they say that perceiving spells is VERY difficult, and then the rules pretty much negate that and give a person a tn of 2-4 to see it?
Did the fix the fluff/rules screw up where they say that perceiving spells is VERY difficult, and then the rules pretty much negate that and give a person a tn of 2-4 to see it?
| QUOTE (252) |
| Early on in the Awakened World (Magic Chapter) of SR4 there is an option for an awakened character to use the shamanic mask, it is for the dice modification for noticeing (percieving spells); are there any other adventages/disadventages for having it? |
Nope, the shamanic mask is pure fluff. But in my campaigns, a shaman that doesn't display had better give me a damn good reason.
| QUOTE (NightmareX @ Sep 16 2005, 07:42 AM) | ||
Nope, the shamanic mask is pure fluff. But in my campaigns, a shaman that doesn't display had better give me a damn good reason. |
How about "cuz he's a sneaky bastard"? I mean if they aren't a Rat Shaman.
Or "you let hermetics use their unbound-spirit-summoning good loving they got from SR4, why can't i have mine"?
| QUOTE (blakkie) |
| How about "cuz he's a sneaky bastard"? I mean if they aren't a Rat Shaman. |
Maybe. But more likely I'd point out that the shamanic mask isn't an all or nothing thing. Then again you already know that.
| QUOTE |
| Or "you let hermetics use their unbound-spirit-summoning good loving they got from SR4, why can't i have mine"? |
This would get chalked up to whinning on the player's part (which gets them a +1 bonus on my mental "drek-on-character" scale).
How big a drek-on-character bonus for someone that then says "my Mentor Spirit is me, so my Shaman Mask is that i keep looking like me"? 
Honestly, they should just rule that anything a mentor spirit gives you a bonus or penalty on causes it to manifest.
| QUOTE (Nikoli) |
| Honestly, they should just rule that anything a mentor spirit gives you a bonus or penalty on causes it to manifest. |
in sr3 wasn't it based kinda off the force...but if your toem gave you a bonus to it it was particularly visible? I could be wrong
In SR3, you didn't get a choice, but that was the price of whistling up spirits on the fly and getting extra dice. As if looking like a Modern Primitive didn't single you out enough.
| QUOTE (Nikoli) |
| In SR3, you didn't get a choice, but that was the price of whistling up spirits on the fly and getting extra dice. As if looking like a Modern Primitive didn't single you out enough. |
I know you didn't have a choice in sr3...my statement was more based upon how visible it was/is. Sorry for the confusion
it's visible enough to give +2 dice on the perception test.
| QUOTE (Nikoli) |
| Honestly, they should just rule that anything a mentor spirit gives you a bonus or penalty on causes it to manifest. |
That would render bonuses to disguise and social skills kind of pointless, don't you think?
-Frank
Not at all, I mean there has to be hundreds of Toad shamen in seattle, right?
I could see using the mask as an intimidation ploy (+1-3 on the pool).
I could see using the mask as an intimidation ploy (+1-3 on the pool).
| QUOTE (Jrayjoker) |
| Not at all, I mean there has to be hundreds of Toad shamen in seattle, right? I could see using the mask as an intimidation ploy (+1-3 on the pool). |
.....cause we all know how intimidating it is to see a toad shamic mask....
| QUOTE (Superbum) |
| .....cause we all know how intimidating it is to see a toad shamic mask.... |
If you're a Fly shaman, damn skippy it's scary!
| QUOTE (Spookymonster) | ||
If you're a Fly shaman, damn skippy it's scary! |
Unless you're a frog shaman
then its snack time
| QUOTE (blakkie) |
| How big a drek-on-character bonus for someone that then says "my Mentor Spirit is me, so my Shaman Mask is that i keep looking like me"? |
Well, that line would work for a Satanist, but they tend to be mages anyway.
How about 'Shamanic Mask: 5 BP Disadvantage'?
Is it really worth 5 build points?
And I'm really not sure about the mask appearing just because you get a mentor spirit. Mentors really aren't all that wonderful, as unlike other positive Qualities they have disadvantages built in. As it is they're hardly worth 5 build points; adding the mask would make them even worse.
And I'm really not sure about the mask appearing just because you get a mentor spirit. Mentors really aren't all that wonderful, as unlike other positive Qualities they have disadvantages built in. As it is they're hardly worth 5 build points; adding the mask would make them even worse.
Maybe 'obvious magic' worth 5 to 10 points (two versions?)? With the shamanic mask being an example of this flaw?
| QUOTE (Eyeless Blond) |
| And I'm really not sure about the mask appearing just because you get a mentor spirit. Mentors really aren't all that wonderful, as unlike other positive Qualities they have disadvantages built in. As it is they're hardly worth 5 build points; adding the mask would make them even worse. |
I generally only enforce it with animal totems, and occassionally with idols (but only if really heavy duty magic is involved).
Definitely not worth 5 bp though.
| QUOTE (NightmareX) | ||
Well, that line would work for a Satanist, but they tend to be mages anyway. |
Mages can have a Mentor too.
| QUOTE (blakkie) | ||||
Mages can have a Mentor too. |
Yeah, but I only enforce the shamanic mask bit for shamen. It's in the name, after all.
It really comes down to on of those anachronistic bits leftover from previous editions. 
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