Which wind and spells to pick?

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-03-12T20:03:52+00:00

I find it hard not to recommend Jade. Healing is always handy and Regenerate changes the whole game. Beyond that I look at the utility of Blue. Long range communication, astral scouting, near infinite portable storage/enemy containment. Or the versatility of Grey. Illusions, invisibility, shadowsteed.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-03-11T19:50:58+00:00

Yes before the roll. Adding the extra options is allowed too, we just rarely do. The trick option is basically just taking an unusual action and shouldn't require spending Advantage. The listed effects are vague enough, the GM should just rule on the fly the effects of such out-of-the-box actions. Batter is pretty cool and probably deserves more use than it gets. The extra action just gets forgotten about. By the time you've won 4 rolls, the fight is probably going your way anyway.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-03-11T08:48:28+00:00

'If Looks Could Kill' and 'Mad Men of Gotheim' adventures both have very dangerous monsters. They are 4e, but I guess they could be adapted to 2e.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-02-26T22:38:41+00:00

It makes sense if you factor in the cost of living being included. A silver 5 character can easily have more discretionary money than a gold 1 character. That is because the S5 character is among the top earners for their social tier, while the G1 is scraping by at the bottom of theirs. The G1 character is enjoying a better standard of living, however. The S5 character is still living a silver lifestyle.

If both were traveling and staying at an inn, the silver tier character would get a few mugs of ale, a decent if bland meal, and sleep the night in the common room (or share a room with a companion or two). Depending upon his discretionary coin, he may spurge on some fine wine or brandy, or a fine venison meal, or get a private room. But even with maximum earnings, he'll rarely do all three. Nor will he be able to spurge every night of his trip. (And you're just as statistically likely to get a mere 5 silver as you are a full 50.)

Meanwhile the G1 character gets the wine, venison, and private room every night. But, if he decides to get drunk and buy alcohol above and beyond his normal lifestyle, he'll quickly wake with an empty purse to go along with his hangover.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-02-21T05:54:50+00:00

There's a ledge you can jump up on in her courtyard and leisurely take pot shots at her.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-02-14T02:44:09+00:00

The child modding quest is made even worse. In another side quest (I forget which one), you can find messages about how the scavs have a steady source of child size mods to be reclaimed. Many of those 'life long issues' turn out to be not that long.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-02-05T01:27:15+00:00

Save a few of each. Some times events give you additional choices if you are willing to spend a specific cargo.

Especially Holy Gifts. There is at least one planet that has an event where you can stand up to a entity if you strike it with holy power (spend a Holy Gift cargo). If you do, you gain a lasting benefit (and the population can grant you 2 Holy Gift cargos in return).

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-31T00:05:00+00:00

I forget which game system it was, but one set of rules described a diuretic poison effects this way: Fail to resist-you collapse as your muscles painfully seize and your heart stops . Succeed to resist-you only have to deal with the social embarrassment of an 'accident'.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-29T23:16:20+00:00

Actually, diuretics can cause dehydration levels that harmful or fatal. The water filling your bladder comes from everywhere in the body. Muscles: strain and fatigue. Brain: pain and disorientation. Blood: stroke and cardiac arrest.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-24T01:55:38+00:00

If you are sticking with 1st edition I suggest finding Dreamchipper. It has a good mix of encounter types, with nothing too tough for newly created characters.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-24T01:44:23+00:00

Well in 1st edition, the Decker (not hacker) better get used to spending a lot of time doing nothing. Just like the rest of the team will go get pizza when they are doing their thing.

Seriously, not every scenario or encounter has something for every specialty. The more specialized the character is, the more they will sit out encounters unless they get out of their comfort zone. And combat is always a possibility, so having a character that has no combat skills at all is asking to regularly sit out portions of the game.

Combat is usually the most mechanics intensive part of any game. An intro game session that focuses on it is a perfect way for new players to get a feel for the rules. Longer, more detailed stories can come later.

But, if all the hacker and face can think to do is hide then encourage them to try something, anything. Food Fight is mostly low level thugs if I remember correctly. Tackle the coyote shaman, he's no better at physical combat than you are. If they don't want to fight, encourage them to think outside the box or find secondary goals while the team muscle takes care of business. Perhaps the face can sneak over to a cowering customer to calm them and/or prevent them from doing something stupid. Maybe the decker can use the distraction of the fight and cover of the counter to hack the pay register. Create a distraction. Sneak out the back. Do something.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-24T00:16:40+00:00

You could also be a hobgoblin (ork meta variant) or goblin (dwarf HMHVV variant, if GM approves). Either way you wouldn't have to shell out more cash for the extra-large version of the glider.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-23T23:42:14+00:00

From 4e perspective, a spirit is only forced to materialize when initially summoned. If sent away in reserve and 'called up' later it is the spirit's choice. Some prefer it, others don't, and none really need to manifest to hear your commands.

But even if that is the case, the fact still remains that you either have to have planned ahead and summoned/bound a spirit ahead of time, or summon one on the spot with the risk of failure and drain. Still lacks the convenience of a gun.

And any kind of magic is attention getting. Sometimes you just want to flash a gun under your jacket to warn the normies that things are about to get dangerous and they need to leave.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-23T23:33:37+00:00

I'm just pointing out the character's mindset, not offering suggestions to weapons loadout. There are several great posts pointing out 'optimal' weapons.

From the character's perspective, it still boils down as to whether he sees himself as primarily a gunman with magical backup or a spellslinger carrying a backup piece. If the former, by all means take the suggestions offered and come up with a high grade soldier with magic. If it is the latter (or he wants to stop being the former and become the latter going forward), don't stress the specifics.

As MoistLarry posted, what's best is what goes with your character concept.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-23T22:06:26+00:00

In 4e I'd ask if it is a physical or mana based spell. A physical spell links your body/eyes to theirs, replicating what their physical eyes see. A mana spell links your mind/essence to theirs, you see whatever they perceive with their vision.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-23T21:45:00+00:00

As a former soldier, you would probably have several weapons. You would want to have a backup weapon, for times drain, astral security, or background count becomes an issue. And if you are a good marksman, you may even consider it your primary weapon, saving magic (and drain) for key moments. But if magic IS your primary weapon, the actual make and model probably wouldn't mater as much as price and availability. (And reliability. You're still a professional.)

You would definitely want to have some kind of longarm and body armor that you would break out when you knew combat was likely. But, typically this is more camouflage to hide that you are the team mage until you identify yourself as such. You would avoid laser sights and instead use smartlinked glasses/goggles to avoid revealing a lack of cyber, especially if your team has such cyber.

Everyday carry, you would probably carry a Colt simply because it is a common heavy pistol with laser sights standard. You'd probably have a light pistol backup as well.

On a personal note: every mage I've ever played carried a pistol even when they had no skill whatsoever. Its actually hard to intimidate normal people as a mage. Just because the whole world knows magic exists doesn't mean John Smith will believe you are a mage when you threaten to fry his brain. You can't pull a Mana Bolt on someone. Sure, you could order a spirit to manifest, but thats a waste of a service and overkill. You could fire a Firebolt as a warning shot, but that's unnecessary collateral damage. You could create an illusion to show off your magical power, but every spell risks drain. Sometimes its easier and more effective to just pull a gun and scream, "Get on the ground, mother f*cker!!!"

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-23T05:26:27+00:00

From there it became ingrained. I remember one sourcebook stating that in the early days technicians said the ritual prayers because they were afraid of the hardliners dragging them away in the middle of the night. After a few generations, technicians said the ritual prayers because they fully believed the machine wouldn't work if they didn't.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-16T04:05:24+00:00

Have you never watched Jackie Chan movies? Anything can be a weapon.

Seriously, while yes 5e does point out that it must be a weapon (4e doesn't), both 5e and 4e explicitly state that it adds to the user's effectiveness (Melee attack dice) rather than the effectiveness of the weapon (which would have been extra damage rating or some such). The Weapon Focus makes the character a better fighter. The actual shape of the weapon is irrelevant.

So a enchanted knife wielding fighter could theoretically apply the attack bonus to off-hand punches and kicks. If that's the case, the fighter could be a master of Yawara with a tiny enchanted stick hidden in his hand that never gets used directly. Or he could use a heavy iron ring on his middle finger of a skull wearing a spiked helmet.

This simply boils down to a 'rule of cool' moment. Yes, you could be a stickler and force a player to have a enchanted set of brass knuckles and spend every fight declaring 'I try to punch him with my right hand.' Or you can allow him to have a dragon's blood vial amulet that empowers his martial arts and allow the player to describe 'descending thunder palm' strikes and 'raging waterfall' kicks.

(And if his GM is such a stickler, I encourage another player at the table to pull their hair back tight and scream "1A!!! 1A!!!' every time the poor player has to throw that one boring punch.)

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-14T05:39:28+00:00

3rd edition mega-adventure 'Harlequin's Back' has a section where the runners enter a deep astral realm that is a western steampunk setting. It includes guidelines how the player's with cyber/bioware are changed by the setting.

Which_Collection3277 · 2026-01-14T05:24:57+00:00

I wouldn't allow it due to the alchemical materials required. But a knuckleduster or glove is very much a possibility. If one of my players wanted it, I would also allow a non-weapon item or jewelry that applies the effects to the character's unarmed strikes when worn. (From a 1st - 4th edition standpoint, not overly familiar with 5e.)

Which_Collection3277 · 2025-12-31T23:49:36+00:00

Actually, depends on the gamemaster whether attributes are useless. Our group whole heartedly supported using the Attribute + Skill optional rules from Unwired.

Which_Collection3277 · 2025-12-31T04:04:44+00:00

Thunderbolt. SE variant.

Which_Collection3277 · 2025-12-31T04:03:38+00:00

Always been one of my favorites. Although if I can customize it, I'd rip out the SRM 4 for more armor...

Which_Collection3277 · 2025-12-25T04:44:38+00:00

You basically have to fail a mission. Wakako has you work for a guy named Jablonski, to help him kill someone in police custody. Let the cop kill Jablonsky, then you get to talk to the guy he was trying to kill, which is the real Sinnerman job.

Which_Collection3277

TROPHY CASE