Powers

Houserules and clarifications for specific powers

Disallowed powers

All powers in SWADE (pgs 154–171) are allowed as part of the Mage arcane background, except the following:

  • Drain Power Points - meaningless in a game that doesn’t use power points.
  • Object Reading - folded into assensing and the Astral skill.
  • Burrow, Divination, Intangibility, Resurrection, Teleport, Zombie - contradict core Shadowrun canon.

Notes/clarifications about specific powers

Arcane Protection

Note that this overlaps somewhat with the Shielding edge (see Sprawlrunners, pg 17). I won’t stop you taking Arcane Protection, but the edge is arguably more powerful and useful.

Banish

Rank: Seasoned (changed from Veteran in RAW)
Power Points: See below
Range: LoS
Duration: Instant

(NB: slightly changed from RAW.)

Forces other summoned spirits back to the metaplanes. Opposed roll of caster’s Conjuration skill versus the target spirit’s Spirit. Success leaves the spirit Shaken; each raise inflicts a Wound. If the spirit is incapacitated, it is dismissed from service and returned to the metaplanes.

If the spirit is a companion (see Sprawlrunners pg 17), then it gets to roll the summoner’s Spirit in addition to its own (choosing the highest dice, as usual.) Additionally, if incapacitated, it will not be permanently banished, but will return to the summoner’s side after 1d4 days.

The power point cost, and hence roll penalty, is determined by the target spirit’s rank, similarly to when it is summoned. Hence:

  • Servant/Watcher: no modifier to roll
  • Seasoned rank (lesser spirit): -2 to roll (4PP)
  • Veteran rank (common spirit): -3 to roll (6PP)
  • Heroic rank (greater spirit): -4 to roll (8PP)

Healing

Healing cannot be used to heal Wounds caused by drain.

Illusion

By default, Illusions are mana-based; they only appear within the minds of living creatures. Purely technological systems like cameras or drone sensors see nothing. (Living characters with cybernetic senses like cybereyes still see the illusion, however.)

The Strong modifier (+2PP) instead produces a physical illusion, which does affect technological systems.

Relief

Relief cannot be used to heal Fatigue caused by drain.

Summon Ally (Specific Greatform)

Rank: Novice
Power Points: See below
Range: Smarts
Duration: Instant

Summons a spirit from the metaplanes to do the summoner’s bidding. See Summoning for rules. The power point cost, and hence roll penalty, is determined by the target spirit’s rank:

  • Servant/Watcher: no modifier to roll
  • Seasoned rank (lesser spirit): -2 to roll (4PP)
  • Veteran rank (common spirit): -3 to roll (6PP)
  • Heroic rank (greater spirit): -4 to roll (8PP)