Magic User Types

Shadowrun has four distinct types of magic users: Adept, Magician, Aspected Magician, and Mystic Adept. Here’s a quick breakdown of the unique characteristics of each group. A player should weigh these different characteristics carefully when deciding which kind of magic user to play. Page references are provided for more detailed information about each type of magic user.

ADEPTS

• Adepts channel mana into their own bodies to enhance their natural abilities, making their talents and skills much more potent.
• Adepts never astrally project (p.313, CRB)
• Adepts only perceive astral space by purchasing the Astral Perception power (p.312, CRB)
• Adepts can learn the Assensing skill only if they have the Astral Perception power.
• Adepts cannot use skills from any magic-related skill groups (Sorcery, Conjuring, or Enchanting).
• Adepts can follow mentor spirits (p.320).
• Adepts gain Adept Powers that are purchased with Power Points. Adepts receive a number of Power Points equal to their Magic rating.

MAGICIANS

• Magicians can astrally perceive.
• Magicians can astrally project.
• Magicians can choose freely from the magical skills or skill groups (Sorcery, Conjuring, Enchanting).
• Magicians can cast spells, conjure spirits, or enchant magical items.
• At character creation, magicians who cast spells, perform rituals or create alchemical preparations may know a maximum number of formulae from each group equal to their Magic Rating x 2 (i.e., Magic Rating of 4 allows 8 spells, 8 rituals, 8 alchemical preparations).

ASPECTED MAGICIANS

• Aspected magicians are a limited form of magician.
• Aspected magicians can astrally perceive.
• Aspected magicians do not astrally project.
• Aspected magicians must choose one, and only one, of the following three Skills/Skill Groups.
  • Sorcery (Spellcasting and related skills)
  • Conjuring (Summoning and related skills)
  • Enchanting (Alchemy and related skills)
• Aspected magicians cannot perform any of the magical skills associated with the two groups they did not select.
• Aspected magicians can only learn Counterspelling if they take the skills to be a spellcaster.
• Aspected magicians can follow mentor spirits.
• At character creation, aspected magicians who cast spells, perform rituals, or create alchemical preparations may know a maximum number of formulae from each group equal to their Magic Rating x 2 (i.e., Magic Rating of 4 allows 8 spells, 8 rituals, 8 alchemical preparations).

MYSTIC ADEPTS

• Mystic adepts are a combination of magicians and adepts.
• Mystic adepts never astrally project.
• Mystic adepts can astrally perceive if they purchase the Astral Perception adept power.
• Mystic adepts purchase their spells/rituals/preparations in the same way as magicians.
• Mystic adepts must purchase their Power Points with Karma (2 Karma each at character creation for a full Power Point, with a maximum number of points equal to their Magic attribute rating).
• Mystic adepts can have any skills from the Enchanting, Sorcery, or Conjuring skill groups.