Salamander's latest abandoned project.

[Skitzophrenik]

Classic.

[Salamander]

After consultation with Kiroth, I've decided that Far West isn't the only form of spiritualism. Voodoo (as opposed to Hoodoo) is also Spiritualism, which means that there are voodoo sages in the South.

Yes, by the way, Asia is the West, not the East. You think a European's perspective matters?

[FreakyBoy]

OK, just so we're all on the same page, there is an executive veto on pulling someone from the pages of history and using them outright.

What if the only information we have on someone is a name on historical records (in a specific case: the name of a commanding officer, for whom I can find no other historical information other than name, rank, and division)?

[Salamander]

I'll let that slide.

[FreakyBoy]

In that case, my character is now officially Major Theodore D. Caswell, commander of the 4th Georgia Sharpshooters.

[balthazar]

I'm totally going for a gunslinger.

[Grillick]

Would anyone be opposed to me playing an archaeologist who is also an aspiring sage? I've been watching way too much Stargate SG-1, and FB's been deliberately locking me out of games lately.

And he won't be Jim Bowie.

[Dom/SlimKop]

My cowboy is a gunslinger.

Would anyone be opposed to me playing an archaeologist who is also an aspiring sage? I've been watching way too much Stargate SG-1, and FB's been deliberately locking me out of games lately.

A bumbling academic, or Indiana Jones? Either way sounds cool.

[Grillick]

My cowboy is a gunslinger.

Would anyone be opposed to me playing an archaeologist who is also an aspiring sage? I've been watching way too much Stargate SG-1, and FB's been deliberately locking me out of games lately.

A bumbling academic, or Indiana Jones? Either way sounds cool.

I was actually thinking of making him an Aztec agitator, opposing the expansion of the railroads through Texas on historical and cultural grounds. But circumstances (to be determined later) will cause him to throw in alongside Skitz and FB, somehow.

[Salamander]

Aztecs aren't sages. I'm not doing the same thing I did last game and saying "no white sages, no shamans period," but I'm still going to require a good background explanation for everything but sorcery (it's the ubiquitous form of magic, after all). Aztec and sage does is unlikely to meet that.

Also, I'm not saying no, but characters who do not play well with others and require convincing to join are a very, very hard sell. Too many bad experiences - if you're curious, do a search for Xerin from Reasonating Spirits.

[FreakyBoy]

FB's been deliberately locking me out of games lately.

If you'd asked to join games recently, I wouldn't have done so. It was only during the school year.

[Grillick]

If you'd asked to join games recently, I wouldn't have done so. It was only during the school year.

Pshaw. I don't want to join a game already in progress.

And Sal, I know. I could be a white archaeologist who was employed by the railroads to interface with the Aztecs to try to negotiate a peaceful resolution, or somesuch.

I'm not firmly set on an idea, other than wanting to be an archaeologist who is an aspiring sage and has a knack for pattern-recognition.

[Salamander]

The two primary sage traditions in the United States are Louisiana-style Voodoo and Far West spiritualism - Shinto, Chinese traditional religion, and so on. Both are traditions which postulate the universal presence of spirits, both of the great and lesser varieties. The two primary Shamanistic traditions are Native shamanism and Christian shamanism. Both are traditions which postulate the existence of Gods, beings far above humans who will sometimes grant boons to those who ask it of them. Both also evolved in the New World - gods are worshipped and feared in the Old World, but they are not asked for miracles. The sorcerers make those on their own. Unless you have a very, very good reason and rationale, you cannot play a sage or shaman not of those backgrounds.

Aztecs don't control spirits - they call on their heathen Gods. There are fine lines, but the key is thus: If you believe in one great lord of rocks, or perhaps a couple, regardless of what else he is lord of, and ask him to shape them, you are a shaman. If there are many lords of rocks who you can bargain with or bend to your will, you are a sage. That isn't part of Aztec tradition, so Aztecs are shamans. You'd have to convince me of how your character learned to call upon the Kami or the Vudu as opposed to Itztlacoliuhqui-Ixquimill.

[FreakyBoy]

To be clear: Major Caswell is a Sorcerer.

[Salamander]

One last thing - it doesn't really matter what your charms and tricks are. Those sort of get passed around, and nobody ends up remembering whether that weird mutter is a prayer, an invocation, or Chinese for "do it or I wallop you." However, spells and aspirations need a good rationale... Except sorcery, of course, for reasons already mentioned.