Hunters vs mages

[Andresmo23]

Something that has bugged me for a while. Different compacts and conspiracies hunt mages but the thing is that awakened magic drives people mad, so I would assume that (ignoring bannishers) mage hunters would be rare. Not only that but I would also assume that unless the hunter was dealing with a weaker mage that the mage would obliterate them, removing the small few hunters whom go after the awakened

[wyrdhamster]

Being witness of magic does not makes you mad - it makes you Unstable. But yes, you are forgetting the precise nature of encounter. That's why I treat Witch Hunters as "Sleepwalkers gone wrong" in that they do not have normal Sleeping Curse BUT THEY STILL HUNT MAGES.

[proindrakenzol]

Something that has bugged me for a while. Different compacts and conspiracies hunt mages but the thing is that awakened magic drives people mad, so I would assume that (ignoring bannishers) mage hunters would be rare. Not only that but I would also assume that unless the hunter was dealing with a weaker mage that the mage would obliterate them, removing the small few hunters whom go after the awakened

Hunters generally hunt witches, who may or may not be Awakened Mages; also, there's a reason that Witchfinders provides much weaker mages than the Awakened.

[StSword]

Well, mage defenses aren't absolute, so the trick would be hit them hard and fast before they can get a chance to breathe, and by the numbers the average mage doesn't even have a rating in every arcana. The hunter would have to be smart and brutal.

When you get to conspiracies, a mage hunter can have some very effective endowments, considering the endowment creation system. Attacks that do agg damage, With defend a hunter could reduce the dice pools for a mage's attacks by up to 5, the luck to turn a hunter's successes into exceptional successes, immunity to lethal damage and/or bashing damage, or increase their relevant dice pools to 16 or above.

[The Kings Raven]

Most Endowments turn you into a Sleepwalker. Only Advanced Armory and Relic do not (and some Relics will be an exception)

[Ophidimancer]

Also, the obvious Supernal Magic causing integrity breaking points is a new thing for 2ed, so it wasn't a continuity problem in 1ed.

[Dave Brookshaw]

It did still fade from memory, though, which is the larger problem.

In short, only use the Awakened as adversaries in Tier 3 games, and even then be prepared to die very quickly unless it's a particularly low-powered or softhearted mage (in which case why are you Hunting them?)

Some of the Hunter 1e powers flat-out wouldn't work on rules-as-Mage Awakened, either (Excision) but Hunter's full of things like that. My favorite's the anti-Mummy splat in Mortal Remains that bases their schtick around something the Arisen template prohibits. Part of its toolboxey joy.

Just use Witches.

[Ophidimancer]

Reminds me a bit of http://www.scp-wiki.net/clef101

[Thorbes]

Reminds me a bit of http://www.scp-wiki.net/clef101

Ha, nice read.

[monteparnas]

Something that has bugged me for a while. Different compacts and conspiracies hunt mages but the thing is that awakened magic drives people mad, so I would assume that (ignoring bannishers) mage hunters would be rare. Not only that but I would also assume that unless the hunter was dealing with a weaker mage that the mage would obliterate them, removing the small few hunters whom go after the awakened

First, if you decided to make a career of hunting down monsters, you're nuts, already.

Second, even with the effects of Quiescence, people can grasp enough of what's happening. It makes hunting Mages a very tricky experience for Hunters, but not an impossible one.

Third, it isn't so hard to come up with ways to make someone immune to Quiescence. A lot of Hunters are more than a little touched by the supernatural themselves, anyway.

And fourth, it isn't so hard. A Mage aware of her opponent is really tough for a Hunter. But so are all the splats. Cunning, surprise, preparation and a healthy dose of luck. Every Hunter need'em.

[MCN]

In short, only use the Awakened as adversaries in Tier 3 games, and even then be prepared to die very quickly unless it's a particularly low-powered or softhearted mage (in which case why are you Hunting them?)

This always left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Granted, that's something that I just always had an issue with. I think all supernaturals should have an innate bane, be it vampire, werewolf, mage, changeling, geister, mummy, beast, demon, what-have-you.

[Ophidimancer]

Mages do have an innate bane, Paradox. Sleepers make it worse. Unless you mean something else when you say "bane."

[Maina]

I always assumed that any Major splat no longer counts as a Sleepwalker anymore. They're aware. I've since been made aware that this wasn't the intent of the text, but if you're running Hunter and not Mage, I'd consider ruling that Hunters don't count for the purposes of forgetting and all that.

[Michael]

Mages do have an innate bane, Paradox. Sleepers make it worse. Unless you mean something else when you say "bane."

I think what MCN means is an exploitable weakness that allows Hunters to level the playing field. Paradox is a problem for magi, but it's not really something you can exploit easily. It's more an issue the mage will have to deal with after the Hunter has already been blasted to pieces.

[wyrdhamster]

I think what MCN means is an exploitable weakness that allows Hunters to level the playing field. Paradox is a problem for magi, but it's not really something you can exploit easily. It's more an issue the mage will have to deal with after the Hunter has already been blasted to pieces.

Or does it? Any organisation larger than cell will have their "libraries" - and with few cases or evidence, any Hunter can deduces that mages are weaker ( or riskier ) around the Sleepers. Not only Sleepers makes Paradox worsen ( adding 9 and 8 again to rolls in 2ED ), Sleepers make natural help for Hunters in direct conflict - it's more logical to fight with spell slinging witch than the witch hunters that want to put her down. I assume any group older than few years - both Compacts and Conspiracies - will know it as to well how to bite mages.

Hey, you just give me idea how Hunters are hunting Awakened - By cornering them in public places. Also, threatening the lives of their close ones. Witch Hunters are typical terrorists!

Thanks, I have mine Hunters-As-Enemies plotline for mine Mage game I run.