Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure. o7

I'm not so certain that there is so much that only thaumaturgy can do that it wouldn't work. A lot of it's functions have a clear mundane parallel when you invoke the trappings of modern civilization.

Summoning and Binding becomes Hiring and Subcontracting. The "Containing" "Summoning" process becomes a contract negotiation over pay and services, for the "Binding" phase instead mentally subduing a target, you instead sought out a highly reliable or professional individual.

Conjuration becomes Delivery. The item in question is simply brought to your person via mail or a specialized currier service. In this case it's even better than Thaumaturgy because it can waive the restriction on complex object.

Divination becomes Social Networking. Instead of conjuring the information out of nowhere, you instead call around to your support network to see if any of them have any idea of the knowledge you're looking for.

Veils and Wards becomes Subcontracting. In this case, you're basically paying someone trustworthy to build and maintain a series of defenses around your base or whatever else you have in mind.

Item Crafting becomes Requisitioning. Magical items and potions become expensive or experimental devices that are difficult to reproduce and have been loaned out to you.

Transformation and Disruption is harder to do a direct conversation, and may instead become focused on doing social attacks from a distance, and getting the crowd to do something for you, becoming Campaigning and Inciting the Masses.

Transportation and Worldwalking becomes regular old Transportation. It'll be slower than the magical version, but you have the added benefit of not putting your life in danger by creatures of the Nevernever.

If you're still doing this, I'm looking for a collection of aspects that could reasonably reflect the stereotypical murder hobo PC from stereotypical DnD adventure land from an in-character perspective. Currently I have "Blood and Coin" (aka XP and Gold) and "Never Split the Party", but I'm at a loss for what else could fit.

"The Universe (aka, the GM) has it out for me" is obviously the Trouble, though.

I don't really know your game, so my judgement might be off when it comes to the value of a stunt. Maybe +2 to black ops Scholarship is really quite valuable for you.

Haha, that specific stunt was from a game that was over a year ago, and I just straight ripped the character sheet for my current game. At the time, I think I intended it to be used for "behind the scenes" political knowledge, blackmail material and stuff like that. It probably would have been useful in the old game, and I might find a way to make it useful in the current game.

I tend to come across as confident in my opinions and beliefs, even when it's not 100% warranted. I don't want people to be misled by that, or by whatever measure of "authority" I have around here.

No, it's fine. You back your opinions up with math and research, rather than opinions presented as facts, so I'm willing to take you at your word far more than I would someone who just presents their opinions as facts.

I might disagree with you (and other optimizers for other games who's opinions I respect) on some issues, but I still use your (and their) research to make better informed decisions.

-Fists and gun use are a bit redundant with Channelling.

That was a deliberate choice on my part. The Telepathy aspect of Spirit Channeling was intended for crowd control and battlefield manipulation, and attacking someone mentally is pretty hard to do without smacking up against the Laws. That said, I don't have a problem with compromising on my original plans and going for full on Telekinesis.

-Splitting your foci between offense and defence isn't usually a good idea.

Interesting, why not?

-Channelling + 1 Refinement isn't a very good way to do combat spell casting.
Evocation is, in this case, actually strictly better.

As mentioned, Channeling was meant to be representative of his psychic abilities, but if it's more optimal to go for Evocation, then I don't mind the switch.

-Stunts are attached to lower skills, and some of them don't give you all that much bang for your buck.

I'll defer to your superior wisdom here 

So how about...
(snip for space)

I like it, I'll see about steadily working him towards something like that as the game progresses. Thanks for the pointers!

That makes sense, I got the name and the premise switched around. I can't help but be a little disappointed as I was really looking forward to Jim's take on Sci-Fi, but Steampunk still sounds fun. 

Done and done, I also modified the languages of GoG so that it was less clunky. Hope that helps.

Rewrote Gift of Grace in accordance with Sanctaphrax's directions and went back to blocks thanks to Taran's infinite clarity. I had forgotten that defense rolls could work with blocks, and I am therefore an idiot.

Gift of Grace -2
Description: You are guided and protected by your faith.
Musts: Guide my Hand, Righteousness
Skills affected: varies
Effect: When facing a supernatural force who's rolls are being benefitted by a power, your faith will level the playing field. This power may be taken multiple times.
Hope Rises: Creatures do not benefit from Inhuman Strength or Speed when acting or reacting against you, and higher powers are reduced by 1. Spells and supernatural attacks (such as incite effect) face a 3-shift block, Increase the level of Speed/Strength powers affected by 1 and the strength of the block by 2 with each repurchase.
More Potent Prayer: When using Righteousness, your Conviction is considered to be at +1, and increases by a further +1 with each repurchase.

(I assume this is what you meant by folding them together)

Re: Weight of Belief - Awesome!

Re: Providence - Rewrote it so that the powers are separate. Also made it so that the free fate point applies to holy powers in general to try it out. If you feel it's too strong, we can move it back.

Providence -1
Description: Your choices and beliefs have a profound impact, granting you favor above and beyond simple chance.
Musts: The character must have taken Guide my Hand and Holy Touch
Skills affected: Conviction
Effects:
This power has two effects, and one may be chosen with each purchase (and subsequent repurchases thereafter)
Strength of Spirit: Your faith is strong. When taking this power, you get 2 free uses of your Faith powers that require a Fate Point per session.
Faith moves Mountains: Your Faith empowers you. When taking this power, you may increase your Conviction by 1 when rolling for "Faith Manages".