[Ars Magica 5] OOC: It's PeIm for darkness, not PeCo

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:16 am

Mask, I count nine points of Flaws and only seven points of Virtues. You've got another two points of Virtues to play with.

If the character comes from a knightly background, then Privileged Upbringing or Warrior might suit them, giving you more XP for the sort of skills you'd have learned as a mounted nobleman. Alternatively something like Inspirational works well if you want to go mundane.

If you want to make the character more magical, then Art Affinities are a solid pick.

Have you decided where the character is from? Percival is a classically Frankish name, which suggests France / England / Leon / the Crusader States, but the French (and especially Normans) were prolific travellers and conquerers, and so could be found in many places.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 5:02 pm

How're these?

Stonemason - Ariel, 20

Characteristics: Int 0/Per 0/Str 1/Sta 1/Prs 2/Com 2/Dex 1/Qik 1

Virtues
-Venus' Blessing
-Improved Characteristics
-Puissant Charm

Flaws
-Lecherous
-Small Frame
-Infamous(Seducing a Nun)

Abilities
-Craft:Stonemason(Repairs) 5 [75]
-Charm(Seduction) 3+2 [30]
-Finesse(Terram) 2 [15]
-Guile(Passing as Male) 3 [30]
-undeclared [75]

Traits
-Loyal 1
-Flirtatious 3
-Fond of Sarah 2

Carpenter - Sarah, 18

Characteristics: Int 0/Per 1/Str 0/Sta 2/Prs 0/Com 0/Dex 2/Qik 0

Virtues
-Affinity with Craft:Carpenter
-Strong-Willed

Flaws
-Compulsion:Drinking
-Branded Criminal(Childhood, Repeated Food Theft)

Abilities
-Craft:Carpenter(???) 5 [50]
-Folk Ken 3 [30]
-undeclared [115]

Traits
-Loyal 2
-Cheerful -3
-Fond of Ariel 1

Servant - Andreas, 25

Virtues
-Sharp Ears

Flaws
-Oversensitive:Loud Noises

Traits
-Loyal 0
-Reclusive 2
-Lazy 1

Servant - Jakob, 16

Virtues
-Unaging

Flaws
-Nocturnal

Traits
-Loyal 2
-Quiet 3
-Diligent 1

Carter - Theodricus, 20

Virtues
-Puissant Bargain

Flaws
-Avaricious

Traits
-Loyal -1
-Restless 2
-Picky Eater 1

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:26 pm

Those are awesome! They're full of character and look very fun and interesting to have pop up in the covenant.

The one quibble I would make is that Ariel is really not very good at his job. If you're okay with this then I'm okay with it, but he's getting paid to do a stonemason's job while being little better than an journeyman (in fact, he probably *is* a journeyman.)

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:29 pm

*her

I can bump that up to 5 for 45 of the undeclared points, if you think that would fit ok. I also figured that the specialty would apply to most of the day-to-day work (and thus to the Spreadsheets calculations) even though it doesn't apply to big things like expansions or towers.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:33 pm

*Her, sorry.

The speciality would apply fine. However, in general you should not give a grog who's being paid a specialist's salary less than 5 in their main Ability. Unless that's the point of the character, of course.

For everyone else: Please don't feel you need to go to this sort of level of detail with all your people. If you decide to that's great, but don't feel that it's an obligation.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:49 pm

Actually given the way the Transvestite flaw is written you're probably right on pronouns as the sheet was written.

Reading the flaw more carefully, I might swap it out. That's a very consistent, committed thing, which is not at all what I had in mind. I think I'll actually go with Lecherous and some points in Guile.

I've edited the sheet with those changes (and the Craft thing, too).

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:11 am

Would you have a problem with me possibly doing both, or taking another player; or is 5 a hard cap?

As an aside, my character concept was going to be a nerdy, shy, Bonisagus scholar/labrat, with an emphasis on magical theory and philosophy. I have something of a background in medieval metaphysics, so I can flesh out that aspect of the character somewhat. Focused arts would probably be Rego and Vim, and he'd probably the resident vismonger/author/scholar. I understand he'd be a fish out of water, to say the least, but I think it would be fun. My imagined background was that his parens was Marched over attempting to contact and learn from Diedne remnants, and although my character wasn't involved in the slightest, he nevertheless was sent to establish this new covenant as a way of limiting potential damage/taint. How does that sound?

Mask_De_H · Post by **Mask_De_H** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:47 am

Laertes wrote:Mask, I count nine points of Flaws and only seven points of Virtues. You've got another two points of Virtues to play with.

If the character comes from a knightly background, then Privileged Upbringing or Warrior might suit them, giving you more XP for the sort of skills you'd have learned as a mounted nobleman. Alternatively something like Inspirational works well if you want to go mundane.

If you want to make the character more magical, then Art Affinities are a solid pick.

Have you decided where the character is from? Percival is a classically Frankish name, which suggests France / England / Leon / the Crusader States, but the French (and especially Normans) were prolific travellers and conquerers, and so could be found in many places.

I was thinking an English noble magus, but I don't know very much about medieval England. He's very much into the ideas of chivalry, but will bend the chivalric code when it suits him like actual knights of the time (as I've heard). I'll probably nab Affinity with Creo and Privileged Upbringing, since more points and a better Creo are always nice. A good Creo is important for Pilum of Fire since I haven't taken any points in the elemental nouns.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:37 am

Korgan0 wrote:Would you have a problem with me possibly doing both, or taking another player; or is 5 a hard cap?

Five is probably a hard cap. As regards having another parallel game, while I don't have any objections to it happening, since you currently don't have it set up or any players or anything, it would delay this one launching.

Therefore, may I suggest that we temporarily shelve the idea of multiple parallel games, and possibly pick it up later?

Korgan0 wrote:As an aside, my character concept was going to be a nerdy, shy, Bonisagus scholar/labrat, with an emphasis on magical theory and philosophy. I have something of a background in medieval metaphysics, so I can flesh out that aspect of the character somewhat. Focused arts would probably be Rego and Vim, and he'd probably the resident vismonger/author/scholar. I understand he'd be a fish out of water, to say the least, but I think it would be fun. My imagined background was that his parens was Marched over attempting to contact and learn from Diedne remnants, and although my character wasn't involved in the slightest, he nevertheless was sent to establish this new covenant as a way of limiting potential damage/taint. How does that sound?

That's an excellent starting concept. Also, if you actually have a background in medieval natural philosophy then it would be amazing to play with you.

Everyone: if you have an objection to Korgan0 joining us, send me a PM. Otherwise, we're back up to cap (and also the covenant has more resources, yay.)

I was thinking an English noble magus, but I don't know very much about medieval England. He's very much into the ideas of chivalry, but will bend the chivalric code when it suits him like actual knights of the time (as I've heard).

Medieval England is, at this point, slowly moving from being a nation of Saxon peasants under military occupation by Norman invaders, to being a more homogenous nation in which the populace just happen to speak English and the nobility happen to speak French. More immediately, it's just come out of a long and destructive civil war between the king and certain barons who resent the idea that the king gets to tell them what to do. (Ironically, the king won and then drowned in an unrelated incident, making the victory pointless.)

The chivalric code was, as you point out, largely a convenient fiction that the knightly class told themselves to make themselves feel good about what they did. Historically, the figure whom Frankish knights admired most was William Marshall; or to name his fictional counterpart that you'll be most familiar with, Tywin Lannister.

Since you're from a noble background, your soldiers will most likely be mounted sergeants - "sergeant" being a term for a professional soldier who isn't from the knightly classes, rather than for a squad commander like it is today. The most archetypal English craftsman would be a weaver, but a brewer or blacksmith or leather worker would also fit and be useful to the covenant.

If you decide to stat out your sergeants - and please don't feel that you're obliged to - they will probably have Single Weapon of at least 5, Ride and Leadership of at least 3, and the Warrior virtue.

Mask_de_H wrote:I'll probably nab Affinity with Creo and Privileged Upbringing, since more points and a better Creo are always nice. A good Creo is important for Pilum of Fire since I haven't taken any points in the elemental nouns.

Sounds good. Remember to adjust your Creo total accordingly.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:24 am

Alright, here's my charsheet. I'm really not sure what's the best route for optimization, even though I'm deliberately making a pretty unoptimized character. A couple questions- would my Touch of the Active Magics be able to detect illusions? Also, my intent with Windborne Boulder was to Muto air above someone's head to drop a boulder on them; is that sufficient?

Petrus (Alessandro)

Reputation: -3 tainted by diabolist association

Lab Total: 12+Technique+Form+Aura (+3 for invention, +1 inventing spells +6 from other texts)

Curious +2 Brave -2 Lonely -1

Confidence 1, 3 Confidence Points

Virtues
Puissant magic theory The gift Hermetic magus Educated
Affinity (vim) Adept Lab Student Affinity (Magic Theory) Great intelligence x2
Major magical focus- manipulating and understanding magic Inventive Genius

Flaws
Fragile constitution, Ability block (martial), Blatant gift, Favors (second quaesitor parens),
Infamous master, Susceptible to infernal power

Characteristics-
str -3 qik 1 dex 1 com 2 per -1 int 5 sta 2 pre 0

Abilities-
italian 5 (educated discourse), Latin 5 (Classical texts), Artes Liberales 4 (logic),
Finesse 1 (quick casting), Magic Lore 2 (traditions), Order of Hermes Lore 2 (history),
Profession: Scribe 2 (copying), Philosophiae 4 (metaphysics), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem),
Magic Theory 5 (Inventing Spells), Area Lore: Bologna 1 (university gossip),
Concentration 2 (simul-casting spells), Code of Hermes 2 (Marches/Renounciation), Penetration 2 (Muto),

Arts
Intellego 4 Muto 6 Rego 4 Creo 2
Vim 13 (2 to next level) Auram 6 Corpus 2

Spells-
InVi Touch of Active Magic (Base 5, touch+1, technique+form+2, +1 hermetic) 25
ReVi Aegis of the Hearth 33
MuVi Wizard's Communion 22 MuVi Wizard's Reach (Intellego) 20
MuAu (Te+Re) Windborne Boulder (Base 4, +2 Voice,+1 Rego requisite) 15
MuCo Eyes of the Cat 5

Stuff
Q10 Vim Tractatus L10 Q10 Perdo Summa
annotated collection of authorities and philosophical works (L2Q3 Artes Liberales Summa)
4x Vim Vis 1x Muto Vis
1x Bookbinder 2x Italian Mercs 2x Servants 1x Carter
iron knife

Bookbinder/leatherworker

virtues/flaws- affinity (bookbinding), puissant bookbinding, covenfolk, Carefree, Greedy (minor)

str 0 sta 1 int 2 dex 3 qik 2 com -1 per -1 pre -2

abilities- craft (bookbinding) 7+2 (hermetic books) Ruthenia Lore 2 (herds) Athletics 1 (long-distance) Brawl 1 (fistfights) Carouse 1 (drinking) Ruthenian 5 (cursing) Survival 1 (short periods) Ride 1 (steppe horses) Craft (leatherworking) 4 (leather for books)

Traits - Brave +1, Loyal +2, Sociable +1

Twin Mercenaries

virtues/flaws - Covenfolk, Warrior, Reclusive, Lighnitng Reflexes, Social Handicap

str 2 sta 2 int 0 per 1 pre -2 com -2 dex 2 qik 2

abilities - Ruthenia Lore 2 (dangers), Athletics 3 (running), Awareness 4 (combat), Bows 4 (shortbow), Brawl 4 (dodge), Carouse 2 (drink), Single Weapon 7 (heater shield), RIde 3 (steppe horses), Leadership 2 (both protecting magus), Ruthenian 5 (battle language)

Traits - Brave +3, Loyal +2, Quiet +3

items - Longsword, Heater Shield, Shortbow, arrows, Scale Armour, pack with appropriate stuff

combat stats - soak +9,
longsword+shield - init+0, attack+14 defense +12, damage +8
bow - init+1, atk + 10, dam +8, def 2, range 10

encumbrance 3 if bow is on horse

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:47 am

That's an interesting character; it looks like they'll be a lot of fun to see in play. A few points:

- Flexible Formulaic Magic and Major Magical Focus are both Major Hermetic Virtues and you can only have one Major Hermetic Virtue. It's a shame, because they're both cool.
- I'm assuming that the Favours background is because following his parens's Marching and horrible demise, he was taken under the wing of a senior Quaesitor to complete his apprenticeship?
- Windborne Boulder is cool, I like it; it does however mean that the boulder counts as magical and magic resistance would count against it. If that's not a problem for you then that's fine.
- You mentioned optimisation. In general I have no problem with people optimising or not optimising, as long as the group is agreed on how they're playing it; however, I will mention that taking Arts below 5 at chargen is generally considered to be a waste of points.

As for Touch of the Active Magics, serf's parma but I'll get back to you.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:52 am

Also:
Having spent my commute this morning scheming and reading through the Hedge Magic book, I've come to the conclusion that nightwalkers would be a terrible choice for local allies/antagonists. They don't use vis, are mostly unGifted, don't use magic auras or magical creatures, and mostly spend their time fighting invisible vampires that only they can see (with stalks of fennel, no less), ensuring the fertility of the harvest, and shepherding the souls of the dead to their final rest. As such, they and the Order of Hermes have basically zero overlap and would probably exist entirely parallel to one another without noticing. There's nothing that they can team up against and nothing that they can come into conflict over.

Which is a shame, because I really liked Night Watch and it's a pretty straight reexamination of the nightwalker myths.

Therefore: for those of you who've read the Hedge Magic book (momo, I'm looking at you), the local hedge mage tradition will now be Volkhvy and not nightwalkers. For those who haven't read it, this changes nothing.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:04 pm

Also:
Would people rather arrive at a covenant that has all the buildings constructed ready for you to move into, or would you rather play through building it from scratch?

If we play from scratch - that is, we start with an empty piece of hillside and an announcement that "this looks like a good place to begin" - there's probably going to be about a year and a possibly very lean winter before you're in position to disappear into your labs. You could accelerate this with intelligent use of magic, of course, and that might be a lot of fun to play out if you're into that. However, it does mean that seasonal play will be very sparse at first.

If the players are into it, I'm happy to run it. Otherwise, we can skip it.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:10 pm

Hedge Magic: Pity! But understandable.

Touch of the Active Magics: I probably shouldn't even answer this in case I'm wrong, what with not being the MC, but fuck it.
I'm presuming by illusions you're referring to Imaginem spells. I don't actually know what else might cause illusions, but just in case.
My reading is that yes, it will allow you to detect illusions, because Imaginem affects the five senses (or, more precisely, the species that in turn affect the five senses). However, your range means you need to touch the actual spell or item spelled. The species created are not part of the spell, so if someone makes a gold ring look like a grey rock, your spell won't apply unless you cast it on the rock itself. Similarly, the only way to use it to tell an illusory fire from a real one is to stick your hand into it, which would actually be a valid (if not especially wise) way to tell the difference even without the spell.

Starting: I think I'd have tons of fun with 'from scratch' and had assumed that would be the case. However, I can certainly see how that could be significantly less fun for some people (who might get more out of obtaining food and allies and locating vis sources than building the covenant itself, but still...), so I'm fine with either.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 2:52 pm

momothefiddler's theory certainly sounds good. I'll have to check the books for a final ruling. In the case of an illusory fire, remember that you can also make an illusion which feels convincing to the touch - it might not physically burn the poor luckless grog you persuaded to touch it but good luck persuading him that the pain is only an illusion.

What we really need here, of course, is Vision range Intellego magic, but that's going to add up to a level that might be beyond a starting character.

Lots of things can create illusions other than Imaginem magic. Demons or faeries, for example, or their followers. There are also some magical creatures which can create illusions; I wouldn't be surprised if there are hedge magic traditions which can do it but I can't think of any offhand. Really the only thing which doesn't get in on the illusion show in a big way is the Divine, and even then there's probably some saint somewhere who can cause images to appear.

In all these cases, however, Hermetic magic which will work against Imaginem will work against it. You could use Unweaving The Form of Imaginem to dispel them, et cetera.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 2:56 pm

Laertes wrote:momothefiddler's theory certainly sounds good. I'll have to check the books for a final ruling. In the case of an illusory fire, remember that you can also make an illusion which feels convincing to the touch - it might not physically burn the poor luckless grog you persuaded to touch it but good luck persuading him that the pain is only an illusion.

Right, but you could stick your hand in, grit your teeth through the pain, then pull it out and see if you're damaged (possibly just if the hair on your hand is burned off?). Since your hand isn't magic'd, that should be a way to differentiate (like how you can put water in a bucket to see if it's illusory).

...right?

Come to think of it, you're probably better off holding a stick in the fire and seeing if it catches.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:53 pm

Seeing if it the fire spread would be a valid way of testing, yes. You could also throw water on it and see if it goes out.

This is Ars Magica: there's always more than one way to approach a problem.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:02 pm

Laertes wrote:That's an interesting character; it looks like they'll be a lot of fun to see in play. A few points:

- Flexible Formulaic Magic and Major Magical Focus are both Major Hermetic Virtues and you can only have one Major Hermetic Virtue. It's a shame, because they're both cool.
- I'm assuming that the Favours background is because following his parens's Marching and horrible demise, he was taken under the wing of a senior Quaesitor to complete his apprenticeship?
- Windborne Boulder is cool, I like it; it does however mean that the boulder counts as magical and magic resistance would count against it. If that's not a problem for you then that's fine.
- You mentioned optimisation. In general I have no problem with people optimising or not optimising, as long as the group is agreed on how they're playing it; however, I will mention that taking Arts below 5 at chargen is generally considered to be a waste of points.

As for Touch of the Active Magics, serf's parma but I'll get back to you.

Is it okay if I take Vis Sensitivity from True Lineages instead of FFM?

I was thinking more in terms of not being marched along with his parens and given the chance to finish his Gauntlet, but I'm not sure what the attitude of the Order is towards filii of Marched wizards.\

The reason I had a bunch of low arts is because I see him being a generalist, and in terms of the Forms because from what I can tell, to be a useful vis-based mage you really need every form except Creo, and even then planting the deleterious effects of the Gift in someone definitely come in handy. This is my first real character, so if that's not the case I'm happy to hear it. Also. it is okay if I take Aegis of the Hearth, right?

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:00 pm

Is it okay if I take Vis Sensitivity from True Lineages instead of FFM?

I'm afraid Vis Sensitivity is a Heroic virtue and thus unavailable. Also, most of its effects are duplicated by fairly low level Intellego Vim magic. It's something intended for Heroic mundanes who go on vis-hunts along with the magi, so they don't end up sucking during the looting phase.

I was thinking more in terms of not being marched along with his parens and given the chance to finish his Gauntlet, but I'm not sure what the attitude of the Order is towards filii of Marched wizards.

The general attitude of the Order is that filii of Marched wizards are spoils. The one who slays your parens gets all his stuff, and this includes you. If they don't want you, then there's a Hermetic underground market for apprentices. Sadly many such apprentices lose their Gift during the trauma of switching parens in an unexpected way. Fortunately you didn't - perhaps you were confiscated early on by a senior Bonisagus mage exercising his rights under the Oath.

The reason I had a bunch of low arts is because I see him being a generalist, and in terms of the Forms because from what I can tell, to be a useful vis-based mage you really need every form except Creo, and even then planting the deleterious effects of the Gift in someone definitely come in handy.

I assume by vis-based mage you meant Vim-based mage. Playing a Vim caster is always nice, and you're right that it works brilliantly with all five Techniques.

Realistically you will probably end up with scores of at least 5 in most, if not all Arts. However, taking them at character creation is inefficient, since character creation doesn't have level caps whereas in play Teaching and Summae both do have level caps. You're better off being the covenant's Guy Who Knows Vim, and then cross-teaching with the Guy Who Knows Intellego until you both know Intellego *and* Vim.

This is my first real character, so if that's not the case I'm happy to hear it.

I'm more than happy to juggle the hats of "most experienced player" and "GM"; but I try to bear in mind which one I'm wearing at any time. The voice with which I tell you not to take Vis Sensitivity is not the one with which I tell you not to take Arts at 3, if that makes sense.

Also. it is okay if I take Aegis of the Hearth, right?

I believe momothefiddler also planned to take it. The two of you can settle this like civilised people. Or arm wrestle. Whichever you prefer.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:13 pm

Laertes wrote:
Also. it is okay if I take Aegis of the Hearth, right?
I believe momothefiddler also planned to take it. The two of you can settle this like civilised people. Or arm wrestle. Whichever you prefer.

I have it at 25 (and will be casting it at 19+die). You could have it at... 30? or 33, if it's invented, I think. Changes to your sheet could move that up or down, of course.

So if you wanna take it, that's fine with me. More protection and I get another 25 spell levels to play with. I might even decrease my Vim if you're here to take care of that.

If you don't wanna take it, that's fine too! I have it, no worries.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 10:42 pm

I haven't been in the gym for a while, so let's discuss it. My math gave me 6 rego (doubled with focus) +10 Vim + 2 Sta +4 Artes Liberales +3 Philosophiae for a total of 25, if I don't sink Vis in. Since I plan on being a Vim/magic manipulation caster, I figure it'll work best if I take it since I'm kinda specced in that area.

With regards to my backstory, what if my parens was a diabolist? Would the spoils paradigm still apply? That also gives a reason for taking susceptibility to Infernal Power, as perhaps my parens was quietly and without my knowledge preparing me for some kind of nefarious thingy.

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:02 pm

Oh, goodness! It's a ritual spell, so you get to add the Artes Liberales and Philosiphiae. Nice.

I was referring to the level at which you could have the spell -
Rego 3*2
Vim 10
Magic Theory 5 (6 if you invented it)
Intelligence 4
Aura 3
Inventive Genius 0 (3 if you invented it)

For a total of 28(32)... I must have missed something. I think part of it is that your Int+MT is only 9, while your sheet lists it as 11? And I missed the MT specialty. That would account for my erroneous 30(33). If there's a +2 in somewhere that I've missed, that makes it 30(34). Either way, not bad at all. Of note is the fact that an Aegis at 28 is better than an Aegis at 27; it's not just multiples of 5.

For casting, I think you're right.
Rego 3*2
Vim 10
Sta 2
Artes Liberales 4
Philosiphiae 3

Total of 25+die

Note that the spell works even if you fail by 10, you just need to take a breather for half an hour. For something you only do once a year, that's not really a big deal. I think.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 12:08 am

It's 11 thanks to Puissant MT, and I was ignoring the Aura, since I'm not sure what the covenant aura is. That's a good point about the spell level, though; i'll make the necessary adjustments, along with the remainder. My casting total is 33 post adjustments, and, very coincidentally, the highest spell level I can learn is 33. So there you have it: Aegis of the Hearth level 33.

I've made some other adjustments to my character sheet above. The 2 in Creo is to hit a 31 CrVi Lab Total, which gets me that little bit of extra vis, whereas the 2 in Corpus is just because I had 3 points leftover.

edit: Is it okay if my book collection counts as, say, an L2 Q3 Artes Liberales Summa? My character's background is that he was learning Latin via Boethius and translations of Plutarch just after learning to walk, and so he has a remarkably comprehensive collection of the authorities and other scholarly works, complete with his own annotations dating back to before he was eating solid food. It wouldn't be valuable in the slightest during gameplay, given that it would probably be less effective than just reading the books themselves due to the density of abbreviations and so on (practice is Q4, this would be Q3), but it would be nice to have his personal collection reflected mechanically

momothefiddler · Post by **momothefiddler** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 12:12 am

Oh! I thought the 5 included the Puissant. Very impressive!

And in that case I'll drop my Aegis 25 and do something else with that.

Laertes · Post by **Laertes** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:16 am

L2 Q3? That's fine. I do not feel that that's overpowered, especially as you already have it at higher than that.

Re diabolism: they would check you thoroughly to see if you were infernally tainted, including possibly bringing in allied Church elements to do so. (The demon-hunting parts of the Order are often on good terms with the Church, due to shared enemies and the fact that the magicians themselves are often very religious.) If you didn't seem infected, then they might leave you as spoils for the winner or just pass you on to someone who wanted you.

Re your Major Focus: ArM p45 states that it should be "smaller than a single Art." As such, given that most of the Vim Form applies to spells but there are lots of bits and pieces that don't, I'm happy to agree that the Focus covers Vim magic which applies to spells. Would you also want it to affect vis? Enchantments? The word "magic" in your description is vague and I want to clarify it at this stage so we're in agreement when it comes to doing it in play.

All told - we're looking fairly good. Do you have a character name?