Interest Check - Ars Magica Play By Post
Moderator: Moderators
Interest Check - Ars Magica Play By Post
So, I'm interested in running an Ars Magica Play-by-Post, and this is to see how many of you guys would be interested in playing. I'm a college senior who's going to graduate very soon, and I'm in the midst of writing my senior thesis, so I won't be able to start GMing for another month at least, and even then after that my schedule is in flux to a sufficient degree that I'm not sure when we could commence play. On the bright side, you'll have plenty of time to think up characters/plan out a covenant, and I'd like to check just how many people are interested.
I've never GMed a PbP before, nor have I GMed Ars Magica before, but I think I'll be able to adapt to the challenge, especially since I have a bit of a background in medieval philosophy and history. I don't really have any set ideas as to location/plot hooks/type of covenant, but I'd be psyched to run a byzantine covenant if you guys are interested. I envision y'all throwing out ideas and me running with them to whatever degree, and we'll certainly have plenty of time before the actual game begins.
If you're interested, post in the thread and we can start brainstorming.
I've never GMed a PbP before, nor have I GMed Ars Magica before, but I think I'll be able to adapt to the challenge, especially since I have a bit of a background in medieval philosophy and history. I don't really have any set ideas as to location/plot hooks/type of covenant, but I'd be psyched to run a byzantine covenant if you guys are interested. I envision y'all throwing out ideas and me running with them to whatever degree, and we'll certainly have plenty of time before the actual game begins.
If you're interested, post in the thread and we can start brainstorming.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
- Avoraciopoctules
- Overlord
- Posts: 8624
- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:48 pm
- Location: Oakland, CA
Sounds interesting, I'd like to join.
I'm not very familiar with the rules, but I'm thinking Tremere with that druidic virtue, that helps with spontaneous spellcasting. I'd appreciate any advice on making a warmage.
I'm not very familiar with the rules, but I'm thinking Tremere with that druidic virtue, that helps with spontaneous spellcasting. I'd appreciate any advice on making a warmage.
Last edited by Longes on Wed Apr 23, 2014 4:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
What kind of a warmage? Like, what do you want it to look like when he throws down?Longes wrote:Sounds interesting, I'd like to join.
I'm not very familiar with the rules, but I'm thinking Tremere with that druidic virtue, that helps with spontaneous spellcasting. I'd appreciate any advice on making a warmage.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Diedne Magic is not really useful in either of those styles of combat. Against other Magi, spontaneous spells still have sub-crap Penetration. For generating big fire, it still doesn't make very high-level spells. And either way it still winds up fatiguing you out.
Elemental Magic is interesting, I think you could get some cool Vilano-style indirect attacks going with that.
Elemental Magic is interesting, I think you could get some cool Vilano-style indirect attacks going with that.
Vilano?angelfromanotherpin wrote:Diedne Magic is not really useful in either of those styles of combat. Against other Magi, spontaneous spells still have sub-crap Penetration. For generating big fire, it still doesn't make very high-level spells. And either way it still winds up fatiguing you out.
Elemental Magic is interesting, I think you could get some cool Vilano-style indirect attacks going with that.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Depends on the effect. Opening holes under people is neither resisted nor aimed, for instance.
But upon reflection the transmutation effects are not as cool as they could be because the transmuted substances are themselves magical and therefore resistable. You would have to get pretty creative to take real advantage of Elementalist that way.
But upon reflection the transmutation effects are not as cool as they could be because the transmuted substances are themselves magical and therefore resistable. You would have to get pretty creative to take real advantage of Elementalist that way.
The chapter on House Flambeau in Societates has a bunch of really useful information on this style of fighting, including a bunch of spells that focus on indirect attack, a spell mastery ability that makes it easier to aim the spell in question, and a section on using Rego spells to propel projectiles.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
So, if we're doing this in the Theban Tribunal, they require all of their wizard-frats covenants to have a stated purpose, and also a supernatural patron.
I've always wanted to try one of those big crazy Hermetic Project-type deals, so here's my suggestion: our Covenant has been founded to build a city in the sky, to take up the role of fallen Constantinople. Our patron can be the Titan Atlas – he's famously easy to con into stuff.
My magus will be the bright young lunatic in charge of actually putting the buildings and such up in the air. My companion will be our connection to the Titan.
Thoughts?
I've always wanted to try one of those big crazy Hermetic Project-type deals, so here's my suggestion: our Covenant has been founded to build a city in the sky, to take up the role of fallen Constantinople. Our patron can be the Titan Atlas – he's famously easy to con into stuff.
My magus will be the bright young lunatic in charge of actually putting the buildings and such up in the air. My companion will be our connection to the Titan.
Thoughts?
Since I'm not that experienced with the game I'd rather us not do something so grand and complex- I was thinking having you guys be either just out of your gauntlet or a few years out of it, and as either part of a small spring covenant or part of larger autumn covenant, since then it'll be easy for me to work in suitable plot hooks (acquire vis/money/food/grogs or getting ordered around by senior magi), and I figure something as substantial as a flying city would entail someone other than a mage that junior being put in charge. That having been said, if you guys have your heart set on a floating Constantinople free of that pesky Latin Empire (which is going to fall in another 40 years in all fairness), I can definitely roll with that.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Depends what you mean. Your companion can totally be a scholar who studies old legends to discover plot hooks and whatnot. But they can't advance your magical abilities. I think the closest you can get to that sort of thing is an unGifted hedge wizard companion who gets furnished with magic items by the actual magus.Longes wrote:Is it possible within the system to have an adventuring mage, and a scholarly companion who sits in the tower and researches new stuff for me?
Rough outline:
House: Ex Miscellania
Age: 25
Virtues: Adept Laboratory Student, Strong Faerie Blood, Gentle Gift, Deft Form (Mentem), Second Sight, Mercenary Captain, Hermetic Magus, Wealthy, Book Learner, Inspirational, Well-Travelled
Flaws : Twilight Prone, Optimistic (Major), Proud (Major), Curse of Venus, Magical Animal Companion
Characteristics: Int 3, Per 2, Str -3, Sta 1, Pre 3, Com 3, Dex -2, Qui -2
Abilities:
Tribunal (Area) Lore (Politics) 3, Bargain (Magic related) 2, Charm (Authoritah) 3, Etiquette (Nobility) 2, Folk Ken (Magi) 3, Guile (Fast-talk) 3, Intrigue (Politics) 2, Leadership (Inspiration) 1, Native Language (Byzantine, Eloquence) 5, Artes Liberales (Ritual Magic) 2, Civil and Canon Law (Byzantine) 3, Common Law (Witchcraft) 2, Latin (Eloquence) 5, Theology (Heresy) 1, Code of Hermes (Muggle relations) 1, Magic Theory (Mentem) 3, Parma Magica (Mentem) 2, Second Sight (Illusions) 2
Arts:
Intellego 5, Muto 5, Perdo 5, Rego 5
Corpus 5, Imaginem 5, Mentem 5, Vim 5
Any advice?
House: Ex Miscellania
Age: 25
Virtues: Adept Laboratory Student, Strong Faerie Blood, Gentle Gift, Deft Form (Mentem), Second Sight, Mercenary Captain, Hermetic Magus, Wealthy, Book Learner, Inspirational, Well-Travelled
Flaws : Twilight Prone, Optimistic (Major), Proud (Major), Curse of Venus, Magical Animal Companion
Characteristics: Int 3, Per 2, Str -3, Sta 1, Pre 3, Com 3, Dex -2, Qui -2
Abilities:
Tribunal (Area) Lore (Politics) 3, Bargain (Magic related) 2, Charm (Authoritah) 3, Etiquette (Nobility) 2, Folk Ken (Magi) 3, Guile (Fast-talk) 3, Intrigue (Politics) 2, Leadership (Inspiration) 1, Native Language (Byzantine, Eloquence) 5, Artes Liberales (Ritual Magic) 2, Civil and Canon Law (Byzantine) 3, Common Law (Witchcraft) 2, Latin (Eloquence) 5, Theology (Heresy) 1, Code of Hermes (Muggle relations) 1, Magic Theory (Mentem) 3, Parma Magica (Mentem) 2, Second Sight (Illusions) 2
Arts:
Intellego 5, Muto 5, Perdo 5, Rego 5
Corpus 5, Imaginem 5, Mentem 5, Vim 5
Last edited by Longes on Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
Adept Laboratory Student, Strong Faerie Blood, Twilight Proneangelfromanotherpin wrote:Just on point of rules, magi can't be Wealthy, and characters can't have two major Personality Flaws, nor two Story flaws. Also, your virtues and flaws don't add up, and neither do your stats.
Which of your virtues and flaws are part of your Ex Miscellanea tradition?
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm
- angelfromanotherpin
- Overlord
- Posts: 9745
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:54 pm