Ars Magica: Lumen Montis, A Covenant in the Alps [OOC]

[themaxx]

Herbam [68]
Liber Questionum, lvl 5, Q14 [19]
Summa, lvl 12, Q10 [34]
Tractatus, Q5 (Converse with Plant and Tree) [15]

Corpus [55]
Liber Questionum, lvl 0, Q12 [12]

Auram [11]
Liber Questionum, lvl 0, Q11 [11]

Terram [61]
Liber Questionum, lvl 3, Q15 [18]

Animal [77]
Liber Questionum, lvl 0, Q16 [16]

The above books are what I am interested in. I can post it IC if you want when we get to that point. I have arranged them in order of preference, for Samuel. I will also propose what books I will be able to write to contribute, after others have voiced their preferences.

 

[anonystu]

(Other than the sentence about Daniela, none of this is IC, of course, and even that isn't IC quite yet).

The issue with most of those selections, is that liber's at levels 0 and 3 are indeed, vital, but that most anybody can write them. In fact, Daniela is going to suggest, in not so many numbers, that the covenant avails those of us with writing skills (and anybody if they are the only person with knowledge in that area) to start making a series of solid liber's at low levels. Really, it should be the first goal of our library, to have 15 liber's at level 0, and 15 liber's at level 3, and then go from there.

Spending the vis to get a jumpstart (somebody still needs to copy them) on the liber writing project seems eh: unless their is something very specific you need to do, you'd rather save the vis longterm (so many other things to do it!, Adam, do you think it would be helpful to summarize major uses the covenant is going to do with vis? I found it helpful).

 

[anonystu]

CP, should we note here if later posts change our mind on earlier posts, or should we edit revised impressions into the posts?

 

[redhound]

(Other than the sentence about Daniela, none of this is IC, of course, and even that isn't IC quite yet).

The issue with most of those selections, is that liber's at levels 0 and 3 are indeed, vital, but that most anybody can write them. In fact, Daniela is going to suggest, in not so many numbers, that the covenant avails those of us with writing skills (and anybody if they are the only person with knowledge in that area) to start making a series of solid liber's at low levels. Really, it should be the first goal of our library, to have 15 liber's at level 0, and 15 liber's at level 3, and then go from there.

I think Daniela is entirely correct about the level 0 libri; indeed, technically it's possible for anyone to write a level 0 liber, even if they don't have the Art in question (I think that's a little munchkiny, though). Level 3 libri are a little rougher, though; you need an Art of 9 to write one, and it's not clear to me that we have someone with an Art of 9 in all the Arts.

However, I think the underlying point is that we ought to be trying to acquire books from Lemannus to enhance the Arts we already have rather than to teach us the Arts we don't; we ought to be able to write the books to teach each other the Arts we lack. So unless there's an Art that none of us have, low libri are definitely a bad use of resources.

It's a terribly min-maxing thing to do, but I looked at all the books in my specialties, figured out how many XP I'd get from studying them, and then divided by the book's value to figure the best return. It doesn't account for long-term growth, and I fully understand if nobody wants the hassle, but if you have the books and some time to kill it's a fairly worthwhile exercise. Lvl. 0 libri for Arts you don't have come out very high, but if you disregard those, it's pretty clear which books are the most useful to you.

Spending the vis to get a jumpstart (somebody still needs to copy them) on the liber writing project seems eh: unless their is something very specific you need to do, you'd rather save the vis longterm (so many other things to do it!

I think I understand what you're getting at here, but I'm not positive; would you expound a bit?

 

[Cerebral Paladin]

I think Daniela is entirely correct about the level 0 libri; indeed, technically it's possible for anyone to write a level 0 liber, even if they don't have the Art in question (I think that's a little munchkiny, though). Level 3 libri are a little rougher, though; you need an Art of 9 to write one, and it's not clear to me that we have someone with an Art of 9 in all the Arts.

For the record, I'm imposing a house rule: You can't write libri questionum without at least 5 in the relevant Art. I base this on the rule that 5 is the minimum competence to teach an apprentice. But yeah.

The trouble is, most of the books that are hard to write are very expensive. Book-learners among you might want to get tractati in your high arts, since that can be an effective way to up your levels, and then write more books that your fellows can use.

Anonystu: don't edit your earlier posts for changes. Post again, or note the changes here. Otherwise, it will get too confusing.

 

[themaxx]

We can still probably muster most of the Arts with this restriction in effect, right? I can cover four or five arts myself at level 5 or higher...

 

[redhound]

We can still probably muster most of the Arts with this restriction in effect, right? I can cover four or five arts myself at level 5 or higher...

It seems likely. We might be out one or two of the Forms, conceivably. For what it's worth, Marcus can write LQs on Creo, Intellego, Muto, Rego, Mentem, and Terram.

 

[redhound]

Because there's no IC component to this, I'm posting this here. For the record, Marcus likes Lumen Summum better than Accendo, and probably would have proposed it himself if I had any Latin to speak of.

 

[themaxx]

Samuel is qualified and willing to write LQs on Rego, Muto, Herbam and Terram. Only one that Marcus doesn't have, but good to spread the burden around.

 

[anonystu]

If everybody is happy to post their arts at which they have 5 and 9 competence, then great! We can compile that, and make a list. I respect if people don't want to share that. The benefit, which is a very big one, however, is that we can actually request the books we're weak in now rather than later.

The reason why the 9 is just as, if not more important than the 5 is that it gets you most of the time to level 5. Getting level 5 gives you apprentices, which can be a huge help in getting stuff done. Creating a library which enables everybody in the covenant to pick up apprentices is a very good thing.

I think we will probably have all the 5's covered, but probably not all the 9's, so I'll start by volunteering my areas in which I can help. (If you can repost with 5 and 9's, that would be helpful.)

Intellego: 5, 9

Such is the life of a specialist.