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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Calico_Jack73" data-source="post: 2071239" data-attributes="member: 14403">Mage is probably my favorite game of all time but it is also the most difficult to run.  It isn't difficult due to the system which mechanically is super easy but from the philosophy.  Mages have influence over a variety of spheres that make up reality and in character creation you set your control over those spheres by buying "dots" in the spheres.  The more dots you have, the more control you have over the sphere.Where it gets hairy is the philosophy of each Mage tradition.  When a mage works magic he is basically forcing his view of reality (his philosophy) onto that held by the world at large.  If a mage is by himself with no witnesses and the magic can be explained away as coincidence it is fairly easy.  If a mage does it in front of mundane people and it is obviously supernatural then it becomes very difficult.  Here is where the problem comes in... if a Mage's personal philosophy doesn't allow for the magic the "player" wants to accomplish then he is his own witness, his own reality view says that what he is attempting can't happen.  Each player really needs to understand his character's philosophy on how magic works.  SO... it is VERY difficult to have a pick-up game of Mage unless each player is VERY familiar with the game and the various philosophies of magic.This all said I love Mage for these very reasons.  It doesn't fall into the D&D style of magic with spell slots per day and spell levels.  It is up to the player to use his/her own creativity to come up with magical effects.</blockquote>

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