Theandric Saga OOC

[Nzld]

Covenant Thoughts

I think the overal distribution of points is fine, though we need to begin defining the specifics of the library.

Following are the Art summae and tractatus we are alloted, along with a few recommendations for them:

Art Summa L15, Q12 - Corpus
Art Summa L12, Q12 - Vim
Art Summa L6, Q21 - Animal (or a Technique)
Tractatus Q11 - Terram
Tractatus Q10 - Mentem
Tractatus Q10 - Rego
Tractatus Q9 - Imaginem

For the lab texts, I recommend we split the 200 points and each character select about 50 points worth.

Yair, may we select lab texts for invested powers, or do you just want these to be for spells?

We are only allocated a single summa for abilities - at L4, Q10. Unless someone has a particular desire for a specific mundane skill - or Yair objects - I recommend we take this on Parma Magica.

Yair, for the vis source, do we have to decide on either Terram, Rego, or Vim.. or can it be a mix?

As a Verditius, Vim is obviously important to my character, and is likewise necessary for the Aegis of the Hearth ritual, so my recommendation would be, depending on Yair's response, either 4 pawns of Vim per year, or 1 Terram, 1 Rego, & 2 Vim per year.

Then there is the final 5 points of Specialist. I recommend we take a 'Profession: Steward' or something similar to handle the day to day running of the covenant, or a 'Craft: Blacksmithing' to provide another craftsman. This, of course, is assuming no one intends to create a grog-character to fulfill one or both of these roles.

 

[Nzld]

Grog Slot

For one of the additional grog slots, I propose a scribe character with a little knowledge in Magic Theory, to assist in translating spells, copying tomes and texts, etc.

 

[MummyKitty]

I've got no objections to Nzld's ideas so far. Admittedly I am not as familiar with the magical convent rules and stats, so you can definitely take the lead there. I've also not played an Ars Magica campaign before, only single adventures, so even the experience rules are not that familiar to me.

Titus is a book fiend and would be interested in growing both the magical library as well as the mundane text collection.

I'd like to be the primary player for my grog / companion characters (Hakon and Mattihus) as much as possible, but I think it's fine for anyone else to do things with them if necessary. Mattihus in particular is a gossipy sort so he should always be around trying to listen in, and then tell other people things he overhears. It would probably be best if others got some of his "secret" messages from the lore he knows every once in a while so they can think of clever and fun ways to disseminate the knowledge.

It sounds like Strahd has the cook covered, and I like the idea of having a blacksmith and scribe. I'd like to contribute at least one more grog character concept.

Good to hear Olive is still in!

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

I'll rule Rodolf the cook and the carpenter, beside being a carpenter, Hans can be the maintanance man over the covenant and fix things.
Regarding Nzld idea for a scriber - sounds useful for us.

As for the distribution of the arcane points - I'm as Mummy, my knowledge in ArM rules is quite low, the only things I remember is the few rules I learned when trying to play Tabletop ArM with Yair a few years ago, so Yair - try to rule on Gorgamesh side as well.

 

[Yair]

Yair - I want to build (with your help) a companion, possibely a person I knew from my past who isn't affraid of my appearence. he can be a ranger or something ....

Alright. Can you give me more details?
Although BTW, Volkmar kinda fits the description...

 

[Yair]

Tractatus Q11 - Terram
Tractatus Q10 - Mentem
Tractatus Q10 - Rego
Tractatus Q9 - Imaginem

Note you can switch a tractatus (or several) to cover an Ability instead of an Art, if you want.

Yair, may we select lab texts for invested powers, or do you just want these to be for spells?

Invested powers are cool.

Yair, for the vis source, do we have to decide on either Terram, Rego, or Vim.. or can it be a mix?

You can mix it anyway you want.

Then there is the final 5 points of Specialist.

Oh? Then I must have miscalculated something, I don't remember leaving this leeway...

 

[Yair]

As for the distribution of the arcane points - I'm as Mummy, my knowledge in ArM rules is quite low, the only things I remember is the few rules I learned when trying to play Tabletop ArM with Yair a few years ago, so Yair - try to rule on Gorgamesh side as well.

Ahm, well, I'll look over the suggestions and see if I can make suggestions from Gorgamesh's viewpoint later.

 

[Nzld]

Oh? Then I must have miscalculated something, I don't remember leaving this leeway...

You have...

? the Carpenter: Craft (Carpenter) 10
? the Bookmaker: Craft (Books) 5, Profession (Scribe) 7
? the Handyman: Profession (Handyman) 8

... which, when all added up, totals 30, but my understanding of how Specialists are calculated is that only the highest skill of each Specialist is counted in the cost, not all of the skills.

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Alright. Can you give me more details?
Although BTW, Volkmar kinda fits the description...

What about Hermit, some kind of pagan monk ... the only one who was my friend.
30-35 yo' man from Poland, very kind and tollerance, smart and good in nature.
when Gorgamesh was in Durenmar he met him in the forests around and he found the hermir as the only person that he can speak freely and talk to.
he can be ranger, druid or just a simple woodsman who lost his family and went to the forest to live with the animals.
Now, he can help in the covenant with raising herds and take care of animals, that could be a nice edition to the covenant folk.

 

[Nzld]

What about Hermit, some kind of pagan monk ... the only one who was my friend.
30-35 yo' man from Poland, very kind and tollerance, smart and good in nature.
when Gorgamesh was in Durenmar he met him in the forests around and he found the hermir as the only person that he can speak freely and talk to.
he can be ranger, druid or just a simple woodsman who lost his family and went to the forest to live with the animals.
Now, he can help in the covenant with raising herds and take care of animals, that could be a nice edition to the covenant folk.

Strahd,

Yair's concern regarding our companions is that the actual companion we each play should not be so closely tied to our own magus. In normal play, we shouldn't expect to play both our magus AND our companion together on the same adventure, so the companion characters should have ties to other player magi or to the covenant in general.

He expressed similar concerns to me regarding Volkmar and Valeria, sensing a direct connection between them, but we have discussed it and I think he now understands my intent behind Volkmar.

For any companion, you have to make two assumptions: 1) the companion will have to adventure with other player magi, and 2) the companion will never adventure with your own magus (though this may not always be true in play, it is the general rule of thumb).

The hermit you propose would have problems on both accounts... i.e. you are establishing him as someone who shuns society and just happens to have befriended Gorgamesh, and therefore, might be willing to travel and associate with Gorgamesh, but how and why would he extend that companionship to other wizards.

The term "companion" can be misleading when you are having to come up with characters, especially due to the tendency to want to create a link between your own magus character and your companion character, but a "companion" doesn't literally have to be a buddy or friend of any magus, and, if he is, then it should be to a different player's magus.

Ultimately, you have to think of it like this: the companion character you create is the main character you will play when you are NOT playing your magus. So, assume that 3 adventures out of 4 you will be playing this character, and not your wizard. Is this hermit really the character you want to play that often?

Also, you mention that the hermit can "help in the covenant with raising herds and take care of animals". That is a fine enough task for a grog/covenfolk, or even a specialist, but is that a character you want to roleplay on a continuing basis?

If you really like the idea of having an associate of Gorgamesh like that, think about making him as a grog, rather than a companion... for the most part a grog can have the same skill sets (just fewer virtues and flaws), yet will not be a central character to the story. A grog can be played periodically, when convenient, and (possibly) by different players.

Now, regarding Volkmar... Yair's idea is that perhaps Volkmar and Gorgamesh can develop a report due to their similar physical flaws and, thus, repulsive natures. This serves the purpose of linking my companion to your magus, and thus, provides a stronger motive for them to adventure together (though Volkmar is a servant of the covenant itself, and will be adventuring with any magus he is so ordered to).