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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yair" data-source="post: 2718402" data-attributes="member: 10913">Sphynx & Kajamba Lion: CharactersThe following is mainly about background stuff; I’ve not gone over the math involved yet.You have the misfortune of choosing a House I know something about, having read the relevant parts of True Lineages. I don’t consider TL cannon, in that I’m willing to deviate from it if it suits your vision of what you want to play. Above all I want us all to have fun. But I thought perhaps I’d write on what TL has to offer, as I for one enjoy enriching the game with supplemental offerings. Take of this what you will, and we will discard the rest.The TL description of the House is extensive, and I can’t go into that much detail. Before going on on specific notes regarding your characters, though, I’d like to give you a brief idea on (my impression of) the House.Houses Tremere can be best described as a military reserves regiment, with the magi serving as its officers. During peacetime, they maintain ties and occasionally help each other, but also periodically train and take care of logistical needs, always working to increase their wartime readiness. In war, they muster their forces, coordinate combined assaults, and take care of various logistical needs to enable them. Each is expected to be resourceful, stalwart, and loyal - a good military officer. They are associated with magical wolves, ghost armies, and life-sucking spirits, but also with mundane allies, and complex magical war weapons, magical strategies, and tactics. The House indoctrinates all Tremere magi. You’ve spent several years, probably in early apprenticeship and possibly even before it, learning at Transylvania - probably even at Coeris (the Domus Magna of the House).Octavian[sblock]That’s fine; remember that you were partly trained in Transylvania, though.Fine, but if you have any ideas – feel free to share.Both these flaws will make the magus suboptimal in the battlefield or politics, so would be seen as a source of embarrassment. The first especially should be carefully hidden. I have not considered Daria to be so powerful as to require this virtue, but she is powerful both politically and magically so I can certainly fit it in if you want.This is a good selection of Abilities for a Tremere, except that it lacks physical skills Tremere consider required. Tremere are expected to be able to fend for themselves on a Wizard’s March or long treks and to be able to defend themselves physically with some level of competence. Survival, Swim, Athletics (hiking), Brawl, and of course Profession: Soldier are some skills you might wish to consider.Tremere are expected to have reasonable scores in 4 Arts, two Techniques and two Forms, as this is vital for Certamen. For a starting magus, a score of 5 is acceptable in this regard so this selection is sufficient though a little broader than the typical Tremere. Note that the archetypical Tremere Arts are Rego and Mentem.These are a bit more direct than a typical Tremere’s. They generally prefer to work with spells that summon, control, or augment various ghosts, spirits, magical animals, or other allies, or subtly acquire or subvert information.That’s perfectly acceptable. Tremere have a penchant for acting in teams, and value the number two, so suggesting the two new apprentices work together will make perfect sense.Consider your role in war. Here is my suggestion:Given your interest in Terram, and aptitude with all elemental Arts, it may have been decided that you will be an Architect, a combat engineer (erecting bridges, toppling or raising walls, and otherwise changing the terrain of battle). The role easily extends itself to control of the other four elements (winds and water particularly), so your aptitude for it is keen.Your assignment in Teneo may have been motivated by a desire to deepen your connections with a fellow non-House architect - Titus.[/sblock]Erich Waldst[sblock] I don’t really understand this combination, but as long as you do that’s fine.Fenghled is not in Pomerania, being quite some distance to the sough-west (you can check out the Rhine map at the Guardians of the Forest webpage on Atlas’ site), but otherwise everything’s fine.[/sblock]Dylan [sblock]Consider an animal that is used by Tremere in-cannon; there are whole doctrines on how to use specific animals and breeding lines going back centuries. This isn’t essential, you can use a Talking Hawk (whatever we decide it will be) if you’d like.TL suggests three possibilities for birds. A Might 10 Shadow Owl that conceal itself and fly through solid matter, that is used primarily to spy and pick up small objects (like arcane connections); a Might 10 Fire Hawk that can ignite flammable materials by touch and is used as a saboteur; and an unstatted Griffin Vulture, although I get the impression these are used primarily in flocks.This is a particularly problematic flaw for a Tremere, as it effectively disallows any soldiery conduct and military zeal. A canonic Tremere really shouldn’t have it.Both will make the magus suboptimal on the field of battle, so are embarrassing. They should be kept hidden, particularly Warped Magic as it hints of lack of self-control.Those are strange personality traits for a military officer.His lack of political skills will be seen as a shortcoming, hindering his ability to accrue allies for the House and rendering him vulnerable to political and mental manipulation. I think it unlikely Stentorious will send him to the world without at least a grounding in Intrigue.He is dangerously overspecialized in his Techniques, making him vulnerable in Certamen. A second technique of 4 at least is highly desirable.Nzld is wise in the ways of magic. Let us heed his wisdom - at least a +1 magnitude is required.The spell should affect up to 10 people, unless a +# size modifier is applied.Moving multiple items in complex coordination would require a Finesse roll.The character should have spent some time in Transylvania, probably his childhood prior to, and perhaps the first few years of, his apprenticeship. It is entirely possible he was discovered by another Tremere magus, taken to Coeris, and handpicked by Stentorius to be his apprentice when he grows up.Consider his role in war. My suggestion:Scout. He is trained to move through hostile territory, collect information, and report. The House will try to train him in evasive, protective, communication, and travel magic, as well as in intelligence gathering. He has been sent to Pomerania as a place to hone his scouting skills and collect information on this fairly mysterious area. The House is particularly interested in vis sources, wartime allies, other exploitable resources, and the volatile local politics. He is also expected to better bond and train with Octavian, to make them a better team in war-time.[/sblock]Name ForthComing[sblock] Consider that those are a lot of Abilities you would want to be high. Just saying, it won’t be easy keeping them all high so you might want to set up priorities.We will need to work on that. TL suggests a Might 10  “common white wolf” in the service of House Tremere, if you’re interested.Yet another wolf boy. I’m sensing a shift in the Saga’s direction.You may wish to consider House Tremere as your saviors, perhaps you have come from Transylvania. Tremere are very interested in wolves and especially feral children, and are famous enough in Transylvania for the hunters to come to them. It also works well with having two Tremere magi in the covenant, as you could be House Tremere “property”. In this case it would probably be wise to have this character attached to Octavius for some reason.I see a little problem in that your magus and companion characters seem to both be stealthy sneaky scouty types, especially if you accept my Scout proposal for your magus.[/sblock]As Tremere, you each also learned a Certamen style. I’ll think which is appropriate for each master, and explain this style to you.There are also a few new spells and V&F; nothing essential.As young Tremere magi, you are allowed one item from the following list at any one time:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A loan of a moderate sum of silver, or 4 pawns of vis, or a minor book on an Art, or a minor magic item</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The assistance of a highly-skilled but nonmagical person, such as a blacksmith, poisoner, or courtesan</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The use of a debt owed to the House by a minor noble or priest</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">passage on ships, or a team of horses</li> </ul>Decide what, if anything, you want and we’ll introduce it in-character (in the present or past). This comes at a cost – your House duties; I’ll detail your next House-appointed task in due time. It shouldn’t hinder your development as a magus, although it may steer you in the House’s desired direction.It’s very very late now. I’ll write more tomorrow.</blockquote>

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