This thread is the place for you to share Ars Magica character ideas for comment and correction. Enjoy!
Trahern ap Twrgadarn
(Strong as Iron son of the Tower of Strength)
Characteristics: Intelligence 0, Perception +1, Presence -3, Communication +1, Strength +5 (enormous), Stamina +5 (stubborn), Dexterity +1, Quickness +1
Size: +2
Age: 36
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Virtues:
Strong Faerie Blood, Giant
Giant Blood
Faerie Blood, Giant
Second Sight
Great Strength
Great Stamina
Wanderer
Affinity with Great Weapon
Puissant Great Weapon
Flaws:
Branded Criminal
Outlaw
Fury
Magick Companion
Duty bound
Faerie Upbringing
Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal +1, Stubborn +3
Reputations: The Raging Giant that killed Heinrich
Combat:
Fist: Initiative 1, Attack 5, Defense 6, Damage 5
Gauntlet: Initiative 1, Attack 5, Defense 7, Damage 7
Dodge: Initiative 1, Attack N/A, Defense 7, Damage N/A
Knife: Initiative 1, Attack 6, Defense 6, Damage 7
Cudgel: Initiative 2, Attack 14, Defense 11, Damage 12
Soak: +10
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-7), -3 (8-14), -5 (15-21), Incapacitated (22-28)
Abilities:
Enchanting Music 4 - Joy
Second Sight 1 - Faeries
Wilderness Sense 1 - Forests
Animal Ken 3 - Birds
Faerie Tongue 5 – Storytelling
Area Lore, Swartzwald 3 - Creatures
Animal Handling 2 - Birds
Awareness 3 - Forests
Brawl 4 - Dodging
Carouse 3 - Drinking
Woodcarving 2 - Flutes
High German 3
Faerie Lore 2 - Giants
Great Weapon 7+2 - Mallet
Hunt 3 - Forests
Medicine 1 - Herbs
Stealth 2 - Forests
Survival 3 - Forests
Swim 2 - Rivers
Music 4 - Flute
Equipment: Bronze Shod Cudgel, Full Leather Scale, Dagger, Flute (Notes of a Delightful Sound (MuIm 10 Continuous)), Rations, Wilderness Gear
Encumbrance: 0
Gwendryn (Fair Bird): A small bird who sometimes act as a guide for Trahern.
Incarnations
This is in fact one of my favorite characters ever. And as such, he has appeared in several incarnations. (I've as of yet to play him though) I've designed him twice as a Companion, once as a Mythic Companion and once as a Magus. (I'll post the Magus at least, as that one had some very good story possibilities) The other Companion incarnation had some different flaws; True Love (Minor), Outlaw Leader and Close Familiy Ties. In said incarnation he was slightly older, and with less of a fairy flavor. His Outlaw band were his sons and his Wife. (Who all had the Large virtue, Close Family Ties flaw as well as Minor Wrath) I had this band as a woodsman crew, more akin to the Firbolg of Ireland than true giants. Liked that one really, excellent source of Grogs for a Covenant. The Mythic Companion incarnation is like the one above, only with more Virtues, extra Strength and Stamina, as well as some fancy Heroic Virtues (can't recall the exact ones).
The Magus will as I said be posted later, but he was a Terram Specialist, with a Personal vis Source (his hair and beard, as this was made from Copper) and Nescessary Condition (had to be in contact with Copper), he was also Cursed to Sink and as such had a Fear of Water. He also had Deficient Form Aquam. A very exciting ex Misc Magus.
Story
This guy is the result of a Union between a human smith and a Firbold Giantess. And he spent his entire childhood in a faery Regio. Upon leaving for the frst time, he stumbled upon a human hunter in the process of skinning a downed dear, and curious as he was; approached the man. (silly bugger, eh?) The hunter, Heinrich by name, panicked and attacked, naturally leading to his death at the hands of a very large, and very angry giant. (unfortunately, the hunters companion saw the whole thing, and ran home to his village...) A mob managed to track Trahern down and branded him in the Village sqare before planning to burn him the next day. But, with the aid of Gwendryn, trahern managed to escape his bonds, in the process killing severeal of the local farmers who had harmed him.
And this is where he is introduced to the characters... Rumors of a raging giant, wantonly killing everything in his path can easily be a plot hook. When they then find said giant, quietly playing his flute in the middle of a glen, surrounded by birds of every kind... Well, it can make fer a good story me thinks.
If anyone decides to use him, please tell me what happens after. Always interested 
I like this. What's his story?
Why thank ye...
I edited the above post instead of writing it down here. Enjoy!
Not nitpicking but does faerie blood and strong faerie blood need to be written seperately? What game mechanics did you work out for these? Plus branded criminal and outlaw are both social status's so the write up would be better if you switched branded criminal for disfigured (brand)
Yeah, true that. Hehe, I write them up solely for my own convenience. As for the game mechaniks, I used the one that gives the character one better presence, but no higher than +3, only changed Presence to Strength.
Feryn ex Miscellanea
Characteristics: Intelligence +1, Perception +1, Presence -2, Communication -2, Strength +2, Stamina +1, Dexterity +4, Quickness +1
Size: +0
Age: 25
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Twilight Scars: None
Virtues:
Strong Fearie Blood: Goblin Blood (free ex Miscellanea Virtue, Major)
Tethered Magic (free ex Misc)
Affinity with Missile Weapons
Affinity with Perdo
Affinity with Vim
Performance Magic: Bows
Flawless Magic
Life Boost
Fast Caster
Warrior/Huntsmen
Flaws:
Deficent Technique Creo
Depressed (minor)
Reckless (minor)
Short Ranged Magic
Blatant Gift
Hedge Wizard
Suceptibility to Divine Powers
Personality Traits: Lone Wolf +1, Quiet +3, Depressed +3, Reckless +3
Reputations: none
Combat:
Fist Initiative+1 , Attack +4 , Defense +2 , Damage +2
Sword Initiative +3 , Attack +11, Defense +5 , Damage +8
Longbow Initiative -1 , Attack +14 , Defense --, Damage +10
Dagger Initiative +1 , Attack +6, Defense +2, Damage +5
Soak: Stamina +1, Full Leather Sale Armor +5 = +6 (+Form Bonus)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities:
Russian 5
Awareness(Forest) 2
Second Sight(Fearies) 2
Area Lore Russia(Fearies) 1
Survival(Forest) 1
Stealth(Forest) 2(+2)
Athletics(Jumping) 1
Brawl(Dodging) 1
Swim(Rivers) 1
Fearie Lore(Dark Summer) 1
Missile Weapon(Longbow) 6
Concentration(Spellcasting) 1
Hunt(Forest) 2
Profession Fletcher(Arrow Making) 1
Single Weapons(Sword) 3
Artes Liberales(Ceremonial Casting) 1
Latin(Texts) 4
Parma Magica(Vim) 1
Magic Theory(Lab Work) 3
Penetration(Vim) 2
Infernal Lore(Demons) 1
Organisation Lore: Order of Hermes(Magi) 1
Equipment: Wilderness Gear, Full Leather Scale Armor, Dagger, Knife, Sword, Longbow, 30 Arrows, Fletcher Tool Kit, Small Tent
Encumbrance: 0
Arts:
Cr 0 In 3 Mu 3 Pe 10 Re 3
An 2 Aq 1 Au 1 Co 7 He 2
Ig 1 Im 1 Me 2 Te 2 Vi 7
Spells Known:
Demons Eternal Oblivion(PeVi10, Mastery 2: Quiet Casting, Penetration)
Iron Spear(PeVi10, Mastery 2: Quiet Casting, Penetration)
Dragon Slayer(PeVi10, Mastery 2: Quiet Casting, Penetration)
Own Invisibility(PeIm15, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
No Sound(PeIm10, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Eagle Eyes(MuCoAn5, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Cold Mind(ReMe5, Mastery 1 : Quiet Casting)
Strong Hands(ReCo5, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
True Strike(PeCo25, Mastery 2: Quiet Casting, Penetration)
Levitate(ReCo15 Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Traceless Steps(MuTe10, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Appearance:
Feryn is a small men with a sinister aura auround him, his face is mostly covered by his long cloak in the colour of a night forest. He moves silently all the time and never speaks a word, only if there is a high importance he will say a few words wth a slow and cold voice. Most normal people wonder what demon is in front of them if they can see him, what they dont do normaly. His short, black hair and his melancholic eyes make him very sad looking.
Story:
Feryn is the child of a poor mother raped by some goblins, somewhre living in a small tribe of nomads in the wide Sibirian tundra. He was raised by the shaman that teached him some secrets of the powers that lay deep inside him. Because of his Gift most of the other nomads avoided him and so noone was very unhappy when the maga Cecilia ex Miscellane took him with her after paying the tribe 100 deers. Cecilia was no normal member of the Order of Hermes: she was one of the few ex Miscellanea that are capable of an ancient technique, long preserved by the few members. She and other were nobel and brave men and women who fought against the enemys of the order. After his gauntlet Fery decided to travel alone with his longbow trough europe to find a good place to stay and to live, pherhaps a palce where nobody hates him because of what he is.
New Spells:
Demons Eternal Oblivion(PeVi10), Iron Spear(PeVi10) and Dragon Slayer(PeVi10)
Normal PeVi spells agoinst mght, but because of their Touch range they do level + 5 dmg to the might score.
Own Invisibility(PeIm15, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
A Personal ranged invisibilty spell.
No Sound(PeIm10, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
A personal ranged spell that deletes all sounds of the user.
Eagle Eyes(MuCoAn5, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Give the caster the eyes of an eagle.
Cold Mind(ReMe5, Mastery 1 : Quiet Casting)
Reduces the emotions of the caster so that he can concentrate on a bow shoot or something else.
Strong Hands(ReCo5, Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
Avoid the normal shaking of hands, so that actions that involve Dexterity are far more easy. With the Eagles Eyes and the Cold Mind Spell this spell gives a +5 bonus on all shoots with a bow. Because this are all changes on the user itself and not directly on the bow or the arrow the magic resistance of a target hit by the arrow doesnt help it!
True Strike(PeCo25, Mastery 2: Quiet Casting, Penetration)
This touch spell does an incapacitating wound to the poor target.
Levitate(ReCo15 Mastery 1: Quiet Casting)
This Personal spell allows the user to move slowly in every direction he pleases as long as he concentrates.
Traceless Steps(MuTe10)
The same as the normal spell but it is on Personal and on Sun.
(Arcane Archer by any other name...)
"Bow Magic" seems like a Major Virtue to me. The ability to take a spell and deliver it at the range of the bow is quite a boost. Not to mention the fact that it is also a +3 "special circumstance" bonus to casting (which is a Minor Virtue in and of itself), AND it effectively allows the mage to cast a spell and shoot a bow at the same time (which sounds like another Major virtue all by itself). Major Virtue, if not two.
Other than that...
Well I put the 2 minor Virtues "Special Circumstances" and "Performance Magic"(which is a minor virtue and decribed in The Mysteries) together and combined them with the third benefit (that should be a minor virtue, because it effectly gives you a +5 level boost if you cast a spell on Touch instead of Voice, but you only can cast spells in such a way that arent supposed to hurt the target, so a spell on voice that gives someone a buff is useless for this and if you dont have your bow into your hands you and your magic is VERY restricted) but if you think the "Bow Magic" is to hard then put away the "Special Circumstances" and this should be well balanced.
Tethered Magic works perfectly for a mage-archer.
read,read,read
Hihi and if I give him Thethered Magic instead of "Bow Magic" he has even more abilitys. ^^
So the Major Virtue would stzill consist the three Minor Virtues (like in Strong Fearie Blood which is also only a combination of many minor virtues).
Scipio ex Merenita
Characteristics: Intelligence +1, Perception 0, Presence +2, Communication +2, Strength -2, Stamina 0, Dexterity +2, Quickness 0
Size: +0
Age: 25
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Twilight Scars: None
Virtues:
Fearie Magic
Strong Fearie Blood of the Shide
Gentle Gift
Performance Magic: Music
Affinity with Imagonem
Enchanting Music
Free Expression
Flaws:
Fearie Upbringing
Fearie Friend
Lesser Malediction: Iron burns his skin
Meddler, minor
Plagued by Supernatural Entity: Fearie Lord
True Love
Personality Traits: Meddler +3, Reckless +2, Brave +1, Wanderlust +3
Reputations: none
Combat:
Fist Initiative 0, Attack +3 , Defense +1 , Damage -2
Soak: 0 (+Form Bonus)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities:
High German: 5
Area Lore: Arcadia(Citys): 1
Charm(Women): 2
Brawl(Dodging): 1
Folk Ken(Rich): 1
Awareness(Equipment): 1
Athletics(Running): 1
Stealth(Citys): 1
Guile(Fast Talk): 2
Fearie Lore(Female Fearies): 2
Bargain(Deals): 1
Carouse(Singing): 1
Concentration(Music): 1
Enchanting Music(Flute): 4
Music(Flute): 4
Ledgerdemain(Pick Pockets): 1
Intrigue(Ploting): 1
Artes Liberales(Music Theory): 1
Parma Magica(Vim): 1
Latin(Texts): 4
Magic Theory(Labwork): 3
Finesse(Imagonem): 1
Penetration(Corpus): 1
Second Sight(Fearies): 2
Equipment: flute, lyre, little drum, good clothes, many bags
Encumbrance: 0
Arts:
Cr 5 In 5 Mu 5 Pe 4 Re 4
An 2 Aq 2 Au 2 Co 6 He 1
Ig 2 Im 12 Me 5 Te 1 Vi 1
Spells Known:
Spasms of the Uncontrolled Hand(ReCo5)
Levitation(ReCo15)
Own Invisibility(PeIm15)
The Unseen Porter(ReTe10)
Notes of a Delightful Sound(MuIm4)(For Individuals)
Aura of Ennobeled Presence(MuIm10)
The Ear For Distant Voices(InIm20)
Disguise of the Trasformed Image(MuIm15)
Wizards Sidestep(ReIm10)
Told Story(CrIm15)
Appearance:
Scipio has sparkling, golden eyes that are capable of facinating other people. His beautiful face is covered by long and golden hair, mostly under a elegant hat. His clothes are like a normal, mundane trubadore or bard. His old flute hangs an his breast like an amulett, his drum and his lyre a in his bag bag on the back. Every bag has its own, fanatstic coulur, a gift from some friendly fearies he played a great song. His friend Caxis the Nine-Tailed Fox often sits on his shouldrs or sleeps in one of his big bags. Caxis itself has golden fur, simular to Scipios eyes and hair, his nine tails allow him to throw fire if he defends himself or Scipio and he can grow to the size of a lion.
Story:
" I will tell you the story of a sad but hopeful love: the hero of thsi story is the boy Scipio: he was once stolen by a mighty lady of the fearie, the mystic Florella, once a powerful Merenita maga that seeked for something that remembered her that she was once a mere woman. So he was raised in a big city of shides in the land of near light and far summer wre everytging is beautiful. And beautiful was his love the maiden with the dark hair and the dark eyes Vinella, the daughter of the ruler of the City the powerful Sigylas, lord of the shides. She was a robed children too and raised in arcada like him, but they felt in love very fast and this love of the two kids was pure and good. But Sigylas wanted his daughter for him alone only, so he took her and put her in a high tower on a high cloud in the high sky of Arcadia. Poor Scipio was lonly and he cryed many nights, but his mother promised him that all will be cood and that he will learn how to free her. So she sended her son to to Archmaga Vinara herself, because Florella helped her a long time ago and so the deal was made.
He was a good pupil but a bad boy, using his music to lure the grogs to be nice to him. He could also see through most illusions in the mystical domus magna of house Merenita. After 15 years he passed his gauntlet and travel once more to Arcadia to seek for his true love, in the next tree years he traveled higher and higher in Arcadia to search Vinella, but her father saw what Scipio plans to do, but he feared the power of the Order of Hermes a little bit so he orders his guard to put Scipio out of Arcadia. So at this time poor but happy Scipio travels troughout europe, accompanyed by his friend Caxis The Nine-Tailed Fox that once gave him the binding promise to assist him on his quest. The two together hopes to find a way to rescue Viella and they hope to escape the servants of Vinellas father again and again.
Pherhaps you already heard of this story and it is true, I promise!" smiled the young man with the golden hair and the golden eyes.
New Spells:
Told Story(CrIm15, Base 2, Voice, Concentration, Individual, +2 for moving images as long as the caster concentrates)
With this spell Scipio is able to let his told storys appear righ in front of him (with images and sounds) as long he tells the story with his singing or his music instruments. The Image is like a globe in which anything he wants can appear.
Also consider that House Ex Miscellanea grants a free Minor Hermetic Virtue and a Major Non-Hermetic Virtue. It would take a pretty generous SG to not consider Bow Magic a Major Hermetic Virtue.
Carolus Magnus ex Mercere
Characteristics: Intelligence +1, Perception 0, Presence 0 , Communication -1 , Strength 0, Stamina +3 , Dexterity +1 , Quickness 0
Size: +0
Age: 28 (5 years out of gauntlet)
Decrepitude: 0
Warping Score: 0 (0)
Confidence Score: 1 (3)
Twilight Scars: None
Virtues:
The Gift
Hermetic Magus
Puissant Muto (free House Virtue)
Tamed Magic
Mutantum Magic
Life Boost
Affinity with Muto
Affinity with Artes Liberales
Tough
Well-Traveled
Enduring Magic
Flaws:
Short Ranged Magic
Waster of Vis
Slow Caster
Soft Hearted
Close Family Ties
Legacy
Personality Traits: Soft Hearted +3, Friendly +2, Easly Ashamed +2
Reputations: Famous Legacy (House Mercere) +3
Combat:
Fist Initiative0 , Attack +2 , Defense +1 , Damage 0
Staff Initiative +2 , Attack +6, Defense +5 , Damage +2
Throwing Knives Initiative 0 , Attack +6, Damage +2
Soak: Stamina +3, Quilted Fur +1, Tough +3 = 7 (+Form Bonus)
Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious
Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20)
Abilities:
Italian 5
Awareness(Dangers) 1
Charm (Other Gender) 2
Area Lore North Italia (Cities) 1
Survival(Traveling) 2
Stealth(Forest) 1
Athletics(Jumping) 2
Brawl(Knifes) 1
Folk Ken(Magi) 2
Guile (Peasants) 2
Bargain (Nobles) 2
Carouse (Drinking) 1
Etiquette (Magi) 2
Leadership (Grogs) 1
Concentration(Spellcasting) 1
Great Weapon (Staffs) 1
Thrown Weapons (Knifes) 3
Artes Liberales(Ceremonial Casting) 2
Philosophy (Ceremonial Casting) 2
Latin(Texts) 4
Parma Magica(Vim) 2
Magic Theory(Lab Work) 3
Penetration(Vim) 1
Organisation Lore: Order of Hermes(Magi) 1
Equipment: Wilderness Gear, 5 Throwing Knifes, Staff, Good Fur Clothes
Encumbrance: 0
Arts:
Cr 8 In 3 Mu 13(+3) Pe 2 Re 3
An 5 Aq 1 Au 1 Co 5 He 1
Ig 1 Im 5 Me 1 Te 1 Vi 1
Spells Known:
Purification of the Festering Wounds(CrCo20)
Eyes of the Cat(MuCoAn10)(Moon Duration)
Eyes of the Hawk(MuCoAn10)(Moon Duration)
Nose of the Dog(MuCoAn10)(Moon Duration)
Gift of Wolfs Fortitude(MuCo30)(Moon Duration, Touch Range, +2 Soak)
Preternatural Growth(MuCo15)(Moon Duration)
Arm of the Infant(MuCo15)(Range Touch)
Own Levitation(ReCo5)
Aura of Enobled Presence(MuIm15)(Moon Duration)
Disguised of the Transformed Image(MuIm20)(Moon Duration)
Own Invisibilty(PeIm15)
Appearance:
Carlous Magnus is a friendly looking man of middle age with brown hair and green eyes. His big, red nose is the center of a face, covered with often with a friendly smile or loud laughing. He dresses in fine fur clothes (the newest clothes from Milan or Parma) and he knows how to move in a proper way. His throwing knives are usualy hidden in every part of his body and his clothes.
Story:
Carolus is a well known man in his house, even for his young age. It is not only because of his well known master and the important family branch from which he originates. It is also the nearly unique casting-techique he uses to assist the Redcaps of his house or other mages. He is specialised to enchant small potions of water, oil, mixtures and so on with his magic so that the first one who touches them (drinks them) is affected by these spells. Thanks to his enduring magic these potions are often usable for many months. For this he uses mainly his formulaic magic but with his ceremonial casting abilitys he is also capable of using other spells on his potions. Because of his abilitys some magi of house Verditius watch him closley: perhaps this man is a danger for their sources of income and what if he plans to achieve some breaktroughs in order to allow every magi to use his magic?
But this is nothing the freindly carolus is aware of, instead of doing research he is often found in taverns in whole noth Italy and in the whole tribunal, because he also tarvels of his own as a Redcap which is a honor for him. And perhaps he does this also to avoid his big and mighty family which resides at his home covenant...
you pick on me a lot so how do you see me as a mage?
I don't think even Failed Apprentice is a strong enough term.
1 Like
I WAS SERIOUS!!!!
So was i.
But the rudeness of shouting is most uncivil of you.
juts frustrated,that all.
Frustration is common to us all.
You asked for opinions , you got an honest one.
You don't even have a copy of the free 4th Ed. pdf anymore.
(why can't you ask your library to download it)
It is a total waste of time to coach you in anything related to 4th Edition
if you do not have rules to refer to.
Most libraries cater to "special needs" members.
It would not be too difficult to check if their budget would stretch to buying the 5th Edition Ars Magica Rules.
(they certainly have a good range of Dungeons and Dragons product)