Amber inclusion

Games Discussion Ars Magica
1

Enchanting is where I am weak, so help appreciated.

Somebody is trying to open some Amber for enchanting.
If the Amber includes some inclusions, eg pin feather, wand shaped twig or a beer, does the inclusion change the cost of opening for enchantment?

I am thinking that if the inclusion is entirely enclosed, I am thinking not.

2

I would rule that the wizard decides if it’s important or not.

If the wizard wants to use something embedded in the amber for its Shape/Material bonus, then the object counts. If the wizard only wants to use the amber as amber, then no it doesn’t.

4 Likes
3

Yep. Also a wizard might not even know, what is included in a piece of opaque amber she enchants.

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4

I would treat amber with an inclusion as a composite item (ArM5 p.97).
You have then three options.

  1. You can enchant only the amber, in which case the cost will be the same as if the amber had a "hole" where the inclusion is; a bit like enchanting only the amber tip of an amber-tipped sfaff.
  2. You can enchant the whole item, paying the cost of the most expensive component. Probably still the amber, as any inclusion is likely to be smaller and less precious. But if a tiny piece of amber had, for whatever reason, a tiny precious gem as an inclusion, then the cost would be that of enchanting the gem, 15 pawns.
  3. You can enchant the whole item, paying the sum of the costs of all components. So if a tiny piece of amber included a tiny twig, the cost of opening the item would be 12 + 2 = 14 pawns (12 x 1 for the amber, a semiprecious "stone", plus 2x1 for the wooden twig).
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5

So Ezzelino's is the basic enchantment all magi have access to.

Verdi have quite a few more options and can open items for the other Magi "Properly" which can save more than half of the vis requirement & make the object more prestigious (artistic) at the same time... but typically they will make it pricey unless there is a story that gets a favour from them.. Talismans allow Magi to overcome some limits.

There are many initiations that allow you to enchant items in strange ways such as your soul, tattoos, runes, etc.

W

6

This was one of the big confusions for me.
Did natural amber with natural inclusions count as a compound item?

Thanks

7

Ezzelino's interpretation is good. That being said, I'd add a caveat of a possible interpretation of amber. Amber naturally comes with things inside, and I wouldn't usually worry about the rules for compound items unless, say, a Verditius uses his mystery to include items within the amber without breaking the exterior. Much like you don't need to consider that an electrum or bronze item is made of both the alloy and its compounds, unless they're also included in pure form.