Because philosopher's labs aren't detailed in the rules fully, you have to go by analogy. Both of the examples given would give a large bonus to Intellego - a Hermetic wizard using these could min/max massively for Intellego. Seeing as Astrological Inceptions are effectively all Intellego effects, any Intellego bonus should be translatable into something like an Astrology bonus for natural philosophers.
What I'm trying to represent is a bonus to a particular lab activity - akin to the specializations with familiars or Longevity rituals. I'll list it as astrological inceptions rather than astrology (which isn't actually an ability but I still see the issue) to be clearer.
How about the missing equipment flaw? Does that seem proper? If so it seems that taking the missing equipment flaw five or six times would probably be in order for any experimental philosophy lab.
So here's a revised lab. I included he effects of the covenant wide enchantments and the superior construction free virtue which we have for the other laboratories in the covenant.
*opening roof matched with a pool that reflects the stars
greater feature major structure virtue +2 Aesthetics, +3 Astrological Inceptions
also greater focus: major structure flaw -2 General Quality +4 Astrological Inceptions
*Diminutive flaw (minor structural flaw) the lab was made for a fish who can change into a baboon),no modifications for Pisces
*Missing equipment - (minor outfittings flaw) - the lab can only be used for Astrological inceptions - I took this once to preclude use of the lab for teaching which is something that Pisces could reasonably choose to do there.
*Poorly insulated on account of its roof(minor structural flaw) -1 Safety, -1 Aesthetics
*Magical Lighting (Free Supernatural Virtue): Type: Superior; Imaginem: +1; Aesthetics: +1; Texts: +1
*Superior Construction (Free Structure Virtue): Safety: +1; Aesthetics: +1
*Spotless (Free Outfittings Virtue): Health: +1; Aesthetics: +1; Creo: +1
*Magical Heating (Free Supernatural Virtue): Type: Superior; Safety: +0; Health: +1; Aesthetics: +1; Ignem: +1
Size +0
Refinement 0
General Quality -2
Upkeep 0
Safety 0
Warping 0
Health +1
Aesthetics +7
specializations in Astrogoical inceptions +10 and Texts +1
for characters of size 0 or greater the lab is further modified to have –1 General Quality, –2 Safety, –1 Health, and –1 Aesthetics on account of the diminutive flaw.
Assuming that the revised version of the laboratory passes muster Pisces' lab total for Astrological inceptions is
10 (Artes Liberales with specialization)
3 intelligence
10 lab specialization
-2 lab general quality
for a total of 21
He can develop two level 5 inceptions or a level 10 inception in a single season. He could spend three seasons to develop alevel 15 inception but that seems like a pretty long commitment.
The two inceptions that I was planning on for Pisces are level 10 Where is the Person N? and Where is the Object N? both from p 74 of Art and Academe
for both inceptions he creates one set of charts to use when he first creates the formula then an additional set of 5 charts from a season using his lab notes.
These inceptions allow Pisces (and thereby Hector and perhaps the covenant and house Tremere) to locate objects (like ships for instance) and people without use of an arcane connection. While magic is typically a better way to get a location, there are times when a target is in a restricted regio, a strong aegis, or an arcane connection is not available. The location and date of a ship's creation is often times a matter of public record and easy to obtain.
How about this inception for a season?
Using an additional season to create 5 more copies from the lab text.
For Pisces' last season of independent work he'll develop formulas for Has N Told the Truth? from page 73 and the following inception
in developing these two inceptions he will create one chart for each in addition to the lab texts to recreate them.
This should finish all of the lab work through 90 years out of apprenticeship.
The modifiers for his aging rolls are
-1 faerie blood
-2 living conditions
-2 Bronze cord
-26 longevity ritual
and +10(for ages 101-109) or +11 (for ages 110-115).
*I haven't worked out the casting totals yet (I'll come back and edit) (Edit 2/2/18: I did!, I am awesome)
*I added a reputation of Admiral among the Tremere,
*I added a twilight scar just because he was 115 and didn't have one yet
*I think that the list of equipment should be revised, but I've not come up with a meaningful collection of gear that would communicate who he is to the players. Certainly I think that the stout staff seems a bit odd with the talisman.
Hector and Pisces have three powers instilled in their bond ergo they should each have three new personality traits. I didn't see these in Darkwing's earlier work. Here are my suggestions
Pisces
has an ambition to achieve great renown among the House Tremere familiars
likes sailing
Has a subconscious feeling that he should be in charge of any crew he sails with.
Hector
Is enthralled with the night sky
Feels (not necessarily believes) that a ship at rest should be really still
Enjoys swimming
That should do it. This is the last fifteen years of Hector as I see it, not as Darkwing saw it. Different people are necessarily going to do things differently, but I hope I didn't go too far astray from the original ideas. Thanks for all of the comments and critiques.
That's very kind of you to say so. I and the others worked pretty hard on them (even ROF who stopped earlier than the rest of us). I'm glad you're enjoying them.