second post on this page catnip & garlic
Ok then.
Which of the upgrades that Janus has in his laboratory are available to all of the characters? Exactly what actions does it take to integrate the upgrades via the laboratory personalization rules?
I don't actually kow. I mean, Janus spends time (and vis) to build the devices and therefor gets the Virtue a device may correspond to, or another bonus, with no need to install the virtue.
As for the other magi? It would seem prudent to have them spend a season per virtue or bonus in order to integrate it, but the effects take no space and have no cost. But should it be a season per device, per bonus or per affect? The lesser devices each give one single virtue or bonus. But the invested device? I'm thinking one season per separate effect - and I think each effect only gives one bonus, so it should be easy to administre.
I'm going to edit Janus' lab to add the data for what kind of bonus each device gives.
So, about Aegis of the Hearth - what are we going to do?
Should we get ahold of a "Day of Communion" and if so, at what level? 30?
In the year 16-30 should it be a goal for us to get Communion?
I think getting lab texts for common spells like Communion or Aegis. Janus can easily invent a lvl 30 Communion form text without grinding Arts, although he isn't very good at casting it. He is likely to raise his Vim from 5 to 8 or 10 during the next period.
He needs a good deal more Arts study if he is to invent one from scratch.
I found the relevant rules om page 112 of covenants:
Free virtues are gained in matter of a day or two
Bausas has a level 20 version by year 15, with 9+dice penetration IIRC.
If we're going to use the communion, we should probably all do so - if all 4 of use learn A Day of Communion at level 25, that will allow us to cast a level 30 Aegis as if it was a level 8 (30/4, round up) spell, and so having a decent-ish penetration. How about making that a desired target for year 30?
Yup. Do we assume we have the lab text or is someone going to invent it for us and share the text?
Hector will take time to get a MuVi lab total of 30 as he doesn't do much Muto yet...I should be able to make it for year 30 though.
About halfway through year 16-30 Janus has a MuVi lab total of 40. Not enough to invent a lvl 25 Communion from scratch but more than enough if we have a lab text.
So I'll assume we have a lvl 25 lab text. At higher levels Janus would struggle with casting it anyway.
What issues do you want to have the magi deal with in years 15-30?
I see that Janus is already done through +30 but I'm going to wait until Bausas and Hector are up at +15 before I go forward myself.
Once I have a few ideas I don't find developing my magus all that hard or time consuming. Even if it's for 15 years.
Sorry about racing ahead. I'll pull the brakes a bit.
The issues I've seen for Janus and the covenant has been the same as the year 1-15: Building and improving the covenant. Many of the devices good for comfort also save on servants as well as consumables like fuel plus less waste on provision.
A lot of ideas still come to my mind but Janus' time went very fast with getting to 5 in all arts. This way of distributing exp makes this process very time consuming. With 30 exp per year it's only 2 Arts from 0 to 5 per year. Good Roots for Arts should be at least L5 Q15 or even L7 Q28.
Anyway I have more ideas for comfort health and economy. Janus will look into CrAn T:Circle to bring animals to maturity in a day. Plus some Animal Craft Magic devices.
Plus maybe the old favourite "Silverware of the Wastrel" from Through the Aegis.
What page is that on? I need a CrTe frippery or my Maga to practice on.
Bob
I feel a tad odd to be asking this now but...what are the Covenant's Boons & Hooks? The resources are kind of important too, but may be a limiting factor in the Magi's advancement (though it may also make inventing certain spells easier; such as having common lab texts like Aegis of the Hearth and Wizard's Communion that almost every covenant is expected to have).
The device is Armoire of Excess, the power is Silverware of the Wastrel.
It's in the Collem Leonis covenant page 156-157.
The device creates a lot of silverware for eating and serving. It was originally used by a Verditius magus in an old 4th ed saga. The idea was so good I used it there.
We've been deliberately vague about the covenant in an attempt to be useful to many and not use too specific and special concepts and setups.
So we did not specify any Boons and Hooks. Nor have we specified and lab texts but assume to have access to common ones. And which are common? We each decide as need be. Janus has only used text for Wizard's Day of Communion.
We Intended for a broad, common concept as Vanilla as possible. And to have minor issues with economy and building the covenant, mundane diplomacy, dealing with a local faerie or monster etc. be dealt with by way of our magi''s activities.
Perhaps this is not very clear yet? The economy and covenant building is something Janus has worked with, as well as setting the stage for a Mercer house.
Other things may be more clear once all 4 magi are posted.
I think that the idea that boons and hooks are constant throughout the life of the covenant was a bit sketchy anyway. I didn't want to redo the covenant every 15 years. I felt that this was mostly about making spells, items, and believable characters.
To that end though I think it does make sense to put a few covenant concerns into each 15 year period so that the characters are developed less in a vacuum.
Something like:
years 0-15: find a source of income
years 16-30: develop ways to acquire vis and or keep relations with mundane entities from becoming antagonistic
years:31-45:develop tools to deal with powerful monsters and or hermetic politics
years 46-60: The covenant has attracted the attention of demons develop something to deal with this issue.
In fact those choices look pretty good to me, you can consider that my suggestion.
We had mentioned something like this previously. Not to make it obligatory but to see that perhaps one or two of the magi do something about each issue.
Ok I just did a draft of years 16-30 for Andreva and did not have time for anything with the Aegis or finding vis or keeping things cool with the mundane neighbors. My hypocrisy meter is pegging at 10. She'll still get the duration sun wizard's communion by year 45 but do I need to rework things to make sure everything is taken care of in 16-30?
Bausas will try to find time to look for Vis during the next few years
I think that sounds very good, in fact this is what we discussed beforehand.
Now for Janus the short update is:
Year 0-15: Devices aiding the quarry as income source, devices for comfort and savings for the covenant, devices for safe birth and easy care of babies, relations with mundane villagers and covenfolk, working magic to aid Redcaps
Conclusion: The covenant is safe, healthy and fairly cheap to run, it is attractive to visit for Redcaps and traveling magi
Year 16-30: Further devices for savings and the running of covenant, further travel magic to aid Redcaps, further relations with villagers through family ties, prepare for apprentice, find one, and start training. Knows Wizard's Day of Cumminion by year 30.
Conclusion: More of the same really. Plus a blood relative apprentice. Mundane relations with nobility and Church has not been a priority, but I see his relations with the lower classes as a kind or spy network.
Year 31-45 I'm just starting to think about. It will be finish training apprentice, further comfort and savings devices, new spells and devices for economy.
Conclusion: How the deuce does one develop tools for Hermetic politics? My aim was to be well informed because of the covenants role as a growing nexus and to be able to deal in diplomacy and intrigue by way of visitors and by serving their needs for letters and transport of books and vis.
I'm thinking Janus will focus a little more on OoH Lore and Intrigue in year 31-45 to reflect this. As he has no fighting abilities and no skills or interest in direct contact with the nobles and bishops he'll avoid this. Maybe he can develop Intellego Vim devices to grant mundanes the ability to sense vis. But maybe not, because of the deficiency...
So, if we should try and integrate the ongoing concerns for the covenant with our magi's activities for year 31-45, what kind of major threat from magical monster or mundane individual/organization or Hermetic politics should we decide is relevant?
It could even be that the Hermetic politics is a byproduct of the rising threat of a monster or warmongering mundane, and that we have to deal with both. Preferably something involving all of us, so something with a fleet of ships would be interesting for Hector. A situation which builds up over time, allowing the magi to react and prepare for a dramatic climax in year 45,
How about this:
A dragon living in the mountains nearby has been dormant for a century, until disturbed by a band of treasure hunters led by a young magus. They are driven away but the dragon is now awake and hungry...for livestock, gold, vis and (for dramatic effect) a maiden of noble birth. The covenant now deals with the political issues against the magus responsible, but find he has powerful and old allies who support him.
In the course of time the dragon's raids become more frequent and violent. Not only are the farmers afraid and impoverished by losing cattle the local baron starts to muster his forces. The covenant suffers losses of vis resources because along with mundane treasures from the noblemen and merchants the dragons hoards vis.
Eventually the dragon's raids reach beyond the borders of this realm across the water and he kidnaps the fiancee of a neighbouring county's young heir. This young knight considers himself a great hero and gathers an army to sail in pursut of the dragon, and also holds our local baron responsible in some way. This also raises alarm in Hermetic circles and we need to deal with this.
We now have a war waiting to break out, a dragon which can probably crush the mundane forces, plus the Tribunal breathing down our necks to deal with that.
How's that for a dramatic challenge?