i understand. I'm just trying to understand the guidelines for initial character creation. Spending all time in the Wagon Train vs starting somewhere else and coming to it. At gauntlet vs 10 years past vs 30 years past. If qualified to train an apprentice, can a new character start the game with one?
I do understand that it is 30xp per year for time spent not in the Wagon train but a more detailed approach for time spent in the Wagon Train.
an option for a more detailed approach once on the train- you can certainly continue at 30 xp per year on the wagon train if that is your desire. Also as per regular rules you can do lab work prior to the wagon train at a cost of 10xp/season (though you can do a 4th season in one year without having negative xp)
If you have arts sufficient to be training an apprentice you can start with one, but this will also need to be another character- provided you have spent a full season searching for an apprentice and there is another player willing to take on a second companion as your apprentice.
So is there a problem with spending 10 years at another Covenant ( following the exp rules you have said ) then the rest in a possibly more detailed character creation on the Wagon Train for some years?
That would be fine
I am looking at a Criamon who has started the Path of the Body but maybe investigating his own Path. He will have Atlantian Magic and will likely be a sailor with his one small boat. He will have a PVS of Corpus ( for the troupe planning). He will be searching the waters for vis sources/mystic sites. For a companion I'm thinking of a Ship's Captain or possibly a merchant. Basically something that gives us a connection or way to travel outside the island.
A question was asked about pg 5-6 on this thread about Mystery Paths and familiars for those people taking more experienced magi which did not get answered.
The first avenue of the Path of the body takes a year. I'm willing to give up 30xp for that.
The BP discussion got kind of humbly-mumbly so I was not sure what the thought was for spending on it. It looked like people favored vis and silver. Any further thoughts?
Familiars are fine. As for house mystery paths, I was wanting to go with no intiations, however since the Criamon assign guides to young magi, I will allow it as a non-story event for this case.
Jebrick - Re: the BP discussion, the focus on Vis and money was from two influences. First, specialist use Grog slots anyways, so no point in spending BP on them. Second, spending BP on Summa gets very expensive, very quick. On a per point basis, it is more "efficient" to spend BP on texts/items/vis than books, then trade once the game has started. This is a dangerous gamble as it will take both time and stories to convert vis stock into books, so the two players that have submitted BP proposals have hedged their bets by each getting a single book. Once the game starts we will have additional resources, including books, that Silveroak will define.
As we stand, we currently have 120 pounds of silver, which is plenty for daily operating expenses for 2-3 years, but building labs and other capitol expenditures could easily deplete that. Likely we will need more, but may be able to develop it in game by the time we do. We can never have too may vis stocks, but if we put several hundred pawns in one unguarded spot, I'm sure we can expect a story based upon it. I'd suggest lab texts to help with short term goals and items that can help a new covenant (i.e. can save money or labor, find vis/auras, increase grog skills, or provide general utility). Tracti are also a good investment, but will likely not be used in the short term, so it might be better to buy them in game.
What I understood from Sliveroak's statement is that he we will have additional resources to advance our characters season by season before the game starts representing books that the caravan had but that left when it split up. We will no longer have any access to them once the game starts. So for those of you that still have not spent your 50 BP I would encourage you to do so that as quickly as possible. Silveroak will only spend the points after everyone has submitted so he know what ended up in our hands and what did not. So for those of us that plan to build our characters with the past covenants resources we are at a stand still with advancing our characters.
Are we allowed to get casting tablets with the BP?
I am probably going to simply take my BP in silver and vis (not sure of the ratio I want) so that we have trading stocks and can afford to build labs and to maintain the place for long enouhg to get moving.
Silveroak - What tribunals are meeting in the next two years, and where? It strikes me that is we have TONS of vis stocks, we can liquidate them easier if we send magi to trade in multiple tribunals. Especially ones short on vis.
You may get casting tablets with the build points. I will come up with a chart of when and where various tribunals will be held in coming years.
Question to the Troupe...Do we want casting tablets for Wizard's Tower or an Aegis? Or are we planning on being in caves?
Some non-point assets will remain- you will have mobile/outdoor labs (or everything you need to fill a room and make a lab), and you will have mobile shelter... wagons, tents, cookware, etc.
If we have the tablets we can use them in case there is an option if we later know that we will not need them, we might sell them. In case we focus on the caves and skip the tablets we are less flexible. So I would vote to have casting Tablets (at least one for an Aegis).
I was planning to spend the spell points so my character would have the ability to create a tower for us (and maybe another later). If someone wants to spend the BP on the casting tablet, I can do something else.
I believe one of the other players was planning to have the ability to cast an Aegis, although again a casting tablet would probably allow him to spend spell points on something else.
Bear in mind that we have two masons in the group, one of them "mythic". It may take a little longer to build towers by hand, but it'll sure be a heck of a lot cheaper. I bet there's a rule somewhere that gives some sort of bonus for good construction, and I guarantee it'll also be a work of art for the ages!
It will also freak out the straights less.
Not may take longer. 1 night is much shorter than 3-5 years. Since the Wizard's tower is solid stone ( not blocks) it would be even better construction. Because it is coming from a Creo spell, it is perfect.
Remember that Malta is owned/controlled by the King of Sicily. he may not take kindly to some people building a tower or any fortifications on his island. Using his quarry, ect.
I would at least make a single Wizard's tower and then build up the rest of the compound by hand but I will go along with whatever the troupe wants.
Keep in mind that building a tower overnight is a clearly visible sign that someone or something mighty maybe a Magus or a Faerie Lord has settled there. What is our plan to deal with the mundane? I would suggest to keep a low profile for the start.
Wizards tower is considered superior construction. A mundanely constructed tower with an extremely competent mason can have higher bonuses. I have written an article for Sub Rosa whose guidelines I intend to follow... hopefully their next issue will be out fairly soon ( and include my submission).