Sounds like a declaration of Wizard's War to me! I vote we get one of the redcaps to officiate; I'll sell the medieval equivalent of popcorn! And usher guests to their seats!
I agree. I've never really explored Spell Mastery as a player or SG, but Multiple Casting seems to be much more powerful than any of the other Mastery options. I always assumed I was missing something.
And I'll handle the side bets. 
I don't like the idea of nerfing spell mastery, limiting Multicasting or Fast Casting or anything.
In the old days, you used to have to roll a Stress Die + Int + Finesse against an Ease Factor of 9 + the number of spells. I would make that compromise, substituting the Mastery score for Finesse, forcing one to declare how many copies they are attempting and a random chance they might not get any (or even botch).
Mark, it's not nerfing spell mastery. It is a reasonable modification. If precise and quick must be taken multiple times to increase their bonuses, then why not multiple casting? It does limit multiple casting. Want three copies, take multiple casting twice. Or is Roberto incapable of defeating his enemies with only three Pila of Fire?
I said the modification nerfed my character a bit, not spell mastery generally. Sure it would be nice to pick multiple casting once, and then buy other mastery abilities and get a score of 6 and she can throw 7 copies of the same spell. And as you said, with spell mastery getting to a score of 6 is cheap, 52.5 xp.
But you see, I don't agree that it is a reasonable modification, and I also think Quick and Precise are underpowered.
Modifying it so that you need to make a roll to attempt Multicasting is already a step back from RAW. Is this not a reasonable compromise?
The difference between your proposal and mine is that you leave the number of copies up to some element of chance/fate. Does the guy with mastery 1 ever get his second copy? The test is Int + 1 + die vs 9 + 2. We will presume int 3 and the average die roll is 6, so on average, no, he doesn't. That nerfs multiple casting at the low end of mastery. Way harsher than taking multiple casting more than once. Have to ask, just what did Pietro spend all his mastery abilities on getting it up to 20?
If a character wants to shoot 6 copies of a spell at one time, I'm fine with that. I just think he should be paid for each copy. It really rears its head with DEO and might strippers. DEO 10 with +50 penetration and 4 mastery abilities, one is multiple casting wipes out the demon in one round.
I would just rather go with RAW. And I am starting to understand how Ryu feels. Ryu's pov is that Ryu is doing things according to RAW, and I have no real issue with things other than trying to encourage compromise. And here, I offer compromise and I still get jumped on. And conversation on the matter is getting scattered all over the place.
Time to but the hammer down and make a ruling.
Ryu: looking at the way your character is, I suggest making Ways of the Sea your Traditions Virtue, and Transformed Being as part of the rest of your package. I rule that Monstrous Blood is moot as it is already included in Monstrous Appearance. I suggest taking Cabal Legacy instead, your Transformation being the mystery initiated by that legacy. The Gift versus Gifted, I could go either way.
Roberto: he shall be scaled back in Hermetic age by 5 years for two standard length cycles, the Focus in Creating Flames (as a result of Twilight) will be dropped, and Mastery for PoF will be scaled back to 4. But Multicasting works according to RAW.
So it shall be ruled.
[strike]These are my ideas for choices for Boons and Hooks to create the basic foundation of the Chapterhouse of Sa Dragonera. Let me know what you think.
Boons & Hooks
Unknown: -2
-3 Unknown Hook: Possible ideas include Monster, Contested Resource,
-3 Unknown Hook: The Variable McGuffin
-3 Unknown Hook: room for stories by other players
+9 Unknown Boons: Each player gets three points of personal Boons that affect only them. They may take up to three points of personal Hooks for additional Boon points.
Site: -2
+3 Healthy Feature: The clean island air, ambient temperature, and sheer beauty of these islands promotes vitality and longevity. This grants a +3 bonus to all aging and recovery rolls.
+1 Vivid Environment: The word "Magnificent" doesn't even begin to describe it.
-3 Scattered Location*: Various important elements of the chapterhouse are scattered throughout the islands.
-3 Weak Aura: The base Aura is 0, a Lacunae. However, this is not to be concerned about. Players can use their personal Boon points to "purchase" an aura for their location.
Fortifications: -1
+0 Island:
-1 Outbuildings:
Resources: +2
+3 Hidden Resources: Who knows what we may find or will be uncovered?
-1 Vis Salary: Most members of the chapterhouse will be Journeymen, and will have to perform services to earn their vis (what Covenants calls "Salary", our covenant rules call "Wages". This equals 3 pawns of vis in any year the Journeyman performed at least a Season worth of services. A Master who resides at the chapterhouse must spend one of their personal Boon points to buy this off. They receive the regular 3 pawns per year as due a Master (what our rules call a Salary). If an Officer (and their should be at least one Master who is an Officer watching over the chapterhouse, maybe we can take rotating shifts or make it a regular post), then they must also purchase Vis Grant as a personal Boon, representing the fact that they get an additional 3 pawns of vis for their office (what our rules call a Stipend).
Residents: +2
+0 Sailors: Just about anyone that we recruit from the local area is going to be experienced with sailing and life by the sea.
+3 Chapterhouse: Viewed in reverse, Chapterhouse is viewed as a boon to us, ince it includes many benefits. Our expenses are paid, what we make above that is ours to keep, our motherhouse is considered a Major Ally, and more.
+1 Criminals: A lot of the grogs we recruit will wind up being former pirates, some still are, and they will be skilled fighters and seamen. They will require little in terms of wages, save for food, wine, and a bit of booty.
+1 Veteran Fighters: In addition to sailors and pirates, the chapterhouse is staffed with a contingent of almogavars and a few marines.
-3 Dependent: Sa Dragonera is a Chapterhouse, dependent on the Covenant of Andorra and partially subsidized by the Covenant of Barcelona. This is similar to the Superiors Hook, save that our superiors cannot tell individuals what to do, only mandate decisions upon the conditions of the chapter (save for bits taken as personal boons/hooks).
External Relations: -2
+1 Local Ally: Count Peter
-3 Hangout: Taken as a Major Hook, since there are many varied places that members and covenfolk will be found hanging out constantly. This will not only multiply the potential for random story sources, but it may make it difficult to physically track down any one single person.
Surroundings +3
+3 Mystical Allies: Local merefolk
+1 Hidden Ways: There are different paths and shortcuts and ways to get between points on the islands, some better than others.
-1 Minority: Player characters will be mostly a minority, and the bulk of the mundane population is Moorish. There has been some displacement and resettlement forced by the powers that be (Count Peter), but it is a sad and slow process.[/strike]
I like the concept of letting us pick some boons, but by zeroing out the aura we'll need to spend all of our boon points just to have access to an average aura. Was that your intention?
So we're not assumed to be based on Dragonera?
Did you drop the triton idea?
Yes. Though the result would only be an average aura, it means the chapterhouse could potentially control several many average auras scattered throughout the island. And you can take an aura as high as 6 if you take three points of personal hooks.
I should make a list of suggested "personal" boons & hooks.
I am also thinking maybe upping things to 6 points of personal boons, but no more than 3 on any one item and no more than one major item.
Dragonera is our main focus, as it is a massive vis resource and should have a strong aura. But it is difficult to build upon. Maybe one magus can have their set up their.
But otherwise, yeah. My idea is for everyone to have their own set up at a different location somewhere in these islands. A manor house, a tiny island in a region, an undersea cave or an underwater location, or whatnot.
[/quote]
This is the Triton idea. Tritons are a type of merefolk. Others include Atlanteans, Lyonessians, Havamandr, Nixies, Sirens, Sahuagin, Merrow, Selkies, and more.
Tritons can range in appearance from monstrous to alluring, but they all have fish tails instead of legs. The monstrous one have spongy marsh like hair, fine shark-like scales of uniform blue color over their upper and lower body, jagged teeth (maybe tusks), and a dolphin like tail instead of legs. The more natural seeming have a fish like tail and a normal human like upper body (Natural Appearance + Aquam Monstrosity, a Major Quality and Minor Inferiority). Those who are exceptionally alluring usually have some Virtue to account for that, and they look like the Little Meremaid.
Wow. I completely missed the statement about personal hooks. 
I'm certainly not going to object.
That's going to get pricey unless we just don't bother with an Aegis (Aegises? Aegoi? ). Other than that, I like the idea as long as someone sets up on Dragonera to keep an eye on our vis resources.
I am figuring I am charging 9 boon points. The gain is three boon points, multiplied by a theoretical six magi equal18, their value divided in half because they affect primarily individual members, for a final tabulation of +9
The lovely thing about math and nonsensical fantasy equations is that you can bent them to mean almost anything :mrgreen:
The value is 5 points of personal boons, multiplied by a theoretical six members equals 30, the value divided by one-third equals +10, that sum modified by an inclusive Minor Hook in that the boons & hooks of others can spread on to others. Final total +5.
Lower levels? Say 20th or 30th? One of us agrees to specialize in casting an Aegis with Efficient Casting as a Mastery? Put an Aegis on Sa Dragonera only? The motherhouse gives each member a stipend of four pawns to cast their own Aegis?
Here is a second draft, to follow in three parts...
[strike]Boons & Hooks -0
Unknown: -0
-3 Unknown Hook:
[tab][/tab]Possible ideas include Monster, Contested Resource, Dwindling Resource, Flawed Resources, Natural Disaster, Regio, etcetera.
-3 Unknown Hook:
[tab][/tab]The Variable McGuffin
-3 Unknown Hook: [tab][/tab]Room for stories by other players
+9 Unknown Boons:
[tab][/tab]Each player gets six points of personal Boons that affect only them. They may take up to six points of personal Hooks for additional Boon points. No more than three points may be spent on any one feature, and only one Boon or Hook may be Major. (calculated as: 6 points times a theoretical six players equals 36, taken as only a quarter of the value equals 9).
Site: -4
+1 Healthy Feature:
[tab][/tab]The clean island air, ambient temperature, and sheer beauty of these islands promotes vitality and longevity. This grants a +1 bonus to all aging and recovery rolls.
+1 Vivid Environment:
[tab][/tab]The word "Magnificent" doesn't even begin to describe it.
-3 Scattered Location:
[tab][/tab]Various important elements of the chapterhouse are scattered throughout the islands.
-3 Weak Aura:
[tab][/tab]The base Aura is 0, a Lacunae. However, this is not to be concerned about. Players can use their personal Boon points to "purchase" an aura for their location.
Fortifications: -1
-1 Outbuildings:
Resources: +3
+3 Hidden Resources:
[tab][/tab]Who knows what we may find or will be uncovered?
Residents: +2
+0 Sailors:
[tab][/tab]Just about anyone that we recruit from the local area is going to be experienced with sailing and life by the sea.
+1 Chapterhouse:
[tab][/tab]Viewed in reverse, being a Chapterhouse is a boon to us, since it includes many benefits. Our expenses are paid, what we make above that is ours to keep, our motherhouse (Andorra) and cosponsor (Barcelona) are considered allies, and more.
+1 Criminals:
[tab][/tab]A lot of the grogs we recruit will wind up being former pirates, some still are, and they will be skilled fighters and seamen. They will require little in terms of wages, save for food, wine, and a bit of booty.
+1 Veteran Fighters:
[tab][/tab]In addition to sailors and pirates, the chapterhouse is staffed with a contingent of almogavars and a few marines.
-1 Superiors:
[tab][/tab]Sa Dragonera is a Chapterhouse, dependent on the Covenant of Andorra and partially subsidized by the Covenant of Barcelona. Our that our superiors cannot tell individuals what to do, only mandate decisions upon the conditions of the chapter (save for bits taken as personal boons/hooks).
External Relations: -3
-1 Outside Influences:
[tab][/tab]The Covenant of Barcelona has an invested interest in the affairs of Sa Dragonera.
-3 Hangout:
[tab][/tab]Taken as a Major Hook, since there are many varied places that members and covenfolk will be found hanging out constantly. This will not only multiply the potential for random story sources, but it may make it difficult to physically track down any one single person.
Surroundings +3
+3 Mystical Allies:
[tab][/tab]Tritons
+1 Hidden Ways:
[tab][/tab]There are different paths and shortcuts and ways to get between points on the islands, some better than others.
-1 Minority:
[tab][/tab]Player characters will be mostly a minority, and the bulk of the mundane population is Moorish. There has been some displacement and resettlement forced by the powers that be (Count Peter), but it is a sad and slow process.[/strike]
[strike]Suggested Personal Boons & Hooks
[tab][/tab]Each member magus residing here has their own individual location, and six points of Personal Boons to further customize their locations. They may further take up to 6 points of Personal Hooks for additional points of Personal Boons. No more than three points may be spent on any one Boon or Hook, nor may more than one Boon or Hook may be major.
[tab][/tab]The array of options for Personal Boons & Hooks is somewhat different that the one in Covenants, as it is approached from the point of view of building your own personal space in the covenant, personally and physically.
Status
[tab][/tab]Representing your rank and status in the Covenant, and thus in the Chapterhouse. Rank is not an optional choice, it is a mandatory pick based on the actual character. Masters have greater personal benefits (and may come and go as they please), but Journeymen have more room for individual flexibility.
+0 Journeyman:
[tab][/tab]As a Journeyman participating in the Sa Dragonera Chapter, the covenant owes you the Basic Rights and Rights of Membership. This means that you have your basic expenses paid for, are provided with a laboratory and a staff, and are eligible to earn annual Wages of 3 pawns of vis and 6£ silver presuming you perform at least a season of service in that year.
[tab][/tab]The covenant also owes you a decent aura and the protection of an Aegis. However, there has not yet been found a Magic Aura in these islands that is strong and large enough to accommodate everyone this way. Instead, there are several weak auras of small or tiny size. It is also not cost effective to pay for a separate Aegis for everyone, even a weak one. Thus participation in this mission is voluntary, and the covenant compensates you for sacrifice by offering you status as a Deputy Officer. You are given an additional 6£ of silver every year for your expenses just for being here, and a three year tour here counts as a service towards earning Master Status.
+3 Master
[tab][/tab]A Master at Sa Dragonera is also due the Privileges of a Master. This means an annual 3 pawns of vis and 6£ of silver as just due, the same again for every year with a season of service, and again if serving as an Officer (as compensation for looking over the juniors and the chapter). If serving a regular post with an established sanctum, the covenant offers 12£ silver as additional compensation for the lack of an Aegis or strong aura. Masters have more freedom and access to greater resources. They are the Superiors that the Journeymen have to be mindful of. Masters often come and go as they please and use the islands as a vacation retreat or pop in for observation to make sure their money is well spent.
Aura
[tab][/tab]The Aura is the feature to be most mindful of here. The base is an Aura of 0, either a Lacunae or simply a mundane location with no aura of any kind. You may spend Personal Boon points to increase the Strength and Size of the Aura, as well as other aspects. Setting aside your allotment of starting Boons and your balance with Hooks; you may spend up to 3 points on Aura related Boons, and may spend up to three more if you also take an equal number of Aura related Hooks.
+1 Aura Strength
[tab][/tab]This increases the strength of the Aura by one point each time it is taken. At the base, the aura is tiny and only encompasses your Lab
+1 Aura Size
[tab][/tab]This increases the size of the Aura from the base of tiny and only covering your Lab (+0), to a medium size that will include your entire sanctum and primary building it is in (+1), to large enough to cover the property of your Quarter (+2). If you control a large estate (unlikely that I will allow this, but if), then you must take this one more time to include all of the property.
+1 Regio (optional +0 or -1)
[tab][/tab]The sanctum is in a regio, the highest level and interior size of which is determined as purchased. The outer layer(s) can be any strength and size lover than this. This is a requirement if you want the Lab Virtue of Regio.
[tab][/tab]As a base, the regio can be easily entered in several known ways, such as a certain pattern of walking, a path, a landmark, or simply using Second Sight. This may be taken as a Free Boon instead, representing a Regio with unexpected entries; such as certain times of day or times of the year, weather conditions, when viewed be certain classes of people, etcetera. Taken as a Minor Hook, this represents a regio on your property that is partially or wholly unexplored, and your sanctum is not in it.
+1 Favorable Aura:
[tab][/tab]Aquam is the only plausible Favorable Alignment I can think of. If you have another idea, sell me on it.
Location
[tab][/tab]These are items concerned only with the physical property.
+0 Island:
[tab][/tab]This is the default choice, either being on the coast of one of the larger islands or somewhere upon one of the smaller ones.
-0 Inland
[tab][/tab]You may choose to instead reside inland on one of the larger islands, either Mallorca or Minorca (Ibiza and Formetera are too small).
+1 Difficult Access:
[tab][/tab]Your sanctum and lab is located in a difficult to access location, such as an underwater cave or secret room.
+1 Healthy Feature:
[tab][/tab]Everyone already has this once by default, but may take it again up to twice more, for a total bonus of +3 to Aging and Recovery rolls.
+1 Hostile Environment:
[tab][/tab]This represents an environment that is hostile and inhospitable to others, not yourself. A good example would be an underwater sanctum for a magus that can live and breath underwater easily and naturally.
+1 Secluded
[tab][/tab]The sanctum is in a hidden spot, known only to the other magi of the chapter and a few others you might tell. Examples include underground, a sea cavern, in a regio, a secret chamber in an unknown building, and etcetera.
-1 Unhealthy Feature:
[tab][/tab]There are a few locations that may be unhealthy or unsanitary, such as in the city of Palma or a graveyard. Taking this hook once negates the general +1 bonus. Taken a second time results in a -1 penalty to Aging and Recovery rolls. That is about as bad as it gets though.
-1 Urban
[tab][/tab]Your sanctum is nestled within a small coastal settlement
-3 Urban/-3 City
[tab][/tab]Your sanctum is located in a major city (the only obvious choice being Palma on Mallorca), or on the edge of it.
Construction
[tab][/tab]These are items concerned only with buildings upon the property.
+0 Manor House
[tab][/tab]The property includes a modest stone manor house. If combined with Urban or City, this may be a townhouse. It may have mild fortifications, but nothing serious.
+0 Small Tower
[tab][/tab]The property is a small stone tower, such as a lighthouse or an old watch tower. It may have mild fortifications, but nothing serious.
+1 Edifice/Important Building/Special Feature
[tab][/tab]This could mean a really fancy building, a fountain and stature in front of your manor, a stone pier, an underground/underwater bunker, and etcetera.
-1 Crumbling
[tab][/tab]Whatever type of building you have and whatever it is made out of, it is in disrepair and falling apart
-1 Wooden
[tab][/tab]Your building is made out of wood instead of stone. This may be nice and of excellent construction, but it is vulnerable.
Other
-1 Haunted
[tab][/tab]For whatever reason, bad luck or choice, you picked a haunted location. An example might include the Roman graveyard on Sa Dragonera (only one magus may establish a sanctum there, and it will be difficult). On Sa Dragonera, you may choose this as an Aura related Hook, but only if the Aura is also aligned with Mentem or Corpus.
Resources
+1 Secondary Income
[tab][/tab]You have a private source of income that brings in 15£ a year. This boon is free if this is an Indiscrete Resource, a source of illicit income such as piracy.[/strike]
[strike]Individual Expenditures
Average Annual Expenses
- Magus: 15£ (5£ Inhabitant, 1£ Writing Materials, 3£ Lab and Arcane Supplies, 6£ Compensation)
- Companion/Familiar: 3£
- Soldier/Specialist/Craftsman/Professional: 2£
-
Servant/Rabble/Covenfolk/Flunky/Pirate/Other: 1£
[tab][/tab]The typical Journeyman is afforded the lifestyle that befits a magus, and may have a Lab Upkeep as high as +2. It is further presumed that each magus will have a Companion, a Familiar, two soldier grogs, three servants, and a Specialist at their disposal.
[tab][/tab]This totals up to an average expense of 30£ per magus; including their entourage, buildings & properties, and laboratories. This is what the covenant has budgeted, and supplies each magus with each year. This includes 6£ that they can save aside, or use to live a more lavish lifestyle. Wages that they earn for services would be money owed no matter if the resided here or at the main covenant, so this is not a budget concern.
[tab][/tab]At the rate of 30£ per magus, it costs the covenant 180£ per year to maintain the Chapterhouse. The vis yeild from Sa Dragonera is a Queen per year, and we make a 60/40 split with Barcelona. So it takes us 180£ to make 60 pawns of vis, using a vis exchange rate of 12£ per pawn, Andorra profits 45 pawns of vis per year. That is 5 pawns more than Barcelona, but we can consider that a wash with cost overruns and miscellaneous expenses.
Upgrading your Lifestyle
[tab][/tab]If you want a more lavish lifestyle, the cost is up to you. You have 6£ to play with, and there are other ways to obtain income. The expense of expanding your entourage is as indicated above, Other additional expenses are as follows.
- Lab Upkeep: Pyramid value of Upkeep score minus 3£
- Lab Size: 1£ per point of Size
-
Buildings: 1£ per point of Boon
[/strike]
Do we get five or six points of personal Boons?
Six. I had revised the draft and calibrated things for 6.
Do we need to buy the aura for Sa Dragonera itself or is that already defined?