General question: Am I being too critical in my comments regarding character development?
It's hard for me to judge, because I'm very permissive by nature, I think you may be toward the strict end of things but not unreasonable.
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I think we've been doing things fine. I don't really see an issue with being strict about expectations as long you clearly communicate them, which I think you've done a pretty good job on.
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No you are not
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Hello,
I have been mulling over a few different concepts and think this one will be the most interesting. Though there could of course be problems with a Quaesitor living at the site so perhaps its undesirable, if so, I will simply play something else.
Balatro of Guernicus
A comically looking man. Hunchbacked with ill-fitting bright clothes. Balatro however takes full advantage of this, as well as his reputation as fool and untalented magus, for his Quaesitor duties. Favouring being underestimated and mundane methods of investigation.
Stories
- Investigations.
- Guernicus politics.
- Trying to make the covenant follow the Code.
- Problems of potentially being under 3 different Peripheral Codes.
It is customary to introduce yourself in the Table Talk (OOC) before jumping into character concepts. It lets people know you and where you are coming from, game-wise. It helps the other players get a feeling of your experience with Ars Magica and PbP sagas. 
I'll let the other players comment on the concept for now!
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Oops sorry, guess I got a little ahead of myself.
No problem! Just here to help.
Hello everyone. Thanks for having me.
I was also thinking of a Guernicus, but if Whaler has a strong predilection I'd rather let you play one than me.
My idea was:
- a transicionalist that wants apprentices to have rights under the code
- he himself has been accidentally damaged by his parens during apprenticeship
- his parens consider his agenda a personal insult (tormenting master) because 1) it was an accident; and 2) he tried to compensate by dedicating more time to instruction (strong parens virtue)
- he is actually proud of his parens and wants to enforce the same responsabillity through the strong arm of the Hermetic Law
- could either be an ally or an antagonist to Abaelard's character (wouldn't be happy with more hedge magi joining because he thinks the other magi will not support more benefits for hedge magi apprentices, but is in full support for a reform on the Tytalus way of teaching)
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EDIT: thinking again, this one doesn't seem like it will be fun to play, even with major corrections. Disregard this one.
A second concept that I'm entertaining:
________ of Bonisagus (still recognizes himself as a Criamon)
- Started as Criamon, talented at Creo and Auran (Affinity with Auran). Terrible temper (Fury, maybe Wrathful).
- Stole lab text for Incantation of Lightning (barely manageable for him towards the final years of apprenticeship, may require apt student).
- Fury triggers one day, huge lab accident, and he discovers that when his temper goes really bad the target of Incantation of Lightning is imbued of perdo vis (Personal Vis Source, he can't really control this).
- A bonisagus got reeeally interested in that (how does CrAu generates Pe???). Used all kind of mentem spells to try to control or change the generated vis (triggering anger with CrMe, using MuMe to see if he would generates creo vis, etc). No success. Tried with other spells, also no success (possible source of a Flawed Parma (Mentem)).
- His current goal is to build a safe device to discharge his vis (probably a glass bottle that would trigger something similar to Gather the Essence of the Beast when hit by lightining), possibly his future talisman and to control his temper.
- Would really love to spend the rest of his life thinking about the Enigma and the Wind.
I know this one still requires some thinking to become a magus easier to run stories. I'd accept suggestions.
I can also think of a few more options if needeed.
I want to heart your character so hard, but I am already committed to 2 and soon I will be running all stories duento loving character concepts too much!
Just to make sure the new players understand how we handle character concept validation, let me report this:
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@StephenFleetwood I could take up some of your commitments. =9
@Arthur, I'm aware of the validation. That reminds me, should we look at the already created magi and commit to run stories for two of them?
What about updating on Notes and Claims storyguide commitments?
Since you ask directly, ... no I am not going to answer that question, because there are good reasons to be critical, and if it works for you, I have no reason to criticise, ... but I can comment on consequences.
For me, the play-to-prep ratio drops too low. I draw inspiration from play, or rather from the interaction of roleplay, and I only have little bit to get me through chargen, before play starts. When chargen takes too long, for whatever reason, I burn out. Of course, high standards for chargen and preparation is only one of many reasons for its taking time. I have no idea how important each reason is, nor how many burn out as easily as I do. All I can do is to point out the causality, and leave to others to draw conclusions.
Yes! Note that everyone can update that list (the post is set up as a wiki) and should do so.
Is there a place to discuss with the troupe the kind of stories we will be running? I was thinking that the Table Talk might not be the best one, not sure.
Anyway, for now I think that running stories about exploration and some mystery cults would be fun. I'll update the Notes abd Claims accordingly, and edit later as needed.
Also, it seems like the Guernicus is not welcome here with his transicionalist ideals =9. I will think a bit more on a new concept for a magus. For now, I'm kinda interested on the hedge companion. I'll propose one below.
Following Arthur's sugestion for a minor hedge wizard, I was thinking of the following:
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An unGifted weather warlock (Whistle Up the Wind, from HoH:S pg. 105). Learned almost all of his craft alone. Could also be an unGifted folk witch (male), but I'd like to keep WUtW if possible. He knows the valley and several points of interest, and has had contact with some local magic and faerie creatures (albeit not in friendly terms with most). I envision him with Ways of the Land (Mountains), maybe with Wilderness Sense. Stories would be centered on exploration, on the local creatures and on teaching the boy (keep reading).
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He had a vision (Visions, Minor Story Flaw) a couple of decades ago of a mighty circle of trees, and a small sapling that after planted on that circle, enabled him to rest under the shadow of the trees. He has been looking for this place for years, without success until far. The circle of trees is actually the covenant, but he will probably take some time to realize that.
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He has already found the sapling: a young Gifted boy. He has already started to teach the boy to Whistle and wants him to be his successor. He knows the boy is the sapling of his vision, and will try his best to protect the lad of anyone wanting to hurt or kidnap him.
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Between Ways of the Mountain, Wilderness Sense, his occasional Visions, and WUtW, it would be better for the covenant to befriend him instead of slaying him and stealing the gifted boy.
Two notes:
- The hedge wizard's apprentice is still rather young (I'm thinking around six) so he could still become an apprentice to one of the magi in the near future. Who? That's the subject for a future story.
- I'm not intending to play the apprentice, now or in the future. I'm not against he becoming someone's future magus. He would develop as an hermetic magus with WUtW (the hedge wizard would be VERY against him losing this ability due to the Opening).
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He's cool. I liked the gurnicus 
But I can heart this one as I am already saying I will run hedge wizards stories!
Also, my pc is in a mystery cult and a mystery house...
Yeah, there seems to be a lot of opportunities for mystery cults with this group of characters. I don't think I could develop things for all of them (specifically, I don't have a lot of love for Matres & Matrones, neither the Cult of Heroes, so I don't think I would run a story callen would enjoy), but I definitely resonate with some of the other ideas.
For Marcus, I must say I'm still not sure about what the deal with the Immortal Weaver mystery cult is. I'd like to discuss that a bit before committing to stories about that. Let's have that discussion in the proper place. =9
On a side note, what is the troupe opinion about pursuing hermetic breakthroughs (the activity itself, not the results)? I'm thinking about a bonisagus that wants to achieve one. He doesn't need to succeed (not even to remotely have chance of succeeding) for me to have fun with him, and I'll make sure he has plenty reasons to leave the lab.
I am in favour of research breakthroughs as they make lab rats who have to interact with the world