It depends on the SGs and how much they let the Imbued character get away with. If the built in difficulties of the virtue are milked, its a pretty fair cost as a minor virtue...if the penalties are ignored, its too cheap.
I love the virtue...it also scares me.
Clarification: It scares me taking it...having ten percent of all Might entities despise you outright can be nightmare inducing.
I'm still pretty new to the game (I'm ~14 years of in-game time into my first saga), so I don't have experience with Imbued. I'll read up on it later tonight when I have some time, but, based on what people are saying about the virtue, I think I will probably fall into the scared category as well.
Just to clarify, I ended up switching around because I was thinking of playing a Trianoma or a Mercurian (from Mercere). I do think I'm going to put my name in behind Explorer though, I think that's actually more of the kind of story I am interested in. I suppose if ROFROF doesn't go with a Trianoma, I think I'll probably go ahead with that. I am getting a fun idea for a Merinita who knows many of the little local faeries to get his info, so I think I'll be fine on being able to find a concept I like.
I also dug out my old concise Latin grammar/dictionary to look up what might be the Order's terms for the roles proposed by Arthur above:
Protector - tutor can mean protector as in "watcher" or legal guardian, patronus refers mostly to a legal counsel, defensor refers to a literal averter or martial guard
Ambassador - legatus was the only one I could find, referring to a delegate or deputy, which I think fits pretty well to represent someone who can represent the interests of the whole covenant
Steward/Voice - procurator can mean steward as in a financial administrator, vilicus refers to the overseer of an estate, and I know off the top of my head that "Voice" as a literal translation in Latin just means the noises you make with your mouth. I opted instead for the option "herald" giving me praenuntiator or fetialis. The former is something literally like "pronouncer" and the latter refers to a kind of Roman priest who handled anouncing war and peace.
Librarian - librarius
Enchanter - fascinator would be the literal translation as "one who fascinates", I personally think auctor meaning something like "maker" is a better fit
Explorer - speculator and explorator both mean spy or scout, although speculator has military connotations
Gardener - hortulanus or topiarius are two different kinds of people who grow plants, either practical or ornamental; vilicus from above might be a good fit here as well
Historian - historicus refers to someone who does History as a kind of academic discipline like Herodotus, rerum scriptor is the recorder of things (things meaning events)
Here is my first pass at a character brief...
A Mercurian Necromancer with a heavy emphasis on Creo for the utility ritual stuff. Should be able to fill in as a longevity expert when the time comes. Not a social butterfly by any stretch...he might produce things of value, but won't have a clue how to turn them into wealth. For House I would lean towards Mercere unless someone else is solidly going that route (too rare to dupe) in which case I'd be happy as a Bonisagus. Either way a certified labrat who nevertheless is drawn out into the world more often than is healthy...either to hunt down "subjects" or out of sheer curiosity.
Obviously necromancy can irritate some players...and requires somebody willing to run those kinds of stories...if either is a problem here I have plenty of other options. As I posted before I'd be happy with a concentration in either animals or elementals (the rarefied kind) instead...my preferance is less important than having a storyguide excited about the choice...so speak up!
l do tend to run stories about demons, bad people and other "dark, edgy, grown-up" stuff. Also, fay, but that's besides the point.
Point is: l will be able to run necromancy.
It's also a way to address how a Gifted Mercere isn't locked up in some stodgy old covenant somewhere totally insulated from risk and stories - if his house finds him a bit distasteful.
I think some of the roles above might go to a companion or even a grog. For instance, a librarius or a rerun scriptor could well be a grog.
A Mercurian focusing on Corpus should be able to manage healing well as I suspected, so I'll steer clear of that. As for my character, some earlier ideas just weren't coming together to make a storyline I was content with. Bjornaer is out. I started moving more in the direction of a natural philosopher. I think I've honed in on something good if people are OK with the Mythic Alchemy Virtue. I'm thinking of a scientist/engineer, employing magic in combination with mathematics and natural philosophy to greater end, inspired somewhat by Hypatia.
With the rambling structure of the covenant, it seems strangely appropriate to me that the Heir might be some sort of Muto specialist.
Everyone seem to be referring to the old magus as a Jerbiton. Is that the conscensus? Doesn't it run the risk of overlapping the role of Voice?
I can't read the write-up without seeing an old Tytalus intentionally leaving the problem for his heirs...but they came to a consensus too easily for that...
or did they?
To a large extent I think the old magus should be determined by what @Arthur wants to play. That said, there are plenty of different "flavors" available within the various Houses.
Are we moving towards individual threads for each magus/maga?
I agree with Plot_Device here that the old magus' house should be determined by what Arthur wants to play.
I am working out two different ideas in my head right now. I'm going to choose between a Trianoma/Tytalus with a focus on Rego, Mentem and Imaginem. I was thinking of having them use ghosts and other spirits pretty often in their magic, potentially getting into Spirit Magic or Hermetic Theurgy down the line if we allow it. My other idea is a Merinita who might replace Mentem with Animal and use more of a nature focus.
Are we clear enough on who is occupying which role to move to detailed character creation?
Guess so.
Actually, I want to hear the troupe's opinions on this. As I mentioned previously, since the goals and prefrences of the old magus has so much impact on the saga, I want everyone on board.
I also don't want to crowd a role that someone really wants to play. Being Jerbiton very likely means having the Gentle Gift, which can make whoever wants to play Voice feel like his magus is less unique and valuable to the covenant.
On the other hand, if he was a Tytalus that means dragging the whole troupe into the dynamics of conflict inherent with that House.
Which shall it be?
l don't think that it's that much important: you could be a Jerbiton with a Blatant Gift or you could be a Tytalus, who is scarred enough to seek conflict with all his house ideology in being meek and compliant.
As well, Voice could be done without Gentle Gift, etc.
Have him be a Verditius that wanted to experiment with enchanting an entire covenant ?
Criamon? The Eclectic part wasn't just brought on, it was the result of typical Criamon strangeness and may be tied into the Enigma somehow. (Not pushing for this, just amused.)
I'm not worried about my magus' personality, goals, etc. I can come up with something I will like playing.
What I'm really interested in is the old magus and how his House impacts the whole covenant.
I like Jerbiton more than Tytalus personally, as I like the theme of failed perfection more than intentional conflict. I think I would like the Tytalus more if they were looking to create some kind of chaotic situation so that it would benefit them in the end.
I think we could also avoid the issue of having multiple Gentle-Gifted people by having one of the old magus' filii switch houses.
Speaking of that, it could be nice if he get some far-reaching and important goal in his last Twillight and changed his inheritance to suit it, but also was a little unhinged in general and messed some(!) things up along the way.
However, that has nothing to do with any specific House.