Character Development

Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Base Camp
1823

OK...so it's been like years since I last looked at the lab rules, which oughta make this fun.

So, we're starting off with a Size +1 lab; adding the Free Supernatural Virtue Regio will take that to +4. Viola's MT is 8, which gives a potential Refinement score of 5, for a maximum net Virtue/Flaw balance of 9, which is 8 points more than we've got right now; actually, 10 points (9 extra) isn't that far out of reach, since she could earn the additional 13 XP required to bring up MT up to 9 relatively quickly.

Right now, we've got one Major Virtue, Greater Feature (Running Water), one Minor Virtue, Lesser Feature (Petrified Men), and one Major Flaw, Greater Focus (Running Water). Everything else is Free (including a Familiar and a Servant--I haven't added any Assistant stats yet for Chryse), plus there's a Lab Enchantment (a stove provided the equivalent of Magical Heating).

First, the things we've already got:

  • Chryse provides the Free Outfittings Virtue Assistant--as I said above, that's simply a bookkeeping step I haven't gotten around to yet.

  • I think I should have included the Free Structure Virtue Dedicated Building from the beginning. Whoops. That does bump up the Upkeep, which is a very real issue. Or maybe we are in fact using the mundane level for something? It started out as a ruined temple, but perhaps it's been renovated/rebuilt?

  • Viola has long been planning on adding a Lab Enchantment that provides Magical Lighting--that would also reduce Upkeep by 1, under our house rules. As an interesting sidenote, apparently we were involved in a lengthy forum discussion about this Virtue 7 years ago, and I had just about forgotten it: Magical Lighting in Labs. Reading that discussion did however remind me to check the house rules, which explained why I had a -1 Upkeep listed for Magical Heating.

Now for the new or changed stuff:

  • I've got Regio listed among the Free Virtues, but only its negative effect (+1 Warping), and extending the lab to the higher level will require installation, though that's trivial for a Free Virtue.

  • Similarly, the combination of Greater Feature and Greater Focus has up until now provided a total Specializations bonus of +3, vs. the +7 it normally would, due to the reduced water flow. Does the resolution of the story fix that immediately, or do I need to re-install the Virtue? Or maybe it's just a matter of removing the Flaw, which can be done simultaneously with two seasons of Refinement--given that the +3 bonus that exists already is identical to that normally provided by Greater Feature, that's likely what I originally had in mind, but removing the Focus may not in itself fix the Feature. At any rate, removing that Flaw would increase the required points by 3.

  • Natural Environment is a Major Structure Virtue; a +3 to He is probably the most logical bonus, given the location and the maga. That's 3 points.

  • The Vis Source is a Minor Supernatural Virtue--but I don't think it's required to install it, and I don't see where Viola has a need for the +2 Cr specialization. It would be 1 point if she did install it.

  • Site of Legend is a Free Supernatural Virtue, so that's easy to incorporate, but, as I said in the other thread, I'm not sure what Specializations it would bring: Creo? Women? Children? Faeries? I would probably rule out Aquam or Herbam, which are due to the Natural Environment itself, not the legend. Can you think of any appropriate Art Specializations? It's hard to see her not going with Muto and Herbam, but that leaves two Art specializations (one of which can be a Technique) open. She probably favors Imaginem (which would be provided in small measure by a Lab Enchantment that granted Magical Lighting), but I'm open to suggestions.

  • Greater Guardian is a Major Supernatural Virtue, with probably the same specialization options as Site of Legend. None of those bonuses reflect Viola's current magical interests, though the possibility of doubling up on them might offer an intriguing opportunity to refocus. One catch is that she's pretty set on the two activity Specializations she's already got, Items and Teaching. At any rate, Greater Guardian is 3 points.

  • The potentially changed nature of the handmaidens/crones might make them suitable as a Greater Horde, which is a Major Supernatural Virtue, or a Lesser Horde, for a Minor Supernatural Virtue, depending on their level of intelligence. The default Rego specialization is useful, though their present existence in a state of constant flux also suggest Muto, of which the lab is sadly short. However, that's another 3 or 1 point, and another +1 to Upkeep.

  • As Inhabitants, a Free Supernatural Flaw, the handmaidens/crones would be easier to incorporate, and would still provide a Muto or other bonus.

  • The group might also provide Faerie Ingredients, a Free Supernatural Virtue, which would reduce Upkeep and potentially provide a Muto bonus; the upper regio level might also be a source, with a Muto or Herbam bonus. However, Warping is starting to be an issue here.

  • I'm thinking Thoroughfare (Free Supernatural Flaw) is unlikely, given the level of access Gregorius would be willing to stomach, but we'll keep it in mind: the hit to Safety is tolerable, and it might help balance a Free Virtue.

To sum up:

  • Adding Natural Environment, Greater Guardian, and Greater Horde and ditching Greater Focus would add up to 12 extra points, and only 8 or 9 are currently within reach. Even with a Lesser Horde, it's still 10 extra points, but using Inhabitants would drop it to 9.

  • As for extra Flaws to free up points, it would be impossible to add Structure Flaws at this point, and I don't see any Minor or Major Outfittings or Supernatural Flaws that could easily be applied.

  • Upkeep is more of an issue than I thought, due to Dedicated Building.

  • A lot of the Virtues and Flaws mentioned above would increase Warping, and she'd rather not have it over 3, but I'm not sure that's avoidable at this point.

  • While she's pretty happy with the Items, Teaching, and Herbam specializations that are already present or look like obvious additions, the lack of obvious Muto, Rego, and Imaginem bonuses over +1 or +2 is a concern.

  • What she chooses to do here is going to hinge to a great extent on what bonuses are available for each of the possible Virtues.