Just wondering how others handle the initial enchanting of a lesser device when the Magi has a much larger lab total. By "much larger" I mean 3x or more. My group breaks the season down and allows the Magi to use the just created Labtext from the first to create a second in the same season.
Example: If your Lab Total was 30 and you were creating something at Level of 10 without a Labtext, for the first one it would cost you 20. At that point you have one created and a labtext. With the last 10 points in your Lab Total you could create a second one in that same season.
Wondering if others play it this way, require 2x the Level for all created in the first season, or some other variation.
Full cost for first, reduced cost for others (Labtext takes effect after first)
Full cost for all (Labtext not usable in season it is created)
Personally, I voted that full cost for all. Enchanting takes a whole season for each of the items, because in order to be stabilized it need to go through the astrological cycles, etc.
So with a higher lab total you are just enchanting several of them at once, so you don't have a lab text yet. You are not enchanting sequentially, but in parallel.
This is only true if you have the relevant mystery for astrological enchantments. Astrological labwork is not by default - labtexts don't require working at specific times in the season without the mystery.
Sure... but you could also say that even in parallel, you are simply copying your experiment and the copy takes less time. Your Magic Theory lets you calculate that you'll finish it all on time and be able to take in account the astrological cycles and all given you have the necessary lab total.
It's a valid reading. Frankly, as someone who uses experimentation a lot on things that don't require it for the lab total, I tend to think things sequentially since you can't plan a season without knowing your final lab total. So I plan the main lab work, I roll my dices to check what happens, then I look to see if I have 10 or 20 spare total to create a small spell on the side. And sometimes I create 2-3 versions of the same spell in a season if I don't like the side effect / flaw of the first one. Requiring me to decide to create 2 versions of the same spell from the start of the season because I can't do them sequentially, hoping to have a good one, would make experiments I enjoy very unfun.
Not much abuse in my book to cut your lab total into smaller activities.
Still, your way leads to a simpler, slower paste of game which, if players agree, can be more pleasant to enforce as you do less min/maxing of every season... then again, some players live for that min/maxing.
I think in RAW, both ways are acceptable which means it is left to the troupe to decide.
I'd just recommend to choose one or the other in a given campaign just to avoid confusion and a bit of frustration of some players... unless they are all happy having it their way.
But page 102 says:
All the activities you perform in a season must be
of the same type (learning spells, instilling powers
in an invested device, creating potions) and
must use the same Technique and Form. To perform
multiple activities, simply add up the levels
of all activities performed and apply your Lab
Total to the total of the levels.
It’s not the the item has to be in sync with the cycles, YOU have to be in sync:
The reason astrological correspondences is likely important is because of the qualities it imparts on things at the moment of their conception/creation. A seed planted when a hot star is in ascendance will be hotter than one that is planted when a cold star is ascendance.
In all likliehood the various items used in a lab activity (and perhaps the spell itself, though that gets weird) must be made or used at specific times to get the most “bang out of your buck” for a lack of better word.
The magus himself, I think, doesn’t matter too much in this specific aspect. This is just speculation of course, but Art and Acadamae notes magi use the principle of astrology that does what I described. However, a magus’ horoscope is already “set” for a lack of a better word.
The actual bit below
All qualities of a thing are determined by
the celestial figure — that is, the position of
the planets with reference to the fixed stars at
the time of its creation. Thus, the natal horo-
scope of a person can reveal the complexion
and temperament of a person, although the ex-
ercise of free will prevents a human’s life from
being determined by a star. The natal horo-
scope of an animal can be predict its destiny,
as can the inception horoscope of a venture,
although the free will of humans can interfere
with these fates as well. Under this principle,
a herb planted when a hot star such as Mars
is in ascendance is hotter in temperament than
the same herb grown under the influence of a
different planet. Magi employ the principle of
astrology in the ceremonial casting of sponta-
neous spells, and also in the ordering of labora-
tory work. The schedule of a magus must con-
form to the rising and falling of the right stars,
else the season is wasted (ArM5, page 103).