Magical Foci: Just what is possible?

Games Discussion Ars Magica
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Well, of course, but I think it is powerful nonetheless, and can be a reason for some powerful aegis out there other than through Wizards Communion, which I like, as it adds to the idea that there are several ways to do the same thing through Hermetic Magic.

And I agree with you on Minor MF: Arcane Connection. It really doesn't give a "theme" or specialty to one's magic, which is one of the joys of Focuses.

(btw, cuchulainshound, you were right, I first wanted to create a thread on this, but reasonned that this had to have been brought up and did some research :wink:)

Well, it would be most useful to a ReVi specialist, which can ward against every supernatural creature with 4 spells. Not so broad. Then, there are the watching wards (which I didn't intend as "wards" proper) and wards against iron and all, but still, this is no more wide than a Bird focus, say.

I should maybe rephrase it as "ward against creatures with might", but that's all, IMO.

Major Magical Focus: Improving the body. Maybe a little too broad, but this allows the raising of characteristics, one's appearance, night vision... However, I wold disallow it for spells that destroy one's perfect form, such as giving claws or a tail.

A focus on Curses, minor if from a single form, major otherwise.

I wonder if a focus on a color would work. Probably not, although it would be cool to be "the blue magus".

Any other good focus ideas? I think this is maybe the best vertue out there, as it really "themes" one's magic, which becomes the "insert focus name" mage.

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Hi,

The spells themselves don't gain a range of AC, though this magus certainly likes to cast spells at AC range. Sight range is usually much more useful than AC; I think that would be too good even as a major focus.

Now, a focus in Anything to Which I Have an Arcane Connection, including effects of range AC, is certainly a major focus to me, perhaps impermissible to many SGs. It's powerful but flavorful--and self-limiting. One of the great things about having a focus and then specializing is the ability to make every problem look like a nail and then whacking real hard, though often in a creative way that helps define the character. A focus that only works with an AC cannot be used in this way, because a magus will lack an AC to so many things he might want to affect (and, for the focus in effects that are specifically at range RC, he will have to invest in high-level spells that often cannot be used.) It's a great focus, yet extremely limited.

Anyway,

Ken

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[quote="Yinkin"]

[quote="Crispin"]

You cannot take a MMF in lab work and this is a sub-set of lab work.
[/quote]
Indeed, i also think this is way too broad a subject, it effects all form and technique combinations and is virtually unlimited in scope.

[quote="Yinkin"]

[quote="Crispin"]

You cannot take a MMF in lab work and this is a sub-set of lab work.
[/quote]

Despite this I have allowed this for a character in my game. I feel that the fact that it basically only allows him to make extra doses of potions (or one or two doses of something he wouldn't normally be able to make) limits it enough to offset the broad scope. Although we have made it clear that the 'potions' aspect ONLY covers charged items, after a rather long and heated debate that it should also cover longevity 'potions' (did is also focusing heavily in creo and corpus?).

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Woah, double posts

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Triple even!

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I have somewhat different worries. A range AC spell needs an AC to function. You can't just choose to cast a range AC spell at sight range or range touch. This caster will constantly be collecting arcane connections to things and thus bring a unified theme of "arcane connections" to their magic.

What worries me is an argument based off of range AC being a focus of some kind being used to justify range voice or duration sun as a focus.

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OUCH :open_mouth:
This is quite a valid point

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Special Circumstances or Method Caster might be more appropriate for someone specializing in AC-range spells. I'll grant you they don't have the same oomph.

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Necro posting :wink:

But about Wards: its a minor (see HoH S i think Ex Mex part).

I was asking something about: the "ritual" focus : why not? Its just not as powerful as the Diedne magic, and same cost (3virtues point).

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9 months - standard gestation time (just not usually for rebirths) :wink:

What is your question - what about Wards?

They are Rego Form for all 10 Forms, but only have one specific affect on that form - sounds like "narrower than one TeFo combination" to me.

Rituals are broader, maybe too broad - that's all Techniques, all Forms, almost any effect - far too broad for a Minor Focus, so ~if~ allowed at all by the SG/Troupe, Major would be the obvious choice.

(A Major Magical Focus should be "smaller than a single Art", and Rituals, tho' limited somewhat, are not that.)

So, the problem would be that 1) it is infinitely large in scope. And also, 2) it's not a typical "theme", as most players think of a Magical Focus. Many SG's expect a Magical Focus to add flavour to a character, and this really doesn't. Ysmv.

Is that your question?

("ex Mex" - what is that? House of Magi from South of the Border, all with big black moustaches and bandaleros of vis?)

"Hedges? We don' need no stinkin' hedges!" :laughing:

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Um, that was very much not funny.

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About wards it was just a statement because first page that was discussed.

My question was about the ritual MMF.
And rituals aren't the most present spells.
If Diedne magic which is two virtues in one: a MMF in spont if exertion or a /2 if not, and a flaw (dark secret), i think, IMO, 6 virtues +3 flaw = 3 virtues total, i think that "ritual" doesnt seem bad.

Seriously, i don't think rituals are so largely used no?

(But, it's just theory, because I personnaly don't like the ritual aspect of the spells, prefering the spontaneous ones. I let other magis do ritual for me. It works just fine when you can plot in your corner hehehe)

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Wards? Minor.

Remember the Tremere focus.
Rituals are very rarely used thus I would say Minor.

A standard focus is too powerful to be simply a flavor.

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There is a virtue for rituals, remember? Good ol' Mercurian Magic - which IS major - that lets you add your mastery score. If that is major, a magical focus is off the charts.

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For mercurian magic, it's more than a focus and lesser than a focus:
lesser (what you write)
more (vis cost, wizard communion free...)

Thus i would say that itsn't comparable...
But that's my opinion.

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But that's not the yardstick.

Players in my campaigns rarely use Aquam or Aurum - so would a focus in "Aquam and Aurum" become valid for a Major focus?

You don't think that if a mage takes this as a focus, they could take mostly rituals, or exclusively rituals? For a mage who does Rituals, it's lead to gold.

Ultimately, it's up to the Troupe - but the arguments I've seen don't seem very convincing, not to me. Ysmv. :wink:

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Let's assume that if i would allow this as a MMF, i would say that is covered only the spells which are rituals: so >50, boundary target or year duration, with all Cr permanent spells and all the core spells already rituals for some reasons (like the CrAn 45 but i don't remember his name).

A "ball of abysmal flame" ritual spell where ritual is just a way tu get the focus wouldn't be in.

But i was not saying "RITUALS ARE MMF" ^^. I just stated my point for some new readers who would ask theirself about it :wink:

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Sometimes it is. See the Tremeres' certamen focus.

Actually my magus has a minor focus and he will use many ritual spells. If I compare his focus with a focus in rituals I see no change in his "power level".