Greetings,
For some years now I have wondered about the possibility and implications of Magi establishing a new tribunal in North America.
The discovery of the new world at such an early date is not implausable insofar as magi would have the capability, whereas mundane seafarers would not.
Examples:
A Bjonrnaer with a migratory bird hearbeast could cross the ocean as a natural migration and tell the tale of the new land.
A mercere that captains a ship might use his magics to explore new areas. Or perhaps they simply become lost.
Eventually, hearing tales of such a new land would result in a flurry of new covenants being established as well as the relocation of a number of more venerable covenants.
Why would Magi want to move to the new world? Presumably it would be free of all dominion auras. What is more, I suspect the new world would have a good amount of vis. Further, as long as the magi did not come as conquerors the natives would be more accepting of Hermetic magic (in contrast to mythic europeans) insofar as the natives have shamanistic practices.
Possible issues and controversies.
Other tribunals may be reluctant to allow for an additional tribunal.
Also, I foresee conflict between christian and non-christian magi in the new world. That is, there would be those that would want to make juedeo-christian practice in the new world illegal, whereas others would think that oppressive.
One meta-game issue is that there would be some that might consider the addition of north america as breaking the traditional Ars magica feel. For if we allowed for Hermitic access to north America without european mundane access then it is clear that a unique non-historical situation would develop.
Another meta-game issue has to do with the future. What would north america look like after 200+ years of hermetic rule? how would a hermetic north america interact with a mundane europe that travels to north america in the late 1500's? (Assuming the europeans did make a trans-oceanic voyage at the time of columbus' original voyage.)
I am in favor for the development of a Hermetic colonlization of north america for a meta game reason. I always found it depressing to think that the order and the hermetic tradition would eventually become extinct. If the order could gain access to north america 200+ years prior to mundane europeans there seems to remain some glimmer of hope that the order might continue to exist. Of course, if that were the case then how the future would proceed would become open to question.
Another merit for Atlas games to develop this idea is that it would create new settings, adventures and unique story telling opportunities. For example, imagine a hermetic new york city of 10,000 plus covenfolk living in roman style buildings and worshipping roman pagan gods under the direction of a powerful hermetic covenant. Imagine Flambeau and magi conquering the Aztecs. Imagine magi setting out to find the fountain of youth in florida. What kind of new traditions would arise. Would a new house that integrated indian shamanic practices come about? Etc. etc. Of course, what I have proposed is controversial.
One final consideration. I have not read through all of the existing 5th edition material (I have only recently begun to do so). Thus, I am unsure if north america actually exists according to the offical ars magica world paradigm. Would anyone have any idea about that.
Well, I would be interested to hear what others in this forum have to say about the proposal.