I'm also wondering if we've lost our Bjornaer future-hoplite. This tribunal is one where it's good to have a few who are good at combat.
Ya, sometimes some things are just too tricky to really bother with them. There are a few things I've tried to make work and ended up figuring are just too much of a pain to bother.
Here are a couple questions I've come up with:
Can the Wisdom from Ignorance Virtue (LotN p.49) provide experience toward Enigmatic Wisdom?
@Vortigern I've had some Mercere ideas, which mostly involve longevity, likely with Imbued with the Spirit of Vim. This might pair really well with your idea or step on your toes. The longevity part might be stepping on toes. The Imbued part might mean I could cast Watching Ward and you could cast Incantation of the Body Made Whole (or lesser versions) so that together we could creating potions of healing. Also, it takes two people to do the lost Mercurian ritual Purification really well, since you cannot do it on yourself.
Indeed. I'm aiming for something easier to build and play along similar thematic lines. It was either the Flambeau concept or leaning into the Rego Vim and going 100% Intangible Assassin (for lack of a better description). I can't tell you how many times I've tried to make a Duidsan concept work and then ended up scrapping it for various reasons.
Interesting. For someone who already possessed Enigmatic Wisdom, it seems thematic and apt. I also don't see anything prohibiting written sources for Enigmatic Wisdom, and presume they would exist in Criamon circles. So in principle this only does what it already does for other abilities, expanding the available sources, rather than making sources available that otherwise don't exist at all. The examples for things it can benefit are generally not useful as Enigmatic Wisdom, but I find myself liking the idea and thinking behind it, so I'm going to say yes despite (mild) reservations.
I love Mercurians. And they could always use friends that they never seem to have... I'd be all for tag-teaming with synergistic builds.
We have attempted to contact them and have yet to receive a reply. If they ever come back we'll make room, because they are good people. For now we proceed regardless.
Well, if we may have lost our Bjornaer, then if I keep Criamon I'll be looking at Path of Strife. My Mercurian Mercere variations could all manage some combat, probably mostly through CrAu. I'll have to debate between the two.
I have discussed this exact point recently with @Nithyn and we both agreed that the effects of a Longevity Ritual affect the natural process of reproduction. Anything magical (like Unusually Fecund or say Fertility Magic of some other stripe) would overcome that.
Right now I'm leaning toward a Gifted Mercere, focused on the Cult of Mercury/Heroes. Goals would include making pseudo-charged objects, including ritual ones, via Watching Ward and other tricks to hand off to Redcaps, grogs, companions, magi; discovering lost Mercurian rituals; and being a parent. Magical specialization would be focused around Creo: making Longevity Rituals, CrAu for winds or lightning for combat, etc. Some of that could certainly lead to tag-teaming, and it should work well with enhancements for grogs and companions. I'm not 100%, but this idea is gaining a lot of traction in my mind.
Hmm. I think all three of my concepts could tag-team well with that. And Mercurians definitely benefit from having friends of the same stripe. So I am weighing my choices even more now.
Yup. Now, I wouldn't start with Mercurian Magic since I've focused more on related things, but that can be initiated from the Cult of Mercury. But I don't think either of yours would be starting with Mercurian Magic, either. So they might well undergo initiation at the same time. And it would be cool to be tag-teaming with someone, adding an extra reason to be in a covenant together even if they didn't know ahead of time.
If I were to go the Criamon route, my idea is a Path of Strife Criamon with a Minor Magical Focus in Self-Transformation. For example, turn fingernails into large claws as a meditation weapon. But you have to go through at least one initiation to really be on the Path of Strife, so it's hard to come online early. And I don't have as many ideas of where to head with it; and that could be an issue when it comes to sandbox, while I've got so many ideas for the Mercere.
Nothing solid yet. A few ideas have popped up in my head about a Terram Bonisagus, but I'm not quite sure where I'd go with the character. Also thinking about keeping the previous concept (perhaps with a few changes), which I found out I'm still excited about after all. Just unsure if he is the best choice for this saga.
How do you see the Tremere (in general) and how would they fit into the saga?
What are your concerns exactly that make you question it? I think we were all enthusiastic about the concept previously?
I think the Tremere situation in Hibernia is ... complicated. On the one hand they do desire an Order that is more structured, stable, and peaceful. And are willing to scheme and fight strategically to get it. So it would be reasonable to think that there are certain Tremere who believe that the Tremere should be actively assisting the Continental Reform movement. Which would put that faction very much at odds with Inchmore and its patrons.
However there are also other concerns and inner factions amongst the Tremere to consider. The Isles, especially Hibernia, were the stronghold(s) of House Diedne. So the Burning Acorn Vexillation seems like it would/should have a long history here. It is where the Tremere can both seek Diedne remnants, lineages, and artifacts ... as well as find the most significant still existent animosity towards Diedne in the Tribunal natives. Most Magi in the contemporary Order of Hermes have been outright banned from having any knowledge of the Diedne due to the bans and restrictions put in place after the resolution of the Schism. Hibernia remembers because it is in the cultural bones of the Tribunal. So if the Tremere seek allies against the Diedne at any point in the future, the most ready and eager would be found here. The Cold Iron Vexillation would likewise seem to, to a lesser but still significant degree, have business in a Tribunal so very strong in Faerie presence. Less clearly pushing them to be sympathetic to Hibernia, but likely bringing them to be involved with the Tribunal and its powerful Faeries to some degree.
I also believe that the Tremere would not like to see a precedent set of an outside political order being imposed on a Tribunal by non-natives as it were. This could go very much against them and their control over Transylvania in the future. And this is a broader strategic and political imperative that could concern those who otherwise wouldn't care at all about Hibernia.
So where does all of this "complication" leave us? I think the Tremere are torn by conflicting goals and loyalties and that different Tremere very likely don't agree on what stance the House should be taking. You could plausibly make a Tremere affiliated with the Hibernian faction if you so chose, and then get involved both in the Tribunal conflict, and be involved in the political happenings of the House due to that disagreement. We could develop all of this further if anyone takes an interest in it.
Addendum: I also see no reason you "must" take the Certamen Focus if you would like to change your House virtue to something else appropriate.
Fair. It's a really interesting concept that's for sure.
Speaking of things that @Vortigern and I had talked about... The Tremere are a favorite of mine, and we he chatted about this at length, hence the rather well thought out reply. Curious to see what you're thinking if you go that route.
That said, if it turns out that we don't have a Gentle Gifted mage, I might pivot into that role. Had a few ideas bouncing around to that end actually, and they're all rather interesting. A Gallowglass Ramius style chap, an Ex Misc Bard, a Rustic with a thing for woodworking, archery, and animals, oh and a Mercere Magus who spends all his time being a Redcap to the point where nobody knows otherwise.
Nothing in particular. I think I was just away from the character for so long that I ended up wondering if it wouldn't be better to play something else.
I have decided to keep Atheus after all. It will be fun to try and undermine Ashenrise through a social/economic approach. =]
I will just double check his virtues, flaws and Arts.
(About the Tremere, I was just throwing rocks to see if ended up with a spark. Guess I will save the concepts for a later game. ^^)
Sadly I think I'll scrap the necromancer companion altogether. I'll wait for the rest of the magi to be redefined before thinking of what to do. Thinking about someone to delve into the caves and see what's in there.
Keep in mind that my Tytalus is not gentle gifted. He can substitute as one after he knows someone well enough (that is, well enough for his reputation to override the Gift), but we would surely benefit from having someone else to be the de facto face of the covenant, if you want to go that way. =]
Yup. So I've been thinking more carefully about this. I'm thinking being born at Leth Tuin. With a lack of Gifted Mercere in the Tribunal, the parens would have to be from outside the Tribunal, and I was thinking Ophilio (F&F). Ophilio could have gone back and forth between Provençal (Aedes Mercurii) and Hibernia (the noted guest lab at Leth Moga), with the intention of there being a permanent Gifted Mercere in Hibernia.
That can also be handled by companions. No need for a mage to have it.
I've thought of doing this. One thing I've noted that works really nicely with Craft Magic and woodworking is Figurine Magic.
You had put a lot into developing all his contacts very nicely, so I'm sure it will be rewarding to work with that.
