Hello everyone!
Here’s the situation: I have a rune mage character who has joined the Order of Hermes. What Integrations can a rune mage utilize based on Hermetic Magic?
Here is what I’ve come up with so far:
Familiars (Minor);
Adding Craft: Runes to Lab Totals and Shape/Material Bonuses to Casting Totals; the ability to use laboratories for additional bonuses (using Verditius Magic as the source) (Major);
Spontaneous Runes (Major);
Ability to combine runes to produce more diverse effects (Minor);
Extracting Vis from Magical Auras (Minor);
Additional Magic Resistance (Major);
Warping reduction via formulaic scripts specially prepared for the individual (other than the mage themselves) (Minor);
Although their Rune Magic ability is described similarly to a [Hedge Magic] Theory it actually lacks any clause identifying it as equivalent to a [Hedge Magic] Theory such as, for example, Pictish has for Gruagachan.
In the absence of a [Hedge Magic] Theory the only Integration that a hedge magician can attempt is the invention of a [Hedge Magic] Theory -- see HMRE p16, under the heading "Integration by Hedge Wizard Researchers."
If you houserule that the Rune Magic ability is a [Hedge Magic] Theory, or once someone has developed a Rune Magic Theory then other Integrations become possible. Note that having a [Hedge Magic] Theory allows the hedge wizard to receive bonuses from their laboratory (see "Hermetic Use of Hedge Theory sidebar on the same page).
Personally, I would not include "Warping reduction .. for the individual" as a potential Integration from Hermetic magic; that is not something that Hermetic magic can do. And if "additional Magic Resistance" looks anything like the Parma Magica, that is a Hermetic breakthrough.
Given that both Rune Magic and [Hedge Magic] Theory are Arcane abilities described in almost exactly the same terms, that the Viktir tradition is definitely not a "technically naive" tradition (see the description of [Hedge Magic] Theory, and most crucially that Rune Magic already adds to all Lab Totals exactly as a Hedge Magic Theory ability would, I assume (note: this is interpretation, not houseruling) that Rune Magic is the {Hedge Magic] Theory ability for rune magicians. Thus, among other things, I assume a viktir cannot invent a new [Rune Magic] Theory and add both Rune Magic and [Rune Magic} Theory to his lab total.
I agree with you. I consider Rune Magic to be, in fact, [Hedge Magic] Theory for rune mages.
And so far, there has been little discussion regarding the possibilities of integrating Hermetic Magic into Rune Magic.
Eh, I feel that it's a weak argument to worry about ending up adding two Abilities to Lab Totals if its both Rune Magic + Rune Magic Theory after Integration. Learned Magicians add Artes Liberales to their Lab Totals and would be in the same situation from Integrating a [Hedge Magic] Theory. The fact that Rune Magic is described exactly how I'd expect a [Hedge Magic] Theory would be described is what gives me pause. But as written, it's not.
In terms of moving forward with Integrations (however we arrive at that point), I'd focus on one Minor Breakthrough at a time. Remember, it needs double the breakthrough points that Hermetic Magic Theory requires. It won't go fast.
Work with someone who has Hermetic Magic Theory to provide Insights -- you can add their Int bonus to your Insight rolls; you don't get that working from texts or items. And train an apprentice to get them working on the same Breakthrough (you can pool the breakthrough points); with multiple researchers your progress will go much faster.
I'm not familiar enough with rune magic to know where its weakness is; I've been looking at Learned Magicians (who desperately need an Intellego-equivalent). So, where's the weakness in rune magic?
@Hyalus I understand that you don't consider Rune Magic to be the [Hedge Magic] Theory equivalent for Rune Magic, but that isn't the point of this post—nor is the question of how the research mechanics described in the Ars Magica Definitive Edition work (I was already familiar with them from True Lineages). Let’s proceed from the premise that Rune Magic is the [Hedge Magic] Theory equivalent for Rune Magic (which is how it's treated at the tables I play at) or that it has already been developed.
My question is: what can Hermetic Magic contribute to Rune Magic in terms of description (fluff) and rules (crunch)? Here is what I’ve come up with so far:
Familiars (Minor): Might require a physical object to represent the pact with the familiar, with the Lab Total influenced by one or two runes;
Adding Craft: Runes to Lab Totals and Shape/Material Bonuses to Casting Totals; the ability to use laboratories for additional bonuses (Major): Utilizing Verditius Magic and the inherent nature of Hermetic Magic regarding item enchantment;
Spontaneous Runes (Major): There is already a precedent for this in one of the books, hehehe;
Ability to combine runes to produce more diverse effects (Minor): I have some doubts about this one, but the idea is to expand rune "functionality" through combination—open to suggestions on how to do this;
Extracting Vis from Magical Auras (Minor): Very interesting for Rune Mages;
Additional Magic Resistance (Major): This is intended to make runes function like Hermetic Forms, providing Soak/Resistance bonuses against their areas of influence, as well as extra Magic Resistance that stacks with Parma Magica;
Warping reduction via formulaic scripts specially prepared for the individual (other than the mage themselves) (Minor): Hermetic Magic can cause less Warping (similar to how it affects the mage themselves) when a formulaic spell, ritual, or enchanted item is crafted specifically for a given person; Rune Magic lacks this feature (only the mage themselves benefits from it).
What other ideas do you think could be integrated?
