I presently lack access to a copy of HOH:MC.
Can someone give me a quick breakdown on how many magic items a magus may sell (directly, or through a venditor like a verditius), to mundanes?
Also, does this same limit affect charged items (which are definitely well within the rulings made by tribunal that an item must run out eventually 
)
Having just read that yesterday, I think it's one item per year. No distinction is made between charged items, lesser items or full-fledged enchanted items. Even items of quality are considered the same, IIRC.
Right, what Arthur said.
Although, in the Roman Tribunal there is, unsurprisingly, more wiggle room, and a Verditius can sell to one of each "race." The examples used are a Jewish person, a Muslim, Christian, Genoese and Milanese. So, a well represented Verditius with a Venditor who moves in many circles could be selling a lot of items during a year.
Arthur, just to check, is that in HOH:MC or am I just failing to find it in one of my other books?
Page 111 of HoH:MC, under the Crises in the Order heading.
Thanks. Hmmm. I'm surprised house verditius hasn't tried that angle of approach, getting charged items (which therefore are, for obvious reasons, highly limited in their uses) classified separately to the others, and therefore pressing for a tribunal to allow sale of, say, 1 per season, with a maximum of... let's say 5 charges? to mundanes.
Hubris...
They actually categorize residents of different city-states as "different races"?! They did (often) speak different languages (effectively), and there was no unified concept of "Italy" at this time, but I did think that whole "Roman peninsula" was viewed as an entity unto itself race-wise.
I don't have access, so if you say so - it's just surprising, even as a medieval way of viewing things.
They were in 4th ed, iirc (altho' might have been 3rd?).
New rules = more powerful (and cheaper/easier) charged items, and that went out the window.
I don't have my book with me so I can't confirm that Genoese and Milanese are listed as "races" in that paragraph, but...
Even if it is, remember that this is a specific ruling of the Tribunal of Rome, which is notorious for bending some rules totally out of shape. And that Verditius magi in that tribunal need something to make them stay there, since raw vis is so scarce. So it is probably just a way that the tribunal used to assuage them into staying. I suspect that few magi there (if any at all) really consider those to be different races.
Well, Verdi is in the Tribunal, so it stands to reason that they have a say in the politics...
The ruling makes (some) sense, at least in the context of that Tribunal, it's that particular phrasing that was surprising, esp for a learned group like The Order.
At this time, the different major trade cities were essentially independent kingdoms, and often in a state of perpetual hostilities with each other at some level. Perhaps this ruling was a way to open the door to providing a "balance of arms" and so not invoke the "interfering with mundanes" - if neither side gains an advantage, there's no interference, right? (Right??? guys?!!! - hey, is this the Roman Tribunal or no?!) 8)
I suspect many magi with hubris scores do not make charged items - ever.
I would. I am planning to, in fact.
Something I can issue to grogs without having to worry about using up MY vis supply? Yes please.
Edit: Also, I'm doing original research in an attempt to integrate something to "undo the traitor's hand". (Integrating the mechanical devices from ancient magic as another verditius mystery...)
I think this something a young Verditius would do, when the Hubris score is low. But as it grows, it's going to become more attractive to take advantage of the Hubris score in more of the endeavors of the Verditius. Interestingly, Hubris score increases, rather xp accumulates, for each sale (or manufacture for another) of a charged item, but the Verditius magus cannot use his Hubris score to boost his lab total for said charged items.
I'd be loathe to call this manufacturing for another, as the grogs are an extension of either the magus or the covenant. I wouldn't award Hubris XP here.
Time is more precious to all magi than vis. And if you have to go back into the lab to make more of this charged item on a frequent basis, rather than just spending the time to make an invested item, or lesser enchanted device? I can foresee a Verditius making the first version of the charged item, creating the lab text, and then passing it on to someone else in the covenant to repeat as needed. But his Hubris should be making him grumble all the while. And at a score of 4 or more, I'd enforce a check to make sure he can overcome his Hubris to create such trinkets that aren't for sale to another.
So, unless there is a competing personality flaw of Avaricious the Verditius really shouldn't be caring about supplies of Vis, and Hubris should hold sway. To paraphrase a famous wizard, Gilderoy Lockhart, Hubris is as Hubris does.
The thing is not that you can do it, but that you are unlikely to want to. That is what hubris is all about. Why limit yourself to what you can do with PAINT when you are an expe5t with Photoshop and a draw program? Let the lesser folk do the first, you only do the later.
That kind of stuff is applicable to everybody and everything. Would Alan Greenspan write invoices? I doubt it.
Mayhap. But my vis are for MY work, not for my covenant's work, unless they wish me to do something that is permanent. And as said, I plan to be doing some original research for the house, so I'm loathe to risk vis for that when charged items will do nicely.
I suspect my hubris will be taking the form of competitiveness. It's probably not going to go up fast either, given I'm researching first (A verditius researcher was an odd concept, but it's one that I find fits the sort of character I want to play. Ancient magical devices etc, but focused on the craft rather than the study.)
Of course! Any self-respecting Verditius should be demanding the covenant provide the vis to make the item, if it's what the covenant wants. Heck, that goes for any magus.