Stone/metal etching - Muto or Rego?

Games Discussion Ars Magica
1

OK, sorry, forum search is down if this has been discussed before.

You want to etch some words on a stone. Muto Terram or Rego Terram?

Thanks,
Patrick

2

I think Rego – moving (aside) a thin layer of stone. If you wanted to change the color of the rock, so that there are lighter & darker (or vividly colored) areas, then that would be Muto. Note that Muto effects are temporary for Hermetic Magi.

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3

Depending on how you want to do, you could use either? Rock of Viscid Clay or a metal affecting variant should work for Muto, while a Craft Magic approach would use Rego?

4

Muto does not have to be temporary in final effect, only in ongoing effect. If you Muto something from one shape to another, it would change back at the end. But if you Muto something to not be a rigid solid and changed its shape, it would maintain the new shape when the spell expired. That is how published Muto spells that change something into a semi-solid, liquid, or gas work.

Rock of Viscid Clay, Ink of Nobelest Metal, another one that changes to gas and one that changes to Species are published.

EDIT: Muto has the advantage of relying on the Craftsman’s skill rather than a Finesse roll that Rego would need most of the time. So if you have a skilled craftsman or lack a high Finesse, the Muto route is normally better.

5

Either, or both if willing to use a requisite.

6

As Mentioned by others Muto is not permanent, it changes back. If you Muto’d the stone, including the etched in words, end of the spell, it is a blank patch of stone.

Muto the stone to be pliable clay, move the clay around and then the spell ends, the stone would stay in the shape.

Rego could put the words in, but in stone it would require a decent finesse roll.