Table Talk (OOC)

[StephenFleetwood]

I thought it was open so volunteered, but if you want it back, I am perfectly happy to cede to a prior claim

[Houlio]

Oh, my bad! I'm still getting caught up here this morning, and I missed that you had taken it. It's all good if you want to go for it, I had thought there was a need for someone to run that.

[StephenFleetwood]

I seem to have talked myself out of the travelling IC to get support, so maybe it would be something for Marcus to go on, if you want to run it?

Or I am perfectly happy to run it and will tag along to another group IC.

[Arthur]

@Houlio

I'm pretty sure I'm the one who called running stuff for the local Telsbergs too, unless you also DMed someone else about it, so I'm still available to do that stuff too for Clusius et al.

My bad, you were indeed the one who had volounteered to run that story. For some reason, I was under the impression that it was one of the players who left the saga.

You have first call on it, but if you want to transfer the story to Stephen I'm fine with it.

@StephenFleetwood

I seem to have talked myself out of the travelling IC to get support, so maybe it would be something for Marcus to go on, if you want to run it?

We can always involve Marcus in a vis source story.

I'm just not sure it would be wise to bring along another magus who doesn't have a Gentle Gift for a mundane story. Clusius cannot avoid going, as the Heir.

Of course, if you are really interested in that story, we can find a reason for Marcus to come along.

[StephenFleetwood]

No, that's absolutely fine. I am happy for marcus to do a Vis source story, just wanted to get in on a story in general

[Arthur]

I you want to run a story for someone, you could pick up one of the visit that the magi will be doing to gather up support in one of the Tribunals. I'm not going to do all of these (although I can provide some pointers if needed).

[StephenFleetwood]

So, I am all of my gaming group's forever GM. I am however new to running play by post games. I am extremely happy for any gming duties, but would appreciate any feedback and help in moving from face to face to online gming.

But yeah, happy to run one of them!

[RafaelB (Rafael Bessoni)]

@Arthur

My bad, you were indeed the one who had volounteered to run that story. For some reason, I was under the impression that it was one of the players who left the saga.

I think I've indeed seen the name Rofrof tied to the Telsberg somewhere, but also Houlio's name somewhere else. A few things must have gotten mixed up or sprayed over several topics.

@StephenFleetwood

I seem to have talked myself out of the travelling IC to get support, so maybe it would be something for Marcus to go on, if you want to run it?

Regulus would appreciate company, if you want to come along . When I listed IC who was going where I tried to summarize who had directly stated that they would be up for traveling, it wasn't my intention to decide who goes and who stays.

OTOH, I think these travels are also a good moment to insert the companions in the story, so there's that possibility also.

[Arthur]

@RafaelB

OTOH, I think these travels are also a good moment to insert the companions in the story, so there's that possibility also.

Absolutely! If someone has a companion idea which would fit with one of the specific stories, we can even say that the appropriate magus' has met the companion during their post-Gauntlet peregrinations.

[Plot_Device]

If we could get everyone to weigh on on tribunal choice it would help with story planning too.

[RafaelB (Rafael Bessoni)]

I'll make a list of characteristics of each Tribunal to help anyone who needs this (myself included). If others could edit and add to it it would be nice. =]

This is my personal opinion and/or understanding of each Tribunal and it's applicability for our saga, it's not meant to be a definitive guide for these Tribunals.

Greater Alps

• Isolationist
• Hard to create covenants (we might need to make several concessions, such as becoming the chapter house of another covenant)
• Sends young magi away (might nor have much respect for recently gauntleted magi)
• Good for high-magic, high-mysticism sagas
• "Easier" to avoid tribunal politics (after the covenant is established)
• The hardest place to settle, but after the covenant is created we have pretty much free reign, no one will trouble us.

Normandy

• Several competitions between magi and covenants (tournaments, raids, etc)
• Vassalage between magi covenants;
• Relatively lax with mundane interference;
• We will probably lose some vis sources (between 1/6 and 1/4 I think, but probably not more) (prizes (vis sources, summaes, lab texts) gained at tournament can compensate for that);
• Easiest place to settle (we already meet the requirements), but from time to time we will need to defend our assets

Rhine

• Politics between gilds (we will probably need to take a stance) [I think this is more individual magi than covenants, but individuals do kind of need to pick a gild unless they really ignore politics - Plot]
• More mystical than Normandy, less than Greater Alps
• Harder to take an apprentice (need to be recognized as a master first)
• May require several favours to get a sponsor from each covenant (or become a chapter house for another covenant)
• Master and Archmage status have greater political advantages (worse for us until we become at least Master rank)
• Might be easier to access the Library of Durenmar, if needed/desired.
• Second easiest place to settle, but we will be involved in Rhine politics.

[Arthur]

I made some edits and additions.

[Lacnunga (Julia)]

Being a chapter means better library

[RafaelB (Rafael Bessoni)]

@RafaelB

"As a secondary point: as I have alluded before - Regulus gestures to Marcus - I'd like to propose to the covenant that we build a dedicated laboratory/scriptorium. It's hardly a priority, but could be useful in the long run. I'm not asking that we commit to anything as of now, only to consider the possibility."

I didn't explain what I meant by that, sorry. So, I was thinking of setting up a communal laboratory in the library, exclusivelly for writting and copying texts (no one wants our books exploding).

I think we could take a size -3 room (100 sqft, this seems enough for a scriptorium in my opinion) and the following V&F:

• MAJOR VIRTUES
  Greater Feature (a large table): +2 Aesthetics; 3 points on Texts

• MAJOR FLAWS
  Elementary (Texts): –2 General Quality, –3 Upkeep
  Greater Focus: –2 General Quality; 4 points among Specializations provided by the Feature.

This lab would require 3 seasons to set up and give us +7 to work from texts; each +3 gives a +1 in Language when writing, or +1 in Profession: Scribe when copying. The upkeep is not very high (and there are a few flaws, such as Undecorated, that could further reduce it).

I think all of us would have a 6 in Latin with this, and if we consider it an effective score of 6 we could start writing summae and tratactus way sooner (I mention this because I think a person with Latin 2 shouldn't be capable of reading by using the scriptorium, so maybe writting is also not valid); anyway, it would still speed things up a bit when we reach the proper score.

Hardly an urgent thing, but I thought we could plan in advance. ^^

[Plot_Device]

@RafaelB

This lab would require 3 seasons to set up and give us +7 to work from texts; each +3 gives a +1 in Language when writing, or +1 in Profession: Scribe when copying. The upkeep is not very high (and there are a few flaws, such as Undecorated, that could further reduce it).

I think all of us would have a 6 in Latin with this, and if we consider it an effective score of 6 we could start writing summae and tratactus way sooner (I mention this because I think a person with Latin 2 shouldn't be capable of reading by using the scriptorium, so maybe writting is also not valid); anyway, it would still speed things up a bit when we reach the proper score

Good idea. It will assist in learning from lab texts as well as writing.

I do think the bonus to language just applies to speed (how points you write per season), not to being able to write.

[StephenFleetwood]

Yeah, gets my vote. That sort of small, specialised cheap lab is a good idea. Probably eventually be worth making a lecture hall for teaching, too.

Also, have I killed conversation with Marcus' offer?

[Lacnunga (Julia)]

Nice!

[RafaelB (Rafael Bessoni)]

@Plot_Device

It will assist in learning from lab texts

I'd avoid learning spells because this is a lab activity, and therefore, risks exploding the library. =9
Unless this scriptorium is far apart from the main library building. I was thinking of being adjacent, so that when not in use by the magi the scribes of the covenant could still make use of it.

@StephenFleetwood

Also, have I killed conversation with Marcus' offer?

I think we just got astray with the Tribunal discussions.

[Arthur]

@RafaelB

I think we could take a size -3 room (100 sqft, this seems enough for a scriptorium in my opinion) and the following V&F:

• MAJOR VIRTUES
  Greater Feature (a large table): +2 Aesthetics; 3 points on Texts
• MAJOR FLAWS
  Elementary (Texts): –2 General Quality, –3 Upkeep
  Greater Focus: –2 General Quality; 4 points among Specializations provided by the Feature.

This lab would require 3 seasons to set up and give us +7 to work from texts; each +3 gives a +1 in Language when writing, or +1 in Profession: Scribe when copying. The upkeep is not very high (and there are a few flaws, such as Undecorated, that could further reduce it).

I think you're forgetting the effect of the General Quality. The end result qould only be a +3 bonus to Texts, translating into a +1 bonus into either Language or Scribe ability.

I leave it up to you to determine if that is worth an investment of 3 seasons by a magus.

EDIT: Sorry, my mistake. Covenants p.110 is clear that General Quality does not affect teaching or scribing activities.

[Plot_Device]

@RafaelB

I'd avoid learning spells because this is a lab activity, and therefore, risks exploding the library. =9
Unless this scriptorium is far apart from the main library building. I was thinking of being adjacent, so that when not in use by the magi the scribes of the covenant could still make use of it.

I don't think safety is negative, so as long as nobody experiments there's no risk of explosions. Even negative safety is just a side effect, not a chance of disaster.