Vanilla Covenants Project - Asteria of Verditius

[ironboundtome]

From here, writing up the advancement for Asteria of Verditius.

[size=150]Asteria of Verditius, at Gauntlet[/size]
Characteristics: Int +3, Per 0, Pre 0, Com 0, Str -2, Sta +1, Dex +3, Qik 0
Size: 0, Age: 25 (25), Height: 168 cm, Weight: 72 kg, Gender: Female
Decrepitude: 0, Warping Score: 0 (0), Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws:
Affinity with Metalsmith (no calc), Affinity with Terram (no calc), Deft Form (Terram) [Form: Terram], The
Gift, Hermetic Magus, Improved Characteristics, Inventive Genius (Invent Lab Totals: +3), Minor Magical Focus (Bronze), Personal Vis Source (Terram) [Location], Puissant Magic Theory, Puissant Metalsmith, Puissant Terram, Verditius Magic* [Preparation Abilities: Philosophiae/*Craft], Blatant Gift (Interactions: -6 with normals), Deficient Form (Imaginem), Deleterious Circumstances (Against wind), Hatred (Non productive artistic types), Mentor (Verdi upper heirachy), Weakness (Drinking)
*note: the no calc means that the affinity has not been factored into the final skill/art level.

Personality Traits: Disciplined +3, Perfectionist +3, Spontaneous -2

Abilities:
Artes Liberales 1 (geometry), Athletics 2 (Climbing), Awareness 3 (flaws in stone and metal work), Finesse 1, Italian 5 (talking about metal and stone), Latin 4 (Hermetic terms), Magic Lore 1, Magic Theory 3+2 (Terram), Metalsmith 4+2 (Bronze)
[Category: Laboratories], Parma Magica 1 (Terram), Philosophiae 2 (Verdi Runes), Scribe 1, Stonemason 3 (Statues and Busts)
[Category: Buildings]

Arts: Cr 5, In 2, Mu 5, Pe 3, Re 6, An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 0, Im 0, Me 0, Te 10+3, Vi 0

Spells Known:

• Bindings of Bronze from Robes of Silk (MuAn(Te) 15) +6. The clothing of the target is changed to bronze, which will likely inhibit their movement.
• Measurement of Metal (InTe 10) +16
• The Bronze Dart (Mu(Re)Te 15) +24
• A Window of Singular Direction (MuTe 15) +19
• Hardness of Adamantine (MuTe 25) +19
• The Spell of Worked Bronze (ReTe 5) +26. The magus may transform a piece of bronze into a finished form, as if a Bronzeworker had shaped and formed it. The magus must pass a Perception + Finesse roll substituting for Craft: Bronzeworker against an Ease Factor at least 3 higher than the mundane Ease Factor. Failure reduces the bronze to a slumped lump as if an incompetent beginner had worked on it.
• Forge of Purest Bronze (ReTe 15) +26
• Ominous Levitation of the Weighty Bar (ReTe 20) +20

[themanfromouterspace]

Great ! Thanks for your work iroundboundtome.

[ironboundtome]

I've had to modify the starting spells as I could not create the metals quality spell I wanted at InTe level 10. I've swapped in a probe for Copper and Lead instead, which with Lead form the materials for bronze. Nothing here is revolutionary in terms of challenging spell design, so hopefully all ok.

Custom Spells
...

The Bronze Dart

Muto Terram / Rego 15, R: Voice, D: Momentary, T: Individual

A 10-inch bronze dart rises from the ground at your feet, floats into the air, and speeds off like an arrow at a target that is within Voice range. It does +10 damage, and always hits its target, although it must penetrate Magic Resistance to have any real effect.

(Base 3, +2 Voice, +1 affect metal, +1 Rego requisite)

[strike]

Purity of Bronze

Rego Terram 15, R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Group

This spell forges the reagents of tin, copper, and lead supplied into bronze. A Finesse check of 9 is required for serviceable metal, and a result of 12 or higher indicates a superior quality is achieved. Failure indicates the bronze has incorrect composition, is messy, or fragile. A botch means the flaws go unnoticed.

(Base 2, +1 Touch, +2 Group, +2 metals)

[/strike]
Ominous Levitation of the Weighty Bar

Rego Terram 20, R: Voice, D: Concentration, T: Individual

As per Ominous Levitation of the Weighty Stone, HoH:S p38, but directs items made of metal.

(Base 3, +2 Voice, +1 Concentration, +2 affect metal)

[strike]

Probe for Pure Copper

Intellego Terram 5, R: Personal, D: Concentration, T: Smell

You can smell tin, and follow the scent.

(Base 2, +1 Concentration, +2 Smell)

Probe for Pure Lead

Intellego Terram 5, R: Personal, D: Concentration, T: Smell

You can smell tin, and follow the scent.

(Base 2, +1 Concentration, +2 Smell)

Probe for Pure Tin

Intellego Terram 5, R: Personal, D: Concentration, T: Smell

You can smell tin, and follow the scent.

(Base 2, +1 Concentration, +2 Smell)

[/strike]

[dwightemarsh]

Some questions

Wouldn't a specific metal be a minor magical focus, rather than a major?

I realize that Craft Metalsmith is the example Craft Skill for a Verditius magi in the main rulebook, but my understanding is that after City and Guild, Craft skills are normally narrower in scope, specifically the particular metal that is being worked. Thus, given the characters focus, wouldn't Bronzesmith make more sense?

The utility of Deft Terram when you still have to use casting tools to cast spells is greatly reduced.

[jason72 (Jason)]

All your smell metal spells look for tin according to the descriptions. Also, is there a difference (hermetically) between probing for a vein of metal and locating a metal bearing ore?

Ink of Noblest Metals from Covenants (p 97) variations might be useful, too.

[themanfromouterspace]

Please remember all (present and future) contributors:

@A Vanilla Covenant

The covenant [and the characters'] statistic are developed using the rules in the core Ars Magica rulebook and the Covenants supplement. Other supplementary source books and resources should not be required to use A Vanilla Covenant in your saga.

It means to me you may (for example) use ideas and descriptions from Order of Hermes Houses Books… but not specific rules from them.

Thanks to all !

[ironboundtome]

I'd forgotten that. I'll rework the V&F to take out the virtue from RoP:M. And the feedback on metalworking and the Deft art is spot on. I'll have a think about what to change them to.
Darn good feedback everyone!

[callen]

@dwightemarsh

The utility of Deft Terram when you still have to use casting tools to cast spells is greatly reduced.

Uh, no, not necessarily. It can be that much more effective when dealing with Casting Tools. Sure, you still need the tools, but you don't need to gesture with them. So, depending on the Casting Tools you have, you might make things a lot easier on yourself since you merely have to hold them in some way.

[ironboundtome]

Changed the character with the feedback. Altered the starting spells to simplify the approach a bit, and select minor rather than major magical focus for bronze.

[ironboundtome]

Other custom spells

Measurement of Metal
Intellego Terram 10, R: Touch. D: Momentary, T: Individual
This spell informs the caster of the purity and quality of an amount of metal.
(Base 5, +1 Touch)

Bindings of Bronze from Robes of Silk
Muto Animal 15, R: Voice, D: Diameter, T: Individual
This spell turns an item of Animal based clothing or equipment worn by the target into bronze (typically a shirt, robe, etc), thereby hampering movement, affecting function, and increasing load. Exact effects will vary according to the articles worn by the target, ranging from no effect to practically complete immobilization.
(Base 4 to change a animal product to metal, +2 Voice, +1 Diameter, +0 Terram)

The Spell of Worked Bronze
Rego Terram 25, R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Group
The magus may transform a piece of bronze into a finished form, as if a Bronzeworker had shaped and formed it. Up to ten cubic feet may be transformed.
The magus must pass a Perception + Finesse roll substituting for Craft: Bronzeworker against an Ease Factor at least 3 higher than the mundane Ease Factor. Failure reduces the bronze to a slumped lump as if an incompetent beginner had worked on it.
(Base 2, +1 Touch, +2 metal, +2 Group, +1 flexibility, +1 size)

Forge of Purest Bronze
Rego Terram 20, R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Group
This spell smelts and purifies up to ten cubic feet of bronze source materials. The pieces may be existing bronze work or raw copper, zinc, or lead bars. To achieve a suitable final result the caster must succeed a Finesse difficulty check of 12+. Appropriate craft skills may be add to this roll.
(Base 2, +1 Touch, +2 Group, +2 metal, +1 size)

[themanfromouterspace]

@ ironboundtome :

All that's cool !

If ever you have time to do so, will you please keep on developing Asteria of Verditius so I can complete Vanilla Covenants Project pdf ?

I really would like to achieve it to its end and propose it on Project Redcap welcome section when it is finished…

So, tell me, will you ?

[ironboundtome]

I'm still doing it! Just darn slowly. The hardest thing I found was trying to decide what style of Verdi I wanted her to be, and then what types of effects she would create. I've got some other effects deigned no, so have to plan out her advancement in big blocks. The effects are here, and I'll back into the advancement soon.

[themanfromouterspace]

@ironboundtome

I'm still doing it! Just darn slowly. The hardest thing I found was trying to decide what style of Verdi I wanted her to be, and then what types of effects she would create. I've got some other effects deigned no, so have to plan out her advancement in big blocks. The effects are here, and I'll back into the advancement soon.

That's so great. Merci beaucoup ! (Thanks a lot !) So, I must be patient (I shall be, I promise !)

[ironboundtome]

Don't be shy, keep nagging me!

[themanfromouterspace]

So I will !

[ironboundtome]

I haven't forgotten, here is first 15 years which was a build phase.

• 1201 - Creo, XP: 30, Result: Creo 9 (45)
• 1202 - Muto, XP: 30, Result: Muto 9 (45)
• 1203 - Rego, XP: 30, Result: Rego 9 (51)
• 1204 - Rego, XP: 4, Result: Rego 10 (55)
• 1204 - Creo, XP: 10, Result: Creo 10 (55)
• 1205 - Muto, XP: 10, Result: Muto 10 (55)
• 1205 - MaTh, XP: 6, Result: MaTh 3 (36)
• 1205 - MaTh, XP: 30, Result: MaTh 4 (66)
• 1206 - Terram, XP: 45(30), Result: Terram 15 (123)
• 1207 - Find familiar - Badger, XP:
• 1207 - Familiar initial Bond, Creo Terram LT 35,, XP: Gold 1, Silver 0, Bronze 3
• 1207 - Craft device: The Bronze Forge, XP: MT 2xp, Result: MT 4 (68)
• 1208 - Finesse, XP: 25, Result: Finesse 3(30)
• 1208 - Penetration, XP: 5, Result: Penetration 1(5)
• 1209 - Parma Magica, XP: 30, Result: Parma 3(35)
• 1210 - Parma Magica, XP: 30, Result: Parma 4(65)
• 1211 - Parma Magica, XP: 10, Result: Parma 5(75)
• 1211 - MaTh, XP: 20, Result: MaTh 5 (86)
• 1212 - MaTh, XP: 19, Result: MaTh 6 (105)
• 1212 - Finesse, XP: 11, Result: Finesse 3(41)
• 1213 - Finesse, XP: 30, Result: Finesse 4(71)
• 1214 - Finesse, XP: 4, Result: Finesse 5(75)
• 1214 - Philosophae, XP: 15, Result: Philosophae 3(30)
• 1214 - Intellego, XP: 11, Result: Intellego 4(14)
• 1215 - Terram, XP: 30(20), Result: Terram 17 (153)
• 1215 - Creo, XP: 10, Result: Creo 10 (65)

[themanfromouterspace]

We want more things like that ! Please !

[themanfromouterspace]

Ars_Magica_5_A_Vanilla_Covenant.pdf is now referenced at Covenant — Project: Redcap at these two locations:

Welcome to Ars Magica: Your First Covenant

Covenant: Example Covenants

You also may download it directly from this location: http://david.berco.online.fr/pages/downloads.page=012.html

The pdf is still a work in progress, but it will be completed when ironboundtome has done Maga Asteria of Verditius…

[ironboundtome]

Here is the next 15 years which has several undertakings - new custom bronze spells, gaining a talisman with some invested powers, and crafting of two devices - a workbench and a crucible.

• 1216 - Terram 20, Hermes Lore 5, Area Lore: Covenant 5, XP: 30(20),5,5, Result: Terram 18 (183), Hermes Lore 1 (5), Area Lore: Covenant 1 (5)
• 1217 - Terram 20, Teaching 5, Great Weapon (staff)(5), XP: 30(20),5,5, Result: Terram 20 (213), Teaching 1(5), Great Weapon (staff) 1(5)
• 1218 - Magic Theory 10, Philosophae 20, XP: 10,20, Result: Magic Theory 6 (115), Philosophae 4 (50)
• 1219 - Magic Theory 25, Carouse 5, XP: 25,5, Result: Magic Theory 7 (140), Carouse 1 (5)
• 1220 - Invent spell: Wall of Bronze (CrTe30) vs LT60, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (142), Wall of Bronze
• 1220 - Invent spell: Conjure the Enormous Cube of Bronze (CrTe25) vs LT60, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (144), Conjure the Enormous Cube of Bronze
• 1220 - Invent spell: Minuscule Thing of Bronze (MuTe20) and Ballistic Perfection in Bronze (MuReTe10) vs LT60, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (146), Minuscule Thing of Bronze & Ballistic Perfection in Bronze
• 1220 - Open Bronze staff as Talisman (level arts 27, Te17, Re10), XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (148), Attune: Terram +3
• 1221 - Enchant Talisman - the Bronze Dart at R:Sight (MuReTe28 = MuReTe25, +3/6 uses per day) vs LT50 + similar spell +4, Talisman +5, Philo +3, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (150), Attune: Project bolt or other missile +3
• 1221 - Enchant Talisman - the Invulnerability of Midgard (MuTe29) vs LT50 + similar spell +4, Talisman +5, Philo +3, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (152), Attune: Muto Terram +3
• 1221 - Bed of Talos (Enchanted Device), Opening enchantment, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (154), vis cost (20 - Bronzeworker 7 = costs 13 pawns, with capacity for 100 levels of spells)
• 1221 - Bed of Talos (Enchanted Device), Balistic Perfection in Bronze (effect total MuReTe20)(MuTe/Re10), with Unlimited use +10, vs LT50 + Philo +3, Similar spell +2, MiMF +10, XP: , Result: Magic Theory 7 (156)
• 1222 - Perdo 25xp, Master spell: Spell of Worked Bronze 5xp, XP: 22, 8, Result: Perdo 7 (31)
• 1223 - Bed of Talos (Enchanted Device), The Spell of Worked Bronze (effect total ReTe35)(ReTe25) with Unlimited use +10, vs LT50 + Philo +3, + Verdi rune +3, Similar spell +5, MiMF +10, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (158)
• 1223 - Invent spell: Metal of Viscid Clay (MuTe20) vs LT50, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (160), Metal of Viscid Clay (MuTe20)
• 1223 - Crucible of Wonder - open for enchantment as greater device, XP: MT 2xp, Result: Magic Theory 7 (162),
• 1223 - Crucible of Wonder - invest power: Unbreakable Vessel of Stone (MuTe 24) vs LT 50, XP:
• 1224 - Intellego 30, XP: 30, Result: Intellego 8 (40)
• 1225 - Intellego 15, Perdo 15, XP: 30, Result: Intellego 10, Perdo 9 (46)
• 1226 - Philosophae 25xp, Area Lore: (Covenant) 5xp, XP: 30, Result: Philosophae 5 (75), Area Lore (Covenant) 1 (5),
• 1227 - Ignem 30, XP: 30, Result: Ignem 7 (30)
• 1228 - Ignem 25xp, Leadership 5xp, XP: 30, Result: Ignem 10 (55), Leadership 1 (5)
• 1229 - Crucible of Wonder - invest power: Unbreakable Vessel of Stone (MuTe 24) vs LT 58, XP:
• 1229 - Crucible of Wonder - invest power (1 of 2): Heat of the Conflagrant Forge (CrIg/Re 35) vs LT 53 (raw 40 + Container 5 + Philo 5 + Familiar 3), XP:
• 1229 - Crucible of Wonder - invest power (2 of 2): Heat of the Conflagrant Forge (CrIg/Re 35) vs LT 53 (raw 40 + Container 5 + Philo 5 + Familiar 3), XP:
• 1229 - Crucible of Wonder - invest power: Pleasant Alleviation of the Weighty Burden (ReTe19) vs LT 58 (raw 50 + fam + Philo), XP:
• 1230 - Mentem 30, XP: 30, Result: Mentem 7 (30)

[ironboundtome]

That makes 30 years post gauntlet- how many are ideal?