Vitkir Magical Defenses - looking for an example

[marklawford]

@Xavi

I thought the idea was to make the vitki on par with Hermetics.

Not really. My initial query as prompted by my not seeing the magical defenses common to other hedge traditions. I knew there had to be something but I wasn't certain what it was.

@Xavi

This is why I thought you would not want to restrict the span of the rune use. In general vitki will be way less powerful than hermetics since their lab totals will be lower. They obnly use one rune to calculate lab ototals, not 2 Arts like hermetics, and they have to study 24 runes, not 15 Arts.

Yes, that will be a draw on their time and as a result could reduce their knowledge across all Runes. I suspect that the Vitkir that I create will specialize in far fewer than the full 24 Runes. I might make a couple of them and see how they go.

@Xavi

These elements alone make them significantly weaker than Hermetics, not counting that they lack the access to libraries that skyrocket the power level of hermetics extremely fast. So, even if they can invent spells efficiently they are significantly less flexible and tend to have lower arts.

Well, they are hedgies. It looks like they can learn their Rune Arts/Abilities from written sources just as magi do, but the Rune Scripts apparently need to be taught by a teacher or invented from scratch.

@Xavi

A hermetic can find alternatives if his main trick does not work, while a vitki is generally screwed under the same circumstances (even if his might trick might be better to start with; vitki make excellent dragon hunters, for example).

Oh, now, there's an idea - Vitki Trollslayer!

@Xavi

Since the idea was for the vitki to be a PC

Well, he's thinking about it. And you're right that it would fill his magus slot but I'm comfortable with his MR being a little more restricted than for the magi. If it's a problem, they should find a way to teach him Parma Magica. He might be a member of Ex Miscellanea (if that's the route we go) but his tradition is decidedly non-Hermetic.

@Xavi

I thought you wanted to give him something to put him on par with hermetics.

Well... assuming he has the Algiz (Perth) Rune active he does get to ignore spells that affect him directly regardless of level and/or penetration. He might need some other Runes to give him broader protection against sharp or toasty things. But that's fine. I'm comfortable with that.

@Xavi

If this is not the case, I retire my comment. I had certainly not seen it before and our (mine and laura's, my flatmate) idea for a lone saga about a gentle gifted vitki infiltrator (or a lineage of them) acting as a redcap did not include that sort of protection in any case.

Cheers,
Xavi

It's been a really interesting discussion and it has actually increased my appreciation for these Rune Wizards. Like the Gruaguchan, their style of magic really feels like a very different tradition to the Hermetic norm and the strengths and weaknesses they have seem thematically appropriate.

I could see myself playing one of these guys.

[Tellus]

@marklawford

Yes, that will be a draw on their time and as a result could reduce their knowledge across all Runes. I suspect that the Vitkir that I create will specialize in far fewer than the full 24 Runes. I might make a couple of them and see how they go.

That's my experience anyway.

@marklawford

Well, they are hedgies. It looks like they can learn their Rune Arts/Abilities from written sources just as magi do, but the Rune Scripts apparently need to be taught by a teacher or invented from scratch.

As far as I can tell, all hedgies can in this edition, as opposed to earlier editions.
I have noticed no limitations on writing about any Supernatural ability or Art, and only very restrictions on learning from these writings (in the core book).