When do you learn?

Games Discussion Ars Magica
1

Characters not supported by a Covenant get some seasons of "work" and some "free" seasons every year (typically two and two, unless the character is Wealthy or Poor). These are not like the magi seasons, however: a merchant with two free seasons works throughout the year, but has enough free time to spend the equivalent of two seasons per year on other pursuits. This poses the problem of whether the experience (and other results such as a progression in Wealth) gained in one "season" affects the character's activities in the other "seasons".

We simply allow the player to treat such "seasons" as if they were one after the other, and choose the nominal order in which experience and other results are applied. It's not overly unbalancing, and it makes things way simpler. How about you?

2

Same here. It makes sense and fits in with everything else that's managed in seasons.

3

Generally, we've assumed that Spring and Fall are "work seasons" and Summer and Winter are "free seasons." It follows the agricultural cycle that most of our covenants have been closely tied to.

In my current, companion centered, saga we're borrowing an idea of Pendragon and applying all experience points in Winter. This works because we don't really have Lab work going on.