OOC Chat

Dec 28, 2024 6:52 pm

Welcome. Still gathering players at this point. Check through the rules if you've not already (it's a super simple setup).

Qralloq

Dec 30, 2024 10:46 pm

OOC Chat

Been reading the playtest package. It seems the basic setup is we each create a wizard, and then housestaff for each of the other wizards.

If my summary above is correct we could create a character sheet that contains both your wizard and your supporting characters, with separate stats and avatars for each.

But before we get to those details, how do we want to start this?

Jdoublep

Dec 31, 2024 3:33 am

OOC Chat

You’ve got it. Wizards are our mains. Household staff we’ll talk about when introducing our Households and then decide which we’ll play from other Houses. The Bakers have compressed Ars’ Companion and Grog roles into Household Characters for this game.

I was waiting to see if we get a couple of more bites, and once gathered imagined we’d start with introducing our Wizards, then our households, then picking other players household characters to play, finally fleshing out Household characters after bit of play.

As for sheets, I’ve just been lazy getting them created (new to the platform so hoping to block some time to put a template together).

I like your idea to create a sheet with our Wizard and other household characters. Is it simple enough to designate in the posts who we’d be playing as if all characters are on one sheet?

Rabbits

Dec 31, 2024 4:28 am

OOC Chat

Thank you, Jdoublep, for getting this going.
I have several ideas on possible ways play this in the PbP format.
But first, I would like to make sure we are on all on the same page in terms of CATS (Concept, Aim, Tone, Subject Matter).
The movie is quite farcical, yet Ars Magica has it's grim and gritty edges.

What sort of Tone were you aiming for?

Qralloq

Dec 31, 2024 4:29 am

OOC Chat

Jdoublep says:

Is it simple enough to designate in the posts who we’d be playing as if all characters are on one sheet?

There is a simple enough trick to do it. You create a table of avatars in the character sheet and then when you post, you can open the character sheet by clicking the character name below the post box and just click the one you want in your sheet so that it appears in the post.

I can add that stuff to the sheet you make, or make one myself tomorrow to demonstrate.


[npcs="avatars"]
Your wizard name | url to image
Support 1 name | url to image
Support 2 name | url to image
[/npcs]

Dec 31, 2024 1:44 pm

Suuuuhweet!

Dec 31, 2024 7:23 pm

Here's my first draft of the character sheet template. Before anybody uses it, let's discuss if we need to add anything, such as dice automation, or additional note taking places.

[ +- ] The Raven's Ars Magica

Create character

Avatars

wizard name

household name 1

household name 2

household name 3

Wizard name:

The Object of my Game:

My Magics
Power | Finesse
Spellcasting: When you cast a spell, you choose and explain the result, and you add or subtract your power or finesse from the subject’s roll
All Other Spells:

Practice Level:	Practice Level:
Spells:	Spells:
*	*
*	*
*	*
*	*
blank line
Practice Level	Practice Level
Spells:	Spells:
*	*
*	*
*	*
*	*

Practice Levels:
Never Before: An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words, concentrating hard, taking many tries.
Several Times: An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words, concentrating hard, on the first try.
Many Times: An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words.
Nearly Mastered: No apparatus, but bold gestures and firm, clear words.
Mastered: Only firm, clear words or bold gestures.
Fully Mastered: Only whispered words or subtle gestures.

My Household:
*
*
*
*
*

My Best Interests:

My Self-nterests:

My Characteristics
Intelligence | Perception
Strength | Stamina
Presence | Communication
Dexterity | Quickness

Character Details:
Features, habits, eccentricities, costume,
notable belongings, &c.
*
*
*
*
*
Actions:
Action: Say what you do. You (generally) accomplish it, but you don’t know what the consequences will be. Don’t say what happens as a result.
Initiative (when necessary): "After you." "Please; after you." "I insist, after you." "No, but I insist! After you!"
Turn-taking: Each character gets one turn. You can invite someone to take an extra turn before you, but you can’t take an extra turn uninvited.

Household Characters

My Name:
In the Household of:
& Household Role:
My Best Interests:
My Self-Interests:
My Characteristics
Intelligence | Perception
Strength | Stamina
Presence | Communication
Dexterity | Quickness
If a wizard…
Power | Finesse

Character Details:
Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.

My Name:
In the Household of:
& Household Role:
My Best Interests:
My Self-Interests:
My Characteristics:
Intelligence | Perception
Strength | Stamina
Presence | Communication
Dexterity | Quickness
If a wizard…
Power | Finesse

Character Details:
Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.

My Name:
In the Household of:
& Household Role:
My Best Interests:
My Self-Interests:
My Characteristics
Intelligence | Perception
Strength | Stamina
Presence | Communication
Dexterity | Quickness
If a wizard…
Power | Finesse

Character Details:
Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.

For All My Characters, My Job is:
• To help & challenge the other players’ wizards.
• To pursue my characters’ best interests, self-interests, or both.
• To make connections with the other players’ characters.
• To stick within my characters’ motivations and scope.
Actions:
Action: Say what you do. You (generally) accomplish it, but you don’t know what the consequences will be. Don’t say what happens as a result.
Initiative (when necessary): "After you." "Please; after you." "I insist, after you." "No, but I insist! After you!"
Turn-taking: Each character gets one turn. You can invite someone to take an extra turn before you, but you can’t take an extra turn uninvited.

Results
"I might…"
Intelligence: "…Become confused or be deceived."
Perception: "…Not notice."
Strength: "…Be thwarted, frustrated, or exhausted."
Stamina: "…Be injured, wounded, or even killed."
Presence: "…Be overlooked, forgotten, or dismissed."
Communication: "…Have no answer or argument."
Dexterity: "…Stumble, fall, stagger, or drop something."
Quickness: "…Be caught off-guard & flat-footed."
Power: "My magic might fade, fall short, or fizzle out."
Finesse: "…Lose control of my magic."
"…Suffer a different mishap or misfortune": Choose one.
(For magic spells, "You might…")

Notes

History
Notes

GameplayNotes

[npcs="Avatars"] [_=wizard name] | https://daily-apocalypse.com/uploads/3/4/1/2/34128158/ars-magica-for-web_orig.jpg [_=household name 1] | https://daily-apocalypse.com/uploads/3/4/1/2/34128158/ars-magica-for-web_orig.jpg [_=household name 2] | https://daily-apocalypse.com/uploads/3/4/1/2/34128158/ars-magica-for-web_orig.jpg [_=household name 3] | https://daily-apocalypse.com/uploads/3/4/1/2/34128158/ars-magica-for-web_orig.jpg [/npcs] [linebreak] [f=font-dumbledor h1]Wizard name: [_=][/f] [2column][col] [f=font-dumbledor large]The Object of my Game: [_=][/f] [f=font-dumbledor large]My Magics Power [_=] | [_=] Finesse[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small][b]Spellcasting[/b]: When you cast a spell, you choose and explain the result, and you add or subtract your power or finesse from the subject’s roll[/f] All Other Spells: [table]Practice Level: [_=]|Practice Level: [_=] Spells:|Spells: * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] [color="transparent"]blank line[/color] Practice Level|Practice Level Spells:|Spells: * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] * [_=]|* [_=] [/table] [f=font-dumbledor large][b]Practice Levels:[/b][/f] [f=font-dumbledor][b]Never Before:[/b] An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words, concentrating hard, taking many tries. [b]Several Times:[/b] An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words, concentrating hard, on the first try. [b]Many Times:[/b] An apparatus, bold gestures, and firm, clear words. [b]Nearly Mastered:[/b] No apparatus, but bold gestures and firm, clear words. [b]Mastered:[/b] Only firm, clear words or bold gestures. Fully Mastered: Only whispered words or subtle gestures.[/f] [f=font-dumbledor large][b]My Household:[/b][/f] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] [/col][col] [f=font-dumbledor large]My Best Interests: [_=][/f] [f=font-dumbledor large]My Self-nterests: [_=][/f] [f=font-dumbledor large][u]My Characteristics[/u] Intelligence [_=] | [_=] Perception Strength [_=] | [_=] Stamina Presence [_=] | [_=] Communication Dexterity [_=] | [_=] Quickness[/f] [f=font-dumbledor large]Character Details:[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small italic]Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.[/f] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] * [_=] [f=font-dumbledor large]Actions:[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small italic][b]Action[/b]: Say what you do. You (generally) accomplish it, but you don’t know what the consequences will be. Don’t say what happens as a result. [b]Initiative[/b] (when necessary): "After you." "Please; after you." "I insist, after you." "No, but I insist! After you!" [b]Turn-taking[/b]: Each character gets one turn. You can invite someone to take an extra turn before you, but you can’t take an extra turn uninvited.[/f] [/col][/2column] [linebreak] [f=font-dumbledor h1]Household Characters[/f] [3column][col] [f=font-dumbledor]My Name: [_=] In the Household of: [_=] & Household Role: [_=] My Best Interests: [_=] My Self-Interests: [_=] [u]My Characteristics[/u] Intelligence [_=] | [_=] Perception Strength [_=] | [_=] Stamina Presence [_=] | [_=] Communication Dexterity [_=] | [_=] Quickness If a wizard… Power [_=] | [_=] Finesse Character Details:[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small]Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.[/f] [_=] [/col][col] [f=font-dumbledor]My Name: [_=] In the Household of: [_=] & Household Role: [_=] My Best Interests: [_=] My Self-Interests: [_=] My Characteristics: [_=] Intelligence [_=] | [_=] Perception Strength [_=] | [_=] Stamina Presence [_=] | [_=] Communication Dexterity [_=] | [_=] Quickness If a wizard… Power [_=] | [_=] Finesse Character Details:[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small]Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.[/f] [_=] [/col][col] [f=font-dumbledor]My Name: [_=] In the Household of: [_=] & Household Role: [_=] My Best Interests: [_=] My Self-Interests: [_=] [u]My Characteristics[/u] Intelligence [_=] | [_=] Perception Strength [_=] | [_=] Stamina Presence [_=] | [_=] Communication Dexterity [_=] | [_=] Quickness If a wizard… Power [_=] | [_=] Finesse Character Details:[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small]Features, habits, eccentricities, costume, notable belongings, &c.[/f] [_=] [/col][/3column] [f=font-dumbledor small][b]For All My Characters, My Job is:[/b] • To help & challenge the other players’ wizards. • To pursue my characters’ best interests, self-interests, or both. • To make connections with the other players’ characters. • To stick within my characters’ motivations and scope. [b]Actions:[/b] [b]Action[/b]: Say what you do. You (generally) accomplish it, but you don’t know what the consequences will be. Don’t say what happens as a result. [b]Initiative[/b] (when necessary): "After you." "Please; after you." "I insist, after you." "No, but I insist! After you!" [b]Turn-taking[/b]: Each character gets one turn. You can invite someone to take an extra turn before you, but you can’t take an extra turn uninvited.[/f] [linebreak] [f=font-dumbledor h1]Results[/f] [f=font-dumbledor small italic]"I might…" [b]Intelligence[/b]: "…Become confused or be deceived." [b]Perception[/b]: "…Not notice." [b]Strength[/b]: "…Be thwarted, frustrated, or exhausted." [b]Stamina[/b]: "…Be injured, wounded, or even killed." [b]Presence[/b]: "…Be overlooked, forgotten, or dismissed." [b]Communication[/b]: "…Have no answer or argument." [b]Dexterity[/b]: "…Stumble, fall, stagger, or drop something." [b]Quickness[/b]: "…Be caught off-guard & flat-footed." [b]Power[/b]: "My magic might fade, fall short, or fizzle out." [b]Finesse[/b]: "…Lose control of my magic." "…Suffer a different mishap or misfortune": Choose one. (For magic spells, "You might…")[/f] [linebreak] [abilities="Notes"] #History #Gameplay [/abilities]

Jdoublep

Dec 31, 2024 8:02 pm

OOC Chat

sweet jeebus, you busted that out with the quickness!
so far, nothing's jumping out as missing, but will take quicker look from a real computer.

Jdoublep

Jan 2, 2025 3:18 pm

OOC Chat

I think the sheet is plenty good for our needs. Thanks again for whipping that up so quickly - and with holiday to consider! I went ahead and closed applications at 5 players (including me) so if all are good with the sheet Q's made, we can get to discussing our playtest.

@Rabbits, so sorry for the delayed response. Appreciate you asking about CATS. Here are my thoughts, but I am truly truly down to let this play out however it plays out if we find our story trending one way or another:

Concept: I'm partial to the way the Bakers describe it - a game about Wizards' bizarre obsessions and baroque intrigues, given Wizards aren't technically allowed to attack one another. In Ars, Wizards have crazy counter-magic so it's not even worth it for them to try.
Aim: Out-of-game - playtest and collect feedback for the Bakers. In-game - Wizards Wildly Working to Willfully Wield Wonky Words! (See Tone.)
Tone: Definitely shooting for more Roger Corman campy comedy of errors and insults than an Aronofsky level exercise in the grit and grime of Wizardry, although if things start to trend that way we'll just have to bust out our dusty Grimoires and get Solomonic up in here. I do think the intent of the game is for players to approach it lighter in heart than pure Ars but the rules do state things could get dark and heavy.
Subject Matter: Interestingly enough, I think the subject matter of both Raven and Ars are quite similar: the burden of power; relationships within and without the Order of Hermes, the allure (and danger) of some knowledge; personal legacy and mortality; and the balance between individual ambition and responsibility to community. I think the Bakers have potentially designed a fun way to let people explore those subjects with pomp and camp!
What does everyone else think?
And Happy New Year!

Verrain Inactive for 1 months

Jan 3, 2025 5:23 pm

OOC Chat

I am largely in agreement with the above. I am looking for a light tone, for a chance to kick the tires of this new system, and to explore some weird stuff in the name of magical exploration and petty feuds.

Dmbrainiac

Jan 3, 2025 7:37 pm

OOC Chat

Yes, that all sounds good to me. I'm back from my vacation on Monday, so I'll dig into the rules more and make a character then.

Qralloq

Jan 3, 2025 11:30 pm

OOC Chat

I'll chime in to say I'm on board with the above as well.

Rabbits

Jan 5, 2025 11:06 pm

OOC Chat

Just to restate what I think I'm seeing: Clarismus' Best Interest is to uncover Fae truths and weave that information into the Order itself. Do I have that right?

I think it is interesting "best interest" is the same label found in In a Wicked Age, so I might be conflating things, as the examples given here in Ars are platitudes like "learn patience and discipline." I much prefer the concrete best interest of "learning Fae mysteries," which jives more with how it works in In a Wicked Age.

[ +- ] -

Thoughts?

Qralloq

Jan 5, 2025 11:28 pm

OOC Chat