Ars Magica

1. Ars Magica Curseforge
2. Ars Magica Minecraft
3. Ars Magica 23
4. Ars Magica 3

Ars Magica is eurocentric in the sense that it is a work of art that is centred on the historical beliefs of Europeans in a particular period. It is not eurocentric in the popular sense of 'based on the unexamined cultural assumptions of (white) Americans', and has not been since ArM4. Ars Magica is a mod about casting powerful spells, fighting bosses, and having fun with magic! It features a unique spell creation system where you can create any spell you can imagine! Ars Magica 2 is a magic-themed mod created by Mithion as a sequel to the original Ars Magica, which is no longer updated. The Shoutwiki page for the original. Ars Magica players participate in a thriving fan community, as well. Publisher's blurb: Imagine an age where myth is real and where the superstitions of the common folk hold true: faeries dance in forest glades, angels protect the Church, demons corrupt the weak, and wizards wield magic beyond the ken of other mortals.

Ars Magica is the story of a peasant boy from Gaul at the end of the first millennium whose thirst for knowledge takes him as far as his dreams soar. This is a historical AU in which magic is a carefully guarded secret nurtured in the bosom of the same Church that publically condemns it as the work of Satan. Ars Magica is a role-playing game set in Mythic Europe, a quasi-historical version of Europe around AD 1200 with added fantastical elements. It typically centers on the lives of Magi, powerful wizards belonging to the Order of Hermes, and the various mundane folk in their lives. While several details about the world change, sometimes drastically, from edition to edition, the same basic premise.

1. [Ars Magica] What are your experiences with the adventure module 'The Broken Covenant of Calebais'?

   I've owned Ars Magica for a few years, and have always wanted to run a campaign with it. It's an intimidating system to run, so I was encouraged when I found out that there was an adventure module for Ars Magica. Apparently, this adventure was originally made for 1st edition, and the version I...

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2. *Kickstarter*Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults in Spanish (Verkami)

   Hi!In Spain, the Verkami for the Spanish translation of the Ars Magica supplement Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults is in pre-campaign (by Holocubierta). The layout, design and illustrations are new, and if the rewards are reached, there will be some new content. If there is someone interested...

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   • Forum: The Glamorous Unrestrained Hype Machine
3. V

   Best Ars Magica 5e books

   So Atlas games is running a sale on Ars Magica 5e. I have the core book, and I really like the game and the setting . Which other books are a must from the line? I know I'm getting Covenants, as I always enjoy books related to players leading organizations, but apart from that, I know very...

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4. [Ars Magica] What does someone do with all of it?

   So: good old Ars Magica.There sure is a lot of it.But I can't figure out what to actually do with it. By which I mean: what was intended to be done with it.If anyone has some good war stories about what they did with it and how it turned out, I'd like to hear them.(What I probably would...

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5. AuctionUK - Various RPG Books including Ars Magica Bundle and Mongoose RuneQuest

   Just added the following books onto eBay UK:Ars Magica 5th Edition Core Rulebook + Apprentices & Grogs SupplementsLion & Dragon Medieval OSR Core RulebookMaid (First Printing) Core RulebookPrecis Intermedia 8 Game Bundle (includes Genre Diversion 3 & Story Engine Plus)RuneQuest Deluxe...

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   • Forum: The Bazaar of the Bizarre
6. A

   Ars Magica Info

   In one of my discussions the subject of Ars Magica came up as a RPG I might be interested in. I've always wanted to check it out.The persons response was when i asked about what they would suggest was the first books to get with my $75 dollar gift card wasThe core book, of course...

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7. Crafting-focused RPGs?

   So someone on Twitter asked me if there were any games out there that had crafting items as a primary gameplay loop. I couldn’t really come up with one (although you could nudge Ironsworn kiiiiiiinda in that direction). So let me ask y’all: got any suggestions?

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8. S

   Any free Ars Magica (Fifth Edition) adventures?

   We've never played before, and are looking to run an adventure as a one shot. Anywhere from 2 to 12 hours of play. Since I've never run it before and this is the only time we'll be playing Ars Magica in the forseeable future, I'd much rather use a pre-made adventure than create my own.What...

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9. [Interest and Recruitment] Ars Magica 5th - GM looking for first Play by Post

   Back in October I posted that I would like to run Ars Magica sometime as a PbP, but that I had cold feet and one of these days I would just have to force me to get over it. Looks like today's my lucky day :).I have been running games since 1985 but this will be my first Play by Post, so there...

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10. S

    Ars Magica 4th Edition new GM suggestions

    I may be running an Ars Magica game, and I have some questions for experienced players.Background: I've read the 4th edition rulebook years ago, and have been scanning it again recently, but have only a tiny bit of actual play experience (and I'm not sure what edition that was). I may be...

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11. A

    ➕Ars Magica. How do the different editions stack up in terms of single core book utility?

    I'm looking to get back into Ars Magica (not for playing in Mythic Europe) and was wondering if you could refresh my memory and/or school me a bit. Specifically, I want to pick up the most complete in one volume core book. That is, the most playable, most flexible, single volume core book for...

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12. D

    [Ars Magica] Is it viable to weld the magic system to something else?

    Aside from the entire problem of creating an amalgamation of several systems, I wonder. How hard would it be to cut out the magic system of Ars Magica, and homebrew it to use it with some other system? For example welding it to Godbound's OSR system. Why, you ask? We'd ended up with a quite...

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13. S

    Gamers Guild @ Bassendean, Perth, Western Australia - Ars Magica 5E - Club organizer - Seeking 1-3 more players

    Play Location/Method: Face to face at the Gamers Guild tabletop RPG club at the Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre in Bassendean, Perth, Western Australia.Game/System: Ars Magica 5EPlayer or GM? Posting on behalf of GM - interested players will be put in touch directly with GMTime/Frequency...

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    • Forum: Ye Olde Tavern: Looking for Group

14. [Necro]Ars Magica Edition Question

    I recently bought a lot of various RPGs on Ebay, and there were a couple of Ars Magica 3rd edition (White Wolf) books in it. I haven't really looked at them yet, and I have since received the 5th edition Ars Magica Core book.I am not very well versed in Ars Magica, but it seems like there...

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15. L

    [Ars Magica ?] Is it worth my money?

    I've heard good things about Ars Magica, particular the magic system. Which makes sense given that magic seems to be the point of the game. However, playing in the world of the superstitious peasant of the 13th century doesn't sound like fun to me. The system is relatively simple based on the...

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16. M

    🎨 Creative[Ars Magica] The Rhine Project

    I'm currentlky running a game focused on the Rhine Tribunal of Ars Magica. They provide me with a good framework in the book on the place, lots of NPC covenants...but I need more than that. My party is based on the Dutch island of Thuro, and I need ideas to flesh out the world around them. I...

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17. E

    Fate of the Verditius: the most absurd Ars Magica background EVER

    So ignominious end for a Hermetic Founder. How a mere mundane Corsican family was able to savage, capture, interrogate and then murder a medieval archmagus, and arguably one of the most potent magi ever lived. Is that even theoretically possible?I think it is one of the most absurd, stupid...

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18. [Ars Magica] What changes would dramatically improve the game in terms of marketability? +Thread

    So, with the official announcement by Atlas Games that 6E won't happen, if someone else were to pick up the game, what would they have to do in order to capture a wider player base and make the game turn at least a small profit?

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19. T

    [Interest] Ars Magica 5 Sandbox

    This is and is not the Europe you imagined. Dragons lurk in mountain caves, angels walk alongside pilgrims, faeries dance in gloaming forests, and demons tempt men and women from the path of virtue. This is a Europe of Myth and Legend, where the Garden of Eden is a place hidden somewhere in the...

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20. A

    Ars Magica, should I get it or not?

    I am considering getting/looking into Ars Magica, admittedly due to the rather excellent minecraft mod. The mod adds a personally crafted spell system I find extremely enjoyable, and I was wondering if Ars Magica actually functioned like that or not. As well, I am wondering if there is any...

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Symbol: Two vertical blue bands on the sides representing the Rivers Severn and Vyrnwy with symbols of a bee and sheaf of wheat representing agriculture. In the center, a white band with an open book and the hebrew words 'Urim' and 'Thummim' written on it, representing scholarship and the local jewish community.
Motto: Lux et Perficio (Light and Perfection)
Season: Summer
Aura: Magical 5
Founded: A.D. 1170
Magi: 7 (1 Jerbiton, 2 Verditius, 2 Flambeau, 1 Bonisagus, 1 Ex Miscellanea)

Nova Semitae is Latin for 'New paths'. It was founded as a refuge for magi who wanted a new life away from the stultifying political situation in 1170. Some 50 years later, it is once again looking for new blood to give it life, but the situation is much different. A vibrant, sometimes anarchic, political situation in both mundane and Hermetic realms makes for exciting times to live in.

The saga will begin in the Winter season of 1220 as the PCs arrive at the covenant.

An Ars Magica Primer may help with understanding the game and setting.

• 2Dramatis Personae
• 5Covenant Resources

Covenant Flag

Motto: Lux et Perficio (Light and Perfection)

Meaning: The two blue bands represent the River Severn and the Afon Vyrnwy which straddle the covenant. The sheaf of wheat and the bee represent the agricultural heart of the covenant's wealth. The book with the hebrew writing (borrowed from Yale University's crest) represents both the scholarly nature of the covenant and the covenant's Jewish community roots. The writing (depending on your translation) is 'Urim and Thummim', or 'Light and Perfection', which forms the covenant's motto in latin. The original hebrew phrase also has connotations of divination.

Dramatis Personae

The full list of characters is below. Magi and Companions in italics are NPCs.

Magi of Nova Semitae

The magi are the undisputed 'masters' of the covenant and village that supports it. There are currently a mix of PC and NPC magi residing at the covenant.

Companions

Companions support the magi in different ways, interacting with mundane society and providing specialized skills that the magi have neither the time nor inclination to learn.

Covenfolk and Grogs

The other characters at the covenant and in the magi's lives are numerous. See the main article for a full listing. Includes the Turb listing.

Grogs are player-run support staff. They can be covenfolk-like or Turb members.

Each player must create three grogs to help populate the covenant. One must be a combat type, one must be a non-combat type. The third can be either.

Redcaps

The Redcaps who helped in founding the covenant maintain independence in a small part of the covenant grounds. They provided initial vis and funds to float the covenant while a stable mundane population was established, and now enjoy the protection of the covenant without any of the costs. Additionally, such close quarters makes for close relations with House Mercere -- always a good thing to have.

Notable NPCs

As players explore the world around their covenant, they will discover a wealth of other characters. This article lists important NPCs in the magi's lives.

Notable Animals

Ars Magica Curseforge

The covenant and village are home to a number of supernatural creatures. This articles lists them in one place.

Mundane Background

• Mundane Geography and Mundane Politics
• Village of Melverley (The mundane name of the Covenant)
• Medieval Farming, a reference for village farming life

Hermetic Background

• Covenant Charter

The covenant currently enjoys the protection of the following:

• Aegis of the Hearth at level 40 (-20 spellcasting penalty for those without a token)
• The Bountiful Feast

Covenant Resources

Ars Magica Minecraft

The covenant is more than just a place for magi, companions, and grogs to live. Their resources are their livelihood. This section covers some of these.

Library

Main Article: Covenant Library

The covenant library holds multiple collections accessible by different groups. The covenant magi have arcane arts and lab texts, the general covenant and village population who are so inclined my access the general library, while magi of the Tribunal may access the Tribunal records maintained by the Redcaps (who charge their own fee).

Main Article: Varana's Tomb

In 1223, the covenant followed up on stories of a tower on an icy peak. In doing so they discovered the tomb of a maga named Varana in the form of a tower with layered regiones. It is possible, with the right steps, to make one's way deep into the regiones and find an astonishingly well-stocked library of both Arts and lores buried with the erstwhile maga.

Ars Magica 23

Vis Sources and Stores

Main Article: Vis Sources and Stores

Hermetic magi measure their wealth by vis, not by silver. This section details how much vis the covenant has, where it comes from, and how to get more.

Covenant Magical Items

Main Article: Covenant Magical Items

A covenant as old as Nova Semitae (50 years old at the start of the saga) has a plethora of magical items created to assist the magi or the covenfolk in the day-to-day lives.

Mundane Wealth

Main Article: Mundane Wealth

Despite their desire otherwise, magi still need to worry about where mundane wealth comes from.

Classes and Training offered

Main Article: Classes and Training

Covenant Mechanics

Main Article: Covenant Mechanics

As with many things in Ars Magica, there are mechanics involved. Although for covenants I try not to let it constrict the stories available, it's handy to know what the covenant entails mechanics-wise, too.

Saga Journals

An official journal of this Saga's sessions will be kept here for record-keeping purposes.

House Rules

Main Article: Ars Magica House Rules

No game would be complete without house rules.

Ars Magica 3