Game Format Discussion

[Keehnelf]

So--we have interest from 5 players. This is an interesting middle ground, in the sense that it's a little bit bigger than I usually like for my regular games (but PbP might prove to mitigate some of this by allowing us thoughtful time all around, and lots of threads for pursuing different topics), but not really enough for a two-Covenant setup.

So--my question to you is: should we stick with our current number and just play a standard game, or should I recruit 1 to 3 more players and set up two rival Covenants as the basis for the game? I'm game for either, but now or soon is the time to decide, so we can give any possible new recruits time to get on board, and so I can get the sub-forums properly set up before people do too much character strategizing and creation out in public.

[Mister-Kent]

I'd be interested in keeping one large Covenant, so that would be my preference But if you find at least 1 more interested player more in the next few days (or however long it takes us all) the two Covenants would work out too.

[Das]

I think whatever your comfortable with.

[AleBelly]

I'm happy either way. Personally, I'd go with the type of passive recruiting that you've been doing - if there are more interested players, we go with two covenants, if not, stick with one.

I worry that active recruiting (begging people to play, etc) may bring in folks that won't stick with it for the long haul, which I'm guessing would suck.

[Keehnelf]

Quite true--and especially problematic if we do a rival-covenant type thing with even sides and one ends up at a disadvantage as a result.

Let's move forward slowly with plans for a single covenant and then if the player situation changes much, we can weave the new situation into the backstory.

[Starbeard]

Have you thought of making a recruitment post over at the Atlas Games forum? They have 9 pbp games running there, all Ars Magica, so there's certainly a player base for it.

[Keehnelf]

Honestly with five new or basically new players there is a HUGE possibility for problems bringing in an experienced AM player from the Atlas forums. It would really throw things off. I'm not thinking we're in need of more, unless you guys were specifically interested in the rival-covenants idea, which could still be done via NPC even with a somewhat larger group than I had originally expected.

[Keehnelf]

If your Magi die, or enter Final Twilight, or new players enter the game after the Covenant is set up, would you like to have them begin their Magi as fresh Magi, or as new apprentices to the existing Magi of the covenant? This would involve a totally different sort of "introduction" to the game, but it would potentially give new players with no experience of the game a really good opportunity to roleplay in the world and learn new systems one by one.

Thoughts on which direction to go?

[Das]

Apprenticeship sounds cool. We don't need NPCs to bog stuff down...and apprenrices, labs, familiars and so on seem like key parts of the game.

[AleBelly]

The apprenticeship approach sounds more interesting to me, too. In case the numbers of players swells, can covenants split into two (I would guess with some animosity)?

[Keehnelf]

Yeah, of course--that would all play out in-game, of course. Basically, you'll start out with very few resources--it may be the case that the population outgrows what you can support and folks need to strike out on their own to pursue their aims...

[Keehnelf]

Okay, next question(s):

I've posted the map of the region in which the game will take place up in the Canonical Setting Info thread. Let's assume that one Covenant will exist in this region apart from the one which your characters will be establishing. I will place that one after we place yours. It may or may not be the Covenant from which one or more of you have traveled, where your masters are located (that is up to you).

The big question however, is, where on this map should your Covenant be set up, and what is the unusual feature that drew the Magi to want to set up shop there?

Remember that a Covenant is usually placed in a location with a reasonably strong Magic Aura (i.e. within the Magic Domain, though usually not in a distinct Regio especially when the Magi are young). This means that places of unusually distinct character, or where an unusual phenomenon is taking place (natural in tone but somehow exemplary or striking) are likely candidates. The sky is the limit here--just remember you're going to start out basically having scouted this location and then brought your initial supplies there to set up a life, like the first settlers in a game of Civilization.

[Mister-Kent]

Ooh! A location rougly equidistant between Reutte, Immenstadt, Mittelberg, Landeck, and Imst would put as at the center of a star/pentagram, which would be pretty cool. So it could be a little quiet mountain glen humming with energy. We'd have out mountain seclusion, yet still be in range of civilization.

Edit: The glen was just for example--it could be a rocky peak atop a waterfall, or on the side of a mountain, etc.

[Starbeard]

I like that idea. And we could make extra money during the tourist season levitating skiers up to the slopes!

Perhaps it could be next to one of the zillion tiny little lakelets in those mountains? That way we'd have all of the elements, thematically speaking: high mountain air, tons of rock, surrounded by trees (for kindle and planting), and a little lake with a running stream/waterfall.

We could mash some High German words together for a fun name: Fimfsternberg ('Five-star Mountain'), Bergantberg ('hidden mountain'), Stilliwazzar ('Stillwater'), Zoubarwald ('Magic forest')…

[Dogma]

I like that location too. I can picture a meadow with a lake and waterfall, with several towers and building scattered about....

I also would vote for Fimfsternberg ('Five-star Mountain').

[Keehnelf]

Sounds like we're generally agreed. I'll leave you all to the name discussion a bit longer but I'll update the setting info a bit with details of the Covenant's starting location.

Follow-on question: in the immediate setting the Covenant will have a small source of Vis (raw essence that can be used to enhance magical effects) of one Art. What will that Art be, and how does the source manifest?

Examples: A small portion of water at the very bottom of an exceptionally clean lake might provide Aquam, golden acorns growing on an ancient oak might give Herbam or Creo, pure honey from a hive of magical bees might give Animal, etc.

[Das]

I vote ingem. The location would be underneath a hot spring. So interesting idea coupled with relaxing hot spring.

[AleBelly]

I'll of course vote for animal, but don't have a strong preference.

[Starbeard]

Since it looks like we'll have an animal specialist and a fire specialist, would it make sense to pick a Technique instead of a Form, so that both can use it equally? Maybe Creo, Rego, or Muto?

[Das]

Cr 3 , In 0, Mu 3, Pe 4, Re 4

I think Rego is the best idea and I have a good idea I think. We could have a waterfall and the control comes from the river itself forming it's path through the rock and it's life giving nature "controlling" the growth of life around it. The Vis could be fairly easy to gather but collecting it at the end of the waterfall. But that is just my idea....but as you can see most of them are good for me except for Intellego