Hooks and Boons Wish List

From Ars Magica

(Difference between revisions)
m (→List of all Hooks and Boons in Covenants)
m (→Current Hooks/Boons wish list: added missin END small tag and a comment about regios..)
 
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* Please write down which hooks and boons you would like the covenant to have.
* Please write down which hooks and boons you would like the covenant to have.
 +
==Boons and Hooks Summary Table==
 +
{|style=text-align:center border="1" width=100% |
 +
|  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Name'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Type'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''H/B'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Value'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Page'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Corbon'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Jeff'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Nick'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Peri'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Sally'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Sam'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Tim'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Popularity'''||  bgcolor=gray | <font color=white>'''Notes'''
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|Aura x 2||Site||B||2||8||X||X||X||X||X||X||||5||
 +
|-
 +
|'''Road'''||Site||H||-1||11||||X||X||||X||X||X||5||Automatic
 +
|-
 +
|Beholden||External Relations||H||-3||21||X||X||||||||X||||3||
 +
|-
 +
|Hidden Resources||Resources||B||-1||16||||X||||X||||||X||3||
 +
|-
 +
|Regio||Site||B||3||7||||X||||X||X||||||3||
 +
|-
 +
|Protector||||H||||?||X||X||||||||X||||3||
 +
|-
 +
|Hermetic Politics||External Relations||H||-1||22||X||||||X||||||||2||
 +
|-
 +
|Wealth||Resources||B||1||16||X||||||||||X||X||2||
 +
|-
 +
|Regio||Site||H||-3||9||||||||||||X||X||2||
 +
|-
 +
|<s>Urban</s>||Site||H||-3||11||||X||||||||||X||2||Unavailable
 +
|-
 +
|Ruined Covenant||Surroundings||H||-3||24||||X||||||X||||||2||
 +
|-
 +
|<s>Exceptional book</s>||External Relations||B||3||20||||||||||X||||||1||Unavailable
 +
|-
 +
|Local Ally||External Relations||B||1||21||||||X||||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|'''Centralised Kingdom'''||External Relations||H||-1||22||X||||X||||||||||1||Automatic
 +
|-
 +
|'''War zone'''||External Relations||H||-3||22||X||||X||||||||||1||Probably automatic
 +
|-
 +
|Manor House||Fortification||F||0||11||||||X||||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|<s>Outbuildings</s>||Fortification||H||-1||15||||||X||||||||||1||Unavailable
 +
|-
 +
|Missile Weapons (Bowmen)||Residents||B||1||18||||||X||||||||||1||Shortbows
 +
|-
 +
|Peasants||Residents||F||0||17||||||X||||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Gender Imbalance||Residents||H||-1||19||X||||X||||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|<s>Mercer House</s>||Residents||H||-3||19||||||||||X||||||1||Unavailable
 +
|-
 +
|<s>School||Residents</s>||H||-3||19||||X||||||X||||||1||Unavailable
 +
|-
 +
|Wealth||Resources||B||3||16||||||||||X||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Contested Resources||Resources||H||-1||16||||||||X||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Vivid environment||Site||B||1||9||||||||||X||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Mutable||Site||H||-1||10||||||||||X||||||1||Requires Regio?
 +
|-
 +
|Monster||Site||H||-3||9||||||||||||||X||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Roman Ruins||Surroundings||H||-1||25||||||||X||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Buildings||||B||1||?||||||||||||||X||1||Possibly...
 +
|-
 +
|Building or Fortifications||||B||||?||||X||||||||||||1||Possibly...
 +
|-
 +
|Buildings||||B||||?||||||||X||||||||1||Possibly...
 +
|-
 +
|Faerie Court||||H||||?||||||||X||||||||1||
 +
|-
 +
|Festival||||H||||?||||||||X||||||||1||
 +
|}
 +
 +
<!-- Temporarily removed as the table above does a better job, and is more up-to-date
-
== Hooks and Boons ==
+
== Consensus and Condensed Wish-list ==
{| border=2 cellpadding="20" |  
{| border=2 cellpadding="20" |  
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*School (major, residents)
*School (major, residents)
*Ruined Covenant (major, surroundings)
*Ruined Covenant (major, surroundings)
-
*Faerie Court (minor, surroundings)
 
'''''Boons'''''<br>
'''''Boons'''''<br>
*Magic aura of 5 (two minor boons).
*Magic aura of 5 (two minor boons).
Line 49: Line 123:
'''''Hooks'''''
'''''Hooks'''''
*Regio [Major]  
*Regio [Major]  
-
*Road [Minor] or Urban [Minor]
+
 
 +
*Road [Minor]
 +
 
 +
 
*Monster [Major]  
*Monster [Major]  
 +
 +
'''''Boons'''''<br>  
'''''Boons'''''<br>  
*Buildings [Minor]
*Buildings [Minor]
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<big>Bedo/Nick</big><br>
<big>Bedo/Nick</big><br>
*Fortification - Free Choice - Manor House
*Fortification - Free Choice - Manor House
 +
*Residents - Free choice - Peasants
'''''Hooks'''''
'''''Hooks'''''
 +
*War zone
*Road
*Road
*Outbuildings  
*Outbuildings  
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<big>Mnemosyne/Perikles</big><br>
<big>Mnemosyne/Perikles</big><br>
 +
'''''Hooks'''''
 +
*Contested Resources
 +
*Politics
 +
*Faerie Court
 +
*Roman Ruins
 +
*Festival
'''''Boons'''''<br>  
'''''Boons'''''<br>  
*Aura x2
*Aura x2
Line 107: Line 194:
*Hidden Resources
*Hidden Resources
*Regio
*Regio
-
'''''Hooks'''''
+
 
-
*Contested Resources
+
-
*Politics
+
|}
|}
 +
END OF COMMENT -->
==Eirlys/Sally==
==Eirlys/Sally==
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'''Hooks'''
'''Hooks'''
* Regio [Major]
* Regio [Major]
 +
<p><small>Definition (Major): The Covenant is located in a magical regio that only native guides can safely navigate.  The labyrinth of the regio may take many forms, though its precise nature must be described.  The Redcaps, who collect such knowledge, report twisting causeways, tangled woodland paths, convoluted sewers, or paths trod through sunset clouds.  To fail to follow the path is often to return to the mortal world, but in many covenants false paths lead to prisons, over cliffs, or into the lairs of monsters.</small></p>
 +
<p><b>Versus...</b></p>
 +
<p><small>Definition (Minor): The covenant is located in a magical regio that can be entered in many ways.  The covenant may take measures to limit entry into the regio, but these are never perfect.</small></p>
* Road [Minor] ''I'd like to see an intersection of a major and a minor road''
* Road [Minor] ''I'd like to see an intersection of a major and a minor road''
-
* Urban [Minor] ''This choice would be in lieu of Road''
+
<small>Definition (Major): The covenant is on an important mystical trail of some kind, so that mystical creatures, from one or more realms, often turn up at the covenant.</small><br>
 +
<p><b>Versus...</b></p>
 +
<p><small>Definition (Minor): The covenant is on an important mundane road, river, or sea route, so that people often turn up at the covenant, bringing or causing stories.</small>
* Monster [Major]
* Monster [Major]
-
 
+
<small>Definition: A powerful mystical creature lives inside the covenant.  The creature can be aligned with any realm, and should be too powerful for the player characters to defeat at the beginning of the saga.</small>
'''Boons'''
'''Boons'''
* Buildings [Minor] ''Tower with appropriate outlying buildings''
* Buildings [Minor] ''Tower with appropriate outlying buildings''
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I prefer road to urban, and there are two very interesting roads nearby.  Monster is a great hook. :D  --[[User:Admin|Admin]] 05:41, 11 February 2006 (PST)
I prefer road to urban, and there are two very interesting roads nearby.  Monster is a great hook. :D  --[[User:Admin|Admin]] 05:41, 11 February 2006 (PST)
 +
 +
The Regio definitions seem to be for Boons not hooks. --[[User:Samuel|Samuel]] 04:18, 8 March 2006 (PST)
----
----
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* Fortification - Free Choice - Manor House. Conventional for area, without going to the level of threat / local involvement implied by a castle
* Fortification - Free Choice - Manor House. Conventional for area, without going to the level of threat / local involvement implied by a castle
 +
 +
<small>Query: There would no doubt be a manor house in Church Stretton, covering the manor of Stretton-en-le-Vale, and I would presume that within that manor, there would be no other manor house.  I'm sure you have a better idea of the distribution of manor houses in the area than I do, but I thought that they were generally the seats of  minor nobles? - J </small>
 +
 +
* Residents - Free choice - Peasants. Seems to fit area style, and provide a little limited defence without employing troops.
'''Hooks'''
'''Hooks'''
 +
* Major External Relations Hoook - War zone.
 +
 +
<small>Definition: The covenant lies between two powerful noble holdings that are at war.  Each side requires the magi to join it.  Failure to assist, on either side, may lead to reprisal because the warlord considers the covenant in league with his enemy.  This hook may be unknown.</small>
* Minor Site Hook - Road (mundane)
* Minor Site Hook - Road (mundane)
* Minor Fortification Hook - Outbuildings.
* Minor Fortification Hook - Outbuildings.
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'''Boons'''
'''Boons'''
* Minor Site Boon - Aura x 2 - As stated, benefit of power
* Minor Site Boon - Aura x 2 - As stated, benefit of power
-
* Minor Residents Boon- Missile Weapons (Bowmen)
+
* Minor Residents Boon - Missile Weapons (Bowmen)
 +
* Minor Resource Boon - Secondary Income (Sheep farming + toll on road)
* Minor External Relations Boon - Local Ally
* Minor External Relations Boon - Local Ally
I like your choices, but need to see a definition for "Bowmen", "Gender Imbalance", and "Centralised Kingdom" - especially "Bowmen".  I am especially keen on 'Local Ally', have a good idea for how the bowmen boon can benefit the covenant and grow with it, and the "Kingdom" hook sounds like something that will keep Marcus amused. :D  --[[User:Admin|Admin]] 05:38, 11 February 2006 (PST)
I like your choices, but need to see a definition for "Bowmen", "Gender Imbalance", and "Centralised Kingdom" - especially "Bowmen".  I am especially keen on 'Local Ally', have a good idea for how the bowmen boon can benefit the covenant and grow with it, and the "Kingdom" hook sounds like something that will keep Marcus amused. :D  --[[User:Admin|Admin]] 05:38, 11 February 2006 (PST)
 +
:<small>Manor house & outbuildings I was thinking of based on the idea that we might have (somehow) come into the possession of some existing buildings - an existing manor - rather than having to physically build the covenant from scratch. One of the threads of the campaign might then be that of getting them into a more usable form over time.
 +
 +
:Centralised Kingdom & road seem to reflect the location selected already, based on the basic ideas of the campaign as outlined. Following other discussion (and reading the covenants book) I will add War zone to my list for much te same reason. It wasn't historically a full-on war all the time, but it was an area where wars did occur fairly regularly, and certainly during the early time of the covenant.
 +
 +
:Gender imbalance seems to reflect the covenant balance we are setting up.
 +
 +
:Bowmen. Both Wales and England were known for bowmen - having locals who are already skilled fits the feel and would give us some defence in early days at relatively low expense. Following other discussions, combining this with Peasants might well make sense. --[[User:OldNick|OldNick]] 03:54, 15 February 2006 (PST) </small>
----
----
Line 232: Line 340:
*Hook: Politics (minor one, as the major one is going to be VERY difficult to hide from the Quaesitores... namely Mnemosyne).
*Hook: Politics (minor one, as the major one is going to be VERY difficult to hide from the Quaesitores... namely Mnemosyne).
-
 
-
* Protector (Minor)
 
-
<small>How ever we got the ground to build on whoever granted it to us had a problem with "Wierd stuff" in the area that we should protect the surounding willages from.</small>
 
'''Boons'''<br>
'''Boons'''<br>
* Aura (minor) X2 (Listed by  players.)
* Aura (minor) X2 (Listed by  players.)
-
<small>::This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs.
+
<small>::This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs.</small>
Could someone describe the hooks/boons from Covenants:
Could someone describe the hooks/boons from Covenants:
-
* Healthy Feature - It's +1 on aging rolls, and provides the Healthy location on ArM5 page 170 - can be taken up to three times. (tot +3 for first, +5 for three?)
+
 
-
* Minor Fortification Hook - Outbuildings. Bedo asked for it, I do not know what it means...
+
 
-
* Vivid environment - Sounds interesting (after a few hidden resources) should go well with Healthy Feature which I realy want us to have.
+
* Ruined Covenant (Major hook) - Sounds interesting, we could place it in a Major Regio to get some really involved stories. But for it to qualify as a _major_ hook there has to be something special about it...
* Ruined Covenant (Major hook) - Sounds interesting, we could place it in a Major Regio to get some really involved stories. But for it to qualify as a _major_ hook there has to be something special about it...
* Whatever could represent "hidden" sources of wealth, especially wealth that our suroundings benefit from. (A toll-both is just glorified robbery.)
* Whatever could represent "hidden" sources of wealth, especially wealth that our suroundings benefit from. (A toll-both is just glorified robbery.)
-
 
-
If we get some hidden resources, could we please spend one or two pawns of Vis income on making sure _all_ our summae have good quality and lvl? ;-)
 
-
Someone mentioned buying Summae for Vis, are there any established prices?
 
-
(The characters should know...)
 
-
 
-
 
==Boons and Hooks - Definitions and Arguments==
==Boons and Hooks - Definitions and Arguments==
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*Also, regardless of whether or not a description has been added, players may add arguments for and against a specific Boon or Hook, so that all the arguments for any given Boon/Hook are in the same place.
*Also, regardless of whether or not a description has been added, players may add arguments for and against a specific Boon or Hook, so that all the arguments for any given Boon/Hook are in the same place.
 +
 +
Link with a couple of definitions:
 +
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArcanumMagica/message/164
 +
===Site===
===Site===
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'''Major Site Boons:'''<br>
'''Major Site Boons:'''<br>
*Aura
*Aura
-
<small>Pro: This will raise the aura in the laboratory areas, whilst leaving the grog-areas unaffected.  Intended for raising the aura about five without affecting the grogs.
+
<small>Pro: This will raise the aura in the laboratory areas, whilst leaving the grog-areas unaffected.  Intended for raising the aura about five without affecting the grogs. </small>
-
*Conscious space
+
*'''Conscious space'''
*Fantastic environment
*Fantastic environment
-
*Immunity
+
<small>Definition: The covenant is on land which is exceptionally beautiful and pleasant.</small>
-
*Natural Fortress
+
*'''Immunity'''
 +
*'''Natural Fortress'''
*Regio
*Regio
-
*Time Dilation or Contraction
+
<small>Definition: The covenant can only be entered by those who know how to navigate the regio.</small>
 +
*'''Time Dilation or Contraction'''
 +
|
 +
'''Major Site Hooks:'''<br>
 +
*Constantly Mobile
 +
*Highly Mutable
 +
*Magical Disaster
 +
*Missing Aura
 +
*Monster
 +
*Road
 +
*Regio
 +
*<s>Urban</s>
 +
|-
|
|
'''Minor Site Boons:'''<br>
'''Minor Site Boons:'''<br>
*Aura
*Aura
<small>Pro: This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs.</small>
<small>Pro: This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs.</small>
-
*Difficult Access
+
 
 +
*'''Difficult Access'''
*Healthy Feature
*Healthy Feature
:<i> It's +1 on aging rolls, and provides the Healthy location on ArM5 page 170 - can be taken up to three times. (tot +3 for first, +5 for three?)</i>
:<i> It's +1 on aging rolls, and provides the Healthy location on ArM5 page 170 - can be taken up to three times. (tot +3 for first, +5 for three?)</i>
Line 279: Line 395:
*Immunity
*Immunity
*Mystical Portal
*Mystical Portal
-
*Regio
+
*''Regio''
*Seclusion
*Seclusion
-
*'''Unnatural Law'''
+
*Unnatural Law
-
*'''Vast Aura'''
+
:<i>Some natural laws suspended in covenant's aura.</i>
 +
*Vast Aura
 +
:<i>Aura fills an large area, perhaps up to five miles across. Explanation implies tends to be on edge of unknown area.</i>
*Vivid Environment
*Vivid Environment
-
|-
 
-
|
 
-
'''Major Site Hooks:'''<br>
 
-
*Constantly Mobile
 
-
*Highly Mutable
 
-
*Magical Disaster
 
-
*Missing Aura
 
-
*Monster
 
-
*Road
 
-
*Regio
 
-
*Urban
 
|
|
'''Minor Site Hooks:'''<br>
'''Minor Site Hooks:'''<br>
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*Cursed
*Cursed
*Evil Custom
*Evil Custom
-
*Erratically Mobile
+
*<s>Erratically Mobile</s>
 +
<small>Anti: The covenant doesn't physically move around.</small>
*Faerie Aura
*Faerie Aura
*Flickering Aura
*Flickering Aura
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*Resident Nuisance
*Resident Nuisance
*Road
*Road
-
*'''Warping to a Pattern'''
+
*Warping to a Pattern
 +
:<i>Warping isn't random, but follows a theme that is possibly tied in with the history of the site.</i>
*Weak Aura
*Weak Aura
*Uncontrolled Portal
*Uncontrolled Portal
*Unhealthy Environment
*Unhealthy Environment
-
*Urban
+
*<s>Urban</s>
|}
|}
 +
===Fortifications===
===Fortifications===
{| width=100% border=2 cellpadding=20 |
{| width=100% border=2 cellpadding=20 |
| colspan=2 |
| colspan=2 |
'''Free Choices:'''<br>
'''Free Choices:'''<br>
-
* Island
+
* <s>Island</s>
* Manor House
* Manor House
-
* Castle (Major Hook)
+
<small>Anti: There are a number of manor houses in the area, but they do not like in a magical aura.</small>
-
* Ringwork (req Castle)
+
* <s>Castle (Major Hook)</s>
 +
* <s>Ringwork (req Castle)</s>
* Small Tower
* Small Tower
 +
<small>Pro: This is fine, assuming it is crumbling.</small>
|-
|-
-
|
+
| colspan=2 |
'''Major Fortification Boons (alternatives to default Castle):'''<br>
'''Major Fortification Boons (alternatives to default Castle):'''<br>
-
*Curtain Walls and Mural Towers
+
*<s>Curtain Walls and Mural Towers</s>
-
*Magical Fortress
+
*<s>Magical Fortress</s>
-
*Superior Engineering
+
*<s>Superior Engineering</s>
 +
|-
|
|
'''Minor Fortification Boons:'''<br>
'''Minor Fortification Boons:'''<br>
-
*Artillery
+
*<s>Artillery</s>
-
*'''Bedrock'''
+
*Bedrock
-
*Edifices
+
:<i>Built on bedrock, rather than soil / loose stone. No wells, hard to have cellars, but hard to undermine in a siege</i>
-
*Important Buildings
+
::<small>Pro: That definitely happened to one of the local castles.</small>
-
*Shell Keep (req Castle)
+
*'''Edifices'''
-
*Tower Keep (req Castle)
+
*<s>Important Buildings</s>
-
*Vast & Labyrinthine
+
*<s>Shell Keep (req Castle)</s>
-
*Writ of Crenellation
+
*<s>Tower Keep (req Castle)</s>
-
|-
+
*<s>Vast & Labyrinthine</s>
-
| colspan=2 |
+
*<s>Writ of Crenellation</s>
 +
|
'''Minor Fortification Hooks:'''<br>
'''Minor Fortification Hooks:'''<br>
-
*Crumbling
+
*'''Crumbling'''
-
*'''Outbuildings'''
+
<small>Pro: Outstanding.  This is a very good choice for a starting covenant.</small>
 +
*<s>Outbuildings</s>
 +
:<i>Minor hamlet of buildings around about, with servants, peasants; not walled or pulled down to improve defences.</i>
*Wooden
*Wooden
 +
<small>Pro: This is very common in this area.
|}
|}
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| width=50% |
| width=50% |
'''Major Resources Boon:'''<br>
'''Major Resources Boon:'''<br>
-
*'''Wealth'''
+
*Wealth  
<small>Question: How does this differ from the Minor boon in the basic rules?</small>
<small>Question: How does this differ from the Minor boon in the basic rules?</small>
 +
:<i>Fabulously wealthy - live like kings. One Typical income raised to Legendary.</i>
|
|
 +
'''Major Resources Hooks:'''<br>
 +
*Indebted
 +
*Indiscreet Resource
 +
:<i>Gathering one local resource involves overt criminal acts.</i>
 +
*Natural Disaster
 +
*Poverty
 +
 +
|-
 +
| width=50% |
'''Minor Resources Boons:'''<br>
'''Minor Resources Boons:'''<br>
*Hidden Resources
*Hidden Resources
*Right
*Right
-
*'''Secondary Income'''
+
*Secondary Income
<small>Question: how does this compare to Wealth?</small>
<small>Question: how does this compare to Wealth?</small>
 +
:<i>Two independent Typical sources of income. Diversification reducing vulnerability, as well as increasing income</i>
*Vis Grant
*Vis Grant
*Wealth
*Wealth
-
|-
+
:<i>Wealthy even by standard of nobles. One Typical income is upgraded to Greater.</i>
-
| width=50% |
+
-
'''Major Resources Hooks:'''<br>
+
-
*Indebted
+
-
*'''Indiscreet Resource'''
+
-
*Natural Disaster
+
-
*Poverty
+
|
|
'''Minor Resources Hooks:'''<br>
'''Minor Resources Hooks:'''<br>
Line 378: Line 500:
*Indebted
*Indebted
*Indiscreet Resource
*Indiscreet Resource
 +
:<i>Gathering one local resource the covenant's resources attracts unwanted attention amongst a certain group.</i>
*Natural Disaster
*Natural Disaster
*Poverty
*Poverty
-
*'''Regional Produce'''
+
*Regional Produce
 +
:<i>A local produce is remarkable - bring in money and Reputation. Wines, cheeses, luxury meats.</i>
 +
<small>Anti: The local produce of note is sheep, and therefore wool.  A fictional product, probably some form of wool garment, could be a possibility though.  Church Stretton had a 'Carding Mill' in the valley in later history... (Or simply very exceptional wool.  Examples about - Brie cheese, serge de Nimes (denim), etc.  "Stretton wool" would be a
 +
reasonable not too ahistorical option, I think.)</small>
*Vis Salary
*Vis Salary
|}
|}
Line 388: Line 514:
| colspan=2 |
| colspan=2 |
'''Residents Free Choices:'''<br>
'''Residents Free Choices:'''<br>
-
* Hunters or Sailors
+
* Hunters or <s>Sailors</s>
 +
:<i>Covenant's people have some military-useful skills due to life skills, but need payment.</i>
* Peasants
* Peasants
 +
:<i>Covenant's defenders live as farmers, so don't practice as military, but have some weapons skill, are fit, and don't need paying</i>.
 +
<small>Pro: While I don't think many of the grogs will be able to to justifiably possess martial training, I'm happy for them to be trained in-game.  Axe-wielding milk-maids could act as a formidable deterrent.</small>
|-
|-
| width=50% |
| width=50% |
'''Major Residents Boons:'''<br>
'''Major Residents Boons:'''<br>
-
*Heavy Cavalry
+
*<s>Heavy Cavalry</s>
-
*Magical (Soldiers) req Soldiers
+
*<s>Magical (Soldiers)</s> Requires Soldiers.
*Tame Nobleman
*Tame Nobleman
 +
| width=50% |
 +
'''Major Residents Hooks:'''<br>
 +
*<s>Chapter House</s>
 +
:<i>The covenant owns and controls a second, smaller site, far from the covenant's main buildings. May want independence etc.</i>
 +
<small>Anti: Sounds like something for an established covenant - --[[User:OldNick|OldNick]] 03:29, 15 February 2006 (PST)</small>
 +
*Diabolic Corruption
 +
*Divided Loyalty
 +
*Fractured Council
 +
*<s>Mercer House</s>
 +
*Rebellious Covenfolk
 +
*<s>School</s>
 +
*Superiors
 +
|-
|
|
'''Minor Residents Boons:'''<br>
'''Minor Residents Boons:'''<br>
-
*Cavalry
+
*<s>Cavalry</s>
-
*Crossbowmen
+
*<s>Crossbowmen</s>
*Criminals
*Criminals
*Famous Resident
*Famous Resident
*Inhuman Residents
*Inhuman Residents
*Literate Covenfolk
*Literate Covenfolk
-
*'''Local Language'''
+
*Local Language
 +
:<i>Local people speak a language that is somehow useful to their masters, by virtue of being locally known, rather than widely.</i>
*Loyal Covenfolk
*Loyal Covenfolk
-
*'''Missile Weapons'''
+
*Missile Weapons
-
*Strong Community
+
:<i>Mundane tenants include people who are skilled with missile weapons. Examples include English peasants, required by law to practice the longbow.</i>
 +
*'''Strong Community'''
*Useful Curse
*Useful Curse
-
*Veteran Fighters
+
*<s>Veteran Fighters</s>
-
|-
+
-
| width=50% |
+
-
'''Major Residents Hooks:'''<br>
+
-
*''Chapter House'''
+
-
*Diabolic Corruption
+
-
*Divided Loyalty
+
-
*Fractured Council
+
-
*Mercer House
+
-
*Rebellious Covenfolk
+
-
*School
+
-
*Superiors
+
|
|
'''Minor Residents Hooks:'''<br>
'''Minor Residents Hooks:'''<br>
Line 428: Line 561:
*Dumping Ground
*Dumping Ground
*Fosterage
*Fosterage
-
*'''Gender Imbalance'''
+
*Gender Imbalance
-
*Guild
+
:<i>Too many men - perceived as a local threat. Too many women - perceived as weak and leaderless. Either way may give problems with local nobles.</i>
-
*'''House Church'''
+
*'''Guild'''
 +
*<s>House Church</s>
 +
:<i>Christians practicing in the covenant. May weaken aura, may be heretics from local church.</i>
 +
<small>Anti: They won't be there at the beginning of the saga.</small>
*Incompetent Covenfolk
*Incompetent Covenfolk
*Indigenes
*Indigenes
Line 448: Line 584:
| width=50% |
| width=50% |
'''Major External Relations Boons:'''
'''Major External Relations Boons:'''
-
*'''Autocephalous'''
+
*Autocephalous
 +
:<i>Remote area without a local feudal noble.</i>
 +
:<small>Pro: Suits isolated places, not needed if Isolated.</small>
 +
:<small>Anti: The local area is accounted for.  This could be interpreted to mean that the area is in a murky border region where several nobles are hesitent to try and exert their authority, however.  I'm not sure if murky border areas exist though, given how detailed parish boundaries are, for instance.</small>
*Dedicated Covenant
*Dedicated Covenant
-
*Exceptional Book
+
*<s>Exceptional book</s> (major, external relations)
 +
<small>Definition: "The covenant has, legally and legitimately, gained possession of a copy of the finest summa ever written on one Art. This book is an excellent addition to the library, of course, but it is also a powerful diplomatic tool and source of prestige. If you select this Boon, you need not pay Build Points for the book. The book's (level + quality) = 35, with a maximum quality of 25 and a maximum art level of 20" (p20).</small>
*Favours Owed
*Favours Owed
*Hedge Tradition
*Hedge Tradition
Line 456: Line 596:
*Powerful Ally
*Powerful Ally
|
|
-
'''Minor External Relations Boons:'''<br>
 
-
*'''Benefice'''
 
-
*Felicitous Tribunal
 
-
*'''Informants'''
 
-
*Local Ally
 
-
*Prestige
 
-
*Promised Favours
 
-
*Ungoverned
 
-
|-
 
-
| width=50% |
 
'''Major External Relations Hooks:'''<br>
'''Major External Relations Hooks:'''<br>
*Beholden
*Beholden
-
:Centre of Excellence
+
*Centre of Excellence
*Ceremonies
*Ceremonies
*Hedge Tradition
*Hedge Tradition
Line 474: Line 604:
*Mundane Politics
*Mundane Politics
*Rival
*Rival
-
*'''Tribunal Border'''
+
*Tribunal Border
-
*'''War Zone'''
+
:<i>The covenant lies outside of any Tribunal, or in the disputed borderland between two Tribunals</i>
 +
:<small>This would require either the creation of a new tribunal, moving the game to the border area in the north of England, or a truly unique and bizarre legal precedent, such as exists in the case of Berrick-upon-Tweed (Berwick's status was such that even the Crimean War had to be declared in the name of Great Britain, Ireland and Berwick Upon Tweed).
 +
*War Zone
 +
:<i>The covenant lies between two powerful noble holdings that are at war. Each side requires the magi to join it./i>
 +
:<small>Pro: Look into my eyes - you do not see 30,000 soldiers in yonder castle.</small>
 +
:<small>Pro: Lots of military action occurred in the area historicaly over the years that the campaign is set --[[User:OldNick|OldNick]] 03:32, 15 February 2006 (PST)</small>
 +
|-
 +
| width=50% |
 +
'''Minor External Relations Boons:'''<br>
 +
*Benefice
 +
:<i>Covenant owns the land on which the local church and priest's cottage stand. </i>
 +
:<small>Implications - covenant can refuse an individual acccess, but bishop appoints priest.</small>
 +
*Felicitous Tribunal
 +
*Informants
 +
:<i>The covenant has a small network of helpful people who provide the covenant with useful information about its rivals.</i>
 +
*Local Ally
 +
*Prestige
 +
*Promised Favours
 +
*Ungoverned
|
|
'''Minor External Relations Hooks:'''<br>
'''Minor External Relations Hooks:'''<br>
-
*'''Ancestral Error'''
+
*Ancestral Error
-
*'''Centralized Kingdom'''
+
:<i>A founder of the covenant did something really bad.</i>
-
*'''Church Territories'''
+
*Centralized Kingdom
 +
:<i>"In some parts of Europe, England for example, it is perfectly clear who owns every bit of land. A newly founded covenant in such an area will need to explain its presents to, and come to terms with, its putative noble lord"</i>
 +
:<small>Pro: Suggested as recognising the real-world situation in the area --[[User:OldNick|OldNick]] 03:32, 15 February 2006 (PST)</small>
 +
:<small>Con: Do we want stories based on this? --[[User:Samuel|Samuel]] 05:44, 15 February 2006 (PST)</small>
 +
*Church Territories
 +
:<i>"Large parts of Europe accept a representative of the church as their mundane noble."</i>
 +
:<small>Hook rather than Free Choice as Church inflexible in some ways.</small>
*Favours
*Favours
*Hangout
*Hangout
Line 499: Line 653:
{| width=100% border=2 cellpadding=20 |
{| width=100% border=2 cellpadding=20 |
| width=50% |
| width=50% |
-
Major Surroundings Boons
+
'''Major Surroundings Boons:'''<br>
*Defensive Environment
*Defensive Environment
-
*'''Tithing Miracles'''
+
*Tithing Miracles
 +
:<i>Regular too-good crops cancelling out cost of tithes makes people pious and the church locally powerful</i>
*Mystical Allies
*Mystical Allies
|
|
-
Minor Surroundings Boons:
 
-
*'''Chase''',
 
-
*Hidden Ways,
 
-
*Minority
 
-
|-
 
-
| width=50% |
 
'''Major Surroundings Hooks:'''<br>
'''Major Surroundings Hooks:'''<br>
-
*City
+
*<s>City</s>
*Demonic Interest
*Demonic Interest
*Enclosed
*Enclosed
Line 518: Line 667:
*Monster
*Monster
*Pagans
*Pagans
-
*'''Pilgrimage Site'''
+
*Pilgrimage Site
 +
:<i>Pious people travel to close to the covenant to visit a shrine. Church active, but more money about.</i>
*Ruined Covenant
*Ruined Covenant
*Seat of Power
*Seat of Power
 +
|-
 +
| width=50% |
 +
'''Minor Surroundings Boons:'''<br>
 +
*Chase,
 +
:<i>An area of royal or noble hunting forest granted to the covenant. Limitations and responsibilities on use"</i>
 +
*'''Hidden Ways''',
 +
*Minority
|
|
'''Minor Surroundings Hooks: :'''<br>
'''Minor Surroundings Hooks: :'''<br>
Line 526: Line 683:
*Deathbed Visitor
*Deathbed Visitor
*Faerie Court
*Faerie Court
-
*Fated Feat
+
<i>Faerie court nearby. Good source of stories. Sometimes faeries travel from it.</i>
-
*Fallen Temple
+
*'''Fated Feat'''
-
*'''Festival'''
+
*'''Fallen Temple'''
 +
*Festival
 +
<i>Local  festivals are a nuisance - affect magi</i>
*Ford
*Ford
*Guardians
*Guardians
*Heretics
*Heretics
*Hermit
*Hermit
-
*Legendary Site
+
*'''Legendary Site'''
*Massacre Site
*Massacre Site
-
*Missing Expedition
+
*'''Missing Expedition'''
-
*'''Monastery'''
+
*Monastery
-
*Monster
+
:<i>Nearby monastery uses local land to support monks. As it grows it may want land, even now it may need support.</i>
 +
*'''Monster'''
*Protector<br>
*Protector<br>
<small>Pro: How ever we got the ground to build on whoever granted it to us had a problem with "Wierd stuff" in the area that we should protect the surounding willages from.</small>
<small>Pro: How ever we got the ground to build on whoever granted it to us had a problem with "Wierd stuff" in the area that we should protect the surounding willages from.</small>
*Roman Ruins
*Roman Ruins
 +
:<i>Nearby Roman ruins, may be haunted; a good source of dressed stone.</i>
*Sanctuary
*Sanctuary
*Site of Weakness
*Site of Weakness
*Ungarrisoned Castle
*Ungarrisoned Castle
|}
|}

Current revision as of 12:18, 8 March 2006

This is the Hooks and Boons discussion list.

  • Please write down which hooks and boons you would like the covenant to have.

Contents

Boons and Hooks Summary Table

Name Type H/B Value Page Corbon Jeff Nick Peri Sally Sam Tim Popularity Notes
Aura x 2SiteB28XXXXXX5
RoadSiteH-111XXXXX5Automatic
BeholdenExternal RelationsH-321XXX3
Hidden ResourcesResourcesB-116XXX3
RegioSiteB37XXX3
ProtectorH?XXX3
Hermetic PoliticsExternal RelationsH-122XX2
WealthResourcesB116XXX2
RegioSiteH-39XX2
UrbanSiteH-311XX2Unavailable
Ruined CovenantSurroundingsH-324XX2
Exceptional bookExternal RelationsB320X1Unavailable
Local AllyExternal RelationsB121X1
Centralised KingdomExternal RelationsH-122XX1Automatic
War zoneExternal RelationsH-322XX1Probably automatic
Manor HouseFortificationF011X1
OutbuildingsFortificationH-115X1Unavailable
Missile Weapons (Bowmen)ResidentsB118X1Shortbows
PeasantsResidentsF017X1
Gender ImbalanceResidentsH-119XX1
Mercer HouseResidentsH-319X1Unavailable
SchoolResidentsH-319XX1Unavailable
WealthResourcesB316X1
Contested ResourcesResourcesH-116X1
Vivid environmentSiteB19X1
MutableSiteH-110X1Requires Regio?
MonsterSiteH-39X1
Roman RuinsSurroundingsH-125X1
BuildingsB1?X1Possibly...
Building or FortificationsB?X1Possibly...
BuildingsB?X1Possibly...
Faerie CourtH?X1
FestivalH?X1


Eirlys/Sally

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

Hooks

  • Mutable (minor, site): The covenant grounds are susceptible to change based on the inhabitants; "the covenant incarnates their passions as guides and mentors, or beautiful songs can change the time of day, the color of cloth, and the attractiveness of the singer." (p10, Covenants)
  • Road (minor, site): The covenant is near a major road travelled by Redcaps and mundanes alike.
  • Mercer House (major, residents): We have a building dedicated for Redcaps' use, and offer generous hospitality to travelling Redcaps.
  • School (major, residents): There's a learning institution on the covenant grounds. "The younger sons of many rich farmers and lesser lords congregate at the covenant to be taught letters and something of philosophy... [which] prepares them for later, university study and marks them as gentry." (p19, Covenants) Gives us a good place to troll for apprentices, and gives the Gentle-Gifters ample opportunity to interact with the mundies. Besides, everyone loves having smart people around.
  • Ruined Covenant (major, surroundings): "The covenant is near the site of a powerful covenant, which has fallen into ruin. The younger covenant controls some of the previous covenant's resources, but has not discovered them all, nor explored the central site of its predecessor" (p24). This could be the source of the hidden resources so many of us are looking for, and add some adventure and excitement in the mix too. The ruined covenant could easily be within a neighboring regio. I'd like to see this in lieu of Hidden Resources, as it can still yield resources in the future, but is more interesting, I think.
  • Faerie Court (minor, surroundings): There's a faerie ring from which unseelie emerge during autumn and winter. They may be interfering with the local lord's hunting, on a magical faerie hunt.

Boons

  • Magic aura of 5 (two minor boons). I'm a big fan of a faerie aura, but that's only good for me, for everyone else that'd be amusing at best and annoying at worst.
  • Regio (site, major): The covenant can only be entered by those who know how to navigate the regio. I'm a big fan of this being a faerie regio, but I don't think we can have a magical aura in a faerie regio, so, magical regio is probably closer to being something we can all agree on.
  • Exceptional book (major, external relations): "The covenant has, legally and legitimately, gained possession of a copy of the finest summa ever written on one Art. This book is an excellent addition to the library, of course, but it is also a powerful diplomatic tool and source of prestige. If you select this Boon, you need not pay Build Points for the book. The book's (level + quality) = 35, with a maximum quality of 25 and a maximum art level of 20" (p20). I see this as being the #1 awesome boon we could take, as this (combined with a good scribe!) gives us the bargaining power we'd need to flesh out the rest of the library. I'd suggest that we shoot for this boon and consider spending fewer build points on summae, as we can make adventures out of wheeling and dealing to whore our exceptional book out for copies of other stuff. One art summa per mage plus what we could negotiate for with the book from this boon, would be the makings for one damn fine library, indeed. Vim would likely be too common to be of much bargaining power; Mentem would be of particular interest to Quaesitores, who would be most likely to come up with good trades we want; Corpus, Terram, and Ignem are popular, and would also be likely to make us popular. I'd be a fan of Muto or Animal, personally, but Corpus, Mentem, or Ignem would be best.
  • Vivid environment (minor, site): The covenant is on land which is exceptionally beautiful and pleasant.
  • Wealth (major, resources): Perhaps this might even be faerie-related; air-spirit sheep made from clouds, which can be fleeced for a material which, once woven properly, is as warm as wool but light as silk.


Ambrosius/Tim

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

Hooks

  • Regio [Major]

Definition (Major): The Covenant is located in a magical regio that only native guides can safely navigate. The labyrinth of the regio may take many forms, though its precise nature must be described. The Redcaps, who collect such knowledge, report twisting causeways, tangled woodland paths, convoluted sewers, or paths trod through sunset clouds. To fail to follow the path is often to return to the mortal world, but in many covenants false paths lead to prisons, over cliffs, or into the lairs of monsters.

Versus...

Definition (Minor): The covenant is located in a magical regio that can be entered in many ways. The covenant may take measures to limit entry into the regio, but these are never perfect.

  • Road [Minor] I'd like to see an intersection of a major and a minor road

Definition (Major): The covenant is on an important mystical trail of some kind, so that mystical creatures, from one or more realms, often turn up at the covenant.

Versus...

Definition (Minor): The covenant is on an important mundane road, river, or sea route, so that people often turn up at the covenant, bringing or causing stories.

  • Monster [Major]
Definition: A powerful mystical creature lives inside the covenant. The creature can be aligned with any realm, and should be too powerful for the player characters to defeat at the beginning of the saga. Boons
  • Buildings [Minor] Tower with appropriate outlying buildings
  • Wealth [Minor] Personally, I'd like to see this manifest as an iron mine
  • Hidden Resources [Minor]
I prefer road to urban, and there are two very interesting roads nearby. Monster is a great hook. :D --Admin 05:41, 11 February 2006 (PST) The Regio definitions seem to be for Boons not hooks. --Samuel 04:18, 8 March 2006 (PST)

Bedo/Nick

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

  • Fortification - Free Choice - Manor House. Conventional for area, without going to the level of threat / local involvement implied by a castle

Query: There would no doubt be a manor house in Church Stretton, covering the manor of Stretton-en-le-Vale, and I would presume that within that manor, there would be no other manor house. I'm sure you have a better idea of the distribution of manor houses in the area than I do, but I thought that they were generally the seats of minor nobles? - J

  • Residents - Free choice - Peasants. Seems to fit area style, and provide a little limited defence without employing troops.

Hooks

  • Major External Relations Hoook - War zone.

Definition: The covenant lies between two powerful noble holdings that are at war. Each side requires the magi to join it. Failure to assist, on either side, may lead to reprisal because the warlord considers the covenant in league with his enemy. This hook may be unknown.

  • Minor Site Hook - Road (mundane)
  • Minor Fortification Hook - Outbuildings.
  • Minor Residents Hook - Gender Imbalance (rough count 24:6 at the moment)
  • Minor External Relations Hook - Centralised Kingdom (reflecting English situation)

Boons

  • Minor Site Boon - Aura x 2 - As stated, benefit of power
  • Minor Residents Boon - Missile Weapons (Bowmen)
  • Minor Resource Boon - Secondary Income (Sheep farming + toll on road)
  • Minor External Relations Boon - Local Ally

I like your choices, but need to see a definition for "Bowmen", "Gender Imbalance", and "Centralised Kingdom" - especially "Bowmen". I am especially keen on 'Local Ally', have a good idea for how the bowmen boon can benefit the covenant and grow with it, and the "Kingdom" hook sounds like something that will keep Marcus amused. :D --Admin 05:38, 11 February 2006 (PST)

Manor house & outbuildings I was thinking of based on the idea that we might have (somehow) come into the possession of some existing buildings - an existing manor - rather than having to physically build the covenant from scratch. One of the threads of the campaign might then be that of getting them into a more usable form over time.
Centralised Kingdom & road seem to reflect the location selected already, based on the basic ideas of the campaign as outlined. Following other discussion (and reading the covenants book) I will add War zone to my list for much te same reason. It wasn't historically a full-on war all the time, but it was an area where wars did occur fairly regularly, and certainly during the early time of the covenant.
Gender imbalance seems to reflect the covenant balance we are setting up.
Bowmen. Both Wales and England were known for bowmen - having locals who are already skilled fits the feel and would give us some defence in early days at relatively low expense. Following other discussions, combining this with Peasants might well make sense. --OldNick 03:54, 15 February 2006 (PST)

Marcus/Jeff

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

Ideally, Marcus (and Jeff) would like a Covenant with some reasonable mundane connections. Here are two ideas which sort of reflect my thinking.

1) A Priory established by the Abbey at Shrewsbury. A Priory is a satellite establishment of a larger institution. This would come about if there was some immediate need to have some force of magi at the site and would have to be at the behest of either the Abbot of shrewsbury or possibly the prior at the Priory. This would get us in bed with the Church, which I think provides some interesting complications, although YMMV. This would work nicely with a regio, since the magi would live mostly in the regio while the covenfolk and monks lived outside, and in some cases might not even be aware of the presence of the magi. So, one complete possibility here is that the priory is established near some magical threat (Major Road, Ruined Covenant, etc.) and the Abbot, who does not believe that magi are evil, decides to install them there since they are best suited to protecting his monks. The monks themselves would be innocent of knowledge of the magi would live near/with/in the regio but not be part of the priory itself.

2) A more mundane set up. Several companions have links to various nobility and one, Lily, specifically mentions giving land to the covenant in her background. Given that, the follow-through is much like option 1, only without the need for a specific threat and instead a need for some sort of fuedal contract. "Giving us land" isn't really a fuedal concept, I would suggest that if this option is pursued that we are instead given a charter like a town, which probably means our true nature is known to the granting noble, or that we impersonate monks or hermits and the land is "given to the Church."

Be warned! Marcus is built to interact with the world, so most of my boons and hooks will reflect that. Bearing in mind some of the comments on the mailing list, I will not say that we should have Mercer House, School and so on. Instead, I will suggest that some of those could be built in game as we move along. If there is a threat, then we could find ourselves in the fuedal hierarchy, perhaps through Lily or another intermediary, and actually serving as fuedal overlord of the area.

I don't have Covenants, but those of you who do can probably see where I'm going with this and figure out other good ones.

Hooks

  • Protector - Priory, village or both.
  • Beholden - to the Abbot, the noble, or both.
  • Road - either minor or major, or both
  • Urban - as an alternative or adjunct to Road.
  • Ruined Covenant - this could also be the source of the problems that force the Church or the Nobility to call us in.

Boons

  • Aura of 5 - why not if we can afford it?
  • Buildings or fortifications - depending on the rationale of how we get started this might fit. If we are protecting an existing priory or being made Lords of a village, then buildings might come with the job.
  • Hidden Resources is always fun
  • Regio - I sort of like the idea of hiding the magic side of thing in a regio in the middle of either the village or the priory. In fact, the idea that the Priory was founded on the ruins of a covenant where the mundane ruins are now in the dominion, but the magical ruins are in a regio on top of the same space kind of sings to me.

Longinus/Corbon

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

  • Beholden, minor hook
  • Politics, minor or major (or both) hook
  • Protector, minor hook

Phaedrus/Samuel

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

Hooks

  • A Magical regio to explore.
  • Beholden. Preferably minor and towards someone/thing local.
  • A faerie road. (For Eirlys to handle.)
  • Protector. The local willages has been bothered by faeries and other "wierd stuff".

Boons

  • High non-warping aura, minor boon(s)
  • Could we get a bonus to aging rolls to help us keep our specialists?
  • Wealth? I would prefere to have this in a "Hiden resource" type of way, fighting for money does not seem very interesting as a major part of the saga. A bunch of stories to establish ways to get good suplies (and expanding them when needed) and the like could be interesting.

Mnemosyne/Perikles

Current Hooks/Boons wish list

  • Boons: A good, high magical aura (though not enough to cause Warping).
  • Boon: Building (a tower or great hall or something)
  • Boon: Hidden Resources (Maybe a store of magic items, a secret vis source or even some books, - possibly hidden in the regio or somewhere)
  • Boon: Regio (Yay... who doesn't like having their own pocket realm? Alteratively we could make this a hook and make it part of the story to uncover it, perhaps tying in with the hidden resources)
  • Hook: Contested Resources (maybe a new vis source or some cash resource).
  • Hook: Politics (minor one, as the major one is going to be VERY difficult to hide from the Quaesitores... namely Mnemosyne).

Boons

  • Aura (minor) X2 (Listed by players.)

::This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs. Could someone describe the hooks/boons from Covenants:


  • Ruined Covenant (Major hook) - Sounds interesting, we could place it in a Major Regio to get some really involved stories. But for it to qualify as a _major_ hook there has to be something special about it...
  • Whatever could represent "hidden" sources of wealth, especially wealth that our suroundings benefit from. (A toll-both is just glorified robbery.)

Boons and Hooks - Definitions and Arguments

  • This is the list that Nick kindly typed out on the forum. I suggest that anything you would like a proper description of be put in bold writing, so that the people with a copy of Covenants can add one if they like.
  • Also, regardless of whether or not a description has been added, players may add arguments for and against a specific Boon or Hook, so that all the arguments for any given Boon/Hook are in the same place.

Link with a couple of definitions: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArcanumMagica/message/164


Site

Major Site Boons:

  • Aura

Pro: This will raise the aura in the laboratory areas, whilst leaving the grog-areas unaffected. Intended for raising the aura about five without affecting the grogs.

  • Conscious space
  • Fantastic environment

Definition: The covenant is on land which is exceptionally beautiful and pleasant.

  • Immunity
  • Natural Fortress
  • Regio

Definition: The covenant can only be entered by those who know how to navigate the regio.

  • Time Dilation or Contraction

Major Site Hooks:

  • Constantly Mobile
  • Highly Mutable
  • Magical Disaster
  • Missing Aura
  • Monster
  • Road
  • Regio
  • Urban

Minor Site Boons:

  • Aura

Pro: This will raise the aura from the baseline level of three, to five, which is the highest aura that doesn't warp grogs.

  • Difficult Access
  • Healthy Feature
It's +1 on aging rolls, and provides the Healthy location on ArM5 page 170 - can be taken up to three times. (tot +3 for first, +5 for three?)
  • Hostile Environment
  • Immunity
  • Mystical Portal
  • Regio
  • Seclusion
  • Unnatural Law
Some natural laws suspended in covenant's aura.
  • Vast Aura
Aura fills an large area, perhaps up to five miles across. Explanation implies tends to be on edge of unknown area.
  • Vivid Environment

Minor Site Hooks:

  • Corrupt Area
  • Cursed
  • Evil Custom
  • Erratically Mobile

Anti: The covenant doesn't physically move around.

  • Faerie Aura
  • Flickering Aura
  • Haunted
  • Mutable
  • Poorly Defensible
  • Regio with Unexpected Entries
  • Regio
  • Resident Nuisance
  • Road
  • Warping to a Pattern
Warping isn't random, but follows a theme that is possibly tied in with the history of the site.
  • Weak Aura
  • Uncontrolled Portal
  • Unhealthy Environment
  • Urban

Fortifications

Free Choices:

  • Island
  • Manor House

Anti: There are a number of manor houses in the area, but they do not like in a magical aura.

  • Castle (Major Hook)
  • Ringwork (req Castle)
  • Small Tower

Pro: This is fine, assuming it is crumbling.

Major Fortification Boons (alternatives to default Castle):

  • Curtain Walls and Mural Towers
  • Magical Fortress
  • Superior Engineering

Minor Fortification Boons:

  • Artillery
  • Bedrock
Built on bedrock, rather than soil / loose stone. No wells, hard to have cellars, but hard to undermine in a siege
Pro: That definitely happened to one of the local castles.
  • Edifices
  • Important Buildings
  • Shell Keep (req Castle)
  • Tower Keep (req Castle)
  • Vast & Labyrinthine
  • Writ of Crenellation

Minor Fortification Hooks:

  • Crumbling

Pro: Outstanding. This is a very good choice for a starting covenant.

  • Outbuildings
Minor hamlet of buildings around about, with servants, peasants; not walled or pulled down to improve defences.
  • Wooden

Pro: This is very common in this area.

Resources

Major Resources Boon:

  • Wealth

Question: How does this differ from the Minor boon in the basic rules?

Fabulously wealthy - live like kings. One Typical income raised to Legendary.

Major Resources Hooks:

  • Indebted
  • Indiscreet Resource
Gathering one local resource involves overt criminal acts.
  • Natural Disaster
  • Poverty

Minor Resources Boons:

  • Hidden Resources
  • Right
  • Secondary Income

Question: how does this compare to Wealth?

Two independent Typical sources of income. Diversification reducing vulnerability, as well as increasing income
  • Vis Grant
  • Wealth
Wealthy even by standard of nobles. One Typical income is upgraded to Greater.

Minor Resources Hooks:

  • Contested Resource
  • Dwindling Resource
  • Flawed Resource
  • Illusory Resources
  • Indebted
  • Indiscreet Resource
Gathering one local resource the covenant's resources attracts unwanted attention amongst a certain group.
  • Natural Disaster
  • Poverty
  • Regional Produce
A local produce is remarkable - bring in money and Reputation. Wines, cheeses, luxury meats.

Anti: The local produce of note is sheep, and therefore wool. A fictional product, probably some form of wool garment, could be a possibility though. Church Stretton had a 'Carding Mill' in the valley in later history... (Or simply very exceptional wool. Examples about - Brie cheese, serge de Nimes (denim), etc. "Stretton wool" would be a reasonable not too ahistorical option, I think.)

  • Vis Salary

Residents

Residents Free Choices:

  • Hunters or Sailors
Covenant's people have some military-useful skills due to life skills, but need payment.
  • Peasants
Covenant's defenders live as farmers, so don't practice as military, but have some weapons skill, are fit, and don't need paying.

Pro: While I don't think many of the grogs will be able to to justifiably possess martial training, I'm happy for them to be trained in-game. Axe-wielding milk-maids could act as a formidable deterrent.

Major Residents Boons:

  • Heavy Cavalry
  • Magical (Soldiers) Requires Soldiers.
  • Tame Nobleman

Major Residents Hooks:

  • Chapter House
The covenant owns and controls a second, smaller site, far from the covenant's main buildings. May want independence etc.

Anti: Sounds like something for an established covenant - --OldNick 03:29, 15 February 2006 (PST)

  • Diabolic Corruption
  • Divided Loyalty
  • Fractured Council
  • Mercer House
  • Rebellious Covenfolk
  • School
  • Superiors

Minor Residents Boons:

  • Cavalry
  • Crossbowmen
  • Criminals
  • Famous Resident
  • Inhuman Residents
  • Literate Covenfolk
  • Local Language
Local people speak a language that is somehow useful to their masters, by virtue of being locally known, rather than widely.
  • Loyal Covenfolk
  • Missile Weapons
Mundane tenants include people who are skilled with missile weapons. Examples include English peasants, required by law to practice the longbow.
  • Strong Community
  • Useful Curse
  • Veteran Fighters

Minor Residents Hooks:

  • Alienable Land
  • Dark Secret
  • Distorted Covenfolk
  • Dumping Ground
  • Fosterage
  • Gender Imbalance
Too many men - perceived as a local threat. Too many women - perceived as weak and leaderless. Either way may give problems with local nobles.
  • Guild
  • House Church
Christians practicing in the covenant. May weaken aura, may be heretics from local church.

Anti: They won't be there at the beginning of the saga.

  • Incompetent Covenfolk
  • Indigenes
  • Inhuman Covenfolk
  • Infants
  • Possession Victim
  • Refugee
  • Rights and Customs
  • Seed of Madness
  • Spies
  • Suffrage
  • Superiors

External Relations

Major External Relations Boons:

  • Autocephalous
Remote area without a local feudal noble.
Pro: Suits isolated places, not needed if Isolated.
Anti: The local area is accounted for. This could be interpreted to mean that the area is in a murky border region where several nobles are hesitent to try and exert their authority, however. I'm not sure if murky border areas exist though, given how detailed parish boundaries are, for instance.
  • Dedicated Covenant
  • Exceptional book (major, external relations)

Definition: "The covenant has, legally and legitimately, gained possession of a copy of the finest summa ever written on one Art. This book is an excellent addition to the library, of course, but it is also a powerful diplomatic tool and source of prestige. If you select this Boon, you need not pay Build Points for the book. The book's (level + quality) = 35, with a maximum quality of 25 and a maximum art level of 20" (p20).

  • Favours Owed
  • Hedge Tradition
  • Prestige
  • Powerful Ally

Major External Relations Hooks:

  • Beholden
  • Centre of Excellence
  • Ceremonies
  • Hedge Tradition
  • Hermetic Services
  • Mundane Politics
  • Rival
  • Tribunal Border
The covenant lies outside of any Tribunal, or in the disputed borderland between two Tribunals
This would require either the creation of a new tribunal, moving the game to the border area in the north of England, or a truly unique and bizarre legal precedent, such as exists in the case of Berrick-upon-Tweed (Berwick's status was such that even the Crimean War had to be declared in the name of Great Britain, Ireland and Berwick Upon Tweed).
  • War Zone
The covenant lies between two powerful noble holdings that are at war. Each side requires the magi to join it./i>
Pro: Look into my eyes - you do not see 30,000 soldiers in yonder castle.
Pro: Lots of military action occurred in the area historicaly over the years that the campaign is set --OldNick 03:32, 15 February 2006 (PST)

Minor External Relations Boons:

  • Benefice
<i>Covenant owns the land on which the local church and priest's cottage stand.
Implications - covenant can refuse an individual acccess, but bishop appoints priest.
  • Felicitous Tribunal
  • Informants
The covenant has a small network of helpful people who provide the covenant with useful information about its rivals.
  • Local Ally
  • Prestige
  • Promised Favours
  • Ungoverned

Minor External Relations Hooks:

  • Ancestral Error
A founder of the covenant did something really bad.
  • Centralized Kingdom
"In some parts of Europe, England for example, it is perfectly clear who owns every bit of land. A newly founded covenant in such an area will need to explain its presents to, and come to terms with, its putative noble lord"
Pro: Suggested as recognising the real-world situation in the area --OldNick 03:32, 15 February 2006 (PST)
Con: Do we want stories based on this? --Samuel 05:44, 15 February 2006 (PST)
  • Church Territories
"Large parts of Europe accept a representative of the church as their mundane noble."
Hook rather than Free Choice as Church inflexible in some ways.
  • Favours
  • Hangout
  • Hermetic Politics
  • House Covenant
  • Infamous
  • Itinerants
  • Missing Founder
  • Public Vis Source
  • Rival
  • Slavery
  • Undemocratic Tribunal
  • Unsafe
  • Unsubtle Predecessor

Surroundings

Major Surroundings Boons:

  • Defensive Environment
  • Tithing Miracles
Regular too-good crops cancelling out cost of tithes makes people pious and the church locally powerful
  • Mystical Allies

Major Surroundings Hooks:

  • City
  • Demonic Interest
  • Enclosed
  • Faerie Landlord
  • Meddlesome Saint
  • Monster
  • Pagans
  • Pilgrimage Site
Pious people travel to close to the covenant to visit a shrine. Church active, but more money about.
  • Ruined Covenant
  • Seat of Power

Minor Surroundings Boons:

  • Chase,
An area of royal or noble hunting forest granted to the covenant. Limitations and responsibilities on use"
  • Hidden Ways,
  • Minority

Minor Surroundings Hooks: :

  • Death Prophecies
  • Deathbed Visitor
  • Faerie Court

Faerie court nearby. Good source of stories. Sometimes faeries travel from it.

  • Fated Feat
  • Fallen Temple
  • Festival

Local festivals are a nuisance - affect magi

  • Ford
  • Guardians
  • Heretics
  • Hermit
  • Legendary Site
  • Massacre Site
  • Missing Expedition
  • Monastery
Nearby monastery uses local land to support monks. As it grows it may want land, even now it may need support.
  • Monster
  • Protector

Pro: How ever we got the ground to build on whoever granted it to us had a problem with "Wierd stuff" in the area that we should protect the surounding willages from.

  • Roman Ruins
Nearby Roman ruins, may be haunted; a good source of dressed stone.
  • Sanctuary
  • Site of Weakness
  • Ungarrisoned Castle

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