The Covenant
From Ars Magica
| The covenant is the single most important character in most Ars Magica sagas, because it is the character that all players contribute to. It is their home, a secure base, and the place where they study, improve, and create magical wonders. Thus, coming up with the concept for the covenant is very important, as it will have a strong influence on the feel of the saga.
Page 69, Covenants, Ars Magica 5th Edition |
Contents |
Build Point Wish List
Founding the Covenant
n.b. All the information pertaining to game setup will be removed once the chronicle starts, and placed elsewhere.
The book "Covenants" will be released shortly. If the players wish, the game can be delayed a little in order for us to adopt those rules when building the covenant. The book will definitely contain new hooks and boons, as well as rules regarding laboratories.
As part of the initial character creation process, all players are requested to spend build points on the creation of the Covenant, which is detailed below:
Naming the Covenant
I have not given the saga or covenant a name yet. I currently intend the saga to be named after the covenant, and that is something for the founding magi to decide.
- Personally, I would like to name the covenant IC through RP.--Perikles 09:00, 18 January 2006 (PST)
- That's how I am hoping it will be done. :) --Admin 19:08, 28 January 2006 (PST)
Initial Resources
For free, the players will recieve:
One stone building large enough to accomodate all characters. Enough resources to cover the day-to-day requirements of the covenant (at least initially). A level 3 Magic Aura for the Covenant. One fighter grog per magus/maga. Two covenfolk (such as servants or craftsmen) per magus/maga (specialist may include blacksmiths and carpenters). The Covenant has an aging modifier of 0.
(The assignment of these resources will be determined by the players as a group.)
- Can we choose to swap a blacksmith for a fighter? We may not have to, but it's nice to know. After all, if it comes to it, I'd rather have 10 guards and 5 craftsmen over 10 craftsmen and 5 guards. We can always put the guards to mundane, unskilled work, but getting your carpenter to help you hunt down the undead may be trickier. Or do people disagree?--Perikles 09:09, 18 January 2006 (PST)
Ars Magica 5th Edition, Page 71, under heading "Baseline":
"There is about one grog (fighter) per magus, and there are about two other covenfolk, such as servants or craftsmen, per magus. The available craftsmen include a blacksmith, carpenter, and maybe a bookbinder, but more exotic specialists are not present. While the covenant is hard to get into, it could not withstand a serious military assault without magic."
Basically, it is impractical, and undesirable, to have a significant percentage of soldiers in the covenant. Soldiers can't wander into a forest to find just the right bent tree for a principle joint in a timber-frame building. They aren't skilled cooks, nor will they demean themselves by acting as servants in the kitchen (and when you are cooking for forty, you want help...)
- Actually, cooking for 40 by yourself isn't the problem. Cleaning up after cooking for 40 is the problem:-) JBforM
Build points
As the covenant shall be designed and built by the players, it is low level. The maximum level of any book or magical artifact is 25, and build points will be capped at 300, whichever is higher.
- This is probably a mistake but I just got to ask, do you intend us to be able to take books (not labtexts) with lvl 25?" --Samuel 17:12, 31 January 2006 (PST)
- Well spotted. This applies only to lab texts. When creating Summae or Tractatus, there are built in limits. James
I would like the players to decide what hooks and boons the covenant has, and how you would like to spend the 300 build points. To this end, each player has absolute control over 60 build points, and any unallocated points will go into a general pot.
Books, specialists, vis, etc. will need approval.
The design of the covenant is being held on our discussion board.
Covenant Information
Inhabitants
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