Ars Magica

<table class="infobox"><caption>Ars Magica</caption>

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<div>Cover for Ars Magica, fifth edition</div>

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<th scope="row"><a class="mw-redirect" title="Game designer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_designer">Designer(s)</a></th>

<td><a title="Jonathan Tweet" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Tweet">Jonathan Tweet</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-Dragon#274-1">[1]</a> and <a title="Mark Rein-Hagen" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rein-Hagen">Mark Rein-Hagen</a></td>

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<th scope="row">Publisher(s)</th>

<td><a title="Lion Rampant (game publisher)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Rampant(game_publisher)">Lion Rampant</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="White Wolf, Inc." href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Wolf,Inc.">White Wolf</a>, <a title="Wizards of the Coast" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizards_of_the_Coast">Wizards of the Coast</a>, <a title="Atlas Games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Games">Atlas Games</a></td>

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<th scope="row">Publication date</th>

<td>1987 (1st edition)
1989 (2nd edition)
1992 (3rd edition)
1996 (4th edition)
2004 (5th edition)</td>

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<th scope="row">Genre(s)</th>

<td><a class="mw-redirect" title="Medieval" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval">Medieval</a> <a title="Fantasy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy">fantasy</a></td>

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<th scope="row">System(s)</th>

<td>d10-based with strong <a class="mw-redirect" title="Magic (paranormal)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)">magic</a>system</td>

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Ars Magica is a <a title="Role-playing game" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_game">role-playing game</a> set in 'Mythic Europe' - a historically-grounded version of <a title="Europe" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe">Europe</a> and the <a title="Levant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant">Levant</a> around AD 1200, with the added <a title="Conceit" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceit">conceit</a> that conceptions of the world prevalent in folklore and institutions of the <a title="High Middle Ages" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Middle_Ages">High Middle Ages</a> are factual reality (a situation known informally as the 'medieval paradigm'). The players' involvement revolves around an organization of <a title="Magician (fantasy)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician_(fantasy)">magi</a> and their allies and foes both mundane<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-2">[2]</a> and supernatural. The game was originally developed by <a title="Jonathan Tweet" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Tweet">Jonathan Tweet</a> and <a title="Mark Rein-Hagen" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rein-Hagen">Mark Rein-Hagen</a>, with its first edition published in <a title="1987 in games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_in_games">1987</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-HG-3">[3]</a>

The current edition (the game's fifth) was written by <a title="David Chart" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Chart">David Chart</a>, and published in 2004 by <a title="Atlas Games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Games">Atlas Games</a>, who continue to develop new material for it.

Ars Magica was one of the first examples of a <a title="Troupe system" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troupe_system">Troupe system</a>. Early editions recommended that the players collaborate to create the campaign world and story with:

<ul>

<li>Each player having an opportunity to be <a class="mw-redirect" title="Game master" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_master">Story Guide</a>. (e.g. alternating by play session, 'chapter' of a story, or at the whim of the troupe)</li>

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<dd>This scheme has been de-emphasised in recent editions; in Fifth Edition it is relegated to an optional play style described at the back of the book. Alternatively a troupe may select one player as "alpha" story guide with responsibility for the overall plot, and one or more "beta" story guides to run peripheral sessions and/or stories.</dd>

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<ul>

<li>Each player having more than one <a title="Player character" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_character">character</a>; when the primary character lacks opportunity or reason to participate in a session (typically due to laboratory or library activity), a secondary character is played.</li>

</ul>

To enhance the 'authenticity' of the historical setting, the game uses <a title="Medieval Latin" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Latin">medieval Latin</a> for a number of key terms, particularly in the game's most prominent feature, a system of <a title="Hermes Trismegistus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_Trismegistus">Hermetic</a> <a class="mw-redirect" title="Ars arcana" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_arcana">Magic</a>.

<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#History">1History</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Setting">2Setting</a>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#The_Order_of_Hermes">2.1The Order of Hermes</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Realms_of_Power">2.2Realms of Power</a></li>

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<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#System">3System</a>

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<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Die-rolling_conventions">3.1Die-rolling conventions</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Magic_system">3.2Magic system</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Character_development">3.3Character development</a></li>

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<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Reception">4Reception</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#References">5References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#External_links">6External links</a></li>

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<h2>History[<a title="Edit section: History" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=1">edit</a>]</h2>

The first two editions were published by <a title="Lion Rampant (game publisher)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Rampant(game_publisher)">Lion Rampant Games</a>, with several <a class="mw-redirect" title="Adventure (role-playing game)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure(role-playing_game)">modules</a> published by Atlas Games. In 1991, Lion Rampant merged with White Wolf Magazine to form <a class="mw-redirect" title="White Wolf, Inc." href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Wolf,_Inc.">White Wolf Game Studio</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-4">[4]</a>White Wolf published several adventure modules for the game before adding its Third Edition rulebook, which greatly expanded the settings and peripheral rules while leaving the core system intact. White Wolf then produced at least a dozen Third Edition supplements, including the addition of Divine and Infernal mechanics, rules for shamanic magic, beginning the Tribunal series and completing the 'Four Seasons' tetralogy of stories begun by Lion Rampant.

Publishing rights were sold in 1994 to <a title="Wizards of the Coast" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizards_of_the_Coast">Wizards of the Coast</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-briefhistory-5">[5]</a> who produced several supplements.

The fourth edition came out in 1996. In 1998 the rights were sold to <a class="mw-redirect" title="Atlas Games (company)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Games_(company)">Atlas Games</a>, who then continued to publish the 4th edition, added several new stories, and continued to expand peripheral material and the line of Tribunal books.

The 5th edition in 2004 included extensive changes to the system, especially the mechanics for combat, experience, and character creation. Many players felt that the alterations to the combat system were long overdue,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-combat-6">[6]</a> especially the rules for armour, which in previous editions made wearers much more likely to die in combat. Ars Magica 5th edition won the <a title="Origins Award" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_Award">Origins Award</a> for <a title="2004 Origins Award winners" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Origins_Award_winners">Best Role Playing Game of 2004</a>.

Since 2014, the 4th Edition has been distributed for free at <a class="new" title="Warehouse 23 (page does not exist)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warehouse_23&action=edit&redlink=1">Warehouse 23</a> fronted by <a title="Steve Jackson Games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jackson_Games">Steve Jackson Games</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-7">[7]</a>

Many characteristics of the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Storyteller system" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyteller_system">Storyteller system</a> developed by White Wolf can be traced to Ars Magica and the fact that the Storyteller system was developed by one of Ars Magica's co-authors; White Wolf's <a title="Mage: The Ascension" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage:_The_Ascension">Mage: The Ascension</a> was envisioned as "Ars Magica in the Modern World," and many of the changes in the 3rd edition of ArM were to make the game-worlds more compatible.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-reason-8">[8]</a>

<h2>Setting[<a title="Edit section: Setting" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=2">edit</a>]</h2>

The setting, Mythic Europe, is primarily based on Europe of the 12th and 13th centuries; the geography is the same, and the mundane (non-magical) politics are practically identical. However, in Ars Magicathe "Medieval <a title="Paradigm" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm">paradigm</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-paradigm-9">[9]</a> - the way the world was described or understood in that time period - is the literal truth. In this setting, Faeries actually do steal lost children, Demons cause disease and crop failure, Angels help the righteous, and dragons and other Magical creatures are real (though perhaps forgotten or hidden). In 3rd edition, to tie the game into the <a title="World of Darkness" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness">World of Darkness</a> line, this was reality because of the beliefs; other editions distance themselves from this interpretation, simply taking place in a world where those beliefs happen to be true.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-reason-8">[8]</a>

<a title="Player character" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_character">Player characters</a> typically alternate between the role of a <a class="mw-redirect" title="Magus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magus">magus</a> (plural magi; female maga/magae), and a companion (Consors). Companions are select skilled non-magi who help wizards conduct their affairs (as magi tend to be distanced from "mundanes" due to the effects of their magical "Gift"). Additionally, there are a number of Grogs (usually skilled peasants, often bodyguards or watchmen) who can be controlled by any player. (As of the Third Edition, Grogs are also a viable player 'class'; the Fifth Edition has added an entire supplement dedicated to 'fleshing out' Grogs.) The wizards generally gather in specialized strongholds called covenants, which are often built in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Ley lines" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_lines#In_popular_culture">places of power</a>. A covenant is typically a 'home base' where the magi are in charge (though they may travel Mythic Europe for reasons of politics, resources, study or even leisure). Some consider the covenant to be the central character of the game,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-cov-10">[10]</a> and the official rules encourage troupes to develop the covenant along those lines.

<h3>The Order of Hermes[<a title="Edit section: The Order of Hermes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=3">edit</a>]</h3>

<div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a title="Order of Hermes (Ars Magica)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Hermes_(Ars_Magica)">Order of Hermes (Ars Magica)</a></div>

Standard player-character magi belong to the Order of Hermes, a society of magically "Gifted" humans which was inspired in 767 A.D. by the witch Trianoma and magus Bonisagus after the latter developed a breakthrough in communicating and manipulating magic (termed 'Hermetic Magic' for its roots in both the Greek deity <a title="Hermes" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes">Hermes</a>, upon which the ancient Roman Cult of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Mercury (god)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(god)">Mercury</a> was based, and the works of the legendary figure <a title="Hermes Trismegistus" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_Trismegistus">Hermes Trismegistus</a>). While magicians at this time were scattered, rarely social and highly distrustful of each other as a rule, two factors strongly favored mutual co-operation. One was Trianoma's political vision of an organization that would unite the Gifted for their mutual benefit. The other was Bonisagus' second breakthrough, the Parma Magica (loosely translated as "magic shield"): a highly efficient and easily taught personal ritual which could allow these disparate individuals and traditions to meet on common ground with some assurance of safety. Over subsequent centuries, with very few exceptions, magi who quit or refuse to join the Order have been hunted down and destroyed, giving the Order a definite monopoly over magical resources within its 'jurisdiction'.

While each of the Order's twelve <a title="Order of Hermes (Ars Magica)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Hermes_(Ars_Magica)#Houses">Houses</a> maintains a distinct baseline or tradition in pursuing and transmitting knowledge and power, the Order is also divided into Tribunals, each defined by a geographic region of Mythic Europe. Each Tribunal holds a gathering of its magi once every seven years; attendance is not mandatory, though it is essential for certain procedures (e.g. those who have completed their apprenticeships are formally presented for official membership; the Quæsitores judge the types of disputes deemed beyond simple inter- or intra-covenant resolution). Once every 33 years, each Tribunal sends a representative to the Grand Tribunal at the site of the Order's founding in the <a title="Black Forest" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest">Black Forest</a>.

The Tribunals loosely correspond to groupings or portions of modern-day nations; each has a distinct cultural and historical flavor which is expanded in the Tribunals of Hermes series. For example, the Roman Tribunal is a densely populated area with a shortage of magical resources, offering highly politicized plot-lines (both within and without the Order itself); Novgorod features vast areas of harsh wilderness, where pagan tribal warfare and magical beasts are significantly more common than elsewhere.

<ul>

<li>Greater <a title="Alps" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alps">Alps</a> - including <a title="Early history of Switzerland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_history_of_Switzerland#High_Middle_Ages">Switzerland</a> with the Alpine regions of <a title="Margraviate of Austria" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margraviate_of_Austria">Austria</a> and northern Italy.</li>

<li>Iberian - the precursors to <a title="Spain" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain">Spain</a> and <a title="Portugal" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal">Portugal</a>; note the <a title="Reconquista" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista">Reconquista</a> as current political climate</li>

<li>Normandy - Northern <a title="France" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#High_Middle_Ages">France</a> and what will soon be known as the <a title="Low Countries" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Countries">Low Countries</a></li>

<li>Provençal - Southern France</li>

<li>Roman - <a title="Italy in the Middle Ages" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy_in_the_Middle_Ages">Italy</a></li>

<li>Theban - <a title="Frankokratia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankokratia">Greece</a>, <a title="Second Bulgarian Empire" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bulgarian_Empire">Bulgaria</a> and Western <a title="Anatolia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatolia">Asia Minor</a></li>

<li>Transylvanian - what will become the <a title="Balkans" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans">Balkans</a></li>

<li>Rhine - centered on the <a title="Rhine" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine">Rhine</a> River, core of the <a title="Holy Roman Empire" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire">Holy Roman Empire</a></li>

<li>Novgorod - the broader cultural region known as <a title="Ruthenia" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenia">Rus'</a>, including <a title="Poland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland#Piast_dynasty">Poland</a></li>

<li>Stonehenge - <a title="England and Wales" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_and_Wales">England and Wales</a></li>

<li>Loch Leglean - <a title="Scotland in the High Middle Ages" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_in_the_High_Middle_Ages">Scotland</a></li>

<li>Hibernian - <a title="Ireland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland#Norman_and_English_invasions">Ireland</a></li>

<li>Levantine - lands of the Eastern Mediterranean known as the <a title="Levant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant">Levant</a></li>

</ul>

As with any system of <a title="Border control" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_control#History">borders</a> not contingent on clear demarcation such as a river or wall, the territory of each Tribunal is rarely defined with precision; this is partially illustrated (via the Fifth Edition Covenants book) with the 'Tribunal Border' characteristic, which situates a covenant in a location that could place it in more than one Tribunal (depending on political favors, conflicts over resources, and so on). Such ambiguity can exist even with "clear" borders such as rivers or mountain ranges, since incorporating supernatural aid or power into the structure (and perhaps the constituency or lifestyle of its inhabitants) can allow them to thrive even in the middle of either such feature.

<h3>Realms of Power[<a title="Edit section: Realms of Power" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=4">edit</a>]</h3>

The overarching premise of the Ars Magica setting is that the "mundane" world of ordinary, physical existence is a place where four great supernatural forces have varying degrees of influence and presence.

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<dt>The <a title="Divinity" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divinity">Divine</a> realm</dt>

<dd>This is the supreme, holy force of <a title="Creation myth" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_myth">Creation</a> - <a title="God" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God">God</a> as represented by the scriptures of the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Abrahamic religion" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion">Abrahamic religions</a>, and his agents in the world. Divine influence diminishes anything not attuned to it (i.e. anything of a Faerie, Infernal or Magical nature) and is categorically opposed to all things Infernal. One of the Order's struggles is in reconciling their avoidance of mundane politics with the inexorable spread of the Dominion (Divine influence permeating the land as more land is settled by Christian and Muslim nations and more centers of Divine worship are constructed).</dd>

<dt>The <a title="Hell" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell">Infernal</a> realm</dt>

<dd><a title="Satan" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan">Satan</a> and his demonic forces. In the medieval context, this includes everything from Satan himself to illnesses and bad smells. Demons are compelled to corrupt, destroy, and tempt all mortals to <a title="Sin" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin">sin</a>; while the Order of Hermes refuses to explicitly name the Infernal as their enemies (which it is assumed would draw too much attention and wrath to the Order), they have been forbidden from entering into agreements with Hell's minions ever since a corruption scandal nearly ruined House Tytalus in the 11th century. As the evil/negative counterpart to the Divine, Infernal power also weakens the effects of any Realm not attuned to Hell or other forsaken spaces. Infernally tainted forms of magic do exist, usually of great deceptive or destructive power, or acquired too easily for understanding, especially in order to tempt magi. Anyone in the Order found guilty of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Diabolism" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolism">diabolism</a> is expelled and hunted down.</dd>

<dt>The <a class="mw-redirect" title="Faerie" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faerie">Faerie</a> realm</dt>

<dd>Creatures of traditional <a class="mw-redirect" title="Fairy tales" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tales">fairy tales</a>. These creatures are often capricious, sometimes malicious, but invariably addicted to (even dependent upon for their very existence) human attention, emotion and creative expression. Despite such considerations, Study of the Faerie realm can be rewarding to some. Magi are allowed to associate with the <a class="external text" href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fey#Etymology_2">Fae</a> (in fact, one House of the Order has become increasingly dominated by its members' pursuit of 'Faerie Magic') as long as they do not incur their wrath and thereby endanger their fellows.</dd>

<dt>The realm of Magic</dt>

<dd>A mysterious arcane force, to which all magi (among other rare entities) are inherently attuned. This is the power almost exclusively used to cast spells and enchant objects. Magic and Faerie have some positive resonance with each other, reflected in either aura's benefit to the other realm's powers, and in that remote or lost pagan traditions can have connections with either (in some cases, Faerie entities seem to have 'replaced' Magical ones when the devotees of the latter either lost their way or became extinct).</dd>

</dl>

Additionally, a "Realm of Reason" appeared in the Third Edition. This was associated with skepticism and empirical observation, and its "rational aura" challenged most supernatural effects. Many fans of the game consider this to be paradoxical and inconsistent, since applying reason and rationality to the world of Ars Magica should really lead to the conclusion that magic does exist and fairies are real, etc., and yet the "True Reason" promoted by this fifth realm posited the contrary, and thus resembled a delusional (yet effective) state of mind rather than a rational one.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-reason2-11">[11]</a> The realm of Reason had additional counter-intuitive effects - for example, imposing penalties on wizard's magic use when in prominent mundane libraries, despite the predominant portrayal of Hermetic Magic as a scholarly pursuit.

Reason proved an unwelcome addition to the game; neither Fourth nor Fifth Edition have included this 'Realm', and all references to it have been stricken from the <a title="Canon (fiction)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_(fiction)">canonical</a> setting.

<h2>System[<a title="Edit section: System" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=5">edit</a>]</h2>

<h3>Die-rolling conventions[<a title="Edit section: Die-rolling conventions" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=6">edit</a>]</h3>

Ars Magica's mechanics use the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Ten-sided die" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-sided_die">ten-sided die</a>. To perform a typical action, one of eight <a title="Attribute (role-playing games)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attribute(role-playing_games)">Characteristics</a> (Intelligence, Perception, Strength, Stamina, Presence, Communication, Dexterity or Quickness, each generally rated from -5 to +5 for humans; a Characteristic of 0 is 'average') is added to a relevant <a class="mw-redirect" title="Skill (role-playing games)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill(role-playing_games)">Ability</a>, and a d10 is rolled. The total of Characteristic + Ability + die roll is compared to a target difficultyor Ease Factor; the action succeeds if the rolled total is greater than or equal to the target number.

If the action is routine or trivial and nothing in particular is at stake, the roll is read as 1-10 and simply added to the total (this is called a "Simple roll"). If there is an opportunity for exceptional success or failure, the die is read as 0-9 and is called a "Stress" roll. For Stress rolls, results of "1" and "0" have special significance. A '1' is rerolled and the result doubled (consecutive "1"s redouble the eventual "non-1", with consecutive '1's each redoubling the result again). A roll of '0' is also re-rolled (more than once in cases of especially hazardous activity) as a Botch roll. If any botch die also comes up '0', the action has been <a class="mw-redirect" title="Critical failure" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_failure">botched</a>: failed in some disastrous way. Otherwise, the roll merely equals zero, and the character is assumed to have been unsuccessful at whatever they were trying to accomplish.

<h3>Magic system[<a title="Edit section: Magic system" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=7">edit</a>]</h3>

The centerpiece of Ars Magica is the system of Hermetic Magic devised by Bonisagus. It consists of 15 Arts, divided into 5 Techniques and 10 Forms. This is sometimes called a "Verb/Noun" system: the Technique is the verb (what effect the magic has), and the Form is the noun (the entity, object or substance that is affected or brought forth). These 'verb-noun' combinations can be used to cast both Formulaic spells (which are recorded in texts, are learned through study and mastered through experience, and have known, fixed effects) and Spontaneous spells (which a caster improvises with no prior knowledge other than the Arts themselves, giving the potential results greater flexibility but lower potency). Every apprentice (with a few <a title="Order of Hermes (Ars Magica)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Hermes_(Ars_Magica)#Houses">Ex Miscellanea</a> exceptions) is "opened" in all 15 Arts before fully joining the Order; each Art begins with a Score of 0 and a mage may usually only increase one of them during a season (see below).

Each Technique is named by a first-person singular present tense <a title="Grammatical mood" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_mood">indicative</a> Latin verb:

<ul>

<li>Creo ("I create") brings objects and substances into existence from nothing, or makes an already-existing target a "more perfect" version of itself (e.g. healing magic, as healed bodies are nearer perfection than wounded bodies).</li>

<li>Intellego ("I perceive") detects or reveals, enhances a target's natural <a title="Sense" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense">senses</a> or conveys supernatural ones.</li>

<li>Muto ("I transform") alters the nature of a being, object or substance, adding unnatural traits and/or removing natural ones.</li>

<li>Perdo ("I destroy") decays, disintegrates or otherwise diminishes the target, making something a worse example of its kind (i.e. the opposite of Creo).</li>

<li>Rego ("I control") involves manipulation of the target in any way that does not alter its nature, e.g. direct a target's movement, put a creature to sleep, or force a tree to bear fruit out of season. This is the main Technique used in spells of protection or 'warding'.</li>

</ul>

Each Form is named by a singular <a title="Accusative case" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accusative_case">accusative</a> Latin noun:

<ul>

<li>Animal affects "all natural living things that are not plants or humans, doing to animals what Mentem and Corpus spells do to people" as well as "things made with animal products" such as leather, wool, cheese, silk, etc. Since <a title="Bacteria" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria">bacteria</a> were unknown in medieval times, illness (e.g.) was considered either a form of <a title="Demonic possession" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonic_possession">possession</a> or an imbalance of '<a title="Humorism" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorism">bodily humors</a>'; thus, magic dealing with disease is relegated variously to Creo, Mentem and/or Vim effects.</li>

<li>Auram affects lightning, wind and gaseous substances; other weather effects typically require an Aquam requisite (see below).</li>

<li>Aquam is used for any liquid, with the exception of blood (which requires Animal or Corpus magic to affect); non-liquid forms of water will involve requisites (see below).</li>

<li>Corpus (the incorrect declension Corporem was used in older editions) applies to the human body, making it crucial to longevity formulas.</li>

<li>Herbam primarily involves plants, but applies equally to any organic matter, living or dead, that is not of animal origin.</li>

<li>Ignem involves light and heat, and is heavily represented in the fire spells of House Flambeau.</li>

<li>Imaginem (previously Imagonem) deals with images, sounds, and other sensory stimuli (thus is involved in most illusionary effects).</li>

<li>Mentem deals with emotions, memories, thoughts and <a title="Spirit" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit">spirits</a>.</li>

<li>Terram involves earth and minerals: mere soil is the simplest target, while stone, metal and gems require progressively greater investment of spell levels to achieve the same effect.</li>

<li>Vim ("power") involves magic itself, as well as demons (the overlap is not widely understood, but the fact that there is one is a significant obstacle to the Order's 'public relations', particularly concerning the <a title="Christian views on magic" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_magic">Church</a>).</li>

</ul>

A mage's skill when casting a spell is the sum of their scores in the appropriate technique and form.

Some spells involve more than one Technique, and/or more than one Form at once; each Art used in addition to the basic pair is called a requisite. All relevant Art Scores are compared: the caster's lowest Technique and lowest Form are used, reflecting the limiting of the caster's magical knowledge.

Regardless of how high one's Art Scores may rise, there are outer boundaries to the application of Hermetic Magic (whether Formulaic, Spontaneous or even Ritual). Bonisagus's theory outlines a set of inherent Limits, similar in concept to the <a title="Physical law" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_law">laws of physics</a>; the two central, 'Greater' Limits are:

<ol>

<li>Magic cannot influence a pure manifestation of the Divine; while earthly Relics (however sacred) and agents of the Divine (anything "separate from the mind of God") may be resistant to magic they are not immune, but it is impossible to (e.g.) interfere with a Miracle (which may be prayed for by an agent or supplicant, but is itself a direct intervention by Divine will).</li>

<li>Magic cannot permanently change a target's <a title="Nature (philosophy)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(philosophy)">Essential Nature</a> (the implications of which vary depending on the target in question).</li>

</ol>

There are also eleven 'Lesser Limits' (addressing more specific 'blind spots' such as aging, creation, time and the <a title="Soul" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul">soul</a>) which are generally thought either to derive from the two Greater Limits, or to be flaws in Hermetic Theory which may eventually be 'corrected'.

Additional statistics for every spell (which have been redefined in nearly every new edition of the game) are Target (what or whom the spell is directed at), Range (how far the Target may be from the caster), and Duration. For reasons of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Balance (game design)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_(game_design)">balance</a>, some spells require the expenditure of "vis" - magical essence in physical form - which all magi and covenants tend to make a point of hoarding and/or trading. No Creoeffect, for example, can be permanent unless vis is consumed during the casting. Some Formulaic Magic is so effective that it can only be achieved with vis and an elaborate, time-consuming ritual (hence, Ritual Spells). This automatically applies to any spell of a greater Level than 50, any spell with a Duration of 'Year', and any non-Imagonem spell with a range of 'Sight'.

<h3>Character development[<a title="Edit section: Character development" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=8">edit</a>]</h3>

All characters (magi, companions and grogs alike) improve their Abilities by applying <a title="Experience point" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experience_point#Activity-based_progression">experience</a> which can be earned through Exposure, Practice, Training or Study. Magic, however, is stressed as a multifaceted discipline with a greater variety of avenues for improvement. Magi are expected to spend months at a time with books and/or laboratory equipment: inventing new spells (or learning or modifying existing ones), strengthening their Arts, enchanting items, and so forth. Ars Magica includes rules for magical research within the game's standard 'advancement' timescale of 3-month <a title="Season" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season">seasons</a>.

These seasonal activities generally concern either study of a text or laboratory activity. Although participating in adventures, missions and other endeavors outside of seasonal activity gives characters Story Experience, the most substantial progress (and the raison d'etre of many in the Order) is nearly always from the seasonal activities of magi. Hence, time in an Ars Magica campaign may pass much faster than in other RPGs (if, for example, all player-characters are engaged in seasonal activity, standard "roleplaying sessions" are unnecessary for that period) but is also more 'accounted for' (since regular and exact periods of activity give highly defined benefits). To accommodate this, many magi prolong their lives with unique (to each individual) longevity formulas (generally called "longevity potions", though the form one takes is not always a potion); this only delays the aging process, however; beyond a certain point one's longevity formula will have no effect at all and must be reformulated (preferably with increased knowledge of the appropriate Arts and/or greater quantities of vis. (A prevalent attitude among members of the Order is that Companions in general (and Grogs almost invariably) will come and go - perhaps killed in action, occasionally living long enough to retire - while the Magi carry on. Magi may concoct longevity formulas for non-magi, but this is a rare consideration, less effective than devising one's own personal formula, and is an expensive prospect in time and resources in any case.)

Study is primarily achieved with texts, each designed to enhance an Ability, Art or specific Spell(s). A respectable covenant inevitably requires either a respectable library or sufficient commodities to exchange for the use of other libraries, since the dominant form of Hermetic Magic is a scholarly pursuit. Magi who are able to write useful books or teach well can use these as commodities, trading with other magi for books or training (though the Code of Hermes places limits on what its members may sell to 'mundanes').

Lab Projects concern projects to enhance one's repertoire of spells or magical artifacts. All projects have a level of effect to which the character compares their 'Lab Total': Intelligence + Magic Theoryability + sum of a Form and Technique + other bonuses (which may be from local Aura, quality and specialization of lab, assistants, special knowledge, sympathetic connections from items, and in some circumstances an additional Ability). Some merely require a Lab Total to match the Level of Effect; more extensive endeavors simply add up each Lab Total in 'points' until twice the Level of Effect are accumulated.

The following Lab Projects are the most commonly pursued:

<ul>

<li>Invent Spells. The magus invents a new magical effect from scratch. A variation of a known spell is easier to invent than a completely original one.</li>

<li>Enchant Device. The magus may create a magical artifact which may hold a magical effect like those of Spells. These can be used by even nonmagical individuals. Usually they cost vis to make, but the Lab Total gets a bonus based on the sympathetic Shape & Material bonus of the material used; e.g. if one is enchanting a <<link:2>>, the fact that it is a staff gives a bonus when the chosen effect is 'controlling things at a distance'. They can be made as Charged Devices (which cost no vis but have a limited number of uses), Lesser Devices (which may only hold one effect, and must have a Level of Effect that the Lab Total can reach in a single season), or Invested Devices (which require additional preparation in advance and thus must be enchanted over several seasons, and may hold several effects based on size and material).

<ul>

<li>Enchant Talisman. A Talisman is a personalized form of Invested Device with many additional features. Talismans have a much higher capacity for effects with which they may be enchanted, and are easier to enchant. However, should a Talisman fall into the wrong hands, it leaves the magus very vulnerable.</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li>Longevity Ritual. A Creo Corpus effect that prolongs the magus' life by granting a bonus for Aging Rolls, making it more likely to avoid the deterioration of age which typically begins after 35 years. Thus may a magus live two centuries or longer, barring other mishaps. Magi often pay specialists to devise this ritual for them, to get a better effect than they can personally achieve.</li>

<li>Bond with Familiar. The magus may form a powerful mystical connection with another creature. Usually this will be an animal which is thematically attuned to the magus' personality and/or specialty: an Auram magus might bond with a bird, or a Herbam magus with a squirrel. The Bonding process is long and hard, but may very well be worth the effort. The animal learns to communicate with the owner, and while it does not become intelligent per se, it is almost always brighter than a normal animal of its type. One major benefit of the bond is that the Familiar can be invested with many enchantments (with restrictions as to target and activation), but the primary, unique benefits are from the Bond Scores: the Gold Cord concerns magic, and helps the magus avoid magical botches; the Silver Cordconcerns the mind, helps keep the magus focused and if strong enough may permit speech and telepathy between the two; and the Bronze Cord concerns the body, making the magus more enduring and tough.</li>

</ul>

<h2>Reception[<a title="Edit section: Reception" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=9">edit</a>]</h2>

Ars Magica was ranked 19th in the 1996 reader poll of Arcane magazine to determine the 50 most popular roleplaying games of all time. The UK magazine's editor Paul Pettengale commented: "This is a fantasy game for the thinking player - although there's plenty of scope for action, too. A first success for Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen, who both went on to even bigger things, Ars Magica includes one of the most flexible, highly-regarding magic systems in the roleplaying hobby. The game, which places heavy emphasis on storytelling, is extremely popular with fans who have followed its troubled history through four different publishers. With Atlas just about to produce a new edition, those fans are currently feeling suitably optimistic."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_note-Arcane14-12">[12]</a>

<h2>References[<a title="Edit section: References" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=10">edit</a>]</h2>

<li id="cite_note-Dragon#274-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-Dragon#274_1-0">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation journal"><a title="Steve Kenson" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Kenson">Kenson, Stephen</a> (August 2000). "ProFiles: Jonathan Tweet". <a title="Dragon (magazine)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon(magazine)">Dragon</a>. <a title="Renton, Washington" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renton,Washington">Renton, Washington</a>: <a title="Wizards of the Coast" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizards_of_the_Coast">Wizards of the Coast</a> (#274): 10, 12, 14.</cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-2">Jump up^{</a> }<a title="Mundane" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundane">Mundane</a>. "In fantasy literature the term is sometimes used to apply to non-magical people or the non-magical society."</li>

<li id="cite_note-HG-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-HG_3-0">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation book"><a title="Stewart Wieck" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Wieck">Wieck, Stewart</a> (2007). "Ars Magica". In <a title="James Lowder" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lowder">Lowder, James</a>. Hobby Games: The 100 Best. <a title="Green Ronin Publishing" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Ronin_Publishing">Green Ronin Publishing</a>. pp. 13–16. <a title="International Standard Book Number" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number">ISBN</a> <a title="Special:BookSources/978-1-932442-96-0" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-932442-96-0">978-1-932442-96-0</a>.</cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-4">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation web"><a class="external text" href="http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory10.phtml" rel="nofollow">"A BRIEF HISTORY OF GAME #10: LION RAMPANT: 1987-1990"</a>.</cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-briefhistory-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-briefhistory_5-0">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation web">Appelcline, Shannon (August 3, 2006). <a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060824022118/http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory1.phtml" rel="nofollow">"Wizards of the Coast: 1990–Present"</a>. A Brief History of Game. RPGnet. Archived from <a class="external text" href="http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory1.phtml" rel="nofollow">the original</a> on 24 August 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2006.</cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-combat-6"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-combat_6-0">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation web"><a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071224162303/http://redcap.org/FAQ/FAQ3c.html#combat" rel="nofollow">"Is combat busted?"</a>. The Ars Magica FAQ. Project Redcap. Archived from <a class="external text" href="http://redcap.org/FAQ/FAQ3c.html#combat" rel="nofollow">the original</a> on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-23.</cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-7">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation web"><a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140427210304/http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ars-magica-4th-edition-core-rulebook" rel="nofollow">"Ars Magica 4th Edition Core Rulebook"</a>. Archived from <a class="external text" href="http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ars-magica-4th-edition-core-rulebook" rel="nofollow">the original</a> on 27 April 2014. <q>FREE!</q></cite></li>

<li id="cite_note-reason-8">^ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-reason_8-0">Jump up to:a</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-reason_8-1">b</a> <a class="external text" href="http://www.redcap.org/page/World_of_Darkness" rel="nofollow">"World of Darkness"</a> section of the Ars Magica FAQ. Retrieved 16 June 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-paradigm-9"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-paradigm_9-0">Jump up^{</a> }The <a class="external text" href="http://redcap.org/FAQ/FAQ2.htm#paradigm" rel="nofollow">Medieval Paradigm</a>[<a title="Wikipedia:Link rot" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot">permanent dead link</a>] section of the Ars Magica FAQ</li>

<li id="cite_note-cov-10"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-cov_10-0">Jump up^{</a> }<a class="external text" href="http://www.redcap.org/page/Covenant#Covenants_in_the_Saga" rel="nofollow">Covenants</a> on Project Redcap</li>

<li id="cite_note-reason2-11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-reason2_11-0">Jump up^{</a> }<a class="external text" href="http://www.redcap.org/page/True_Reason#True_Reason_and_the_World_of_Darkness" rel="nofollow">"True Reason"</a> on Project Redcap</li>

<li id="cite_note-Arcane14-12"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#cite_ref-Arcane14_12-0">Jump up^{</a> }<cite class="citation journal">Pettengale, Paul (Christmas 1996). "Arcane Presents the Top 50 Roleplaying Games 1996". Arcane. <a title="Future plc" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_plc">Future Publishing</a> (14): 25–35.</cite></li>

</ol>

</div>

<h2>External links[<a title="Edit section: External links" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ars_Magica&action=edit&section=11">edit</a>]</h2>

<ul>

<li><a class="external text" href="http://www.atlas-games.com/arm5/index.php" rel="nofollow">Ars Magica</a> homepage at Atlas Games</li>

<li><a class="external text" href="http://www.redcap.org/" rel="nofollow">Project: Redcap</a> an online Ars Magica community</li>

</ul>

</div>

<div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a title="Help:Category" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category">Categories</a>:

<ul>

<li><a title="Category:Ars Magica" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ars_Magica">Ars Magica</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Atlas Games games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Atlas_Games_games">Atlas Games games</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Jonathan Tweet games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jonathan_Tweet_games">Jonathan Tweet games</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Mark Rein-Hagen games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mark_Rein-Hagen_games">Mark Rein-Hagen games</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Origins Award winners" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Origins_Award_winners">Origins Award winners</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:White Wolf Publishing games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:White_Wolf_Publishing_games">White Wolf Publishing games</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Wizards of the Coast games" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wizards_of_the_Coast_games">Wizards of the Coast games</a></li>

<li><a title="Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1987" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Role-playing_games_introduced_in_1987">Role-playing games introduced in 1987</a>

<table class="infobox"><caption>Ars Magica</caption>

<tbody>

<tr>

<td colspan="2"><a id="2af30c30-1a73-4d57-9999-a4cd4f91470b" class="brain-processing" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/ArsMagicaRPGCover.jpg">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/06/ArsMagicaRPGCover.jpg</a>

<div>Cover for Ars Magica, fifth edition</div>

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<th scope="row"><a class="mw-redirect" title="Game designer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_designer">Designer(s)</a></th>

</tr>

<tr>

<th scope="row">Publisher(s)</th>

</tr>

<tr>

<th scope="row">Publication date</th>

<td>1987 (1st edition)
1989 (2nd edition)
1992 (3rd edition)
1996 (4th edition)
2004 (5th edition)</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<th scope="row">Genre(s)</th>

<td><a class="mw-redirect" title="Medieval" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval">Medieval</a> <a title="Fantasy" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy">fantasy</a></td>

</tr>

<tr>

<th scope="row">System(s)</th>

<td>d10-based with strong <a class="mw-redirect" title="Magic (paranormal)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)">magic</a>system</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<ul>

</ul>

<dl>

<dd>

<dl>

</dl>

</dd>

</dl>

<ul>

</ul>

<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#History">1History</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Setting">2Setting</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#The_Order_of_Hermes">2.1The Order of Hermes</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Realms_of_Power">2.2Realms of Power</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#System">3System</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Magic_system">3.2Magic system</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#Reception">4Reception</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#References">5References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica#External_links">6External links</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

<ul>

<li>Provençal - Southern France</li>

<li>Roman - <a title="Italy in the Middle Ages" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy_in_the_Middle_Ages">Italy</a></li>

<li>Transylvanian - what will become the <a title="Balkans" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans">Balkans</a></li>

<li>Stonehenge - <a title="England and Wales" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_and_Wales">England and Wales</a></li>

<li>Loch Leglean - <a title="Scotland in the High Middle Ages" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_in_the_High_Middle_Ages">Scotland</a></li>

<li>Hibernian - <a title="Ireland" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland#Norman_and_English_invasions">Ireland</a></li>

<li>Levantine - lands of the Eastern Mediterranean known as the <a title="Levant" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant">Levant</a></li>

</ul>

<dl>

<dt>The <a title="Divinity" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divinity">Divine</a> realm</dt>

<dt>The <a title="Hell" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell">Infernal</a> realm</dt>

<dt>The <a class="mw-redirect" title="Faerie" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faerie">Faerie</a> realm</dt>

<dt>The realm of Magic</dt>

</dl>

Each Technique is named by a first-person singular present tense <a title="Grammatical mood" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_mood">indicative</a> Latin verb:

<ul>

<li>Muto ("I transform") alters the nature of a being, object or substance, adding unnatural traits and/or removing natural ones.</li>

<li>Perdo ("I destroy") decays, disintegrates or otherwise diminishes the target, making something a worse example of its kind (i.e. the opposite of Creo).</li>

</ul>

Each Form is named by a singular <a title="Accusative case" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accusative_case">accusative</a> Latin noun:

<ul>

<li>Auram affects lightning, wind and gaseous substances; other weather effects typically require an Aquam requisite (see below).</li>

<li>Corpus (the incorrect declension Corporem was used in older editions) applies to the human body, making it crucial to longevity formulas.</li>

<li>Herbam primarily involves plants, but applies equally to any organic matter, living or dead, that is not of animal origin.</li>

<li>Ignem involves light and heat, and is heavily represented in the fire spells of House Flambeau.</li>

<li>Imaginem (previously Imagonem) deals with images, sounds, and other sensory stimuli (thus is involved in most illusionary effects).</li>

<li>Mentem deals with emotions, memories, thoughts and <a title="Spirit" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit">spirits</a>.</li>

</ul>

A mage's skill when casting a spell is the sum of their scores in the appropriate technique and form.

<ol>

</ol>

The following Lab Projects are the most commonly pursued:

<ul>

<li>Invent Spells. The magus invents a new magical effect from scratch. A variation of a known spell is easier to invent than a completely original one.</li>

<ul>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</ol>

</div>

<ul>

<li><a class="external text" href="http://www.atlas-games.com/arm5/index.php" rel="nofollow">Ars Magica</a> homepage at Atlas Games</li>

<li><a class="external text" href="http://www.redcap.org/" rel="nofollow">Project: Redcap</a> an online Ars Magica community</li>

</ul>

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