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For those who are looking for a good Magic System for their games, they need to look no further than Ars Magica. Ars Magica, latin for "Art Magic," Ars Magica is a game that revolves around magicians and their Covenant.

The Magic System and Combat System reflects this. The Magic System is the best I've seen in any roleplaying game: it beats Rolemaster's system, D&D's system, and even GURPS system. Properly converted, it can improve the flavor of any game.

First Impressions

I got my first impressions from RPG.net, Lydia Leong, and the Atlas Games website. Now, reading the game, my impressions about the game are thus:

1. The Hermetic Tradition is an anachronism during the 13th Century. In the real world, people who worship Hermes can trace the history back to 15th Century Florence. However, the anachronism works for the game.

2. It's a different 13th Century Europe from the Europe we knew at that time. Magic is real, and many Superstitions that people had about the Supernatural are real. The people's beliefs back then are the truth. Elves, dwarves, and goblins all exist and so do their Changelings.

In fact, the setting, called Mythic Europe™, actually makes for a very good setting to play in. It's just the Feudal Europe we know, but stranger in the fact that the people's beliefs that we now know that is all nonsense, is real. Woodwoses inhabit the wilder areas, the fae are found everywhere, Miracles of the "sign" type do occur, Kings rule with devine sanction, and magicians can cast potent spells.

In comparing the way both Pendragon™ and Ars Magica™ explain feudalism and life in the Middle Ages, they both achieve their goal in introducing Medieval Society. However, Pendragon™ takes the High Road and gives you Medieval Society in the view of the Nobles. Ars Magica™ gives you Medieval Society in the view of a Magus (who is outside the usual structure).

Character Creation

Players aren't tied to playing a Magus. Instead, they are encouraged to create a Magician, A Companion, and a bunch of Grogs. The result is a Covenant: the Magi leads the small society, Companions act as go betweens, and Grogs do the menial tasks.

Also, character creation is much like most popular games. Players can add options on how they can create their characters by choosing Virtues (Talents, Advantages) and Flaws (Disadvantages) using a point system. In fact, the whole character creation system is point based. And that is good, it allows the player to make the Magus or Companion that they want.

There are templates for each type of character: and many of them are good. Especially the Magus, which is the center of the game.

Magic System

The Magic System is excellent. The magic system works in that the Magician casts a spell combining a verb and a noun. The result is a magic system that makes sense.

There are five verbs or techniques, written in Latin: Creo ("I create"), Intellego ("I percieve"), Muto ("I transform"), Perdo ("I destroy"), and Rego ("I control").

And then there are ten nouns or forms: Animal ("Animal"), Auram ("Air"), Aquam ("Water"), Corpus ("Body"), Herbam ("Plant"), Ignem ("Fire"), Imaginem ("Image"), Mentem ("Mind"), Terram ("Earth"), and Vim ("Power"). These can be combined in spontaneity, causing one to cast spells on the moment, or in formulaeic spells. Also, the rules for spells going wrong adds an uncertainity to spell casting.

The rules for item creation is well thought out and how Magic interacts with the outside world explains why the Magi haven't taken over the world.

in Conclusion

I like the system. It can be adapted well to other systems since it is so good and well done. However, combat needs improvement. People looking for a Hack and Slash game won't find it in Ars Magica, in looking through the system, roleplaying revolves around playing the role of Magus, companion or grog, not hitting something and hitting it hard.

Players who seek to play a part like in a play or novel will like Ars Magica. People seeking a Catharsis will find Ars Magica lacking, and those seeking escape will find the world of Mythic Europe™ a place that isn't fun to escape to.

Uses in other systems

With a little work and a little thought, Ars Magica's magic system can be adapted to any Fantasy RPG. Let's take Harn, a world that is like Mythic Europe™.

Harn players know that Harn's magical divisions take place on six or seven (or so) levels. Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Metal, and Spirit (with Grey Mages in the middle). However, here comes the Order of Hermes from Mythic Europe and they actually entrench themselves into the Guild of Arcane Lore.

Instead of the seven levels, you have the Order of Hermes' houses taking over their roles and making new ones. Magic spells are divided 50 ways, and Mages are even more reclusive. Thus making the Guild of Arcane Lore more believeable.

Dungeons and Dragons players will find Ars Magica's magic system a very good replacement for the old system, thus enriching their game.

For GURPS players, there is a web site out there for those who are curious to use Ars Magica's system as a replacement, and Rolemaster GMs can also easily adapt the system to their games.

Although it has some flaws, and no game is perfect, players who are seeking a better magic system for their games should check Ars Magica™ out. After all, it is worth a look. And as for me, I found it a good game for my style of Gamemastering and playing.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Ars Magica, 4th Edition
Author: *Jonathan Tweet, Mark ReinHagan, Shannon Appel, Bill Brickman, Lydia Leong, John Nephew, and many more. Category: game Company/Publisher: Atlas Games Line: Ars Magica Cost: 29.95 Page count: 262 ISBN: 1-887801-55-3 SKU: AG0204 Capsule Review by Elton Robb** on 05/24/00. Genre tags: Fantasy	For those who are looking for a good Magic System for their games, they need to look no further than Ars Magica. Ars Magica, latin for "Art Magic," Ars Magica is a game that revolves around magicians and their Covenant. The Magic System and Combat System reflects this. The Magic System is the best I've seen in any roleplaying game: it beats Rolemaster's system, D&D's system, and even GURPS system. Properly converted, it can improve the flavor of any game. First Impressions I got my first impressions from RPG.net, Lydia Leong, and the Atlas Games website. Now, reading the game, my impressions about the game are thus: 1. The Hermetic Tradition is an anachronism during the 13th Century. In the real world, people who worship Hermes can trace the history back to 15th Century Florence. However, the anachronism works for the game. 2. It's a different 13th Century Europe from the Europe we knew at that time. Magic is real, and many Superstitions that people had about the Supernatural are real. The people's beliefs back then are the truth. Elves, dwarves, and goblins all exist and so do their Changelings. In fact, the setting, called Mythic Europe™, actually makes for a very good setting to play in. It's just the Feudal Europe we know, but stranger in the fact that the people's beliefs that we now know that is all nonsense, is real. Woodwoses inhabit the wilder areas, the fae are found everywhere, Miracles of the "sign" type do occur, Kings rule with devine sanction, and magicians can cast potent spells. In comparing the way both Pendragon™ and Ars Magica™ explain feudalism and life in the Middle Ages, they both achieve their goal in introducing Medieval Society. However, Pendragon™ takes the High Road and gives you Medieval Society in the view of the Nobles. Ars Magica™ gives you Medieval Society in the view of a Magus (who is outside the usual structure). Character Creation Players aren't tied to playing a Magus. Instead, they are encouraged to create a Magician, A Companion, and a bunch of Grogs. The result is a Covenant: the Magi leads the small society, Companions act as go betweens, and Grogs do the menial tasks. Also, character creation is much like most popular games. Players can add options on how they can create their characters by choosing Virtues (Talents, Advantages) and Flaws (Disadvantages) using a point system. In fact, the whole character creation system is point based. And that is good, it allows the player to make the Magus or Companion that they want. There are templates for each type of character: and many of them are good. Especially the Magus, which is the center of the game. Magic System The Magic System is excellent. The magic system works in that the Magician casts a spell combining a verb and a noun. The result is a magic system that makes sense. There are five verbs or techniques, written in Latin: Creo ("I create"), Intellego ("I percieve"), Muto ("I transform"), Perdo ("I destroy"), and Rego ("I control"). And then there are ten nouns or forms: Animal ("Animal"), Auram ("Air"), Aquam ("Water"), Corpus ("Body"), Herbam ("Plant"), Ignem ("Fire"), Imaginem ("Image"), Mentem ("Mind"), Terram ("Earth"), and Vim ("Power"). These can be combined in spontaneity, causing one to cast spells on the moment, or in formulaeic spells. Also, the rules for spells going wrong adds an uncertainity to spell casting. The rules for item creation is well thought out and how Magic interacts with the outside world explains why the Magi haven't taken over the world. in Conclusion I like the system. It can be adapted well to other systems since it is so good and well done. However, combat needs improvement. People looking for a Hack and Slash game won't find it in Ars Magica, in looking through the system, roleplaying revolves around playing the role of Magus, companion or grog, not hitting something and hitting it hard. Players who seek to play a part like in a play or novel will like Ars Magica. People seeking a Catharsis will find Ars Magica lacking, and those seeking escape will find the world of Mythic Europe™ a place that isn't fun to escape to. Uses in other systems With a little work and a little thought, Ars Magica's magic system can be adapted to any Fantasy RPG. Let's take Harn, a world that is like Mythic Europe™. Harn players know that Harn's magical divisions take place on six or seven (or so) levels. Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Metal, and Spirit (with Grey Mages in the middle). However, here comes the Order of Hermes from Mythic Europe and they actually entrench themselves into the Guild of Arcane Lore. Instead of the seven levels, you have the Order of Hermes' houses taking over their roles and making new ones. Magic spells are divided 50 ways, and Mages are even more reclusive. Thus making the Guild of Arcane Lore more believeable. Dungeons and Dragons players will find Ars Magica's magic system a very good replacement for the old system, thus enriching their game. For GURPS players, there is a web site out there for those who are curious to use Ars Magica's system as a replacement, and Rolemaster GMs can also easily adapt the system to their games. Although it has some flaws, and no game is perfect, players who are seeking a better magic system for their games should check Ars Magica™ out. After all, it is worth a look. And as for me, I found it a good game for my style of Gamemastering and playing. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Ars Magica, 4th Edition