Ars Magica

[EZ_Zoogie]

Anyone play this game? I've read some reviews on the 'net which seem to say it's pretty good, and was wondering what the Safehouse's opinion is. Not exactly a rogue styled game, but I could see some possibilities.

[EZ_Iscin]

Excellent game. Definitely centered around Magic and Wizards. But you can play any character you want really.

It supports the troupe style of play. Where you regularly switch between who plays different characters and who GMs etc. But you dont have to play it that way.

[ShadowCross]

It's really nice. Different from most RPGs... it's much more campaign oriented.

I like it a lot - although I only rarely play it. It's best played with a group of about 6-9 people, with about 4-6 attending every time you play. So almost always a part of the covenant will remain at "home". ShadowCross Bladesong
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Safehouse Moderator
The Most Holy One, ShadowCross, First Saviour of the Muffins
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[EZ_Zoogie]

Thanks.

Do either of you have a PDF or Word document or something of the 4th Ed. Hand Book?

I'm so cheap.

[EZ_Kintire]

The magic system is great. probably the best ever.

I lie. Its the best ever.

The rest of it is okay, except for the combat system which suckysuckysucksucks.

I hear 4th ed combat system has clawed to the giddy heights of 'bad', however, so this may no longer be fair....

Bolt an alternative combat system on and you're away!

[EZ_Zoogie]

Well, it is supposed to be a game centered around magic, y'know.

[EZ_Kintire]

Its supposed to be a game set in the middle ages as well.... and Wizards do occasionally get into fights. If the enemy gets to him what do they do?

Well, I'm still not entirely sure but it seems to take AGES.

My fundamental rule. Any system which keeps your attention more on the system than on the action is a bad system.

Good;

D20. 'I step forward with a cool smile and drive my sword into his lying mouth!'
<roll.. 12plus5..17(>ac15) 'I hit! for....<one roll> 8!

Also Good;

GURPS 'I step forward with a cool smile and drive my sword into his lying mouth!'
<roll 12(<skill16) Hit! for...<one roll> 8!

Bad

World of Darkness 'I step forward with a cool smile and drive my sword into his lying mouth!'

<roll 8d10> errr.. thats one..two..three..four...and a one....three!
<roll 7d10> against one.....two...three...oh and a one...and another one....only one! A hit!
cool! for.. <roll 6d10> one....two...three... Three!
Against..<roll5d10> one...two..... Just two!
One wound level...

Very Very bad

Rolemaster 'I step forward with a cool smile and drive my sword into his lying mouth!'

Okay thats a 68plus84 is.....errr....err...152!
minus 38.....err....114!
okay this is a rapier.... pass me the book of tables for every weapon ever invented....flip....flip....flip...ahha! okay hes armour type 8.... pass me the magnifying glass this type is a tad small.....14CP....riiiight....
<roll> 58....Piercing crits....flip...flip...ahha! now..C crits....mmm lesseehere... aha! an extra 12 hits, hes stunned and bleeding!
oh... err... I actually hit him in the calf.
You can't have! the table hides him up to the waist!
ummmm....

[EZ_Zoogie]

So, how would the Ars Magica combat system rank on that list?

[EZ_Kintire]

<roll> 8! plus...err 5. I think. 13. Maybe.
umm... that sounds...umm kinda high... I think you hit... maybe...for..like... some damage....

Which edition were we using again?

More seriously, the AM combat system varies widely from edition to edition, but sits somewhere between the extremes. It is also broken, mechanistic and generally sucky. I hear the lastest version is better, but we've just adopted our own so we don't care.

[DarthEnderX]

LOL that is SO true of World of Darkness.