04-21-2014, 11:53 AM
(04-21-2014, 10:30 AM)FadedNoel Wrote: My thoughts are probably a bit different from everyone else. I liked the setup that was there originally (you must have a certain number of spheres bought, a certain number of Magely skills bought in order to ask for a Seeking) if only because it provided a guide to when I should expect to even start thinking "Seeking".
I know that feel so much, Noel *fistbump* I've tried to play Mage off and on since 2010 but it wasn't until I started playing in this system that I finally started to understand it. The problem with those requirements is that they are actually limiting to some people's Paradigms. From what I've seen, Grace probably wouldn't have had difficulty with it, but what about Mages that only have an interest in 2-3 spheres? Some of the Spheres do not require other Spheres to do what the Mage wants them to do. If I had made Sid to be even a little bit more experienced in being a Mage she probably would've been happy with three Spheres tops forever, which wouldn't have left her any room to add those required Spheres. That's just one example.
The Mage game is incredibly interpretive, that's why a lot of people (myself most definitely included) have a hard time wrapping their heads around the mechanics. It is whatever players and storytellers and system admins make of it.
The system that was created by the joint efforts of both Howl and Sam is a lot more flexible than most online MtA games that are out there. This is good, because Mage-by-the-book is fucking hard, and it places a lot of ridiculous restrictions on Mages and their advancement. It would not hurt to be more flexible in areas, and I think how XP can be spent is definitely among the things that could stand to be more flexible. It also would not hurt to stay the same, but I for one would like to change things up a bit.
And what would it hurt to make it easier to advance magically? Personally, I am playing a very long game with Sid (if she doesn't die or become too psychologically traumatized to continue), so I'm cool with taking my time, and also I haven't been playing any of these games long enough to really care about rank limits, but I know a lot of you have been playing since Mage's inception twenty years ago, or at least around fifteen years. And because people are advancing into the Disciple level, it's now impossible for someone to start off with a higher-than-Arete-2 character. So more experienced players are getting relegated into the lower ranks when they would probably like to play a higher level character.
That said, last I checked we were around a 50/50 split for what the players want, so I would like to offer an alternative. Instead of making an Arete upgrade cost Arete x 8, make it x6. Then overall XP cost becomes:
Abilities: current x2
Attributes: current x4
Arete: current x6
Sphere: current x8 (or a discounted x7 for specialty Spheres)
Because like Noel pointed out, yes, an increase of Arete makes doing magic easier. The PC has a better understanding of magic so it should get easier then, but real power comes from higher level Spheres. Arete 3 with Life 2 is a Mage still dealing out level 2 effects, just (usually (hopefully, I mean my god these dice are still pretty shitty)) with fewer extensions for awesome.
[[PS: Noel, if you EVER have questions about anything, please please please, do not be afraid to ask those questions. Nobody here wants you to feel frustration or worry over any of your characters' advancement/progress.]]