Apprentices: Difference between revisions

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== Opinion and Commentary ==
== Opinion and Commentary ==
The [[Fifth Edition]] rule book devotes about a page and a half to apprentices<ref>''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', pp. 106-107</ref> and spells out the basics: an apprentice requires a minimum of one season of training per year, apprenticeship generally lasts 15 years, etc. However, this is not really enough guidance to roleplay either an apprentice or master. In particular, it leaves players on their own to figure out what to teach and when in order to produce a well-rounded starting magus. Even for an experienced player, that's not easy. This book should be quite helpful in that regard. I regard the rules about [[Virtue]]s and [[Flaw]]s changing over time as overly complicated and I just prefer to wing it. --[[Andrew Gronosky]]
The [[Fifth Edition]] rule book devotes about a page and a half to apprentices<ref>''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', pp. 106-107</ref> and spells out the basics: an apprentice requires a minimum of one season of training per year, apprenticeship generally lasts 15 years, etc. However, this is not really enough guidance to roleplay either an apprentice or master. In particular, it leaves players on their own to figure out what to teach and when in order to produce a well-rounded starting magus. Even for an experienced player, that's not easy. This book should be quite helpful in that regard. I regard the rules about [[Virtue]]s and [[Flaw]]s changing over time as overly complicated and I just prefer to wing it. --[[Andrew Gronosky]]
==External links==
* [http://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG0300.php Official Product page]
*[http://www.warehouse23.com/item.html?id=AG0300 Product Page from Warehouse 23]
*[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0300PDF Product Page from e23]


== References ==
== References ==
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== Related Products ==
== Related Products ==
* ''[[Order of Hermes (book)|Order of Hermes]]'' is the only previous supplement that discussed Hermetic apprenticeship in much detail.
* The [[Second Edition]] sourcebook ''[[Order of Hermes Book|Order of Hermes]]'' the first supplement that discussed Hermetic apprenticeship in much detail.
* The [[Third Edition]] sourcebook [[Houses of Hermes Book|Houses of Hermes]], also used in [[Fourth Edition]] also included a section on life before, during, and after apprenticeship.
* In the [[House Guernicus]] section of ''[[Houses of Hermes: True Lineages]]'' dedicated to the [[Peripheral Code]], there are some very few points about apprentices within the law.
* ''[[Sundered Eagle|The Sundered Eagle]]'' describes a different process of apprentice selection practiced in the [[Theban Tribunal]] and how that tribunal also provides some rights to apprentices not existing elsewhere.


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[[Category:ArM5]]
[[Category:Order of Hermes]]
[[Category:Order of Hermes]]
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Latest revision as of 10:38, 16 July 2013

Apprentices is a Fifth Edition supplement about Hermetic apprentices, containing the detailed rules players will need to roleplay and develop an apprentice as a player character.

Apprentices
Cover illustration for Apprentices
Product Information
Rules Edition: Fifth
Abbreviation: none
Product Type: Sourcebook
Author(s): Matt Ryan with Erik Dahl
Publisher: Atlas Games
Product Number: AG0300
ISBN: 1-58978-128-7
Release date: May 2012
Format: Softcover, 64 pages
Availability: Softcover and PDF

Subject and Contents

The table of contents is available on this book's official product page.

Playing Child Characters

While primarily focused on Hermetic apprentices, this book contains rules for playing child characters generally. There are rules for how child characters can acquire (and outgrow) Virtues and Flaws while they grow up. Throughout the book are a handful of NPCs who can accompany a child PC in stories.

Standard Apprenticeship

Apprentices outlines a "standard apprenticeship" that involves a balance of teaching Arts, Abilitis, and formulaic spells -- with a heavy emphasis on the apprentice helping his master in the lab.[1] This results in an apprentice who, when he reaches his Gauntlet, is approximately equal to a starting character made using the core rules. Apprentices whose tutelage differs from the standard apprenticeship are possible, and are likely to end up more powerful than a normal starting magus.[2]

Low-Level Spells

The book contains a couple of dozen low-level spells, called cantations, that are especially suited for apprentices.[3]

Opinion and Commentary

The Fifth Edition rule book devotes about a page and a half to apprentices[4] and spells out the basics: an apprentice requires a minimum of one season of training per year, apprenticeship generally lasts 15 years, etc. However, this is not really enough guidance to roleplay either an apprentice or master. In particular, it leaves players on their own to figure out what to teach and when in order to produce a well-rounded starting magus. Even for an experienced player, that's not easy. This book should be quite helpful in that regard. I regard the rules about Virtues and Flaws changing over time as overly complicated and I just prefer to wing it. --Andrew Gronosky

External links

References

  1. Apprentices, pp. 15-16, "A Standard Apprenticeship
  2. Apprentices, p. 14, "More Powerful Than Normal" (inset)
  3. Apprentices, pp. 44-48, "Cantations"
  4. Ars Magica Fifth Edition, pp. 106-107

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