Tradition: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:22, 23 December 2012

A tradition is a particular style of magic that i practiced and handed down to generations of magicians through apprenticeship. Hermetic magic is an especially flexible, powerful magical tradition practiced throughout the Order of Hermes. There exist other, non-Hermetic traditions; many of them are associated with a particular culture or locale in Mythic Europe. Many traditions are ancient

"Tradition" is not a strictly defined game term in Ars Magica. There are several varieties of magic that can be called "traditions." They are all similar in a sense that wizards who practice the tradition share some similar powers, but they differ in the scope of those powers and in the diversity of the traditions' members.

Hermetic Traditions

Main article: Houses of Hermes

Hermetic magic can be considered a very broad, powerful, and diverse tradition of magic. All members of the Order of Hermes can be said to follow it, except perhaps hedge wizards who very recently joined the Order.

Each of the Houses of Hermes is a tradition in its own right. Indeed, several houses combine two or more traditions; see the articles on the individual Houses for details.

Ex Miscellanea Traditions

Main article: House Ex Miscellanea

House Ex Miscellanea is a Societas, but consists of many independent traditions that it has assimilated over the centuries. It is therefore more properly considered a collection of traditions than a tradition in its own right. Most of the traditions in House Ex Miscellanea overlap with hedge magic. The difference is that magi Ex Miscellanea usually have full command of the Hermetic Arts^[1] in addition to the magic of their ancestral traditions, whereas hedge wizards are restricted to their pre-Hermetic powers only, and are much more limited.

See House Ex Miscellanea for a list of traditions. Those traditions which, according to canon, survive outside of the Order of Hermes are also listed below.

Non-Hermetic Traditions

Main article: Hedge magic

Most non-Hermetic traditions are much weaker and more limited than Hermetic magic. These weak forms of magic are collectively called hedge magic. There are, however, a few powerful forms of foreign magic that are closer to parity with the power of Hermetic Magic; see Rival Magic for rules and background on them.

Mystery Cults

Main article: Mystery Cult

Mystery Cults are secret organizations that teach specific mystical practices call Mysteries. Mysteries are highly ritualized and often include a spiritual or even explicitly religious component. Magi of the Order of Hermes can join mystery cults, but Mysteries are outside the usual theory and practice of Hermetic magic.

In terms of game mechanics, Mysteries usually take the form of special Mystery Virtues rather than Arts or Abilities. Some Mystery Cults are integrated into the Order as Houses, but others are not. Most mystery cults pre-date Hermetic magic theory.

See the Mystery Cults article for a list of mystery cults.

Divine Traditions

Faerie Traditions

Infernal Traditions

Magical Traditions

References

↑ Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 11, "House Ex Miscellanea"

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:tradition

[1] Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 11, "House Ex Miscellanea"

[1]

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 A '''tradition''' is a particular style of magic that i practiced and handed down to generations of magicians through [[Apprentice|apprenticeship]].  [[Hermetic Magic|Hermetic magic]] is an especially flexible, powerful magical tradition practiced throughout the [[Order of Hermes]].  There exist other, [[non-Hermetic]] traditions; many of them are associated with a particular culture or locale in [[Mythic Europe]].  Many traditions are ancient
-==  Kinds of Traditions ==
+"Tradition" is not a strictly defined game term in Ars Magica.  There are several varieties of magic that can be called "traditions."  They are all similar in a sense that wizards who practice the tradition share some similar powers, but they differ in the scope of those powers and in the diversity of the traditions' members.
-"Tradition" is not a strictly defined game term in Ars Magica.  There are several varieties of magic that can be called "traditions."  They are all similar in a sense that wizards who practice the tradition share some similar powers, but they differ in the scope of those powers and in the diversity of the traditions' members.
+==Hermetic Traditions==
+{{Main|Houses of Hermes}}
+[[Hermetic magic]] can be considered a very broad, powerful, and diverse tradition of magic.  All members of the [[Order of Hermes]] can be said to follow it, except perhaps [[hedge wizard|hedge wizards]] who very recently joined the Order.
+Each of the [[Houses of Hermes]] is a tradition in its own right. Indeed, several houses combine two or more traditions; see the articles on the individual Houses for details.
+=== Ex Miscellanea Traditions ===
+{{Main|House Ex Miscellanea}}
+House Ex Miscellanea is a [[Societates|Societas]], but consists of many independent traditions that it has assimilated over the centuries. It is therefore more properly considered a collection of traditions than a tradition in its own right. Most of the traditions in House Ex Miscellanea overlap with [[hedge magic]]. The difference is that magi Ex Miscellanea usually have full command of the [[Hermetic]] [[Art]]s<ref>''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', p. 11, "House Ex Miscellanea"</ref> ''in addition to'' the magic of their ancestral traditions, whereas hedge wizards are restricted to their pre-Hermetic powers only, and are much more limited.
+See [[House Ex Miscellanea]] for a list of traditions. Those traditions which, according to [[canon]], survive outside of the [[Order of Hermes]] are also listed [[#Non-Hermetic_Traditions|below]].
+== Non-Hermetic Traditions ==
+{{Main|Hedge magic}}
+Most non-Hermetic traditions are much weaker and more limited than Hermetic magic. These weak forms of magic are collectively called [[hedge magic]]. There are, however, a few powerful forms of foreign magic that are closer to parity with the power of Hermetic Magic; see ''[[Rival Magic]]'' for rules and background on them.
+=== Mystery Cults ===
+{{Main|Mystery Cult}}
+[[Mystery Cult]]s are secret organizations that teach specific mystical practices call [[Mysteries]]. Mysteries are highly ritualized and often include a spiritual or even explicitly religious component. Magi of the Order of Hermes can join mystery cults, but [[Mysteries]] are outside the usual theory and practice of Hermetic magic.
+In terms of [[game mechanics]], Mysteries usually take the form of special [[Mystery Virtue|Mystery Virtues]] rather than [[Art|Arts]] or [[Ability|Abilities]].  Some Mystery Cults are integrated into the Order as Houses, but others are not. Most mystery cults pre-date Hermetic magic theory.
+See the [[Mystery Cult]]s article for a list of mystery cults.
+=== Divine Traditions ===
+=== Faerie Traditions ===
+=== Infernal Traditions ===
-:[[Hermetic Magic]]: Hermetic magic can be considered a very broad, powerful, and diverse tradition of magic.  All members of the [[Order of Hermes]] can be said to follow it, except perhaps [[hedge wizard|hedge wizards]] who very recently joined the Order.
+=== Magical Traditions ===
-:[[True Lineage|True Lineages]]: Magi who belong to True Lineages practice standard Hermetic magic with few variations.  Magic is not strictly predictable, however, so even members of these well-established Houses have certain idiosyncrasies represented by their [[House Virtue|House Virtues]].  Members of a given lineage may also tend toward certain [[Hermetic Virtue|Hermetic Virtues]] and [[Hermetic Flaw|Flaws]] or particular [[Art|Arts]], though these are only suggestions.
-:[[Mystery Cult|Mystery Cults]]: Mystery Cults are traditions that teach [[Mystery|Mysteries]], which [[non-Hermetic]] magic.  This usually takes the form of special [[Mystery Virtue|Mystery Virtues]] rather than [[Art|Arts]] or [[Ability|Abilities]].  Some Mystery Cults are integrated into the Order as Houses, but others are not. Most mystery cults pre-date Hermetic magic theory.
-:[[Ex Miscellanea]] Traditions: All members of [[House Ex Miscellanea]] have a particular tradition of magic that is represented by a Major non-Hermetic Virtue (usually a [[Supernatural Virtue]]).  They are also fully capable of [[Hermetic Magic]] with the exception that they must have at least one Major [[Hermetic Flaw]], which can be thought of as representing the imperfect assimilation of both Hermetic and non-Hermetic magic into their [[Gift]].
-:[[Hedge Wizard|Hedge Wizards]]: Hedge Wizards are magicians who don't know any Hermetic magic and practice just one, non-Hermetic tradition.  Hedge magic is much narrower in scope, less flexible, and usually weaker than Hermetic magic.  It is also a lot harder to learn.  In terms of [[game mechanics]], hedge magic is usually represented by a [[Supernatural Virtue]] and/or one or more [[Arcane Ability|Abilities]].  Hedge wizards never have [[Art]] scores.
-:Non-Magical and Other Traditions: There are many mystical traditions in Mythic Europe, many aligned with other [[Realm of Power|Realms]]. Such traditions usually use the [[Favored Ability]] mechanic and rely on a small number of supernatural Abilities, most often including at least one Method and one Power. Members of these traditions sometimes include [[Mythic Companion|mythic companions]].
+==  References ==
+<references />
 ==  Related Topics ==
-* [[Hedge Wizard]]
 * [[Hedge Magic]]
-* [[Rival Magic]]
 * [[True Lineage]]
+* [[Societas]]
+* [[Mystery House]]
 * [[Hermetic Magic]]
 * [[Mystery]]
 ===  Related Products ===
+* ''[[Ancient Magic]]''
+* ''[[Houses of Hermes: Societates]]''
+* ''[[Hedge magic book| Hedge Magic]]'' and ''[[Hedge Magic Revised Edition]]''
+* ''[[Rival Magic]]''
-* [[Ancient Magic]]
-* [[Houses of Hermes: Societates]]
-* [[Hedge magic book| Hedge Magic]] and [[Hedge Magic Revised Edition]]
-==  References ==
-* House Ex Miscellanea, [[ArM5]] page 11
-* Hermetic Houses Summary, [[ArM5]] page 30
 ==  Legacy Page  ==
 The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:tradition]]