Parma Fabula

Parma Fabula (Latin for "Story Shield") is the gamemaster's screen for Fourth Edition Ars Magica.

Subject and Contents

A gamemaster's screen is a folded piece of cardstock the gamemaster can stand up between the players and himself so the players can't see his dice and notes; it is printed with useful tables from the rulebook as a convenience during play.

In addition to the cardstock screen, Parma Fabula included a booklet (just stapled pages, with no cover) containing some additional game rules, including:

• A ready-made covenant Library (using Fourth Edition book rules)
• Several mercenary warriors (usable as grogs or adversaries)

Relevance to Current Edition

Since practically all of the content of Parma Fabula is rules-related, it is relevant only to a Fourth Edition game.

Player Reviews

Until about 2005, the original Ars Magica FAQ site solicited reviews of Ars Magica products from the community. The online review submission form is no longer available, but please feel free to edit this page to add your own comments. A synopsis of the survey results for this book is:

FAQ Rating: \*\* (7 reviews; 0 *, 5 \*\*, 2 \*\*\*, 0 \*\*\*\*)

• A lot of this should have been in the core book. The screen is strong enough not to bend like a rag, and most of the info in the booklet is guaranteed to be of use for someone.
• I like screens, and as screens go, this one isn't half bad.
• A late addition to my collection and a good one. The constructed library alone was worth the cost. However, I never used, nor will use the shield.
• The screen is durable, with utilitarian tables at hand (unlike the previous screen). The insert contains an uneven hodge-podge of rules and items, with terrible Scotillo art.
• It's a screen. The added stuff is mildly useful.