Laboratory text

Synopsis

A laboratory text is a set of notes and perhaps diagrams describing how to reproduce a magical invention, such as a Formulaic Spell or Enchanted Device.

Lab texts are important because they allow magi to learn spells or enchant devices much more quickly than inventing them from scratch. Most covenants have many lab texts in their libraries.

Grimoires

A grimoire, or book of spells, in Fifth Edition is simply a set of Lab Texts written by the spells' inventors.

Before Fifth Edition, books of spells were distinct from Lab Texts and had separate rules associated with them.

Writing Lab Texts

In ArM5, magi automatically write Lab Texts whenever they are working in the Laboratory.

In earlier editions, Lab Texts applied only to enchanted devices and longevity rituals. Lab texts for spells did not exist; if magi wanted to share their formulaic spells, they had to spend an additional season to write them down.

Using Lab Texts

In ArM5, a magus can only use a lab text if his Lab Total is high enough. Rules are given on page 102. If the magus's Lab Total is high enough to use the text, he can reproduce the invention described in the text in one season of work.

A lab text is only useful once the project has been completed; in the RAW there is no way to benefit from a Lab Text for an unfinished project.

References

ArM5, pages 101-102