Legacy:Fourth edition
Version 1
Date: 2008-01-12 13:46:43 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Initial version
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[http://www.atlas-games.com|Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but was widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems.
Version 2
Date: 2008-03-15 15:50:11 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Fixed typo
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[http://www.atlas-games.com|Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but weree widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems
Version 3
Date: 2009-06-17 00:15:46 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Added reviews from Project Redcap
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[http://www.atlas-games.com|Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but were widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems. = 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: **** (14 reviews; 0 *, 1 **, 7 ***, 6 ****) * A revision of the most amazingly detailed magic system for any RPG, ArM4 would be the perfect medieval fantasy RPG if not for the combat system and the dearth of information the Houses. Apart from that, everything you need to play is included here. * Introduces many insufficiently playtested features, some of which fall flat. Has unfortunately dropped much of the flavour text from previous editions often leaving raw game mechanics to bear the load of creating colour and context, a task which is often beyond them. Nonetheless a significant improvement over earlier excellent editions of an excellent game. * Less background and more rules than 3rd edition. * Much better than 3rd. Ed. I own two copies. 'nuff said. * Necessary, of course, but neither beautiful or particularly functional. * Well done and the core book. Combat "updates" are bad, and the art is inappropriate for a medieval rpg. * Better update of the rules; too many issues to cover in a short review. * Good overall, lacks flavour of 3rd Edition, but rules are easier to follow in parts. * Very good overall. Possible improvements: combat system (it's way too complex for such a poor result) and characteristics (there are too many).
Version 4
Date: 2009-06-19 00:05:37 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Fixed 4-star rating from player reviews
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[http://www.atlas-games.com|Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but were widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems. = 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: \*\*\*\* (14 reviews; 0 *, 1 \*\*, 7 \*\*\*, 6 \*\*\*\**, 6 \*\*\*\*) * A revision of the most amazingly detailed magic system for any RPG, ArM4 would be the perfect medieval fantasy RPG if not for the combat system and the dearth of information the Houses. Apart from that, everything you need to play is included here. * Introduces many insufficiently playtested features, some of which fall flat. Has unfortunately dropped much of the flavour text from previous editions often leaving raw game mechanics to bear the load of creating colour and context, a task which is often beyond them. Nonetheless a significant improvement over earlier excellent editions of an excellent game. * Less background and more rules than 3rd edition. * Much better than 3rd. Ed. I own two copies. 'nuff said. * Necessary, of course, but neither beautiful or particularly functional. * Well done and the core book. Combat "updates" are bad, and the art is inappropriate for a medieval rpg. * Better update of the rules; too many issues to cover in a short review. * Good overall, lacks flavour of 3rd Edition, but rules are easier to follow in parts. * Very good overall. Possible improvements: combat system (it's way too complex for such a poor result) and characteristics (there a
Version 5
Date: 2010-02-28 04:00:52 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Fixed link to Atlas Games
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but were widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems. = 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: \*\*\*\* (14 reviews; 0 *, 1 \*\*, 7 \*\*\*, 6 \*\*\*\*) * A revision of the most amazingly detailed magic system for any RPG, ArM4 would be the perfect medieval fantasy RPG if not for the combat system and the dearth of information the Houses. Apart from that, everything you need to play is included here. * Introduces many insufficiently playtested features, some of which fall flat. Has unfortunately dropped much of the flavour text from previous editions often leaving raw game mechanics to bear the load of creating colour and context, a task which is often beyond them. Nonetheless a significant improvement over earlier excellent editions of an excellent game. * Less background and more rules than 3rd edition. * Much better than 3rd. Ed. I own two copies. 'nuff said. * Necessary, of course, but neither beautiful or particularly functional. * Well done and the core book. Combat "updates" are bad, and the art is inappropriate for a medieval rpg. * Better update of the rules; too many issues to cover in a short review. * Good overall, lacks flavour of 3rd Edition, but rules are easier to follow in parts. * Very good overall. Possible improvements: combat system (it's way too complex for such a poor result) and characteristics (there are too many).
Version 6
Date: 2010-03-27 19:45:01 GMT Author: AndrewGronosky Comment: Added errata
Fourth edition (short: [[ArM4]]) refers to the fourth edition of [[Ars Magica]] in general, and the core rulebook of that edition in particular. [[Atlas Games]] published Fourth edition and has a detailed [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/index.php|Web site]] for it. When [[Fifth edition]] was announced (but before it was published), Atlas Games made the Fourth Edition rule book available as a [[http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204|free download]]. = Errata Errata for the Fourth Edition rules can be found at the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/armerrata.php | Atlas Games Web site]]. = Features of Fourth edition Fourth edition introduced [[Spell guidelines]] to make designing Hermetic spells and effects more systematic. The combat rules were revised for Fourth edition but were widely considered to have drawbacks; see the [[http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Dsgn1Combat.pdf|Fifth edition design notes on combat]] for a summary of the problems. = 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: \*\*\*\* (14 reviews; 0 *, 1 \*\*, 7 \*\*\*, 6 \*\*\*\*) * A revision of the most amazingly detailed magic system for any RPG, ArM4 would be the perfect medieval fantasy RPG if not for the combat system and the dearth of information the Houses. Apart from that, everything you need to play is included here. * Introduces many insufficiently playtested features, some of which fall flat. Has unfortunately dropped much of the flavour text from previous editions often leaving raw game mechanics to bear the load of creating colour and context, a task which is often beyond them. Nonetheless a significant improvement over earlier excellent editions of an excellent game. * Less background and more rules than 3rd edition. * Much better than 3rd. Ed. I own two copies. 'nuff said. * Necessary, of course, but neither beautiful or particularly functional. * Well done and the core book. Combat "updates" are bad, and the art is inappropriate for a medieval rpg. * Better update of the rules; too many issues to cover in a short review. * Good overall, lacks flavour of 3rd Edition, but rules are easier to follow in parts. * Very good overall. Possible improvements: combat system (it's way too complex for such a poor result) and characteristics (there are too many).