Academic Ability
An Academic Ability is an Ability that relates to a medieval field of study, such as Philosophiae, Medicine, or Civil and Canon Law. Such Abilities require formal training[1] so they are normally learned in a school or university or through Hermetic apprenticeship.
In Fifth Edition, Academic Abilities are freely available to magi. Grogs and companions must have a Virtue or Flaw that specifically grants access to Academic Abilities[2] in order to start play with them.
Literacy
In Fifth Edition, the ability to read is governed by the Artes Liberales Ability[3], so characters need access to at least one Academic Ability in order to read and write.
List of Academic Abilities
- Artes Liberales
- Civil and Canon Law
- Common Law
- Dead Language (which includes Latin and Greek)
- Medicine
- Philosophiae
- Theology
Access to Academic Abilities
Beginning characters must meet certain prerequisites in order to take Academic Abilities:
- Grogs and companions must be educated; in ArM5, this requires one of several Virtues such as Educated[6] or Privileged Upbringing[7].
- Magi receive education during their apprenticeship, and can only learn Academic Abilities during or after apprenticeship (unless they have a Virtue that allows then to learn Academic Abilities earlier)[8].