Spell level
The level of a spell is a game-mechanical number that indicates how difficult the spell is to cast. To cast a spell, generate a Casting Total and compare it to the spell's level. In this way, a spell's level describes the difficulty of a spell in the same way an Ease Factor describes the difficulty of an Ability roll.
Level and Magnitude
Characters in the game world do not use the term "level;" they would instead describe a spell's power in terms of its magnitude.[1]
The reason for the distinct but related terms "level" and "magnitude" is partly historical. The term "magnitude" was introduced in Fourth Edition, perhaps to provide a more medieval-seeming alternative.
The magnitude of a spell is equal to its level divided by five, rounded up.[2]
References
- ↑ "The Art of Magic," Ars Magica Fourth Edition, p. 14
- ↑ "Spell Basics," Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 81