Good episode. I'm slowly making my way through the WoD books and have read Mage 1e and 1st edd. Book of Chantries before starting on Mage 2e, so it's interesting to hear what might be changing and keeping in mind what to watch out for. Looking forward to making my way through the series.
Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It provided context for some of the founding concepts and systems I’d otherwise be unaware of. The idea of mortal belief pushing back, beyond just paradox, was very interesting. I especially liked the idea of all the doors in a building locking in response to vulgar magic. Reality pushing back and acting like a pressure gage for players, the needle heading towards red. Adding an immediate obstacle to be resolved and a foreboding sense of danger building. The section on the awakened being responsible for the darkness in the world and how this forms grudges between factions felt like a great primer for new players. This is something that could fit on an index card and highlight why each faction is hostile towards the others. The explanation of Oracles and why a Mage may leave Earth were very useful as well. Lots to takeaway here and I do hope this ends up becoming a series of episodes.
Glad you found the episode useful-What Was Lost did dive deep into some of the original ideas that shaped Mage as we know it. Mortal belief pushing back beyond just Paradox? Yeah, that’s the real kicker, isn’t it? Doors slamming shut, reality snapping back like it’s had enough of your flashy magic-brilliant way to up the tension. That sense of dread creeping in, a real-time obstacle that gets the blood pumping. As for the Awakened being the root of the world's darkness and the grudges between factions? That’s some proper old-school tension there. Perfect for a primer to get new players into the thick of it. Slap that on an index card, and you’ve got all the reasons why no one’s playing nice. The bit on Oracles? Gold. Mages leaving Earth for something bigger, something weirder-opens up all kinds of possibilities. Hope to see more episodes on this too. Thanks for tuning in!
I think the main thing I got from this edition, which was written by Stewart Weick more than anyone else, was that it was inspired by Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. They even included a quote. The game was still very much in a formative stage - still developing its core ideas - but it had an understated ‘war of ascension’. You felt the protagonists were more hunted rather than true warriors with an actual shot of winning. But this may just be me. The innovation of the magick system was very freeform and innovative but untested in practice. You could really do some wacky stuff, but this was OK because the rules encouraged you to ignore the rules anyway!
They eventually come back big in the book Ascension as an optional plot line where they're at war with the Zigg to steal Avatars. Their mystery was surprisingly well done and I wonder how much more we could have gotten without spoiling it, but yeah, they're pretty great.
I ran a few 1e games when I got the POD of the book (Really wanted the core book of every edition). The thing that completely flabbergasted me system wise is that there seem to be no rules for Rituals or extended casting rolls. Which means that if your effect needs 4 successes and you have Arete 3, well, spent a WP and hope every die is a success! Add to that the rule that says that if you fail an effect the consensus has rejected that change and you cannot try it again that scene. Want to fly, but failed the roll? No more flying that scene! Mental! Was a fun iteration of the rules to run though...
started with 1e, bought the book last year but didn't get around to cracking into it last month. this video's helped put a lot of that lore into perspective, and i think i favor a lot of it over newer stuff. the creative ways for dealing with paradox spirits especially seems cool. not sure if my players are familiar with mage, but i know beyond a shadow of a doubt they aren't familiar with mage 1e. i'm looking forward to turning them on their heads with all this.
Good episode. I'm slowly making my way through the WoD books and have read Mage 1e and 1st edd. Book of Chantries before starting on Mage 2e, so it's interesting to hear what might be changing and keeping in mind what to watch out for. Looking forward to making my way through the series.
Thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It provided context for some of the founding concepts and systems I’d otherwise be unaware of.
The idea of mortal belief pushing back, beyond just paradox, was very interesting. I especially liked the idea of all the doors in a building locking in response to vulgar magic. Reality pushing back and acting like a pressure gage for players, the needle heading towards red. Adding an immediate obstacle to be resolved and a foreboding sense of danger building.
The section on the awakened being responsible for the darkness in the world and how this forms grudges between factions felt like a great primer for new players. This is something that could fit on an index card and highlight why each faction is hostile towards the others.
The explanation of Oracles and why a Mage may leave Earth were very useful as well.
Lots to takeaway here and I do hope this ends up becoming a series of episodes.
Glad you found the episode useful-What Was Lost did dive deep into some of the original ideas that shaped Mage as we know it. Mortal belief pushing back beyond just Paradox? Yeah, that’s the real kicker, isn’t it? Doors slamming shut, reality snapping back like it’s had enough of your flashy magic-brilliant way to up the tension. That sense of dread creeping in, a real-time obstacle that gets the blood pumping.
As for the Awakened being the root of the world's darkness and the grudges between factions? That’s some proper old-school tension there. Perfect for a primer to get new players into the thick of it. Slap that on an index card, and you’ve got all the reasons why no one’s playing nice.
The bit on Oracles? Gold. Mages leaving Earth for something bigger, something weirder-opens up all kinds of possibilities. Hope to see more episodes on this too. Thanks for tuning in!
I think the main thing I got from this edition, which was written by Stewart Weick more than anyone else, was that it was inspired by Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. They even included a quote. The game was still very much in a formative stage - still developing its core ideas - but it had an understated ‘war of ascension’. You felt the protagonists were more hunted rather than true warriors with an actual shot of winning. But this may just be me. The innovation of the magick system was very freeform and innovative but untested in practice. You could really do some wacky stuff, but this was OK because the rules encouraged you to ignore the rules anyway!
I am sad the Ka Luon never got explored beyond a total of like 1 page of information spread across multiple books.
They eventually come back big in the book Ascension as an optional plot line where they're at war with the Zigg to steal Avatars. Their mystery was surprisingly well done and I wonder how much more we could have gotten without spoiling it, but yeah, they're pretty great.
I ran a few 1e games when I got the POD of the book (Really wanted the core book of every edition). The thing that completely flabbergasted me system wise is that there seem to be no rules for Rituals or extended casting rolls. Which means that if your effect needs 4 successes and you have Arete 3, well, spent a WP and hope every die is a success!
Add to that the rule that says that if you fail an effect the consensus has rejected that change and you cannot try it again that scene. Want to fly, but failed the roll? No more flying that scene!
Mental!
Was a fun iteration of the rules to run though...
Yeah! I was thrown off by this too.
started with 1e, bought the book last year but didn't get around to cracking into it last month. this video's helped put a lot of that lore into perspective, and i think i favor a lot of it over newer stuff. the creative ways for dealing with paradox spirits especially seems cool.
not sure if my players are familiar with mage, but i know beyond a shadow of a doubt they aren't familiar with mage 1e. i'm looking forward to turning them on their heads with all this.