ExMiscellanea

[DivineST]

As I try to do periodically, I am reviewing and updating writeups and adding others as-needed or as-wanted. I have lists of things that have been elaborated upon individually that I think may be easier to reference if properly written up; and also some to-dos that I have had on lists to do at some point but that have not had a high priority attached to them that I am getting around to doing or will get around to doing at some point.

Some of the things I have done recently are:

• [Flavor] Lexicon - Tradition-specific terminology [ including for Spheres ] has been separated from the broader, Tradition terminology. The reason for separating them into individual threads is two-fold: ease of reference, and to give me a place to put general notes about a given Tradition - such as if a given Tradition has a code or internal laws, etc.
• [IC History] Season Four - I am almost finished summarizing the major arcs included within Season Four. [ Edit: I have finished Season Four's summaries ] Season Five will not be properly summarized until after its finale, but we are approaching it, narratively.

Some of the things on my To-Do list are as follows:

• [Flavor] Tradition Codes - If a Tradition has a specific code or set of internal laws, I am hoping to add them to their respective [About] thread, so that you guys do not have to crack open the Traditionbook every time you need to reference said code or set of internal laws. Some of these are written from an in-character perspective and I have to re-parse them; and some of these a few of you already have noted somewhere; but I will add them as I get through them.
• [Flavor] Tradition Factions - This to-do I am still on the fence about, unsure if it would be helpful or just something for newcomers to potentially reference. Factions aren't mandatory, after all - unless you're a Hermetic - but most of them have a specific flavor or function, so it might be helpful? This is a low-priority on my list.
• [Resource] Backgrounds and Adversarials - Man, this one has been sitting on my to-do for ages. Mostly just reformatting and adjusting the writeups of specific Backgrounds or Adversarials to reflect how they have been run / played if it differs from how the book presents them. I even have a thread for rounding this out in my Staff section - I just need to get around to finishing it.
• [Character] Passive vs Active Downtimes - I have this written, I just need to post it; but it's a consolidation of and clarification for downtimes and the differences between the types, so that you guys have a better point of reference for them and how to use them. This is one of those things I've elaborated on individually when someone has a question, but it'll be easier to have a singular point of reference. Edit: Posted
• [Mechanics] Creating Charms - I have the rules for Wonders up, and Charms are only slightly different; but that's not clear in the original writeup, so I'm going to clean up that writeup and add a segment specifically for Charms, too.
• [General] Tables of Contents - for all sections. And maybe a general Q&A that can direct you to the post that answers a general or common question. Just to make it easier to find things.

If there is anything that is not on one of these lists - either that we have discussed one-on-one or that you have a question regarding or think might be helpful to have a formal, public writeup regarding, let me know in your OOC subforum or via PM! I'm happy to try to make things clearer.

Anyway, just making a note so that everyone is aware; and so that the general public knows that if something new goes up that relates to mechanics or rules, it's just me getting around to old to-dos as I find the brainspace to do them.

Thanks!

[DivineST]

• [Flavor] Tradition Codes - If a Tradition has a specific code or set of internal laws, I am hoping to add them to their respective [About] thread, so that you guys do not have to crack open the Traditionbook every time you need to reference said code or set of internal laws. Some of these are written from an in-character perspective and I have to re-parse them; and some of these a few of you already have noted somewhere; but I will add them as I get through them.

These have been added for groups that have one, save for the Cult of Ecstasy:

• Tradition Protocols
• Euthanatos: The Chodona
• Order of Hermes: The Code of Hermes and a description of the Peripheral Corrigenda
• Society of Ether: A description of The Scientific Ethos
• Virtual Adept: Code of Ethics

I am double-checking the other Traditionbooks, but have not found a depiction of unified law or codes for them - except for the Cult of Ecstasy. I'll be working on the Code of Ananda and will add a note about the Nine Sacred Passions today.

If you find a canon unified law or code that exists for the other Traditions [ Celestial Chorus, Dreamspeakers, Verbena ], please PM me or make a note in your OoC forum and tag me so I can confirm it and add it.

Thanks!

Edit: Added The Code of Ananda and the Nine Sacred Passions for the Cult of Ecstasy.
Edit 2: Added The Drahma Sutra and the Eight Limbs for the Akashayana.

[DivineST]

• [General] Tables of Contents - for all sections. And maybe a general Q&A that can direct you to the post that answers a general or common question. Just to make it easier to find things.

I have made tables of contents for the following, so far:

• [Master ToC] Rules and Systems
  • Boardwide
  • Character
  • Mechanics

[DivineST]

• [Mechanics] Creating Charms - I have the rules for Wonders up, and Charms are only slightly different; but that's not clear in the original writeup, so I'm going to clean up that writeup and add a segment specifically for Charms, too.

I have updated Crafting Charms, Wonders, and Fetishes; though I intend to add examples to help with clarity and may reformat it later. This reflects how we have been doing these things over the course of the game, and might not totally reflect systems presented in Forged by Dragon's Fire, though it heavily relies upon that resource. Some of the optional rules, like Flaws and alternative Paradox Handling, have not been added to this post yet, but they may be at another time.

If you have questions, please tag me in a thread in your OoC forum.

Thank you!

[DivineST]

• [Resource] Backgrounds and Adversarials - Man, this one has been sitting on my to-do for ages. Mostly just reformatting and adjusting the writeups of specific Backgrounds or Adversarials to reflect how they have been run / played if it differs from how the book presents them. I even have a thread for rounding this out in my Staff section - I just need to get around to finishing it.

I have changed the format of the above thread regarding Backgrounds and Adversarials and have completed the proper write-ups of Backgrounds, including their forum-play or setting-specific adjustments and utilized mechanics - except for Familiar. I have not done Adversarials yet.

Edit: I have added Adversarial Backgrounds, except for Skeptics and Wards.

[DivineST]

I have added a post on Literaries and appended a reminder onto the note about Off-Board and IM / PM Scenes.

I intend to expand on the Character Growth post, to better explain Growth Downtimes; as well as to elaborate on the additional ways a character's mechanical sheet might grow [in regard to plots and personal journeys] - nothing about any of those is being changed, but I am working on better explaining them all for the sake of transparency.

I am still debating whether or not to write up the various Factions within the different Traditions; and I have been debating a note in the Flavor forum about major, Tradition-wide events in the meta-timeline; but while I am working on my list of to-dos, if there is something that you think would be helpful or that may be needed for the edification of players as a whole and better transparency on my part, please drop me a line in your OoC forum.

Thanks.

[DivineST]

I intend to expand on the Character Growth post, to better explain Growth Downtimes; as well as to elaborate on the additional ways a character's mechanical sheet might grow [in regard to plots and personal journeys] - nothing about any of those is being changed, but I am working on better explaining them all for the sake of transparency.

I have updated this. I hope to expand further or provide examples, but if there are any questions or the write-up reads unclearly and could be refined for clearer understanding, please tag me in any questions you might have in your OoC forum.

[DivineST]

I have reorganized the Other Supernaturals thread for ease of reference. None of the information itself has changed - but I have restructured it to be more legible, and have built / added some 'cheat sheet' tables relevant to each that further condenses key information for quick finds.

Please remember that all of the information in the Other Supernaturals thread is out-of-character knowledge - your character might not even believe a supernatural of a certain type exists if their own Tradition Lore is not sufficient or if the supernatural is not mentioned in their Tradition's book at all. Obviously, in-character experience in the game trumps general reference guidelines, but the overall reminder remains.

If you need a specific-to-your-character write-up about a supernatural group, please make a request in your Out of Character forum and I can look at your backstory [where your initial Lores came from] and your in-game history / experiences to begin one for you, time-permitting.

[DivineST]

Added transparent mechanics for Things Man Was Not Meant to Know to Quiet - because sometimes TMWNMTK causes Quiet, and both use Breaking Points as a guideline for personal thresholds.

Added for transparency and because we have fear monsters, Grand Dukes of Hell, and some cosmic horror elements abounding - it comes up.

[DivineST]

I am still debating whether or not to write up the various Factions within the different Traditions;

I had done this a while ago - both a write-up about Factions in general, and the gist of specific Tradition Factions in this game universe [ in that Tradition's Flavor thread, but linked in the Factions thread for ease of reference ].

I have also been updating everyone's Willpower / Quintessence Tracking threads in an attempt to make information there easier to reference. Some changes, beyond formatting, include appending the refresh rates - if applicable - to the Gained segment, so you can more easily see when and how you would regain spent Willpower or Quintessence naturally or actively. I've added tables to Spent and Gained segments for a simpler visual that's consistent across everyone's record.

I will be updating everyone's Health and Paradox records, as well - I'm just debating whether or not it would be prudent to have a timeline record of Health changes for everyone, or if the 'current-to-IRL-date' quick-look continues to work best. If you have an opinion, you can let me know!

Edit: Updated Health and Paradox records

[DivineST]

I have added a resource on Archetypes for Nature and Demeanor to the Character Creation forum. These are the ones listed in Mage books, as examples. Archetypes from other game lines or editions are allowable, so long as they have a clear Willpower condition - some might be reflavored for Revised Edition Mage as a setting or appended to your Willpower Records as-is; but everyone's Record should have their Nature and Demeanor write-up already - this way it is clear on the page how your character, specifically, can regain Willpower through their Nature / Demeanor.

As a reminder, we operate a house rule that fulfilling your Nature restores all of your expended Willpower once per Episode [ not scene, but series of connected scenes in the timeline ]; while fulfilling your Demeanor restores one expended Willpower once per Episode.