View source for Mage: The Ascension (Alternate Rules)



To just see the alternate magic system read:<br>
[[Alternate Sphere Magic]]

A character sheet for this system is at:<br>
[https://www.v5homebrew.com/mw/images/2/23/Alternate-character-sheet.pdf Alternate Character Sheet]
<br><br>

=== Mage: The Ascension ===
<br>

Mage: The Ascension is a roleplaying game set in the World of Darkness, a dark, gothic-punk alternative version of our own reality. In this setting, magic is real but hidden from most people's perception. The game revolves around mages - individuals who can reshape reality through the power of will, belief, and understanding.

The Technocracy stands as a powerful organization seeking to control reality through science, technology, and rational thought. They view magic as a dangerous threat to human progress and work systematically to suppress and eliminate supernatural elements. 

The central conflict in Mage: The Ascension is the struggle over the nature of reality itself. Mages fundamentally believe that reality is malleable and can be shaped by human will and belief.

Roleplaying happens inside of scenes. In fact, the entire game exists in scenes. The beauty of roleplaying a scene lies in its uncertainty. Neither the players, or the Storyteller know exactly how the scene will unfold. 

A scene is a temporary collaborative reality. A shared imaginative space where individual creativity merges into a collective experience.

Like most role playing games played around a  
table, we use dice to determine the  
whims of chance. Anytime a character performs  
an action under adverse conditions or when the  
outcome is unclear, his player rolls dice to  
see whether the task succeeds or fails. 
 
You just need two six sided dice to play. I  
have changed this from the original game,  
Mage: The Ascension from rolling a ten sided  
dice. I did a little math and it just made  
since. 
 
For a success in this game, rolling a 7 or 11  
with two 6 sided dice has the odds of 2/9  
which is 0.2222. 
 
A typical success in Mage is made by rolling a 8, 9,  
or 10 on one 10 sided die, which has the odds  
of 3/10 which is 0.3. 
 
So, with a few other modifications the game  
mechanics are basically the same.
<br><br>

* Attributes and Skills
<br>
 
Characters possess a variety of traits,  
describing their innate capabilities, trained  
skills, and even how many wounds they can  
suffer before dying. Two types of trait are  
especially important: Attributes and Skills.  
Each of these traits is rated in dots (●),  
ranging from 1 to 5, much like the five-star  
system many critics use to rate movies. For  
example, a character might have a Dexterity  
Attribute of ●●● (3 dots) and a Firearms  
Skill of ●● (2 dots). 
 
Whenever your character performs an action that 
calls for dice rolls, you most often add the most  
appropriate Attribute to the most appropriate  
Skill. When your character shoots a gun, you add  
his Dexterity to his Firearms for a total number  
of dice rolls.
<br><br>

* Modifiers
<br>
 
Various conditions and circumstances can  
greatly improve or hinder your characters  
tasks, represented by bonuses and/or penalties  
to your dice rolls. On one hand, quality tools  
might give him a bonus to repair a car. On the  
other hand, a thunderstorm might cause  
hazardous driving conditions, levying a  
penalty on any driving rolls, and a distant  
target is hard to hit with a gun, represented  
by range penalties. 
 
For example, when shooting a target 30 yards  
away with his Glock 17 pistol, your character  
suffers a -2 penalty. 
 
The Storyteller determines whether or not any 
circumstance imposes dice-roll modifiers and  
how great those modifiers are.
<br><br>

* Dice Rolls
<br>

So, we can say that that the number of times  
you get to roll the dice is determined like  
so: Attribute + Skill + modifiers (if any) In  
general, bonuses are always added before  
penalties are applied.
<br><br>

* Rolling the Dice
<br>
 
Now that you know what to roll, lets see how  
to read the results. Each roll uses two dice,  
and a result of 7, or 11 is considered a  
success. You might have more than one of  
these, in which case you have multiple  
successes. The dice don't just tell you whether  
your character succeeds or fails it shows you  
how well he does. If none of your die rolls  
succeed, your roll fails. Obviously, the more  
die rolls you have the better your characters  
chances of success, and the greater your odds  
of gaining multiple successes.
<br><br>

* Snake Eyes
<br>
 
If one of your rolls turn up snake eyes, it  
cancels out one success.  If you roll snake eyes,  
and none of you other rolls succeed it is a  
botch.
<br><br>

* Second Tries
<br>
 
When a roll fails, you can try again with a +1  
difficulty modifier.
<br><br>

* Fighting
<br>

Combat is a series of die rolls, until  
someone surrenders or is rendered unable to  
fight. The rolls determine whether or not your  
character hits and how much damage he inflicts  
on his target. The number of dice rolls is  
determined as above, but a knife is more deadly  
than a fist, and a gun is more deadly than all.  
Each success gained on your attack roll  
represents a point of damage inflicted against  
the targets Health trait. If the target has no  
more Health left, he is unconscious or dead  
(depending on the type of damage done). 
 
There are two types of damage: bashing  
(caused by blunt weapons such as fists or  
clubs; these wounds heal quickly), lethal  
(caused by sharp weapons such as knives and  
bullets; these wounds heal slowly). There are  
a number of complications involved in combat,  
such as a targets Defense Rolls, which are  
subtracted from any attack successes targeted  
against him.
<br><br>

* Actions
<br>

The number of times you roll for an action is  
made up of an attribute added to an ability.   
Each of these are given a rating from 1 to five: 

 
 1) Poor 
 2) Average 
 3) Good 
 4) Exceptional 
 5) World Class 
 

That dice pool is then modified by one
of these levels:
 
 +1) Easy 
 +0) Routine 
 -1) Moderate  
 -2) Difficult 
 -3) Challenging 
 -4) Hard 
 -5) Exceptional 

 
The number of successes you have is also  
given a rating from one to five: 

 
 1) Marginal 
 2) Moderate 
 3) Good 
 4) Excellent 
 5) Phenomenal
<br><br>

=== Traits ===
<br>

The attributes your character has are listed  
here, they are divided into 3 categories: 
 
 
* Physical:<br><br>  
** Strength - Physical Power  
** Dexterity - Athleticism  
** Stamina - Toughness  

 
* Social:<br><br>  
** Charisma - Charm  
** Manipulation - Persuasion  
** Appearance - Attractiveness  

 
* Mental:<br><br> 
** Perception - Insight To Surroundings 
** Intelligence - Pure IQ  
** Wits - Intuition & Instincts  
 

Abilities are also divided into 3 categories:  
 

* Talents:<br><br>  
** Alertness - Attention to Your Surroundings  
** Athletics - A Talent With Sports  
** Awareness - You Can Sense The Presence of Magic  
** Brawl - Skill With Unarmed Combat  
** Dodge - Avoiding Physical Danger  
** Expression - The Art of Communication  
** Intimidation - Flexing Your Muscles  
** Leadership - You Are Respected  
** Streetwise - Youre a Part Of The Underworld  
** Subterfuge - You Can Hide Your Motives  

 
* Skills:<br><br>  
** Crafts - Working With Your Hands  
** Drive - Handling The Road  
** Etiquette - Managing Social Situations  
** Firearms - Firing Guns  
** Meditation - Regenerates Magic  
** Melee  - Hand To Hand Weapons  
** Performance - Specialized as music etc.  
** Stealth - Hiding From Sight  
** Survival - Living In Difficult Environments  
** Technology - Repairing And Working With Machines  

 
* Knowledges:<br><br>  
** Academics - Higher Education In A Field  
** Computer - From Typing To Hacking  
** Cosmology - Knowledge Of The Spirit World  
** Enigmas - Solving Puzzles Or Riddles  
** Investigation - Forensics Detective Work  
** Law - Professional Practice In Law  
** Linguistics - Specializing In Other Languages  
** Medicine - First Aid, & Surgery Etc.  
** Occult - Knowledge Of Magic Practices  
** Science - Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics  
 

There are also some other very important traits:  

 
* Avatar - Your ability to store quintessence  
* Arete - Your mastery of magick  
* Willpower - Can be used to force success  
* Quintessence - The raw power of magic  
* Paradox - The backlash from magic into insanity  
* Health - The amount of damage you can take
<br><br>

=== Getting Started === 
<br>

Now that you know the basics of the Storytelling  
System, you can proceed to create your own  
characters. You’ll be able to judge what sort of  
traits you’ll need based on their titles (they’re  
mostly self-explanatory), and know that the more  
dots you have in a trait the better your character  
will be when accomplishing tasks with it.  
 

Here is a quick overview of how to begin the  
character creation process:  
 

The 3 categories of attributes are divided into  
3 levels of  points: 7/5/3  
 
The 3 categories of abilities are also divided  
into 3 levels of points: 13/9/5  
 
You get 7 points to go into Backgrounds.  
 
You also get 6 dots that can go into your Mage's  
magical knowledge called Spheres. The catch is  
that none of them can be higher than your level  
of Arete.  
 
Arete starts at 1 and can’t begin higher than 3.  
 
Willpower starts at 5 and can’t begin higher  
than 7.  

 
You also get 15 Freebie Points:  
 
To increase an Attribute requires 5 freebie  
points.  
 
To increase an Ability requires 2 freebie  
points.  
 
To increase a Background requires 1 freebie  
point.  
 
To increase Willpower requires 1 freebie  
point.  
 
To increase Arete requires 4 freebie  
points.  
 
To increase a Sphere requires 7 freebie  
points.  
 

Prioritize the categories with 3 levels of  
points.  
 

* Select Attributes (7/5/3)  

 
Physical: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina  
 
Social: Charisma, Manipulation, Appearance  
 
Mental: Perception, Intelligence, Wits  
 

* Select Abilities (13/9/5)  
 

Talents: Alertness, Athletics, Awareness,
Brawl, Dodge, Expression, Intimidation,  
Leadership, Streetwise, Subterfuge  
 
Skills: Crafts, Drive, Etiquette, Firearms,  
Meditation, Melee, Performance, Stealth,  
Survival, Technology  
 
Knowledges: Academics, Computer, Cosmology,  
Enigmas, Investigation, Law, Linguistics,  
Medicine, Occult, Science  
 

Additionally, characters also have a number  
of advantages called Backgrounds.  
 

* Backgrounds (7):  
 

Allies - Friends who help you  

Arcane - You are unnoticed as a Mage
  
Avatar - The Strength of the soul 
 
Contacts - Information sources  

Destiny - A greater purpose  

Dream - Visions from the unknown  

Influence - Pull over the mortal world  

Library - Access to metaphysical knowledge  

Node - A place of magical power 
 
Resources - Extra Money  

Wonder - A Magical talisman or device
<br><br>

=== Combat ===
<br>

We will now go over the combat system. It is  
very simple.  
 
Combat is broken down into three steps,  
Initiative, Attack, and Resolution.  


* Stage one - Initiative

 
During initiative, both players roll  
Dexterity + Wits. Whoever has more successes  
gets to go first.  
 
Each player declares either to attack or  
defend.  
 
It is also possible to ambush someone with:  
Dexterity + Stealth vs Perception + Alertness  

 
* Stage two - Attack  

 
The attacker rolls one of these:  
 
Unarmed Combat: Strength + Brawl  
 
Armed Combat: Strength + Weaponry  
 
Firearms: Dexterity + Firearms  
 
Throwing Objects: Dexterity + Athletics  
 
Then the defender either takes the hit,  
or if they chose to defend they roll:  
 
Block: Dexterity + Brawl  
 
Dodge: Dexterity + Dodge  
 
Parry: Dexterity + Melee  
 
The successes of the attack roll minus the  
defense roll equals damage, which is either  
Bashing or Lethal.  
 
If a weapon is being used the storyteller can  
increase the modifier for an attack by up to +4.  
Some guns allow you to shoot multiple times in  
a turn.  

 
* Stage three - Resolution  

 
Roll as many times as your Stamina points to  
eliminate a point of bashing damage for each  
success.  
 
If the fighting continues you roll again for  
initiative.  
 
Keep track of the damage to your health with  
this chart:  

 
* Health 
<br>
# Bruised -0  
# Hurt -1  
# Injured -2  
# Wounded -3  
# Mauled -4  
# Crippled -5  
# Unconscious  

 
Each point of damage is marked with a / for  
bashing damage and an X for lethal damage.  
If you acquire 7 bashing damage you are  
unconscious, further bashing damage can  
become lethal damage. Either way, you apply  
a penalty to everything you roll as the damage  
goes up.If you acquire more than 7 in lethal  
damage, you can die.  
 

Finally, your character needs to learn magic!
<br><br>

=== Magic ===
<br>
 
There are 12 Spheres in this system that are  
divided into coincidental & vulgar magic. The  
first three levels of each sphere are limited  
to coincidental effects, and the highest levels  
of the sphere are divided into two levels of more  
advanced magic.  
 

The Twelve Spheres in alphabetical order are:  
 

Control, Destruction, Feeling, Influence,  
Penetration, Production, Revelation, Restoration,  
Transformation, Travel, Understanding, and  
Vanishing  
 

These are the degrees of power for the Spheres:  

 
1) Awareness  
 
2) Sympathetic  
 
3) Coincidental  
 
4) Manipulative  
 
5) Miraculous  


* Awareness  
 
Allows the Mage to sense things with their magic.  
 

* Sympathetic  

 
The Mage can effect things they’re personally  
connected to.  

 
* Coincidental  

 
The Mage can work magic as long as it doesn’t  
defy physics.  

 
* Manipulative  

 
The Mage can manipulate and bend the laws of  
physics.  

 
* Miraculous  
 
The Mage can now create impossible miracles.
<br><br>


* Mechanics
<br> 


* Casting Magic  

 
You can only cast magic up to the level of 
your sphere. Arete is the number of dice to 
roll when casting a  spell. No Sphere can be 
higher than your level of Arete. A mage can 
optionally roll fewer dice to avoid a potential 
botch.  
 

* Avatar  

 
A Mage’s Avatar is the maximum Quintessence they can store.  
 

* Quintessence


Quintessence is the power source for Magic.
Spending Quintessence points reduces the difficulty of a
spell, up to your level of Arete. Meditation is required
to regain Quintessence for at least an hour at a place
of power. The maximum Quintessence a Mage can store 
is their Avatar score. Quintessence can also be stored in things
that are carried by a Mage.


* Willpower


One point of willpower generates 1 success

Willpower can resist mind magic

Willpower can fight Quiet

Willpower can ignore penalties from fear & damage

Willpower can be regained after role play


* Difficulty


The difficulty for casting magic is the level of the sphere you are using. Add +1 for Vulgar magic, if there are no 
witnesses. Add another +1 if a Sleeper witnesses it.


* Bonuses 


If you have time to do a ritual, Intelligence + Occult can be rolled. Successes are added to your Arete roll up to a +3. If there isn't time for a full ritual, magical tools can add a +1 bonus. 


* Successes


Simple magic requires only one success, two
successes are required for more powerful magic,
and larger effects can take even more.


* Botches


If a Mage rolls a failure when casting a spell & they
also roll snake eyes on any of their dice then they botch.
This is a dangerous situation.
<br><br>

=== Spheres ===
<br>

Spheres in Mage: The Ascension are the
way Mages effect reality. They
represent different kinds of magic,
which Mages use to perceive and
reshape the world.


* Understanding<br><br>
** Power: Wisdom / ESP
** Knowledge: Realization - Unveiling the inner knowledge within.
** Description: The Power of Understanding manifests as inspiration and insight, granting effortless access to answers and discoveries beyond conventional
understanding. It endows the practitioner with the gift of foreknowledge. The key to unlocking this power lies in the realization that all knowledge
already resides within oneself.

# Elevated Mental Attributes
# Predicting Outcomes
# Seeing the Past
# Seeing the Future
# Stopping Time


* Feeling<br><br>
** Power: Empathy / Telepathy
** Knowledge: Association - Recognizing the interconnectedness of all things.
** Description: The Power of Feeling enables one to empathize and understand others deeply, perceiving their thoughts and emotions without the need for words. It stems from the profound insight into Association, the intrinsic link that binds all living beings together.

# Reading Mindstates
# Bonus to Social Attributes
# Mental Shield
# Reading Thoughts
# Mental Link


* Production<br><br>
** Power: Attraction / Creation
** Knowledge: Synchronicity - Uniting the threads of existence.
** Description: The Power of Production empowers a wizard to draw situations and desires into their reality. This ability stems from a profound understanding of Synchronicity, the cosmic principle that everything is interconnected and influences each other. It acknowledges that the power to attract lies within, awaiting manifestation.

# Sensing Opportunity
# Arranging situations
# Attracting Wealth
# Produce Small Objects
# Win Lotteries & Elections


* Influence<br><br>
** Power: Charisma / Hypnotism
** Knowledge: Possession - Will shaping the realm of the mind.
** Description: The Power of Influence grants a wizard the power to captivate others. Known as Possession, it allows one to enchant and charm, eliciting positive perceptions or even gaining control over anothers thoughts and actions. The essence of this mastery lies in the understanding that ones will can wield dominion over the minds of others.

# Sensing Willpower
# Social Influence
# Hypnotic Suggestion
# Mind Control
# Altering Identities


* Penetration<br><br>
** Power: Escape / Intangibility
** Knowledge: Spiritualism - Perceiving the world as a realm of spirit.
** Description: The Power of Penetration delves into the realm of Spiritualism. It unveils the truth that the world is fundamentally composed of spirit, allowing a wizard to transcend physical boundaries and become intangible. Chains and locks lose their hold, dissolving effortlessly under the wizards touch.


# Find Exits
# Open Locks
# Escape From Restraints
# Escape From Prisons
# Becoming Intangible


* Control<br><br>
** Power: Energy / Telekinesis
** Knowledge: Evocation - Harnessing the forces of the spiritual realm.
** Description: The Power of Control enables a wizard to command powerful forces. Through evocation, the practitioner can manipulate energy and bend it to their will. This understanding arises from recognizing that spiritual entities are themselves embodiments of force and possess the capacity to shape and impact the physical world.


# Quick Reactions
# Bonus to Physical Abilities
# Influencing Physical Outcomes
# Moving Objects
# Controlling Natural Forces


* Restoration<br><br>
** Power: Renewal / Healing
** Knowledge: Forgiveness - Liberating from suffering caused by transgressions.
** Description: The Power of Restoration holds the gift of healing. It grants the ability to alleviate pain, cure diseases, and bring renewal to the afflicted. This power emerges from the understanding of Forgiveness, recognizing that suffering often stems from transgressions. By embracing forgiveness, a wizard becomes a conduit for healing and restoration.


# Sense illness
# Relieve Pain
# Protection from Disease
# Heal Sickness / Damage
# Resurrection


* Vanishing<br><br>
** Power: Stealth / Invisibility
** Knowledge: Misdirection - Manipulating attention
and perception.
** Description: The Power of Vanishing encompasses the art of Misdirection. It allows a wizard to control focus and attention, rendering themselves unseen and secrets concealed. Meticulous study and practice grant the ability to achieve complete invisibility as the wizard manipulates perception and directs attention elsewhere.

# Detect Lies
# See in The Dark
# Stealth
# Disguise
# Invisibility


* Travel<br><br>
** Power: Direction / Teleportation
** Knowledge: Unity - Dissolving the illusion of
separation.
** Description: The Power of Travel operates on the understanding that all separation is illusory. By harnessing this power, a wizard can navigate without traditional directions and locate objects or places that are lost or hidden. A skilled practitioner can transcend distance, stepping from one location to any desired destination.

# Locate Lost Objects
# Find Directions
# See at a Distance
# Teleport Objects
# Make a Portal


* Transformation<br><br>
** Power: Developing / Shapeshifting
** Knowledge: Personification - Authoring ones own
identity.
** Description: The Power of Transformation allows a
wizard to assume the form and essence of another
being, whether it be an abstract concept, an animal,
or even a deity. The essence of this mastery lies in the understanding that one has the power to create and define their own identity, refusing to be shaped by external forces. The power of transformation can also be used to improve who you already are.

# Sense Others Attributes
# Bonus to Attributes
# Developing Attributes
# Shapeshifting
# Transmutation


* Destruction<br><br>
** Power: Curses / Annihilation
** Knowledge: Pragmatism - Dissolving the constructs
of right and wrong.
** Description: The Power of Destruction holds immense power that should be wielded with caution. It encompasses the ability to curse, annihilate, and disrupt the natural order. However, the utilization of this power draws one away from their true path and blurs the distinction between right and wrong.

# Sense Black Magic
# Protection from Curses
# Curse Enemies
# Cause Physical Damage
# Kill & Destroy


* Revelation<br><br>
** Power: Visions / Rapture
** Knowledge: Above as Below - The symbiotic
connection between gods, angels, and humanity.
** Description: The Power of Revelation unveils profound visions and grants enlightenment to the practitioner. It is rooted in the understanding of the symbiotic connection between gods, angels, and humanity. By tapping into this power, a wizard gains access to celestial knowledge, perceiving the intricate tapestry that binds all realms and entities together.

# Sense Spirits
# Speak with Spirits
# Banish Spirits
# Summon Spirits
# Spirit Travel
<br><br>


* Paradox & Quiet
<br>

The official rules say Paradox is caused by Vulgar
magic. In these alternative rules Paradox happens
when a Mage fails at casting their spells.
When a Mage fails a magic roll they gain a Paradox
point. A botched roll will then releases that Paradox
in the form of a Quiet (Insanity).

If a Mage has a Paradox level of 1-3, the Quiet
happens in one of three ways:

Hallucinations, Fixations, or Depression

If they have a Paradox level of 4-6, the Quiet happens in three more ways:

Delusions & Mood Swings, Repetitive Behaviors, or Suicidal Thoughts

If they have a Paradox level of 7-10, the Quiet happens as:

Wild Hallucinations, Compulsions, and Anti-Social Behavior

If they have a Paradox level of 11+, the Quiet happens in more severe ways:

Complete Madness, Obsession, or Violence

Quintessence can be spent to reduce Paradox, but it
has to be done before the Insanity of Quiet occurs.
If Paradox reaches a level greater than 10 it is
released automatically.
<br><br>

* Occult  
<br>
 
This system of magic can connect to occult  
themes,  for interesting role playing.  
 
There are 12 Spheres in this system. Each  
Sphere connects to one of the 12 signs of  
the Zodiac. And each Zodiac sign connects to  
one of 10 planets in Astrology. The 10 planets  
and 12 signs connect with the 22 Major Arcana  
of the Tarot.  
 

* Control:  
*** Energy / Telekinesis  
*** (Aries / Emperor) + (Mars / Tower)  
 
* Transformation:  
*** Developing / Shapeshifting   
*** (Taurus / Hierophant) + (Venus / Empress)  
 

* Understanding:  
*** Wisdom / ESP  
*** (Libra / Justice) + (Venus / Empress)  
 

* Revelation:  
*** Visions / Rapture  
*** (Pisces / High Priestess) + (Neptune / Hanged Man)  
 

* Feeling:  
*** Empathy / Telepathy  
*** (Virgo / Hermit) + (Mercury / Magician)  
 

* Influence:  
*** Charisma / Hypnotism  
*** (Leo / Strength) + (Sun / Sun)  
 

* Penetration:  
*** Escape / Intangibility  
*** (Gemini / Lovers) + (Mercury / Magician)  
 

* Travel:  
*** Direction / Teleportation  
*** (Sagittarius / Temperance) + (Jupiter / Wheel of Fortune)  
 

* Production:  
*** Attraction / Creation  
*** (Capricorn / Devil) + (Saturn / World)  
 

* Restoration:  
*** Renewal / Healing  
*** (Aquarius / Star) + (Uranus / Fool)  
 

* Vanishing:  
*** Stealth / Invisibility  
*** (Cancer / Chariot) + (Moon / Moon)  
 

* Destruction:  
*** Curses / Annihilation  
*** (Scorpio / Death) + (Pluto / Judgement)  
 

=== Finishing Touches ===  
 
Here are some finishing touches to add to your  
character sheet.
<br><br>

* Traditions
<br>
 
There are 12 types of Mages representing different world views. You can pick whichever one you feel resonates with your character:

 
* Akashic Brotherhood - Buddhist Warriors  

* Celestial Chorus - Gnostic Priests  

* Cult of Ecstasy - Hippies and New Agers  

* Dreamspeakers - Shamans
  
* Euthanatos - Terrorists and Activists  

* Order of Hermes - Ceremonial Magicians  

* Sons of Ether - Rebel Scientists  

* Verbena - Wiccans  

* Virtual Adepts - Reality Hackers  

* Hollow Ones - Goths  

* Marauders - Permanently Insane

* Nephandi - Make Demonic Pacts

* Technocracy - Agents of Reason

If you have your own Coven you can also list  
it as your Cabal.
<br><br>

* Concepts
<br>

All characters need to have a concept which  
can be anything you want to make up. However  
here are some example concepts that you might  
like to use:  

 
* Criminal  

* Drifter  

* Entertainer  

* Intellectual  

* Investigator  

* Kid  

* Night-lifer  

* Outsider  

* Politician  

* Professional  

* Reporter  

* Socialite  

* Soldier  

* Worker
<br><br>

* Nature and Demeanor
<br>

There are two more important categories at the  
top of the character sheet, called Nature &  
Demeanor. Nature is your inner character. and  
Demeanor is what you project into the outside  
world. Below you can pick one of these for each:  
 

Architect - Purpose / Obsession  

You desire to leave a mark on the world.  
 

Autocrat - Leadership / Dictatorship 
 
You want control.  
 

Bon Vivant - Love of Life / Hedonism
  
You want to live Life.  
 

Bravo - Strength / Anger  

You want power.  
 

Caregiver - Compassion / Smothering 
 
You look out for others.  
 

Celebrant - Passion / Intemperance 
 
You have a calling  
 

Child - Innocence / Immaturity  

You never grew up.  
 

Competitor - Striving / Competitiveness  

Life is a challenge to be won.  
 

Conformist - Cooperation / Low-Self Esteem  

You are a follower.  
 

Conniver - Clever / Envy  

You are a manipulator  
 

Curmudgeon - Critical Eye / Lack of Imagination  

You find the faults in others.  
 

Deviant - Shatter Boundaries / Perversion  

You are an outcast.  
 

Director - Organization / Lack of Tolerance  

You want things under control.  
 

Fanatic - Dedication / Stubbornness 
 
You live for a cause.  
 

Gallant - Artistry / Flamboyance  

You want to be the center of attention.  
 

Judge - Justice / Lack of Vision  

You want to resolve problems.  
 

Loner - Self-Reliance / Lack of Empathy  

You work best by yourself.  
 

Martyr - Sacrifice / Self-Deprecation  

You devote yourself to helping others.  
 

Masochist - Devotion / Self-Destructiveness  

You want to suffer.  
 

Monster - Mirror of Villainy / Depravity  

You are an evil person.  
 

Pedagogue - Knowledge / Logorrhea  

You are a teacher.  
 

Penitent - Responsibility / Contrition  

You are consumed with guilt.  
 

Perfectionist - Exactitude / Incompleteness  

You need to be the best.  
 

Rebel - Individuality / Lack of Direction  

You like to break the rules.  
 

Rogue - Valor / Selfishness  

You look out for yourself.  
 

Survivor - Perseverance / Lack of Trust  

You keep going no matter what.  
 

Thrill-Seeker - Daring / Recklessness  

You live on the edge.  
 

Traditionalist - Consistency / Complacency  

You support the status quo.  
 

Trickster - Empathy / Hypocrisy  

Your life is a comedy.  
 

Visionary - Imagination / Pride  

You want to remake the future.
<br><br>

* Essence
<br>

Your character's Avatar Essence is also on the  
character sheet. An Avatar represents a Mage's  
soul, and the essence represents the drive a  
mage has at their core. There are four essences  
you can pick from:  

 
* Dynamic - Change  

* Pattern - Improvement  

* Primordial - Stability  

* Questing - Purpose
<br><br>

* Resonance
<br>

All Mages also have a Resonance. As a Mage  
uses magic their Resonance changes. Other  
Awakened can read a Mage's Resonance as well.  
You start with one dot in one Resonance  
trait, and add dots as you continue working  
magic.  

 
There are three types of Resonance:  
Dynamic, Entropic, and Static  
 

* Dynamic represents change.

* Entropic represents destruction.

* And Static represents protection.
<br><br>

* Purpose
<br>

In these alternate rules we also have another  
trait called Purpose. You can fill in the   
dots anyway you like into these 3 categories:  
 

* Self, Others, and World.  

 
Representing your primary motivation.
<br><br>

* Foci
<br>

Mages tend to have certain tools for using magic.  
When a Mage has access to these tools, they receive a +1 bonus to their magic roll. You can  
pick at least one at the start of the game. Here  
is a list of suggestions for you to choose from:  

 
Art  

Astrology 

Blood  

Books  

Bones  

Cauldrons

Chalices  

Candles 

Chanting

Circles  

Computers  

Crystals  

Dancing  

Devices  

Martial Arts  

Drugs  

Elements  

Feathers  

Fire  

Formulas  

Herbs  

Holy Symbols  

Incense  

Language  

Music  

Internet  

Ordeals  

Poetry

Pure Water  

Purification  

Ritual Sacrifice  

Runes  

Science  

Sex  

Songs  

Tarot Cards  

Ouija boards  

Tattoos  

Piercings  

Toys  

Wands  

Weapons
<br><br>

=== Examples ===
<br>
 
Also, here are some examples of how to attempt  
other actions using the abilities and attributes  
already mentioned:  

 
Climbing - Dexterity + Athletics  
 
Driving - Dexterity + Drive  
 
Encumbrance - Strength  
 
Intrusion - Dexterity or Intelligence + Technology  
 
Jumping - Strength or Strength + Athletics  
 
Lifting / Breaking - Strength or Willpower  
 
Pursuit - Dexterity + Athletics / Drive  
 
Shadowing - Dexterity + Stealth  
 
Sleight of Hand - Dexterity + Stealth  
 
Sneaking - Dexterity + Stealth  
 
Stealing - Dexterity + Stealth, Perception + Streetwise  
 
Swimming - Stamina + Athletics  
 
Throwing - Dexterity + Athletics  
 
Fast Talk - Manipulation + Subterfuge  
 
Fitting In - Charisma + Expression  
 
Impersonation - Charisma + Expression or Manipulation + Subterfuge  
 
Interrogation - Manipulation + Intimidation or Charisma + Intimidation  
 
Oration - Charisma + Leadership  
 
Performance - Charisma + Performance  
 
Academic Knowledge - Intelligence + Academics  
 
Building Devices - Intelligence + Technology  
 
Cryptography - Intelligence + Linguistics or Intelligence + Computer  
 
Detecting The Supernatural - Perception + Awareness  
 
Foraging - Intelligence + Survival  
 
Fortune Telling - Perception + Awareness  
 
Hacking - Intelligence / Wits + Computer  
 
Inventing - Intelligence + Science  
 
Investigation - Perception + Investigation  
 
Meditation - Stamina / Intelligence + Meditation  
 
Repair - Dexterity + Technology  
 
Research - Intelligence + Investigation / Computer  
 
Surveillance - Perception + Alertness, Dexterity + Stealth  
 
Tracking - Perception + Survival
<br><br>