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Alternate Sphere Magic

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===Overview===

This is an alternate system of sphere magic for the World of Darkness. It ~~can replace~~ replaces the spheres for Mage: The Ascension. You can also download a character sheet for this system here: [https://www.v5homebrew.com/mw/images/2/23/Alternate-character-sheet.pdf Alternate Character Sheet]

There is also a complete redo of the entire mage rules here: [[Mage: The Ascension (Alternate Rules)]]

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 vulgar magic.

The Twelve Spheres in alphabetical order are:

* '''Manipulative''' The Mage can manipulate and bend the laws of physics.

* '''Miraculous''' The Mage can now create impossible miracles.

~~ ~~

~~==Mechanics==~~

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~~These rules are just a few notes from the Mage: The Ascension rule book. ~~

* '''Arete''' Arete is the Mage's level of enlightenment. In game terms it is the number of dice a Mage rolls when casting their spells. No Sphere can be higher than your level of Arete. You can also only spend up to your level of Arete in quintessence on a single spell. A mage can optionally roll less dice than their Arete 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 reduces the difficulty of a spell, up to a modifier of -3. Meditation is required to regain Quintessence for at least an hour at a place of power. Quintessence can also be stored in things that are carried by a Mage.

* '''Willpower''' By spending a point of willpower Mages gets an automatic success on their spells. Willpower is tough to regenerate and can be useful for more than Magic.

* '''Difficulty''' The difficulty of a spell is the level of the Sphere you are using. You then add +3 for coincidental magic, and +4 for Vulgar magic if there are no witnesses. Add +5 for Vulgar magic witnessed by Sleepers.

* '''Successes''' Simple magic requires only one success, two successes are required for more powerful magic, and larger effects can take even more. If your level of Arete is at least one point higher than the Sphere you are using, you can succeed without a dice roll.

* '''Botches''' If a Mage rolls a failure when casting a spell & they also roll a 1 on any of their dice then they botch. This is a dangerous situation.

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• Elevated Mental Functions

•• ~~Increase to~~ Temporary Skills

••• Seeing the Past

•••• Seeing the Future

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• Reading Mindstates

•• Bonus to Social ~~Abilities~~Attributes

••• Mental Shield

•••• Reading Thoughts

** '''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.

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• ~~Safeguarding Secrets~~Detect Lies

•• See in The Dark

••• Stealth

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 ~~Attraction to Death~~Depression

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

Delusions & Mood Swings, ~~Reoccurring~~ Repetitive Behavior ~~Patterns~~, or ~~Morbidity~~Suicidal Thoughts

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

Wild Hallucinations, ~~Obsession~~Compulsions, and Anti-Social Behavior

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

Complete Madness, ~~Living a Repetitive Loop~~Obsession, or ~~Becoming a Serial Killer~~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.

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.

~~Everything in the universe of Mage exists as Body Mind and Spirit. Events in this universe follow patterns of Dynamism, Stasis, and Entropy.~~ Each Sphere of magic follows into these categories. Outlined here:

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~~Body~~

Control:

Energy / Telekinesis (Aries / Emperor) + (Mars / Tower)

Transformation:

Developing / Shapeshifting (Taurus / Hierophant) + (Venus / Empress)

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~~Spirit~~ Understanding:

Wisdom / ESP (Libra / Justice) + (Venus / Empress)

Revelation:

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

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~~Mind~~ Feeling:

Empathy / Telepathy (Virgo / Hermit) + (Mercury / Magician)

Influence:

Charisma / Hypnotism (Leo / Strength) + (Sun / Sun)

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~~Dynamism~~ Penetration:

Escape / Intangibility (Gemini / Lovers) + (Mercury / Magician)

Travel:

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

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~~Stasis~~ Production:

Attraction / Creation (Capricorn / Devil) + (Saturn / World)

Restoration:

Renewal / Healing (Aquarius / Star) + (Uranus / Fool)

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~~Entropy~~ Vanishing:

Stealth / Invisibility (Cancer / Chariot) + (Moon / Moon)

Destruction:

Curses / Annihilation (Scorpio / Death) + (Pluto / Judgement)</pre>

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Street

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