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#REDIRECT [[:Category:FAQ]]
{{about|a list of frequently-asked questions|a list of articles that address frequently-asked questions|[[:Category:FAQ]]}}
 
If you would like a beginner's introduction to Ars Magica, please see our [[Welcome to Ars Magica]] page.
 
These questions, and answers, come from the Ars Magica [[Fan Community]].  The answers are unofficial but represent the best judgment of a large body of experienced players.
 
== The Ars Magica Product Line ==
* What [[Products]] are available?
* [[Upcoming products|What ArM5 products are planned]] for the near future?
* Which Ars Magica book(s)[[Buying Guide | should I buy]]?
* [[Upcoming products#Frequently-Asked_Questions|Can one of the authors or playtesters leak details of (upcoming product)]]?
* Is there a [[D20 Ars Magica | d20 conversion for Ars Magica]]?
* Why do some of Ars Magica supplements have [[Hard Cover | hard covers]] (and others have soft covers)?
* What is the [[History of Ars Magica | history]] of the Ars Magica game?
 
== Mythic Europe ==
* What is the [[Medieval Paradigm]]?
* How is Ars Magica related to the [[World of Darkness]] (also known as Storyteller) games?
** What is this about [[House_Tremere#Vampires | Tremere and vampires]]?
* How do I say (something) in [[Latin#HowToSay | Latin]]?
* In Ars Magica, are the [[Pagan Gods | pagan gods]] Magical, Faerie, or what?
* Can you recommend some good [[Suggested Reading | reading material]] that can inform or inspire my Ars Magica game?
 
== [[Fan Community]] ==
* Does Ars Magica have an active [[Fan Community]]?
* [[size of the fan community | How many people]] make up the Ars Magica community?
* How can I [[Fan_Community#FindPlayers | find a troupe]] to join?
* Can one of the authors of (upcoming supplement) [[Products#LeakDetails | give us some inside details]]?
* Can I [[Writing Supplements | write a supplement]] for Ars Magica?
* [[Line Editor | Who is in charge]] of the Ars Magica product line?
* Can I [[Contributing | write an entry]] for this FAQ?
 
== Fifth Edition ==
Newcomers may also find the introduction to [[Game Mechanics]] informative.
 
* What are the differences between [[ArM5 Fourth Edition and Fifth Edition]]?
 
=== Rules Status ===
* [[Ars_Magica_Fifth_Edition#Errata|Are there Errata for Fifth Edition?]]
* I need an [[Rules#Official_Ruling|official ruling]] on (X)
* [[Ars_Magica_Fifth_Edition#Why_Removed|Why has (rule X) been removed from Fifth Edition?]]
* [[Ars_Magica_Fifth_Edition#Why_Changed|Why was (X) changed in (new edition / new product)]]?
* Are the [[Ars_Magica_Fifth_Edition#Continuity | older Tribunal books]] still useful?
* Will Atlas make available free downloads with [[Ars_Magica_Fifth_Edition#Free_Conversion | conversion stats]] for older supplements to Fifth Edition?
 
=== Characters, Abilities, and Virtues and Flaws ===
* Why are something called "[[Body Level|Body Levels]]" listed on the character sheet?  What are they?
* How does the [[Faerie Magic]] Ability (on the Merinita template, ArM5 page 27) work?
* Are the [[Minor Story Flaw|Minor Story Flaws]], like Blackmail and Animal Companion, really Flaws?
* Do Virtues that affect the way a character gains experience points - Wealthy, Secondary Insight, Elementalist, and so on - affect [[Experience Points#Starting|starting experience points]]?
* Does the [[Puissant Ability]] Virtue affect what the character can teach and write? Does Puissant [[Magic Theory]] let a character use more vis in the lab?
* How exactly does the [[Fast Caster]] Virtue work?
* What are the [[Shapeshifter Statistics|statistics for a shapeshifter]] (such as a [[House_Bjornaer|Bjornaer]] magus or a character with the [[Shapeshifter]] Virtue) in beast form?
* Has the social effect of the [[The Gift|Gift]] changed in Fifth Edition?
 
=== Spells ===
==== Forms & Techniques ====
* What Form is [[Auram|electricity]]?
 
==== Spell Effects ====
* Is there any way for a magus to create [[Permanent_Effects|permanent magical effects]] in Fifth Edition?
* Is temporary, [[Magical Food | magically-created food]] nourishing?
* Can the damage from a [[Momentary_Duration#Damage|Momentary Perdo]] effect be healed?
* Can a Momentary Perdo spell permanently [[Momentary_Duration#Properties|remove a natural property]] of something, for example, make an object permanently weightless?
* How do [[General Spell | General spells]] work?
 
==== Casting Spells ====
* Shouldn't there be a die roll for non-fatiguing [[Spontaneous Spell|spontaneous magic]]?
* What is the [[Fast Cast Spontaneous Spell#Initiative|fast-casting speed roll]] (p. 83) for?
{{anchor|Casting_from_text}}
* Can a magus [[Casting From Text | cast spells directly from a text]]?
* How does [[Multiple Casting]] work?
* How does one cast a [[General spell]]?
 
==== Questions on Specific  Spells ====
* Is [[Incantation of Summoning the Dead]] really supposed to be a [[ritual]]?
 
===Magic Resistance, Penetration, and Parma Magica ===
Most of the following questions are addressed in detail in the (lengthy) article on [[Magic Resistance]].
 
==== Magic Resistance Mechanics ====
* Please explain in simple terms [[Magic_Resistance#HowItWorks|how Magic Resistance works]].
* Does Magic Resistance [[Magic Resistance#ProtectAgainst|protect against the Divine?]]
* Does Magic Resistance [[Magic Resistance#BeneficialSpells|keep out helpful spells]] like healing spells?
* Does Magic Resistance [[Magic Resistance#PhysicalAttacks|protect against the claws or teeth]] of a magical creature?
* How would magic resistance [[Magic Resistance#MagicalThings | affect a sword that's enhanced by a spell]]?
* Does magic resistance keep out [[Magic Resistance#EnchantedDevices | enchanted devices]]?
* Since magic resistance keeps out magical things, doesn't it keep out [[Magic Resistance#Illusions | illusions]]?
* What is the "[[Magic Resistance Design#PinkDot | Pink Dot]] Loophole?" Is there a way to close it?
 
==== Penetration Mechanics ====
* Do [[Ward|wards]] have to penetrate in order to keep out a creature with Magic Resistance?
* Does [[Aegis of the Hearth]] have to penetrate in order to keep out a creature with Magic Resistance?
 
==== Design of Magic Resistance ====
* Why doesn't Magic Resistance just [[Magic Resistance Design | dispel ]] magical effects?
* Why [[Magic Resistance Design#HedgeWizard | can't non-Hermetic magicians (hedge wizards) have Magic Resistance]] similar to Parma Magica?
 
=== Laboratory ===
* Do [[Laboratory#Assistant | lab helpers]] increase the amount of vis a magus can use in a season?
* Where are the rules for [[ Learning Spells | learning spells ]] from a text?
* How are [[Verditius Runes]] supposed to work?
 
=== Books, Study, and Experience ===
* What is meant on p. 165 by "[[Summa | Summae]]: Source - Quality and Level?"
 
=== Combat ===
* Do Wound and Fatigue Penalty penalties apply to [[Soak#WoundPenalties]] totals?
* Do Wound Penalties apply to [[Wound Recovery]] rolls?
* Where are the rules for [[Crossbow | crossbows]]?
* The rules in [[Covenants]] say it takes a very long time to [[Crossbow#Reload | reload a crossbow]]. Are those times realistic?
* Why would anyone want to use a crossbow, when [[Longbow#CompareToCrossbow | longbows are so much better]]?
* Where can I [[House Rules Links | find house rules]] for [[Crossbow | crossbows]] and/or [[Longbow | longbows]]?
* How does one calculate [[Missile_Weapon#Attack | Attack]] and [[Missile_Weapon#Defense | Defense]] for missile weapons?
* What are the rules for [[Movement | movement]] in combat?
* Where are the rules for making an [[Exertion | all-out attack or defense]]?
* Where are the rules for [[Combat Fatigue | combat fatigue]]?
* What are the rules for [[Charging | charging]]?
* What happens to a character's [[Initiative#ChangeWeapons | Initiative Total]] if he changes weapons?
* How does [[Initiative#Spells|Initiative]] work for spellcasting?
* Where can I find house rules for more [[House_Rules_Links#Combat | combat options]], variant weapon stats, and so on?
 
=== Miscellaneous Rules Questions ===
* How far is a [[pace]]?
 
== Fourth Edition (and earlier editions) Questions ==
* How does the Parma Magica [[Magic Resistance (ArM4) | work in Fourth Edition]]?
* Is [[Perdo Imaginem (ArM4) | Perdo Imaginem]] too easy?
* "How do I use Range, Duration, and Target?"
* Can my wizard create ritual spell to lift an entire mountain five hundred feet into the air permanently? If so, what level would it be?
* Can a magus create a golem and switch minds with it and thus escape old age?
* Is ice part of Aquam, or what?
* "Is combat busted?"
* A sample combat
 
== Legacy Page ==
The history of this page before July 21, 2012 is located at http://legacy.redcap.org/page/faq

Revision as of 04:45, 22 August 2012

If you would like a beginner's introduction to Ars Magica, please see our Welcome to Ars Magica page.

These questions, and answers, come from the Ars Magica Fan Community. The answers are unofficial but represent the best judgment of a large body of experienced players.

The Ars Magica Product Line

Mythic Europe

Fan Community

Fifth Edition

Newcomers may also find the introduction to Game Mechanics informative.

Rules Status

Characters, Abilities, and Virtues and Flaws

Spells

Forms & Techniques

Spell Effects

Casting Spells

Template:Anchor

Questions on Specific Spells

Magic Resistance, Penetration, and Parma Magica

Most of the following questions are addressed in detail in the (lengthy) article on Magic Resistance.

Magic Resistance Mechanics

Penetration Mechanics

  • Do wards have to penetrate in order to keep out a creature with Magic Resistance?
  • Does Aegis of the Hearth have to penetrate in order to keep out a creature with Magic Resistance?

Design of Magic Resistance

Laboratory

Books, Study, and Experience

  • What is meant on p. 165 by " Summae: Source - Quality and Level?"

Combat

Miscellaneous Rules Questions

Fourth Edition (and earlier editions) Questions

  • How does the Parma Magica work in Fourth Edition?
  • Is Perdo Imaginem too easy?
  • "How do I use Range, Duration, and Target?"
  • Can my wizard create ritual spell to lift an entire mountain five hundred feet into the air permanently? If so, what level would it be?
  • Can a magus create a golem and switch minds with it and thus escape old age?
  • Is ice part of Aquam, or what?
  • "Is combat busted?"
  • A sample combat

Legacy Page

The history of this page before July 21, 2012 is located at http://legacy.redcap.org/page/faq