Heartbeast: Difference between revisions

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The '''Heartbeast''' is [[Outer Mystery]] of [[House Bjornaer]]. Every Bjornaer magus has an alternate shape into which he or she can transform and which "displays a central aspect of her nature."<ref name="ArM5">''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', p. 91, "House Bjornaer: Heartbeast"</ref>  Most commonly, this is the shape of a noble bird or [[beast]], but some magi instead take the shape a plant.<ref name="ArM5" />


The '''Heartbeast''' is the name of the form all [[Bjornaer]] magi can take, each magus taking his own heartbeast. It is also the name of the [[Supernatural Ability]] these magi possess. Most heartbeasts are those of noble [[Animals|animals]], but some magi are rumored to have mythical, magical heartbeasts, or - even more rarely - plants.
[[HoHMC]] 18-24 greatly expands the details of the Heartbeast, providing advice on choosing the heartbeast, and the statistics of the heartbeast form. (See also [[HoHMC]] 38-43 and the [http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/ArM5Beasts.pdf|Book of Mundane Beasts] for animal statistics.)


==== References ====
When Bjornaer magi enter [[Final Twilight]], they irrevocably assume the shape of their heartbeasts.<ref>''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]'', p. 24, "Heartbeasts and Wizard's Twilight"</ref>
 
== The Heartbeast Ability ==
"Heartbeast" is the name of a [[Supernatural Ability]] that all magi of House Bjornaer learn. Only magi [[Initiation|Initiated]] into House Bjornear have a heartbeast or can learn the Heartbeast Ability.<ref name="ArM5" /> The Heartbeast Ability is rarely used in ArM5, but a magus can use it when transformed into some other shape to return to either her human shape or heartbeast shape. (This could be a way, for example, to prematurely end a [[Muto]] [[Corpus]] effect like ''Disguise of the New Visage''.
 
The Heartbeast Ability is also used in inventing spells using the [[Sensory Magic]] [[House Mystery]].<ref>''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]'', p. 28</ref>
 
There is no description of the Heartbeast Ability in the core ArM5 book, but there is one in [[HoHMC]] (page 38).
 
== Changing Form ==
In [[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]], a magus does not need to make a roll to change form unless there is some magic working to prevent the transformation.<ref name="ArM5" /> Changing form takes "only a moment,"<ref name="p92">''[[Ars Magica Fifth Edition]]'', p. 92</ref> so presumably a magus can change shape and still act normally the same [[round]]. (If you are using the optional combat rules from ''[[Lords of Men]]'', using the Heartbeast ability to change shape is a [[fast action]].<ref>''[[Lords of Men]]'', p. 118, "Option: Fast Actions")</ref>
 
The heartbeast transformation affects only the magus himself, not his clothing and equipment.<ref name="p92" /> It is possible to design an [[invested item]] that can change with the magus.<ref>''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]'', p. 24, "Magical Items and Changing Form" (inset)</ref>
 
== The Heartbeast Form is Natural ==
Unlike the effects of a spell, the heartbeast form ''is'' considered the magus's natural form for mystical purposes. The implications of this are discussed on page 92 of [[ArM5]]; for example, that page explains what spells can affect a magus in heartbeast form.
 
[[HoHMC]] elaborates on those rules with some additional detail.<ref>''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]'', p. 24, "The Hidden Shape."</ref>
 
== Statistics of the Heartbeast ==
Statistics for animals may be found in the [[Book of Mundane Beasts]].
 
Exact rules for how to calculate the statistics of a Bjornaer magus in heartbeast form are found in ''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]''.<ref>''[[Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults]]'', p. 25, "Statistics of Shapechangers"</ref> If you do not have that book, you'll have to make a [[House Rule]] to cover that situation.
 
== References ==
<references />


* [[ArM5]] 91-92, 43.
* [[HoHMC]] 18-24 greatly expands the details of the Heartbeast, providing advice on choosing the heartbeast, and the statistics of the heartbeast form. (See also [[HoHMC]] 38-43 and the [http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/ArM5Beasts.pdf|Book of Mundane Beasts] for animal statistics.)
* See also [[HoHMC]] 38 for the Ability, with special rules on how to learn it
===  Legacy Page  ===
===  Legacy Page  ===
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:heartbeast]]
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:heartbeast]]

Revision as of 13:55, 20 April 2013

The Heartbeast is Outer Mystery of House Bjornaer. Every Bjornaer magus has an alternate shape into which he or she can transform and which "displays a central aspect of her nature."[1] Most commonly, this is the shape of a noble bird or beast, but some magi instead take the shape a plant.[1]

HoHMC 18-24 greatly expands the details of the Heartbeast, providing advice on choosing the heartbeast, and the statistics of the heartbeast form. (See also HoHMC 38-43 and the of Mundane Beasts for animal statistics.)

When Bjornaer magi enter Final Twilight, they irrevocably assume the shape of their heartbeasts.[2]

The Heartbeast Ability

"Heartbeast" is the name of a Supernatural Ability that all magi of House Bjornaer learn. Only magi Initiated into House Bjornear have a heartbeast or can learn the Heartbeast Ability.[1] The Heartbeast Ability is rarely used in ArM5, but a magus can use it when transformed into some other shape to return to either her human shape or heartbeast shape. (This could be a way, for example, to prematurely end a Muto Corpus effect like Disguise of the New Visage.

The Heartbeast Ability is also used in inventing spells using the Sensory Magic House Mystery.[3]

There is no description of the Heartbeast Ability in the core ArM5 book, but there is one in HoHMC (page 38).

Changing Form

In Ars Magica Fifth Edition, a magus does not need to make a roll to change form unless there is some magic working to prevent the transformation.[1] Changing form takes "only a moment,"[4] so presumably a magus can change shape and still act normally the same round. (If you are using the optional combat rules from Lords of Men, using the Heartbeast ability to change shape is a fast action.[5]

The heartbeast transformation affects only the magus himself, not his clothing and equipment.[4] It is possible to design an invested item that can change with the magus.[6]

The Heartbeast Form is Natural

Unlike the effects of a spell, the heartbeast form is considered the magus's natural form for mystical purposes. The implications of this are discussed on page 92 of ArM5; for example, that page explains what spells can affect a magus in heartbeast form.

HoHMC elaborates on those rules with some additional detail.[7]

Statistics of the Heartbeast

Statistics for animals may be found in the Book of Mundane Beasts.

Exact rules for how to calculate the statistics of a Bjornaer magus in heartbeast form are found in Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults.[8] If you do not have that book, you'll have to make a House Rule to cover that situation.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 91, "House Bjornaer: Heartbeast"
  2. ↑ Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, p. 24, "Heartbeasts and Wizard's Twilight"
  3. ↑ Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, p. 28
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 92
  5. ↑ Lords of Men, p. 118, "Option: Fast Actions")
  6. ↑ Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, p. 24, "Magical Items and Changing Form" (inset)
  7. ↑ Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, p. 24, "The Hidden Shape."
  8. ↑ Houses of Hermes: Mystery Cults, p. 25, "Statistics of Shapechangers"

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:heartbeast

Retrieved from "https://www.redcap.org/index.php?title=Heartbeast&oldid=9812"