Houses of Hermes Book: Difference between revisions

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'''Rules Edition:''' [[ArM3]]
'''Rules Edition:''' [[ArM3]]/[[ArM4]]
'''Author(s):'''  [[Jonathan Tweet]]
'''Author(s):'''  [[Jonathan Tweet]]
'''Publisher:''' [[White Wolf]]
'''Publisher:''' [[Wizards of the Coast]]
'''ISBN:''' 1-880992-54-X
'''ISBN:''' 1-880992-54-X
'''Release Date:''' 1994
'''Release Date:''' 1994
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==  Subject and Contents ==
==  Subject and Contents ==


This book is dedicated to describing all twelve of the [[Houses of Hermes]].  It therefore develops each House in more detail than the earlier supplement, [[Order of Hermes (book)|Order of Hermes]], but less detail than the later Fifth Edition ''Houses of Hermes'' series of supplements.
This book is dedicated to describing all twelve of the [[Houses of Hermes]].  It therefore develops each House in more detail than the earlier supplement, [[Order of Hermes Book|Order of Hermes]], but less detail than the later Fifth Edition ''Houses of Hermes'' series of supplements.


''Houses of Hermes'' was written for [[Third Edition]].  It was never updated or replaced for [[Fourth Edition]].  Since the magic rules were quite similar between Third and Fourth Edition, ''Houses of Hermes'' remained perfectly usable and was the official sourcebook on the Houses from the time it was published in 1994 until the release of [[ArM5]] in 2004.
''Houses of Hermes'' is billed as a [[Fourth Edition]] supplement, but was written two before that edition came out.  It was never updated or replaced.  Since the magic rules were quite similar between Third and Fourth Edition, ''Houses of Hermes'' remained perfectly usable and was the official sourcebook on the Houses from the time it was published in 1994 until the release of [[ArM5]] in 2004.


===  Differences from Fifth Edition ===
===  Differences from Fifth Edition ===
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* [[Ars Magica Third Edition]]
* [[Ars Magica Third Edition]]
* [[Wizards Grimoire Revised Edition]]
* [[Wizards Grimoire Revised Edition]]
* [[Order of Hermes (book)|Order of Hermes]]
* [[Order of Hermes Book|Order of Hermes]]


===  Related Sites ===
===  Related Sites ===

Revision as of 18:12, 3 November 2012

Houses of Hermes is an Ars Magica supplement that describes the twelve current Houses in the Order of Hermes, plus House Diedne.


Rules Edition: ArM3/ArM4 Author(s): Jonathan Tweet Publisher: Wizards of the Coast ISBN: 1-880992-54-X Release Date: 1994 Format: Softcover, 152 pages Availability: Out of print; electronic version available

Subject and Contents

This book is dedicated to describing all twelve of the Houses of Hermes. It therefore develops each House in more detail than the earlier supplement, Order of Hermes, but less detail than the later Fifth Edition Houses of Hermes series of supplements.

Houses of Hermes is billed as a Fourth Edition supplement, but was written two before that edition came out. It was never updated or replaced. Since the magic rules were quite similar between Third and Fourth Edition, Houses of Hermes remained perfectly usable and was the official sourcebook on the Houses from the time it was published in 1994 until the release of ArM5 in 2004.

Differences from Fifth Edition

The portrayal of several Houses in Houses of Hermes differs from Fifth Edition canon:

  • House Flambeau is both less orderly and less diverse and has a more violent image. Flambeau the Founder in particular is depicted as a very violent figure.
  • House Criamon has a more vague concept of the Enigma and is more preoccupied with visions, riddles, and symbolism
  • House Tremere is less respectable and is portrayed as very conspiratorial.

Each of these Houses received a make-over when Fifth Edition overhauled the Ars Magica canon. There are, of course, some players who liked each of these Houses as they were in Houses of Hermes. The good news is that, since an electronic version of Houses of Hermes is available, players who liked the Houses the way they were before (or who just want to compare the treastment of the Houses between editions) can still buy and use this earlier book.

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