Laboratory text: Difference between revisions
m (Andrew Gronosky moved page Lab Text to Laboratory text: Follow capitalization convention) |
(Fifth Edition does not use the short form "lab text." Added more on ArM4 lab texts. Added categories, removed extraneous "Synopsis" heading.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Category:ArM5]] | |||
[[Category:ArM4]] | |||
[[Category:Rules]] | |||
[[Category:Hermetic Magic]] | |||
A '''laboratory text''', sometimes shortened to "lab text", is a set of notes and perhaps diagrams describing how to reproduce a magical invention, such as a [[Formulaic Spell]] or [[Enchanted Device]]. | |||
Lab texts are important because they allow magi to learn spells or enchant devices much more quickly than inventing them from scratch. Most [[covenant]]s have many lab texts in their [[Library | libraries]]. | |||
Lab texts are important because they allow magi to learn spells or enchant devices much more quickly than inventing them from scratch. Most [[ | |||
== Grimoires == | == Grimoires == | ||
A grimoire, or book of spells, in [[Fifth Edition]] is simply a set of laboratory texts written by the spells' inventors. | |||
Before Fifth Edition, books of spells were not considered laboratory texts | |||
== Writing Laboratory Texts == | |||
In [[ArM5]], magi automatically write laboratory texts whenever they perform regular [[laboratory]] work that produces a product -- unless, of course, they were using a laboratory text to make that product! | |||
In earlier editions, Lab Texts applied only to [[Enchanted Device | enchanted devices]] and [[Longevity Ritual | longevity rituals]]. Lab texts for spells did not exist; if magi wanted to share their [[Formulaic Spell | formulaic spells]], they had to spend an additional season to write them down. | |||
In [[ArM5]], | == Using Laboratory Texts == | ||
In [[ArM5]], a magus can only use a lab text if his [[Lab Total]] is high enough. Rules are given on page 102. If the magus's Lab Total is high enough to use the text, he can reproduce the invention described in the text in one season of work. | |||
A lab text is only useful once the project has been completed; in the [[RAW]] there is no way to benefit from a Lab Text for an unfinished project. | |||
== | === Using Laboratory Texts in Fourth Edition === | ||
In Fourth Edition and earlier, using a lab text provided a bonus to the magus's [[Lab Total]] that varied according to the author's Magic Theory score ''at the time he wrote the text.''<ref>''[[Ars Magica Fourth Edition]]'', p. 90, "Laboratory Texts"</ref> As the rules stated, | |||
You must record your Magic Theory score at the time the work was done, | |||
all the information about the types and amounts of vis used in creating | |||
the potion or device, the effects you created or modified, and all game | |||
modifiers involved in each step of the creation process. | |||
Under the Fifth edition rules, laboratory texts require a lot less bookkeeping and provide stronger benefits. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
* [[ArM5]], pages 101-102 | * [[ArM5]], pages 101-102 | ||
<references /> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Laboratory]] | * [[Laboratory]] | ||
* [[Learning Spells]] | * [[Learning Spells]] | ||
=== Legacy Page === | === Legacy Page === | ||
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:lab_text]] | The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:lab_text]] | ||
Revision as of 07:11, 4 January 2014
A laboratory text, sometimes shortened to "lab text", is a set of notes and perhaps diagrams describing how to reproduce a magical invention, such as a Formulaic Spell or Enchanted Device.
Lab texts are important because they allow magi to learn spells or enchant devices much more quickly than inventing them from scratch. Most covenants have many lab texts in their libraries.
Grimoires
A grimoire, or book of spells, in Fifth Edition is simply a set of laboratory texts written by the spells' inventors.
Before Fifth Edition, books of spells were not considered laboratory texts
Writing Laboratory Texts
In ArM5, magi automatically write laboratory texts whenever they perform regular laboratory work that produces a product -- unless, of course, they were using a laboratory text to make that product!
In earlier editions, Lab Texts applied only to enchanted devices and longevity rituals. Lab texts for spells did not exist; if magi wanted to share their formulaic spells, they had to spend an additional season to write them down.
Using Laboratory Texts
In ArM5, a magus can only use a lab text if his Lab Total is high enough. Rules are given on page 102. If the magus's Lab Total is high enough to use the text, he can reproduce the invention described in the text in one season of work.
A lab text is only useful once the project has been completed; in the RAW there is no way to benefit from a Lab Text for an unfinished project.
Using Laboratory Texts in Fourth Edition
In Fourth Edition and earlier, using a lab text provided a bonus to the magus's Lab Total that varied according to the author's Magic Theory score at the time he wrote the text.[1] As the rules stated,
You must record your Magic Theory score at the time the work was done, all the information about the types and amounts of vis used in creating the potion or device, the effects you created or modified, and all game modifiers involved in each step of the creation process.
Under the Fifth edition rules, laboratory texts require a lot less bookkeeping and provide stronger benefits.
References
- ArM5, pages 101-102
- ↑ Ars Magica Fourth Edition, p. 90, "Laboratory Texts"
See also
Legacy Page
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:lab_text