Pyromaniac (Template)

This article discusses the House Flambeau Template from the ArM5 core rules, with some commentary on the design choices implied by that template.

The Pyromanaic

Characteristics: Int +2, Per +1, Pre 0, Com –1, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex 0, Qik +1 Size: 0 Age: 25 (25) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3) Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Greater Immunity (Fire), Major Magical Focus (Flames); Affinity with Creo, Affinity with Ignem, Life Boost, Puissant Ignem*; Enemies, Necessary Condition (must clap his hands), Wrathful (Major) Personality Traits: Brave +3, Wrathful +3, Thoughtful –2 Reputations: None. Combat: Dodging: Init +1, Attack n/a, Defense +4, Damage n/a Soak: +2 Fatigue Levels: Ok, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20) Abilities: Area Lore 2 (hiding places), Artes Liberales 1 (logic), Athletics 2 (running), Awareness 3 (in combat), Brawl 2 (dodging), Folk Ken 1 (people in authority over him), Guile 3 (claiming not to have done something), Hermes Lore 1 (House Flambeau), Latin 4 (insults), Living Language 5 (insults), Magic Theory 3 (Ignem), Parma Magica 1 (Mentem), Penetration 2 (Ignem), Stealth 1 (entering buildings or rooms), Survival 1 (woods) Arts: Cr 12, In 0, Mu 0, Pe 4, Re 5; An 0, Aq 0, Au 0, Co 0, He 0, Ig 12+3, Im 0, Me 0, Te 1, Vi 0 Twilight Scars: None Equipment: Wizardly robes, smelling slightly of smoke. Encumbrance: 0 (0) Spells Known: Palm of Flame (CrIg 5) +41 Pilum of Fire (CrIg 20) +41 Arc of Fiery Ribbons (CrIg 25) +41 Ball of Abysmal Flame (CrIg 35) +41 Circle of Encompassing Flame (CrIg 35) +41

Character Analysis

This character is focused on burning his enemies. This is facilitated by his Major Magical Focus, two Affinities, and his Puissant Ignem. His Life Boost also supports this idea, making sure he will have enough Penetration if needed, and his Greater Immunity is almost-necessary thematically, so that he won't succumb to his own trick.

His Flaws, however, are not essential to the build.

Customization Notes

This Flambeau is very much a one-trick pony. He can throw fire at opponents extremely effectively. His focused Arts and Magical Focus mean that he has some Penetration even for powerful spells. However, he is much weaker if he tries to do anything else.

Wrathful and Enemies can be swapped out for other Flaws with no trouble, to break the stereotype a bit, as can his Greater Immunity. He can take another Minor Flaw, and balancing Minor Virtue.

Note that his Characteristics are somewhat unorthodox. His +2 Intelligence will not serve him too well when inventing spells; you may decide to lower it even further, to create a gap between Stamina and Intelligence which would tend to induce more Fatigue spellcasting cost and may fit your vision of him as lacking in theoretical understanding. His +2 Stamina, conversely, can be increased, to indicate his toughness and prowess at actually casting spells (as opposed to inventing them). His negative Communication (and lack of Good Teacher) also fit the anti-scholar vibe, as any books he writes will be in low demand (see vain books).

Roleplaying Notes

If using the House as described in Houses of Hermes: Societates, consider making the character aspire to chivalrous virtues of bravery and martial prowess, and to seeking out monsters the way a knight might seek out tourneys or enjoy a hunt. Although he can accrue great House Accalim in this way, however, his Wrathful personality may make him fall short from these ideals, and lose face in the eyes of his House. It will also likely keep him from the House's key cults, the Legion and Cult of Mithras.

This character is more suited to simply develop his Hermetic powers, his Hermetic Arts and spells and related Arcane abilities such as Penetration or spell mastery; and to pursue adventures related primarily to monster and vis hunts, and of course his Enemies. You would probably want to Master your spells, especially with multicasting.

In time, you would surely also find you need other tricks, not just burning things up, and will need to develop utility spells and contingencies for dealing with non-flammable opponents or situations. Your affinity with Creo, in particular, could come in useful with other Forms.

References

Attribution Based on the material for Ars Magica, ©1993-2024, licensed by Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games®, under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license 4.0 ("CC-BY-SA 4.0"). Ars Magica Open License Logo ©2024 Trident, Inc. The Ars Magica Open License Logo, Ars Magica, and Mythic Europe are trademarks of Trident, Inc., and are used with permission. Order of Hermes, Tremere, Doissetep, and Grimgroth are trademarks of Paradox Interactive AB and are used with permission.