Twilight Menagerie

[Vent0]

Had an idea for a Vhailor-like servant of Justice (as in - the cosmic concept of it). Part of me is thinking Royal Avatar Goetia with new Numina like
Inverted Resonance - The entity draw power as sustenance from the lack or antithesis of its concept rather than the presence. For whatever would normally be the opposite of its nature, it can draw Essence, treat as the Resonance Condition, and locate (including with the Seek Numen). Individual Influences are unaffected.
and
Royal Pejorative (Royal Avatar only) - As the Royal Avatar of a greater power, some of the entity's powers carry increased weight. One of the entity's Numina or Influences automatically succeeds in any Clash of Wills against Rank 5 and below ephemeral entities as well as lesser beings. Against greater opponents, use the patron entity's Clash of Wills dice pool.

On the other hand, they might also work as a Horror, with Influence: Justice, Bane Strike (Unpunished), and Home Ground (Places of Injustice)... Decisions, decisions.

If anyone else wants to do a version, feel free.

[Reighnhell]

The idea looks solid - the only thing I would have reservation with is a"Royal Pejorative"Numina. Most "Royal Avatar" level entities are so blisteringly powerful anyway that a "automatic win" mechanic would be somewhat redundant. And allowing them to clash with Rank 6+ Entities is a little odd, since Rank 6+ entities don't have stats,and are assumed to exist as pure plot device anyway.

write up below.

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The Merciless One
This entity resides in the Temenos, the Astral Realm that houses the collective dreams, myths, and concepts of Humanity. The Merciless One is an avatar that travels Realms of Fate, Law, Justice, Revenge, and Karma. It is an entity of Justice without Mercy – the idea that leniency and mercy only enables the wicked. The entity is zealous and has little sense of scale, and levies severe punishment for even minor acts of wrong doing. It’s appearance evolves as the concept it represents evolves, but its current form is of a stern woman in black armor, blindfolded and bearing a sword.

Rank 5 [Goetia]
Power 15 Finesse 12 Resistance 13, Willpower 10, Essence 50
Corpus 20, Size 7, Initiative 25, Defense 12, Speed 37
Influence: Justice 3, Punishment 4
Ban: Can only act against transgressors that remain unpunished; Bane: tears of the unjustly punished
Manifestation: None
Numina: Antithesis (Justice/Injustice)*, Awe, Emotional Aura (Guilt), Know Soul (as the Dread Power), Nemesis (Unpunished)*, Phantom Arsenal*, Seek, Stalwart

Numina – Antithesis: Choose one of the entities Influences when this Numina is selected; the entity is considered resonant with that concept as well as a related, but opposing concept. Example could include Heat/Cold, Love/Hate, Life/Death etc. This only applies to the Resonant Condition, and grants the entity no direct power over the opposed concept.

Numina – Nemesis: The entity spends 3 Essence to deal horrific damage to a specific type of foe (such as Dogs, Murderer’s, Liar’s,etc). Against enemies of the chosen description, the entity count as their opponent’s Bane when using unarmed attacks, claws, or teeth and deal aggravated damage.

Numina – Phantom Arsenal: The entity spends 1 Essence point to manifest blades, claws, fangs, hooks or other appropriate weaponry. The modification acts as a +1L weapon. By spending an additional point of essence, this weapon gains the “9-Again” quality.

[Poseur]

So this i my take on a god of sorts, that is a major npcs in a chronicle im running. This is however not her form I'm using, that would be her current vampire-form.
Some of her powers are copied from or inspired by powers in this and other threads, credit where credit is due, but i can't remember which posts or authors.


The Undying Goddess

Over the strecthes of time she has been called many names by diffrent cultures, most of which is long since forgotten. The sands of time has eroded her names,her deeds and personality, her powers and workings are deeply intertwined with the birth of mythology. She has been worshiped as a diety in many lands and her orgins are lost. She herself only tells that there is truth in legends and she was there in the ancient times and people worshiped her. Perhaps she was once mortal or perhaps she’s an actual goddess, some even mean she’s the original goddess of death and the underworld but surely nothing is that simple. What is known though is that many still today worship her as a godess in her own right or at least as a part of some higher power, attributing sotries and mythologhy to her and giving her names of many a diety from history, and she usually don’t seem to mind. More then a few cults of the Crone see har as the actual Crone or a fragment of her, perhaps as a emenation or physical representation. Either way, no one could question her imense power, but whom can really tell what she is. One of many epetiah given to her is the undying one, due to the way she seems to return even though she seems to have been destoryed many times over the ages.
The werewolves that has interacted with her through the ages says she’s no normal spirit or claimed from the shadow, but something resembeling one, both of dead flesh and epehmera. Mages speculate that she’s a alien spirit or perhaps even a supernal entity from Stygia that sought refuge in a lower depth. The few mummies that have encountered her, somtimes confuse her, at least for a short time as one of the Judges or perhaps an avatar of one of them. Some think she’s really just a powerful ghost, or perhaps a chtonian that have figured a way to evolve beyond the limits of the Underworld.


The Royal Avatar of The Undying Goddess
Whatever she once was has long changed and it would be hard to categorize her easily now. Mechanically she functions mostly like a Pangaean, with the following exceptions:
Like Pangaean she’s not a Spirit and are uneffected by any thing that would affect a spirit only, neither is she a ghost or just an ancient vampire. Trying to affect her would require both Spirit and Death Arcanum.
She does have a twilight presence and manifistations
The death of the royal avatar does not leave a carcass

Rank: 5 (?)
Power: 15
Finesse: 12
Resistance: 14

Willpower 10
Essence: 50
Initiative: 26
Defence: 12
Speed: 32
Size: 6
Corpus: 20
Influence: Kindred 5, Blood 4
Arcana: Death 5
Ban: Must keep an oath that parties sworn whearing nothing but the naked flesh, baptipsted in blood of an unborn.
Ban: The rays of the sun weaken her, removing a die from an attribute per turn until only a single die in each attribute remains
Ban: May never enter a private dwelling without invitation from the dweller
Ban: Water from a stream that leads to the Underground forces her to imaterialize or abandon a fetter or possession.
Bane: The flames from the burning body of a vampire who is in Frenzy that has been undead for at least 27 years and was embreaced by the age of 27.
Bane: The fangs from a vampire diablerized by a Strix that has soaked in Vitae from six clans for 4 days.
Manifestations: Twilight Form, Image, Possess, Avernian Gateway, Materialize, Discorporate
Numia: Price of Power ****, Awe, Agressive Meme, Blast, Dement, Drain, Mortal Mask, Hallucination, Banshee Wail, Curse, Heal, Regenerate, Blight, Twilight Abduction, Soul Thief (dread power), Immortal (dread power), Emotional Aura, Entropic Decay



Vampiric entity
This power allows the entity to use Vitae instead of Essence and vice versa. In materilized form she may feed Vitae as if a vampire or with a point of willpower use breath drinking, the later can be used from twilight.

Divine Bleed:The first time in a scene that it suffers Corpus damage, the Undying Goddess may reflexively use the Awe, Dement, Entropic Decay or Hallucination Numina for free. It may also create a Rank 1 spirit of blood and darkness for free each time it suffers damage. This may or may not be a Strix.

Monstrous Form: The Undying Goddess has Armour 14, and may spend 1 Essence to shrug off any Tilt it experiences. These benefits do not apply to attacks from its Banes.

Goddess of Love
By spending a point of Essence the Undying Goddess may inflict a persistant Swooning Condition on a subject, pertaining to either herself or anyone they both have met. For five points they also gained the Charmed condition. These Conditions last for one year and one day

Godess of War
By spending a point of Essence the Undying Goddess may inflict a persistant Inspired (war) Condition on a subject, pertaining to a conflict approved by the Undying Godess. For Five points they also gain the Addicted (war) Condition.

Kin Goddess of the Kindred
Any Kindred in her presence Gain the Raptured Condition partaining to her, as well as the Wanton Condition (even to Kindred that has previously resolved it in the month) as well as the Ecstatic Condition.

Sacred Oaths
Any oath or promise sworn in the presence of the Undying Godess holds power and as a goddess of oaths and law, she’s immediately aware if such an oath is broken and gains a brief vision about the event, furthermore she may reflexively use the Curse numen on the target for free.

Blood of every vein
With the expenditure of a Point of Willpower she may as an instant action de-materialize and and move herself to any Kindred she has used her Influences on and possess him or any descending vampire in his lineage, effectively teleporting in Twilight.

Goddess in Flesh and Blood
By paying 10 essence and a point of willpower the Undying Goddess diminishes some of her powers by giving herself corporeal form as a Kindred. She synthesizes her own essence with a corpse or temporary creates one from blood with her influence, embracing herself. From now she is considered a Kindred vampire and lose her Influence, Numia, Ban, Banes and other special powers except for; Immortal, Discorporate and Kin Goddess of the Kindred. The first time she uses this ability she creates a weak newly embraced neonate, but keeps anything she learns in her vampire form, even if it’s destroyed for future use, making her vampire form in this day one of, if not the most powerful vampire in existence.

[Vent0]

Would the Demonic Form Process Data Form work better adapted to a Manifestation, or a Numina?

[Reighnhell]

RE: Dataform

After looking over it , Dataform is great as either, but I am slightly more inclined to set it as a Manifestation. Dataform would also make a great Dread Power for all your Horror needs!

Re: Its been a while!

Since its been awhile since I put down anything new, here is a Ghost using the updated mechanics from Geist 2nd Edition.

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Jesse Crow
Jesse Crow was the leader of a band of thieves and outlaws active in northern Texas in the late 1800’s. Originally from Georgia, Jesse was a Confederate soldier who deserted the army and fled west several months prior to the official end of the Civil War. After spending several years working as a ranch hand and hired enforcer, he eventually settled upon banditry and soon gathered a gang of like minded criminals to engage in robbery and extortion. His criminal career was cut short when he and his gang were cut down in a fire fight with lawmen at the Palo Duro Canyon outside of Amarillo.
As a Ghost, Jesse remains anchored to a photo of his body posed inside of a casket that was taken shortly after his death. The photo is currently part of a private collection of western memorabilia.
Jesse appears as a tall man in the garb of a hard-riding outlaw clad in leather and denim, with a dark blue bandanna pulled over his face (beneath the bandanna reveals skeletal remains). His bloody is riddled in bullet holes that continue to bleed.

Rank 2[Ghost]
Power 5 Finesse 4 Resistance 5, Willpower 9, Essence 15
Corpus 10, Size 5, Initiative 9, Defense 4, Speed 14
Virtue Pragmatic, Vice Envious
Aspiration: To take wealth from the undeserving
Key Skills: Firearms, Larceny
Key Merits: Fast Reflexes
Influence: Anchor (Photograph) 2
Ban: Must manifest when whiskey is burned; Bane: Consecrated Bullets
Manifestation: Image, Materialize, Twilight Form
Numina: Blast (Pistol), Innocuous, Regenerate, Telekinesis

[Vent0]

RE: Dataform

After looking over it , Dataform is great as either, but I am slightly more inclined to set it as a Manifestation.

Right. It looks more like a Manifestation. The only issue that prevents it from clinching it as such is - what Manifestation Condition does it require, and does it need the same Condition on the other end?

[Tessie]

I think it works better as a Numen. At least if it's condensed down to a means of transportation. Otherwise you get the problem that the entity would almost certainly leave the range of whatever prerequisite Manifestation Condition as soon as they travel to the next node.

Edit: The way I see it Data Form would have to be condensed no matter if you make it a Manifestation or Numen.
If you try to fit it into a Numen I'd recommend focusing on it as a means of long distance transportation.
If a Manifestation it would instead be a way to store yourself in whatever devices are present in a location under the Open Condition, with transportation between connected devices (which would be almost all such devices if the location has wifi) as a bonus effect. The Manifestation would then end if the device the entity currently inhabits comes into contact with its Bane.

[Reighnhell]

Updates and Revisions

I have been going back over this thread and updating a few of my Ghosts to Geist 2nd edition rules. I am also re-posting a few that originally appeared here.

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Blackheart Jean-Philippe
“Blackheart” Jean-Philippe is the ghost of a notorious pirate that lived during what is considered the Golden Age of Piracy. Once a slave, Jean-Philippe took to piracy and raided the waters surrounding Haiti in the early 1700’s before being slain in battle. Even as a ghost, Jean-Philippe retains a sense of adventure and taste for the pleasures of wine, song, and sensuality. He is pragmatically ruthless, and thinks little of permanently dispatching enemies.
Jean-Philippe appears by turn either a handsome Haitian man with an athletic build, or a moldering skeletal corpse. He is anchored to his cutlass blade, which remains in excellent condition, with a bright polish and fresh leather wrapping on its hilt. The blade has moved through various museum collections, but was stolen 10 years ago. It’s current whereabouts are unknown.

Rank 2[Ghost]
Power 4 Finesse 6 Resistance 4, Willpower 10, Essence 15
Corpus 9, Size 5, Initiative 10, Defense 4, Speed 15
Virtue Adventurous, Vice Ruthless
Aspiration: To seek adventure and fortune
Key Skills: Streetwise, Weaponry
Key Merits: Professional Training (Pirate)
Influence: Anchor (Cutlass) 2
Ban: Must honor a declaration of truce; Bane: rum mixed with sea water
Manifestation: Fetter, Twilight Form, Unfetter
Numina: Awe, Blast (Pistol), Firestarter, Pathfinder, Telekinesis

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The Bleak Cardinal
The Geist named the Bleak Cardinal can recall only fragments of its mortal life. Once, it was a man of the cloth and respected figure within his community. But he had long ago lost his faith in both man and God and every confession taken only increased his despair. Cast into Purgatory upon his death, he sought redemption, eventually enduring a second baptism in the waters of the Styx. The Bleak Cardinal now seeks redemption and salvation, hoping to help lost souls move beyond purgatory and earn their final rest.
The Bleak Cardinal appears as a bearded, skeletal corpse, dressed in red vestments of a catholic Cardinal His eyes blaze with a bright light and he speak in a quite, whispering voice with an educated eloquent manner of speaking.

Rank 3[Geist]
Power 9 Finesse 8, Resistance 7, Willpower 10, Essence 20
Corpus 12, Size 5, Initiative 15, Defense 8, Speed 22
Virtue Compassion, Vice Doubt
Aspiration: To Regain his Faith
Remembrance: Persuasion
Innate Key: Key of Cold Wind
Ban: Cannot harm members of the Clergy Bane: Communion Wine
Manifestation: Bargain, Discorporate., Image, Twilight Form
Numina: Blast, Drain, Emotional Aura, Rapture, Sign, Telekinesis

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The Dullahan
The Reaper known as “The Dullahan” is a nightmarish vision of a headless horseman clad in black riding leathers and wrapped in a dark cloak. A relentless hunter, once its prey is chosen, few things can deter it. Not satisfied with just the dead, it is known to strike at the living fated to die, dragging their their freshly manifested ghosts back to the Underworld. Those wearing the Black Mantle of the Dullahan appear as a tall man (or woman) with lean, athletic frames, and carry their severed heads with them or keep them nearby. The Dullahan is always accompanied by a spectral mount or vehicle of some sort, typically a midnight black stallion, but occasionally they appear with horse drawn coach, motorcycle or car. As The Dullahan, the Reaper carries a sword and a whip. Victims are ensnared by the whip and engulf into the folds of the Black Mantle. Where the captured ghosts are taken is a mystery to even other Reapers, but none are ever seen again. The current Dullahan is a ghost named Christoph, who in life was a notoriously blood thirsty Hessian mercenary. These days he rarely sheds his Deathmask and spends nearly every moment as The Dullahan.

Rank 2/4 [Reaper]
Power 7/12 Finesse 3/9, Resistance 4/12, Willpower 7/10, Essence 15/25
Corpus 9/17, Size 5, Initiative 7/21, Defense 3/9, Speed 15/26
Virtue Determined, Vice Ominous
Aspiration: To herald impending death
Influence: Anchor (Skull) 2, Doom 2
Ban (Christoph): Cannot approach anyone carrying his mortal remain Bane (Christoph): Gold
Ban (Dullahan): Cannot enter a House of Worship Bane (Dullahan): Religious icons made of Gold
Manifestation: Avernian Gate, Discorporate, Image, Materialize, Twilight Form
Numina: Awe, Descend, Engulf, Pathfinder, Phantom Arsenal**, Regeneration, Snare**, Speed, Telekinesis

Numina- Snare: As per the Dread Power (CofD, pg. 147)
Numina – Phantom Arsenal: The entity spends 1 Essence point to manifest blades, claws, fangs, hooks or other appropriate weaponry. The modification acts as a +1L weapon. By spending an additional point of essence, this weapon gains the “9-Again” quality.

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Peter Marks
The actor Peter Marks was an up and coming star of silent films in the 1920’s. He was born Piotr Markov in Russia and immigrated to the United States in his early twenties with dreams of making it in show business. Gifted with athleticism, good looks and a knack for drama and slapstick comedy, his first few films were wildly successful. However, when talking pictures began to replace the silent films, Peter’s thick Russian accent (which was never a problem before) became a hindrance, and his first role in a talking film was as a lowly henchman, rather than the leading men he played in the silent era. Peter was so embittered by this casting that he spent most of his time on set drinking and was killed while performing a vehicular stunt while intoxicated. He died dreaming of the thunderous applause he received from the showing of his first film, and cursing the invention that ruined his career. The film itself was edited and released to positive reviews, but has largely been forgotten.

Rank 2[Ghost]
Power 6 Finesse 4, Resistance 4, Willpower 8, Essence 15
Corpus 9, Size 5, Initiative 8, Defense 4, Speed 15
Virtue Talented, Vice Vainglory
Aspiration: To gain the adoration of an audience.
Key Skills: Athletics, Expression
Key Merits: Striking Looks 2
Influence: Anchor (Theatre) 2
Ban: Discorporates if shown footage from his last film. Bane: Glass from a car built in the 1920’s.
Manifestation: Image, Materialize, Twilight Form
Numina: Curse (Mute)*, Hallucination, Rapture, Sign, Telekinesis

Numina – Curse: The entity curses a target with a specific malady. An entity can typically only inflict one type of affliction, but examples include boils, disease, madness, spiritual malaise, and many others. The Numen costs 3 Essence, and the activation roll is contested by the victim’s Stamina or Resolve + Supernatural Tolerance. If the entity succeeds, in may impose a Condition or Tilt appropriate to its particular curse (such as Amnesia, Blind, Deafened, Madness, Mute, or Sick). The entity can also specify an outward sign of the Curse; typically a type of disfigurement, marking or scar. The Curse remains until the entity either removes it or is destroyed. Certain supernatural means may also be able to remove the curse.

[MonsieurCutts]

This fantastic thread has been one of the most helpful resources I've found for examples of Spirits for Werewolf 2E. Some of them have inspired new story idea's I think a collected edition would make an excellent product on the Storytellers Vault. Thanks so much for putting these up here you are a life saver. I don't have much of a head for crunch or a lot of time to homebrew my own antagonists so thanks again.

[GibberingEloquence]

Reighnhell I was looking at the Mixed Blessing Numen from this thread, which made me wonder what other ostensibly helpful Numina could exist. Here are some examples off the top of my head. Do tell if you come up with more. I imagine that most entities ask for a favor proportionate to their Rank in return for using these Numina, which inflicts the Leveraged Condition.

Bestow Protection: By spending X Essence and rolling Power + Finesse, the entity imposes a -1 penalty per Success against all harmful supernatural powers trying to affect the individual blessed by this Numen. This lasts for a number of days equal to Essence spent, up to Rank. If the supernatural power in question has no associated roll, it now requires a reflexive roll of Resolve + Composure - the entity's Successes for activating the Numen. The effects of this Numen stack with whatever relevant Resistance Attribute and Supernatural Tolerance the blessed individual normally applies.

Offering: The entity can create a single instance of any of its Influences, even if it lacks 4+ dots in said Influence. Spend 1 Essence and roll Power + Finesse. Use the same Size, Durability, Equipment Bonus and other material properties of a mundane equivalent. The Availability rating for items created via this Numen is Rank. If an item would be worth 2 fewer dots of Availability than the entity's Rank, the entity may create additional instances equal to Successes, but must spend 3 Essence. All such items only last for the scene, unless the entity also spends 1 Willpower per instance to make them fully real. Such items can be enhanced and altered via the associated Influence. If the entity has the Reaching Manifestation, it can activate this Numen from across the Gauntlet.

Enlightenment: The entity injects vast amounts of knowledge related to any of its Influences into the mind of the target. Roll Power + Finesse vs Resolve + Composure + Supernatural Tolerance and spend 5 Essence + 1 Willpower to give the Informed Condition. The entity must be of Rank 3+ and may only use this Numen once per day. If the entity has the Reaching Manifestation, it can activate this Numen from across the Gauntlet.

[Reighnhell]

RE: New Numina

GibberingEloquence . These are some solids ideas, but I have taken the liberty to rework a few of them.

Aegis (R): The Spirit can extend its protection to a mortal for a price. By spending 1 essence for each rank of protection and rolling Power + Finesse, The spirit bestows a Supernatural Tolerance rating equal to its Rank to to the mortal, which protects them from hostile magic and otherworldly influence.This lasts for one day per activation success. While this Numen is in effect, the mortal gains the Open and Leveraged Conditions.

Conjure: Prerequisite - Materialize. The Entity can create a physical object from ephemera. Spend 3 Essence and roll Power + Finesse. If successful, the spirit creates an object of no greater size or availability than its Rank+1 (maximum 5). It is otherwise equivalent to it's mundane counterpart. Such objects last until the end of the scene before dissolving back into ephemeral substance. Most spirits create objects familiar to them or related to their Influences, but more powerful beings can be significantly more creative. Any mortal that keeps such an item in their possession gains the Open Condition.

Revelation (R): The entity injects vast amounts of knowledge into the mortal's mind. The Numen costs 3 Essence, and the activation roll is contested by the victim’s Stamina or Resolve + Supernatural Tolerance. If the entity succeeds,the mortal gains an equipment bonus equal to the entities Rank on topics related to the Spirit and it's Influences. The bonus last for one day per success. While under the effects of Revelation, the mortal gains the Open Condition, and suffers the same Ban and Bane as the bestowing entity.

[GibberingEloquence]

Reighnhell Much appreciated and flattering! Although I personally think Revelation is underwhelming now. My version was probably too strong, though. Maybe Rote Quality is a good middle term between just bonus dice and Informed Condition? It does give Open Condition as a drawback, so the benefit should be proportionate. I mean, you can get +5 dice pretty easily by taking a mundane piece of Equipment and then using Crafting Equipment system to improve it.

Also, have two more ostensibly helpful Numina. Feel free to redesign them too.

Subliminal Coercion (+Reaching Manifestation): By spending 3 Essence and rolling Power + Finesse vs Resolve + Composure + Supernatural Tolerance, the entity expresses one statement to everyone within hearing range. Those who are predisposed to agreeing with the entity's statement and decide to act upon it will benefit from the Inspired Condition. Those who are predisposed to disagreeing with the entity's statement and decide to act against it will suffer the Guilty Condition. This Numen does not force the targets into doing anything they wouldn't do normally, such as abandoning their Aspirations or incurring a Breaking Point. Therefore, a Fire Spirit is going to seek out potential arsonists ("burning down that building will be fun"), a Fear Spirit will seek out someone lost in the woods at night ("you can only stay safe if you hide behind that tree"), and so forth.

Binding Vow (R): The entity observes and sanctifies an oath between two or more individuals within its immediate vicinity. The oath must be made willingly by all those involved, although extenuating circumstances and incomplete understanding do not get in the way of this Numen. The oath must also be clearly worded and expressed as a single sentence of ongoing intent, with a nullification clause. Spend 3 Essence and roll Power + Finesse. Anyone trying to break or bypass the oath (even if accidentally or unwittingly) must spend 1 Willpower to do so, which does not add dice and suffers a penalty equal to the entity's Successes. The nullification clause must also be agreed upon by all those involved, and must be something that can be feasibly accomplished in one scene. To compensate, supernatural abilities of coercion or escape which would countermand the oath trigger a Clash Of Wills against the entity. This Numen only ends upon completion of the nullification clause.

EDIT: Which reminds me. What mechanic do you use for Clashes Of Wills against Ephemeral Beings? If we are symmetrical, it should be Resistance + Rank, methinks. But I'm pretty sure the canon rules say it's just Rank, + whatever relevant Influences it might have. That sounds kinda lame, though. Do tell me if you think of a good middle term. Perhaps [Rank x 2] + [Highest Influence]? That way, a Rank 5 spirit with Influence 5 (Peace) would roll 15 dice to Clash against powers which would force it into doing things which are antithetical to peace, which sounds pretty proportionate to me. This follows more or less the same progression and upper limit of a PC (e.g. Werewolves would use Primal Urge + Renown, which can also go all the way to 15 dice).

[Reighnhell]

RE: Spirits and Clash of Wills

I actually think the Clash of Wills for Spirits works well As Written. As part of how I design, I keep an eye on what the maximum die-pools look like, but I don't use those numbers as my balance point, as very, very few games in my experience ever reach a level where I need be concerned about 15 dice Clash of Wills. I also try not to compare Spirit scaling against PC scaling mainly because they aren't PC's. Rank 5 Spirit with an applicable influence has 10 dice on a Clash, a Primal Urge 5, Renown 5 Werewolf has 10 dice on a Clash, which feels fair. If you have 15 dice on your Clash, then you are effectively a God and a mere Rank 5 Spirit is no longer in your league.

Re: Enlightenment/Revelation

My conclusion was actually that the first version wasn't strong enough. It charges a fairly steep price (Contested Roll, Essence and Willpower Expenditure, Once per Day Limit, and a Drawback) to grant the Informed Condition. Informed grants a success on a failure, and turns success into an exceptional success once, and then it resolves. Good, but in my opinion not good enough to justify that degree of cost. A flat +5 may not be as sexy, but it provides a more sustained bonus that is more than likely going to generate at least as much success as Informed (as long as your dice don't betray you).

Re: New Numina

When I get a bit more time I will sit down with these and see how they play out.

[Tessie]

Note that ephemeral entities only get to reach 10 dice if they use Influences. For both Numina and Manifestations it's pure Rank. And if we go back to Influences I want to note that it's difficult to gain a high bonus from the duration since only Strengthen and Create (through Mass Create) can be made permanent for a bonus +4, and that only Rank 5 entities has access to those options. A Rank 4 entity might get +2 on good rolls with Strengthen, but nothing below that has any practical chance of getting a bonus through increased duration.

So in practice a Rank 4 entity might roll 8 for a maxed Influence, 5 for lengthier Numina/Manifestations, and otherwise 4. When it's time for PCs to tangle with Rank 4 entities I would guess that they'd have ~7 dice for their more developed powers, before adding any potential duration bonuses. Mages in particular have the ability to boost any spell they cast up to potentially +5 to their CoW dice pools.
Since Influences are woefully underdeveloped and subject to ST interpretations that can vary heavily, which powers ephemeral entities use will differ a lot from group to group. For some, the Rank 4 example would roll 4-5 dice at almost all times, while others might instead roll 8 dice most of the time because that ST has a different interpretation of the scope and usefulness of Influences. For this reason it could be better if ephemeral entities always added an Influence (probably always their highest for the sake of consistency) to the CoW dice pool even when using Numina and Manfestations.

[Voytek]

Is that right? I thought for most Numen and Manifestations it was Power + Finesse. You could top 10 dice from Rank 3 and Rank 4 up could be throwing out 20+ dicepools, far as I understand it.