Cauthon's Homebrew Hub

[TempleBuilder]

Ah, it isn't the Mastigoian view seeping in. At least, that wasn't the intent. It's more a associative domino combined with the idea of a Thyrsus and a Mastigos sitting down to talk shop.

"Wait... what do you mean you see Space as chains? That's stupid. It must be the Mind Arcana messing with how you see things; that bloody sphere just makes everything a leash."

So the Thyrsus are defended in many way as walkers between, masters of boundaries. They are also the primary users of ecstatic practice, in order to get their minds in the right place for their magic. Collapsing the Temenos hypothetically gets everyone’s mind in the “right place”, aka mass awakening. This legacy is a bit like a Thyrsus who decided the gauntlet just needed to go. Terrifying, but it makes sense they might want that.

Mmh. True. The other problem is geling it with the themes of the Legacy. It didn't work well in the Life versions either, the symbology is shakey.

Oh, I don’t know. At least, I figure dying in the Thrsusian view does entail becoming one with everything, (since that’s what happens to the body) which is kinda like the wind. I’d say emulating the winds effects on stuff is all Death. Arguing the flaws of the Mind probably does require Space, and Scouring connections really is Space. Space also the arcanum of literal barriers, so yeah.

Nice! Never had the head for the required math. Going for Masters/PHD?

Nah, unless something changes my mind. I’m reaching my upper limit on how much I’m willing to tolerate doing complex math in my daily life. Also, I’m a bit tired of being a student.

You have very different ideas from what I tend to make - one could politely say my stuff falls into utilitarian or functional more than creative. Your stuff, like the Nimbus Spinners, tend to be more esoteric and far more appropriate to the setting. It's always enlightening to see, and very fun to talk with you about.

Thanks. I’m glad you enjoy our talks too!

Oooof. OK, a GG Spark is a tricky balance to strike. Replicating them -or something similar- is probably best expressed as skill-enhancing Mind, with each practitioner using a different Arcana to represent the field of science they cleave to. Forces-physicists, Life-geneticists, etc. They aren't creating unique magical experiments, they're using their Attainments to make themselves the greatest scientists possible. Require the Interdisciplinary Specialty and Area of Expertise merits, and you can make all kinds of wierd leaps of logic.

Add some Fate Boons and a positive Nimbus Tilt, and you know why just add the Rote quality to some rolls just to be safe. Maybe, maybe. I do picture them a geneticists. No matter what path they walk, I see them doing genetic experiments. But that wouldn’t be a problem is it was a collection of legacies.

Alternatively, stick with Matter-primary as a way to brew potions and "mutagens". You'd probably want Life, but Spell Potion could be a cool thing to base a Legacy around. Make it extend the Dissonance-protection to whatever spell is imbued, maybe? The Kitchen Alchemists from Dark Eras would be a good starting point.

I think this is closer to what I want from this legacy. Mutagens, CRISPR and Dissonance-protection is absolutely needed. Can’t have your guardian chimera fall apart to a puff of illogic just because the wrong someone happened to walk by. Matter might be needed anyways, since many of the effects need to last very long time. Spell potion idea is certainly neat, but I think I’d want to be a dedicated legacy…maybe drawing on a Free Council pop culture “this is what a wizard is” focused on magic item making.

For Familiar-shells, I'd personally go with the Golem-maker thread. Remote Control with the Reach effect makes for easy control over stuff like marionettes, and evolves nicely into Golem. The Optional track of Mind, Spirit, or Death makes the marionettes into the shell proper, preparing the object into something resembling Vasilisa the Beautiful's doll

Oh, that’s a cute story. Hmm. You know, forever ago I wanted to make a creepy doll themed legacy, and this might be a good place to take that idea. Gah, too many good ideas.

[Cauthon]

Oh, I don’t know. At least, I figure dying in the Thrsusian view does entail becoming one with everything, (since that’s what happens to the body) which is kinda like the wind. I’d say emulating the winds effects on stuff is all Death. Arguing the flaws of the Mind probably does require Space, and Scouring connections really is Space. Space also the arcanum of literal barriers, so yeah.

Ah! I meant the "Running to Forever" bit doesn't gel with the symbolism of the Legacy. You might be able to swing "sever the body's attachment to rest", but it's... weak. Initiate Attainments are frustrating.

Add some Fate Boons and a positive Nimbus Tilt, and you know why just add the Rote quality to some rolls just to be safe. Maybe, maybe. I do picture them a geneticists. No matter what path they walk, I see them doing genetic experiments. But that wouldn’t be a problem is it was a collection of legacies.

I think this is closer to what I want from this legacy. Mutagens, CRISPR and Dissonance-protection is absolutely needed. Can’t have your guardian chimera fall apart to a puff of illogic just because the wrong someone happened to walk by. Matter might be needed anyways, since many of the effects need to last very long time. Spell potion idea is certainly neat, but I think I’d want to be a dedicated legacy…maybe drawing on a Free Council pop culture “this is what a wizard is” focused on magic item making.

You could affect Lasting biological changes by using a Transform Life variant on, say, a virus, and having it re-write genetic code in whomever it infects. Pair it with a Time effect to make the changes happen rapidly enough to... y'know... not kill the poor test-subject outright. Attainment-izing it just adds a layer of protection to the virus, so it wont get Dissonanced if studied while it works. It won't by default get you any natively-supernatural creations, but it's definately a Chimera waiting to happen.

Oh, that’s a cute story. Hmm. You know, forever ago I wanted to make a creepy doll themed legacy, and this might be a good place to take that idea. Gah, too many good ideas.

I recommend a WIP post. Give yourself a visual for what's on the backburner, and makes it easier to shift an idea that doesnt quite work in one theme into one where it does.

[TempleBuilder]

You could affect Lasting biological changes by using a Transform Life variant on, say, a virus, and having it re-write genetic code in whomever it infects. Pair it with a Time effect to make the changes happen rapidly enough to... y'know... not kill the poor test-subject outright. Attainment-izing it just adds a layer of protection to the virus, so it wont get Dissonanced if studied while it works. It won't by default get you any natively-supernatural creations, but it's definately a Chimera waiting to happen.

Mmm. Time might be very good to do stuff like predict what a particular alteration will do in the long term. Though I still like Matter for the Mutagen...

I recommend a WIP post. Give yourself a visual for what's on the backburner, and makes it easier to shift an idea that doesnt quite work in one theme into one where it does.

Ok, wasn't super tired today, so I made another spoiler on the WIP for the very rough drafts. At least there I wont forget any ideas I have.

Edit: Would the The Wind-Scoured have a name? Sounds like something someone with too much attachment to the Temenos would do, naming the legacy would unnecessarily limit it.

Edit2 : Death optional track could use Soul Marks to see who had been touched by the wind. or who hasn't and needs that corrected.

[Cauthon]

Mmm. Time might be very good to do stuff like predict what a particular alteration will do in the long term. Though I still like Matter for the Mutagen...

Matter primary, Life secondary maybe? Combine Spell Potion with Transform Life; ingesting the prepared liquid (your viral compound) causes the desired mutations. Throw in some limiting factor (base mixture requires some specific sacrament, like the blood of an appropriate Changeling or Werewolf) to justify it effectively having Indefinite Duration and Transform Life's +2 Reach effect. Time might have to be fascilitated as a necessary evil of base Arcana, as opposed to being a protected Attainment.

Edit: Would the The Wind-Scoured have a name? Sounds like something someone with too much attachment to the Temenos would do, naming the legacy would unnecessarily limit it.

Edit2 : Death optional track could use Soul Marks to see who had been touched by the wind. or who hasn't and needs that corrected.

Wind-Scoured was the name I was going with, but that does indeed imply a Tenemos vulnerability in them. It'll be what other people call them, then. Which they will loath, and actively discourage.

Soul Marks... yeah, probably the best I'll get without inventing a new spell or a non-spell effect. Sight Range, Scene casting. Bleh. Not a fan of Scene casting, even If I have used it pretty frequently.

[Cauthon]

Would a Legacy of origami artists be too narrow a focus? Using the Golem-maker archetype of Matter to start with little origami animal minions around Disciple level, and eventually upgrade into full-on Golem dopplegangers. Mind would be the logical piloting Arcana, but Prime or Forces would be good as a way to produce illusion skins. Life would be neat to transmute the origami into living examples, but the low-level Attainments would be difficult.

Limiting the Legacy to only working with paper seems like a neat bit of fluff, but I can't decide if it's too hobbling.

[GibberingEloquence]

Would a Legacy of origami artists be too narrow a focus? Using the Golem-maker archetype of Matter to start with little origami animal minions around Disciple level, and eventually upgrade into full-on Golem dopplegangers. Mind would be the logical piloting Arcana, but Prime or Forces would be good as a way to produce illusion skins. Life would be neat to transmute the origami into living examples, but the low-level Attainments would be difficult.

Limiting the Legacy to only working with paper seems like a neat bit of fluff, but I can't decide if it's too hobbling.

I'm actually writing the finishing touches for a Golem-focused Legacy myself, and will post it soon. Hopefully it gives you useful ideas.

[Cauthon]

I'm actually writing the finishing touches for a Golem-focused Legacy myself, and will post it soon. Hopefully it gives you useful ideas.

Cool, I look forward to seeing it! Can I assume Remote Control's Reach effect and Golem see use?

[KaiserAfini]

Would a Legacy of origami artists be too narrow a focus? Using the Golem-maker archetype of Matter to start with little origami animal minions around Disciple level, and eventually upgrade into full-on Golem dopplegangers. Mind would be the logical piloting Arcana, but Prime or Forces would be good as a way to produce illusion skins. Life would be neat to transmute the origami into living examples, but the low-level Attainments would be difficult.

Limiting the Legacy to only working with paper seems like a neat bit of fluff, but I can't decide if it's too hobbling.

I think combining Matter and Space could be interesting, allowing them to bend and fold entire areas or landscapes, transforming anything into their paper and building surreal displays that fill Sleepers with a sense of wonder.

[Cauthon]

I think combining Matter and Space could be interesting, allowing them to bend and fold entire areas or landscapes, transforming anything into their paper and building surreal displays that fill Sleepers with a sense of wonder.

Heh, see, this is why I like the forums. Y'all got much more interesting ideas

[Master Aquatosic]

I think combining Matter and Space could be interesting, allowing them to bend and fold entire areas or landscapes, transforming anything into their paper and building surreal displays that fill Sleepers with a sense of wonder.

Inception and Dr. Strange vibes here

[Cauthon]

Inception and Dr. Strange vibes here

Now the question is how to execute it. I'm hard-pressed to think of ways to do so without seriously breaking balance. Emanation Realm connection, maybe? Co-location to generate Thurae might work, but ooof that Reach cost.

[Cauthon]

This may be a bit of an ask, but would any of you mind giving a best-of/worst-of assessment for my Legacies? Doesn't need to be all of them, just "this is the best/worst Legacy(s), because xyz". I have my own opinions on where mine are lacking, but I'd like outside opinions before I work on my backlog.

[KaiserAfini]

Best:

Benthic Walkers: Very strong focus on deep ocean diving, with practical Attainments that speak of eldritch Mysteries.

Shields of Annwyn: Excellent lore and backstory, with Attainments that reinforce the theme of questing knights and an interesting organizational structure.

Order of the Iron Tower: A tradition whose ways lend themselves to Mysteries, with flavorful telekinetic abilities.

Worst:

Dragon Disciples: Because of the strong differences in the mythologies and behavior of the different types of dragons, it feels at odds with itself. I think this could have become 3 very different Legacies, and trying to write for all of them concurrently makes the writeup messier to navigate and the theme less focused.

Feinberg’s Heirs: The toolkit and theme do not feel synergized. The writeup suggests a strong focus on efficiency, but the Attainments after the first seem fully focused on surviving highly hazardous field operations.

Stage Maestros: Some of their Attainments focus on things only the Awakened could perceive. But others work to allow Sleepers to witness major breaches of the Veil, which will either help some get closer to Sleepwalking or freak them out so thoroughly that they become hunters. It feels like they haven't picked their audience and tailored the performance to suit them.

[Cauthon]

Best:

Benthic Walkers: Very strong focus on deep ocean diving, with practical Attainments that speak of eldritch Mysteries.

I can't quite decide if I'm disappointed or amused that a Legacy I made purely to support the backstory of another ended up being the better of the two.

Shields of Annwyn: Excellent lore and backstory, with Attainments that reinforce the theme of questing knights and an interesting organizational structure.

I legit have no idea how they came about - I think I started with "knight errant" and it just grew from there.

Order of the Iron Tower: A tradition whose ways lend themselves to Mysteries, with flavorful telekinetic abilities.

Really? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the Acolytes, but I just don't see the Mysteries angle. Besides maybe the white text in their Initiation, but that isn't really that big a Mystery.

Worst:

Dragon Disciples: Because of the strong differences in the mythologies and behavior of the different types of dragons, it feels at odds with itself. I think this could have become 3 very different Legacies, and trying to write for all of them concurrently makes the writeup messier to navigate and the theme less focused.

:sadsigh: Yeah, I should probably just edit it down to being a Seer-facing Legacy that capitalizes on Dragons-as-vice-and-tyrany symbolism. Maybe have a Pentacle splinter trying to rehab it into DnD-style Metalic Dragons. Much as I like the Long, they're honestly better modeled by a Storm Keeper setting themselves up as a shake priest of a Watatsumi shrine.

Feinberg’s Heirs: The toolkit and theme do not feel synergized. The writeup suggests a strong focus on efficiency, but the Attainments after the first seem fully focused on surviving highly hazardous field operations.

I wanted The Flash, and I got The Flash in powers, at least. I'll fix their background at some point, just don't really have any good ideas for it.

Stage Maestros: Some of their Attainments focus on things only the Awakened could perceive. But others work to allow Sleepers to witness major breaches of the Veil, which will either help some get closer to Sleepwalking or freak them out so thoroughly that they become hunters. It feels like they haven't picked their audience and tailored the performance to suit them.

Awww, really? The possibility of Hunters seemed like a feature (storyhook-wise) rather than a bug. But yeah, their focus is probably a bit too vague.

Thanks Kaiser! That really helps.

Still open to any other assessments, if anyone has additional opinions.

[TempleBuilder]

I can't quite decide if I'm disappointed or amused that a Legacy I made purely to support the backstory of another ended up being the better of the two.

I legit have no idea how they came about - I think I started with "knight errant" and it just grew from there.

Really? I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the Acolytes, but I just don't see the Mysteries angle. Besides maybe the white text in their Initiation, but that isn't really that big a Mystery.

Still open to any other assessments, if anyone has additional opinions.

Sorry, I don’t have much to say, I’m afraid I’ve been really tired, and not really generating much in the way of criticism, but I’d like to add to what Kaiser has said. Seriously, I think your best legacy (that I’ve gone over in real detail) is the Order of the Iron Tower. You know why? They feel like they would be in a official supplement. They have a clear archetype of Magic that they draw from aka psionics, which isn’t really explored often in Mage, since the game usually instead focuses on the mentalist effects of the Astral. They have a very sensible reason to exist, being a rejection of the Path’s inferior arcana. The attainments all are thematic and make sense, even if Telekinesis is a pain to make into a attainment. The Oblations are pretty good too. (I kinda feel it’s weird to talk about the Yantras, since I suggested them, but I like them. I guess I’m glad you approved of them? I don’t know, still feels weird.) Basically they are really good all around. I don’t know if that’s useful but that’s how I feel.

Edit: It also works well because it fits right into the Path’s symbolism (probably because you designed it with the path in mind.)