Ars Magica 4th Edition
Welcome to
Ars Magica,
and to the world of Mythic Europe. It is a place where the glories
of the Classical world are dust and the promise of the Renaissance
is yet to come. The time is the 13th century —1220 to be
exact. Life is a struggle: wars and plagues stalk the land,
the Church and kings rule with an iron fist. Yet Mythic Europe
is also a place of magical wonder, inhabited by all the creatures
of folktale and myth. What the folk of the land believe holds
true: faeries and rural spirits must be placated; demons corrupt
everything they touch; divine power is accessible through prayer;
and magic is everywhere.
Against this background, you will
play a magus, a member of the mythical Order of Hermes. You
and your fellow players will also portray the loyal companions
and grogs that stand with the magi in their covenants. These
stalwart protectors provide a buffer between the magi and the
mundane world that often misunderstands their power and motives.
This is the setting for
Ars Magica.
The award-winning first edition
of
Ars Magica set the benchmark for magic in fantasy
roleplaying. It pioneered the storytelling style of roleplaying
that has become so popular today. Its setting, Mythic Europe,
sparked the imaginations of fantasy fans and history enthusiasts
alike. The 272-page fourth edition introduced improved systems in several key areas such
as combat, character advancement, and covenant generation. This
version of the game retained and improved upon
Ars Magica's
powerful and flexible magic system —widely regarded as
the best rules for magic in all of gaming.
Ars Magica
Fourth Edition also remained fully compatible with the game's
previously released supplements.
Ars Magica won the Gamer's
Choice Award for Best Fantasy Roleplaying Game of 1988; the
fourth edition was nominated for the Origins Award for Best
Roleplaying Rules of 1996.
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