A few in game questions

[Legate of Mineta]

Voila, and also what the folks above wrote:

1) It's fair to say that the students are much more sheltered from Guard interference by Orso and the school than they probably realize. Magic use certainly isn't illegal in Mineta, with the obvious caveats, but it's also fair to say that it's not easy for kids who don't have access to the Academagia's libraries and expertise to learn large numbers of Phemes - even if they know what they're doing. If a kid without Academy affiliation is spotted around town casting more than one or two simple spells, either the Guards or representatives of the Academy (possibly even older students) will conduct behind-the-scenes investigations, and figure out if the child is tutored, or sitting on an old library, or just preternaturally gifted. If, along they way, they determine there's real danger to the community, the state, or whatever... well, disturbing the peace laws can be applied creatively.

Often, though, they get hired into the Guard - or, if of an appropriate age - brought into the Academagia or another, more specialized, magical academy. [Redacted] might actually fall into one or more of those categories in later years.

2) First year, students focus primarily on Formal or Clerical Script - a rigidly defined style favored in courts and legal documents. [Preferred spelling is also enforced here, where it might be more flexible in other situations. Incantation students can probably hand in essays in block letters with variance in spelling - "wyth" and "with" used interchangeably, etc.] In later years, Imperial Script, New Runic Script and Romantic Script might all be options. There is a common shorthand, known as Simplified Script, but von Rupprecht would rather set his classroom on fire than teach it.

3) Sure. Not even that long ago - Octavia Egidi's mother, Francesca Bandini, was a Negation prodigy; her final first-year essay on hypothetical models of Negation resonance ended up getting adapted as a chapter for a textbook for fifth years. Malacresta Vercesi was actually thought to be on track for the same kind of dominance in Astrology in first year, but opting for Aranaz rather than Avila probably cost him.

4) It's possible, but not as likely as you might think. Children at that level of society are usually kept at something of a distance from their peers until of schooling age, lest any unsupervised contact jeopardize the families' political doings/marriage alliances/public works/etc. The usual custom, assuming the kids don't end up in the Academy, is to hold an enormous party when a boy or girl turns thirteen and is able to join the polite society of his or her age group; that's when widespread introductions are made.

Obviously, though, if you're Catherine or Flore's cousin, or if your parents are closely aligned with their parents' politics, all bets are off.

5) Hmmm- do you mean Pauper's Fate?

6) Unsurprisingly, most duelists tend to specialize in simple, two-Pheme spells; if you know what you're doing, getting it off in three-fifths of a second is often enough to ensure a win. Also, wrist pain.

7) Godina is Massioti, and Massioti wouldn't even notice unless you started playing Rimbal for Contu. As for Marlein Knoht - well, she might be a bit hurt if she thought it reflected dissatisfaction with her teaching, but I don't think she'd hold it against the student in question.

8) Oh, yes.

9) Inasmuch as it's rather pleasant to be in love, and many people are inclined to embrace the experience, they can have some kick. But, really, non-Mastery love charms of any kind are basically gentle Glamours, and they require as least passive consent from the Glamoured. If somebody makes you fall in love with a cactus, it's not going to last long past the first hug most of the time.

10) Yes. Probably. But Professor Pachait keeps them secluded for their own protection; Minetan rioters have been known to make for the Menagerie on occasion.

11) Yes. If they (1) knew what they were doing, and (2) got extremely lucky.

12) Presumably because Orsi's more comfortable having the player crawl around the low-hanging fruit than some of the other threats hidden on campus. Heh heh heh.

13) It's most commonly remembered as "the Defiling Shadow." Its true name was obliterated from the historical record, as best it could be, to keep dragon cultists with Gates skills from trying to bring it back.

14) Performing street magicians often have sticks that have been crafted for theatrical effect: crystal tips, bells or ribbons at the base, whatever. They're meant to help misdirect the audience, so they actually tend to be more visually over the top than wands constructed for practical magic.

15) Now that you mention it, we wouldn't be surprised. Professor Piaxenza would certainly approve.

16) Hypothetically, that seems very likely. And if the student were in Aranaz, she would probably get extra credit for pulling it off.

17) We think you could make the case that casting Smoke Screen is more trouble than casting Hearth Fires near an existing flame and hoping for the best.

18) Spells with Astrology components can indeed have constraints linked to the time of day or the season of the year - but it's much more common in fey magic (which we won't even begin to get into here, yet).

19) [Redacted]

20) Oh, a lot of it is. That said, there have also been Head Librarians who have specialized in Revising quick paths to preferred shelves, and there have been lost stones that actually turned out to be enchanted wall seeds, and there's even a popular rumor that the entire Venalicium was once Gated three feet to the left from its starting position, with the entire place mutated as a result. Plus, many of the books have strange, distorting effects all their own.

Lost of reasons for a place like that to be weird.

21) Not as well warded as they ought to be, all things considered.

22) We would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

23) Depends on the district/neighborhood. You can go a long way in Undergate by rooftop, though, and though the Guards deploy above streetlevel when on alert... well, it's not that common, and they don't know the rooftops the way the Chimney Crows and the like do.

24) It depends on the spell, and on the conditions under which the painting was originally made. Artistic works made on top of ley lines in certain astrological circumstances can be pretty freakin' weird in their own rights.

25) Some students do indeed make their own booze - but sobriety on campus and among students under 18 in general is one of the few principles that both Briardi and von Rupprecht strongly embrace. In centuries past, drunk young students have done more to spark unrest in Mineta than most political movements and more than a few open wars; nobody wants to see those times come again.

Seriously, just the phrase "drunk Kurt Henning" should be enough to underline their argument.

...no comments on 26-31, yet.

[Metis]

Malacresta Vercesi was actually thought to be on track for the same kind of dominance in Astrology in first year, but opting for Aranaz rather than Avila probably cost him.

Here's to hoping that an Avila PC bringing him into a Clique will bridge that gap a bit for him. I mean Malacresta pretty clearly belongs in Avila, he just wants to sleep in a building who's walls comprise of less than 25% air (not unreasonably I must say).

 

5) Hmmm- do you mean Pauper's Fate?

Catherine's adventure calls the item Pauper's Bane, IIRC.

[Ascartand]

Metis is right, it is called the Pauper's Bane. What does it take to achieve diplomat status within Mineta?

[Legate of Mineta]

Hmm, let me ask.

[Legate of Mineta]

"As for the Pauper's Bane, Catherine's Evil Toy: [All Redacted]

 

Diplomatic status comes with a Letter of Commission from the Captain or from his Minister of Commerce. Also, [redacted]"

[Ascartand]

So in theory, if Sido who is part of the embassy currentyl, writes to the Captain to obtain a diplomat status for my character and it is received with the approval from the Captain. My rp character will have diplomatic status like Malthezar.

[Legate of Mineta]

Yep!

[Ascartand]

Cool, what exactly does diplomatic status actually grants?

[freespace2dotcom]

Wow. We haven't gotten that much lore in a long time! Be sure and send my thanks to the Team, Legate!

 

Fufu. I don't have a newsletter, but please tell them that if they like Mr Pebbles' Y2 information, wait until I can finally write it out in whole!

[Legate of Mineta]

Ascartand;

 

"Mostly, if a hostile power arrests, detains, or kidnaps you, they may pause for a moment before doing anything horrible because they think the Captain will offer a ransom to get you back - in that sense you're an agent of Mineta. That said, you can't really enter into any negotiations on Mineta's behalf unless you have a specific mandate in the authorizing document; if all you have is the letter of commission, you're assumed to be attached to someone more senior."

 

Free;

 

Kind of a neat coincidence, actually!

[Schwarzbart]

1) Wait, what? So my char with class skills at real 11 will be seen as prodigy? Will this change how the char is handled in year 2 (Beside the chance for the extra class)?

 

2) Could it be that the player char is strongly suggested in year 2 to change to Durand because he did some adventures that give favor for Regent Briardy? (looking at my current RPG char he got already many favor points from adventure for Professor Briardy)

[Legate of Mineta]

Schwarzbart;

 

1) If not a prodigy, then certainly very advanced.

 

2) It could be...

[CremePudding]

 

4) It's possible, but not as likely as you might think. Children at that level of society are usually kept at something of a distance from their peers until of schooling age, lest any unsupervised contact jeopardize the families' political doings/marriage alliances/public works/etc. The usual custom, assuming the kids don't end up in the Academy, is to hold an enormous party when a boy or girl turns thirteen and is able to join the polite society of his or her age group; that's when widespread introductions are made.

Obviously, though, if you're Catherine or Flore's cousin, or if your parents are closely aligned with their parents' politics, all bets are off.

 

A easier way would be to call it a Debutante Ball, which is very much a thing in real life for high society.

[freespace2dotcom]

Or a coming out party, I guess. It's about the same thing. In any case that sort of thing mostly died out some time ago in real life, though I suppose some vestiges might remain.

 

So, will future years of Academagia be able to determine if you're a cousin to one of the other students? I'd find that to be quite interesting.

[Schwarzbart]

Uhmm Debutante Ball is still a thing at some dance schools, at last in my country.

[freespace2dotcom]

Mmm... Maybe It's still a thing in the old world? But honestly, doing something like that at a school is a little bit different than a formal occasion where you actually use the skills taught there.

 

Reminds me of being forced to square dance back in grade school. That's really pretty rare today too,

[Schwarzbart]

At last the one I had many years back was at a ballroom in a hotel where different dance school hold their Debutante Ball together for the youth that finished their first course in ballroom dancing.

[Schwarzbart]

Was really, really shocking.

 

The lead developer is actually in the hospital for surgery, so you can imagine his surprise, too.

Ahh that's why not even my question for the guideline can be answered?

Anyway wish him a fast recovery from me.

[Legate of Mineta]

Schwarzbart;

 

Will do!

[isadorbg]

Is there genie in the world setting ? And is there any equivalent to genie wishes ? And if there is, is it like Aladdin where the spell has basically no limit or more like D&D when it is has limits altough very potent ?

 

Adding to that are Genie mischevious or helpful ?

 

And is there a way to capture magical creatures/any creatures/human into object ? and force them to obey the order of the person owning that object ?

 

If yes what pillar such magic fall into ? I am guessing a mix between Gates and Mastery.

[Legate of Mineta]

isadorbg;

 

Amongst the Sultanate, there are tales of such entities, but wishes seem too fanciful for modern magical theory.

[Schwarzbart]

1) Is already out how HP will be to single target spell damage in year 2? For year 1 I think a good variant would be if HP=10+2x Fit and spell damage 2x Skill level for single target spells so that high level spells can knockout an other student in 1-2 casting.

[Legate of Mineta]

Schwarzbart;

 

Hmm- it's a fair suggestion- I think those spells are completed, but I'll point it out!

[freespace2dotcom]

1. Do the faculty ever bet on whether certain students will manage to last all 5 years to graduate? And if so, who are the ones in our class viewed as most likely to fail?

 

2. Does wearing an item enchanted with a certain pillar of magic alter your aura to be more in tune with said pillar until you take it off?

 

3. If there are many hidden threats on campus, why don't the staff try to solve them? Does the whole school feel that so long as they're contained it's not worth the time to deal with a problem once and for all?

[Schwarzbart]

3) As far I understand it the Professor, Regent and Legate are paid to educate and research. At last in one adventure it was made clear that the threat wasn't removed for research.