Maturity. This one's obvious. But seriously folks, I'm running a mature game. There will be scenes that may be offensive to some people. There may be graphic and possibly disgusting subject matter. But this is the World of Darkness and it's not a PC, happy place. It's a place where Murphy's Law rules. A place where whatever bad things can happen to good people will, and it's those struggles that tell the best stories. Now, I'm not going to through in any questionable material just because I can. I'm not going to violate your senses just because it seems cool. If things happen that seem offensive or vulgar, remember, they are there for a purpose, they are there to tell a story. However, if you become involved in a graphic, or intense scene, do not hesitate to ask to be excused if the subject matter disturbs you. I will not take offense, and I will try to be as understanding as possible.

Restraint. Something I think is one of the most important traits in a Mage Player. You have what can litteraly become one of the most powerful beings in the World of Darkness. And that potential, that power can make one a bit... arrogant. Remember, there are always consequences to your actions, be they political or paradox based. If you don't have the restraint neccessary to make a character for roleplay and not roll-play then you've come to the wrong place.

These are the only true expectations I have of my players.

I look for a couple of things when I look over a Mage Character sheet for the first time... and one of the most important to me is personality. I'm not a storyteller that looks over a sheet and just adds up the points to see if it's legit. I will sit down with the prospective player during the approval process and we will discuss the sheet as it stands. Each mage was usually a normal person before the Awakening. I want to know who that person was. What his or her motivations were, what he or she feels the Awakening has done to him or her. I will look over merits and flaws if any to make sure they were taken to help evolved the character, not simply add traits or cool benefits. Negative traits, derangements, abilities and backgrounds all look pretty and some are positively powerful. But do they flesh out the character? Do they add to its story?

I don't like, nor do I want to see a Character whose only motivation and ability is to blow crap up. I want to see a concieved idea of a person who is making his or her way through an impossible universe where all the odds are stacked against them. I want to see a character with depth, with goals and with personality. If it's your first Mage and you don't know everything about the metaphysical universe that mages live in, don't worry. That's why I sit aside with each new player and discuss the character with them. So we can both get an idea of what exactly this person's stats mean and how they influence and drive the Character. So that we can come to an idea of the stories that this person brings with them to the game.

These are the things I look for in Mage Characters.