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Author's Note: Angus MacDonald pointed out, in his article, "When a Magus is not a Scholar," that the Order of Hermes is heavily biased towards the scholar, and how this does not seem to fit the idea of a universal system of magic. It was also pointed out that House Verditius might be a good place to start. This article is a response to that idea.
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the Gift can appear in anyone. This includes those who are not at all suited for the life of a scholar.
We may, I think, dispense with the idea of equality of outcome. More talented magi will advance more quickly than their less talented brethren. Also, it is my belief that the intellect is the ultimate key to comprehending and manipulating the mysteries of the universe, whether they are merely scientific wonders or the more awe-inspiring supernatural wonders. In a magic system that makes perfect use of the laws of nature/supernature, the intellect would reign supreme (or, at worst, co-supreme with the will, which in Ars Magica seems most represented by Presence, Stamina, and certain personality traits). However, the Hermetic system has plenty of room for improvement, and thus, for the time being, other attributes may be used to work magic and remain competitive with the scholars.
For Verditius, that attribute is most likely to be Dexterity. Raw strength is useful, in craftsmanship, but it is the clever-handed craftsman whose work is most valuable.
If Dexterity replaces Intelligence as the Verditius' means of comprehending magic, then the flavor changes considerably. Dexterity does not comprehend by the reading, but by the doing. A Verditius magus is going to have a hard time describing magic in a verbal fashion. His understanding will be more kinesthetic, more sensual (get your mind out of the gutter!) than that of a Bonisagus magus. He might best express a concept by carving a sculpture or painting it on canvas.
Does this tickle your fancy? Consider: A magus eagerly hunting through a ruin, searching for the statue that will allow him to unlock the next level of magical knowledge. And might a 17th Century magus visit the Sistine Chapel, hoping to glean whatever secrets Michelangelo painted onto the ceiling? (Creo, surely...)
It seems to me that three mechanics must be replaced in order to allow Verditius magi to function as I have outlined. The first mechanic is that of studying from texts to gain Knowledges and Arts. The second mechanic is that of writing books to allow others to learn from you. The third mechanic is that of training apprentices by Disputatio.
As a prerequisite for use of the following mechanics, these auxiliary rules should be considered: Subtract the Verditius Magic score from any Study Totals generated (from books, Disputatio, Lectio, etc.), when the Verditius magus acts as either teacher (or author) or student (or reader). Also, you may wish to replace Int with Dex in spontaneous magic and lab totals.
Sum the total of Dexterity, Verditius Magic, and the magnitude of the enchantment that the magus is working on. This is his 'Study' Total. Perhaps we might call it a 'Discovery' Total? The Discovery Total may be applied to any Knowledge or Art that is pertinent to the enchantment. Storyguides may allow for the Discovery Total to be divided between multiple categories, but in such cases each point of Knowledge experience should cost the full 5 points of Discovery Total.
In the case of minor enchantments, potions, and anything else that does not require a season of opening the object with a large amount of Vim Vis, you may wish to divide the Discovery Total by 2.
When experimenting, the die roll and additional 1-3 points should probably be added to the Discovery Total.
When working on an enchantment, the Verditius magus, if he is crafting an object, may record his understanding into the design of the object. The Object Lesson Quality should be the total of his Com, Dex, and the relevant Craft Object Skill. The total may not exceed twice his Verditius Magic score. A different Object Lesson may be placed in the object for every effect. Needless to say, the one who placed it there determines the subject of each lesson, and it (the Lesson) must pertain to the enchantment in some way. Inscribing the lessons takes no additional time, but you may wish to halve (or possibly negates) the Discovery Total. A Verditius may also, if he wishes to, inscribe a lesson into a purely mundane work, requiring at least a season spent on the crafting.
To understand the message, another Verditius magus must investigate the item in the lab. When each power is successfully investigated, he becomes aware of the Lesson pertaining to that power. Each season, including the first season in which he is successful at investigating a power, he may learn one of the lessons, adding his Verditius Magic + Dex to the Object Lesson Quality to get his Discovery Total. Once all the enchantments, if any, are investigated, the Verditius magus need only have daily contact with the item to learn from it.
The Verditius method of training apprentices has very little to do with the dull, dry posing of questions that other magi refer to as Disputatio. The student must first have at least level 1 in Verditius Magic and a Craft skill (which, likely as not, was bestowed in the same season of training). The Verditius magus sums his Craft skill, his Verditius Magic, and his Com, to which the apprentice adds his Dex. The first five points go into either the Craft skill or the Verditius Magic score of the apprentice, with the remainder going to whatever the master wishes (Arts, Knowledges, etc.).
These mechanics serve to set Verditius apart from the 'ordinary' Houses, as a House that does without the dusty tomes that other magi favor. This may help to explain why many Houses see Verditius as one step above hedge-wizardry, and a 'dull' apprentice may well be foisted onto a Verditius as 'the only House dumb enough for him.' Not that House Verditius would be composed of idiots; the most beautiful and dazzling works would be created by those with sufficient intelligence to conceive them. However, there would be the inevitable stigma, perhaps expressed as a �1 or �2 Reputation within the Order.
These rules have not been play-tested. It is arguable that they allow Verditius magi too much power, as the magi will be able to enchant magical items and gain in the Arts at the same time. However, I believe that it will be difficult for even the most experienced Verditius to get a Discovery Total of more than about 20 without experimenting. A clever magus can ensure a Study Total that reaches towards 30, or beyond! Additionally, the Verditius will require large amounts of vis to continue to work his enchantments. Unless he has a number of personal sources, he will have a hard time acquiring 8+ pawns of vis each year from the Covenant.
It is my hope that these rules will be found useful in expanding the ways that a magus of the Order may be a potent and respected force in your Saga.
Text copyright © Albert Norman 2003.