Podcast – Page 23 – Mage: The Podcast

April 18, 2020July 3, 2021

Tomes of Magick: Book of Mirrors: Mage Storytellers Handbook

Mage is a sprawling game and while it has dozens of supplements, how do you put them together into an actual game? Book of Mirrors: Mage Storytellers Handbook was written to provide ideas on alternative chronicle settings, some basic how tos, and an invaluable survey of the Ascension War. Adam and Terry walk through what it has to offer and provide recommendations for the parts that haven’t aged so well.

Show Notes

Book of Shadows – the player guide for Mage for 1e and 2e
Book of Madness – a fuller look at the Nephandi and most aspects of the Marauders
Wraith the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition – Aa comprehensive summary of all of Wraith for people looking to explore the Labyrinth/Labyrinth connection
Gaming Resources:
- Bonus Experience – a podcast on game design and operations from two industry professionals
- Geek and Sundry’s genre how tos – Geek and Sundry has published many guides on how to storytell by genre
- High Programmer Guides – advice columns from a while ago
- The White Wolf subReddit – a WoD/CoD/Storypath subreddit with a fair amount of Mage advice
- Mage Onyx Path forums – Onyx Path’s forums with regular ST Q&As
- The Angry GM – a GM advice series
- Basics of Improvisation for GMs
- Guide to Providing Clues
- Notes on Railroading

Executive Producers

Alexia • Aleksandra J • Alexander G • Alexander P • Ambiversion • Andrew E • Anders S • Andrew • Andrew E • Andrija J • Anon Ibid • Bdurfy • Benjamin B • Berto • Blaise H • Blake R • Bo • BoogersBoogersBoogersBoogersBoogersBoogers • Brad M • Brandon • Bryce Perry • Bubba, The Pale One • Buck Farmer • Chris B • Chris Z • Christopher P • Cinshadis • Connor G • Cromwell The Archaeologist • Curtis H • Dan Svensson • Daniel C • Daniel S • Darren H • David M • David R • DrawnCap • Dennis O • Derek S • Ean R • Eli l • Entropy_Prime • Eric S • Fragarach • Freddy • FriedrichOwl • Gabriel P • Garga L • George L • Gray -Trilug- H • Guy Conan S • GuyWithPuns • Henry Craft • HugoTheBogPerson • I Jaye S • Ian • Illara S • Ira Grace • Isabel CL • J Gatsby • Jason B • Jason D • Jason K • Jason V • Jason Vines • Jeffois • Jenna F • Jervis Johnson • jj225000 • John • John Hillerup • jj225000 • John Magnuson • John W • Jolyne A • Joshua Hillerup • Justin • Karl H • Kathleen H • Kevin F • Khris K • Larrendias D • Leroy B • Leslie W • Lexiconjurer • Lolzandstuff • Manel C • Maurice H • Matthew P • Melissa K • Michael C • Michael Parker • Mikael S • Morgan A • Nathan W • Nebero • Neil P • Nikita K • Oliver S • Patrick M • Patrick Mc • Paxcow • Pooka G • Rachel G • Ralf S • Regina O • Ren M • Ricardo • Richard “Bat” Brewster • Rob D • Rob H • Ruben J • Ryan H • Ryan K • Ryan S • Samuel T • sbloyd • Schnabeltierkrieger • Sean G • Sev Nessus • Simon S • SorcererSanguine • Sean Ryan K • St U • starfish • Stefan C • Steve Winyard • thatsrealneeto • Tyler • Tyler B • Vince H • Vincent • Walter • Warmstarter • William M • Wolf L • ZakRulz

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April 11, 2020July 3, 2021

Enemies of Ascension: The Dauntain, Thallain, and Adhene with Charlie Cantrell

Mage has the Marauders, Nephandi, and Technocrats as default antagonists, but what about something a little off the beaten path? In Enemies of Ascension, we look at antagonists Storytellers can introduce and NPCs players can encounter from the wider World of Darkness. Charlie Cantrell, Changeling the Dreaming: 20th Anniversary writer, talks to Terry about the Adhene, Thallain and Dauntain from the world of the Changeling and how to add them to your game.

Show Notes

Charlie’s Books:
- Changeling the Dreaming: 20th Anniversary Edition – Big book o’ Changeling
- Kiths of Arcadia – Book adding the Kiths from the Arcadia card game
- Fragments of the Lycian Dream – Overflow material from Changeling Players Guide
- Changeling Players Guide – More Changeling!
- Changeling V5 Conversion Guide
Other Changeling Books:
- Denizens of the Dreaming – Outline the dark-kith from the Dreaming
- Book of Lost Dreams – One of the books containing Changeling crossover rules
- Changeling Storytellers Guide – The other book containing crossover rules
- Dreams and Nightmares – a listing of Chimerical creatures
- Autumn People – Original reference for the Dauntain
- Radio Free Arcadia – Charlie’s imprint

Executive Producers

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April 4, 2020July 3, 2021

Tomes of Magick: Angel of Mercy & 1e Storyteller Screen

The first Mage Storytellers screen came out in 1993 and is a late entry for Tomes of Magick. This screen had a player-facing image that has caused a lot of talk over the years. Angel of Mercy is an adventure that was included. Hear all about what’s in it and what it can do for you. Adam Simpson also adds some material to his earlier discussion of published adventures for Mage: The Ascension.

Show Notes

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March 28, 2020July 3, 2021

Paradigm Deep Dive: Indigenous Magick with James Sambrano

The Dreamspeakers were assembled during the Grand Convocation by the Eurasian mages who weren’t quite sure to do with the varied practices and paradigms of their indigenous peers. Indigenous magick is a varied topic with rich gaming opportunity, but how do we add it to our games while being respectful? James Sambrano, Mage writer and scholar of North American and African Indigenous practices provides some best practices, pitfalls, resources, and recommendations to adding these paradigms and practitioners to your Mage game.

A Tribe Called Red’s tracks “Before” and “Soon” from We are the Halluci Nation.

Show Notes

Resources
- James’ Patreon where he writes stories and provides commentary
- Gods and Monsters show – Previous episode on M20 Gods and Monsters
- Creating Indigenous Stories in Werewolf – Interview with James on Werewolf: The Podcast
- Blood and Dreams – 2e Tradition book collection containing Dreamspeakers, Verbena, and Cult of Ecstasy
- Tradition Book: Dreamspeaker – Revised book on the Dreamspeakers
Other Books
- Atlas of a Lost World: Travels in Ice Age America – Book about what Ice Age North America was like and how the peoples of the era likely dealt with it
- 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus – Book on what the pre-Columbian Americas were like
- Standing Rock protests – Protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline going through sacred territory
- Debt: The First 5,000 Years – A book on how the notion of economy and exchange have changed over time
- The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America
Notable People
- Joy Harjo – First Indigenous Poet Laureate of the United States
- Joseph Boyden – Canadian author who writes novels about the First Nations
- A Tribe Called Red – Canadian music duo that incorporates First Nations musical elements

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March 21, 2020July 3, 2021

Tomes of Magick: Axis Mundi: The Book of Spirits

The World of Darkness is inhabited with all manner of creatures and some are not unique to one line. Ghouls and and chimera are associated with vampires and changelings, but what about spirits? Spirits are associated with mages and werewolf alike and Axis Mundi: The Book of Spirits explores both sides…but mostly werewolf. Adam and Terry walk through how to expand the Mage side, adapt the werewolf side and explore what strange and wonderful creatures you can add to your chronicle.

Show Notes

Other Books Mentioned
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition – Current Werewolf core rulebook
- W20 Umbra: The Velvet Shadow – Best resource for the Vidare Spiritum and the Midrealms
- Bygone Bestiary – Collection of physical entities that have fled to the Umbra who may sometimes pop onto this side of the Gauntlet from time to time
Other Notes
- Menger Sponge – 2-dimensional object in 3-space that firebirds live in
- Anders Mage Page 2.0 Spirits – A big collection of spirits from Anders and co.

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March 14, 2020July 3, 2021

Midnight Approaches: Mechanics and Ideas from The Midnight World with James Davey

Mage has mechanics for injury to the body with health levels and injuries to your grip on reality with Quiet, but what about anxiety, PTSD and other debilitating conditions? James Davey is a long time World of Darkness fan who’s designed a game with that question in mind where characters glimpse the size of the multiverse granting both great power but with great stakes. The game emphasizes rapid character and story creation, and a core clock mechanic that drives plot, character advancement, tension, and possibly personal doom. Learn what you can steal!

Show Notes

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March 7, 2020July 3, 2021

Tomes of Magick: Dreamspeakers

The Dreamspeakers were initially presented as the ragtag band that has been spoken to by Gaia but in Mage: The Ascension (Second Edition) their draw and depth expanded considerably. They are the travelers through the Dreamtime, warriors of the vision quest, and keepers of the balance but what does this mean? Adam and Terry talk about their practice, history, and paradigm as they discuss Dreamspeakers: Tradition Book.

Show Notes

Midnight Express Wu-Keng episode – BK and Terry talk Wu-Keng
307 RPG Podcast – Terry talks about Spheres, Adam talks about factions
Domain level play – RPG play at the level above troupe play
Book of Crafts episode – Dreamspeakers are listed as reaching out to some Crafts but their invite is refused
The Mohawk Ironworkers – Group of indigenous construction workers behind the trope of First Nations skyscraper builders

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February 29, 2020July 3, 2021

Adding Horror to Mage with Bryce Perry from Darker Days Radio

Mage is a game of hope, action, and hubris in a world that is dark. Sometimes the darkness wins and we go from punk and gothic to horror. Bryce Perry from the horror game podcast Darker Days joins Terry to talk about how to add horror to your Mage game.

Just a note, this episode contains discussion of body horror, family terror, harm to children and family conceptually and a number of other things. Look below to get an idea of what we go over.

Show Notes

The Baali – Group of vampires who do terrible things to keep dark things asleep.
Friday the 13th – Archtypal slasher film where kids are killed off in revenge.
Consent Checklist – One method of verifying and checking what game types and themes players are or are not ok with.
Consent in Gaming – A Monte Cook Games publication on how to tackle adult themes.
“The Lottery” – Short story about a community that practices an annual sacrifice ritual.
The Wicker Man – Movie about an out of towner brought in as sacrifice to a dark thing.
10 Candles – A gothic horror game (rather than survival horror) where everyone dies at the end.
Betrayal at the House on the Hill – Board game of discovery then action where tension builds with an omen mechanic.
The Expanse RPG – a Green Ronin game, variant of the AGE System with a number of interesting mechanics like Churn to create tension and Fortune to replace Health.
Dark Heresy – Game set in the Warhammer Universe with purity and sanity mechanics.
Jacob’s Ladder – 1990 film about someone recovering from trauma and it not going well. Psychological horror.
Faculty of Horror podcast – a non-scary discussion of horror movies and how they work.
Cosmic Horror in Mage – Our episode on cosmic horror.
Sins Washed Away – the latest Chronicles of Darkness 2e publication from the Darker Days folks.

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February 22, 2020July 3, 2021

Tomes of Magick: Beyond the Barrier: The Book of Worlds

The Umbra is explored by many Night-Folk with wraiths in the Shadowlands, Changelings in the Dreaming, and Werewolves in the Velvet Shadow. What about mages? Adam and Terry provide a tour of the Tellurian and the Realms of limitless potential full of warring gods, metaphors made real and more than one set of dinosaurs in Beyond the Barrier: The Book of Worlds.

Show Notes

Umbral Map – A translation of the French map of the Umbra.
Mars Trilogy – Sci fi books by Kim Stanley Robinson where a central theme is “how much should we leave a place unchanged?”
Anders Mage Page Realms – Realms you can insert into the Umbra of your Chronicle.
Anders Mage Page Umbrood – Umbrood you can use in your Chronicle.
The Sandman comics by Vertigo – listed in Book of Worlds recommended reading list and Adam seconds that opinion. You can not only get great ideas for realms large and small but also see different ways to travel between them.
Episodes Mentioned:
- Tomes of Magick: Digital Web – Adam and Terry discussion the technomancer’s favorite Zone, the Digital Web.
- Tomes of Magick: Verbena – The Seasonal Realms are discussed as mysterious places where no one quite knows where they came.
Books Mentioned:
- The Infinite Tapestry – Revised edition guide that expands many Umbral locations.
- Umbra: The Velvet Shadow – Werewolf 20 guide to the Umbra.
- Wraith 20 – Core book outlining life as a Wraith.
- Book of Oblivion – Wraith 20 guide to areas beyond Stygia and the Shadowlands.
- Orpheus Rules – Game were you are mortals projecting into the Underworld.
- Scion: Origins – Scion 2e guide to characters and introducing the pantheon and such.
- The Primal Order: Pawns – Worth a look for ideas on Umbrood.
- Chessboards: The Planes of Possibility – Adam highly recommends this book for ideas on Umbral realms and how to travel between them.

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February 15, 2020July 3, 2021

Hijacking Creation: Exalted in Mage with Chazz Kellner of the Story Told

The world of Mage is one where characters have great power which must be exercised carefully or Paradox will strike. On the other side of the subtly coin is Exalted where whose tagline is “What legends will they tell of your deeds?” Exalted’s 3rd edition is out and Chazz Kellner, Exalted author and cohost of The Story Told podcast tells Terry about the high energy energy world of Creation and the systems and settings you can steal from it for your Mage game.

Show Notes

Graceful Wicked Masques – 2e book about the Fair Folk
Walking Away from Arcadia’s episode on the Fair Folk
The Compass of Celestial Directions, Vol. VI – Autochthonia – The best cyborg supplement you never knew you needed
The Fair Folk – 1e reference on the Rakshasa
Manual of Exalted Power: Sidereals – Information on the Loom of Fate and the Sidereals
Laws of Ascension Rulebook Sidereal letter – A letter from a Sidereal now Avatar saying how the world’s connect
Terry’s growing list of ways to mis-say Chejop Kejak
- Croptop Carjack
- Flat Top Keyhack
- Chop Shop iMac
- Hot Pot Flapjack
- Cheops Kayak
- Drug Stop MacAttack

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