Adam and Pooka crack open a lost treasure — Mage: The Ascension, Zero Edition, a 1993 manuscript that shaped the game’s future. They share laughs, lore, share their thoughts on what was best left behind and what is ready to drop into your game, and a few “what were they thinking?” moments, from cosmic origins to dream magic and immortal mages. Don’t be a Copernicus.
Download the transcript for today’s show here.
Show Notes
- Stewart Wieck’s original cosmology: The Prime, Quintessence, and Dynamic Force
- Dream magic, the Near Umbra, and Dream Lords
- Early lore links to Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Ars Magica
- The origins of Avatars (“Gift Spirits”) and Essence Families
- The role of Pure Ones and their echoes in later Mage editions
- Differences between Zero Edition and Mage: The Ascension (First Edition)
- The concept of Evolutes — the five stages of Ascension
- Technocrats as self-aware mages upholding the “cold lie of science”
- Copernicus and the cosmic betrayal that started the Ascension War
- Early versions of Quiet, Mindscapes, and the origin of Boogeymen and Dark Births
- TryItCon2: TerryCon – Online convention honoring Terry Robinson, November 8–9, 2025
Executive Producers
Oracles
Bad Company • Buck Gregory • Christopher Phillips • Derek Semsick • DrawnCap • DrunkDez • Jason Vines • Rebecca Pool • Sean Gallagher • Spartacus • The Krewe of Erebus
Archmasters
Berto • Brad-O-the Blue • Dan Svensson • Glacial Indifference • Jeffois • Leroy Bryce • Morgan Aran • Wolf Larryson
Acolytes
Aleks • Alexia • Ambiversion • Anders S • Ben Bandelow • Blaise Hebert • Bruno Teixeira • Bryce Perry • Bubba, The Pale One • Chartan • Cig • Curtis Hendricks • Daniel Cuppen • Daniel Scribner • Darren Hennessey • David Röhe • Ean Robertson • EBG • Eric Schwenke • George Lara • Gray -Trilug- H • Guy Stewart • Ia Bull • James B • Jason Kennedy • Jenna F • Jeremy Z • Jervis Johnson • JadeBarroth • Kathleen Hailperin • Kevin Fitzpatrick • Khris Kinner • Leslie Weatherstone • Lolz & stuff • Loren Jensen • Manel Canós • Matthew Proehl • Maurice Hopkins • Melissa Krause • Michael Parker • Nebero • Nikita Kleymenov • Patrick McNamara • RobH • Ryan • Ryan Kendy • Ryan Stray • Samuel Tobin • Sev Nessus • Shell Konch • Starfish • Stefan Carton • Tyler Bryan • Will Vincent • Ygard
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