Mage Rules Reference

M20 Rules Reference

Shared reference data for Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition.

Available Data

Lookup Script

Use scripts/lookup.py to query data without loading full files into context.

Usage

# Get abilities for a practice
python scripts/lookup.py references/practice-abilities.json "High Ritual Magick"

# Get practices for multiple factions
python scripts/lookup.py references/faction-practices.json "Order of Hermes" "Verbena"

# List all keys in a file
python scripts/lookup.py references/faction-practices.json --keys

# Find all entries containing a term (searches keys and values)
python scripts/lookup.py references/practice-abilities.json --find Herbalism

# What Spheres do I need for telepathy?
python scripts/lookup.py references/common-effects.json "Telepathy"

# What can Mind 3 do?
python scripts/lookup.py references/sphere-levels.json "Mind"

# What effects involve Spirit?
python scripts/lookup.py references/common-effects.json --find Spirit

# Dump entire file
python scripts/lookup.py references/faction-languages.json --all

From Other Skills

Reference this skill's data:

python /path/to/mage-rules-reference/scripts/lookup.py \
  /path/to/mage-rules-reference/references/practice-abilities.json \
  "Witchcraft"

Data Structure

practice-abilities.json / practices.json

{ "Practice Name": ["Ability1", ...] }
{ "Practice Name": "Description" }

faction-practices.json

{
  "_meta": { "traditions": [...], "conventions": [...], "crafts": [...] },
  "Faction Name": ["Practice1", ...]
}

Note: Orphans have ["_any"] indicating any Practice is valid.

sphere-levels.json

{
  "_meta": { "pattern_spheres": [...], "connecting_spheres": [...], ... },
  "Sphere Name": { "1": "desc", "2": "desc", ... }
}

common-effects.json

{
  "Effect Name": { "spheres": "Mind 3", "category": "Perception & Psychic", "notes": "optional" }
}

Categories: Body Magick, Crafting Wonders, Fate & Fortune, Spirit Powers, Objects & Elements, Perception & Psychic, Time & Distance, Quintessence

resonance-traits.json

{
  "_meta": { "description": "..." },
  "Sphere Name": ["Trait1", "Trait2", ...]
}

Query: lookup.py references/resonance-traits.json "Forces" → Fiery, Bright, Energetic, etc.

reality-zones.json

{
  "_meta": { "description": "...", "balance_rule": "...", "valid_practices": "..." },
  "effects": { "positive": "...", "negative": "...", "max_rating": "...", "stacking": "..." },
  "excluded_practices": {
    "specialized": ["Practice1", ...],
    "corrupted": ["Practice1", ...]
  },
  "examples": { "Zone Name": { "Practice": "+/-N", "notes": "..." } }
}

Key rule: Only base Practices (in practices.json) may be used in Reality Zones. Query excluded:

python scripts/lookup.py references/reality-zones.json "excluded_practices"

faction-chantry-names.json

{
  "_meta": { "description": "..." },
  "Faction Name": "Chantry Term"
}

Query: lookup.py references/faction-chantry-names.json "Order of Hermes" → "Covenant"

faction-titles.json

{
  "_meta": { "description": "..." },
  "Faction Name": {
    "by_arete": { "1": "Title", "2": "Title", ... },
    "by_role": { "leader": [...], "senior": [...], "member": [...], "apprentice": [...] },
    "houses": [...],
    "sub_factions": [...]
  }
}

Query: lookup.py references/faction-titles.json "Order of Hermes" → Full title structure