majiayu000 Rote Creator
Design mechanically valid, thematically rich rotes for M20.
What is a Rote?
A rote is a magical effect practiced and refined to the point where it can be performed identically every time. Benefits over improvised magick:
- Roll Attribute + Ability instead of Arete
- More consistent results
- Defined mechanical parameters
Creation Workflow
1. Clarify Intent
What effect does the mage want to achieve? Be specific about scope, target, and duration.
2. Determine Sphere Requirements
Query mage-rules-reference for guidance:
# What Spheres for a standard effect?
python lookup.py references/common-effects.json "Telepathy"
# What can Forces 3 do?
python lookup.py references/sphere-levels.json "Forces"
# Find effects involving a Sphere
python lookup.py references/common-effects.json --find "Life"
Sphere Level Guidelines:
- 1 (Initiate): Perception, sensing
- 2 (Apprentice): Minor manipulation, self/willing targets
- 3 (Disciple): Significant effects, affect others, temporary patterns
- 4 (Adept): Major transformations, permanent effects
- 5 (Master): Create from nothing, large-scale, perfect control
3. Assign Practice
Select a Practice fitting the mage's paradigm. Query associations:
# What abilities work with this Practice?
python lookup.py references/practice-abilities.json "High Ritual Magick"
# What practices does this faction use?
python lookup.py references/faction-practices.json "Virtual Adepts"
The mage's Practice rating must ≥ highest Sphere level in the rote.
4. Design Execution
- Choose instruments fitting the Practice
- Describe how the rote is performed
- Consider paradigmatic explanation
5. Determine Dice Pool
Select Attribute + Ability where:
- Ability is associated with the chosen Practice
- Combination makes sense for the effect
Common patterns:
- Perception effects: Perception + Awareness
- Combat effects: Dexterity + Ability or Wits + Ability
- Ritual effects: Intelligence + Occult/Esoterica
- Social effects: Manipulation + Expression/Subterfuge
6. Calculate Rote Cost
Cost = Total Sphere dots
Example: Life 3, Prime 2 = 5 points
- Characters begin with 6 points of rotes
- Additional: 4 Freebie Points or 3 XP per point
- Learning from teacher/grimoire: Half cost (requires source rating > highest Sphere)
7. Assess Paradox Risk
- Coincidental: Explainable by Sleeper logic, minimal risk
- Vulgar without witnesses: Moderate risk
- Vulgar with Sleeper witnesses: High risk
Provide guidance on making effects more coincidental when possible.
8. Write Description
See references/output-template.md for format.
Validation Checklist
- Sphere levels match effect scope (not over/under-powered)
- Practice is appropriate to paradigm
- Ability is associated with chosen Practice
- Dice pool makes sense for the action
- Paradox assessment is accurate
- Foci fit the tradition
- Effect doesn't obsolete existing canon rotes without reason
Key Principles
Balance First: Useful without being game-breaking
Paradigm Matters: A Virtual Adept's hack looks nothing like a Verbena's nature working achieving the same end
Avoid Sphere Creep: Don't require more Spheres than necessary
Simple Effects Stay Simple: Don't overengineer basic magic
Conjunctional Effects
When combining Spheres:
- Primary Sphere determines the main effect
- Secondary Spheres extend reach, add properties, or enable the effect
- Highest Sphere level sets the baseline difficulty
- More Spheres = more versatile but higher cost
Common conjunctions:
- Correspondence + X: Affect at distance
- Prime 2 + X: Create patterns, add aggravated damage
- Time 4 + X: Trigger effects, delay effects
- Spirit 3 + X: Affect across Gauntlet