The Gentleman Gamer: Mage The Awakening RPG Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2014
- In which the gentleman in question reviews the third new World of Darkness setting; Mage: The Awakening.
In this game of existential horror, you are a being capable of pulling powers wonderful and terrible from the Supernal World into the lie known as the Fallen World. You can become a God among men if you choose.. But at what cost?
rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product...
theonyxpath.com/category/proje... - เกม
The Gentleman's Podcast. This needs to happen.
Please do a gentleman's guide to mage orders!
Joseph Fernandez I'd like to see that as well
Yes, please.
I've read (but haven't played) both Ascension and Awakening. I certainly like them both but for the most part I prefer the setting for Ascension. I think the Technocracy is a phenomenal heel, and one that you can empathize (if not sympathize) with.
However Awakening handles the magic better. The interpretive and free form system is just excellent. My favorite magic of theirs would be Luck. Probability control can make for some very bizarre situations for a creative player.
My new goal in life is to play any rpg with this gentleman as the storyteller! Loving all reviews and summaries.
I think this is perhaps the best review you've done this year.
I have to admit I was surprised to see this review pop up. It never seemed to me that this was a game line that you much cared for. I'm happy to see that you gave it some time on your channel. As always a very competent review of the basics. Ascension was the game that got me into role playing in the first place, and still my favorite. I'd have to say though that I thought the antagonist groups in Ascension were superior to Awakening, and I found the idea of a subjective reality to be a terrifying prospect as far as a horror theme. Still all the mage lines will always hold a special place in my heart.
I was waiting for this for so long ! I am so glad you did it! And i am even more surprised i didnt notice earlier :P
Me too XD
Congratulations on another video well done. You've really got me more than curious about Mage, I'll definitely have to give it a more thorough look over when the time permits.
You've got me curious, you mentioned that Demon, the Descent is an upcoming review you'll be doing, (a review I'll gladly be awaiting.) Would that by chance, also merit a potential Demon, the Fallen review, or would that be something that doesn't fall under your tastes or preferences, and thus make for an ungentlemanly review?
Another excellent review sir!
Great review! Having played MtAw and running MtAs; have you considered a Ascension vs. Awakening comparison video? I'd really love to see it and could see you doing a good service to compare and contrast the two very unique WoD settings.
I highly recommend reading the Dresden Files series of books to give you inspiration and set a great mood for Mage the Ascension
Funny, I actually made Harry Dresden into a practice character sheet for Mage: the Ascension. I envisioned he was an Order of Hermes member, given his investigative skills and his academic nature, not to mention his proficiency with the Forces sphere. His blasting rod was his focus for Forces, alchemy was his focus in Life, Bob the Skull was his familiar, and he had various wonders at his disposal. His "anti technology" aura could even be explained by the Echoes flaw. It was a neat little exercise.
One review I read was discussing the brokeness of Changing Breeds. They made a reference to how a mage could theoretically nuke a were elephant by summoning a 20 foot volume flammable chemical and dropping it on them!
That would be Mage the Ascension in Classic World of Darkness, Mage The Awakening is from the new Chronicles of Darkness setting. A mage in Awakening could just fly a drone over a werewolf, change its matter into dwarf star core (you know, just a couple million tons) and make him go splat. Or he could alter his fate so he is trapped in a locked flaming building. Or make it so all his cells lose the food and air receptors, making his whole body necrose in minutes, its likely even the werewolf's crazy healing factor would be overwhelmed. Or he could teleport the werewolf into the sun. Or he could transform all energy near the werewolf into heat, yes, even the kinetic energy from when he tried to escape. I just gave 1 horrific way each path could go about it, and I was not even being creative, more imaginative mages can probably kill him with lower level spells, an inventive Awakening mage who has time to prepare pretty much can curbstomp all the other splats, except Geists, who are effectively immortal without the GM's co-operation (plus have all sorts of terrifying, unexpected powers).
I didn't liked the idea of Atlantis to be important for the setting of the game, so I wasn't too interested in it, but eventually I bought it to have all three books of the main lines. With the existential horror, as you put it, I discovered that Atlantis is even in the setting just a myth that mages tell themselves and not an absolute truth, so felt to much restriction by an mythological idea I never really liked. The game mechanics for magic seemed to be much improved over those of Mage - The Ascansion, and yes the antagonists in Awakening are what really sold me, especially everything from the abyss, which can be easily used to create some cthuloide stories.
Ah yes, the Abyss does spit out some wonderful foes for mages :D
@@TheGentlemanGamer Dear sir Gentleman, I have started a new TH-cam channel, and while it isn't meant to focus specifically on World of Darkness or even on roleplaying overall, it has accidentally started out with a lot of references to Mage: the Ascension, just because that game has been such a force in my life. Could you perhaps check out my first couple of videos, and consider allowing me to promote my channel further in the comment sections of your videos?
Interesting, I've had the same issue with the mage games for so long. Just couldn't get my head round them. This explanation has made me want to revisit them. Thanks!
Where do The Tremere fit in here? I know they were Mages before they were Vampires. But would the Tremere still be awakened after their embrace? Or did their Thaumaturgy come with the price of going back "to sleep?"
Excellent video, and very well timed as I happen to be in the process of setting up an Awakening game. Having read the book for the first time I was left with one question; how do Mages know when a new Mage awakens in their area? It's not like Requiem where every new Vampire is embraced, or Werewolf where they can keep and eye on the wolf-blooded. The opening story provides an example of how this could happen but I was wondering if you have any ideas? Also congrats on 10,000 subscribers!
Perhaps they use prime magic to monitor sleepers for such things. This would explain how they find sleep walkers--which can then be kept safe/observed until they fully awaken. Sleep walkers are just sleepers who are beginning to awaken and there is a merit called "sleep walker retainer." ; )
unable to find any recorded sessions of awakening only ascension damn
How do you feel about Geist? You've got it on your shelf, but I haven't seen you talk about it. Also, what advice could you give to someone who wants to write for OPP? Other than turn something into them, obviously.
Any chance reviewing Mage 20? Please?
Will you also be reviewing the Imperial Mysteries splat and Tome of Mysteries book? ^^
Nice Masks.....Are you a Guardian of the Veil? *eyes suspiciously*
Gentleman's GAmer, any chance you can do a series on a guide to the MTA paths the same way you did the Requiem vampire clan videos? It'd be so awesome.
I know people that are into this, and I hear so many funny stories that they made when they played it. I'm here to learn more about it
Lovely review, would you ever consider revisiting this and other titles and do a comparison of Old WoD titles to their New WoD counterparts?
He's talked about how he doesn't do this because the Chronicles of Darkness (New WOrld of Darkness) are so different than they're almost completely incomparable to the old World of Darkness.
Mage definitely soundsexciting and I have been curious about it.
Will you reviews on the warhammer games?
Who made those leather masks behind you? My father is a maskmaker and they look very similar to his work ;-)
Will you be doing a review of Demon The Descent?
What do you think about the tremere liches? Was hoping you'd bring them up as they're a highlight of the legacies. my favorite foes in a chronicle as well. for the seer's may attempt to exterminate your cabal. But the tremere will wait watch and come for your soul when you least expect it.
I personally prefer them to their vampire counter parts from the old edition. Of course, I've often loved the concept of liches. ^^
Great review!
Thanks for saying so!
Wish GG would review the second editions of werewolf, mage... they did so many improvements.
Well after your review, I might have to pick Mage The Awakening up. Top stuff as always!
Let me know if you do, and check out the blog on the Onyx Path website!
I was considering trying this game. How do you think it compares to Mage the Ascension?
If I've never played this or Ascension, would you recommend I start with this?
I'll be real with you, Awakening is a lot easier to play and run.
But it's nowhere as compelling as Ascension.
I LOVE MAGE! I play an Acanthus with the Awakening Gambit as my legacy. :D
This review makes me really want to pick up mage and play it, alas I'm running too many games as it is to start another one and finding another ST is hard as hell.
Joe Lonergan Try the second edition, they did a brilliant job in lore, mechanics and chronicle ideas.
Sorry IAm late to the party! Ut what dose +1 wen you casting a spell mens? Is it 1d10 extra in the pool och just one sucsess? Or what hos to. Att a spell? The book is not rely fler on that. Pleace help me. ^^'
Daniel Rockström check what the terms mean in the glossary, most likely it's explained in the God Machine book, or the World of Darkness book, or the Chronicles of Darkness book
Ever thought about realising sessions as a podcast?
I've never really thought of doing a podcast. Do you think it'd be any good?
yes I can't sit and watch a game session on youtube, I usually stick them on in the background whilst I'm doing other stuff. I could listen to gaming sessions when I'm commuting or whatever on a podcast that I could stop and come back to later that would be better for me, sure you'd miss out on what dice roll results are etc but I for one could put up with that I think!
A wonderful review as always good sir. Mage always struck me as a very difficult game to get behind. Most of the people i have encountered who play or have played it made it out to be a very complex game. One gentlemen i spoke with spent a good hour explaining to me a scene he was in where they wanted to use their magic (Arcana? not totally sure on the proper term) to convert an opponents entire mass into kinetic energy... their final conclusion on the matter after about 3 hours worth of debate was that in doing this they would leave a 5 mile wide crater where the man stood.
Its stories such as that that have always made me stray from the line. It just made me feel dumb and like i wouldnt be able to contemplate most of the game. Though I have always wanted to get the game just to dabble in some of the ideas as i feel the mage could make very dark antagonists for other games set in the world of darkness series. I feel though after watching your review and also Anders interview with phil i now have a better understanding of the game and may very well be investing in it.
Pick up a PDF of Mage: The Awakening from Drivethrurpg and let me know your thoughts, even if you only read the magic chapter.
I wish the pbp Mage game I was in kept going. I was one of the best improvised magic users. The setting was a homebrew where Sleepers knew about magic so Paradox was less likely to happen, and in the future.
Well that sounds very different to the published game! The Seers of the Throne would be upset.
It was a homebrew setting.
The Gentleman Gamer Do you know how many more months it will be before the second addition of Mage: The Awakening comes out? The rules & fluff in their open dev posts look really promising. ^_^
I really wanna play a campaign of this, and I only saw one game on Roll20 that even mentioned mages. :
One massive problem I have with the game is that the book has extremely hard to read table of contents. The font size is just really small considering how there's an entire empty page to make use of and the font itself makes the text hard to read and the colors they went with were dirty gray for the background and faint yellow with no shadowing or darker borders for the text. It took me like 5 minutes to decipher what the hell any of it said.
This might sound like a ridiculous complaint but if the book itself makes it really hard to even find information then it doesn't exactly invite me to play it.
The second edition is so much better.
Well done,man!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Mage is my favorite parte of the world of darkness and a noob role player i have to say i felt just like you said when i first read the mage book,but the way the world works is marvelous.
MrHupo it's really something special, I agree.
I have mages cooperating with Hunters in my WOD chronicle.
I made a mistake. My
poor Kindred need serious guidence.
The only thing this chronicle is lacking actually is Caine him fecking self im so excited and also so intimidated to run this game.
Good video.Are you going to do more Vampire the masquerade recaps or Dark ages??
When I run chronicles in those settings? Definitely.
Thanks:D
THis is when you pull out your bolter and declare this man a Heretic and my the god emperor of humanity have mercy upon him and you put a few bolts threw the things head. Heresy shall never be suffered.
Have you played Ascension and if so which do you prefer?
I actually prefer Awakening for its freedom, and Ascension for its Traditions. I like both!
The Gentleman Gamer I haven´t played Awakening, but I'm very interested (Ascension is my favorite RPG ever). Are there much differences on the mechanics?
A world behind this one, false reality... reminds me of Kult.
good to know I wasn't the only one that thought it was impossible to understand it
Great review as always, the problem I always had with awakening, especially when comparing it to ascension, is that I don't find any of the orders really as interesting as something like the order of Hermes or even the technocracy, they all just seem rather bland and stuck in their stereotypes.
Oh really? I'll admit that it took reading the sourcebooks for me to really get behind thr Adamantine Arrow and Silver Ladder, but the others grabbed my interest swiftly. Thanks for the kind words about the review!
Thanks for giving a good understanding of mages whenever i have asked my friends how they operate or what are they. normally they give me very vague concepts. out of curiosity if you do end up running a online game and have room could i join add me on skype as Zensway.
If you were to recommend a game to a group of the following; 1 Semi-experienced D&D GM, 1 Lawyer-type player wherein he'll look up every. Goddamned. Rule. 1 Brainstorming cryptic bastard, 1 player that can't seem to grasp the concept of "If you make your character strong enough to kill a dragon at level one, I will throw a _beholder_ at you." and one relatively rude guy, the cryptic bastard and GM are both girls, don't see how that's relevant but they'll stomach near anything.
Try Exalted, it has a lot of crunch, yet also a lot of storytelling potential. Nobilis might also be good, you get a lot of power, but need to be clever about using it, since you are one amongst many gods competing for greater influence over the mortal world, and its all about making the aspect of reality you rule over more prevalent while also pushing your agenda, or your patron's.
Okay game ruined by an obnoxious grognard fanbase.