this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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Having run both MTAs and MTAw, I prefer not having so many spheres to achieve a relatively simple goal. Like in this case, you are looking to use three spheres at reasonably high ratings to just remove a guard. In MTAw you could use any one Arcana at 3 or 4 to accomplish the same task.
Time 4: The guard is transported a day into the future.
Forces 2: Render your group invisible and soundless.
Life 4: The guard is turned into a rat or whatever.
Mind 2: The guard forgets the group was there, or any higher rank to just mind control the guard in various ways (MTAs can also do this with the single sphere)
Prime 4: The guard is forced to look into the Supernal and his eyes are burned out in the process. Dick move.
Space 4: The guard is teleported away.
Spirit 4: Chuck the guard across the gauntlet.
And if you just want to kill or incapacitate the guard any single Arcana can do that at 3 (bashing) or 4 (lethal) all by itself.
I really like Awakening but it's hard to find players for it.
I had a group for about six months once, and it was pretty good. Except one player just never learned the rules, and refused to read clues. Like they found a clue on site that was like 10 sentences and she was like "I'm not reading all that".
It takes a level of buy-in from players that is hard to get. I couldn't run it at my table for years due to having a few players for whom the magic system and general focus on esotericism were RPG kryptonite. The main thing I have noticed is that the game changes pretty dramatically at Gnosis 3, so I establish at the start that the entire cabal has to go from 2->3 at the same time.
I had to stop due to some IRL stuff, but I am hoping to start a new campaign soon or I might try running Mummy: The Curse since I find it really interesting.
Ehat is mta?
World of Darkness is a setting that includes Mage: The Ascension which OP is referencing. (MTAs)
The same publisher released a later gameline now referred to as Chronicles of Darkness which includes Mage: The Awakening (MTAw) with a similar dynamic magic system.
TBF, this is clearly an intern-level slinger gettin' sweaty and blithely careening toward oblivion at record speed. I give 'em two sessions tops before they're rolling up a new character. 🤣