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Quintessence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Derived

Definition

Quintessence is the raw stuff of reality, the primal energy that flows through the Tapestry of creation. Every object, creature, and concept in the World of Darkness contains Quintessence in some form. For mages, Quintessence is fuel: it powers enhanced magical effects, activates Wonders, and provides the raw material for creating something from nothing. Quintessence is tracked on the same wheel as Paradox in M20, creating a direct tension between magical fuel and magical backlash. As a mage accumulates Paradox, their effective Quintessence capacity shrinks, and vice versa. This elegant mechanic reinforces the core theme of Mage: power comes with consequences. Quintessence is gathered from Nodes, provided by the Avatar at the start of each story, stored in Familiars and Wonders, and spent to enhance magical effects or reduce Paradox.

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How it works

**Key Uses**: - Spend to reduce the difficulty of magical effects - Required for creating something from nothing (conjunctional Prime effects) - Fuel Wonders and magical devices - Counteract Paradox (in some circumstances) **Special Rules**: Starting Quintessence equals Avatar rating at the beginning of each story. Quintessence and Paradox share a 20-point wheel: as one increases, the maximum capacity for the other decreases. Harvesting Quintessence from a Node requires Prime 3. Spending a point of Quintessence can reduce the difficulty of a magical effect by 1 (to a minimum difficulty of 3).

Tips

**Build Advice**: Quintessence management is central to effective play. Invest in Avatar for starting Quintessence, Node for a steady supply, and Familiar for extra storage. Prime 3 unlocks the ability to harvest Quintessence from Nodes directly. **Tradition Synergies**: Verbena see Quintessence as the lifeblood of reality. Order of Hermes call it Vim and study its properties rigorously. Celestial Chorus experience it as divine grace. Sons of Ether measure it as a form of energy. **Character Concepts**: Prime-focused mage who manages the cabal's Quintessence supply, Verbena ritualist who draws power from sacred groves, Hermetic alchemist studying the nature of Quintessence, Node guardian who ensures the flow of magical energy.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get more Quintessence?

Several ways: your Avatar provides Quintessence equal to its rating at the start of each story. Nodes produce harvestable Quintessence (requires Prime 3). Tass (physical objects containing Quintessence) can be consumed. Some magical effects and Wonders can also provide or transfer Quintessence.

What is Tass?

Tass is Quintessence that has solidified into physical form. It appears as various substances depending on the Node's Resonance: morning dew, crystals, strange fruits, glowing liquids, etc. Tass can be carried and consumed later to replenish Quintessence, making it a portable magical fuel source.

How does the Quintessence/Paradox wheel work?

The wheel has 20 points total shared between Quintessence and Paradox. If you have 5 Paradox, your maximum Quintessence is 15. If you have 12 Quintessence, you can only hold 8 Paradox before something catastrophic happens. This creates ongoing tension between power and risk.

Further Reading

Prime SphereNode BackgroundParadox
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