GM resource
Prep checklist for Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary
What to prep (and what to skip) before sessions. Prep for Mage M20 should spend more time on hooks and consequences than on mechanics: Mage (M20) is a dice pool game where your magical capability is expressed through Arete and Spheres. Coincidental vs Vulgar magic changes risk (Paradox).
Checklist
- Write the scene's pressure and at least two ways it can go before the table sits down.
- Prep just enough mechanical detail that a roll resolves at the table without a rules lookup: Mage (M20) is a dice pool game where your magical capability is expressed through Arete and Spheres. Coincidental vs Vulgar magic changes risk (Paradox).
- List NPC names, wants, and one secret each so improvised scenes have something to reach for.
- Decide what happens if the players ignore the plan entirely.
Common pitfalls
- Prepping a plot instead of a situation
- Over-detailing mechanics no one will roll this session
- No answer ready for 'what if they don't take the hook'