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Forgetting XP spends in Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Track changes over time so you can always explain what you bought and why. Use the links below to apply the workflow in Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary and keep it consistent across sessions.

Workflow (do this first)

  1. Log XP gained at session end, amount plus source (session award, milestone, downtime training).
  2. When you spend, record both the rating change AND the in-fiction reason for it.
  3. Save the entry with a timestamp so the GM can audit history later.
  4. Mark a rollback flag while you’re unsure, easier to reverse than to reconstruct.
Roll loop reminder (Mage)

Mage (M20) is a dice pool game where your magical capability is expressed through Arete and Spheres. Coincidental vs Vulgar magic changes risk (Paradox).

Example: A coincidental effect is explainable; a vulgar effect is obviously impossible and carries higher risk.

Key facts

  • 9 Spheres: Correspondence, Entropy, Forces, Life, Matter, Mind, Prime, Spirit, Time
  • 9 Traditions: Order of Hermes, Verbena, Virtual Adepts, Akashic Brotherhood, Celestial Chorus, Cult of Ecstasy, Dreamspeakers, Euthanatos, Sons of Ether
  • Arete system: Determines maximum Sphere dots usable in effects
  • Paradox mechanics: Accumulates from Vulgar magic
  • Coincidental vs Vulgar magic: Coincidental generates less Paradox
  • Quintessence: Fuels magical effects

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Spending XP in your head and updating dots later. Fix: Log the spend the moment the GM approves it; an unsourced dot is an audit failure.
  • Mistake: Tracking totals but not what each spend bought. Fix: Every spend gets a one-line reason, "raised Athletics to 3 after the rooftop chase."
Roll resolution
Fast lookup while running scenes.
System guide
Rules + key concepts in one place.

Context (system overview)

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition is a tabletop RPG where you play as Awakened mages who can bend reality through the Spheres. As a mage, you belong to a Tradition (like the Order of Hermes, Verbena, or Virtual Adepts) and use your understanding of reality to cast magic, all while managing Paradox and Consensus.

System guide
Rules + key concepts.
System glossary
Definitions for system terms.

Recommended next steps

Character sheet
Use the online sheet and keep it current.
Character creation
Checklist + builder entry points.
Advancement
Track progression with a clean workflow.

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