Mage M20 character library

Ten ways to Awaken

Pick an archetype to build from. Each one is concept-first, the attributes, abilities, and Spheres exist to serve the character, not the other way around. Recommendations follow the Mage 20th Anniversary Corebook.

The Hermetic Scholar

Order of Hermes

Trained in ritual magick at a private chantry. Believes magick is a science you study, not a passion you feel.

Nature / Demeanor

Perfectionist / Pedagogue

Attribute priority

Mental > Social > Physical

Ability focus

Academics, Occult, Cosmology, Investigation

Backgrounds

Library 3, Mentor 2, Chantry 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Forces●●●○○Prime●●○○○Mind●○○○○

Story hook

Recently disowned by a senior magus over a forbidden translation. Carries a half-decoded grimoire and a list of names who must never see it.

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The Ecstatic Seer

Cult of Ecstasy

Sees the threads of time through music, sex, or substance. Magick is what happens when the dam of the senses breaks.

Nature / Demeanor

Visionary / Bon vivant

Attribute priority

Social > Mental > Physical

Ability focus

Awareness, Empathy, Expression, Performance

Backgrounds

Avatar 3, Contacts 2, Resources 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Time●●●○○Mind●●○○○Entropy●○○○○

Story hook

Has had the same dream for nine nights, a city they have never visited, a face they have not yet met, a death they know they could prevent.

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The Verbena Witch

Verbena

Inheritor of older traditions. Magick is in the blood, the cycle, the soil. The wild parts still listen if you know how to speak.

Nature / Demeanor

Caregiver / Survivor

Attribute priority

Physical > Mental > Social

Ability focus

Survival, Empathy, Animal Ken, Occult

Backgrounds

Familiar 3, Node 2, Allies 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Life●●●○○Spirit●●○○○Prime●○○○○

Story hook

The local Node is dying and you are the only one of your line left to tend it. Something underneath the land is hungry, and tonight it asked for a name.

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The Akashic Monk

Akashic Brotherhood

Body, breath, and intent in one motion. Magick is enlightenment expressed through perfect discipline.

Nature / Demeanor

Judge / Conformist

Attribute priority

Physical > Mental > Social

Ability focus

Martial Arts, Meditation, Awareness, Athletics

Backgrounds

Mentor 3, Allies 2, Arcane 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Mind●●●○○Life●●○○○Forces●○○○○

Story hook

Your monastery has gone silent. Letters return unanswered, the line is dead, and the route you took as a novice will not appear on any map you can find.

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The Virtual Adept

Virtual Adepts

Reality is information. Sufficiently elegant code is indistinguishable from magick. The Digital Web is not a metaphor.

Nature / Demeanor

Architect / Loner

Attribute priority

Mental > Physical > Social

Ability focus

Computer, Technology, Research, Awareness

Backgrounds

Resources 2, Contacts 3, Library 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Correspondence●●●○○Forces●●○○○Mind●○○○○

Story hook

Something is running on the local fibre that should not exist. It writes back when you ping it, in a language you almost recognise.

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The Dreamspeaker

Dreamspeakers

Walks between waking and the spirit world. The land remembers; the dead listen; the ancestors are not gone if you know how to call them.

Nature / Demeanor

Traditionalist / Visionary

Attribute priority

Mental > Social > Physical

Ability focus

Awareness, Occult, Empathy, Survival

Backgrounds

Avatar 3, Mentor 2, Totem 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Spirit●●●○○Mind●●○○○Life●○○○○

Story hook

An ancestor you have never met appeared in the firelight last week and named a debt your family owes. You have until the next new moon to find the payee.

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The Etherite Inventor

Sons of Ether

Mad science is real, the Ether exists, the Technocracy lied. Build the impossible device, then prove the universe wrong.

Nature / Demeanor

Innovator / Eccentric

Attribute priority

Mental > Physical > Social

Ability focus

Crafts, Science, Technology, Cosmology

Backgrounds

Wonder 3, Library 2, Resources 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Matter●●●○○Forces●●○○○Prime●○○○○

Story hook

Your latest prototype works. Demonstrably, repeatably, in front of witnesses. The Technocracy has noticed.

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The Euthanatos

Euthanatos

Death is part of balance. Sometimes the wheel turns because you turn it. Sometimes it turns through you.

Nature / Demeanor

Fatalist / Penitent

Attribute priority

Physical > Mental > Social

Ability focus

Awareness, Investigation, Stealth, Occult

Backgrounds

Mentor 3, Destiny 2, Avatar 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Entropy●●●○○Mind●●○○○Spirit●○○○○

Story hook

Three names appeared on your list this month, one of them your closest friend. The pattern is real; the rationalisations are easy. The hesitation is new.

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The Celestial Crusader

Celestial Chorus

There is one song, one truth, one source. Magick is hearing the chord; your faith is the resonance.

Nature / Demeanor

Martyr / Idealist

Attribute priority

Social > Mental > Physical

Ability focus

Expression, Leadership, Empathy, Theology

Backgrounds

Avatar 3, Allies 2, Resources 2

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Prime●●●○○Forces●●○○○Mind●○○○○

Story hook

A miracle happened in front of someone who should not have seen it. Now they want answers, and the local Chorus is divided on whether to give them the truth.

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The Orphan

Orphan (no Tradition)

Awakened alone. No mentor, no chantry, no system. Their paradigm is whatever has worked so far, and it has cost them.

Nature / Demeanor

Survivor / Loner

Attribute priority

Free choice: design to fit the concept

Ability focus

Two practical Talents + a Knowledge that explains your worldview

Backgrounds

Resources 1, Contacts 2, Avatar 3

Recommended Sphere allocation (6 dots)

No Sphere can be higher than your Arete, and Arete starts at 1. To start with 3 dots in a Sphere, raise Arete to 3 with freebie points.

Choose 1●●○○○Choose 2●●○○○Choose 3●●○○○ConstraintNo category restriction (Affinity = your single best Sphere)

Story hook

You found a name in a bar last night, someone else who Awakened the same way you did, in the same city, the same year. They have been waiting for you to find them.

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