by anstruther » 16 Mar 2014, 19:21
Background:
The original Rote system is very vague with regard to which Attributes and Skills to use to calculate dice pool. In addition the Skills used often seemed arbitrary and counter-intuitive. Spending XP to create a rote spell can have a very variable effect, sometimes increasing the dice pool dramatically and other times reducing the dice pool. Finally, the original rote system is intimately tied to Orders which will be introduced as this campaign progresses.
These changes ensure that the dice pool always increases a reasonable amount and that this scales with the amount of XP spent. It is less arbitrary, more focused on role playing and allows for Order-free rotes.
Maximum Number of Rote Spells Known = Gnosis x 2
Dice Pool of Rote Spells = Gnosis + Arcanum + Attribute
When the player chooses a new Rote Spell, he or she chooses any of the nine attributes to add to the dice pool. The attribute is the one that the character has come to depend on when casting the spell. The attribute should be plausible for the spell being cast and should be consistent with the character as it is played. Whether or not a particular attribute can be chosen is ultimately at the discretion of the storyteller.
The dice pool for any particular casting will be based on the current, enhanced or penalized attribute value. If a player temporarily has a +3 bonus to the attribute in question, he or she gets 3 more dice than usual.
XP Cost of Acquiring new Rote Spells = (Attribute + Spell Level) x 2
Use the current, base, permanent level of dots that the character has in the chosen attribute. Effects of temporary spells, including any spells that could potentially be dispelled or that count toward the character's spell accumulation, should be disregarded. Likewise any bonuses from equipment, magic items, other players, or other effects should not be counted.
As an optional rule, the storyteller can deduct 1 XP from the cost of the Rote Spell for every 3-5 times that the character has used the spell in game play.
Notes
Rote spells must be chosen from spells that the player could cast based on his / her Arcane knowledge.
For non-ruling Arcana, the XP cost is (Attribute + Spell Level) x 3. This is because learning non-ruling Arcana as rotes eliminates the need for spending mana when cast.
New Character Creation
New characters receive 15 XP to spend on Rote spells. They player should be encouraged to buy at least one Rote. Unused XP can be saved for later. After the first chapter of play the remaining XP can be spent in any way.