Creating Your Mage (M20 walkthrough)

Follow these steps in order. At each step, open the linked files to see what every dot 1-5 actually gets you.

1. Concept, Tradition / Orphans, Essence

Pick who you were before Awakening and who claims you now:

• Traditions: Browse the Council of Nine (<@order-of-hermes.tradition>, <@akashayana.tradition>, <@cult-of-ecstasy.tradition>, <@verbena.tradition>, <@virtual-adepts.tradition>, etc.).
• Orphans & Crafts: Play an independent street-mage (<@orphans.tradition>) or gothic rebel (<@hollow-ones.tradition>).
• Technocracy & Fallen: Play an operative (<@iteration-x.tradition>, <@new-world-order.tradition>) or a dark apostate (<@nephandi.tradition>).
• Avatar Essence: Choose Dynamic, Pattern, Primordial, or Questing.

2. Attributes (7/5/3)

Prioritize Physical, Social, Mental. Spend 7 dots in your primary group, 5 in secondary, 3 in tertiary; every Attribute starts at base 1.

• Open <@attributes.guide> for full lifting capacities, benchmark capabilities, and dot 1-5 ladders.

3. Abilities (13/9/5)

Split Talents, Skills, Knowledges into best/second/third: 13/9/5 dots. Open each ability to see its Dot 1-5 ladder — e.g. <@firearms.ability>, <@occult.ability>, <@awareness.ability>. No Ability above 3 at creation without freebies.

4. Spheres & Arete

Arete starts at 1 (see <@arete.guide> for ranks 1-10). Take your affinity Sphere at 1, plus Spheres per chronicle power level (typically 6 starting dots).

• Spheres: <@correspondence.sphere>, <@entropy.sphere>, <@forces.sphere>, <@life.sphere>, <@matter.sphere>, <@mind.sphere>, <@prime.sphere>, <@spirit.sphere>, <@time.sphere>.
• Benchmark: 1 senses, 2 personal/subtle, 3 control, 4 command/large-scale, 5 rewrite reality.

5. Backgrounds (7 dots)

Spend 7 dots across Backgrounds:

• <@avatar.background>, <@node.background>, <@sanctum.background>, <@resources.background>, <@mentor.background>, <@familiar.background>, <@chantry.background>, etc.

6. Willpower, Quintessence, Paradox

Willpower starts at 5, Quintessence equals your Avatar rating (see <@quintessence-paradox-willpower.guide> for fuel and Paradox backlash). Paradox starts at 0.

7. Wonders, Talismans & Familiars

Mages can acquire Wonders via the Wonder or Familiar background:

• Talismans: Self-contained Quintessence reservoirs and spells (<@sun-chalice-of-hermes.wonder>).
• Artifacts: Legendary relics with their own Arete (<@astrolabe-of-the-silver-horizon.wonder>).
• Fetishes: Bound spirit vessels (<@wolf-fang-fetish.wonder>, <@spirit-dagger.wonder>).
• Familiars: Spirit or construct companions (<@clockwork-raven-familiar.wonder>, <@awakened-familiar.creature>).

8. Merits & Flaws, Finishing Touches

Take Merits (e.g. <@iron-will.merit>) balanced by Flaws (e.g. <@echoes.flaw>). Spend 15 freebie points (Attributes 5, Abilities 2, Backgrounds 1, Spheres 7, Arete 4, Willpower 1). Record Resonance, health, gear, and paradigm — then review the sample character <@example-character.character>.