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Pyramid Pick

Ars Magica Fifth Edition

Published by Atlas Games

Written by David Chart with Tom Dowd, Jörg-Peter Friederich, Rich Gentile, Andrew Gronosky, Mark Shirley, Andrew Smith, Kevin Sours, & David Woods

Cover by J. Scott Reeves

Illustrated by J. Scott Reeves with Dave Allsop, Liz Danforth, Brian Dugan, Neil Edwards, Charles Gillespie, Josh Hoops, Eric Hotz, Janine Johnston, Alexis Liosatos, William O'Connor, Dom Reardon, John Scotello, & Jock Simpson

242-Page Full Color Hardback; $35

When it comes to RPGs that focus on magic, Ars Magica has always been at the fore. Originally published by Lion Rampant in 1988, its history found it at White Wolf and associated with the World of Darkness -- particularly Vampire: The Masquerade and Mage: The Ascension. More recently it has found a home with Atlas Games.

The publisher heavily supported the Fourth Edition, but more recently has published a slimmer Fifth Edition. More than a cosmetic makeover, the reworking has been carried out by the game's line editor, David Chart, who is also the author of several well-done campaign supplements for the d20 System, including Splintered Peace and the Medieval Player's Manual.

The setting for Ars Magica Fifth Edition remains unchanged -- the Mythic Europe of 1220. This is a version of the Middle Ages in which the Church of Rome still dominates, but in which magic is real, the power of the infernal is very much a dangerous threat, beasts of myth and legend stalk the lands just beyond the bounds of civilisation, . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.


Get It Now From Warehouse 23


Article publication date: December 23, 2005


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