ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

A Mage fan asks:

Could you give some examples on how a Goetic would handle various situations? For instance, being attacked by the Technocracy, encountering a vampire or Garou, trying to investigate a company, trying to enter a high security building, trying to track down a friend or enemy, being mugged by common thugs... Just a few scenarios.

Anders Sandberg replies:

This is going to be a bit theoretical, since so far I have not had the chance of seeing a Goetic mage in action. One of my players has created one (actually the inspiration for the sub-tradition) and I will shortly learn how he would handle these situations. However, remember that Goetic magi are individualists, so each will probably find different solutions.

What would a Goetic mage do if the Technocracy attacks him? That depends a bit on the type of attack. Subtle attacks, like erasing his accounts, tracing him and bugging his apartment are hard to defend against. The best solution is probably to try to escape and get a new identity, since Goetic mages are not very good at handling modern magick. However, a physical assault of MIBs, HIT Marks and similar agents is easier to defend against, especially if the mage doesn't mind a lot of paradox. Some simple suggestions would be escape using some spirit of transportation, calling up some nasty allies to help him, summoning the Subterraneous Light Demons from the West (from Liber Honorius) and let them call up a zombie army, etc... However, the Technocracy is hard to defend against, as all mages know.

Vampires are much better. Many Goetic mages are so fixed on the past that they would feel a bit of kinship with elders. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Tremere and Goetic mages respect each other. Another thing to remember is that many Goetic mages are used to command supernatural beings and have a great feel for the master-subservient mentality of many kindred. In fact, many Goetic mages would probably be rather at home with vampiric society with its chains of boons, feudal titles and blood bounds. However, in a crisis an angel would be very efficient against vampires...

Garou and Goetic mages don't mix. Most Garou would think the mages are rather Wyrm-tainted (dealing with demons) and be very rude and violent. Goetic mages are very seldom good fighters and without their circles quite vulnerable. Their spirit allies might be at a disadvantage themselves against the Garou. A few fire elementals are very handy or a quick escape.

Investigating a company could be interesting. One solution is to call up air elementals or other spirits and send them spying. And there are demons involved in business, so if the mage can provide something in return, the beings might give him real insider information (for example, Astaroth has dominion over casinos and gambling, especially in America).

Entering a building would mean confusing or avoiding the security system. There are quite a lot of beings who are able to cause invisibility and some demons can help the mage become a better thief. Simple transportation using a demon or angel is very easy and practical.

Tracking down people would either mean the mage sent spirits to seek them or some classical scrying. Remember, crystal balls have their uses.

Being mugged... well this shows the problem of the mages. If a Goetic mage is prepared, he can do much. But if he is suddenly dragged into a dark alley and confronted with a gang of robbers, he is at a certain disadvantage. Sending some elementals at them, possessing them or causing a pipe to fall in their heads (after silently invoking the spirits of lead) are the most practical options. However, if the mage had made a deal with a demon to protect him, then the muggers would be in trouble. Or if they mug him, the mage may return to his temple and summon a demon good at retrieving the stolen goods (there are lots of them in the Lesser Key of Solomon). The muggers completely coincidentally meets another, very nasty mugger who robs *them*, or somebody breaks into their hideout and takes the goods.

The Mage fan asks:

What sort of deals would a Goetic make with the various creatures?

Anders Sandberg answers:

Depends a bit on what he wants. My player's character has made deals with demons about the different Spheres (which explains his foci). For example, in exchange for the ability to see any place he mentions in High German (Correspondence 2, focus language), the mage lights three bonfires at Midsummer Night around the city in a triangle, thus giving the spirit free reign during the night.

Some typical deals:

Simple rotes or effects like above (being able to see into the Umbra, throw electrical sparks) can be supplied by lesser spirits, angels and demons for small sacrifices or services. Typical examples are the bonfires above, sacrificing a mouse each Tuesday or praying for the spirit each full moon. The effects are mostly roleplaying (explains foci, sphere effects etc.) but could be expanded by clever mages and Storytellers.

Another practical type of deal is having a spirit protect you, appear or have its powers at your command (it's the spirit that is doing the work, so you don't have to have the necessary spheres). For example, the mage might get an angel to follow him and protect him from harm for a certain time, in exchange for certain services (like burning frankincense and praying for an equal time). Elementals can be very useful.

Even more powerful deals are possible, like having the Lord of Fire give you the ability to breathe fire in exchange for burning down a house for each time but smart mages avoid such deals. If the being the mage makes a deal with is much more powerful (and the mage obviously can't do the effects himself) the price goes up, and the mage becomes more dependent. Especially demons have a tendency to make the mage completely tied to them.

Another type of good deal is teaching. Many spirits are excellent teachers (although their formalism might be a bit odd) and could perhaps be used. Angels are probably the best bet here and some of the more amicable demons like Vassago.

Other beings to make deals with are kindred, who can be quite good allies (and dangerous allies too but if you're used to demons...). Goetic mages can probably make nice blood-pacts with them, especially the Tremere (they lend you De Vermiis Mysteriis in exchange of your help in sending demons against the Prince...).

Elementals are good at physical services, control of the Pattern Spheres but bad at more advanced problems. Demons have varied and versatile powers but are slightly unreliable. Angels are more specialized but often demand rather much to help. Ghosts can behave as they like but are excellent sources of information. Faeries are very unpredictable but if you control them, you have great opportunities.

The important thing about deals is that each part has something the other wants (or think they want). Sometimes one side doesn't really want or need the payment from the other side but accepts anyway to make sure they stay on good terms or in contact. And both parts are trying to get off as cheaply as possible while gaining the most. There is an excellent description of this in the Vampire Storytellers Guide, in the chapter about Boons.

The Mage fan asks:

Do Goetics see all the Spheres as related to spirits? If they do, how do they deal with the ones besides Matter and Forces?

Anders Sandberg answers:

Goetics do not treat all spheres as spiritual, since they use a rather medieval paradigm. However, all spheres have their spirits. Correspondence is about the spirits of distance, perception and travel (Correspondence 3: summon a spirit which sends you to your destination). Entropy is about the little spirits which gnaw on everything, causing decay and putrefaction. Life is about the living beings, which are really embodied spirits (or composed of "body elementals"). Matter and Forces are filled with elementals. Mind is from a Goetic perspective the realm of disembodied spirits and how the mage can use them or do what they do (like possess people). Prime is about the primal force from God, which is mediated and controlled by angels. Using Time consists of summoning spirits with the power of showing past and future or even moving things through time. All in all, all spheres can be viewed as mediated by spirits.