Mage: The Podcast

Joseph Aleo started Mage the Podcast because no Mage podcasts existed. That was almost a year ago and only now has he actually gotten to play. How did it go? What was his character? Is "Joseph" just a front for something more sinister? Also find out how Joseph got his start in broadcasting and some ways in which you can roleplay the apocalypse. Grant Morrison's the Invisibles SoundCloud Rap Scene 6ix9ine XXXTentacion Pirate radio Fresh Air with Terry Gross Other Podcasts 25 years of VTM Walking Away from Arcadia Mage the Ascension Facebook group Other Books The Road by Cormac Maccarthy Soft Apocalypse by WIll Mcintosh Neuromancer by William Gibson Other Systems Fate Powered by the Apocalypse 

The Akashic Brotherhood has a storied history both in game and out of game. These experts in the Mind sphere were also inspired by the Hong Kong action films of the 70s through 90s and turn their bodies into Awakened weapons. Find out how this Tradition was brought to life as  Adam Simpson brings his expertise and Terry Robinson brings his ignorance to the question of "how do the Akashics line up with actual East Asian practices?"  Adam also provides a reading list that the book didn't all the while Terry nods faking like he knows what's going on. Notes! Zen koans Daoism Akashic Brotherhood section of Anders Mage page Deleted content from the Akashic Brotherhood Hand cheese with music Wuxia fiction Meditations by Marcus Aurelius The Book of Five Rings  Adam's Reading List Te-Tao Ching by Lao-Tau translated by Robert G. Henricks - The Modern Library 1993 ISBN 0-679-60060-4 There are many translations available but this one makes use of more recent archaeological finds in the 1970s and has a nice commentary.  A good place to get an overview of Akashic thinking.  Please don't confuse with the Taoist folk religions and Taoist magical traditions that came later. Chuang Tzu The Inner Chapters translated by David Hinton - Counterpoint 1998 ISBN 1-887178-79-1 A short book and rather cryptic.  This is later Taoist thought than the book above.  A great place to find odd quotes to put in the mouths of older Akashic NPCs. The 3 Pillars of Zen by Roshi Philip Kapleau - Anchor Books 1989 (1965) ISBN 0-385-26093-8 As good a book as any to get an overview of Zen thought.  If you don't have time to read the whole thing you'll still get some mileage out of the 10 Oxherding Pictures w/ Commentary at the back. Orion by Masamune Shiro - Dark Horse Comics & Studio Proteus 1994 ISBN 1-56971-019-8 Not really a good example of Akashic thought or practice but a great book for Mage and full of East Asian flavor.  If you get inspired to create an alternate technomagick based on "psycho science" you wouldn't be the first.

Mages fight for Ascension but other Night-Folk fight for the survival of the planet in the face of the corrupting Wyrm. The warriors of Gaia are the Garou or werewolves and they consider themselves the chosen to remove rot and corruption but what do they think of those that can rewrite reality? Are they slavering murder hounds, Gaia's chosen or the best lacrosse players on the earth? Well, Terry had no idea so he called in Josh Heath of Werewolf the Podcast and storyteller for both Mage and Werewolf to discuss the basics of how werewolves work and how they can fit into a Mage Chronicle Josh Heath Projects High Level Games - A firm that will help you take your ideas and turn them into games Josh on DTRPG Werewolf the Podcast  Specifically, Archons of Niku - Anthropomorphic animals fighting over things! Werewolf Terms Tribes - Group of werewolves with similar totems, agendas, and worldviews  Forms - Different things a given Garou can turn into  Fera - Other changing breeds  Rage - The primal anger that werewolves use to power their abilities  Boooks! Werewolf Core Book 20th Anniversary - Learn to play!  Rage Across the World - Whole bunch of locations plus info on the supernatural activities in each  Book of the Weaver - Outline of how technology play out in the Umbra  Axis Mundi - Big book of Umbral spirits Rage Across the Heavens - Book outlining the celestines and incarnae of the planets and the angry planet that was the asteroid belt 

The Nephandi, Marauders, infernalists, and dark Umbral entities are spoken about in hushed whispers at meetings of mages but, well, how do you use them in a chronicle?  Adam Simpson and Terry Robinson walk through The Book of Madness which vastly expanded the details and systems for the main Mage antagonists as well as the slippery concept of paradox.  Also included: an handy dandy appendix for quick reference. NOOOOOTES: Get the Book of Madness on DTRPG and support the show Terry's book A Magickal Fiasco: Full Tilt Story Creation for Mage is out on Storytellers Vault.  It's pay what you want! Terry used the term G*psy in the Euthanatos episode.  He found out it was derogatory later and says he's sorry. Redbubble Technocracy shirts are marked as adult probably because they have guns on them Terry cuts loose on why barrabus shouldn't be italicized We learn Adam's second law of storytelling: any worldview where the phrase "we need to go kill those babies" probably requires reflection Al-Aswad the Nephandic Oracle The diaeresis in zöoterrorism  Nephandi The Architect of Doom Qlippothic Magick Marauders Temple of the Raging God The Ruby Labyrinth Umbrood Umbrood Page

Mage: The Podcast with launch a Twitter Chronicle, Mage: Duplicity, in August and is headed by our teammate, Ira Grace. How do you run a Chronicle by Tweet? We’re not entirely sure but we have some ideas! Ira outlines his vision for Mage: Duplicity and how he plans to run the Chronicle. Want to play Mage: Duplicity? Of course you do! Tweet @MageStoryteller or send and email to invertedavatar@gmail.com and Ira will get you started or follow the Chronicle on Twitter by searching #DPLCTY. Show Notes Terry’s A Magickal Fiasco: Full Tilt Story Creation for Mage on the Storytellers Vault Hacking Dungeons & Dragons Exarchs Tweetstorms and threaded Tweets Mage the Ascension: Refuge as inspiration (listen to our interview with Refuge’s author, Karin Tidbeck) Asynchronous Storytelling 25 Years of Vampire: The Masquerade – A Retrospective’s Curse of Caine Chronicle (listen to our interview with the co-host, Robert Batton) The theme and setting of Mage: Duplicity in Washington D.C. Marcus Vitel, Anarch King of Washington D.C. Council of the Nine Mystic Traditions Roling up a character for the Chronicle Nordic LARPs How Twin Cities by Night’s Chris Zac runs an online Chronicle (listen to our interview with Chris Zac here and here) Powered by the Apocalypse and

Robert Batton, co-host of the 25 Years of Vampire: The Masquerade - A Retrospective podcast, has been running Vampire Chronicles from the intimate tabletop environment to the grand LARP for nearly 25 years. Recently, he’s added Mage: The Ascension to his offerings. Hear this veteran podcaster and Storyteller’s advice for your Mage Chronicle, reminders of what makes the game unique, and find out what really makes Mage the sexiest game involving wizards. Show Notes Time-Life Books’ Mysteries of the Unknown series. Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition - The current tome of Vampire. HoL: Human Occupied Landfill - If you’ve played this, then you're officially a WW fanperson. Fiasco - One end of the “how structured is your game” spectrum. Shadowrun - A cybermagic future where people are actually out at night. The collected works of Stephen King - Guy’s written a loooooot. Shadowguiding. Wraith: The Oblivion - Listen to our Worlds of Darkness: Mage/Wraith Crossovers episode. Call of Cthulhu RPG. Cthulu prop guild, Propnomicon. The Baali - Demon worshipers of Vampire. The Beast. Mage does not need a morality system as the world functions as a morality system. Mage is the game where you get to be the genie. The idea of a power structure is daunting, if you can change reality, why would you listen to anyone? If you run into a character that doesn’t know what to do, work through it with them, ask what their options are and help them pick one. If they can’t and it keeps happening, maybe it's not their game. One of the most terrifying things you can do as a Storyteller is just let a player do what they want, even if it’s overpowered without batting an eyelash and giving them the subtle knowledge that something is going to come stomp their face in.

Among the Traditions, the Verbena most understand the cycles of power of sacrifices required to keep them going. The Verbena also may know best the sting of the Inquisition and what was lost at the end of the Mythic Ages but the wheel turns and what was old is new again.  Listen in as Adam and Terry talk about where the Verbena got their start, their understanding of the founding cosmology of the World of Darkness, and how little they've changed over time. Show Notes The “mature” shirts of the Redbubble store for Mage: the Ascension Comparison to first edition in ignoring Sleeper concerns Wheel of the Year and a shared Google calendar of them List what your character can’t do Once the player has proven they've done their homework, lean on them to fill in your ignorances Cutting off the top of the roast Magic doesn't need to follow real world practice The Egyptian Book of the Dead Valdaermen from Dark Ages: Mage Cernunnos as mentioned in Adam’s Adventure Ideas Tradition Book: Verbena (1st Edition) Traditions Gathered: Blood and Dreams Mage: The Sorcerers Crusade’s Witches and Pagans Big Book o' Lilith Revelations of the Dark Mother The Asatru Baphomet Anders Mage Page 2.0 Verbena Our executive producers a

Mark Hope discusses street level games: what street level games are, how to make your game a success and resources you can use to bring your game to life. Show Notes Hidden Lore’s alternate combat system and sample setting. Destiny’s Price’s use of street life, street culture, crime, gutter magick, settings, characters and gear. Initiates of the Art’s exploration of the Awakening, day-to-day life, rote, merits and flaws. Tales of Magick: Dark Adventure’s high-octane, high-adventure. Bitter Road is great for newly established mages. M20 Gods & Monsters is perfect for kids you might meet on the street, Umbrood, Night Folk, etc. Orphans Survival Guide is the one book you should read for your street level game and is chock full of useful information! Outcasts: A Players Guide to Pariahs explores the outcasts of the World of Darkness such as the vampire Caitiffs, werewolf Garou Ronin and the Hollow Ones. Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition Quickstart includes information not in M20 such as the Bridge Troll Cabal. Damnation City which details real-wold cities, how cities grow, NPCs and hot pursuit flowcharts. The Technocracy Convention books have great sample locations. The Laws of Ascension LARP guide has information you can use jet never appears in the Mage RPG. Book of Mirrors: Mage Storytellers Handbook. Photo by Muhammad Nafay. Become a supporter of Mage: The Podcast. Our executive producers are: Richard “Bat” Brewster Ira Grace Michael Parker Contact us at magethepodcast@gmail.com with feedback and comments and please help extend the reach of the show by sharing it with friends. Subscribe to Mage: The Podcast on

Adam Simpson interviews Mage fan Paul Strack about his involvement with the early online fan community for World of Darkness, an example of tiered play and blending Mage: The Ascension with Mage: The Awakening rules. Show Notes World of Darkness news groups and moderators “The Umbra” by Paul Strack Anders Mage Page 2.0 Demographics in Mage Tiered play Playing one’s self in the World of Darkness Early days of the World of Darkness online fan community Writing for Anders Mage Page What makes Mage: The Awakening rules appealing Playing a Chronicle set in Mage: The Ascension using Mage: The Awakening rules Mage Translation Guide Become a supporter of Mage: The Podcast. Our executive producers are Richard “Bat” Brewster and Ira Grace. Contact us at magethepodcast@gmail.com with feedback and comments and please help extend the reach of the show by sharing it with friends. Subscribe to Mage: The Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and TuneIn. Follow us on Twitter @magethepodcast

The Euthanatoi have been with the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions since its founding but are they misunderstood tenders of the wheel or death dealers with alien morality? Claimed by some to be half-Nephandi and others to be the Fallen's greatest enemy, Adam and Terry discuss the tension within the Euthanatoi and between it and the rest of the Council. Show Notes Why do the Traditions use a standard court setup What is a Hunga Munga? ...and what is a garrote? What happened to the House of Helekar and the Consanguinity of Eternal Joy? Who is Senex? Who hates the Nephandi the most? How much does this book rewrite Euthanatos in first edition Mage? How do the Thuggee Cults bear on the Tradition? How about world traditions of Metempsychosis and Gilgul? Book of Chantries episode Book of Chantries Madness, Denial, and Morbidity episode Dirty Secrets of the Black Hand V20 The Black Hand: A Guide to the Tal’Mahe’Ra Ends of Empire Our executive producers are Richard “Bat” Brewster and Ira Grace. Contact us at magethepodcast@gmail.com with feedback and comments and please help extend the reach of the show by sharing it with friends. Subscribe to Mage: The Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and TuneIn. Follow us on Twitter @magethepodcast