User:Adora 1

When we ask you to write about your paradigm, we are less interested in what the paradigm is, but how it applies to your character. A Hermetic and a member of Iteration X may both believe in A Mechanistic Universe, but they interpret it very differently.

When you write this up, we want you to tell us how the paradigm applies to you. How your paradigm is interpreted through the lens of your Tradition, your particular faction, your character; what it means for you.

So this may be, for example

• Alexander is a proud Hermetic. He believes that reality is functionally responsive to human will in a predictable fashion, and so believes in A Mechanistic Universe. He may issue prayers to the divine or call upon the keys of reality, but he does this as he understands that reality answers to these calls – that intoning the Thirteen Sacred Names of Kisisillilake pulls on particular mythic threads and forces a particular response in turn.

• His sister, Alexandra, is a stoic member of Iteration X. She also believes in A Mechanistic Universe, but she sees this in a far more mundane fashion; that flesh bends to the steel, that practice trumps desire, and that proper procedures allow for smooth upgrading of the human form and that technology is fundamentally understandable and allows for a greater enhancing of the world around her to a fuller, stronger place to be.

Both siblings follow the same paradigm, but interpret it differently through their respective groups and mindsets. This means when you write about your paradigms, your practices, your instruments, we’re less interested in what they are, and more about why they matter to your character; how your character views them and uses them

Likewise, when you write up your Practices, focus less on what the practice is, but how your character interprets them through the lens of their Tradition. Everyone knows what a Hermetic with High Ritual is, but what does this mean for this character? To continue the examples

• Hermetic Alexander's primary Practice is Dominion. He knows that every single motion made resonates out through the universe; only by perfectly controlling the source of such emimations may the desired outcome be made whole. He believes that ultimately, it is Enlightened Will which acts as a lens through which his intentions can be made manifest, forcing reality to his will.

• His Technocratic Sister, meanwhile, also has a primary practice of Dominion. Unsurprisingly, she views it is in a far less mystical aspect. She knows that humanity is essentially a biological machine, and that by applying the correct inputs, as disgusting as that can be, she can gain the output she desires; bending others to her will and crafting change across society instead of an individual.

Finally, when writing about your Instruments, we ask that you explain

• what the Instrument is
• whether it is Universal, or for a particular Sphere
• why this is important to your Mage.

Finally, we come back to our siblings

• Alexander has the instrument Voice & Vocalizations. This is a Universal instrument. When working his magic, Alexander knows that ultimately his intent will shape the world, and so it is the raw statement of that intent which is the beginning of all magic; in his hubris, he knows that reality began with 'Let There Be Light'. And so it was.
• Unsurprisingly, Alexandra also utilises Voice & Vocalizations. This is, however, her instrument for Mind. As the primary source of input to the fleshy machines that humanity are, this allows her carefully modulated tones to reach into their mindbrains and trip the levers there.

For your writeup, then, consider the following template. For each word in bold, replace this with the name of the paradigm, practice, or instrument in question.

• Paradigm - what your Mage believes

• 1st Practice - how your mage believes magic can be wrought
• 2nd Practice - how your mage believes magic can be wrought
• 3rd Practice - how your mage believes magic can be wrought

• 1st Instrument - Sphere/Universal - How your mage uses this sphere
• 2nd Instrument - Sphere Universal - How your mage uses this sphere

... and so on.

Remember, you should have 1 paradigm, 2-3 practices, and at least 9 instruments, one for each Sphere, but we do recommend taking Universal Instruments as well.