Rote Creator

Design mechanically valid, thematically rich rotes for M20.

What is a Rote?

A rote is a magical effect practiced and refined to the point where it can be performed identically every time. Benefits over improvised magick:

• Roll Attribute + Ability instead of Arete
• More consistent results
• Defined mechanical parameters

Creation Workflow

1. Clarify Intent

What effect does the mage want to achieve? Be specific about scope, target, and duration.

2. Determine Sphere Requirements

Query mage-rules-reference for guidance:

# What Spheres for a standard effect?
python lookup.py references/common-effects.json "Telepathy"

# What can Forces 3 do?
python lookup.py references/sphere-levels.json "Forces"

# Find effects involving a Sphere
python lookup.py references/common-effects.json --find "Life"

Sphere Level Guidelines:

• 1 (Initiate): Perception, sensing
• 2 (Apprentice): Minor manipulation, self/willing targets
• 3 (Disciple): Significant effects, affect others, temporary patterns
• 4 (Adept): Major transformations, permanent effects
• 5 (Master): Create from nothing, large-scale, perfect control

3. Assign Practice

Select a Practice fitting the mage's paradigm. Query associations:

# What abilities work with this Practice?
python lookup.py references/practice-abilities.json "High Ritual Magick"

# What practices does this faction use?
python lookup.py references/faction-practices.json "Virtual Adepts"

The mage's Practice rating must ≥ highest Sphere level in the rote.

4. Design Execution

• Choose instruments fitting the Practice
• Describe how the rote is performed
• Consider paradigmatic explanation

5. Determine Dice Pool

Select Attribute + Ability where:

• Ability is associated with the chosen Practice
• Combination makes sense for the effect

Common patterns:

• Perception effects: Perception + Awareness
• Combat effects: Dexterity + Ability or Wits + Ability
• Ritual effects: Intelligence + Occult/Esoterica
• Social effects: Manipulation + Expression/Subterfuge

6. Calculate Rote Cost

Cost = Total Sphere dots

Example: Life 3, Prime 2 = 5 points

• Characters begin with 6 points of rotes
• Additional: 4 Freebie Points or 3 XP per point
• Learning from teacher/grimoire: Half cost (requires source rating > highest Sphere)

7. Assess Paradox Risk

• Coincidental: Explainable by Sleeper logic, minimal risk
• Vulgar without witnesses: Moderate risk
• Vulgar with Sleeper witnesses: High risk

Provide guidance on making effects more coincidental when possible.

8. Write Description

See references/output-template.md for format.

Validation Checklist

• Sphere levels match effect scope (not over/under-powered)
• Practice is appropriate to paradigm
• Ability is associated with chosen Practice
• Dice pool makes sense for the action
• Paradox assessment is accurate
• Foci fit the tradition
• Effect doesn't obsolete existing canon rotes without reason

Key Principles

Balance First: Useful without being game-breaking

Paradigm Matters: A Virtual Adept's hack looks nothing like a Verbena's nature working achieving the same end

Avoid Sphere Creep: Don't require more Spheres than necessary

Simple Effects Stay Simple: Don't overengineer basic magic

Conjunctional Effects

When combining Spheres:

• Primary Sphere determines the main effect
• Secondary Spheres extend reach, add properties, or enable the effect
• Highest Sphere level sets the baseline difficulty
• More Spheres = more versatile but higher cost

Common conjunctions:

• Correspondence + X: Affect at distance
• Prime 2 + X: Create patterns, add aggravated damage
• Time 4 + X: Trigger effects, delay effects
• Spirit 3 + X: Affect across Gauntlet