Houses of Hermes is a supplement published by Wizards of the Coast in 1994 for the third edition of the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica .
Houses of Hermes is a supplement published by Wizards of the Coast in 1994 for the third edition of the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica .
Houses of Hermes describes the twelve major houses of wizards that together form the Order of Hermes. Each house is dealt with in detail, including its origins and history, and notable personalities. A plot connected to each house is described, and several story hooks are also provided. The book also details new spells and abilities from each house. In addition, the general system of apprenticeship that all the houses use is described. [1]
The first edition of Ars Magica was designed by Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen and published in 1987 by Lion Rampant. In 1991, Lion Rampant merged with White Wolf Magazine to form White Wolf Game Studio, [2] which produced a greatly expanded third edition. In 1994, Wizards of the Coast was interested in buying a role-playing game system that could be updated and expanded, and asked designer Jonathan Tweet about Ars Magica. As game historian Shannon Appelcline described it in the 2014 book Designers & Dragons: The '90s, "Wizards consulted with Tweet, and after some thought, he recommended the purchase — which was completed around January 1994." [3]
While Tweet worked on a revised fourth edition of Ars Magica for WotC, he also designed for them Houses of Hermes, a 152-page softcover book with additional contributions by Aron Anderson. Interior illustrations were by Liz Danforth, John T. Snyder, Mark Tedin, Susan Van Camp, and Eric Hotz, and the cover art was by Rob Alexander. [1] And although the cover of Houses of Hermes was subtitled "A Sourcebook for Ars Magica 4th Edition", the game mechanics described in it are for White Wolf's 3rd edition. [1] As Appelcline noted, "Ironically, the game that Tweet co-created would end up being one of Wizard's least supported lines, with just two books: Houses of Hermes (1994) and Lion of the North (1994). Nonetheless, Wizards did make a very permanent mark on the Ars Magica line. They put together a massive, cleaned-up, and codified fourth edition. They just never published it." [3] :137
In the September 1995 edition of Dragon (Issue #221), Rick Swan liked the fact that this book "downplays dreary historical summaries in favor of engaging profiles of master magicians [...] The characters make great adversaries and advisors." Swan was also pleased by "the intriguing sidebars", saying that they "supply referees with adventure hooks galore." [4]
Ars Magica is a role-playing game set in 'Mythic Europe' - a historically grounded version of Europe and the Levant around AD 1200, with the added conceit that conceptions of the world prevalent in folklore and institutions of the High Middle Ages are factual reality. The players' involvement revolves around an organization of magi and their allies and foes both mundane and supernatural. The game was originally developed by Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen, with its first edition published in 1987.
Jonathan Tweet is an American game designer from Rock Island, Illinois who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta, the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons and 13th Age, and the collectible miniatures game Dreamblade. In 2015 Tweet released Grandmother Fish, a full-color, full-sized book about evolution aimed at preschoolers. In 2018 Tweet released Clades and Clades Prehistoric, two card games for children and adults which demonstrate the concept of a clade.
Mark Rein-Hagen ,stylized as Mark Rein•Hagen is an American role-playing, card, video and board game designer best known as the creator of Vampire: The Masquerade and its associated World of Darkness games. Along with Jonathan Tweet, he is also one of the original two designers of Ars Magica.
The Draconomicon is the title for several optional sourcebooks for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game mechanics for dragons specifically. Different Draconomicon books have been issued for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of the Dungeons & Dragons game. The Latin-inspired name of the books loosely translates as "Book of Dragon Names".
The Order of Hermes is a supplement published by Lion Rampant in 1990 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
Lisa Stevens is an American editor, CEO and founder of Paizo Publishing, and COO of Goblinworks. She announced her gradual retirement from her role in June 2020.
Lion Rampant was a tabletop game publishing company from 1987 to 1990. Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen founded the company, and Lisa Stevens joined as the editor. They published Ars Magica, a roleplaying game about wizards in the Middle Ages, plus support material for the game. In addition, they published Whimsy Cards, which introduced freeform dramatic elements to a roleplaying session. In 1990, Lion Rampant merged with White Wolf Publishing.
Stewart Douglas Wieck was one of the founders of the publishing company, White Wolf, Inc. He was also one of the original writers of Mage: The Ascension.
John A. Nephew is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Ken Cliffe is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games. He is known primarily as the author and developer for the third edition of Ars Magica, and as co-author and developer of the Trinity, Hunter: The Reckoning and "new" (2004) World of Darkness role-playing games.
Thomas A. Dowd is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Nicole Lindroos is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Teeuwynn Woodruff is a writer and game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games, TV writing and interviewing, and trading card games.
Geoffrey C. Grabowski is a role-playing game designer and writer, known primarily as line developer for the 1st edition of the Exalted RPG for White Wolf games from 2001 through 2006. He was described as the "guiding force" of the first edition.
Faeries is a supplement for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica first published by White Wolf Publishing in 1991, and by Wizards of the Coast in 1995.
Covenants is a supplement published by White Wolf Publishing in 1990 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
GURPS Vampire: The Masquerade is a licensed adaptation of White Wolf Publishing's horror role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade, written by Jeff Koke and published by Steve Jackson Games in 1993 for the third edition of their GURPS rules.
Whimsy Cards is a 1987 role-playing game supplement published by Lion Rampant.
Tales of the Dark Ages is a collection of adventures published under license by Atlas Games in 1990 for Lion Rampant's fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
The Sorcerer's Slave is an adventure released under license by Atlas Games in 1987 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica published by Lion Rampant.