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A troupe system is a way of playing role-playing games in which a group of players takes different roles at different times. The term was coined in Ars Magica, where it referred to each player using multiple characters and, crucially, sharing a pool of characters held in common by the entire group (referred to as the "troupe"). [1] [2]
In Ars Magica, the troupe's characters all belong to a single Covenant - a small group dedicated to the study and utilization of the magical arts. Each player's primary character is their Magus, one of the wizards who form the core of the Covenant. Each player also creates a Companion, a "skilled person who aids magi but is not necessarily in their pay." Finally the group (or troupe) as a whole creates a number of Grogs, mercenaries and other servants hired by the magi. [1]
A typical session of Ars Magica features one player running their Magus while the other players take on the role of either a Companion or Grog. The Grogs are a communal asset, and, thus, over the course of several sessions the same grog may be played by several different players. [1]
The Ars Magica rulebooks also provide for a single player taking on "secondary roles" and playing multiple characters simultaneously (a Magus and their Companion, for example, or multiple Grogs). It is also noted that, "since players switch characters, it is easy to switch storyguides from story to story as well." [1] neither of these features, however, is considered the primary defining trait of "troupe-style play", although they are common features in many Ars Magica campaigns. [3]
Troupe-style play can also be found in other role-playing games, such as Circle of Hands, (which actually prohibits any player from playing the same character two sessions in a row), [4] and Shock: Human Contact, a science fiction game which starts with a session on a research ship, then a session on a colony, and then additional sessions where characters can be selected from either location. [5]
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.
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place. Usually a campaign setting is designed for a specific game or a specific genre of game. There are numerous campaign settings available both in print and online. In addition to published campaign settings available for purchase, many game masters create their own settings, often referred to as "homebrew" settings or worlds.
Geneforge is a series of demoware role-playing video games by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS systems. There are five games in the series: Geneforge , Geneforge 2, Geneforge 3, Geneforge 4: Rebellion, and Geneforge 5: Overthrow. As with all Spiderweb Software titles, graphics and sound are limited because they are not the main focus of the game.
A character sheet is a record of a player character in a role-playing game, including whatever details, notes, game statistics, and background information a player would need during a play session. Character sheets can be found in use in both traditional and action role-playing games. Almost all role-playing games make use of character sheets in some fashion; even "rules-light" systems and freeform role-playing games record character details in some manner.
Magic systems in games are the rules, limitations, abilities, and characteristics that define magic in a game.
The Order of Hermes is a fictional mystical group of wizards in the role-playing game Ars Magica by Atlas Games, set in Mythic Europe.
The Order of Hermes is a supplement published by Lion Rampant in 1990 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
A statistic in role-playing games is a piece of data that represents a particular aspect of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a (unitless) integer or, in some cases, a set of dice.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica, also known simply as Madoka Magica, is a Japanese anime television series created by Magica Quartet; and animated by Shaft. The story follows a group of middle school girls, led by protagonist Madoka Kaname, who make supernatural contracts to become magical girls. In battling surreal enemies known as "witches", they learn of the anguish and peril associated with their new roles. The first ten episodes of the series aired on TBS and MBS between January and March 2011, while the final two episodes were delayed until April of the same year due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Madoka Kaname is the title character of the 2011 Japanese anime television series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Madoka is a kind and gentle 14-year-old girl who initially lives a normal and happy life, but is then faced with the decision of becoming a magical girl. She aspires to become a magical girl after witnessing her senior classmate Mami Tomoe fighting against surreal monsters known as witches in order to protect people. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, Madoka appears as a magical girl and fights with her friends against new monsters known as nightmares. She appears in most Puella Magi Madoka Magica related-media, including manga, novels and video games.
Sayaka Miki is a fictional character from the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. A girl with a strong sense of justice and a classical music fan, Sayaka is the childhood and best friend of one of the series' protagonists, Madoka Kaname. She highly respects and admires her upperclassman Mami Tomoe, an experienced magical girl that fights for justice, and aspires to be like her. Sayaka makes a contract with the messenger of magic, Kyubey, and becomes a magical girl to heal the arms of Kyōsuke Kamijo, a boy she has been infatuated with since childhood. Sayaka has appeared in several Puella Magi Madoka Magica media, including manga, a novel adaptation of the series, and video games.
Mami Tomoe is a fictional character from the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Mami is a veteran magical girl and a third-year student at Mitakihara middle school. She acts as a mentor to Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki should they choose to become magical girls by making contract with Kyubey. Mami plays a pivotal role in the first arc of Magia Record, appearing as one of the primary antagonists.
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story is a Japanese role-playing video game developed by f4samurai for Android and iOS, which was released by Aniplex in Japan on August 22, 2017. A North American version was available from June 2019 to October 2020. The game is a spin-off of the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and features a new protagonist named Iroha Tamaki, who arrives in Kamihama City to search for her missing sister.
Kyoko Sakura is a fictional character from the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The daughter of a Protestant pastor, Kyoko is a magical girl from a poor family. Initially introduced as an aggressive and self-centered magical girl, Kyoko clashes with Sayaka Miki over their ideals of justice. As the story progresses, however, her views change and she sympathizes with Sayaka and tries to save her from despair. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, Kyoko has a friendlier personality, and fights with her fellow magical girls against surreal monsters called Nightmares. Kyoko's past and her relationship with Mami Tomoe have been explored in the manga spin-off, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story. She has appeared in several Puella Magi Madoka Magica-related media, including manga, novel adaptation and video games.
The Broken Covenant of Calebais is an adventure published by Lion Rampant in 1988 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
Covenants is a supplement published by White Wolf Publishing in 1990 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
Saga Pack is a supplement published by Lion Rampant in 1990 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
The Stormrider is an adventure published by Lion Rampant in 1989 for the fantasy role-playing game Ars Magica.
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.