Mage Venue Style Sheet - 2003

Venue Name: Maelstrom Oasis
Chapter: Moustique Noir (Sonoma County #CA-021)
Domain: Unconquered Sun (Sonoma County)
Genre: Mage
Contact: Jason Noel
Title: VST-Mage

Place:
-Varies from Sonoma State University in Cotati, to downtown Santa Rosa, 
focused around Barnes & Nobles Bookstore/Coffee Shop and block radius of 4th 
Street, 3ed Street and Mendocino Blvd. E-mail ACST Mage for exact location 
and time.

Time:
Dates to be announced: Currently once a month, Sunday evenings 7pm - 11pm.

Directions:
-Sonoma State University Campus: 
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?mapdata=xU4YXd and 
http://www.voidworks.com/moustique_noir/mn_at_ssu.jpg
-Down Town Santa Rosa: Hwy 101 (runs North & South) to Santa Rosa. Down 
town Exit. Turn East on 3ed street. Left on Mendocino. Right on 4th Street 
to Barnes & Nobles.

Theme:
-Magickal Post Apocalyptic setting. As far as the magickal world of the 
mages goes, it got nuked in 2000. Sonoma County has become a Quintessence 
desert, with few oases. Players must search for the past, the reasons why 
their situation happened, and where to go from here. Us against them, 
rather than us against ourselves. Conspiracies within Conspiracies.

Mood:
-Fear, confusion, curiosity, survival, wonder, hope.
Someone who is paranoid is just someone who has all the facts.

Character Restrictions:
-Nodes, Wonders, Blessings, Chantries, and Backgrounds above 4 require VST 
Mage approval
-All Mentor, Ally, & Contact characters will be created as NPC's and their 
actions controlled by the VST Mage.

Proxy Rules:
-With ST approval on case by case basis. There must be someone available to 
play the character.

Travel Risks:
-For now, all mages crossing the Sonoma County Line (in or out) are drained 
of 1 Quintessence per Avatar background (strangely, this occurs exactly on 
the current legal Sonoma County line). This may only be a temporary 
phenomenon. This is not to discourage visitors. This creates a 
quintessence dessert that the characters are forced to exist within.
-The Technocracy is very prevalent in the Valley of the Moon, and wield 
strict control. As a result, in this very conservative County, reality is 
very stagnant, and Paradox is overly quick to punish violators. Because of 
this, Paradox backlashes and Paradox spirits are not uncommon. As well, 
Paradox gained from Vulgar effects are doubled (as well, this effect occurs 
exactly within the current legal Sonoma County line). This may only be a 
temporary phenomenon.

Challenges:
-We stress on the improvisational acting side of Role-playing, which is 
vastly different than the common Rule-playing. When setting up a situation 
or a scene, a character's ability to initiate a challenge, fair escape, etc, 
can be nullified. When finished, all characters will be able to react with 
everyone else.
The VST Mage may allow certain challenges to be given automatic success, or 
automatic failure to assist is fluid storytelling. This may not be used to 
kill a character, and is most often used against static challenges.

Storyteller Information:
Name: Jason Noel
Title: Venue Storyteller - Mage
Address: 953B Magnolia Ave, Petaluma, CA, 94952
E-mail: cam_mn_mage@hotmail.com

Style:
-On the front, a very casual, social game located is a mage "safe" zone.
-Very much a search for clues, puzzle solving, enigmas style game. 
Props/clues (most often in the form of index cards, sometimes CD's) may be 
placed around the physical area for players to find. This includes Tass.
-This is a Social game. Players are not always under storyteller 
supervision. There are things to do and interact with, but a character that 
likes to be alone, and/or is anti-social; they may find themselves quite 
bored.

Antagonists:
-The Technocracy is a constant threat, mostly in the form of MiB's and 
HitMarks. Nephandi are around, but are more likely to corrupt than kill.
-Other Supernaturals: Sonoma county has a large Vampiric population. 
Werewolves exist in some of the many forests in the area. Fairies are also 
said to be about.

Venue Rules:
-Additional Optional Rules used: Consensus Coincidence, Paradox Flaws, 
Paradox Realms, & Avatar filter for Orphans.
-Having the following rotes in effect do Not add to the Domino effect, as 
they are pure perception: Landscape of the Mind, Locate Disorder and 
Weakness, Quantify Energy, Life Scan, Analyze Substance, No-Mind, Watch the 
Weaving, Spirit Sight, Perfect Time.
-Paradox is actively and even aggressively enforced. Optional rules for 
Paradox Realm's or Paradox Flaws will be used only by VST Mage prerogative.
-Player Characters do not know the rules for all the powers that exist. 
Most players have read most the books, and do. Most players will say that 
they had the most fun when they did not know the precise rules of the powers 
or creatures they were interacting with. To create a fear/ respect/ wonder 
of the unknown, NPC's may have slightly modified powers, traits or 
characteristics. All PC's will adhere strictly to Camarilla and Venue 
rules.
-Any negative aspect of a character (flaws/derangement's/paradox/etc) may be 
activated by a storyteller/narrator at any time they feel appropriate. All 
flaws will eventually come into play. Flaws are flaws for a reason.
-Paradox/Quintessence gain and loss are part of a mages existence, we retain 
creative license for the gaining and losing of either.
-Cheating, deceiving, or manipulating storytellers/narrators results in 
character death by paradox.
-Player Characters are the Heroes/ Heroines of the story, and therefore NPC 
opponents may have less than normal health levels/powers. Alternately, 
major storyline NPC antagonists may have more than normal health 
levels/powers.
-We discourage PC killing PC. Being evil, wicked, bad, and nasty attracts 
Nephandi mages or their servants, and Mages can be corrupted, captured and 
turned to their side (and thus unplayable).
-Rules for Wonders & Blessings will be used by ST for unusual 
Items/Creatures/Effects/etc.
-Rules from the Garou Venue will be used in regards to Umbral Spirits.

Visiting Character/Plot Policy:
-This Venue takes places in public view. Please refrain from overly drastic 
costuming/ props, mildly drastic is encouraged however. If the Storyteller 
notices the "mundanes" taking above normal attention of you, so does the 
Technocracy.
-Reserve the right to restrict certain aspects of existing and visiting 
characters for game balance and enjoyment of the improvisational 
acting/role-playing experience for all.
-There will almost always be NPC's available to play if desired. As well, 
experienced members may be asked to play such for story-line/big scene 
purposes.
-Paradox seems to hit characters whose player causes unbalance in the game 
the hardest. See Venue Rules.
Please notify Venue storyteller 72 hours before arrival. You will have more 
fun this way. Bring character sheet and XP log signed by your ST. The 
above may be sent ahead of time as well (please).
-Bring all cards for non-standard equipment, weapons, and rotes. All must 
be signed by your ST. Rotes, Wonders, & Blessings must be clearly defined. 
The ACST Mage will define unclear wording. Descriptions of all Rotes & 
Wonders should be sent 72 hours before arrival.
See "Style" above.

Styles of Play:
1: No Content of this type,
2: Minimal (player introduced),
3: Occasional,
4: Consistent (available every game),
5: Focus of the game

Intrigue (politics & negotiation): 4,
Action (combat & challenges): 2
Mystery (enigmas & investigation): 5
Drama (ceremony & characterization): 4
Darkness (probability of player character death or corruption): 3