Mage: The Ascension Revised Edition (limited)

The Revised Edition of Mage: The Ascension, advancing the Mage metaplot into the Final Nights setting and introducing the Avatar Storm and the end of the Ascension War.

Summary
Reality Overthrown!

''Their heritage is magic, their quest truth. They lead humanity to the far horizon and beyond. They are mages, the inventors of sorcery, science and faith. For centuries they have battled to define existence and lead humanity to an enlightened age. Now, in an age when technology is humanity’s magic, the magicians of yesteryear’s mystic Traditions fight for survival and the key to the cosmos itself — Ascension.''

Choose Your Truth

''The new edition of Mage: The Ascension redefines the mature, modern, mystic roleplaying game for the new millennium. Dedicated Mage fans have followed the game for years, and we want to pay tribute to you with a deluxe version of the new edition — the ultimate copy of Mage: The Ascension. This limited, prestige edition is hardbound with a leatherette cover and gold–foil designs, and a purple cloth bookmark to keep your place in this tome of mastery. This book is also bound in a high–quality slipcase with a lavishly illustrated Mage art book! Only a few of these stunning sets will be printed, and then they’ll be gone — forever.''

Prologue: Through a Darkened Mirror
Opening fiction. A newly Awakened mage is initiated in the ways of the Traditions and introduced to the realities of the Ascension War.

Introduction
A brief introduction to the world of Mage and the nature of its protagonists, a guide to using the rulebook, and a brief list of inspirational literature and film.

Chapter One: A World of Darkness
An overview of the World of Darkness and the place of mages within it, and a lexicon of mage terminology.

Chapter Two: The Traditions
Details of the mystical Traditions which form the Council of Nine, as well as the Hollow Ones craft.

Chapter Three: Character and Traits
Character creation rules.

Chapter Four: The Spheres
The abstract and practical applications of Awakened magic, as practised through an understanding of the nine Spheres. Also details the effects of Paradox.

Chapter Five: Rules
The basic rules of the Storyteller System.

Chapter Six: Systems and Drama
More advanced rules for unusual situations.

Chapter Seven: A History of the Ascension War
A very broad history of the history of the Awakened and the struggle between the Council and the Technocracy, including the current state of play in the Final Nights.

Chapter Eight: Storytelling
Advice on running a Mage chronicle.

Chapter Nine: Antagonists
Traits and information for various individuals, organisations, creatures and other threats to modern mages.

Appendix
Optional rules for Merits and Flaws.

Epilogue: Striding Forth into the Final Days
Fiction. Diary entries from Akashic Brother Dominic LeTarry, detailing his Awakening and the disappearance of his sifu, probably as a result of the Avatar Storm.

Background Information
The Revised edition of Mage purposefully made the game much darker and grittier, declaring the Ascension War all but lost to the Technocracy, and removing all the most powerful Council mages through the device of the Avatar Storm, which also made it much more difficult for mages to travel through the Umbra. These changes were met with a divided fan reaction.

The Revised edition also formalised a rule system for dealing with Resonance, and abandoned the variant spelling "magick" which was previously used to denote Awakened magic.