Resources (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)
Definition
Resources represent a mage's financial assets, regular income, and access to material goods. From a studio apartment and a bus pass to a mansion and a private jet, Resources determine the material comfort and logistical capability available to a character. Money cannot buy enlightenment, but it can buy the tools, space, and time needed to pursue it. In the Ascension War, Resources provide practical advantages that magick alone cannot always replicate. Renting a safehouse, purchasing rare components for foci, funding travel to distant Nodes, equipping a laboratory, and bribing mortal officials all require money. Mages without Resources must spend time on mundane survival that could otherwise go toward magical development.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Can I use magick to generate Resources?
Matter and Entropy can theoretically create wealth, but this is vulgar magick that generates Paradox. More practically, Mind or Entropy can improve business dealings coincidentally. The Storyteller determines what is coincidental versus vulgar in economic magick.
What happens if I lose my Resources?
Resources can decrease through story events like theft, legal trouble, or economic collapse. Losing Resources forces the mage to adjust their lifestyle and may limit their ability to fund magical operations. Rebuilding Resources requires time and effort.