Well, if you read P144 it says, "+6 Mentem requisite, for a very elaborate effect". So the 'why' +6 is "for a very elaborate effect". Having said this, I have a question. Is there anywhere in the book where all these 'tweaks' are listed? As many of you know one of the reasons why I like Ars 5 so much is because the magic system has been quantified in a manner that leaves little room for debate. I enjoy this because it establishes common ground and allows us to reasonable explain why a spell should be level X from game to game. This is an element previous editions lacked to a certain degree. Each older edition has a wider range of interpretation, which resulted in spells being out of balance and less common ground for people to communicate, understand, and agree upon results. Having said this, my one pet peeve with Ars5 is the wiggle room of these Magnitude Tweaks. Shadow of Human Life has +6 Met Req, for a very elaborate effect. Above it Haunt of the Living Ghost details +2 move at your command, +1 intricacy. These bug me because as far as I know they exist specific to particular spells and these mods don't exist in a clear list. Without that list, people only know them as they read the spells and discover them. Without knowledge of them, people don't use them. Furthermore even with knowledge of them, some of them are open to interpretation. For instance, while I'm prone to being conservative in spell construction and if I simply suspect something might apply I add the requisite on. I would say most people lean towards explaining why a req doesn't apply, making the spell cheaper to build and easier to cast. Such things work to their advantage. So when does one apply 'intricate'? When does one apply "elaborate effect"? Ok rant over. I'll be sane in the morning, Chuck
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