Totem

Overview

• Found In: M20 page 326
• In Character Generation: Purchased as standard Background at double cost, see below.
• Available To: Mages.
• After Character Generation: New Wonders may be acquired through IC play, existing Wonders may not be improved.
• Purchasable When Becoming: No
• Limitations: A rating of 5 is the maximum.

Totem is a Background one can read more about in the M20 core.

In Character Generation

Totem is a standard Background bought with Background dots, Freebies, and Starting XP, at double cost (2 Background Points per dot, 2 Freebies per dot, 6 x current level XP per dot).

If a Mage has Totem, they need a note named "totem" with the following information:

• Spirit: What spirit is this? Valid answers range from specific examples from the WoD canon ("a pattern spider") to the conceptual ("the platonic ideal of ...").
• Communication: How does this spirit communicate with the mage?
• Appearance: What does this spirit look like when it manifests?
• Ability: Pick an ability that is resonant with this spirit's nature (an ability which you have a rating of 1 or more in). This ability will be granted to the mage in dice rolls concerning that ability. For each dot in Totem, the mage may gain +1 to that affinity ability OR gain from the Wisdom benefit (below).
• Wisdom: For each dot in Totem, the mage may gain +1 in Cosmology (OR benefit from the Ability benefit, above).
• Totem Mark: How does your Mage's relationship with the Totem impact your mage? . People who work with spirits will be able to spot the totem's connection to your shaman with a successful Perception + Awareness roll. For example, someone with "Fog" as a totem may be Marked by an unsettling silence.

After Character Generation

One's relationship with their Totem may be improved, or a Totem may be acquired the following ways:

• Staff Run Scenes: Put in a +request describing your goal! Tell us what your goal is and how your character is going to get started in pulling it off. The storyteller will coordinate with you. Once you achieve your goal, you request staff to update your sheet.
• PRPs: Have someone else run a PRP for you. The PRP runner needs to submit a request to have it approved but once it's approved they may run it. Once your goal is achieved, you and the PRP runner tell staff about it so we can review it, and then we will update your sheet.

When acquiring a stat through role play, you must still pay with XP.

Don't forget about Karma! Whether you are getting something through PRP or Staff run scenes, when you pay 10 Karma you can buy a story beat that puts your character into a favorable position that makes whatever your goal is easier. A storyteller will hook you up with a story beat. Your success is not guaranteed, but you will have the wheels nice and greasy.