Editing Ars Magica (section)

==Reception==
[[Stewart Wieck]] reviewed ''Ars Magica'' for ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #11, rating it 10 out of 10 overall, and stated that "I really don't think I can praise 'Ars Magica' highly enough. This is simply one of those games that you must get."<ref name="WW11">{{Cite magazine |last= Wieck|first= Stewart|author-link= Stewart Wieck|date=1988 |title= Review: Ars Magica|magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=11|pages= 64 |url=https://imgur.com/a/SJpBJCy}}</ref>

In the December 1988 edition of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' (Issue 140), [[Ken Rolston]] was effusive in his praise, calling ''Ars Magica'' "a distinctive, original, and intriguing treatment of magic for fantasy role-playing games... earnest, colorful, and meticulous in its development of a magic system with a plausible, coherent rationale. Its attempts to integrate this magic into a historical context are persuasive, and the game master notes and staging tips are wonderfully perceptive." Rolston concluded, "This is the most interesting and original fantasy role-playing system and setting I've seen in a long time."<ref name=dragon180>{{cite journal|last=Rolston|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Rolston| date=December 1988 |title=Role-playing reviews|journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]]|issue=140|pages=88}}</ref>

Six months later, Rolston revisited ''Ars Magica'' for a more in-depth review in the July 1989 edition of ''Dragon''. Rolston noted that "the quality of writing, editing, and presentation is first-class", and he admired the "storyguide" system of role-playing: "This emphasis on the dramatic and narrative elements of role-playing produces some distinctive and thought-provoking perspectives on commonly accepted conventions of role-playing gaming." Although Rolston gave good marks for the game mechanics, character creation system and combat rules, he was especially drawn to the magic, which he said "has elegant tone and atmosphere." He also liked the quasi-historical medieval setting. He concluded with strong recommendation: "The ''Ars Magica'' game features an original and exciting game system, a coherent and satisfying treatment of magic, a convenient and imaginative exploitation of a historical medieval setting, and an explicit and appealing presentation of a role-playing style that emphasizes the common development of the setting, narrative, and PC-group activity over the personal expression of the individual PC."<ref name=dragon187>{{cite journal|last=Rolston|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Rolston| date=July 1989 |title=Role-playing reviews|journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]]|issue=147|pages=63–69}}</ref>

In the March 1989 edition of ''[[Games International]]'' (Issue #3), Paul Mason believed that this game "truly encourages joint creativity." He also admired the game mechanics based around single rolls of a ten-sided die, although he found the rules added some unnecessary complications. He suggested that "combat was the weakest part of the game", finding the game mechanics were too "war-gamey". But he called the magic system "the centrepiece of the game." He concluded by giving this game an above-average rating of 4 out of 5, saying, "If you're looking for a new game to take you away from mechanics and 20th century rationalizations, back into the lands of mystery and enchantment, then this is it."<ref name=gi>{{cite magazine|last=Mason|first=Paul| date=March 1989 |title=General Games|journal=[[Games International]]| issue=3|pages=42–43}}</ref>

In the October–November 1989 edition of ''[[Space Gamer]]'' (Vol. II, Issue 2), J.M. Caparula  commented that "In the end, ''Ars Magica'' is a superb roleplaying game, one that furthers the gaming art in a positive direction."<ref name="SG">{{cite journal|last=Caparula|first=J.M. |date=October–November 1989|title=The Art of Storytelling: A review of Lion Rampant's ''Ars Magica'' (Second Edition)|journal=[[Space Gamer]]|publisher=[[3W (company)|World Wide Wargames]]|volume=2|issue=2|pages=46–47}}</ref>

In the February–March 1990 edition of ''[[Games International]]'' (Issue 13), Dave Morris applauded the change in the second edition from four types of dice rolls — something he had initially complained about in the first edition — to only two types of dice rolls. He also admired the re-organization of the magic system, and pointed out that rather than a sample scenario often found in other RPGs, ''Ars Magic'' offered a sample setting. Morris called this "a more productive inclusion in the main book than a scenario." He concluded by giving the second edition an excellent rating of 9 out of 10, saying, "it's worth buying for the ideas and the imaginative vision of its authors, even if you don't plan to play it."<ref name=ad>{{cite magazine|last=Morris|first=Dave| date=February–March 1990|title=Ars Magica 2nd edition|journal=[[Games International]]| issue=13|pages=41}}</ref>

[[Stewart Wieck]] reviewed the revised edition of ''Ars Magica'' in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #19 (Feb./March, 1990), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "The only other fantasy game which so thoroughly takes advantage of the art of role-playing is ''Pendragon'' by Chaosium. ''Ars Magica'' owes something to ''Pendragon'', but the unique setting and beautiful magic system of ''Ars Magica'' truly sets it apart from all the rest."<ref name="WW19">{{Cite magazine |last=Wieck|first=Stewart |authorlink=Stewart Wieck |date=February–March 1990 |title= Capsule Reviews |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=19 |pages= 52–53 |url=https://imgur.com/a/d5coYAg}}</ref>

In his 1990 book ''[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]]'', game critic [[Rick Swan]] liked the extensive magic system, but thought "The game's biggest flaw is its combat system, which is far too complicated for an RPG that downplays physical encounters." Swan concluded by giving the game a rating of 3.5 out of 4, saying, "Though the magic rules are fascinating, they're probably too sophisticated for newcomers. But for experienced players, ''Ars Magica'' is one terrific product; this is wizardly role-playing at its finest."<ref name=swan>{{cite book | last =Swan  | first =Rick | author-link=Rick Swan |title =[[The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games]] | publisher =St. Martin’s Press | date =1990 | location =New York | pages =35–36}}</ref>

Matthew Gabbert reviewed ''Ars Magica'' 3rd edition in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #39 (1994), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "One thing that pleases me about the new edition is that it doesn't make all the previous sourcebooks obsolete. Your investment in older ''Ars Magica'' products hasn't been wasted. If you've never tried the system, this edition is a wonderful way to start."<ref name="WW39">{{Cite magazine |last=Gabbert |first=Matthew |date=1994|title=Capsule Reviews |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=39 |page=66 |url=https://imgur.com/a/gao1LxS}}</ref>

In a 1996 reader poll conducted by ''Arcane'' magazine to determine the 50 most popular roleplaying games of all time, ''Ars Magica'' was ranked 19th. Editor Paul Pettengale commented: "This is a fantasy game for the thinking player – although there's plenty of scope for action, too. A first success for Jonathan Tweet and Mark Rein-Hagen, who both went on to even bigger things, ''Ars Magica'' includes one of the most flexible, highly-regarded magic systems in the roleplaying hobby. The game, which places heavy emphasis on storytelling, is extremely popular with fans who have followed its troubled history through four different publishers. With Atlas just about to produce a new edition, those fans are currently feeling suitably optimistic."<ref name="Arcane14">{{cite journal|last= Pettengale|first=Paul|date= Christmas 1996 |title=Arcane Presents the Top 50 Roleplaying Games 1996|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=14|pages=25–35}}</ref>