In the Mage timeline, though, there was a crucial event which splitted history in two: Renaissance. It was then that the whole world started believing in science and it's apparent limitless capacities. It was then when people started removing some attributes which made the world turn from God, and it was then when the church started the most brutal prosecution against "pagans": Inquisition.

This is a book about the clash between 3 forces: Faith, Science and Magick. And as the Mage storyline goes, it's the perfect moment to play a Mage.


A time of wonder and reason   February 27, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The Sorcerers Crusade is a fine book, which contains everything you need to get a Renaissance game going. The Traditions and the Order of Reason are both given equal treatment. It is interesting to see the Order of Reason before they got reorganized into the Technocratic Union. This was a time when their paradigm was not as accepted as miracles and traditional D&D-style spell craft.

This book is more thorough than the second edition of Mage the Ascension. Not only does it provide a lot of examples and explanations for spells, and rituals, it also cleared up a lot of the limitations and potentials for the various spheres.

Even though there are already party lines, the rules make it possible to have both Traditional and Technocratic magi working together. It is a time of reorganization and both parties are trying to find their destinies. In fact, the reader will follow the experiences of a Celestial Chorus member and a member of the Hippocratic Circle throughout the book. The idea of same goals through different methods was stressed.

The time period seemed to be the ideal setting for Mage. Not only are their so many possibilities in terms of new ideas and beliefs, the age of exploration in the high seas, the skies, the unknown continents, as well as the Void are all available for curious magi and their associates.

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Mage. It is a very complete work and has vital information for storytellers and players who want to use the Renaissance setting. Whether you have an interest in high artisans, explorers, knights, shamans, witches, alchemists, there is something here for you.


This book is the way Mage was meant to be played.   May 29, 1998
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Mage: TSC is an excellenct game, and a good book to boot. I've read the 2nd editon of Mage, but found it's magic system to be confusing and the Technocracy to be a somewhat weak enemy. But in Mage: TSC all this is fixed. The magic system is explained much better, with example spells, and the sources of confilct are infintely more interesting and real. The power wielded by mages is also greatly increased, due to the fact that most magic is considered casual, and therefore not vain. I find this to be one of my favorite games ever. There are a few minor problems. One is the almost complete lack of Merits and Flaws. Another problem, related to the first, is that there is some dependence on the supplementals, which detracts from the game some. My only other problem, minor as it is, is the glossary. It is completely unhelpful. But all things considered none of these things seriously detracts from the game at all. This is a great game.