Spheres in Mage: Ascension overlap each other and even the core rulebook mentions that sufficiently creative player can solve every problem using nearly any sphere (except some specific situation, like accessing Umbra always needs Spirit).
However, that said, I had encountered numerous players that use out of game knowledge to justify their effects that seem to bypass everything but common sense.
The culprit player has a hermetic mage dealing mostly with Correspondence and Forces.
Spheres in Mage: Ascension overlap each other and even the core rulebook mentions that sufficiently creative player can solve every problem using nearly any sphere (except some specific situation, like accessing Umbra always needs Spirit).
However, that said, I had encountered numerous players that use out of game knowledge to justify their effects that seem to bypass everything but common sense.
The culprit player has a hermetic mage dealing mostly with Correspondence and Forces.
Example 1: He has no knowledge of Matter, but he tries to explain that indeed he has the capability of teleporting objects (that would regularly require Correspondence 3 and Matter 2) by means of temporarily making the space around the object be shared with target space, then undoing it in a way that leaves the objects at the target.
This is ok. Correspondance 3 can open a portal, he just trades one item for the other and collapses the portal
Example 2: He has no knowledge of Life, but indeed tries to stimulate a living being movement by controlling electrical signals in nerves - observing said signals first to get an idea.
Nope, not allowed. Bioelectrical impulse is the domain of life. otherwise cascading spheres from Masters of the Art is pointless. It doesn't matter if electricity = electricity in our world, only that Life = Life and forces = forces. besides, as others have said. Bioelectricity is decidedly technocratic.
Example 3: He has no knowledge of Matter, but rationalizes that indeed matter is energy, so he tries to perform a controlled reverse annihilation reaction to create a lead coin (and an anti-coin by default, composed of antimatter).
Example 3: He has no knowledge of Matter, but rationalizes that indeed matter is energy, so he tries to perform a controlled reverse annihilation reaction to create a lead coin (and an anti-coin by default, composed of antimatter).
Nope. Again, from a rule perspective matter = matter and forces = forces. You don't get to use forces to affect matter until Sphere level 7 ( I think. I don't have my book with me). Look up cascading spheres.
Basically what he is trying to do is wiggle around the rules by using the real worlds very technocratic-esque paradigm. But the game is very clear about what affects what. To affect a living thing directly requires Life. otherwise you could create a exothermic biomass and launch it like a fireball.
Basically the actual answer is: Spheres don't overlap until you get to level 7. Anyone who says they do needs be slapped.
