The mass production samples arrived, and look so amazing! We asked for just a couple packaging changes, like upgrading to double-walled individual cardboard boxes for the Definitive sets, for safer mailing from our warehouse. Things are still on track for mid-May completion, and arrival at our warehouse in June.
Previous samples included an unprinted mockup of the deluxe options (leatherette, foil, bookmarks), and separate color copy of the printed book block. This time we got everything in one … the first TOTALLY COMPLETE copy of the Ars Magica Definitive Edition core book! I thought it deserved a special reveal, so here's my video for your enjoyment: https://youtu.be/YTP-_2HGKkM
An easy $1 pledge on our new Kickstarter gets 20% OFF in our webstore! Just look for the coupon code in Backer Update #1 immediately after you pledge, to stock up on gift copies of all your favorite Atlas Games products. The Magical Kitties campaign and the webstore discount both end Thursday at 9pm Central, so don't wait!
Magical Kitties Save the Day is the whimsical tabletop RPG where you play superpowered kitties protecting your humans from trouble. Whether you’re outsmarting a witch or encountering alien invaders, this fast-paced, beginner-friendly game is the purr-fect way to bring magic to your next family game night!
Our printer tells us they've mailed our production sample (one of the final, completed mass produced book sets), and we should be getting it by next week. Once we approve that, they'll pack them into boxes/pallets, and they'll be ready to ship! Their estimated completion date is still mid-May, and we expect it to arrive at our warehouse in Duluth MN in June. We'll send photos when we get the sample.
NEW OFFICIAL CREATIVE COMMONS RELEASE
"Forgotten Magic of Hermes" is a compendium of ALL the Ars Magica spells from all older (pre-Fifth) editions, unless they were carried forward into the Fifth Edition core rules. We've just released it under the Ars Magica Open License. You can download the PDF here, and also find it listed on the official Ars Magica Open License page (in the sidebar).
Line Developer David Chart warns that older spells in this compendium that aren't in Definitive Edition were probably excluded because they're broken, but releasing them allows our fans to do updates without violating our copyrights. Our thanks to Patrick M. Murphy for his work on compiling this!
ARS MAGICA OPEN LICENSE
These Ars Magica Open License titles are NEW from our amazing fan community …
An easy $1 pledge on our new Kickstarter gets 20% OFF in our webstore! Just look for the coupon code in Backer Update #1 immediately after you pledge, to stock up on gift copies of all your favorite Atlas Games products. The Magical Kitties campaign and the webstore discount both end next week Thursday, so don't wait!
Magical Kitties Save the Day is the whimsical tabletop RPG where you play superpowered kitties protecting your humans from trouble. Whether you’re outsmarting a witch or encountering alien invaders, this fast-paced, beginner-friendly game is the purr-fect way to bring magic to your next family game night!
We've had an update from our printing partner! You'll remember that Ars Magica Definitive Edition is in mass production, actually being printed right now. Their latest schedule has them finishing in a little over 6 weeks, putting their estimated completion date in mid-May. Following that schedule, we'd expect it to arrive at our warehouse in Duluth MN in June. It's getting close!
ARS MAGICA OPEN LICENSE
These Ars Magica Open License titles are NEW from our amazing fan community …
The Theatre of Roland adventure: A faerie quest by The Medusa's Lair, centered around the song of Roland, with a springboard into the adventure in Ingelheim.
Mythic Europe Campaign Guide:Details for 5E Dungeon Masters who want run a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in Ars Magica's Mythic Europe setting, by Erik Lee Edwards.
Character Creation:Aegen Gaming Systems compiled a summary of the Ars Magica 5th Edition rules for character creation, with handy reference of tables and flow diagrams, bringing together the rules spread over the core 40 books.
Who IS that masked kitty? YOU ARE, in the superhero setting for the Magical Kitties Save the Day RPG! Back it at atlas-games.com/backmeow
Between the attention we needed to devote to ArMD, and unpredictable US tariffs, we paused crowdfunding ever since Ars Magica Definitive Edition's amazing launch. Now that it's safely in mass production, we hope you'll help us make Meowtropolis a pawsome success, too!
STATUS A quarter of the world's 8.2 billion people celebrate Lunar New Year, which lasts two weeks or more and this year started Feb 17. During this festival, mass production on Ars Magica Definitive has been paused, as expected. It should be starting up again within the next week or so. Happy Year of the Horse!
DEFINITIVE REVIEW Thankless Roll Players just reviewed Ars Magica Definitive Edition! It's a long-haul reminiscence of campaigns past, and preview of the new book. View it on YouTube and Spotify. ARS MAGICA OPEN LICENSE
Ars Magica's Open License also has this this new fan-created content:
House of the Crescent Sun Campaign: The mages arrive at the Count's court, seeking permission to settle on his lands. The first murders are subtle, the initial corruptions hidden in the shadows. Step by step the evil advances, unless you stand firm against it! The complete campaign includes the Campaign Book, Players' Book, System Notes, Handouts and Portraits, and reworked Normandy Tribunal Meetings PDF.
Wrath of Köln Adventure: In the Rhine Gorge, The player characters are assisting the siege of the castle of Isenberg, they need to thread the needle between the discretion demanded by their Code and helpfulness.
ARS MAGICA LEGACY DOWNLOADS Recently we found a bunch of Ars Magica downloads from the old site that weren't moved over to the new one. They're now up on our site again. You can find them in the sidebar at atlas-games.com/arsmagica
BACKER PREVIEW You've seen the new Bestiary chapter illustration from Doug Shuler before, but it has so many "guest appearances" in it that I thought it deserved its own update, with the wireframe and sketch included this time, plus notes from our Make Your Character Magical backers! Take a look, in the backer-only section below.
Enjoy!
-Michelle Nephew Ars Magica Definitive Co-Producer Atlas Games Co-Owner
Physical proofs are approved, and all the Ars Magica Definitive products are now in mass production!
We made a few last changes after we reviewed the physical samples. In particular, we did a big revision to the measurements conversion table (which appeared in 3 places), reworked some art issues, and removed the not-so-helpful regio map. We fixed some important typos that affected meaning, including on the character sheet. Plus we improved the cover files gilding design for the sigil snake heads. All that will be in the physical printing.
In the digital files we ALSO fixed the minor typos reported. Updated files are ready on your Backerkit downloads page, so be sure to get those now!
ENWORLD MOST ANTICIPATED RPG
Ars Magica Definitive Edition made #5 on ENWorld's list of "2026's Most Anticipated TTRPGs!" Thank you for your vote! (Skip to 20:45)
ARS MAGICA OPEN LICENSE
Ars Magica's Open License also has this this new fan-created content, which officially makes FIFTY FAN TITLES on DriveThruRPG now. Check them out here!
