Certamen

Copyright 1220 A.D. by Ropekid

Certamen Steps
Note that the order for all steps through rolling intiative are done in the order of the challenger (or older magus/maga) followed by the challenged (or younger magus/maga).
 * 1) Each duelist proposes an Art their opponent must use in the first round. Their opponent gets one veto, after which the duelist's choice is final. Nothing prohibits each duelist from choosing the same Art.
 * 2) Duelists roll initiative (Quickness + Finesse + Stress Die).  The winner is the primus/prima.  The loser is the secundus/secunda.  N.B.: Tremere often refer to the prima as "alba" and the secunda as "niger".

The following steps are used for each individual round of the duel in this order:
 * 1) Duelists declare what style they are using for the first round in reverse initiative order: secunda, prima.
 * 2) If applicable, duelists declare style-based variable adjustments in reverse intiative order: secunda, prima.
 * 3) Secunda must either declare an Early Defense (a specific defensive Art prior to the attack declaration) or decline. If she declares an Early Defense, she gains +3 to her defense roll.
 * 4) Primus declares which Art he is using to attack.
 * 5) If he has not declared a Early Defense, the secundus must declare which Art he is using to defend.
 * 6) Prima rolls her attack.  The results of this roll stand regardless of the Art the secunda uses to defend.
 * 7) Secunda rolls defense.

The attack roll is modified by the relationship between the attacking Art and the defending Art, defined as Inferiority and Superiority. For purposes of certamen, all Arts are divided into three cycles of five: elemental, life, and technique. Elemental Arts are Inferior to life Arts, which are Inferior to technique Arts, which are in turn Inferior to elemental Arts.
 * Elemental < Life < Technique

If both Arts are in the same cycle, there is no modifier to the defense roll. If the attack  Art is in an Inferior cycle to the defensive Art, the attack roll suffers a -1 penalty. If the attacking Art is in a Superior cycle to the defense Art, the attack roll gains a +1 bonus. Within each cycle, there is also an order of Inferiority and Superiority, but unless the Arts are immediately adjacent, they have no inherent relationship. E.g. Intellego is Inferior to Perdo and Muto is Superior to Perdo, but there is no relationship between Intellego and Muto.
 * Elemental Cycle:
 * Vim < Terram < Aquam < Auram < Ignem


 * Life Cycle:
 * Herbam < Animal < Corpus < Mentem < Imaginem


 * Technique Cycle:
 * Intellego < Perdo < Muto < Rego < Creo

If the attacking Art is Inferior within a cycle, it suffers a -5 penalty. If the attacking Art is Superior within a cycle, it gains a +5 bonus.

If the end of 8 rounds are reached and there is no victor and no quaesitorial oversight, it is legally considered a draw/unsettled. Either party is free to issue a new challenge to the other until one loses or concedes.
 * Attack vs. Defense & Weakening vs. Resist are calculated as normal:
 * Attack Total: Presence + Technique or Form + Superiority Bonus - Inferiority Penalty + Stress Die
 * Defense Total: Perception + Technique or Form + Early Defense Bonus + Stress Die
 * Attack Advantage: Attack Total - Defense Total (if Attack is higher)
 * Weakening Total: Intelligence + Penetration + Attack Advantage
 * Resistance Total: Stamina + Parma Magica
 * The Secundus and Primus repeat the attack cycle, starting with the declaration/declination of facies audax by the primus. No combatant may use the same art more than once.
 * The round ends.