Vis Source Classification

(DRAFT)

Vis sources are typically stated in the manner in which they are accounted in Covenant stats - that is, regular annual quantities & Arts.

However, vis sources need not be so prosaic. By allowing for different varieties of vis sources, more color and wonder may be introduced.

Vis sources may be defined using four factors: Frequency, Regularity, Consistency, and Locality. The combinations of these factors allow for a wide variety of types of vis sources.

Frequency

Annual		The source manifests vis every year at about the same time of year
Seasonal		The source manifests vis every season
Monthly		The source manifests vis every month
Intermittent		The source manifests vis at varying times
Irregular		The source manifests vis at about the same time of year, but not every year (the periodicity i.e. every two years, every three years, etc. represents an additional factor for this frequency

Regularity

Regular		The source manifests the same quantity of vis each time it is available
Variable		The source manifests vis with varying quantity each time it is available
Diminishing		The source manifests vis in gradually diminishing quantity until it is no longer available
Increasing		The source manifests vis in gradually increasing quantity
Fluctuating		The source manifests vis in fluctuating quantity that follows a predictable pattern
Narrative		The source manifests vis that varies in quantity depending on character actions in a narrative
Nonce		The source manifests vis one time and then is no longer available

Consistency

Consistent		The source manifests vis of the same Art every time it is available
Alternating		The Art of the vis manifested alternates between two or more predictable Arts
Incidental		The Art of the vis manifested is randomly determined from among a defined set of possible Arts
Accidental		The Art of the vis manifested is randomly determined from among all fifteen Arts
Contingent		The Art of the vis manifested is determined by character actions (in a story or previous vis gathering activity, for example)
Arbitrary		The Art of the vis manifested is selected by the Storyguide each time it is available

Locality

Fixed		The source manifests vis in the same way and in the same location every time it is available
Meandering		The vis manifests in different location within a general locality
Shifting		The vis manifests in different instances of a general class (for example, in some random goose among those that frequent a particular lake)
Random		The vis manifests in random locations within a wider area

Storyguides should exercise restraint when implementing these various factors; sources should probably vary from the "typical" in one or two factors only. For example, a source that is Intermittant, Variable, Accidental, and Random is unlikely to be perceived by characters as a vis source, and the vis from such a "source" is unlikely to be gathered by characters in any event.