Art of Magic - Tiers

The foundation of reality is built upon magic and laced with magic. A person's ability to perceive, interact or even control that magic depends on several factors including but not limited to their tier. Most scholars would agree that this would also be a person's soul. Each tier wields a power greater than the tier below it.

Mundane

Mundane represents all things absent of supernatural influence, the common mortal without magical power or sponsorship.

Supernatural

Supernatural covers a lot of ground referring to mages, clerics, vampires, werewolves and even magical monstrosities that roam the land. Supernatural covers most of the things that go bump in the night.

Touched

Touched describes those that have touched the supernatural or been touched by the supernatural. They are still very much mortal however they have been gifted with rare but limited supernatural abilities. Some examples are Trusted (Ghouls), Wolf-Blooded, Demon-Blooded or Fae-Touched. Touched is a Lesser Template.

Awakened

While the Awakened are still mortal, they are really something More than Mortal. These are mortal souls that have had their eyes opened to the ebb and flow of magic in all aspects of the world around them. In some this is forged through faith in a god that grants his gifts, while others through understanding of the arts themselves. In all Awakened cases their intent and will creates changes on the fabric of reality.

Most supernaturals including Awakened are a Greater Template which defines what a person or creature is. A person may only have one greater template. For example a mage is embraced by a vampire and the mage is robbed of his deep connection to magic. Later he can learn a more specific bastardized version of Blood Sorcery but he will not regain what has been lost.

Exalted

Exalted have been chosen by a god-like power and invested with a portion of their power. This is not a warlock with a patron or a high-priest channeling the might of their god. This is a mortal that shares an actual blood-tie or heritage with a god-like creature or a mortal that has been selected to invest with immense power.

What about ...

What about Dragons and Giants? Really I mean what about all the things that don't fit neatly in a category? Dragons and Giants are both very powerful creatures and yet they are generally not from the Realms Beyond, at least not as we know them now. Maybe they originated from the Realms Beyond and migrated to the world of mortals. Maybe they fled or were cast out, and if so, from who or by who. Dragons, Giants and similar creatures that don't fit the tier take a little personal care. For example Dragons maybe fit tiers by their age or Giants by their size and power. Maybe young wyrmling would be supernatural, an adult dragon Exalted, and an ancient dragon could be Otherworldly for tier.

Otherworldly

Otherworldly beings are creatures of myth and magic that are just simply beyond mortals or usually originating from the Realms Beyond. The most well known are Angels and Demons which are an easy concept for most to wrap their minds around. Some scholars say that because these creatures are born in realms of magic they are infused with magic, or they are magic because the first of their kind was magic. While others point to very long lived or immortal creatures as the means of their power. This also includes the thousands of spirits that touch or inhabit the world such as the spirit of rivers or the spirit of fire.

In rare cases Otherworldly represents the most powerful supernatural beings of the mortal realm. For example a mage that has mastered his art beyond its limits or a thousand year old vampire elder. While these few may have gained great power that does not make them born of the Realms Beyond, their body was not crafted from the fabric of myth and magic.

Legendary

Legendary includes direct influence of major, named powers from the Realms Beyond like the Rulers of the Fae Courts or the Princes of Hell.

Divine & Godlike

Godlike involves direct influence of realities mightiest forces; creatures, concepts and beings so far removed that their motivations are aliens compared to mortals.

Scale

0 Mundane

1 Supernatural

2 Exalted

3 Otherworldly

4 Epic

5 Godlike

Presented above are six levels of Scale rated 0 - 5 or five levels of Scale beyond Mundane which is the default. The first thing to remember is Scale only applies if it applies. For example when an Awakened mage arm wrestles a mundane tavern guest no Scale is applied. The same mage uses life magic to enhance his strength to supernatural levels. He would now apply Scale against the Mundane in this circumstance.

Resources & References

Mage: the Awakening

Ars Magica

Dresdin Files Accelerated

Storypath

Dungeons & Dragons

Pathfinder