[Thaumatology] Some Path/Book questions

[gregoriomata]

I'm going to start a campaign using Path/Book Magic, and there are some issues I have not very clear.
1 - When casting on oneself, do you have the bonus of +4 for being physically present during the ritual? Or this bonus only applies when casting on other subject? Has the magician to use some representation of himself to perform the ritual on it to get a bonus?
2 - The Chaperone ritual specifies that the client is protected until it befalls him a threat, at which time the amulet protects him and breaks. The ritual has an effect, therefore, instantaneous. But, at the time of the ritual, should be specified a duration (with a corresponding penalty) during which such protection is effective, but after which the amulet loses its ability? Or the amulet is valid as long as that client will take to find a danger, even years?
Thanks for your answers.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by gregoriomata

But, at the time of the ritual, should be specified a duration (with a corresponding penalty) during which such protection is effective, but after which the amulet loses its ability?

Yes, this is how it works. Long-duration amulets are really desirable, but hard to make.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by gregoriomata

1 - When casting on oneself, do you have the bonus of +4 for being physically present during the ritual?

No.

Or this bonus only applies when casting on other subject?

Yes.

I had to look at the rules quite carefully to establish this. In the list of bonuses at the bottom of p244 of Thaumatology, it says you only get the highest bonus out of those mentioned. On p245, the section on "Casting on Oneself", it says:

Originally Posted by Thaumatology p245

Wizards can use better representations to get bonuses here, but this should require a little effort: keeping nail clippings, commissioning portraits, etc.

If it is at all sensible for a wizard to do this, he can't be getting the +4 for physically present.

[gregoriomata]

But, for the Law on Contagion, he can use his own blood for a +3, no?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by gregoriomata

But, for the Law on Contagion, he can use his own blood for a +3, no?

Yes, if Contagion is relevant to the ritual being done. And he needs to draw his blood and make it part of the ritual setup: he can't just use it while it's still in his body.

Path/Book needs a GM and a clear idea about what's being done to assess bonuses and penalties: just adding up everything you can claim is relevant from the tables may get you strange results.