Arete

Clarification (damage modifier): A Mage's arete is not affected by the damage modifier.  However, the modifer still affects other aspects of the mage, like his wits+alertness, and, whether or not he can act at all. A Mage cannot act when incapacitated or unconscious. Clarification (casting magick): When casting magick, even the 1st level sphere sensory abilities, the mage is always considered to be invoking their Arete and rolling it, even though the book implies these depend on perception skills. Always roll arete for magick. Even if you're going to roleplay the scene out without dice, assume you rolled arete. Clarification (willpower and botches): As we now use Revised, which greatly decreases the frequency of botches, the ability of Mages to spend Willpower post-facto to avoid botches on Arete rolls is no longer reasonable.  Willpower may no longer be spent after an Arete botch to convert the botch to a failure.