Post originally by Shoggoth at 2003-07-28 12:37:09
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Thank you for that very thoughtful, in-depth review. You obviously have a great deal of personal occult historical knowledge yourself, and it really helps with the review.

As far as the certamen question, looking through my books reveals that it was mentioned VERY briefly in the first Trad Book, given a two paragraph explanation in the 2nd Edition rulebook, and reworded (very helpfully, I think) as an ideally dice-light device for storytelling and resolution (or creation!) of tension. Ironically, the most indepth discussions of certamen that I can remember from the previous canon are in the Book of Worlds and Digital Web 2.0, where special realms and zones exist for the purpose of certamen and other such magical duelling. For WW to gloss over it in the new Tradbook saddens me, but doesn't really surprise.

As an aside, I have an interest in occult history/philosophy, but I'm not sure what to read in pursuance of it. I own the Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Agrippa, and a number of religious history texts, but I'm scanning the shelves of my nearest Barnes and Nobles leaves me wondering what percentage of it is crap, and how much useful stuff they DON'T carry. Would you mind terribly pointing me towards some good reference material? I'm mostly interested in Hermetic lore, but of course that encompasses alot.