Paradox: A Mage the Ascension Podcast
Aug 2, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min · 14 segments
We're Back! I did it! An episode from The Before Times - that I never quite got edited and uploaded. Enjoy your double length feature on magic in combat! If you are feeling generous and want me…
The first thing you need to know though is that casting magic in combat is supposed to be difficult.
You are literally causing reality to warp on the fly.
There's a common debate amongst those who play, run, and most of all love World of Darkness games about who would win in a fight, a mage, a vampire, or a werewolf, and the truth is that in the right circumstances any of them can win.
The trick is figuring out the right circumstances.
For vampires and werewolves, their abilities are literally at their fingertips.
They don't need to worry about twisting reality to suit them.
They don't need to worry about paradox, and perhaps most importantly, they often have some level of supernatural healing or strength or some other advantage.
Mages are at their squishy, squishy core still human.
The mage's strength lies in preparation.
Given enough time to prepare and enough knowledge about what they're dealing with and they can dominate those fights.
They can plan to attack a vampire during the day with fire or they can ensure their attacks will do aggravated damage to werewolves so hopefully they can take it down quickly.
Without planning, a mage is flying blind and not optimizing to their strengths.
Of course, it's not always possible to plan.
Maybe you've been ambushed or maybe you don't have the time magic to set a spell on a trigger, or you don't have the prime magic to make wonders, or half a dozen other reasons.
Then you're looking at fast casting your magic, and that comes with bigger risks and maybe no rewards.
The first thing you need to know though is that casting magic in combat is supposed to be difficult.
You are literally causing reality to warp on the fly.
There's a common debate amongst those who play, run, and most of all love World of Darkness games about who would win in a fight, a mage, a vampire, or a werewolf, and the truth is that in the right circumstances any of them can win.
The trick is figuring out the right circumstances.
For vampires and werewolves, their abilities are literally at their fingertips.
They don't need to worry about twisting reality to suit them.
They don't need to worry about paradox, and perhaps most importantly, they often have some level of supernatural healing or strength or some other advantage.
Mages are at their squishy, squishy core still human.
The mage's strength lies in preparation.
Given enough time to prepare and enough knowledge about what they're dealing with and they can dominate those fights.
They can plan to attack a vampire during the day with fire or they can ensure their attacks will do aggravated damage to werewolves so hopefully they can take it down quickly.
Without planning, a mage is flying blind and not optimizing to their strengths.
Of course, it's not always possible to plan.
Maybe you've been ambushed or maybe you don't have the time magic to set a spell on a trigger, or you don't have the prime magic to make wonders, or half a dozen other reasons.
Then you're looking at fast casting your magic, and that comes with bigger risks and maybe no rewards.
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