Thaumaturgy+Rules

Symbolic links

 * You can only do thaumaturgy against a distant target that you have a symbolic link to. This is something like hair, fingernail clippings, blood, knowledge of their true name, etc or very closely associated objects: wedding rings, focus items, police badges, etc.
 * //At the GMs discretion, having several different symbolic links (at least 3) may give you a +1 complexity bonus. It's almost as good as having the target there.//
 * Note that if you have to cross the barriers provided by thresholds, holy ground, wards, etc you will have to put more oomph into the spell to get it to work.
 * //If you have the person or thing you want to effect **right there** this greatly simplifies things, and you get a +2 complexity bonus//

Complexity

 * The complexity of what you want to do will be declared by the GM.
 * If you want to effect an unwilling target, you have to add complexity based on their resistance skill; both Discipline //and Conviction// are appropriate for resisting hostile thaumaturgy

Ritual Preparation (Meeting those high complexities)

 * All the really cool stuff will have a high complexity. So you do you get there?
 * Your base complexity is equal to your Lore (plus complexity specialization bonuses, and foci)
 * //If the total complexity of the ritual is equal to below your base complexity, you don't have to do any preparation at all. You can do the whole thing in your head.//
 * //This is important when you are trying to do something while tied up by the bad guys, for example.//
 * //Note that if you require focus items to meet the complexity, you still have to have them to hand. So they may not be usable while you are tied up//
 * //Even if you **can** do it all in your head, you can't do other things at the same time, like operate a motor vehicle.//
 * You can get bonuses to complexity by taking/inflicting consequences, invoking aspects, …
 * Or make Declarations
 * You can attempt a declaration with any skill you have, as long as the GM accepts your explanation of how you are using it. Note that workspaces (YS 139) and similar 'non-skills' can also allow you to make declarations.
 * //Making a declaration for ritual complexity is difficulty 3//
 * //Making declarations takes time. The time is taken up even if you fail the declaration rolls. There are three levels of preparation://
 * //5 minutes of preparation//
 * //For every skill you have at great (+4) or above, you can make one declaration.//
 * //All of your 5 minute declarations are something you can accomplish in about five minutes (for **all** of your 5 minute declarations, not 5 minutes for each one).//
 * //Examples are things like drawing a quick chalk circle (lore), taking a minute to clear the mind (discipline), saying a quick prayer (conviction), "Why yes, I just happen to have an Incan ceremonial head mask." (resources or workspace), etc//
 * //A few hours preparation//
 * //You can make a number of declarations equal to your skill (or workspace, etc) level minus two.//
 * //For example, if you have a superb (+5) skill, you can make up to (5 - 2=) 3 declarations with that skill.//
 * //This total already includes your 5 minute declarations. So if you have a Superb (+5) Lore, you can attempt up to three lore based declarations, in total.//
 * //You have to have access to your normal life and trappings to make these declarations. The GM should apply skill penalties if you are somehow cut off from the normal use of the skill.//
 * //These preparations occupy your whole attention. Be careful, interruptions can spoil the whole thing.//
 * So remember to unplug the telephone first.
 * //Days of preparation//
 * //You can make as many declarations as you have points in the skill.//
 * //It's up to the GM exactly how many days these preparations take, but if you are trying to milk absolutely **every** one of your skills, expect it to take weeks, not days//
 * //These preparations assume breaks for things like sleeping and eating, but not things like monsters attacking your workspace. Distractions can ruin some or all of your preparations.//

Actually **Doing** the Ritual

 * How long does it take?
 * //Each time you roll to draw & control power while performing a ritual, it takes around 5 minutes.//
 * //So, if you had to draw power six times to complete a ritual, it took about 30 minutes to complete.//
 * Ow, my aching knees
 * Concentrating on the ritual for hours on end is difficult. You voice begins to give out, or your knees begin to hurt, or your back starts to complain… In long ritual workings, your discipline can be restricted by your endurance.
 * Many an old ritual caster has the __Tireless__ endurance stunt. They can keep chanting for a long, long time.
 * //You can do rituals for one hour (12 attempts to draw power) per point of endurance skill you possess before your endurance begins restricting your discipline.//
 * //If your endurance is only mediocre, you can only do 30 minutes of ritual (6 power draws) before your discipline is restricted.//