One of the best role-playing games that's rarely played. Ars Magica is set in a medieval Europe, where Magi, Companions (characters who have unusual talents, highly developed skills, or other benefits), and Grogs (your typical armored soldier/mercenary) adventure in search of magical places, items, or necessary components. With an actual magical system (not a collection of spells; players could and were encouraged to design their own spells), and 'troupe-style' play (each session, one player would be a Magi, another a Companion, and the other players got to handle the Grog guards; the players took turns in who was whom) Ars Magica was a game and world-setting all in one. ( )