Andi was asking what can be done in a season. I think a lot of the fun of Ars are the long-range plans of a character, and not merely "what do I need for the next story". I find D&D campaigns boring because they only focus on the short-range: "what do we need to do to clear out that nest of hydralisks?", etc.

I develop short-, medium-, and long-range plans for my characters. Part of the reason I think Luicus is in flux is because his plans are kinda boring. :)

Short range plans:

• Spend a season learning Breton.
• Possibly spend a season extracting vis.

Medium range plan: make a 5th magnitude Aegis

• Accumulate Vim vis (Lucius has a Vim source).
• Study said vis; raise Vim to 9.
• Learn the 4th magnitude Aegis we have in our library.
• Create a 5th magnitude version.
• Master the 5th magnitude version.

Long range plan: learn Incant of Lightning

• Raise Creo to disgustingly high.
• Raise Auram to even higher.
• More Finesse would be good.
• While we're at it, can I have a pony? :)

Note that this is all about lab work, but then, Lucius is a Bonisagus, This is what Bonisagi do.

Other lab plans would include:

• Make spells. Formulaics don't burn fatigue. Until you get stupid powerful, one spell won't work by itself. But often, a combination of two 3rd magnitude spells will work just fine.
• Make potions. See previous question. If we allow Pilum potions, it's amazing how useful having a batch lying around is.
• Go on vis hunts. Or if you're desperate, extract. Vis is the cash of the Order. Having some on hand is often a good idea. How much? Depends on how much trouble you get into. :)

There's other stuff you can do:

• Raise mundane skills. Here, field expeditions rule. First, they're story hooks. SGs love it when you tell them you're off to Egypt. "Ooh! Ooh! Dibs! Dibs!"
• Skills that rule: Intrigue, Guile, Folk Ken, any Lore (especially Area and Legend), any language, Bargain, Awareness, any skill that lets you move (ride, boating), Survival, Brawl, Carouse... have I missed any mundane skills that Lucius has? Ah, Etiquette. Yes, also a good one. :) If there are other skills that rule, let me know: Lucius should get a 1 in it. Except for Enigmatic Wisdom; I'll pass on that one. :)
• And then there are the Hermetic skills. Certamen, anyone? :)

From the Stormwatch crowd, Derek had his ideal plan for a year. Spend one season doing each:

• Service to the covenant
• Raising arts
• Making a spell or potions
• Optional

Service is service, so that's just required. :) Arts is all about long-term vision. Spells and potions are about tomorrow's expedition. "Optional" is whatever you need to work on. So this way, you balance long-term goals with short- or medium-term goals.

Of course, it's easy for this plan to go STRAIGHT out the window pretty quickly, so it requires some discipline to adhere to. I'm not very good at it myself. :)

Anyways, hope this helps.

--dave