[UA] Traditionalism

[Michael Dinowitz]

We had this conversation a few times a while back and a thought just came to me on how to make it work. Traditionalism, a new magic form. 
Traditionalism gains its charges from actions within a specific religious and cultural setting and has a special ability of being able to be learned along side another single form of magic. Its taboos are any other form of magic and use of many things from the 'modern world'. 
As this is still in thought, its best to tell a story to examine it:
Michael is a programmer and an Orthodox Jew. He observes all the strictures of the religion and is learned in the 'mystical' traditions of Jewish thought. As long as he does not use the internet, telephones, TV and many other forms of modern appliances (other than lights, stoves and the like) he does not violate the taboo of the traditionalist. He gains charges from prayer, study, and acts of faith within his religion. He loses them all when he goes to work (by car or train) and turns on his computer. He also loses them when he thinks of programming issues and work related things. This means that he rarely has charges in traditionalism. He does gain charges from Sabbath and Holidays but due to the strictures of his religion, he can't use them at these times without violating the religious code (unless there is a life at stake or similar). 
He is also an infomancer (true infomancy, not the hacker/cracker BS from PoMoMa). He is addicted to information and researches on a constant basis, gaining charges along the way. His charges as an infomancer bump up and down due to the gaining of charges in traditionalism making him lose charges (on a 1 for 1 basis) in infomancy. He prays 3 times a day for 3 minor charges. This zaps 3 minor charges from his infomancy. He researches numerous subjects a day and distributes his information/answers questions all the time (he's on a few dozen lists). At the end of a day he has a few charges net in infomancy, fewer than he would have if he was not a traditionalist. 
Why is he one then? Because it's what he is and what he does. It makes no sense, but its there anyway.
On the other hand, there are Chasidim who reject most of the modern world and learn all day. They are pure traditionalists and gain charges quickly. On the other hand, they have to use them to help others. They may sit in a room all day saying psalms for the healing of people across the world (this is actually in real life). They may net a few charges at the end of a day but not really more than any other tradition. Many of their charges are used for the protection and furtherment of their people. 
Other pure traditionalists are Amish farmers who have prosperous farms without using modern technology, monks in monasteries, etc.
It still needs to be fleshed out some more (as does true infomancy) but what do you think?


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