More thoughts on artifacts: active versus passive types

This post is just me musing about artifacts rules. 

As introduced in the second edition French rulebook, artifacts are divided into active and passive types. Active artifacts have their Ka and can be used by anyone who know the keyword, even without elemental Ka. Passive artifacts require elemental Ka to power their effect, whether from a Nephilim or from a Ka Reserve (equivalent to the US version’s Elixir). 

This distinction may be applied to the US version and derivatives thereof. The sorcerous artifacts in Gamemaster’s Companion and Enlightened Magic are passive artifacts. The alchemical artifacts in Enlightened Magic are active artifacts, since they produce their effects even for unenlightened users. 

By combining both books we get two types of sorcerous artifacts: single spell artifacts that are enchanted with Ritual or High Magic spells (see Enlightened Magic), and multi-spell artifacts that are crafted through a much more grueling process (see GMC p26-31). Single spell artifacts, which I call lesser or minor artifacts to distinguish, are fairly easy to create. Multi-spell artifacts, which I call greater or major artifacts to distinguish, are very difficult to create.

Although the Liber Ka rules make GMC's artifact rules retroactively less important because Nephilim can now make their own foci when needed, Enlightened Magic adds a rule that I think adequately updates this: using an artifact only requires rolling Casual Magic, even though the enchantment will be a spell of Ritual Magic or High Magic. As major artifacts have their own Magic Technique rating, this means that they can be used even by Nephilim without skill in Sorcery.

Although only mentioned in passing in GMC, there are also single-use artifacts. If the Nephilim doesn't spent Ka when enchanting the item, then the enchantment dissipates after the first time the spell is activated and the artifact becomes a purely mundane object.

I have some further ideas for expanding on this. 

Usually Nephilim don’t enchant active artifacts because they don’t intend these to be used by mortals and don’t want to make things easier for secret societies. Initiates of The Magician flaunt this prohibition and enchant active artifacts for use by favored Rosicrucian pupils. To maintain compatibility with the enlightened magic rules, creating an active artifact is a Magician Initiate Spell. This is created like any other minor artifact in an enchantment ritual that costs Ka sacrifice, but like major artifacts the enchanter must craft it from scratch out of material components and shape it into the appropriate form. I may apply other restrictions, such as needing to cast under Enthronements or the artifact having its own limited Ka or Ch'awe pool that must recharge between castings, but I'm still thinking about those.

Secret societies have tried to create their own artifacts. However, mortal mages find it nigh-impossible to create even minor artifacts due to their lack of Ka. Spending Ka from an Elixir isn't the same as a Nephilim spending Ka from their own Pentacle to enchant an item. Thus, they are generally forced to rely on artifacts stolen from Nephilim.