How do you handle surpassing instruments.
How are you all handling surpassing instruments in m20? I'm earlier additions when it was 1-1 for spheres it was a little easier to explain to players. But in m20, where you have several to choose from in line with your practice at any time, how do you represent moving beyond them.
Do you just leave it as if you use this instrument you don't need anymore You get -1. So, for example, my mage now has arete 3. He uses guttermagic as a practice and has just moved beyond needing to use playing cards as an instrument. They were his least used tool. Now, he is casting an effect targeting multiple people. He still uses mirrors and symbols but decides to represent each person as a royal card. The inclusion of the cards on top of his other instruments give him-1.
My idea is to instead house rule it as with each level of instrument it represents a level of effect you can cast without the need instea. E.g. at arete 3, you can cast sphere one sensory effect without instruments.. This would make instrument free casting by 8. Maybe start at arete 4 instead, which would bring the move beyond instruments to 9 like the traditional method.
Not that I have ever had a character get past 6.