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I was composing a tortured post on this very point: If there are going to be free matrices that automatically increase, then all of the matrices should just be astral constructs that let a spell caster cast spells equal to her level or less.

They could function like discipline abilities, in that you can only craft a new one when you go up a circle. At 5th circle the LP cost could be linked to the number of matrices the spell caster currently has. The 1st is 100, but beginning characters are given it for free (not for adepts who multidiscipline in). The second is 200, the 3rd 300, the 4th 500. Enhanced matrices cost twice as much. Super simple. Maybe having 8 at circle 8 is too much? I don't know; haven't played that far. But it sounds like people use matrix items anyway; I doubt it would make much difference.

At first circle you only get 1, but really that's only an adventure or two. Plus it frees up talent options for different visions of the disciplines. Give them an option to pick up a martial talent or 2 at circle 1 to create a fighting mage for elementalist (bridge to the weaponsmith?), divination talents for the wizard (x-ray vision or remote viewing, determine what is in another's matrix), agility talents for illusionist (sleight of hand, tumbling), I'm getting sleepy, something for the Nethermancer.

Guess I wound up with a fairly tortured post after all (grin)

How about this option: The magicians get their 2 free matrices, but they are part of a spell matrix object, say their grimoire or something else their master gives them as a rite of passage, so to speak? A similar rite of passage could give the magician his first enhanced, armored or split matrix at 5,9,13 circle.

Granted, we never used spell matrix objects in our group, and I do not have the rules at hand, so I don't know how they work in terms of threads required, rank, advancemet. But maybe this is a direction to think about, if "free" matrices absolutely have to be a reality .