Greetings, Mike:
Well, all told, I don't have the same depth of statements to make as other players that have been in this campaign. After all, the Deadfire campaign seemed to come to a close (at least in large part) because many players felt that their characters had reached as much development as they wanted, whereas I simply got a taste of this particular setting.
As it was, I had originally asked to join simply because I love the Ars Magica setting, and was rather hoping there would be such a game running here at U. Penn. I am somewhat sorry to see Deadfire come to a virtual close fairly shortly after I joined, but I don't fault anyone for that. It was great fun, and run very much in the way that I had hoped that an Ars game would be run.
As far as characters went, I can comment most easily on Vasily and Lorenzo, since they received the most development in the short time I played. Vasily I enjoyed as the no-nonsense, Charge Blindly Into Eternal Damnation Because He is Only Following Orders kind of guy. And, naturally, I enjoyed Lorenzo as a natural opposite, fleeing from a magical ring if it so much as tingled. All told, I felt that Lorenzo was able to feel that he had found a home, which is cool.
Most important, I give my thanks for a marvelous storyline, coordinated well (to my eyes) with the other GMs that took over when you stopped as Alpha GM. From my experiences, this group has been the most internally cohesive as far as Ars groups go that I've been in. Yes, players have thrown curve balls. Yes, characters have had fundamental differences and disagreements. However, it always has gotten worked out at the end, and the characters in game always treat the other characters with respect. Always a good thing.
So, kudos to a game well-played, Mike. I only hope that I can join another Ars troupe someday as good as this one.
Erik