How can I make a magical photocopier?

Question

One of my players wants a way to reproduce books quickly in an Ars Magica (5th edition) setting.

What spells exist (preferably without using vis) to accomplish this goal?

Answer 1

Without Vis means that instead of magically creating the paper/parchment and ink, you need to supply it yourself.

As for the spell, there is a spell in the True Lineages book we can use as basis: Exactly to scale

True Lineages, Page 139:

Exactly to Scale

Rego Aquam, Requisite Mentem, Level 10

Draw a picture of the magus ideas. Requires ink and a drawing surface, since it uses mundane materials to draw.

Intellige + Finesse roll +9 for the drawing be legible. Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 for highly unnatural control

So, for a magical photocopier, we need not the magus ideas as source, but the writing on a page. I would say, changing the requisite to Intellego would suffice, but if you want to make it a little bit harder you could add Terram as requisite, since most inks where metal based.

So for Copy a single page we have:

Rego Aquam, Requisite Intellego + possibly Terram, Level 10

Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 for highly unnatural control

You want to copy a 100 page book?

We need to go for group target + one size increment:

Copy book:

Rego Aquam, Requisite Intellego + possibly Terram, Level 25

Base 3, +1 Touch, + 2 Group, +1 size, +2 for highly unnatural control

Now, since it is easier to make errors if you have more text to copy, I would say, that the finesse roll should be way higher or maybe a concentration roll is for required for each 5/10 or so pages copied.

An alternative solution would be to add to the spell magnitude for lower finesse / concentration. Maybe +2/+3 for exact design (similar to the +3 elaborate design in Conjouring the mystics tower).
With a +3 exact design we would end with a level 40 spell.
How much you add depends on how easy you would make it your player magus to copy it.

And: Errors could be painful.

A corrupted magical book could lead to some unpleasant encounters in the lab!
So a missed finesse, concentration etc. roll could be dangerous.