http://www.fmi.uni-passau.de/archive/ars-magica/archive/tech/div/faq3.0/questions.html (Einblicke ins Internet, ~06/1995)The general rule is that one season of lab activity dedicated to this activity will yield a quantity of Vim vis that is equal to: ((Cr + Vi + Magic Theory + (3 * Aura)) / 5). No other lab activity can be undertaken in conjunction with this activity.
I don't know; can he? Since I don't know of wizard succeeding at such a feat, I can't say that it's definitely possible, and no one knows for sure what's impossible, so the only way your wizard is going to find out whether it's possible is to try.
As to the ritual's Level, it would sure be high. Floating a mountain violates its nature, so that'd be a difficult maneuver. A Level 50 ritual can cause a tidal wave, but that's a natural and temporary phenomenon. The floating mountain trick might be Level 100 or Level 200 or Level 1,675. Again, there's no way to know until your wizard tries it. Hermetic theory is not predictable enough that we can know ahead of time what Level a given effect is. The real problem is that your wizard may think he's succeeded, only to have the mountain come crashing down in a week or so. That's the problem with experiments on such a grand scale: when they go awry, watch out.
Even if the ritual succeeds, it could have unforeseen consequences of major proportions. What effects might the strain of such an unnatural event have on the area? What effects might it have on the magic aura of the mountain? If this ritual up-ends Nature and causes mountains to float, might it cause water to run uphill, or fire to freeze, or mirrors to reflect backwards? No one will know until some wizard tries the ritual.
Finally, there's the issue of esthetics. No floating- mountain covenants will appear in a Mythic Europe supplement because it violates the setting's low-fantasy feel. (A floating mountain, however, might be fine in a saga with a variant setting.) Ultimately, the storyguide(s) need(s) to decide whether floating mountains fit the saga. If they do, go for it, but don't expect your results to be accepted as standard by other troupes. If not, the floating mountain ritual could become the center of a very interesting career as a wizard tries relentlessly and unsuccessfully to pull it off (rather like the "invention" of 19th century flying machines).
Can a magus create a golem and switch minds with it and thus escape old age?
Yes, I bet it could be done, but I wouldn't want to hang around. A mind is not a program that will run equally well on any hardware, it is the interaction of spirit and flesh. The physical nature of mental action is felt every time a magus casts a spell that brings on fatigue. You can put your mind in that golem, but it won't be "you" any more. The new creature may use your name and claim to be you and think it's you, but it won't be you. Also, the effects of such a union are entirely unpredictable until someone tries it, but since such an act is a violation of Nature, it would surprise me if it did not entail major side effects.
My advice is to try it. You may be destroyed in the process, but your sodales will certainly learn from the experiment. Also, be aware that some magi would certainly argue that the new creature (golem body and magus mind) is no longer a magus and thus no longer protected by the Code. If this hybrid creature starts acting funny and somebody toasts it, plenty of Quaesitores would rule its destruction legal.
When are the revised Order of Hermes and Bestiary to be released?
Their releases have not yet been scheduled.
Can I write a complete saga and submit it to you for review and possible print?
Not at this time. We have a backlog of projects to handle before we're open to considering major outside proposals.