In particular, I am talking about the technocracy handbooks.
Mage is different from many other RPGs, even it's cousins like Vampire and Changeling .
For example, a lot of a Vampire's Character is defined by their Clan, Garou , their tribe and breed. Even for those rebelling against the set ideas, their identity is formed by something that was thrust on them. Mage is the exact reverse. Here, it is the Character that, to a large extent, determines how powers are defined. For they are the stuff of which Mages are made.