Necromancer: Difference between revisions
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This is not the same thing as an ultra-exclusive treehouse that only the most dedicated 1% of scripters can enter. The Necromancer Guild may be difficult to enter and advance in, but it will not be exceptionally so. If a player wishes to create a Necromancer PC after the guild is released, he will be able to do so with only a minor time investment. The sadism inherent in the design of this guild is meant to be playful, not an actual hindrance to your enjoyment of the game. |
This is not the same thing as an ultra-exclusive treehouse that only the most dedicated 1% of scripters can enter. The Necromancer Guild may be difficult to enter and advance in, but it will not be exceptionally so. If a player wishes to create a Necromancer PC after the guild is released, he will be able to do so with only a minor time investment. The sadism inherent in the design of this guild is meant to be playful, not an actual hindrance to your enjoyment of the game. |
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==Spellbook Overview== |
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Magical theorists recognize two forms of necromancy: Perversion Necromancy and Corruption Necromancy. In a mechanistic approach to the discipline, this works well. Necromancy is the result of two distinct mixtures of mana, Life plus either Elemental or Lunar, which this separation embodies. |
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Necromancers are not mechanistic and they usually are not magical theorists either. |
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The tri-spellbook separation -- the ABCs of Necromancy -- was the standard among most cults, though variations existed. The [[Dragon_Priest_%28Cult%29|Dragon Priests]] are notoriously bookish, classifying no less than thirty different Necromancy spellbooks across obscure cultural and magical lines. In sharp contrast, the doctrine of the [[Bone_Elf|Bone Elves]] states that any sort of classification system is the product of childish (non-Elven) minds attempting to comprehend the one, true path of power that encompasses mastery over all facets of death sculpting. |
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In recent years, the rogue Necromancers known as the Philosophers of the Knife codified the fourth spellbook, Transcendental Necromancy. This was not the discovery of some new source of power, but simply an organizational change reflecting their own priorities and values. |
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===Animation=== |
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Animation is a thematic spellbook, borrowing spells that would otherwise fit into Blood Magic or Corruption if it involves meddling with the undead. Animation is used to create undead minions, manipulate the undead in various ways, and strike at the animating force behind other Necromancers' creations. |
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It is important to note that the undead creations of the Animation spellbook are always temporary, and often vanishingly so. Necromancers must invest the time and effort of creating a [[Risen]] -- a far more hands-on project than merely casting a spell -- if he wishes to have a long-term minion. |
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===Blood Magic=== |
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In short, Blood Magic deals with the manipulation of blood, acid, and raw "life force" (vitality). |
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Blood Magic is one of the "pure" spellbooks, analogous to the Perversion Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Elemental mana, and is an omnibus for such spells that do not otherwise fit in the Animation or Transcendental Necromancy books. |
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The spellbook gets its name from the tone of its spells and the medium through which it usually works. The Life + Elemental mixture creates spells that are wild, visceral, and brutish. Blood Magic includes most of the Necromancer's arsenal of Targeted Magic spells and direct, lethal combat magic. |
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Appropriately enough, Blood Magic has a strong relationship to blood. Some of them work better if the Necromancer (or his victim) is bleeding freely, while others may require it to function at all. |
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Conjured acid falls under the domain of Blood Magic. Some Necromancers consider acid to be a physical manifestation of necromantic magic, in the same way that other disciplines have holy fire or living shadows. |
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===Corruption=== |
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In short, Corruption deals with the conjuration of poison, disease, and more refined forms of illness. |
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Corruption is the second "pure" spellbook, analogous to the Corruption Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Lunar mana. |
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This mana mixture works through decay of various forms, from flesh-eating bacteria to diseases of the mind. Corruption includes many of the Necromancers' most subtle spells, some of which are "legal" by dint of the fact that no one around the Necromancer can detect anything wrong has happened. |
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Conjured poison and disease falls under this category, as well as obscure forces that corrupt the emotional balance and mental faculties of the target. Some of the effects of Corruption could be poetically said to cause a "soul sickness," but these spells cannot actually impact the health of the victim's spirit. |
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===Transcendental Necromancy=== |
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In short, Transcendental Necromancy deals with spells that make the Necromancer more (or less) than Human. |
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Transcendental Necromancy is a thematic spellbook, devised in the same way that Animation is. While the tradition of organizing Transcendental Necromancy as its own spellbook is less than a century old, many of the spells that populate the book are as old as necromancy itself. |
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This spellbook focuses strictly on enhancing the magician who casts the spell: all Transcendental Necromancy spells are self-cast only. The spells are always beneficial, bolstering the Necromancer's own latent abilities or granting him entirely new ones, though sometimes Pyrrhic in nature. These spells are often monstrous to behold, making the Necromancer obviously inhuman under their duration. |
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* [[Redeemed|The Redeemed]] |
* [[Redeemed|The Redeemed]] |
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* [[Philosophers of the Knife|The Philosophers of the Knife]] |
* [[Philosophers of the Knife|The Philosophers of the Knife]] |
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===Ideology Differences=== |
===Ideology Differences=== |
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The Redeemed are none of those things. While they might focus on trying to do good works, they do it as a form of redemptive suffering. The Redeemed accept the notion that necromancy is wholly selfish and evil, that it cannot possibly lead to the positive outcome that the Philosophers want. The best the Redeemed can do is take their broken souls and try to do some good on the gods' Elanthia with the scant tools they have left. "Some good" might be saving others from death -- or might be hunting down and murdering other Necromancers. |
The Redeemed are none of those things. While they might focus on trying to do good works, they do it as a form of redemptive suffering. The Redeemed accept the notion that necromancy is wholly selfish and evil, that it cannot possibly lead to the positive outcome that the Philosophers want. The best the Redeemed can do is take their broken souls and try to do some good on the gods' Elanthia with the scant tools they have left. "Some good" might be saving others from death -- or might be hunting down and murdering other Necromancers. |
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===Changing Ideologies=== |
===Changing Ideologies=== |
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The cults have chosen to hate each other to the point of mutual destruction. Whether or not this has been a successful policy is open to interpretation. |
The cults have chosen to hate each other to the point of mutual destruction. Whether or not this has been a successful policy is open to interpretation. |
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===Current Numbers=== |
===Current Numbers=== |
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The first Philosophers of the Knife appear in history almost one hundred years ago, seemingly out of nowhere. They enjoyed a fairly even geographical spread, with an emphasis on [[Zoluren]] and [[Theren]] that likely reflects the state of the trade routes at the time. Best estimates suggest that there are 50 Philosophers active on [[Kermoria]]. In comparison, scholars estimate that the number of Redeemed existent at any time is less than a dozen, while numbers for the Perverse vary wildly, scaling up to 1,000. Societies that are openly hostile to the Provinces, such as [[Sidhlot|Sidhlot's]] [[Bone Elves]], are not included in those estimates; would-be anthropologists leave with fewer organs then when they started. |
The first Philosophers of the Knife appear in history almost one hundred years ago, seemingly out of nowhere. They enjoyed a fairly even geographical spread, with an emphasis on [[Zoluren]] and [[Theren]] that likely reflects the state of the trade routes at the time. Best estimates suggest that there are 50 Philosophers active on [[Kermoria]]. In comparison, scholars estimate that the number of Redeemed existent at any time is less than a dozen, while numbers for the Perverse vary wildly, scaling up to 1,000. Societies that are openly hostile to the Provinces, such as [[Sidhlot|Sidhlot's]] [[Bone Elves]], are not included in those estimates; would-be anthropologists leave with fewer organs then when they started. |
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==Spellbook Overview== |
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Magical theorists recognize two forms of necromancy: Perversion Necromancy and Corruption Necromancy. In a mechanistic approach to the discipline, this works well. Necromancy is the result of two distinct mixtures of mana, Life plus either Elemental or Lunar, which this separation embodies. |
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Necromancers are not mechanistic and they usually are not magical theorists either. |
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The tri-spellbook separation -- the ABCs of Necromancy -- was the standard among most cults, though variations existed. The [[Dragon_Priest_%28Cult%29|Dragon Priests]] are notoriously bookish, classifying no less than thirty different Necromancy spellbooks across obscure cultural and magical lines. In sharp contrast, the doctrine of the [[Bone_Elf|Bone Elves]] states that any sort of classification system is the product of childish (non-Elven) minds attempting to comprehend the one, true path of power that encompasses mastery over all facets of death sculpting. |
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==[[Outrage]]== |
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In recent years, the rogue Necromancers known as the Philosophers of the Knife codified the fourth spellbook, Transcendental Necromancy. This was not the discovery of some new source of power, but simply an organizational change reflecting their own priorities and values. |
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== |
===Animation=== |
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Animation is a thematic spellbook, borrowing spells that would otherwise fit into Blood Magic or Corruption if it involves meddling with the undead. Animation is used to create undead minions, manipulate the undead in various ways, and strike at the animating force behind other Necromancers' creations. |
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Divine Outrage and the state of being Perverse are not binary, but instead a gradual descent. The further you slide, the more qualities of the Perverse you pick up. It depends on how far the Necromancer has fallen. |
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It is important to note that the undead creations of the Animation spellbook are always temporary, and often vanishingly so. Necromancers must invest the time and effort of creating a [[Risen]] -- a far more hands-on project than merely casting a spell -- if he wishes to have a long-term minion. |
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If the Necromancer keeps his soul vaguely intact, Holy spells will treat him as a normal Human(-equivalent). Blasting Necromancers with Harm Evil is not going to be possible unless the Necromancer is doing a lot of things wrong. |
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===Blood Magic=== |
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The Perverse are a dead giveaway, while the Redeemed cannot be detected at all in this manner. The Philosophers are iffy, based largely on how close to being Perverse they happen to be at the moment. |
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In short, Blood Magic deals with the manipulation of blood, acid, and raw "life force" (vitality). |
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Blood Magic is one of the "pure" spellbooks, analogous to the Perversion Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Elemental mana, and is an omnibus for such spells that do not otherwise fit in the Animation or Transcendental Necromancy books. |
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Important to remember at this point that Holy magic does not usually invoke the direct attention or intervention of the gods. It is the science of using Holy mana to achieve spell effects. Holy mana is an unintelligent, inanimate force. It does not care about Necromancers. It's the magicians and gods that manipulate it that usually do. Unless the gods are so outraged that they specifically mark the Necromancer so, there's no reason Holy spells will treat them any differently. |
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The spellbook gets its name from the tone of its spells and the medium through which it usually works. The Life + Elemental mixture creates spells that are wild, visceral, and brutish. Blood Magic includes most of the Necromancer's arsenal of Targeted Magic spells and direct, lethal combat magic. |
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Appropriately enough, Blood Magic has a strong relationship to blood. Some of them work better if the Necromancer (or his victim) is bleeding freely, while others may require it to function at all. |
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===The Decline=== |
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* At low levels of perversion (or while in the state of Redemption), a Necromancer cannot be specifically outed through supernatural means. Assuming they can control the corruption on their soul and hide their identity there is no reason why another PC (or their spells/abilities) would ever know the difference. |
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Conjured acid falls under the domain of Blood Magic. Some Necromancers consider acid to be a physical manifestation of necromantic magic, in the same way that other disciplines have holy fire or living shadows. |
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* At a certain point of perversion, Clerics and Moon Mages may be able to detect them via the <tt>[[Power_Perceive_skill|PERCEIVE]]</tt> ability. |
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===Corruption=== |
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* At another, different point of perversion, you will no longer be able to render aid to their corpse. |
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In short, Corruption deals with the conjuration of poison, disease, and more refined forms of illness. |
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Corruption is the second "pure" spellbook, analogous to the Corruption Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Lunar mana. |
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* At the far edge of perversion, you will be able to blast them with Harm Evil (and get the standard holy mana bonus). The Necromancer has essentially become a cursed being and all disadvantages of that type apply. |
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This mana mixture works through decay of various forms, from flesh-eating bacteria to diseases of the mind. Corruption includes many of the Necromancers' most subtle spells, some of which are "legal" by dint of the fact that no one around the Necromancer can detect anything wrong has happened. |
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* There is a point of no return with perversion, where you can no longer become Redeemed. |
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Conjured poison and disease falls under this category, as well as obscure forces that corrupt the emotional balance and mental faculties of the target. Some of the effects of Corruption could be poetically said to cause a "soul sickness," but these spells cannot actually impact the health of the victim's spirit. |
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===Transcendental Necromancy=== |
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===GM-NPCs=== |
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In short, Transcendental Necromancy deals with spells that make the Necromancer more (or less) than Human. |
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* Evil/Necromatic GM-NPCs will eventually have same cursed mechanics. It will be theoretically possible to use a spell like [[Plague_of_Scavengers|Plague of Scavengers]] on someone like [[Xerasyth]]. |
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===Descent to Undeath=== |
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It will be possible to eventually become Undead (a Lich). Current plan is that it will be optional. Details on the process have not been released. |
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The Descent to Undeath, as the 100th circle Necromancer ability, is probably going to be limited to strictly liches. This is not to say that other necromantic "endgames" aren't theoretically possible, but the ideas of Transcendent or Purified Necromancers are outside the scope of a 100th circle ability. |
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Almost certainly this will not be live (pardon the pun) with the release of the guild. A much further down the line thing -- things might change between then and now. |
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===Redemption=== |
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Outside of bypassing the Immortals related problems (favor issues & divine outrage penalties), there's no mechanical benefit to redemption. |
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Redemption for a Necromancer is, playability wise, a bad thing. The gods pat you on your head and give you a cookie...at the cost of locking out vast tracks of your spells and never again using your guild's signature ability and skill. That's a terrible deal, and only really exists as a gear in a larger design (the Necromancer's moral struggle) and for people who really, really want to do "good guy Neccies." |
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It's very likely that most players of Necromancers will evaluate the state and decide that it gives up way too much for the little it provides. That's both perfectly fine and intentional. It provides contrast to people who want to play "neccies" and "white Necromancers." If you want to be a good guy Necromancer, the gods have given you a way -- a long, very torturous way. If you think the cost is too high, then obviously your character didn't want to be a good guy so badly after all. |
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''Can Redeemed Necromancers switch guilds?'' |
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Absolutely not. |
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The Necromancer who manages to seize redemption might, after the initial euphoria drains away, notice that something is a little...wrong. They may be redeemed in the eyes of the gods, but the damage they inflicted on their souls is still there. |
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A Redeemed still sees the sickening whorls of Arcane mana out of the corner of his eye, stalking him like a beast. The supernatural forces of Elanthia will still reject him: his Inner Fire has smoldered, his Empathy is shattered. Nature abhors him, the Plane of Probability is closed to him, and the aether spirits will not heed his call. Even if he is Redeemed, he is a Necromancer. No matter how long or how hard he runs, he can never fully escape his past. |
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Opinions among the Redeemed on this issue are split. Some simply fade away into lives of obscurity. They take up the plowshare and accept that whatever will be, they have at least won free from the madness and spiritual decay of their discipline. The wounds in their soul remain, but they do not fester. |
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Others see this as, in a bizarre way, part of a divine quest. They look for any sign by the gods that may suggest that they can prove their sincerity and win not just redemption, but rebirth and purification. Some of these crusaders attempt to do some measure of good to others, even though the powers they possess are greedy and destructive. Some of them turn inward, reckoning that they alone have the knowledge and means to beat the Necromancers at their own game. |
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The later ones inspire fear out of proportion with the chance of encountering one, but a homicidal Redeemed is one of the worst things any other Necromancer (including other Redeemed) could meet. There are tales of lone Redeemed murdering entire cults, conjuring acid and poison with one hand and wielding torch-fire in the other. |
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No matter what road a Redeemed Necromancer takes, however, purification is a long ways away. |
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Transcendental Necromancy is a thematic spellbook, devised in the same way that Animation is. While the tradition of organizing Transcendental Necromancy as its own spellbook is less than a century old, many of the spells that populate the book are as old as necromancy itself. |
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This spellbook focuses strictly on enhancing the magician who casts the spell: all Transcendental Necromancy spells are self-cast only. The spells are always beneficial, bolstering the Necromancer's own latent abilities or granting him entirely new ones, though sometimes Pyrrhic in nature. These spells are often monstrous to behold, making the Necromancer obviously inhuman under their duration. |
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==Systems== |
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===[[Outrage]]=== |
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===[[Perversion]]=== |
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===[[Risen]]=== |
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==Skills== |
==Skills== |
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===Skillset=== |
===Skillset=== |
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* Magic and Lore secondary<br /> |
* Magic and Lore secondary<br /> |
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* Armor and Weapons tertiary<br /> |
* Armor and Weapons tertiary<br /> |
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===Scarification=== |
===Scarification=== |
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[[Scarification_skill|Scarification]] is a guild-specific Magic skill, which they will learn at a secondary rate. It will not be a primary rate skill for Necromancers. |
[[Scarification_skill|Scarification]] is a guild-specific Magic skill, which they will learn at a secondary rate. It will not be a primary rate skill for Necromancers. |
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Part of it is lore-based. Astrology and Scarification both represent manipulation of forces that even their practitioners do not fully understand. If there is such thing as a Astrology Prime Moon Mage, he is a seer without modern peer, perhaps like [[Jares|Jares Braun]] and Master G'nar Peth of old. If there is a Scarification Prime Necromancer, the dread lich is well and truly buried in history. |
Part of it is lore-based. Astrology and Scarification both represent manipulation of forces that even their practitioners do not fully understand. If there is such thing as a Astrology Prime Moon Mage, he is a seer without modern peer, perhaps like [[Jares|Jares Braun]] and Master G'nar Peth of old. If there is a Scarification Prime Necromancer, the dread lich is well and truly buried in history. |
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===Light Edged=== |
===Light Edged=== |
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Necromancers will have a skill requirement in [[Light_Edged_skill|light edged weapons]]. Not especially large, but it's there and persistent through the character's entire career. In fictional terms, it's a ceremonial requirement. As you may have guessed by now, some very important Necromancers invest a lot of symbolism into knives. |
Necromancers will have a skill requirement in [[Light_Edged_skill|light edged weapons]]. Not especially large, but it's there and persistent through the character's entire career. In fictional terms, it's a ceremonial requirement. As you may have guessed by now, some very important Necromancers invest a lot of symbolism into knives. |
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===Creation Lore=== |
===Creation Lore=== |
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There are currently no plans for any Necromancer-specific enchantments or techniques. Armifer's intention is that they will not be able to produce anything guild-specific which will directly benefit other players. |
There are currently no plans for any Necromancer-specific enchantments or techniques. Armifer's intention is that they will not be able to produce anything guild-specific which will directly benefit other players. |
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==Magic== |
==Magic== |
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===Planned Spells=== |
===Planned Spells=== |
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* The necromancy spells listed on the play.net website are NOT accurate. Some have been changed significantly from their teaser descriptions, while others have been tossed out the window completely. |
* The necromancy spells listed on the play.net website are NOT accurate. Some have been changed significantly from their teaser descriptions, while others have been tossed out the window completely. |
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===Self Buffs Only=== |
===Self Buffs Only=== |
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If everything works out correctly, there will never be a legitimate reason to seek out the help of a Necromancer on the basis of guild. The only thing necromancy can do to anyone other than the user is harm. |
If everything works out correctly, there will never be a legitimate reason to seek out the help of a Necromancer on the basis of guild. The only thing necromancy can do to anyone other than the user is harm. |
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===While Redeemed=== |
===While Redeemed=== |
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Corruption and Blood Magic spells can be used as normal. |
Corruption and Blood Magic spells can be used as normal. |
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===Sorcery=== |
===Sorcery=== |
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* Necromancy is created by mixing Life mana with either Elemental or Lunar mana. Life mana is always used in the mix, by definition. Holy mana does NOT mix with Life mana. |
* Necromancy is created by mixing Life mana with either Elemental or Lunar mana. Life mana is always used in the mix, by definition. Holy mana does NOT mix with Life mana. |
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===Mixing Life + Holy=== |
===Mixing Life + Holy=== |
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Perhaps the gods have meddled with the laws of the universe to prohibit it. Perhaps this proof there is some innate, cosmic evilness about necromantic mixtures, to the point where the very mechanism is repelled by the emanations of the gods. Or perhaps this is just one very interesting coincidence. |
Perhaps the gods have meddled with the laws of the universe to prohibit it. Perhaps this proof there is some innate, cosmic evilness about necromantic mixtures, to the point where the very mechanism is repelled by the emanations of the gods. Or perhaps this is just one very interesting coincidence. |
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==Combat== |
==Combat== |
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Necromancers will not have any particularly noteworthy combat abilities. They may get spells that are exceptionally potent versus corporeal undead, but nothing special against the non-corporeal. No reason they wouldn't be able to use a blessed weapon if a Cleric wants to give them one handle-first. |
Necromancers will not have any particularly noteworthy combat abilities. They may get spells that are exceptionally potent versus corporeal undead, but nothing special against the non-corporeal. No reason they wouldn't be able to use a blessed weapon if a Cleric wants to give them one handle-first. |
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Everything you were told about Necro PvP is off the table. Armifer is not willing to go into further details yet. |
Everything you were told about Necro PvP is off the table. Armifer is not willing to go into further details yet. |
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==Miscellaneous Notes== |
==Miscellaneous Notes== |
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===Surviving=== |
===Surviving=== |
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The best way for a Necromancer to survive is to never let society know he's a Necromancer to begin with. If a Necromancer has reached the point where he needs to actively thwart scrying, he is already operating from a position of weakness. |
The best way for a Necromancer to survive is to never let society know he's a Necromancer to begin with. If a Necromancer has reached the point where he needs to actively thwart scrying, he is already operating from a position of weakness. |
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===Avoiding Necromancers=== |
===Avoiding Necromancers=== |
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Armifer will go into the mechanical reasons to avoid Necromancers when the guild is closer to release. |
Armifer will go into the mechanical reasons to avoid Necromancers when the guild is closer to release. |
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===Racial Issues=== |
===Racial Issues=== |
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Revision as of 12:21, 26 April 2008
| Necromancer Guild | |
 Image copyright of Simutronics Corporation | |
| Primary Skillset: | Survival |
|---|---|
| Secondary Skillsets: | Lore, Magic |
| Tertiary Skillsets: | Armor, Weapon |
| Special Abilities: | Risen |
| Mana Type: | Arcane |
| Barbarian - Bard - Cleric - Commoner - Empath - Moon Mage Necromancer - Paladin - Ranger - Thief - Trader - Warrior Mage | |
NOTE: The Necromancer guild is under development and not currently available in the game. All information posted here is based on previously announced features, and as with any unreleased system, these are all subject to change.
The basic outline of ideologies and the overview of the Necromancy spellbooks were posted by Armifer in The Necromancer official forums on 01/02/2008.
All other information, unless otherwise noted, was taken from GM posts in the same forums.
Joining/Playability
The Necromancer Guild is intended, by design, to be an advanced option. It is intended to be there for players who are already familiar with the game and want to try a profession that includes some novel and difficult permutations on the normal play experience.
This is not the same thing as an ultra-exclusive treehouse that only the most dedicated 1% of scripters can enter. The Necromancer Guild may be difficult to enter and advance in, but it will not be exceptionally so. If a player wishes to create a Necromancer PC after the guild is released, he will be able to do so with only a minor time investment. The sadism inherent in the design of this guild is meant to be playful, not an actual hindrance to your enjoyment of the game.
Ideologies
Ideology Overview
Why?
By more than any other quality, Necromancers define themselves on that question. While there is no such thing as a necromantic federation or "guild," cults and lone Necromancers have been known to align themselves along ideological lines. When even the gods themselves are against you, it's nice to have someone who can offer something even deeper than lore, wealth, or power: a broad understanding of you and your discipline.
With the end of the era of cults coming upon them, a number of the subtle shades of meaning and nuance that defined necromantic ideologies have been washed away. In modern times, the surviving Necromancers broadly recognize three different camps
Ideology Differences
There's meant to be a level of symmetry between the Reedemed and the Philosophers, but they aren't quite the same.
Both seem to believe their power will somehow change the world or aid races.
There's a big difference here.
The Philosophers want to change the world. They believe that their atrocities will lead themselves and nominally the rest of mankind into some greater state of living. They imagine themselves as misunderstood geniuses who are only doing what they must so that they (and nominally the multitude) may cast down the natural order that condemns them.
The Redeemed are none of those things. While they might focus on trying to do good works, they do it as a form of redemptive suffering. The Redeemed accept the notion that necromancy is wholly selfish and evil, that it cannot possibly lead to the positive outcome that the Philosophers want. The best the Redeemed can do is take their broken souls and try to do some good on the gods' Elanthia with the scant tools they have left. "Some good" might be saving others from death -- or might be hunting down and murdering other Necromancers.
Changing Ideologies
The Redeemed have a mechanical definition. Your character needs to actively seek out the state, and then be mindful that they do not let it slip (ever; a Necromancer can only enter the state of redemption once).
The Perverse is a bit more fuzzy. You never officially "join the club" or anything, but if your Outrage meters pass a certain point, various NPCs will consider you one of the Perverse for better or worse -- usually worse.
The Philosophers are a little different, and we'll discuss them in more detail as we get closer to the release of the guild.
The cults have chosen to hate each other to the point of mutual destruction. Whether or not this has been a successful policy is open to interpretation.
Current Numbers
The first Philosophers of the Knife appear in history almost one hundred years ago, seemingly out of nowhere. They enjoyed a fairly even geographical spread, with an emphasis on Zoluren and Theren that likely reflects the state of the trade routes at the time. Best estimates suggest that there are 50 Philosophers active on Kermoria. In comparison, scholars estimate that the number of Redeemed existent at any time is less than a dozen, while numbers for the Perverse vary wildly, scaling up to 1,000. Societies that are openly hostile to the Provinces, such as Sidhlot's Bone Elves, are not included in those estimates; would-be anthropologists leave with fewer organs then when they started.
Spellbook Overview
Magical theorists recognize two forms of necromancy: Perversion Necromancy and Corruption Necromancy. In a mechanistic approach to the discipline, this works well. Necromancy is the result of two distinct mixtures of mana, Life plus either Elemental or Lunar, which this separation embodies.
Necromancers are not mechanistic and they usually are not magical theorists either.
The tri-spellbook separation -- the ABCs of Necromancy -- was the standard among most cults, though variations existed. The Dragon Priests are notoriously bookish, classifying no less than thirty different Necromancy spellbooks across obscure cultural and magical lines. In sharp contrast, the doctrine of the Bone Elves states that any sort of classification system is the product of childish (non-Elven) minds attempting to comprehend the one, true path of power that encompasses mastery over all facets of death sculpting.
In recent years, the rogue Necromancers known as the Philosophers of the Knife codified the fourth spellbook, Transcendental Necromancy. This was not the discovery of some new source of power, but simply an organizational change reflecting their own priorities and values.
Animation
Animation is a thematic spellbook, borrowing spells that would otherwise fit into Blood Magic or Corruption if it involves meddling with the undead. Animation is used to create undead minions, manipulate the undead in various ways, and strike at the animating force behind other Necromancers' creations.
It is important to note that the undead creations of the Animation spellbook are always temporary, and often vanishingly so. Necromancers must invest the time and effort of creating a Risen -- a far more hands-on project than merely casting a spell -- if he wishes to have a long-term minion.
Blood Magic
In short, Blood Magic deals with the manipulation of blood, acid, and raw "life force" (vitality).
Blood Magic is one of the "pure" spellbooks, analogous to the Perversion Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Elemental mana, and is an omnibus for such spells that do not otherwise fit in the Animation or Transcendental Necromancy books.
The spellbook gets its name from the tone of its spells and the medium through which it usually works. The Life + Elemental mixture creates spells that are wild, visceral, and brutish. Blood Magic includes most of the Necromancer's arsenal of Targeted Magic spells and direct, lethal combat magic.
Appropriately enough, Blood Magic has a strong relationship to blood. Some of them work better if the Necromancer (or his victim) is bleeding freely, while others may require it to function at all.
Conjured acid falls under the domain of Blood Magic. Some Necromancers consider acid to be a physical manifestation of necromantic magic, in the same way that other disciplines have holy fire or living shadows.
Corruption
In short, Corruption deals with the conjuration of poison, disease, and more refined forms of illness.
Corruption is the second "pure" spellbook, analogous to the Corruption Necromancy book. It deals exclusively with the results of mixing Life and Lunar mana.
This mana mixture works through decay of various forms, from flesh-eating bacteria to diseases of the mind. Corruption includes many of the Necromancers' most subtle spells, some of which are "legal" by dint of the fact that no one around the Necromancer can detect anything wrong has happened.
Conjured poison and disease falls under this category, as well as obscure forces that corrupt the emotional balance and mental faculties of the target. Some of the effects of Corruption could be poetically said to cause a "soul sickness," but these spells cannot actually impact the health of the victim's spirit.
Transcendental Necromancy
In short, Transcendental Necromancy deals with spells that make the Necromancer more (or less) than Human.
Transcendental Necromancy is a thematic spellbook, devised in the same way that Animation is. While the tradition of organizing Transcendental Necromancy as its own spellbook is less than a century old, many of the spells that populate the book are as old as necromancy itself.
This spellbook focuses strictly on enhancing the magician who casts the spell: all Transcendental Necromancy spells are self-cast only. The spells are always beneficial, bolstering the Necromancer's own latent abilities or granting him entirely new ones, though sometimes Pyrrhic in nature. These spells are often monstrous to behold, making the Necromancer obviously inhuman under their duration.
Systems
Outrage
Perversion
Risen
Skills
Skillset
Since there may be some confusion here:
- Survival Primary
- Magic and Lore secondary
- Armor and Weapons tertiary
Scarification
Scarification is a guild-specific Magic skill, which they will learn at a secondary rate. It will not be a primary rate skill for Necromancers.
Why?
Part of it is consistency. Even though Astrology is important to the identity of a Moon Mage, they are magicians first and foremost. The bread and butter of the Moon Mage lifestyle is being a magic user, everything else takes a back seat to that.
Scarification is important to the identity of Necromancers, but in modern times their first and foremost concern is to survive. The Great Work / your own private undead army / redemption isn't going to matter much if they strip your soul naked and hang you first.
Part of it is lore-based. Astrology and Scarification both represent manipulation of forces that even their practitioners do not fully understand. If there is such thing as a Astrology Prime Moon Mage, he is a seer without modern peer, perhaps like Jares Braun and Master G'nar Peth of old. If there is a Scarification Prime Necromancer, the dread lich is well and truly buried in history.
Light Edged
Necromancers will have a skill requirement in light edged weapons. Not especially large, but it's there and persistent through the character's entire career. In fictional terms, it's a ceremonial requirement. As you may have guessed by now, some very important Necromancers invest a lot of symbolism into knives.
Creation Lore
The Necromancer creation system focus will likely be in Alchemy, though this is not set in stone yet.
There are currently no plans for any Necromancer-specific enchantments or techniques. Armifer's intention is that they will not be able to produce anything guild-specific which will directly benefit other players.
Magic
Planned Spells
- It is unlikely that necromancy spells will released prior to the guild. There is a chance that a few might be released on scrolls first, but plan on seeing most (if not all) released concurrently with the guild instead.
- The old descriptions of Evocation and Domination Sorcery as Necromancer spellbooks have been thrown out. The Sorcery spellbooks still exist, they are just not a part of the Necromancer selection of spells.
- The necromancy spells listed on the play.net website are NOT accurate. Some have been changed significantly from their teaser descriptions, while others have been tossed out the window completely.
Self Buffs Only
I really don't want to hear people gwething for a Necro because their bone armor enchantment is out of charges.
Ding ding ding. This also goes into the design decisions behind Transcendental Necromancy: all Necro spell buffs are self-cast only.
If everything works out correctly, there will never be a legitimate reason to seek out the help of a Necromancer on the basis of guild. The only thing necromancy can do to anyone other than the user is harm.
While Redeemed
Two of the four spellbooks are prohibited when you're Redeemed: Animation and Transcendental Necromancy.
Should you choose to use either spellbook you will have the capability to do so. However, you will no longer be considered Redeemed. The gods will not stop you from using them, but they'll judge and punish you if you do.
Corruption and Blood Magic spells can be used as normal.
Sorcery
- Necromancy is a subset of Sorcery. Sorcery is dangerous and unstable magic that society abhors and that may or may not have some intrinsic evilness about it. Blackfire is an example of this. Necromancers are as free to dabble in Sorcery as any other guild, but they will not have any special access to the non-Necromatic parts of it.
- Necromancy is created by mixing Life mana with either Elemental or Lunar mana. Life mana is always used in the mix, by definition. Holy mana does NOT mix with Life mana.
Mixing Life + Holy
What would happen if someone theoretically tried to force Life and Holy mana together?
Nothing exceptionally interesting, outside the normal necromantic backlash.
The inability to mix Holy and Life has the very noticeable side effect of not allowing a "holy necromancy" to exist, yet it doesn't seem directly related to this end. The gods do not show up and smack you for doing it, it just...doesn't work. It appears that a divine edict has found an accomplice in natural law.
Perhaps the gods have meddled with the laws of the universe to prohibit it. Perhaps this proof there is some innate, cosmic evilness about necromantic mixtures, to the point where the very mechanism is repelled by the emanations of the gods. Or perhaps this is just one very interesting coincidence.
Combat
Necromancers will not have any particularly noteworthy combat abilities. They may get spells that are exceptionally potent versus corporeal undead, but nothing special against the non-corporeal. No reason they wouldn't be able to use a blessed weapon if a Cleric wants to give them one handle-first.
Consent / PvP
What's the point of being a Necromancer if you're not even going to get a chance to RP because everyone is going to be so gung ho about killing them? My personal view on it is that people want Necros to come out so they can fufill some twisted CvC obsession.
Assuming that you will have any special consent whatsoever against (or as) Necromancers is a bad idea, and one of the reasons that Armifer has repeatedly said this kind of conversation is inappropriate right now.
Everything you were told about Necro PvP is off the table. Armifer is not willing to go into further details yet.
Miscellaneous Notes
Surviving
The best way for a Necromancer to survive is to never let society know he's a Necromancer to begin with. If a Necromancer has reached the point where he needs to actively thwart scrying, he is already operating from a position of weakness.
Avoiding Necromancers
Armifer will go into the mechanical reasons to avoid Necromancers when the guild is closer to release.
Racial Issues
Will there still be racial weaknesses/strengths against Necromancers?
No. Armifer would argue that a Rakash or Prydaen that cares at all about his culture becoming a Necromancer is terrible roleplaying, but there's likely to be members of those species who are so dead inside that they feel nothing for the plight of their fathers. You can do it if you want.
I recall hearing something about how Prydaens would be more vulnerable to Necromancy magic or something. Is this true?
There was a single spell planned wherein one of the quirks of the spell was that Rakash and Prydaen were more vulnerable to it. That spell is no longer planned for release.
Prydaen Cultural Issues
"I feel we need to be clear on definitions here. One can in theory join the Necromancer guild and never create a Risen or in any other way fool with animating the undead. It is the animation of the undead, particularly Prydaen undead that offends the Three. How you personally choose to react, I leave to each of you individually, but shunning is most certainly a good and viable route. As for Judging of those who are necromancers or who deliberately and knowingly aid necromancers, that is again done only by the Three. Most likely any Prydaen Necromancer that has gone to the point of animating the dead has already gotten on the bad side of the Three as well as the 13 from that act. Those aiding a necromancer on the other hand are a whole other matter. They are certainly going to end up shunned. They will most likely find themselves in conflict with those that oppose the necromancer in question. However, since we are talking about random, unnamed Necromancers here in the east that are not necessarily event attacking Prydaens, let alone attempting to take over lands we are holding as our own, that doesn't quite equal the crime of a situation such as aiding Lyras. Lyras declared direct war on all in and around Eu's Lands. She is a racial enemy without a doubt. While many of you will no doubt take out your anger towards her on any necromancer that comes along (and you are more than welcome to do so) that does not mean that they are viewed the same in the eyes of the Three. Eh, who can really fathom the workings of the minds of Gods?
"On a final note, I know many view the Claw of Tenemlor as the judges of necromancy. It is true that they are often sent by Tenemlor to seek out those Prydaen souls that might have been tainted and to deal with them as needed. However, understand that they cannot declare anyone Cemsiat. Rather they simply attempt to remove the taint. Cusave did this for Bluewither by slaying the blood doll and removing the link to her soul. Declaring someone Cemsiat means marking them and kicking them out of the race to attempt to atone for their crimes. The Claw of Tenemlor is a bit more direct in their actions. So long as they act in accordance with Tenemlor's will and at her direction, striking down a tainted soul will not yield a claim of Cemsiat upon themselves as Tenemlor will not punish them for doing as she directs. But aside from that they have no actual authority among the Kin. They are not true judges of crimes, just a group of warriors seeking to remove taints from the souls of the Kin that they move among. Hopefully this helps clear some things up."
--GM Oolan Jeel
Slip
SLIP is being retooled as a Survival Primary verb. Thieves retain the most options of any guild, but it will be open to Thieves, Necromancers, and Rangers. (Bards will retain their coin tricks.) Most of the shared abilities are completely new abilities.
Thieves will be the only ones to be taught SLIP by the GLs, others must be taught by somebody who already knows the ability (regardless of guild).