Was thinking of playing a necromacer, oddly from playing fable 2. But I wanted to ask about what motivation a necromancer would have exactly? Why would they suddenly wake up one day and think 'I think i'll raise the dead'? Also what kind of power would one be expected to have and furthermore how does one join the necromancers in Tarkull (If thats how you spell it)? Thankyoulisations to you.
Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland, Europe
Power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear, power and fear.
Thats some powerful motivation.
_________________ Gagis Silvarna, the Robocop with wings who shoots lasers from his fingertips Lily Havthorn, the Waukeenar Silwe, the elf
Power, is the most stereotypical thing a necromancer would have as motivation, I belive. The power to raise the dead as undying and loyal servants is rather tempting to most I would belive. However necromancy is far from just the animation of undead creatures, necromancy is the manipulation of life and death. Then there is the promise of eternal life trough undeath and such which necromancy is also capable of. Perhaps your character just is really scared of dying and wishes to prevent it from happening to him/herself? Also, as they say power corrupts. Once you start dabbling in such (dark) arts where you have the power over life and death you might very easily loose yourself in it sooner or later and become obsessed with learning more and gain more power. Then there is the possibility of an outside force which compelled you to begin experimenting with necromancy, which later evolved into a strong urge to continue experimenting with such.
Of course, all characters are different and all necromancers are hardly black robed, pale looking creepy people who create armies of zombies and skeletons to wreak havoc upon the living and digs up graves at night to gather more materials for their twisted research or kidnaps people to perform horrible experiments on. I hope some of my above examples can be of use to you when you make your necromancer. Regarding Tarkuul, you better ask someone else as I have nothing and will have nothing to do with that place.
Also, if you are able to I would recommend getting the Libris Mortis sourcebook. It contains some good material regarding necromancy and undead. There are of course other books which focuses on necromancy and the undead but I belive Libris Mortis is the closest to the Amia setting. Though correct me if I am wrong. But one should alwais remember that what the books says are intended as guidelines, your character can have his or her own view on for example how the animation of undead are explained. If everyone alwais quoted the rulebooks and never had their own ideas or such it would become rather boring, atleast I think so personally. As I said goodluck with your character concept and perhaps you shall meet my necro one day in game.
Edit: I think Tormak posted some good Palemaster lore in the "Libraries of Amia" subforum sometime ago. I would check that out. You could also check the Amia Wiki on Palemasters, as I belive it also has some info about them.
Thankyou for that. I found the part about dabbling and being consumed by the art most interesting, and it allows me to play the character in a way I would prefer.
Be Atypical from the predefined 'Powerhungry necromancer'. There's more to a character than what they are. What are their goals? Their purpose? What drives them? It can be small, they might not even know what they want ultimately, but they need something to drive, push, strive for. Even if that is eternal entropy.
Study and effect of Undead's varying kinds, and physiology, how they function. Procreation of the disease, the power which runs them. While having undead servants en mass can be useful, there's way way more there, just screaming to be done with it. Don't cut the complexities of undeath, Necromancy, and its facets of both short.
Wizards are inhumanly smart. Academic. There's usual eccentricities stemming from preternatural intelligence, in modern human society, so expecting it to be any different at one literally in possession of incomprehensible intelligence to us.
_________________ Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.
Have undead monkey butlers, that are actually quite proficient at cooking. Invite the EO over and after dinner introduce them to the bloodthirsty chefs.
_________________
<3 Maryn We are going to die and that makes us the lucky ones.
A plain sorceror who had wandered lifes winding road, shunned or feared by so many in his years. He had grown withdrawn and sunken into himself.
Until one day he met with a woman, one who did not shy from his power. She might have been common, she might have not been the pretiest girl in the whole of Toril. But she has a heart big enough to love this one man whom the rest of the world seemed to shun, or at least to himself.
That world was to try and take the one good thing from his life however...
Years later the two had settled down on the outskirts of a simple village. They were happy and content in one anothers company. They were expecting their first child. But the local villagers feared the growth of the child, evil whispers spread by zealous clergy who had taken a dislike to the sorceror had whipped the locals into a frenzy of hatred, driven by the fear of a demon being spawned from the simple womans womb.
And it was on that night, when the wind howled outside of the doors that torches blossomed flames all around the house and were cast upon the thatch. Oil filled lanterns were thrown after them and soon the blaze burned like a towering inferno. The zealous priests of some god chanting their prayers to the accompanying roar of the crowd as the simple wooden structure quickly crumbles under the heat.
But wrapped inside his protective shell the sorceror craddles his wifes body. her belly just showing the signs of her pregnancy. The flames could not touch them inside of the barrier....
At least until one priest who hated him more than the rest called down the power of his faith in the sorceror and stripped the shield from around him. The flames lick and lash out at the pair as they are set alight. Hatred blooms inside of the mans breast then as he watches his wife, the only one to ever love him, the only one to never fear him, shriek as the heat and flames strip the skin from her body.
Anger then...
Anger like he had never known in his life. Anger for the pettiness of the human spirit, anger for how weak and frail it could be and how easily manipulated it was.
Anger for the church...
Anger for the gods...
Anger for the love that he had lost...
Drawing from deep wells of power he never knew he had he reformed his protections, though much of his body was already badly burned and scared, patches of scorched bone showing in places. Try as they might the priests could not touch this man fueled by hate and remorse for his lost love.
He would make them all pay... even if it took an eternity...
Have undead monkey butlers, that are actually quite proficient at cooking. Invite the EO over and after dinner introduce them to the bloodthirsty chefs.
I'll get my holy silverware?
_________________
Herra Tutteri wrote:
Silvarus wrote:
Well that is awkward, since Gagis is actually a little girl.
So he's a pale-skinned calm man with loads of money... who thinks he's a little girl...
Edit: I think Tormak posted some good Palemaster lore in the "Libraries of Amia" subforum sometime ago. I would check that out.
I did, though like everything else in the library, it's full IC snippets from my Palemaster character and should be taken ICly, not as a cold OOC requirement for the class.
_________________ Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Location: The downeaster "Alexa"
Everyone tends to forget there are actually other semi-noble reasons for looking into necromancy. To contact a dead loved one. The fear of death or dying and no one being around to defend your family/clan/etc. To "restore" or bring back someone important, because contrary to what Amia shows you, there aren't clerics and raise scrolls just hanging around the bend for the common Joe. Necromancy may be more accessible than the Divine in some places, and sometimes it can even do the same job, just in a messier, less efficient, and usually dastardly way.
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
I could completely see some fledgling wizard try to do something like this. Their mother dies or they accidentally kill her with their new-found magic and they're in a land where clerics aren't prevalent, so they use the little knowledge they can perform a ritual similar to Create Undead, but of course, instead of their mom, they get some vile undead thing. However, they are determined to bring their mother back, so they continue their studies in the darker arts. They may even begin to fear that they will die before they find a way to bring their mother back, so they start performing necromancy on themselves(PM stuff) so they can stick around longer until they find a way to bring her back. Possibly denying Divine solutions, for the stubbornness or guilt of wanting to bring their mother back on their own.
Would make for a good narrative, if nothing else. Can even replace "mother" with "lover", or "son" or "daughter" and there you go.
But in the end, your PC is your PC. Their motivation for doing anything under the sun should ultimately come down to who they are, rather than what they are, IMO.
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
No, it happened because the First Law of Alchemy states that nothing can be taken without an equal amount being given. Had nothing to do with it going against the natural order. >_>
Anyways.
_________________ Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham
how about you wanted to be a necromancer because diablo 2 made them cool as hell and you want a army of 100 undead to lag your foes todeath......pre patch....
_________________ ================-<Cory ShadowFlame>-================ Risenlord-Shifter(OMG a Non-Dragon Shifter that can hold his own in PvE)
Best use of Necromancy ever...that happened in a LARP once upon a time...
Girl A wanted Guy A to be her devoted, doting slave, so she used something called "Love 9", essentially a total love enchantment. Unfortunately, Guy A was a necromancer and to make sure he'd Never lose her or any harm would come to her, he turned her into a wraith...
_________________ ~Science Transcript~ Bruce Kesselson: [Talk] Channeling a different color.. Vyashir! Vyashir lndrire: [Talk] Purple? Bruce Kesselson: [Talk] Prepare for purple! Vyashir lndrire: [Talk] yes!
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
No, it happened because the First Law of Alchemy states that nothing can be taken without an equal amount being given. Had nothing to do with it going against the natural order. >_>
Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Leather chair, USA. Tell me about your mother.
I have a PC that began her career after being shut in a prison for a really long time, with only little ratties for friends. Rats die, and that made her sad. So she fixed the problem.
Start small
_________________ We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know.
A young arcanist whose family members die in tragic accidents. He has to bring them back through any means necessary. It's up to the old Micmac burial grounds for mom & pop ... you bury your own.
Someone who likes being fawned on, so creates undead servants but can't abide the rotting corpses and so dresses them up with wigs, fancy clothes, masks and perfume...
_________________ ~Sharess on AmiaWiki~ Priestess, politician, prostitute "[They] were moving in on me like Sharessans on a new broad in the bath house" - Tracer Bolt AmiaWiki mod (mostly inactive)
how about you wanted to be a necromancer because diablo 2 made them cool as hell and you want a army of 100 undead to lag your foes todeath......pre patch....
I still remember those good ol' laggy days...
_________________ Christopher Von Gradwitz- Weapons Master Vindel Rastana- Spellsword
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Location: The downeaster "Alexa"
TormakSaber wrote:
Quote:
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
No, it happened because the First Law of Alchemy states that nothing can be taken without an equal amount being given. Had nothing to do with it going against the natural order. >_>
Anyways.
The natural order of that universe being that nothing can be taken without something first being given. That's what I mean Tormie, I know my first Law of Alchemy! : P
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
No, it happened because the First Law of Alchemy states that nothing can be taken without an equal amount being given. Had nothing to do with it going against the natural order. >_>
Anyways.
The natural order of that universe being that nothing can be taken without something first being given. That's what I mean Tormie, I know my first Law of Alchemy! : P
I thought The first law of Alchemy was you don't talk about Alchemy.
_________________ ================-<Cory ShadowFlame>-================ Risenlord-Shifter(OMG a Non-Dragon Shifter that can hold his own in PvE)
Just look at Full Metal Alchemist. (Though technically, for them it's Transmutation) Someone was trying to bring back a dead loved one, their mom. But because it goes against the natural order of things, they brought her back as a... monster in simplest terms.
No, it happened because the First Law of Alchemy states that nothing can be taken without an equal amount being given. Had nothing to do with it going against the natural order. >_>
Anyways.
The natural order of that universe being that nothing can be taken without something first being given. That's what I mean Tormie, I know my first Law of Alchemy! : P
Yes, and that's why he ended up as a golem. Take him bring back mother. Did you watch the show?!
_________________ Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham
He got his body back though, with no additional costs. Happy ending for everyone except the homunculus'.
I'd say losing one's ability to harness Alchemical power is a pretty sizeable cost.
_________________ Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Location: ANU, behind the coffee mug (+10 GMT)
TormakSaber wrote:
Yes, and that's why he ended up as a golem. Take him bring back mother. Did you watch the show?!
I thought it was impossible to bring back anyone, and he was punished for committing taboo.
After all, the creature they brought back was not their mother, and they say repeatedly that Truth punishes those who try to commit the taboo. The only reason Al could come back is because he hadn't gone through the gate, his body was trapped there, so in the end the net exchange was Ed lost his ability to transmute and a horrible mother was created instead of their mother (which he points out in one scene when he tries to dig up the body, and calls his teacher).
And just for the record, the old anime did the Nina subplot soooo much better.
_________________ 2009's Second Most Overall Contributing Player
thats like the first episode...gah now you've got me doing it...
I agree with dark, there are semi noble reasons indeed for first attempting necromancy. and then comes the outcastness and the anger usually follows.
also there is such a thing a white necromancy, aka healing and such. necro = life, mancy =...weilding? dunno...*reads more latin* but for the most part you'll want to be focusing on the undeads.
motivations is...frankly something I struggle with myself, kill the eternal order seams to be the current goal. not trying to single out a group here, paladins in general. I guess turning a place of relative life into undeath is also a motivation, as is finding magical artifacts of great poower to do so. infact spell components is a good RP starter if your stuck for ideas, someone will ask eventually why your picking dead spiders from the walls, or taking the skulls of your enemies.
Al regained his body, and in exchange he gave all of the memories he had with his brother traveling, finding people and helping them. Another reasonable sized cost.
_________________ "Most assume that all the followers of Lathander are great morning people. They're very wrong." "I think we are the only group where AD&D stands for Attention Deficit Disorder."
Yes, and that's why he ended up as a golem. Take him bring back mother. Did you watch the show?!
I thought it was impossible to bring back anyone, and he was punished for committing taboo.
After all, the creature they brought back was not their mother, and they say repeatedly that Truth punishes those who try to commit the taboo. The only reason Al could come back is because he hadn't gone through the gate, his body was trapped there, so in the end the net exchange was Ed lost his ability to transmute and a horrible mother was created instead of their mother (which he points out in one scene when he tries to dig up the body, and calls his teacher).
And just for the record, the old anime did the Nina subplot soooo much better.
Which he remembers actually wasn't his mother, it was Al, inside it. The horrible body was 'dying'. That is why Al is in golem. At least in Brotherhood. Which was 99% better than the original which diverted from the Manga.
_________________ Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.
Okay FMA fans. Lets jump back on topic before an anti-anime DM locks us up.
First thing to note is that a Necromancer and a Pale Master are -two different things.-
Lets talk necro. Your general necromancer has a -ton- of possibilities. Lets cover the lamest: "Cause I can." "Cause I like power." "Cause Undead look neat." "Cause I'm evil." And "Cause undead are immune to <Insert powergamer trash here." (That last ones pretty much power...)
Now, does this mean that all of these Rp plots are total crap? Of course not! Power is a very good reason if used properly. Why do you want power? What is your Ultimate goal? Is there something in the world you'd like to change with your Necromancy? All of these are things you should ask yourself when making a char background. And keep in mind, as previously stated, necromancers arent always the black clad emo kids in the corner, and that many necromancers hardly summon undead at all! Try to keep in mind the control over life and death, rather then "I liek undeadz! "
Now im not one for Necros too much. Im a palemaster lova...
First, lets talk about how to become a palemaster. The pale master is quite simply insane as he gains in power. No questions asked. To become a palemaster one obsesses so much in to death and undeath that they become enticed by their very thought. Almost as if jealous of them, and wishing to be with them for the remainder of their life. As this ensues they succumb to "Necrophilic Urges." They seem to lust for undead, and become engulfed in their thought without them. IE: Your typical over-obsessiveness. With all of this the Palemaster must lock himself in a room with an undead for three nights. (Hostile or not.) As they become more engulfed they preform a ritual that involves disecting their arm (Or other body part.) in place of an undead one, finally leading to mummifying parts of their own organs at the height of their power.
Reasons to become a Palemaster: Far and few between. However I'm sure that knowing this you can make a decent reason that will suprise the rest. oh, and its spelt "Tarkuul." Librarys closing, woulda said more, but gotta go. Good luck and see you IG!
So. I've never built a wizard character before, be it PnP or in some other game. The closest I've come is my Cleric on Amia. Also, I've been toying with the idea of making a Necro-based caster, to keep this on topic. Of course, then, I am at a disadvantage for how to pick the 'right' things for one.
1) Spell Penetration vs Spell Focus = I'm assuming SP is better since it applies to all spells? Not sure.
2) Spell Focus = In general, does SF help you in regards to non-offensive spells? I know it grants +2, but that doesn't matter if you are trying to cast Bull Strength on someone, right?
3) Spell Focus: Necro = I assume that is really worth it, eh?
4) I was toying with the idea of Spell Focus: Necro & Transmutation & Conjuration, as they seem to contain the most spells I will use. But, this relates to my second question: Does the +2 help in any way with spells you cast on yourself and party members?
I'm sure there is more, but these are the most pressing ones I can think of. Any general help with a build would be good, too, as I'm nto sure if I want to dabble in Pale Master at all, even.
Thanks!
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
_________________ Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.
Yeah, I thought of that but figured that since this was more necro-centric it'd be fine to post that here *shrugs* It's was a crap-shoot but hey, no harm no foul haha
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
Dr. Frankenstein gives a perfect example of what a necromancer could be or where he starts from at least. Perhaps instead of realizing how depraved his work is and seeking to destroy it, he slowly sees it as normal, to the point that he has come so far that even Tarkuul and its overly blunt evildom does not shock him anymore. The reason he choose the path? Mere curiosity. And he still does not need to cackle evil, wear a black robe and red glowing staff or aim for prestige and the enslavement of all those around him. I think I might actually like to make that character now. >.>
Dr. Frankenstein gives a perfect example of what a necromancer could be or where he starts from at least. Perhaps instead of realizing how depraved his work is and seeking to destroy it, he slowly sees it as normal, to the point that he has come so far that even Tarkuul and its overly blunt evildom does not shock him anymore. The reason he choose the path? Mere curiosity. And he still does not need to cackle evil, wear a black robe and red glowing staff or aim for prestige and the enslavement of all those around him. I think I might actually like to make that character now. >.>
... I need to bounce character ideas back and forth with you some day.
_________________
Herra Tutteri wrote:
Silvarus wrote:
Well that is awkward, since Gagis is actually a little girl.
So he's a pale-skinned calm man with loads of money... who thinks he's a little girl...
Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland, Europe
Zeborah wrote:
KrautBoy wrote:
Dr. Frankenstein gives a perfect example of what a necromancer could be or where he starts from at least. Perhaps instead of realizing how depraved his work is and seeking to destroy it, he slowly sees it as normal, to the point that he has come so far that even Tarkuul and its overly blunt evildom does not shock him anymore. The reason he choose the path? Mere curiosity. And he still does not need to cackle evil, wear a black robe and red glowing staff or aim for prestige and the enslavement of all those around him. I think I might actually like to make that character now. >.>
... I need to bounce character ideas back and forth with you some day.
I often do that, and it results in awesome things.
_________________ Gagis Silvarna, the Robocop with wings who shoots lasers from his fingertips Lily Havthorn, the Waukeenar Silwe, the elf
Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Location: A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
A man perverted by his conquest to best nature? It's one of the truly classic stories in literature, and Dr. Frankenstein is only one good source of inspiration for one such character. John Hammond of Jurrasic Park would be one, Captain Ahab would be another. I'd certainly approve of a pale master seeking to necromantically prolong his life in order to live long enough to get his revenge on someone or something:
... to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
_________________ To err is human; to forgive divine, but VENGEANCE IS MINE!
A man perverted by his conquest to best nature? It's one of the truly classic stories in literature, and Dr. Frankenstein is only one good source of inspiration for one such character. John Hammond of Jurassic Park would be one, Captain Ahab would be another. I'd certainly approve of a pale master seeking to necromantically prolong his life in order to live long enough to get his revenge on someone or something:
... to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
I think you are blurring the motivations of each of those characters in order to better force them into the "man against nature" mold. In fact I'd go so far as to say that only Ahab actually wanted to push against it; both Frankenstein and Hammond were more interested in subverting its control, not directly fighting it.
The "I became the monster" angle is the best one because it's so generalized and thus more tailorable to specific needs. Hammond's "I did it all for the nookie," angle, Frankenstein's "FUCK GOD," angle, and Ahab's "FUCK WHALES," angle all worked for them because that is specifically how their stories were woven. Cut & pasting it over another character's background--especially in such a far removed context as Amia/Forgotten Realms--will only end in mediocrity.
_________________ Dwagin [Duh-wa-GIN] N. - 1a. Small and cute thingum, particularly fond of four legged scaled creatures of the metalic and chromatic varieties.
The pale master is quite simply insane as he gains in power. No questions asked.
Absolutely not.
Okay, maybe not always utterly and completely insane, but I find it fairly hard to do some of the things that lead to Palemastery hard without being utterly insane. Granted, there are very specific cases, but the odds are more likely of me waking up and finding a diamond in my pocket. [Note: Im talking about strict guidelines Palemaster. But like someone said earlier, its no fun to play with strict cold OOC requirements for the class, and therefore opens up a variety of awesome RP.] Reminds me, I think I saw a girl Palemaster not to long ago, and she had no idea what necromancy was.... o.o
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 71 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum
FAQ
Search
Login
oh, and its spelt "Tarkuul." Librarys closing, woulda said more, but gotta go. Good luck and see you IG!
