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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rechan" data-source="post: 4736644" data-attributes="member: 54846">More seriously...2e's Necromancer Handbook had it divided rather nicely. There was your "Black Necromancy", which was just straight up death magic. Then you had your White Necromancy, which dealt with combating the dead. Warding areas from allowing the dead to enter (i.e. consecrating), hunting the undead, and weakening/destroying the dead. And there was Grey necromancy, which skirted the line. As far as Mythology is concerned, I think that there is less of the "Evil Necromancer" and just "The individual involved with the dead". Priests who conduct funerals to help the dead reach their final destinations. Keeping the dead at bay, etc. As far as mythology is concerned, I get more of a "Mystic/medium" vibe. A seance-like feel where the Mystic convinces the ghost to go away, instead of holding up a holy symbol and destroying them. Or those that commune with the dead, to get their messages across to those of the living.In 3e, there was a campaign setting called the Scarred Lands. In it was a city of Neutral necromancers, who used Necromancy much like we use conventional medicine: they were trying to unlock the mysteries of the body and health. Don't forget creating special types of undead like zombies with blades for arms, etc etc.Another trick I'm a fan of is using the dead as remote conduits. Seeing/speaking through them, or casting spells through them (in 4e terms, this would be like the Shaman having Line of Sight/Effect starting from their Spirit Companion), or utilities that allow remote viewing/conversing, similar to "Ambassador Imp" or perhaps Animal Messenger. One thing I've liked that hasn't been used too much isn't sacrificing, but transferring. For instance, draining target A of x HP (thus doing x number in damage), and giving target B x number of HP. Another would be like "gaining the power of my enemy". Either by consuming part of them (cannibalism), or "stealing" their power while they are alive.How about allowing the Restless Spirit to possess the target, or even the Necromancer? The necromancer who takes in a spirit, and is empowered by that effect.Other sources of "Stigma of the Dead": Morticians, Taxidermists. Why is that associated with Necromancer? I mean, aside from "Diablo Did it"... why?I've never thought of the Necromancer as having any sort of curses/hexes. That seems to be the Witch/Witch Doctor/Voodoo type of thing. Poison seems more... biomancery. But if you're going to go that route, you might as well tack on disease/blight/corruption.Personally, I wish there was more of the White/Grey necromancy, or the Mystic/Medium stuff, and less "Mwahaha I play with ANIMATED CORPSES and snuff out your life force!".Edit: Oo, <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/members/nymrohd.html" target="_blank">Nymrohd</a>; forgot about blood.</blockquote>

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