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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5622097" data-attributes="member: 92511">Spells n' Thangs n' Thangs n' SpellsMy initial thought when reading the initial post was that "a brilliant spellcaster" would opt to be a general/universalist mage vs. specializing in anything. Seeking, in their brilliance, to master ALL types of magic, not just a certain school.But that is neither here nor there as the thread is re: Necromancy.I think the various reasons have all been covered, but something that has not been thoroughly examined is the role of Alignment. The characters alignment should have some weight on the character's motivations.I've been in games where the Necromancers, automatically, are "evil." I've been in games where the school of Necromancy is, by default for Neutral or Evil characters only...and I've heard of/seen games wherein a necromancer could be any alignment they like...I recall one where there was the "good necromantic school" and an opposing "evil" one.So, I think, how necromancy is used/viewed in the game world along with the PCs alignment are primary factors in working up the character motivations for pursuing it.Here's what I'm thinking from what we've seen thus far...Pursuing Necromancy for: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Power: the mage wishes to be "the best" he can for various ends. Increase his power to its zenith. This could result from seeking Power for: personal drive/gratification, personal gain (believing Necromancy to be the "most powerful" type of magic, whether that is true or not), personal conquest (bending life and death to their own use), the betterment of his understanding of Life & Death, aiding their society (as "good" necromancers/researchers/mystical "physicians").</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Personal Quest or Vendetta: the mage wishes to study/master powers of Life/Death for some reason. Communicate or "bring back" loved ones, achievement their own immortality (and possibly bestow same on others), punish those who have wronged them in what is perceived as the most controlling/painful/permanent/eternal way.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sincere Knowledge: the mage wishes to use their magic to fully research, comprehend and (probably) control the mortal body as well as the esoteric spirit for the gain/betterment or detriment/downfall of a person/persons, society...the world? Anatomy, disease, mundane and medical as well as magical "healing". I think of this as sort of a "Dr. Frankenstein" character, not necessarily "mad", but legitimately believing they are mastering/bettering the world through their discoveries and experiments. The ideas presented of using undead for manual/dangerous labor would fall in this slot, I think.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pure Evil: nuff sed. The mage, probably somewhat "unbalanced", outright "insane" or purely selfish, desires to further the forces of evil and master the "dark arts", literally because they ARE "dark arts" for their own sinister reasons.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Everyone Wants what They Can't Have": The character is a maverick who pursues necromancy because they are simply "anti-establishment" in their world view/won't be told what they can or can't do. Someone told them they "can't" or "cuz it's forbidden". A brillliant mage would be all about gaining "secrets" others (particularly other mages) don't have. So simply because Necromancy is more secretive/forbidden or illegal, lures them in.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Thrill Seeker: Mostly like above, but the motivation is more of a personal "challenge"...seeking knowledge others are too timid, fearful, or "law-abiding" to attempt to master.</li> </ul>As I play it, in my game world (and granted it is somewhat homebrewed) the basic/public philosophy of the School of Necromancy, and the reason it is permitted to exist alongside the other magical academies, is that Necromancers are not about delving into the "dark arts" but that understanding those "dark" forces (controlling life and death) is necessary to combat/defeat those that pursue "evil".Necromancers, mostly, perceive themselves to be superior to other specialists in general. Whereas the Enchanter or Transmuter practices their respective arts by "harnessing arcane energies innate to the world and bending it to their will to effect some change (the generic world definition of "magic"), the Necromancer pursues their craft to use these same energies to bend the power of life, itself. Their work with "magic" is peripheral to their seeking to use (and master) the energies of "life force" (or "Soul energy" to some).Life force/Soul Energy is believed, by necromancers, to be a primal force much more elemental to the universe than simple "arcane energy".  This view is generally not held by other magical practitioners who view this "philosophy of necromancy" as anything from "mistaken" to "justification for their evil" to "utter nonsense.Some schools think "Necromancers refuse to acknowledge the simple fact they use the same energy as any learned wizard." Some mages might recognize the legitimacy of Necromantic Philosophy but believe "those forces are forbidden/secret for a reason and not to be tampered with." Still, most mages of any school are not likely to argue with the fact that the best way to fight [evil] Necromancy is WITH Necromancy. (Unless they are an Evoker, of course, whose answer for just about anything is "FIREBALL!")So...yeah, that was long. But hope something in here is useful. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Have fun and happy undead-making.--Steel Dragons</blockquote>

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