What exactly is Eldrich magic and where does it come from?

[Shellman]

Given that "eldritch" is frequently used with warlocks (i.e. "eldritch blast"), it wouldn't surprise me, in WotC products, to see "eldritch" come to refer primarily to warlock magics, as another option from "arcane" and "divine." I don't think this will be a formal useage--as in, there won't be rules for arcane vs. divine vs. eldritch--just a common one that writers pick up and take advantage of.

The Warlock Class is really what presented this question in the first place. I like the Warlock class, but in some respects it seems overpowered and others severly lacking. I guess that means it is balanced overall.

If you read the class description in Complete Arcane, it sort of hints that the "eldritch blast" is some sort of baleful magic (which I interpret to be some sort of dark magic). This just creates even more questions.

 

[Zander]

Eldrich has also quickly become trite... Time to crack open the thesaurus and dig up something else.

How about "numinous"?

 

[lukelightning]

That would pretty much be divine magic... numinous=spritual/divine/holy.

How about "numinous"?

 

[Zander]

That would pretty much be divine magic... numinous=spritual/divine/holy.

"Numinous" can mean spiritual but more generally it means anything that's supernatural.

In fact, "eldritch" means "eerie" or "weird". It doesn't mean supernatural so my "numinous" suggestion isn't quite right. "Numinous magic" is possibly tautological as magic, by definition, is supernatural.

 

[lukelightning]

Sure, "numinous" has several meanings, but most are primarily religious; it includes "supernatural" in meaning but also "holy" or "divine." It would certainly not be useful as a generic term that includes both arcane and divine magic. (p.s. Oh how I hate that division...magic is magic. Hooray for Arcana Unearthed!)

 

[Zander]

Sure, "numinous" has several meanings, but most are primarily religious; it includes "supernatural" in meaning but also "holy" or "divine." It would certainly not be useful as a generic term that includes both arcane and divine magic.

Tolkien (who didn't distinguish between the arcane and the divine in Middle Earth) uses it to describe magic in general.

 

[Nightfall]

Howse about "Kabbalish" then?

 

[William Ronald]

Howse about "Kabbalish" then?

That does not quite work, as Kabbalism is something that I have not seen covered by the D20 rules. Mind you, I think that eldritch works well and it has been used as far back as the Eldritch Wizardry supplement back in the 1970s.

A common theme in many campaign settings is that there is some rare, ancient knowledge on magic and the world. So, eldritch perhaps can be used for ancient lore and magic that is unknown to most spell casters.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

If Eldritch means old, ghostly, and scary, then Lord Soth the Death Knight would count as an Eldritch being.

 

[cmanos]

Or just make up new words. My wizard has some really dingdangwoozle magic!

thats not a made-up word. I'm sure that means something Down Under.