Elves & Necromancy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Elves & Necromancy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gellion
07-04-03, 04:47 AM Im going to be playing in a campaign where the DM has made elves immortal, but they cannot cast spells from the Necromancy school. My DM's reasoning was that elves being immortal could not really fathom death and its implications, thus only Humans, who have short lives can cast Necromantic spells. All elves also suffer a -2 to all saves against Necromancy spells. Do yall think this is a good RP idea, I personally like it a lot, but i was just wondering what everybody here at the RP board thought about it.
Barrid
07-04-03, 07:44 AM Well...if you are going to take something away from Elves, you need to give something back or there'll be a void. Immortality isn't really a stat. And since most adventurers die anyways, what's the ability to live forever going to do for you if you can't even make it out of your teens?? If you're going to have a -2 to all Necro Saves and prohit all Necromancy spells period (which is a mistake...you should only prohibit certain spells, not the whole school...Wizardly Necro is Pos/Neg energy, Clerical Necro is Life/Death) you need to give something in return to the class.

Here's what I would do:

Balance the -2 save with something.

A +2 save would be the easiest way. They already get +2 Ench. You could just grant +2 for Illusion too...

You could give the option of free Weapon Focus in one of the Elven Racial weapons or free Spell Focus: Enchantment.

The restriction of a whole school is harder to balance.

You'd have to give the wizard something good...really good. Some of the nasty spells come out of Necromancy...Enervation, Circle of Death, Finger of Death, Horrid Wilting, Energy Drain and Wail of the Banshee to name a few.

The only way I'd agree to this is if all Elven Wizards were considered automatic Enchanter Specialists. That means +1 DC, +1 Enchantment Spell Slot per level & +2 Spellcraft checks. BUT, there is no prohibited school. If they then choose to Specialize in a different school, they have to do it normally...gaining all the perks of that specialty while giving up any school other than Enchantment. So, both specialties stack. That would make up for having a school you can't learn AND a school you can't choose to ignore. If you did this, you'd probably have to go with +2 Illusion or the weapon focus idea. Free Spell Focus might make Enchanters a tad too buff. Make em spend the feat at least.
Max the Immortal
07-04-03, 08:28 AM Most humans aren't really conscious of their mortality, so I don't think that "immortal" (I assume you mean ageless, but can still be slain) elves would be too of touch with death to the point of not being able to cast necromancy spells.

Alternatively, maybe due to their quasi-immortal natures, elves can never learn necromancy, but are either immune or highly resistant to it. This might also be difficult to balance, though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gellion 07-04-03, 04:47 AM	Im going to be playing in a campaign where the DM has made elves immortal, but they cannot cast spells from the Necromancy school. My DM's reasoning was that elves being immortal could not really fathom death and its implications, thus only Humans, who have short lives can cast Necromantic spells. All elves also suffer a -2 to all saves against Necromancy spells. Do yall think this is a good RP idea, I personally like it a lot, but i was just wondering what everybody here at the RP board thought about it.
Barrid 07-04-03, 07:44 AM	Well...if you are going to take something away from Elves, you need to give something back or there'll be a void. Immortality isn't really a stat. And since most adventurers die anyways, what's the ability to live forever going to do for you if you can't even make it out of your teens?? If you're going to have a -2 to all Necro Saves and prohit all Necromancy spells period (which is a mistake...you should only prohibit certain spells, not the whole school...Wizardly Necro is Pos/Neg energy, Clerical Necro is Life/Death) you need to give something in return to the class. Here's what I would do: Balance the -2 save with something. A +2 save would be the easiest way. They already get +2 Ench. You could just grant +2 for Illusion too... You could give the option of free Weapon Focus in one of the Elven Racial weapons or free Spell Focus: Enchantment. The restriction of a whole school is harder to balance. You'd have to give the wizard something good...really good. Some of the nasty spells come out of Necromancy...Enervation, Circle of Death, Finger of Death, Horrid Wilting, Energy Drain and Wail of the Banshee to name a few. The only way I'd agree to this is if all Elven Wizards were considered automatic Enchanter Specialists. That means +1 DC, +1 Enchantment Spell Slot per level & +2 Spellcraft checks. BUT, there is no prohibited school. If they then choose to Specialize in a different school, they have to do it normally...gaining all the perks of that specialty while giving up any school other than Enchantment. So, both specialties stack. That would make up for having a school you can't learn AND a school you can't choose to ignore. If you did this, you'd probably have to go with +2 Illusion or the weapon focus idea. Free Spell Focus might make Enchanters a tad too buff. Make em spend the feat at least.
Max the Immortal 07-04-03, 08:28 AM	Most humans aren't really conscious of their mortality, so I don't think that "immortal" (I assume you mean ageless, but can still be slain) elves would be too of touch with death to the point of not being able to cast necromancy spells. Alternatively, maybe due to their quasi-immortal natures, elves can never learn necromancy, but are either immune or highly resistant to it. This might also be difficult to balance, though.