Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arthur_Pendragon 12-16-06, 10:45 AM	I've working on playing necromancers for years now (I unfortunately never actually get around to playing D&D as much as I'd like, you know school and studies get in the way :D) However, I recently realized I've kind of become lukewarm to the idea of playing a necromancer (yet I still desire too, not to mention I have just about every supplement and book related to necromancy out there, so I'd like to still put them too use too). The following is my thoughts on why I've become lukewarm to necromancer playing, if you want you could skip it and go directly to "The Question" (the point of this post if you will) at the bottom. I've realized part of this is the fact that I recently realized how much I actually in real life don't want to touch dead things. (Yes, I am aware this may sound silly) Perhaps I should not have looked so much into the actual process of bodily decay. I also figured that it could be an interesting to play a necromancer who is concerned with disease and doesn't want zombies within ten feet of his person (let alone touch them!), who, however, is fine with non-decaying undead (vampires for example or properly cleaned skeletons). Such a character would also never engage in any sort of surgical procedures (on the living or dead). Perhaps such a necromancer could be focused on negative energy and souls. Anyway, my predicament leads me to the follow question in hopes that seeing why others are interesting in necromancy might rekindle my own interest. The Question What is it that draws you to playing a necromancer?
Board_Rider 12-16-06, 10:53 AM	I have two ideas of playing a necromantic PC (I actually haven't got to play either yet however). The first is your good ol' specialized necromancer looking for <<that undead PrC>> (I forgot it at the moment). Basically this guy is lawful neutral and looks to better understand death and how it affects the body. He is absolutely fascinated by necromantic effects. He hopes to identify with death as he advances in the PrC..that I forgot. My second concept is a Dread Necromancer who uses undead to do his bidding and just loves to see death and suffering. Why do I like Necromancers? To me they make interesting PCs that I won't get bored with and I like undead. Yeaayy! Unhallow is coming!
journeyman777 12-16-06, 11:08 AM	1. The challenge. Necromancy is much more limited than most other schools. I generally increase the challenge further by avoiding the use of undead entirely. (It can be done!) 2. The RP. Necromancers provoke strong reactions from both players and NPCs. There are so many preconcieved notions about necromancers that you can spend multiple sessions just proving people wrong (or right). 3. The worldview. So many players tend to ignore or underplay the significance of death (after all, they expect to be raised every time or just bring in a new character). A necromancer's focus on death and what lies beyond can remind the party to show some concern for their own mortality. 4. The Fear Factor. I just like freaking my friends and foes out. Killing an opponent may be satisfing, but watching him cower before you and then run screaming in terror can be even more rewarding. (One of my favorite quotes from a fellow player a while back was "Can't sleep, Faust (my char) will get me...Can't sleep, Faust will get me...") That was priceless.
katarl 12-16-06, 03:05 PM	"Can't sleep, Faust (my char) will get me...Can't sleep, Faust will get me...") That was priceless. Yay! Just the way necros should be. The Question What is it that draws you to playing a necromancer? I love necromancer characters, they're powerful, highly flavoured, and the chances for humour are endless. I play a dread necromancer in a full necro campaign, and its definitely my favourite one, and incidentally, my most powerful character, with a flying evolved zombie gray render, two advanced ghasts named Hoi and Poloi, and lots of dreads, all floating around. I like to roleplay him as a bit affeminate, who treats his undead either as pets or as his 'family', but he's machiavelian and manipulative with people.
GnomeMade 12-16-06, 06:12 PM	1. Their abilities are frightening. The spells they cast have a definite horror quality over life and death, weakness, false life, ect. 2. They have a strong stereotype to defy. You know the one: A necromancer dresses all in skulls and black- is utterly obsessed with death- waits around for their companions to die so they can be controlled directly. That one. Now, can you imagine the look on a person's face, when they come to find a big scary necromancer in a graveyard where she is supposedly defacing the dead, only to find a blond haired, healthy looking gnome in an explorers outfit, holding a perfectly cheerful conversation with an awakened zombie? They are not discussing death, they are discussion culinary traditions. Then this cheerful gnomish lady turns and looks at the living adventurers and tries to involve them in the conversation too, as if there is nothing wrong with having a cooking discussion with a rotting corpse. Because to her, there isn't. See, this defies the stereotype, but it is still creepy. 3. Role-playing is fun. In real life, I wouldn't pick up a body to save my life. I also know, with certainty that it won't start moving again, because that's real life for you. But in the game, my character can do that. She can pick it up, move things around, sew patterns into it's skin, harden it's bones, slap some new negative energy into and send it to hug those orcs over there for her. She's not tall enough. ;) It's marvelous fun.