OCP - CoS

[Shade]

>Uhh, none I am aware of ... this is kinda why we are developing the CoS.

Okay, in that case, can I start developing one or two of them?
(btw, it might be an interesting idea to have 8 of the 10 members be
specialists in the 8 schools. I dunno if the Chamberlain is one of them but
he's a powerful diviner. Each one could be the headmaster in that particular
field... ie, head illusionist, head conjurer, etc.. or at least have the 8
positions, but they don't necessarily have to be filled by a specialist. The
strongest user of invocation magic, specialist or no, is the head invoker.)

btw, we may also want to address the existence of wild magic (or lack thereof)
in Anuire/Cerilia/Aebrynis.

>Unless, of course, one or two were developed in an article I haven't
>read - I believe Mark or someone (in another post - don't quote me on
>this) said that one of the head persons of the CoS was a 19th level
>enchantress.

Yeah, I recall reading this too... on the list that is, not in a supplement :)
(but then I don't have any supplements :/

Whatever, what I do know is that the RoE book
>says that the ten heads of the College control a single ley line each,
>so they would have to control at least two sources, right?

I thought most of the ley lines had fallen into disrepair. In any case, one
of those sources is in the Imperial City... they all share that source. Their
ley lines, I assume, used to go to sources which they controlled but are now
ruled by true wizard regents. I suppose the ley lines are still there but they
can't be used without the permission of the actual wizard regent who now
controls the source in question.

Judging from the
>above, I take it you don't think these persons should be regents?

Yeah, I don't think they should be regents. They are not nearly as influential
as they used to be... I don't see these guys and their one little source (0)
being more important/powerful than a real wizard regent, like Aelies or the
Sword Mage. (even though they may be of higher level)

so could you post your thoughts about why they shouldn't be
>regents/why they would ask other wizards for access to realm magic?

Well, I personally just don't see them as being THAT important outside the
Imperial City. Certainly, they are a very powerful group of wizards, and
definitely the most powerful in Anuire, but the bottom line is that they're
commoners, not regents. Their power should not extend outside of the Imperial
City, other than to advise their regent brethren (Aglondier, Khorien, etc)

Perhaps with the advent of a reunified Empire they could become more powerful
(and thus more important.)

>Heck, this is something I would like to see discussed on the BR main
>list - would you like to post, or should I?

Well, seeing as how I'm writing this to you already...I'll just send to the
list too. ;)

[John Ewan]

At 02:30 3/14/98 -0600, you wrote:
>>Uhh, none I am aware of ... this is kinda why we are developing the CoS.
>(btw, it might be an interesting idea to have 8 of the 10 members be
>specialists in the 8 schools.

I like that.

>btw, we may also want to address the existence of wild magic (or lack
thereof)
>in Anuire/Cerilia/Aebrynis.

I thought that Wild magic was a feature of the God's War in FR. I was
never a fan of the wild magic concept as it just seemed like spell casting
lotto. You throw a spell, any spell and hope for something worthwhile to
occur. I prefer my magic system to be neutral; the chaos of creativity is
balanced by the law of patterns of spell casting cause these effects, vary
the casting vary the effect. Wish is the only purely creative spell that I
like, it is the epitome of wild magic with none of the silly certainty of
wild magic as defined in the book.

I also didn't like that the wild mage, being attracted to the randomness of
his efforts eventually gets to CHOOSE the effects from a Wand of Wonder,
thus negating the wonderfulness of it. Never understood that one.

>Whatever, what I do know is that the RoE book
>>says that the ten heads of the College control a single ley line each,
>>so they would have to control at least two sources, right?
>
>I thought most of the ley lines had fallen into disrepair. In any case, one
>of those sources is in the Imperial City... they all share that source. Their
>ley lines, I assume, used to go to sources which they controlled but are now
>ruled by true wizard regents. I suppose the ley lines are still there but
they
>can't be used without the permission of the actual wizard regent who now
>controls the source in question.
>
>Judging from the
>>above, I take it you don't think these persons should be regents?
>
>Yeah, I don't think they should be regents. They are not nearly as
influential
>as they used to be... I don't see these guys and their one little source (0)
>being more important/powerful than a real wizard regent, like Aelies or the
>Sword Mage. (even though they may be of higher level)
>
>so could you post your thoughts about why they shouldn't be
>>regents/why they would ask other wizards for access to realm magic?
>
>Well, I personally just don't see them as being THAT important outside the
>Imperial City. Certainly, they are a very powerful group of wizards, and
>definitely the most powerful in Anuire, but the bottom line is that they're
>commoners, not regents. Their power should not extend outside of the Imperial
>City, other than to advise their regent brethren (Aglondier, Khorien, etc)

I don't see wizards, used to power and familiar with how to manipulate it
would just sit back and relax as the sources *thier ley lines go to are
controlled by others. I would expect that those wizards would have
something up their sleeves - unknown sources. I come to this conclusion by
considering how a PC CoS would be; they would handle their duties with
dedication, but, they would be working with an eye on the outside world.

First, let me suggest some unknown sources that they may have gained access
to:

I think the CoS has a source in the Ruins. It certainly fits the need. If
any location could have a gateway, the CoS could, and the College, with the
Ruin, itself would be an interesting location on the Shadow side. The Ruin
may not be a ruin on that side! We may want to ponder the Shadow the City
casts. Powerful wizards would most likely be daft enough to try and
utilyze it. Wizards do not always think things through, after all.

The CoS could have a link to a subterranian source; the Ruin went deep, why
wouldn't they have delved deep below the CoS if they had some knowledge of
a worthwhile source there. They, if anyone, could do the work
surreptitiously.

A possibility is an artifact source, and they geas one another to protect
the secret and keep any of them from stealing it. Well, *I* wouldn't
trust another wizard with a small, portable source.

Also, wasn't it mentioned that a possible source location could be a
dragon's grave? Maybe they have an odd ley line to a living dragon or to a
creature/place on the Shadowworld.

Another thought to consider, the students of these wizards can go on to
gain sources of their own. What if, some alumni allow ley lines to be
built from the CoS to their sources? It adds to the power of the wizards
of the CoS, also an alternative explanation to the 'single ley line each'
comment. The benefit to the alumni is that they have a close relationship
continuing with an obviously favored instructor and powerful wizard; not a
bad deal. This could have a side effect of allowing these alumni to be
able to cast realm spells in the City.



John Ewan, Sysop | Look for me online at MPG-Net
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