Wizard - Necromancer Necrologian Kit Description: Necrologians study the magical arts of Necromancy in a deep and involved academic fashion, often out of an overpowering desire to master forbidden and secret arts shunned by the rest of the world. Indeed, if necromancy was not publicly reviled or a topic of social taboo, a Necrologian might well not give this school of magic more than a cursory thought. Other Necrologians might study it simply to attain a deep understanding of the forces of darkness so that they might better combat them (turning the power of evil in upon itself). Still others might relish the study of the macabre and the horrific for its own sake. Whatever their particular motivations, all Necrologians are curious about the forbidden and fascinated by the obscure, craving to unravel the dark and hidden mysteries of the universe. Necrologians may be demented outcasts from scholarly circles, pursuing their potentially dangerous and sometimes even illegal studies on the fringes of civilization, or simply eccentric researchers with questionable ethics. They always keep their activities hidden from public view to avoid repulsing the uninitiated, inflaming the hatred of the neighbors, and bringing intervention or retribution by the local authorities. They tend to avoid adventuring, leaving their libraries only to follow the lure of gaining new books, scrolls, magical items, or other arcane materials for study. Though they engage in strange experiments from time to time, for the most part Necrologians are theoreticians, gaining almost all of their knowledge from the ancient (often banned) books, scrolls, and magical spells at his or her disposal. When trying to resolve a particularly difficult problem, a Necrologian may correspond with other academics, hire adventurers to seek out special components or antiquities for them, or even summon agents from other planes to gather information for them. Though some would say they delve too deeply into mysteries better left untouched, knowledge and understanding are always the foremost goals of this kit. Requirements: As a standard Necromancer, save that a Necrologian must be at least partially neutral in alignment (taking a balanced view of things to allow proper perspective for their research). Weapons & Armor: Dagger/knife (any), dart, staff. Of course, armor or shield cannot be used. Special Benefits: Necrologians study all aspects of life, death, and undeath, combining that with wide-ranging study of other topics that may bear upon the life-death cycle in all its permutations. Above all, Necrologians concern themselves with the pursuit of knowledge, and they include the Realm of Lore within their Primary FOS in addition to Necromancy. In addition, their contemplation and study provide them with the following special abilities: Dark Contemplation: A peripheral yet very important area of study for Necrologians is in the area of the mind and thought and how it is affected by the transition from life to death. The interaction of thought and consciousness with life and death stimulates a variety of bizarre theories and experiments within the community of Necrologians, including experiments carried out by a Necrologian upon him- or herself. The result of this Dark Contemplation is that all Necrologians begin play with a randomly determined psionic 'wild talent', having unleashed some deep-seated power of the mind through their research and meditation. In addition, every time he or she gains a level a new check for a wild talent must be rolled. The chance for determining whether a wild talent manifests can be determined by consulting the Complete Psionics Handbook; this information is reprinted on pg. 27 of the Complete Book of Necromancers. It should be noted that this roll must be made, and there is a small chance that something will go terribly wrong in the ongoing attempt by a Necrologian to unlock his or her latent psychic potential. Possible consequences are described on pg. 20 of the Complete Psionics Handbook, though the DM is also encouraged to consider alternate handicaps as a result of a disastrously failed check, such as those described on pgs. 39-43 of the Complete Book of Necromancers. In order to determine which talent(s) a Necrologian develops, a DM who owns the Complete Book of Necromancers should refer to the section on wild talents on pgs. 27-28. Lacking this reference, wild talents may be generated in any fashion the DM desires (including simply assigning powers he or she deems appropriate). Nether Knowledge: As a standard Necromancer, but all bonuses to learn, research, and cast spells (including saving throw modifiers) from the Realm of Necromancy apply equally to spells from the Realm of Lore cast by a Necrologian. Sage Study: Necrologians are exceptionally knowledgeable about matters of necromantic and divination magic (including magical items), undead of all types, and all aspects of death, including the resting places or destinations of the souls or spirits of the dead. This expertise also includes knowledge about many of the creatures native to the outer planes (especially lower-planar creatures). When confronted with a question on any of these subjects, a Necrologian has a 5% chance per level of experience of immediately knowing the answer, as if he or she had cast a legend lore spell. If examining a spell or magical item, he or she will usually at the very least learn its name and general function on a successful roll. Even if this roll is unsuccessful, a Necrologian has the abilities of a Sage in terms of researching questions on these subjects (assuming that a suitable research library is available), following the rules for sage research on pgs. 106-108 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. Much as with the legend lore spell, the DM must decide on the specific nature of any details revealed by this ability. Since much of a Necrologian's knowledge is based on the barely coherent ramblings of partially insane researchers (like themselves in many cases), there is often little to assure that the answer to any specific question will be meaningful or even comprehensible. Further divination or research on the subject with the aid of the new data, however, even if it seems like gibberish at first, may be able to shed needed light on a mystery. Special Hindrances: Because they focus on the study of life, death, and the undead rather than direct interaction with the unliving, Necrologians do not gain the ability to Influence Undead. Of course, they are quite capable of creating undead servitors to do their bidding or using necromantic magic to command undead creatures. Necrologians are academics to the core and very sedentary, eschewing combat skills. Thus, a Necrologian may select only a single weapon proficiency at 1st level from a limited number of weapons, and any further weapon proficiency slots gained with level advancement must be spent on non-weapon proficiencies. In addition, a Necrologian suffers a -1 penalty to hit in combat situations, whether attacking with spells or with a weapon. Finally, because of their poor physical condition and lack of combat training, Necrologians use three-sided hit dice, and their hit point bonus due to high Constitution can never exceed +1 per die. The general hindrances that apply to standard Necromancers apply equally to Necrologians with certain exceptions. Necrologians tend to follow the standard pattern of magic use to a much greater extent than typical Necromancers, rather than channeling power directly from the Negative Material Plane. As a result, they do not run the risk of suffering damage through the simple act of spellcasting, nor do they risk the accumulation of such negative energy found in other Necromancers that causes them to take on their characteristic cadaverous appearance (and its concomitant reaction penalty). On the other hand, because their research into the dark secrets of death is so deep and immersive, Necrologians suffer double the normal chance to go insane when learning new items of Necromantic magic, whether they are learned spells, researched spells, or the research of magical item formulae. This chance for insanity is in addition to the chance for insanity that accompanies the roll for wild talents that must be undertaken at every level due to the Necrologian's Dark Contemplation. It is thus quite rare to find a Necrologian who is completely sane or completely good, since even those who set out with the best of intentions often find themselves ineluctably dragged away from their impartial and dispassionate perspective into a tenuous hold on reality and sanity by the overwhelming darkness of their subject matter. Bonus Proficiencies: Necrology, Reading/Writing Required Proficiencies: Demonology, Religion, Spirit Lore Preferred Proficiencies: Ancient History, Arcanology, Artistic Ability, Astrology, Bookbinding, Calligraphy, Divining, Etiquette, Heraldry, Herbalism, Language (any), Local History, Prophecy, Research, Rune Lore, Spellcraft, Teaching ***DISCLAIMER*** As with all postings by me of classes or races, it should be noted that portions of the information contained herein were inspired by or derived from information in published works of TSR, Inc., and may contain references to those works, quotations or passages of text (especially in the area of 'Character Description', where applicable sections from TSR works were often carried over more or less intact into my campaign world), or particular powers or abilities invented by TSR staff writers. No relationship with TSR, Inc., is to be implied by this use, nor is any attempt being made to solicit profit or remuneration of any kind. I have read the TSR Online Policy document, and have tried to accommodate the stipulations contained therein. In instances where I have lifted an essentially complete class or race without significant alteration, I have not included these in my postings but instead have inserted a reference to the appropriate D&D sourcebook for those curious in including it in their campaign. Only variations that include a significant component of original work, alteration, or reformulation (including the compositing elements from various TSR sources into new combinations) of have been included in this set of postings. Jason Eric Nelson < tjaden@u.washington.edu >