Archivists in Glantri? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Archivists in Glantri?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Cthulhudrew
Dec 08, 2006 11:08:05 Been toying around with some things Glantrian lately, and I got to wondering about the Archivist from Heroes of Horror. Specifically, how/if it might fit into Glantri, and I thought I'd solicit some opinions.

Here's the Archivist for those not familiar with it.

Basically, it's a loremaster/sage type of character who gains the usage of some divine magic through research, not actual divine endowment. As such, it seems to me that it would fit into Glantrian society fairly well (with some degree of prejudice from some circles naturally), and might be a nice explanation for some "clerical" types of healing that would otherwise be rarely to never encountered in pre-1004 Glantri.
#2
agathokles
Dec 08, 2006 11:29:52
Been toying around with some things Glantrian lately, and I got to wondering about the Archivist from Heroes of Horror. Specifically, how/if it might fit into Glantri, and I thought I'd solicit some opinions.

Well, I wouldn't consider them for Glantri (they would be too easily confused with priests, so this kind of character wouldn't likely enter Glantri -- and clerical healing must be rare in Glantri, in order to explain the effects of the various plagues there!), but rather as a conversion of the Philosophers (priests who worship alignments rather than Immortals, introduced in K:KoA to mirror the original clerics of OD&D).
#3
Traianus_Decius_Aureus
Dec 08, 2006 11:38:01 I don't think a Glantrian would openly have levels in this class, but I do see certain Glantrians perhaps taking this class on the sly- maybe a multi-class wizard with a few levels due to their interest in "darker things" but his associates, friends and companions would have little knowledge of his skills in this area.
#4
Cthulhudrew
Dec 08, 2006 12:40:52
and clerical healing must be rare in Glantri, in order to explain the effects of the various plagues there!)

In fairness, ready access to clerical magic didn't help the Hattians/Heldanners against the plagues at the close of the Great War, nor did it seem to help Thyatis much against the diseases of 1011-1012 that devastated so much of the population.
#5
agathokles
Dec 08, 2006 12:47:17
In fairness, ready access to clerical magic didn't help the Hattians/Heldanners against the plagues at the close of the Great War, nor did it seem to help Thyatis much against the diseases of 1011-1012 that devastated so much of the population.

Well, at least you won't see Wulf von Klagendorf or Thincol die of the plague (which, in Thyatis' case, were magical in origin). OTOH, IIRC at least Vanserie and his wife died of the plague

Also, the previous plague in Glantri gave origin to the Year of Infamy -- an event that had tremendous impact on history. OTOH, Thyatis or the HK didn't seem to be massively harmed by those plagues (how many died?), nor did they seem to cause any significant effect other than the end of the Thyatian war effort against Thothia.
#6
Cthulhudrew
Dec 08, 2006 13:34:22
OTOH, IIRC at least Vanserie and his wife died of the plague

Maybe they were Scientologists? ;)

Also, the previous plague in Glantri gave origin to the Year of Infamy -- an event that had tremendous impact on history.

That plague was also magical in origin- it was created by the Immortal Yagrai and spread through Glantri according to some perverse scheme of that Immortal.

I think that the major reason it was so infamous was because the dwarven presence provided the Glantrians with a convenient (and wrongfully accused) scapegoat.

OTOH, Thyatis or the HK didn't seem to be massively harmed by those plagues (how many died?)

Thyatis, at least, suffered quite a bit. The Thothian disease led to rampant rioting and death. I don't have population figures right at hand, but IIRC, there was a significant drop in at least the metropolitan Thyatian population between 1011-1012 as a result.

The Heldannic plague isn't gone into much (nor the Ethengarian), mainly due to them being in WotI, which had a premium on space (as opposed to being able to go into more detail like in the PWAs); given that they were significant enough to merit an entry in the timeline, though, I'd say that they were fairly devastating.

nor did they seem to cause any significant effect other than the end of the Thyatian war effort against Thothia.

Which is a pretty significant effect in and of itself. As I said, though, there were riots and all the things that go with them (looting, pillaging, etc.) Outside of the cities, probably not a huge deal, but that's usually the case with epidemics.

In any event, I wouldn't postulate that the archivists are so numerous as to be able to supplant clerical activity/roles, but that they might be an acceptable alternative where and when they could be found.

I think it will merit some more thought, but I guess I'm kind of leaning towards Traianus' take on them at the moment now.
#7
eldersphinx
Dec 08, 2006 21:34:22 Some thoughts on use of the Archivist class in Glantri:

Glantrian archivists (or, potentially, ALL archivists in the Known World) might be barred from ever learning the following spells as divine spells, even though they're on the cleric spell list:
- Consecrate and Desecrate (normally Clr2)
- Remove Disease (normally Clr3)
- Remove Blindness/Deafness (normally Clr3)
- Raise Dead (normally Clr5)
- Hallow and Unhallow (normally Clr5)
- Resurrection (normally Clr7)
- True Resurrection (normally Clr9)

In return, however, certain spells are added to the archivist's list of spells able to be learned (of spell levels equal to the Sor/Wiz spell level, as appropriate), and can be acquired when the character levels up or by acquiring appropriate divine scrolls:
- Identify
- Detect Thoughts
- Arcane Sight
- Sepia Snake Sigil
- Arcane Eye
- Prying Eyes
- Permanency
- Legend Lore
- Greater Prying Eyes
- Mage's Disjunction

*--*--*

This would result in Glantrians able to use divine magic (and in a very appropriate form, no less) but still unable to halt magical diseases, scourge the undead or restore life. In return, they become quite a bit more capable as scholars and investigators.

A Glantrian archivist might also lose the ability to wear medium armor (and possibly light armor), but gain the Scribe Scroll feat at 1st level.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cthulhudrew Dec 08, 2006 11:08:05	Been toying around with some things Glantrian lately, and I got to wondering about the Archivist from Heroes of Horror. Specifically, how/if it might fit into Glantri, and I thought I'd solicit some opinions. Here's the Archivist for those not familiar with it. Basically, it's a loremaster/sage type of character who gains the usage of some divine magic through research, not actual divine endowment. As such, it seems to me that it would fit into Glantrian society fairly well (with some degree of prejudice from some circles naturally), and might be a nice explanation for some "clerical" types of healing that would otherwise be rarely to never encountered in pre-1004 Glantri.
#2 agathokles Dec 08, 2006 11:29:52	Been toying around with some things Glantrian lately, and I got to wondering about the Archivist from Heroes of Horror. Specifically, how/if it might fit into Glantri, and I thought I'd solicit some opinions. Well, I wouldn't consider them for Glantri (they would be too easily confused with priests, so this kind of character wouldn't likely enter Glantri -- and clerical healing must be rare in Glantri, in order to explain the effects of the various plagues there!), but rather as a conversion of the Philosophers (priests who worship alignments rather than Immortals, introduced in K:KoA to mirror the original clerics of OD&D).
#3 Traianus_Decius_Aureus Dec 08, 2006 11:38:01	I don't think a Glantrian would openly have levels in this class, but I do see certain Glantrians perhaps taking this class on the sly- maybe a multi-class wizard with a few levels due to their interest in "darker things" but his associates, friends and companions would have little knowledge of his skills in this area.
#4 Cthulhudrew Dec 08, 2006 12:40:52	and clerical healing must be rare in Glantri, in order to explain the effects of the various plagues there!) In fairness, ready access to clerical magic didn't help the Hattians/Heldanners against the plagues at the close of the Great War, nor did it seem to help Thyatis much against the diseases of 1011-1012 that devastated so much of the population.
#5 agathokles Dec 08, 2006 12:47:17	In fairness, ready access to clerical magic didn't help the Hattians/Heldanners against the plagues at the close of the Great War, nor did it seem to help Thyatis much against the diseases of 1011-1012 that devastated so much of the population. Well, at least you won't see Wulf von Klagendorf or Thincol die of the plague (which, in Thyatis' case, were magical in origin). OTOH, IIRC at least Vanserie and his wife died of the plague Also, the previous plague in Glantri gave origin to the Year of Infamy -- an event that had tremendous impact on history. OTOH, Thyatis or the HK didn't seem to be massively harmed by those plagues (how many died?), nor did they seem to cause any significant effect other than the end of the Thyatian war effort against Thothia.
#6 Cthulhudrew Dec 08, 2006 13:34:22	OTOH, IIRC at least Vanserie and his wife died of the plague Maybe they were Scientologists? ;) Also, the previous plague in Glantri gave origin to the Year of Infamy -- an event that had tremendous impact on history. That plague was also magical in origin- it was created by the Immortal Yagrai and spread through Glantri according to some perverse scheme of that Immortal. I think that the major reason it was so infamous was because the dwarven presence provided the Glantrians with a convenient (and wrongfully accused) scapegoat. OTOH, Thyatis or the HK didn't seem to be massively harmed by those plagues (how many died?) Thyatis, at least, suffered quite a bit. The Thothian disease led to rampant rioting and death. I don't have population figures right at hand, but IIRC, there was a significant drop in at least the metropolitan Thyatian population between 1011-1012 as a result. The Heldannic plague isn't gone into much (nor the Ethengarian), mainly due to them being in WotI, which had a premium on space (as opposed to being able to go into more detail like in the PWAs); given that they were significant enough to merit an entry in the timeline, though, I'd say that they were fairly devastating. nor did they seem to cause any significant effect other than the end of the Thyatian war effort against Thothia. Which is a pretty significant effect in and of itself. As I said, though, there were riots and all the things that go with them (looting, pillaging, etc.) Outside of the cities, probably not a huge deal, but that's usually the case with epidemics. In any event, I wouldn't postulate that the archivists are so numerous as to be able to supplant clerical activity/roles, but that they might be an acceptable alternative where and when they could be found. I think it will merit some more thought, but I guess I'm kind of leaning towards Traianus' take on them at the moment now.
#7 eldersphinx Dec 08, 2006 21:34:22	Some thoughts on use of the Archivist class in Glantri: Glantrian archivists (or, potentially, ALL archivists in the Known World) might be barred from ever learning the following spells as divine spells, even though they're on the cleric spell list: - Consecrate and Desecrate (normally Clr2) - Remove Disease (normally Clr3) - Remove Blindness/Deafness (normally Clr3) - Raise Dead (normally Clr5) - Hallow and Unhallow (normally Clr5) - Resurrection (normally Clr7) - True Resurrection (normally Clr9) In return, however, certain spells are added to the archivist's list of spells able to be learned (of spell levels equal to the Sor/Wiz spell level, as appropriate), and can be acquired when the character levels up or by acquiring appropriate divine scrolls: - Identify - Detect Thoughts - Arcane Sight - Sepia Snake Sigil - Arcane Eye - Prying Eyes - Permanency - Legend Lore - Greater Prying Eyes - Mage's Disjunction ----* This would result in Glantrians able to use divine magic (and in a very appropriate form, no less) but still unable to halt magical diseases, scourge the undead or restore life. In return, they become quite a bit more capable as scholars and investigators. A Glantrian archivist might also lose the ability to wear medium armor (and possibly light armor), but gain the Scribe Scroll feat at 1st level.