Re: Mysticism

From: Chris Lemens <chrislemens_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 09:01:47 -0700 (PDT)


> From: Mikko Rintasaari
> Ok, but what on earth is the mysticism supposed
> to acheive? And how is it reflected on the
> character. Obviously a true mystic is mostly
> collecting a single huge skill, of no immediate
> value.

Here's what I think:

  1. Mysticism is not supposed to achieve anything. If it achieves something, it is failed Mysticism, because it has a connection to that something that it achieves.
  2. Mysticism will usually be reflected on a character sheet through a school of failed Mysticism. The school teaches some mystical insight that will be reflected as common, theist, spirit, or sorcerous magics.
  3. No one would ever play a successful Mystic. 100% success in Mysticism takes the character out of play. The closest would be someone who attempts to become a Mystic, gets trapped by the power of his Mystical insights, and continues to try to transcend them. ("I will not use my Crushing Hand of Doom because my hand is just an illusion, as is my enemy.")
  4. On terminology -- When you want to talk about what people following Mystically aligned paths do, talk about failed mystics. If you want to talk about the successes that achieve Nirvana or whatever, then talk about true mystics. Distingiushing between the two alows you to make points about what the rules ought to represent (failed Mystics) without people making points about what the rules cannot represent (true Mystics).

Chris Lemens                          

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