Peter Metcalfe :
>
> julianlord wrote:
>
> > [...] I think that we could be looking at three potential
> > paths towards mysticism,
>
> I don't believe there are three (plus) separate paths to mysticism. For
> me, the key feature is practicing austerities. Since mysticism is
> inherently anti-heroic (and even anti-adventurer), I don't see how
> making distinctions between mystics (apart from the obvious
> look-and-feel) can tell us what we don't already know. In story terms,
> mystics are a plot device and can be invincible (as Mashunasan was) or
> easily killable (as Thomas Becket and the Buddha were) as need be for
> the purposes of the story.
The question that was originally asked was about how to have mystics as protagonists, aka player characters.
For their portrayal as NPCs I agree with your take on it.
Julian Lord