Re: what is animism?

From: jorganos <joe_at_...>
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2012 08:58:01 -0000

What I find somewhat missing in most animism descriptions is that most spirits you work with are mostly friendly discorporate beings, perhaps single-minded, but with their own needs and likes and dislikes that need pampering. Especially the description of spirit magic in RQ3 has more of a sorcerer's methods of dealing with spirits than animism (beat em down, then trap them and dominate them). No negotiating, trading, pampering, or propitiating.

An animist's relation to his spirits is that of a beast trainer to its beast followers. Huge, dangerous and potentially hostile spirits are better left to specialists.

Animists threatened by hostile spirits will usually try talking to them rather than press the red button. Depending on the relative strengths, they may threaten or bluff them, or they may make propitiating offers. And usually even malevolent ones will respond to propitiation, or even just compliments. Even spirits controlled or at least sent by a hostile animist might be dealt with other than summarily.