Elric: Some Information on Sorcery required.

[Xex]

How is demon summoning, and sorcery in general handled in Elric of Melnibone?

Are there rules for summoning the aid of the animal and plant lords (Meerclar, Hsssssht'k, the Tangled Woman, etc). If not, why???

Chaosium also presented a handful of general spells (which were never present in the saga and thus have confounded everyone ever since). Are they present in mongoose's version?

Are the sorceror adventureres and their tradition given some love? What about Eastern sorcerors like Drinij Bara, his unique cat/soul transplant technique, and his unique spells? (reversing arrows, making bodies explode and melt, etc)

Is there a full, thong binkini color pin-up of Myrcella of Law? :shock:


A detailed answer would be appreciated. 8)

 

[Loz]

Some bold questions there, Xex.

How is demon summoning, and sorcery in general handled in Elric of Melnibone?

For an answer to that... buy the book! Its sort of similar but also quite different to the old Chaosium games. I've gone back to the way sorcery is presented in the Elric saga, so you'll find there's a lot of different to previous RPG versions.

Are there rules for summoning the aid of the animal and plant lords (Meerclar, Hsssssht'k, the Tangled Woman, etc).

Yes.

Chaosium also presented a handful of general spells (which were never present in the saga and thus have confounded everyone ever since). Are they present in mongoose's version?

No (see above). But the forthcoming 'Magic of the Young Kingdoms' expands magic - again, in keeping with the saga.

Are the sorceror adventureres and their tradition given some love? What about Eastern sorcerors like Drinij Bara, his unique cat/soul transplant technique, and his unique spells? (reversing arrows, making bodies explode and melt, etc)

Not in the main rules (and I take it you mean the upstarts of Quazhasaat). Eastern sorcery can be replicated using the additional magic in 'Magic of the Young Kingdoms'. More is offered on the whole of the Unknown East in 'The Elric Companion'.

Is there a full, thong binkini color pin-up of Myrcella of Law?

Shame on you! Its not THAT sort of game.

Have I sold you on all three books yet..?

 

[Xex]

Thanks for the replies Loz.

Please note I am a huge Elric fan, and will most definately buy the main book at least. I asked forthright and frank questions simple because IMO the sorcery system in the Elric novels is the best represenatation of Sword and Sorcery style sorcery.

Apart from everything else, what I like about it, apart from the darkness, power and vileness of it is that you can the most powerful sorceror ever (Elric for instance), yet if he is jumped by a thug in an alley he needs to use his own wits and/or melee skills to survivie. (or run away). However, if given the time (hours usually), the same sorceror can summon a powerful elemental duke/prince (like the Lashaar) or a powerful demon(s) and destroy armies.

Now from the glimpse we got of Eastern sorcery, we can tell that eastern sorcerors are more adept with casting 'combat' spells, such as Drinij bara. (Still, didn't save his life though).

So what I mean is, getting the Sorcery system 'right' is what makes or breaks an elric rpg for me for the most part. Chaosium sadly, mostly broke it.

One thing more, could you explain a little bit more about how the animal lord summoning works? Can pc sorcerors call upon their aid? Are there individual entries fror the animal lords with details of the gifts/aid they grant, or is it left up to the narrator?


(and yes, I meant the brotherhood societies of Quazsharaat. Hopefully they will be dealt with at some point, since I found them to be cool. )

 

[Loz]

I think we agree on some of the problems in the previous magic systems...

One thing more, could you explain a little bit more about how the animal lord summoning works? Can pc sorcerors call upon their aid? Are there individual entries fror the animal lords with details of the gifts/aid they grant, or is it left up to the narrator?

Worship of any power requires a Pact (the strength of which determines whether or not a Beast Lord heeds a call for help), and pacts offer gifts and compulsions. Whilst the pact-side of things is covered to some extent, gifts and compulsions for the Beast Lords aren't for two reasons. First, they're not extensively worshipped beyond Melnibone, and secondly, Beast Lords are pretty much unconcerned with the wants or needs of humans. They don't need human worship and therefore don't feel any need to dole-out rewards. However, I'll be working on Cults of the Young Kingdoms later this year, and no doubt the Beast and Plant Lords will see a greater detailing then.