Literary vs Rpg Sorcerers in Conan.

[afro-slav]

In the Conan stories do sorcerers seems to have multiple styles of sorcery or do they seem to be specialist?

I was considering limiting the number of spell styles a character can learn to their primary attribute bonus and even though I am using the game as a generic FRPG I was wondering did the tales support this or not?

 

[sgstyrsky]

In REH's stories most sorcerers get off one spell before they are skewered on the end of Conan's sword so we never find out their spell selection.

The sorcerers of the Black Circle had many different spells at their disposal, so probably weren't specialists as such.

Also, in the original text many sorcerers rely on alchemical powders as much as they do magic.

 

[Vortigern]

In REH sorcerers don't seem earth shakingly powerful in any single area most of the time. Archmagi aside.

Most seem fairly competent however in a general 'I know more about everything than you' kind of way, and tend to pull tricks according to the situation and for a sense of drama. They don't seem focused on just one area though I would say, just my impression.

I agree that they generally aren't given enough 'screen time' to really get to know them.

Now, aside from those concerns, I as a player would find the scholar much less interesting if faced with the prospect of curtailed sorcery selections. Enough people think the class is underpowered as is without doing that. I'm not one of them, but I think as my character advanced I'd feel 'very' restricted if I got hardcapped on my choices like that. But then, maybe I'm just attached to the current way of doing things. I can be like that.

 

[Majestic7]

I think the system guides sorcerers to specialise already. All of the most powerful spells require a chain of lesser spells as prerequisites. You can be a jack of all trades or master of one, but not both. Regarding magic in REHs works, I think there are sorcerers of both sort. Master of Yimsha seems to be a hypnotist and a shapeshifter first and foremost, while Pelias is obviously a man of many tricks. Almost everyone from Xaltotun to Tsotha-Lanti and Thoth Amon seem to be skilled in divination, though.

 

[afro-slav]

Thanks for the replies.