10-27-2007, 02:28 AM
I actually had a good RP dealing with these concepts a while ago, and I thought a post detailing the nature of the many forms of "magic" in WoW would be helpful for those RPing such characters and don't have access to such tools as the d20 books. It might put some things into perspective and aid RP ideas. That noted, I don't actually own the d20 books, but I have read sections of a couple of them, so the below is just from my understanding of those books and the lore from WoW itself. Of course, corrections and discussion and what-not is certainly welcome.
Mages and Warlocks - The Arcane
Mages, Warlocks, and NPC entities such as Necromancers deal with the true form of magic in Azeroth, the Arcane. All practicioners of the Arcane have to deal with a few basic facts: the Arcane corrupts, the Arcane is addictive, and the Arcane attracts creatures from the Nether.
Use of the Arcane is without a doubt addictive. Not just the power that it gives, but the sensation of that power, the rush it gives, can change the ones who wield or receive it. But the Arcane also corrupts, not just in this manner, but it can change a person entirely. The Arcane is a naturally "dirty" form of power, and use will slowly alter the user...the more one uses, the more the user is affected.
The Sunwell was thought to be the strongest source of Arcane power. As it was a corrupt source itself (one can read the Warcraft history on the WoW site to see why this is,) it would naturally taint all those that drew upon it. The Blood Elves are the most common example, being addicted to the power that it gave off. Arcane power is otherwise nearly everywhere, perhaps remnants of the Sunwell's former power. Either way, Mages work by seizing this power from the area about him, forcefully taking it and working it into whatever spell they wish to cast.
The difference between Mages, Warlocks, and Necromancers is largely simply a focus of study. Warlocks and Necromancers draw more directly from corrupted forces, such as demons, which makes resisting corruption all the more difficult for them. However, for all users of the Arcane, it is a constant battle to remain in control of their power and to not fall into Arcane addiction and corruption. This is a fight that everyone is almost doomed to fail.
Shaman and Druids - The Natural
Shaman and Druids operate on a very different level than Mages. The power that they use is not "magic" in the strictest sense of the word, but is close enough for the mundane to assume it so. Natural power such as this is instead inherently pure and uncorrupting. Indeed, by its very nature only the uncorrupted can draw upon this power.
Natural power is built upon a foundation of respect. Druids and Shaman deal and form relationships with things that most do not normally consider sentient, such as the elements or the spirits of nature. A natural caster must not only earn the trust of the world he wishes to form a bond with, but he must work to be worthy of that trust. Should that trust be lost, the power abandons him.
While a Mage forcefully takes power, a Druid or Shaman has to request it. One does not force the natural world to give him power, and attempting to force it will often result in failure. This respect, the natural world to the caster and back, forms the basis of the power these characters possess.
The difference between Druids and Shaman is more pronounced than between Mages and Warlocks. Druids focus mostly on the living world, such as animals and plants, while Shaman deal with spirits and the elements themselves. There is, of course, some overlap, as the Druid can deal with more elemental energies in some cases (such as use of Cyclone) and the Shaman can deal with certain animals (most commonly wolves.)
Priests - The Internal
It is often a misconception that a Priest draws power from the object of his belief. For example, that a Human draws power from the Light. This really isn't true, though it comes close in certain cases.
A Priest focuses on the concepts of belief and thought. The Light may not give a Priest true power, but the Priest's *belief* in the Light does. Through mental training, strong belief, and force of will, a Priest can use his own faith and belief to affect the thoughts and beliefs of those around him. This is why the Priest has so many abilities that affect the mind, because his own powers are highly mental in nature.
Because of this, a Priest's power isn't inherently unclean like a Mage's, or inherently clean like a Druid's. Instead, it is a reflection of the Priest's own self and beliefs. A Priest who believes in the Shadow will naturally have powers of a darker nature than one who believes in the Light. The path of a Priest is just as much an exploration of the self as it is a road to power.
Paladins - The Holy
To be honest, Paladins were once thought to gain power in a similar manner as Priests. This was later proven false by the introduction of the Naaru. Paladins draw, whether knowingly or unknowingly, power from these strange beings. The power that the Paladins draw is inherenly holy, much as the power drawn from demons is the opposite.
Not all that much has been confirmed (that I've seen) about Paladin powers beyond this. The Blood Elves seize their power forcefully, while the Paladins of the Alliance get it through gentler means. In both cases, however, it is not drawn from the self as a Priest draws power. This explains why the Blood Elves could have Priests, but could not have Paladins until the Naaru was enslaved.
Mages and Warlocks - The Arcane
Mages, Warlocks, and NPC entities such as Necromancers deal with the true form of magic in Azeroth, the Arcane. All practicioners of the Arcane have to deal with a few basic facts: the Arcane corrupts, the Arcane is addictive, and the Arcane attracts creatures from the Nether.
Use of the Arcane is without a doubt addictive. Not just the power that it gives, but the sensation of that power, the rush it gives, can change the ones who wield or receive it. But the Arcane also corrupts, not just in this manner, but it can change a person entirely. The Arcane is a naturally "dirty" form of power, and use will slowly alter the user...the more one uses, the more the user is affected.
The Sunwell was thought to be the strongest source of Arcane power. As it was a corrupt source itself (one can read the Warcraft history on the WoW site to see why this is,) it would naturally taint all those that drew upon it. The Blood Elves are the most common example, being addicted to the power that it gave off. Arcane power is otherwise nearly everywhere, perhaps remnants of the Sunwell's former power. Either way, Mages work by seizing this power from the area about him, forcefully taking it and working it into whatever spell they wish to cast.
The difference between Mages, Warlocks, and Necromancers is largely simply a focus of study. Warlocks and Necromancers draw more directly from corrupted forces, such as demons, which makes resisting corruption all the more difficult for them. However, for all users of the Arcane, it is a constant battle to remain in control of their power and to not fall into Arcane addiction and corruption. This is a fight that everyone is almost doomed to fail.
Shaman and Druids - The Natural
Shaman and Druids operate on a very different level than Mages. The power that they use is not "magic" in the strictest sense of the word, but is close enough for the mundane to assume it so. Natural power such as this is instead inherently pure and uncorrupting. Indeed, by its very nature only the uncorrupted can draw upon this power.
Natural power is built upon a foundation of respect. Druids and Shaman deal and form relationships with things that most do not normally consider sentient, such as the elements or the spirits of nature. A natural caster must not only earn the trust of the world he wishes to form a bond with, but he must work to be worthy of that trust. Should that trust be lost, the power abandons him.
While a Mage forcefully takes power, a Druid or Shaman has to request it. One does not force the natural world to give him power, and attempting to force it will often result in failure. This respect, the natural world to the caster and back, forms the basis of the power these characters possess.
The difference between Druids and Shaman is more pronounced than between Mages and Warlocks. Druids focus mostly on the living world, such as animals and plants, while Shaman deal with spirits and the elements themselves. There is, of course, some overlap, as the Druid can deal with more elemental energies in some cases (such as use of Cyclone) and the Shaman can deal with certain animals (most commonly wolves.)
Priests - The Internal
It is often a misconception that a Priest draws power from the object of his belief. For example, that a Human draws power from the Light. This really isn't true, though it comes close in certain cases.
A Priest focuses on the concepts of belief and thought. The Light may not give a Priest true power, but the Priest's *belief* in the Light does. Through mental training, strong belief, and force of will, a Priest can use his own faith and belief to affect the thoughts and beliefs of those around him. This is why the Priest has so many abilities that affect the mind, because his own powers are highly mental in nature.
Because of this, a Priest's power isn't inherently unclean like a Mage's, or inherently clean like a Druid's. Instead, it is a reflection of the Priest's own self and beliefs. A Priest who believes in the Shadow will naturally have powers of a darker nature than one who believes in the Light. The path of a Priest is just as much an exploration of the self as it is a road to power.
Paladins - The Holy
To be honest, Paladins were once thought to gain power in a similar manner as Priests. This was later proven false by the introduction of the Naaru. Paladins draw, whether knowingly or unknowingly, power from these strange beings. The power that the Paladins draw is inherenly holy, much as the power drawn from demons is the opposite.
Not all that much has been confirmed (that I've seen) about Paladin powers beyond this. The Blood Elves seize their power forcefully, while the Paladins of the Alliance get it through gentler means. In both cases, however, it is not drawn from the self as a Priest draws power. This explains why the Blood Elves could have Priests, but could not have Paladins until the Naaru was enslaved.