Roleplaying a Male Sorcerer

[Martinus]

We all know that according to the official lore, there are no male sorcerers. The only existing sorceresses are female, they are all part of the Six Covens, and all married to the Witch King, whereas all male sorcerers are slain (I guess the Witch King is not too keen on marriage :p).

In WAR we have male Sorcerers, but I was wondering whether anyone could shed some light on them in the WAR universe. Is this a completely alternate universe to the tabletop/PnP version, and male Sorcerers are seen as equal to Sorceresses? Or is this a similar universe, only that for some reason the Dark Elf society is changing to allow male Sorcerers (so they would still be considered inferior to Sorceresses, and possibly subject to some scorn etc)?

[Ralzar]

We all know that according to the official lore, there are no male sorcerers.

Sure there are. There just aren't officially sanctioned male sorcerors.

[Doc Lumbago]

as Druuchi Male Sorcerer you are not likely to be part of the Convent.
The only Sorcerers so far known are either stone old (original Ulthuans who joined Malekith during Civil War) or Secret Sorcerers that are not powerful enough to pose a threat and are thus ignored.

Your WAR Sorc character could be member of an old secret Sorc society which managed to train powerful adepts and stay hidden from the eyes of Convent/Witch King.
They now think the WAR is the right time to prove themselve worthy and/or gain enough political power through Ulthuan´s taking that the Death Penalty will be off and they are declared an official party.

Or you could be a member of a special force the house of Uthorin trained Sorcs which were originally meant to once take the Witch King´s throne and make House Uthorin the new leading Druchii force.

Or maybe you are the lone wolf, capable of magic, had to flee into the wilderness when you were young and were training your magic skills secretly without the guidance of the Convent. Now you´re seeking to test your skills on a worthy opponent/enrichen your skills through High Elf artefact but you well know that Death Penalty only is off until this war is over be it the win or the loss.So until you can´t defeat the Witch King himself, you are very likely to vanish again to where you were coming from.

[Estebar]

Pg. 71 (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/201/sorcp1wh4.jpg)
Pg. 72 (http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6/sorcp2tb8.jpg)
Pg. 73 (http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7030/sorcp3zf9.jpg)

[Edit] Ok, I pre-ordered the magazine digitally, and with a little screenshotting, I am able to provide these for you now. I now can provide all 3 pages of the article for your viewing pleasure (Apparently the thing didn't work with Adobe Reader 8, so I had to downgrade and the encryption reset on the file). So enjoy all 3 pages. If you look at the magazine article, you'll see that Paul mentions his reasoning for including male Sorcerors. It looks like the Convents have been hiding them in their towers. He makes reference to this group called the "Dark Covenant" which sounds like a different organisation from the Six Convents of Sorceresses, but it could just be a corruption of the word "convent".

If I had a letter from a Greater Daemon's true name for every time someone has looked at "Convent", and thought that it says some other witchy word like "Coven" or "Covenant"... I could've taken over the world by now. ;)

[Aqe]

Don't worry, be happy.
NDA and such.

[Noli me Tangere]

The idea being that he's suddenly decided to "allow" male sorcerers with the plan that once their inclusion has helped end the high elves he'll then use their exposed state to destroy them.

[Dunhill]

I plan on playing a Sorcerer, and i was well aware of the situation with the Druchii and female sorceress'. The way i see it, is noone knew about you, and you are fairly young. You stayed in secret, just acting like a normal Dark Elf citizen, practicing your arts in secret. Then when they found out, and tried to apprehend you, you were too powerful for them. One of the higher Sorceress' came in to help in bringing you down, but found you had grown so strong, that she saw potential, and decided to take you under her wing and train you further.

THATS how i see the background will be for my Sorcerer at least.

[OldNeptune]

I've always planned on playing a sorc, but whether male or female is completely up to which ever looks more appealing when i get to the character creation screen. A female backstory would still require a little thinking to make unique/personal, but if I end up making a male sorcerer, my story would go something like this (VERY simple! assuming i got the lore right...i haven't read it):

If the witch king feels threatened by the presence of male sorcerers stealing his horde of wives, then he's not fit to rule at all. The king must be the superior to his subjects, and to fear them is to restrict the power he can/must wield.

[Tom_Hobbes]

Sure there are. There just aren't officially sanctioned male sorcerors.

And a bunch were kept captive for torture/interrogation/fun time purposes (probably the ones held by others than the black guard itself) and they've recently been given freedom and access to some of the coven lore on the condition that they fight for the witch king.

When the prize is a blade of awesome power and the regaining of a kingdom, witch-boy is willing to temporarily suspend his scruples and risk a bit of prophecy in exchange for more firepower. Like, you know, a politician.

The plot moves, guys. Try to keep up.

[Alota]

You can ofcourse use the 'hired gun' lore, which exist for Male sorcerers
r

[Boulvae]

The Profecy doesn't exist in WAR.

This means that male Sorcerers are in, and will make coming up with a proper roleplay with them that much easier.

[Tyranus]

You guys really think to hard on these things. If you have to roleplay look for a simple solution to deal with what you've got and not what you haven't got.

A quick solution would be just to say Malekith's assault on the High Elves comes without any thought on expense. Malekith has decided with the council of his mother to bend former laws of "HIS" society and allow male sorcerers to enter the army in a pressing time where there is no such thing as too many soldiers, especially powerful magic users.

See quick, simple, and to the point new guys are introduced in desperate times to handle desperate measures. Can be done because Malekith created the Dark Elf society with his mother and therefore they have ultimate say on what's ok and what's not. 8)

[Xurré]

The Profecy doesn't exist in WAR.
Actually, from what I understand WAR is maintaining the existence of the prophecy. It's just that Malekith is suddenly ignoring it for a bit because he need all the firepower he can get and is planning to kill all male Sorcerers who've showed themselves when the war is over.

On the surface that seems like a good a very Druchii solution, but when you dig a bit deeper it's actually quite horrible that way for several reasons.

First, no Sorcerer is going to be stupid enough to believe that Malekith is suddenly going to pardon them. Don't forget after all that Malekith isn't the only dark elf in the equation; the Sorcerers are dark elves too. And dark elves expect such treachery everywhere and from everyone.

Secondly, this war is the most likely place where a Sorcerer would rise to enough power to kill Malekith, particularly considering that he's giving them free reign now. This is something that should be particularly obvious to dark elves, who believe in gaining power and strength over the backs of others. This war is just the ingredient to help a Sorcerer build his power.

Third, with the war there's far too much going on at once for Malekith to also want to have to worry about a bunch of Sorcerers running around loose and possibly coming after him to kill him. He needs to concentrate all his efforts on the war and not also worry about male Sorcerers rising in power.

And fourth, I think it's highly likely that at high level players will either get quests from Malekith or otherwise come into contact directly with Malekith (I seem to recall that the highest reputation rewards come directly from the leader of your race). And somehow I simply can't see Malekith giving even more power to a guy who has enough power (being level 40 and all) to be able to kill him.

No, it'd be much better if the prophecy really didn't exist in WAR, but the last official word I've heard on it definitely seemed to suggest that it did.


- Xurré

[Seldaren]

No, it'd be much better if the prophecy really didn't exist in WAR, but the last official word I've heard on it definitely seemed to suggest that it did.

Where was that mentioned?

The only mention I've seen was the mention of a prophecy in one of the Elf zones. That's obviously a completely different prophecy though.

There's no actual mention, or reference to, the Malekith prophecy in that Sorceress article.

[Xurré]

Where was that mentioned?

The only mention I've seen was the mention of a prophecy in one of the Elf zones. That's obviously a completely different prophecy though.

There's no actual mention, or reference to, the Malekith prophecy in that Sorceress article.
To be honest, I really don't remember. So it's quite possible I'm mistaken, or remembering nightmares, or that that's just how I interpreted the reference to Malekith in the the question about male sorcerers in the Sorceress article.

That said, I also don't remember any references stating that the prophecy doesn't exist in WAR, so it seems it could go either way. Unless someone actually remembers what I don't. :p


- Xurré

[shotgunbadger]

Xurre has it right in so many ways (and that prophesy better be in WAR, I always saw it as rather important in the mindset of the Witch King).

In short, you know your king hasn't killed you instantly for being a Sorcerer thanks to his sudden attack on the HE lands. That said, you EXPECT him to as soon as you run your use out, so never stop being useful. Always look for ways to prove yourself to stand out as a good magic user so he sees you aren't to be culled.

That said, don't go around yelling "I AM THE GREATEST" mainly because then you will become a THREAT to the others around you, and as a Sorcerer, everyone knows (to put it nicely) no one would really care (or at the least make a giant, public, fuss) if you were knifed in a dark alley.

So, this gives us two 'basic' archtypes to use.

1) The careful lapdog: You are a devout servant of your king, he keeps you alive when in the old days you would be killed on sight. You keep your power growing, but also in check, a good dog is able to defend its master easily, but never tries to assert himself.

2) The schemer: Total opposite, you are biding your time, using this war, as Xurre said, as another form of power to draw on. Like the lap dog you keep your power hidden, but that's only because one day you want to walk into the throne room, and blast your king's head clean off his head for the Hell he put you through just because you studied magic and were a male.

[Boulvae]

Heres something thats been balfling me MORE then Sorcerers, children. What the heack happens to the children that are born (and not already dealt with from an outside force) in the society of Dark Elves. How do their parents raise them, or even do with them afterwards?

That has always irked me, like what they start trying to use an abuse their child at an early age, while encouraging them to do the same? Now THATS baffling.

[shotgunbadger]

Heres something thats been balfling me MORE then Sorcerers, children. What the heack happens to the children that are born (and not already dealt with from an outside force) in the society of Dark Elves. How do their parents raise them, or even do with them afterwards?

That has always irked me, like what they start trying to use an abuse their child at an early age, while encouraging them to do the same? Now THATS baffling.

Not so much that, just imagine a very strict family where any sign of weakness is snuffed out, not always by hitting, but they DO drill into every child their Darwinian "Strong survive, weak die" mindsets at every turn, be it games, books, pictures, anything.

[Boulvae]

I'm just wondering wether they backstab their children at a young age or not. I still figure the parents would still be cheesed if their child got killed by some arsewhole in an alley, but not for the right reasons.

[shotgunbadger]

I'm just wondering wether they backstab their children at a young age or not. I still figure the parents would still be cheesed if their child got killed by some arsewhole in an alley, but not for the right reasons.

I really doubt it, yes they favor strength, but they're not STUPID, they know a child must be taught first, and besides, it wouldn't be good to pointlessly kill new soldiers.

Now, once they become adults, I highly doubt a father would have issue stabbing his son in the back if he got in his way, and visa versa.

[Boulvae]

Ofcourse if their son/daughter suddenly got in a high position they got bragging rights, the only real way to make your parents prowd in Druchi society.

[shotgunbadger]

Ofcourse if their son/daughter suddenly got in a high position they got bragging rights, the only real way to make your parents prowd in Druchi society.

Well yea, and even then, if they start making choices mommy and daddy feel are unwise they'd wind up with some hand picked 'advisors' or just outright 'delt with' with not alot of internal conflict from their parents.

[Noli me Tangere]

Actually, from what I understand WAR is maintaining the existence of the prophecy. It's just that Malekith is suddenly ignoring it for a bit because he need all the firepower he can get and is planning to kill all male Sorcerers who've showed themselves when the war is over.

I read an article that talked about this being the very reasoning used to justify them in WAR, so that all seems.. somewhat reasonable. I believe it was in Beckett Massive Online gamer that I read it, in fact, though, it's been some time. I could have the magazine wrong.

On the surface that seems like a good a very Druchii solution, but when you dig a bit deeper it's actually quite horrible that way for several reasons.

First, no Sorcerer is going to be stupid enough to believe that Malekith is suddenly going to pardon them. Don't forget after all that Malekith isn't the only dark elf in the equation; the Sorcerers are dark elves too. And dark elves expect such treachery everywhere and from everyone.

Secondly, this war is the most likely place where a Sorcerer would rise to enough power to kill Malekith, particularly considering that he's giving them free reign now. This is something that should be particularly obvious to dark elves, who believe in gaining power and strength over the backs of others. This war is just the ingredient to help a Sorcerer build his power.

Third, with the war there's far too much going on at once for Malekith to also want to have to worry about a bunch of Sorcerers running around loose and possibly coming after him to kill him. He needs to concentrate all his efforts on the war and not also worry about male Sorcerers rising in power.

And fourth, I think it's highly likely that at high level players will either get quests from Malekith or otherwise come into contact directly with Malekith (I seem to recall that the highest reputation rewards come directly from the leader of your race). And somehow I simply can't see Malekith giving even more power to a guy who has enough power (being level 40 and all) to be able to kill him.

No, it'd be much better if the prophecy really didn't exist in WAR, but the last official word I've heard on it definitely seemed to suggest that it did.


- Xurré

The idea that the males reveal themselves doesn't have to be total, you could say that the male sorcerers moronic enough to reveal themselves are the young, power hungry, and very very stupid (I suppose even the dark elf population has to have its nit wits). Which isn't all that out there, given some of the MMO communities I've run into. A certain percentage of the player population won't even have to roleplay the part.

The smart ones are the ones players don't get to play as. :rolleyes:

[Xurré]

The idea that the males reveal themselves doesn't have to be total, you could say that the male sorcerers moronic enough to reveal themselves are the young, power hungry, and very very stupid (I suppose even the dark elf population has to have its nit wits). Which isn't all that out there, given some of the MMO communities I've run into. A certain percentage of the player population won't even have to roleplay the part.

The smart ones are the ones players don't get to play as. :rolleyes:
Works for me; all the male player Sorcerers are idiots. :p


- Xurré

[Estebar]

Works for me; all the male player Sorcerers are idiots. :p


- Xurré Apart from those who intend to steer clear of Ulthuan altogether, preferring to glean forbidden knowledge from the Sorcerors and Shamans of Tchar'Zanek's Raven Host instead.

They're just insane. :-P

[sithborn]

I remember reading in a older thread that there was one house of dark elves that housed soccerers a house that genarly opposed the witch king. what is the name of that house and wouldnt that be a good thing to roleplay say they were from there and as you all have said are contributing to the war.

[Estebar]

I remember reading in a older thread that there was one house of dark elves that housed soccerers a house that genarly opposed the witch king. what is the name of that house and wouldnt that be a good thing to roleplay say they were from there and as you all have said are contributing to the war. I think that was probably people discussing House Uthorin. There's no solid evidence of Lord Uthorin housing Sorcerers. It's just widely known that he has his eye on Malekith's throne so it would seem plausible for him to take advantage of the Prophecy of Caledor and stash a few Sorcerors away to overthrow the Witch King.

[Eliphas-WorldBearer]

Ill be roleplaying as a "confused" dark elf since there are only FEMALE Sorcerers in my book...

[Lord Tareq]

Ill be roleplaying as a "confused" dark elf since there are only FEMALE Sorcerers in my book...


Actually that is not true, there are male sorcerers. Iin the Dak Elf arybook its clearly stated that male sorcerers are regarded with superstition by other Dark Elves, and they do not have acces to the Convents. But they are sometimes employed by nobles who want to keep the Convents out of their affairs.

[Eliphas-WorldBearer]

like I said theres only FEMALE sorcerers in my book...
*starts muttering to himself while cleaning his staff*

[Gharunkal]

I believe I heard of a Dark Elf Sorceror who's going to play that he's not alligned with Malekith at all. Instead he saw the war as an opportunity, especially because the Raven Host is 'allied' or at least involved with it. Thus, he bend himself in accepting a God of Magic, Tzeentch, and joined the Hordes of Chaos. To me this sounds a fine solution; Dark Elves are selfish and want to preserve themselves, male sorcerors can see Tzeentch as their savior.
How I think it'll work out is that Malekith will be helpless by trying to assassinate them, as Chaos warlords will see the killing of their subjects (in this case Dark Elf Sorcerors) as betrayal or even an attack. Now Malekith won't be as stupid to face the Wrath of the Norscans as well.

Nonetheless, no race is save from the Will of the Chaos Gods. Humans are particulary vulnerable, but Druchii, Asur, even Dwarfs (think Chaos Dwarfs) can be influenced. Some races are more resistent, but Sorcerors harness the polar-energies and would be far more exposed to the powers of the Dark Gods than any other Druchii, thus also more easily recruited by a God like Tzeentch (probably especially Tzeentch). And as far as I know, if you come to Chaos, they won't look at where you come from, but how good you are currently.

[Xurré]

like I said theres only FEMALE sorcerers in my book...
*starts muttering to himself while cleaning his staff*
Is that a new euphemism or... :?:

<suddenly doesn't want to know what book Eliphas is talking about> :???:


- Xurré