Re: [HOE] Witch Sourcebook... (Quick Poll)

["Clint Black" <cblack@ohtinc.com>]

On Sat, 12 Oct 2002 23:17:18 -0400
 "Matt Maybray" <reginald_q_bumbershoot@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I wonder if any of the ideas you cooked up are similar to
> mine. I got my 
> inspiration for this project while reading the Marshall's
> section of The 
> Black Circle where I had a "Eureka!"-type moment.

Probably not then.  For the sake of clarity, I'll explain my
idea.  It comes from the basis that most HOE arcane
backgrounds are extrapolations of Weird West AB's.  Templars
from Blessed, Sykers from Martial Artists, Junkers from Mad
Scientists/Hucksters, Toxic Shamans from Shamans, and even
Cyborgs from Harrowed.  So what's the missing piece?

The answer came when I realized witchcraft was a Knowledge
skill and their powers needed components, and there is
another AB just like that in the Weird West...

Voodoo.

My article explains how witchcraft and voodoo are
essentially the same.  But with just the Knowledge skill, a
witch only has access to what I call Minor Arcanum spells
(the spells in The Wasted West).  Like Voodoo, to cast Major
Arcanum spells requires faith: witchcraft too.

I have archetypes (similar to loas) that full witches can
call upon for more power.  Evil witches gain their powers
from manitous instead of the archetypes.

I have the background and books where the Major Arcanum
information can be found if decoded.  One book simply
explains the link to voodoo and would allow the character to
learn any voodoo spell from Hexarcana.  Another is the
"potion" book which in game effect gives rules for
translating alchemy to witchcraft.

Hopefully, this short version can give you some idea of what
I've done.  It's much better explained in the full article,
but there's still a couple of spots to fill in.

Oh and yes, there is a "brainburn/backlash" type result for
casting MAjor Arcanum spells.  It's when a witch gets a
manitou instead of a helpful spirit; they call it Ambushed.

Any questions?


Clint