Topic
Rules of thumb for a roleplaying Warlock.
|
Hello all! Nix here, simply musing on the nature of entropy. For those that roleplay, or perhaps simply enjoy the lore of the most powerful class in WoW I have a bit of a...query if you will.
Horde and Alliance warlocks are a bit of an odd man out. Not wanted, nor respected to the masses we serve alongside. However, we are without a doubt...a potent class. But channeling and controlling such forces of chaos is not childs play. The cost of playing with fel is harsh, and many conjurers lose their lives...or worse. Ive been trying to come up with a simple list of rules, or even laws if they are obvious enough that every warlock would follow. (If they want to survive that is.) But sadly, this is where I hit a mental wall. The only glaringly obvious is: •What you call up you must be able to put down. (ex. Fizzlebang the Poser of ToC infamy.) Duh right? No summoner wants to find out they are not strong enough to bind something and get killed for it. But surely there is more obvious rules of thumb we would practice no? Can anyone help me out with more rules like this? Anything at all, even the most esoteric hint or brutually simple common sense of warlockdom will suffice. |
|
Edited by Narvaal on 2/22/12 10:05 AM (PST)
Secrecy, subtly, and manipulation are very much the most important weapons in the arsenal of the aspiring practitioner of the Fel arts, regardless of alignment. A Warlock in possession of much power may perhaps freely display his or her power, but a dagger in the night is all it takes to rid the world of such arrogance. A Warlock which is but a petty minor conjuror, but which has secrecy on his or her side, may surprise and overcome foes which are severely more powerful than he or she may be under normal circumstances. It is not the power which is wielded, but the power which is left unknown to those whom may be called enemy that is among the greatest strengths of a Warlock.
The stealing or corruption of a soul is the most horrific defilement one can inflict upon a being. Standard Fel-casting does not require the use of souls but for some of the most powerful spells, though less powerful spells can at times be augmented through the sacrifice of a soul, or a portion of a soul. As a result, one should steal souls -rarely- and -discreetly-. Fel-magic is already abhorrent. Soul-reaping will be considered irrevocably evil, joint enemy or no. The use of Fel magic of any sort is corrupting. The more used at once, and the more regularly it is used, the more corrupt the mind, body, and soul becomes. Small amounts of magic will not cause enough corruption to become lasting. Conversely, too much will warp and twist the user irreversibly to the point where he or she could be classified as a demon. A Warlock of the Alliance or Horde must have a reason to use the immense power the Fel has to offer. Power for the sake of power will lead only to corruption and death, or perhaps corruption and life, which may well be all the worse. The less altruistic Warlock must then compensate with a discipline and will of titansteel, lest he or she be seduced and consumed by the Fel. I agree with your point as well, OP. That's all I can think of for now. |
|
Just keep this in mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo5lqB5dHu4&NR#t=7m18s |
|
|
Just keep this in mind. That. SO MUCH that. Unless the demon has "Property of X" Fel-branded on its !@#$, an Alliance or Horde guard will likely just flip a %^-* upon seeing a demon waltzing about. And if the Warlock was stupid enough to be branding the !@#$ of his or her demon, frankly, it's pretty likely that the Warlock would get his teeth kicked in at very least. The Horde has been known to be more tolerant overall to Warlockery than the Alliance, but this is mainly due to the Forsaken's and the Blood Elves' heavy use/acceptance of it (until recently, in the latter case; now it's up in the air). Orcs sure as hell don't like it (especially under Garrosh, see Ashenvale questline). Trolls are probably semi-ambivalent about it (taking into consideration the existence of Witch Doctors and such). Tauren sure as hell don't like it (Grimtotem not included). And Goblins would likely beat you up for being a Warlock because flaunting Fel magic scares away the business; the practice itself would be fine, so long as it would be kept under wraps, I imagine. As for the Alliance, I'm pretty sure that any race on that side would be nigh-lynched if they were caught Warlocking. |
|
Warlocks are interestin'. In wartime (like right now) they're a necessary evil in SOME cases. In the middle of a fight, you have to admit the soldiers don't care WHO saves their butts, as long as it happens. But in a city, yeah put on your 'floppy ears' and be a nice old lady/old man to whoever asks.
|
|
^ Which is why every warlock I see openly practicing their craft is a complete idiot.
RPing a warlock is not easy. It takes subtlety, and perhaps a bit of deceit at times. You have to make others believe that you're NOT a warlock, in order to keep from getting swarmed for what you are. If you don't like that, if you don't want to be essentially an outcast for the things you practice? It was your choice to become a warlock, your choice to dip into fel magic and demonic rituals, your choice to take a path that people are wary of, and fear. I don't care if you're trying to make warlocks "more acceptable" in normal society. Got news for you, it won't work. Ever. So help me if I see any warlocks on the cathedral steps practicing their stuff, and hell, using METAMORPHOSIS I'm gonna flip a table. Onto their heads. |
|
My rule 1: Remember, no matter what sacrifices you make to assist your people (such as embracing the fel), you must remember there is a line that should not be crossed. That line is the difference between hero...and Kael'thas. If you go too far, you descend into madness.
|
|
Rule of Thumb when Roleplaying with a Warlock.
Unless I am literally summoning demons from a green fire volcano of death, you can't smell me and know that I am a warlock. |
|
Somewhere in the WotA trilogy, Tyrande could sense a wrongness in a magical school.
Also in Wolfheart, the trees told Malfurion about the arcane magic being used there. |
|
|
Edited by Volkuza on 2/22/12 11:58 AM (PST)
Sensing wrongness is a bit different than going up to someone, smelling them, identifying trace amounts of magic as fel magic (which it may not even be), and then proclaiming that that person is a warlock.
Game mechanic wise, sure, mages. But warlocks are basically mages who decided to stop "Playing it Safe". Have fun being the inferior spellcaster. |
|
|
True. I've had Ana had a general discomfort around someone that had it in their rsp there was a wrongness about them. Something malevolent. She was a bit jumpy but wasn't sure why. I get what you're saying though. |
|
But warlocks are basically mages who decided to stop "being nice." I fixed that for you. Also. Medivh was not a Warlock. He was a mage. The Council of Tiris-- nope your point is invalid. |
|
|
Fel magic is not just "mean magic". It is such a great source of power that people go crazy when they finally get enough of it. That's why mage groups have banned it's practice. Because absolute power corrupts, and power corrupts absolutely. Also, if you use Medivh, can I bring up Sargeras, who basically possessed your mage friend? |
|
"The more powerful the spell, the greater the sacrifice."
Basically the law of Equivalent Exchange from Fullmetal Alchemist lolol. Of course as warlocks, the sacrifice doesn't have to be ours. I do have it in my headcanon though that something/someone precious to the warlock or to the intended victim will be worth more just a random soul shard or whatevs in evil spells. |
|
We've seen plenty of examples of warlocks being acknowledged for what they are in a positive way. Despite it backfiring, Fizzlebang was allowed into the Argent Crusade's tournament (the Light-iest sticklers around), and for it, Fordring gave the warlocks around a pretty generic warning about tampering with dark magic.
In the current class-quests, it's outright brought up as well that Wrynn's accepting warlocks as well, even has a commission done for you like the other class-quests. Warlocks are accepted, even if what they do is not on certain levels. The 50 warlock quest for Alliance at least, involves helping prove the usefulness of the warlock community to the Alliance as well. Generally, if you're a warlock out to not make enemies, cause a panic, or otherwise set the progress back that the ones legitimately (or at least feigning) devoted to the Alliance have made, don't summon demons in public, stand around dressed in your best "I'm a super-evil warlock" outfit, or otherwise cause atrocities in civilized society. The bit from Metzen in the lore panel a few years ago was about summoning demons, there's never really been anything said that there's a stigma against warlocks in social situations, and the new Cata warlock quests seem to indicate that it's something they're actively working against, and succeeding. |
|
Ah, Nix.
Making the realm better one lock at a time. |
|
Adira's rules of thumb:
1) Hush, hush. In what you say, in what you wear, in what you do. 2) If it does come to light, you better have a damned good story. 3) And if a fight break out, subtlety is your best friend. use Fear over Shadow Bolt, that sort of thing. 4) All power has a price. Basically, as a Hunter, subtlety is her best friend. No one knows where she lurks, but when she does uncover herself, she will act decisively. |
1) Hush, hush. In what you say, in what you wear, in what you do. This is very well said. /thumbsup |
