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Icons that are fictional characters just don't fit in with how Iconomancy works. So why not give them a school of their own?
I have to give major credit to MessiahDave, since his post on Superman as a icon inspired this. My first reaction was to dismiss it, since I don't feel Iconomancy should involve fictional characters. Then I realized there was no reason why a variant school couldn't appear that did fit with fictional icons. So here it is.
Lots of people like Star Wars, or Superman, or some other fantastic heroes. Some people are even obsessed with them. But for a small handful, that obsession gets channeled into an actual school of magic. Just like standard Iconomancy, this draws on people's belief in an icon. The paradox of this school is that millions believe in something they know doesn't really exist.
Charges:
Generate a Minor Charge: Perform a 2 hour long ritual of worship, just as with classic Iconomancy. The ritual must contain some items connected to the icon in question, often including movies or action figures.
Generate a Significant Charge: This is the same as a minor charge, but must involve a symbolic element (such as a movie or action figure) that is worth more than $500. Unfortunately for the adept, each such element can only be used to garner a significant charge once. For instance, if an adept focusing on Superman acquires a rare action figure worth over $500, he can use that once to get a significant charge. After that, it can only be used as a prop to get minor charges.
Generate a Major Charge: Nobody has figured this one out yet, but they are working on it.
Taboo: Like a bibliomancer with books, you cannot destroy or allow the destruction of items associated with an icon you are carrying charges from. If you have a Superman charge, then you can't let someone burn a Superman comic. If your enemy is wearing a Superman T-shirt, you have to be careful that your attacks don't hurt his shirt...
Random Magick: Generally, this gives the same types of bonuses to skills as classic Iconomancy. One minor charge for a +10% shift to a roll, three minor charges for a reroll. One significant charge for a permanent 2% increase to a skill, with a maximum of 10%.
Example Fantasy Icon:
Luke Skywalker
Lightsaber (1 minor charge) – If the adept hits his enemy with a fake lightsaber, the blast does normal damage for a minor blast, +6 for being large and penetrating. Yes, this is not much different than using a real sword, but a fake lightsaber looks a lot less suspicious when the authorities show up.
Jedi Mind Trick (3 minor charges) – If you make a successful roll that is over the subjects Mind or Soul stat (whichever is higher), the target will obey one simple command from you. This is identical to the third channel of the Pilgrim.
Lightsaber Master (1 significant charge) – If the adept hits an enemy with a fake lightsaber, it does firearms damage.
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Actually, for the Lightsaber spell, a slight modification |
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Negative aspects? Caesar Salad | profile | Apr 17, 09 | 12:52 am |
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I still haven't figured out a good negative aspect for Luke Skywalker. Possibly a force choke attack, like Vader is so fond of using on underlings. Any suggestions are welcome. |
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Skywalker Negative aspects: ashwood | profile | Apr 17, 09 | 10:36 am |
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How about... ashwood | profile | Apr 17, 09 | 11:04 am |
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I like those suggestions. And yes, selling props breaks taboo, unless the adept is replacing something. It has to be an exact replacement, though. You can't replace an old shirt with a new one, for instance, unless it's the exact same design. Otherwise you get to keep both shirts. |
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Icon: Pacman Mattias | profile | Apr 21, 09 | 7:24 am |
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If anyone cares I've been trying to make the case that money should not be a factor to a school's charging if your not a plutomancer. So as an alternate to the Sig generate: Meet and have a prolonged dialogue with either the creator of your obsession, or an actor who played the character of your obsession, or a writer/actor/etc. Who expanded the object of your obsession in a dramatic and profound way (i.e. Donald Tyson or Brian Lumley for expanding H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. Or Troy Denning or Aaron Allston for expanding the Star Wars universe and all the characters within) LiquidXlr8 | profile | Apr 23, 09 | 12:01 pm |
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What if your icon is semi-obscure and ancient? For example, I can certainly imagine someone developing an obsession with Gilgamesh, who doesn't have a recent movie like his spiritual cousin Beowulf. Anon | profile | Apr 23, 09 | 5:37 pm |
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Perhaps the significant charge could instead be generated by "spreading the word" about your icon. For instance, putting on a play about Gilgamesh, or getting a significant number people to come to a Superman movie marathon. This also suggests a way to get a major charge - be responsible for getting a major motion picture made, or otherwise spread the word to thousands of people. Maybe that's why there are so many superhero movies coming out these days... |
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If F.I. is like standard Iconomancy I don't think either Gilgamesh or Pac-Man would apply. Gilgamesh's image isn't known to enough people (100 million) and Pac-Man isn't admired. You could probably do Mario or Link though. ashwood | profile | Apr 24, 09 | 5:51 am |
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Canon Iconomancy allows for spells inspired by parts played by dead actors. So if you want to do Luke Skywalker-spells, you'd have to wait until Mark Hamil dies, but if you want to do Superman-spells you can go right ahead since Christopher Reeve (Rêve is dream in french btw) is already dead. If all you want to do is make spells based on characters in movies, you can go right ahead in bog-standard iconomancy. You possibly have to kill an ageing actor or two, but hey, that's worth a session or two! Mattias | profile | Apr 24, 09 | 6:57 am |
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I'm digging what you've done with this concept! MessiahDave | profile | May 07, 09 | 1:52 pm |
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How about: ODLogan | profile | Sep 11, 09 | 8:51 pm |