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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 12:49:47
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Karsus, what would it be? And of course, why?
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Every beginning has an end. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8027 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 13:50:43
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Karsus wouldn't burden himself with the limitations associated with a familiar.
There are, after all, many superior methods of applying magic to enjoy the sensory advantages a familiar could share, and there are many superior methods of applying power to enjoy the presence of pleasant companions. A familiar is a vulnerability which others could exploit - it could even put an archwizard at the mercy of mundane simpletons who cannot wield magic! It's also a dirty kitty litter box (nobody wants to deal with that), and it's a constant distraction from more important studies, it's even a slight menace which constantly threatens precious and irreplaceable magics whether playfully mewling for attention or angrily sulking from mistreatment.
Karsus had few peers and no equals, his relationships were always based on dominance and submission. Fiends can be bound, elementals can be controlled, minions can be conjured and dismissed, but it would always be immediately clear that Karsus possessed authority and command, he did not share his power with inferiors unless it ultimately served his own purposes. A pet might be amusing, for a time, but a permanent magical binding to any other creature (by definition an inferior one, at that) would never be tolerated. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 23 Nov 2011 14:02:35 |
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_Jarlaxle_
Senior Scribe
Germany
584 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 13:54:43
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| An Imp because I imagine them as nasty annoying little creatures which are allways trying to play pranks on others and well just are annoying |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8027 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 14:03:31
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| What sort of familiar would be suitable for Szass Tam, then? |
[/Ayrik] |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 14:04:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
A familiar is a vulnerability which others could exploit [...]
Not necessarily. Aoth's familiar is both an extension of himself and a boost of his strength. Never did Brightwing become his vulnerability.
Karsus may arm his familiar with potent magic that would take more than a dozen rival/meddling archwizards to abjure. And his familiar may be more of a companion than mere tool. Humans seemed unable to comprehend his genius [often deemed insanity by many]; so perchance an animal can, to some degree. Maybe a quasi-sentient construct would be perfect for him. Something more useful and fun than Brennus's homunculis. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 14:06:44
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quote:
Originally posted by _Jarlaxle_
An Imp because I imagine them as nasty annoying little creatures which are allways trying to play pranks on others and well just are annoying.
He easily/impulsively gets rid of people/things that annoy him. So if he'd have imps as familiars [which would most likely irritate him himself as much as his enemies], he might have to change familiar every day. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 23 Nov 2011 14:07:57 |
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_Jarlaxle_
Senior Scribe
Germany
584 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 14:06:59
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Here we go again  |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 14:10:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
What sort of familiar would be suitable for Szass Tam, then?
That's for another thread, I guess. Wooly might chime in again and remind us to keep it on topic. It seems like he's allergic to Szass Tam. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8027 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 15:20:30
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| I thought I'd just get his name out of the way, mention of it was inescapable anyhow. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 15:27:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
What sort of familiar would be suitable for Szass Tam, then?
That's for another thread, I guess. Wooly might chime in again and remind us to keep it on topic. It seems like he's allergic to Szass Tam.
Nope, not allergic to him... Just tired of seeing every third post be about him, especially when it's not on topic. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 23 Nov 2011 15:28:36 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 15:27:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Karsus, what would it be? And of course, why?
A pet rock. For obvious reasons.
Larloch's familiar would be Szass Tam.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2011 : 15:31:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Karsus, what would it be? And of course, why?
A pet rock. For obvious reasons.
Obvious? Like saving any sentient creatures from enduring his incessant babbling?
quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
Larloch's familiar would be Szass Tam.
Which might be not so far from the truth. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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The Simbul
Learned Scribe
173 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2011 : 05:25:35
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I think the 3E/3.5 Forgotten Realms sorcerers & wizards should have had an alternate class feature option that replaced the summon familiar ability, and with something worthwhile (not some of the poor alternate class feature options in core supplements).
I am fairly certain most of the non-player mage characters converted from the 1E/2E setting did not have them. Meanwhile in terms of the novels I didnt recall any protagonists having one prior to the apprentices in Blackstaff or Brennus' homuculi in The Twilight War.
I think 4E handled it well, making it an option you select through feats, but also removing most of the disadvantages.
Also, if Karsus had a familiar then the share spells 3E feature could have had potential consequences (or plot hooks) with regard to his Karsus' avatar spell...as in their might be an immortal toad hopping around the swamp in the Dire Wood that happens to have a shard of Mystrl's divinity left over inside it 
It is also quite likely that Karsus did not have a familiar at all, merely due to field specialization restrictions. He was an Arcanist who specialized in the Mentalist field, and in order to have his own enclave he also needed to be able to cast spells of the Variation field..if his secondary field was Variation then that means he could not cast spells of the Inventive field, which would prevent him from learning the find familiar spell.
*Edit, nevermind it was also a Variation spell as well. |
Edited by - The Simbul on 25 Nov 2011 05:28:19 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2011 : 05:30:38
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I doubt the limitations of each field of specialization applied to Karsus. Breaking the rules was what he did best. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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If you were to choose a familiar for...
