D&D 3.5 - Complete Mage [OEF]

CHAPTER 1
FUNDAMENTALS
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be chosen, although illusionists sometimes like to combine
real objects and creatures with projected ones for maximum
confusion.
NECROMANCY
Necromancy spells hold dominion
over life and death. Their effects can
drain the stamina out of an opponent's
body, exert control over the undead, or
instill paralyzing fear in a creature's
mind.
Specialists in this school call themselves
necromancers, and they subscribe
to the philosophy of waste not, want
not. Detractors of the school condemn
necromancers' practices as
abhorrent and disrespectful to the
dead, but necromancers defend
their art on the premise that
the dead care very little for their
bodies, especially if they can be
put to good use. Controlling such
bodies, however, is secondary to
controlling life.
To a necromancer, magic is
based on the idea that life is
an essential element in the
universe—one that can be
controlled and manipulated
just as matter and energy can
be. Necromancers believe that
they hold the reins of life by
surrounding themselves with
undead creatures. People who
challenge the necessity of this
school claim that necromancy
weakens the barriers between
the dead and living realms, causing
the two to encroach upon one
another more each day.
Philosophically, necromancy is opposed to the school
of enchantment, which claims supremacy over the mind.
Necromancy trumps the mind by claiming dominion
over life. Necromancy also finds little in common with
conjuration; while conjurers must create their own power
by summoning and the like, necromancers work with
whatever is on hand at the time.
Personality: Necromancers are introspective characters
with a pragmatic approach to death. As a necromancer, you
might exhibit any or all of the following personality traits.
You are heedless and insensitive toward the emotions of
people about death.
You are hopeful and impatient as people die, seeing their
bodies as useful material for your spells.
You are obsessed with your own mortality and crave
immunity from death.
You brood instead of discussing or sharing your
thoughts.
Prohibited Schools: As a necromancer, you are inclined
to make illusion one of your prohibited schools, valuing
permanent spell effects over mental tricks that can be disbelieved
away. Conjuration largely serves a redundant purpose
to necromancers, who call upon legions of undead to serve
their needs rather than summoned monsters. Enchantment is
also a good choice for a prohibited school, since necromancers
rarely have any need for living servants.
TRANSMUTATION
A transmutation spell modifies energy and matter.
The effect could alter a creature's shape,
boost mental or physical qualities, or
change the way something interacts
with the world.
Specialists in this school call themselves
transmuters, and they subscribe
to the philosophy that if life gives
you an orange, make lemonade.
Adversaries of the transmutation
school claim that only gods have the
right to change creation, but transmuters
feel that if something can be
retasked to serve a more meaningful
purpose, the amount of change
is irrelevant. They claim that any
hurdle, no matter how daunting,
can be solved by changing it into
something harmless.
Transmuters attribute the
strength and variety of their spells
to a belief that all things in the
universe must inevitably change
into something else. They merely
accelerate that ongoing evolutionary
momentum to suit their needs.
Those who deride this theory as
romantic nonsense claim instead
Undead are at the beck and call of a
that transmutation places an unnecessary
powerful necromancer
strain on the universe, because as objects
are continually modified, new and unpredictable aberrations
begin to take form of their own accord.
Philosophically, transmutation is opposed to the school of
conjuration. Rather than working with existing materials,
conjuration creates or summons new materials. Evocation
is similar in this regard, in that both schools create effects
instead of modifying what is on hand. Necromancy and
transmutation are complementary schools, since both share
the same view of using whatever is available. Whether alive,
dead, or inanimate, the raw materials can be altered to become
something more.
Personality: Transmuters are tinkerers at heart, never
content to leave things as they are. As a transmuter, you might
exhibit any or all of the following personality traits.
You are a troubleshooter who enjoys overcoming challenging
obstacles.
You are a natural actor who assumes the role of any creature
whose forms you take.