For whatever it's worth...
There are a few RM2 professions whose concept I like but whose actual implementation bothered me, wherewith I altered them to fit my own vision. The RoCoV's Maleficant is one of them. Whilst he's supposed to be a representation of the archetypical voodoo priest, I found him totally differing from that image. Therefore, what I present you thereafter is my own interpretation of the voodoo priest. Though I personally call him a "Maleficant" because I have no use for the RoCoV's profession, because "voodoo priest" or "houngan" would refer to too specific a profession and because "witch doctor" may not match completely what a voodoo priest actually is, I officially endorse the naming of
Witch Doctor for this profession!
--> skill costs: same as Animist, save Medical as Lay Healer and Social as Cleric,
--> profession bonus: same as RoCoV's Maleficant,
--> base spell lists:
Reasoning for the skill costs. What I dislike most in the RoCoV's Maleficant is the obviously evil aspect of the profession (I mean, a
Necromancer variant) whilst a houngan is first and above all a benevolent profession, acting essentially as a "primitive" priest and healer for his people, one close to nature and spirits. It's why I based him on the Animist, a nature-based "primitive" priest, with Lay Healer and Cleric costs.
Notice that this example mayhap shows best how modular RM2 is to me, allowing tenscores skill configurations made by combining the RoCoII "base" skill modules (categories).
Reasoning for the spell list changes.
- I'm repeating myself but RoCoV turned the houngan into some kind of evil profession, only versed in black magic, poisons and necromancy whereas he should be a spiritual guide, a healer and a link to traditions, ancestors and nature. Whilst some houngans are also bokors, thus use black magic, and are associated with zombie animation and use in folk magic/folklore, theirs aren't at all of the fantasy RPG kinds --aggressive, living flesh-eating, etc.-- that were made infamous by low-grade American movies. First because such people aren't generally "evil" per se, and use their dark powers to protect their people (i.e. against "enemies" of the community, not in order to gain power or anything); in the zombies' stories I recall, for instance, said zombies were used as workers for the community, working in the fields and all. As such, I found giving houngans the Necromancer's undead list a bit inappropriate (and a bit insulting, truth to be told) so I completely replaced them. Of course, my interpretation may be just as wrong and insulting but...
- Since some houngans are also bokors and practice black magic, I left my Witch Doctor the only "evil" list I felt appropriate --Chill of Night-- because it works on the spiritual side, dreams.
- What is a voodoo priest without his talismans, protecting him from... about everything? I couldn't imagine one without, so I left him his Talismans
- Primitive Healing is a representation of a Witch Doctor's main aspect: healing, of the body but also of the soul. While I mixed many healing lists, I left out the ones that "should" be cast right away (such as Clotting spells) because in my idea, the Witch Doctor is someone to whom you bring the patient. As such, he doesn't heal effects such as stuns, or even bleeding.
- Whilst cursing through the use of dolls is generally associated to voodoo, it's not specific to voodoo and foremost the by-product of horror movies. However since it's actually present in voodoo folk magic and lore, I felt I should give my Witch Doctor this aspect. I mean, what would be a voodoo priest without his voodoo dolls?
Hence Doll Curses
. Most spells may feel very powerful (I mean,
unlimited range) but recall the need for the doll to have been created and how the curse is dispelled by destroying the doll.
- Doll Magic is pretty much born the same way, from the image of creatures (or people) being in fact magical dolls. Notice that, once again, it's not an art unique to voodoo and, for instance, common under other forms in Asia --Japanese shikigami are similar to "dolls" in their use. In my list, I didn't expressly write that a Witch Doctor could also summon a spirit to inhabit a doll and take a human form but I personally allow it, with the human being possibly a physical duplicate of a specific person. However such a doll doesn't have any magical powers, nor true skill; at best, it can fight as well as a fighter of the same level.
- The last list may come as a surprise because pendula are usually associated with western magic. However, since it's a very easy item and since stories of primitive priests using hypnosis and items to perform it is not unheard it, I felt the idea of a Witch Doctor using an item similar to a pendulum (such as a magical stone/jewel attached to a string) right enough to be used. Of course, most of the spells I put in Pendulum Magic are based on the folk lore associated with the instrument, but I also had to use my mind and find other appropriate spells "to fill in the blanks".
Anyway, there. I hope you'll like it.
