Adding Jon's email so its all in one spot: Greetings I couldn't figure out how to make notes on the PDF. So here we go. I cant really type , so I'll keep it in short form. First off, damn impressive, you really nailed it. My notes by section. Basics; Yes an echo or reflection but bit more than that. "The Gods" breathed life into the world giving it spirit. This was the essence of life, a multitude of formless but creative energies, primal elements helping form the world. "Anima" Yula herself was perhaps the first spirit, the world itself. However as you noted, with the coming of sentient beings, they felt her essence and named it, making her aware of them. Eventually she in turn becomes the Great Mother to all peoples, known by many names. This is how other spirits grew into gods. So there were spirits before the coming of sentient beings. These would be our Nature Spirits. But perhaps they were not truly self aware. However as plants and animals evolved so did these spirits, which gave birth to the first planetary sentient beings, the Fey... Now this is when things get really interesting, which would bring us to your # 1, 2 & 3. The Spirits; Animism, a belief that all things have spirits. I know how you like your "A's" However... Archaic; These would be our nature spirits. Some would eventually be worshiped as gods. Animal; I agree with Malrex about the plants. They would be in the Nature spirit class. The Totem Beasts are the essence of an arch type of that animal. The Alpha of the alphas... Abstracts; Coolness Ancestors; I was trying to put this all together, but you summed it all up superbly. Reincarnation; Good Information Gathering; Correct, they are not omniscient. A lake spirit would only have knowledge that pertains to the lake... Representation; Yes , very much like our historical figures... Further stuff regarding spirits; Personality; This may a matter of perception as the Nature spirits move to the cycles of nature. Such as an ancient ent may "sleep" for decades, then awaken to furious action due to orcs destroying its grove. So what im getting at is that personality strength may vary. The noted Stone spirit may be very much awakened if it had much interaction with sentient beings. Such as in the center of a village where offerings are made to it. Or its been carved with some type of representation. But generally speaking your chart could be a guide for random spirits. But known spirits should be up to the GMs discretion. Spirit Elements and concepts; Very interesting idea and much of this can be covered by the current divine spheres. This is basically out lined in my current write up. However this would allow for each spirit more uniqueness. As an example. Old Father Oak spirit would have major element spheres in plant & earth, minor in air, perhaps time, and maybe other depending upon what attributes are associated with him. such as Protection, or what not. Major would allow full access to all spells of that sphere, minor up to 3rd lvl. Concepts ; Elements are what occur naturally to a spirit, but Concepts are projected onto them. In turn, conceptual spirits may gain elements. Concepts may open the arcane schools of spell powers to spirits. Power levels ; Do we need so many , is Minor , Major &Greater enough? At what point do they become demi-gods.? If we choose to go with the noted table then perhaps we change Radiant to Elemental, and Elemental to demi-god. I would also need to change up the shaman write up. Example spirits: I like the format! But as an example, Old Oak Spirit has 2 major and minor elements, and 2 concepts. major; plant & earth, minor ; air & water, (would time be an element?) cocepts; wisdom, patience. But what determines the concepts associated to the spirit? Banngeister Good stuff here. I think banngeister should have more access to the arcane schools, they would have more "concepts" associated to them. Also perhaps it was a Banngeister that turned a shaman into a warlock, taught the shaman another way..? How a banngeist comes into existence; Yeah good! Accidents;
Choice of the spirit;
Walocks actions ; All good. Corruption : Perhaps the Bonus & Malus would affect the Warlock/shamans ability to summon, control or bind the spirit. The bizarre abilities could be up to the GM or sphere or schools of chaos. Would really depend on the story line. Other then what I've noted, we'll have to work out the mechanics for the shaman and warlock. Jonbar
